“The eyes have it,” this week in college football. Tuesday night, the eyes of the college football world were on the first release of rankings by the new playoff committee. The committee’s poll was pretty much what anyone would expect as a snapshot of the season at this point in time. By clearly placing more emphasis on quality wins than quality losses, the committee was very orderly in placing the two undefeated teams at the top, followed by 15 one-loss teams, and then the two-loss teams, (excluding Duke). But I differ with some esteemed LWOS colleagues, as I contend the eye test had to be used to determine the quality of losses in order to place the one-loss teams. Now with so many crucial head-to-head games still to play, quality losses and wins get judged in balance for future polls. So get some rest this week. Your eyes will be getting a workout this weekend.
Week 10 College Football Preview
Louisville (6-2) vs. Florida State (7-0), Thursday, 7:30pm ET, EPSN
Do your own eye test here. If you did not know FSU was the defending national champion and preseason top-ranked team and you just watched them play, and sometimes barely escape this season, would they be your second-best team in the country? With three wins decided by six points or less? Running back Karlos Williams and quarterback Jameis Winston are still under investigation for alleged dubious behavior off the field, but they will both play. Winston has been able to compartmentalize his issues this season. While his play has not been as inspiring as last year, he has been clutch in the second half of games when the Seminoles needed comeback wins.
Louisville is healthy for the first time all season and finally fielding all of its expected starters, but quarterback Will Gardner will have to be more consistent than he has been much of the season. It was conceded here weeks ago that the Seminoles would win the ACC and get a place in the playoffs as an undefeated team. The eye test over the last three weeks though says watch for the upset Thursday night.
Ole Miss (7-1) vs. Auburn (6-1), Saturday, 7pm ET, ESPN
This game pits the third and fourth-ranked teams against one another, which makes it somewhat of a playoff elimination game for both teams. The chickens came home to roost for Ole Miss last week, as the bad Bo Wallace showed up at quarterback, and combined with questionable late game clock management, the Rebels scored only seven points in a loss at LSU. Now that they have been brought back down to Earth, they have to face an Auburn team that is putting up 40 points per game. While Ole Miss’ defensive front seven has been the focal point this season, they are much better defending up the middle, while Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall likes to get to the corners. A two-loss SEC champ is still playoff viable, but Auburn has a tough three games left out of its remaining five. Ole Miss has two weeks of cakewalks after this weekend before the Mississippi State game.
Mississippi State (7-0) vs. Arkansas (4-4), Saturday, 7:15pm ET, ESPN 2
Don’t know how much of an eye test we will get here. MSU should have no problem at home against a mediocre Razorbacks team. The following week the Bulldogs play a horrendous out-of-conference game against Tennessee-Martin. The only question is whether head coach Dan Mullen keeps quarterback Dak Prescott in throughout both games to make sure the Bulldogs rack up style points for the committee and Prescott’s run at the Heisman.
Oregon (7-1) vs. Stanford (5-3), Saturday, 7:30pm ET, Fox
The Ducks and the Cardinal are the only teams in the Pac-12 North with winning conference records. This game has been for the division crown the past two years with Stanford winning both times. The Cardinal are one game behind Oregon in the standings, so technically still alive. The Ducks got their offensive line back to health three weeks ago and have averaged 49 points per game since. A two loss Pac-12 champ is far from a lock to make the playoffs, so Oregon needs the win.
Georgia (6-1) vs. Florida (3-3), Saturday, 3:30pm ET, CBS
Georgia ranks as one of the better one-loss teams in the country and since the legs have been cut out from under the Gators, there should be no issue here. The Bulldogs have five games left, including this weekend, with only one tough game on the horizon in two weeks time when they face Auburn. They will win the SEC East but need to remain unscathed and impressive as the committee watches. Running back Todd Gurley is still suspended for “Autograph-gate,” but Georgia has not missed him to this point and won’t this weekend in Jacksonville.
West Virginia (6-2) vs. TCU (6-1), Saturday, 3:30pm ET, ABC/ESPN2
TCU sits seventh in the committee poll and is the most viable Big 12 team to have a shot at the playoffs. The Horned Frogs put up ridiculous video-game-like stats last week in an 82-27 win over Texas Tech. Head coach Gary Patterson may well have been trying to give the committee something to look at. Even as he started clearing the bench in the fourth quarter he was still opening up the offense. TCU has the Mountaineers and Kansas State next week before what should be three easy games to end the season. That means they need to be big in the here and now. But we said this two weeks ago with Baylor and the same is true here; Morgantown, West Virginia on a Saturday night is a brutal place for opponents. The two teams are combining for an average of 90 points per game. This could be a real sight to see.
UCLA (6-2) vs. Arizona (6-1), Saturday, 10:30pm ET, ESPN
Arizona opened the first committee poll at 11th and so while they need help to climb over others in the rankings, they are still a viable Pac-12 title contender. Redshirt freshman quarterback Anu Solomon threw for five touchdowns in last week’s win against Washington State and he is mobile, which has been an issue for UCLA’s defense. The Bruins are averaging 35 points per game, but giving up 31, so nothing is easy. UCLA has not lost three in a row at home since 1971.
Arizona State (6-1) vs. Utah (6-1), Saturday, 11pm ET, Fox Sports 1
Get your eye drops ready and don’t worry about sleep. You will want to see this. Each team has only one loss, but it is in-conference, so this should be an elimination game in the Pac-12 race as well as for the playoffs. Arizona State has a wide open, fun-to-watch offense, and Utah wins with special teams and defense. The Utes have lost ten straight to ASU going back to their pre-Pac 12 days. Utah also just lost wide receiver Dres Anderson for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Still, the Utes are only a one-point loss to Washington State away from being undefeated. This one will take you into the wee hours of the morning in most parts of the country, but you have our permission to sleep in on Sunday.
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