Monday, December 7, 2009

Championship Games Review

Overall, I went 4-1 with my predictions, the only loss being East Carolina over Houston. All of my "X-Factors" played huge roles in their respective games. Here's a recap:

SEC Championship:
My Prediction: Alabama 24, Florida 21
Actual Score: Alabama 32, Florida 13
X-Factor Stats: Tim Tebow (QB Florida); 20-35, 247 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Big XII Championship:
My Prediction: Texas 28, Nebraska 10
Actual Score: Texas 13, Nebraska 12
X-Factors Stats: Colt McCoy (QB Texas); 20-36, 184 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT's. Ndamukong Suh (DT Nebraska); 7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 4.5 sacks

Big East Title Game:
My Prediction: Cincinnati 38, Pittsburgh 35
Actual Score: Cincinnati 45, Pittsburgh 44
X-Factor Stats: Dion Lewis (RB Pittsburgh); 47 carries, 194 yards, 3 TD's

ACC Championship:
My Prediction: Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 21
Actual Score: Georgia Tech 39, Clemson 34
X-Factor Stats: C.J. Spiller (RB Clemson), 20 carries, 233 yards, 4 TD's

Conference USA Championship:
My Prediction: Houston 45, East Carolina 24
Actual Score: Houston 32, East Carolina 38
X-Factor Stats: Case Keenum (QB Houston); 56-75, 527 yards, 5 TD's, 3 INT's

Friday, December 4, 2009

My Picks for Championship Weekend

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP:

#1 Florida (12-0, 8-0)
#2 Alabama (12-0, 8-0)

Prediction: Alabama 24, Florida 21

I actually have had a hard time determining the winner of this game. Both teams are #1 and #2 in total defense. Mark Ingram will have a better time running against Florida since DE Carlos Dunlap is not playing.
X-Factor: Florida QB Tim Tebow.


Big XII CHAMPIONSHIP:

#3 Texas (12-0, 8-0)
#22 Nebraska (9-3, 6-2)

My Prediction: Texas 28, Nebraska 10

The blackshirts are back. Texas will struggle at first against the Cornhuskers, but Nebraska doesn't have an offense that can match Colt McCoy and the Longhorns. It will be close in the first half, then Texas will pull away.
X-Factors: Texas QB Colt McCoy and Nebraska DT Ndamakong Suh.


Big East Title Game:

#5 Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0)
#15 Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1)

My Prediction: Cincinnati 38, Pittsburgh 35

This is going to be one hell of a game. Part of me thinks Pittsburgh will pull the upset, but I have seen Cincinnati play twice this year, and they are legit. Hopefully, for the Bearcats, Head Coach Brian Kelly is not going to be distracted about Notre Dame talks. Pitt has arguably the best RB in college football, Dion Lewis. The fabulous freshman has rushed for 1,446 yards and 13 TD's.
X Factor: Pitt RB Dion Lewis.


ACC Championship Game:

#10 Georgia Tech (10-2, 7-1)
Clemson (8-4, 6-2)

My Prediction: Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 21

Both teams are coming off of embarrasing losses. Georgia Tech lost to Georgia, giving up nearly 340 yards on the ground, while Clemson, lost to their archrivals South Carolina. It is going to be exactly like the game in early September, Georgia Tech gets up early, and Clemson scratches their way back into it. Specials teams will determine the outcome of this game. Clemson RB C.J. Spiller saw his Heisman hopes go down the drain in Columbia, only racking up 18 yards rushing (he have an 88-yard kickoff return for a TD).
X-Factor: Clemson RB C.J. Spiller.


Conference USA Championship Game:

#21 Houston (10-2, 6-2)
East Carolina (8-4, 7-1)

My Prediction: Houston 45, East Carolina 24

Houston QB Case Keenum is an unbelievable quarterback. If Oklahoma State had trouble stopping him, East Carolina will definitely have trouble.
X-Factor: Houston QB Case Keenum.