NCAA football Week 15

[Umpire in Chief]

Well this is it, until the bowls. I will be picking 8 games. All 5 of the conference championship games and the 3 remaining rivalry games. But I'm still having problems deciding the Florida vs Alabama game. These teams are so well matched. This game will be better than the BCS title game, mark my words. Both teams are very well balanced in terms of offense and defense but I believe Florida holds the advantage on offense and Alabama holds the advantage on defense. I just don't know who to pick. :HS

[mstaylor]

I went with Florida but it's a toss-up. What's up with the BCS deciding a conference winner. I don't think that should ever be a factor but certainly not before they greatly improve the system.

[theedeuce]

All eyes will be on the SEC championship for sure. What a game on tap...

My pick will favor Alabama...

Why? Alabama will control the ball and the clock like they have all season long. Ground and pound ball control. It will be very difficult for Florida to score 50+ points when their defense is on the field most of the game. Should Alabama get caught up in trading licks with Florida and make this some high scoring affair will prove to be a big mistake. Saban is way too smart for that. I look for Alabama to win the toss and take the ball right off the bat.

Alabama 34

Florida 27

[LMSANS]

:HS

The Red Sox.

[Umpire in Chief]

Okay, I'm getting off the pot and making my picks.

The best football game of the year

Alabama vs Florida in the Georgia Dome

I have no doubt this will be the best football game of the year including the NFL. Winner goes to the National Championship game. There is a lot on the line. While I'm confident in how incredible this game will be, I'm not so confident in my pick. I see two completely different dynamics in these two teams from their style of play, to where they are and where they've been. My analysis of the teams leads me to believe Florida will win, but I'm going to go with my gut and say Alabama wins.

ACC Championship Game

Boston College vs Virginia Tech in Tampa

Well I will say the ACC met their goal by bringing over Miami, VT and BC to the ACC in turning the ACC into a football conference. The otherwise lack luster historical ACC teams have gotten better.

These two teams have had a difficult road to the championship game. Both have incredible defenses. BC won a few weeks ago at home vs VT. And I have to believe BC will win again.

Big 12 Championship Game

Missouri vs Oklahoma in Kansas City

Oklahoma may as well be playing Girl Scout troop 12. This will be lopsided and ugly. Oklahoma will be looking to continue to put big numbers on the board to remove any doubt as to make sure the BCS system doesn't screw them and put Texas in the Championship. Missouri is one of the most over-rated teams out there. Oklahoma wins big.

Conference USA Championship Game

East Carolina at Tulsa

Tulsa has an incredible offense, but has played a much easier schedule than ECU. Tulsa got beat by a struggling Arkansas team and was killed by Houston. But none of their wins came against strong teams. ECU has had a much tougher schedule and they have beaten 2 nationally ranked teams and lost 2 tough out of conference games. But they have also looked bad in having lost 2 conference games, both they should have won. Tulsa has an incredible offense and ECU had a great defense. My heart and the facts are telling me two different things. So I'm going to go with my heart and say ECU wins in what should be a pretty good game.

MAC Conference Championship Game

Ball State vs Buffalo in Detroit

I admit I'm flying blind here. I know nothing about either of these two teams other than I think Ball State is over-rated at #12 with the weak schedule. Even though they are undefeated I think they should be around 22-25 based on their weak schedule. That being said they should roll over Buffalo pretty easily. Ball St. wins.

The college football classic

USMA vs USNA, the Army Navy game at Lincoln Field in Philly

Watching the Army Navy game is one of my earliest football memories and I try never to miss this game. I have lived most of my life in the middle of the worlds largest Naval complex, my grandfather who I am named for was an Admiral, former Commandant of this complex and USNA graduate. My mother who isn't a football fan forced me to watch Cowboys to see Roger Staubach play when I was much younger. My little brother is a Captain in the Army, but is not a USMA grad he is a VMI Keydet so he has no loyalty to Army football. Navy has done really well this year including an upset of Wake Forest, but has had a weak schedule that also includes a loss to Notre Dame. Army has had a much tougher schedule than Navy so comparing the records would be deceiving. All that being said Navy has a really good offense and not a bad defense. Navy is stronger on both sides of the football. Navy wins.

USC vs UCLA

OMG! USC is going to forfeit 2 timeouts to wear their red jerseys. This seemed to be the biggest news in the sports world for a while. Who cares! This is a who cares game for me but a heated rivalry in Los Angeles. Over-rated USC ends their easy schedule with a crushing defeat of UCLA. USC wins.

Arizona State @ Arizona

While their records are not that good and they have a similar record, Arizona State has had the tougher schedule. This will be a good game because of the emotions, but the Arizona Wildcats have a much stronger offense. Arizona State wins.

[Umpire in Chief]

5-3 this week, not bad.

Okay, I'm getting off the pot and making my picks.

The best football game of the year

Alabama vs Florida in the Georgia Dome

I have no doubt this will be the best football game of the year including the NFL. Winner goes to the National Championship game. There is a lot on the line. While I'm confident in how incredible this game will be, I'm not so confident in my pick. I see two completely different dynamics in these two teams from their style of play, to where they are and where they've been. My analysis of the teams leads me to believe Florida will win, but I'm going to go with my gut and say Alabama wins.

Congrats to Florida the NCAA D-I Football Champions. Oh yeah, they have one more game in a few weeks but Oklahoma has not seen a defense as strong as Florida's all year.

ACC Championship Game

Boston College vs Virginia Tech in Tampa

Well I will say the ACC met their goal by bringing over Miami, VT and BC to the ACC in turning the ACC into a football conference. The otherwise lack luster historical ACC teams have gotten better.

These two teams have had a difficult road to the championship game. Both have incredible defenses. BC won a few weeks ago at home vs VT. And I have to believe BC will win again.

Wow any time I pick against VT they prove me wrong, except for the ECU game.

Big 12 Championship Game

Missouri vs Oklahoma in Kansas City

Oklahoma may as well be playing Girl Scout troop 12. This will be lopsided and ugly. Oklahoma will be looking to continue to put big numbers on the board to remove any doubt as to make sure the BCS system doesn't screw them and put Texas in the Championship. Missouri is one of the most over-rated teams out there. Oklahoma wins big.

62-21 big enough for you?

Conference USA Championship Game

East Carolina at Tulsa

Tulsa has an incredible offense, but has played a much easier schedule than ECU. Tulsa got beat by a struggling Arkansas team and was killed by Houston. But none of their wins came against strong teams. ECU has had a much tougher schedule and they have beaten 2 nationally ranked teams and lost 2 tough out of conference games. But they have also looked bad in having lost 2 conference games, both they should have won. Tulsa has an incredible offense and ECU had a great defense. My heart and the facts are telling me two different things. So I'm going to go with my heart and say ECU wins in what should be a pretty good game.

I wish I could talk about this game but I didn't record it

One thing I will say is Skip Holtz please don't leave ECU for Syracuse! You've been a dream come true to ECU. Now to win the Liberty Bowl. I'm excited that they gotthe Liberth Bowl, but I was hoping for a better SEC team.

MAC Conference Championship Game

Ball State vs Buffalo in Detroit

I admit I'm flying blind here. I know nothing about either of these two teams other than I think Ball State is over-rated at #12 with the weak schedule. Even though they are undefeated I think they should be around 22-25 based on their weak schedule. That being said they should roll over Buffalo pretty easily. Ball St. wins.

Oh well, did any body care about this one?

The college football classic

USMA vs USNA, the Army Navy game at Lincoln Field in Philly

Watching the Army Navy game is one of my earliest football memories and I try never to miss this game. I have lived most of my life in the middle of the worlds largest Naval complex, my grandfather who I am named for was an Admiral, former Commandant of this complex and USNA graduate. My mother who isn't a football fan forced me to watch Cowboys to see Roger Staubach play when I was much younger. My little brother is a Captain in the Army, but is not a USMA grad he is a VMI Keydet so he has no loyalty to Army football. Navy has done really well this year including an upset of Wake Forest, but has had a weak schedule that also includes a loss to Notre Dame. Army has had a much tougher schedule than Navy so comparing the records would be deceiving. All that being said Navy has a really good offense and not a bad defense. Navy is stronger on both sides of the football. Navy wins.

While this was a stomp, this is just a game you have to watch.

USC vs UCLA

OMG! USC is going to forfeit 2 timeouts to wear their red jerseys. This seemed to be the biggest news in the sports world for a while. Who cares! This is a who cares game for me but a heated rivalry in Los Angeles. Over-rated USC ends their easy schedule with a crushing defeat of UCLA. USC wins.

Did anybody expect different?

Arizona State @ Arizona

While their records are not that good and they have a similar record, Arizona State has had the tougher schedule. This will be a good game because of the emotions, but the Arizona Wildcats have a much stronger offense. Arizona State wins.

[PeteBooth]

Well this is it, until the bowls. I will be picking 8 games. All 5 of the conference championship games and the 3 remaining rivalry games. But I'm still having problems deciding the Florida vs Alabama game. These teams are so well matched. This game will be better than the BCS title game, mark my words. Both teams are very well balanced in terms of offense and defense but I believe Florida holds the advantage on offense and Alabama holds the advantage on defense. I just don't know who to pick.

UIC

Beside the fact that I do not like the BCS set-up NCAA division I football is the ONLY sport where head-head match-ups do not not seem to count.

Texas beat Oklahoma and Texas's only loss was a last seond pass ON THE ROAD to Tech. Texas beat all the teams Ohlahoma did with the exception of Tech but the fact is TEXAS beat Oklahoma on a NEUTRAL field. - go figure

Another factor the polls (computers) do not take into consideration is past appearances. I for one am glad Ohio St. is not in the Championship game again. After Oklahoma won the National Championship look at their bowl record since. It's a joke.

Oklahoma was proibited favorites against both Boise St and West Virginina and lost. West Virginia beat them with ease.

It's apparent there is NO DEFENSE in the Big 12.

IMO, the best match-up would have been USC vs. Florida but USC dug their own grave by losing to Oregon St.

Until Oklahoma prooves to me that they are for REAL in a BCS bowl game I am picking Florida. Let's see what happens when Oklahoma gets "smacked in the mouth" by a decent defensive team.

As for the Orange Bowl - another boring game - VA Tech vs. Cincy, other than the students of those 2 schools does anybody really care.

Rose bowl - USC vs. Penn St - I like USC the BIG ten was way down this year and the PAC 10 almost always beats the BIG Ten in this game dating back to when Bo Schembeckler and Woody Hayes had those great teams yet they lost to USC.

I am looking forward to Alabama vs. Utah. The Utah's of the workd seem to put on a good show.

All in all there needs to be some kind of play-off system. The reason why there is not one is - MONEY. Once the powers to be can figure that issue out then there will be a playoff. Also, as mentioned, head-head match-ups do not seem to count so the entire process is a joke,. Just look at past years. I remember Nebraska playing for the National Championship and they lost there Conference Championship.

One thing - it generates many a heated debate and dialogue come this time of year.

Pete Booth

[Umpire in Chief]

I would much prefer a playoff system, but money is doing the talking. The schools can get really big money for the second tier BCS bowls, and still very good money for some of the other bowls. In a playoff system you couldn't get big sponsorships for a quarter final game. I would love to see a playoff system like the D-IAA schools do.

[theedeuce]

A play-off system will require a whole new thread of debate and opinions. Bottom line is a play-off system will never happen... NEVER... Can anyone imagine the arguements forthcoming. Imagine an 8 team playoff system. Which 8 teams will go. Who will have the final say. Are the conference champions in. What about the non conference teams or the teams that almost won their conference like Alabama. What about the Boise States or the Missouri's and Texas Techs...

Interesting debates and dialogues that will never end... The way I look at it is we already have a play-off system and it starts at the beginning of the season...