Unlike most weeks there isn't twenty or so games on, or rivalry weekend, but it is conference championship weekend. For a select few programs, a lot will be on the line Saturday, December 7, 2013, or for one marquee match up December 6th.
Friday night kicks off the conference clashes with #14 ranked Northern Illinois (12-0) taking on Bowling Green (9-3). For both of these teams the stage is big including the coaches. Both coaches are entering their first season as head coaches. For NIU the scene Friday night will be very familiar considering the fact that this will be their 3rd straight MAC title appearance in a row! NIU has won the last two MAC titles and will receive a BCS bowl bid with a win. NIU also appeared in a BCS bowl game last year but fell way short to the talented Florida State Seminoles.
Duke? 10-2 ? No, I am not joking, the 20th ranked Duke Blue devils (10-2) will take on the #1 ranked Florida State Seminoles tomorrow at 8:00 PM on ABC. As many people predicted, FSU is predicted to win by 29.5 points according to Vegas. Does Duke have a chance? No, Duke's chances were taken away from them like taking a passe from a baby while the baby sits hopelessly at the dinner table in their highchair. The only hope Duke had on coming out on top or even competing was if Jameis Winston or 'Famous Jameis' had been charged with sexual assault at two o'clock this past Thursday. As we all know, Mr. Winston was not charged.
The SEC, some call it the nations best conference, some say there is Alabama and then the SEC. Alabama was forgotten last week with Auburn's miracle field goal return. This week #3 Auburn heads to Atlanta for another big contest against the originally Big 12 #5 ranked Missouri Tigers. This game will be on at 4:00 PM on CBS. Will Missouri's D-FENCE be able to stop Auburn's rushing attack? How big of a difference does Missouri's outstanding defensive ends make?
Does Ohio State deserve to be in the national title game? Will Auburn or Missouri jump Ohio State with a win? These are two questions that are being asked all over the country. With Ohio States (12-0) record and being #2 in the polls, I feel like it is safe to say with a win over 10th ranked 11-1 Michigan State, the buckeyes will be on their way to Pasadena, California. This game will be aired at 8:17 on FOX Saturday night.
The Crazy PAC 12, what are we going to do with them? From changing names from PAC 10 to PAC 12, with team changes, to huge victories and huge defeats, mid season coach firings and more. Everyone believed Oregon would come out on top and be headed to Pasadena but as we can see, they aren't even in the PAC 12 Championship. Some Oregon players tweeted about how the Rose Bowl didn't mean anything because they had already been there after the Stanford loss. Karma. One week later, Stanford lost and opened the door for Oregon to reclaim a spot in the PAC 12 championship. But no, the following week, Oregon loses to Arizona taking there conference hopes away, Rose bowl, sorta hopes away, and Mariota's slim Heisman chance. So, #7 Stanford (10-2) will take on #11 Arizona State (10-2) in the PAC 12 championship at 7:45 PM on ESPN.
Some other notable matchups this weekend :
#17 Oklahoma (9-2) vs #6 Oklahoma St (10-1) 12:00 PM on ABC
#16 UCF (10-1) vs SMU (5-6) 12:00 on ESPN
Marshall (9-3) vs Rice (9-3) CUSA Championship 12:00 on ESPN2
Southern(8-4) vs Jackson State (8-3) SWAC Championship on ESPNU
#25 Texas (8-3) vs #9 Baylor (10-1) 3:30 PM on FOX
Utah St (8-4) vs #23 Fresno St (10-1) MWC Championship 10:00 on CBS
Our Picks :
#16 UCF (10-1) vs SMU (5-6) UCF
Marshall (9-3) vs Rice (9-3) Rice
Southern(8-4) vs Jackson State (8-3) Southern
#25 Texas (8-3) vs #9 Baylor (10-1) Texas
Utah St (8-4) vs #23 Fresno St (10-1) Utah St.
#14 NIU (12-0) vs Bowling Green (9-3) Bowling Green
#1 FSU (12-0) vs #20 Duke (10-2) FSU
#3 Auburn (11-1) vs #5 Missouri (11-1) Auburn
#2 Ohio St (12-0) vs #10 Michigan St (11-1) Ohio St
#7 Stanford (10-2) vs #11 Arizona St (10-2) Stanford
I think you are 100% correct. SPD
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