CFB: Rivalry Week Preview
Week 12 was dubbed 'Cupcake Week' as a lot of the top tier programs, namely No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 4 Clemson, No. 6 Auburn, and No. 8 Ohio State, faced teams who were either FCS opponents or teams that won't qualify for a bowl game. However, there were a couple of good games like No. 5 Wisconsin outlasting No. 17 Michigan, 24-10, and No. 7 Georgia getting past No. 24 Kentucky, 42-13, to move to a 10-1 record with only Georgia Tech remaining on the schedule.
Week 13, better known as Rivalry Week, is one of the most glorious weeks of the year, as we learn which teams will advance to their respective conference championship games, and we get to see the most heated of rivalries take place. That's highlighted by the Iron Bowl of No. 1 Alabama against No. 7 Auburn and The Game of No. ?8 Ohio State heading to Ann Arbor to play No. 22 Michigan. There are a ton of must-watch games this week and our CFB Staff - Charles Post, Chase Zayac, and Chinedum Wejinya - will preview all of it!
*Maximum of 100 Points.*
Top-25 Rankings:
1. Alabama (11-0, 7-0) - 100 Pts.
2. Miami (11-0, 7-0) - 96 Pts.
3. Clemson (10-1, 7-1) - 92 Pts.
4. Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1) - 92 Pts.
5. Wisconsin (11-0, 8-0) - 90 Pts.
6. Georgia (10-1, 7-1) - 82 Pts.
7. Auburn (9-2, 6-1) - 82 Pts.
8. Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) - 79 Pts.
9. Notre Dame (9-2, 4-1) - 75 Pts.
10. Central Florida (11-0, 7-0) - 74 Pts.
11. USC (10-2, 7-1) - 71 Pts.
12. TCU (9-2, 6-2) - 70 Pts.
13. Penn State (9-2, 6-2) - 65 Pts.
14. Washington State (9-2, 6-2) - 61 Pts.
15. Washington (9-2, 6-2) - 57 Pts.
16. Stanford (8-3, 7-2) - 48 Pts.
17. LSU (8-3, 5-2) - 48 Pts.
18. Oklahoma State (8-3, 5-3) - 47 Pts.
19. Michigan State (8-3, 6-2) - 44 Pts.
20. South Florida (10-1, 6-1) - 38 Pts.
21. Virginia Tech (8-3, 4-3) - 35 Pts.
22. Michigan (8-3, 5-3) - 33 Pts.
23. Boise State (9-2, 7-0) - 31 Pts.
24. San Diego State (9-2, 6-2) - 29 Pts.
25. Wake Forest (7-4, 4-3) - 27 Pts.
Just Missed the Cut:
26. Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3) - 26 Pts.
27. NC State (7-4, 5-2) - 25 Pts.
28. Toledo (9-2, 6-1) - 9 Pts.
29. Iowa State (7-4, 5-3) - 8 Pts.
30. Arizona (7-4, 5-3) - 7 Pts.
Trending Upward: No. 23 Boise State (+8) has now won seven straight games and are rooting for some chaos in front of them to get the Group of Five bid into the New Year's Six bowl game, which would be their second. Although that is unlikely, it's very possible that they win the Mountain West title. After getting past Air Force, 44-19, last week, they'll play Fresno State for Rivalry Week and then play them again the following week in the Mountain West championship game. A couple of other teams that are on the rise are No. 10 Central Florida (+4), No. 24 San Diego State (+4), and No. 25 Wake Forest (+4) after they upset No. 19 NC State to get their fourth ACC victory.
Trending Downward: Arizona (-8) was on a roll when Khalil Tate was first moved into the lineup, beating Colorado, UCLA, California, and Washington State, as he was running for 200+ yards seemingly every time out. But it seems as though opponents have started to figure him out, as they've now lost two of their last three games, including a 48-28 beatdown last weekend from Oregon. The Wildcats are out of the rankings now and will attempt to find a way to regain that momentum against Arizona State on the road in Week 13, but it won't be easy. A couple of others teams that slid were No. 18 Oklahoma State (-8), No. 22 Michigan (-5), and NC State (-8).
Charles Post:
Bowling Green @ Eastern Michigan
Ole Miss @ Mississippi State
Western Michigan @ Toledo
Texas Tech @ Texas
Baylor @ No. 12 TCU
No. 2 Miami @ Pittsburgh
Missouri @ Arkansas
No. 20 South Florida @ No. 10 Central Florida
New Mexico @ No. 24 San Diego State
Iowa @ Nebraska
No. 21 Virginia Tech @ Virginia
California @ UCLA
No. 8 Ohio State @ No. 22 Michigan
Texas A&M @ No. 17 LSU
No. 3 Clemson @ South Carolina
No. 1 Alabama @ No. 7 Auburn
No. 6 Georgia @ Georgia Tech
West Virginia @ No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 9 Notre Dame @ No. 16 Stanford
Arizona @ Arizona State
Colorado @ Utah
No. 14 Washington State @ No. 15 Washington
Northwestern @ Illinois
No. 5 Wisconsin @ Minnesota
Florida State @ Florida
Louisville @ Kentucky
Indiana @ Purdue
North Carolina @ NC State
No. 23 Boise State @ Fresno State
Oregon State @ Oregon
Week 12 Record: 10-0.
Overall Record: 91-29.
Chase Zayac:
Bowling Green @ Eastern Michigan
Ole Miss @ Mississippi State
Western Michigan @ Toledo
Texas Tech @ Texas
Baylor @ No. 12 TCU
No. 2 Miami @ Pittsburgh
Missouri @ Arkansas
No. 20 South Florida @ No. 10 Central Florida
New Mexico @ No. 24 San Diego State
Iowa @ Nebraska
No. 21 Virginia Tech @ Virginia
California @ UCLA
No. 8 Ohio State @ No. 22 Michigan
Texas A&M @ No. 17 LSU
No. 3 Clemson @ South Carolina
No. 1 Alabama @ No. 7 Auburn
No. 6 Georgia @ Georgia Tech
West Virginia @ No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 9 Notre Dame @ No. 16 Stanford
Arizona @ Arizona State
Colorado @ Utah
No. 14 Washington State @ No. 15 Washington
Northwestern @ Illinois
No. 5 Wisconsin @ Minnesota
Florida State @ Florida
Louisville @ Kentucky
Indiana @ Purdue
North Carolina @ NC State
No. 23 Boise State @ Fresno State
Oregon State @ Oregon
Week 12 Record: 9-1.
Overall Record: 85-35.
Chinedum Wejinya:
Bowling Green @ Eastern Michigan
Ole Miss @ Mississippi State
Western Michigan @ Toledo
Texas Tech @ Texas
Baylor @ No. 12 TCU
No. 2 Miami @ Pittsburgh
Missouri @ Arkansas
No. 20 South Florida @ No. 10 Central Florida
New Mexico @ No. 24 San Diego State
Iowa @ Nebraska
No. 21 Virginia Tech @ Virginia
California @ UCLA
No. 8 Ohio State @ No. 22 Michigan
Texas A&M @ No. 17 LSU
No. 3 Clemson @ South Carolina
No. 1 Alabama @ No. 7 Auburn
No. 6 Georgia @ Georgia Tech
West Virginia @ No. 4 Oklahoma
No. 9 Notre Dame @ No. 16 Stanford
Arizona @ Arizona State
Colorado @ Utah
No. 14 Washington State @ No. 15 Washington
Northwestern @ Illinois
No. 5 Wisconsin @ Minnesota
Florida State @ Florida
Louisville @ Kentucky
Indiana @ Purdue
North Carolina @ NC State
No. 23 Boise State @ Fresno State
Oregon State @ Oregon
Week 12 Record: 10-0.
Overall Record: 87-33.
Elimination Game of the Week: The Iron Bowl! No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0) could very well lose this game and still reach the CFP if some level of chaos occurred, but they wouldn't go to the SEC title game, as No. 7 Auburn (9-2, 6-1) would, and that would put a chink into their armor, making them vulnerable for the first time in more than two years. So for all intents and purposes, this is an elimination game. The Crimson Tide have wins over No. 3 Florida State, No. 19 LSU, and No. 16 Mississippi State. While the Tigers have beaten No. 24 Mississippi State and No. 1 Georgia, and their losses are to No. 3 Clemson and LSU. Alabama averages a +31.2 point differential, compared to Auburn's +21.0, but neither give up more than 17 points per game, and Alabama is just +3.3 in yards per game compared to their rival. This game should come down to the wire, just as it did in 2013 when the two teams were in similar spots, with the winner advancing to the SEC championship game. Auburn won that one. In 2017, though? All three of our writers are taking the Crimson Tide to keep their undefeated schedule intact.
Teams Eliminated:
Week 1: Florida (0-1)
Week 2: Stanford (1-1)
Week 3: Louisville (2-1)
Week 4: Mississippi State (3-1)
Week 5: Virginia Tech (4-1)
Week 6: Utah (4-1)
Week 7: San Diego State (6-1)
Week 8: USC (6-2)
Week 9: West Virginia (5-3)
Week 10: Oklahoma State (7-2)
Week 11: Notre Dame (8-2)
Week 12: Michigan (8-3)
1. Can No. 2 Miami (11-0, 7-0) at Pittsburgh and No. 3 Clemson (10-1, 7-1) at South Carolina each win to set up a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in the ACC championship game? And elsewhere in the ACC, what will be Lamar Jackson's final statline versus Kentucky in what could be his final collegiate game if he decides to skip the bowl game and prepare for the NFL?
Zayac: Miami and Clemson will both win, setting up an essential playoff game in the ACC Championship. Lamar Jackson's statline against Kentucky will be 350 yards passing with no picks and three touchdowns and 50 yards rushing with a touchdown on the ground. The Cardinals will win.
2. What happens in the Iron Bowl as the winner, No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0) or No. 7 Auburn (9-2, 6-1), will advance to the SEC championship, and who is the x-factor? And what will happen in the Florida State versus Florida game, with the loser being eliminated from a bowl game?
Wejinya: I believe that Alabama will win the Iron Bowl, the x-factor will be Jalen Hurts, if he controls the tempo of the game. Florida will win the game with Florida State, because the Seminoles do not have a steady quarterback situation and they will be eliminated from going to a bowl for he first time in 35 years.
3. What are the chances that No. 10 Central Florida (11-0, 7-0) can beat No. 20 South Florida (10-1, 6-1) and then win the American title game and have a legitimate argument for a CFP berth? And can Toledo (9-2, 6-1) defeat Western Michigan and get to the MAC title game for the first time in 13 years?
Post: UCF's schedule isn't as good as other teams, like Wisconsin or Miami, but their strength of schedule is ranked 71 out of 130 teams, which isn't horrible. Their non-conference schedule consisted of Florida International, Georgia Tech, and Maryland. Not great, but it's certainly better than the Badgers' of Utah State, Florida Atlantic, and BYU. And the Knights beat the brakes off of Memphis, and got past quality Navy and SMU teams. I'm not saying that Central Florida should be in the CFP, but why not consider them a little bit instead of just writing them off altogether? I mean wasn't the point of the playoff to give more people a chance at a title? UCF has more Big Ten wins than Illinois, a team that is actually in the conference, so we shouldn't punish them as much as we do. To answer the question, though, I think they'll go 13-0 and miss out on the CFP. As for Toledo, they better win this game. They had the exact same situation two years ago, where all they had to do was beat Western Michigan at home in Week 13 and they lost, costing them a MAC title game spot. The Rockets better win this one or they'll continue to be a team that can't win the big game.
*Maximum fo 20 Points.*
Heisman Standings:
1. Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma QB) - 20 Pts.
2. Bryce Love (Stanford RB) - 16 Pts.
3. Lamar Jackson (Louisville QB) - 11 Pts.
4. Jalen Hurts (Alabama QB) - 9 Pts.
5. Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin RB) - 6 Pts.
Movement: Baker Mayfield (+0) has been at the top of our rankings for over a month now, and for good reason, he continues to scorch opponents, while talking trash, and creating some controversy. Although, just focusing on his game, he's been great, and he went for 257 yards and three scores in a 41-3 win over Kansas. Bryce Love (+0) is in our second spot still, after going for 101 yards and a touchdown in a 17-14 victory versus rival California. Lamar Jackson (+3) is back in our rankings after nearly two months of being out, but he's been fantastic, even though his team hasn't been. Jackson dropped 270 yards and two touches, with a 92.5 QBR against Syracuse last weekend, winning 56-10. Jalen Hurts (-1) seems to be more focused on the SEC title than the Heisman, but a perfect game, going 7-7 for 180 yards and three touchdowns won't hurt his chances. Lastly, Jonathan Taylor (-1) gets our final slot, as he beats out Saquon Barkley (-1), after going for 132 yards on 19 carries, with a long of 52 against the Wolverines.
College Football Playoff Picks - Week 1:
College Football Playoff Picks - Week 10:
Photo Credit: Nashville Sports Council.
