Weekend Picks, Week 15

By Tim Cottrell
Sports Writer/Designer
Published: December 5, 2008

We’re down to the nitty gritty. As always, AP Top 25 and SEC (although this doesn’t apply this time) games.

Last Week: 15-3
Overall: 219-70

Today
No. 12 Ball State vs. Buffalo (MAC Championship, at Detroit)
The Cardinals are the national darlings all of a sudden, even getting alumnus Jason Whitlock on their bandwagon. And that leads me to believe, when facing a hot under-the-radar team with a good coach, they might be finally ripe for the upset. Buffalo 37, Ball State 34

Saturday
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Florida (SEC Championship, at Atlanta)
I’ve already gone over this pretty extensively in my column (sorry for the belated link) and plan to do so just a little more tomorrow, but I like the Tide. Alabama 27, Florida 24

No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 19 Missouri (Big 12 Championship, at Kansas City, Mo.)
The weather’s going to be nasty, and since some part of Sam Bradford’s throwing capacity is hurt (I’ve totally blanked on it) this might not be as ugly as it would’ve been. Oklahoma 31, Missouri 7

No. 5 USC at UCLA
This will be nasty ugly. USC 54, UCLA 0

No. 13 Cincinnati at Hawaii
Man, how bout those Bearcats? They win the Big East, get a BCS bowl trip (to either party happy New Orleans or Miami) AND get to go to Hawaii? Cincinnati 31, Hawaii 21

No. 18 Boston College vs. Virginia Tech (ACC Championship, at Tampa, Fla.)
The parallels to last year are kinda eery. But the Hokies are pretty lousy. And while BC is too, I think they’ll win. Boston College 21, Virginia Tech 17

No. 23 Pittsburgh at Connecticut
Wannstache is due for another meltdown. Connecticut 24, Pittsburgh 20

I might, might have something special (and super late to the party) later today. Maybe.