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Joey Johnston's College Football Sidelines

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

CAN MIZZOU COME THROUGH?

The No. 1-ranked Missouri Tigers (11-1) will play for a national championship if they can defeat Oklahoma (10-2) in tonight's Big 12 Championship Game at San Antonio.

And if Missouri loses?

It opens the door for the idle Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) to be elevated into the BCS Championship Game, probably against West Virginia (10-1), which hosts Pittsburgh (4-7).

Some Missouri fans were upset after Oklahoma was installed as a 3-point favorite.

But the Oklahoma camp got a bit chippy when hearing Missouri talk about its 41-31 loss to the Sooners on Oct. 13.

Missouri players and coaches lamented their season-high four turnovers as the culprit for the Tigers losing their 24-23 fourth-quarter lead.

"Well, hopefully we can kind of get in their way this time," Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "Hopefully, we can luck out again."

Sooners coach Bob Stoops also bristled at the insinuation that Oklahoma can be a spoiler. Oklahoma, he pointed out, is playing for the Big 12 championship and a Fiesta Bowl bid.

And as for this season's earlier game with Missouri?

"We're kicking off with 2:39 left in the game, and we're up three possessions," Stoops said. "I'll take that every game. If that's 'giving it to us,' we'll take that every game.

"I guess it's convenient to look at your miscues and not look at the other team's miscues. You can spin it however you want."

MOUNTAINEERS ARE CAUTIOUS

As for West Virginia, the Mountaineers are cautious, even though they are 28 1/2 -point favorites against Pittsburgh. The Panthers have lost seven of their past nine games (after opening with wins against Eastern Michigan and Grambling). Pitt's offense is ranked 101st nationally.

"It's going to be 0-0 when we start off and until we make a play or cause something to be good, it's going to be that way," Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez said. "The parity in college football is more now than it's ever been."

ACC REMATCH

Virginia Tech's national title hopes vanished on Oct. 25 when Boston College scored twice in the final 2:11, stealing a Matt Ryan-led victory, 14-10. Today in Jacksonville, the Hokies (10-2) get another shot at the Eagles (10-2) in the ACC Championship Game.

"You've got to be careful what you wish for," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "We said we'd like to meet them again. Now it's time to meet them, and we've got to find a way to beat them."

TROJANS: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

The USC Trojans (9-2) can wrap up a Rose Bowl bid by defeating UCLA (6-5) today, but nothing is certain after the Bruins won last season's meeting 13-9, a result that ultimately sent Florida to the BCS Championship Game.

USC, the preseason No. 1, figured to be playing for a national title this season but lost to Oregon and Stanford (a 41-point underdog).

"I'm the one who can't get over that losing to Stanford," USC coach Pete Carroll said.

USC seems to be hitting its stride following a 44-24 win against Arizona State on Thanksgiving night, but reaching a national championship opportunity is the longest of long shots.

Too bad there isn't a playoff, Carroll said.

"I would love to be involved with a discussion of who is the best team in the country at the end of the season," Carroll said.

Of the BCS system, he added, "It's about who has the most attractive season rather than who had the best team. It just dawned on me that's how it works."

JOEY JOHNSTON'S SIDELINES

CAN MIZZOU COME THROUGH?

MOUNTAINEERS ARE CAUTIOUS

ACC REMATCH

TROJANS: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

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