Championship Week: SEC & Big Ten

SEC …. Georgia 11-1  / 7-1 vs Alabama 11-1 / 7-1: Sully’s CFP Game Simulator (Head to Head on the Site … it compares a team’s offensive average in a specific area to the other teams defensive average in the same category … then flips the process … the team with the higher number will get the point … except for turnovers … where the lower number prevails) says Bama will outperform the Dawgs in 7 of the 8 statistical categories it assess’: 1) the Tide will out gain the Bulldogs 386 to 348; 2) rush for more yards 191 to 132; 3) outscore Georgia 29-23; 4) win the turnover battle 1.4 to 1.9; 5) generate a higher 3rd down conversion rate 41% to 40%; 6) have a higher Red Zone scoring percentage 85 to 70; 7) And finally score more TD’s when in the Red Zone 62% to 60%! The lone area that the Bulldogs will surpass the Tide is passing yards, 217 to 196! Georgia seems to have an edge on defense according to the talking heads on ESPN…. with several players who willl play on Sunday …  D-End John Jenkins, LB Jarvis Jones, & Safety Bacarri Rambo… That said, Bama’s D is ranked higher is several of the meaningful defensive categories … Bama gives up 234 Total Yards to Georgia’s 339; Alabama allows 9 points per game to the Dawgs 18, Alabama allows 77 rushing yards to the Bulldogs 168 ….  Bama has forced more turnovers … 27 to 22 & finally Bama defense is better on 3rd down and in the Red Zone … so why is Georgia better on D ESPN? The truth is … they may have better players at some positions … but they are not a better defensive unit! I, as one of many, am looking forward to this game… as the winner will move on to play ND in the BCS National Championship Game and the loser will head for the Capital One Bowl!

Big Ten …. Nebraska 10-2 / 7-1 & Wisconsin 7-5 / 4-4: I have to say this game reminds me of last year’s PAC 12 final … where UCLA got into the game against Oregon … because USC was not eligible to play for the PAC 12 Championship. No question that the Big Ten’s best team is home for the holidays ….. Ohio State ……  hammered Nebraska, 63-38 and beat the Badgers in OT, 21-14! But like USC from a year ago … OSU is not eligible to participate in post-season play! Sully’s CFP Game Simulator says … Nebraska will out-perform the Badgers in 6 of the 8 categories … 1) Total Yards: 384 to 349; 2) Passing Offense: 202 to 160; 3) Scoring: 27 to 26; 4) 3rd Down Conversions Percentage: 38% to 33%; 5) Red Zone Scoring Percentage: 88% to 80%; & 6) Red Zone Touchdown Percentage: 67% to 55%! While Wisconsin will dominate in two… 1) Rushing Offense: 190 to 182 & 2) Turnovers: 1.45 to 1.57…. All that said … remember … Michigan State beat the Badgers, October 27th, in the regular season in Spartan Stadium, 37-31, last year … but lost to Wisconsin, December 3rd, @ Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, in the Big Ten Championship Game, 42-39! The Huskers beat the Badgers in Lincoln, 30-27 … so as former Yankee great, Yogi Berra used to say .. is this deja vu … all over again? This game should be a slug-fest!