This is the weekend that decides it all.
Who wins their way in and who goes home in tears…
BIG 12 – 7 BAYLOR v 6 OKLAHOMA
For a long while, the Bears were my sleepers to make a run at the third or fourth place in the College Football Playoff. Their loss to Oklahoma really takes the gloss off a great season but revenge is a dish best served cold and Baylor can roll into Jerry World and atone for the defeat to the Sooners.
Jalen Hurts’ next TD will be his 50th which is a remarkable achievement for a QB who was benched at Alabama. His season has been immense and Oklahoma will look to ride him through the air and on the ground one last time.
Statistically, the Sooners are the premier team scoring more points, gaining more yards and allowing less yards than the Bears.
Worryingly, Oklahoma only snuck past Iowa State and TCU in recent outings whilst Baylor has taken care of Kansas (61-6) and Texas (24-10) in the past fortnight.
Prediction – Baylor 33, Oklahoma 30
SEC – 2 LSU v 4 GEORGIA
This is the big one of the weekend. No. 2 LSU versus No. 4 Georgia. For Georgia, a loss would likely mean no invite to the CFP whilst LSU could actually afford a competitive defeat and still get in.
Georgia heads to its third straight SEC title game but they’re slightly banged up and things have been less than smooth of late. The loss to South Carolina was a gut-punch but whilst others have fallen they’ve done enough to secure a shot at glory.
For my Tigers, this season has been magical but the real work begins now. Joe Burrow has led a complete overhaul of the offensive system resulting in the highest scoring team in college football.
Burrow is a certainty to win the Heisman, whilst back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has shone late in the season. Receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson are usually the best athletes on the field and Burrow puts the ball exactly where they need it.
On defence, the Tigers have leaked some points so the Bulldogs will be hoping Jake Fromm can find some holes in the LSU defence.
This is a game all college sports fans should watch and I personally cannot wait!
Geaux Tigers!
Prediction – LSU 34, Georgia 23
ACC – 3 CLEMSON v 23 VIRGINIA
Clemson finally face a ranked team… but it will matter little as the other Tigers, the defending champions. You know Dabo Swinney has been getting inside his players’ heads about the perceived disrespect from the selection committee.
Virginia have had an excellent season but have lost three games and are a four touchdown underdog. This could get ugly and we may not learn much more about this year’s version of the Clemson Tigers.
Prediction – Clemson 40, Virginia 17
BIG 10 – 1 OHIO STATE v 8 WISCONSIN
Make no mistake, Ohio State should escape the Big 10 Championship game as victors but Wisconsin will not go down without a scrap.
The Buckeyes have stars – and likely NFL draft picks – all over the place. Predicted lottery pick, Chase Young, leads the way off the edge and he will be aiming to wreck the Badgers’ offensive plans.
When these teams met on October 26, OSU came out on top 38-7. I doubt that happens here but maybe THE Ohio State are as good as advertised.
Prediction – Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 14
Josh Jenkins Sports 