{"id":1111,"date":"2015-11-09T15:58:15","date_gmt":"2015-11-09T21:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=1111"},"modified":"2017-07-08T16:27:13","modified_gmt":"2017-07-08T21:27:13","slug":"football-playoff-contenders-big-12-review-okla-state-impressive-alabama-crushes-lsu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=1111","title":{"rendered":"Football Playoff Contenders; Big 12 Review; Okla. State Impressive; Alabama Crushes LSU"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"da263ab784cf4688a328f9f04f130560-2bee4b4a96f84303980ee7b9de5c50dd-5\"<\/a>
Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon (25) avoids Iowa State defensive back Jomal Wiltz (17) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. Oklahoma won 52-16. (AP Photo\/Alonzo Adams – See more at: http:\/\/www.fox23.com\/ap\/ap\/oklahoma\/baker-mayfield-leads-no-14-oklahoma-past-iowa-stat\/npJPZ\/#sthash.n0LCBPqn.dpuf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Alabama<\/span>, Oklahoma State<\/span>, Clemson<\/span> and\u00a0Notre Dame<\/span>\u00a0were impressive Saturday as viable teams to make the final four this year to contend for the mythical National Championship.\u00a0 Other major players also held serve with wins, maybe not\u00a0as impressive, but good enough to keep\u00a0their hopes alive for the two New Year’s evening games that will give us our two National finalists.<\/h6>\n

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\"Oklahoma<\/a>
Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington (28) carries a Mason Rudolph pass into the end zone for a touchdown in front of TCU cornerback Torrance Mosley (2) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. (AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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<\/h6>\n
Oklahoma State was too much for the Texas Christian University defense as Cowboy quarterback Mason Rudolph tossed five long touchdown passes (354 total yards in the air)\u00a0for a 49-29 blowout win over the\u00a0Horned Frogs\u00a0in Stillwater.\u00a0 James Washington, a sophomore, caught five passes for 184 yards and three long scores.\u00a0 The game wasn’t as close as the twenty point win.\u00a0 The OSU defense\u00a0forced TCU quarterback Trevone Boykins into four interceptions, dashing any hopes the All-American had for the Heisman Trophy.<\/h6>\n

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\"Oklahoma<\/a>
Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington (28) catches a pass in front of TCU safety Nick Orr (18) and carries it in for a touchdown in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. (AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Clemson proved it’s worth with a win over Florida State in ACC action.\u00a0 The Tigers will be in\u00a0ACC Championship game and have an inside tract to the final four.\u00a0They hold a big\u00a0win over the Irish as their other major accomplishment. I personally rank their defense up\u00a0with\u00a0Alabama and Oklahoma State. \u00a0The national\u00a0media and the coaches\u00a0have them as their number one team in the country and will be a shoe in for the playoffs.<\/h6>\n

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\"Oklahoma
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs ahead of Iowa State defensive back Jomal Wiltz (17) as Oklahoma wide receiver Dahu Green (18) looks to block during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. Oklahoma won 52-16. Associated Pr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Notre Dame beat Pittsburgh\u00a0in Pitt and with their upcoming game with Stanford, they also have a positive outlook for the playoffs.\u00a0 Beat Stanford and\u00a0the\u00a0Fighting Irish should be in….same for Stanford if\u00a0the win out.\u00a0 My money would be on the Irish and the Trees still have to play a PAC 12 Title game against a worthy opponent.<\/h6>\n

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\"Notre-Dame-Pittsburgh-Football\"<\/a>
Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to pass as Pittsburgh defensive lineman Ejuan Price (5) rushes in the second quarter of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo\/Keith Srakocic) (Keith Srakocic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Everyone loves Alabama and think they are the nation’s best defensive team.\u00a0 Win out and they will be in the playoffs as they are an SEC team and\u00a0their brand will bring a huge\u00a0national\u00a0television audience to the table.\u00a0 To be truthful, Alabama, Notre Dame and Oklahoma all have an advantage because of brand and in this political environment that is significant.<\/h6>\n

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My\u00a0final Four for the playoffs\u00a0(today)\u00a0would be Alabama, either Stanford or Notre Dame, \u00a0Clemson (and they should stay undefeated), and either Ohio State, Baylor, or Oklahoma State, with Ohio State getting in if all things are political.\u00a0 The Big 12 will\u00a0be\u00a0left out in the cold\u00a0again.\u00a0 Ohio State does have Michigan State, Michigan and Iowa to beat and are susceptible\u00a0to lose one of those three.\u00a0The Buckeyes are not as good as last years National Championship team. In the Big 12, an undefeated OSU or Baylor would take the Ohio State seed if they can run the table and go undefeated. If Oklahoma wins out, they would be the replacement.<\/h6>\n

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Final Four Prediction for 2015: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State<\/h6>\n

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Those ready to jump in (in not particular order at this time):\u00a0 Oklahoma State, Baylor, Iowa, Stanford, Oklahoma, LSU, TCU, Florida, Utah<\/h6>\n
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Fred’s Top 25<\/h6>\n
    \n
  1. \n
    Oklahoma State<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  2. \n
    Clemson<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  3. \n
    Ohio State<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  4. \n
    Baylor<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  5. \n
    Iowa<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  6. \n
    Houston<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  7. \n
    Oklahoma<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  8. \n
    Alabama<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  9. \n
    Notre Dame<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  10. \n
    Michigan State<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  11. \n
    Stanford<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  12. \n
    TCU<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  13. \n
    Utah<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  14. \n
    LSU<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  15. \n
    Navy<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  16. \n
    Michigan<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  17. \n
    North Carolina<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  18. \n
    Florida State<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  19. \n
    Washington State<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  20. \n
    UCLA<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  21. \n
    Florida<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  22. \n
    Wisconsin<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  23. \n
    Memphis State<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  24. \n
    Temple<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
  25. \n
    USC<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Best Team Performance of the week:\u00a0 Oklahoma State<\/h6>\n

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    Worst Team Performance of the week:\u00a0 LSU<\/h6>\n

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    Best Performance of the week:\u00a0 Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State<\/h6>\n

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    Worst Performance of the week:\u00a0 The\u00a0replay officials\u00a0that made the call in the Michigan State\/Nebraska game that allowed the NU receiver to go out of bounds and come back in to win the football game.<\/h6>\n

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