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 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

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

Leap Day Bubble Watch

Tomorrow is Leap Day. It only comes once every four years, so it is kind of a big deal. The NCAA Tournament only comes once a year in March and is kind of a big deal too. With March quickly coming, teams need to do all they can to show the tournament committee why they should be invited to the Big Dance. Five teams have a big shot to make a case one way or another on Wednesday.

Miami - 17-10 (8-6), RPI: 47, SOS: 38

Few people thought Miami would be able to make it to where they have a chance to make the tournament, but here they are. A big reason why is because they picked up their second win over a ranked opponent in a span of three weeks. The Hurricane's resume has some definite holes (3-9 record agaisnt the RPI Top 100 and a 5-7 road/neutral record), so they can't sit back and relax now. Tomorrow they play at NC State. This will be a tough win to earn, but one they could really use. A loss won't burst their bubble, but a win would certainly help their case.

Cincinnati - 20-9 (10-6), RPI: 76, SOS: 132

Cincinnati seems to be a team that can't decide whether or not they deserve to go to the Big Dance. Last week, they got a big win over Louisville, but then lost at South Florida. That isn't a knock on the Bulls, but the Bearcats' lack of consistency has hurt the resume significantly. They have five wins over the RPI Top 50, but their non-conference play was mostly pathetic (i.e. SOS of 323 and a loss to Presbyterian at home). No team in the last 15 years has ever gotten an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament with a RPI outside the Top 75. Cincinnati's last regular season chance to impress the committee comes tomorrow when they host Marquette. An upset win would be huge for the Bearcats.

Purdue - 19-10 (9-7), RPI: 39, SOS: 24

Personally, I have never thought Purdue's resume was as strong as people make it out to be. However, they finally got a big win at Michigan last Saturday. Prior to that game, the Boilermakers were 0-7 against ranked opponents, but the win over the Wolverines may have been the signature one they needed. Tomorrow night, they host Penn State. You may think no big deal, but the Nittany Lions won by 20 in their matchup earlier this year. While that was a long time ago, Purdue can't afford a let down after their big win. It could be quite detrimental.

Texas - 18-11 (8-8), RPI: 55, SOS: 29

Interestingly enough, Texas has a similar resume to Purdue. They have a middling conference record and have struggled against ranked opponents as well (0-6). A 4-9 record against the RPI Top 100 and a 4-9 road/neutral mark puts the Longhorn squarely on the bubble. They know they can't afford another bad loss. They survived last Saturday's overtime bout with Texas Tech, but tomorrow they need to take care of business against Oklahoma. A win won't seal their fate, but a loss might certainly.

Mississippi State - 19-10 (6-8), RPI: 63, SOS: 68

A mere 2 1/2 weeks ago, Mississippi State seemed like a lock for the NCAA tournament. However, they have now lost five in a row and seem to be in disarray. When asked about his team's odds of making the tourament, team star Arnett Moultrie said, "Maybe not. Probably not." That is not what you want to hear if you are a Bulldogs fan. This team is now only 6-8 in SEC play and have just a 5-7 road/neutral record. Mississippi State travels to conference doormat South Carolina tomorrow. The Gamecocks did upset Alabama early this year, so anything is possible. A Bulldogs loss would almost certainly burst their once promising bubble.

Noles and Tide Roll on National Signing Day

Top 5 Class of 2012 Recruiting Classes

1. Alabama - The freshly crowned national champions look to be loaded up for more runs at the title for years to come. The incoming class features 28 commits. 13 of those are ESPNU Top 150 recruits. The Crimson Tide's top recruits include Landon Collins (#1 safety), Eddie Williams (#2 athlete), Cyrus Jones (#4 athlete), and Chris Black (#2 wide receiver).

2. Florida State - No team had a better National Signing Day then Florida State. Their 2012 class currently has 18 commits, 9 of which are ESPNU Top 150 recruits. The Seminoles' defense looks to be beefing up in a big way. Not only did they get the #1 overall ranked recruit in defensive end Mario Edwards, but they made headlines when Eddie Goldman (#1 defensive tackle) committed to come to Tallahassee as well. With more top recruits verbally committed, things seem to be headed in the right direction for Florida State.

3. Texas - Coming off a disappointing season, Texas still managed to bring in a solid recruiting class. They signed 27 commits. 11 of them are ESPNU Top 150 Recruits. The Longhorns' class is headlined by the #2 overall player, Jonathan Gray (#1 running back), and Malcom Brown (#2 defensive tackle). Texas will look to get back to winning form behind some of these young players.

4. Florida - Just like Texas, Florida is coming off a disappointing season, but that didn't stop the Gators from signing a solid class either. Their class features 21 commits (8 ESPNU Top 150 recruits). The Gators' top two recruits hail from North Carolina, the top offensive lineman recruit, D.J. Humphries (#1 offensive tackle), and Jonathan Bullard (#4 defensive end). Florida is looking to bounce back next year as well.

5. Georgia - Georgia rounds out the top five classes, which are all from southern universities. The Bulldogs signed 17 commits, 5 of which are ESPNU Top 150 recruits. The top man coming to campus is Keith Marshall (#2 running back). He will likely be looking to run through holes created by another of Georgia's top recruits, John Theus. The Bulldogs are looking to stay competitive in what is a brutally tough top tier of the SEC.

Top Story of the Day

Dorial Green-Beckham - Where DGB would sign was probably the top story coming into the day. The Missouri native had almost every top school offering him a scholarship to come play. The big deal with DGB is that he was the top uncommitted prospect coming into the day and the #1 ranked high school wide receiver (#3 overall). All he did in high school was set the national career receiving record with 6,353 yards. Today, the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Green-Beckham stood at a podium in his high school gymnasium before a crowd of 1,500 people, about 20 television cameras, and a national television audience watching on ESPNU. Much to the delight of everyone in attendance, DGB announced his decision to stay home and play at the University of Missouri. As his family explained afterwards, it was always where he felt the most comfortable. The signing was huge for Mizzou, who becomes a member of the SEC on July 1. Before Wednesday, the Tigers stood on the outside of the ESPNU Top 25 classes looking in. They fully realized that eight other SEC teams were already in the Top 25, including three in the Top 5. The signing of DGB shows that Mizzou is ready to compete in the SEC. They might still have a long ways to go, but this signing was a big step in the right direction.

Weekend Special: Who Should be on Upset Alert?

Saturday's Games to Watch

West Virginia @ #4 Syracuse - 1:00PM, ESPNU

The key matchup here will be how Syracuse handles West Virginia star Kevin Jones inside. The Orange are without Fab Melo once again, so they will need their other big men to step up defensively and on the glass. Jones as been an absolute force in Big East play this season. If the Mountaineers have a shot at the upset, they will need Jones to be that stellar again.

Texas @ #7 Baylor - 1:00PM, CBS

Texas is an improving young team that is fully capable of pulling an upset. However, they will play an angry Baylor team that is coming off its first two losses of the season. If they Bears exploit their advantage inside, they should get the win.

#16 Mississippi State @ #13 Florida - 1:30PM, ESPN3

Mississippi State has the size and strength inside to possibly give Florida some trouble. The Gators guards have been playing great and their team defense has stepped up in a big way as of late. This game should give us a better picture of both teams chances in March.

#5 Kansas @ Iowa State - 2:00PM, ESPN

This is a popular upset pick among the experts. Iowa State has an edge on the perimeter with their great guard play. They also have a big man in Royce White, who is capable of holding Kansas stud Thomas Robinson in check. The Hilton Coliseum should be on a full tilt, so Kansas is going to have to play very well in order to exit as the victors.

Middle Tennessee @ Vanderbilt - 2:00PM

This is a statement game for Middle Tennessee. They have a 20-2 record overall and are 9-0 in Sun Belt Conference play. However, this is there last chance to get a signature non-conference win. Vanderbilt has had their ups and downs all season. It will be interesting to see how they play against an amped up Blue Raiders team.

Cincinnati @ Rutgers - 6:00PM, ESPN3

Cincinnati was cruising having won 10 out of 11 games. But then they dropped their last two prior to this one. Rutgers has had their moments this season and have shown signs of hope for the future. The Scarlet Knights would love to get another quality win under their belts. It will be interesting to see how the Bearcats bounce back. If they are going to be a serious contender, this is a must win game.

#20 St. Mary's @ BYU - 9:00PM, ESPNU

St. Mary's convincingly won the first matchup of these two teams. The Gaels are currently looking like the favorites to win the West Coast Conference. BYU is currently sitting square on the bubble. They have a solid record, but a lack of quality wins. If they were able to pull the upset here, this would be a big step in the right direction.

Marshall @ Memphis - 9:00PM, CSS

Both of these teams are near the top of what is a crowded Conference USA standings. Marshall had some solid wins early in the season and even competed well at the Carrier Dome with Syracuse. As of late, the Thundering Herd have stumbled a bit, losing three in a row. On the other hand, Memphis is playing some of its best basketball right now. The Tigers are winners of eight of their last nine. This is an intriguing matchup with clear conference implications.

Sunday's Games to Watch

Notre Dame @ #19 Connecticut - 12:00PM, ESPN3

Connecticut won the previous matchup in South Bend in convincing fashion, but much has changed since then. Notre Dame upset Syracuse handing them their first and only loss of the season so far. The Fighting Irish are playing with a lot of confidence right now. Conversely, Connecticut has lost four out of their last six. The Huskies are looking to return to form. This is another statement game for both of these teams.

#22 Michigan @ #3 Ohio State - 1:00PM, CBS

Everyone normally talks about this rivalry in reference to a football game, but this is matchup of two Top 25 teams among the top of the Big Ten. Michigan has had their ups and downs, but are 3-2 against Top 25 teams, including a big win over in-state rival Michigan State. Ohio State has looked dominant at times, but there has also been a couple of pitfalls in their schedule so far this season. The Buckeyes will look to Jared Sullinger to lead the way once again. He is coming off a big game in a win over Penn State.