EYE ON THE PRIZE: Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly will not have his team overlook Matt Barkley-less USC, Lenn Robbins writes (AP)
Now, about that Notre Dame game at USC …
That’s where we left off last week. Our bold prediction that Baylor would topple then No. 1-ranked Kansas State was the pick of the year and the only real consolation in a 5-10 week.
Week 12 of the 2012 season will forever be remembered as the week that reshuffled the BCS National Championship picture. Can it happen again?
Once again, there are two games that could change which two teams get to the title game on Jan. 7. No. 2 and resurrected Alabama plays host to downtrodden Auburn in what could be the worst Iron Bowl blowout of all time.
Or, coach Gene Chizik’s epithet.
Auburn couldn’t upset Alabama even if Nick Saban benched his entire starting lineup for a half. Period.
Which leaves us with undefeated and No. 1-ranked Notre Dame at humbled and hurting USC.
Until last week we were certain the Trojans would upset the Irish. If Notre Dame has one defensive weakness it is a young secondary and thin secondary. USC has the best receiving tandem, perhaps, in the history of college football.
Marqise Lee is getting our Heisman ballot. Robert Woods is our most respected skill player. Quarterback Matt Barkley was good enough to get them the ball and let the Ball Firm of Lee and Woods do their Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers act on hapless defenders.
But UCLA did more than just knock the Trojans off their Los Angeles throne last week in a 38-28 beatdown. When Anthony Barr blasted Barkley with 2:21, he knocked the USC quarterback out of that game and Saturday’s showdown with Notre Dame.
So here’s the biggest question of the weekend: Can freshman Max Wittek, the former Mater Dei star, make his first start a memorable one by upsetting the Irish and wreaking further havoc on the BCS? No.
Because this Irish team has a rare ace in the hole. It has 29 seniors —29 players who have been through a coaching change, been mocked and been irrelevant in January.
They also have one of the best coaches in college football. Brian Kelly has won everywhere he has been. He will go down with the likes of Rockne, Leahy and Parseghian and Holtz.
Kelly will keep this team focused for one more week. The seniors will keep their poise. And Notre Dame — laying seven points — which claims 13 national championships, and Alabama, which also claims 13, will play in the most-hyped BCS Championship Game ever.
Tcu (+7) over TEXAS: Horned Frogs have waited a long time to get the Longhorns in a conference game. Underwhelming Texas wins a close one.
TEMPLE (+7 1/2) over Syracuse: The Owls seniors won’t play in a bowl game. This is it. Syracuse starts slow (11 a.m. kickoff) but rallies for a close win.
GEORGIA (-13) over Georgia Tech: Bulldogs have a shot at playing for the national championship. Yellow Jackets have a shot at the ACC Coastal crown. Which one do you think is more important?
LOUISVILLE (-12) over UConn: It’s a conference game — just not sure what conference.
OHIO ST. (-3 1/2) over Michigan: The Buckeyes can’t go to a bowl, but they can finish as the nation’s only undefeated team and beat their rivals.
PITTSBURGH (-2) over Rutgers: Panthers need to win their last two to become bowl eligible. Scarlet Knights distracted by Big Ten move.
Baylor (-2 1/2) over Texas Tech (in Arlington, Texas): Bears could suffer a major letdown after that upset of Kansas State. But a win sends them to a bowl game.
OREGON ST. (+9 1/2) over Oregon: The Beavers have had the quietest eight-win season in the nation. Ducks are shattered after their loss to Stanford.
Florida (+7) over Florida State: Seminoles have had the least impressive 10-win season in the nation. Gators have played a much tougher sked.
ALABAMA (-31 1/2) over Auburn: Iron Blowout.
Oklahoma State (+7) over OKLAHOMA: The over/under is 72 1/2. Take the over. Of that we are certain.
PENN ST. (-3) over Wisconsin: The Nittany Lions’ bowl game.
Stanford (-1 1/2) over UCLA: Toughest game to call. Which team suffers the biggest hangover?
South Carolina (+4) over CLEMSON: There will be blood.
Best Bets: Georgia, Louisville, Ohio State
Last week: 6-9. Season: 93-86-1
Best Bets: 1-2; 16-20