The college football season is winding down and so are LSU’s hopes of playing in the National Championship.
This is the last chance for the Ohio State Buckeyes to falter – rather, run out of luck – this season. Ohio State leapfrogged USC last week in the Bowl Championship Series rankings to No. 2, but a loss to No. 5 Michigan on Saturday would send the Buckeyes into a downward spiral in the rankings.
Another game of concern for the Tigers is the USC – UCLA matchup. Currently, USC sits at No. 3 in the BCS rankings, one ahead of LSU.
No. 4 Ohio State (10-1) at No. 5 Michigan (9-2)
This is it. Ohio State and Michigan in the Big House, arguably one of the finest rivalries in the nation. In a normal year, LSU could care less about this Big Ten matchup. But this is no normal season, with LSU sitting on the fringe of a possible berth in the Sugar Bowl [of course, LSU has to take care of its own business the remainder of the season]. Since Jim Tressel took over at head coach for the Buckeyes in 2001, OSU has won the last two meetings against hated Michigan. This is the 100th meeting between the two schools with Michigan leading the series 56-37-6. The luck tank should be empty by now Ohio State.
Michigan 16, Ohio State 13
UCLA (6-5) at No. 2 USC (9-1)
The Tigers’ chances of jumping USC are far better than leaping Ohio State in the BCS rankings, but that does not lessen the importance of a USC loss. With two games remaining on the schedule, the Trojans’ best chance at a loss may come in the season finale against Oregon State. But do not count the Bruins out, this is a rivalry game and UCLA would love nothing more than seeing USC’s national title hopes come crashing to the ground. With that said, I’m picking the Bruins. I just have to.
UCLA 27, USC 21
No. 9 TCU (10-0) at Southern Mississippi (7-3)
Tonight’s game has way less importance right now to Tigers fans, but the Horned Frogs are threatened to break up the BCS party this winter. If TCU can climb to No. 6 in the BCS rankings, the Horned Frogs would be eligible to play in a BCS bowl – if that happened, TCU would be the first school from a non-BCS conference to play in a BCS bowl.
But in the words of the great Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend.” USM is 6-0 in Conference USA, sitting a half game behind 7-0 TCU and plans on crashing TCU’s party on Saturday. I heard TCU’s parties suck anyway.
USM 31, TCU 21
No. 1 Oklahoma (11-0) at Texas Tech (7-4)
This game has explosion written all over it. Texas Tech boasts the nation’s No. 1 offense, averaging 495.6 passing yards per game. Quarterback B.J. Symons is 83 yards shy of breaking the NCAA single-season record of 5, 188 passing yards in a season set by Ty Detmer back in 1990. Symons leads the nation with 47 touchdown passes, but his counterpart this weekend, OU’s Jason White, is second in the nation with an Oklahoma single-season record 36 touchdown passes.
Oklahoma only allows 222.3 yards per game this season. Something has got to give this weekend. Expect fireworks.
Oklahoma 56, Texas Tech 35