Week 12 College Football Predictions: Conference Games That Will Shake Up BCS

For most teams, there are just two games left in the regular season. That means there is not a lot of time to make a statement for the computers and make your case to be included in the BCS. This week will be one of the best opportunities for a few teams in critical conference matchups. 

The one conference that could be decided this weekend is the Big Ten. There are two critical games featuring four teams in both divisions that will likely go a long way towards determining who plays for the championship in Indianapolis on Dec. 3. 

Here are three big games this weekend that will have a major impact on the BCS. 

Nebraska at Michigan

With Michigan State holding a one-game lead over both of these teams in the Legends Division and only two games to play, the loser of this matchup is finished in the Big Ten race.

Nebraska has not fared well on the road against ranked teams in recent years, including a blowout loss at Wisconsin earlier this year. The defense, which was supposed to be the strength of the Cornhuskers, has struggled all season, ranking 36th in points allowed (22.2 per game), and put more pressure on the offense and Taylor Martinez.

Michigan has had a very good season under first-year head coach Brady Hoke, and the fact the Wolverines are still in the Big Ten race is a testament to the job he has done. Denard Robinson’s playmaking ability will be the key to this game.

If the Cornhuskers can contain Robinson, they will win. If they don’t, they will be praying Indiana can defeat Michigan State to keep their conference title hopes alive.

Robinson is too strong for Nebraska’s defense and Michigan will win a low-scoring defensive battle.

Michigan 20, Nebraska 13

Penn State at Ohio State

In another Big Ten matchup, the Nittany Lions will look to enter the final week of the regular season with a chance to clinch the Leaders Division and the right to play in the first conference championship game.

Penn State had an emotional game against Nebraska last week, but the team couldn’t overcome the Cornhuskers defense and made things a lot more interesting in these last two games.

The Buckeyes have struggled all season and missed a golden opportunity last week against Purdue, but there is a sliver of hope left. They have to win their last two games of the season and hope Wisconsin loses one of its final two games.

Even though the Nittany Lions are the more talented team, I see them still being distracted by all the external things going on around them and the Buckeyes will score the upset.

Ohio State 23, Penn State 14

Oklahoma at Baylor

This will be Oklahoma’s first game without star wide receiver Ryan Broyles. He tore is ACL in the Sooners’ 41-25 victory over Texas A&M. It will be interesting to see how the offense runs without him.

Another thing to watch for in this game is if the Sooners are looking ahead to next week’s showdown with Oklahoma State, which could have conference and national championship implications depending on what happens this week.

Baylor can score on anyone, and Robert Griffin III is one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in college football. But the problem for this team has been on defense. It allows 36 points per game, which ranks 108th in the country.

If Baylor is going to pull off the upset, it will have to force Landry Jones into making mistakes that he usually doesn’t and score early to throw the Sooners back on their heels.

As much as I want to pick Baylor, the defense isn’t strong enough to stop Oklahoma.

Oklahoma 48, Baylor 35