One last shot

For 12 weeks, the Lawrence Journal-World staff has tried to predict what’s coming on each college football Saturday. Some staffers have proven far more adept than others.

With Kansas closing the season at rival Kansas State today, we’ll give it one more shot, and try to peer into the future to pick this season’s college football national champion.

WEEK 13 MATCHUPS

Kansas at Kansas State

West Virginia at Iowa State

Baylor vs. Texas Tech (at Arlington, Texas)

Notre Dame at USC

Mississippi State at Ole Miss

Auburn at Alabama

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Early prediction time: Who is going to win the first College Football Playoff?


Overall: 56-16 Last week: 5-1

Kansas State 49, Kansas 10

West Virginia 42, Iowa State 14

Baylor 56, Texas Tech 17

USC 34, Notre Dame 31

Mississippi State 28, Ole Miss 14

Alabama 17, Auburn 14

Answer: It’s hard to pick against Nick Saban and Alabama, so I’ll go with the Crimson Tide.


Overall: 54-18 Last week: 4-2

Kansas State 28, Kansas 27

West Virginia 33, Iowa State 20

Baylor 66, Texas Tech 21

USC 35, Notre Dame 24

Mississippi State 24, Ole Miss 21

Alabama 27, Auburn 17

Answer: Mississippi State 


Overall: 50-22 Last week: 3-3

Kansas State 77, Kansas 35

West Virginia 3, Iowa State 2, 4OT

Baylor 777, Texas Tech 35

Notre Dame 14, USC 13, 5OT

Miss. State 72, Ole Miss 70, 10OT

‘Bama 52, Auburn 45

Answer: Why, the undisputed, unquestioned, honest-to-goodness best team in all of college football, of course. Or ‘Bama.


Overall: 49-23 Last week: 3-3

Kansas State 38, Kansas 21

West Virginia 21, Iowa State 20

Baylor 64, Texas Tech 31

Notre Dame 28, USC 21

Mississippi State 31, Ole Miss 14

Alabama 37, Auburn 27

Answer: Mississippi State


Overall: 48-24 Last week: 3-3

Kansas State 34, Kansas 14

West Virginia 28, Iowa State 24

Baylor 48, Texas Tech 28

Notre Dame 21, USC 20

Mississippi State 31, Ole Miss 28

Alabama 35, Auburn 10

Answer: Alabama


Overall: 48-24 Last week: 4-2

Kansas State 31, Kansas 21

West Virginia 45, Iowa State 38

Baylor 70, Texas Tech 45

USC 27, Notre Dame 24

Mississippi State 29, Ole Miss 24

Alabama 45, Auburn 30

Answer: It seems like Oregon has always been in the running for a championship game the past few years but always tripped up along the way to miss that chance. (Or got there and lost to Auburn.) I think the Ducks finally break through in the College Football Playoff.


Overall: 48-24 Last week: 4-2

Kansas State 27, Kansas 17

West Virginia 33, Iowa State 20

Baylor 60, Texas Tech 30

USC 35, Notre Dame 34

Mississippi State 27, Ole Miss 24

Alabama 23, Auburn 14

Answer: Alabama


Overall: 47-25 Last week: 4-2

Kansas State 34, Kansas 20

West Virginia 28, Iowa State 27

Baylor 50, Texas Tech 24

Notre Dame 30, USC 27

Mississippi State 28, Ole Miss 20

Alabama 35, Auburn 23

Answer: Quack. Quack… Go Ducks!!! Florida State’s due to lose. They’re living on the edge and their luck can’t hold out all the way to the end. Alabama’s time has passed and Mississippi State might not even survive this weekend. I like the Ducks’ remaining schedule and that Marcus Mariota-led offense.


Overall: 47-25 Last week: 3-3

Kansas State 34, Kansas 27

West Virginia 38, Iowa State 17

Baylor 56, Texas Tech 17

USC 28, Notre Dame 21

Mississippi State 24, Ole Miss 17

Alabama 35, Auburn 21

Answer: Alabama


Overall: 45-27 Last week: 2-4

Kansas State 45, Kansas 10

West Virginia 31, Iowa State 20

Baylor 44, Texas Tech 31

USC 23, Notre Dame 21

Mississippi State 35, Ole Miss 23

Alabama 24, Auburn 21

Answer: ‘Bama