AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 30
Friday, November 30, 2007
Tennessee will upset LSU
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We went 8-2 last week and the two games we missed (Arkansas-LSU and Tennessee-Kentucky) were decided by a combined four points in seven overtimes. That gives us a record of 87-43 for what has been a very wild and whacky season.
So let’s hope to close it out strong with our Final Fearless Friday Forecast of 2007:
1. SEC championship: Tennessee vs. LSU: If you’re judging this game on sheer talent, then LSU is your winner. But there is a lot going on at LSU off the field and much of it is not good. QB Matt Flynn has a bad shoulder. He may play but he may not last. Head coach Les Miles is going to be interviewed by Michigan next week. Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini may soon be the head coach at Nebraska. Tennessee, which has survived four SEC elimination games since Oct. 27, feels pretty confident. If Tennessee doesn’t give up the big play on defense, I like the Vols in an upset. Tennessee 21, LSU 20.
2. ACC championship: Virginia Tech vs. Boston College: BC quarterback Matt Ryan rallied the troops to a 14-10 victory at Blacksburg back on Oct. 25 but Virginia Tech is a much better football team now. The Hokies have figured out how to use two quarterbacks-Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. Running back Brandon Ore is finally healthy and that makes the whole offense better. Linebacker Vince Hall is back in the lineup from injury and so the defense is playing well. The Hokies win and go to the Orange Bowl, where they will probably have a rematch of last year’s Chick-fil-A Bowl with Georgia. Virginia Tech 24, Boston College 17.
3. Big 12 championship: Missouri vs. Oklahoma: Missouri is No. 1 in the BCS and a win Saturday night puts the Tigers into the national championship game. This is a really fun team to watch with QB Chase Daniel running the spread offense. WR Jeremy Maclin (69 catches) is one of the best all-purpose players in college football. But Oklahoma, which lost its chance to play for the national championship by losing to Texas Tech on Nov. 17, is playing well now that QB Sam Bradford is healthy again. Missouri’s dream ends on Saturday night in San Antonio. Oklahoma 31, Missouri 21.
4. Pittsburgh at West Virginia: No. 2 West Virginia has already locked up the Big East championship, but a win in the 100th “Backyard Brawl” puts the Mountaineers in the BCS title game. The Mountaineers are a 28-point favorite at home and are playing well. This one will not be close. West Virginia 42, Pittsburgh 14.
5. Washington at Hawaii: All the Warriors (11-0) have to do is beat the struggling Huksies (4-8) to lock up a spot in the BCS, probably in the Sugar Bowl. As a Pac-10 team, Washington has more athletes than Hawaii has seen this season. Washington is 1-4 against ranked opponents this season. This game doesn’t start until 11:30 p.m., Eastern Time. But sometime early Sunday morning, Hawaii will start making travel plans to New Orleans. Hawaii 31, Washington 14.
