Week 13 College Football Predictions: 3 Outcomes That Will Shape BCS Bowl Games

The following three games will clear the BCS bowl picture. There will still be a week of conference championship games following this week, but as much will be determined in big matchups this week as it will next.

No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 1 LSU

Arkansas is woefully equipped to handle LSU. The Razorbacks have used a high powered offense to win games this season.

They are 13th in the nation in points scored, and 30th in points allowed. This is not how you beat LSU.

LSU is where good offenses go to die. They are second in the nation in points allowed.

Arkansas likes to win by throwing the ball. They will not be able to do that in this one. QBs have a rating 92.4 against LSU. They have thrown a mind-boggling 15 interceptions to just five touchdowns.

Arkansas will not be able to move the ball anywhere near their normal rate in this one, and that means their defense will have to carry the load.

Unfortunately for the Razorbacks they are average on defense. They are allowing 4.31 yards per carry. LSU will be able to wear them out with their run game. They have rushed for 2304 yards this season on 4.74 yards per carry.

This will lead to a blowout.

Prediction: LSU 31, Arkansas 13

BCS Impact: LSU will be No. 1 by a mile after this. The win will send LSU to the SEC title game, and there is a strong possibility that it will guarantee them a spot in the championship game even if they lose the SEC title game.

No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 24 Auburn

This is a horrible matchup for Auburn. If you can't stop the run against Alabama you have no shot. And Auburn can't stop the run.

Auburn is giving up 4.56 yards per carry. That means that Trent Richardson and the Alabama rushing attack will have their way with the Tigers' defense. Alabama enters this game averaging a bruising 5.5 yards per carry.

This is nothing but bad news for Auburn.

Offensively, things do not look any better. They are playing the nation's leading scoring defense. And Auburn has struggled to score points this year. They are 78th in points scored per game.

When they do score, it is largely a result of their run game. And teams just don't run on Alabama. The Crimson Tide are allowing just 2.53 yards per carry.

The Iron Bowl is going to be a dud this year.

Prediction: Alabama 31, Auburn 9

BCS Impact: This win will punch Alabama's ticket to the national championship game.

No. 8 Houston vs. Tulsa

Houston will assert complete dominance of Conference USA when they win in this game. Both teams are undefeated in conference play. 

Houston brings the nation's No. 1 passing and scoring offense into this game. And Tulsa does not have enough to slow that offense down.

The Golden Hurricane have allowed opposing QBs to post a combined passer rating of 123.3 this season, and they have allowed 2998 passing yards. 

That is bad news considering they are going up against a passing offense that has thrown for nearly 5,000 yards and touchdowns.

Tulsa will find some success with their balanced offensive attack, but it will not be enough to keep up with Houston.

Prediction: Houston 41, Tulsa 27

BCS Impact: With this win, and then a win in the conference championship game, Houston will be a near lock to secure Conference USA's first BCS bowl bid.