Patrick Jones
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tBBC Top Ten: Week of 11/23
Patrick Jones via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
(Photo Courtesy of rubbingtherock.com)
Welcome to week 12 of tBBC Top Ten. If last week was survivor Saturday, this past weekend could be dubbed survivor Saturday, part two. Two teams in the top ten lost and a pair of teams held on for dear life but still won. Without further ado, let’s jump right into it.
1. Clemson (11-0 LW – 2 Beat Wake Forest 33-13)
The Tigers claim the top spot after the Buckeyes lose this week. Clemson cruised to a 20 point victory and qb Deshaun Watson continued to put up Heisman numbers with 343 through the air with 2 td’s and adding another td on the ground. Clemson now has its rivalry game as they travel to South Carolina. The Tigers have already clinched a birth in the ACC title game in two weeks versus North Carolina. Should the Tigers not trip up this week, they’ll be in for a battle with the ‘Heels.
2. Alabama (10-1 LW – 3 Beat Charleston Southern 56-6)
Bama basically had a bye week as they welcomed Charleston Southern to town. The starters didn’t play much and Heisman favorite Derrick Henry only carried 9 times for 68 yards and picked up 2 tds. Believe it or not, Bama must win this week to get in to the SEC title game. If Bama loses this week in the Iron Bowl and Ole Miss wins, the Tide is out and the Rebels are in. Bama should destroy Auburn and then play what basically is a playoff play in game versus Florida in two weeks in Atlanta.
3. Oklahoma (10-1 LW – 5 Beat TCU 30-29)
The Sooners have jumped in to the top 4 this week as they continue to eliminate Big 12 teams one by one. The Sooners survived the loss of Heisman candidate, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and a late run by TCU to win this game. The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated and if Mayfield doesn’t get hurt, they probably ends up a blow out. The Sooners now travel to Stillwater to face their rival for the Big 12 title. I believe if Oklahoma wins this game, they are in the college playoffs. The committee has said several times that conference championships matter.
4. Notre Dame (10-1 LW – 4 Beat Boston College 19-16)
Notre Dame may have played themselves out of the playoffs on Saturday. Boston College had opportunities to win this game and just couldn’t get it done. The Irish now travel to Stanford on Saturday and will need a very very impressive win to get this loss out of the minds of the committee. Notre Dame has a few teams on their tail who have the opportunity to either be undefeated or have one loss BUT will have a conference title.
5. Michigan State (10-1 LW – 9 Beat #1 Ohio State 17-14)
They say if you don’t learn from the past you’re bound to repeat it, and that’s exactly what happened in Columbus on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans were without all everything qb Connor Cook but the Spartan offense controlled the ball and scored just enough to pull the upset. Sparty now gets Penn State at home with a trip to Indianapolis on the line. No word if Cook will go on Saturday but the Spartans will have a game plan ready for PSU.
6. Iowa (11-0 LW – 6 Beat Purdue 40-20)
Iowa continued its march toward perfection on Saturday with a dominate win over Purdue after the first snow storm of the year. The Hawkeyes clinched the B1G West with the win and now travel to Lincoln this week to battle Nebraska. Hopefully the Hawkeyes aren’t looking ahead towards the B1G Championship game and take the Huskers seriously.
7. Ohio State (10-1 LW – 1 Lost to #9 Michigan State 14-17)
Ahhh the Buckeyes….where do we start?!?!? The offense was awful and the defense just got tired from being on the field for so long. The Buckeyes still have a shot at the B1G Championship game and actually a small shot at the playoffs still. The Buckeyes travel up north for their biggest rival game. Hopefully the Bucks can get mentally prepared and the coaching staff can get the play calling figured out or it will be a long afternoon on Saturday.
8. Baylor (9-1 LW – NR Beat #7 Oklahoma State 45-35)
The Bears jump back in the top ten with a 10 point win and elimination of Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Bears offense was firing on all cylinders and Baylor actually keeps their playoff hopes alive with two games still left to play. Baylor travels to take on TCU this week and then home the following week to play Texas. If Baylor was to win out and some teams ahead of them lose, you never know.
9. Navy (9-1 LW – 10 Beat Tulsa 44-21)
Keenan Reynolds became the all time rushing leader for Navy with his 81 yards on the ground and Navy continues to roll. With two games left on the schedule, Navy will travel to Houston this week and hopes to put a hurtin on the Coug’s to impress the committee.
10. North Carolina (10-1 LW – NR Beat Virginia Tech 30-27 OT)
The Heels enter the top ten for the first time this season. UNC used Elijah Hood’s 115 yards and 2 tds on the ground to beat the Hokies in Frank Beamer’s last home game. North Carolina may be in a very very good position to get into the college football playoff. They travel to NC State to take on their rival and then the ACC title game in two weeks against Clemson. If they’re able to upset Clemson, they will have a very very good argument along with the other 1 loss teams.
Dropped Out
Oklahoma State and Florida. The Gators needed overtime, at home to beat FAU. Florida may have been looking ahead to Florida State this week but the Gators will need an impressive win to jump back in. With wins over FSU and then possible Bama in the SEC title game, they’ll make a great argument for a playoff spot. The Cowboys lost at home to Baylor after almost losing to Iowa State the week before. OSU is on life support and need a huge upset in impressive fashion over Oklahoma this weekend to stay alive.
Teams on the outside looking in
Florida, Xichigan, Florida State, and Stanford. The Gators have the best chance of the 4 to get in. TTUN can still make the B1G title game but needs lots of help. Florida State and Stanford both get a chance to play spoiler this week by beating the Gators and Fighting Irish, respectively.
Stop back next week and see how this all worked out before conference championship week!
The post tBBC Top Ten: Week of 11/23 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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Patrick Jones via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
(Photo Courtesy of rubbingtherock.com)
Welcome to week 12 of tBBC Top Ten. If last week was survivor Saturday, this past weekend could be dubbed survivor Saturday, part two. Two teams in the top ten lost and a pair of teams held on for dear life but still won. Without further ado, let’s jump right into it.
1. Clemson (11-0 LW – 2 Beat Wake Forest 33-13)
The Tigers claim the top spot after the Buckeyes lose this week. Clemson cruised to a 20 point victory and qb Deshaun Watson continued to put up Heisman numbers with 343 through the air with 2 td’s and adding another td on the ground. Clemson now has its rivalry game as they travel to South Carolina. The Tigers have already clinched a birth in the ACC title game in two weeks versus North Carolina. Should the Tigers not trip up this week, they’ll be in for a battle with the ‘Heels.
2. Alabama (10-1 LW – 3 Beat Charleston Southern 56-6)
Bama basically had a bye week as they welcomed Charleston Southern to town. The starters didn’t play much and Heisman favorite Derrick Henry only carried 9 times for 68 yards and picked up 2 tds. Believe it or not, Bama must win this week to get in to the SEC title game. If Bama loses this week in the Iron Bowl and Ole Miss wins, the Tide is out and the Rebels are in. Bama should destroy Auburn and then play what basically is a playoff play in game versus Florida in two weeks in Atlanta.
3. Oklahoma (10-1 LW – 5 Beat TCU 30-29)
The Sooners have jumped in to the top 4 this week as they continue to eliminate Big 12 teams one by one. The Sooners survived the loss of Heisman candidate, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and a late run by TCU to win this game. The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated and if Mayfield doesn’t get hurt, they probably ends up a blow out. The Sooners now travel to Stillwater to face their rival for the Big 12 title. I believe if Oklahoma wins this game, they are in the college playoffs. The committee has said several times that conference championships matter.
4. Notre Dame (10-1 LW – 4 Beat Boston College 19-16)
Notre Dame may have played themselves out of the playoffs on Saturday. Boston College had opportunities to win this game and just couldn’t get it done. The Irish now travel to Stanford on Saturday and will need a very very impressive win to get this loss out of the minds of the committee. Notre Dame has a few teams on their tail who have the opportunity to either be undefeated or have one loss BUT will have a conference title.
5. Michigan State (10-1 LW – 9 Beat #1 Ohio State 17-14)
They say if you don’t learn from the past you’re bound to repeat it, and that’s exactly what happened in Columbus on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans were without all everything qb Connor Cook but the Spartan offense controlled the ball and scored just enough to pull the upset. Sparty now gets Penn State at home with a trip to Indianapolis on the line. No word if Cook will go on Saturday but the Spartans will have a game plan ready for PSU.
6. Iowa (11-0 LW – 6 Beat Purdue 40-20)
Iowa continued its march toward perfection on Saturday with a dominate win over Purdue after the first snow storm of the year. The Hawkeyes clinched the B1G West with the win and now travel to Lincoln this week to battle Nebraska. Hopefully the Hawkeyes aren’t looking ahead towards the B1G Championship game and take the Huskers seriously.
7. Ohio State (10-1 LW – 1 Lost to #9 Michigan State 14-17)
Ahhh the Buckeyes….where do we start?!?!? The offense was awful and the defense just got tired from being on the field for so long. The Buckeyes still have a shot at the B1G Championship game and actually a small shot at the playoffs still. The Buckeyes travel up north for their biggest rival game. Hopefully the Bucks can get mentally prepared and the coaching staff can get the play calling figured out or it will be a long afternoon on Saturday.
8. Baylor (9-1 LW – NR Beat #7 Oklahoma State 45-35)
The Bears jump back in the top ten with a 10 point win and elimination of Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Bears offense was firing on all cylinders and Baylor actually keeps their playoff hopes alive with two games still left to play. Baylor travels to take on TCU this week and then home the following week to play Texas. If Baylor was to win out and some teams ahead of them lose, you never know.
9. Navy (9-1 LW – 10 Beat Tulsa 44-21)
Keenan Reynolds became the all time rushing leader for Navy with his 81 yards on the ground and Navy continues to roll. With two games left on the schedule, Navy will travel to Houston this week and hopes to put a hurtin on the Coug’s to impress the committee.
10. North Carolina (10-1 LW – NR Beat Virginia Tech 30-27 OT)
The Heels enter the top ten for the first time this season. UNC used Elijah Hood’s 115 yards and 2 tds on the ground to beat the Hokies in Frank Beamer’s last home game. North Carolina may be in a very very good position to get into the college football playoff. They travel to NC State to take on their rival and then the ACC title game in two weeks against Clemson. If they’re able to upset Clemson, they will have a very very good argument along with the other 1 loss teams.
Dropped Out
Oklahoma State and Florida. The Gators needed overtime, at home to beat FAU. Florida may have been looking ahead to Florida State this week but the Gators will need an impressive win to jump back in. With wins over FSU and then possible Bama in the SEC title game, they’ll make a great argument for a playoff spot. The Cowboys lost at home to Baylor after almost losing to Iowa State the week before. OSU is on life support and need a huge upset in impressive fashion over Oklahoma this weekend to stay alive.
Teams on the outside looking in
Florida, Xichigan, Florida State, and Stanford. The Gators have the best chance of the 4 to get in. TTUN can still make the B1G title game but needs lots of help. Florida State and Stanford both get a chance to play spoiler this week by beating the Gators and Fighting Irish, respectively.
Stop back next week and see how this all worked out before conference championship week!
The post tBBC Top Ten: Week of 11/23 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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