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WHO TO WATCH IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND

    Saturday, December 3

    Conference USA Championship; Noon ET; ABC

    Southern Mississippi (10-2) at Houston (12-0) …
    Houston is one of only two remaining unbeaten teams at the D1A level and with a win over Southern Miss this afternoon, the Cougars are guaranteed a spot in a BCS Bowl as well as the lucrative pay day that comes along with it. The game will also provide one more chance to check out star Houston QB Case Keenum (#7, 6-2, 210) who became the NCAA‘s all-time leading passer earlier in the season. Keenum, who made a successful return from a torn ACL suffered early last year, has put up some off the charts numbers this fall as he has completed over 73% of his passes, including 43 for TDs while losing only three picks. Keenum, though, still hasn‘t gotten much respect from NFL scouts who consider him to be more a system passer who lacks prototype size and arm strength. Keenum works with an outstanding receiver corps led by WRs Patrick Edwards (#83, 5-9, 175) and Tyron Carrier (#35, 5-8, 170), a pair of track stars who can really fly. For the record, Edwards has almost 1,500 receiving yards and 18 scores to date, while Carrier has 83 receptions. The Houston defense isn‘t as good, but has several decent second-tier prospects including MLB Marcus McGraw (#55, 6-0, 225), a tackling machine with almost 500 career stops, including 120 this year, and emerging edge-rushing OLB Sammy Brown (#8, 6-2, 240) who has 12.5 sacks and 26 total tackles for loss this fall.

    Southern Mississippi, though, will be no pushover for Houston. The Golden Eagles have their own draft prospect at QB in athletic veteran Austin Davis (#12, 6-2, 200) who has completed 63% of his passes this fall and thrown for 24 scores against 10 interceptions while running for another 385 yards. In fact, Southern Miss could have one of its better draft classes this coming spring, although it does not appear as if the program has anyone likely to be selected within the first 100 picks. DE Cordarro Law (#49, 6-2, 255), OLB Ronnie Thornton (#56, 6-2, 230), SS Kendrick Presley (#26, 6-2, 200) and PK Danny Hrapmann (#34, 5-9, 160) are mid-to-late round prospects, while OTs Lamar Holmes (#72, 6-5, 335) and Jason Weaver (#52, 6-5, 315) are big bookend tackles that could draw some free-agent interest. 

    SEC Championship; Atlanta; 4 PM ET; CBS

    Georgia (10-2) versus LSU (12-0) …
    Unbeaten LSU comes into the SEC title game as the top-ranked team in the country. Indeed, the betting is that even if the Tigers were to lose to Georgia later today, they are still pretty much assured a spot in next month’s national championship game against Alabama. LSU starts with a defense that may be the fastest in the country. Junior CB Morris Claiborne (#17, 6-0, 180), who took over from Patrick Peterson, the 5th player selected at the 2011 draft, as LSU‘s shut-down corner, is the Team‘s top prospect for the 2012 draft. As good as he is, though, Claiborne still may not even be the team‘s best cover corner as true sophomore CB Tyrann Mathieu (#7, 5-9, 180) could be the Tigers‘s best player period. The LSU defense also features several decent later-round or free-agent type prospects including SS Brandon Taylor (#18, 6-0, 195), who leads the team in tackles, along with OLBs Ryan Baker (#22, 6-0, 230) and Stefoin Francois (#23, 6-0, 215). The Tigers get their pass rush, though, primarily from sophomore DEs Sam Montgomery (#99, 6-4, 265) and Barkevious Mingo (#49, 6-4, 240). The Tigers‘ offensive isn‘t as talented, but has a couple of solid senior second-tier QBs in Jordan Jefferson (##9, 6-4, 225) and Jarrett Lee (#12, 6-2, 210). LSU also has a pair of dangerous receivers in juniors Rueben Randle (#2, 6-3, 210) and Russell Shephard (#10, 6-0, 190), while TE Deangelo Peterson (#19, 6-4, 245) is a
    dependable underneath target. 

    It wasn‘t all that long ago that Georgia head coach Mark Richt looked like a goner, but a 10-game winning streak has put the Dawgs in the SEC final with a shot at a BCS bowl. However, Georgia, which had top 5 picks in two of the past three years, won‘t have quite that impact this coming April, but does have a potentially mid-to-late first rounder in massive OG Cordy Glenn (#71, 6-5, 350), while veteran C Ben Jones (#60, 6-3, 315) and CB Brandon Boykin (#2, 5-9,185) have top 100 potential. Same for junior TE Orson Charles (#7, 6-3, 245) who leads the team in receiving. Meanwhile, P Drew Butler (#13, 6-2, 215) and PK Blair Walsh (#57, 5-10, 195) are arguably the best kicking combo in the country. Georgia also has several second-tier prospects including NT De‘Angelo Tyson (#94,6-3, 310), OT Justin Anderson (#79, 6-5, 345) and TE/FBs Bruce Figgins (#89, 6-3, 275) and Aron White (#81. 6-4, 240). The key to the Georgia turnaround, though, was sophomore QB Aaron Murray (#11, 6-1, 210), while junior OLB Jarvis Jones (#29, 6-2, 245), who has 12.5 sacks this year, is the impact player on defense.

    Big 10+2 Championship; Detroit; 8 PM ET; Fox

    Wisconsin (10-2) versus Michigan State (10-2) …
    Wisconsin, in particular, would like nothing better than another crack at the Spartans after their national aspirations came crashing down last month on a Hail Mary in East Lansing. Former North Carolina State QB Russell Wilson (#16, 5-11, 205), who was in the thick of the Heisman debate until the loss at Michigan State, has been a very productive collegiate QB, but isn‘t very tall and lacks elite arm strength and touch so isn’t a prime draft prospect himself, although he surely get a late round call from someone this coming April. The Badgers may have the best offensive line in college football and will get a further boost if junior C Peter Konz (#66, 6-5, 315), who has been out injured the past few weeks, is able to play. Senior OG Kevin Zeitler (#70, 6-4, 320) is also a good one, while junior LT Ricky Wagner (#58, 6-5, 325) could be the line‘s best overall prospect. Then there‘s OT Josh Ogelsby (#67, 6-6, 335), who was considered to be one of the nation‘s top recruits three years ago, but has been held back to date by a recurring knee injury. Meanwhile, WR Nick Toon (#1, 6-2, 215), the son of former Badger and NY Jets‘  star WR Al Toon, should also get some top 100 consideration this coming April, while TE Jake Byrne (#82, 6-4, 255) could be something of a sleeper. And it wouldn‘t be Wisconsin without a stable of thundering RBs and that will be the case again this fall with junior Montee Ball (#28, 5-10, 225) and sophomore James White (#20, 5-10, 205) carrying the mail. Ball, in particular, has had an outstanding year and could very well figure among the top 3-4 backs off the board this coming April if he opts to leave school early. The Badgers‘ defense isn‘t as talented, but does have several later round or free-agent candidates in FS Aaron Henry (#7, 6-0, 210), CBs Antonio Fenelus (#26, 5-9, 195), DT Patrick Butrym (#95, 6-3, 285) and DE Louis Nzegwu (#93, 6-3, 245).

    As productive a player as Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson is, Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins (#8, 6-2, 205) is probably the better pro prospect. For the record, Cousins completed 64% of his pass attempts this fall for over 2,700 yards and 21 scores, while tossing only 6 picks. The Spartans’ best prospect, though, is junior DT Jerel Worthy (#99, 6-2, 305), a legitimate opening round candidate who is getting some top-ten buzz. Other Spartans to watch include WRs B.J. Cunningham (#3, 6-2, 225), Keith Nicol (#7, 6-2. 225) and Keshawn Martin (#82, 5-0, 185), TEs Brian Linthicum (#88, 6-4, 245) and Garrett Celek (#85, 6-4, 245), OG Joel Foreman (#67, 6-3, 315) and FS Trenton Robinson (#39, 5-10, 195).        

    ACC Championship; Charlotte; 8 PM ET; ESPN

    Clemson (9-3) versus Virginia Tech (11-1) ….
    Yet another rematch with Clemson looking to finally put to test the underachiever tag, while Virginia Tech is still holding out hope that they can still somehow wrangle an invite to the national championship game. For the record, Clemson won easily (23-3) in Blacksburg the first the two teams hooked up, but after starting out the season 8-0, but have lost three of their last four. Clemson looks likey to have a bigger impact at the 2012 draft than Virginia Tech. In particular, Clemson has a number of top 100 prospects for the 2012 draft including DT Brandon Thompson (#98, 6-2, 310), a potential mid-first rounder, along with DE Andre Branch (#40, 6-5, 260) and juniors Andre Ellington (#23, 5-9, 190), a scatback with sub-4.4 speed, TE Dwayne Allen (#83, 6-4, 255), and FS Rashard Hall (#31, 6-1, 200). Clemson also has several later round or free agent prospects pro scouts will be tracking including OG Antoine McClain (#74, 6-4, 330), OTs Landon Walker (#72, 6-5, 310) and Phillip Price (#79, 6-5, 300), FB Chad Diehl (#30, 6-1, 265), DT Rennie Moore (#94, 6-3, 270), DE Kourtnei Brown (#90, 6-4, 250), and P Dawson Zimmerman (#96, 6-2, 205). The guy at Clemson that everyone is talking about, though, is true freshman WR Sammy Watkins (#2, 6-0, 200) who is averaging over 100 receiving yards per game and has scored 6 times in his first four career games.

    Virginia Tech also has a couple of juniors with late first round potential in CB Jayron Hosley (#20, 5-10, 175), a ball-hawker supreme who led the entire NCAA wth nine picks last fall, although he lacks prototype size and speed, and emerging RB David Wilson (#4, 5-10, 205), who could be a better prospect than former Hokies‘s RB Ryan Williams, the 38th player taken this past spring. Like Clemson, Virginia Tech also has a big, physical offensive line anchored by a couple of mid-round prospects in OT Blake DeChristopher (#62, 6-5, 315) and OG Jaymes Brooks (#68, 6-2, 310). Same story for FS Eddie Whitley (#15, 6-1, 190) and big-play WR Danny Coale (#19, 5-11,195), while RB Josh Oglesby (#2, 5-10, 10), who played FB last year, could be something of a sleeper. At the same time, junior ILB Bruce Taylor (#51, 6-2, 255) is a full-sized tackling machine with mid-round potential if he surprises people and opts to enter this year‘s draft. The key to the Hokies fortunes, though, will be rangy sophomore QB Logan Thomas (#3, 6-5, 245), a solid college pivot who can get the ball downfield as well as run when needed.

    Big XII (minus II) Championship; 8 PM ET; ABC

    Oklahoma (10-2) at Oklahoma State (11-1) …
    Expect the football to be flying all over the lot when Oklahoma plays at #3 ranked Oklahoma State in their annual Bedlam encounter that will decide the Big XII’s BCS rep. This one will feature its own passing dual between OSU‘s Brandon Weeden (#3, 6-4, 215) and the Sooners’ Landry Jones (#12, 6-4, 230), both of whom are considered to be among the top QB prospects for the upcoming draft. Indeed, both have thrown for over 4,000 yards this fall with Weeden hitting on 73% of his pass attempts, while Jones has connected on 64%. Weeden, though, is an older player who spent 5 years playing minor league baseball and will be pushing 30 by the time he gets to an NFL training camp next summer.

    Weeden, though, may have an edge in this game as he‘ll have his top receiver available in junior WR Justin Blackmon (#81, 6-1, 215), a potential top 5 prospect this year. And one knows Blackmon is good because his 103 catches for over 1,200 yards and 15 TDs is considered a ‘slump‘. Unfortunately, OU’s Jones lost his top receiver when WR Ryan Broyles hurt a knee. Pro scouts will also be checking out a couple of other likely second-day picks with the unbeaten Cowboys in veteran OT Levy Adcock (#73, 6-5, 325) and FS Markelle Martin (#10, 6-0, 195). Meanwhile, slot receiver Josh Cooper (#25, 5-10, 190), DE Jamie Blatnick (#50, 6-3, 265) and OT Nick Martinez (#75, 305) are later round or free agent type prospects.

    The Sooners started out the season  as the #1 team in the country, but hit a ew unexpected road bumps along the way. Their prospects at the 2012 draft have also taken a few hits. Along with Broyles, who almost certainly won’t be able to work out prior to the draft, junior OLB Travis Lewis (#28, 6-1, 235), who carried a late first round grade into the season, has also seen his status hampered by injuries. Same for junior DE/OLB Ronnell Lewis (#56, 6-2, 245) and CB Jamell Fleming (#32, 5-11, 190). The Sooners, though, do have a number of decent second-tier prospects including DE Frank Alexander (#84, 6-3, 260), TE James Hanna (#82, 6-4, 240), OG Stephen Good (#77, 6-4, 295) and LT Donald Stephenson (#59, 6-5, 310). For good measure, Oklahoma also has one of the better kickers in the country in junior P Tress Way (#36, 6-1, 225).

    Friday, December 2

    MAC Championship; Detroit; 7 PM ET; ESPN2

    Ohio (9-3) versus Northern Illinois (9-3) … The MAC Championship matches up the two best teams in the conference in what should be a very competitive game. And while no one from either team is a lock to be drafted this coming April, there are several players on each team certainly worth an extra look. The NIU offense, in particular, looks to be loaded this fall with QB Chandler Harnish (#12, 6-2, 225), one of the most efficient dual-threat passers in college football, leading the way. Harnish completed 63% of his pas attempts this fall including 20 for TDs against just 4 interceptions, while he also ran for over 1,000 yards. Harnish works behind a veteran offensive line that includes OTs Trevor Olson (#62, 6-6, 305) and OT Keith Otis (#68, 6-4, 330), OG Joe Pawluk (#72, 6-4, 305) and rugged C Scott Wedige (#71, 72, 6-3, 315). Meanwhile elusive RB Jasmin Hopkins (#25, 5-9, 175), WR Nathan Palmer (#81, 5-11, 200), and FB Cameron Bell (#32, 6-2, 250) put the skill in the skill positions. After going more than three decades without having any position player drafted at all, Ohio had a player selected in three straight drafts between 2008 and 2010 and have a chance to make it four out of 5 this coming April as both MLB Noah Keller (#47, 6-1, 245) and WR/PR LaVon Brazill (#7, 5-10, 190) have pro potential. Keller (#47, 6-1, 245) is a tackling machine who has 92 tackles this fall after racking up 155 in 2009. For his part, Brazill (#7, 5-10, 190) is a quick slot receiver who has also returned 4 punts for TDs in his career. The Bobcats have a solid set of bookend OTs in A.J. Sturm (#79, 6-5, 300) and Joe Flading (#78, 6-4, 290) who could get free-agent looks this year.

    Pac 12 Championship; Eugene; 8 PM ET; Fox

    Oregon (10-2) versus UCLA (6-6) ... If nothing else, the Pac 12 has provided other conferences planning to expand with a model of how to do it right. The conference carefully examined all its options, and took the prudent route by adding only a couple of teams (that were a combined 10-15 on the season). And for their troubles, the Pac 12 folks ended up with a 6-6 team that lost its last game 50-0 and has already announced that its coach is toast in the conference's inaugural championship game. In fact, just maybe UCLA could have done everyone a favor and defaulted to Oregon which could hang 60-70 points on the Bruins in tonight's game. Of course, the Pac 12 would have had an enticing championship game match-up if Southern California wasn't on probation for transgressions stretching back into the Reggie Bush era. The conference also could have put a nice title game on the table with Stanford substituting for UCLA, but the Cardinal are in the same division as Oregon. Which is Exhibit A in one of the major problems with the whole conference title concept and that's when a league's best teams end up in the same division. But the conference will still gets its TV money and in college football these days that's about all that seems to matter.

    In fact, UCLA may be weakest team ever to play in a major conference championship game. The Bruins didn't place anyone at all on either of the conference's first or second all-league teams and only have a handful of players that can expect to even get some free-agent interest this coming off-season from the pros. WR Nelson Rosario (#83, 6-4, 220) at last has NFL size, as do C Kai Maiava (#51, 6-1, 320) and OT Mike Harris (#65, 6-5, 335), LB Sean Westlake (#11, 5-11, 225) has some special-team potential.

    Despite a gaudy 10-2 record, Oregon may not have much more of an impact at the 2012 draft than usual as most of the Ducks best players are underclassmen. The most likely Oregon underclassman to impact the draft is junior RB LaMichael James (#21, 5-9, 185) who leads the nation in rushing. In fact, James is part of what may be the country‘s top RB corps as fellow junior Kenjon Barner (#24, 5-10, 185) and freshman De’Anthony Thompon (#6, 5-10, 175) would start and star on just about any other program in the country. At the same time, junior QB Darron Thomas (#5, 6-3, 215) could very well figure in the Heisman conversation at this time next year, although he's not a true NFL prospect at the position. The offense also has a solid supporting cast including several decent second-tier prospects for the upcoming draft such as TE David Paulson (#42, 6-4, 245), one of the best receivers at the position in the country who figures to get some mid-round consideration, along with OTs Mark Asper (#79, 6-6, 325) and Darrion Weems (#74, 6-5, 300), and WR Lavasier Tunei (#80, 6-4, 215). Meanwhile, junior FS John Boyett (#20, 5-10, 200) is the steadiest player on the defense, while SS Eddie Pleasant (#115-11, 215), OLB Josh Kladdu (#56, 6-3, 230) and DE Terrell Turner (#45, 6-3, 275) are solid later round or free agent candidates. The defense’s best player - and prospect - though is junior CB/KR Cliff Harris (#13, 5-10, 170) who likely will miss the game after being suspended for the second time this year for another series of driving offenses.

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