Who will you cheer for this weekend? ND, LSU, Pitt, Texas Tech, NC State, GA / TN
We're entering the final four games (for most teams) of the regular season. And, though many games will be played, the strength of schedule and likelihood that some teams will lose future games varies.
So - as difficult as it may be - who will you be rooting for, or hoping, to win this weekend.
At the top of my list is:
1. Clemson at ND. This is easily the toughest game for Clemson the rest of the year. The weather could be "different" than what the Tigers are accustomed to - with possible rain, wind, and temperatures in the 50's.
2. Bama at LSU. I'll be hoping for Brian Kelly to pull this one off to provide the Tide with their second conference loss of the season. And, going forward - Bama defeating Ole Miss next weekend - so, a two conference loss "West" division team can win the SEC CCG.
3. Tennessee at Georgia. A big win by either team. But, I do think Georgia fans (should they lose) will talk about the impact of losing one of their key defensemen (LB - Nolan Smith) to injury.
4. Wake Forest vs NC State. I'd like Wake to win this one - since UNC is the only currently ranked team left on NC State's schedule; whereas Wake Forest still plays Syracuse.
5. Syracuse at Pitt. I'll go with Pitt - primarily to decrease the ACC's Strength of Schedule.
6. Texas Tech at TCU. Though unlikely, it would be fun to see the Texas Tech Red Raiders find a way to win this one.
Any other games, results, or outcomes - besides the Michigan - Rutgers game you're interested in?
Generally speaking - two things... wins / losses that could help the Maize & Blue, and the B1G, and chaos.. lots of chaos. (And, if you're a "Get Smart" fan... that might be KAOS.)
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
Give me Texas Tech and (ugh) Notre Dame. Things are well on their way to having two SEC teams in the playoff again. An 11-1 Michigan team's best (albeit slim) chance would be for TCU, Clemson, and the remains of the Pac-12 to start losing.
LSU beating Alabama would also be helpful.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
I'm rooting for the Illini!
Hammer down the nails, Bert!
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
This is the one time that I will be rooting for Notre Shame to embarrass Clemson on National TV where ND completely dominates them. Should this happen, it will further prove the Playoff committee is comprised of a bunch of hacks.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:36 AM ^
Dick, I hope you are correct - and, though the hourly forecast isn't available quite yet (to me) for Saturday afternoon in South Bend - it wouldn't surprise me if (in his post game interview) Dabo noted that, these weather conditions are horrendous - the temperatures in the high 50's and low 60's, with wind, and possibly some rain - really impacted how a team like ours (Clemson) couldn't leverage both our strength and finesse.
If this game was played either inside, or with good field and weather conditions, we would have had it easily.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
Outside of UM blasting another "rival" into dust, I root for chaos everywhere else, absolute carnage and chaos as far as the eye can see. Bwahahahaa
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:58 AM ^
ND to upset Clemson. It's in South Bend. Notre Dame has been playing better. I really like the ND head coach and he's got them improving. Let's get Clemson out of sniffing the Top 4 or 5.
LSU to upset 'Bama. While I don't like Brian Kelly, he has gotten his team to play much better. Let's also get 'Bama out of the Top 4 mix.
The home teams looks good. The UGA defense will be tested. IMO, TN is overrated by beating a not so elite 'Bama team and couple that with 'Bama losing to LSU, that win won't look as good on the TN resume.
'Cuse is also over rated and I'd like to see them lose.
The other listed games are low priority.
Sparty at IL will be one to watch, of course I'd love to see the Illini beat down sparty.
Other B1G games; IA @ Purdue is one to follow and The Terps go to Camp Randall and want to see Wisc lose, plus a MD win helps our resume. Another good resume help will be Penn State rolling over Indiana in Bloomington.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:58 AM ^
+1 for Kaos.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:03 AM ^
I will be cheering for Michigan this weekend. So.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
Ok, I'll give a real answer since I'm seeing a lot of people go different directions here.
Have to hold the nose and go for ND and LSU this week. Just have to. Knock Bama totally out and take one last shot at Clemson not going undefeated. If Clemson wins, then we will have to root for being matched up with them should we make the playoff as they are clearly not that great of a team but neither is the rest of the ACC.
I too agree that chaos is best for us. If teams with a chance lose, that's great for us. Gives us more of an opportunity to sneak in should we drop a game somewhere.
However, I'm seeing a lot of people going for Tennessee here, and that's just objectively the wrong answer. Why would we want Hooker to have another big game against a great team? That'd solidify his Heisman, basically. Regardless of what happens in the SECCG, a win over both Georgia and Bama where he balls out makes it almost impossible for anyone to supplant him, including Stroud. And I don't think Tennessee wins without him having a big game. So root for Georgia to win and fall to someone else like Kentucky. Neither team really has much of a challenge after this game; very similar schedule for them. But we want Hooker to play horribly here.
November 3rd, 2022 at 1:33 PM ^
We want Georgia by like 5 TDs, to at least plant the seed of the "no teams that got blown out in the playoff" narrative.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
ND. LSU. Georgia big.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:23 PM ^
I do think Georgia big is the best way to go here. While I would rather see new teams in the playoff as well, I'd double rather see Corum win the Heisman.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
Part of me thinks we want TCU and Clemson (despite the valid "fuck them" stance with the latter) to both win out. Couple that with an undefeated Michigan, and I truly don't see a path to multiple SEC teams making it in. If the committee puts a 1-loss non-champ in the playoff over an undefeated P5 champ, blow the whole system up immediately.
Chaos is not what we should want (except within the SEC itself). Chaos in other conferences is exactly what allows all the SEC fuckery that has happened over the last decade-plus.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^
That’s kind of how I see it. TCU or Clemson losing will likely only serve to open a spot for another SEC team. It would really be threading the needle for the loser of The Game to get in over a second SEC team.
It could happen, but let’s say TCU and Bama drop out of the race with multiple losses. You have undefeated SEC and Big Ten champs, zero or one loss ACC champs in Clemson, an SEC East team with one loss, and the loser of The Game. I think one loss UGA or Tennessee gets in over the loser of The Game unless chaos reigns supreme. Bama winning the SEC with one loss further decreases that likelihood.
I think the most likely/best case scenario of a playoff for us (and college football) is:
1. UGA/Tenn
2. Michigan
3. Clemson
4. TCU
The only upset I’m rooting for this weekend is LSU over Bama.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:17 AM ^
I see no way that two B1G teams make the playoff, so in that sense I don't care--winning our own games takes care of everything.
My rooting interest is that there is only one SEC team in the playoff. The only way that will happen is if there are undefeated conference champions for the other three spots. So undefeated UM, TCU, and Clemson is my (unrealistic) hope.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:19 AM ^
Jeez do I feel sick saying this, but rooting for ND and Brian Kelly with all my heart (gags) this weekend. Ugh.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:20 AM ^
Well we are beating OSU and going 13-0 so I want the best playoff draw possible.
1. Clemson. Want them in because I don’t think they are very good.
2. LSU. Keep Bama out.
3. Doesn’t matter. I’ll say Georgia because I think it’s possible Tennessee drops one they shouldn’t elsewhere.
4. Wake, but I don’t think anyone else in the ACC is really in the playoff conversation.
5. Pitt. Cuse isn’t very good anyways.
6. TCU. If we could get a playoff of UM, UGA, Clemson, and TCU (in order) that would be a pretty good draw.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:24 AM ^
I think this is the last realistic chance for Tennessee to lose before a possible SEC title game. Their remaining games are, vs Mizzou, @ South Carolina, and @ Vandy. I don't think any of them can do it.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:21 AM ^
Clemson. Because it would be an easier win in the playoffs.(we ain't getting in with a loss) Fuck ND
LSU. Because we need to sit Nick down for this season. I've seen to many shenanigans and backdoor excapes from him
Ga/Tenn doesn't matter.
Tx Tech. The committee will finally want to reward someone not from the SEC/B1G.
AGIAN, WE AIN'T GETTING IN WITH A LOSS
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:22 AM ^
I think we would want to see Clemson win and somehow dominoes fall so that we end the year #1 !and Clemson #4 or have TCU be in the top 4 with us and Clemson because that match up would be an "easier" win
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:22 AM ^
Go Irish (gross) and Geaux Tigers!
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:23 AM ^
Michigan, Michigan, Michigan.
It’s rivalry week!
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:24 AM ^
ND over Clemson even though it will leave a bad taste in my mouth.
LSU over Bama because can't stand Bama.
Tennessee and Georgia is kind of a toss up for me.
Wake Forest and NC State - toss up.
Syracuse and Pitt - toss up.
Texas Tech over TCU because both of my parents went to school at Tech, and it makes my mom happy when they win.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
Always strive to make your mom happy.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:18 PM ^
Amen!
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
I want TCU and Clemson to win out. We are going to beat OSU and playing TCU or Clemson gives us a better chance in the semifinals than an sec team or a second game against osu.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
Rooting for a comfortable Michigan win and chaos everywhere else, same as always.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:32 AM ^
Bama at LSU... no, I just can't do it. Nothing against the players but have to root against the pole dancing crawfish.
Clemson needs to go down. I'll hold my nose and get behind that.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:55 AM ^
These are your choices this week. Yes, one of them is real!
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:36 AM ^
ND losing is better. Hurts recruiting, hurts their momentum. Michigan wins out a Clemson loss or win doesn't matter
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
Part of me wants to root for Clemson and TCU to prevent two or three SEC teams from making the playoff, because Michigan probably has to win out anyway.
But if we’re playing the what-if-the-Wolverines-lose-close-in-Columbus game…
Clemson at ND
ND. This knocks out Clemson.
Bama at LSU
LSU. A 2-loss West team may beat an undefeated East team in the SECCG and get in over a 1-loss Georgia if Oregon loses another game.
Tennessee at Georgia
Tennessee. The winner is in. The loser is probably in unless it’s Georgia and the above happens.
Wake Forest vs NC State
NC State. NC State could lose at Louisville and at North Carolina. I don’t see Wake losing at home against North Carolina and Syracuse. I’d root for NC State, if the goal is to have neither of them ranked in the final CFP poll.
Syracuse at Pitt
Pitt
Texas Tech at TCU
Tech
Oregon at Colorado
Colorado
Penn State at Indiana
Penn State
Forget it. If Michigan loses to OSU, I'd like to see #6 Michigan vs. #5 USC in the Rose Bowl with the winner having an argument for a National Championship over a 1-loss or 2-loss winner of the CFP/SEC Invitational.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^
And, going forward - Bama defeating Ole Miss next weekend - so, a two conference loss "West" division team can win the SEC CCG.
How would this work? If a 2-loss Bama wins the SEC championship, would they still make the playoffs? I just don't think the committee would keep an SEC champion out even if they did have 2 losses.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:12 PM ^
2 losses ends your playoff chances. Even in the SEC gamecock sucking world we live in it aint happenin.
November 3rd, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
Blue, a two loss SEC CCG champion - would be fun to see. Why? Well, I would enjoy seeing / hearing how the CFP Selection Committee would react - and, what they would do.
In this scenario - Bama losing to LSU, and defeating Ole Miss - the SEC West Champion, I believe, would be LSU. And, then - LSU would defeat either Georgia or Tennessee in the SEC CCG. So, the SEC East would have one team - which did not win the division, with one loss. The SEC East Division champ would have lost to the SEC West Division champ (in my example, a two loss LSU), with LSU being the SEC Champ.
Oh my - what would SEC lovers think and do? It's unlikely to happen, but - oh, what conversations would take place if it did.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^
I follow 6 college football teams, all schools of H&W, children (3) and their spouses (2). Follow their games every week and it's fun for all - creates a rooting interest for everyone in 6 games. Last Friday night we discovered that we were all watching Yale defeat Columbia on ESPNU. Needless to say, Yale does not get a lot of tv coverage other than their version of The Game. This week's schedule:
Michigan @ Rutgers
Yale v. Brown
Navy @ Cincinnati
CMU v. Buffalo (Wednesday)
Georgia v. Tennessee
DePauw v. Oberlin
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
Clemson winning over ND in OT with some controversial call allowing them to win. Both teams playing sloppy football.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^
In the end, these games probably aren't relevant as far as Michigan is concerned. If Michigan wins out, they're 100% in, regardless of what happens to anyone else. If they lose to OSU, barring major chaos elsewhere I think they're out. I just don't think an 11-1 Michigan team is going to get the benefit of the doubt the way an 11-1 OSU or an 11-1 Tennessee/Georgia would.
But, its a slow day so I'll bite.
1) Hoping for ND to lose an ugly, disgusting game where both teams look terrible. The weather in South Bend this weekend isn't supposed to be great, so hopefully we'll see an ugly game that ND wins 3-0 after seven overtimes of offensive ineptitude.
2) Northwestern beats OSU. I know its borderline insane, but dare to dream.
3) Bama-LSU - definitely want LSU to take them down and then for Bama to beat Ole Miss the following week. If this happens, it essentially kills the SEC West's chance to get to the CFP. If its not dead after that, its in a medically-induced coma.
4) UGa-Tennessee - I have an obligation to my wife, a big UGa fan, to root for Georgia in this game. So let's go with UGa winning and doing it in convincing fashion. Might as well remove one more SEC team from the equation.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
Cheering for Clem, Bama, & UGA to lose more. Not really able to root for anyone on those games.
November 3rd, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
This is how I view games involving two undesirable teams.
You don't root "for" anyone.
It's more that you root against one team more than the other.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
LSU-Bama is a game that you hope is a 0-0 tie then postponed due to lighting during overtime
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:04 PM ^
Three meteors, 2coinflips and TTU #WreckEm
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:06 PM ^
Im so excited for this weekend of games, there are some great games. Alabama LSU, Georgia vs Tennessee, ND vs Clemson. WOW what a slate of games. Is it saturday yet? Im so pumped. All these games will shake up the Playoff for sure and then to watch our boys in action at night is the cherry on top. Im so excited lets gooo Blue
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
I have such a hard time rooting for ND. They've picked of two really overrated teams in BYU and Syracuse and are posed to do it again with Clemson. It could completely change the vibe about their season and allow Freeman to continue to gather elite recruits.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:17 PM ^
Hear is your easy betting guide for the rest of the season.
Georgia wins out (bama gone)
Souf Carolina wins out (Tennessee gone, Clemson gone)
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm definitely cheering for Illinois over:
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
Doesn't anything that increases the odds of a (theoretical) 11-1 non-B1G East Champion Michigan making the CFB also increase the odds of a (theoretical) 11-1 non-B1G East Champion Ohio State?
E.g., you could be rooting for something that means Michigan beats Ohio State, but it's fairly meaningless because you're both in the playoffs.
To each their own --- but I'd personally be rooting for something that makes the U-M/OSU result in a few weeks decisive. E.g., if Michigan wins, that's it, Ohio State is 100% dead and buried.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^
Tennessee vs Georgia reminds me of a Champions League or World Cup group stage match where both sides park the bus and play to an uneventful tie that advances each team. That won't happen here. Unless it does. Or something.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
I don’t really believe Michigan can get in without beating osu given our schedule. Given that my rooting interests are actually about who I would rather see in the playoffs. So clemson over nd, lsu over bama, tcu winning out and Tennessee over Georgia are pretty easy picks. Would love a Michigan, Tennessee, tcu, clemson playoff
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^
ND blowout, LSU, GA blowout, Either, Pitt, TCU
I want an undefeated TCU to keep an SEC team off. There's no way an undefeated UM team is going to be affected either way.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:50 PM ^
I'm torn on Clemson/ND... If one of the SEC teams goes undefeated in the regular season, I like the idea of Michigan/Clemson in the 2/3 matchup in the playoffs. On the other hand, I hate the idea of OSU/Clemson in the 2/3 matchup if things don't go well in Columbus.