And Now The End Is Near...Championship Edition

     And now the end is near...
     The picker says thank goodness.
     This is the final week of what has been a lousy season of picks. There have been one-half point misses and massive whiffs. The result is the same -- a lot of losses.
     The overall record is 20 games under .500. Which means if you went the opposite way of my picks you did pretty well. No applause please. And a little juice would be appreciated.
     Championship weekend has some interesting matchups and some matchups that feature massive point spreads. Maybe the chaos we have been looking for will happen this weekend.
     Notre Dame is in the house undefeated and has a spot locked up in the College Football Playoff. Clemson is a heavy favorite to finish off an undefeated season and clinch a spot. Alabama has its biggest test to date against Georgia in a rematch of last season's national championship game. Many talking heads believe if Georgia wins both Alabama and Georgia will get into the playoff. If that happens, maybe the push for an eight-team playoff will pick up some momentum.
     If Alabama wins, the fourth spot will be decided between Oklahoma and Ohio State. Both have high-powered offenses and inconsistent, if not non-existent, defenses.
     If Oklahoma beats Texas for a second time this season, most talking heads believe the fourth spot will go to the Sooners. How many times can the committee leave the Big 10 out of the playoff field?
     I have always believed in an eight-team playoff. Get rid of this weekend and figure out how to get the Power Five conferences a check to replace their championship games. Four Power Five conference champions and three at-larges make the playoffs. Then there would be two fist fights in the committee room -- picking the three at-large teams and then seeding the field.
     Play the first round games at home sites. That set up would guarantee sellouts. Throw in TV money and there will be nice checks for everybody. 
     Money talks. College football is leaving a lot of money on the table. There will be empty seats at championship games this weekend. Fans are saving their money for the playoffs.
     Let's get to the final set of picks. As always picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.

Friday
Pac 12
Utah vs. Washington -5.0 at Santa Clara, Calif. -- Winner goes to the Rose Bowl. The Huskies dominated Washington State last week to get to the championship game. Washington won the first meeting. I'm going to take the Huskies in the second meeting. Pick -- Washington

Saturday
Southeastern Conference
Georgia vs. Alabama -13.5 at Atlanta, Ga. -- At first glance, this spread looks big. Really big. Do the boys in the desert know something that we don't know. This is biggest test for both teams this season. To make the playoff, Georgia has to win. This is a tough one. I really wish both could lose, but a pick must be made. Pick -- Alabama

Atlantic Coast Conference
Pittsburgh vs. Clemson -27.5 at Charlotte, N.C. -- Clemson's defense has a major meltdown in its three-touchdown victory over South Carolina. But the Clemson offense was firing on all cylinders. After reviewing the film from the Duke and South Carolina games, I expect Pitt to try a similar plan -- move the ball from side to side, mix in some run, and then hit the Tigers over the middle. Pitt si run heavy and no one has run the ball on Clemson this season. Clemson better be prepared for the Utah pass. Rain is predicted which could turn this one into a phone booth brawl. After messing up big time last week, I expect the Clemson defense to have a laser-like focus in this one. Pick -- Clemson

Big 12
Texas vs. Oklahoma -8.0 at Arlington, Texas -- Texas won the first one in a shootout. I will take Oklahoma in the second one. Pick -- Oklahoma

Mountain West
Fresno State at Boise State -2.5 -- Never pick against the Broncos on the blue turf. Pick -- Boise State

Big Ten
Northwestern vs. Ohio State at Indianapolis, Ind. -14.0 -- Ohio State played one of its best games of the season against Michigan last week. The Wolverines rallied from an early deficit to get within two points then the Buckeyes blew their doors off. Ohio State makes a statement. Pick -- Ohio State

American Athletic Conference
Memphis at Central Florida -3.0 -- The awful injury suffered by Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton changed this game. I believe Central Florida's offensive talent, speed, and home field will be enough to keep the Knights undefeated. Pick -- Central Florida

Sun Belt
Louisiana-Lafayette at Applachian State -16.5 -- The trip up the mountain will be too much for the Ragin' Cajuns. Pick -- Applachian State


Last Week -- 3-7
For The Season -- 55-75-1