Championship Weekend

It's a huge weekend for college with the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and SEC all deciding conference champions with title games or de-facto title games. One of the major conferences already had their de-facto championship game with Oregon beating Oregon State last night on ESPN. If you missed it you missed a very good rivalry game to decide the PAC-10 Champion and who goes to the Rose Bowl.

#5 Cincinnati, with still some National Championship Game hopes, heads to Heinze Field to take on the #14 Pitt Panthers to decide the Big East and a trip to the Orange Bowl. While not a true championship game it as close as we can get in the Big East. Cincy is trying to finish the season undefeated and ignoring the rumors that head coach Brian Kelly could be heading to Notre Dame next year. The Bearcats are healthy again at quarterback with Tony Pike back in the saddle and commanding an offense that can score points. The Panthers are trying to win 10 games for the first time since 1981, with Dan Marino at quarterback, and win the Big East outright for the first time ever. Pitt is coming off a loss last weekend to West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl rivalry. For Cincy to win they must be able to handle a stout pass rush from the Panthers and shut down Pitt QB Bill Stull who has the second best passer rating in the conference behind the Bearcats Pike. Cincy must also shut down freshman phenom running back Dion Lewis, fourth ranked rusher in the nation.

MY PICK: CINCINATTI

Both of the teams playing for the ACC Championship are coming off losses in rivalry games last weekend. Clemson got thumped by South Carolina and Georgia Tech got shut down by Georgia. This game is also a rematch from earlier in the season when Clemson beat Georgia Tech 30-27 with a field goal in the final seconds. Tech has been running wild all season long with coach Paul Johnson's hybrid wishbone attack. Clemson has been relying on CJ Spiller to carry the scoring load. Tech must shut down Spiller, which no one has been able to do all season, if they expect to win. The Tigers must figure out a way to slow down the rushing attack of the Yellow Jackets if they expect to capture the ACC. With the game in Tampa no one has the home field advantage but Clemson does travel well so expect to see a lot of orange in Raymond James Stadium Saturday.

MY PICK: GEORGIA TECH

When #3 Texas takes the field Saturday at Cowboys Stadium to face #22 Nebraska for the Big 12 titile the Longhorns know that a victory means a chance to play for the National Championship in Pasadena. The Horns' will be riding the hot hand of quarterback Colt McCoy who is coming off a performance last week over Texas A&M that might have cemented the Heisman Trophy for him. Nebraska has one thing in their favor though, Texas may be looking past the Cornhuskers and having sights already on the National Championship Game. Nebraska also must look at the fact that Texas A&M was also able to roll up over 500 yards of offense against on the best defensive units in the nation. Nebraska head coach Bo Pellini has led the Cornuskers to two consecutive nine win seasons and they have their sights set on capturing their first Big 12 Championship since 1999.

MY PICK: TEXAS

All eyes with be on the Georgia Dome Saturday afternoon when the #1 Florida Gators and #2 Alabama Crimson Tide line up to decide the SEC Championship and who will be representing the conference in the National Championship Game. Florida comes in to the game riding high after embarrassing in-state rival Florida State last weekend. Bama comes in after after a hard fought victory of Auburn in the Iron Bowl. This game will come down to which defense cracks first. Both are ranked among the best in the nation. Bama must contain Tim Tebow who is looking to pick up his third National Championship ring in his spectacular college career. Bama is looking to end Florida's dominance and will rely heavily on running back Mark Ingram. Florida will be playing without outstanding defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who was suspended for getting a DUI arrests earlier in the week. The difference in this game may not be Tebow or Ingram but Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy. If he maintains composure under the ferocious attack for the Gator D, Florida might be in for a long day at the office.

MY PICK: FLORIDA