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)

2022-23 NCAA Football (Week 7)

Games I saw (some of):

(10) Penn State 17-41 (5) Michigan

Michigan was better. For a while the Nittany Lions held them to FGs and even kept the game close with a pick 6 and a big play TD. But even then it was evident that Michigan was moving the ball and putting points on the board by executing their game plan while Penn State was keeping pace with big (lucky) plays. In the 2nd half, the Wolverines laid the smack down and it was not a surprise. Michigan is legit (I'm kinda shocked they got jumped in the standings by the Vols!) and the collision course with Ohio State is still holding up as one of the important games of the season. As for the Nittany Lions, they're okay but they're not top tier (and no one is nearly as excited about the match up with the Buckeyes). 

(3) Alabama 49-52 (6) Tennessee

Great game! Back and forth action from beginning to end.  And, man, it's been a while since I've seen anyone slice through the Bama defense the way the Vols did on this day. I wondered if Tennessee had the depth to roll with the Tide and the answer is yes. Big ups for the Vols QB, I thought he was fucking great throughout. Both teams drove on each other with such ease that it's hard to measure either team's defense, both were MIA. And, okay, I'll say it: honestly the difference was Alabama's WR's just dropped too many balls, if they make half the catches they should've made, Alabama probably gets an extra score or at least takes time away from UT's offense. Oh well, for what it's worth, Alabama is still on track to get back to the playoff and as for Teneessee, well, all they have to do is beat Georgia (dang, Georgia still has to play both of these guys....ugh). 

(8) Oklahoma State 40-43 (13) Texas Christian

Fun game! Constant action, went all the way to the end, all you want in a football contest. In the 1st half OSU was clearly the better side, felt like they were going to hold it in the 2nd half, but TCU came to play and snuck past them late. I was impressed with both sides, still think OSU is a legit good team, still got a shot at the playoff, I suppose. Both teams can move the ball, both teams can score, another classic shootout. TCU is now in line to get the Big 12's spot in the playoff, but don't be shocked if OSU is still around by the end. 

(7) Southern Cal 42-43 (20) Utah

Another great game! (Damn, this was a great college football day!) An old timey Pac-12 run and gun match, back and forth action. Like the OSU-TCU game, it felt like Southern Cal was the better team early on and would make it hold up but Utah came back hard in the 2nd half and going for the 2-pointer to seal the victory...oh, mwah (*chef's kiss*)....thing of beauty. Utah's season is kinda over with two losses, but they still managed to thwart USC and that's what college football is all about. Two good teams knocking each other out puts UCLA in the driver's seat.

Top 25

Handled their business

(1) Georgia, (4) Clemson, (5) Michigan, (6) Tennessee, (9) Mississippi, (13) Texas Christian, (18) Syracuse, (20) Utah, (22) Kentucky, (23) Texas, (24) Illinois, 

Bad beat

(10) Penn State. Game effort, but not as good as Michigan. 

(15) North Carolina State. If the Wolfpack were as good as their top 20 ranking suggests then they would've finished off Syracuse, but they didn't...because they're overrated. 

(19) Kansas. Okay, okay, time to put the Jayhawk football back in the box. 

Not so good 

(2) Alabama, (7) Southern Cal, (8) Oklahoma State. All three of these games could've gone in Bad Beat but all three of these teams were higher ranked and the faves, so they should've won because they had more to lose, all there is to it. 

(16) Mississippi State. I'm surprised Kentucky still had winning football left in them, guess Mississippi State was, too. Hey, man, they needed this one and they didn't get it (SEC is an entire conference of spoilers at this point, Georgia better be on their toes).

(25) James Madison. Don't know them and I guess I don't need to.

Next week's intriguing matches: 

(14) Syracuse @ (5) Clemson (I'm still not a huge Clemson fan this year but they should slice through the Orange, we'll see)

(7) Mississippi @ Louisiana State (SEC got spoilers this year, Ol' Miss needs to bring it because even though we've all long forgotten about LSU, they're still dangerous)

(9) UCLA @ (10) Oregon (your PAC-12 championship)

(20) Texas @ (11) Oklahoma State (I think the Cowboys will bounce back but the Longhorns keep hanging around)

(24) Mississippi State @ (6) Alabama (No way Bama loses two in a row, right?)

(17) Kansas State @ (8) Texas Christian (I think TCU is the better team and will shine out big time, but we'll see)