ITB's Slate of Eight: Championship Week

This week we have Aaron Torresfrom fellow Bloguin site Aaron Torres Sports on to talk about our final regular season full Slate of Eight. That's right not only is it Championship Week where we'll see conference crown their kings in grand form but we've also got five other games on the docket to put the cap on our first season of the Slate of Eight.

2010 has been a great season both on the field and for the site so for this being our last Slate of Eight we thought we'd make sure to wrap it up with a full list. Of course we have no Big Ten games to speak of as the conference has decided, again, to wrap up their season a week before everyone else. At least next year we'll have bonus ball from the Midwest.

So here's the Slate:

Arizona - Arizona State
Rutgers - West Virginia
UConn - South Florida
Southern Cal - UCLA
Oregon - Oregon State
ACC Championship Game
Big XII Championship Game
SEC Championship Game

The Wildcats make the list as we discuss how far a team that had Oregon down at the half and was 7-1 just three weeks ago has fallen in such a short time. For West Virginia the Mountaineers are looking to stay afloat for the BCS bid but they don't control their own destiny, they need a little help from USF in beating UConn. Heading back out west we have the LA showdown as Lane Kiffin has quietly made a play for an 8-5 season. As for Oregon-Oregon State Aaron and I wonder if this game will even be close as the Ducks have been on the warpath and the Beavers have limped through the year.

Which brings us to our Big Three games, the conference championship affairs. The ACC has the first game in Charlotte and while on the field Florida State-Virginia Tech should be a solid contest the real story for this Charlotte native is going to be the atmosphere and crowd attendance. On the field Tyrod Taylor vs the FSU pass rush will be a crucial element to watch. In the Big XII we get the Big 8 match up we've been hoping for all season in Nebraska-Oklahoma as the Huskers prepare to exit the conference. Taylor Martinez needs to get healthy for Pelini's squad to have a real chance since the Sooners pass rush has really come on strong as of late.

In the SEC we've got the Auburn-Sakerlina match up to watch and so many angles to discuss. Two schools that are starved for an SEC title; Sakerlina starved for eternity and Auburn on a drought since 2004 will make for a wild atmosphere. The game sold out as soon as these two clinched and after their first meeting, a Stephen Garcia-Steve Spurrier disaster in September we should expect fireworks. The names are there; Cam Newton, Nick Fairley, Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffrey and this game has got a ton of cache. Win and Auburn is in the national title game, lose and they're headed to the Orange Bowl while the Gamecocks take their first trip to a BCS Bowl.

Both teams have improved tremendously and we'll see if Auburn plays this as they have most games, absorbing a teams best shot then pulling themselves up off the mat to battle back and take the win.



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