Top 10 College Football Games That Will Shape The 2012 BCS National Championship Race

Week 1

Michigan VS Alabama (Dallas Cowboys Stadium

This early season matchup pits defending national champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide, against the Wolverines from Michigan. The Crimson Tide lost a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball as well as star tailback, Trent Richardson. Brady Hoke has the Wolverines headed in the right direction. The Wolverines QB Denard Robinson is very dynamic but has never seen a defense this disciplined and this talent laden. Robinson will be challenged mentally as well as physically and Nick Saban will look to contain him in the pocket and make the throws. Look for the Tide to stick to what has been their bread and butter, which is pounding the ball inside. Also look for Alabama to open up the offense and throw the ball a little more.

Prediction – Alabama edges out Michigan 21-20

Week 3

Alabama @ Arkansas

Nick Saban and Co. will be tested once again after a week of rest. An early SEC matches up SEC WEST foes that can end the dreams of a division and conference title much less a national title. The Tide visit the Razorbacks and their high-powered offense lead by Tyler Wilson. The loss of coach Bobby Petrino will not affect this team as much as many may think with the pick up of Coach John L. Smith. The defense for Alabama will be sound but the Razorbacks will have the home field advantage, which will matter in the end. Arkansas will make it a point to establish the line of scrimmage and they will lean on QB Tyler Wilson and the passing attack, but John L. Smith is old school and will want to run the ball.

Prediction Alabama wins a tough one on the road 21-17

Week 4

Michigan @ Notre Dame

The Wolverines walk into South Bend with hopes of salvaging a season after an early season loss to Alabama. The Fighting Irish are simply fighting for their BCS lives. They have one of the toughest schedules at home. Coach Brian Kelly doesn’t want a repeat of last year’s loss at the Big House.

Notre Dame protects home field and wins 31-24

Week 5

LSU @ Florida

The LSU Tigers with their new and improved passing game, try to navigate the wild ride that is called the SEC. Going into The Swamp is no easy task; fans on top of you and a feisty Gator defense will keep this game close. There will be some battered and beaten men after this one.  LSU boasts a defensive line like very few have ever seen, with a mean secondary to go with it. It will be tough for a Gator offense that was very poor in 2011 to score points on this defense. Les Miles is a firm believer in running the ball so expect the ground and pound approach with a little air attack. Ultimately this game will be close.

LSU comes out victorious 17-13

Week 6

Georgia @ South Carolina

Last season this was the game that almost got Georgia coach, Mark Richt fired; losing 45-42 at home, nonetheless. Georgia’s Defense should be back to full strength by now after the suspension of defensive backs Sanders Cummings and All-American, Baccari Rambo. The running game for Georgia will be a continued issue with the dismissal of super freshman Isaiah Crowell over the summer. The Gamecocks and Coach Steve Spurrier are riding high after two successful seasons and expect to be in a good position to contend for the SEC EAST. If “Do it All” running back Marcus Lattimore can come back healthy and they can manage his health and carries this game sets up perfectly for South Carolina to get a upper hand in the East. Quarterbacks Conner Shaw and Aaron Murray will duel in this high scoring affair.

South Carolina edges out UGA 28-21

Week 7

South Carolina @ LSU

The match up of newcomer meets perennial power, LSU boasts a defense that can stand up to any offense. The Honey Badger will look to have a field day. South Carolina will be faced with its toughest test. In the end it will be too much for Cocky.

LSU wins big 31-10

USC @ Wash

Old friends meet in this duel of high powered offenses. Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkesian, both former USC OC’s, will be on opposite sidelines as Kiffins Trojans try to keep their BCS hopes alive. USC tends to fall short every year to a team they aren’t suppose to. Washington seems like just the place that that can happen. Huskies Quarterback Keith Price can sling it and has no problem putting up points. On the other side USC Quarterback Matt Barkley, a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, looks to sling it around the yard as well to his plethora of backs and receivers. Robert Wood will have a field day. Marquise Lee will also have a big day. The Huskies who have a new defensive coordinator and also a suspect defense last year, will look to bend and not break as they are in a transition year. Anything better than average is a good outing for them defensively.

USC wins in a shootout 45-41

Week 10

Alabama @ LSU

Last years “Game of the Century” lived up to the hype and in an encore performance we saw the Crimson Tide take a crystal ball home. Bragging rights and SEC WEST title hopes are on the line here as these two SEC powers butt heads. Alabama looks to open up the passing game so that it can run the ball later on while LSU and its ‘bend don’t break’ and ‘ground and pound attitude’ look to beat the Crimson Tide, Black and Blue. This game is too close to call and normally in this case the advantage goes to the HOME team. Tiger Stadium will be rocking.

LSU wins a close one 10-7

Oregon @ USC

The Ducks and Trojans are due to battle once again and this time it’s the Trojans who look to be BCS Bound. This game will be a preview to the eventual Pac 12 Championship game. The winner of this game, where offenses yet again reign supreme, will be in the clear drivers seat. The combination of Matt Barkley and Robert Woods will be a little to much, although I expect Oregon to scare USC for 60 minutes. New Ducks Quarterback Brian Bennett, will run that option like a well oiled machined but the USC defense will be just a little too much. This game will come down to whomever has the ball last.

USC wins for the second straight year 38-35

Week 13

LSU @ Ark

Rivalry week is one of the best weeks in college football; so many games with so many outcomes. LSU vs Arkansas is one of the best games offered at this time of year. The winner of this game will have a possible claim to an SEC Title game birth. Arkansas while without Coach Petrino, will be more than capable of putting up points. The problem is that LSU’s Defense is just way too much for them. LSU will take a business like approach to this game and pound the rock until the Hogs beg for mercy.

LSU wins 21-10

Michigan @ Ohio State 

The Big Game is what they call it. When these two teams get together, records, stats and all other things are most certainly thrown out the window. Michigan, while no longer in the title discussion, will be fighting for a BCS Bowl birth and a shot at the Big 10 Title Game. Ohio State now under the direction of Urban Meyere will make some decent strides this year but Senior Denard Robinson will be determined to finish his career on the winning side of the record books. Robinson will have a good day on the ground, while Ohio State will still feel the effects of having a coaching change. This season will be a learning experience for them. They will be in this game to the end but ultimately the Wolverines will pull out the win

Michigan wins 27-17.