WEEK 15: Conference Championships
December 5th, 2013
By Mike Nowoswiat, Brett Ciancia
By Mike Nowoswiat, Brett Ciancia
Oklahoma AT Oklahoma State
Known as the Bedlam Game, this rivalry will be closer to the Ice Bowl Saturday as frigid conditions surround Stillwater. Everything is on the line for the 'Pokes: a Big12 Title, a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, and the first ever back-to-back Stillwater wins over OU since the 1930s. Historically, this series is one of the most lopsided in the nation - OU currently holds an 83-17-7 lead (and 9 out of 10). That said, I have not been impressed with Oklahoma, and their performance has reflected my prediction of them finishing 4th in the league (lowest rating nationally). Clint Chelf has emerged from the 3 quarterback system, and has excelled this season. But equally as impressive is the Cowboys' 11th ranking scoring defense, which should have little trouble shutting down OU. Living up to their coach's now-ironic moniker, the Sooner offense completely disappears in big games. Despite the cold, Boone Pickens Stadium will be amped for a shot at the BCS. Look for the hometown 'Pokes to steal back the State Title ... Oklahoma State 23 Oklahoma 20
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP - Auburn vs. Missouri
This was unexpected. How did each respective Tiger team ascend from the cellars of their respective divisions? Gus Malzahn and Nick Marshall’s additions certainly helped Auburn, and Missouri’s improved health certainly helped the other Tigers. I had Missouri ranked higher than any other publication this preseason, but nobody expected this type of turnaround. The emergence of L’Damian Washington and Dorial Green-Beckham have given Missouri explosive wide receivers on the outside with unbelievable size. Each player has ten touchdowns on the year and the duo has combined for over 1,500 yards. Wonder why this offense produces regardless of who is under center? The supporting cast that the Tigers have on offense is just as talented as any team’s in the nation (Maty Mauk is also a very talented backup). Henry Josey’s return at running back after sitting out in 2012 with an injury has given the Tigers a lethal weapon out of the backfield, averaging an astounding 6.22 yards per carry. The other offense we will see continues to get better each week. QB Nick Marshall is in his first year running Gus Malzahn’s system without even playing in spring practices. The defense may have played its best game of the year against Alabama, except for the 99 yard touchdown that McCarron threw. However, Missouri has played much better defense throughout the year and is limiting ranked opponents to nearly 100 yards less per game than Auburn. Couple that statistic with the fact that Auburn may be a little unfocused due to Ohio State’s supremacy in the BCS rankings, and I think Missouri has a great chance to win the conference in only its second year as a member…Missouri 38 Auburn 37
South Florida AT Rutgers
Is this a great game? Not quite. It marks Rutgers' last Big East/AAC game and will be the difference between a potentially-winning season and a losing season, between a bowl and season's end. However, this still isn't a marquee game. However, this game does mean a lot to us at Pick Six Previews because of its Stassen Cup implications. Last year, we tied Phil Steele for the most accurate human BCS predictions. We thought too highly of South Florida in the preseason, but if the Bulls pull off the upset in Piscataway, we will once again have the most accurate BCS previews in the nation! That's right, better than ESPN, CBS, Sports Illustrated, Athlon, USA Today, etc...The Bulls are coming off one of their best performances of the year, nearly beating Central Florida and limiting Blake Bortles and company to less than 300 total yards. The Rutgers offense has been mediocre throughout the year and has only eclipsed 500 total yards once all year. The Bulls should be able to stymie this Rutgers offense, which has had terrible production under center all season long. USF freshman Matt White has struggled at quarterback this season as he has taken over as the starter in the last five games. Can this be his breakout game? This is a much weaker Rutgers defense than we are accustomed to. I will take the Bulls in the upset and Pick Six Previews in the Stassen Cup...South Florida 20 Rutgers 17
PAC 12 CHAMPIONSHIP - Stanford AT Arizona State
I predicted this exact scenario back in July; Stanford defeated Oregon to win the North, and Arizona State dominated the South Division. Both have looked elite at their best but also had major disappointments (Stanford losing to lowly Utah and the Sun Devils loss to Notre Dame). It's been quite a turnaround by Coach Todd Graham down in Tempe, as they now HOST the defending league champs. Earlier in the season, Stanford defended the Farm and physically dominated ASU. But that was back in Week 3, and in the Sun Devils look much improved. The 8th best offense will go against the #12 defense when ASU has the ball. The offensive weapons are plentiful: QB Taylor Kelly is accurate and mobile enough to keep plays alive, big-frame WR Jaelen Strong is his favorite target, RB's Grice and Foster also get involved in the pass game, and finally TE Chris Coyle is a safe check down option. Will ASU's O-Line be able to subdue a fierce Stanford front 7 led by several All-American candidates? This matchup could be the difference in the game. Meanwhile, Stanford's line play has been dominant and will be tested by the combo of Will Sutton and Carl Bradford. Defeating a team twice in the same season is a daunting task - Stanford accomplished that last November/December with the quickest rematch ever in Division 1 History, when they beat UCLA twice in 7 days! But this is different. Sun Devil Stadium has been a tough place to play and the hometown squad comes in riding an 8-game win streak in Tempe. With this homefield advantage and the motivation of revenge, I am predicting the SUN DEVILS to be smelling Roses Saturday night... Arizona State 31 Stanford 30
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP - Florida State vs. Duke
The Seminoles must be feeling pretty good about themselves this week. They dominated in-state rival Florida last week, ascended to number one in the BCS rankings—in doing so, avoiding the modern-day dynasty Alabama in the BCS Title Game—and their star quarterback, Jameis Winston, was not charged for rape, which could have been his ‘Heisman Moment’ as he looks to take home the prestigious hardware with another good game against Duke this week. Now, FSU has the opportunity to win the ACC for the second straight year on Saturday. If only the phrase “It’s great to be a Florida State Seminole” was as catchy as the Florida Gator’s popular chant, because it couldn’t be truer nowadays. Duke has become a force in the ACC, rattling off eight straight victories after losing to Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh in September. Quarterback Anthony Boone has been spectacular in the last two weeks after facing a mid-season slump. He will need to play his best game on Saturday as Duke will play arguably the best team in the nation. The Seminoles have been so dominant on both sides of the ball that their kicker, Roberto Aguayo, has outscored Seminole opponents 137-132; he would have won seven games on the year! I like the Blue Devils a lot and think that they are being underrated in the polls. Unfortunately, Duke’s magical season occurs in the same year that the conference produces its best team since expansion in the early 2000s. This pick is easy…Florida State 52 Duke 17
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP - Ohio State vs. Michigan State
What a Rivalry Saturday it was for Buckeye Nation! The Silver Bullet defense held off Devin Gardner's game-winning 2-point conversion to earn a second consecutive perfect regular season. But 3 hours later, the attention shifted south to the Iron Bowl, as Auburn pulled off not only one of the greatest wins, but perhaps the craziest ending to a college football game ever. That 108-yard FG return obviously had its rewards for Auburn, but it immediately bumped up Ohio State into the coveted #2 spot! [If you are arguing for a one-loss team to jump over an undefeated BCS team, stop being ridiculous] Ohio State is going for its 25th straight win and a trip to the BCS National Championship Game, but first must navigate through the elite Spartan defense. While the Buckeyes average 321 rush yards per game, MSU has only allowed one team (Nebraska) to rush for over 100. Something's gotta give. Former OSU staff member Mark Dantonio would love to finally break through and win the conference after a few 10 and 11 win seasons that have just missed the Pasadena cut. At the end of the day, the Spartan offense has been lackluster and this will be by far the toughest defensive opponent. They will not be able to keep pace with Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde. Miller has re-entered the Heisman race, and could secure a trip to NYC (although I think Hyde is equally as deserving). The Bucks got their Michigan jitters out of the way last Saturday, now its back to dominance. As we predicted in August, THEE Ohio State is title game bound... Ohio State 38 Michigan State 27