Playoff contenders ponder benefits of running up big scores

But thanks to the magic of inertia and the dwindling number of one-loss playoff contenders to complement undefeated Alabama, the Sooners are up to No. 9 in this week’s dog-and-pony showplayoff committee rankings.

With the Wisconsin Badgers dominating the Illinois Fighting Illini last weekend, the Badgers are in the driver’s seat to win the Big Ten West. Wisconsin has relatively easy matchups these next two weeks, against Purdue this Saturday and across-the-border rival Minnesota Thanksgiving weekend. The Huskies being at six is a good spot due to their strength of schedule and them getting beat by a ranked team in the USC Trojans. Cooperation, apparently, is not their strong suit, though.at least not in the case of Clemson, Michigan, and Washington.

November 15: No. 2 OR lost at Arizona and also lost quarterback Dennis Dixon, considered a strong Heisman candidate, for the season.

“Louisville has been viewed as a very talented team”, Hocutt said. The Cardinals scored 41 of their points during the second half. This conference will always have it rough when it comes to gaining national respect, but should the Broncos make a New Years bowl game, they have a chance to represent and show that the MAC can play football.

Before getting to Alabama, however, Florida still has a guaranteed game on the schedule. So, yes, Alabama is basically in the playoff.

Although the outcome of Houston’s season is hindered by two slip-ups in games earlier in the year, the 9-2 Cougars proved their tenacity by beating two top five opponents in a single season for the first time in school history.

There are obvious changes that are pros to some and cons to others. Say the Pac-12 champion also finishes with two losses or the ACC Coastal champion win the conference title game. But with the injury to quarterback Wilton Speight, nobody knows how capable this team is of completing that mission – in fact, most are already assuming a loss to Ohio State. No, Mississippi State and Michigan State didn’t deserve bids in 2014.

Six teams in all were upset in the top 10 on Saturday, with the biggest four being Clemson, Michigan, Washington and Auburn. No, Ohio State and Notre Dame didn’t deserve bids, despite having compelling arguments.

No matter what, the committee doesn’t have to worry about Louisville mucking things up. Louisville, thankfully didn’t jump Clemson in the committee’s rankings, but they’re slip against Houston last night may have cost them.

The Cardinals were blown off the field in impressive fashion by giant-killer Houston 36-10 in a game that the Cougars dominated in just about every aspect.

LOUISVILLE: The Cardinals may not have made the playoff even if they didn’t lose on Thursday night, but the opportunity was theirs for the taking. 4 Washington on the road.

Joining Washington and Utah from the Pac-12 in the rankings is Colorado at No. 10, USC at No. 13, Washington State at No. 22, and Stanford at No. 24.

The cow college in Columbus looked a lot like Clemson in the middle of the year as they sleepwalked against middle-of-the-road teams (including the loss at Penn State) but has looked pretty good against THE TOUGH BIG TEN with blowout wins over Nebraska and Maryland. Teams are fighting for playoff spots every single week. Playing at the big horseshoe, Ohio State will be the favorite. That gets the Huskies up to five. If everything goes as planned, they should take on the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship game, although the Gators have had vast improvements all around and they are just a few pieces away from being at the caliber of the Crimson Tide. “The selection committee is very impressed with the past two games that we’ve seen Ohio State play, their performance on the field”.

After the weekend-shakeup, Washington shifted out of the final playoff spot and also dropped below No. 20 Washington State (8-2, 7-0 Pac-12) in the northern division of the conference.