The BCS picture becomes a bit clearer (College Football Week 12 preview)

Matt: 467-162 (.742)
Ryan: 475-154 (.755)

Indiana at Wisconsin, Saturday Noon, ESPN2

Matt: The Hoosiers finally snap their losing streak with a win against Illinois last week. Nate Sudfield threw for 267 and three touchdowns while Coleman rushed for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns. Houston added on another 150 yards and 2 touchdowns to give Indiana a total of 650 total yards. However, they now head to Madison to take on the Badgers of Wisconsin. Indiana hasn’t won against Wisconsin since 2002 and that was only by a field goal, since then Wisconsin has won by an average of 40 points. This is definitely a game, as a Hoosier fan, I never look forward to. Just like in basketball, Indiana can’t seem to beat the Badgers. I know I said I’d never pick against my Hoosiers, but I’m not completely stupid and I need to bridge this gap that Ryan has on me. Wisconsin unfortunately destroys us again.
Winner: Wisconsin

Ryan: Indiana is a team that was looking to take the program to the next step by making a bowl game. They looked to be on the right track before a three game skid put them in a hole that required three wins in four games. After beating Illinois last week, the Hoosiers still need two more with a difficult schedule. Next three up are two straight road games at ranked Wisconsin and Ohio State followed by the always difficult Oaken Bucket game against Purdue. Eyes on the prize, the Hoosiers get ready for a tough Wisconsin team in a hostile environment. Wisconsin is a much underrated team still being punished for a bad refereed game in Phoenix. The Badgers defense has only allowed opponents 15.2 points a game while having the tenth best rushing offense. The Hoosiers have not been able to stop run heavy teams this year, allowing over 200 yards rushing in every loss. A loss here pretty much means no bowl game for the Hoosiers, and that is what will happen. Wisconsin wins by double digits.
Winner: Wisconsin

Purdue at Penn State, Saturday Noon, BTN

Matt: Purdue’s season is over, and they are heading the same way that Kevin Wilson started his career at Indiana, with only having a win against a FCS team. However, I think this team just may be worst. Purdue has one of the worst scoring offenses in the nation at 122^nd out of 125. Only averaging 11.8 points a game. I’m not going to tred lightly here, they aren’t going to win this game. Penn State may not be the powerhouse they once were, but they still are better than this Purdue squad. I think most Purdue fans have already shifted to basketball mode. Penn State wins in this one.
Winner: Penn State

Ryan: Purdue has had a terrible season in the aftermath of Danny Hope-less. Darrel Hazel has put in the time and effort to turn this team around, but the pieces are not all there. Danny Etling hasn’t shown as much production as all the hype would have suggested. Etling is only has a 48 percent completion rate and four touchdowns compared to five interceptions. Penn State has had a decent year with a 5-3 record. The Nittany Lions are still dealing with the sanctions from the Jerry Sandusky episode which is making it difficult to recruit and keep players. Coach O’Brien is determined to get Penn State back to its previous dominance. Though the Nittany Lions don’t score many points and the defense isn’t stout, the Boilermakers rank in the 120s in both scoring offense and defense. In a sloppy game, I have Penn State coming out on top.
Winner: Penn State

Georgia at Auburn, 3:30 PM Saturday, CBS

Matt: This game is huge, not only in the SEC, but in the national picture as well. Auburn has definitely been a surprise this year. I don’t think they were on a lot of people’s radar once the season started but they totally are there now. Their last two games are completely huge. This one against a Georgia squad with three loses still hoping to find themselves in a BCS game, and a matchup against the number one team in the nation next week at home. If Auburn wants a chance at not only the SEC title game, but possibly a shot at the national championship, they’ll have to start by knocking off the Bulldogs. Auburn gets it done by passing, with the 3^rd passing offense in the nation, and a very good defense as well. Georgia on the other hand, has a much more balanced offense with an emphasis on the run. Georgia has an average pass defense, while Auburn has a pretty decent rushing defense. I think it’ll come down to the defenses in this game and in the end I think Auburn takes this game and welcomes the Crimson Tide next week in one of the biggest matchups of the year, if not the biggest.
Winner: Auburn

Ryan: Gus Malzahn has turned around an Auburn team in just his first year. Last year, the Tigers were 3-9 and last in the SEC with an 0-8 conference record. This year, the Tigers are 9-1 and control their destiny in the SEC if they win out. Georgia, who was my pick to win the SEC, has struggled with injury problems. The Bulldogs played close games against Clemson, Missouri, and Vanderbilt, losing by single digits in two of them. Quarterback Aaron Murray hasn’t played as well as he’d hoped, going down in all statistics compared to last year. Auburn is led by running back Tre Mason who has over 1000 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. The Auburn offense is also putting up staggering numbers, scoring 38 points a game. A win here by the Tigers and two by Alabama, which should be easy, would set up a huge Iron Bowl. As nice as it all sounds, and as great as that game would be, I am still not convinced on the Tigers. Aaron Murray pulls off the upset.
Winner: Georgia

Texas Tech at Baylor, 7:00 PM Saturday, FOX

Matt: Baylor is in control of their own destiny the rest of the season. If they can win out, they have a strong argument for making the National Championship. However, that road to an undeafted season isn’t easy. It is made easier by the fact that the Big 12 doesn’t have a championship game, but Baylor still has this game, road games at TCU and Oklahoma State and their rivals Texas at home, so their road to the national championship is anything but easy. That road begins with a Red Raiders squad that until three weeks ago was looking like a national championship contender as well. But after three loses, the Red Raiders have slipped from the rankings and are now looking to salvage their great start by having a strong finish by playing two tough Texas teams in Baylor and Texas. Tech still leads the nation in passing yards with 408.2, but they face a Baylor team that is 3^rd in passing offense, 9^th in rushing offense, and 9^th in total defense. Those numbers are crazy. I don’t think the Red Raiders have that kind of power in them and unfortunately, their lose streak continues in Waco with the Bears winning.
Winner: Baylor

Ryan: Baylor has started the season off 8-0 and is coming off a blowout win against Oklahoma. The Bears, led behind Quarterback Bryce Petty and running back Lache Seastrunk, have put up more points than anyone in college football with 61 a game. The defense is also ranked seventh, allowing less than 16 a game. Seastrunk has gone over 100 yards in six games this year with 11 touchdowns. Petty is leading an efficient passing attack with two or more touchdowns every game and over 300 yards passing in seven. Baylor is fortunate to only play four road games total this year, which always makes it easier on a team. Texas Tech also started the year off strong, winning its first seven games by a touchdown or more in each. Since the great start, the Red Raiders have lost the last three games by a combined 53 points. Looking at this upcoming game, it looks to become four straight. Texas Tech has the number one pass offense behind its duo at quarterback, but the team hasn’t shown much at all against good teams. Baylor will win this easily.
Winner: Baylor

Oklahoma State at Texas, 3:30 Saturday, FOX

Matt: My prediction for Texas winning the Big 12 was looking a little shaky at the beginning of the season after the Longhorns lost to BYU and Ole Miss by a lot. However, that predictions looks a lot better now. The Longhorns are on top of the standings in the Big 12 being undeafted in the conference and now have a very tough test against Oklahoma State before facing Baylor next week in what could be essentially a Big 12 championship game. Oklahoma State is going to try everything in their power to make sure that they still have a shot at the Big 12 title though and come out with everything they have because they also have a tough finish to the season with Texas, Baylor, and Oklahoma. In the end though, I think that Texas is looking very hot right and comes out on top.
Winner: Texas

Ryan: Before the season, Mack Brown was on the hot seat. After starting the season off at 1-2, that seat became even hotter. Since then, Brown has lead his twenty-fourth ranked Longhorns to six straight wins and a 6-0 record in the Big 12. Texas has a pretty average team but has found ways to win. Quarterback Case McCoy has taken over for David Ash and hasn’t done too terrible, although he has thrown six interceptions in the past four games. Oklahoma State has won its games on a balanced attack. The Cowboys have two quarterbacks with over 1000 yards passing and nine touchdowns as well as two running backs with ten and nine touchdowns. The defense has also been strong, allowing less than 20 points a game. This game has major Big 12 implications. Texas and Baylor, who play last game of the year, are both undefeated, Oklahoma State has one conference loss, and Oklahoma has two. The Cowboys play Baylor and Oklahoma to end the season. So, a win here against Texas could open the door for all four teams to win the conference. I like Oklahoma State to open Pandora’s Box.
Winner: Oklahoma State

Date	TIME (ET)	MATCHUP	TV	Matt	Ryan
Tuesday	7:30 PM	Ohio at Bowling Green	ESPN 3	Bowling Green	Bowling Green
Tuesday	7:30 PM	Buffalo at Toledo		Buffalo	Toledo
Wednesday	8:00 PM	Ball State at No. 15 Northern Illinois		Northern Illinois	Northern Illinois
Wednesday	8:00 PM	Miami (OH) at Kent State		Kent State	Kent State
Thursday	7:30 PM	Georgia Tech at No. 8 Clemson		Clemson	Clemson
Thursday	7:30 PM	Marshall at Tulsa	FOX Sports 1	Marshall	Marshall
Friday	9:00 PM	Washington at No. 13 UCLA		Washington	UCLA
Saturday	12:00 PM	Indiana at No. 22 Wisconsin		Wisconsin	Wisconsin
Saturday	3:30 PM	No. 16 Michigan State at Nebraska		Michigan State	Michigan State
Saturday	7:00 PM	Florida at No. 10 South Carolina		South Carolina	South Carolina
Saturday	12:00 PM	No. 3 Ohio State at Illinois		Ohio State	Ohio State
Saturday	12:00 PM	No. 17 UCF at Temple	ESPN 3	UCF	UCF
Saturday	12:00 PM	Iowa State at No. 18 Oklahoma	FOX Sports 1	Oklahoma	Oklahoma
Saturday	12:00 PM	Troy at Ole Miss		Ole Miss	Ole Miss
Saturday	12:00 PM	Cincinnati at Rutgers		Rutgers	Cincinnati
Saturday	12:00 PM	Purdue at Penn State	BTN	Penn State	Penn State
Saturday	12:00 PM	West Virginia at Kansas		West Virginia	West Virginia
Saturday	12:00 PM	Central Michigan at Western Michigan	ESPN 3	Western Michigan	Central Michigan
Saturday	12:21 PM	Kentucky at Vanderbilt	ESPN 3	Vanderbilt	Vanderbilt
Saturday	12:30 PM	North Carolina State at Boston College	ESPN 3	Boston College	Boston College
Saturday	12:30 PM	North Carolina at Pittsburgh	ESPN 3	Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh
Saturday	12:30 PM	Maryland at Virginia Tech	ESPN 3	Virginia Tech	Virginia Tech
Saturday	12:30 PM	Florida Atlantic at Southern Miss		Florida Atlantic	Florida Atlantic
Saturday	1:00 PM	Akron at Massachusetts	ESPN 3	Akron	Akron
Saturday	1:00 PM	Campbell at Old Dominion		Old Dominion	Old Dominion
Saturday	2:00 PM	Washington State at Arizona	Pac-12 Network	Washington State	Arizona
Saturday	2:00 PM	UAB at East Carolina		East Carolina	East Carolina
Saturday	2:00 PM	Louisiana-Lafayette at Georgia State	ESPN 3	Louisiana-Lafayette	Louisiana-Lafayette
Saturday	3:00 PM	Idaho State at Brigham Young		BYU	BYU
Saturday	3:00 PM	Connecticut at Southern Methodist	ESPN 3	SMU	SMU
Saturday	3:30 PM	Syracuse at No. 2 Florida State		Florida State	Florida State
Saturday	3:30 PM	No. 25 Georgia at No. 7 Auburn	CBS	Auburn	Georgia
Saturday	3:30 PM	No. 12 Oklahoma State at No. 24 Texas	FOX	Texas	Oklahoma State
Saturday	3:30 PM	No. 23 Miami (FL) at Duke		Miami (FL)	Miami (FL)
Saturday	3:30 PM	Michigan at Northwestern	BTN	Northwestern	Michigan
Saturday	3:30 PM	TCU at Kansas State		Kansas State	Kansas State
Saturday	3:30 PM	South Alabama at Navy	CBS Sports Network	Navy	Navy
Saturday	4:00 PM	Utah at No. 6 Oregon	FOX Sports 1	Oregon	Oregon
Saturday	5:30 PM	California at Colorado	Pac-12 Network	Colorado
Saturday	7:00 PM	Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Baylor*	FOX	Baylor	Baylor
Saturday	7:00 PM	Houston at No. 20 Louisville		Louisville	Louisville
Saturday	7:00 PM	Memphis at South Florida	ESPN 3	Memphis	South Florida
Saturday	7:00 PM	Colorado State at New Mexico		Colorado State	New Mexico
Saturday	7:00 PM	Louisiana Tech at Rice	CBS Sports Network	Rice	Rice
Saturday	7:30 PM	Texas State at Arkansas State	ESPN 3	Arkansas State	Arkansas State
Saturday	7:45 PM	No. 1 Alabama at Mississippi State		Alabama	Alabama
Saturday	8:00 PM	No. 4 Stanford at USC		Stanford	Stanford
Saturday	8:00 PM	Florida International at UTEP		UTEP	UTEP
Saturday	9:30 PM	Oregon State at No. 19 Arizona State	Pac-12 Network	Arizona State	Arizona State
Saturday	10:15 PM	Wyoming at Boise State		Boise State	Boise State
Saturday	10:30 PM	San Diego State at Hawaii	CBS Sports Network	Hawaii	San Diego State
Saturday	10:30 PM	San Jose State at Nevada		San Jose State	San Jose State