College Football - Week 13 (Nov. 28)

[Andy]

Top 25 games

------------------------------

(1) Clemson at South Carolina (12 pm, ESPN)

(2) Alabama at Auburn (3:30 pm, CBS)

(3) Oklahoma at (11) Oklahoma State (8 pm, ABC)

(4) Iowa at Nebraska (3:30 pm Friday, ABC)

Penn State at (5) Michigan State (3:30 pm, ESPN)

(6) Notre Dame at (9) Stanford (7:30 pm, FOX)

(7) Baylor at (19) TCU (7:30 pm Friday, ESPN)

(8) Ohio State at (10) Michigan (12 pm, ABC)

(13) Florida State at (12) Florida (7:30 pm, ESPN)

(14) North Carolina at NC State (3:30 pm, ABC/ESPN2)

(15) Navy at Houston (12 pm Friday, ABC)

(16) Northwestern vs Illinois – in Chicago (3:30 pm, ESPNU)

Oregon State at (17) Oregon (4 pm Friday, FS1)

(18) Ole Miss at (21) Mississippi State (7:15 pm, ESPN2)

(20) Washington State at Washington (3:30 pm Friday, FOX)

(22) UCLA at USC (3:30 pm, ABC/ESPN2)

Colorado at (23) Utah (3:30 pm, Pac-12 Network)

Western Michigan at (24) Toledo (12 pm Friday, CBSSN)

UConn at (25) Temple (7 pm, ESPNU)

 

Other nationally available games

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Bowling Green at Ball State (7 pm Tuesday, ESPN3)

Ohio at Northern Illinois (7:30 pm Tuesday, ESPNU)

 

South Florida at UCF (7:30 pm Thursday, ESPN)

Texas Tech at Texas (7:30 pm Thursday, FS1)

 

Marshall at Western Kentucky (12 pm Friday, FS1)

Miami at Pittsburgh (12 pm Friday, ESPN2)

Kent State at Akron (12 pm Friday, ESPN3)

Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan (1 pm Friday, ESPN3)

Troy at Georgia State (2 pm Friday, ESPN3)

Missouri at Arkansas (2:30 pm Friday, CBS)

Boise State at San Jose State (3:30 pm Friday, CBSSN)

UTEP at North Texas (3:30 pm Friday, FSN)

UMass at Buffalo (4:30 pm Friday, ESPNU)

Tulsa at Tulane (8 pm Friday, ESPNU)

 

Iowa State at West Virginia (12 pm, FS1)

Georgia at Georgia Tech (12 pm, ESPN2)

Indiana at Purdue (12 pm, BTN – Regional)

Maryland at Rutgers (12 pm, BTN – Regional)

Virginia Tech at Virginia (12 pm, ESPNU)

Louisville at Kentucky (12 pm, SEC Network)

Cincinnati at East Carolina (12 pm, CBSSN)

Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech (12 pm, FSN)

SMU at Memphis (12 pm, ESPNEWS)

Duke at Wake Forest (12:30 pm, ACC Network/ESPN3)

Boston College at Syracuse (12:30 pm, FSN/ESPN3)

UL Lafayette at Appalachian State (2 pm, ESPN3)

South Alabama at Georgia Southern (2 pm, ESPN3)

Wisconsin at Minnesota (3:30 pm, BTN)

BYU at Utah State (3:30 pm, CBSSN)

Kansas State at Kansas (4 pm, FS1)

Vanderbilt at Tennessee (4 pm, SEC Network)

Arkansas State at New Mexico State (4 pm, ESPN3)

Texas State at Idaho (5 pm, ESPN3)

Texas A&M at LSU (7:30 pm, SEC Network)

Colorado State at Fresno State (9 pm, CBSSN)

Arizona State at California (10 pm, FS1)

Air Force at New Mexico (10:15 pm, ESPNU)

Nevada at San Diego State (10:45 pm, ESPN2)

Edited November 25, 2015 by Andy

[rawaction]

Clemson v. Notre Dame rematch and Alabama v. Iowa. Worst playoff ever.

[Andy]

Clemson v. Notre Dame rematch and Alabama v. Iowa. Worst playoff ever.

ND is up to 10 starters down with season ending injuries. I'd be surprised if they win and even more surprised if they got in - unless Oklahoma State wins Bedlam.

 

It sure looks like Clemson vs Alabama for the title, though Oklahoma could probably beat the Tigers if fully healthy.

[UMFan83]

Trying to see if there is any case left to get Michigan into the playoff. Beyond the much more difficult road to Indy, the MSU win also sucks because beating OSU is a lesser win now.

 

What I'm guessing they would need:

UM over OSU

PSU over MSU

Iowa over Nebraska (they can't lose this)

UM over Iowa

Clemson over UNC (concede spot 1 to Clemson so that UNC isn't a threat)

Ok St over Oklahoma (think 2 loss Michigan can get in over 1 loss Ok St..at least more likely than 1 loss OU)

TCU over Baylor

 

Alabama should probably beat Florida too unless Florida loses to FSU. I could easily see them taking 2 loss Bama over UM to get 2 SEC teams in there.

 

Also I would probably say ND over Stanford. If Stanford were to win they might be the higher regarded 2 loss team

 

This would likely put Michigan over MSU (hurt from not making BTT), Oklahoma (fresh loss to Ok St), OSU (2 straight losses and no BTT) and Florida (fresh loss and hasn't looked all that impressive).

 

Clemson and Alabama would be playoff locks meaning UM would be competing with:

 

1 loss ND (very likely in)

1 loss Ok St

1 loss Iowa (who they just beat)

2 loss Baylor

 

In this scenario they could get in based on 2 very good wins to close the season, and general committee hatred for the Big 12.

 

Also I realize no one cares and will say Michigan has next to no shot. This is true..I just wanted to use this space to map it all out and heck I'm just excited that I can even talk about UM and playoffs this late in the season for the first time since 2006 (and by playoff I mean NC game back then)

[OleMissCub]

Figured I'll put this conversation in the current week's thread

 

Bama is just "well they have a lot of talent"

 

Yeah, that's pretty much it. The SEC is extremely pedestrian, if not straight up bad this year.

 

If I had to rank them this season I'd go

 

Alabama - Will definitely cream Florida in the Champ game and then beat whomever they play in the first round of the playoffs. Bama v. Clemson will be a decent game.

 

Ole Miss - Would probably cream Florida as well if they played them in a Champ game. A head scratching loss to Memphis and a flukey loss to Arkansas make me want to throw myself off a cliff at this point since a win over Mississippi State this weekend would have sent Ole Miss to the SECCG, not Alabama. Chad Kelly has been a godsend, leading the SEC in most QB categories in his first year in the system.

 

MS State - Would also cream Florida. Dak Prescott is doing badass things in his senior year to keep them somewhat relevant.

 

Arkansas - Would also cream Florida. This team lost to Toledo and Texas Tech??

 

Florida - Without their roided up QB, they are dragging to the finish line. I feel sorry for the Sugar Bowl who are going to have to take Florida following probable ugly losses to Florida State and Alabama.

 

Georgia - Needed overtime to beat GA Southern. Time for Richt to go. 15 straight bowls is nice and all, but to underachieve for so long in the SEC East is unacceptable.

 

Tennessee - Headed for 8-4, they are so-so

 

LSU - Miles is toast

 

Auburn - Yeah.... the Gus Bus is in trouble. They have way, way too much talent to suck so bad.

 

Texas A&M - Sumlin's seat is a bit warm

 

The bottom 4 teams, all East teams, are virtually indistinguishable in their suckitude

 

Vandy

Kentucky

Mizzou

South Carolina

[SouthSideRyan]

Trying to see if there is any case left to get Michigan into the playoff. Beyond the much more difficult road to Indy, the MSU win also sucks because beating OSU is a lesser win now.

 

What I'm guessing they would need:

UM over OSU

PSU over MSU

Iowa over Nebraska (they can't lose this)

UM over Iowa

Clemson over UNC (concede spot 1 to Clemson so that UNC isn't a threat)

Ok St over Oklahoma (think 2 loss Michigan can get in over 1 loss Ok St..at least more likely than 1 loss OU)

TCU over Baylor

 

Alabama should probably beat Florida too unless Florida loses to FSU. I could easily see them taking 2 loss Bama over UM to get 2 SEC teams in there.

 

Also I would probably say ND over Stanford. If Stanford were to win they might be the higher regarded 2 loss team

 

This would likely put Michigan over MSU (hurt from not making BTT), Oklahoma (fresh loss to Ok St), OSU (2 straight losses and no BTT) and Florida (fresh loss and hasn't looked all that impressive).

 

Clemson and Alabama would be playoff locks meaning UM would be competing with:

 

1 loss ND (very likely in)

1 loss Ok St

1 loss Iowa (who they just beat)

2 loss Baylor

 

In this scenario they could get in based on 2 very good wins to close the season, and general committee hatred for the Big 12.

 

Also I realize no one cares and will say Michigan has next to no shot. This is true..I just wanted to use this space to map it all out and heck I'm just excited that I can even talk about UM and playoffs this late in the season for the first time since 2006 (and by playoff I mean NC game back then)

 

I'm operating under these assumptions.

 

-Bama is the only 2 loss team I could see ahead of UM, and I wouldn't be shocked to see UM ahead of them.

-A Big Ten Champ Michigan will be the top ranked Big Ten team.

-Oklahoma is the only 1 loss Big 12 team I'm certain would finish ahead of Michigan.

 

Really winning the Big Ten is the toughest part of the equation. Do that, and a Clemson ACC Title(or the incredibly unlikely 2 game losing streak) paired with a Stanford win over ND should do it.

Edited November 23, 2015 by SouthSideRyan

[SouthSideRyan]

The SEC certainly is not straight up bad, but I think the top halves of all but the ACC are pretty indistinguishable for the Power 5s.

[UMFan83]

Trying to see if there is any case left to get Michigan into the playoff. Beyond the much more difficult road to Indy, the MSU win also sucks because beating OSU is a lesser win now.

 

What I'm guessing they would need:

UM over OSU

PSU over MSU

Iowa over Nebraska (they can't lose this)

UM over Iowa

Clemson over UNC (concede spot 1 to Clemson so that UNC isn't a threat)

Ok St over Oklahoma (think 2 loss Michigan can get in over 1 loss Ok St..at least more likely than 1 loss OU)

TCU over Baylor

 

Alabama should probably beat Florida too unless Florida loses to FSU. I could easily see them taking 2 loss Bama over UM to get 2 SEC teams in there.

 

Also I would probably say ND over Stanford. If Stanford were to win they might be the higher regarded 2 loss team

 

This would likely put Michigan over MSU (hurt from not making BTT), Oklahoma (fresh loss to Ok St), OSU (2 straight losses and no BTT) and Florida (fresh loss and hasn't looked all that impressive).

 

Clemson and Alabama would be playoff locks meaning UM would be competing with:

 

1 loss ND (very likely in)

1 loss Ok St

1 loss Iowa (who they just beat)

2 loss Baylor

 

In this scenario they could get in based on 2 very good wins to close the season, and general committee hatred for the Big 12.

 

Also I realize no one cares and will say Michigan has next to no shot. This is true..I just wanted to use this space to map it all out and heck I'm just excited that I can even talk about UM and playoffs this late in the season for the first time since 2006 (and by playoff I mean NC game back then)

 

I'm operating under these assumptions.

 

-Bama is the only 2 loss team I could see ahead of UM, and I wouldn't be shocked to see UM ahead of them.

-A Big Ten Champ Michigan will be the top ranked Big Ten team.

-Oklahoma is the only 1 loss Big 12 team I'm certain would finish ahead of Michigan.

 

Really winning the Big Ten is the toughest part of the equation. Do that, and a Clemson ACC Title(or the incredibly unlikely 2 game losing streak) paired with a Stanford win over ND should do it.

 

That's a good point. I was slightly worried about Stanford considering they were as of last week ranked higher than UM, but if both teams won out, Michigan winning at home over OSU and neutral vs. Iowa is more impressive than Stanford winning at home over ND and neutral vs. USC/UCLA. Their losses are fairly similar (UM home to MSU, at Utah against Stanford at Northwestern and home against Oregon), but their only common opponent is Northwestern, who Michigan killed and Stanford lost to (I think Utah is eliminated from P12 south championship already). Plus Stanford beating ND would open up the spot that ND has in the playoff.

 

Anyways its a still a pipe dream unless the Big Ten results fall in UMs favor this weekend.

[Old Style]

Les Miles may be fired before Saturday.

 

http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2015/11/les_miles_tenure_at_lsu_may_be.html

 

As for Miles’ replacement, Smith reported that the LSU boosters feel confident they can lure a high-profile, established coach to Baton Rouge. Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, TCU’s Gary Patterson and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden were all names mentioned to Smith by sources.

 

https://www.seccountry.com/louisiana-state/report-les-miles-may-be-finished-at-lsu

[OleMissCub]

Jimbo seems like he would make a lot of sense there. LSU needs to be careful though, you could do a WHOLE lot worse than Les Miles.

[SouthSideRyan]

If boosters are willing to drop 15M to make him go away, I'm sure they'll come up with some insane number to lure somebody at least as good.

[shnsajax]

So in this offseason we could see USC, LSU, Georgia, FSU (If Jimbo takes LSU), Miami, and maybe even Texas all looking for coaches. Can't remember a season where this many elite jobs have been open.

[SouthSideRyan]

And Illinois.

[Thed Hoyerstein]

and iowa state

[CubInOK]

And Mizzou.

[sneakypower]

we've maybe reached peak recruiting

 

[OleMissCub]

Mecole appears to be a heck of a player, but man he is quite the attention seeker. He is REALLY enjoying the process from several other things I've seen about him.

[NewUserName]

I don't think losing at Nebraska is as terrible loss as it is perceived. Nebraska is only a handful of plays away from being 8-3. But they lost to Illinois and Purdue. What sucks is the way MSU lost to Nebraska.

[UMFan83]

I don't think losing at Nebraska is as terrible loss as it is perceived. Nebraska is only a handful of plays away from being 8-3. But they lost to Illinois and Purdue. What sucks is the way MSU lost to Nebraska.

 

Even all that considered, the only loss amongst playoff contenders that is worse is Texas over Oklahoma.

 

But I agree, MSU shouldn't have actually lost to Nebraska, they got screwed there. But then again they probably should have lost to Michigan (yes I know MSU outplayed them statistically, but at the end of the day it took a botched special teams play and improbable return to win and there were some...interesting calls in that game as well)

[Guest]

What are the odds LSU regrets getting rid of Miles in a few years? Expectations for college football are crazy these days.

[jersey cubs fan]

What are the odds LSU regrets getting rid of Miles in a few years? Expectations for college football are crazy these days.

I'd bet the type of people who donate big money and play the big swinging dick among boosters aren't the type to contemplate regret.

[Derwood]

A program like LSU should have big expectations. 3 loss teams are unacceptable

[jersey cubs fan]

A program like LSU should have big expectations. 3 loss teams are unacceptable

Why? They spent the 80's and 90's losing 5-6 games almost every year. They lost 3 or more in 4 of Saban's 5 seasons. In 111 seasons they've averaged 3.5 losses per season.

[sneakypower]

But then again they probably should have lost to Michigan (yes I know MSU outplayed them statistically)

untrue parenthetical

 

Michigan and MSU had 13 possessions and on average Michigan had a 14-yard advantage in field position. That is a whopping 182 yards almost entirely due to special teams, and that's how you lead a team that's outgained you by 160 yards until that thing happened.

[UMFan83]

But then again they probably should have lost to Michigan (yes I know MSU outplayed them statistically)

untrue parenthetical

 

Michigan and MSU had 13 possessions and on average Michigan had a 14-yard advantage in field position. That is a whopping 182 yards almost entirely due to special teams, and that's how you lead a team that's outgained you by 160 yards until that thing happened.

 

valid point. i thought the game was fairly evenly played, i was mostly going off of high level statistics which you've just debunked.