NCAAF Week 12 Weekend Preview

Since Oregon, Auburn, and TCU don't play this weekend, and Boise State just got done wrapping up another easy victory over Fresno State, there is very little that could potentially send a shockwave through the world of college football this weekend. In other words, if there was a weekend to step away from the action and do something other than watch college football on a Saturday, this would be it. Of course, true fans don't do that, right? Here are five games that should be interesting, even if they don't have that much bearing on the national title.

5 Games to Pay Attention To

Pittsburgh at South Florida (Saturday, 12 PM EST)

Does the Big East really deserve an automatic bid to a BCS bowl? It is a very realistic possibility that the Big East representative in a BCS bowl game could have four or more losses. In fact, no one in the Big East has less than three losses, and Pittsburgh, the current leader, is 5-4. As much as it seems like Pitt has stumbled through their entire season, they have actually done relatively well in conference play. Other than a loss at Connecticut last Friday, the Panthers have rolled through their conference schedule. South Florida has been playing well as of late, too. After failing to score in the double-digits in two straight games (losing both), the Bulls have reeled off three straight wins. It's really going to come down to which team shows up for both squads. Both have shown the ability to play well, but both have also had instances of looking completely flat in losses.

My Pick: 28-20 Pittsburgh


#14 Virginia Tech at #24 Miami (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

Both of these teams had national title aspirations at the beginning of the season. Although that is gone, they both have a considerable amount to play for. Virginia Tech, after dropping their opener against Boise State and then being embarrassed the next week against FCS opponent James Madison, has been on a tear, going undefeated since that point. Miami, who has had an up and down season and has experienced some issues at quarterback, are still in the hunt for the ACC Coastal Division title. The Hurricanes would have to beat Virginia Tech and then hope that the Hokies drop another one against Virginia in order to pull into a tie atop the standings (and thus receive the right to play for the ACC Championship game by way of the tie-breaker), but it isn't completely out of reach. Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon could also feel the heat at the end of the season if the Hurricanes don't pull off a big win.

My Pick: 30-17 Virginia Tech


#8 Ohio State at #21 Iowa (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

The Buckeyes have beaten Iowa in eleven of the last twelve meetings between the two teams, but this may be the most difficult game yet for Coach Tressel. Iowa is coming off of a loss against Northwestern, a game in which they should have won. Although their record is only 7-3, the Hawkeyes pummeled a good Michigan State team, came within one point of beating Wisconsin, and has really only looked out of it in one game this entire season, at Arizona back in September. The balanced Hawkeye offensive attack could be a handful for the Buckeye defense, which had trouble against Wisconsin's heavy running attack. This game will probably end up coming down to two things; one, how motivated is Iowa? Two, will the Buckeyes make the necessary adjustments to stop Iowa's balanced offensive attack, or will they get behind early and not be able to make up the difference in the second half?

My Pick: 28-24 Iowa


#16 Oklahoma at Baylor (Saturday, 8 PM EST)

For some reason, I seem to have taken a liking to Baylor. Oklahoma has looked inconsistent at times this year, which is why I am giving the Bears a chance in this one. With that being said, Baylor has also had their moments of inconsistency this season. This is a battle for third place in the Big 12 South, and the winner could potentially finish second in the South if Texas A&M loses their final two games. Baylor will need to find a way to stop Oklahoma's offense, which has the ability to score at will on questionable defenses like Baylor's. However, if Baylor can match the Sooners on the offensive end, then an offensive shootout with plenty of highlight worthy footage should ensue.

My Pick: 48-38 Oklahoma


#9 Nebraska at #18 Texas A&M (Saturday, 8 PM EST)

Texas A&M, after choosing to start quarterback Ryan Tannehill, has apparently taken my advice from the Week 7 Preview and turned their season around. However, they did it without Jerrod Johnson, which surprised me. Like the Oklahoma game two weekends ago, this is a game where Tannehill can continue to make a name for himself with a big performance. It will be a tough task, however. Nebraska has the second best pass defense in the nation, giving up just over 140 yards per game through the air. Aggies running back Cyrus Gray will also have to have a big game in order to open up the passing game if Texas A&M wants to have success on offense. On defense, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez will be the main focus. I'm sure that the Aggies would love if they had an actual 12th Man on the field, because stopping Martinez with just eleven has been difficult for other teams this season.

My Pick: 35-24 Nebraska


5 More to Flip To

North Carolina State at North Carolina (Saturday, 12 PM EST)

It's a little shocking that NC State is the one battling for an ACC Championship game berth...

#7 Stanford at Cal (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

I predict that Stanford will have far less trouble with Cal than Oregon did last weekend.

Illinois at Northwestern (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

Only because it's being played at Wrigley Field. Without Dan Persa, the Wildcats aren't that fun to watch...

Army at Notre Dame (Saturday, 7 PM EST)

This one isn't just on the list because it's being played at Yankee Stadium. I think some Notre Dame fans will be unpleasantly surprised at how much better Army football has gotten when this game is over.

#20 USC at Oregon State (Saturday, 8 PM EST)

Oregon State enters possibly one of the toughest late season stretches of any team in the country. They have the potential to pull off upsets in two of them...



- K. Becks

NCAAF Week 11 Weekend Preview

Thank you, Cam Newton. For weeks, I have been getting blasted for calling you a "poor man's Terrelle Pryor". Well, it seems that I was wrong after all. You're actually a rich man's Terrelle Pryor. Although, I can't say that I'm too surprised that people are coming out of the woodwork now about your situation. Sure, with Auburn fighting for a national championship bid, it seems natural. But you also have to figure that Kenny Rogers felt a little neglected. I mean, come on; how many of you are thinking "Kenny Rogers' Jackass" when you hear that name? I know I do. In all seriousness though, when the FBI gets involved in things, you're usually in trouble, and there is usually truth to the statements being made. Auburn fans, you may want to familiarize yourselves with the name Barrett Trotter.

After two weeks away, I'm back to give you a run-down of the top five games to watch this weekend.

5 Games to Pay Attention To

Georgia at #2 Auburn (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

If you have been reading my Weekend Preview's throughout this season, then you know that I am a big fan of Georgia's A.J. Green, and not such a big fan of Cam Newton. As I kept saying, Georgia, with Green, is a completely different team. That has been proven correct, as Georgia has done almost a complete 180 from where they were at five games into the season. Granted, they haven't played any outstanding opponents, but their improvement is as clear as day. Auburn will be dealing with the Cam Newton saga, as well as the pressure that comes with being an undefeated team this late into the season. Call me crazy, but this game could be the one that sends college football fans and voters alike into a tizzy.

My Pick: 44-41 Auburn


#23 Texas A&M at Baylor (Saturday, 7 PM EST)

Baylor apparently did not want to be in the top 25, surrendering to Oklahoma State 55-28 less than a week after cracking the Top 25 for the first time since 1993. However, now that they have fallen out of the rankings, I'm sure that they feel it is okay to resume playing like a team capable of winning the Big 12 South. Robert Griffin has been everything that was advertised when he came to the program two years ago. Now, if he can lead the Bears to a win over a Texas A&M team that has been streaky all season (but who also has a capable quarterback in Jerrod Johnson), Baylor can stay in the hunt for a Big 12 Championship game berth. Who would have predicted that three years ago?

My Pick: 38-31 Baylor


#22 South Carolina at #24 Florida (Saturday, 7:15 PM EST)

At first glance, this doesn't look like a particularly intriguing matchup. South Carolina, while knocking off Alabama earlier this season and receiving kudos from fans across the country, has been streaky all season. Florida, while being slightly overrated to start the season, is just a couple of games removed from a three game losing streak in which everyone was wondering (and not all that jokingly) if Urban Meyer would collapse. However, the winner of this game controls their destiny in the SEC East. South Carolina has never been to the SEC championship game, but the confidence in Florida isn't really there for me. I think this game is a toss-up, with the winner still at risk of losing control of the SEC East lead considering how inconsistent both teams have been this season.

My Pick: 30-20 Florida


#17 Mississippi State at #11 Alabama (Saturday, 7:15 PM EST)

"We could have been a contender. We could have been somebody." Maybe that's what Mississippi State is saying after everything that has been revealed about Cam Newton and his father. I'm sure that the Bulldogs are happy with Chris Relf, though. Relf and the rest of the Mississippi team have been a pleasant surprise in the SEC this year, even though they are only 5th in the stacked SEC West. However, even as improved as they've looked this season, beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa will be a tall task for the Bulldogs. Coming off of a loss that squashed any chance of Alabama returning to the national title game, it is unlikely that the Crimson Tide will be caught off guard. However, if the Mississippi State defense can make Greg McElroy commit errors similar to ones that LSU forced last weekend, then they have a fighting chance against the Tide.

My Pick: 34-21 Alabama


#1 Oregon at California (Saturday, 7:30 PM EST)

So, it is a known fact that Cal is never for real in football. Often times they may fool us by starting off well, but then losing many games down the stretch that you couldn't have possibly seen them losing when they were ranked number two earlier in the season. This season, however, Cal did not try to fool college football fans into thinking they were a top team. That is what makes them so dangerous this weekend, in my opinion. At certain times this year, Cal has shown the ability to be strong on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Of course, they have yet to put both together in one game, but the potential is definitely there. With nothing to lose, and becoming bowl eligible if they win, Cal may give Oregon a scare. Since I think we're still in the dark as to whether Oregon is truly the top team in the nation, any team has the potential to give them a scare, and Cal at home is as good as any.

My Pick: 48-38 Oregon


5 More to Flip To

#13 Iowa at Northwestern (Saturday, 12 PM EST)

If Iowa plays like they did last weekend, then Northwestern won't let a win slip through their hands like Indiana did...

#16 Virginia Tech at North Carolina (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

At the beginning of the season, these teams were a mess. Just another example of the parody in the ACC...

Penn State at #8 Ohio State (Saturday, 3:30 PM EST)

I'm not exactly sure why College GameDay is in Columbus this weekend. I guess this game could be interesting...

#12 Oklahoma State at Texas (Saturday, 8 PM EST)

Texas will be competitive in this game. Anyone who thinks that Mack Brown is on the hot seat is crazy.

#21 Nevada at Fresno State (Saturday, 10:30 PM EST)

A couple of WAC teams who, along with Boise State, would be able to hold their own in a bigger conference. One of the more hyped games in the WAC.


The storylines of the weekend have really been played out on SportsCenter the past couple of days. This weekend has the potential to be huge. I'll try get back into my regular schedule of posting once per week; however, if I am unable to, remember that you can still interact by joining the conversation on the "Around The Corn Sports Blog" Facebook fan page. Thanks everyone.



- K. Becks

NCAAF: Big 12 Preview

Overview

The Big 12 should be a very interesting conference to watch this year. They were the talk of the off-season, with Colorado and Nebraska going public with their intentions to bolt for the Pac-10 and Big 10 conferences next year, and that's just the beginning. Multiple teams, including Nebraska, Texas, and Oklahoma, will start the season with high hopes of going undefeated and possibly receiving a bid to play for the national championship. However, the question will be whether or not those teams have the answer at quarterback. Texas must replace Colt McCoy, but his successor Garrett Gilbert showed promise when he stepped into the national championship game last season and played surprisingly well. Oklahoma must replace Sam Bradford, but will do so with Landry Jones, who played most of the season last year for the Sooners after Bradford went down with an injury against BYU. Nebraska is also high in the preseason rankings, but had real problems last year at the quarterback position, and unless someone in that camp got much better over the off-season, will likely encounter those problems again. With all this being said, it could be a rollercoaster ride in the Big 12 this season. However, the conference has been on a rollercoaster ride for the last four months, so that isn't saying much.

Team(s) With the Best Shot at a National Championship Bid
Nebraska

Even without defensive standout Ndamukong Suh, the Cornhusker defense should be strong under Bo Pelini. However, you can't always have the defense bail you out. Nebraska should easily win the Big 12 North, but if they want to be serious contenders for the national title, then they will need better play on offense, especially at quarterback. If Nebraska drops a game they shouldn't this season, the blame will likely be put on the offense. The bottom line is, if they have good quarterback play, then they are a national title caliber team. If they don't have it, then they aren't.

Texas

I think I'm more obligated out of recent success than anything to include Texas in this list. Not only do they lose Colt McCoy, but they also lose wide receiver Jordan Shipley, as well as some key proponents on the defensive side. Texas will probably drop a few games due to the inexperience of Gilbert and Co., but you never know. Mack Brown knows how to coach young players into confident leaders quickly, so I'll keep them on this list just in case.

Watch Out! (Team That Could Surprise)
Oklahoma

Yes, I think that Oklahoma will be the team out of the Big 12 that could surprise people. I don't know if people are giving enough credit to Landry Jones, who is a good quarterback. Oklahoma is flying under the radar somewhat, which may sound kind of weird, considering they're a preseason Top 10 team. After an 8-5 season, people seem to forget that they have possibly the best team in the Big 12, with an experienced quarterback. Don't be surprised if they win the Big 12 South and are still in the national title conversation heading into the Big 12 championship game.

Out-Of-Conference Game To Watch
Oklahoma vs. Florida State (September 11th)

This game features two teams that I picked to "surprise people" this year. If Florida State has a better defense than they did last year, then this game may surprise people as well. It's still early enough in the season that Florida State could rattle Landry Jones, who although talented, is still only a sophomore. A win for Florida State would definitely catch the nation's attention, and a win for Oklahoma is solid as well.

In-Conference Game To Watch
Nebraska vs. Texas (October 16th)

Oklahoma is not on the schedule for Nebraska, so this game is no doubt the biggest of the year for them. As for Texas, this game could be a chance to either prove they're for real, or to take out their frustrations if they happen to lose to Oklahoma, whom they play the week before. In addition, this game is a chance for the quarterbacks to have a breakout performance in front of a national audience. A lot should be at stake in this final meeting as Big 12 rivals.

Conference Predictions

North Division

1. Nebraska (11-1, [7-1])
2. Colorado (6-6, [4-4])
3. Iowa State (5-7, [3-5])
4. Missouri (7-5, [3-5])
5. Kansas (3-9, [1-7])
6. Kansas State (2-10, [0-8])

South Division

1. Oklahoma (11-1, [7-1])
2. Texas A&M (9-3, [5-3])
3. Texas (9-3, [5-3])
4. Texas Tech (8-4, [4-4])
5. Baylor (6-6, [3-5])
6. Oklahoma State (6-6, [2-6])

Championship Game (Nebraska vs. Oklahoma)
Winner: Nebraska



- K. Becks

I'm Tired Of Hearing About Urban Meyer

I know that I said shoot me an e-mail if you wanted to hear my opinion about the Urban Meyer situation, but now I'm starting to get sick of it. The fact is, the guy will be back in 2011, if not next year. It's not that big of a deal. Even if he isn't the "head coach" in name next season, he will still be involved with the program. I see him taking on a role similar to the one Bill Parcels has in Miami; still making decisions, but not actually wearing the headset on Saturdays.

With that aside, I want to shift the focus back to bowl games. Last night was a little more defensive oriented than I had envisioned, but nonetheless Clemson pulled out a win (thanks to a fumble by Kentucky when they were driving down the field in the 4th quarter).

Today, however, should be a completely different story. Here are my picks for the December 28th bowl games.

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Georgia vs. Texas A&M

I'm not sure if defense is a word that has been used much in College Station this season. The Aggies are last in points allowed in the Big 12, giving up almost 33 PPG. Georgia isn't much better, giving up 26.4 PPG, good for 10th best in the SEC. With that being said, this game should be a shootout reminiscent of the game Texas A&M played against Texas on Thanksgiving weekend. If Aggie QB Jerrod Johnson can move the ball effectively against the Bulldogs defense, then Texas A&M could upset Georgia. However, with losses like 47-19 to Arkansas and 65-10 to Oklahoma, I just don't know if they can stop Georgia, who is no slouch on offense either. I have Georgia for 24 points in the College Bowl Mania game, which may have been a little high, but I'm confident in the Bulldogs. Whomever the winner is, it should be close for the entire game.

Final Score: 42-38 Georgia



- K. Becks