College Football Week 12: Predictions for the Top 25 Teams

We have really been spoiled the last couple of weeks with some great games and several upsets that have turned the BCS Rankings upside down. Week 12 doesn't feature that many marquee matchups but there are some games that do have the makings for an upset.

As we get closer to the conference championships and the bowl season, this time of year shows us what these teams are really made of. Teams will either make a statement these next two weeks or they will get caught looking ahead and tumble out of the BCS bowl conversations. At this point in the season there are no teams that can afford to take their opponent lightly.

Here are predictions for all BCS teams from 25 to 1.

Florida State Seminoles

I know this won't make many Seminoles fans happy but I think they'll lose to the Virginia Cavaliers.

Virginia has been that sneaky team all season and has upset victories over Georgia Tech and Miami. They'll will be motivated for this game and Florida State will get caught looking ahead to the Florida game.

The Cavaliers will be one more victory away from the ACC Championship game.

Auburn Tigers

Auburn may not be the same team they were a year ago but even this team can beat the Samford Bulldogs. This game gives the Tigers plenty of opportunities to try new things to get ready for the Iron Bowl as Auburn will try to play spoiler.

Texas Longhorns

I really don't know how this Texas team is still ranked and don't see how they're the favorite against Kansas State. The Longhorns have yet to have a quality victory this season and I think the trend continues in this one. 

The Longhorns struggle for long periods of time on both sides of the ball and the Wildcats seem to always find ways to win.

Sorry Texas, but this team will be knocked out of the Top 25.

Baylor Bears

Robert Griffin and this offense could make things really interesting against the highly ranked Oklahoma Sooners. The problem is that defense will once again eliminate any chance of the Bears pulling off an upset. It's a shame that this team has such a great offense but the defense couldn't cover a sleeping baby.

Should still be a good game and could be a lot closer than many think.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State was competitive last week against Nebraska but that was with the home crowd behind them. Heading into a tough place like Ohio State to take on the improved Buckeyes is a different story. The distractions will become too much for the Nittany Lions to handle. 

The Nittany Lions will either come out on fire or come out flat. Regardless, I believe that the atheism from Braxton Miller will cause fits for that Penn State defense.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Update: In what should have been a routine win over UAB, Southern Miss proved that what many felt was to easy a schedule to deserve a BCS top 25 rankings, wasn't actually so easy after all. The Golden Eagles fell 34-31 to UAB after a FG iced the game with just over three minutes to go.

After two failed last minute attempts to come back and win, Southern Miss will surely be out of the rankings for good. 

TCU Horned Frogs

TCU could experience a letdown coming off an impressive victory over Boise State but that's kind of hard against a team like Colorado State. The Rams have lost to everybody this year it seems like and will have to play perfect football to shock the Horned Frogs.

Michigan Wolverines

Michigan may be with or without quarterback Denard Robinson but that shouldn't matter too much. Nebraska is a team that struggles on offense and doesn't really create plays on defense either. The Wolverines should win since they're the home team and are more complete as running back Fitzgerald Toussaint has really stepped it up lately. 

Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin should beat Illinois fairly easily since these two teams are complete opposites. The Badgers are trying to win the Big Ten and Illinois is talking about possibly firing Ron Zook after starting the season 6-0.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

If you read a couple slides back you'd know my reasoning for picking the Wolverines in this game. Could we really find a worse matchup between throwing quarterbacks in the country? Both Martinez and Robinson are excellent athletes and great runners but I cringe when they throw the ball. This game could come down to who makes the fewest mistakes.

I'll take my chances with Denard Robinson.

Michigan State Spartans

It's amazing how everybody is sleeping on the Spartans and their chances to win the Big Ten. They have a great defense that is capable of slowing down any offense in the country. Especially Indiana, their opponent this week.

Michigan State wins easily.

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia has really found themselves since losing the first two games of the season. You could argue they haven't played anybody but they've played solid football nonetheless. Kentucky doesn't have the offense to keep up with some high schools, let alone the Bulldogs.

Kansas State Wildcats

As you know I already picked the Wildcats to beat the Longhorns. Kansas State is one of those teams that doesn't do much particularly well but finds ways to win. Even if it's ugly. I like the Wildcats against a banged up Texas team.

This game could be low scoring and very boring but the Wildcats will come out victorious.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Here's the gameplan for South Carolina against Citadel. Play the first half and jump out to a 65-3 lead and stay in the locker room and watch the Georgia-Kentucky game and root for the Wildcats.

(If you didn't know, the Gamecocks make the SEC Championship with a Georgia loss)

Houston Cougars

Houston is now in the drivers seat to reach a BCS bowl game since Boise State lost last week. Southern Methodist should provide a stiff test for a quarter or two but don't have enough offense to compete for 60 minutes.

Cougars win.

Boise State Broncos

Kellen Moore has never lost two games in a row his entire career, so, it can't possibly happen, right? Wrong.

I'm picking the San Diego State Aztecs to pull off the upset. The game is in San Diego and they have the weapons in Ronnie Hillman and Ryan Lindley to get the job done. Don't forget this team was competitive against Michigan and TCU earlier this year.

Stanford Cardinal

California is an underrated team that has a solid offense that is capable of scoring quickly. I think the Golden Bears keep it much closer than expected but Andrew Luck will be too much for California's defense.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech is not the same Hokies team we're all use to seeing but no team has been as inconsistent as the North Carolina Tar Heels. This game could be very sloppy and boring but the Hokies come out on top and become one step closer to locking up the Coastal division.

A victory will put even more pressure on the Virginia Cavilers.

Update: The Hokies barely survived against the Tar Heels on Thursday night but most importantly they got the win. They are now one step closer to reaching the ACC Championship game and getting their rematch against the Clemson Tigers.

Clemson Tigers

Clemson has been playing games that are too close for comfort lately but a game against North Carolina State is a chance to get refreshed and back on track. The Wolfpack have only scored over 30 points three times and will have to make it four to have any chance of an upset.

Tigers win.

Arkansas Razorbacks

The only way I see Mississippi State pulling off an upset over Arkansas is if the Razorbacks get caught looking ahead. Arkansas has way too much firepower and with the game being at home the Razorbacks should win easily.

We are officially less than one week away from the game that will impact the SEC and the BCS Rankings.

Oklahoma Sooners

As I explained in the Baylor slide, this game could get interesting if Robert Griffin can get going but the Bears don't provide enough stops on defense to win. Although it will be interesting to see the Sooners respond with two of their key offensive players out for the year.

This will be a good test for the Sooners though considering this will be much like the game against Oklahoma State.

Oregon Ducks

I don't think the game against USC will be a complete blowout like the oddsmakers who have the Ducks as -15.5 point favorites. But I do think Oregon will win the game. Robert Woods is questionable for the Trojans and if he was to play or not the Ducks have too much speed on offense for USC to keep up. 

We all saw how Stanford handled the Oregon speed and not too many defenses are able to keep up with that. The Trojans keep the game close but close only counts in horseshoes.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Do the Alabama Crimson Tide really have to play Georgia Southern or can the Crimson Tide just be awarded the win? I'm pretty sure the Eagles would appreciate it as well because this game is going to be a blowout.

You'll see a lot of second stringers in this contest.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

I feel bad for Iowa State as the Cyclones don't have the offense or defense to do anything in this game. To keep the Cowboys from scoring over 50 points in this game would be a victory for the Cyclones. Oklahoma State cruises in this game and Brandon Weeden continues to climb up the Heisman ballot.

Update: Who ever saw Iowa State pulling off the upset? I know I didn't as you can see above. A loss to the Cowboys now opens up the door for several teams behind the Tigers. This is what makes college football interesting and things are about to get crazy.

LSU Tigers

Ole Miss is a scary team for the Tigers and they can't fall into the trap. The Rebels are at home and would like nothing more than for Houston Nutt to leave the university with a win over the top ranked team in the country. I don't think the Tigers lose but this game will be close and could get interesting if LSU isn't careful.

We all saw what happened to Oklahoma State, you can't afford to get caught looking ahead against a team that has nothing to lose.