2022-23 NCAA Football (Week 12)

Games I watched (some of):

(1) Georgia 16-6 Kentucky

Ended up watching more of this than I figured I would simply because Georgia just didn't feel like playing offense, which made the game (sorta) competitive. UK played hard in the 4th quarter but the game was well over by that point. The score would suggest that this was a close game but not really, UGA controlled the game without much effort all the way through but they let Kentucky play them close because (follow me here) I think making UK look good actually makes this a more impressive W for Georgia: if they just won 41-10, which was totally on the table, then the stats dismiss the game whereas if they make Kentucky look good, then it seems like a hard fought victory (when it fact it was the lackluster-est of lackluster efforts by the #1 Dogs). Georgia brought C+ effort because they knew that was all they'd need. 

Top 25

Handled their business

(1) Georgia, (2) Ohio State, (6) Louisiana State, (7) Southern Cal, (8) Alabama, (9) Clemson, (11) Penn State, (12) Oregon, (15) Kansas State, (17) Washington, (18) Notre Dame, (19) Florida State, (21) Tulane. (23) Oregon State, (25) Cincinnati

Won but did not impress

(3) Michigan. Scurrying to hold off mediocre Illinois was not inspiring. I guess we should be impressed that they survived the classic trap game (looking ahead to Ohio State) but frankly it looked sloppy and lucky and hopefully they will cherish their opportunities a little better going forward. 

(4) Texas Christian. Scurrying to hold off mediocre Baylor makes for fun TV but makes TCU look shaky right at the wrong time. They got the W, yeah yeah yeah. 

Bad beat

(16) UCLA. The Bruins gave a game effort but Southern Cal is just better this season. 

Not so good

(5) Tennessee. Oh, man, getting smoked at South Carolina is not a good look. UT was already out of the running for the big prize by virtue of an L at UGA, but this L was just unforgiveable. 

(10) Utah. Gotta beat Oregon to win the PAC.

(13) North Carolina. Dropping a gimme (Georgia Tech) at home is a disappointing L. 

(14) Mississippi. Smoked at Arkansas, not a good way to go. 

(20) Central Florida. You lost to Navy? At home? Oh, man!

(22) Oklahoma State. Man, it wasn't that long ago that I was looking at the Cowboys as a for-real contender for the playoff. But this point they don't have a view of the field. 

(24) North Carolina State. Why is the Wolfpack still in the top 25? We finally rid the ranks of Kentucky, why didn't NC State get the gulag treatment, too? 

Next week's intriguing games

(19) Tulane @ (24) Cincinnati (your...whatever conference this is....championship right here)

(3) Michigan @ (2) Ohio State (okay, here it is)

(9) Oregon @ (21) Oregon State (remember: the Beavers are the one PAC team that prides themselves on defense)

(15) Notre Dame @ (6) Southern Cal (Irish's last best chance to call this a good season)