IF the season ended today, here is my FINAL FOUR...
1)
MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Bulldogs can put their stamp on being new SEC kings if they can win at Alabama on Saturday (a tall order indeed). Dak Prescott must be 100% and bring his best. Still have a trip to Ole Miss on Nov. 29th for the Egg Bowl.
2) ALABAMA: A white knuckler OT win (what's new?) against a very good (but not great) LSU team in Baton Rouge (where Saturday night's are usually no fun for the opposition). Blake Sims is going to have to have his best game of his life to out duel Dak Prescott Saturday. Home field could be the difference vs. MSU. Bama also has the Iron Bowl vs. Auburn on Nov. 29th.
3)
FLORIDA STATE: The win in Tallahassee over UVA was hardly overwhelming, but Jimbo's boys are still unblemished. Could that change at THE U this Saturday night? Duke Johnson will be ready, but tFSU survived at Louisville... the 'Noles can survive again.
4) OREGON: The Ducks have been rollin' since the loss to Arizona on Oct. 2nd and have made it back to my Top 4. However, the offensive line still scares me and the competition in their 5 game winning streak has been good, but not extremely difficult. Should roll to PAC-12 title game (probably against DANGEROUS Arizona State) with season ending wins over bottom feeders Colorado and Oregon State.
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5) ARIZONA STATE: Sun Devils survived a comeback attempt and then breezed to an impressive 55-31 win over Notre Dame Saturday. Should crush Oregon State and Washington State before a difficult game at rival Arizona on Nov. 28th. A PAC-12 title game with Oregon would be epic. ASU has enough talent to win the crystal football. #keepchoppinwood
6) BAYLOR: I don't care what the Final Four selection committee says this week, I always go head-to-head. The Bears did beat the Horned Frogs, 61-58, and that matters to me. True, TCU was most impressive in beating K-State and has the better schedule, but BU must get props for crushing OU 48-14 for their first win ever in Norman.
7) TEXAS CHRISTIAN: Horned Frogs have nice talent (and speed), you can ask Bill Snyder. They have a nice resume with wins over Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Kansas State. Should beat Kansas, Texas, and Iowa State to round out the season.
8) MISSISSIPPI: Still feel for Hugh Freeze and the Rebs after heartbreaker losses to LSU and Auburn back-to-back weeks. It would take a small miracle to get them into the Final Four, but they can make a final statement with wins at Arkansas and then in the Egg Bowl after a week off.
9) AUBURN: Yeah, they probably should not have lost to a inconsistent (yet talented) Texas A&M team last weekend, but Tigers are still one of the best in the country. The lucky bounces don't ALWAYS go your way, eh? More challenges await at Georgia and at Alabama in November.
10) OHIO STATE: Buckeyes showed a lot of confidence and swag against a good Michigan State defense while CRUSHING Sparty last Saturday. J.T. Barrett has done a remarkable job at quarterback in place of injured Braxton Miller. The rest of the schedule has been weak and bleak, at best.
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Top Teams in the state of North Carolina (as of this week)...
1) DUKE: Devils are now 18-5 combined ('13 & '14) and 10-4 in ACC games over that same period after a solid (but not spectacular) win at Syracuse Saturday. Cutcliffe can smell another Coastal title, but beating two teams hungry for bowl eligibility (Virginia Tech & UNC) within 5 days of each other won't be easy. There is even talk of Duke beating tFSU in ACC title game? HHHHHHHmmmmm...
2) ECU: Pirates must shake off tough loss at Temple with a win at Cincinnati Thursday (won't be easy). Shane Carden and ECU must show what they are made of now to get a nice bowl.
3 (TIE) UNC: Tar Heels must find a way to win two out of three (Pitt, @ Duke, NC State) to make it to a minor bowl. My mistake for thinking Pitt game was in The Steel City. Regardless, containing ACC POY James Conner will be a MAJOR task for this weak UNC D.
3 (TIE) NC STATE: NOW is the time! A win vs. Wake Forest at Carter-Finley seals a bowl game and a nice 2nd season for Coach Doeren. Lose the next two (also at UNC), and the seat starts to get warm for season #3.
5) WAKE FOREST: Wake gave Davis, Palmer, and Pollack something to talk about in that Thursday night ESPN game vs. Dabo and the Tigers. Freshman QB John Wolford is back and healthy (and having a nice rookie year). Deacs have often given The Pack fits (SSSHHHH... don't say that TOO loudly!)
6) APPALACHIAN STATE: THREE STRAIGHT FOR THE MOUNTIES!!! (Troy, Georgia State, Louisiana-Monroe) Tough game at Arkansas State this week to make it four.
