ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC: Florida State is the beat here. They've already knocked off Boston College and face Maryland at home. So, essentially, the Noles must be knocked off twice to lose their spot in the inaugural ACC title game.
COASTAL: It looks as if the Miami-V Tech game on Nov 5 will be for the Coastal title. The only team with a shot would be North Carolina, but they get both teams on the road.
SPORTZ PICK: Virginia Tech gets Miami at home...beats them...then takes out FSU in the ACC championship.
BIG EAST CONFERENCE
Louisville must still be the favorite here...but they've yet to win their first Big East game yet. That's what makes this weekend's game in West Virginia so huge. The Mountaineers have a great shot at beating the Cards and possibly upsetting the league with a conference title. A wild card could be South Florida. They've already beaten Louisville [which gives them the tiebreaker] and get West Virginia at home. A win in that game could throw the Bulls into the BCS.
SPORTZ PICK: Louisville. That loss to South Florida was their wake up call to murder everyone else.
BIG XII CONFERENCE
NORTH: Colorado looks to be the creme of the crop. Iowa State is limping [they lost at home to Baylor!]. However, don't underestimate Nebraska. They aren't as great as they once were...but they are getting better. The problem is that they play both Colorado and Missouri, another team in the bunch, on the road.
SOUTH: Texas beat Oklahoma...so it is assumed that the Horns have this locked up. Not quite. Watch out for Texas Tech, who play in Austin next weekend. Also, Texas A&M can play the spoiler role on Thanksgiving weekend at College Station.
SPORTZ PICK: Texas should run the table during the season...and beat Colorado for the Big XII crown.
BIG TEN CONFERENCE
What a conference! Only Illinois is truly out of the picture. Penn State [who I've underestimated all year] is now 3-0 in the Big Ten and have taken out Ohio State. They have a huge game in Michigan this weekend and still have Purdue, Wisconsin and at Michigan State to close this out. Quite a tall order. Ohio State still must visit Minnesota at Michigan. Michigan has to go to Iowa and Northwestern...as well as hosting Ohio and Penn States. And...etc, etc, etc.
SPORTZ PICK: This one is totally out of the blue...but I'm going with Iowa right now. Why? Scheduling. Iowa is just 2-1, with the lone loss coming to Ohio State. While everyone has landmines on their sked, Iowa's are most manageable. And if Michigan topples Ohio State...with Penn State tripping up twice [Michigan and MSU maybe?]...the title is Iowa's.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
EAST: Georgia has won in Tennessee...and still has Florida in Jacksonville. They also have a tough Auburn team at home. Tennessee has lost to both Florida and Georgia and has to go to Alabama next. Florida has that Georgia game plus go to LSU and to South Carolina to play some ol' ball coach. What a division!
WEST: Alabama and Auburn lead the standings...with LSU lurking behind. All those teams still have to face each other...each getting one game at home. LSU still has the Gators left...Auburn must go to Georgia...and Bama gets the Vols.
SPORTZ PICK: The winner of the World's Largert Outdoor Cocktail Party [read: Georgia-Florida] looks to have the leg up for the title. I like Georgia
PACIFIC TEN CONFERENCE
How great would it be if USC-UCLA meant the conference title?? It could happen...as both schools are undefeated and UCLA has already taken care of Cal. Remember, last year USC barely beat the Bruins in the Rose Bowl 29-24. But before we get there, USC still has to go to Cal on Nov 12...the site of the last time the Trojans lost a game. UCLA's sked leading to the USC game is much more manageable...but does has a bout with Arizona State on Nov 12. After that game, they have nearly a month to prepare for USC.
SPORTZ PICK: You have to stick with USC until they lose a game.
CONFERENCE USA
EAST: Right now, Central Florida is atop the standings...with two home wins against Rice and SMU. However, UAB gets them in Alabama...and that lead should evaporate.
WEST: UTEP stumbled a bit...but has the best team to take the west. Neither Houston nor Tulsa seem to be talented enough to deal with the Miners...and they've already beaten Houston.
SPORTZ PICK: UTEP will beat UAB in the first C-USA title.
MID AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Bowling Green and Toledo are on a crash course for the title.
SPORTZ PICK: BGSU wins it.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
TCU struggled in it's final C-USA season...but is now tearing up the Mountain West. Curious. The other undefeated team is Colorado State, whom the Frogs host in early November. Wyoming has already fell victim to TCU...and is fighting an uphill climb.
SPORTZ PICK: TCU seems to have stepped into the conference and wants to show they belong. A title sure looks good on them.
MORE TO COME...
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