It's championship Saturday. BCS bowl bids are on the line in the SEC, Big 12, and ACC title games. Auburn (No. 1 in the BCS) faces South Carolina in the SEC championship and Oregon (No. 2 in the BCS) battles Oregon State in The Civil War. If both teams win, they'll lock up BCS title game bids. If one or both loses, who knows what could happen. TCU is No. 3, and the likeliest team to slip into the title game, but how will pollsters finally feel about voting a non-AQ team into the championship? Stanford (No. 4) and Wisconsin (No. 5) sit behind the Frogs in the BCS standings, and could make the championship as well if Oregon or Auburn lose. Stanford, however, would not even be the outright champion of the PAC-10. They'd have the same record as Oregon, but the Ducks beat the Cardinal by about 20 points earlier this season. Wisconsin lost to Michigan State (No. 8 BCS) but beat Ohio State (No. 6 BCS), the team right behind the Badgers in the BCS. Still though, the Big 10 ended in a three-way tie between those teams and Wisconsin is the current champion of that conference based on BCS ranking. It's conceivable, but unlikely, that Ohio State could actually jump ahead of Wisconsin in the new standings next week.
For now, let's just say that Oregon and Auburn win their games like they're supposed to. If one or both lose, then we'll figure out who should be in the championship. If Oregon State and/or South Carolina win today, however, they would cause mass chaos.
Noon
Rutgers at No. 24 West Virginia
West Virginia must beat Rutgers and hope Connecticut loses to South Florida to win the Big Least, I mean East. I like the Mountaineers to hold up their end of the bargain, 34-20.
3:30
No. 2 Oregon at Oregon State
The Beavers are just trying to get bowl eligible. There are already more than 70 bowl eligible teams, so even if they beat the Ducks, they may not make one, even though beating the No. 2 team in the land would make them worthy. I think they'd settle for knocking their arch rival out of the BCS title game. This is pretty much the Beavers' bowl game, and they'll play like it. Ultimately, they come up short though and lose 45-31.
4:00
SEC championship
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 19 South Carolina in Atlanta, Ga.
South Carolina nearly took out Auburn on Sept. 25 on the road. The Gamecocks led 27-21 going into the fourth quarter but couldn't hold on and the Tigers wn 35-27. Auburn is more resilient than ever after their amazing come back on the road against Alabama last week. I think South Carolina will play well enough to hang around, but not win. Tigers take the SEC crown 41-28.
7:45
ACC championship
No. 15 Virginia Tech vs. No. 21 Florida State in Charlotte, N.C.
I'll be pulling for the Noles in this one, but I can't pick against Virginia Tech at this point, who is playing like a top 10 team right now. After losing to Boise State and JMU, the Hokies have rattled off 10 straight wins, usually in dominating fashion. FSU seems to be getting back to where it used to be, but they won't make it back all the way tonight. Tech wins 27-23.
8:00
Big 12 championship
No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Nebraska in Dallas, Tx.
Bitter rivals clash in what will be the final Big 12 title game as we know it. The Cornhuskers, along with Colorado, are leaving the Big 12 after this year. I like Oklahaoma to beat Nebraska in their going away party 38-28.
Connecticut at South Florida
The Huskies won't cooperate with West Virginia. They'll beat the Bulls 24-20 in a close game and win the Big East, likely earning a date against FSU or Va. Tech in the Orange Bowl.
For now, let's just say that Oregon and Auburn win their games like they're supposed to. If one or both lose, then we'll figure out who should be in the championship. If Oregon State and/or South Carolina win today, however, they would cause mass chaos.
Noon
Rutgers at No. 24 West Virginia
West Virginia must beat Rutgers and hope Connecticut loses to South Florida to win the Big Least, I mean East. I like the Mountaineers to hold up their end of the bargain, 34-20.
3:30
No. 2 Oregon at Oregon State
The Beavers are just trying to get bowl eligible. There are already more than 70 bowl eligible teams, so even if they beat the Ducks, they may not make one, even though beating the No. 2 team in the land would make them worthy. I think they'd settle for knocking their arch rival out of the BCS title game. This is pretty much the Beavers' bowl game, and they'll play like it. Ultimately, they come up short though and lose 45-31.
4:00
SEC championship
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 19 South Carolina in Atlanta, Ga.
South Carolina nearly took out Auburn on Sept. 25 on the road. The Gamecocks led 27-21 going into the fourth quarter but couldn't hold on and the Tigers wn 35-27. Auburn is more resilient than ever after their amazing come back on the road against Alabama last week. I think South Carolina will play well enough to hang around, but not win. Tigers take the SEC crown 41-28.
7:45
ACC championship
No. 15 Virginia Tech vs. No. 21 Florida State in Charlotte, N.C.
I'll be pulling for the Noles in this one, but I can't pick against Virginia Tech at this point, who is playing like a top 10 team right now. After losing to Boise State and JMU, the Hokies have rattled off 10 straight wins, usually in dominating fashion. FSU seems to be getting back to where it used to be, but they won't make it back all the way tonight. Tech wins 27-23.
8:00
Big 12 championship
No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Nebraska in Dallas, Tx.
Bitter rivals clash in what will be the final Big 12 title game as we know it. The Cornhuskers, along with Colorado, are leaving the Big 12 after this year. I like Oklahaoma to beat Nebraska in their going away party 38-28.
Connecticut at South Florida
The Huskies won't cooperate with West Virginia. They'll beat the Bulls 24-20 in a close game and win the Big East, likely earning a date against FSU or Va. Tech in the Orange Bowl.
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