College Football Round-Up: Week Twelve

Week twelve of the college football season has left us. We now have about two weeks left in the regular season before everything becomes un-jumbled and all this confusion gets straightened out. Luckily for all of us, we have a playoff committee in place who is here to pick out the best 4 college football teams without any kind of bias at all......

OK. I lied. So sue me. 

Anyway............

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WELL...................

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Top 25 Scoreboard:

(A recap of all the action involving the top 25 teams in college football)

(1) Ohio State (10-1): 14     (11) Michigan State (10-1): 17

AND THANK YOU FOR COMING OHIO STATE!

I love this win by the Michigan State Spartans for numerous reasons. 

1. It's good to see those Buckeyes finally drop another game. As a fan of an Oregon team that got obliterated by these Buckeyes just 11 months ago....it was kind of refreshing to finally see these guys get handed a loss.

2. Michigan State played Oregon earlier this year and BARELY beat them. That game came down to injured Oregon QB Vernon Adams missing a wide open WR to pick up the win. I'm rooting for Michigan State in part because they beat Oregon.

3. All the crap that came out of this loss for Ohio State. Star RB Ezekiel Elliott came out after the game and not only questioned the coaching staff (pretty much the same coaching staff that won the National Title last year, minus OC Tom Herman), but also pretty much declared for the NFL Draft when he said that was the last time he would ever play in front of the Ohio State fans. A lot of people are officially worried about this kid's future and I'm one of them. It's one thing to throw your coaching staff under the bus and cause NFL teams to worry if you would be a distraction for them...but it's another thing to quit on your team, which is essentially what Elliott is doing. The game didn't go the way he wanted it to and now he's airing the dirty laundry for everyone to hear. When has ANY football program ANYWHERE ever won ANYTHING with turmoil like this? Go ahead. I'll wait.

So. The big question now is.....are the Ohio State Buckeyes championship hopes gone? Not yet. The Buckeyes could still potentially sneak into the playoffs, but they are going to need some help. 

(2) Clemson (11-0): 33      Wake Forest (3-8): 13

Clemson is officially the best team in college football. They not only pass the "eyeball test" and look like legit contenders, but they also have a pretty easy path left to get to the playoffs. Next week Clemson will play South Carolina (who is a dumpster fire right now and just lost to THE CITADEL!) and then will likely play North Carolina in the ACC Title game. North Carolina has been an impressive team to watch this season, but their schedule has been relatively easy. Their toughest test likely came against that same South Carolina team back in week one.....and they beat the Tar Heels. To say I have a lot of confidence in Clemson beating North Carolina would be an understatement. It's Clemson's world right now, we are just living in it.

(3) Alabama (10-1): 56     Charlotte-Southern (-): 6

I refuse to talk about teams like Alabama playing teams like Charlotte-Southern. C'mon SEC. You're better than this. No one wants to see you guys play cupcakes, yet every year....the SEC has a week like this where they try to boost up their confidence by beating up on weaker teams. You know who gets off doing that though? THIS GUY.

(4) Notre Dame (10-1): 19      Boston College (3-8): 16

Notre Dame might be in trouble.

I know that's not typically the kind of response you get after a team pulls out a win, but as of right now, the Fighting Irish could be in trouble when it comes to making the playoffs. Out of all the one-loss teams vying for a playoff spot at the moment, Notre Dame could have arguably the easiest schedule out of them all. They really needed to come out and blow the doors off of Boston College to impress the College Football Playoff Committee even more, but they failed to do that. Boston College is not a very good team and the Irish struggled with them all game. Notre Dame has a huge game left against Stanford and if they can pick up the win and look impressive doing so, the Committee might forgive Notre Dame for their schedule and hand them a playoff spot. I just wouldn't feel that comfortable right now if I was a Notre Dame fan. I think your team needs some help. 

(5) Oklahoma State (10-1): 35     (10) Baylor (9-1): 45

And thanks for coming Oklahoma State!

I knew Oklahoma State wasn't a playoff team. I even said so a few weeks ago, but the last few weeks....they were starting to convince me otherwise. That was until Baylor beat them using their third string QB! Now here we are, with no undefeated BIG 12 team left and three one-loss teams all trying to convince the world that they are good enough to get into the playoffs. It's a vicious cycle.

Truth is. No BIG 12 team is good enough to get into the playoff outside of Oklahoma. In the sport of college football, losses are huge. I'm always willing to cut a team some slack if they lose early in the season and if they lose to a rival. That's exactly what happened to the Sooners when they lost to Texas, but they look like a much better team now and everyone knows good teams get better as the season progresses. Oklahoma State just showed you that they weren't a very good team. As for Baylor making a playoff push? Please. If these guys make the playoffs, they will get bounced from the first-round and it won't be pretty. But if that's what you want to see...

(6) Iowa (11-0): 40      Purdue (2-9): 20

This is me when people tell me Iowa is a playoff team....

First of all, Iowa has played arguably the easiest schedule out of anyone in the top 10. They haven't played any teams that I would consider to be among the best in college football. Their biggest wins are against Wisconsin and Northwestern. Two teams that aren't anywhere near the playoff conversation. Now, Iowa is going to get a chance to prove themselves in the BIG 10 title game where they will likely face off against Michigan State (the Hawkeyes have to beat Nebraska this weekend though, which is far from a given as well) and if Iowa can handle the Spartans....my tone will change. As of of this moment though, you can go ahead and take your Iowa stock and sell that shit to someone else. I'm investing my money elsewhere.

(7) Florida (10-1): 20      Florida-Atlantic (2-9): 14 

There's a good side and a bad side to scheduling cupcakes like Florida did.

Good side:

If you crush them. People will say....now THAT'S a good team.

Bad side:

If you play them close.....people will start to worry about the future of your football program.

In case you aren't picking up what I'm laying down. I'm officially worried about this Florida team. They are going to get crushed by Alabama in the SEC title game. Mark my words.

(8) Oklahoma (10-1): 30      (9) TCU (9-2): 29

Man, what a game. These two teams battled until the end and that's exactly what everyone was expecting. Without a championship game to determine a conference champion, the BIG 12 needs all the help it can get and Oklahoma is doing themselves a huge favor by winning when it counts. TCU put up a hell of a fight, but their season is over. They are too beat up this year and will likely get hammered by Baylor next week. Meanwhile, the Sooners are right in the thick of things and could potentially earn a playoff spot, especially if they boat race Oklahoma State next weekend. Who could have seen this coming back when the Sooners got beat by Texas in early October? THIS IS WHY WE PLAY THE GAMES PEOPLE!!!!!

(12) North Carolina (10-1): 30     Virginia Tech (5-6): 27

I already talked about North Carolina earlier. Yes, I'm impressed by what they are doing. However, I'm not crazy about them and I wouldn't pick them to beat a Michigan State, Oklahoma, Clemson, etc. I think they are a little bit of "fool's gold" and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Clemson destroy them in the ACC title game. Sorry Tar Heels....I just call it like I see it.

(13) Michigan (9-2): 28      Penn State (7-4): 16

In his first year as head coach, Jim Harbaugh is likely going to have the Michigan Wolverines finish with a top 10 ranking and tons of momentum going into next season. How many college football experts are going to predict the Michigan Wolverines as National Championship contenders next season? Almost every single one of them and for good reason. Harbaugh has shown that he's one of the best head coaches around with the quick turn around of this Michigan team. You want to know exactly how much impact a guy like Harbaugh has? Look at the NFL team he just left. The San Francisco 49ers have been garbage ever since they jettisoned Harbaugh out of town and Michigan is reaping the benefits of it. Harbaugh is going to win a National Championship at Michigan. The only thing that would worry me as a Michigan fan is the NFL. I don't care what Michigan fans say as far as Harbaugh being the "home town guy who will never leave". You're fucking kidding yourself if you honestly think that. Harbaugh has already had a little taste of success in the NFL and you're mad if you don't think he wants to go back and conquer that world again. I think it would take a hell of a deal to get Harbaugh to leave Ann Arbor, but if a team like the Detroit Lions came calling and not only gave Harbaugh a huge money contract, but also gave him power to make personnel moves....I think he would be intrigued to say the least. Watch this situation people. I don't think it's going to be a long-term one personally.

(14) Florida State (9-2): 52      Chattanooga (-): 13

All these great college teams playing these patsies this late in the season has me like.....

(15) Stanford (9-2): 35     California (6-5): 22

Congratulations on winning the PAC-12 North, Stanford.

I would be mad, but I predicted Stanford to win the PAC-12 North back in August, so I feel a little vindicated.

Oh wait. What's that? Stanford still has to play either USC or UCLA in the PAC-12 title game? 

They'll be fine.

Let's talk about Cal for a second though. This Cal team started out the season on a good note, but they have just fallen apart in the last half of the season. There are all sorts of rumors that head coach Sonny Dykes is planning on leaving the program this off-season and if that does indeed happen....we all know why this team (with a potential #1 overall draft pick in Jared Goff) fell apart and looked like a dog turd in October and November. 

(16) Houston (10-1): 17     UConn (5-6): 20

You had one job Houston.

ONE JOB!

The chances of you making the playoffs even if you went undefeated were ginormous. Now? You guys will be lucky to get a good bowl game to play in.

Maybe head coach Tom Herman was too busy counting his riches to focus on the game this weekend (Herman just signed a contract extension that will pay him $3 million a year)? That can happen.

(17) Navy (9-1): 44     Tulsa (5-6): 21

No one cares.

(18) LSU (8-3): 17     (25) Ole Miss (7-4): 38

Has any team had a worse three-week period than these LSU Tigers? LSU went from being bonafide playoff contenders with a Heisman candidate (Leonard Fournette) who was blowing the doors of all the other college football teams...to a team that looks downright pathetic. Did that loss to Alabama just make this team lose all of it's confidence? Has head coach Les Miles lost this team? LSU is way too talented to lose three games in a row, regardless of how tough the SEC schedule is. Something isn't right with this team right now. They were an offensive juggernaut heading into the game against Alabama on November 7 and the Crimson Tide shut them down. Ever since that loss, LSU has looked like garbage on offense and they aren't good enough defensively to shut anyone out. There are all sorts of rumors going around right now that LSU might be tempted to move on from Les Miles. Allow me real quick to express how stupid of an idea that is. If LSU gets rid of a National Championship winning coach like Les Miles, he's going to get another job just like that. He's one of the best coaches in the college game and there's no doubt in my mind that a move like this would cause LSU to go backwards over the next few seasons. Let's not get carried away now people.

(19) Utah (8-3): 9     UCLA (8-3): 17

This was a huge win for UCLA who now go on to face their rival USC in a game that will determine the PAC-12 South champion. That's huge for a UCLA team that has faced a lot of significant injuries this season, but are now in position to win the conference if they can beat USC and Stanford. As for Utah. What happened to this team? Remember when they crushed Oregon back in September? How many people would pick the Ducks (who are playing some of the best football right now) to beat Utah in a rematch if they played right now? Almost everyone would. Since those two teams played and Utah beat them 62-20, the Utes have fallen off a cliff and the Ducks have picked themselves up. Thanks for coming Utah. It was a good season while it lasted. Kindly show yourself out and go back to being to irrelevant, which is what you're good at.

(20) Wisconsin (8-3): 7     (21) Northwestern (9-2): 13

Did you watch this game? If so, I'm sorry. There's nothing like two POWER football teams battling each other in a 13-7 game. If you missed it though. Here's a recap of what both these teams looked like on offense:

(22) Washington State (8-3): 27     Colorado (4-8): 3

The Washington State Cougars are in position to play in a good bowl game, win 10 games this season, and finish as one of the best teams in the PAC-12. That's a damn good achievement for a team that has been a joke in the PAC-12 for YEARS and also lost to Portland State to start out the season. Back in September, sports talk radio hosts and Washington State fans were calling for Mike Leach's head. Two months later and he could win the "PAC-12 Coach of the Year" award when it's all said and done. Man, football sure is a funny game.

(23) Oregon (8-3): 48      USC (7-4): 28

Oregon Duck fans are going to be playing the "what if" game for the rest of their lives.

What if Vernon Adams didn't get injured in the first game of the season and the Ducks had him all year? It's pretty apparent now that Oregon is a much better team when Vernon Adams is healthy. The QB became the first player in history to throw for 6 TD's against USC. That's amazing, especially when you consider how these guys started out the season. It was just a few weeks ago that Oregon fans were worried about the season. Would the Ducks actually miss a bowl game for the first time in years? Would Mark Helfrich or Don Pellum be fired after this nightmare of a season that saw Oregon get crushed by Utah and then lose to Washington State? Here we are a few weeks later and it's pretty apparent that Oregon is the best team in the PAC-12 and they won't even get a chance to play for the championship. That's unfortunate, but it's also how it goes. Now all the Ducks have to do is come out and crush the Beavers in the Civil War and then wait to see who they play in a bowl game. Something tells me that Oregon is likely going to end up playing someone like Oklahoma State or Baylor in the Holiday Bowl....and who wouldn't want to see that? 

All I know is. There's one team in college football that I wouldn't want to play right now and that's the Oregon Ducks.

(24) Memphis (8-3): 12      Temple (9-2): 31

Remember a few weeks ago when people thought Memphis could actually be a playoff contender?

Ya, that was silly.

Upsets Of The Week

(There are upsets every week in college football. These are the best upsets for this week)

-The Citadel over South Carolina Gamecocks

We all know South Carolina isn't a good football team this year. Head coach Steve Spurrier was well aware of this fact a few weeks ago when he suddenly retired out of nowhere. I guess no one knew exactly how bad these guys are, but now we know. There's just no excuse for an SEC team (who beat a good North Carolina team to start out the season) to lose to a team like The Citadel. You're better than this SEC. I thought the reason your joke of a conference scheduled cupcakes was to make yourself look better? This didn't help matters at all. 

-UConn Huskies over Houston Cougars

I already talked about this game earlier, but still. YOU HAD ONE JOB HOUSTON! Finish the season undefeated in a non-Power 5 conference and even though it was a long shot...you still had a chance at making the playoffs. Not anymore. Kiss those chances goodbye Houston. Losing to a team like UConn is unacceptable and Tom Herman should be forced to give some of that money back that the school just gave him.

  

Heisman Contenders

(Here are my current leaders for the Heisman trophy, in no particular order)

DeShaun Watson (QB) Clemson

Dalvin Cook (RB) Florida State

Baker Mayfield (QB) Oklahoma

Derrick Henry (RB) Alabama

Christian McCafferey (RB) Stanford

Dak Prescott (QB) Mississippi State

Still Undefeated

(These are the teams in college football that are still undefeated...)

Iowa Hawkeyes

Clemson Tigers

Top 25

(Here is my top 25 as it stands right now)

1. Clemson Tigers (11-0)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1)

3. Michigan State Spartans (10-1)

4. Oklahoma Sooners (10-1)

5. Iowa Hawkeyes (11-0)

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1)

7. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1)

8. Florida Gators (10-1)

9. Baylor Bears (9-1)

10. North Carolina Tar Heels (10-1)

11. Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1)

12. Michigan Wolverines (9-2)

13. Stanford Cardinal (9-2)

14. Florida State Seminoles (9-2)

15. Navy Midshipmen (9-1)

16. Northwestern Wildcats (9-2)

17. TCU Horned Frogs (9-2)

18. Houston Cougars (10-1)

19. Washington State Cougars (8-3)

20. Oregon Ducks (8-3)

21. Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)

22. Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-3)

23. UCLA Bruins (8-3)

24. Temple Owls (9-2)

25. Utah Utes (8-3)

And that's it for week twelve! I hope to see everybody back here next week. Same bat time. Same bat channel.