Okay media, we get it. You are biased.
We have always known it. We have always tolerated it. We have always lived with it. But enough already!
I’m speaking, of course, about the travesty that is having Clemson still ranked ahead of UW. How is it humanly possible to have watched this Clemson team have to rely on NC State missing a FG last week in order to maintain their unbeaten streak and conclude that they are still more worthy than UW? Did you know that at one point late in the fourth quarter, NC State’s win probability was 88%.
88%! And yet Clemson is still ranked ahead of UW in both polls, even with an unimpressive résumé that includes lackluster wins over Georgia Tech, Auburn, and something called Troy. Even with a now-former Heisman candidate in QB Deshaun Watson who is having a remarkably unremarkable junior season. Even with an offense that is nowhere close to the top 20 in scoring offense and barely top 10 in scoring defense.
Heck, some yahoo in the coaches poll even gave Clemson a vote for #1.
Whatever. #LetEastCoastBiasReign. Let’s focus on what we want to see happen this weekend with our Rooting Guide.
#4 Clemson vs BYE
Go BYE!
#6 Texas A&M at #1 Alabama
Ok. Here we go. The first instinct here is to root for the upset. Of course we want ‘Bama to lose, right?
Wrong.
The SEC remains the top threat to get two teams into the playoffs. Hanging a loss on Alabama simply makes them the most likely one-loss team to get into those playoffs. If UW is in a position to have to defend a one-loss résumé, I’d rather not have Alabama in that discussion. My preference is for Bama to beat everyone on their schedule and go to the playoffs undefeated. A&M still has Ole Miss and LSU left on their schedule to contend with.
NC State at #7 Louisville
Anything that weakens Clemson’s SOS is a good thing. Plus, Louisville is still a playoff contender. It would be super great if NC State actually makes the kick this weekend and beats the Cardinals.
#2 Ohio State at Penn State
The Buckeyes showed some vulnerabilities against Wisconsin last week, but not enough to lose.
At some point, we are going to need one of either Michigan or Ohio State to pick up two losses. Ohio State has the tougher road ahead with Nebraska, Michigan State (cough, cough), and Michigan still ahead. It would be great for Penn State to pull the upset at home. With the Buckeyes 19.5-point favorites, it looks like a long shot.
But it might end up closer than you think.
#10 Wisconsin at Iowa
Now that Wisconsin has two losses, there isn’t a ton of concern about them usurping a one-loss UW in a playoff scenario. However, there is no harm in weakening the résumé of Ohio State.
We want Iowa here, and I’m calling for the straight upset of the Hawkeyes over the Badgers.
#19 Utah at UCLA
I think Utah is going to win this one, and I think that is best for UW. A highly ranked Utes squad is a potential résumé builder for the Dawgs if they can pull out a win in Salt Lake next week.
Purdue at #8 Nebraska
The Cornhuskers are undefeated and in a position to jump past any of the teams ahead of them should one falter. Their resume has been built on weak competition and, thus, a loss along the way would be a huge blow for them. So why not root for one this weekend?
WSU at ASU
So, here is the deal with the Cougars. If you are worried about them beating UW in the Apple Cup, then we want to see WSU bring two losses with them to that game. For that to happen, your best bets are this road trip to ASU and a road trip to Colorado on 11/19. If you don’t think them losing two is likely, then we may as well wish them to win out and go into the Apple Cup as a highly ranked team. Then, even if UW has one loss, they can really boost their résumé while propelling themselves into the Pac-12 championship.
So, okay, go Cougs.
Full TV Schedule - Week 8
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 | ||
---|---|---|
Matchup | Time (ET) | TV / Online |
NC State at (7) Louisville | Noon | ABC / ESPN3 |
(10) Wisconsin at Iowa | Noon | ESPN / WatchESPN |
Texas at Kansas State | Noon | ESPN2 / WatchESPN |
Indiana at Northwestern | Noon | BTN / BTN2Go |
Oklahoma State at Kansas | Noon | FS1 / FS Go |
Rutgers at Minnesota | Noon | ESPNU / WatchESPN |
Central Michigan at Toledo | Noon | BCSN/TWC / ESPN3 |
Miami (OH) at Bowling Green | Noon | ESPN3 |
North Texas at Army | Noon | CBSSN / CBSSports.com |
UCF at UConn | Noon | ESPNEWS / WatchESPN |
UMass at South Carolina | Noon | SECN / WatchESPN |
Syracuse at Boston College | 12:30 p.m. | ACCN / WatchESPN |
Ohio at Kent State | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN3 |
Hawaii at Air Force | 2:00 p.m. | Oceanic PPV |
(22) North Carolina at Virginia | 3:00 p.m. | RSN / ESPN3 |
Colorado at Stanford | 3:00 p.m. | Pac-12N / Pac-12.com |
Akron at Ball State | 3:00 p.m. | ESPN3 |
(6) Texas A&M at (1) Alabama | 3:30 p.m. | CBS / CBSSports.com |
Illinois at (3) Michigan | 3:30 p.m. | BTN / BTN2Go |
Purdue at (8) Nebraska | 3:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN2 (RM) / ESPN3 |
TCU at (12) West Virginia | 3:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN2 (RM) / ESPN3 |
Eastern Michigan at (20) Western Michigan | 3:30 p.m. | ASN / ESPN3 |
Memphis at (24) Navy | 3:30 p.m. | CBSSN / CBSSports.com |
Buffalo at NIU | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN3 |
Idaho at Appalachian State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN3 |
PVAMU at Rice | 3:30 p.m. | CUSA.TV |
UT Martin at Georgia State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN3 |
Tulane at Tulsa | 3:45 p.m. | ESPNU / WatchESPN |
Middle Tennessee at Missouri | 4:00 p.m. | SECN / WatchESPN |
(19) Utah at UCLA | 4:00 p.m. | FOX / FS Go |
Charlotte at Marshall | 5:30 p.m. | beIN Sports / beIN Video |
Colorado State at UNLV | 5:30 p.m. | ROOT SPORTS / MWN |
(17) Arkansas at (21) Auburn | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN / WatchESPN |
Oregon State at (5) Washington | 6:30 p.m. | Pac-12N / Pac-12.com |
(11) Houston at SMU | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 / WatchESPN |
East Carolina at Cincinnati | 7:00 p.m. | CBSSN / CBSSports.com |
Louisiana Tech at FIU | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN3 |
Old Dominion at WKU | 7:00 p.m. | ASN |
UL Lafayette at Texas State | 7:00 p.m. | TSSP / ESPN3 |
UTEP at UTSA | 7:00 p.m. | KMYS-CW 35 |
Michigan State at Maryland | 7:30 p.m. | BTN / BTN2Go |
Mississippi State at Kentucky | 7:30 p.m. | SECN / WatchESPN |
Tennessee State at Vanderbilt | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU / WatchESPN |
(2) Ohio State at Penn State | 8:00 p.m. | ABC / ESPN3 |
(16) Oklahoma at Texas Tech | 8:00 p.m. | FOX / FS Go |
Georgia Southern at New Mexico State | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN3 |
(23) Ole Miss at (25) LSU | 9:00 p.m. | ESPN / WatchESPN |
ULM at New Mexico | 9:00 p.m. | ROOT SPORTS / MWN |
Washington State at Arizona State | 10:00 p.m. | Pac-12N / Pac-12.com |
Fresno State at Utah State | 10:30 p.m. | CBSSN / CBSSports.com |
Wyoming at Nevada | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 / WatchESPN |