#5 Virginia Tech Hokies (11-1, 7-1 ACC) vs #20 Clemson Tigers (9-3, 6-2 ACC)
It seems like year in, year out – like clockwork – Virginia Tech winds up in the conference title game. Long-tenured head coach Frank Beamer perennially has his Hokies in contention.
The Arkansas Razorbacks will try and work their way into the top 25 with a victory on road this Saturday against the Connecticut Huskies at the XL Center in Hartford.
This Saturday afternoon at Rupp Arena in Lexington, two of the best teams in college basketball square-off in a huge season showdown with the top spot in the nation on the line when the North Carolina Tar Heels tangle with the Kentucky Wildcats.
It’s the first edition of the Big Ten Conference Championship Game this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The title game will be a rematch of what might have been the best regular season game of the year in the conference. Michigan State won 37-31 on a last second Hail Mary the first time these two met.
Michigan State vs. Wisconsin
Lucas Oil Stadium
Saturday December 3, 8:15 PM EST
NCAA Football Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Wisconsin (-365) Michigan State (+305)
College Football Spread: Wisconsin -9.5 (-110) Michigan State +9.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 54.5
Can the Spartans upset the Badgers a second time or will Wisconsin get revenge?
Mark Dantonio has done a terrific job turning around this Michigan State program. The Spartans had been mired in mediocrity before Dantonio came, but the past two years have been great for this team. Other than a misstep at Nebraska this year, the team was perfect in Big Ten conference play.
It was the defense that led the team this year, but the offense progressed a great deal as the season moved along. Kirk Cousins, a third year starter at quarterback, put together a terrific season for Michigan State.
Cousins threw for 2,700 yards and 21 touchdowns this year. Le’Veon Bell and Edwin Baker form a solid tailback tandem for the Spartans. B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin are both capable of making plays down the field on the outside, which helps stretch the defense.
Jerrell Worthy is the anchor for this terrific defense. Michigan State ranks in the top 11 in the country in every major defensive category.
Isaiah Lewis leads the team with four interceptions. Wisconsin did put up 443 total yards against this unit last time, so they will need to improve this Saturday or things likely won’t end as well as they did last time for the Spartans. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Russell Wilson has been the perfect quarterback for Wisconsin this season. Wilson has better numbers than any other quarterback in the nation. Wilson threw for 28 touchdowns and just three interceptions this year. He also completed a ridiculous 73% of his passes. While Wilson gives this team an extra dimension on offense, it still starts with the power running game.
Montee Ball racked up 1,622 yards this season. Ball had 29 rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns.
James White is a very solid backup tailback, and he averaged 5.1 yards per carry this year. Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis are solid at the wide receiver spots. The Badgers may well have the most balanced offense in the nation. Wisconsin is averaging 45 points per game in 2011.
The Badgers defense was a pleasant surprise this season. The loss of J.J. Watt left many to believe that this unit would struggle this year, but that wasn’t the case at all. Wisconsin ranks third in the nation in pass defense.
The secondary has done a great job keeping everything in front of them this year. Wisconsin is giving up just 15.2 points per contest.
I really like what Dantonio has done at Michigan State, but I think Wisconsin is the much more complete team. The Badgers have a lot to prove here, and I think they’ll do just that.
Look for the Badgers offensive line to assert its dominance early and often.
Free College Football Pick: Wisconsin -9.5
Score Prediction: Wisconsin 38 Michigan State 20
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This AFC match up should have been a sweet one with a Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady battle, but with Manning out the winless Colts are HUGE underdogs heading to New England.
The Texans (8-3) has won 5 straight, which is their longest winning streak in team history, but getting to 6 straight will not be easy, as they face a 7-4 Falcons’ team and they will be starting their 3rd string QB.
This game features Baylor hopeful QB Robert Griffin facing Texas, who has the best defense in the Big 12.
This game is for all the marbles, as the winner will win the Big 12 and get a BCS bowl game while the loser may not.
Iowa State (6-5) has lost 3 in a row to Kansas State (9-2) and they had their 2 game winning streak snapped with a loss last week.
The Oakland Raiders lost their starting quarterback to a broken right collarbone in mid-October. Who would have thought at the time that the player they would pick up to take over at that position would drastically improve their offense?
When the Tennessee Titans take the field this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, they will do so as perhaps the most underrated team heading in to this weekend.
The Dallas Cowboys will look to take one step closer to this season’s NFC East Division title with a win over a past East rival, the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday afternoon in Phoenix.
The undefeated Green Bay Packers invade MetLife Stadium this Sunday afternoon to tangle with the New York Giants, who suddenly find themselves in desperate need of a win.
All the SEC marbles are on the line this weekend in Atlanta, and the argument could be made that the game features the nation’s two hottest teams.
Boise State will once again fall short of playing in the BCS National Championship Game, but the Broncos have a chance at a BCS bowl berth as long as they win this weekend.
New Mexico is one of those teams that is likely looking forward to this season being over. What can you expect in this Mountain West finale on Saturday in Boise?
New Mexico vs. Boise State
Bronco Stadium
Saturday December 3, 6:00 PM EST
NCAA Football Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Off
College Football Spread: Boise State -48.5 (-110) New Mexico +48.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 61.5
New Mexico hired former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie to try to stabilize the football program. To say that the last few years have been bad for the Lobos is a major understatement. New Mexico is 3-35 in their last 38 games. Davie is a pretty big name hire for the school, and it will be interesting to see what kind of progress he can make with this team.
It’s tough to find anything positive to say about this year’s New Mexico squad. They did pick up a win a couple weeks ago against UNLV, which had to help boost the morale a little bit. The Lobos are last in all of college football in points per game at just 13.1. Defensively, they are second to last in points allowed per game. The Lobos give up 42 points per game. The offense has been held to ten points or less in seven games this season. The defense has improved slightly as the season has gone on, but they’ll get a big test this weekend.
Boise State was stunned a couple weeks ago by TCU. The Horned Frogs pulled off a 36-35 win in Boise. The loss knocked the Broncos out of the national title picture. It seems Boise State has never totally recovered from that game. Boise State has won the last two weeks, but they haven’t looked very impressive. The Broncos allowed 35 points at San Diego State, and they were tied until seconds before the half last week at home against Wyoming. Kellen Moore has had another stellar season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Moore is clearly one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, and I fully believe he is still underrated by most fans. Moore has thrown for more than 30 touchdowns and less than ten interceptions in three straight seasons. Doug Martin and D.J. Harper are a great tailback tandem. Martin is the bruiser and Harper is the speedster that helps provide a change of pace. Boise State has missed Titus Young and Austin Pettis, but Tyler Shoemaker has stepped up and become a top target for Moore.
The Boise State defense hasn’t been quite as dominant this season as it has been the last couple years. The secondary has been hit hard by injuries, and the team has suffered because of that. Four of the Broncos last five opponents have scored at least 21 points. Another big problem has been the lack of a pass rush. Boise State has just 16 sacks all season.
New Mexico is badly outmanned here. Boise State could probably name their score, but this is a massive point spread. I’ll take the under in this one, because I’m not sure New Mexico can score at all here.
Free College Football Pick: Under 61.5
Score Prediction: Boise State 52 New Mexico 3
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The Wyoming Cowboys look to close the 2011 regular season out strong on the road in Colorado.
