Mid-Saturday breakdown
Tennessee crushed LSU 40-13 and Texas absolutely obliterated Oklahoma 49-0, improving both teams' stock in the Playoff race.
The Volunteers entered the weekend #17, projected at 9-3—with one of those losses coming at #16 LSU. But it looked like a close loss, giving Tennessee hope. As it turned out the game was not close at all as the Vols stormed to a 23-7 halftime lead and coasted to win 40-13.
Now Tennessee looks to be 10-2, and if they continue to play like this we can talk about possibilities for the Georgia and Alabama games, the SEC title, and the Playoff.
Texas came in #23, already holding 2 losses which makes Playoff hopes very slim (we gave them 0.3%). But if any team is going to do it, Texas is set up for a shot. They rank as one of the best teams in the nation, and that will only improve after their 49-0 destruction of Oklahoma. One of their two losses is to Alabama which probably doesn't hurt them much. The game vs. TCU is the big one, and now it looks like they can win that one at home. If they can win the Big Twelve—probably TCU again, but on a neutral field—they'd be 11-2 and within striking distance if a 2-loss team is all that's left.
TCU wins, and Cincinnati can get back on the board
TCU edged Kansas, 38-31, keeping the Horned Frogs 5-0 and still in line for a Big Twelve championship—if they can hold off a surging Texas. We'll have to see what our power ratings look like to know who is favored in the game at Texas, and in a likely rematch in the Big Twelve championship. Projected at 13-0 entering the week it's likely they'll be 12-1 or even 11-2, through no fault of their own based on Texas' performance.
Cincinnati is behind 17-14 at home against South Florida. Assuming they can turn that around, the Bearcats might be projected at 12-1 again, which would put them back in our projected Committee Top 25. Entering this weekend they were seen as 10-3, with two losses to SMU. But the Mustangs were blitzed 41-19 on Wednesday which probably tilts the future games to Cincy—again, assuming they can turn the USF game around.
Another Group of Five team looking to finish in the top 25 is San José State. The Spartans crushed UNLV 40-7, and with their remaining schedule very friendly they're in the mix for a New Year's Day bowl.
To do that they'd have to hope Cincy falters, as last year's Playoff team would finish in front if both are 12-1. Another strong contender is South Alabama, who has lost only to UCLA this year.
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