It's Thanksgiving weekend in America, so the schedule has been slightly more spread out than usual. With SEC West teams making up the tip 3 places in the rankings, something had to give when #1 LSU hosted #3 Razorbacks. The Tigers came back from 14-0 down to win 41-17 and move to 12-0 for the season. The SEC Title Game beckons against Georgia in Atlanta next weekend, and LSU can look forward to going to the National Championship even with a loss. Elsewhere, #8 Houston destroyed Tulsa 48-16 to also move to 12-0. Playing in the non-BCS Conference-USA means it's highly unlikely that they'll get anywhere near the National Championship Game, but an at large BCS bid - possibly the Rose Bowl if Stanford win the Pac-12 - should be a given. Several of the rest of the Top 10 play today (#9 Oklahoma and #4 Oklahoma State play each other next week) as we try to make sense of the increasingly muddy BCS rankings.
Top 10 teams
#2 Alabama (10-1) at #24 Auburn (7-4)
With LSU winning their division, and likely going to the National Championship, having already lost to them, the Crimson Tide will probably have to settle for a Sugar Bowl appearance, but a big win at the Tigers could give the voters something to think about. This year's Iron Bowl has a lot to live up to after Cam Newton's incredible comeback performance a year ago, but since losing Newton, and several other key players such as Nick Fairley to the NFL and graduation, Auburn are not the team they were in 2010. 'Bama should win this to give the selectors a real headache.
Prediction: Alabama 34 Auburn 24
#5 Virginia Tech (10-1) at Virginia (8-3)
Following Clemson's capitulation against North Carolina State last week, the Hokies are now the top ranked team in the ACC. The two will almost certainly meet in a week for the conference championship, and Virginia Tech know that two wins could see them in National Championship contention. The Cavaliers could cause some problems, and a rivalry game is always prone for an upset, but I feel the Hokies will have their eyes firmly on the prize and run out comfortable winners.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 41 Virginia 13
#22 Notre Dame (8-3) at #6 Stanford (10-1)
The Irish are having a good season after a poor start, but are out of the running for a BCS Bowl bid. The Cardinal are now in pole position in the Pac-12 North following Oregon's shock loss at home to USC a week ago. Led by Andrew Luck, Stanford know a win will see them take part in the first ever Pac-12 Championship game next week, and with USC still suspended from the postseason, their likely opponents will be UCLA, a winnable game that could see them leapfrog into the National Championship running. The Cardinal though, have to keep their head on this game, and with Luck at the helm, they should see off the Irish without too many problems in front of their own passionate fans.
Prediction: Notre Dame 18 Stanford 37
Wyoming (7-3) at #7 Boise State (9-1)
Boise State's position this year is a puzzling one. They sit second in the Mountain West as a result of an in-conference loss to TCU, despite having a better overall record than the Horned Frogs, and will likely lose out on a BCS Bowl bid due to this fact. The Broncos though - with 2 games still to play - have to give it their all against a spirited Wyoming side who are enjoying only their third winning season in the past 10 years. The Cowboys will put up a fight, but Boise will win and give themselves a chance of a postseason marquee.
Prediction: Wyoming 14 Boise State 24
Oregon State (3-8) at #10 Oregon (9-2)
The Ducks blew it last week. At home to (an admittedly good) USC side, they capitulated and threw away the chance to play in a second consecutive National Championship Game. Oregon State have been awful all season, and won't cause any problems for the Ducks, even in this rivalry game, but the boys at Eugene will be wondering what could have been.
Prediction: Oregon State 10 Oregon 41
No comments:
Post a Comment