Post by Uncle on Oct 27, 2021 19:50:44 GMT -6
This weekend is the last chance to make a first impression on the Playoff Committee ahead of the 1st CFP ranking on Tuesday, Nov 2nd. There are some really good matchups between ranked teams and some interesting matchups involving unranked teams.
The 2022 Draft is starting to take a bit of shape after the last few weeks and this weekend and November should flesh-out a bunch of players.
Saturday, 10/30 Halloween Eve
#6 Michigan @ #8 Michigan St - Noon ET
The "gauntlet" between Michigan/Michigan St/Ohio St/Penn St starts this weekend. This is not a Playoff "knockout" game as the loser can still beat Ohio St, have only 1 loss and get in the BIG10 Championship if the winner loses another Conference game. This is the toughest opponent both teams have faced this season and its really anyone's game. One prospect Viking fans should keep an eye on is Michigan DE Aiden Hutcheson.
#9 Iowa @ Wisconsin - Noon ET
This was supposed to be the toughest game left for Iowa after their big victory over Penn St, until they lost to unranked Purdue. Wisconsin then played spoiler by beating a ranked Purdue team last weekend. They could play spoiler again this weekend. The Playoff dream isn't completely over for Iowa - they could win-out and beat whomever survives the "gauntlet" between Ohio St/Michigan/Michigan St/Penn St, which would probably get them in. Madison isn't an easy place to win, either. This game could go either way.
#1 Georgia vs Florida - 3:30PM ET
The "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" in Jacksonville. Georgia will be a heavy favorite, but anything can happen in a rivalry game and the Gators nearly pulled off an upset of 'Bama earlier this year. Georgia is due for a bit of a squeaker type of game and I'm no a believer in either of their QB's. The Bulldogs defense could carry them as Florida will want to run the ball and Georgia has one of the best Front 7 in the entire nation, maybe the best. If Florida had a more dynamic offense, I might buy-in the upset here, but I can't.
#10 Ole Miss @ #18 Auburn - 7:00PM ET
This is a real good SEC matchup with the winner still having a legit shot at the SEC West title and going to the SEC Championship game. Ole Miss ran all over their opponent last weekend as Matt Corral was battling an injury but this Auburn team is no slouch and the game will be at "The Plains". A big road win performance could propel Matt Corral to the front of the Heisman race - let's see if the lights in primetime burn a bit too hot for Corral and Lane Kiffen.
#20 Penn St @ #5 Ohio St - 7:30PM ET
The Buckeyes have been on a tear since losing to Oregon earlier in the season and Penn St is coming off a awful home loss to unranked Illinois. This game should favor Ohio St since they're at home, but Penn St's defense is still top notch and littered with NFL talent. And Penn St could be dangerous as they can't afford any more BIG10 losses if they want a shot to get to the BIG10 Championship game and a possible rematch w/ Iowa.
North Carolina @ #11 Notre Dame - 7:30PM ET
Entering the season, NC QB Sam Howell was generally considered a Rd 1 QB prospect, but I think he's slipped to Day 2 status. He needs a bigtime win in 2021 to keep his 2022 Rd 1 dream alive and there's no better place for that to happen than in South Bend. ND recently joined the 21st century of college football by going up-tempo last week - let's see if Brian Kelley can keep that up.
Fresno St @ #21 San Diego St - 10:30PM ET
The Aztecs are undefeated and have an eye towards a New Year's Day bowl game, but the Bulldogs have played in a bunch of bigtime games this season and are really battle-tested. If this game was in Cali, I would definitely take Fresno and they still could pull off yet another upset.
The 2022 Draft is starting to take a bit of shape after the last few weeks and this weekend and November should flesh-out a bunch of players.
Saturday, 10/30 Halloween Eve
#6 Michigan @ #8 Michigan St - Noon ET
The "gauntlet" between Michigan/Michigan St/Ohio St/Penn St starts this weekend. This is not a Playoff "knockout" game as the loser can still beat Ohio St, have only 1 loss and get in the BIG10 Championship if the winner loses another Conference game. This is the toughest opponent both teams have faced this season and its really anyone's game. One prospect Viking fans should keep an eye on is Michigan DE Aiden Hutcheson.
#9 Iowa @ Wisconsin - Noon ET
This was supposed to be the toughest game left for Iowa after their big victory over Penn St, until they lost to unranked Purdue. Wisconsin then played spoiler by beating a ranked Purdue team last weekend. They could play spoiler again this weekend. The Playoff dream isn't completely over for Iowa - they could win-out and beat whomever survives the "gauntlet" between Ohio St/Michigan/Michigan St/Penn St, which would probably get them in. Madison isn't an easy place to win, either. This game could go either way.
#1 Georgia vs Florida - 3:30PM ET
The "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" in Jacksonville. Georgia will be a heavy favorite, but anything can happen in a rivalry game and the Gators nearly pulled off an upset of 'Bama earlier this year. Georgia is due for a bit of a squeaker type of game and I'm no a believer in either of their QB's. The Bulldogs defense could carry them as Florida will want to run the ball and Georgia has one of the best Front 7 in the entire nation, maybe the best. If Florida had a more dynamic offense, I might buy-in the upset here, but I can't.
#10 Ole Miss @ #18 Auburn - 7:00PM ET
This is a real good SEC matchup with the winner still having a legit shot at the SEC West title and going to the SEC Championship game. Ole Miss ran all over their opponent last weekend as Matt Corral was battling an injury but this Auburn team is no slouch and the game will be at "The Plains". A big road win performance could propel Matt Corral to the front of the Heisman race - let's see if the lights in primetime burn a bit too hot for Corral and Lane Kiffen.
#20 Penn St @ #5 Ohio St - 7:30PM ET
The Buckeyes have been on a tear since losing to Oregon earlier in the season and Penn St is coming off a awful home loss to unranked Illinois. This game should favor Ohio St since they're at home, but Penn St's defense is still top notch and littered with NFL talent. And Penn St could be dangerous as they can't afford any more BIG10 losses if they want a shot to get to the BIG10 Championship game and a possible rematch w/ Iowa.
North Carolina @ #11 Notre Dame - 7:30PM ET
Entering the season, NC QB Sam Howell was generally considered a Rd 1 QB prospect, but I think he's slipped to Day 2 status. He needs a bigtime win in 2021 to keep his 2022 Rd 1 dream alive and there's no better place for that to happen than in South Bend. ND recently joined the 21st century of college football by going up-tempo last week - let's see if Brian Kelley can keep that up.
Fresno St @ #21 San Diego St - 10:30PM ET
The Aztecs are undefeated and have an eye towards a New Year's Day bowl game, but the Bulldogs have played in a bunch of bigtime games this season and are really battle-tested. If this game was in Cali, I would definitely take Fresno and they still could pull off yet another upset.
... and neither is this Chris guy.