Tom's Championship Picks

article by Thomas Danielson, senior writer, secfootballpodcast.com

I love to pour on the statistics when picking the final games...
Championship Games Week 15

South Eastern Conference
#1 Alabama (12-0) (8-0) vs. #2(AP) Florida (11-1) (7-1)

Tom's Pick -->
I'm not even going to elaborate(Listen to the podcast for the full break down), Gators will win this game by a lot. I'll go by a Pat D blow-out, 27 points. Gators 41-14.

BIG XII
#19 Mizzou (9-3) (5-3) vs. #2(BCS) Oklahoma (11-1) (7-1)

Tom's Pick --->
Oklahoma has a tendency to lose big games, but those tend to be BCS match-ups, despite folding in the Big 12 Champ game to Kansas State in '03. Mizzou finished 12-2 in '07 and lost to this team twice. Sam Bradford has 46 TD passes and 4,000 yds. OU also leads Mizzou by a land slide in every single defensive stat besides scoring D, which are the same. I picked Mizzou to go to the title game against Florida before the season started, even to beat this very team... but it's evident that OU will win, handily. Sooners go marching on. Bradford wins the Heisman.

Atlantic Coast Conference
#18 Boston College (9-3) (5-3) vs. #27 Virginia Tech (8-4) (5-3)

<--- Tom's Pick
This rematch is an ugly one. Eagles won a close one back on Oct. 18th, 28-23 at home. Virginia Tech has the worst offense in the ACC and BC the best total defense. The Hookies do have a better turn over margin and their D isn't far behind BC's. V-Tech RB Darren Evans is really the only player with stand-out stats on either team with almost a 1,000 yds rushing and 9 TDs. I would have loved to see Florida State and G-Tech play for the ACC title. Oh well, I'll take BC in this one, 31-28.

Conference USA
#28 Tulsa (10-2) (7-1) vs. East Carolina (8-4) (6-2)

<--- Tom's Pick
Tulsa's David Johnson has a QB rating of 192.48, 3,671 yds passing and 42 TD passes. Tarrion Adams has 1,200 yds on 200 carries with 9 TDs. This Golden Hurricane offense is easily the best in Conference USA, leading in passing and rushing. East Carolina has the best total and scoring D in the conference, and has beaten West VA and V-Tech! Tulsa still gives up less rushing yds per game than the Pirates. Tulsa has also scored 76 TDs this year on offense, 76 to East Carolina's 27. I'm going with the Golden Canes. They will probably score a whole bunch of points.

Mid-American Conference
#12 Ball State (12-0) (8-0) vs. Buffalo (7-5) (5-3)

<--- Tom's Pick
Nate Davis has thrown for 3,095 yds and 25 TDs with only 6 picks, completing 67% of his passes. Drew Willy isn't far behind completing 65%, throwing for 2,885 yds, 22 TDs and 5 picks. I wish LSU had either one of these guys. Both teams have rushers over a 1,000 yards with 13+ rushing TDs, also averaging over 120+ yds a game. Both of these teams have great offense, but defense will tell the winner. Rush defenses are 1 yard apart per game, but Ball State has a much better defense all around. I'm sure this team will advance into bowl season undefeated. Cardinals by 3 scores minimum.