TWIF Notes 10/28/19
Welcome back!
What an exciting weekend of college football- close games, big upsets, and blowouts (of course). 3 of the top 4 teams- and the 3 predicted by most to finish at the top- all lost, and the 3 teams that led the ACC Coastal going into the weekend all lost. Chaos reigns! There were no games against FCS competition this week.
One interesting tidbit: 5-win teams were only 8-12 this week. 3 of those wins (and losses) were to other 5-win teams. That means that when 5-win teams played against teams with a lesser record (none played a 6 or 7 win team), they were 5-9.
One interesting tidbit: 5-win teams were only 8-12 this week. 3 of those wins (and losses) were to other 5-win teams. That means that when 5-win teams played against teams with a lesser record (none played a 6 or 7 win team), they were 5-9.
Here is how the games turned out, and some thoughts on each (or at least most).
FBS vs FBS games
SMU hung on to defeat Houston on Thursday night, 34-31. The Mustangs remain undefeated, and are set up for a big game against Memphis on Saturday (ESPN Gameday will be there!). The Cougars were expected to do well this year, but are only 3-5/1-3. However, 3 of their losses have been by 7 points or less. These 2 teams have been rivals since way back when both were in the old Southwest Conference, and Houston's lead in the series is now at 21-13-1.
On Friday, USC came back to beat Colorado 35-31. The Trojans, 5-3/4-1, still hold the lead in the Pac 12 South due to their victory over Utah in September, so as long as they keep winning, there isn't anything Utah can do about it. The Buffaloes fell to 3-5/1-4, and are out of the Pac 12 race altogether.
Ohio State pummeled Wisconsin 38-7 on Saturday, and the Buckeyes continue to impress. It looks like they'll be rolling into their game against Penn St on Nov 23 undefeated, as they have an off week before facing Maryland at home and Rutgers on the road. Not much chance of a loss there. The Badgers have now lost 2 straight, and are a full 2 games behind Big Ten West leader (or is that legend...) Minnesota. They have to win out, including a win over the Gophers, and hope Minnesota loses at least 1 more to Penn St, @Iowa, or @Northwestern. Then again, they must also fend off Iowa.
Kansas State provided the 1st shocker of the day with the 48-41 upset of Oklahoma, and the game was not as close as the score indicated. The Wildcats led the Sooners 24-23 at halftime, then scored 24 straight points before the Sooners mounted a furious comeback that was too little, too late. The Big 12 has 4 teams with 2 conference losses, OU has 1, and Baylor is undefeated. The chances for a playoff berth from the Big 12 took a big hit with this loss, and many of the leaders still have to play each other. Should be an exciting finish to the conference race!
Iowa blanked Northwestern 20-0. The Hawkeyes are still in the Big Ten West title chase, as they still have to face the 2 teams that are ahead/tied: Minnesota and @Wisconsin. They must win out and hope UM loses another game. The Wildcats have been outscored 38-140 in 5 conference games, an average score of 7.6-28. Not good...
Appalachian State remained undefeated at 7-0/4-0 as they defeated South Alabama, 1-7/0-4, 30-3. The Mountaineers have a tough 3-game stretch coming: Ga Southern, @S Carolina, and @Ga State. The Jaguars are likely to finish worse than last year's 3-9 record.
Miami, Fl eked out a close win over Pittsburgh, 16-12, and the ACC Coastal is a complete mess: 4 teams have 2 losses and the other 3 have 3, so no one is out of the race. At least not technically. The Hurricanes, 4-4/2-3, have won 2 of their last 3, and have a relatively easy remaining schedule, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything in the Coastal. The Panthers drop to 5-3/2-2. Many thought Pitt were the favorites to win the division, but this loss hurts tremendously. They are 1/2 game behind Virginia, who they lost to, and UNC (they play Nov 14), and they are tied to Va Tech, who they also lost to. Tough going for the Panthers.
San Jose State beat Army 34-29, and the Army team we all expected to see has just disappeared, as they are now in full collapse mode. This is a team that went 11-2 last year and took Michigan to OT in the 2nd week. The Black Knights have now lost 4 straight, and suddenly a bowl bid is in jeopardy, as Army is 3-5, and only games at home against UMass and VMI look like certain wins. The Spartans are 4-4/1-3, and they're flirting with bowl eligibility. They're game this weekend against Boise St is almost certainly a loss, but they have winnable games @Hawai'i, @UNLV, and against Fresno St at home.
Texas A&M demolished Mississippi State 49-30. The Aggies stay in the race for 3rd place in the SEC West, while the Bulldogs will be hoping for a win @Arkansas this weekend to stay out of the basement.
Illinois whipped Purdue 24-6, and the Illini are on a 2-game winning streak, their 1st since opening the 2018 season with wins over Kent St and W Illinois, and at 4-4/2-3, have a chance for a bowl game, as they have winnable games against Rutgers and Northwestern, both at home. The Boilermakers fell to 2-6/1-4, and have had a sort of Jekyll and Hyde season, looking really good against some teams, even in losses, while looking terrible against others. Looks like they'll be staying home for the holidays.
Rutgers got their 2nd (and probably last) win of 2019 with their 44-34 victory over Liberty. The Scarlet Knights best hope for another win this year is this weekend @Illinois, since they close with games against Ohio St, Mich St, and @Penn St. the Flames lost for the 1st time since losing their 1st 2 games, snapping a 5-game winning streak.
Western Michigan destroyed Bowling Green 49-10, and the Broncos are only 1/2-game behind MAC West leader Ball St. WMU will play Ball St next Tuesday with a chance to take over the lead. The Falcons are 2-6/1-3 but are still capable of winning the MAC East, at least mathematically, they are.
Southern Miss kept Rice winless with a 20-6 win over the Owls. The Golden Eagles trail La Tech by a game in the CUSA West, but have already lost to the Bulldogs, so they'll need some help if they are to win the division.
Wyoming crushed Nevada 31-3, and the Cowboys, at 6-2/3-1, can still win the MWC Mountain division. They play @Boise St in 2 weeks (after an off week). The Wolfpack fell to 4-4/1-3, and are all but eliminated in the MWC West.
Ohio kept their MAC title hopes alive with a 34-21 win over Ball State, handing the Cardinals their 1st conference loss. The Bobcats will play Miami next Wednesday with the MAC East lead on the line. Interestingly enough, Ohio has that Wednesday game followed by 3 straight Tuesday games, and this after 8 straight Saturday games. The Cardinals play Tuesday @WMU, but then play their next 2 games on Saturday, before finishing with a Friday game against Miami.
Marshall survived at home against WKU, winning 26-23. The Thundering Herd are now 1/2-game behind the Hilltoppers, and now obviously hold the tiebreaker edge. WKU has the more difficult remaining schedule of the 2.
Georgia Southern walloped New Mexico State 41-7, and the Aggies are 0-8. The Eagles are 4-3/2-1, and have a big game @ rival App St on Thursday, Halloween.
LSU won a big game over Auburn 23-20. The Bayou Bengals remain undefeated at 8-0/4-0, and have an off week before playing @Alabama on Nov 9. The Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles will get better against Ole Miss this week before taking an off week, then hosting Georgia, Samford, and Alabama to end the season.
Penn State stomped Michigan State 28-7. The Nittany Lions stay undefeated at 8-0/5-0, and are off before travelling to play Minnesota in a clash of unbeaten teams. The Spartans fall to 4-4/2-3, and have been outscored 17-100 over the last 3 games, all losses (duh!). They take a week off before hoping to defeat Illinois, but that's no sure thing.
TCU stunned Texas 37-27 for the 2nd big upset in the Big 12. The Longhorns, at 5-3/3-2, have dropped into a tie for 3rd place with Iowa St. The Horned Frogs are only 1/2-game behind, at 4-3/2-2. UT is off before hosting Kansas St, but TCU plays @Okla St.
Minnesota routed Maryland 52-10. The Golden Gophers remain undefeated going into their 2nd bye week, and will host an undefeated Penn St team on Nov 9. Will Gameday be there? The Terrapins are 3-5/1-4, and host Michigan before travelling to Ohio St.
In the 3rd major upset in the Big 12, Oklahoma State beat Iowa State 34-27. The Cowboys won their 1st conference road game since winning @Kansas in the 5th game of the 2018 season. They are now 5-3/2-3. The Cyclones, 5-3/3-2, lost for the 1st time at home since the 3rd game of 2018, against Oklahoma.
UConn bested UMass 56-35 in a meaningless game, at least outside of New England. The Huskies are 2-6 in their last season in FBS. The Minutemen fall to 1-7.
Charlotte upset North Texas 39-38, and the 49ers are now 3-5/1-3. The Mean Green are 3-5/2-2, and their chances of winning the CUSA West took a severe hit, as they are now 2 games behind La Tech, but they play on Nov 9 in Ruston.
Middle Tennessee destroyed FIU 50-17, and the Panthers, 4-4/2-3, saw their 3-game winning streak ended. The Blue Raiders move to 3-5/2-2, and since their remaining schedule is less than daunting, they have a decent chance to make a bowl game.
FAU demolished ODU 41-3. The Owls rebounded after their loss to Marshall last week, and they have now won 5 of their last 6, and stand at 5-3/3-1, and 1/2 game behind WKU in the CUSA East. The Monarchs are 1-7/0-4, and won't come close to matching last year's 4 wins.
FSU topped Syracuse 35-17 in a battle of mediocre P5 teams. The Seminoles, 4-4/3-3, have a chance to finish 2nd or 3rd in the ACC Atlantic, but any team in the ACC seems capable of beating any other team (except Clemson), so who knows. The Orange are in full collapse mode, having lost 3 straight by ever increasing margins. Syracuse is 3-5/0-4.
Louisville stunned Virginia 28-21, and the ACC Coastal is in full disarray. The Cavaliers drop to 5-3/3-2, but are still tied at the top of the division. The Cardinals, 5-3/3-2, have quietly won 3 of their last 4, their only loss against Clemson.
Stanford continued their schizophrenic season by defeating Arizona 41-31. The Cardinal, 4-4/3-3, have won 3 of their last 4, while the Wildcats, 4-4/2-3, have lost 3 straight.
Indiana outlasted Nebraska 38-31, and the Hoosiers are a sneaky 6-2/3-2, but haven't beaten anyone of note. The Cornhuskers are 4-4/2-3, but have a decent chance at a bowl game, but it's no certainty. IU may finish 8-4.
Navy squeaked by Tulane 41-38, and the Midshipmen are bowl eligible at 6-1/4-1, and are very much in the AAC West title race. Their only loss is to Memphis, and they play SMU at home on Nov 23. The Green Wave have lost 2 straight after starting the season 5-1, and they are 5-3/2-2.
Buffalo upended Central Michigan 43-20, ending CMU's 3-game winning streak. The Chippewas are now 5-4/3-2, but they remain in the thick of the MAC West race, especially since they still have Ball St and Toledo on their schedule yet to be played. The Bulls are 4-4/2-2, and are only a game out of 1st, but they've already lost to both leaders.
Toledo won in overtime over Eastern Michigan 37-34. The Rockets snapped a 2-game losing streak, and move to 5-3/2-2. The Eagles are 4-4/1-3, and 6 of their last 9 losses have been by 7 points or less.
Miami, Oh defeated Kent State 23-16, and the Golden Flashes, 3-5/1-3, have lost 2 straight and 3 of 4. The Redhawks are 4-4/3-1, and are tied atop the MAC East with Ohio, whom they will play next Tuesday.
Northern Illinois crushed Akron 49-0. The Huskies are 3-5/2-2 and back in the MAC West race. the Zips are one of the worst teams in FBS at 0-8/0-4.
USF routed East Carolina 45-20. The Bulls are 4-4/2-2, but with their closing slate- Temple, Cincy, Memphis, @UCF- making a bowl will be difficult. The Pirates 3-5/0-4 needed this win for any reasonable chance at a bowl. Now it would take an upset, either versus Cincy or @SMU.
Hawai'i defeated New Mexico 45-31 in Albuquerque. The Rainbow Warriors, 5-3/2-2, trail SDSU by 1 1/2 games in the MWC West, but play against the Aztecs on Nov 23, so if they win out, they will win the division. The Lobos dropped to 2-6/0-4, and may not win another game, which would be their 3rd straight season of 3 or fewer wins. HC Bob Davie may not be long for the job.
North Carolina eked by Duke, holding off a late charge to win 20-17. The Tar Heels, 4-4/3-2, have won 2 of their last 3 after losing 3 straight, and 3 of their 4 wins, and all 4 of their losses, have come by 6 points or less, with all but 1 of those by 3 points or less. The Blue Devils have lost 2 straight and 3 of 4 since routing Va Tech on Sept 27. Their record is now 4-4/2-3.
Tennessee pounced on South Carolina 41-21, and the Volunteers, 3-5/2-3, suddenly look like a team that may make a bowl, especially with their relatively easy closing schedule- UAB, @Kentucky, @Missouri, Vandy. The Gamecocks, 3-5/2-4, seem to have put all their eggs in the basket of beating Georgia, as they have lost 2 straight since then. They host Vandy and App St the next 2 wins, and they need to win both if they hope to make a bowl.
Alabama demolished Arkansas 48-7, but the game was 41-0 at halftime. The Crimson Tide are 8-0/5-0, and have an off week before hosting LSU on Nov 9. The Razorbacks host Miss St for homecoming, and if they can win this one, will escape the bottom of the SEC West, at least for a week.
Kansas perpetrated the 4th Big 12 upset of the week by upending Texas Tech 37-34. The Jayhawks are 3-5/1-4, snapped a 4-game losing streak, and will have 4 chances to get a 2nd conference win for the 1st time since 2008! The Red Raiders fall to 3-5/1-4, and are in danger of finishing behind KU in the Big 12. If that happened, it would be the 1st time the Jayhawks will have finished higher than 10th in the conference since 2014, and only the 2nd time since 2010- 3 coaches ago.
UCF destroyed Temple 63-21, and the Owls, 5-3/2-2, have lost 2 straight. The Knights move to 6-2/3-1, and are 1/2 game behind leader Cincinnati in the AAC East, but UC holds the tiebreaker edge.
Memphis survived Tulsa 42-41. The Tigers are 7-1/3-1, and thei only loss was @Temple, in a game with some controversy. The Golden Hurricane have lost 4 straight after a decent 2-2 start to the season, but all 4 losses were to top AAC teams- @SMU, Navy, @Cincy, Memphis- and all but 1 was within 9 points. They play @Tulane this week, but then host UCF. Those 5 AAC foes are a combined 33-5, with 2 of the wins/losses to teams within that group. Tough schedule!
Arkansas State routed Texas State 38-14, and the Red Wolves, 4-4/2-2, stay in the SBC West race, while the Bobcats, 2-5/1-2, still have an outside shot, but it's not very likely.
Georgia State continues to surprise, defeating Troy 52-33. The Panthers are a robust 6-2/3-1, and are in 2nd place in the SBC East. It's possible their game against App St at home on Nov 16 could be for 1st place in the division! The Trojans, 3-4/1-2, have lost 3 of their last 4, but hope to be able to right the ship (or horse???) against CCU this weekend.
Clemson crushed Boston College 59-7, and the Tigers have only won 2 games with a margin of victory of less than 31 points: by 14 over TAMU and by 1 over UNC. Their only remaining "challenge" looks to be Wake Forest on Nov 16. The Eagles have lost 3 of 4 to fall to 4-4/2-3.
Michigan stomped all over Notre Dame 45-14, and the Wolverines are 6-2/3-2. The Fighting Irish fell to 5-2, and all hope for a playoff berth has been washed away. The Irish will try to rebound against Va Tech, while UM plays @Maryland. These 2 teams won't meet again until 2033. Michigan leads the all-time series 25-17-1.
UCLA continued their mid-season turnaround with a 42-32 win over Arizona State. The Bruins stand at 3-5/3-2, and have won 2 straight. They are still in the race for the Pac 12 South title, as they are only one game behind co-leaders USC and Utah. They play at Utah on Nov 16 and @USC on Nov 23. If they win their last 4, they win the South. The loss was a devastating blow for the title hopes of the Sun Devils, as they fall to 5-3/2-3, and have already lost to 2 of the 3 teams above them.
Colorado State surprised Fresno State (and everybody else!) by going on the road and winning 41-31. The Rams have won 2 straight after enduring a 4-game losing streak, and at 3-5/2-2, stand a chance to make a bowl game, but that will require at least 2 upsets. With this win, they matched last year's 3 wins, and 1 more would be an improvement, but will that be enough to buy HC Mike Bobo another year? The Bulldogs have been a little bit of an enigma this year after 2 great seasons, both with 10+ wins. FS is 3-4/1-2, and any hope of 10 wins is out the window. They played well in close losses to USC and Minnesota (OT loss), but struggles a bit against NMSU and FCS Sacramento St, and got blown out by Air Force, and then this loss. They seem capable of winning, or losing, each of their last 5 games.
Kentucky finally lived up to their promise with a 29-7 home win over Missouri. The Wildcats are 4-4/2-4 and are off before hosting Tennessee. The Tigers, 5-3/2-2, are 5-0 at home and 0-3 on the road, and have an off week before playing @Georgia. The Dawgs, incidentally, will be playing 3 straight games against teams coming off a bye!
Louisiana Tech routed UTEP 42-21. The Bulldogs lead CUSA West at 7-1/4-0, but still have to play @Marshall and @UAB in consecutive weeks. The Miners are 1-6/0-4, and their remaining schedule is immaterial to anyone outside El Paso, Texas.
Utah shut out California 35-0. the Utes have won 4 straight games by the average score of 36.5-5.75, but they have a big game @Washington this week before an off week. the Golden Bears are 4-4/1-4, and have lost 4 straight after winning their 1st 4. How did this team beat Washington?
Air Force staked a claim to 2nd place in the MWC Mountain with a 31-7 victory over Utah State. The Falcons are soaring at 6-2/4-1, their only losses on the road at Boise St by 11 and at Navy by 9. They can possibly force a 3-way tie for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy if they can beat Army this weekend, and then the midshipmen pull off a huge upset over Navy in December. The Aggies drop to 4-3/3-1, and play rival BYU this weekend.
Oregon scored with only seconds left to stun Washington State 37-35. The Cougars had score with about a minute left to take the lead, but the Ducks kicked a FG as time expired. WSU is 4-4/1-4, and their hopes of a division crown, and a 2nd consecutive 10+ win season, has ended, but they could still win 9 for a 3rd straight season, and 4 of the last 5, but that would mean beating Stanford and winning @Washington, something they haven't done since 2012. However, they could still win 8 games for the 5th straight season, but that would require winning at least 1 of the above mentioned games. The Ducks, along with Utah, are the best hope for the Pac 12 to get a team in the playoff, but either team must win out, including in the Pac 12 CG. Oregon has a dangerous game @USC this week, but if they win that, everything is set up for a 1-loss Oregon to play a 1-loss Utah in the Pac 12 CG, and there would be a strong argument for the winner to make the playoff. But there's still a lot of football to be played...
San Diego State struggled with a weak UNLV, but pulled out a 20-17 victory on the road. The Aztecs are 7-1/4-1, and lead Hawai'i in the MWC West by 1 1/2 games. They play @Hawai'i on Nov 9, and that game could decide the division. The Rebels had their closest loss of the season, and at 2-6/0-4, they've had lots of losses to compare to. UNLV plays @Colo St next.
On Friday, USC came back to beat Colorado 35-31. The Trojans, 5-3/4-1, still hold the lead in the Pac 12 South due to their victory over Utah in September, so as long as they keep winning, there isn't anything Utah can do about it. The Buffaloes fell to 3-5/1-4, and are out of the Pac 12 race altogether.
Ohio State pummeled Wisconsin 38-7 on Saturday, and the Buckeyes continue to impress. It looks like they'll be rolling into their game against Penn St on Nov 23 undefeated, as they have an off week before facing Maryland at home and Rutgers on the road. Not much chance of a loss there. The Badgers have now lost 2 straight, and are a full 2 games behind Big Ten West leader (or is that legend...) Minnesota. They have to win out, including a win over the Gophers, and hope Minnesota loses at least 1 more to Penn St, @Iowa, or @Northwestern. Then again, they must also fend off Iowa.
Kansas State provided the 1st shocker of the day with the 48-41 upset of Oklahoma, and the game was not as close as the score indicated. The Wildcats led the Sooners 24-23 at halftime, then scored 24 straight points before the Sooners mounted a furious comeback that was too little, too late. The Big 12 has 4 teams with 2 conference losses, OU has 1, and Baylor is undefeated. The chances for a playoff berth from the Big 12 took a big hit with this loss, and many of the leaders still have to play each other. Should be an exciting finish to the conference race!
Iowa blanked Northwestern 20-0. The Hawkeyes are still in the Big Ten West title chase, as they still have to face the 2 teams that are ahead/tied: Minnesota and @Wisconsin. They must win out and hope UM loses another game. The Wildcats have been outscored 38-140 in 5 conference games, an average score of 7.6-28. Not good...
Appalachian State remained undefeated at 7-0/4-0 as they defeated South Alabama, 1-7/0-4, 30-3. The Mountaineers have a tough 3-game stretch coming: Ga Southern, @S Carolina, and @Ga State. The Jaguars are likely to finish worse than last year's 3-9 record.
Miami, Fl eked out a close win over Pittsburgh, 16-12, and the ACC Coastal is a complete mess: 4 teams have 2 losses and the other 3 have 3, so no one is out of the race. At least not technically. The Hurricanes, 4-4/2-3, have won 2 of their last 3, and have a relatively easy remaining schedule, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything in the Coastal. The Panthers drop to 5-3/2-2. Many thought Pitt were the favorites to win the division, but this loss hurts tremendously. They are 1/2 game behind Virginia, who they lost to, and UNC (they play Nov 14), and they are tied to Va Tech, who they also lost to. Tough going for the Panthers.
San Jose State beat Army 34-29, and the Army team we all expected to see has just disappeared, as they are now in full collapse mode. This is a team that went 11-2 last year and took Michigan to OT in the 2nd week. The Black Knights have now lost 4 straight, and suddenly a bowl bid is in jeopardy, as Army is 3-5, and only games at home against UMass and VMI look like certain wins. The Spartans are 4-4/1-3, and they're flirting with bowl eligibility. They're game this weekend against Boise St is almost certainly a loss, but they have winnable games @Hawai'i, @UNLV, and against Fresno St at home.
Texas A&M demolished Mississippi State 49-30. The Aggies stay in the race for 3rd place in the SEC West, while the Bulldogs will be hoping for a win @Arkansas this weekend to stay out of the basement.
Illinois whipped Purdue 24-6, and the Illini are on a 2-game winning streak, their 1st since opening the 2018 season with wins over Kent St and W Illinois, and at 4-4/2-3, have a chance for a bowl game, as they have winnable games against Rutgers and Northwestern, both at home. The Boilermakers fell to 2-6/1-4, and have had a sort of Jekyll and Hyde season, looking really good against some teams, even in losses, while looking terrible against others. Looks like they'll be staying home for the holidays.
Rutgers got their 2nd (and probably last) win of 2019 with their 44-34 victory over Liberty. The Scarlet Knights best hope for another win this year is this weekend @Illinois, since they close with games against Ohio St, Mich St, and @Penn St. the Flames lost for the 1st time since losing their 1st 2 games, snapping a 5-game winning streak.
Western Michigan destroyed Bowling Green 49-10, and the Broncos are only 1/2-game behind MAC West leader Ball St. WMU will play Ball St next Tuesday with a chance to take over the lead. The Falcons are 2-6/1-3 but are still capable of winning the MAC East, at least mathematically, they are.
Southern Miss kept Rice winless with a 20-6 win over the Owls. The Golden Eagles trail La Tech by a game in the CUSA West, but have already lost to the Bulldogs, so they'll need some help if they are to win the division.
Wyoming crushed Nevada 31-3, and the Cowboys, at 6-2/3-1, can still win the MWC Mountain division. They play @Boise St in 2 weeks (after an off week). The Wolfpack fell to 4-4/1-3, and are all but eliminated in the MWC West.
Ohio kept their MAC title hopes alive with a 34-21 win over Ball State, handing the Cardinals their 1st conference loss. The Bobcats will play Miami next Wednesday with the MAC East lead on the line. Interestingly enough, Ohio has that Wednesday game followed by 3 straight Tuesday games, and this after 8 straight Saturday games. The Cardinals play Tuesday @WMU, but then play their next 2 games on Saturday, before finishing with a Friday game against Miami.
Marshall survived at home against WKU, winning 26-23. The Thundering Herd are now 1/2-game behind the Hilltoppers, and now obviously hold the tiebreaker edge. WKU has the more difficult remaining schedule of the 2.
Georgia Southern walloped New Mexico State 41-7, and the Aggies are 0-8. The Eagles are 4-3/2-1, and have a big game @ rival App St on Thursday, Halloween.
LSU won a big game over Auburn 23-20. The Bayou Bengals remain undefeated at 8-0/4-0, and have an off week before playing @Alabama on Nov 9. The Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles will get better against Ole Miss this week before taking an off week, then hosting Georgia, Samford, and Alabama to end the season.
Penn State stomped Michigan State 28-7. The Nittany Lions stay undefeated at 8-0/5-0, and are off before travelling to play Minnesota in a clash of unbeaten teams. The Spartans fall to 4-4/2-3, and have been outscored 17-100 over the last 3 games, all losses (duh!). They take a week off before hoping to defeat Illinois, but that's no sure thing.
TCU stunned Texas 37-27 for the 2nd big upset in the Big 12. The Longhorns, at 5-3/3-2, have dropped into a tie for 3rd place with Iowa St. The Horned Frogs are only 1/2-game behind, at 4-3/2-2. UT is off before hosting Kansas St, but TCU plays @Okla St.
Minnesota routed Maryland 52-10. The Golden Gophers remain undefeated going into their 2nd bye week, and will host an undefeated Penn St team on Nov 9. Will Gameday be there? The Terrapins are 3-5/1-4, and host Michigan before travelling to Ohio St.
In the 3rd major upset in the Big 12, Oklahoma State beat Iowa State 34-27. The Cowboys won their 1st conference road game since winning @Kansas in the 5th game of the 2018 season. They are now 5-3/2-3. The Cyclones, 5-3/3-2, lost for the 1st time at home since the 3rd game of 2018, against Oklahoma.
UConn bested UMass 56-35 in a meaningless game, at least outside of New England. The Huskies are 2-6 in their last season in FBS. The Minutemen fall to 1-7.
Charlotte upset North Texas 39-38, and the 49ers are now 3-5/1-3. The Mean Green are 3-5/2-2, and their chances of winning the CUSA West took a severe hit, as they are now 2 games behind La Tech, but they play on Nov 9 in Ruston.
Middle Tennessee destroyed FIU 50-17, and the Panthers, 4-4/2-3, saw their 3-game winning streak ended. The Blue Raiders move to 3-5/2-2, and since their remaining schedule is less than daunting, they have a decent chance to make a bowl game.
FAU demolished ODU 41-3. The Owls rebounded after their loss to Marshall last week, and they have now won 5 of their last 6, and stand at 5-3/3-1, and 1/2 game behind WKU in the CUSA East. The Monarchs are 1-7/0-4, and won't come close to matching last year's 4 wins.
FSU topped Syracuse 35-17 in a battle of mediocre P5 teams. The Seminoles, 4-4/3-3, have a chance to finish 2nd or 3rd in the ACC Atlantic, but any team in the ACC seems capable of beating any other team (except Clemson), so who knows. The Orange are in full collapse mode, having lost 3 straight by ever increasing margins. Syracuse is 3-5/0-4.
Louisville stunned Virginia 28-21, and the ACC Coastal is in full disarray. The Cavaliers drop to 5-3/3-2, but are still tied at the top of the division. The Cardinals, 5-3/3-2, have quietly won 3 of their last 4, their only loss against Clemson.
Stanford continued their schizophrenic season by defeating Arizona 41-31. The Cardinal, 4-4/3-3, have won 3 of their last 4, while the Wildcats, 4-4/2-3, have lost 3 straight.
Indiana outlasted Nebraska 38-31, and the Hoosiers are a sneaky 6-2/3-2, but haven't beaten anyone of note. The Cornhuskers are 4-4/2-3, but have a decent chance at a bowl game, but it's no certainty. IU may finish 8-4.
Navy squeaked by Tulane 41-38, and the Midshipmen are bowl eligible at 6-1/4-1, and are very much in the AAC West title race. Their only loss is to Memphis, and they play SMU at home on Nov 23. The Green Wave have lost 2 straight after starting the season 5-1, and they are 5-3/2-2.
Buffalo upended Central Michigan 43-20, ending CMU's 3-game winning streak. The Chippewas are now 5-4/3-2, but they remain in the thick of the MAC West race, especially since they still have Ball St and Toledo on their schedule yet to be played. The Bulls are 4-4/2-2, and are only a game out of 1st, but they've already lost to both leaders.
Toledo won in overtime over Eastern Michigan 37-34. The Rockets snapped a 2-game losing streak, and move to 5-3/2-2. The Eagles are 4-4/1-3, and 6 of their last 9 losses have been by 7 points or less.
Miami, Oh defeated Kent State 23-16, and the Golden Flashes, 3-5/1-3, have lost 2 straight and 3 of 4. The Redhawks are 4-4/3-1, and are tied atop the MAC East with Ohio, whom they will play next Tuesday.
Northern Illinois crushed Akron 49-0. The Huskies are 3-5/2-2 and back in the MAC West race. the Zips are one of the worst teams in FBS at 0-8/0-4.
USF routed East Carolina 45-20. The Bulls are 4-4/2-2, but with their closing slate- Temple, Cincy, Memphis, @UCF- making a bowl will be difficult. The Pirates 3-5/0-4 needed this win for any reasonable chance at a bowl. Now it would take an upset, either versus Cincy or @SMU.
Hawai'i defeated New Mexico 45-31 in Albuquerque. The Rainbow Warriors, 5-3/2-2, trail SDSU by 1 1/2 games in the MWC West, but play against the Aztecs on Nov 23, so if they win out, they will win the division. The Lobos dropped to 2-6/0-4, and may not win another game, which would be their 3rd straight season of 3 or fewer wins. HC Bob Davie may not be long for the job.
North Carolina eked by Duke, holding off a late charge to win 20-17. The Tar Heels, 4-4/3-2, have won 2 of their last 3 after losing 3 straight, and 3 of their 4 wins, and all 4 of their losses, have come by 6 points or less, with all but 1 of those by 3 points or less. The Blue Devils have lost 2 straight and 3 of 4 since routing Va Tech on Sept 27. Their record is now 4-4/2-3.
Tennessee pounced on South Carolina 41-21, and the Volunteers, 3-5/2-3, suddenly look like a team that may make a bowl, especially with their relatively easy closing schedule- UAB, @Kentucky, @Missouri, Vandy. The Gamecocks, 3-5/2-4, seem to have put all their eggs in the basket of beating Georgia, as they have lost 2 straight since then. They host Vandy and App St the next 2 wins, and they need to win both if they hope to make a bowl.
Alabama demolished Arkansas 48-7, but the game was 41-0 at halftime. The Crimson Tide are 8-0/5-0, and have an off week before hosting LSU on Nov 9. The Razorbacks host Miss St for homecoming, and if they can win this one, will escape the bottom of the SEC West, at least for a week.
Kansas perpetrated the 4th Big 12 upset of the week by upending Texas Tech 37-34. The Jayhawks are 3-5/1-4, snapped a 4-game losing streak, and will have 4 chances to get a 2nd conference win for the 1st time since 2008! The Red Raiders fall to 3-5/1-4, and are in danger of finishing behind KU in the Big 12. If that happened, it would be the 1st time the Jayhawks will have finished higher than 10th in the conference since 2014, and only the 2nd time since 2010- 3 coaches ago.
UCF destroyed Temple 63-21, and the Owls, 5-3/2-2, have lost 2 straight. The Knights move to 6-2/3-1, and are 1/2 game behind leader Cincinnati in the AAC East, but UC holds the tiebreaker edge.
Memphis survived Tulsa 42-41. The Tigers are 7-1/3-1, and thei only loss was @Temple, in a game with some controversy. The Golden Hurricane have lost 4 straight after a decent 2-2 start to the season, but all 4 losses were to top AAC teams- @SMU, Navy, @Cincy, Memphis- and all but 1 was within 9 points. They play @Tulane this week, but then host UCF. Those 5 AAC foes are a combined 33-5, with 2 of the wins/losses to teams within that group. Tough schedule!
Arkansas State routed Texas State 38-14, and the Red Wolves, 4-4/2-2, stay in the SBC West race, while the Bobcats, 2-5/1-2, still have an outside shot, but it's not very likely.
Georgia State continues to surprise, defeating Troy 52-33. The Panthers are a robust 6-2/3-1, and are in 2nd place in the SBC East. It's possible their game against App St at home on Nov 16 could be for 1st place in the division! The Trojans, 3-4/1-2, have lost 3 of their last 4, but hope to be able to right the ship (or horse???) against CCU this weekend.
Clemson crushed Boston College 59-7, and the Tigers have only won 2 games with a margin of victory of less than 31 points: by 14 over TAMU and by 1 over UNC. Their only remaining "challenge" looks to be Wake Forest on Nov 16. The Eagles have lost 3 of 4 to fall to 4-4/2-3.
Michigan stomped all over Notre Dame 45-14, and the Wolverines are 6-2/3-2. The Fighting Irish fell to 5-2, and all hope for a playoff berth has been washed away. The Irish will try to rebound against Va Tech, while UM plays @Maryland. These 2 teams won't meet again until 2033. Michigan leads the all-time series 25-17-1.
UCLA continued their mid-season turnaround with a 42-32 win over Arizona State. The Bruins stand at 3-5/3-2, and have won 2 straight. They are still in the race for the Pac 12 South title, as they are only one game behind co-leaders USC and Utah. They play at Utah on Nov 16 and @USC on Nov 23. If they win their last 4, they win the South. The loss was a devastating blow for the title hopes of the Sun Devils, as they fall to 5-3/2-3, and have already lost to 2 of the 3 teams above them.
Colorado State surprised Fresno State (and everybody else!) by going on the road and winning 41-31. The Rams have won 2 straight after enduring a 4-game losing streak, and at 3-5/2-2, stand a chance to make a bowl game, but that will require at least 2 upsets. With this win, they matched last year's 3 wins, and 1 more would be an improvement, but will that be enough to buy HC Mike Bobo another year? The Bulldogs have been a little bit of an enigma this year after 2 great seasons, both with 10+ wins. FS is 3-4/1-2, and any hope of 10 wins is out the window. They played well in close losses to USC and Minnesota (OT loss), but struggles a bit against NMSU and FCS Sacramento St, and got blown out by Air Force, and then this loss. They seem capable of winning, or losing, each of their last 5 games.
Kentucky finally lived up to their promise with a 29-7 home win over Missouri. The Wildcats are 4-4/2-4 and are off before hosting Tennessee. The Tigers, 5-3/2-2, are 5-0 at home and 0-3 on the road, and have an off week before playing @Georgia. The Dawgs, incidentally, will be playing 3 straight games against teams coming off a bye!
Louisiana Tech routed UTEP 42-21. The Bulldogs lead CUSA West at 7-1/4-0, but still have to play @Marshall and @UAB in consecutive weeks. The Miners are 1-6/0-4, and their remaining schedule is immaterial to anyone outside El Paso, Texas.
Utah shut out California 35-0. the Utes have won 4 straight games by the average score of 36.5-5.75, but they have a big game @Washington this week before an off week. the Golden Bears are 4-4/1-4, and have lost 4 straight after winning their 1st 4. How did this team beat Washington?
Air Force staked a claim to 2nd place in the MWC Mountain with a 31-7 victory over Utah State. The Falcons are soaring at 6-2/4-1, their only losses on the road at Boise St by 11 and at Navy by 9. They can possibly force a 3-way tie for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy if they can beat Army this weekend, and then the midshipmen pull off a huge upset over Navy in December. The Aggies drop to 4-3/3-1, and play rival BYU this weekend.
Oregon scored with only seconds left to stun Washington State 37-35. The Cougars had score with about a minute left to take the lead, but the Ducks kicked a FG as time expired. WSU is 4-4/1-4, and their hopes of a division crown, and a 2nd consecutive 10+ win season, has ended, but they could still win 9 for a 3rd straight season, and 4 of the last 5, but that would mean beating Stanford and winning @Washington, something they haven't done since 2012. However, they could still win 8 games for the 5th straight season, but that would require winning at least 1 of the above mentioned games. The Ducks, along with Utah, are the best hope for the Pac 12 to get a team in the playoff, but either team must win out, including in the Pac 12 CG. Oregon has a dangerous game @USC this week, but if they win that, everything is set up for a 1-loss Oregon to play a 1-loss Utah in the Pac 12 CG, and there would be a strong argument for the winner to make the playoff. But there's still a lot of football to be played...
San Diego State struggled with a weak UNLV, but pulled out a 20-17 victory on the road. The Aztecs are 7-1/4-1, and lead Hawai'i in the MWC West by 1 1/2 games. They play @Hawai'i on Nov 9, and that game could decide the division. The Rebels had their closest loss of the season, and at 2-6/0-4, they've had lots of losses to compare to. UNLV plays @Colo St next.
That's it for now! I hope you are enjoying reading my recaps as much as I enjoy writing them. As I've said before, all the research is my own, though I might repeat something I have heard during a game or read in an article. Come back tomorrow for my Power Rankings, Wednesday for my Odds and Ends, and Thursday for Paul's Picks. Oh, and don't forget to follow me on Twitter: @pbanderson.
Until next time, may you and your loved ones be blessed!
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