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
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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
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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