College Football Week 14: Predictions for This Week's Top Games

We're entering the last week of the college football regular season and there are some really good games lined up. The majority of them are conference championship games, so of course there are quite a few great matchups. Many of these games will not only determine who wins the conference but also who gets to participate in a BCS bowl game.

One week of regular season play remaining doesn't sound like much football, but in those few games so much will be decided.

Here are predictions for the top matchups of Week 14.

New Mexico vs. Boise State

Boise has to win this game to stay in the BCS bowl conversation and there is no reason they shouldn't. New Mexico is one of the worst teams in the country, ranking dead last in scoring offense and 119th in scoring defense.

This game has to be on the radar as a top matchup because it does feature a top 10 team with BCS implications, but the outcome won't be close.

UNLV vs. TCU

Does this game really even need an explanation?

UNLV is one of the worst teams in the country as they rank nearly dead last in scoring offense and scoring defense. The Horned Frogs have really turned it on lately with solid football, winning their last six games in a row.

If TCU had played like this earlier in the year, they may have made a BCS bowl.

Southern Miss vs. Houston

The Golden Eagles are one of the surprise teams this season, going 10-2 and reaching the C-USA Championship Game. Unfortunately for them, they have to go up against the undefeated Houston Cougars and take on a offense that averages over 50 points per contest.

Southern Miss does its fare share of scoring as it averages 37 points per game, but the Golden Eagles simply don't have enough firepower to keep up. The key in this game for the Golden Eagles would be to capitalize off of turnovers, but that's easier said than done as the Cougars only turn the ball over once per game.

Houston should run away with this one in the second half.

Iowa State vs. Kansas State

Iowa State is going to try and end the season with a bang. They recently upset Oklahoma State, which will probably be the reason the Cowboys won't make the national championship.

I believe that is the reason why the Cyclones won't be able to upset the Wildcats, as they will be on high alert. Iowa State simply struggles on both sides of the ball as they can't score with any type of consistency and can't play defense.

Kansas State will run it down their throat and call it a day.

Texas vs. Baylor

The Longhorns have a talented team; they just lack experience. And in a tough Big 12 conference it really shows. This week's game against the Baylor Bears won't help any.

Robert Griffin III is on a mission and has been playing out of his mind all season long. This is his stage and his last chance to make an impression on the voters as to why he should win the Heisman Trophy.

Texas should be able to score on this brutal Baylor defense, but the Bears should win because they will simply outscore the opposition like they've done all season. The Longhorns have yet to beat a ranked team this year, and that won't change this weekend.

Wisconsin vs. Michigan State

Michigan State has one of the top defenses in the country but I'm not sure their offense will be able to keep up with the Badgers. Wisconsin has one of the most balanced offenses in the country and running back Montee Ball has been an absolute beast the last few weeks.

The Spartans have a defense that will slow down Wisconsin, but it won't completely stop them. Add in the revenge factor for the outcome of the game earlier this season and you have a Wisconsin win. 

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson

Does anybody know what in the world is wrong with the Clemson Tigers lately? This team was looking unstoppable in the beginning of the season and has now lost three of its last four games.

In the Tigers' victories they've scored less than 30 just once and over 50 twice. In the three losses combined, they've only scored 43 points. There's no excuse with an offense that is that stacked—they shouldn't struggle to put points on the board.

Now they'll be playing a Virginia Tech team that is hitting its stride recently, winning its last seven games.

The key to this game for both teams will be the rushing attack. Clemson averages 150 yards on the ground, and Virginia Tech averages nearly 200. The Hokies defense only gives up 98 yards, but the Tigers give up 186.

I think we know who's going to win this game.

Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma has been a shell of itself lately ever since Ryan Broyles and Dominique Whaley went down with season-ending injuries. The Sooners went from an offense that can score with ease to struggling at times to put the ball in the end zone.

They're going to need to be able to put a ton of points on the board if they expect to have any chance of beating the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who average 50 points per game and have scored no fewer than 30 in any game all season long.

That game against Baylor doesn't help the Sooners' case, as they gave up 45 points. I'd say the Cowboys offense is a little bit more explosive, so Oklahoma is in trouble.

I'm going with the Cowboys.

Georgia vs. LSU

I'm giving the Bulldogs more of a chance to win this game than anyone else is, but I'm not ready to quite say they'll win.

Aaron Murray is playing like the best quarterback in the SEC and Georgia has a decent defense that is tied with LSU with 32 sacks. They have playmakers like Isaiah Crowell who can help spread the field and keep this LSU defense on its toes.

I just can't seem to pick against LSU, who has given us no reason to pick against them. Defense wins championships and the Tigers get that concept.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]