Can Iowa upset Michigan State and will Clemson hold on to number one with an ACC Title win? Championship Week Predictions

The final week of the college football season brings us our yearly conference championship games and a few regular season games that could have significance on the bowl selections.  Here are my predictions.

Big 10 Championship Game

Undefeated Iowa and Michigan State, a one loss team, play for the final Playoff position.  Winner is in and the loser is not guaranteed to play in the Rose Bowl with a one loss Ohio State team sitting this one out.  Most foresee a Spartan win as they have played a much harder schedule. Iowa has played a much inferior group of teams but do not let that fact fool you.  Iowa will give MSU all they can handle and a possible Hawkeye win is certainly not out of the question.  Iowa will move the ball on a very good Sparty defense and if it becomes a fourth quarter game I think the undefeated season continues for the men from Iowa City.  The psychological advantage goes to Iowa in this one.  Hawkeyes surprise 28 to 24.  Iowa to the Final Four.

ACC Championship Game

Clemson has been the number one ranked team for the balance of the season and will get to pile up the points in their ACC title game with North Carolina.  The Tigers are better on both sides of the ball.  Brent Venables’s defense will show their dominance in this ACC Championship meeting.  Clemson 42 and North Carolina 20.  Dabo Sweeney is my coach of the year, regular season.

SEC Championship Game

As much as I like Florida on defense, I do not like them on offense.  Can Florida get a score, maybe a field goal against Alabama?  The only way for the Crimson Tide to blow this one is to turn the ball over and give Florida a short field, more than twice.  The kicking game could also let Florida in the gate. If all things are played evenly, Alabama will “Roll Tide”.  Final gives the men from Tuscaloosa about 24 and Florida, fresh out (0).  This is a mismatch between Florida’s offense and Alabama’s front seven.

Pacific Twelve Conference Championship Game

Stanford pulled it out against Notre Dame last week and they are the better coached team in this title game with Southern Cal.  But given the talent level, the Trojans have enough to win this one.  USC pulls the upset and gets the Rose Bowl invite, beating the Trees 31 to 30.

American Athletic Conference Championship Game

Temple visits Houston as both teams have had great seasons.  Since we have a home game for the Cougars the men from Temple will have difficulty, especially stopping the passing game of UH.  A close call but when most things are even I will go with the home team. With this one, Houston 32 and Temple 28.  Not set in stone and this one might be the most entertaining of all the Conference title games.

Big 12  Games:

Baylor and Texas in Waco will be a rough ending for a terrible season for the tea sippers. Will it be Charlie Strong’s last game with the Horns?  Art Briles will run it up in this one as Baylor sets sights for the Sugar Bowl.  Baylor 50 and Texas 14.

West Virginia at Kansas State:  Will the NCAA allow a 5-7 KSU team in a bowl?  That is what the Wildcats will be after the Mountaineers win their fifth straight in the Little Apple. West Virginia is the better team and will show it with a commanding 38 to 21 win.