Its CCG week, both official and unofficial. More or less every conference this year is coming down to THIS week's game to decide the conference winner. There is only ONE game left after this week, and that is the Army/Navy game, which is quite possibly the most boring game played every year.
Without further adieu...
No. 16 Oregon State at No. 7 Oregon
Has there been a bigger Pac-10 game in the last 20 years? Not only is this a heated in-state rivalry (The Civil War), but it is also the definitive game for the Pac-10 Championship and a birth in the Rose Bowl, a place Oregon has not seen since 1994 and a place OSU hasnt been since 1965. Masoli played his ass of against AZ and hopes to have a repeat performance in Autzen, where the crosw noise could be deafening. OSU will look to counter with the most efficent passer in the Pac-10 in Canfield, and quite possibly the best RB in the conference in Quizz Rodgers, who may get an invite to NY for the Heisman Trophy as well. This game will come down to defense, as both offenses can score. Winner gets the Rose Bowl, loser gets the Holiday Bowl.
Ohio vs. Central Michigan
For the MAC championship, played at Ford Field in Detroit. Senior's Theo Scott and Dan Lefevour will play their last games against one another in this game. Lefevour will most likely be headed to the NFL once his season is over and would surely like to add a 3rd MAC trophy to his resume. Meanwhile, Ohio will look to avange their 2006 MACCG loss to CMU and hopes to be yet another very good team in the state of Ohio, joining tOSU and Cincy. The winner will most likely go to the Little Ceaser Bowl (formerly the Motor City Bowl), while the loser will head to the GMAC Bowl.
No. 5 Cincinnati at No. 15 Pittsburgh
Evne though Pitt dropped a game to their rival WVU last week, they still have a chance to win the Big East (actually, a share becuase it would be identical records). Tony Pike is slated to start and looks to throw another 5 TD's, while Pitt's freshman sensation Dion Lewis will look to add to his totals in hopes of an upset. Winner gets an automatic BCS birth as an "at-large", as the Big east has no specific tie-ins to a BCS bowl...its up to the committee. The loser will end up in either the Gator or Holiday bowl.
No. 21 Houston at East Carolina
Houston has been putting up very big offensive numbers, especially with Case Keenum behind the center, but their defense is something to be desired. ECU has once again finds itself in position to win the conference, as they did last year. Winner will go to the Liberty Bowl, and the loser to the Hawaii Bowl.
New Mexico State at No. 6 Boise State
BSU needs to put on a show to help their case for an at-large bid in a BCS game. OKST helped them last week, but it still may not be enough.
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama
For all the cookies in the basket, the winner wins the conference and gets to the NCG game to face Texas (assuming they win). Both teams have shown dominance and vulnerability during the season, each nearly falling to lesser foes. It will be Tebow's last SEC game and I am sure many teams are happy to see him go. Mark INgram is healthy and WILL play against the Gators. Loser will get the Capital One Bowl.
Florida Atlantic at Florida International
Only here becuase it is a rivalry game. But, who really cares?
No. 3 Texas vs. No. 22 Nebraska
Will be played at the New Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas nearly lost to rival TAMU last week...while Nebraska rolled over Mizzou. Texas has struggled against good D's this year, and Nebraska has one of hte best. Only problem is, their offense is near non-existent. It is going to take some big time plays for Nebraska to pull this off, and that may have to come from the defense. If Texas wins, they are in the NCG, and Nebraska gets The Cotton Bowl. However, id Nebraska wins, things get tricky. The NCG could get a plethora of other teams, including TCU and would leave an at-large bid for Texas and possibly even Nebraska.
No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. Clemson
The ACCCG game will be hosted in Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium. Both teams lost to their respective SEC rivals last week, making this a less high profile game than it could have been, taking Clemons out of the Top 25. Nesbitt was a bit banged up last week, but should be ready to play. The Tigers will counter with their big play maker and Heisman hopeful CJ Spiller, who is the top NFL RB prospect in many mock drafts. Winner gets an invite to most likely the Orange Bowl, while the loser gets the Chik-Fil-A bowl.
Without further adieu...
No. 16 Oregon State at No. 7 Oregon
Has there been a bigger Pac-10 game in the last 20 years? Not only is this a heated in-state rivalry (The Civil War), but it is also the definitive game for the Pac-10 Championship and a birth in the Rose Bowl, a place Oregon has not seen since 1994 and a place OSU hasnt been since 1965. Masoli played his ass of against AZ and hopes to have a repeat performance in Autzen, where the crosw noise could be deafening. OSU will look to counter with the most efficent passer in the Pac-10 in Canfield, and quite possibly the best RB in the conference in Quizz Rodgers, who may get an invite to NY for the Heisman Trophy as well. This game will come down to defense, as both offenses can score. Winner gets the Rose Bowl, loser gets the Holiday Bowl.
Ohio vs. Central Michigan
For the MAC championship, played at Ford Field in Detroit. Senior's Theo Scott and Dan Lefevour will play their last games against one another in this game. Lefevour will most likely be headed to the NFL once his season is over and would surely like to add a 3rd MAC trophy to his resume. Meanwhile, Ohio will look to avange their 2006 MACCG loss to CMU and hopes to be yet another very good team in the state of Ohio, joining tOSU and Cincy. The winner will most likely go to the Little Ceaser Bowl (formerly the Motor City Bowl), while the loser will head to the GMAC Bowl.
No. 5 Cincinnati at No. 15 Pittsburgh
Evne though Pitt dropped a game to their rival WVU last week, they still have a chance to win the Big East (actually, a share becuase it would be identical records). Tony Pike is slated to start and looks to throw another 5 TD's, while Pitt's freshman sensation Dion Lewis will look to add to his totals in hopes of an upset. Winner gets an automatic BCS birth as an "at-large", as the Big east has no specific tie-ins to a BCS bowl...its up to the committee. The loser will end up in either the Gator or Holiday bowl.
No. 21 Houston at East Carolina
Houston has been putting up very big offensive numbers, especially with Case Keenum behind the center, but their defense is something to be desired. ECU has once again finds itself in position to win the conference, as they did last year. Winner will go to the Liberty Bowl, and the loser to the Hawaii Bowl.
New Mexico State at No. 6 Boise State
BSU needs to put on a show to help their case for an at-large bid in a BCS game. OKST helped them last week, but it still may not be enough.
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama
For all the cookies in the basket, the winner wins the conference and gets to the NCG game to face Texas (assuming they win). Both teams have shown dominance and vulnerability during the season, each nearly falling to lesser foes. It will be Tebow's last SEC game and I am sure many teams are happy to see him go. Mark INgram is healthy and WILL play against the Gators. Loser will get the Capital One Bowl.
Florida Atlantic at Florida International
Only here becuase it is a rivalry game. But, who really cares?
No. 3 Texas vs. No. 22 Nebraska
Will be played at the New Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas nearly lost to rival TAMU last week...while Nebraska rolled over Mizzou. Texas has struggled against good D's this year, and Nebraska has one of hte best. Only problem is, their offense is near non-existent. It is going to take some big time plays for Nebraska to pull this off, and that may have to come from the defense. If Texas wins, they are in the NCG, and Nebraska gets The Cotton Bowl. However, id Nebraska wins, things get tricky. The NCG could get a plethora of other teams, including TCU and would leave an at-large bid for Texas and possibly even Nebraska.
No. 10 Georgia Tech vs. Clemson
The ACCCG game will be hosted in Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium. Both teams lost to their respective SEC rivals last week, making this a less high profile game than it could have been, taking Clemons out of the Top 25. Nesbitt was a bit banged up last week, but should be ready to play. The Tigers will counter with their big play maker and Heisman hopeful CJ Spiller, who is the top NFL RB prospect in many mock drafts. Winner gets an invite to most likely the Orange Bowl, while the loser gets the Chik-Fil-A bowl.
