NCAA 2011 Week 14 picks

Not many games, but I won't list them all.  I will pick more than I usually do

Thurs Dec 1
West Virginia Mountaineers at South Florida Bulls:  The only chance the Mountaineers have for the Big East title is a victory.  Even if they miss the title, they can still score a decent bowl game with a 9-3 record.  WEST VIRGINIA

Fri Dec 2
A couple of conference title games, including the FIRST EVER Pac-12 title game!

MAC CHAMPIONSHIP -- #22 Ohio Bobcats v Northern Illinois Huskies:  First conference game, and I have to pick an upset!  Yes, the Bobcats made the Top 25, but it won't last.  The Huskies weren't great outside the conference, but they were nearly unbeatable against conference opponents.  NORTHERN ILLINOIS

PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP -- UCLA Bruins at #9 Oregon Ducks:  This one won't even be close! If the Trojans weren't under probation, the game would be more interesting, featuring a rematch of the Ducks and Trojans.  As it is, the Bruins backed in with a 6-6 record and will get slaughtered.  OREGON

Sat Dec 3
Syracuse Orange at Pittsburgh Panthers:  Neither can win the conference, but the winner becomes bowl eligible.  That's a reason to fight! This will be a close game, but I like the way Pitt has been playing in recent weeks.  I'll give them the slight nod.  PITT

UConn Huskies at #24 Cincinnati Bearcats:  The Bearcats will know if a three-way tie happens, or they win the Big East with a win.  Either way, expect them to beat down the Huskies, especially if they need to build "style points" in a three-way contest for the conference.  CINCY

CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP -- #18 Southern Miss Golden Eagles v Houston Cougars:  The Golden Eagles have the talent to engineer the upset, but Houston's offense is pretty strong.  I have to pick the Cougars, but the Eagles defense won't make it easy.  HOUSTON

Iowa State Cyclones at #20 Kansas State Wildcats: Iowa State has had good weeks and bad weeks, but the Wildcats had an extra week to prepare, so don't expect them to slip up.  KANSAS STATE

Wyoming Cowboys at Colorado State Rams:  The Cowboys are already heading to a decent bowl game.  A win here gives them a bigger paycheck.  WYOMING

UNLV Rebels at #14 TCU Horned Frogs:  No BCS busting this year, but the Horned Frogs could still get a Dec 31st bowl.  TCU

Troy Trojans at #21 Arkansas State Red Wolves:  The Red Wolves already have the Sun Belt title, so their bowl trip is set.  Will they rest key players?  I don't think so; there's enough time until the bowl game.  ARKANSAS STATE

Texas Longhorns at Baylor Bears:  The Longhorns have better outscored their opponents, but I think Baylor will have the upper hand in this game.  BAYLOR

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP -- #17 Georgia Bulldogs v #1 LSU Tigers (12-0): Can Georgia pull off the upset of the year?  Maybe, but I doubt it.  LSU has gotten stronger as the season wore on, so they are as powerful now as they've ever been.  LSU

New Mexico Lobos at #7 Boise State Broncos:  The Broncos add to their new home winning streak by brutalizing the Lobos.  BOISE STATE

BYU Cougars at Hawaii Warriors: Hawaii is tough to beat at home, but I think BYU has the strength to do it.  BYU

BIG XII CHAMPIONSHIP -- #8 Oklahoma Sooners at #5 Oklahoma State Cowboys:  Let's face it, this game basically IS the Big XII Championship, as the winner claims the title.  This intense rivalry can go either way, especially this year.  Okie State has a potent offense, but Oklahoma/s offense is no slouch.  Add in the speed of Oklahoma's defense, and you get an upset potential.  I think the Cowboys will pull this one out, but they may actually be behind at one point in the fourth quarter.  OKLAHOMA STATE

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP -- #12 Virginia Tech Hokies v #23 Clemson Tigers:  Earlier in the season, I would have picked Clemson.  Now, however, Clemson is on the skids, while Tech has shown tenacity and strength.  VIRGINIA TECH

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP -- #6 Wisconsin Badgers v #11 Michigan State Spartans:  In their first meeting, the Spartans defense held the Badgers to one of their lowest point totals of the year.  The Spartans, though, won on a lucky last second Hail Mary that bounced off two people before being caught.  Wisconsin wants to prove that, without luck, the Spartans can't beat them.  They get their chance, and I like their chances.  WISCONSIN