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| Can Bo Wallace(14), and Hugh Freeze continue to win?(Photo Credit:Associated Press) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
Down goes everyone! What was labeled "Separation Saturday" lived up to its title, as Oklahoma, Alabama, and Oregon all lost, throwing the college football world into chaos. Teams are starting to emerge, with some being total surprises.
5. Georgia vs. Mizzou--The game involves two ranked teams, but you'd be hard pressed to explain why Mizzou is ranked. Their wins are over Toledo, UCF, and South Dakota State. Following their loss to Indiana, they fell in the rankings but one has to wonder if a team outside the SEC would have been ranked after losing to a mediocre team. Georgia on the other hand, is a talented team that struggles with consistency. Following their impressive win over Clemson, Georgia went on to struggle, and eventually lose to South Carolina, a team unable to stop anyone this season. Star running back Todd Gurley is out for this game, due to some NCAA bylaw violations. UGA is still stacked at tailback, but this group isn't as deep as it was just a couple of weeks ago. Both teams need a win to stay in the SEC East race.
4. Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M--Which Bo will show up? Will it be the Bo Wallace that beat Alabama last weekend, or will it be the Bo Wallace that struggled to beat Boise? That's the major question facing the Rebels this week as they make the trek to College Station. Texas A&M was dominated by Mississippi State last week, but is still an explosive team. Kenny Hill didn't look like the player who flashed onto the national scene, but it's safe to say that he isn't nearly as awful as the Kenny Hill that played last Saturday.
3. TCU vs. Baylor--Do you remember the old Southwest Conference? If you do, then this matchup brings back some pleasant memories. Even though this game is now a Big XII game, this rivalry goes back decades. TCU beat Oklahoma last week, and they did it with some big defensive stops. Gary Patterson has been criminally underrated for the better part of a decade, and he's managed to bring the Horned Frogs back into the national conversation. TCU has managed to do this with a very good defense, a unit allowing 14 points per game. Patterson will match wits with Art Briles, and the Baylor Bears. Bryce Petty leads one of the best offenses in the nation, and while Petty hasn't been getting much in the way of Heisman hype, he's a stud.
2. Auburn vs. Mississippi State-- Long an afterthought in the SEC, the Bulldogs are the toast of the conference, following their dominating win over LSU. Dak Prescott may be the front runner for the Heisman at this point, and Dan Mullen's team is ready to jump into the College Football Playoff fray. Auburn has quietly become the best and most consistent team in the country. They've dominated all season. Quarterback Nick Marshall has blossomed as a passer, making the Tigers even more dangerous. If you are college football purist, make sure to take note of the famous Miss. State cowbells, it's the vuvuzela of the sport.
1. Oregon vs. UCLA--This is the first elimination game of the season. The loser of this game will be out of the Playoff race, and likely will be out of the Pac-12 race as well. The Ducks are slowly eroding under Mark Helfrich, especially defensively. Marcus Mariota is still an elite quarterback, but it's obvious that this team isn't the same team that Chip Kelly led to the BCS Championship Game. Oregon looked sloppy and disorganized against Arizona, a team that doesn't have nearly the talent of the Ducks. UCLA came into this season as a dark horse title contender, but they've looked mediocre for most of the season. The same Bruins team that embarrassed Arizona State also lost to second tier Utah. Brett Hundley is still a player to watch, but he can't carry this team by himself. Look for this game to be a down to the wire shootout between two talented quarterbacks.
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