Last day of the regular season today, no Ohio State game, some interesting match-ups that directly affect the Bucks, some interesting in their own right. I thought I’d share my thoughts on who wins and why…Based on how my “pick ’em” season has gone, you might do well to ignore this – or better yet – pick the opposite!

Games that Matter

• Backyard Brawl – West Virginia and Pitt will play the 100th edition of this rivalry game today. WV are 24 point favorites according to Vegas. Who wins: West Virginia in a much closer than expected game, 31-24. Rivalries are much more often close affairs and upsets than blow outs. Virtually every talking head has WV winning 48-12 kinds of scores. WV isn’t *that* good, though Pitt might be *that* bad. Historically, the ‘Neers haven’t played well with everything on the line (see, USF game earlier this year.) I suspect the WV folks have been reading (and believing) their press, they’ll get the win, but it won’t be as easy as conventional wisdom dictates. Root for: Pitt (as a Pitt win means OSU gets into the championship game.) Result: Panthers eat ‘Neers, 13-9 after Pat White dislocates thumb.
• Big 12 Championship – Some leagues have championship games, some don’t. I personally don’t care for them though I know they make money for the leagues – I prefer the Pac 10 method where each team plays the other during the course of the season. Missouri will battle Oklahoma in a rematch of the game earlier this year that the Sooners won 42-31. Vegas has installed Oklahoma as 3 point favorites and conventional wisdom (ala the talking heads) indicate that Oklahoma wins in a shootout. I think the Sooners are going to have their hands full with a motivated and focused Tiger team – no doubt, they’ve read that no one (and I mean no one) gives them a chance to win the game. I think Missouri pulls out a close, unexpected win in to go the national championship game, call it 24-16. Root for: Oklahoma (same deal, a Sooner win sends OSU to the championship.) Result: Boomer Sooner declaws Tigers, 38-17.
• USC vs. UCLA – Simply the rivalry game between these two teams as the last game of the season. This one is easy, Trojans win, they go to the Rose Bowl as Pac 10 champs. Last year UCLA did the unthinkable and upset USC. Not going to happen this time, this has blowout written all over it, Trojans win big, 52-3. UCLA coach Karl Dorrell goes out with a thud and the Trojans go to the Rose Bowl to most likely play OSU. Root for: UCLA – general underdog rooting principle. Result: Trojans bruise Bruins, 24-7. It wasn’t as close as the scoreboard indicated.
• Washington vs. Hawaii – If the Warriors win, they’re in the big show – headed to a BCS bowl. Not so fast my friend as Lee Corso might say. Hawaii is 11-0, virtually unbeatable at home, a scoring machine. Washington is 4-7, inconsistent, coming off an emotional loss to rival Washington State in the Apple Cup last week. Hawaii wins and wins big, right? Wrong. Upset special, the Huskies get it done in Honolulu because the UW defensive line will spend more time in the Warrior backfield than Colt Brennan. Since the Warrior defense is suspect, and the Huskie offense is starting to click, look out! 45-35 Washington. Root for: Hawaii (to crash the big-boy party.) Result: The Warriors come from behind to nip the Huskies, 35-28.

Games that don’t matter

• SEC Championship Game – Tennessee vs. LSU. LSU is the favorite, Miles last game, Pellini’s last game. Yawn. Who cares? Tennessee pulls out the upset in 7OTs 33-30 after finishing regulation all tied up at 3-3. Root for: Tennessee (because I’d love to hear the SEC apologists explain that Florida, LSU, and Tennessee are the best 3 win teams in the nation and in a fair system would still have a chance to play for the championship. Meanwhile, Georgia, a team that didn’t win its division ascends to play Ohio State in the national championship game after WV and Missouri lose – I can dream, right?) Result: Tigers tame the Vols, 21-14 (does this mean that the ignorant pollsters will vote LSU #1 again? After all, they must be the best 2 loss team in the history of college football.)
• Army vs. Navy – A rivalry with deep tradition and history, the teams haven’t been great for decades, but this game is still special. Everyone expects a Navy win, but I’m pulling for Army this year because they’ve had a rough run of it lately. With Navy’s coach leaving, the Cadets will pull off the upset. Result: Navy sinks Army, 38-3.
• ACC Championship Game – Virginia Tech vs. Boston College, the rematch. VT had the Eagles beaten, down 10-0 with 2 minutes left earlier in the season. BC scores two touchdowns in the last 2 minutes to win 14-10. Don’t look for a repeat, the Hokies will step on BC’s neck and not let up this time. 38-21 Virginia Tech. Result: Tech grounds Eagles, 30-16.

Enjoy the games, they should be fun!