What if South Alabama had played a regular Sunbelt schedule this season?

Now that the bowls have been picked and people are making travel plans to go root for their teams, it got me to thinking would South Alabama be able to make it to one of the three bowl games this year. If you already do not know Middle Tennessee, Florida International, and Troy each made a bowl game. In this hypothetical season I took what would be a normal Sunbelt schedule and I predicted how I thought the game would end up. Most Sunbelt schools play two higher level teams from conferences from the ACC, Big 12, or SEC, also play 1 mid-major game against a Conference USA opponent. I put South Alabama's schedule like this, University of Florida and University of Texas (two big schools), UAB (Mid-Major), then filled it out with conference games. So how would South Alabama far this season?

September 4- @University of Florida- Coming into the year ranked in the top 5 South Alabama would start the season on a low note. However, the game would be closer than most people expect. South Alabama would hang around for a half, possibly three quarters, but in the end Florida would pull away and win...UF 42 USA 21 (L)

September 11- UAB- This is the first game of the year most people would think South Alabama would have a chance at winning. UAB is not known for having a powerful football program. South Alabama would come out and be pumped up to play the first home game of the season and win the ball game...UAB 21 USA 31 (W)

September 18- @University of Texas- Just like the first game of the season South Alabama is playing against too great of an opponent in Texas. South Alabama collects their money but once again shows that for a half or three quarters they can play with a higher level conference team...UT 34 USA 17 (L)

September 25- Troy University- South opens up Sunbelt play against their in-state rival Troy University. Troy has won at-least a share of the Sunbelt championship 4 out 5 seasons. Troy comes into Mobile and steals a tough road win...Troy 21 USA 17 (L)

October 2- bye week

October 9- @ Arkansas State University- The Red Wolves featured the best throwing quarterback in the Sunbelt Ryan Applin but South Alabama's defensive schemes helped out the corners and safeties. They were able to defend the pass and frustrate Ryan Applin while getting the victory...USA 28 ASU 14 (W)

October 16-@ Florida International- Carrol to Hilton proved to be too much for the Jaguars as they would fall to 1-2 in SBC play....FIU 45 South 31 (L)

October 23- Florida Atlantic- South just proved to be to mentally and physically tough against Florida Atlantc. They would win their second conference game of the year...USA 30 FAU 10 (W)

October 30-@ North Texas- One the best programs in the SBC history as North Texas won the first three but since then it has not been so good. Lance Dunbar is the best overall runningback in the SBC but South is too strong...USA 24 UNT 3 (W)

November 6- Middle Tennessee State- The Blue Raiders Dwight Dasher is the best dual threat quarterback in the league and quite possibly top 5 in the NCAA. Besides Dasher MTSU does not have much help and the Jaguars have too many play-makers...USA 28 MTSU 21(W)

November 13- Western Kentucky- Head Coach Willie Taggart has this program on the rise as they have won two conference game. Bobby Rainey is the best running back in the SBC and top ten in the nation. South has a great duo of backs in Kendall Houston and T.J. Glover and the Hilltoppers defense is not as strong as the Jaguars....USA 35 WKU 21 (W)

November 20-Louisiana Lafayette- The Rajun Cajuns are a bottem feeder team in the Sunbelt and compete well but they do not have the players to compete with the Jaguars...USA 42 ULL 14 (W)

November 27- Louisiana Monroe- Frank Goodin is a player to watch for the Warhawks but overall as a team they are just not that strong...USA 35 ULM 20 (W)

Overall Record 8-4, Sunbelt Record (7-2)-Third Place Finish, Projected Bowl: Godaddy.com (Mobile, Al)

Championship Saturday!!!

Usually on this time of year we are only witnessing three championships being crowned--The Big 12, SEC, and ACC--but this year Big East will be decided as well. This has usually been a boring Saturday and was the worst Saturday in college football caused on three games "matter." This year I'm going to try and not look at it that way but rather as just another exciting Saturday in College Football. Of course, after Saturday is over we all know what Sunday means...Bowl Selections!!!!

This past two years this game has been more like a national semi-final game as the winner would go on and play in the National Championship game, however; this game still is an intriguing match-up, especially since both opponents have already played each other this year. University of South Carolina and Auburn University are both known for their offensives than their defense. I would expect this game to be high in points and low in defensive stops so this could come down to who has the ball last. Cameron Newton has been on a tear of late and thats not just with his legs. Earlier in the year if you stopped Newton's running game the offense would be non existent but later in the year he has gotten better at the passing game. Not only can he throw lasers ten to fifteen yards out but also thirty to forty yards down the field as well. However the key to Auburn's offense will be the offensive line and how they protect Newton and not just when he decides to tuck and run it but also when he drops back to pass. If you look back and notice in some Auburn games their line looks like it will take plays off and thats not a good thing with four senior starters. Auburns defensive key will be if linebackers Craig Stevens and Josh Bynes are able to stop South Carolina's rushing attack. Stephen Garcia can not win games on his own and will need the run support. Auburn stops Lattimore they stop the Gamecock offense. Stephen Garcia has grown into more of a mature quarterback since the last time they met, in other words Spurrier will not pull him with the game on the line. He has been the main reason for South Carolina's offensive success this late of the season. If he can continue to make smart plays then South Carolina should be in good shape in winning. The offensive key would be Marcus Lattimore. He is the best offensive player in the nation that is a freshman. If he is able to rush the ball with great effectiveness then Auburn's defense will be playing on the back of their heels the entire game. South Carolina's defensive key will be to stop or just be able to slow down Newton. Alabama showed how to do that last week for one half. South Carolina's defense must not give up the big plays either, Auburn has not been known to be able to sustain long drives.

Prediction- This game will be tight through the first half with South Carolina winning at halftime, but the Auburn coaches have been great at making halftime adjustments and that will be the difference...Tigers 35 Gamecocks 31

This is a rematch of the first ACC Championship game that was held in 2005. In 2005 Virginia Tech lost to Florida State 27-22. Can the Seminoles repeat what happen in 2005? If they are going to Christina Ponder will need to outplay Tyrod Taylor. Ponder came in this season as the best quarterback in the ACC, depending who you ask, and has not been able to live up to the billing. Of course injuries have played a part in it but usually all great quarterbacks play through the pain. If Ponder has the kind of game he is capable of then Seminoles will win but he will need help from his receiving corps if that is going to happen. Taiwan Easterling and Willie Haulstead both need to have major games to help out Ponder. The defensive key will be to make the Hokies one dimensional. If they are able to stop the rushing attack and make Taylor win the game on his arm Florida State should win the game. Virginia's Tech Tyrod Taylor is the best offensive play maker in the ACC. He can run and pass with effectiveness and if he is on his game Florida States defense will be in trouble. The key though to the offense will be what Tyrod gets from the rest of his backfield. If Ryan Williams and Darren Evans can be the tandem everyone before the season thought they could be then the offense should have no trouble moving the ball. Defensively if the Hokies cand get pressure on the Ponder and rattle his cage then it will make things easier.

Prediciton- Im going with Frank Beamers head coaching experience over Jimbo Fishers in this one but expect Florida State to be back sooner rather than later...Hokies 31 Seminoles 28

This year is a great match-up between old rivals that date back to the Big 8 days, Oklahoma Sooners vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers. How fitting is it that Nebraska is going to the Big 12 championship their last season in the Big 12 before moving on to the Big 10. Nebraska has won a Big 12 championship in every decade except this one so far. If they plan on winning it Taylor Martinez will need to step up BIG. The freshman has been great all year running the football and throwing but nothing is like the lights in Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Taylor will need to get the jitters out early and to help him out will need to be Niles Paul. If he is able to catch a couple of passes early in the game and get the confidence high for Martinez then offense should be clicking. On Defense the secondary is under watch as the Oklahoma passing attack is just as good as any in the nation. If the passing game goes then that will open up holes in the running game so the secondary needs to be able to be on lock-down against the Sooner receivers. Oklahoma's offense has had its up and downs this year but with the experience of Landry Jones there should not be any worries about being in the big time. Landry has proven to be in the nations talk as being a top ten quarterback this year and should show it in the Championship game. Demarco Murray is the key for the offense and the wild-card. If he is able to play the game full speed and not be slowed down by injuries then the offense will not be stopped. On Defense the defensive line will need to get pressure against the line of Nebraska and be able to stop their option running game. If they are able to make Martinez throw instead of run then their blitzes should confuse the Cornhusker offensive line.

Prediction- Nebraska's secondary is one of the best in the big 12 and their defensive front seven is stout and should make it a pain for Oklahoma's Landry Jones all night throwing the ball and they should continue their streak of winning a conference championship in every decade....Nebraska 35 Oklahoma 27.

Other top Games for the weekend

Connecticut @ South Florida- If UConn wins then they go to the BCS bowl as the Big East representative, lose then they do not and West Virginia goes. Watch out for B.J. Daniels the South Florida quarterback. If he has a great game then expect Bulls to upset Huskies...USF 28 UConn 14

SMU @ Central Florida- This is the C-USA conference championship game, the winner gets SEC's 7th best bowl team usually turns out the 8th depending on the BCS....UCF 31 SMU 21

Middle Tennessee @ Florida International- Florida International already has the Sunbelt Championship locked up but Middle Tennessee is playing for a chance to be bowl eligible....MTSU 21 FIU 20.