Six Pick: Week 14

The bittersweet end of the college football regular season is here. These fourteen weeks have flown by and we are again at Championship Saturday. Conference pride and bowl destinations are at stake; we'll see very good games in most of these matchups. I still expect at least one shocker left, but who will provide it, and how will that shake up the BCS? For those not going to the games this weekend, this is your last Saturday to do absolutely nothing and have a valid excuse. Cheers and don't squander it.

I am really only thinking about the Virginia Tech Hokies this week. No apologies to the teams in other conferences. The media and fans can circle jerk the SEC later, as the BCS championship game approaches. This week is for the ACC Championship, even it matters little to those outside our footprint. My focus is on a team that has adapted, overcome, grown and is not satisfied. The 2011 Hokies make a strong case to be along side the '95, '99 and '04 teams on my personal Mount Rushmore of Hokie teams. It's easy to dream about the future with this squad, but right now I am really enjoying the present. Charlotte was great to us last year, and I am hoping it gets turned up to 11 this year. Let's enjoy one of the last remaining games of the season in true Hokie fashion and ROCK THE QUEEN CITY.

Friday, December 2nd

MAC Championship Game - Ford Field, Detroit, Mi Northern Illinois -3.5 vs Ohio 7:00 pm ESPN2

#MACtion, the place where Tuesday night football comes alive, any form of defense dies and the champion may get picked 3rd by their bowl partners. Don't feel too bad for these fine young men, a mid December trip to either Boise, Mobile or Detroit awaits them. OK, feel bad for them. It's Friday night before Championship Saturday and you are amped for the big day ... watching this game isn't going to mellow you out. Northern Illinois has a great O, but a D so bad that me and The Unofficial TKP tailgate could drop 4 TD's on them by halftime. Ohio has a superior defense and an offense that is quite formidable. Both teams feature top flight dual threat quarterbacks.

Pick and Rationale: Northern Illinois laying the points. No rhyme or reason, I expect no less than 900 yards of total offense and 75+ points and to be thoroughly entertained. Usually when cornered, I like to take the team with the better defense when the other matchups are pretty even, but not this time. I think the Huskies pull away from the Bobcats late here.

Saturday, December 3rd

C-USA Championship Game – Robertson Stadium, Houston, Tx 24 Southern Miss vs 6 Houston -13 noon ABC

Fate: Be destined to happen, turn out, or act in a particular way. A lot of variables have worked out favorably in Houston's fateful run at an undefeated season and a BCS cash cow game. Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin hired brash, young Dana Holgorsen as Offensive Coordinator in 2008 to install his version of the air raid offense to an unknown quarterback, Case Keenum. A SHIT TON of yards, touchdowns and accolades later improved the quality of life for all 3. It was all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows throughout Keenum's career. Then he tore his ACL in the 3rd game of his senior season last year. Fate didn't look so good then, but Keenum was granted a 6th year of eligibility. He overcame adversity, and a now mature Cougars have beaten every opponent, so far. There's one last game in Space City for a trip to the Sugar Bowl. Destiny looks pretty good for the Cougars.

Pick and Rationale: Southern Miss getting the points. I don't think that the Golden Eagles will win, but their defense is solid enough to slow down the Air Raid some. The Southern Miss offense, is overlooked and underrated, they will score some points to keep it interesting.

***

SEC Championship Game - Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga 14 Georgia vs 1 LSU -13.5 4:00 pm CBS

The SEC wins again. I am not talking about having both teams in the BCSCG (it's a lock). At 4:00 PM they're the only show in town. The Mike Slive Conference will draw a large TV rating. First things first though, no team is unbeatable. Teams as capable as the Bayou Bengals have lost to lesser teams than Georgia. That said, UGA will be looking down the barrel of the most athletic and deep team in the country. Dawgs, these cats play angry. Going 14-0 with that schedule would cement the Tigers as an all time great team, mentioned in the same breath as the '95 Cornhuskers and '01 Hurricanes even with their quarterback deficiencies. Les Miles and company are not losing this game, the SEC title and their place in history.

Pick and Rationale: Georgia getting the points. UGA has benefited from playing (and losing) to their two best opponents, the first two weeks of the season. Ten games and wins later, they have a lot of confidence behind their very good defense and quarterback Aaron Murray. They'll make LSU slug it out with them enough to keep it to a 10 point game.

***

B1G TenChampionship Game - RCA Dome, Indianapolis, In 13 Michigan State vs 15 Wisconsin -9.5 8:00 pm FOX

That was Wisky's first loss this season thanks to a last second Hail Mary. The 2nd loss came a week later, to another last second Hail Mary. This isn't EA Sports, the odds of losing this way twice in a row is pretty damn low. Those losses fall squarely on the defense as #ALLRUSSELLWILSONALMOSTEVERYTHING and #ALLMONTEEBALLEVERYTHING did enough to win. Statistically the Badgers defense is very good, but to my eyes they appear a bit more suspect than Michigan State's. That said, while both teams' offenses are performing well, the Badgers come across as shit housing the opposition. The most entertaining aspect of this game won't be all the points scored, but the Fox broadcast of this game with Gus Johnson calling the action. This is DVR worthy.

Pick and Rationale: Michigan State getting the points. I am on the Wisky band wagon and the winner will need 5 touchdowns to win this game. I have more faith in Bucky Badger, but beating Sparty by 10 or more points is another story as MSU is a tough team and won't quit.

***

Bedlam (de facto) Big XII Championship Game 10 Oklahoma at 3 Oklahoma State -3.5 8:00 pm ABC

Remember when Bedlam was going to be hot shit? Then Texas Tech and Iowa State happened. Neither team has been able to wash the stink of those losses off themselves. However, it is a good reminder of why we should wait until all 12 games are played to make grand declarations. Since the Big XII only has 10 teams, the conference championship game has been shelved. However, the winner of Bedlam can book a ticket to Glendale for the Junker Fiesta Bowl. A consolation prize that likely will be a slight disappointment for either team, but it really has to gnaw at the Cowboys. OU is a traditional power and an annual national championship contender; Okie State not so much. Mike Gundy is a good coach, but I think he'll have a really hard time replacing quarterback Brandon Weeden and being this close again.

Pick and Rationale: Okie State. Mike Gundy has never beaten OU as a player or coach, he WANTS this. OU has a meh defense and beat up offense. The Cowboys had a bye week to tweak their gameplan to take advantage this. Gundy will have his players believing (incorrectly) that they still have a shot at the BCSCG. That will be enough. Regardless of points, if OSU can't win this week, T. Boone Pickens may take the lot of them out back and execute them by firing squad.

***

ACC Championship Game - Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC 20 Clemson vs 5 Virginia Tech -7 8:00 pm ESPN

If I am Frank Beamer, my pre-game speech would go something like this:

23-3

TO HELL WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. Forget our winning streak, their collapse. I want you hungry. I want you pissed. Never you mind the rankings. 23-3. Clemson came to Blacksburg and embarrassed us. How did it feel being housed on National TV? Not one single touchdown. 23-3. The media has called us pretenders. {Pauses and looks in every player's eyes.} I don't see any fucking pretenders here. The Orange Bowl is on the line, but that's not what's important here. Earning back our respect is the reason we wanted to see Clemson again. You wanted your chance at redemption, well now you got it. TAKE IT.

Pick and Rationale: Virginia Tech. No other reason than I believe in this team's heart, character and leadership from Frank at the top and all the way down to the holder.

Stylin', profilin', limousine ridin', jet flyin', kiss-stealin', Son-of-a-Bitch BEER of the Queen City! WOOOOOOOOOOOO

Last year Ska Brewing was my ACCCG beer of the week. The Hokies walked out a champion. Far from it from me to mess with what works. This week's beer is Ska Brewing Euphoria Pale Ale. It's a clean pale ale with hints of citrus, hop bitterness and slightly sweet backend. A great all day tailgate beer that shouldn't leave me too damn blotto.

Quick Recap:

Remember these pics are against the spread.

Northern Illinois -3.5 vs Ohio
Southern Miss vs Houston -13
ugga vs LSU -13.5
Michigan State vs Wisky -9.5
Oklahoma at Okie State -3.5
Clemson vs VT -7