Mid-season conference predictions

As former Yankee and long-time quote machine Yogi Berra would probably say, it's not too late to make predictions until it's too late. So, halfway through the season, here are some bold (and some not-so-bold) predictions as to how the rest of the college football season will shake out, with conference champions anointed.

SEC Championship Game -- Alabama over Florida in a rematch of the 2009 SEC Championship Game, and Florida's second shot to beat Alabama this year. Spoiler alert: Alabama makes it three in a row.

Big 12 Championship Game -- Oklahoma over Nebraska, as both teams enter the game undefeated.

MAC Championship Game -- Miami (OH) over Toledo, marking a complete turnaround from the RedHawks' forgettable 1-11 season last year.

Conference USA Championship Game -- SMU over East Carolina, not the boldest prediction given that both teams are undefeated nearly halfway through their conference slate.

ACC Championship Game -- Florida State over Virginia Tech, despite the Hokies' 0-2 start.

Big East champions -- West Virginia, with four home games and not another game against a ranked team all year.
Big East runner-up -- Rutgers, but does it even matter? This conference is a one-horse race.

Big Ten champions -- Ohio State, which loses to either Wisconsin or Iowa on the road.
Big Ten runner-up -- Michigan State, which avoids playing Ohio State this season, but travels to Iowa and Penn State.

Mountain West champions -- TCU, which goes undefeated and gives the NCAA another reason to implement a playoff system.
Mountain West runner-up -- Utah, despite four road games (including trips to Air Force and Notre Dame) and a game against TCU.

Pac-10 champions -- Oregon, where the Ducks are one of a handful of teams to go undefeated. Except Oregon reaches the National Championship, unlike TCU and Boise State.
Pac-10 runner-up -- Stanford, as the Cardinal return to the Top 10 before season's end.

Sun Belt champions -- Troy, which has a few speedbumps in its way.
Sun Belt runner-up -- Middle Tennessee, and with a losing record.

WAC champions -- Boise State, as if there was ever any doubt.
WAC runner-up -- Nevada, who finishes with one loss all season (to Boise State).