Ability Defeats Destiny in Battle for National Title

If this was last year’s system for determining a champion in college football, we would have seen Ohio State take on Oregon in the Rose Bowl.  Wrapping up this season, it’s for the National Championship.

Ohio State has been through so much adversity this season, and that is just describing the quarterback situation.  Braxton Miller injured his shoulder in an early season practice.  The Buckeyes turned to J.T. Barrett.  While there were some early season struggles, including a loss to Virginia Tech, the team turned it around and was flying high.

However, against Michigan, Barrett broke his ankle.  The next man up was Cardale Jones.  In the two games he has started, he has won the Big Ten Championship Game and clinched a spot in the National Championship with a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Ohio State seems to be a team of destiny, but Oregon may just be too good.

The Ducks are led by Heisman Trophy winning QB Marcus Mariota.  They have a high-powered offense that is predicated on being fast.  I am a firm believer in winning the time of possession battle, but Oregon seems to have found a method that also works.

Compared to past years, Oregon seems to have a more complete team than in past years.  They were not considered a favorite entering the year, but managed to find its way into the first College Football Playoff.

In picking this game, I would be more likely to pick the team of destiny.  However, Oregon really was impressive in their win in the Rose Bowl over Florida State.  This just might be the Ducks year, because they are better.  The pick of Oregon does not or is not meant to take away anything from the job Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes have done to get into this position.  To be in a situation or being competitive on your third string quarterback is simply amazing.

The pick: Oregon 45, Ohio State 34

Side Notes

• Through all of the bowls and the semifinals, the overall picking record is 313-98 (.762).  The record in the bowls and semifinals was 23-15 (.605), and 1-1 in the two semifinal games.
• The first mock NFL Draft of the offseason will come after the deadline for underclassmen to declare passes and more of the draft order is completed (a.k.a. we get to Super Bowl week.)

College Football Week 2 Picks

Last week was a good one to start off the season.  My alma mater let me down, and no one could have expected Temple’s embarrassment of Vanderbilt.

Last Week:  32-3 (.914)

Pittsburgh vs. Boston College

Citadel vs. #1 Florida State

Florida Atlantic vs. #2 Alabama

#7 Michigan State vs. #3 Oregon (At one time, you would pick defense, but with this game being on the West Coast and how offense goes right now in college football, the edge goes to the Ducks.)

#4 Oklahoma vs. Tulsa

San Jose State vs. #5 Auburn

Virginia Tech vs. #8 Ohio State (Not Navy for Ohio State, but this will be the Buckeyes true measuring stick for how their season will go without Braxton Miller.)

Lamar vs. #9 Texas A&M

Northwestern State vs. #10 Baylor

Memphis vs. #11 UCLA

Sam Houston vs. #12 LSU

#14 USC vs. #13 Stanford

#15 Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt (Based on last week’s game, this one might get ugly.)

Michigan vs. #16 Notre Dame

#17 Arizona State vs. New Mexico

Western Illinois vs. #18 Wisconsin

McNeese State vs. #19 Nebraska

#20 Kansas State vs. Iowa State

East Carolina vs. #21 South Carolina

San Diego State vs. #21 North Carolina

South Carolina State vs. #23 Clemson

#24 Missouri vs. Toledo

Murray State vs. #25 Louisville

Richmond vs. Virginia

Georgia Tech vs. Tulane

Old Dominion vs. North Carolina State

Gardner-Webb vs. Wake Forest

Florida A&M vs. Miami (FL)

Duke vs. Troy

Arkansas State vs. Tennessee

UAB vs. Mississippi State

Ohio vs. Kentucky

Eastern Michigan vs. Florida

Nicholls State vs. Arkansas