The Top Games of 2012
by Mike Mitchell
August 27, 2012
If the computer's 2012 preseason projections are to become reality, these games would be the major factor in determining the conference/divisional races.
Some division and conference races project at least a 2-game separation between 1st and 2nd place. Here, we are only looking at races with a projected 1-game differential between 1st and 2nd. We also look at the projected conference championship game matchups.
ACC
Atlantic
September 29 - Florida State (-4.36) vs. Clemson
October 6 - Florida State (-6.99) at N.C. State
BIG EAST
Louisville, Cincinnati and Rutgers will go 1-1 vs. each other. By Big East rules, the higher-ranked team in the final BCS Standings will secure the conference's automatic BCS bowl bid.
October 26 - Lousiville (-3.26) vs. Cincinnati
November 29 - Rutgers (-1.30) vs. Louisville
November 17 - Cincinnati (-4.52) vs. Rutgers
BIG TEN:
Leaders
October 6 - Wisconsin (-10.37) vs. Illinois
Legends
Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska will go 1-1 vs. each other. By Big Ten rules, the higher-ranked team in the final BCS Standings advances to the
Big Ten Championship game.
October 20 - Michigan (-4.60) vs. Michigan State
October 27 - Nebraska (-1.25) vs. Michigan
November 3 - Michigan State (-3.15) vs. Nebraska
BIG 12
November 24 -Oklahoma (-5.71) vs. Oklahoma State
November 10 - Oklahoam State (-1.98) vs. West Virginia
CUSA
West
November 10 - Houston (-2.63) vs. Tulsa
MAC
West
October 27 - Western Michiga (-1.22) vs. Northern Illinois
MOUNTAIN WEST
December 1 - Boise State (-5.96) vs. Nevada
PAC-12
North
November 17 - Oregon (-1.12) vs. Stanford
South
October 4 - USC (-4.51) at Utah
SEC
West
September 15 - Arkansas (-6.75) vs. Alabama
October 6 - Arkansas (-0.70) at Auburn
SUN BELT
October 27 - FIU (-1.61) vs. Western Kentucky
WAC
November 17 - Lousiana Tech (-11.73) vs. Utah State
PROJECTED CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MATCHUPS
ACC (at Charlotte)
December 1 - Virginia Tech (-1.74) vs. Florida State
BIG 10 (at Indianapolis)
December 1 - Michigan (-8.69) vs. Wisconsin
CUSA (at Hattiesburg, MS)
December 1 - Southern Miss (-3.18) vs. Houston
Note: CUSA stages its championship game on the home field of the team with the best conference winning percentage.
MAC (at Detroit)
November 30 - Ohio (-5.13) vs. Western Michigan
PAC-12 (at Eugene, OR)
November 30: - USC (-6.91) vs. Oregon
Note: The PAC-12 stages its championship game on the home field of the team with the best conference winning percentage. USC hosts title game on basis of beating Oregon in regular season.
SEC (at Atlanta)
December 1: - Arkansas (-3.56) vs. Florida
|