College Football Week 14: Predicting Winners of the 5 Major Games

The last week of the college football season always offers some drama, but with two new conference championship games, the unprecedented relevance of the Conference USA Championship Game and today's edition of Bedlam deciding the Big 12 Championship, this should be a very fun day for fans and viewers alike.

Here are the predictions for each of the five big games deciding conference championships (and subsequently BCS bowl berths) in Week 14, the last of the 2011 college football season.

Conference USA Championship: Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Houston Cougars

This is the Houston Cougars' moment. For a team that hasn't been to a major bowl game since the 1984 Cotton Bowl, this is a huge deal. A win today against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles will get them into their first BCS bowl ever.

However, Southern Miss is a solid opponent. They beat the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville. They have a much better offense than what Houston has seen for much of the season.

Still, Houston has Case Keenum, and his poise will deliver a huge win today for the Cougars. 

Prediction: Houston 48, Southern Miss 34

Big Ten Championship: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Michigan State Spartans

The inaugural Big Ten Championship Game presents a rematch of two teams that provided a thrilling game six weeks ago. While the Michigan State Spartans got the better of the Wisconsin Badgers the first time around, I see a different result happening this time.

The first matchup was played in East Lansing. Michigan State will not have home-field advantage this time. Moreover, the Spartans won that game despite being out-gained by 50 yards, a number that would have been much worse if Michigan State hadn't added 44 yards on the last play of the game.

The Spartans needed a blocked field goal, a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and, of course, a Hail Mary to beat Wisconsin in their own house. In the rematch in Lucas Oil Stadium, Russell Wilson, Montee Ball and the Badgers will take care of business.

Prediction: Wisconsin 45, Michigan State 34

SEC Championship: LSU Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs

This is an intriguing matchup. These two teams took very different roads to the 2011 SEC Championship Game.

The LSU Tigers got there by successfully traversing a ridiculously hard schedule, beating three top-five teams and eight ranked opponents.

The Georgia Bulldogs bounced back from a rough 0-2 start to win 10 in a row, but they only beat two ranked opponents in that stretch (and neither team is still ranked).

With so many big games in one year (and many analysts telling them they can reach the BCS Championship Game even with a loss), I have to imagine Georgia will be more up for this game. But then again, LSU is considerably more battle-tested. I think the Bulldogs will stay with the Tigers for three quarters, but LSU will pull it out.

Prediction: LSU 28, Georgia 17

ACC Championship: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Clemson Tigers

Like the Big Ten Championship Game, this game offers a rematch of a game played earlier in the season. And, again like the Big Ten Championship Game, most experts see the ACC Championship Game going the other way in the rematch.

The Virginia Tech Hokies and Clemson Tigers have been moving in opposite directions the last few weeks. Clemson has lost three of their last four, and the one win was a come-from-behind victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech has won seven in a row.

Since the loss to Clemson, Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas has been phenomenal. The offense has been brought to life, and the defense has been getting healthier in recent weeks.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Clemson 17

De Facto Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Few rivalries are as one-sided as this one. The Oklahoma State Cowboys have only beaten the Oklahoma Sooners 12 times in 98 years, and only six times since 1966.

This year presents perhaps the biggest game in Bedlam history, as the winner will take the Big 12 Championship and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. Oklahoma State has never been to a BCS bowl.

With Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden facing Landry Jones, there should be plenty of offensive fireworks in this game. In the end, I think whoever has the ball last will win.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 45, Oklahoma 41