Games of the week, week 12 edition
Indiana @ Penn St - If Michael Penix was playing, I'd really think hard about this game. As it is, Indiana is still somewhat dangerous with Peyton Ramsey. PSU might have a hangover and look ahead effect. Indiana still has a shot at 10 wins.
Michigan St @ Michigan - MSU needs 2 more wins for bowl eligibility, but still plays Maryland and Rutgers. However, they've had a brutal stretch including a 4th quarter collapse vs Illinois Saturday. With PSU losing, Michigan might have hopes of a 3-way East tie, still.
Bama @ Mississippi St - Only for hangover effect. Another Bama loss does a lot to kill the 2 team SEC dream. If they lose, only way the SEC gets 2 is if both UGA and LSU go 12-1.
Navy @ Notre Dame - Both teams are ranked! Both teams have a shot at a NY6 bowl. Should be fun.
UGA @ Auburn - Auburn is a key part of the playoff, even though they are a long shot. They can beat UGA and/or Alabama to potentially kill the 2 team SEC dream. They also handed Oregon their only loss, which both helps Oregon (not a bad loss) and hurst Oregon (if they get compared to a team that beat Auburn). Anyways, I think they win here and kill the SEC East. If Auburn runs the table, it'll have potentially 3 top 10 wins and 2 top 10 losses. May make for some CFP chaos.
Wake Forest @ Clemson - Wake lost last week, killing what little appeal this game of ranked teams had. Clemson can lose this and still win the ACC easily. If Clemson wins, ACC might have 0 ranked teams after Clemson.
Minnesota @ Iowa - ROW THE BOAT! Seriously, this is the let down game of all let downs. Huge win at home, then travel to a good but boring opponent. Minnesota still NW then Wisconsin. An Iowa win here, followed by Minnesota beating NW would likely make the finale of Wisconsin and Minnesota the defacto B1G West title game.
LSU @ Ole Miss - Again, only for hangover purposes. LSU probably rolls. And even if LSU loses, they still control their own CFP destiny.
Oklahoma @ Baylor - Potentially meeting #1 of 2. However, an Oklahoma win and Texas regains control of their own destiny to reach the BIG12 champ game. If you want the BIG 12 to make the CFP, do you root for Baylor and hope they go undefeated (which includes beating Oklahoma x2 and Texas), or is that just not gonna happen, so better to pull for Oklahoma who could legit win out, but might not make the CFP 12-1?
Utah and Oregon - Host UCLA and Arizona. Both are coming off byes. I think they both roll to an easy win.
Texas @ Iowa St - After beating KSU last week, Texas still has Baylor and @ Kansas left. Texas could easily be 9-3 and playing for the BIG 12 championship or just as easily have 5 or 6 losses. Future Michigan coach Matt Campbell can pad his resume a bit as well.
South Carolina @ Texas AM - South Carolina has a bye then Clemson. Texas AM is @ UGA and LSU. Probably the last chance either has a win. SC needs to win this game and beat Clemson to win a bowl. AM already is bowl eligible, but will likely be 6-6 if they lose here.
Both will likely be top 10 next week regardless of outcome.