FAVORITE TEAMS

My apologies for the strikethrough line on my Underrated Teams. This website went through an upgrade and I’m still figuring out how to color in team names without coloring in the headline. Bare with me until I tinker with everything. Otherwise, here’s my last takeaways from Week 12 of college football:

I’m a fan for this part. I don’t care what the media, analyst, or anyone else say, Oklahoma played their butts off to make one of the biggest comebacks in the Big 12 and college football to beat undefeated Baylor. They nearly pulled two other big comebacks (Kansas State this season and Texas in 2018) and went from being down four scores against Bama to lose only by 11 at the end last season’s semifinals. Hats off to #35 Nik Bonitto for the game-ending interception. That guy deserves a statue after everything this defense has suffered through the past few seasons, and I’m mean this. Boomer Sooner!!!

Now back to being an analyst.

Alabama’s questioned until the end of the Iron Bowl. For now, they’re holding five until the teams behind them or the committee says otherwise. Georgia won a hard-fought road game and will likely see LSU in the conference title game. If they win out, this could set up a potential two-SEC playoff appearance situation next month.

The committee was kind enough to keep Minnesota in the Top 10, which means they still have a chance for a playoff spot. They must win out and defeat either undefeated Ohio State (if they win out) or beat Penn State for the second time. Also, the winner between Penn State and Ohio State likely wins the East.

Oregon and Utah stay together like a pair of Pac-12 socks I wouldn’t mind buying to wear someday…in the near future. They play the state of Arizona this weekend in hopes of playing each other to snag a playoff spot after the conference’s 2-year drought.

Clemson, in my opinion, is probably the best team in college football right now. Everyone believes it’s LSU and/or Ohio State. Here’s my other opinion: Ohio State must prove this weekend that they are the best because they haven’t faced a defense like Penn State. LSU is one of the best offensive teams in college football, but you can’t tell me they are the best overall if their defense allowed Vanderbilt (one of the worst offenses in college football) 38 points and Ole Miss 37 points. Clemson may not have played anyone good after UNC, but they have consistently walloped teams without hesitation. Will see if they do the same to South Carolina next weekend.

10) #10 MINNESOTA (9-1 OVERALL; 6-1 BIG TEN) AT NORTHWESTERN (2-8 OVERALL; 0-7) – 9AM PT / 12PM ET [ABC]

This is a rare and unusual pick in the Top 10 because of Northwestern’s record. However, Minnesota lost twice to Northwestern entering this weekend and have played some competitive road games minus Rutgers. Iowa handed them their first lost and the Gophers play their second-straight and last road game of the season. Northwestern’s one of the worst offense’s in the nation, but they have a reluctant defense. This is a potential trap game that has upset written all over it if Minnesota doesn’t score early.

9) TEMPLE (7-3 OVERALL; 4-2 AAC) AT #19 CINCINNATI (9-1 OVERALL; 6-0 AAC) – 4PM PT / 7PM ET [ESPN2]

Temple won four-straight meetings against Cincinnati, even when Cincinnati got good last season. Despite Cincinnati’s improvement, they survived most of their games since the month of October. Temple managed to come away with an upset over Tulane and they have their eye on doing the same to Cincinnati. Temple’s priority for a potential upset is slowing down running back Michael Warren II and quarterback Desmond Ridder.

8) #6 OREGON (9-1 OVERALL; 7-0 PAC-12) AT ARIZONA STATE (5-5 OVERALL; 2-5 PAC-12) – 4:30PM PT / 7:30PM ET [ABC]

Oregon’s running for a chance at a playoff berth, but they have a trap game that could make or break their season. Arizona State has competed with Oregon for the past four seasons ending in a touchdown or less, and the last two ending in a two-point separation with Oregon and Arizona State winning at home. The Sun Devils have upset on their mind hoping to win their sixth game to become bowl-eligible again.

7) WESTERN KENTUCKY (6-4 OVERALL; 4-2 C-USA) AT SOUTHERN MISS (7-3 OVERALL; 5-1 C-USA) – 12:30PM PT / 3:30PM ET [ESPN+]

Western Kentucky made overall improvements to position themselves for a division title since 2016, but they need a lot of help. Southern Miss won one more game than last season to become bowl-eligible and are looking for their own title opportunity in a three-way battle with UAB and Louisiana Tech. The winner stays alive for a division title while the loser is eliminated from it.

6) PITTSBURGH (7-3 OVERALL; 4-2 ACC) AT VIRGINIA TECH (7-3 OVERALL; 4-2 ACC) – 12:30PM PT / 3:30PM ET [ESPN2]

Pitt is slowly but surely back in the Coastal title race with Virginia, Virginia Tech, and surprisingly Miami. Virginia Tech’s playing hot in the ACC and trying to return to the conference title game for a rematch with Clemson since 2016. Virginia Tech’s win sets up a Coastal division title game in the state of Virginia at Charlottesville next weekend. Pitt’s win would keep them alive with hopes of Virginia Tech knocking off Virginia from a division title next weekend.

5) UCLA (4-6 OVERALL; 4-3 PAC-12) AT USC (7-4 OVERALL; 6-2 PAC-12) – 12:30PM PT / 3:30PM ET [ABC]

UCLA’s one of the two hottest teams in the Pac-12 (Oregon State) despite the blowout loss to Utah last week. Their defense loaded up and caused some opponents to struggle. An on-point Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a healthy Josh Kelley can make UCLA offensively dangerous. USC caps off their season-finale against their biggest rival and needs this win to stay alive in the South. However, USC has struggled at times at home and only blew out two teams (Stanford and Arizona). If they want the revolving door to come their way and not Utah, they must win this weekend and hope Arizona or Colorado ends their dreams.

4) LOUISIANA TECH (8-2 OVERALL; 5-1 C-USA) AT UAB (7-3 OVERALL; 4-2 C-USA) – 12:30PM PT / 3:30PM ET [ESPN+]

Louisiana Tech holds the lead in the West division but were dealt a huge blow after their best quarterback and one of their top receivers were suspended last week. UAB returned to football two seasons ago and owned Louisiana Tech twice in a snap. With La Tech’s offensive roster searching for answers without quarterback J’Mar Smith this weekend, UAB could be within a win and Southern Miss’s two losses of winning the division for their second-straight year in their third season after returning to football.

3) #13 MICHIGAN (8-2 OVERALL; 5-2 BIG TEN) AT INDIANA (7-3 OVERALL; 4-3 BIG TEN) – 12:30PM PT / 3:30PM ET [ESPN]

This is no doubt a trap game and Indiana’s chasing third place for the first time in the Big Ten division era. The caption says it all. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan have escaped Bloomington twice with a win by a touchdown. Also, Michigan’s road games (except Maryland) haven’t been easy, including the first half against Illinois and it probably won’t be easy against the Hoosiers either. Indiana improved this season and their defense improved for the most part (21.4 points allowed per game). They haven’t been this decent since 1993 when Indiana’s defense was in the Top 15 while going 8-4, the last time they won more than seven games. If this is the new and improved Hoosiers, this is the upset game of the week.

2) SMU (9-1 OVERALL; 5-1 AAC) AT NAVY (7-2 OVERALL; 5-1) – 12:30PM PT / 3:30PM ET [CBS SPORTS NETWORK]

SMU’s offense is dangerous and they have rolled through most of their schedule before their loss to Memphis. They managed to bounce back barely against East Carolina but now have their hands full against revamped Navy. Navy’s back and is looking good again on the triple-option offense. Their defense has also bounced back and are the reason why they’re 7-2. However, they’re 0-2 against ranked teams this season and already lost a conference game to Memphis. SMU has been in three-straight games decided by one score and Navy could do the exact same with SMU’s defense not being that strong. The winner is right behind Memphis in hopes of winning out for the division title if Memphis loses one of the last two games.

1) #8 PENN STATE (9-1 OVERALL; 6-1 BIG TEN) AT #2 OHIO STATE (10-0 OVERALL; 7-0 BIG TEN) – 9AM PT / 12PM ET [FOX]

Does anyone remember that fourth down play in Penn State’s very last series that lost them the game? Hopefully everyone does because that was the most controversial call that spoiled their chances of possibly winning that game, especially when Trace McSorley was their winning quarterback. Penn State and Ohio State plays one of the biggest Big Ten games of the season and it likely decides who wins the East division. It’s a battle between Ohio State’s offense and Penn State’s defense. The number to focus on for this matchup is…20. Ohio State’s chances of winning is decided by scoring 20 points or more. If it’s less, Penn State has a chance of winning, but their offense needs receiver KJ Hamler or their offense and special teams will look different without him.