Nick’s Picks: Conference Championship Weekend

     With the regular season most of the way over, it is time to look ahead to this week’s conference championship games.  Of course, a few important regular season games remain.  The Big East showdown between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh will decide a BCS berth, as will the Oregon-Oregon State game Thursday night.  The game of the week is undoubtedly top ranked Florida against #2 Alabama.  It should be a great day in football.
     Last week I finally rebounded from the dismal picks I had been making, correctly pegging West Virginia to upset Pitt and Oklahoma to upset Oklahoma State.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have it in me to pick my Bulldogs over Georgia Tech, but I will gladly get a pick wrong as long as Georgia wins.  On to this weeks picks…

(#16) Oregon State at (#7) Oregon: Never in the history of this rivalry has the winner automatically advanced to the Rose Bowl, but that’s what’s on the line Thursday night.  Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli has been much better since coming back from injury and played great in their double overtime win over Arizona two weeks ago.  The Ducks also have the 13th leading rusher in LaMichael James, who has rushed for 1,310 yards and 19 TD’s this year.  OSU counters with RB Jacquizz Rodgers, the nations 12th leading rusher, who has gone for 1,313 yards and 19 TD”s.  The winner in this one will have the most rushing yards; I have to give the edge to the Beavers, because Rodgers has proven he can get it done against anyone.  Oregon State will be playing Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
Ohio vs. Central Michigan: The MAC Championship Game, at Ford Field in Detroit, features a very talented Chippewa squad against a tough Ohio team.  I don’t think Ohio can contain CMU QB Dan LeFevour, a muilt-threat who is the MAC’s all time leader in total offense.  He has had a stellar senior year and should be motivated to take home a conference title.  Ohio will hang around for the first half, but in the second Central will pull away just like they have done in every league game so far this year.
(#5) Cincinnati at (#15) Pittsburgh: This is the de facto Big East championship game, since the conference doesn’t have a title game.  The winner earns an automatic BCS bid.  Pitt has the 4th leading rusher in the nation in freshman Dion Lewis, who has put up an impressive 1,446 yards on the year.  However, Cincy QB Tony Pike tossed 6 TD’s last week in his return to the starting line-up after his arm injury.  Pitt hasn’t faced an offense like this all season.  I’m not sure they have the speed to slow up Pike and his top WR Mardy Gilyard.  Cincinnati squeaks out the close victory and earns a BCS berth. 
(#1) Florida vs. (#2) Alabama: This is the game I can’t wait to see.  Florida hasn’t lost since QB Tim Tebow’s “promise,” while ‘Bama coach Nick Saban rarely loses to the same team twice in a row.  The Crimson Tide have gotten WR Julio Jones back in to the offense lately, and he was at his best on the game winning drive last week against Auburn.  RB Mark Ingram had a bad game last week and also hurt his hip.  This week he should be good to go and I think he will rebound nicely and put up 100+ yards.  Everyone knows I can’t stand Florida, and I will be so unhappy if the Gators win and advance to the BCS National Championship Game.  I think this game will come down to special teams, and Alabama has the advantage.  CB Javier Arenas is one of the best return men in the nation.  It will be close deep in to the 4th quarter, but I think ‘Bama squeaks it out in a low scoring game. 
(#3) Texas vs. (#22) Nebraska: I’ll keep this one close.  Nebraska has absolutely no chance in the Big-12 Championship Game.  Their offense revolves around the run game, and Texas has the top rushing defense in the nation.  QB Colt McCoy will probably not put up gaudy numbers against a good Cornhusker defense, but he will do enough to get the win.  Texas takes it to set up a showdown against ‘Bama for the national championship. 
(#10) Georgia Tech vs. Clemson: Both teams come in to the ACC Championship Game having lost their regular season finales, Tech to rival Georgia and Clemson to rival South Carolina.  The first game between thse two games was a classic, with GT blowing a 24-0 lead to fall behind 27-24 in the 4th quarter before coming back at the end to win 30-27.  Clemson RB C.J. Spiller should be getting an invite to the Heisman presentation in New York, and if he watched tape of the ‘Dawgs shredding Tech’s defense with the run last week, he has to be licking his chops.  The triple option attack for GT will have to be almost perfect, because I don’t think they will be able contain Clemson.  Clemson upsets Tech and goes on to a BCS game.

More picks (bolded team is predicted winner)…
(#21) Houston at East Carolina: QB Case Keenum will shred ECU in the Conferense USA Championship Game.  ECU has no chance.
(#23) West Virginia at Rutgers: WVU is coming off a big win against rival Pitt last week.  Rutgers is a very young team; next year they will contend for the conference title.  This year, though, West Virginia takes them down.
Fresno State at Illinois: Fresno RB Ryan Methews, the 3rd leading rusher in the nation, helps send the Illini to their 9th loss of the year.  Illinois QB Juice Williams will play well in his last game at Illinois, but it won’t be enough.
Arizona at (#18) USC: Arizona will suffer from a hangover after their double overtime loss to Oregon two weeks ago.  For the first time in recent memory USC won’t be playing in a BCS bowl, but they will close the season with a win.
(#19) California at Washington: Washington is one year away from being a contender in the Pac-10.  They will keep this one close at home, but Cal has turned it on as of late and gets the win.
South Florida at Connecticut: UConn will win their 3rd in a row to close out the year.  They’ve had a difficult season, with the death of CB Jasper Howard, but they have to be given credit for how they’ve kept it together.
Wisconsin at Hawaii: Hawaii is playing for a bowl berth, but Wisconsin and RB John Clay will be too much.

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