Oklahoma and Alabama on collision course……..Miami and Clemson also………

If any college football fan believes we have one team in the game that is totally untouchable, so powerful that they can and will win the National Championship without losing, he or she might examine the state of game today. 

 

With three significant weeks to go that include a bevy of conference title tilts, only Alabama, Wisconsin, Miami (Fla) and Central Florida remain with an unblemished record. Of those four, we have teams that have in the most part, played schedules that have been mediocre at best.  Sure, playing a Top Twenty-five team is not undesirable especially when you win the game, but a schedule that includes such weak-sisters-of-the-poor as Mercer (who is Mercer) is not in keeping with a great team.  Yes, most Power Five schools at the top play crap, but it is not something that I would want to pay to see. 

 

For all those that want to roast me on Alabama’s schedule, please refrain.  I, in fact, give the Tide kudos for their schedule this year, taking on Florida State in game one, abet not the Seminole team we expected to see in 2017, plus a game with Fresno State and conference games against a group of former powers including Texas A&M, LSU, and even Mississippi State.  With games with Auburn and a possible SEC title game with Georgia, this Alabama team, not the greatest we have seen in Tuscaloosa in recent years, is still worthy of a now number one ranking.  It is not that the Tide is all that great.  Some of these teams are just not all that good.  The once best conference is not as strong as in the past and facing some of these teams has showed that Alabama has kept up with being an outstanding team while some of their conference foes has slipped.  Still, Auburn will have something to say with Alabama and so will Georgia.

 

As for Wisconsin, a schedule void of any quality teams lend to a perfect record against a powder puff schedule.  Miami has one really nice win over a bogus Notre Dame and they still have to play Clemson down the road.  Central Florida is still Central Florida and should remain undefeated and get a New Year’s Day bowl where they will take their lumps. All in all, there is not one team that I can say is head and shoulders above any other. 

 

My Final Four that the Committee SHOUD pick (this week) might not include the four best teams at the end of the day.  This week I like  Alabama, Oklahoma, Clemson, and Auburn.  These four, to me, are the best teams in the country regardless to record.  My feeling is that the Committee will have a different list (that comes out Tuesday).

 

My Final Four Rankings (this week)

Alabama vs Oklahoma

Auburn vs Clemson

 

The Committee Rankings (projection)

Alabama vs Clemson

Oklahoma vs Miami

  1. Alabama
  2. Miami
  3. Oklahoma
  4. Clemson
Fred’s Top Twenty-five Rankings
  1. Alabama
  2. Miami (Fla)
  3. Wisconsin
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Clemson
  6. Auburn
  7. Oklahoma State
  8. Univ. of Central Florida
  9. TCU
  10. Southern Cal
  11. Georgia
  12. Notre Dame
  13. Ohio State
  14. Memphis
  15. Washington State
  16. Penn State
  17. Washington
  18. Michigan
  19. West Virginia
  20. South Florida
  21. Iowa State
  22. Iowa
  23. Army
  24. Mississippi State
  25. Stanford

 

Big Twelve Review

 

The Sooners proved that for at least one week they were the Crimson and Cream of old as they dismantled a very fine Texas Christian defense by taking a twenty-four point half-time lead in a 38-24 rout of the now twice beaten Horned Frogs.  The Sooners used a balanced attack of the passing of Heisman front runner Baker Mayfield and the ground/pass catching expertise of halfback Rodney Anderson as OU had the game in hand at the half.

The 6-2, 218-pound running back from Katy, Texas, became the first FBS player since at least 1996 to register at least 139 rushing and 139 receiving yards in a game.

Anderson racked up a career-high 290 all-purpose yards (11th most in OU history) against a Horned Frogs team that entered the game ranked first nationally in rushing defense (69.7 yards per game) and sixth nationally in total defense (284.1).

 

The final was OU 38 and TCU 20.

 

 

Oklahoma State held serve with another last minute interception in the end zone as they defeated a very good Iowa State Cyclone team in Ames, Iowa.  OSU again proved they can score against any school with a 49-42 win.  With an OU/TCU Big Twelve Big Twelve Title game, it is a strong possibility that the Pokes will play Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day, especially if the Sooners take down the Toads again. 

 

OSU steals win at Iowa State. Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images

 

 

Texas Tech took the prize in Jerry’s World in Arlington 38-24 over Baylor. The Bears just did not have enough to dismount the Raider from his horse.
West Virginia went into Manhattan Saturday and won 28-23.  The Mountaineers continue to hold on with chance of a Big Twelve title.  They need to beat OU in two weeks and hope for some other help.

 

Texas beat Kansas. What is new?  Well, KU did hold a one game winning streak over the Horns.

 

 

Fred’s Big Twelve Ranking
  1. Oklahoma
  2. Oklahoma State
  3. TCU
  4. Iowa State
  5. West Virginia
  6. Texas Tech
  7. Texas
  8. Kansas State
  9. Baylor
  10. Kansas

 

Predictions in the Big Twelve this week

 

Oklahoma 48 at Kansas 14
Oklahoma State 52 and Kansas State 24
West Virginia 31 and Texas 21
Texas Tech 35 and TCU 29
Iowa State 38 at Baylor 24

 

Last week:  4-1  Season 43-15
National Predictions
South Florida 43 and Tulsa 14  (Friday)
Mercer 2 and Alabama 0
Miami (Fla) 26 and Virginia 21
Wisconsin 21 and Michigan 17
Auburn 41 and La. Monroe 7
Arkansas 24 and Mississippi State 21
Temple 21 and Univ. of Central Fla. 18  (upset special)
Memphis 44 and SMU 22
Northwestern 26 and Minnesota 20
Clemson 30 and The Citadel 0
Virginia Tech 35 and Pittsburgh 10
Navy 25 and Notre Dame 24  (upset special)
Georgia 43 and Kentucky 28
Ohio State 56 and Illinois 7
Michigan State 26 and Maryland 21
Iowa 24 and Purdue 14
Penn State 50 and Nebraska 14
LSU 21 at Tennessee 9
North Carolina State 32 at Wake Forest 29
Ole MIss 31 and aTm 21
UCLA 42 and USC 36
Washington 31 and Utah 19
Stanford 39 and Cal 17

 

Feature Photo:

Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer (The Dallas Morning News)

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates after a score against TCU during the first half of an NCAA football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017.

Secondary Photo: 

Rodney Anderson in action against TCU…..Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer (The Dallas Morning News)

 

TCU safety Niko Small (2) has his helmet knocked off as he tries to bring down Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson (24) during the second half of an NCAA football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2 thoughts on “Oklahoma trashes Toads; Big Twelve and National Review; Predictions for this Saturday……

  1. It’s time people call FSU what they are, a 2 or 3 win team in the second week of November. They have done nothing at any point this year to show that they are a top 25 team, let alone a top 5 team. Just because people always rank, especially preseason, teams by the name on the jersey. And when was aTm and Mississippi St ever a powerhouse other than in their own mind. A decent season here or there doesn’t make a powerhouse.

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