How many teams conceivably have a shot at making the Playoff with just a few weeks remaining? Twelve? Fourteen? The field is narrowing quickly, and each week more and more teams are getting knocked out of the conversation. Sure, a six-team or eight-team playoff would be worthwhile, but at times it seems like overkill. (Although, ideally, yes there would be a six-team – one representative from each P5 conference, an at-large, and byes for the Top 2 seeds.)
You hear early and often that the college football season is its own playoff. And although it was especially true in the BCS era, where even one slip up could knock you so far down the polls you’d never recover, it’s no less true now. Ask TCU if every game matters – that loss to Oklahoma State might have just ended Trevone Boykin and the Horned Frogs’ hopes of making the Top 4 by the end of the year.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t still great football all over to be played. There are lots of teams, not just the teams in the Playoff race, worth watching. So let’s do that, okay? (Times are in Eastern.)
The Early Slate
FRONT AND CENTER
Noon: Ohio State (-16.5) at Illinois (ABC)
I know it seems like this one should be an easy one for the Buckeyes, but two things are at play here – Ohio State tends to sleepwalk through first halves, begging teams to take advantage, and it gets weird whenever the Illini play the Buckeyes. Let’s go to the good folks Eleven Warriors for more:
The Illini will be a tough out on Saturday. They just blasted Purdue, 48-14, and are one win shy of becoming bowl eligible. Illinois gave Iowa all it could handle and beat the Nebraska team that just upended Sparty. The Illini are 4-1 at home in the wind tunnel.
So don’t be surprised if this game is closer than it should be on Saturday. Weird things happen in Champaign. And the Illini know how to deal with them.
Keep at least one eye on this one, just in case.
Noon: Georgia at Auburn (-1.5) (CBS)
Go ahead, give it a shot. Let the chill CBS vibes wash over you and envelop you in promos for shows you aren’t completely sure exist while you watch two underachieving teams battle it out for conference non-supremacy. It’s going to be great.
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
12:30 p.m.: N.C. State at Florida State (ESPN3)
The Seminoles got knocked all the way down to a streaming-only option after losing to Clemson. Hardly seems fair for two teams with a combined record of 13-5. Heck, even Tulane-Army gets some play on CBS Sports Network.
Dog Day Afternoon
FRONT AND CENTER
3:30 p.m.: Alabama (-8) at Mississippi State (CBS)
The Crimson Tide looked close to unbeatable against LSU. Let’s see if that’s the case again against a Mississippi State team that doesn’t really have any good wins, but has done just enough to get ranked (17th!). That being said, this is the test of all tests, and if you strip away conference affiliation, it’s a steep hill to climb for the Bulldogs. Good thing Dak Prescott has been arguably the best quarterback in the SEC this season; Mississippi State will need him to be as close to mistake-free as possible.
3:30 p.m.: Miami at North Carolina (-13) (ESPNU)
The Hurricanes already knocked off Duke (with a little help). Maybe they can beat North Carolina, too! Regardless, it’ll be worth watching to see the Tar Heels offense go to work. This is a team averaging 43.5 points per game following that opening week clunky loss to South Carolina. It just put up 66 on Duke.
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
3:30 p.m.: Michigan (-13) at Indiana (ABC/ESPN2)
If this game only went three quarters, Indiana might have a legitimate, realistic shot at an upset. After starting 4-0, the Hoosiers have dropped five-straight. They need to win two of their last three games (vs. Michigan, at Maryland, at Purdue) to get to a bowl. Maybe the sense of urgency lights a fire under ’em. Maybe!
Under The Lights
FRONT AND CENTER
8 p.m.: Oklahoma at Baylor (-2.5) (ABC)
This is the type of Big 12 tilt we wait weeks and weeks and weeks for, as all the good teams don’t seem to play each other until we get to November. It’s a pseudo playoff for the playoff, and the loser might just be out of the picture for good. So buckle up, and prepare for points.
7 p.m.: Memphis at Houston (-7) (ESPN2)
This is my favorite game of the whole day, and not just because I flew out to see it in person. Memphis’ undefeated season was dashed on the rocks courtesy of Navy last week, but this is still huge for conference purposes. And it’s just two teams with two incredible coaches who can put up a whole bushel of points (the over/under for this one is 71). Maybe, just maybe, Houston can grab another huge win and keep its unbeaten year alive.
7:30 p.m.: Oregon at Stanford (-10) (FOX)
Don’t look now, but Oregon might be Oregon again. What say you, SB Nation?
If we only considered the games in which he has been healthy, Adams’ yards per attempt would rank seventh nationally, and Oregon’s yards per play would rank sixth nationally. Both numbers would rank atop the Pac-12.
Adams, for better or worse, changes the game, and Oregon knew what it was getting when he transferred from FCS Eastern Washington. He is truly dynamic in the passing game, just as he was at Eastern Washington.
I’m not saying there’s an upset brewing, but I’m not saying there isn’t an upset brewing, either. I’m letting you decide. I’m just here to tell you to watch it.
SECOND SCREEN SPECIAL
7:15 p.m.: Arkansas at LSU (-7.5) (ESPN)
Something seems a little strange about this one, and not just because Arkansas did that weird voodoo thing against Ole Miss last week. There also might be Bruce Feldman’s “Body Blow” theory in play for LSU after playing Alabama last week. Something to consider.
The Late Show
FRONT AND CENTER
10:30 p.m.: Washington State at UCLA (-10.5) (ESPN)
We need a nice soothing Pac-12 game to bring us down from the collective high of another full day of football action. Let the Pac-12 be your white noise machine as you drift into a state of supreme peace and tranquility. Mike Leach is Little Nemo, and these are your adventures in slumberland.