2019-20 NCAA Football (Week 11)

Games I saw some of:
(2) LSU 46-41 (3) Alabama
Wow! I thought LSU was the better team throughout, Bama played well in the 2nd half but I was confident LSU would hold on. Burrow was a stud down the stretch, Edwards-Helaire was making plays all over the place, still not used to seeing LSU with an offense! Alabama made some wildly out of character undisciplined mistakes (Tua's phantom fumble, botched punt, dumb penalty negated an interception, the interception and TD right before halftime) that pretty much dug a hole they couldn't get back out of. Najee Harris was great in the 2nd half, the only reason they stayed in it as long as they did. Great W for LSU, the path to the playoff is ahead; and a tough L for Alabama, I suppose they can hang around the playoff talk but I don't see a path for them (the Pac-12 is the real winner here).

(4) Penn State 26-31 (17) Minnesota
Hey, man, Minnesota was good! That bomb up the sidelines right at the end of the 3rd quarter was a baller play and Penn State did not see it coming. Minnesota made plays on both sides of the ball, avoided mistakes and got it done running the ball. I expected Penn State to play better and even to pull it out late, but their passing attack was not happening. Penn State feels back to being a reliably good program year in/year out and this season is another step forward. Good W for Minnesota--technically still alive in the playoff discussion, but they'd need to win at Iowa, Wisconsin and then beat the Buckeyes in the B-10 final, not likely but hey, if they pull all that off, I'm cool with them playing Clemson.



Top 25
Handled their business
(1) Ohio State, (2) Louisiana State, (5) Clemson, (6) Georgia, (10) Florida, (13) Wisconsin, (15) Notre Dame, (17) Minnesota, (20) Cincinnati, (25) Southern Methodist


Won but did not impress
(9) Oklahoma. Why is Oklahoma playing close games? That offense should be wearing opponents out, how is it that the Sooners keep giving up so many points?
(12) Baylor. Triple OT to beat a TCU team that couldn't score? Kinda weak, man.
(22) Boise State. I dunno: is stealing a W late in Wyoming something a ranked team does?


Bad beat
(3) Alabama. Played reasonably well and still never felt in the game...weird to see Alabama have a game like that
(4) Penn State. I thought they'd maul Minnesota, but they never got going. Credit Minnesota, man, they looked smart and hungry all over the field. Another close-but-no-cigar season for the Nittany Lions.
(16) Kansas State. Going to Austin right as you're getting some favorable momentum is tough. Got off to a good start but couldn't quite save it at the end. I'm calling that a bad beat because Kansas State probably shouldn't be 16th anyway.
(18) Iowa. Going on the road to Wisconsin felt like it could be a steal but the Badgers are still the Badgers.

Not good
(19) Wake Forest. Yeech! Straight housed in the 2nd half to VaTech.

Next week's interesting matchups:
(23) Navy @ (16) Notre Dame (Navy'll give the Irish a game: they'll run the ball, keep it low scoring, see if they can't steal one late)
(4) Georgia @ (12) Auburn (I think UGA is better, we'll see if Auburn has any fight left in 'em)
(8) Minnesota @ (20) Iowa (I think Minnesota is pretty good but Iowa won't be an easy W)
(10) Oklahoma @ (13) Baylor (two teams with great offense and zero defense...hmmmm, take the over!)