Tag: College Football
College Football Playoff Rankings: Notre Dame, And the Three Other 7-2 Teams
No. 16 Notre Dame and three other college football teams in the College Football Playoff top-25 have seven wins and two losses.
With losses to Georgia and Michigan, the Notre Dame college football team is looking down the barrel in this year’s College Football Playoff.
Considering the circumstances that surrounded the countless departures on defense and then the injuries leading up to Week 1 of the 2019 season, sitting at No. 16 doesn’t happen often for Brian Kelly. The first time the Fighting Irish have occupied such real estate was back in 1952. Since then, only eleven times (excluding preseason polls) has the program experienced a college football’s poll bottom percentile. Because of this, Notre Dame is expected to play in the Camping World Bowl against a conference who has had twists and turns almost all season long, the Big 12.
The two losses may have hurt Notre Dame’s chances of being on the inside-looking-out, but it’s not the only 7-2 team in the College Football Playoff Top 25.
No. 15 Wisconsin
Running back Jonathan Taylor and kicker Collin Larsh both have been the backbone of Wisconsin’s offense. The Badgers two losses come at the expense of Illinois and Ohio State – the latter’s defense who kept Taylor to only 52 yards rushing and forced Wisconsin’s pass game with Jack Coan. For the most part, its defense itself has remained in tact, blanking four opponents. Over the past three games specifically, it has given up over 21 points per contest. Remaining on Paul Chryst’s schedule is Nebraska, Mizzou and the eighth-ranked, row-the-boat-coach Fleck Minnesota Gophers.
No. 14 Michigan
Prior to playing Notre Dame, Michigan didn’t have the same swag against Wisconsin and Penn State. Both away games, Michigan coughed up the ball four times against the Badgers and were held scoreless for almost two full quarters against the Nittany Lions. At this point, it’s really Ohio State’s conference, but Michigan has somewhat regained its footing and lies only a couple of spots ahead of Notre Dame. The Wolverines haven’t played a game since Nov. 2 and that couldn’t come a moment too soon. Going forward, there lies a surprisingly trippy home stretch ahead with Michigan State, Indiana and The Game to round off the season.
No. 12 Auburn
Of the three teams on this list, Auburn has the toughest end-of-season schedule against No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 Alabama, who recently forfeited its No. 1 spot to LSU. Most significantly to Gus Malzahn’s team this year was a season opener win against then-No. 11 Oregon, followed by an eight point win against Texas A&M. Losses to Florida and LSU within three weeks of each other was likely the red flag for the committee, though no one hardly ever understands their deliberations and final decisions. On Nov. 23, there is a rehearsal game for Auburn before the Iron Bowl. Quarterback Bo Nix has been up and down with incompletions and a lack of targets. It’s a team that’s much like the SEC version of Wisconsin – depend on the run and a defense that’s just as effective against the run as well.
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Northern Illinois vs. Toledo Fearless Prediction, Game Preview
Northern Illinois vs. Toledo fearless prediction and game preview.
[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]
Northern Illinois vs. Toledo fearless prediction and game preview.
Northern Illinois vs. Toledo Broadcast
Date: Wednesday, November 13
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH
Network: ESPN2
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Northern Illinois (3-6) vs. Toledo (6-3) Game Preview
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What’s Going To Happen
The MAC West is already muddled, and it was made more so with Western Michigan’s thrilling win over Ohio on Tuesday night.
Northern Illinois is out of the MAC title chase with a loss, and it’s ensured of a losing season if it drops this. Win, and it has to get by Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan to hope for a swag bag trip.
Toledo has had a rocky year, but it beat Western Michigan and still has Central Michigan to deal with. It’s the Rockets’ last home game of the season, and it’s going to be a balmy 25 degrees at game time.
Toledo’s running game has to own this game from the start.
The league’s best ground attack already has a 1,052-yard, ten-touchdown year out of Bryant Koback, helping to lead the way for an O that’s rushed for over 500 yards in the last two weeks. He’s banged up, but there are plenty of other options – Toledo is 6-0 when running for 190 yards or more, and 0-3 when rushing for fewer.
The Northern Illinois run defense isn’t all that bad, but the team is 0-4 when it gives up 190 yards or more.
It’s about to give up 190 yards or more.
The Huskie defensive front doesn’t get behind the line and doesn’t generate enough of a pass rush to be disruptive. NIU can move the ball, but it’s not consistent enough to come through late to pull this off on the road.
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Northern Illinois vs. Toledo Prediction, Line
Toledo 31, Northern Illinois 24
Bet on NIU vs. Toledo with BetMGM, or for latest line
Toledo -2, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
– Get Tickets For This Game
Must See Rating: 2
5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks
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Bowling Green vs. Miami University Fearless Prediction, Game Preview
Bowling Green vs. Miami University fearless prediction and game preview.
[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]
Bowling Green vs. Miami University fearless prediction and game preview.
Bowling Green vs. Miami University Broadcast
Date: Wednesday, November 13
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH
Network: ESPNU
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Bowling Green (3-6) vs. Miami University (5-4) Game Preview
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What’s Going To Happen
And now it’s all there for the taking for Miami.
Thanks to its win over Ohio last week, and with wins over Buffalo and Kent State, MU will be the 2019 MAC East champion with a win over a Bowling Green team that needs this to become bowl eligible.
And, by the way, as a cherry on top, the RedHawks can get to six wins and be bowl eligible with a win, too.
The Falcons were good enough to shock Toledo, and they won their free-space game last week against Akron, but they have to win out to get to six wins.
On a three-game winning streak, MU doesn’t do much of anything on offense, it doesn’t have a passing game, and it doesn’t do much to control the clock. So how is it winning? The defensive line lives behind the line and the secondary is great at locking down against mediocre offenses.
Bowling Green doesn’t do enough through the air to make MU worry, and the running game isn’t good enough to take over.
Miami was going to be cranked up before to win this game, and now that it has its goals available, it’ll play at another level – even if it’s not scintillating.
Bowling Green has been obliterated by a combined score of 215-17 in its four road games. Miami doesn’t have the offense to come up with a wipeout, but it’ll win easily.
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Bowling Green vs. Miami University Prediction, Line
Miami 30, Bowling Green 13
Bet on BGSU vs. MU with BetMGM, or for latest line
Miami University -17.5, o/u: 49.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
– Get Tickets For This Game
Must See Rating: 2
5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks
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Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Fearless Prediction, Game Preview
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt fearless prediction and game preview.
[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt fearless prediction and game preview.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN
Network: SEC Network
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Kentucky (4-5) vs. Vanderbilt (2-7) Game Preview
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Why Kentucky Will Win
Does Vanderbilt have any hope to complete a downfield pass?
Commodore QB Riley Neal hasn’t been right for a few weeks and missed the Florida game. Even when he’s been healthy, the offense has struggled to move, scoring more than ten points just once in the last five games.
Overall, the passing game is averaging just over five yards per throw with the combination of quarterbacks failing to complete more than 55% of their passes over the last five games.
This isn’t an Vandy offense that can come out and start scoring in bunches. Kentucky needs to start running, keep control of the clock, and take advantage of its opportunities.
UK should be able to run for 200 yards and hold the ball for at least 35 minutes. It’ll have to, because …
– “Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released
Why Vanderbilt Will Win
There’s really no Wildcat passing game.
The offense is all about WR Lynn Bowden keeping things going from under center, running just effectively enough to not screw up, milking the clock, and then hoping the defense can take care of the rest.
It’s easier said than done to stop what the Wildcats are doing – slow and steady wins the race – but the O has failed to hit 100 yards passing over the last five games with just one touchdown pass in the last six outings.
It’s not just that Kentucky doesn’t do much offensively, it’s that there’s no downfield passing game to worry about, and the O doesn’t do enough when it gets its chances.
The Wildcat placekicking isn’t anything great, and the offense sputtered and struggles too much in the red zone.
Getting a point in this thing will be like pulling teeth.
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What’s Going To Happen
On the plus side for Kentucky, losing to Vanderbilt would be only the second-worst/weirdest defeat by the school this week.
The Wildcat defense will come up with stop after stop, the game will grind down to a dead stop at times, and it’ll be at the exact pace both teams need it to be.
Kentucky does this better.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Prediction, Line
Kentucky 23, Vanderbilt 13
Bet on UK vs. VU with BetMGM, or for latest line
Kentucky -9.5, o/u: 43.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
– Get Tickets For This Game
Must See Rating: 2
5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks
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Notre Dame Football: Cole Kmet Says He’s Staying
the Irish appear to have landed the highly-coveted “Six Star Recruit” for the 2020 season.
Not many players around the nation have seen their NFL Draft stock rise quite like Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet this season.
Kmet went from pretty much being a “great idea” to a star performer this season, making an immediate splash upon returning from a collar bone injury sustained at the start of fall camp. Despite missing the first three games of 2019 due to injury Kmet has been able to pull in 29 receptions for 327 yards and five touchdowns.
Earlier this fall I sat down with Yahoo Sports draft expert Eric Edholm and discussed what Kmet’s draft stock looked like. Eric declared him a very-possible lte first round pick.
Today Kmet was asked about if he’s made a decision for the 2020 NFL Draft.
"I plan on coming back and playing baseball in the spring and then being here for my senior season." – #NotreDame TE Cole Kmet pic.twitter.com/cXrhohegKG
— Matt Freeman (@mattfreemanISD) November 13, 2019
We’ve heard this before and minds have been changed (Will Fuller) so it’s not necessarily a guarantee still, but it’s great news nonetheless that he was that adamant on returning.
As Brian Kelly once called Michael Floyd returning for the 2011 season, the Irish appear to have landed the highly-coveted “Six Star Recruit” for the 2020 season.
Latest CFP Rankings: 10 Thoughts
Georgia is rated over Alabama. Does anyone in their right mind actually think Georgia is a better football team outside of Athens?
The latest College Football Playoff rankings came out Tuesday night as much drama surrounded how far Alabama would fall after losing at home to LSU, if LSU would jump previously No.1 Ohio State and how far Minnesota would rise after upsetting previously No. 4 Penn State this weekend.
Well, the wait is over and the committee’s new rankings are out and they go as follows:
25. Appalachian State
24. Kansas State
23. Navy
22. Oklahoma State
21. Boise State
20. Iowa
19. Texas
18. Memphis
17. Cincinnati
16. Notre Dame
15. Michigan
14. Wisconsin
13. Baylor
12. Auburn
11. Florida
10. Oklahoma
9. Penn State
8. Minnesota
7. Utah
6. Oregon
5. Alabama
4. Georgia
3. Clemson
2. Ohio State
1. LSU
My initial ten thoughts immediately upon release:
College Football Playoff Rankings week 12: Does Texas make it?
Where does Texas rank in the week 12 edition of the College Football Playoff rankings
Last week, the first College Football Playoff top 25 rankings were released, and the Longhorns were not listed.
The second CFP rankings were released on Tuesday night, and Texas is in.
Coming in at the 19 spot in week 12’s rankings, Texas is looking to make a final push for the Big 12 Championship. But both Baylor and Oklahoma are ahead of them in the conference standings. Texas will face Iowa State this weekend before traveling down to Waco, TX to face the Baylor Bears.
Here are the complete CFP rankings for week 12:
Here’s the full #CFBPlayoff Top 25 rankings for games played through November 9.
Is your team in? 👀
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) November 13, 2019
With Penn State and Alabama both falling over the weekend, the top four teams look completely different. The final stretch of the 2019 college football season is shaping up to be a good one.
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Texas Longhorns updated depth chart for game against Iowa State
Looking at the up-to-date depth chart for the Texas Longhorns for their week 12 matchup against Iowa State
On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns (6-3, 4-2) re-entered the win column as they knocked off the 16th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats (6-3, 3-3) by a final score of 27-24.
Now, going into week 12 of the 2019 season, Texas is back in the top 25 in both the AP and Coaches poll, and are expected to be listed in the CFP Rankings as well. They will face an Iowa State team that has also had an up-and-down season.
Here is an updated look at what the Texas depth chart will be against the Cyclones:
*Via Horns247
You can watch Texas face Iowa State this Saturday, November 16th, at 2:30 PM CT on FS1.
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Georgia vs. Auburn Fearless Prediction, Game Preview
Georgia vs. Auburn fearless prediction and game preview.
[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]
Georgia vs. Auburn fearless prediction and game preview.
Georgia vs. Auburn Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Network: CBS
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Georgia (8-1) vs. Auburn (7-2) Game Preview
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Why Georgia Will Win
To beat Auburn, you have to be able to hold up against their lines. Georgia is one of the few teams with the offensive front to do more than just hold its own against this group – it’s not letting Jake Fromm get touched all the often – and the defensive front has been a rock against the run.
The UGA offense might not be anything scintillating, and the downfield passing attack is a wee bit lacking, but the defense is making up for it by currently raking second in the nation behind just Ohio State in scoring defense while leading the SEC in total D.
The line isn’t giving up a thing against the run – only three teams have rushed for more than 100 yards, and UK has a season-high 160 yards against the Bulldog front – and the secondary has been able to keep the big plays to a minimum, too.
Are you ready to believe in Bo Nix? The Auburn freshman quarterback has been solid throughout the year, and he was great in the win over Ole Miss, but in the three big games so far – Oregon, Florida and LSU – he failed to hit 42% of his passes. But …
– “Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released
Why Auburn Will Win
All three of those games against the nasty teams on the Tiger schedule were away from Jordan-Hare. He doesn’t have to be Joe Burrow, and he doesn’t have to do anything special. He has to keep the mistakes to a minimum, and he has to connect on the throws that are there.
The Georgia defense might be great, but it doesn’t generate a lot of pressure, and the secondary doesn’t take the ball away with just one pick in the last four games and six on the season.
The bigger concern for Georgia is the stunning inconsistencies in the passing game. Weather played a role in some of the downs games for Fromm, and he hasn’t thrown a pick in any game other than the loss to South Carolina, but last week he couldn’t get much going in the win over Missouri, and his accuracy has been all over the place lately after a terrific start.
The Auburn secondary struggled against Oregon’s Justin Herbert, and it got hit hard by Burrow in the loss to LSU, but for the most part it’s been able to keep the downfield connections to a minimum, and the D as a whole is fantastic on third downs.
However …
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What’s Going To Happen
Georgia’s defense is better on third downs.
It’s going to be a low-scoring fight with neither team being able to run the ball effectively enough to establish any sort of a rhythm.
Both teams will have their chances to take over in the second half, and both defenses will clamp down. Georgia will be a wee bit better in the red zone, Fromm will be a wee bit better than Nix.
Georgia vs. Auburn Prediction, Line
Georgia 20, Auburn 17
Bet on UGA vs. AU with BetMGM, or for latest line
Georgia -2.5, o/u: 43.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
– Get Tickets For This Game
Must See Rating: 4.5
5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks
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