COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS (THANKSGIVING EDITION)
As the College Football Playoffs head into the Thanksgiving break, there are many scenarios that can play out that will change the landscape of the the playoff bracket.
As this is the first season, the world has yet to see how these wins or losses in the conference championships willl alter a teams ranking.
Teams such as Oregon, Ohio State, and Texas are locks or the playoffs, however, how will a 2nd loss by Ohio State to Oregon or a 2nd loss by Texas to Georgia impact their seeding?
Clearly these teams would have a 2nd loss and in Ohio State's case both losses would be to undefeated #1 Oregon.....
Would a 2nd loss drop them below a Penn State team that they had beaten?
However, before we get ahead of ourselves with the Big 10 championship game, Ohio State still needs to lock in their spot by beating their arch rival "The Team Up North" Michigan Wolverines. On paper, this would appear to be a lock as Michigan is having a down year after winning the National Championship last season. However, you can always throw out the reconds when these 2 teams meet.
The Buckeyes have the more talented team and the Home Field Advantage.
Ohio State 34 Michigan 17
Should Ohio State loss this will open the door for Penn State in the Big 10 championship.
They host a Maryland Terrapin that is finishing out a disappointing season. It has not been much of a rivalry as the Nittany Lions have won 43 of the 47 matchups even though the Terps do have 2 upsets in Happy Valley in the last decade. In the end, this game will not be close...
Penn State 41 Maryland 13
Notre Dame had an impressive win last week over previously undefeated Army. Their loss to USC is already bowl eligible, but were way off their goal of a CFP bid. Look for the game to remain close early but eventually the Fighting Irish will pull away with a comfortable win
Notre Dame 34 USC 24
Miami continues to win but have to fight hard each week. This could be a sign that they could be overmatched in the playoffs or they can use these close matchups to their advantage. Expect another squeaker by Miami as they take on the Orangemen at Syracuse. This game is on Upset Alert, but in the end the Hurricanes survive again.
Miami 41 Syracuse 38
Georgia has an impressive win over Texas, but have lost 2 games to 3 loss teams. These Bulldogs have been "hiding under the porch" but can cause of damage in the CFP. They seemed to be eliminated by bad losses by both of these 3 loss teams (Ole Miss & Alabama) that beat them allowed them to sneak into the SEC championship. Expect them to handle their business against Georgia Tech.
Georgia 44 Georgia Tech 14
Tennessee has played well overall and have put themselves into a playoff spot.
Vanderbilt has always been the little brother in this SEC matchup that has been dominated by the Volunteers.
There is nothing more that the Commodores would love to do besides knock Tennessee out of the playoff picture. They almost took down the Longhorns in Nashville.....
Upset Alert!
Vanderbilt 27 Tennessee 24
SMU has looked impressive all year but really has not received any credit. They lost a close non conference game against a BYU team that was cruising until recent defeats. The Mustangs have been undefeated in their first year in the ACC and do not expect a letdown from them against the California Bears.
SMU 45 Cal 17
The Indiana Hoosiers Cinderella carriage ride hit a major bump in Columbus last week. Nothing can get this team back on track faster than playing a very bad Purdue Boilermaker team. Expect the Hoosiers to light it up against a defense which look like practice cones in games vs. Penn State and Ohio State.
The rout is on...
Indiana 52 Purdue 7
Boise State is looking to not only close out a spot in the CFP, but to lock in a bye.
The Broncos will take care of business vs. the Oregon State Beavers.
Boise State 38 Oregon State 10
Somehow, Dabo has done it again. Clemson was absolutely destroyed in the season opener by Georgia and couldn't even cruise through the ACC undefeated without either Miami or SMU on their schedule. Yet someone, these Tigers get so much love from the voters who have put them at 12 despite losing by 31 to the only ranked opponent they played until they play their in state rival South Carolina Gamecocks (who are suprisingly ranked 15 after losing 3 of their first 4 SEC games.
Both teams are overrated but are officially "in the hunt".....
Clemson has the home field advantage, but South Carolina has strung together a 5 game winning streak. Officially based on lines, this would be an upset...
South Carolina 27 Clemson 24
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Alabama and Ole Miss are both in the need of some losses this week and/or next. I would not expect any problems for the Rebels as they should easily handle the Miss State Bulldogs, but Alabama takes on the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl. This is another game that you can through the records out as nothing would make the Auburn faithful happier than putting the final nail in the Alabama playoff coffin with an upset in Tuscaloosa. Auburn also needs this win to become bowl eligible.
Ole Miss 38 Miss State 7
Auburn 31 Alabama 30
Jason De Luigi
Hall of Fame Sports
As this is the first season, the world has yet to see how these wins or losses in the conference championships willl alter a teams ranking.
Teams such as Oregon, Ohio State, and Texas are locks or the playoffs, however, how will a 2nd loss by Ohio State to Oregon or a 2nd loss by Texas to Georgia impact their seeding?
Clearly these teams would have a 2nd loss and in Ohio State's case both losses would be to undefeated #1 Oregon.....
Would a 2nd loss drop them below a Penn State team that they had beaten?
However, before we get ahead of ourselves with the Big 10 championship game, Ohio State still needs to lock in their spot by beating their arch rival "The Team Up North" Michigan Wolverines. On paper, this would appear to be a lock as Michigan is having a down year after winning the National Championship last season. However, you can always throw out the reconds when these 2 teams meet.
The Buckeyes have the more talented team and the Home Field Advantage.
Ohio State 34 Michigan 17
Should Ohio State loss this will open the door for Penn State in the Big 10 championship.
They host a Maryland Terrapin that is finishing out a disappointing season. It has not been much of a rivalry as the Nittany Lions have won 43 of the 47 matchups even though the Terps do have 2 upsets in Happy Valley in the last decade. In the end, this game will not be close...
Penn State 41 Maryland 13
Notre Dame had an impressive win last week over previously undefeated Army. Their loss to USC is already bowl eligible, but were way off their goal of a CFP bid. Look for the game to remain close early but eventually the Fighting Irish will pull away with a comfortable win
Notre Dame 34 USC 24
Miami continues to win but have to fight hard each week. This could be a sign that they could be overmatched in the playoffs or they can use these close matchups to their advantage. Expect another squeaker by Miami as they take on the Orangemen at Syracuse. This game is on Upset Alert, but in the end the Hurricanes survive again.
Miami 41 Syracuse 38
Georgia has an impressive win over Texas, but have lost 2 games to 3 loss teams. These Bulldogs have been "hiding under the porch" but can cause of damage in the CFP. They seemed to be eliminated by bad losses by both of these 3 loss teams (Ole Miss & Alabama) that beat them allowed them to sneak into the SEC championship. Expect them to handle their business against Georgia Tech.
Georgia 44 Georgia Tech 14
Tennessee has played well overall and have put themselves into a playoff spot.
Vanderbilt has always been the little brother in this SEC matchup that has been dominated by the Volunteers.
There is nothing more that the Commodores would love to do besides knock Tennessee out of the playoff picture. They almost took down the Longhorns in Nashville.....
Upset Alert!
Vanderbilt 27 Tennessee 24
SMU has looked impressive all year but really has not received any credit. They lost a close non conference game against a BYU team that was cruising until recent defeats. The Mustangs have been undefeated in their first year in the ACC and do not expect a letdown from them against the California Bears.
SMU 45 Cal 17
The Indiana Hoosiers Cinderella carriage ride hit a major bump in Columbus last week. Nothing can get this team back on track faster than playing a very bad Purdue Boilermaker team. Expect the Hoosiers to light it up against a defense which look like practice cones in games vs. Penn State and Ohio State.
The rout is on...
Indiana 52 Purdue 7
Boise State is looking to not only close out a spot in the CFP, but to lock in a bye.
The Broncos will take care of business vs. the Oregon State Beavers.
Boise State 38 Oregon State 10
Somehow, Dabo has done it again. Clemson was absolutely destroyed in the season opener by Georgia and couldn't even cruise through the ACC undefeated without either Miami or SMU on their schedule. Yet someone, these Tigers get so much love from the voters who have put them at 12 despite losing by 31 to the only ranked opponent they played until they play their in state rival South Carolina Gamecocks (who are suprisingly ranked 15 after losing 3 of their first 4 SEC games.
Both teams are overrated but are officially "in the hunt".....
Clemson has the home field advantage, but South Carolina has strung together a 5 game winning streak. Officially based on lines, this would be an upset...
South Carolina 27 Clemson 24
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
Alabama and Ole Miss are both in the need of some losses this week and/or next. I would not expect any problems for the Rebels as they should easily handle the Miss State Bulldogs, but Alabama takes on the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl. This is another game that you can through the records out as nothing would make the Auburn faithful happier than putting the final nail in the Alabama playoff coffin with an upset in Tuscaloosa. Auburn also needs this win to become bowl eligible.
Ole Miss 38 Miss State 7
Auburn 31 Alabama 30
Jason De Luigi
Hall of Fame Sports