This is the final installment of the Locks this year, and we have been pretty hot lately going 4-0 last week. The yearly total is now 28-18-3 (61%), and I hope to improve on that during Championship Week. Wow, did the CFB season fly by or what? This has been the most exciting, wackiest year in CFB that I can remember. It keeps getting crazier by the minute with all of the coaching changes and rumors swirling. If half of the rumors that I have heard come true, then there will be some really sad fans in these parts for Christmas. I could write a whole article about the coaching situation, but I want to touch on a subject that I have beaten to death the past 2-3 years ……. the BCS. Is anyone going to be happy with a Missouri/W. Va. NC game? How about O$U/W. Va.? Maybe it’s just me, but those match-ups seem like a total letdown from an otherwise fantastic year of CFB. This year of all years screams for a playoff of some type. Can anyone say with a straight face that there are a clear cut top 2 teams? Does anyone want to play UGA right now? How about U$C? Why not have the conference champs of each of the 6 BCS conferences, the highest rated champ from non-BCS, and one at large team play in an 8 team playoff? A committee could seed them after the season, and then play it off. Right now the first round would look something like this: #1 Mizzou v. #8 Hawaii, #2 W. Va v. #7 U$C, #3 O$U v. #6 LSU and #4 UGA v. #5 Va Tech …….. now that would be exciting. Now onto the Locks.

1. VA TECH -4.5 v. BC This is a re-match from BC’s amazing come from behind win in Blacksburg earlier in the year. BC was very fortunate to win that game and they were out played for 57 minutes by the Hokies. Since that game, Va Tech is on fire, and looks to be one of the best teams in CFB. On the other hand, BC has had 2 inexplicable losses to F$U and Maryland in November. The Hokie team was without LB V. Hall and RB B. Ore for the first game, and having those 2 players back really helps. Va Tech is #4 nationally in total D, #4 in sacks and has given up an average of 12 points per game since the LSU debacle. BC relies on QB M. Ryan who is having a great season. However, the BC pass D is ranked #106, and the tow headed QB combo of S. Glennon and T. Taylor should feast on the Eagle secondary. Look for Va Tech to create some TOs as well (#8 in CFB in TO margin) as the Hokies get revenge and win the ACC title. VA TECH 24 BC 13

2. TENN +7.5 v. LSU You knew where this one was going all along. If you look on paper under normal circumstances, then the Tigers should win this in a blowout as they dwarf the Vols in nearly every statistical category. However, these are not normal circumstances. LSU is dealing with huge distractions concerning HC Miles, DC Pelini and OC Crowton going to other schools as HCs. LSU is also on an emotional letdown as their BCS hopes and aspirations are down the tubes. LSU is also dealing with some key injuries (DT Dorsey, SS Steltz, QB Flynn and 2 OL). The Vols are riding a 5 game win streak and seem to be a team of destiny as they scraped by Vandy and KY. Many so called experts are saying the Vols are the luckiest team in CFB. I don’t recall the same thing being said about the Gators last year as they escaped game after game, but hey, I’ll take luck any day of the week. Even with all the outside influences, Tennessee will need to play its “A” game to hang with a very talented Bayou Bengal squad. QB E. Ainge (65% completions, 2,909 yds, 27 TDs and 8 INTs) has been having a great year and will be the key to any hopes UT has for an upset. Amazingly, Ainge has only been sacked 3 times this year (one was on an intentional grounding call) and if given time he will pick apart LSU’s secondary. LSU has looked very vulnerable recently and given up tons of yds to both Ark and Ole Miss. In its last 9 games as a favorite, LSU is 2-7 ATS. The Vols have not put together a complete game yet, they will do it on Saturday.

TENN 33 LSU 30

3. MIZZOU +3 v. OKLA I really struggled with this game going back and forth, but decided to ride the Missouri horse, that has been very good to me, one more time. This is another re-match from an earlier game where the Sooners won 41-31. however, if you go back and look at the game, Mizzou out gained Okla. (418-384) and seemed in control of the game when Okla returned a fumble for a TD. QB C. Daniel was ridiculous last week (40-47, 361 yds and 3 TDs) and should get an invite to the Hypesman, IMO. However, it will be on the Mizzou D in this game to try and slow down a very talented Sooner team. Okla. ranks in the top 20 in every offensive and defensive category and probably has more talent across the board than the Tigers. However, when the Sooners venture away from Norman they look like a different team (losses to Colo. and T Tech and close win at Iowa St). While Sooner QB S. Bradford is having a phenomenal year, he is a freshman, and this is for the Big 12 title and a chance to go to the BCS game. Lately, in big games Okla. has come up short (2003 big 12 Champ., ’04 BCS game and last year against Boise St) and those things stick in my mind. So I am taking the points, and hoping for a Tiger win in what should be a shootout (over). MIZZOU 37 OKLA 35

BONUS GAME: USC -20 V. UCLA The Trojans come into this one finally healthy and playing as good as anyone in the nation. They also have revenge on their mind from last year when UCLA ruined their BCS title hopes. UCLA is a mess with QB injuries and no real scoring threat. UCLA may get their starting QB back, but he may want to sit this one out as U$C sacked ASU QB 6 times last week. I know it is a ton of chalk to lay in a rivalry game, but the Trojans cruise in this one. USC 35 UCLA 6

Good Luck