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THE PROPHET SPEAKETH
Fool's Paradise for Internet College Football Fans

© 2005 P.Chamlis/
The Prophet Speaketh, All Rights Reserved

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Games of December 1 - 3, 2005

Well, as is always the case, rivalry weekend was tough on your most
humble Prophet. Picking winners in games between such mortal
enemies as Georgia and Georgia Tech, Mississippi and Mississippi
State, Colorado and Nebraska, and all the other grudge matches can
be a real crap-shoot. But in spite of the difficulty, I'm still
right at 75% for the year, with 221 correct out of 296 picks.

Let's see how I can do with this week's conference championship
games. I've been dealt a lucky hand as several conferences have
produced lopsided (at least on paper) contests between average and
GREAT teams. There are still surprises, though, so let's all tune
in to watch the fun. Here's hoping the BCS gets all screwed up in
some form or fashion. : )

Thursday, December 1
Akron at Northern Illinois
It sure seems strange having a Mid-American Conference Championship
game without Marshall. But since the boys from Huntington blew off
to a new conference, Thursday's title game will feature Zips and
Huskies, with no Herd in sight. I have to admit that I'm proud of
Akron. It only seems like a year or two ago when they were one of
the worst teams in America. Opponents would zap the Zips on a
regular basis, and usually with great fervor. Akron's opponent on
Thursday night is much better known to the American football fan
(s). The NIU Huskies were the potential "BCS Buster" team of a few
years ago as they upset several top-twenty opponents from name
conferences. So on the surface, I'd have to say that Northern
Illinois is the much more visible and "pickable" commodity in this
conference championship tilt. So for all of you folks who are
looking for a championship weekend full of upsets, here's your
first "canary in the coal mine". And FWIW, the birdie is alive and
well. No surprises to start it off, Northern Illinois by 7.

Friday, December 2
Louisiana Tech at Fresno State
Surprisingly, this matchup of east-west WAC bookends is NOT a
conference championship game. It's a regularly scheduled contest
between the Bulldogs and Bulldogs to see who's gonna be "best in
show" for 2005. And besides, there needs to be SOME football on TV
to keep husbands at home while their wives and girlfriends are
hitting the malls on Christmas rush. Oops, sorry to be sexist. I
realize that some of you fellas have important, big-shot wives who
are working late. Speaking of "working late", look for the Pacific
Time Zone Dogs to rush the end zone in waves Friday night,
especially considering last weekend's surprising upset loss to
Nevada. Those poor underdogs from Louisiana underdogs are a
lonnnnnnnng way from home. FSU West by 10.

Saturday, December 3
Tulsa at Central Florida
The Conference USA Championship game has no bearing on the BCS
itself. But the outcome of this contest still has meaning for at
least one post-season contest. You see, the Liberty Bowl doesn't
have to select whoever loses this matchup of Tulsa and Central
Florida. The Golden Hurricane slipped into the big game at the last
minute. And although Central Florida really could do without
another windstorm, I see no problems for the Orlando Knights in this
contest. The football public is finding out that Central Florida is
more than gigantic tourist hotels and Ruth's Chris Steak House
outlets. As for the game, let's remember that the Atlantic
hurricane season is supposedly over as of December first. And
thanks to UCF, it's coming to an end on the CUSA football field,
too. Central Florida completes a turnaround from last year's
winless season. Knights by 6.

Colorado at Texas
Colorado did damn-near everything possible to AVOID meeting Texas
for a second time this year. And for a while, it looked as though
their melt-down against lowly Nebraska might save them a December
beating in Houston. But in any big contest, the team that "wants it
more" usually wins...and in the contest to avoid playing the
Longhorns, Iowa State clearly wanted it more. :) Last Saturday,
the Cyclones stormed from ahead to lose to Kansas. ISU boss Dan
McCarthy didn't get to be the Dean of Big XII coaches (as he is with
Bill Snyder's retirement at KSU) by being stupid. So, in spite of
themselves, Colorado is back in the UT shooting gallery.
Considering that (a) Texas spent a lot of last weekend's game
against Texas A&M playing horribly and (b) Horn QB Vince Young can
now forget the Heisman and concentrate on just playing football, I'd
say things will go from bad to worse for Gary Barnett and company.
Making the Nebraska beating seem like a Swedish massage, call this
game strong for Texas. In a stampede, UT by 24.

Navy at Army
Some would say that this game has no national impact, no meaning to
the country, and from a football standpoint, that's true. But this
annual clash features fine young men who are both competing warriors
AND brothers. It's a glimpse into what makes America a great
country. When you watch this game, you'll not be seeing a bunch of
future spoiled millionaire athletes, you'll see leaders. You'll see
why they call this the land of the brave. When Army and Navy play,
there are never any losers. But from a sublime and insignificant
gridiron standpoint, Navy will have fewer points on the scoreboard.
In a mild upset, Army by 2.

UCLA at USC
A lot has been made about UCLA quarterback Drew Olsen
being "overlooked". Then again, it's not surprising, given the long
Leinart shadow cast from the halls of nearby Troy. But the truth is
that the nation's leading passer plays in Los Angeles, and he's not
coached by Pete Carroll. If that were the only superlative of
comparison in this game, I'd say the Bruins have a chance. But
there's one more category in the top-twenty that's led by UCLA, and
unfortunately, it's number of points given up. I'm referring to the
most points GIVEN UP. Of all the supposedly good teams, UCLA has,
by far, been weakest on defense. The combination of Trojans Matt,
Reggie and LenDale (among others) will be even more explosive when
stirred into the shaky Bruin defense on Saturday. Don't blink,
folks, you'll miss something. In a high-scoring mess, call it
Trojans by 20.

West Virginia at South Florida
Even though the Big East doesn't officially HAVE a title game, this
contest almost qualified as one. You see, if South Florida had only
beaten mighty Connecticut last Saturday, the "Mountaineers versus
Bulls game" would have been for all the conference marbles, not to
mention the resulting BCS bid. But thanks to the Huskies of UCONN,
it's already a done deal. WVU goes to a big bowl, probably the
dislocated Sugar Bowl. And USF goes somewhere, hopefully NOT to
play my wounded Seminoles. You know what's wrong with the Big
East? (among lots of other things) Losses to teams like
Connecticut and South Florida (talking about YOU, Louisville!) are
knocking teams out of BCS bowl games. Enjoy the Sugar Bowl,
Mountain Boyz. The automatic BCS bid for the Big East is going the
way of cheap gasoline soon. West Virginia by 12.

Florida State at Virginia Tech
Well, Bobby Bowden knew what he was talking about. He SAID that a 7-
4 team was going to play for "a conference championship one of these
days". I'm not sure Pa Bowden had his Seminoles in mind, but by
golly, there they are. Bowden's premonition continued with "and
that 7-4 team's gonna win the championship game and go to a BCS
bowl". As I said last weekend, that's truly insane talk, especially
if we're talking about the Seminoles. If anyone asked me to make a
list of ten average teams that the Seminoles could beat at this
point, I couldn't do it. The boys from Tallahassee are a dangerous
combination of poor coaching and walking wounded. So, anyone
seriously talking of an FSU win on Saturday is probably smoking
crack. Speaking of crack, Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick has
had an up and down season. His ups have been spectacular, and his
few downs have been painful. The extra-bad news for FSU is that
last weekend's Vick-tory was sub-par by Marcus' standards. So, look
for the Hokies to be all over FSU in the inaugural ACC title game.
And FWIW, the TV ratings numbers of this game versus the SEC title
game are going to be almost as ugly as this contest itself. Frank
Beamer finally beats Florida State, and handily. Virginia Tech by
24. I'm just glad it ain't damned Miami handing out the whuppin'.

Georgia at LSU
LSU made more than the state of Louisiana happy when they finished
off pesky Arkansas last weekend. Mark Richt and the Georgia
Bulldogs truly, at least in my view, did NOT want to see Auburn
again in the SEC Championship game. Oh sure, Auburn had won the
first contest, offering Georgia a shot at redemption. But we all
know that Auburn is probably, right now, the best team in the SEC.
Therefore, LSU's win last Saturday was Georgia's win, too. Look for
D. J. Shockley and the Bulldogs to make the most of their
opportunity. On their second trip to the Big Peach in two weekends,
the Dogs from down the road will put the bite on the Bayou Cats.
This should be an excellent game to end our regular season TV-
viewing, folks. Georgia by 2.


OK folks, that does it for the "regular season". I'll be back soon
with the bowl games. Everyone take care and have a great holiday
season. Thanks again for your support of Prophet! I've written
this little newsletter for a long time, and I'm beginning to believe
that this is truly forever. ;)

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