2017-18 NCAA Football (Week 12)

(24) Michigan 10-24 (5) Wisconsin
Wolverines held the Badgers close til halftime but they just don't have enough offense to control the clock or win the field position battle. It was just a matter of time before Wisconsin ground them down. Michigan still has one last high profile game with Ohio State next week; Wisconsin has one last tuneup game at Minnesota before facing the Buckeyes in the Big 10 final in two weeks.


Top 25
Handled their business
(1) Alabama, (2) Clemson, (3) Miami, (4) Oklahoma, (5) Wisconsin, (6) Auburn, (7) Georgia, (8) Notre Dame, (9) Ohio State, (10) Penn State, (11) Southern Cal, (12) TCU, (15) Central Florida, (16) Mississippi State, (17) Michigan State, (18) Washington, (20) LSU, (21) Memphis, (22) Stanford, (24) Northwestern, (25) Boise State

Not so good
(13) Oklahoma State. Came back late to make a game of it but they spotted Kansas State way too many points to make up.
(19) North Carolina State. They've had some good wins and some bad losses, Wake is playing well lately, should've seen this one coming.


Playoff as of now:
Oklahoma (they're already in, right?)
Auburn-Alabama-Georgia (I'll go with Alabama but they do still have their two toughest games ahead)
Clemson-Miami (I'll go with Clemson though Miami has looked good in the big games)
Wisconsin-Ohio State (Wisconsin is an easy call if they win, but Ohio State might need some good faith to get to the final four)

I'm not seeing Central Florida or the Pac-12 champ getting any love. I guess if Notre Dame throttles Stanford (on the road) and Ohio State barely squeaks by Wisconsin in an ugly game and Miami beats Clemson, maybe the Irish get some support, but that feels like a long shot.


Next week's interesting games
(1) Alabama @ (6) Auburn
Basically an SEC semi-final game: winner plays Georgia in the SEC final

(9) Notre Dame @ (20) Stanford
Strangely meaningless contest: Stanford's going to the Pac-12 final and Notre Dame goes to a good bowl game regardless of this outcome (though its in their best interest to get a big win, if possible)

(22) South Florida @ (13) Central Florida
Similar to the SEC, South Florida still has a shot at going to the American Conference championship against Memphis if they can get past Central Florida

(15) Washington State @ (14) Washington
If State wins they face Stanford in the Pac-12 final, Washington only gets bragging rights and spoiler status at home