Northwestern Wins First Bowl Game Since 1949

After nine bowl defeats spanning 64 years, Northwestern finally wins the Gator Bowl 34-20 over Mississippi State. (Stephen Morton)

On January 1, 1949, Northwestern won their first bowl game, a Rose Bowl victory against Cal. The Wildcats did not make another bowl appearance until 1996 when they returned to the "Granddaddy of Them All." Star linebacker Pat Fitzgerald did all he could, but a 42-31 loss to the University of Southern California started a downward spiral for the program.

In 2006, Fitzgerald returned to Northwestern as head coach and rebuilt the team into a solid program. Unfortunately, he couldn't solve the Wildcats' bowl game troubles as they dropped four straight under his leadership. This brought Northwestern's losing streak in bowl games to nine. People said the Wildcats simply couldn't win the big one and get the monkey off their back.

This year, Northwestern's season got off to a promising start at 5-0. They became bowl-eligible two weeks later and finished the season with a 9-3 record and a place in both the AP and coaches' poll. The Wildcats' reward was a New Year's Day bowl bid in the Gator Bowl to play Mississippi State.

Northwestern got off to a great start when defensive end Quentin Williams returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown early in the first quarter. Two field goals by junior Jeff Budzien increased the Wildcats' lead to 13-0. Things started to not look so good when Mississippi State tied the score up on a 47-yard field goal by freshman Devon Bell.

However, this season's Northwestern team showed resiliency by scoring on a rushing touchdown just over a minute later. They added another score on the ground just before the end of the third quarter to increase their lead to 27-13. Early in the fourth quarter, Mississippi State cut the lead in half on a 14 yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyler Russell to sophomore tight end Malcolm Johnson.

The Wildcats had an answer again. With 8:10 left in the game, junior Venric Mark ran the ball in from three yards out. The lead was 14 once again. From that point on, the Northwestern defense took over. Mississippi State was never even able to score to mount a comeback.

It took 64 years to the day, but the Wildcats finally got its second bowl win. The curse of nine straight bowl defeats was finally over. The team had an actual stuffed monkey that they kept as inspiration. Of course, Fitzgerald let his team tear the thing to shreds in the locker room following the win.

"I'm just ecstatic for our entire football program," Fitzgerald said in the postgame interview. "This was the one last negative we needed to erase."

Barkley's Legendary Career as a Trojan Comes to a Close

USC senior quarterback Matt Barkley will not play in the Sun Bowl, but the impact he had as a Trojan will never be forgotten. (Kirby Lee)

Matt Barkley's senior season at the University of Southern California did not go as he had hoped. He won't even be able to join his teammates when they take the field in the Hyundai Sun Bowl on Monday. A shoulder injury suffered in a loss to rival UCLA caused Barkley to miss the two biggest games of the last chapter of his collegiate career.

While the final chapter may be drawing to a close, Barkley had many great moments at the helm of the Trojans offense. As a ture freshman, he won the job as a starter.  In his second career start, Barkley led USC to an 18-15 win at No. 8 Ohio State. While his performance was far from perfect, he led the Trojans on a game-winning touchdown drive with only minutes left.

Five weeks later, Barkley led USC to another impressive win at Notre Dame. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns. In what turned out to be the only bowl game of his career, Barkley led the Tojans to victory over Boston College 24-13 in the Emerald Bowl.

Following the bowl win, began a time of rocky transition for the USC football program. Head coach Pete Carroll left for a job in the NFL. The program was put on probation and given heavy sanctions. Lane Kiffin was also a controversial hire as the new head coach during the difficult stretch.

Barkley had every right to leave the program that was in under disarray and transfer. Nevertheless, he remained loyal to the school and his teammates. As could be expected, Barkley's sophomore season was nothing to write home about. He played well against Andrew Luck and Stanford, but came away the loser. An ankle injury forced him to miss the Notre Dame game, but he was able to return in time to lift the Trojans past their rival UCLA.

By the time Barkley's junior season rolled around, he was comfortable and ready to shine in Kiffin's offense. Barkley began the season by setting the USC single game record for completions with 34 against Minnesota. In an October 1 win over Arizona, he set the single-game record for passing yards with 468. On November 4, he passed for a another school record against Colorado. This time it was the single-game record for touchdowns in a game with 6.

Records weren't the only thing Barkley accomplished as a junior. He led USC to huge road wins at Notre Dame and Oregon. In the rivalry game against UCLA, the Trojans destroyed the Bruins 50-0 behind Barkley's six touchdown passes. That gave him a season total of 39, which became a new Pac-12 record. Everyone expected that to be a fitting end to Barkely's career at USC.

Barkley though had other plans as he passed on the NFL Draft for year to return to the Trojans for his senior year. A 7-5 overall record and 5-4 in the Pac-12 probably isn't what he had in mind. A season cut short by injury probably wasn't in his plans either. Despite all of that, the fact that he will be on the sidelines motivating his teammates in his final game is a testimony to his commitment to them and what it means to be a Trojan at the University of Southern California.

Backup QB Driphus Jackson Leads Rice to Bowl Victory

Backup quarterback Driphus Jackson was called into duty and lead Rice to a 33-14 victory over Air Force. (Cooper Neill)

Adversity can sometimes be the spark that is needed. Trailing Air Force 14-7 late in the second quarter, Rice's starting quarterback Taylor McHargue suffered a head injury after being hit by the Falcons' Steffon Batts. Redshirt freshman Driphus Jackson was called into duty.

With just a few seconds left in the half, the Owls were looking to tie the score up. However, on first-and-goal at the two-yard line, Jackson was pressured and fumbled the option pass. Air Force's Chris Miller was there to recover the football.

Nothing appeared to be going Rice's way. With McHargue ruled out for the remainer of the game, Jackson was going to have to lead the Owls offense. Despite his limited experience, he came out in the second half looking like a seasoned veteran. Nothing was going to rattle him in the pocket.

On their opening drive of the second half, Jackson drove the Rice offense 87 yards in eight plays. He found six-foot-five Jordan Taylor for the 22-yard touchdown strike to tie the game up 14-14. During the Owls’ go-ahead drive, Jackson was particularly impressive with six straight completions. Junior tailback Charles Ross punched it in from two yards out to give Rice the lead.

The Owls added two more field goals to extend their lead to 27-14. With 1:38 left in the game, Jackson put the icing on the cake. On fourth-and-eight, he looked deep and hooked up with Taylor again for a 34-yard touchdown score.

Jackson completed 15 of 21 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. Being a superb athlete, he was a dual threat for the Air Force defense and added 32 rushing yards. His performance earned him the honors of Armed Forces Bowl Player of the Game.

Jackson certainly did not do it all by himself. His favorite target, Jordan Taylor, had a huge game as well. With nine catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns, he was too much for the Falcons undersized defense to handle. The rushing attack did their share of the work as well.

Junior tailback Turner Petersen led the way on the ground. He had 81 yards on just nine carries. Petersen broke a big run of 48 yards that helped setup a Rice field goal. Ross added 57 yards and a touchdown of his own. Overall, the Owls totaled 208 rushing yards, which helped them win the time of possession battle with nearly 38 minutes of offense.

The Rice defense was outstanding as well. Air Force entered the game averaging 435.9 yards of offense per game, but were held to a season-low 214 yards in the loss. The Falcons had the second-best rushing attack in the nation, averaging 328.8 yards per game, but were held to only 166 yards by the Owls defense. Rice also registered 24 first downs to Air Force's 12. The Falcons had just two first downs in the second half.

Rice has faced its share of adversity this season, but overcame it all to win their second bowl game since 1953. After a 1-5 start to the season, the Owls won six out of seven to have a winning season. Jackson came into the game and played superbly. With a young football team, there is much to look forward to down the road in Houston.

Duke is Just Happy to Play in the Belk Bowl

Duke head coach David Cutcliffe has led his team to their first bowl game appearance in almost 18 years. (Mark Dolejs)

Most teams would be disappointed by losing their last four games of the season and finished 6-6. However, that is exactly what Duke did, and they couldn't be happier about how it ended. A 6-6 season may not be special for most schools, but it is viewed as significant progress at basketball-mad Duke. The football team has suffered through 17 consecutive losing seasons. The Blue Devils went 37-158 (.190) from 1995-2011, including winless campaigns in 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2006.

The 6-6 record is significant because it means Duke will play a postseason game for the first time in almost 18 years. They were rewarded with a bid in the Belk Bowl, played in nearby Charlotte, where they will play a Cincinnati team that's going through another coaching change.

Duke began the season 5-1 and knew that they would need just one win to accomplish a big goal for their program. Following a loss at Virginia Tech, they got a second shot at home against their archrival North Carolina on October 20. Trailing 30-26 late in the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils were in need of a miracle. Senior quarterback Sean Renfree completed a fourth-down touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Jamison Crowder on with 13 seconds left in the game to push Duke to the emotional win that made the Blue Devils bowl eligible for the first time since 1994.

"This is certainly one of the goals, was to reach this bowl eligibility, but it's just the beginning," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said.

Duke did finish the season with four consecutive losses, but the season was considered an accomplishment around the country. The Atlantic Coast Conference named Cutcliffe their coach of the year. The Blue Devils also rewarded him with a contract extension through the 2018 season. This is viewed as a significant step in the right direction.

"You've got to take this step to take the next one, particularly when you've been where we've been for so long, said Cutcliffe. "I'm very appreciative that our players have bought in so strongly to the program, and they're very committed to what we're trying to accomplish."

Players to Watch for in Saturday's Bowl Games

University of Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Terrance Broadway is one of the most dynamic players in action on Saturday. (Kim Klement)

My guess is that you don't know much about the New Orleans Bowl or the MAACO Bowl. As it turns out, both bowls are being played on Saturday. You probably know even less about  East Carolina, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Washington and Boise State. Well if you happen to love college football or are looking for something to watch on your day off from work and come across one of these two bowl games, I want to let you know about a dynamic player you should keep an eye on when their on the field. They are what you call gamechangers, and they could exactly that in their biggest game of the season.

New Orleans Bowl

Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina
Hardy was a former standout high school quarterback, but came to East Carolina readt to work. He has put up impressive numbers in his two seasons with the Pirates. Hardy set East Carolina freshman records in receptions and yards. As a sophomore, he's made 83 receptions for 1,046 yards and 10 touchdowns. In the final game of the season against Marshall, Hardy had 16 catches for 171 yards. He needs only 78 more yards to surpass Dwayne Harris' single-season school record.

Terrance Broadway, QB, Louisiana-Lafayette
Broadway is a sophomore who transferred from Houston. He was pressed into starting duty when last year's New Orleans Bowl most valuable player, Blaine Gautier, broke his left hand in a win over Florida International back on September 29. Broadway said he wasn't fully ready, but he found his way on the big stage right away. He threw for over 2,500 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 661 yards and eight scores. Even more impressive was that Broadway nearly led the Ragin' Cajuns to an a colossal upset of Florida in The Swamp back in November. You can expect him to put up big numbers in the spotlight of New Orleans.

MAACO Bowl

Keith Price, QB, Washington
Unlike our other players to watch, Price has struggled this season in comparison to last season. He’s thrown 15 fewer touchdowns with the same amount of interceptions (11). In the red zone, Price's completion percentage has dropped from 74.1 percent to 57.6 percent. In four games against currently ranked teams, he has thrown only one touchdown compared to five interceptions. The reason that Price is on here is because he has shown in his collegiate career that he can be a star player. He's got one more shot to prove it this season. I am not saying that one great game will make up for Price's disappointing season, but at least it will have going into his senior season on the right foot.

Joe Southwick, QB, Boise State
Quarterback expectations are high at Boise State, and Southwick has had a challenge living up to them in his first year as starter. He did manage to finish the regular season strong. After throwing 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first nine games, Southwick had seven touchdowns with no interceptions in the final three games. He still hasn't thrown for more than 311 yards in a game and struggled badly against strong defenses. There are some Bronco supporters who are still uncertain if Southwick can retain the job for 2013. He will take a big step in the right direction if he plays well and picks up a bowl win here.

Van Noy and the BYU Defense Took Over the Poinsettia Bowl

BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy's forced fumble and recovery in the endzone proved to be the decisive play of the game. (Kent Horner)

With San Diego State leading the Poinsettia Bowl 6-3 heading into the fourth quarter, someone had to step up and make the big play. BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy had already made a number of big plays earlier in the game, but he reminded the Aztecs of his presence down the stretch.

In the red zone, the BYU offense looked poised to at least tie the game up if they could not punch the ball in for the game's first touchdown. However, BYU quarterback James Lark's pass was intercepted by San Diego State cornerback King Holder at the two-yard line.

That's when Van Noy decided to take matters into his own hands. He rushed San Diego State quarterback Adam Dingwell in the end zone, forced a fumble and recovered it for a touchdown. The very next play from scrimmage did not go any better for the Aztecs. Dingwell fumbled the exchange from the center and Cougars cornerback Jordan Johnson emerged from the pile with the football. One play later, it was Jamaal Williams dancing his way into the endzone on a 14-yard run. A missed extra point made it a 16-6 BYU lead.

With the outcome of game still undetermined, Van Noy decided to finish San Diego State off. With just over six minutes to go in the game, Dingwell's pass was intercepted by Van Noy, who elusively returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. Van Noy's teammate Alani Fua added another interception of Dingwell on the Aztecs' next drive for good measure. When it was all said and done, the Cougars had decisively won 23-6.

The victory was not because of their anemic offense. Instead, it was their leader on defense that made it all happen. Van Noy wasn't only BYU's defensive MVP, but their offensive one as well. He finished the game with eight tackles, including three for loss and 1.5 sacks. Van Noy also had a blocked punt, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and two defensive touchdowns.

The Cougars defense had only had one defensive touchdown all season, but Van Noy came up with two when they needed them the most. He finished the season with 51 tackles, including 21.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Van Noy is considering joining teammate Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah in entering the NFL Draft. He certainly gave the scouts watching plenty to think about. If this Van Noy's last game as a Cougar, he will long be remembered as the reason they won the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl.

2012 Heisman Trophy Preview and Prediction

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, Texas  A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein are the 2012 Heisman Trophy finalists. (Joe Raymond, Dave Marin and Charlie Riedel)

2012 Heisman Trophy Finalists

Collin Klein: The Kansas State senior quarterback has accounted for 37 of the Wildcats' 56 offensive touchdowns this season. According to ESPN.com, he became the first quarterback from a BCS AQ school in the BCS era with 20 rushing touchdowns and 10 passing touchdowns in multiple seasons. Klein's best game of the season was on October 20 at West Virginia. He completed 19 of 21 passes for 323 yards and seven total (three passing and four rushing) touchdowns. Klein's 55 career rushing touchdowns rank second among all active players, and are the fourth-most in Big 12 history. He also threw for at least 200 yards in six of his 12 games this season.

Johnny Manziel: The Texas A&M redshirt freshman quarterback has already made a name for himself in households around the country. "Johnny Football," as the call him rushed for a freshman quarterback record 1,181 yards. Manziel's 4,600 yards of total offense are a school record and another national record for freshmen. He became just the fifth player, and first freshman, in FBS history to pass for at least 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000. Manziel accomplished all of this while leading Texas A&M to a 10-2 mark in their first season in the SEC. His best game of the season came in the biggest one of all. He had 345 total yards and two touchdowns to lead the Aggies to the upset of previously undefeated Alabama.

Manti Te'o: The senior linebacker has anchored a rock solid Notre Dame defense (allowed 10.3 points per game) that lead the Irish to the BCS National Championship Game. He lead the unit in tackles for the third straight yeah a team-high 103 tackles. Teo's seven interceptions are the most ever for a Notre Dame linebacker and rank him second nationally among all players. His best game of the season came back in Semptember against Michigan when he accounted for eight tackles and two interceptions.

Prediction: I loved Klein early in the season. His effort was remarkable and enjoyable to watch. Unfortunately for him, his stock dropped as Kansas State's stock dropped. I would consider Klein a long-shot to win and expect him to finish third in the final voting. Te'o was the next player to grab my attention. He seemed to be everywhere on the field making plays from his linebacker position. Te'o is true leader at Notre Dame and is respected as one both on and off the field. But then, it was the freshman who stepped his game up to take the hearts of America captive. Manziel put up numbers week after week. When he led Texas A&M to the upset of previously undefeated Alabama, he was thrust into the forefront of the Heisman race.

There has never been a freshman Heisman winner and some voters will like to keep it that way, so that will cost Manziel some votes. However, I don't believe it will be enough. Te'o has put up great numbers, but Johnny Football has been special. I predict that Manziel will win the Heisman Trophy by a comfortable margin, but I still think it will still be closer than some expect.

College Football Conference Championship Predictions

Georgia needs a huge game out of their quarterback Aaron Murray if they are going to upset Alabama. (Sam Greenwood)

5. Conference USA Football Championship Game - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN2/ESPN 3D
Prediction: Tulsa 27 UCF 24

4. Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game - 8:00 PM EST, ESPN/WatchESPN
Prediction: Florida State 24 Georgia Tech 10

3. Big Ten Conference Championship Game - 8:17 PM EST, FOX
Prediction: Nebraska 23 Wisconsin 21

2. Big 12 Conference Championship Game - 8:00 PM EST, ABC
Prediction: Kansas State 31 Texas 17

1. Southeastern Conference Championship Game - 4:00 PM EST, CBS
Prediction: Alabama 17 Georgia 13

College Football Week 13 Preview and Predictions

Linebacker Manti Te'o and the Fighting Irish are one win away from perfection and a berth in the BCS National Championship. (Jeff Haynes)

5. #19 Michigan (8-3) @ Ohio State (11-0) - 12:00 PM EST, ABC

The Game is always a big ticket item. Michigan and Ohio State are two of the biggest rivals in all of college football. Ohio State hasn't been in the national spotlight nearly as much because they are not bowl eligible due to violations. Nonetheless, they will be looking to complete something that will certainly earn them some accolades. The Buckeyes are looking to complete perfection and have a shot at becoming AP National Champions. Michigan would love nothing more than spoiling those plans. The Wolverines have taken on a new look lately with junior Devin Gardner at quarterback. Gardner has played well and is expected to earn his fourth straight start Saturday, despite the fact that Denard Robinson is healthy. Healthy is a relative term though because he still does not have full arm strength back. Media speculation is that Michigan will start Gardner at quarterback and use the athletic Robinson at running back and wide receiver. This will certainly give the Ohio State defense plenty to try and stop.

Prediction: Michigan 30 Ohio State 27

4. #5 Oregon (10-1) @ #15 Oregon State (8-2) - 3:00 PM EST, Pac-12 Network

Oregon was the No. 1 team in the country for just six days. Their unstoppable offense had destroyed its opposition all season, but was stifled by a Stanford defense with a perfect game plan. The Cardinal won 17-14 in overtime, thus ending the Ducks perfect season and likely keeping them out of the national championship game. Oregon can't afford to hang their heads though because their shot at BCS bowl is on the line. Oregon State would love nothing more than to hand them their second loss is a week. These in-state rivals square off in the game known as the Civil War. The Ducks dynamic offense is led by freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota and senior tailback Kenjon Barner. The Beavers don't have a bad offense either. Sophomore quarterback Sean Mannion has had an up-and-down season, but might need a big game to secure the job as the starter next season. Oregon's rushing defense has struggled, so Oregon State sophomore running back Terron Wood could be in for a big day.

Prediction: Oregon 45 Oregon State 31

3. #8 Stanford (9-2) @ #17 UCLA (9-2) - 6:30 PM EST, FOX

These two teams come into this game off huge wins. Stanford had the perfect game plan to end Oregon's perfect season in overtime. The Cardinal defense executed their game plan beautifully. Freshman quarterback Kevin Hogan did just enough to help lead his team to the upset win. It has been senior tailback Stephan Taylor who has been the team's leader all season. In the win over Oregon, he had a huge game with 161 rushing yards. UCLA knocked off rival USC 38-28 to win their fifth Pac-12 game in a row. The Bruins are being led by a freshman quarterback as well. In the win over the Trojans, Brett Hundley had three total touchdowns (one passing and two rushing). Junior wide receiver Shaquelle Evans was Hundley's favorite target with eight catches for 114 yards. Senior tailback Jonathan Franklin also had a big day with 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Prediction: UCLA 24 Stanford 17

2. #4 Florida (10-1) @ #10 Florida State (10-1) - 3:30 PM EST, ABC

These two rivals come into this game with only one loss, but in very different ways. Florida was undefeated and in control, until they got shutdown by Georgia. Since the loss to the Bulldogs, they have needed late game heroics to beat Missouri and Louisiana-Lafayette. Even their shutout win over Jacksonville State wasn't particularly impressive. The Gators will get sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel back from injury. At tailback, senior Mike Gillislee is still one of the best rushers in the SEC. Florida State doesn't feel like they are getting the respect they deserve. Their only loss was by one point on the road at North Carolina State. Since the loss to the Wolfpack, the Seminoles have won five ACC games in a row. Senior quarterback EJ Manuel leads the offense, while junior Bjoern Werner helps anchor the defense.

Prediction: Florida State 27 Florida 24

1. #1 Notre Dame (11-0) @ USC (7-4) - 8:00 PM EST, ABC

Notre Dame is one win away from an improbable perfect regular season and place in the BCS National Championship. The offense has seen the emergence of sophomore quarterback Everett Golson. After struggling with consistency early in the season, he has nine total touchdowns (seven passing and two rushing) and only two interceptions in his last three games. Despite the improved passing game, the Fighting Irish are still a rushing focused offense with 21 rushing touchdowns. Seniors Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood both have over 700 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on the season. Sophomore tailback George Atkinson III has also been a touchdown factor with five scores of his own. Notre Dame's rock solid defense can't be overlooked either. The unit has only given up over 17 points in a game once all season. Heisman candidate Manti Te'o leads the way for a physical and athletic group.

USC's season has not gone as many expected. Losing three out of four games has dropped them to 5-4 in the Pac-12 and out of the polls. In the loss last week at UCLA, the Trojans also lost their senior quarterback Matt Barkley to injury. This means that freshman Max Wittek will make his first collegiate start against the superb Notre Dame defense. Wittek likes to air it out and has probably the best duo of receivers in college football to throw to. Sophomore Marqise Lee is a man playing among boys. He has had double digit receptions in seven games and an incredible 345 receiving yards against Arizona. Junior Roberts Woods would be a top receiver on most other teams, but will be another talented target for Wittek on Saturday. One more player on the USC offense to keep an eye on is senior tailback Curtis McNeal. He has a combined 324 rushing yards the past two weeks and could be in for another big day with Barkley out. The Trojans defense has struggled down the stretch, especially with tackling. They will have to do much better against the Fighting Irish on Saturday.

Prediction: Notre Dame 24 USC 20

College Football Week 12 Preview and Predictions

In just his second collegiate start, Stanford's Kevin Hogan needs to play very well if the Cardinal are going to upset Oregon. (Ezra Shaw)

5. Kent State (9-1) @ Bowling Green (7-3) - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN3

The Mid-American Conference has some very good teams this year. Ohio University has been the focal point of most of the national media attention. However, the winner of this game will almost certainly play a very good Northern Illinois team in the MAC Championship. Kent State's only loss this season came way back on September 8 at Kentucky. Since then, the Golden Flashes have rolled off eight straight wins, including impressive road victories at Rutgers and Miami (OH). After starting the season 1-3, Bowling Green has rattled off six straight wins. With a 5-1 conference record, the Falcons are in position to upset Kent State and move into first place in the MAC East.

Prediction: Kent State 31 Bowling Green 24

4. Utah State (8-2) @ #20 Louisiana Tech (9-1) - 4:00 PM EST, ESPN3

The Western Athletic Conference is another loaded small conference that is still up for grabs. Utah State's only two losses have come by a combined five points. The Aggies defense will need to play very well as they face their toughest offensive opponent yet. Louisiana Tech's only loss was by two in a shootout with Texas A&M. The Bulldogs offense has been next to impossible to slow down. They have scored at least 44 points in every game this season except for one.

Prediction: Louisiana Tech 31 Utah State 27

3. #22 Rutgers (8-1) @ Cincinnati (7-2) - 12:00 PM EST, Big East Network/ESPN3

Rutgers has rolled through all of its competition this year, expect for the surprising home loss to Kent State that ended their quest for perfection. Due to last week's Syracuse upset of Louisville, the Scarlet Knights remain in position to win the Big East and potentially a BCS bowl berth. They have a tough road test this week before them. Back-to-back losses to Toledo and Louisville ended Cincinnati's hopes of a perfect season. If the Bearcats can pull the upset here, they will be back in the picture to win the Big East.

Prediction: Rutgers 24 Cincinnati 20

2. Wake Forest (5-5) @ #3 Notre Dame (10-0) - 3:30 PM EST, NBC

Wake Forest may only be 5-5, but Notre Dame has learned to not overlook any opponents. The Demon Deacons have had a season full of ups and downs. They come into this game off of their worst loss of the season (by 31 to North Carolina State). Notre Dame has found a way to win every game of the season, even though some have been prettier than others. The Fighting Irish must focus on the task at hand and not look ahead to their game at USC next week.

Prediction: Notre Dame 20 Wake Forest 3

1. #13 Stanford (8-2) @ #2 Oregon (10-0) - 8:00 PM EST, ABC

After a heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame in overtime, Stanford has won four straight games. The Cardinal seem to keep improving, even with a change at quarterback. Junior Josh Nunes has been benched in favor of freshman Kevin Hogan. Last week, Hogan threw three touchdown passes in Stanford's solid win over Oregon State. Undefeated Oregon is of course known by their explosive offense. In their last two games, quarterback Marcus Mariota has thrown for 681 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Ducks' De'Anthony Thomas is a danger man any time he steps onto the football field.

Prediction: Oregon 45 Stanford 31

College Football Week 11 Preview and Predictions

Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel will have to play the best game of his young career if the Aggies hope of upsetting Alabama. (Brett Davis)

5. #2 Kansas State (9-0) @ TCU (6-3) - 7:00 PM EST, FOX

Kansas State continues to roll through their schedule raking up big win time and time again. However, they may be without their Heisman favorite quarterback when the travel to Fort Worth to take on TCU. Collin Klein suffered an apparent head injury during the third quarter of the Wildcats' 44-30 win over Oklahoma State last week. Head coach Bill Snyder has been mum on Klein's status, but he will certainly have his team well-prepared and ready to play. TCU has had their ups and downs this season, but come into Saturday's showdown off their best win of the season. The Horned Frogs went into Morgantown and beat West Virginia 39-38 in double overtime. Freshman quarterback Trevone Boykin came up with big throws junior wide receiver Josh Boyce and senior tight end Corey Fuller when he need to. TCU will need another big game out of Boykin and his offense if they hope to upset Kansas State.

Prediction: Kansas State 38 TCU 27

4. #21 Mississippi State (7-2) @ #7 LSU (7-2) - 7:00 EST, ESPN/WatchESPN

Mississippi State used a cupcake schedule to start the season 7-2. Their last two games have exposed this reality as the Bulldogs got blown out by Alabama and Texas A&M. Junior quarterback Tyler Russell had 15 touchdown passes to only one interception in the first seven wins, but had only own touchdown and two interceptions in the two losses. The Bulldogs defense has struggled as well. They gave up 38 points in each of the loss and a combined 1,107 yards. LSU comes into this game off an emotional loss to rival Alabama. The Tigers need to put the loss behind them because they are still in the BCS picture. On offense, LSU has began to find its identity. Junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger has steadily imporved and freshman tailback Jeremy Hill has emerged as the team's top back. The Tigers defense continues to be their foundation.

Prediction: LSU 24 Mississippi State 10

3. Penn State (6-3) @ #16 Nebraska (7-2) - 3:30 PM EST, ABC/ESPN2

Penn State doesn't have a postseason to play for, but they can play spoiler to some conference rivals. The Nittany Lions have gotten much better from the start of the season having won six of seven. Senior quarterback Matt McGloin has surprisingly emerged as one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks. Freshman tight end Kyle Carter has been his top target, but is questionable to play after missing last week's game due to injury. Junior wide receiver Brandon Moseby-Felder stepped up to fill the void and may need to do so again this week. Nebraska is in the Big Ten Legends division driver seat, but was lucky to beat Michigan State last week. Junior quarterback Taylor Martinez is one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the country. In the win over the Spartans, he had four combined touchdowns, but also three interceptions. Sophomore running back Ameer Abdullah has had three straight 100-yard rushing games.

Prediction: Penn State 27 Nebraska 24

2. #11 Oregon State (7-1) @ #14 Stanford (7-2) - 3:00 PM EST, FOX

These are very similar teams. Both have strong, physical defenses and have had surprising replacement quarterbacks emerge to play well. Oregon State surprisingly started the season 6-0. Last week, the Beavers rebounded from a tough loss at Washington to beat Arizona State at home. Junior quarterback Cody Vaz was called into duty when Sean Mannion was injured. This big game will be just the fourth start of his collegiate career. Similarly, Stanford freshman quarterback Kevin Hogan will make his first career start in this game. He played well last week coming in for Josh Nunes, but that was against Colorado's defense.

Prediction: Stanford 20 Oregon State 17

1. #15 Texas A&M (7-2) @ #1 Alabama (9-0) - 3:30 PM EST, CBS

Alabama is coming off a physical, emotional win over rival LSU. Now, they must focus on not having a letdown against one of the SEC's best offenses. Texas A&M has a solid first year in the SEC largely due to the phenomenal play of freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel. His 2,527 passing yards are second most in the SEC, and he leads the conference in rushing with 922 yards. His 31 total touchdowns tops the league as well. However, Manziel did only rush for 27 yards and had three interceptions in the Aggies loss to LSU. He will have to play much better if they hope to had top ranked and undefeated Alabama. The Crimson Tide's defense is vicious, and they have a Heisman caliber quarterback as well in AJ McCarron.

Prediction: Alabama 27 Texas A&M 24

College Football Week 10 Preview and Predictions

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron looks to guide his team through its toughest test yet in rival LSU. (Kevin C. Cox)

5. Mississippi (5-3) @ #6 Georgia (7-1) - 3:30 PM EST, CBS

Last week, Georgia came up with a huge win when they needed one. Their defense stepped up and led them to a 17-9 upset of previously unbeaten Florida. The win put them in the driver's seat to win the SEC East and advance to the SEC championship in Atlanta. All they need to do is win out and they are in. However, the problem is that same defense has been subject to letdown and cannot afford to against Ole Miss. The Rebels explosive offense is led by sophomore quarterback Bo Wallace. The unit has averaged 32.4 points per game and scored a combined 71 points the last two weeks in wins over Auburn and Arkansas. Wallace will have a difficult task against the Bulldogs defense. Junior linebacker Jarvis Jones was an absolute game changer against Florida with 13 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Prediction: Georgia 27 Mississippi 24

4. #20 Nebraska (6-2) @ Michigan State (5-4) - 3:30 PM EST, ABC/ESPN2

Nebraska got the huge win at home against Michigan last week. The win put them in control of the Big Ten Legends Division. Now, they have to win out to advance to the Big Ten championship. They will have to travel first to East Lansing to take on a rejuvenated Michigan State team. The Spartans are mired in a disappointing season, but came up with a big upset of Wisconsin on the road. They will now look to pull off another upset. This matchup features two opposing forces. The Cornhuskers lead the Big Ten in scoring, total offense and rushing yards. Conversely, the Spartans led the conference in points allowed, yards allowed and rushing defense. They will have to try and slow down Nebraska's dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez and sophomore tailback Ameer Abdullah.

Prediction: Michigan State 17 Nebraska 16

3. #24 Oklahoma State (5-2) @ #2 Kansas State (8-0) - 8:00 PM EST, ABC

Kansas State has taken care of business all season long. They have knocked off ranked opponents on the road in Oklahoma and West Virginia. Last week, they destroyed Texas Tech at home. They will look for their third straight win over a ranked opponent on Saturday against Oklahoma State. The Wildcats are led by Heisman favorite Collin Klein at quarterback. They can put up points on the scoreboard all day long, scoring a combined 110 points the last two weeks. The Cowboys will look to keep the Wildcats offense off the field as much as possible behind the strong running game of junior tailback Joseph Randle. He has rushed for a combined 277 yards and three touchdowns the last two weeks.

Prediction: Kansas State 34 Oklahoma State 24

2. #4 Oregon (8-0) @ #17 USC (6-2) - 7:00 PM EST, FOX

Oregon continues to blow out its opponents with its dominating offense. They have scored at least 42 points in all of their eight wins so far this season. The Ducks have yet to move up in the BCS standings because of their weak strength of schedule. They will get their chance to proved against three ranked opponents in their last four games. The first is a big matchup against rival USC in Los Angeles. The Trojans got caught looking ahead to the big matchup and were upset 39-36 by Arizona.

USC will need a huge game out of senior quarterback Matt Barkley and his favorite target, sophomore wide receiver Marquise Lee. Lee has emerged as one of the best receivers in college football. Last week, he had 16 catches for 345 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks offense is full of explosive playmakers as well. Last week against Colorado, sophomore quarterback Bryan Bennett rushed for three touchdowns, freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for 136 yards and two scores and the rushing duo of Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas rushed for a combined 211 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas also had an amazing 73-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Prediction: Oregon 48 USC 38

1. #1 Alabama (8-0) @ #5 LSU (7-1) - 8:00 PM EST, CBS

Undefeated and top ranked Alabama has won every one of its games this season by at least 19 points. They will definitely get their toughest test of the season as the travel to Death Valley to take on LSU. The Tigers bounced back from a loss to Florida with wins over ranked opponents South Carolina and Texas A&M. They also got an extra week to prepare for the big rivalry game. LSU will definitely be looking to avenge their 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship game last season.

Both teams boast two of the best defenses in the nation. Alabama's offense is led by one the best game managers in college football. Junior quarterback A.J. McCarron has thrown 18 touchdowns this season without a single interceptions. In fact, dating back to last season, he has thrown 262 consecutive passes without a pick. The running back duo of junior Eddie Lacy and freshman T.J. Yeldon bring balance to the offense. LSU relies upon a deep stable of running backs, including Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Jeremy Hill, Kenny Hilliard and fullback J.C. Copeland. At quarterback, junior Zach Mettenberger has had his ups-and-downs. He needs to limit his mistakes against the Crimson Tide.

Prediction: Alabama 23 LSU 13

College Football Week 9 Preview and Predictions

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o will have to lead  the Fighting Irish as they look to stop Oklahoma. ( Matt Cashore)

5. #22 Michigan (5-2) @ Nebraska (5-2) - 8:00 PM EST, ESPN2/WatchESPN

This is a huge Legends Division matchup with important Big Ten and ultimately Rose Bowl implications. Nebraska's offense that leads the Big Ten in rushing (279.0 yards per game) and scoring (41.6 points per game) will go up against the Big Ten's top defense in the Michigan Wolverines. This game also features two of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country in Nebraska's Taylor Martinez and Michigan's Denard Robinson. I believe that whichever quarterback is able to make the imperative plays will likely win the football game.

Prediction: Michigan 24 Nebraska 20

4. #14 Texas Tech (6-1) @ #3 Kansas State (7-0) - 3:30 PM EST, FOX

West Virginia looked like the cream of the crop in the Big 12 early in the season. Two weeks ago, the Mountaineers were blown out at Texas Tech. They returned last week to host Kansas State, but were blown out again. Now, the Red Raiders and Wildcats are among the favorites to win the Big 12. The two sides square off on Saturday. Texas Tech's senior quarterback Seth Doege has improved drastically over the course of the season. His counterpart, Kansas State's Collin Klein. After scoring a combined seven touchdowns against the Mountaineers last weekend, he has emerged as the Heisman favorite.

Prediction: Kansas State 34 Texas Tech 24

3. #11 Mississippi State (7-0) @ #1 Alabama (7-0) - 8:30 PM EST, ESPN/Watch ESPN

While this may be a matchup of unbeatens, most experts are predicting it will be another blowout win for Alabama. The nation's top ranked team boasts a steady offense and rock solid on defense as well. The Crimson Tide should be able to use their huge advantage in the trenches to affect their play on both sides of the football. Mississippi State will need a nearly perfect game out of junior quarterback Tyler Russell have a shot at pulling the upset. On the season, he has a 15-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Russell will look to continue that trend against the Crimson Tide defense on Saturday. He must quick reads, wise decisions, and be able to deliver the big play when needed.

Prediction: Alabama 38 Mississippi State 10

2. #2 Florida (7-0) vs. # 10 Georgia (6-1) - 3:30 PM EST, CBS

This game has big SEC championship game and BCS bowl implications. If Florida beats Georgia, they are in the SEC championship game for the first time since 2009. A Georgia win would mean that the Bulldogs completely control the SEC East. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel and senior running back Mike Gillislee lead the way for the Gators explosive offense. The Bulldogs will be led on defense by junior outside linebacker Jarvis Jones. He is coming off an ankle injury, but is one of the best in the nation when fully healthy. On offense, junior quarterback Aaron Murray must be wise with the football and limit his mistakes.

Prediction: Florida 30 Georgia 24

1. #5 Notre Dame (7-0) @ #8 Oklahoma (5-1)- 8:00 PM EST, ABC

Notre Dame is undefeated this late in the season for the first time in a decade, but they definitely know there is still more work to be done in order for them to remain as  a BCS contender. One cannot talk about the Fighting Irish without mentioning their leader and one of the best players in all of college football, senior linebacker Manti Te'o. On offense, they expect to have sophomore quarterback Everett Golson back from injury and ready to start. He will be aided by a superb trio of running backs in Theo Riddick, Cierre Wood and George Atkinson III. Oklahoma uses a balanced offense to bring about success. Senior quarterback Landry Jones has looked much more comfortable as a passer recently. The Sooners also like to power rush the football. Their two main weapons here are junior tailback Damien Williams and sophomore quarterback Blake Bell.

Prediction: Notre Dame 24 Oklahoma 20

Klein Has Evolved From Heisman Dark Horse to Favorite

Collin Klein outshined fellow Heisman contender Geno Smith with seven total touchdowns in KSU's 55-14 win over WVU. (Justin K. Aller)

Collin Klein wasn't a household name before the beginning of the college football season. I also didn't see Kansas State on any preseason list of national champion contenders. It's been a surprising road to national prominence for Klein and the Wildcats, but they would be the first to tell you that season is far from over.

For the early portion of the college football season, it appeared that the Heisman race would be West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith's to lose. No one or team were capable of producing at his rate. My how two games change everything. When the Mountaineers offense struggled in a 59-14 blowout loss to Texas Tech, everyone thought it was just a bad day at the office for Smith and his boys.

After all, West Virginia had to rebound with a huge home game coming up against Kansas State. The winner of the game would emerge as the favorite to win the Big 12 and stay in the national title hunt. Even though Klein and the Wildcats were undefeated and higher ranked, they came into the showdown as underdogs.

Sixty minutes later, it became perfectly clear which quarterback should be the Heisman favorite and which team belongs in the national championship picture. With the support of the home crowd at their backs, West Virginia came out and got destroyed by Kansas State. The final score was 55-14, but that was only because the Wildcats took their foot off the pedal in the fourth quarter. They were up 52-7 after three quarters of play.

Smith threw for only 143 yards and one touchdown. He also threw his first two interceptions of the season. Meanwhile, Klein completed 19 of 21 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 41 yards and four touchdowns. That's correct. Klein had seven total touchdowns in three quarters of play on the road in what was the biggest game of the season thus far.

On the season, Klein has thrown for 1,397 yards, ten touchdowns, and only two interceptions. He has also rushed for 551 yards and 14 touchdowns. That's just shy of 2,000 total yards and 24 total touchdowns.

Klein and Kansas State know that they have to keep this going. They observed first hand what has happened to Smith and the Mountaineers. Even if the Wildcats don't go undefeated, I believe that if Klein plays like this he has to still be the Heisman favorite. While other candidates have struggled and fallen, he has only gotten better. Keep an eye on this kid and his team. Klein and Kansas State look like they are real contenders this season.

Princeton Rallies to End Harvard's Winning Streak

Princeton wide receiver Roman Wilson catches a 36-yard touchdown pass to cap a 29-point rally to beat Harvard. (Beverly Schaefer)

Princeton was all but written off in Saturday's game against Harvard, who came in on a nation-leading 14-game win streak. With 13:02 left in the fourth quarter, Harvard's senior quarterback Colton Chapple threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Cameron Brate. The score put the Crimson up 34-10. The Tigers had no realistic shot being down by so much with so little time left.

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in not giving up," said legendary baseball manager Tommy Lasorda. The Princeton football team did not give up in Saturday's game.

The Tigers took their first step forward when sophomore quarterback Conner Michelsen found freshman running back Dre Nelson for a seven-yard score with 11:19 left in the game. The subsequent two-point conversion was successful as Michelsen completed a pass to senior wide receiver Tom Moak.

Less than four minutes later, Princeton cut into the Harvard lead again when Michelsen connected with sophomore wide receiver Matt Costello. A successful two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Quinn Epperly to senior wide receiver Shane Wilkinson made the Crimson lead only 34-26.

With less than three minutes left in the game, the Tigers got the big play they were looking for when Michelsen hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Seth DeValve in the endzone for the 20-yard score. A successful two-conversion would tie the score, but the Crimson defense came up with the huge stop to hold on to their 34-32 lead.

It seemed as though the Princeton's comeback would come up just short. But their defense got them the ball back for one last shot. However, it appeared to be over again when Michelsen was knocked out of the game following a Harvard sack. With the pressure on, it seemed impossible that Epperly could complete the incredible comeback.

With thirteen seconds left, Epperly decided to air it out deep to the endzone for junior wide receiver Roman Wilson, who leaped in the air and pulled in the grab. The Tigers had pulled off the seemingly impossible. They did by playing as a team and never giving up. It took everything from heroics from a backup quarterback, a wide receiver catching his first collegiate touchdown, and a defense that had given up 34 points coming up with a number of crucial stops down the stretch. Princeton's football team showed the impossible does indeed become possible when you never give up.

College Football Week 8 Preview and Predictions

Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel will look to continue his success in Saturday's game against South Carolina. (Frederick Breedon)

5. #15 Rutgers (6-0) @ Temple (3-2) - 12:00 PM EST, Big East Network/ESPN3

At 6-0, Rutgers is off to their best start in six years. With two other Big East teams ranked and undefeated as well, the Scarlett Knights know that they need to keep winning if they hope to win the conference title and BCS bid. A big reason for their success has been their rock solid defense. The unit is anchored by senior linebacker Khaseem Greene. In last week's win over Syracuse, Greene had 14 tackles, three forced fumbles, one interception, and 1 1/2 sacks. Offensively, junior running back Jawan Jamison leads the Big East in rushing yards with 665 yards on 158 carries.

Temple is actually a very similar team to Rutgers with a strong defense and rushing attack. Freshman linebacker Tyler Matakevich has burst on the scene with 27.5 tackles the past two weeks. On the other side of the football, senior running back Montel Harris is looking like his old self. In his last two games, he has rushed for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

Prediction: Rutgers 23 Temple 13

4. #17 Texas Tech (5-1) @ #23 TCU (5-1) - 3:30 PM EST, ABC/ESPN2

Heading into last week, neither of these teams would have been on anyone radar for best games. However, Texas Tech destroyed West Virginia 49-14 and TCU routed Baylor 49-21. Suddenly, both teams are ranked and in the hunt for the Big 12 title. For the Red Raiders, it was quarterback Seth Doege who outshined Heisman frontrunner Geno Smith. Doege threw for 504 yards and six touchdowns in the game. It is important to note that one of his favorite targets, sophomore tight end Jace Amaro, is questionable. He will have an impact in the game one way or the other.

TCU has had to move forward after starting quarterback Casey Pachall withdrew from the school following his arrest for drinking and driving. His replacement, Trevone Boykin, played very well last week. He threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns. On the defensive side of the football, look for freshman defensive tackle Devonte Fields to have an impact on the game. He already has 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery on the season.

Prediction: Texas Tech 31 TCU 27

3. #6 LSU (6-1) @ #18 Texas A&M (5-1) - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN 3D

LSU's staple continues to be its stellar defenses. This season is no exception. While there are many standouts from the unit, junior linebacker Kevin Minter has a combined 29 tackles the past two weeks. Offensively, the Tigers rely on their deep running back core. Last week, their main man was freshman Jeremy Hill, who rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

Texas A&M is having a great season, but is still looking for that signature SEC win to make a statement that they are in the conference to compete. They have great opportunity on Saturday when they host LSU. When talking about the Aggies success this season, it is impossible to overlook the play of freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel. He is a true dual threat quarterback with the talent to take over any game. One of his favorite targets is fellow freshman Mike Evans. Evans has broken on to the scene in a big way as well.

Prediction: Texas A&M 20 LSU 16

2. #4 Kansas State (6-0) @ #13 West Virginia (5-1) - 7:00 PM EST, FOX

Kansas State keeps winning and moving up the rankings. When all is said and done though, the Wildcats go as senior quarterback Collin Klein goes. So far this season, he has been very good. Klein is a very balanced dual threat quarterback. He has over 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season thus far. In a close game, special teams could play a significant role. Kansas State sophomore kick returner Tyler Lockett is one of the best in college football. He averages over 30 yards a return and has one touchdown.

West Virginia's offense looked unstoppable. That is until last week when they looked just plain ugly in a blowout loss to Texas Tech. However, even when he struggles, senior quarterback Geno Smith plays quite well and doesn't make many mistakes. He still hasn't thrown an interception all season. Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey are playmakers. They are going to have to play like it for the Mountaineers to have success. Being at home, does give WVU a huge advantage.

Prediction: West Virginia 52 Kansas State 48

1. #7 South Carolina (6-1) @ #2 Florida (6-0) - 3:30 PM EST, CBS

South Carolina's schedule doesn't get an easier Saturday. Coming off a win over Georgia and their first loss of the season to LSU, the Gamecocks will look to keep their high level of play going against Florida on Saturday. However, they might have to do it without one of their best players. Running back Marcus Lattimore is questionable for the game with a bruised hip. That means that even more of the pressure might fall on quarterback Connor Shaw. He must be willing to step up as he is needed to in order for the Gamecocks to find success.

Florida has to be on an emotional high after the BCS rankings came out with them ranked #2 in the polls. The Gators have a very balanced offense. Senior running back Mike Gillieslee is as consistent a back as they come and is very good in the redzone. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel is coming off a record-setting game against Vanderbilt. He is a dual threat danger at any time.

Prediction: Florida 20 South Carolina 17

Breaking Down the Early Favorites for the BCS Bowls

Mike Gillislee and the Florida Gators were the big beneficiaries when the first BCS polls were released Sunday. (Sam Greenwood)

The first BCS polls for this season were released today. You can check out the polls for yourself below. There are definitely some surprises, such as the computers really liking Florida. Based off the polls, I am going to reveal my current predictions for the BCS bowls and look at which teams are on the radar for all of them as well.

The first BCS polls of the season were released Sunday. (Graphic credit to ESPN.com)

Discover BCS National Championship Game

Current Prediction: Alabama vs. Oregon

On the radar for BCS No. 1 & No. 2 spots: Florida, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Mississippi State, LSU, Oklahoma, USC

Analysis: Alabama has the edge on Florida right now in the human polls. If they both win out, they will meet in the SEC Championship Game to decide who will advance to the National Championship game. Both have hurdles to get past to get to that point. Oregon doesn't rank near was well in the computer polls, but if they go undefeated, it is hard to imagine them not in the National Championship game. Among the remaining undefeated teams, Notre Dame has the edge on Kansas State and Mississippi State based on strength of schedule. LSU, Oklahoma, USC are the one loss teams that could have a chance if they win out.

Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio

Current Prediction: Michigan vs. USC

On the radar for the Big Ten spot: Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa

On the radar for the Pac-12 spot: Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State

Analysis: With Ohio State and Penn State ineligible, it is hard to determine which team will arise out of the mediocrity as the Big Ten champion. With so much still undecided, I have to favor in honor of who I believe the biggest difference maker is. That player is Michigan's Denard Robinson. He has to make smart decisions  but all the talent needed is there. If Oregon doesn't make it to the National Championship game, they will likely be the Pac-12 team here. The question becomes if USC loses to both Oregon and Notre Dame, will they be ranked high enough to be eligible for a BCS bowl? If not, Oregon State or Arizona State could sneak in as an outsider.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Current Prediction: Kansas State vs. Notre Dame

On the radar for the Big 12 spot: Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia

On the radar for the at-large spot: Florida State, Clemson, Oregon, USC, Oregon State, Ohio

Analysis: The Big 12 champion will almost certainly play here as Kansas State's odds of getting into the National Championship are slim to none. Right now, I am giving the edge to the Wildcats to play here based the fact that are the most well-positioned. I do not believe that they are the best team in the conference. Should they stumble, that opens the door for the above stated other Big 12 contenders. All three have legitimate shots at making it. Notre Dame will almost certainly play here, unless they are playing in the National Championship game or have more than two losses. If one of those things happens, it opens up the door for a one-loss, non-conference champion from the ACC or Pac-12. The Cinderella team looking in from the outside is Ohio University, who is 7-0. If the Bobcats run the table, the BCS will be busted wide open.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

Current Prediction: South Carolina vs. Oklahoma

On the radar for the SEC spot: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi State, Georgia, LSU

On the radar for the at-large spot: Kansas State, West Virginia, Texas Tech

Analysis: With how loaded the top of the SEC is, you could end up seeing any of the contenders here. If Alabama wins the conference championship and goes undefeated, they will be in the National Championship game. However, the team they bet in the SEC title game, will likely miss out on the Sugar Bowl due to the loss. That opens the door up for a whole slate of SEC teams. The second best Big 12 will almost certainly play here, unless a team from their conference is in the National Championship game (not likely).

Discover Orange Bowl

Current Prediction: Florida State vs. Rutgers

On the radar for the ACC spot: Clemson, Virginia Tech

On the radar for the Big East spot: Louisville, Cincinnati

Analysis: It doesn't seem likely that a BCS buster will play a role in this game, meaning it will be the ACC champion against the Big East champion. Even though Florida State and Clemson both have one conference loss, I am giving the edge to the Seminoles based on their head-to-head win over the Tigers. The Big East boasts three undefeated teams as their cream of their crop. Louisville and Cincinnati have a big matchup coming up on October 26. I give Rutgers the edge over both of them based on their rock solid defense. The Scarlet Knights play the Cardinals the last week of the season in a game that could have huge implications.

College Football Week 7 Preview and Predictions

South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw dissected the Georgia defense and will look to do the same to the LSU unit Saturday. (AP Photo)

5. #10 Oregon State (4-0) @ BYU (4-2) - 3:30 PM EST, ABC/ESPN3

Oregon State has experienced its share of good news and bad news this past week. The good news is that they are off to a 4-0 start and have their highest ranking since 2001. The bad news is that in last week's win over Washington State, quarterback Sean Mannion injured his left knee and is expected to miss anywhere from two to four weeks.

The Beavers will travel to Provo to take on BYU. The Cougars have had their share of question marks at quarterback as well. Senior quarterback Riley Nelson has been out with a back injury. Freshman Taysom Hill had been playing his place, but injured his left knee in their win over Utah State. He has been ruled out for the season. Nelson is expected to return as the starter, but the Cougars could be in trouble if he is unable to go.

In place of Mannion, Oregon State quarterback Cody Vaz is making his collegiate starting debut. He has a difficult task set before him with having to play on the road against a tough BYU defense at home. Vaz will benefit from his pair of playmakers at wide receiver, Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks. Speaking of the Cougars defense, they will need to play very well, especially as they are lead by linebacker Kyle Van Noy.

Prediction: BYU 13 Oregon State 12

4. #15 Texas (4-1) vs. #13 Oklahoma (3-1) - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN

This is still one of the biggest rivarlies in college football. It just has a bit of a different feel this year. Rather than battling for control of the Big 12 race, both teams are simply trying not to fall farther behind #5 West Virginia and #6 Kansas State in the standings. Neither team is ranked in the top ten of the polls for the first time since 1999. The loser will have two losses just two weeks into October.

Oklahoma is finally starting to play better football. Starting quarterback Landry Jones is beginning to play better and is able to lead his team to victory. His wide receivers are finally finding some continuity with him as  well. Freshman Trey Metoyer and juniors Kenny Stills and Justin Brown have emerged as Jones' top targets. Defensively, the Sooners pieced together their best performance of the season last week in a win at Texas Tech.

Texas will look to contain Jones with their solid defense. The defense is anchored by defensive ends Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat. On offense, the Longhorns will look to control the line of scrimmage to create rushing lanes for their deep backfield. When playing up to their potential, they can control the ball and clock very well.

Prediction: Oklahoma 31 Texas 27

3. #17 Stanford (4-1) @ #7 Notre Dame (5-0) - 3:30 PM EST, NBC

Even without former star quarterback Andrew Luck, Stanford hasn't really missed a beat offensively. The main reason why is the consistency of running back Stepfan Taylor. He is a workhorse who isn't afraid to get  into the trenches and pick up tough yardage. Quarterback Josh Nunes has improved over the course of the season. The Cardinal might see just how far along he is developed if the score is close near the end of the game.

Notre Dame is undefeated on the season, but has yet to receive some of the accolades of other teams in similar positions. One of the reasons might be that they aren't blowing teams out of the water, expect for last week's 41-3 blowout of Miami (FL). They grinded out their wins over Purdue, Michigan State and Michigan. However, wins are wins and that's what the Fighting Irish have been getting this season.

The Fighting Irish defense has been rock solid this season. They are led by linebacker Manti Te'o, who is having a fabulous season. If he and the rest of the defense can contain Taylor, they should be in good shape. The other aspect of Notre Dame's game that is starting to emerge is their rushing attack. Senior Cierre Wood just needed to get himself going after missing the first two games of the season due to suspension. Last week against the Hurricanes, he rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Prediction: Notre Dame 27 Stanford 17

2. #22 Texas A&M @ #23 Louisiana Tech - 9:00 PM EST, ESPNU/WatchESPN

Texas A&M was supposed to open their season at Louisiana Tech. However, Hurricane Isaac came through and postponed the game until now. When it originally happened, no one probably thought anything of it. But now both teams are ranked and the game has been thrust into the national spotlight. Both teams boast big time offenses, so this one has shootout written all over it.

The Aggies have improved drastically since their loss to Florida. Quarterback Johnny Manziel's emergence as one of the most exciting players in the SSC is a major reason why. His dual threat nature has kept opposing defense off guard and guessing all season long. Another Aggie who is starting to shine is freshman wide receiver Mike Evans. He has 32 catches for 412 yards on the season. Evans' size could create a matchup problem for Louisiana Tech.

With an undefeated record, including wins over Houston, Illinois, and Virginia, Louisiana Tech has rightfully broken into the polls and national spotlight. The Bulldogs have legitimate BCS buster power. This makes the game against Texas A&M even more important. Quarterback Colby Cameron runs an efficient offense. His completion percentage of 68.3 and the fact that he hasn't thrown an interception are quite impressive. The other Bulldog to take note of is senior wide receiver Quinton Patton. He already has 34 receptions for 532 yards and five touchdowns on the season.

Prediction: Louisiana Tech 45 Texas A&M 42

1. #3 South Carolina @ #9 LSU - 8:00 PM EST, ESPN/WatchESPN

Steve Spurrier finally looks like he has a South Carolina team good enough to win the school's first ever SEC title. Last week, the Gamecocks slammed then-No. 5 Georgia 35-7. Life doesn't get an easier for them though as they have to travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers rarely lose at home and even more rarely lose two in a row, coming off a loss at Florida.

South Carolina is a balanced team from top to bottom. Offensively, they are led by two of the best players in the SEC. Quarterback Connor Shaw is a dual threat danger that is capable of taking over at anytime. His ability to read defenses and analyze what is taking place is another strength of his game. The other star player is running back Marcus Lattimore. He already has nine rushing touchdowns this season.

LSU is still in control of their own fate in the SEC schedule. The Tigers defense has been as solid as years past. Linebacker Kevin Minter has been doing it all for the Tigers. Last week, he set a new school-record with 17 solo tackles. The difference in this year's LSU team is that the offense continues to struggle. In two SEC games so far this season, they have only managed score a combined 18 points.

Prediction: South Carolina 17 LSU 9

Breaking Down the Top Stories From the AP Poll for Week 7

What state has two teams in the AP Top 10? That's right, it is Oregon. The Beavers have joined the Ducks in center stage. (Getty Images)

With six weeks of college football in the books, the first teams are becoming bowl eligible. This means it is definitely time to start talking about bowl games and top stories to follow. Three of the top five teams were upset on Saturday. Therefore, we knew that the new AP Poll would be full of intrigue. Below the rankings, I will look at what I believe to be the three stories to follow as a result.

2012 NCAA Football Rankings - AP Top 25 Week 7 (October 7) (Photo Credit: ESPN.com)

Oregon State Joining Oregon in the Top 10

The dominance of the Oregon Ducks doesn't really come as an surprise. Their spread offense is operating as a machine right now. Through six games, they have averaged 52.3 points per game and given up only 20.0. That means their winning by an average of 32.3 points per game. They have beaten two previously ranked teams (Arizona and Washington) by 49 and 31 points respectively. Best of luck to any one trying to slow the Ducks down right now.

Oregon State, on the other hand, has come out of nowhere to join the Top 10. The Beavers haven't blown anyone out yet this season, but they are a perfect 4-0. That includes 2-0 against ranked opponents (Wisconsin and UCLA) and 3-0 in conference play. Sophomore quarterback Sean Mannion is set out to prove that he is the best quarterback in the state. If Oregon and Oregon State are both able to keep this up, the Civil War might turn out to be one of the biggest games of the season.

Is Louisiana Tech a BCS Buster?

Yes, that is Louisiana Tech ranked #23 in the latest AP Poll. Check out their resume. The ranking is deserved. The Bulldogs have won on the road at Houston, at Illinois, and at Virginia. Quarterback Colby Cameron is a senior with all of the tools needed to lead his team to an undefeated season. His favorite target, Quinton Patton, already has three 100+ yard receiving games. Additionally, running backs Ray Holley and Kenneth Dixon are both coming off 100+ yard rushing games last week against UNLV.

The real test comes this coming Saturday when the Bulldogs play the team directly ahead of them in the polls, Texas A&M. The Aggies have been solid thus far in their first season in the SEC. However, they must be careful not to overlook Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs know just how important this game is to their season. If they upset the Aggies, all that stands between them and what is likely a BCS bowl is six WAC games.

Life Doesn't Get Any Easy for South Carolina

In a Top 10 matchup last week, South Carolina came out and throttled Georgia 35-7. The Gamecocks' strong play started from the very beginning, leading 21-0 after the first quarter. Junior quarterback Conner Shaw has been superb all season long. Last week against the Bulldogs, the duel-threat quarterback had 240 total yards and three touchdowns.

The win over Georgia was a total team effort with offensive explosiveness, a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, and smothering defense. They will need that those types of performances the next two weeks as well. The Gamecocks play at a pair of Top 10 teams the next two weeks consecutively. This coming Saturday they must play at LSU. They week after they play at Florida. The Gamecocks will likely have to win both games to keep their national champion aspirations alive.

College Football Week 6 Preview and Predictions

South Carolina is going to need a big game out of running back Marcus Lattimore if they are going to defeat Georgia. (Streeter Lecka)

Only have time for short previews this week. I am giving you an impact player to watch on each of the teams, plus my usual predictions.

5. Miami (FL) (4-1) vs. #9 Notre Dame (4-0) (in Chicago) - 7:30 PM EST, NBC

Stephen Morris, Miami quarterback - Morris put up huge numbers against N.C. State, including 271  passing yards in the first quarter. He must continue to be accurate and limit mistakes as much as possible.

Manti Te'o, Notre Dame linebacker - Te'o has been in beast mode since the season began. He has forced five fumbles in four games. The combination of speed and skill Te'o possesses makes his very presence a game-changer.

Prediction: Notre Dame 27 Miami 24

4. #21 Nebraska (4-1) @ #12 Ohio State (5-0) - 8:00 PM EST, ABC

Taylor Martinez, Nebraska quarterback - Martinez leads a dynamic offense that is capable of keeping up with the scoring of Ohio State. His dual-treat nature keeps opposing defenses guessing and on their heels.

Philly Brown, Ohio State wide receiver - Brown had the game of  his career last weekend against Michigan State. He had 12 catches for 84 yards. Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller will likely look Brown's way first, so he has to be ready.

Prediction: Ohio State 31 Nebraska 27

3. #8 West Virginia (4-0) @ #11 Texas (4-0) - 7:00 PM EST, FOX

Geno Smith, West Virginia quarterback - Smith has been putting up extraordinary numbers all season long. Last week, he completed 45 of 51 passes for 656 yards and eight touchdowns. Smith has thrust himself into the national spotlight and Heisman race.

Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas defensive end - Jeffocoat leads a talented Longhorns defensive line and unit. He has 25 tackles, including eight for a loss so far this season.

Prediction: West Virginia 52 Texas 41

2. #4 LSU (5-0) @ #10 Florida (4-0) - 3:30 PM EST, CBS

Sean Montgomery, LSU defensive end - Montgomery leads a loaded Tigers defense. Controlling the line of scrimmage has been key. He has 6.5 of the Tigers' 41 tackles for a loss.

Mike Gillislee, Florida running back - Gilliselee is a big, strong power back is difficult to take down. He has rushed for 402 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. The senior could be in for a big game against a Tigers defense that looked suspect against the run in their game against Towson.

Prediction: Florida 17 LSU 13

1. #5 Georgia @ #6 South Carolina - 7:00 PM EST, ESPN/WatchESPN

Jarvis Jones, Georgia linebacker - Jones is a superb talent and game-changer on defense. In their last game against Tennessee  he was limited to only eight tackles. Jones will be looking to make a big play in Saturday's showdown.

Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina running back - Lattimore, who is coming off season-ending surgery last season, is putting up big numbers this season. He has even diversified his game to become an important receiver for the Gamecocks as well.

Prediction: Georgia 31 South Carolina 27