Season 5 Conference Title Games Set

The season 5 SEC and Big XII conference title games have been set . The nation's top 5 teams are all RUTS teams, and the top 4 (1. Okla, 2. OSU, 3. Alabama, 4. UNC) will meet in what amounts to the national semi-final, with the winners advancing to the BCS National title game.

THE HAT

UNC's "big 3" hope to get a football title

In the SEC, for the 4th time in 5 seasons, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the North Carolina Tarheels will meet in the Georgia Dome. The Tide have reeled off 9 straight wins after starting the season 1-2. The Heels lost in week 2 to Oklahoma, but since then, have notched 10 straight Ws, including back-to-back wins against LSU and Florida which sent shock waves across the nation. Is this the Heels' year to finally break through and defeat the Tide to claim the SEC crown?

UNC is confident right now, and if a few breaks go their way, the Tar Heels just might break through and defeat the Tide. It's hard to bet against Alabama and Coach StuBucksman in this game though. They have the experience, and on paper, have the better rated team. Bama, winners of the season 1 and 3 national titles were virtually discounted after their 1-2 start but have rebounded with a revamped offense and amazingly find themselves flying under the radar on their way to getting back into national title contention.

This game will be close, and UNC will have an opportunity to win it. However, Alabama's depth and experience will prove to be too much. We predict: Alabama 34, North Carolina 31

For the 4th consecutive season,  the #1 Oklahoma Sooners and the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes will meet in Dallas to crown the Big 12 Champion. The Buckeyes defeated the Sooners in season 1's regular season, but since that game the Sooners have reeled off 5 consecutive victories over the Bucks, including 3 wins in the Big 12 title game.

The 12-0 Sooners, in a highly controversial game earlier this season, defeated OSU 36-29 in Norman, but to no one's surprise, the two teams have ended up the season as the nations top 2 teams in the BCS.

This game will likely be a close one again, and we won't be surprised if either team wins. But we have to go with the team who has the best player on the field, and that is Oklahoma. With veteran SS Dave Moore prowling the field, it makes it nearly impossible to consistently move the ball on the Sooners without eventually falling victim to a big Dave Moore-fumble causing hit or interception. Moore, who OSU Coach UTVol54 called "the best player in the country" will be a key factor tonight. One look at Moore's stats (6 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries, 1 INT, 2 sacks, and 20 TFLs from the SS position) supports Coach UTVol54's assessment. How can the Bucks off-set his mega powers?

 This game will be close, and once again, just as in the teams' past 2 meetings, the Buckeyes will have a chance to win the game late. But, the Sooners will be too much. Oklahoma wins this game 24-17 and advances to the national title game.

If these predictions hold true, and the Sooners and Crimson Tide meet in the title game, the RUTS3 National Championship tie will be broken. And, either Coach utvol27 or Coach StuBucksman will earn the right to be called "KING OF RUTS3!"