“I come from Detroit and I’m not a smooth talker.”-Eminem. The MAC Championship: Bowling Green vs. N. Illinois in Detroit.
While QBs like Deshaun Watson, Trevone
Boykin, Baker Mayfield, et al have garnered the spotlight this season, Bowling
Green’s Matt Johnson, due to lack of TV/media coverage, has somewhat quietly
gone about the business of being one of the very best QBs in the FBS.
The Falcons will need Johnson on-point on Friday when they face
the Huskies in the Motor City. N. Ill. Running
back Joel Bouagnon has rushed for more than 1,200 yards this season and has 18
TDs.
The Huskies have been in the MAC title game six straight
seasons. They won it last year; B.G. won
the championship in 2013.
Either B.G. or N.I. will ultimately heed the words of that great
and wise philosopher, sociologist and political scientist of our time, Eminem, “Success
is my only [12-letter descriptor] option, failure’s not.”—and prevail.
Projected winner: Bowling Green.
“Well, you can drop me off on
Peachtree, I got to feel that Georgia sun.”—Little Feat. The SEC Championship: #2 Alabama vs. #18 Florida in Atlanta.
As if those SEC arteries weren’t already hardened enough from all
the tailgate food this season, Tide and Gator faithful can swing by the world
famous Varsity Drive In, just up the street from the Georgia Dome, and chow
down on some chili dogs and cheeseburgers prior to the game.
This is the eighth time the two teams have met in the SEC
Championship, dating back to the first one in 1992. The record is Gators 4, Tide 3.
Behind a stingy defense, former Bama OC and Florida HBC Jim
McElwain will do his best to derail the Derrick Henry Express.
However, as Bama’s last three SEC opponents have discovered,
Derrick is a full-grown adult male who does not tire easily after dozens of
carries because he does not think the ball is very heavy
Projected winner: Bama.
“Back home again, in Indiana.”—Jim Nabors. The Big Ten Championship: Iowa vs. Michigan State in Indianapolis.
The #4 Hawkeyes, perhaps
the surprise team of the FBS, roll into Coltsville to face # 5 Sparty. Iowa is undefeated; Sparty has one loss by
one point.
How close could this be???
Iowa and Michigan State have a combined average 33.5 points per game. The Hawkeyes and the Spartans are tied 14+ in
turnovers. Plus, the contest will see
two terrific coaches in Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and State’s Mark Dantonio.
It’s so close, that on this one, Coach Jim Bob reaches out to
his great friend Doc who has a coin flip app on his phone….
Projected winner:
Michigan State.
“In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina.”—James
Taylor. The ACC Championship: #1 Clemson vs. # 10 North Carolina in
Charlotte.
The Tar Heels have an easy drive to Charlotte to face Clemson’s Heisman
candidate QB Deshaun Watson and the Tigers.
The Tigers have won 15 in a row, dating back to last year. The Heels have reeled off 11 wins in a row, a
U.N.C. record.
This game may come down to turnovers—and the Tigers have
committed seven in the last two games.
Projected winner: North
Carolina.
“Greetings, loved ones, let’s take a
journey.”—Katy Perry. The PAC 12
Championship. #20 U.S.C. vs. # 7 Stanford
in Santa Clara.
Coming off rivalry wins last week---Stanford over Notre Dame and
the Trojans over UCLA---the Cardinal and the Trojans go at it in the Bay Area.
Fans will get to see two prolific TD-throwing QBs in Stanford’s
Kevin Hogan (23 TDs) and S.C.’s Cody Kessler (27).
S.C. may have an emotional boost now that I (interim) BC Clay
Helton, this week, was crowned HBC.
But, to paraphrase Forrest Gump’s momma, cool is as cool does,
and HBC’s don’t get much cooler and smarter than Cardinal HBC David Shaw.
Projected winner:
Stanford.
"I’ve seen miles and miles of Texas.”—Bob
Wills/Asleep At The Wheel. The I-35
Bowl: Texas @ #12 Baylor.
Longhorn fans will leave Sodom & Gomorrah on the Lower
Colorado for Jerusalem-on-the-Brazos as the Longhorns play the Bears.
Until the Big 12 gets its own championship game, this is what we’ll
have to settle for in early December.
In Biblical terms, this really may be a David vs. Goliath duel
in Waco, given the disparity in the two teams: Texas at 4-7; the Bears at 9-2.
Injured QBs play a big part of the plotline in this one: UT lost
its starter last week; the Bears will now go with their third string QB.
In terms of offensive potency, there is a much greater distance
between Baylor and Texas than 102 miles down the middle of the U.S.’ busiest
interstate highway.
Projected winner: Baylor
Sources: ncaa.com; A-Z Lyrics.com
For your CFB TV watching pleasure, the quintessential,
easy-to-read guide: http://www.lsufootball.net/tvschedule.htm
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