Arizona vs. No. 20 USC

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama

No. 3 Texas vs. No. 21 Nebraska

Tim Kosch

First it was Jim Harbaugh, then it was Rick Neuheisel. Could be Mike Stoops next in line to be Pete Carroll’s rival? Maybe, but as cool as Pete Carroll is, I don’t think anyone would mess with Arizona’s big boss. As for the game, I think Arizona is up against too much. If Nic Grigsby was healthy they would win — and if they had Grigsby and Rob Gronkowski all season they’d be in the Rose Bowl. USC wins on a last-second field goal.

USC 23, Arizona 20

It baffles me that Alabama seems to be the consensus pick by the pundits. Why? Florida has the most athletic defense in the nation and will completely nullify Alabama quarterback Mark Ingram. Two players to watch: Tim Tebow — he is Jesus in a uniform and anyone who dislikes him or says he’s a publicity stunt is an ignorant fool ­— and Justin Trattou, a New Jersey boy like myself who will step in for the drunken sleeper Carlos Dunlap and catch the Crimson Tide off-guard.

Florida 34, Alabama 17

I wrote about him in this section earlier in the year, and my stance hasn’t changed. Ndamukong Suh is a freak. He’ll be a factor, no doubt about it, but I think Texas beats themselves this game. Colt McCoy and Co. — is that a name of a western film? — have just not shown up at times this year (Oklahoma, first half of Wyoming). Let’s see it: Florida vs. TCU in the National Title game.

Nebraska 20, Texas 13

Kevin Zimmerman

Arizona will go into the Coliseum with big bowl hopes and out with that same disease that has ailed it all season: blowing close games. The erect USC defense will wrap up any big Wildcat offensive plays, making sure they won’t pull out any dirty tricks from the playbook. Arizona’s defense won’t be able to penetrate the Trojan offense, and USC will bust out enough big runs to come out on top. Count the innuendos.

USC 31, Arizona 24

Quite frankly, I don’t really find much excitement in the SEC with two powerhouse teams beating up on everyone else. But if I must choose, I’ll go ahead and pick an upset with Alabama stealing the title hopes of the Gators. Watching Florida’s Tim Tebow, a senior, lose his final regular season game, miss a chance to play for the title and throw a sobbing fit following the game will probably create more postgame entertainment than a Florida win.

Alabama 27, Florida 24

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is pretty good. More than 3,300 yards in the air? Check. Almost 400 rushing yards? He’s done that as well. No offense Huskers, but all the evidence that’s needed to predict this outcome are in the top-25 Associated Press standings. It’s that simple. On the bright side, Nebraska’s bench players get to check out the beat-down on Cowboys Stadium’s 11,520 square-foot monster of a television. How’s that for high definition?

Texas 28, Nebraska 17

Michael Fitzsimmons

The game at the Coliseum this weekend has big bowl implications. USC has struggled with potent offenses like Arizona’s all year, and with the exception of Taylor Mays, its defense has holes that can easily be exposed. USC is the only team in the Pac-10 Mike Stoops hasn’t beaten, but I see that changing on Saturday.

Arizona 31, USC 27

It’s a repeat of last year’s 2008 championship game, and last time I checked, No. 15 still plays quarterback for the Gators, which means a fiery Tim Tebow pre-game speech. Both teams feature impressive defenses, and Alabama will send Mark Ingram right at the Gator defense. With Tebow’s speech echoing in the player’s heads the whole game, Florida wills its way to the National Championship.

Florida 24, Alabama 20

The Big 12 championship game has been known to crush national title hopes, and Texas coach Mack Brown surely remembers the 2001 loss to Colorado in this game that cost his team a trip to the national championship. Led by monster defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska would like nothing more than to dash Texas’ plans to play in the National Championship. Too much working for Texas on offense in this game — hand Colt McCoy the Heisman trophy and a ticket to Pasadena.

Texas 35, Nebraska 13