The weeks you don't think it's going to be any good are almost always when it's really good. Let's run through it:
1) Georgia and LSU were the only boring teams this weekend. They just ho hum did what they were supposed to do. UGA just suffocated Kentucky the way it suffocates nearly everyone. There weren't a lot of style points, but there don't have to be any style points. All the Bulldogs have to do is win one more game (vs Georgia Tech OR the SEC title game) and they're in the playoff. Probably as the No. 1 seed. LSU's path is tougher (they have to win out) but its day yesterday was easier in a 41-10 thumping of UAB. The Tigers are at Texas A&M next weekend before the date with Georgia in Atlanta.
2) The fun started at No. 2. Ohio State had a fight on its hands all day long against unranked Maryland. The Terps actually had the ball with a chance to win the game in the last 90 seconds. But Ohio State sacked little Tua (I don't know his real name and it takes longer to type) on the goal line and scooped and scored for a 43-30 margin that looked like an easier win than it was. With injuries ravaging the running back corps, OSU turned to true freshman Dallan Hayden. Hayden had 73 carries for 357 yards and two touchdowns coming into yesterday. He had 27 for 146 and scored three times in the second half. Buckeyes are just out here bringing top-250 four-stars from fourth or fifth on the depth chart. Must be nice.
3) No. 3 Michigan survived a game upset bid from Illinois 19-17 on a last second field goal. The Wolverines didn't do anything all that impressive with star running back Blake Corum sideline for much of the day with a to be determined injury. They did just enough. Michigan got a stop on Illinois and then converted a fourth down to get into field goal range in the final seconds. Both drives had a penalty that assisted Michigan's cause. I don't know whether the calls were right or wrong, but Bret Bielema certainly had his thoughts.
"We have to play cleaner," Bielema told the Big Ten Network on the field after the game. "We have to beat 110,000 and then some."
He probably wouldn't have been fined for that. He will be for this:
"I'm extremely pissed off," Bielema said. "Very angry, very upset. I think our kids did a lot to win the football game and to continually have things go against us, very frustrating.
"You have to stand up for the people you believe in. I believe in that locker room, big-time. I know they'll rise up to the challenge once again."
4) At No. 4, I present to you the country's most exciting unbeaten team: the TCU Horned Frogs. The Frogs are 11-0. They will play Iowa State next week and probably Kansas State in the Big 12 title game. If they win both of those games, they are definitely in the playoff. If they win just the first one, it's possible. They have won eight of their 11 games by ten points or less and five of them by one possession. Yesterday was the piece de resistance so far:
I would argue TCU was insanely lucky there. You don't run the ball on third down with no timeouts. I don't care how much you practice it (Sonny Dykes said they practice it every week). Kudos to his team for being ready. But that's insane. Especially because all Baylor had to do is take an extra three seconds trotting on to the field and they play doesn't get off. When the offense substitutes, the refs hold the snap until the defense has a chance to as well. Why wasn't Baylor just a little more casual? Burn the clock. If the Bears had done that, TCU is probably out of the playoff. They didn't and the Frogs live another day.
5) The real fun starts here. The first few teams on our list made it interesting, but won. Tennessee just decided to do the whole deal. The Vols' secondary turned Spencer Rattler into the quarterback he was supposed to be four years ago. Rattler went 30-37 for 438 yards and six touchdowns. The Gamecocks scored in every quarter and scored at least 14 in three quarters. They led from start to finish. They demolished Tennessee, which has been doing the demolishing. The Vols are done playoff wise. Hell of a season, but they'll have to settle for the Sugar, Peach or Citrus Bowl. On the downside, Hendon Hooker left in the fourth quarter of this one with a non-contact injury. There has been no official diagnosis, but it sounds bad. Hate the Vols all you want, but that's an absolute shame. He was having a Heisman caliber season. He will be beloved at that school for a LONG time. That's not how it should end.
6) The biggest beneficiary of all this was USC. The Trojans kept their hopes alive with a 48-45 win over UCLA. Caleb Williams threw for 470 yards and probably took the lead in the Heisman race. The Trojans have to beat Notre Dame and win the PAC 12 title game (probably over Oregon) and they'll be in the playoff in Lincoln Riley's first year. If you think Oklahoma fans have been angry this year, you haven't seen any anger like what you'll see when TBOW (The Bitch out West, which is what they have named Riley since he bolted Norman) is coaching in the College Football Playoff in year one. Hoo boy.
7) The ACC lost one team in the playoff, but miraculously may have another poking a hand through the ground trying to come back to life. North Carolina lead Georgia Tech 17-0 before losing 21-17 in one of the more disastrous results of the season. The Heels probably weren't getting in anyway, but it wasn't impossible. It is now. Clemson humiliated Miami 40-10. The Tigers are 10-1 and play South Carolina next week and then the ACC title game. Their only loss is to Notre Dame. If the Irish beat USC...
8) In non-playoff-meaningful games, these two things both happened:
Indiana rallied from down 31-14 to Michigan State with 6:17 left in the third quarter to win 39-31. The Hoosiers did it with starting quarterback Dexter Williams II completing 2-of-7 passes for 31 yards. All day. It was not the fewest passing yards in a win yesterday. Behold the box score in Navy's 17-14 win at UCF
"No Navy Receiving." Incredible. 64 plays. 63 runs. One gigantic win.
9) This is our weekly, I know it's going to put us over 10 thoughts, but I can't not insult Nebraska update. From 1979-2001, Nebraska lost 42 football games in 23 seasons. Since the start of 2017, Nebraska has lost 43 football games. In the same time, it has won 22. It is the only Power Five football team not to reach bowl eligibility at least once in the last six seasons. Go Big Red!
By the way, if Iowa beats the Huskers this week Iowa is in the Big Ten title game. God bless the Big Ten West.
10) The playoff if it started today:
1) Georgia vs 4) TCU
2) Ohio State vs 3) Michigan
2 and 3 play next week. The winner is in, the loser has to hope. The only other teams who have a chance to get in are LSU, USC and Clemson. Tennessee and UNC played their way out. Seven teams for four spots. Here are the scenarios:
Georgia: Win one more game
Ohio State/Michigan winner: Win one more game
TCU: Win two more games
Ohio State/Michigan loser: Have two of TCU, LSU, USC and Clemson lose once
USC/LSU: Win two more games and hope the committee picks you over the other one or have the other one OR TCU lose a game
Clemson: Win two more games and have two of TCU, LSU and USC lose once and hope you get in over the Michigan/Ohio State loser. Or have all three of TCU, LSU and USC lose.
My prediction:
1) Georgia vs 4) Michigan
2) Ohio State vs 3) USC
11) Ten games I'll watch this week other than Mizzou/Arkansas
Missisippi State at Ole Miss, 6 pm Thursday, ESPN: The Egg Bowl is a Thanksgiving night tradition
Florida at Florida State, 6:30 pm Friday, ABC: I mean, I don't really care, but it's probably the most interesting night game on Friday and I need something to watch.
Virginia vs Virginia Tech, TBD Friday: Man it would be cool to see those UVA kids come out and have something to feel good about. Not that it changes what they've gone through. But I can't imagine what their last week has been like. If you've ever rooted for a group of kids...
Michigan at Ohio State, 11 am Saturday, FOX: Kind of big
South Carolina at Clemson, 11 am Saturday, ABC: Would be fine with Rattler having one more game in him
Auburn at Alabama, 2:30 pm Saturday, CBS: I mean, it's the Iron Bowl
Iowa State at TCU, 3:00 Saturday: Shouldn't be a good game, but every TCU game is a good game
LSU at Texas A&M, 6:00 Saturday, ESPN: LSU can keep its playoff hopes alive by crushing the guy they should be thankful they couldn't ever hire
Tennessee at Vanderbilt, 6:30 Saturday, SEC Network: Don't look now, but the Dores can win six games
Notre Dame at USC, 6:30 pm, ABC: Irish are gonna end up having a LOT to do with the playoff picture this year
1) Georgia and LSU were the only boring teams this weekend. They just ho hum did what they were supposed to do. UGA just suffocated Kentucky the way it suffocates nearly everyone. There weren't a lot of style points, but there don't have to be any style points. All the Bulldogs have to do is win one more game (vs Georgia Tech OR the SEC title game) and they're in the playoff. Probably as the No. 1 seed. LSU's path is tougher (they have to win out) but its day yesterday was easier in a 41-10 thumping of UAB. The Tigers are at Texas A&M next weekend before the date with Georgia in Atlanta.
2) The fun started at No. 2. Ohio State had a fight on its hands all day long against unranked Maryland. The Terps actually had the ball with a chance to win the game in the last 90 seconds. But Ohio State sacked little Tua (I don't know his real name and it takes longer to type) on the goal line and scooped and scored for a 43-30 margin that looked like an easier win than it was. With injuries ravaging the running back corps, OSU turned to true freshman Dallan Hayden. Hayden had 73 carries for 357 yards and two touchdowns coming into yesterday. He had 27 for 146 and scored three times in the second half. Buckeyes are just out here bringing top-250 four-stars from fourth or fifth on the depth chart. Must be nice.
3) No. 3 Michigan survived a game upset bid from Illinois 19-17 on a last second field goal. The Wolverines didn't do anything all that impressive with star running back Blake Corum sideline for much of the day with a to be determined injury. They did just enough. Michigan got a stop on Illinois and then converted a fourth down to get into field goal range in the final seconds. Both drives had a penalty that assisted Michigan's cause. I don't know whether the calls were right or wrong, but Bret Bielema certainly had his thoughts.
"We have to play cleaner," Bielema told the Big Ten Network on the field after the game. "We have to beat 110,000 and then some."
He probably wouldn't have been fined for that. He will be for this:
"I'm extremely pissed off," Bielema said. "Very angry, very upset. I think our kids did a lot to win the football game and to continually have things go against us, very frustrating.
"You have to stand up for the people you believe in. I believe in that locker room, big-time. I know they'll rise up to the challenge once again."
4) At No. 4, I present to you the country's most exciting unbeaten team: the TCU Horned Frogs. The Frogs are 11-0. They will play Iowa State next week and probably Kansas State in the Big 12 title game. If they win both of those games, they are definitely in the playoff. If they win just the first one, it's possible. They have won eight of their 11 games by ten points or less and five of them by one possession. Yesterday was the piece de resistance so far:
I would argue TCU was insanely lucky there. You don't run the ball on third down with no timeouts. I don't care how much you practice it (Sonny Dykes said they practice it every week). Kudos to his team for being ready. But that's insane. Especially because all Baylor had to do is take an extra three seconds trotting on to the field and they play doesn't get off. When the offense substitutes, the refs hold the snap until the defense has a chance to as well. Why wasn't Baylor just a little more casual? Burn the clock. If the Bears had done that, TCU is probably out of the playoff. They didn't and the Frogs live another day.
5) The real fun starts here. The first few teams on our list made it interesting, but won. Tennessee just decided to do the whole deal. The Vols' secondary turned Spencer Rattler into the quarterback he was supposed to be four years ago. Rattler went 30-37 for 438 yards and six touchdowns. The Gamecocks scored in every quarter and scored at least 14 in three quarters. They led from start to finish. They demolished Tennessee, which has been doing the demolishing. The Vols are done playoff wise. Hell of a season, but they'll have to settle for the Sugar, Peach or Citrus Bowl. On the downside, Hendon Hooker left in the fourth quarter of this one with a non-contact injury. There has been no official diagnosis, but it sounds bad. Hate the Vols all you want, but that's an absolute shame. He was having a Heisman caliber season. He will be beloved at that school for a LONG time. That's not how it should end.
6) The biggest beneficiary of all this was USC. The Trojans kept their hopes alive with a 48-45 win over UCLA. Caleb Williams threw for 470 yards and probably took the lead in the Heisman race. The Trojans have to beat Notre Dame and win the PAC 12 title game (probably over Oregon) and they'll be in the playoff in Lincoln Riley's first year. If you think Oklahoma fans have been angry this year, you haven't seen any anger like what you'll see when TBOW (The Bitch out West, which is what they have named Riley since he bolted Norman) is coaching in the College Football Playoff in year one. Hoo boy.
7) The ACC lost one team in the playoff, but miraculously may have another poking a hand through the ground trying to come back to life. North Carolina lead Georgia Tech 17-0 before losing 21-17 in one of the more disastrous results of the season. The Heels probably weren't getting in anyway, but it wasn't impossible. It is now. Clemson humiliated Miami 40-10. The Tigers are 10-1 and play South Carolina next week and then the ACC title game. Their only loss is to Notre Dame. If the Irish beat USC...
8) In non-playoff-meaningful games, these two things both happened:
Indiana rallied from down 31-14 to Michigan State with 6:17 left in the third quarter to win 39-31. The Hoosiers did it with starting quarterback Dexter Williams II completing 2-of-7 passes for 31 yards. All day. It was not the fewest passing yards in a win yesterday. Behold the box score in Navy's 17-14 win at UCF
"No Navy Receiving." Incredible. 64 plays. 63 runs. One gigantic win.
9) This is our weekly, I know it's going to put us over 10 thoughts, but I can't not insult Nebraska update. From 1979-2001, Nebraska lost 42 football games in 23 seasons. Since the start of 2017, Nebraska has lost 43 football games. In the same time, it has won 22. It is the only Power Five football team not to reach bowl eligibility at least once in the last six seasons. Go Big Red!
By the way, if Iowa beats the Huskers this week Iowa is in the Big Ten title game. God bless the Big Ten West.
10) The playoff if it started today:
1) Georgia vs 4) TCU
2) Ohio State vs 3) Michigan
2 and 3 play next week. The winner is in, the loser has to hope. The only other teams who have a chance to get in are LSU, USC and Clemson. Tennessee and UNC played their way out. Seven teams for four spots. Here are the scenarios:
Georgia: Win one more game
Ohio State/Michigan winner: Win one more game
TCU: Win two more games
Ohio State/Michigan loser: Have two of TCU, LSU, USC and Clemson lose once
USC/LSU: Win two more games and hope the committee picks you over the other one or have the other one OR TCU lose a game
Clemson: Win two more games and have two of TCU, LSU and USC lose once and hope you get in over the Michigan/Ohio State loser. Or have all three of TCU, LSU and USC lose.
My prediction:
1) Georgia vs 4) Michigan
2) Ohio State vs 3) USC
11) Ten games I'll watch this week other than Mizzou/Arkansas
Missisippi State at Ole Miss, 6 pm Thursday, ESPN: The Egg Bowl is a Thanksgiving night tradition
Florida at Florida State, 6:30 pm Friday, ABC: I mean, I don't really care, but it's probably the most interesting night game on Friday and I need something to watch.
Virginia vs Virginia Tech, TBD Friday: Man it would be cool to see those UVA kids come out and have something to feel good about. Not that it changes what they've gone through. But I can't imagine what their last week has been like. If you've ever rooted for a group of kids...
Michigan at Ohio State, 11 am Saturday, FOX: Kind of big
South Carolina at Clemson, 11 am Saturday, ABC: Would be fine with Rattler having one more game in him
Auburn at Alabama, 2:30 pm Saturday, CBS: I mean, it's the Iron Bowl
Iowa State at TCU, 3:00 Saturday: Shouldn't be a good game, but every TCU game is a good game
LSU at Texas A&M, 6:00 Saturday, ESPN: LSU can keep its playoff hopes alive by crushing the guy they should be thankful they couldn't ever hire
Tennessee at Vanderbilt, 6:30 Saturday, SEC Network: Don't look now, but the Dores can win six games
Notre Dame at USC, 6:30 pm, ABC: Irish are gonna end up having a LOT to do with the playoff picture this year
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