Good Sunday morning to all of you! Whether your team (or candidate) won or lost, let’s remember the important things. A friend of mine’s daughter’s team won her softball tournament this weekend. I talked to my mother and mother-in-law. My daughter took the SAT and could drive with a non-family member in the car for the first time. Oh yeah, there were a ton of really fun football games to watch!
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Let’s start with the double overtime game of the week. The GCR predicted Clemson (3) in a close one and it looked like it would happen until a nearly flawless 2:00 drill (not without controversy) tied the game forcing extra innings. Notre Dame (2) ended up sacking Uiagalelei twice (the only 2 sacks of the game) forcing a back yard catch and lateral attempt that fell short on 4th and 24. With Miami FL (4) in a thrilling come from behind win against NC St (28), the GCR puts 3 ACC teams in the top 4 behind only Alabama (1) who was idle. Could the ACC put 2 teams in the playoffs? I think it’s possible. Miami and Notre Dame don’t play so if all 3 teams win out, the championship is a rematch. If the Irish win again, Miami could slip in. If Clemson wins in another 1 score game, they and the Irish could get in. Keep in mind, the Big 12 has 1 remaining 1-loss team, and while the GCR has them winning out, Oklahoma St (5) will have to face either Iowa St (23) who they beat by a field goal, Texas (20) who beat them by a touchdown, or Oklahoma (27) who they play next weekend. Should they win out, they have a case, but the road is tricky. The Pac-12 opened last night (or mostly) with no upsets, but 4 1-0 teams are nothing to talk about yet. Assuming a team can play its full schedule, it’s just 6 games – perfection or go home. A 7-0 champion could get in, but longer 1-loss schedules have a better argument. BTW, I said mostly because 2 games were cancelled. Bad news for California, Washington, Arizona, and Utah. Overall 10 games were cancelled or postponed. The SEC got clearer. Barring upsets, Alabama (who beat Texas A&M (6) earlier this year) will most likely face Florida (14), who lost to the Aggies earlier this year, for the title. If Miami FL or Notre Dame or Clemson slip up, A&M could slide in as a 1-loss team. The Big 10 has a 1-0 Wisconsin (22) who may be a Pac-12 type team – perfect or stay home – especially if they have to cancel anymore games. Purdue (16) is 2-0 after missing the game against the Badgers, but still have to face 3-0 Northwestern (7). In the East, there are 2 undefeated teams, both 3-0, in Indiana (10) and Ohio St (12). They face each other in Columbus in 2 weeks to decide that division.
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The Group of 5 has intrigue as well and if there is ANY season that one of its teams could make the playoffs, 2020 is the one. While the Big 10 has 5 top 25 teams (SEC-4, ACC-3, Big 12-3, Pac 12-4), the Group of 5 has 6 – 2 in the top 10 and 4 in the top 15. The 6th best G5 team coming in at 19 following a last minute score against Virginia Tech (30) is Liberty. At 7-0, their schedule is among the weakest in the country (opponent’s winning percentage .205). In 5th place, we have 6-0 Marshall (17) with a top 5 Defensive Efficiency Rating. In 4th, Louisiana (15) is the only team with a loss on this list (coming to another team on the list). At 6-1, they have played a tougher tha average schedule and their DER is top 20. Coming in 3rd is BYU (11) who trounced Boise St (48) this weekend. The Cougars are in the top 6 in OER and DER and the only 8-0 team in the country. Their schedule has been a little weaker than some of the others above them. Coastal Carolina (9) is next on the list. They have scored more 4th quarter points than any other team in the country. If you want to watch the 7-0 Chanticleers (who are the team to beat Louisiana), you might want to stay until the end. In first place, and legit best chance at cracking the playoffs is Cincinnati (8). At 6-0, their opponents have a .556 winning percentage and while their offense is good with an OER ranked 18th, they have the best DER in the nation.
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That’s where we stand right now. BYU (11) is 8-0. Liberty (19), Notre Dame (2), and Coastal Carolina (9) are 7-0. Alabama (1), Marshall (17), and Cincinnati (8) are 6-0. On the “it’s still early” list, Nevada (35), Ohio St (12), Indiana (10), San Jose St (33), and Northwestern (7) are 3-0. Purdue (16) is the lone 2-0 team. At 1-0: Wisconsin (7), Buffalo (37), Kent St (52), Miami OH (51), C Michigan (53), Toledo (49), W Michigan (36), North Dakota St (77), S Illinois (89), Southern Cal (25), Oregon (21), Colorado (24), and Washington St (13).
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Without further ado, here is the list from Alabama (1) to Chattanooga (139):
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That’s it for another edition of G’s Evaluation. Tune in Tuesday as MAC Nation takes the field for next weeks predictions in G’s Expectations. Comment as you’d like, and if you like what you see, please share with others – thanks, G
