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In honor of Halloween and the release of the top 25 college football playoffs at the start, we decided to take a look at the scariest regular season game remaining for each of the top 10 teams the initial ranking of the selection committee. These matches do not necessarily represent the best opponent of each team because, as we remind each college football course, the decisive losses for the season can come from the most unexpected sources.
No. 1 Alabama: at LSU No. 3 (November 3)
Finally, it's time to see what Alabama can do for a competition worthy of the name. Nick Saban's team was not challenged once on an 8-0 record; you have probably heard that Tua Tagovailoa has not yet launched a fourth quarter pass. There is an excellent chance that changes Saturday. LSU has just won impressive victories over Georgia and the state of Mississippi. Playmakers are on defense duty – guarantees that Grant Delpit and John Battle have combined for eight interceptions – to make Tagovailoa's life more difficult. Both teams have been gearing up for this game for two weeks and the pressing Death Valley crowd could play a role if the Tigers score early.
If LSU can avoid getting hurt in the first half, the return of Devin White in the second half after a suspension of targeting will help tremendously. Alabama will also play in Mississippi State and Auburn later in November, but that's less scary as they will be in the Bryant-Denny Stadium. LSU at night could prove to be more of a trick than dealing with the scarlet tide.
No. 2 Clemson: No. 22 Boston College (November 10)
The undefeated Tigers were not as dominant as Alabama in 2018. Crimson Tide's only win on less than four touchdowns was a 22-point victory over a Texas A & M team that Clemson beat by two (Clemson had to face the Aggies route and Alabama no, but still). Clemson also narrowly escaped Syracuse home one afternoon when quarterback Trevor Lawrence left injured.
What Dabo Swinney's team has on Alabama is a much easier path to an unbeaten season. While Alabama faces three of the top 15 teams in Bill Connelly's S & P + standings in its last four games and potentially a fourth-place finish in the SEC championship game, Clemson could reach 13-0 without see who's in the top 30. That said, a trip to Chestnut Hill that faces Boston College is a scary trip that could derail the Tigers season. The last six games on the road from Clemson to British Columbia include two losses and two point wins, and it's been the Eagles' best team since 2008. BC is led by half-seller AJ Dillon and a playful lead defense that leads the ACC interceptions.
LSU # 3: # 20 Texas A & M (November 24)
There is no more scary opponent in the country (and perhaps over the last decade) than the 2018 version of Alabama. In order not to talk about the same game twice, let's focus on another formidable opponent for LSU. No matter what happens on Saturday, the Tigers should shed their next two opponents (Arkansas and Rice), setting up a tough game on the road at the end of the year. A & M is 4-1 at home this year. The only defeat against Clemson came when converting to two points. Quarterback Kellen Mond and halfback Trayveon Williams form a powerful duet for the backfield for Aggies, and Jace Sternberger may well be the best opponent in the country. If LSU beats Alabama, it becomes a classic hotspot. If LSU loses, A & M could play for second place in the SEC West. Whatever it is, this is an awesome road trip for the Tigers.
No. 4 Notre Dame: Northwestern (November 3)
The Irish have four wins to win in the playoffs. They are also away from the possibility of looking from the outside. This makes every match scary for Notre Dame and her fans, especially the road tests against Northwestern and USC. Trojans are the hardest of these S & P + teams, but they are upset by two consecutive losses and a decisive change. It is therefore difficult to predict what their meeting with the Irish will look like on November 24th.
Northwestern is the choice among several factors. The Wildcats have won four straight victories on Saturday's approach, including Michigan State and Wisconsin. They are at the head of the Big Ten West and stressed that they could play in bulk this week without the conference has ramifications. In other words: Our Lady will be the only team with something to lose to Ryan Field. Finally, Northwestern won two games in a row against Notre Dame, beating the Irish as outsiders at 27 points in 1995 and 17 points in 2014. It looks like a potentially scary night for the Irish, who have a record of 4 11 against the opponents of Power 5 in the last five months.
No. 5 Michigan: At No. 10 Ohio State (November 24)
Apart from a slow start to Northwestern a month ago, Michigan has been outstanding since its win at South Bend for the opening of the season. If the Wolverines win, they will be very well placed to be selected in their first playoff round. Two challenges remain before a possible test of the title of Big Ten: a visit of a dangerous team of Penn State this weekend and a trip to Columbus to face the hated rivals. Michigan should be able to handle the Nittany Lions at home, creating a huge opportunity against the state of Ohio.
The pressure will be on both teams, as the loser is eliminated from the playoff race (assuming one or the other does not slip sooner). But it's a particularly terrifying match for Michigan, which has a one-game lead in the Big Ten East and a higher ranking. The Wolverines have not won in Columbus since the year 2000. There are many demons to defeat if Michigan wants to carve a place in the top four.
No. 6 Georgia: vs. Auburn (November 10)
Saturday's game at Lexington is huge on paper. This is No. 6 against No. 9 and the winner wins the crown SEC East. But is it really scary for Georgia? Kentucky barely survived Missouri this past weekend and was nothing impressive against Vandy the week before. Georgia, meanwhile, seemed to get noticed in 2017 during a battle against Florida. The Kentucky offense is not up to the defense, but its 109th place (according to S & P +) will struggle to score the goal on the Bulldogs.
The somewhat discouraging game will take place a week later, when Auburn will come to Athens for the oldest rivalry of the great south. After three losses, Auburn had a disappointing season, finishing in the top 10 qualifying teams. If it happened a moment to pull itself together, it would be against Georgia (or Alabama) with a chance to get the Bulldogs out of the playoff race. Auburn did damage to the SEC in 2017, beating Georgia and Alabama in November after two untimely defeats. The Tigers' defense is good enough to stay tight against Georgia in the 18th.
No. 7 Oklahoma: at No. 13 West Virginia (November 23)
Oklahoma still has some tough games to finish to qualify for the Big 12 Championship game, and each of them is important, since only one setback probably eliminates the Sooners from the final conversation. Saturday's match in Lubbock and rival Oklahoma State's visit the following week are possible pitfalls, but the big test will take place in the last week of the regular season. That's when Oklahoma will travel to Morgantown for a Friday night Thanksgiving weekend match with Will Grier and West Virginia. The Mountaineers are one of the few teams in the country to attack Kyler Murray and will be on the point of firing the attack to break a series of six defeats against the Sooners.
No. 8 Washington State: c. Washington (23 November)
Washington State is the only Pac-12 team still alive in the playoff race. To achieve this, he must win and make sure that the teams he follows in the initial ranking abandon the games in November. This first part will not be easy in a conference apparently full of antipersonnel mines. The Cougars must first survive against Cal and Arizona, who beat Washington and Oregon last weekend, respectively. Assuming they can do it, a visit from the Huskies is a scary way to end the regular season. Washington's strong defense has defensive backs to challenge Gardnew Minshew and Wazzu's height attack. The Cougars have not won the Apple Cup since 2012.
No. 9 Kentucky: vs. No. 6 Georgia (3 November)
Kentucky has the opportunity this weekend to show that it's the real deal. If the Wildcats manage to beat the second defending champions, it will show that they really belong to the national elite. They would have the SEC East in hand and would add a nice win to their good against Florida and Mississippi earlier in the year. Kentucky will have the best performance of the year. Georgia is terrifying when it plays like it did against Florida. Jake Fromm takes care of the ball, D'Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield run efficiently and the defense plays. Top scorer Josh Allen and the Kentucky defense are expected to face off against Fromm & Co., but running back Benny Snell will have an incredible afternoon for the Wildcats offense to do enough to win.
No. 10 Ohio State: Michigan State (November 10)
Despite his embarrassing defeat against Purdue, Ohio State has everything it needs to win and play in the playoffs. The Buckeyes simply can not be trapped for November 24 and the Michigan game. The most likely state is Michigan State, where a strong Spartans team with a new quarter could cause OSU problems. Mark Dantonio's decision to put Brian Lewerke alongside rookie Rocky Lombardi worked perfectly against Purdue. Lombardi scored 318 yards and two touchdowns in a Spartan victory. The MSU's lineup is no shortage of talent, even with top team-mate Felton Davis III for the season. In addition, two of the last three Buckeyes visits to East Lansing allowed the Ohio States to score the same score of 17-16. Apart from the defeat of last season, Mark Dantonio still seems to be preparing his team for the Ohio State.
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