WEEK 13 BIG TEN, TOP 25 TV SCHEDULE, RANKINGS the end is near!

[mjp28]

SUPER important

The weekend’s only game between two Playoff contenders:

• No. 1 Alabama (11-0) at No. 6 Auburn (9-2): The winner gets a virtual Playoff quarterfinal against Georgia for the SEC title. The Tide really might clinch a Playoff spot with an Iron Bowl win alone (and the Tide could still make it in at 11-1). Meanwhile, Auburn’s got home field, health, and momentum.

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Important!

Games between teams that could finish in the committee’s final top 25 and/or games with other major postseason stakes.

• No. 3 Clemson (10-1) at No. 24 South Carolina (8-3): The committee loves the Tigers’ deep schedule, but a loss either here or against Miami in the ACC Championship would put Clemson in a group hoping for the No. 4 spot.
• No. 2 Miami (10-0) at Pitt (4-7): The Canes might be able to afford an unranked loss, just like Clemson and Oklahoma have, but better not risk it! The committee didn’t like their struggles against lesser teams, but we’ll never hear about those again if the Canes win out.
• No. 5 Wisconsin (11-0) at Minnesota (5-6): UW’s strength of schedule has improved, but remains a sticking point. I think 11-1 Badgers would still be in with a win over Ohio State, but better not risk it!
• West Virginia (7-4) at No. 4 Oklahoma (10-1): With a win here against WVU’s backup QB, OU would be the first team to clinch a Playoff spot, just as it was in 2015 ... if not for the reanimated Big 12 Championship. That’ll likely be a rematch against TCU.

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• No. 8 Notre Dame (9-2) at No. 21 Stanford (8-3): Notre Dame would lock up a New Year’s Six bowl bid with a win. The Cardinal can only join that group by winning the Pac-12, though that depends on Washington State-Washington.
• No. 7 Georgia (10-1) at Georgia Tech (5-5): Could the Dawgs make it in as a two-loss team? Well, they entered Week 13 ranked behind three other teams with losses, so the committee’s evidently no longer bowled over by the former No. 1 team. Better just win out, imho.
• No. 9 Ohio State (9-2) at Michigan (8-3): For the fourth year in a row, the Buckeyes are angling to be one of the committee’s hardest calls (2014: in by jumping two teams; 2015: out as a one-loss; 2016: in as a non-champ). Can a team that got its butt kicked twice, once by an unranked team, make the field? Many were wrong to give up on OSU’s chances in 2014 and 2016, so we’ll see. Winning at a turbulent UM is required, though.
• No. 13 Washington State (9-2) at No. 17 Washington (9-2): If WSU wins the Apple Cup, the Cougs will play USC in the Pac-12 Championship. If UW wins, Stanford wins the North.
• USF (9-1) at No. 15 UCF (10-0): If UCF wins, it hosts Memphis for the AAC title (in some conferences, the higher-ranked team hosts) and a trip to a New Year’s Six bowl. If USF wins, the same stakes probably apply, but probably at Memphis.

Should have some impact

Games between teams that’ll finish .500-plus, meaning the winner gains a solid W and/or games with considerable postseason stakes.

• No. 10 Penn State (9-2) at Maryland (4-7): Only up here because Penn State can just about assure itself of an NY6 game by avoiding a loss.
• Baylor (1-10) at No. 12 TCU (9-2): Frogs clinch a Big 12 Championship bid with a win.
• Texas A&M (7-4) at No. 18 LSU (8-3): No NY6 stakes, but the Tigers could finish No. 15 or so in Year 1 for Ed Orgeron. Meanwhile, Kevin Sumlin’s reportedly being fired, as is tradition for this game.
• East Carolina (3-8) at No. 20 Memphis (9-1): A loss here would put a potential NY6 trip in doubt, so don’t do that!
• No. 23 Boise State (9-2) at Fresno State (8-3): A rematch in the Mountain West title game follows seven days later. Boise can keep NY6 hopes afloat with two nice wins.
• No. 25 Virginia Tech (8-3) at Virginia (6-5): Could affect non-NY6 bowl positioning somewhat. Pretty cool that UVA’s in another somewhat important game!

Braggin’ rights only

These ranked teams aren’t in line for big bowls or conference titles and can’t move the needle with wins here.

• Kansas (1-10) at No. 19 Oklahoma State (8-3)
• Ole Miss (5-6) at No. 14 Mississippi State (8-3)
• No. 16 Michigan State (8-3) at Rutgers (4-7)
• No. 22 Northwestern (8-3) at Illinois (2-9)

[mjp28]

But no great turkey day games? Just some really lame NFL "who cares" games....remember the old Oklahoma vs Nebraska and Texas vs somebody games?

Now just the Mississippi state championship, oh well......

[The Gipper]

1. Alabama (11-0, No. 1 last week, at Auburn this week)
2. Miami (10-0, 3, at Pitt)
3. Clemson (10-1, 2, at South Carolina)
4. Oklahoma (10-1, 4, West Virginia)
5. Wisconsin (11-0, 5, at Minnesota)
6. Auburn (9-2, 6, Alabama)
7. Georgia (10-1, 7, at Georgia Tech)
8. Notre Dame (9-2, 8, at Stanford)
9. Ohio State (9-2, 9, at Michigan)
10. Penn State (9-2, 10, at Maryland)

Beyond the Auburn/Ala. loser...do you think any of these other take a tumble?

[MLD Woody]

We're basically boned

[mjp28]

A lot of bragging rights -plus- big money bowl games on the line for the school's athletic department. 

.......I'm always thinking about the money, the lifeblood of modern sports! Good coaches, staff, recruiting, facilities on and on money greases the wheels. 

[mjp28]

Anyone watching "The Game"? BUCKEYES favored by about 12, to be honest not really that exciting a slate of B1G games this last week of the regular season. 

[MLD Woody]

Can you beat the youngest team in the country with their top WR, top LT and top two QBs hurt? 

Who knows!?!?!??

Unless some miracle happens, we're screwed. John O Korn just isn't good. 

[DieHardBrownsFan]

@mjp28 said:

Updated College Football Playoff rankings

1. Alabama (11-0, No. 1 last week, at Auburn this week)
2. Miami (10-0, 3, at Pitt)
3. Clemson (10-1, 2, at South Carolina)
4. Oklahoma (10-1, 4, West Virginia)
5. Wisconsin (11-0, 5, at Minnesota)
6. Auburn (9-2, 6, Alabama)
7. Georgia (10-1, 7, at Georgia Tech)
8. Notre Dame (9-2, 8, at Stanford)
9. Ohio State (9-2, 9, at Michigan)
10. Penn State (9-2, 10, at Maryland)
11. USC (10-2, 11, Bye)
12. TCU (9-2, 12, Baylor)
13. Washington State (9-2, 14, at Washington)
14. Mississippi State (8-3, 16, Ole Miss)
15. UCF (10-0, 15, South Florida)
16. Michigan State (8-3, 17, at Rutgers)
17. Washington (9-2, 18, Washington State)
18. LSU (8-3, 20, Texas A&M)
19. Oklahoma State (8-3, 13, Kansas)
20. Memphis (9-1, 21, ECU)
21. Stanford (8-3, 22, Notre Dame)
22. Northwestern (8-3, 23, at Illinois)
23. Boise State (9-2, 25, at Fresno State)
24. South Carolina (8-3, unranked, Clemson)
25. Virginia Tech (8-3, unranked, at Virginia)

Roll Tide!

[mjp28]

@the-gipper said:

1. Alabama (11-0, No. 1 last week, at Auburn this week)
2. Miami (10-0, 3, at Pitt)
3. Clemson (10-1, 2, at South Carolina)
4. Oklahoma (10-1, 4, West Virginia)
5. Wisconsin (11-0, 5, at Minnesota)
6. Auburn (9-2, 6, Alabama)
7. Georgia (10-1, 7, at Georgia Tech)
8. Notre Dame (9-2, 8, at Stanford)
9. Ohio State (9-2, 9, at Michigan)
10. Penn State (9-2, 10, at Maryland)

Beyond the Auburn/Ala. loser...do you think any of these other take a tumble?

Not really if you're #7 on down your final four dreams are dim.....time for a good bowl game. Only Auburn has a shot at shaking up the list.....but ALA might still hold in the top 4.

[The Gipper]

@mld-woody said:

Can you beat the youngest team in the country with their top WR, top LT and top two QBs hurt? 

Who knows!?!?!??

Unless some miracle happens, we're screwed. John O Korn just isn't good. 

You are screwed regardless.....even if a miracle happens.

"Youngest team in the country?"

[MLD Woody]

O'Korn is bad. Youngest team in the country, down our LT and WR ... And we still could have won. But O'Korn, the 3rd string qb, was just too bad. I don't think I've seen one player do so much to lose a game. Crazy that if we had our freshman qb, we definitely could have won. Smh. 

Exceeded expectations in the game, like usual. But as per usual, there was too much to overcome.

Well, everyone is back next year, and O'Korn is gone. We'll start seeing Harbaughs guys everywhere, including QB. 

Hate seeing this game lost due to terrible play from a 3rd string qb tho

[mjp28]

Auburn 26 Aaalabama 14 in the 4th. 

[mjp28]

@mjp28 said:

Auburn 26 Aaalabama 14 in the 4th. 

FINAL!!

OK committee discuss how we've needed an 8 or 16 team playoff for YEARS! GO BUCKEYES! 

[mjp28]

I can't wait for this week's rankings and next weekend's games!

[The Gipper]

@mld-woody said:

O'Korn is bad. Youngest team in the country, down our LT and WR ... And we still could have won. But O'Korn, the 3rd string qb, was just too bad. I don't think I've seen one player do so much to lose a game. Crazy that if we had our freshman qb, we definitely could have won. Smh. 

Exceeded expectations in the game, like usual. But as per usual, there was too much to overcome.

Well, everyone is back next year, and O'Korn is gone. We'll start seeing Harbaughs guys everywhere, including QB. 

Hate seeing this game lost due to terrible play from a 3rd string qb tho

How many times are you going to use the "youngest team in the country"  excuse? I don't think that TUN is much younger than OSU....except for maybe Barrett.  Yet it was a freshman QB for OSU..Haskins... that beat you.  OSU loses three DBs to the NFL in the first round....how young do you think that defense is? 

Per Ourlads depth chart.  UM started 8 Seniors on offense and defense....exact same number as Ohio St. 

While UM does have a few more starting sophs and freshman.....none of them can expected to be future stars like Dobbins and Haskins.

And think what havoc the likes of freshman Chase Young and Jonathan Cooper  and Soph Nick Bosa will reap in future years. (who All were not listed as starters)

[MLD Woody]

You refute my statement, and then follow it up with what you "think".

That's why I'm not doing it. You don't debate with facts. You debate with what you think and feel is right, facts be damned. 

We've done this dozens of times, and I'm not expecting you to change any time soon. 

I stand by everything I said. If you disagree with that, so be it. Just try to do a little research. But I'm not going to debate your fandom, because that's all this ever turns into 

[The Gipper]

@mld-woody said:

You refute my statement, and then follow it up with what you "think".

That's why I'm not doing it. You don't debate with facts. You debate with what you think and feel is right, facts be damned. 

Right.....the FACT that both teams each had 8 Seniors starting.  No...that is not a fact in your mind? What do you call it then?  And do you also claim that the fact that Dobbins and Haskins are freshman is not a fact in your mind?    You wouldn't apparently know a fact if it came up and kicked you in the butt.

We've done this dozens of times, and I'm not expecting you to change any time soon. 

Then we are even.  I am not expecting you to quit making excuses any time soon.

I stand by everything I said. If you disagree with that, so be it. Just try to do a little research. But I'm not going to debate your fandom, because that's all this ever turns into 

Good...stand by it....and fail by it.  I did the research. (can you not read?)  I listed the facts that I found in my research.  You just don't like those facts. What is it about those facts that you don't understand?  Both teams had 8 senior starters.  UM had more sophs and freshmen starters....but OSU's freshmen and sophs..including those who are not starters,  are going to be consummate stars:  Haskins, Dobbins, Cooper, Young, Bosa, etc.