2021-22 NCAA Football (Week 12)

Games I saw (some of):

(3) Oregon 7-38 (23) Utah

Yeah, I saw that coming. Well, I didn't see that beatdown coming--dude, when Utah stuck the punt return as the clock expired to make it 28-0 at halftime, gah, the shit was over! Utah effortlessly moved down the field, just as effortlessly swatted away everything Oregon was bringing (just could not convert on 3rd or 4th down and missed 2 FGs), then piled on right at the end, nothing went right for Oregon this evening. Utah looked kinda nice, just hammered a top-5 team, they might end on a winning streak. 

(7) Michigan State 7-56 (4) Ohio State

Yipes! Once I realized, 'Oh Buckeyes are gonna score every time they touch the ball', and that was early on, it was pretty much over. Somehow it didn't matter what Sparty did, they just didn't matter at all. The outcome was merely to decide how bad the beating would be. I got a weird feeling that Michigan State will shrug this off and get back to business (*gulp* I already feel bad for Penn State's QB and that defense is gonna get run on). The Buckeyes are rolling right now, (I'd be Claude Rains-level shocked if Michigan pulled off the upset, but we'll see, gonna be fun), the playoff is taking shape and they look to be an interesting piece. 

Nebraska 28-35 (15) Wisconsin

Two fat bullies all bullying up on each other, it was a funner game than it probably should've been, felt like Wisconsin was always just a moment away from finishing off the game. Went right to the end, though, the Badgers never could quite put them away. A lot of tough defense followed by big plays, gritty but stylin', too. I'm still not impressed with Nebraska. Wisconsin should've/could've put this game away a lot sooner, but Wisconsin had a tough opening to the season and this is all garbage time play, they're a fun team, they're loose and look to make plays, but even when they win, those 3 L's are gonna weigh them down for a while. 

Iowa State 21-28 (13) Oklahoma

OU's vanilla offense is so weird: it feels like they should be magically putting points on the board without effort and yet they're not like that at all. Buckeyes, Wolverines and the Irish have found their offenses, the Sooners still have not, even going to super-Frosh (I like Williams) hasn't really made that much difference. I don't know what their deal is, that offense just is not dangerous when it seems like it ought to be. Iowa State is a nice team, a thorny team for good squads and while they had a nice entrenched defense, they didn't move the ball that well or seem like much of a threat and yet OU let them hang around. I can't help feel like there's more talent on this OU side than is getting into the game somehow, there's a plan that could make them perfect, did they think they could just walk to the playoffs? 

Top 25

Handled their business

(1) Georgia, (2) Alabama, (4) Ohio State, (5) Cincinnati, (6) Michigan, (8) Notre Dame, (9) Oklahoma State, (11) Baylor, (12) Ole Miss, (14) Brigham Young, (15) Wisconsin, (16) Texas A&M, (17) Iowa, (18) Pittsbrugh, (19) San Diego State, (20) North Carolina State, (22) UT-San Antonio, (23) Utah, (24) Houston, (25) Mississippi State

Won but did not impress

(13) Oklahoma. Yeah, I've complained about OU enough today. 

Bad beat

(7) Michigan State. They were so out of this game so quick, that they should wipe their memories that this even happened. 

(10) Wake Forest. Yeah, honestly: unranked, 3-loss Clemson is still better than Wake Forest. You know it, I know it, the American people know it. So even though Wake Forest still (I suppose) could've believed themselves still in the hunt for the Championship, they're not even as good as Clemson's worst team in years. Clemson is balling right now, too, not in playoff mode but they might could kick the shit out of some poor unsuspecting...(ah crap, it's gonna be Kentucky, isn't it?)...you know Clemson is surely the best 3-loss team: Georgia, NC State, Pitt were all good/ranked this season, Clemson lost to teams they usually beat but not to bad teams

Not so good

(3) Oregon. I can't say as I ever believed in Oregon (man, that Stanford game is hanging with me like an overcooked brisket) and the thrashing they got from Utah was quick and thorough. That W over Ohio State looks better and better but, man, Utah was the only other good team they played all year and they got smoked. I just don't see anything in this Oregon side, they're not a playoff team and I suspect they get smoked in a high profile bowl. 

Next week's intriguing matches

(9) Ole Miss @ Mississippi State (SEC West slug fest, doesn't really matter but could be a fun game)

North Carolina @ (20) North Carolina State (upset alert; State should finish this off but we'll see)

(18) Wake Forest @ Boston College (BC can be spoiler, Clemson sneaks back into the ACC championship with an L from Wake Forest)

(2) Ohio State @ (5) Michigan (game o' the week! I've never really warmed up to this Michigan squad but they'll be hosting the red hot Buckeyes; should be fun into the 4th quarter, right?)

(3) Alabama @ Auburn (doubt this will be a game but you never know)

(10) Oklahoma @ (7) Oklahoma State (this is your Big-12 Championship game really)

My top 6-ish:

(1) Georgia, (2) Ohio State, (3) Cincinnati, (4) Alabama, (5) Notre Dame, (6) Oklahoma/Oklahoma State

And I'd say....If Michigan beats Ohio State, then Cincinnati and Alabama each move up a spot, Michigan goes to #4. Either way, the loser of this game will likely finish #7.

And also....winner of OU/OSU jumps to #5 and Notre Dame probably doesn't get higher than #6 (unless UGA beats Bama).

And looking even further ahead...the outcome of UGA-Bama is just for seeding: Georgia still finishes top-4 either way (I think Bama and Georgia would switch places), Alabama drops to #6 with a loss (won't fall past the losers of Buckeyes/Wolverines or Sooners/Cowboys).