2024 College Football - Week 11: Elimination Saturday
Nov 9, 2024 10:45:02 GMT -6
legendsofthenorth likes this
Post by Uncle on Nov 9, 2024 10:45:02 GMT -6
The first 2024 CFP Playoff Rankings were released this past Tuesday and there weren't too many surprises outside of a few teams - such as BYU - not getting nearly as much respect as they should.
If the Playoffs started today, this is what the bracket would look like:
BYU was ranked 9th in the initial rankings, but if they end up winning the BIG XII Championship Game, they would be one of the Top 4 teams and get a BYE, so all they need to do is keep winning and they should be all right...
...but one more loss for a few SEC teams - Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss - and it's over. And that's why this week is "Elimination Saturday".
Saturday, November 9th - Early Afternoon Game
#4 Miami @ Georgia Tech - Noon ET (ESPN); spread is Miami -10
Believe it or not, this is probably the toughest remaining game on Miami's schedule, which ended up being relatively weak since they haven't faced a ranked team all season. For the 'Canes, it won't matter how tough their schedule is given that they just need to get into the ACC Championship game and win it and they are locked into one of the Top 4 seeds and a BYE. While there are some other ACC teams with 1 loss, most of them will probably have another one along the way and the 'Canes might still be able to afford a loss and get into the ACC Title Game. If the Yellow Jackets have a shot to pull off this upset, they'll need QB Haynes King to play (he's been injured in recent weeks). Georgia Tech is a solid team and Bobby Dodd stadium is a tough place to play, and it's possible that "Lady Luck" might finally be running out for Miami in terms of an undefeated season.
Saturday, November 9th - Late Afternoon Games
#3 Georgia @ #16 Ole Miss - 3:30PM ET (ABC); spread is Georgia -1.5
While this isn't an elimination game for both teams like the later SEC game is, this is a Playoff elimination game for Ole Miss - the Rebels have 2 losses already and while it's entirely possible a team with 2 losses gets into the Playoff as a high seed (especially if they started the season ranked high), I don't believe anyone is getting in with 3 losses. And in order for Lane Kiffin to stay in the Playoff picture, all they need to do is beat a really good Georgia team, who has some motivation to stay in the lower seeds to possibly get into the SEC Championship game or at the very least, get a home Playoff game in Rd 1. The Dawgs already have a big road win this season when they knocked-off #1 Texas in Austin and if they pull off another one, it'll be curtains for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels, who arguably spent the most of any team in the Transfer Portal to "buy" a spot in the 12-team Playoff.
Michigan @ #8 Indiana - 3:30PM ET (CBS); spread is Indiana -14.5
The Hoosiers trailed in a game for the first time in the 2024 season last week @ Michigan St when they fell behind 10-0, but they proceeded to rip-off 47 unanswered pts on-route to their first 9-0 start in program history. If they win this game to get to 10-0, it sets up a massive game during Week 13 (in 2 weeks) in Columbus vs the Buckeyes, where the winner will certainly get into the BIG10 Championship Game. Indiana, like Miami, hasn't faced a ranked team the entire season and while Michigan isn't ranked, their defense is still littered with NFL talent and should provide a decent test. If Indiana can continue to dominate and score against Michigan, they might be able to afford a loss @ Ohio St and still get into the Playoff.
#20 Colorado @ Texas Tech - 4PM ET (FOX); spread is Colorado -4.5
Don't look now, but Coach Prime, Shedeur and Travis Hunter are actually in-line to get into the BIG XII Championship game for a shot at the Playoffs. There are still questions about their OL and DL and if they can hold-up enough for the rest of the season, but there's no doubt that their offense is potent with Shedeur and the WR weapons they have. Travis Hunter has been incredible this season - both on offense & defense - and is quite possibly the leading contender for the Heisman Trophy because of his ability to play both ways. Texas Tech isn't going to make it easy though - they pulled-off a big upset @ Iowa St last weekend to put the BIG XII into even more chaos and give the opening to Coach Prime, but they can certainly close it if they beat them at home.
Saturday, November 9th - Evening Game
#11 Alabama @ #15 LSU - 7:30PM ET (ABC); spread is Alabama -2.5
Not much needs to be said about this one: both teams are 6-2 and it's the reason why Week 11 is titled "Elimination Saturday" as both teams can't afford a 3rd loss. Both teams are evenly matched with solid QB play and NFL talent on both sides of the ball. There's plenty of history between these teams in the Saban era and that should continue in the post-Saban era. While the Crimson Tide are slightly favored on the road, Death Valley at night is as tough as it gets and the Tide are 0-2 on the road in SEC play this season and it'll be difficult to get their first road SEC win in this one.
Saturday, November 9th - Late Game
#9 BYU @ Utah - 10:15PM ET (ESPN); spread is BYU -3
The Cougars were arguably the most disrespected team when the initial Playoff rankings came out as the Playoff Committee didn't put much stock over their wins @ SMU (who's in-line for a shot at the ACC Championship game) and vs Kansas St (ranked 13th at the time). While Utah isn't the team they once were (QB Cam Rising is out for the season yet again their OC resigned halfway through the season), they still have a tough defense and getting a win in Salt Lake City is always a resume-booster. If BYU wants to prove the Playoff Committee wrong, then a "statement" win in the "Holy War" game on the road should certainly boost their case.
If the Playoffs started today, this is what the bracket would look like:
BYU was ranked 9th in the initial rankings, but if they end up winning the BIG XII Championship Game, they would be one of the Top 4 teams and get a BYE, so all they need to do is keep winning and they should be all right...
...but one more loss for a few SEC teams - Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss - and it's over. And that's why this week is "Elimination Saturday".
Saturday, November 9th - Early Afternoon Game
#4 Miami @ Georgia Tech - Noon ET (ESPN); spread is Miami -10
Believe it or not, this is probably the toughest remaining game on Miami's schedule, which ended up being relatively weak since they haven't faced a ranked team all season. For the 'Canes, it won't matter how tough their schedule is given that they just need to get into the ACC Championship game and win it and they are locked into one of the Top 4 seeds and a BYE. While there are some other ACC teams with 1 loss, most of them will probably have another one along the way and the 'Canes might still be able to afford a loss and get into the ACC Title Game. If the Yellow Jackets have a shot to pull off this upset, they'll need QB Haynes King to play (he's been injured in recent weeks). Georgia Tech is a solid team and Bobby Dodd stadium is a tough place to play, and it's possible that "Lady Luck" might finally be running out for Miami in terms of an undefeated season.
Saturday, November 9th - Late Afternoon Games
#3 Georgia @ #16 Ole Miss - 3:30PM ET (ABC); spread is Georgia -1.5
While this isn't an elimination game for both teams like the later SEC game is, this is a Playoff elimination game for Ole Miss - the Rebels have 2 losses already and while it's entirely possible a team with 2 losses gets into the Playoff as a high seed (especially if they started the season ranked high), I don't believe anyone is getting in with 3 losses. And in order for Lane Kiffin to stay in the Playoff picture, all they need to do is beat a really good Georgia team, who has some motivation to stay in the lower seeds to possibly get into the SEC Championship game or at the very least, get a home Playoff game in Rd 1. The Dawgs already have a big road win this season when they knocked-off #1 Texas in Austin and if they pull off another one, it'll be curtains for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels, who arguably spent the most of any team in the Transfer Portal to "buy" a spot in the 12-team Playoff.
Michigan @ #8 Indiana - 3:30PM ET (CBS); spread is Indiana -14.5
The Hoosiers trailed in a game for the first time in the 2024 season last week @ Michigan St when they fell behind 10-0, but they proceeded to rip-off 47 unanswered pts on-route to their first 9-0 start in program history. If they win this game to get to 10-0, it sets up a massive game during Week 13 (in 2 weeks) in Columbus vs the Buckeyes, where the winner will certainly get into the BIG10 Championship Game. Indiana, like Miami, hasn't faced a ranked team the entire season and while Michigan isn't ranked, their defense is still littered with NFL talent and should provide a decent test. If Indiana can continue to dominate and score against Michigan, they might be able to afford a loss @ Ohio St and still get into the Playoff.
#20 Colorado @ Texas Tech - 4PM ET (FOX); spread is Colorado -4.5
Don't look now, but Coach Prime, Shedeur and Travis Hunter are actually in-line to get into the BIG XII Championship game for a shot at the Playoffs. There are still questions about their OL and DL and if they can hold-up enough for the rest of the season, but there's no doubt that their offense is potent with Shedeur and the WR weapons they have. Travis Hunter has been incredible this season - both on offense & defense - and is quite possibly the leading contender for the Heisman Trophy because of his ability to play both ways. Texas Tech isn't going to make it easy though - they pulled-off a big upset @ Iowa St last weekend to put the BIG XII into even more chaos and give the opening to Coach Prime, but they can certainly close it if they beat them at home.
Saturday, November 9th - Evening Game
#11 Alabama @ #15 LSU - 7:30PM ET (ABC); spread is Alabama -2.5
Not much needs to be said about this one: both teams are 6-2 and it's the reason why Week 11 is titled "Elimination Saturday" as both teams can't afford a 3rd loss. Both teams are evenly matched with solid QB play and NFL talent on both sides of the ball. There's plenty of history between these teams in the Saban era and that should continue in the post-Saban era. While the Crimson Tide are slightly favored on the road, Death Valley at night is as tough as it gets and the Tide are 0-2 on the road in SEC play this season and it'll be difficult to get their first road SEC win in this one.
Saturday, November 9th - Late Game
#9 BYU @ Utah - 10:15PM ET (ESPN); spread is BYU -3
The Cougars were arguably the most disrespected team when the initial Playoff rankings came out as the Playoff Committee didn't put much stock over their wins @ SMU (who's in-line for a shot at the ACC Championship game) and vs Kansas St (ranked 13th at the time). While Utah isn't the team they once were (QB Cam Rising is out for the season yet again their OC resigned halfway through the season), they still have a tough defense and getting a win in Salt Lake City is always a resume-booster. If BYU wants to prove the Playoff Committee wrong, then a "statement" win in the "Holy War" game on the road should certainly boost their case.
... and neither is this Chris guy.