With the exception of Army-Navy and the bowl games, this week pretty much wraps up the college football season. My TFG picks went 11-4 (73.3%) while Eddie's RBA went 9-6 (60%). Outside of Washington's romp over Cal there weren't any major upsets in this closing week. Let's recap the actions.
Games of the Week
Florida Gators vs Alabama Crimson Tide
Eddie said: If Alabama can get the offense rolling and make a few big
plays to Julio Jones to keep the safeties honest, they can win, but if
they play like they have during the second half of the season, Florida
takes the title. RBA says Florida, 20-14, but with only 50.9%
confidence.
Justin: All of this adds up to a rough game for Alabama, with
TFG predicting a 31-24 victory for Tebow and the Gators, punching their
ticket for the title game.
What happened: Alabama just keeps doing what needs to be done in order to win. Nick Saban drew up the game plan and thoroughly out-coached Urban Meyer. Tim Tebow looked lost most of the night, and Alabama took this one in a cakewalk. Alabama is title game bound, while Florida had their Sugar Bowl ticket punched for them.
Cincinnati Bearcats at Pittsburgh Panthers
Justin: TFG is calling
this one a coin toss with the slight edge going to Cincinnati: 31-27,
Bearcats, with a 50.6% chance of being right.
Eddie: Pittsburgh
tries to slow the game down by grinding out long drives on the ground,
but Cincinnati pulls off the undefeated season 21-20.
What happened: This was about as close as you can get to a tie game without going into OT. Pitt and Cincy battled it out all night and in the end it came down to a missed extra point thanks to a botched hold on the snap. I had the odds right and Eddie provided the final margin. The Bearcats have been playing juuuust well enough to sneak by most weeks; will this work on the big stage?
The "No, You're An Idiot" Game of the Week
West Virginia Mountaineers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Eddie: Expect West Virginia to play better in all
facets of the game but keep shooting themselves in the foot as Rutgers
squeaks by in the home upset, 25-24.
Justin: Home field advantage isn't as
big a factor in December as it is in September, so Rutgers won't get a
big bump from playing at home. WVU takes this one, 27-24.
What happened: Eddie's been griping about this being the "Idiot" game of the week, but since it was either this or the Florida-Atlantic/Florida-International game (which I also got right) so WVU/Rutgers it was. The Scarlet Knights just couldn't pull off the season closer, tossing an interception of 4th-and-6 as they were trying to get into field goal range. That makes Eddie the Idiot for the second week in a row.
Coin Toss Game of the Week
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Clemson Tigers
Justin: Now that 10 games have passed and they're playing on
a neutral field, can Clemson put it together and pull off the victory?
TFG says "yes, but just barely." Final score: Clemson 34, Georgia Tech
31 in a game that shows little defense but some explosive offense.
Eddie: Clemson is a
little more clumsy with the ball, but Georgia Tech isn't quite as good
at forcing turnovers. They've played a close game once already, so
expect Clemson to be ready to stop the flexbone and win a good one,
28-24.
What happened: It's the ACC. Do we need to say more? Not many people saw the end of this game since Texas was busy misreading a clock against Nebraska at the same time, but Clemson's defense was unable to slow down the Ramblin' Wreck and unable to respond at the very end. Tech gets their first ACC championship is nearly 20 years and a bid to a BCS bowl.
