SEC Championship: Missouri Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers (-2) at Atlanta
Mitchell: There’s no way I can bet against Auburn with how things have gone in their last two weeks. With two consecutive miracle wins in a row over Georgia and formerly top-ranked Alabama, there’s obviously something seriously working in the favor of the Tigers from the Plains. While I still don’t think Auburn is better than Alabama, it was impressive to see Gus Malzahn’s offense able to move the ball on the ground so effortlessly against the Crimson Tide’s defense. Nick Marshall and Tre Mason should see similar success against Missouri, as Auburn wins a shootout and clinches a BCS bowl berth. PICK: Auburn
Bigalke: After back-to-back miracles at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the big question in everyone’s mind seems to be whether Auburn is more worthy than Ohio State as a BCS Championship candidate. But while one set of Tigers has been relying on divine intervention, the other set of Tigers in this contest has steadily been making its own fate. Other than a ridiculous overtime defeat to South Carolina, Missouri has been perfect; as Les Miles would say, they’re “undefeated in regulation”. James Franklin and Henry Josey are healthy for a potent offense that features a slew of big, physical receivers. And the defense might be even better, led by Michael Sam. Everyone wants Gus Malzahn’s crew to force the BCS’s hand after taking the SEC championship for the second time in four years, but the newcomer on the block might be the more legitimate challenger to that crown. PICK: Missouri
Strobl: I, like the oddsmakers, see this as a true toss up. Either team could win, it should be close, and one or two key plays are likely to determine the outcome. Don’t sleep on Mizzou here; the Tigers might just be the better all-around team. But as the saying foes, it’s better to be lucky than good and while Auburn qualifies as both, no one has been luckier than War Eagle. PICK: Auburn
Pac-12 Championship: Stanford Cardinal at Arizona State Sun Devils (-3)
Mitchell: Interesting to see Arizona State favored by three in the PAC-12 Championship game despite the fact that Stanford knocked off the Sun Devils earlier this season in Palo Alto. But, those were different times, and it’s hard for me to point out a team playing better than Todd Graham’s Sun Devils at this point in the season. Likely being without Marion Grice hurts, but D.J. Foster should be able to fill the void well. With the Sun Devils also having the benefit of home field, I expect them to avenge their earlier season loss and book their tickets to Pasadena. PICK: Arizona State
Bigalke: What a roller-coaster season for the Pac-12, eh? The league came into the year looking at both Oregon and Stanford as national championship contenders. After a season of attrition, the league finished with three 10-win teams and nobody left in the national race. Instead of Oregon-UCLA in the championship game, as it looked for much of the season, we instead get Stanford heading east to Tempe to take on the dark-horse Sun Devils. ASU allows five more points a game, but they also score 10 more on average. Given home field advantage, we could end up with the South champion representing the league in the Rose Bowl instead of a North team. PICK: Arizona State
Strobl: With the exception of a close call against Utah, Arizona State has improved each week since its loss to Notre Dame. The Sundevils do deserve to have an additional defeat, but that goofy finish against Wisconsin is a rapidly fading memory in light of how well the offense has performed in Pac 12 play. Even though Stanford is a hugely popular upset pick here, the line has held nice and steady in ASU’s favor. Granted, the ‘Devils are getting the requisite home three and not a point more, but even that number tells me something. Stanford is a highly talented team that has proven itself in key situations, but in this case I’m leaning South. PICK: Arizona State
ACC Championship: Duke Blue Devils vs. Florida State Seminoles (-29) at Charlotte
Mitchell: David Cutcliffe is deservedly getting coach of the year honors bestowed upon him after leading Duke to 10 wins and a berth in the ACC Championship game. This level of success on the gridiron is unprecedented in Durham, and while they have had a magical season, I don’t think they match up very well with Florida State, the nation’s new no. 1 team. Jameis Winston should nail the door shut on the Heisman race as the Seminoles clinch a spot in the national title game, but I think the Blue Devils can keep it within four touchdowns. PICK: Duke
Bigalke: I’m not saying that the Blue Devils are going to throw a complete monkey wrench into the BCS system in its final go-around before retirement. But David Cutcliffe hasn’t built a paper tiger at Duke; this is the first time the school has taken football seriously since Steve Spurrier was prowling the sidelines of Wallace Wade Stadium, and the reality is that Cutcliffe has been to the Devils what Jim Harbaugh was to Stanford. The difference is that Cutcliffe seems to have no NFL predilections, nor is he about to jump ship. Say what you will about Jimbo Fisher’s work in Tallahassee, but the truth is that no coach is doing better in the ACC than the guy in Durham, and I believe he’s building a burgeoning powerhouse no different than the one in Palo Alto. They probably won’t win, but the Seminoles aren’t going to come out looking good after this contest. Envision a scoreline much like we saw from FSU and Georgia Tech last year as the Seminoles squeak into the last BCS championship after playing in the first three. PICK: Duke
Strobl: The ongoing Jameis Winston saga concluded with no charges filed against the Heisman frontrunner, leaving this monster spread intact. It makes for a very tough call in my opinion; Duke is outclassed by what might be the best overall roster in the nation, but four touchdowns is huge for a championship game of any kind. I’m not ashamed to admit that I have no idea how to pick this; the experts and the betting nation are both divided. But my gut is saying Seminoles. PICK: Florida State
Big Ten Championship: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans (+5.5) at Indianapolis
Mitchell: I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Michigan State pull the upset and get to the Rose Bowl. This should be an outstanding game that won’t be decided until the final quarter. Michigan State has arguably the best defense in the country, and Sparty will get after Buckeyes QB Braxton Miller, but Milller, along with Carlos Hyde, will provide the toughest challenge of the season for Dantonio’s crew. While it should be close, I’m not sure I can trust Michigan State’s offense to do enough damage against Ohio State’s suspect defense in order to pull the upset. PICK: Ohio State
Bigalke: Ohio State has one hurdle left to clear. Win and they’re headed to Pasadena for the BCS championship; lose and they’re not even going to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. The Spartans offer the stiffest defensive test the Buckeyes have seen all season; hell, MSU offers the stiffest defensive test OSU will face all season regardless of who they play in their bowl game. Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde didn’t like watching their fate decided from the sidelines last weekend against Michigan. I have a feeling they won’t let that other School Up North keep it close enough for discomfort. PICK: Ohio State
Strobl: Which Ohio State team will we get in this one, and how tight will the Buckeyes be? Those are my questions. No one ever though Michigan would be within a play of upsetting the now-#2 Bucks, and yet the Wolverines nearly upended OSU’s title quest in dramatic fashion. Michigan State has one of the nation’s top defenses, and though the Spartans’ offense has run hot and cold this year, it seems likely that there’s enough talent on both sides of ball for MSU to hang with Ohio State. This is a one-score spread, and Ohio State could certainly win by a touchdown or more. But with what I’ve seen from the Buckeye defense lately, I’m going to play it safe and expect a close finish. PICK: Michigan State
MWC Championship: Utah State Aggies at Fresno State Bulldogs (-3.5)
Mitchell: You can question Fresno State’s motivation in this one after they lost to San Jose State last week to end their hopes of a BCS bowl berth. Matt Wells should be commended for the job he did with Utah State this season, helping the Aggies to the Mountain West Championship Game despite losing star player Chuckie Keeton to injury. Still, with no Keeton, and Derek Carr on the other sideline, along with home field advantage, I’ll lay the points. PICK: Fresno State
Bigalke: Fresno State blew its chance at BCS glory last week against San Jose State, but it certainly wasn’t Derek Carr’s fault. The Heisman longshot was intercepted in the fourth quarter, sure, but the defense had already allowed 59 points by then and time simply ran out on a day where he would finish 38-of-50 for 519 yards and six touchdowns. Against Utah State, the defense will have to be much better if the Bulldogs are to stave their fall from BCS contention. That means stopping Joey DeMartino, the senior tailback from San Diego that has rushed for over 100 yards in four of his last five games. Over 1000 for the year, DeMartino has stepped it up after the season-ending knee injury suffered by quarterback Chuckie Keeton against BYU. Freshman Darell Garretson took over in Keeton’s spot and has been solid if unspectacular, good enough to guide the Aggies to a 5-1 record in his six starts and lead them into the inaugural MWC championship game. What really drove the team’s success was its defense, ranked seventh nationally in points allowed per game. Under the guidance of new head coach (and former Utah State QB from 1993-1996) Matt Wells, Utah State will keep this one close… a field goal is deciding this one way or another. PICK: Utah State
Strobl: Utah State is a good team, and if Chuckie Keeton hadn’t gone down this might be a different conversation. But aside from a stumble against San Jose State, Fresno has rolled. We may question how much the Bulldogs have left to play for, but I think talent wins out here either way. PICK: Fresno State
THIS SEASON:
- Bigalke: 71-66-3
- Strobl: 70-67-3
- Mitchell: 62-75-3
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