Tuesday, December 4th, 2014:
#57 UCF (31.60) at #62 East Carolina (22.52) (3.55), 6:30 pm ESPN, Memphis wrapped up the AAC with their win last week but UCF and ECU still have pride and showing off for the bowls to do. UCF has flown under the radar in the first year post Bortles and Storm Johnson but they've performed better than almost anyone expected without their two biggest offensive contributors gone. East Carolina took the country by storm early in the season with a great non-conference season but they weren't able to take that level of play into the conference season. I think UCF pulls off the upset in a shootout, but with UCF getting the key stop midway through the third quarter to take the lead for good. Power Pick: UCF by 5.53 My Pick: UCF 31-24 Line: ECU -5
Friday, December 5th, 2014:
MAC Championship Game: #100 Bowling Green (13.00) vs #76 Northern Illinois (38.67) (Detroit), 6:00 pm ESPN2, We get a rematch of last season's Bowling Green upset in the MAC Championship Game and Northern Illinois's fifth straight title game. Northern Illinois, much like UCF has done a great job in replacing a quarterback that was most of their offense last season, along with a new coaching staff. Bowling Green lost it's stud QB early but has limped their way through the season to this point. This one should be a bit of a slog but #MACtion is always worth watching. Power Pick: Northern Illinois by 25.66 My Pick: Northern Illinois 27-20 Line: Northern Illinois -6.5
Pac-12 Championship Game: #28 Arizona (70.09) vs #2 Oregon (93.54) (Santa Clara), 8:00 pm FOX, Arizona tries to make it three straight over the Oregon Ducks. This one comes down pretty simply for me, Oregon was without left tackle Jake Fisher in the first match-up and he has been the biggest difference for Mariota and this year's Ducks defense. Arizona is a very good team and should keep it close but I just think Oregon looks like a completely different team than the one seen in the loss earlier this year. Power Pick: Oregon by 23.45 My Pick: Oregon 48-38 Line: Oregon -13
Saturday, December 6th, 2014:
#87 Iowa State (12.35) at #4 TCU (44.10) (3.69), 11:00 am ABC, Not in Ames, not concerned for TCU who is tied with Baylor for the conference lead. Power Pick: TCU by 35.44 My Pick: TCU 52-20 Line: TCU -33
Conference USA Championship Game: #55 Louisiana Tech (1.74) at #19 Marshall (33.35) (2.25), 11:00 am ESPN2, Louisiana Tech heads to Marshall to take on a Thundering Herd team that lost it's first game of the season last week. Marshall is the far superior of the two teams in this game, but back to back poor performances cause me pause. If it was just a team resigned to not getting a New Years Six bowl who wants to win the conference, then I'm way too conservative. If they just lost with that realization then they might not even win this game. Power Pick: Marshall by 33.85 My Pick: Marshall 31-28 Line: Marshall -12.5
#80 Houston (33.50) at #54 Cincinnati (21.07) (3.04), 11:00 am ESPN, See above: Cincy is UCF and Houston is ECU. I'll take the 6-1 team, but this time at home and in a shootout. Power Pick: Houston by 9.40 My Pick: Cincinnati 41-38 Line: Cincinnati -7
#127 SMU (-18.68) at #104 Connecticut (-19.10) (2.91), 11:00 am CBSSN, Don't not watch this game it will be atrocious. Put parental block on CBS Sports Network if you have it. Power Pick: Connecticut by 2.50 My Pick: SMU 21-20 Line: Connecticut -12
#75 Oklahoma State (30.52) at #10 Oklahoma (65.25) (4.99), 2:30 pm FOX Sports 1, Bedlam doesn't have the gravitas of the last couple of seasons but it does pit an enigma versus the college football equivalent of a rabid animal trapped in a corner. (An underdog rival during a disappointing season.) Oklahoma State keeps this suprisingly close before coming up short in Norman. Power Pick: Oklahoma by 39.72 My Pick: Oklahoma 38-28 Line: Oklahoma -21
SEC Championship Game: #31 Missouri (74.04) vs #1 Alabama (64.30) (Atlanta), 3:00 pm CBS, Missouri makes a surprise return to the SEC Championship in a season they lost at home to Indiana (Yay SEC East!!). Alabama has been a very effective and efficient in year one of the Lane Kiffin era whilst also taking heat every other week. Alabama is the far superior team and I expect them to pull away from the Tigers in the second half. Not unlike last week. Power Pick: Missouri by 9.75 My Pick: Alabama 38-27 Line: Alabama -14.5
#66 Temple (-6.42) at #103 Tulane (5.65) (1.25), 6:30 pm ESPN2, Only watch this game if the SEC Championship is decided and Kansas State-Baylor hasn't started yet. Power Pick: Tulane by 13.32 My Pick: Tulane 24-21 Line: Temple -3
#18 Kansas State (43.52) at #11 Baylor (62.71) (3.40), 7:00 pm ABC, Kansas State heads to Baylor and this one comes down to two things. First, Bryce Petty's health. After suffering a concussion he still hasn't looked 100% in practice. Second, is Baylor's pride and want, to score a boatload of points in a last ditch effort to get into the playoffs. Power Pick: Baylor by 22.59 My Pick: Baylor 45-23 Line: Baylor -8
Big Ten Championship Game: #13 Wisconsin (49.65) vs #3 Ohio State (65.71) (Indianapolis), 7:17 pm FOX, Wisconsin continues to have no passing game and one of the best rushing attacks in the country. Ohio State just lost their second starting quarterback for the season. Ohio State is more talented but the Badgers have made impressive strides on a defense that lost more than most to graduation. I think Urban takes enough pressure off the new guy and Wisconsin goes stagnant for another third quarter to squander the lead late in a faux upset. Power Pick: Ohio State by 16.06 My Pick: Ohio State 31-28 Line: Wisconsin -4
ACC Championship Game: #12 Georgia Tech (44.53) vs #8 Florida State (87.74) (Charlotte), 7:00 pm ABC, Georgia Tech heads to Charlotte to take on a vulnerable but difficult to kill Florida State team that really needs Jameis to bust out of this slump before the CFP. Georgia Tech was a suprise and should keep it reasonably close but the talent gap is just too large. Power Pick: Florida State by 43.20 My Pick: Florida State 38-24 Line: Florida State -4
Mountain West Championship Game: #108 Fresno State (16.80) at #26 Boise State (33.08) (3.42), 9:00 pm CBS, Boise's run is pretty amazing the last couple of decades in it's rise to prominence and it's consistency through multiple coaching changes. This may not have been the prettiest season but they are on the verge of another confererence championship and the group of 5 big six bowl appearance. Last college football system this was a recipe for disaster and whomever gets the Broncos is gonna be pissed. Power Pick: Boise State by 19.70 My Pick: Boise State 38-16 Line: Boise State -22
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