B50 Predictions

Last Week: The streak is finally over and perhaps the rivalry will be alive again. But that was the small news for the week as OSU hires Urban Meyer as the new head coach. The standard in the Big Ten has just been raised. And the cupboards are not bare so don't expect long until we are national competitors again. As for our picks, Rick has a one game lead at 47-18 going into our final week, put your money on him to win it all. And we will also be back for our annual bowl picks too be sure to weigh in on that as you check out our predictions.

This Week: Unfortunately the Bucks will not be playing this week but there are still plenty of championship type elimination games this week (and we are not going to even think about 6-6 UCLA @ Oregon). We start with Conference USA where Southern Mississippi will be trying to knock Houston from the undefeated ranks. The Cougars are looking to finish the year perfect. Next we move to the SEC. LSU wants to prove they deserve to play in their home state for the national championship, must first go to Georgia's home state and defeat the Bulldogs who have won 10 straight after starting 0-2. We also focus attention to the Big 12. With only 10 teams, they do not have a championship game this year. But the two top teams play each other this weekend and the winner between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will get the automatic BCS bid. If the Cowboys win, they stay alive for their own shot at the national championship game. The ACC title will be decided between Clemson and Virginia Tech. The Tigers are the only team to beat the Hokies this year. Finally we take a peak into Indy and the Big Ten Championship. The rematch with the Spartans and the Badgers should be the most exciting game of the weekend. It can not get any closer than their match-up in the regular season. The winner goes to the Rose Bowl to likely face the Ducks.

Here are our Week 14 Picks - Good Luck to All - Gregg

2011

Record

Southern Mississippi @ Houston

Brent: Pick: Houston - tune up for Sugar Bowl matchup against Michigan?

Gregg: I think this will be a lot closer than some might expect but in the end, the Cougars preserve the undefeated season for one more game with a win to secure the Conference USA title.

Joe-S-U: Houston over Southern Miss- I met this nice little southern miss in Houston one time.

What that has to do with this pick is beyond me...

Dr. Mark: Houston - would like to see them in BCS bowl

PJSBuck: Houston

Pia Pete: Houston will go undefeated and win their conference and still not have a shot at the BCS title. Dear Santa,

I wanna pony, a new skateboard and a FREAKIN' COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF!!! Houston 56 - SMU 24

Rick: Houston – I have to go with the home team in this one in a game closer than people think.

Steven: I haven’t seen much of them this year, but Houston’s offense looks pretty unstoppable. Ranked number one in scoring this year, they will face a defense that has the capacity to keep them well under their scoring average. Not a lot of people look past the eye-popping offensive statistics to notice that Houston also has a very respectable defense of their own. If this comes down to a track meet, I see the Cougars defense really coming to play and preserving the unbeaten season. All Houston needs to do is keep Southern Miss to their scoring average, and they can play 2 touchdowns below theirs and still win. Houston 38-29.

FINAL: Southern Mississippi 49 Houston 28

(11-2) (12-1)

Georgia vs. LSU

Brent: Pick: LSU: Tiger train roles on as LSU rolls 'Dogs

Gregg: I am not a big LSU fan or SEC for that matter but I do feel the Tigers have weathered the schedule that has earned them the right to play in the championship game. Now do I think it is fair that they get to play the game in New Orleans for the third straight time is another story. Miles Wins big stopping the Bulldog ten game win streak.

Joe-S-U: LSU over Georgia- Bulldogs could get back into the national mindset in a big way with a win here, but the Tigers have solidly taken care of business all year. Although if 'Bama had a placekicker, I'd be talking about how they have solidly taken care of business all year

Dr. Mark: LSU- too fast, too confident to let down now

PJSBuck: LSU in a runaway

Pia Pete: So Alabama is going to play LSU in the BCS Championship game. How is it that a team that doesn't

win their conference even gets a shot at the title? PLAYOFF NOW! LSU 38 - Ugga 17

Rick: They have been my number one team all year and it has not changed – LSU by 24.

Steven: It’s fun to be a Bulldog fan this weekend. Heck, rooting against Les Miles is a tradition in my household. Ever since the chicken way he left Oklahoma State, he’s been SEC enemy number 1. It is too bad, though, because LSU’s defense is the best I’ve seen in a long while. It will be a major letdown if the Tigers don’t win this one. Georgia isn’t in the same league as LSU, and it will show.

LSU 21-9.

FINAL: LSU 42 Georgia 10

(13-0) (10-3)

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State

Brent: Pick: Oklahoma State: Neither team's punter suiting up for this one

Gregg: This will be a high scoring game which the home team comes out on top. With Oregon buying a winning team and now Oklahoma State buying a winning team, I wonder if we can get Wexner to buy us a championship.

Joe-S-U: Oklahoma State over Oklahoma- Cowboys haven't won since 2002 in this series. Game is at Boone Pickens Stadium. I could swear Boone Pickens did mornings on WMNI back in the day...

Dr. Mark: Oklahoma-- we will see if the Cowboys are ready to move to the next level. If I remember correctly,

they have rarely won the big game at the end of the year

PJSBuck: Best game this weekend other than Big Ten tournament. I will go with the Cowboys in a hard fought game.

Pia Pete: Could-a Would-a Should-a for both teams but with the way the BCS is lining up,

it will take a miracle for OSU to get into the championship game. OSU 45 - OU 42

Rick: Personally I did not see this match up in the beginning of the season, but I think OSU pulls it out in the end.

Steven: It will be tough to beat Oklahoma, but I think Okie State has the offense to do it. The Sooners have shown themselves vulnerable to high-powered offenses, losing to Texas Tech and Baylor. There’s not much (at least not enough) defense left in Norman, so I expect another Big12 barn-burner. OSU 37-33.

FINAL: Oklahoma State 44 Oklahoma 10

(11-1) (9-3)

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson

Brent: Pick: Va Tech - Two teams headed in opposite directions

Gregg: Everyone else has figured out how to beat Clemson, I am sure the Hokies will do the same, in spite of the 23-3 defeat earlier in the year. But since then Clemson has been going south and Tech is finding their stride. Virginia Tech wins the ACC yet again.

Joe-S-U: Va. Tech over Clemson- Tigers have played 29 freshmen this year. There are coeds that can't reach that number

Dr. Mark: Clemson

PJSBuck: Can’t stand two things in life; Shingles and ACC football. VT over Clemson

Pia Pete: Stupid Va Tech. Arrgh! I dislike Beemer-ball but it will work this weekend.

VT 33 - Clemson 21

Rick: I am going with Virginia Tech to revenge their only loss of the season.

Steven: The Tiger defense will be hard pressed to keep the Hokies to a field goal like they did on October 1st. They have been the Achilles heel for this program, giving up over 35 points a game over their last 6, (including 45 in a win over Maryland). With a porous Tiger defense like that, Tech should win this one going away, but my gut says Taj Boyd plays out of his mind and the defense shows up just enough to beat the Hokies. Clemson 34-27.

FINAL: Clemson 38 Virginia Tech 10

(10-3) (11-2)

Michigan State vs. Wisconsin

Brent: Pick: Wisconsin - Sweet revenge for Badgers, but Dantonio and Sparty go down fighting

Gregg: I have been saying all along that Wisconsin is the best team in the Big Ten, especially with their rent-a-QB for a year, and the league's top running back. Michigan State has the tools and the coach to win the game but I will go with the Badgers and their offensive line to get away with holding.

Joe-S-U: Michigan State over Wisconsin- Spartans win the Stagg trophy. Wisconsin students win the Stagger Trophy.

Dr. Mark: Wisconsin- more balanced but if Spartan defense plays well could be close ? another Hail Mary Dantonio?

PJSBuck: Bucky Badger has too much momentum and MOJO right now. I think they are actually playing for vindication – a serious motivator. Wisconsin has a strong showing and wins by 14 or more.

Pia Pete: Since I'm out of the running for B50 "Pick'em" champ I'm going with my heart and not my head. Go Green!

MSU 24 - UW 17

Rick: If both teams play their best game the edge goes to Wisconsin. So the question is which team will make mistakes, and on this weekend I think that will be MSU. So I will go with Wisconsin.

Steven: In the beginning of the year I called for Wisconsin to have 3 losses, (I was thinking more regular season, but I won’t dock myself if one loss comes Saturday). Against my now, (hopefully), better judgment, I’m going to stick with the three loss prediction and say MSU pulls it out. Wisky really should win this game, but they’ve shown themselves vulnerable to the spirit-crushing big play. MSU in a squeaker 28-27.

FINAL: Wisconsin 42 Michigan State 39

(11-2) (10-3)