Knock Out Game

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.