SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Testing positive for COVID-19 became a negative for undefeated, 9-ranked Coastal Carolina as its Saturday Sun Belt Conference championship against No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette was cancelled.
Both schools were in contention for a New Year’s Eve Six bowl via a win in this contest. Costal Carolina was coming off a tight, 42-38, road win over 23rd-ranked Troy, while Louisiana-Lafayette got past conference foe Appalachian State for the second time, 24-17.
Said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill: “We are very disappointed that the championship game cannot be played, but we are so proud of all the players and staff members and their hard work during this truly
challenging season. We will honor both teams as conference co-champions.”
So now only nine title games will be played, with three on Friday and the rest on Saturday.
At Edwards Stadium in Huntington, W. Va., it’s a scheduled 8 p.m. tilt between once-beaten Marshall (7-1) and visiting University of Alabama Birmingham (5-3) in Conference USA on ABC. At the same scheduled time, the PAC12 finds unbeaten, 13th-ranked Southern California versus Oregon (3-2) in a contest on FOX at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
And in the Mid-Atlantic Conference slated to start at 7:30, unbeaten Buffalo (5-0) and Ball State (5-1) get it on at Ford Field in Detroit on FOX.
On Saturday, there’s a pair of noon kickoffs when the Big12 matches 10th-ranked Oklahoma (7-2) with 6th-ranked Iowa State (8-2), with both on 6-game win streaks after the Cyclones won the earlier test at home, 27-20, and with this one viewed on ABC at AT & T Stadium in Arlington, Tex. Then there’s the Big 10 lined up on FOX, as undefeated, 4th-ranked Ohio State (5-0) takes on 14th-ranked Northwestern (7-1) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
In a 4 p.m. Atlantic Coast Conference meeting between 2nd-ranked, unbeaten Notre Same (10-0) and once-beaten, 4th-ranked Clemson (9-1), on ABC at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., when in a previous clash, the Fighting Irish were victorious at home 33-24. At 4:15 on FOX, the Mountain West Conference has lined up 24th-ranked unbeaten San Jose State (6-0) versus Boise State (5-1) at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
In 8 o clock match-ups, undefeated, top-ranked Alabama (10-0) plays 7th-ranked Florida (8-2) in the Southeastern Conference from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., viewed on CBS. In the American Athletic Conference on ABC, it’s undefeated, 9th-ranked Cincinnati (8-0) facing 23rd-ranked Tulsa (6-1) at Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium.
LESHIN’S SELECTIONS:
Marshall 27 UAB 17 Marshall favored by 4 and a half
Buffalo 33 Ball State 13 Buffalo favored by 3
USC 17 Oregon 14 USC favored by 3
Oklahoma 24 Iowa State 21 Oklahoma favored by 6
Ohio State 21 Northwestern 13 Ohio State favored by 18 and a half
Clemson 27 Notre Dame 24 Clemson favored by 10 and a half
Boise State 20 San Jose State 17 Boise State favored by 6 and a half
Cincinnati 23 Tulsa 14 Cincinnati favored by 9
Alabama 31 Florida 21 Alabama favored by 17
Marshall — Home field gives Mountaineers the edge.
Buffalo — a win in this one will get the Bulls ranked.
USC — Somehow unranked Oregon, in place of scratched Washington, is one of the upset picks to some.
Oklahoma — Sooners out manned than, now out to avenge earlier loss.
Ohio State — Wildcats’ strength is defense, but Buckeyes with awesome offense rolls again.
Clemson — With quarterback Trevor Lawrence back, Tigers in quest of avenging previous Irish setback.
Boise State — Idaho’s pride and joy should erase San Jose State’s unblemished run.
Cincinnati — Bearcats should survive a tough test for Golden Hurricanes.
Alabama — Gators coming off late field goal loss, but Crimson Tide will be a tougher test.
POSSIBLE SURPISES:
San Jose State over Boise State.
Tulsa over Cincinnati.
Oregon over USC.
