TUCKER’S PICK ‘EM: College football picks and previews for Week 14

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – 41NBC’s Tucker Sargent makes his picks in this week’s games of interest.

Record last week: 7-5

Record this season: 111-46

All Times Eastern

All FBS rankings reflect latest College Football Playoff poll

No. 17 Western Michigan (12-0, 8-0 MAC) vs. Ohio (8-4,, 6-2 MAC) *MAC Championship Game
Friday, December 2 at 7 p.m. ESPN2
I agree with one of my buddies, who said it’s a shame this game wasn’t played on a Tuesday.

Get ready for some MACtion, baby:

Western Michigan 40, Ohio 20

Actual Score: Western Michigan 29, Ohio 23 (WIN)

No. 8 Colorado (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12) vs. No. 4 Washington (10-1, 8-1 Pac-12) *Pac-12 Championship Game
Friday, December 2 at 9 p.m. FOX
Major playoff implications here as the Buffaloes play in their first-ever Pac-12 title game.

Colorado is just the third team to have a 10-win season after 10 straight losing seasons:

Washington 27, Colorado 21

Actual Score: Washington 41, Colorado 10 (WIN)

Troy (9-2, 6-1 Sun Belt) @ Georgia Southern (4-7, 3-4 Sun Belt)
Saturday, December 3 at 12 p.m. ESPN2
It’s one of eight non “championship” games this weekend, but it still means something.

With a win in Statesboro on ESPN2, Troy would clinch a share of the Sun Belt title.

With a win and an unlikely loss by Arkansas State to Texas State, Troy would win the whole thing:

Troy 34, Georgia Southern 21

Actual Score: Georgia Southern 28, Troy 24 (LOSS)

No. 10 Oklahoma State (9-2, 7-1 Big 12) @ No. 9 Oklahoma (9-2, 8-0 Big 12)
Saturday, December 3 at 12:30 p.m. FOX
For the second year in a row, the Bedlam game will determine the champion of the Big 12 Conference.

It’s too bad the champ won’t make the College Football Playoff.

The Sooners haven’t finished undefeated in conference play in 12 years:

Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 36

Actual Score: Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 20 (WIN)

No. 1 Alabama (12-0, 8-0 SEC) vs. No. 16 Florida (8-3, 6-2 SEC) *SEC Championship Game
Saturday, December 3 at 4 p.m. CBS
Florida has a 0% chance to win the SEC Championship Game.

The Gators may get some breaks on defense and special teams, but their offense is going nowhere against the Crimson Tide:

Alabama 34, Florida 10

Actual Score: Alabama 54, Florida 16 (WIN)

No. 3 Clemson  (10-1, 7-1 SEC) vs. No. 23 Virginia Tech (9-3, 6-2 ACC) *ACC Championship Game
Saturday, December 3 at 8 p.m. ABC
Either South Carolina is plain “turrible,” or Clemson has hit its stride and is ready to finish the season strong.

I choose the latter. The Tigers lock up a spot in the playoff with a comfortable win in Orlando:

Clemson 37, Virginia Tech 24

Actual Score: Clemson 42, Virginia Tech 35 (WIN)

No. 6 Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) vs. No. 7 Penn State (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten) *Big Ten Championship Game
Saturday, December 3 at 8 p.m. FOX
No matter who wins this one, there will be chaos.

Ohio State currently sits inside the College Football Playoff committee’s top four, but won’t play in the conference championship game.

How could the Buckeyes stay there if they don’t win their conference championship? Especially if the champ is Penn State.

We’ll be arguing over who deserves the No. 8 spot before we know it:

Wisconsin 23, Penn State 21

Actual Score: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31 (LOSS)