The Badger Herald Sports section’s weekly double feature is highlighting the entire 2016 Championship Weekend slate among all Power 5 conference teams.
For any fellow college football junkies out there, feel free to chime in via Twitter with questions, comments or requests to @BHeraldSports for the column going forward.
Football: No. 6 Wisconsin preps for No. 7 Penn State’s high-powered offense
Big Ten: No. 6 Wisconsin (10-2) vs. No. 7 Penn State (10-2)
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3
TV: FOX (Channel 617 on Residence Hall Cable)
Line: Wisconsin (-3.0)
The Big Ten Championship Game comes with playoff implications, as both University of Wisconsin and Penn State University look for the signature win with hopes of catapulting into the top 4. The Nittany Lions have been absolutely steamrolling their competition lately, winning their last eight consecutive games en route to a Big Ten East crown. Meanwhile, the Badgers will look to senior quarterback Bart Houston to carry them to their third conference championship game. This should be a gritty, low scoring affair played tight to the chest on both sides, and the battle on the ground will be key. Look for the Badgers stout defense to keep PSU star running back Saquon Barkley in check and continue their typical unexciting, efficient play. With a win Saturday and either a loss by No. 3 Clemson University and/or No. 4 University of Washington, Wisconsin could very well sneak into the No. 4 spot of the playoff.
Geistlinger: Wisconsin 27, Penn State 23
Hayes: Penn State 34, Wisconsin 23
Big 12: No. 10 Oklahoma State (9-2) vs No. 9 Oklahoma (9-2)
Where: Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK
When: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3
TV: FOX (Channel 617 on Residence Hall Cable)
Line: Oklahoma (-11.0)
Among all the chaos and uncertainty of Championship Week, the Big 12 soldiers on, despite having resigned themselves to playoff-contention irrelevancy weeks ago. The “de facto” Big 12 title game promises to be everything its Big Ten counterpart is not: a flashy, fast-paced, high-scoring affair with practically a Hardy Boys mystery search for the complete disappearance of 22 defensive players for 60 minutes, and last but not least, void of any playoff implications. Look for University of Oklahoma to continue their traditional domination as the big-brother program and, tuck any thoughts of a conference championship to bed for Oklahoma State University Saturday afternoon.
Geistlinger: Oklahoma 47, Oklahoma State 31
Hayes: Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 38
Pac 12: No. 4 Washington (11-1) vs No. 8 Colorado (10-2)
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2
TV: FOX (Channel 617 on Residence Hall Cable)
Line: Washington (-7.5)
If we assume the Pac 12 Conference is a rational actor in the economic sense, they should be telling University of Colorado to throw the Championship game, which would result in a $6 million payout per school if No. 4 Washington makes the College Football Playoff. Although, their résumé’s legitimacy is questionable to some, Washington should maintain the No. 4 spot in the nation if the Huskies capture the conference title against the Buffaloes Saturday. Yet, the Colorado defense should some success bothering Washington’s star quarterback Jake Browning and the Husky offense, and look for the Buffs to play an inspired game in their program’s first ever appearance in the Pac 12 championship game.
Geistlinger: Colorado 30, Washington 28
Hayes: Washington 34, Colorado 24
Football: Wisconsin remains at No. 6 in second-to-last College Football Playoff poll
SEC: No. 1 Alabama (12-0) vs. No. 15 Florida (9-3)
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
When: 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3
TV: CBS (Channel 603 on Residence Hall Cable)
Line: Alabama (-24.0)
The 2016-17 University of Alabama team has opened the discussion to be considered one of the best college football has ever seen, and we’re still three games away from the national championship. Alabama’s defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown since Oct. 22 in their 33-14 rout over No. 6 Texas A&M. Thus, this stretch includes the entire month of November in what some are celebrating as “No Touchdown November.” And if that wasn’t enough to sell you on how good this Tide team is, that same defense has also outscored all five of their opponents’ offenses during this 42-day run. Hypothetically, this means that Alabama’s defense (as well as team as a whole) has been so good, they have not even needed to utilize an offense. In theory, if Bama’s offense had simply run or kneed the ball without scoring to match the same time of possession as their scoring drives and punted on every single possession in those five games, they would have still won all five. The University of Florida has averaged a measly 16.6 points per game over their own last five games, which could be a grave indicator for Saturday against the Crimson Tide. Alabama covers 24 and then some Saturday, this Tide team is for real.
Geistlinger: Alabama 35, Florida 10
Hayes: Alabama 34, Florida 6
No. 3 Clemson (11-1) vs. No. 23 Virginia Tech (9-3)
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3
TV: ABC (Channel 607 on Residence Hall Cable) / WatchESPN
Line: Clemson (-10.5)
Virginia Tech has been a tough team to peg this season with quite a few ups and downs between impressive and unpredictable performances. The Hokies are going to need be near perfect if they are going to have a chance to hang with No. 3 Clemson University and star quarterback Deshaun Watson. Clemson doesn’t look quite up to par with the same Tigers team that competed with Alabama in the national championship game last year, but they certainly look like top-4 playoff material. Expect the Tigers to handle business against Tech and lock down the No. 3 seed in the playoff selection Sunday afternoon.
Geistlinger: Clemson 32, Virginia Tech 26
Hayes: Clemson 42, Virginia Tech 24
