So it should be interesting to see what Key Matchups @col63onel manages to cull from this week's slate of turds.
Challenge accepted
[looks at slate]
I've made a horrible mistake
Alabama, LSU, OSU, Clemson vs bye - Technically, Clemson has a game versus Wofford. But the top 4 teams in both "major" polls combine for 1 game vs a FCS opponent this weekend. That's amazing.
Florida vs Georgia - At a neutral site of Jacksonville. Winner becomes a huge favorite to win the SEC East. Since both have 1 loss, I think both still control their destiny for the CFP.
From 1990-2010, Flordia (mostly coaches by Spurrier and Urban) went 18-3 vs Georgia. However, since then, Georgia has won 5 of 8, including the last two by a combined 54 points. I get the feeling Florida is a bit of a fraud, and Georgia wins a relatively low scoring game.
Interesting scenario - Winner of this game drops another game somwhere, but wins the SEC Champ game. In the SEC you'd potentially have 2 1 loss teams, neither of whom would be champ. That might open the door back up for Oklahoma. Or open the door for...
Oregon and Utah - Until one loses, going keep them as a duo. Oregon has beaten the 2 Washington schools by a combined 6 pts the last 2 weeks. Utah has won their last 4 games since losing to USC, winning by over 30 pts a game and allowing 20 pts total. This week, Utah travels to Washington and Oregona travels to USC. Coincidentally. Utah is big Oregon fans this week. USC has the tiebreaker over Utah, so Utah needs another USC loss. USC' remaining schedule is @ ASU, @ CAL and home to UCLA, so if USC wins, they may be the favorite in the Pac 12 South.
SMU @ Memphis - The only other game featuring 2 ranked teams. SMU has a few extra days rest after a close win Thursday vs Houston. Memphis is coming off a 1 point over Tulsa. An SMU win means the AAC West is basically down to SMU and Navy. A Memphis win creates a 3 way tie where Memphis has both tiebreakers. Big AAC implications.
Rutgers @ Illinois - A win puts Illinois 1 away from a bowl. And Illinois already lost to Eastern Michigan.
Nebraska @ Purdue - Nebraska needs to win 2 of their last 4. They still host Wisconsin and Iowa, probably need this for any chance of a bowl game. Which is shocking given they were a trendy B1G West pick.
Kansas St @ Kansas - A week after the latest shocker of the season, KSU faces a trap game versus a better than you think Kansas team. B12 doesn't have many, if any, bad teams, but very easily might only have 1 or 2 ranked team at the end of the year.
Air Force @ Army - Air Force probably won't win the CIC trophy after losing to Navy, but have a really good shot at 8 wins and a not terrible shot at 10. Army has 2 wins over FBS schools - UTSA and 0-7 Rice. Their closest loss was @ Michigan. Speaking of UTSA...
UTSA @ Texas AM - At 3-4, UTSA has a better record than everyone one of Texas AM's FBS wins. TOP 25!
Florida State @ Miami - This game has no impact, other than the loser will be hard pressed to make a bowl game. However, this used to be perhaps the most impactful rivalry from the late 80s to the early 00s.
Florida State often was dealt some tough luck losses. In 87, FSU blew a 16 pt lead, scored to potential tieing TD with under a minute left, but went for 2 and the win and came up short. In 91, they missed a FG with under a minute left and lost by 1. In 92 and 00, they missed tieing FGs in the waning minute. In 02, during Miami's huge winning streak, an eventual 5 loss FSU team was in position to win the game...and missed a last second FG to lose by 1. FSU also lost by less three in the 2004 Orange Bowl and last season on missed FGs.
www.sports-reference.com
