By Ron Johnson
When this season started, we were all enticed and enjoying the success of The Gospel of Prime as it was paying dividends for the Colorado Buffaloes. Several months later, it appears that the so-called experts are kicking back and lighting cigars with $100 bills. The Buffs have slumped back to their usual status…for now. But as it was proven during the baseball playoffs and even in the NFL: On any given day, anyone and everyone can become famous.
Week 11 of college football is coming…and questions are sure to be answered…with more questions.
21 Arizona vs. Colorado
A three-game skid has kept the Buffaloes down but not out. Two quick college football wins, and they will find themselves bowl eligible. Shedeur Sanders has been lights out in his own way as he’s eclipsed almost 3000 yards to go with his 24 touchdowns and three picks. But the team as a whole is needing a win just to feel good about themselves.
On the other side, the Wildcats are showing and proving that they are more than just a basketball school as they are bowl eligible and looking good prior to their departure from the Pac-12 Conference. To say there is a lot riding on this game for both teams is an understatement. Beating the Buffs is always good, but beating a Buffs team that is coach by the most vocal coach and loudest guy in the room? Priceless.
13 Tennessee vs. 14 Missouri
This will be a game that is watched by everyone. The Vols and Tigers are both bowl eligible, and they want to do their part to show that the SEC is still that conference you don’t want to mess with. The Tigers, coming off a nine-point loss to Georgia have to rebound and prepare for the Volunteers, who are coming off a massive beatdown of the UConn Huskies (who for the record, I didn’t even know they had a football team still).
In fairness, every team in the SEC is trying to catch Georgia and Alabama when it comes to the SEC Championship, but getting a shot at the New Years’ Six Bowl Series is just as good.
Florida vs. 19 LSU
Both teams should be angry at the way they finished Week 10. Florida lost a heartbreaker to the Razorbacks due to poor execution and a missed field goal at the end of regulation, while LSU got shot out of the water, losing by double digits to the Crimson Tide. It was expected that the winner of that game would most likely have the front line to represent the West against Georgia in the SEC Championship, but LSU is now playing for a more than just that after that display last week.
Same can be said for the Gators who are losers of back-to-back games after surviving South Carolina back in October. Not sure what Kelly and Napier need for motivation, but maybe giving your alumni something to believe in versus the Student Section could be a good start for you guys.
USC vs. 6 Oregon
IF the Ducks want any chance of that rematch with Washington, they will have to take down the Trojans first. Sitting at second behind the Huskies, Oregon has been on a mission with Bo Nix being the proverbial Field General for this war. As for the Trojans, they know they may not play for the Pac-12’s possible last conference championship, and they are now a notch on the belt of Washington after last weekend.
But this game will have as big a meaning for them as it will for the Ducks. The Trojans know that IF they can beat the Ducks, they can leapfrog them into a rematch with the Huskies at the end. Otherwise, it’ll be a question of if the Ducks fly together or who let the dogs out.
Virginia vs. 11 Louisville
Either we are getting the resurrection of Jake “The Snake” Plummer, the college version, or Jack Plummer is showing why no one should sleep on the Louisville Cardinals this season. With Florida State practically running the table in the ACC, Louisville is making their case for a shot at the Seminoles for the ACC Crown. Defeating a lowly Virginia Cavaliers team should give them the ammunition necessary to set that future date up.
While Lightning Jack and Jake the Snake are not father and son, the two do have one thing in common: Shocking the system. Don’t be too surprised if you hear Jack’s name getting called at the Draft soon. With a win and North Carolina loss, Louisville moves itself one step closer to that showdown with the Noles for the ACC Championship.
3 Michigan vs. 10 Penn State
The Big Ten Conference is one of the most competitive conferences in the country. And when you got the top three teams vying to represent one division in their conference championship game, you know it’s going to be fun. After losing to Ohio State a few weeks ago, Penn State got back on the good foot almost instantly with wins over Indiana and Maryland. Despite the politics and BS from the Big Ten and NCAA Boards, Michigan keeps rolling and rolling hard.
After huge wins over Indiana, Michigan State and Purdue, the Wolverines are eyeing one opponent in particular: Ohio State. Now they are not taking the Nittany Lions lightly (as they should not have), but the way that Michigan has been playing, does anyone outside of Happy Valley feel that the Wolverines will stumble? And to be clear, if you are going to punish Michigan for anything, be sure to punish the rest of them too. But until then, put some respect on Michigan’s name already!
8 Alabama vs. Kentucky
Do you ever feel like you put in so much effort to get recognized and no one seems to mutter your name as much? That’s what most of us…and Alabama…are feeling right now. Everyone is talking about Georgia running the conference, Texas already putting their stamp on Tuscaloosa and if Oklahoma is about to become the conference’s new Vanderbilt. Okay, that may have been a bit much, but after what the Longhorns did to the Tide earlier, Alabama cannot afford to make any mistakes heading into the final stretch. And with Ole Miss looking to shake the foundations, Kentucky could play spoiler if they so wanted to.
Texas Tech vs. 16 Kansas
Neither of these teams are worth watching nowadays, so why are they in this lineup? Because one of these teams just shocked the Oklahoma Sooners who were frontrunners for a College Football Playoff Spot. The Jayhawks are no longer just a basketball school, and these Jayhawks are showing why the fans love to chant: Rock. Chalk. Jayhawk. on a regular basis.
Tulsa vs. 23 Tulane
This one will be another quick one mainly because the Green Wave are looking like a Green Tsunami lately. Sitting at 8-1 and one of Rockin’ Reese’s CFP selections, Tulane just wants to keep winning. Tulsa should not pose a serious threat to them, and they will indeed see themselves potentially in the New Years’ Six Series.
Baylor vs. 25 Kansas State
Bill Snyder would be proud of these Wildcats. They are playing like they have something to prove. And despite losing in overtime to the Longhorns last weekend, they still look dangerous and will cause some trouble in the college football postseason. Baylor should use this time to take some notes and possibly improve their own coaching because they are no longer the intimidating squad they once were.
Miami vs. 4 Florida State
Ah, the Governors Cup. A time-honored Florida tradition returns with the first leg of this endeavor between the Canes and the Noles. Florida State looks as complete now as they were during the era of Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher. But this team looks like their swagger has been raised to about 350. With Duke being the closest opponent to possibly dethrone them, there should be little to no reason for the Seminoles to fear ‘The U’ right?
The Hurricanes have taken down the Cavs and Clemson Tigers in extra time to go with their lost to UNC, Georgia Tech and NC State. But I will never say no to a good ol’ fashioned Governors Cup Series.
18 Utah vs. 5 Washington
IF there is a game to watch this weekend, this would be one of those few. The Utes are looking to be the one in 9-1 when it comes to Washington as they look to pad their college football postseason resume and possibly knock one of the eventual Pac-12 Championship Competitors off their pedestal. After a slew of close games (Oregon, Stanford, USC and ASU), the Huskies are just happy to still be undefeated heading into this game. This game should be a shootout and a slugfest between both sides of the ball due in large part to how Washington has become molded into a national championship powerhouse this season.
9 Ole Miss vs. 2 Georgia
Georgia is a shoo-in for the SEC Championship Game, while Ole Miss is looking to keep the pressure and even overtake Alabama in the West. This is another one of those games you cannot miss due to the fact that Lane Kiffin should have his boys ready for the war that will take place at Sanford Stadium this weekend. While it’s clear that Ole Miss has a nothing to lose attitude in the game against Georgia, they wouldn’t mind being the one that puts that one in the ‘L’ column.
As for Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, they already know they’re getting disrespected by the NCAA Board just because they’re SEC. So they’re looking to win the SEC, punch their ticket to the college football playoffs and make sure that IF Ohio State is there, it’s a short lived celebration. But first thing is first: Saturday vs. Ole Miss.
Michigan State vs. 1 Ohio State
There is not much to expect from this game. But I will say this: This is one of the final three games on the Buckeyes roster, and I can guarantee that one of those games will not just be a TRAP game for them, it will be THE trap game for them. Oh, and that last game of that trifecta is the Michigan Wolverines. You think Michigan is not chomping at the bit to shut Ryan Day and Ohio State up? Expect fireworks over the next three weeks. But Ohio State shouldn’t lose this game…key word in that is shouldn’t.
7 Texas vs. TCU
Besides the Red River Shootout loss to Oklahoma, the Longhorns have been a team of destiny. They took down everyone in their wake up to this point, even an overtime victory over K-State last week, so they shouldn’t have a problem with a team that was once the runner-up for the National Championship. I mean, surely TCU shouldn’t be a problem for Texas since they got stunned by Colorado to start the year right? Either way, the Longhorns are looking to end their tenure in the Big XII with a title and start their SEC title with Alabama’s name already on their boot straps.
Duke vs. 24 North Carolina (Tobacco Road Rivalry)
No, this isn’t about the basketball rivalry this time around. But the adage is still the same. Both teams are bowl eligible and looking to get themselves the respect they deserve. Duke bounced back last week with a win as did North Carolina. Besides, it’s Tobacco Road. I don’t need to hype it up anymore than that…except to say that this is the football teams doing battle this time around.
Old Dominion vs. Liberty (CUSA)
If you are not paying attention to the feel good stories, you’re not real sports fans. Liberty and James Madison are trying to give the country something to smile about. And while everyone else is just preparing for another arsenal of BS from Ryan Day’s Buckeyes, this is not the COVID Era anymore. Liberty deserves a look, and they deserve a nod into the college football postseason…maybe even an invite into the New Years’ Six Series.
East Carolina vs. Florida Atlantic (American)
The Owls had a great start but a middle that they’d like to forget. They hope to have a better ending that will send them to the postseason. A win over the once dominating East Carolina Pirates should do the trick. After a gut-wrenching loss to UAB, the Owls are now officially out for blood and going for broke.
They got the tools and the talent to get the wins necessary to become college football bowl eligible, and the fact is if there are any group of kids that deserve to get themselves an invite, it’s Tom Herman’s squad. They’ve played like champions all season, and they deserve the right to finish like them too.
