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SportsPulse: University football insider Paul Myerberg and Dan Wolken discuss what the committee did well and bad in the second game of the playoff season.
UNITED STATES TODAY & # 39; HUI
Mississippi State running back Aeris Williams scored a touchdown against Alabama in his 2017 game.(Photo: Matt Bush, USA TODAY Sports)
As the 11th week of the university football calendar arrives, we are now at the point where only something really unexpected will change the playoff table. While the history of this sport is cluttered with chaotic events, the proverbial basket of apples seems relatively stable for the first candidates.
Keeping all this in mind, here are the top five games that could at least have an impact on the college football playoff race.
No. 2 Clemson at No. 14 Boston College
Saturday, 8 pm ET, ABC
The Atlantic ACC is not yet a fait accompli, despite the dominant performance of the Tigers in recent years. They will seek to seal the deal this weekend against the Eagles, who are trying to win the division title themselves. Even if British Columbia manages to dispel this surprise, it must still negotiate the rest of the difficult day of November that ends with a date with Syracuse.
Clemson is now in the form of a champion. Rookie Trevor Lawrence, the rookie, handles the heavy load on key players Travis Etienne and Tavien Feaster. The ground defense of British Columbia, anchored by Lieutenant Connor Strachan, could allow Lawrence to extend the field a little more. British Columbia need a big game from RB AJ Dillon to stop the Tigers' superb defensive front from going to quarterback Anthony Brown, but few O-lines have managed to keep the linemen defensive of Clemson Des Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant regularly.
No. 7 Ohio State at Michigan State
Saturday, noon ET, Fox
The Buckeyes still have some way to go before the college football playoffs. They will have the opportunity to host Michigan rival at the end of the month with a likely spot in the match for the Big Ten title. But the Buckeyes have not had the impression of playing in the playoffs in recent weeks, after a defeat in Purdue and a narrow victory against Nebraska. The Spartans are not bright, but they are still dangerous, as evidenced by the recent wins against Penn State and the same Purdue team.
The Ohio State offensive remains quite daunting as QB Dwayne Haskins can divide the ball between an impressive number of large-scale threats such as RB J.K. Dobbins and WR Parris Campbell. But Michigan State's stingiest defense against the race, thanks in large part to fellow countrymen Joe Bachie and Andrew Dowell, could help the Spartans keep the game within reach. Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke will have to be more efficient than his season average of 56%, and he should not add to his total of eight interceptions. Buckeyes CB Kendall Sheffield will try to ensure its success.
Always in trouble: The Ohio State Defense seeks to improve as the series race warms up
Oklahoma State at No. 6 Oklahoma
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
The annual Bedlam fight shows that the Sooners occupy a familiar position at the top of the Big 12 standings and that the Cowboys are always looking for consistency. It's a game of rivalry, of course, so everything can and will probably happen.
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray overcame some mistakes before finally leading his team against Texas Tech in his last game. Trey Sermon, another big player, also helped, and WRs Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb provide consistent score threats. However, despite changes previously made by coaching staff, Sooners fans are worried every week. The Cowboys' quarterback, Taylor Cornelius, has the weapons to keep, including RB Justice Hill and WR Tylan Wallace, but OSU can not afford a lot of empty goods.
Receiver of Oklahoma receivers Marquise Brown scored a touchdown in the Oklahoma State defense in their 2017 game. (Photo: Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports)
# 15 State of Mississippi at No. 1 Alabama
Saturday, 15.30 ET, CBS
Crimson Tide's place in the SEC final has been secured and recent history has shown that there is no need to stay undefeated to win an invitation to the final. But the team's commitment to leading the Nick Saban process focuses on taking nothing for granted. The Bulldogs, who are happy to have already qualified for the cup, should not expect a reprieve during this visit to Tuscaloosa.
While Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa made his first interception of the season at LSU, he still managed two touchdowns and ran for another despite continuing to play on a sore knee. But it was DT Quinnen Williams and the Tide defense that controlled the situation from start to finish, as SEC observers expected. Nick Fitzgerald may be harder to pin down, and he has options like WRs Osirus Mitchell and Stephen Guidry who can challenge Tide's high school. But Bulldogs can not afford to play from behind; RB Najee Harris and Alabama's offensive line certainly know how to get closer to the lead.
Auburn at No. 5 Georgia
Saturday 19h ET, ESPN
Georgia's appointment with Alabama for the SEC title is also assured. Unlike Crimson Tide, the Bulldogs already have a notch in the losing column and must avoid a second before attempting to win a round-robin playoff. Auburn can only play spoiler at this point, but has got a needed win against Texas A & M. The Tigers have now reached cup eligibility before embarking on that bad finish line that will also take them in Tuscaloosa.
The Bulldogs' quick success against Kentucky's excellent defense in the decisive win, with D'Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield both eclipsing the record of the century, was huge, especially as a result of the unit's difficulties during of the defeat against LSU last month. Auburn also has solid ground defense, but quarterback Georgia Jake Fromm's precision should help keep the raceways open. While quarterback Jarrett Stidham had managed to rescue the Tigers a week ago, the team still did not have the balance needed to make coach Gus Malzahn's attacking system as effective as possible. Auburn WR Darius Slayton should know Bulldogs CB Deandre Baker well.
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