It is HIGHLY unlikely that a two loss team will make it into
the four team playoff. There may be a
couple of one loss teams kept out. Every
team with one loss could be knocked out with a second loss so any game this
weekend with a one loss team in it could be considered a knockout game for that
team, this week we have several games with two one loss teams facing each other
making it a true knockout game.
#10 Notre Dame @ #17 Arizona State Saturday 3:30 pm on
ABC. As noted before if the Irish do not
continue winning what other team do or don’t do will be irrelevant. If Notre Dame wins this game it will go a
long way in justifying their place in the playoff discussion.
#9 Kansas State (7-1) @ #7 TCU (7-1) Saturday 7:30pm on
Fox. Overall I don’t think it benefits
Notre Dame either way who wins. Both
teams are in the Big 12 and no way will a two loss Big 12 team get in. Even a one win Big 12 team may struggle to
get a seat at the playoff table.
#16 Ohio State (7-1) @ #8 Michigan State (7-1) Saturday
8:00pm pm on ABC. Earlier in the season
it looked like the Big 10 would not have any chance of being represented in the
playoffs, however Michigan State has pushed to change that feeling. Although the Buckeyes have played well as of
late I think their poor performance early one may be too much to overcome, even
with a victory over the Spartans to get them into the playoff and for that
reason an Ohio State win would probably be better for the Irish.
Notable other one loss teams in action.
#3 Auburn (7-1) hosting Texas A&M (6-3) Saturday 3:30 on
CBS. After starting the season with six
wins the wheels have fallen off for the Aggies who have lost their last three
games. Auburn should win this game and
win it easily.
#5 Oregon (8-1) @ #17 Utah (6-2) Saturday 10:00 on
ESPN. Utah has a better chance in wining
this game than Texas A&M has in winning their but I would still bet the
Ducks. Not that Utah can’t win, they
have wins over at the time #8 UCLA and at the time #20 USC.
#6 Alabama (7-1) @ #19 LSU (6-2) Saturday 8:00 on CBS. Lou Holtz thinks that Alabama is the best
team in the country right now. While I
can’t support Lou on, that they are very good football team. LSU may not be as good as Tiger teams of the
past they should be able to hold their own against the Crimson Tide.
#13 Baylor (7-1) @ #18 Oklahoma (6-2) 12 on Fox Sports
1. Baylor’s only impressive win was a
three point home win against TCU in a 61-58 shootout. Oklahoma’s resume is slightly more impressive
in my opinion including a 4 point loss on the road to TCU 37-34. I like the Sooners on Saturday.
#24 Duke (7-1) @ Syracuse (3-6) 12:30 on Game Plan /
ESPN3. Syracuse sinks. Blue > Orange on Saturday.
Only #1 Mississippi State and #2 Florida State are
undefeated*. With the Bulldogs playing
Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks from the Ohio Valley Conference I suspect Mississippi
Sate to stay undefeated. Even though the
Seminoles should beat Virginia, the Cavaliers season looks like a rollercoaster
and mayby, just maybe they will roll up this weekend.
*Marshall is 8-0 and ranked #23 in the AP Top 25 / #22 in
the USA Today Polls but and unranked in the College Football Playoff
Rankings. Marshall is hurt by playing in
the Conference USA and a match up this Saturday against the 3-6 Southern Miss
Golden Eagles is not helping their cause.
