What a difference a week makes in the race for the College Football Playoff. Last week, I declared No. 15 Auburn the most important team in the country. After their loss to No. 4 Georgia, Auburn is still the most important team in the country. Auburn’s loss hurt No. 6 Oregon’s and No. 5 Alabama’s (who has bigger problems) resume, but it strengthed No. 4 Georgia’s body of work.
This past Tuesday, the committee revealed their latest playoff rankings*. The top 6 remained the same as a week ago.
A full look at the November 1️⃣9️⃣ #CFBPlayoff Selection Committee Rankings.
For comparison, my College Football Playoff includes:
LSU
Ohio State
Clemson
Oregon
This weekend is highlighted by the “Big Ten Game of The Year,” No. 8 Penn State vs. No. 2 Ohio State. Can Penn State get back into the top 5 or will Ohio State surpass LSU for the top overall seed? Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 13.
Who Will Take Control Of The Big Ten East?
J.K. Dobbins, who's rarely played in the second half this season, was asked about Ohio State having four-quarter games against Penn State and Michigan coming up.
He responded, "Why do they have to be four-quarter games?"
Penn State is the 8th ranked team in the playoff rankings. The Nittany Lions are no slouch. That being said, do you want to know the line for Saturday’s game? Penn State is an 18.5 point underdog against Ohio State. EIGHTEEN AND A HALF POINT UNDERDOG! Is Penn State not as good as we think or is Ohio State a lot better than we think? I’m leaning towards the Buckeyes being a superior team. Plus, Ohio State will welcome back top prospect Chase Young. Despite Penn State having a loss, if they beat Ohio State, the Nittany Lions will be in the driver’s seat of the Big Ten Championship. If Ohio State wins, the Buckeyes will play in the conference title game.
Life Without Tua
Tua Tagovailoa / Getty/Wesley Hitt
Tua Tagovailoa suffering a season-ending hip injury not only sucks for Alabama fans, but for college football fans in general. It’s a devastating blow for college football. That being said, all hope is not lost. The Crimson Tide are still one of the nation’s top teams even with backup quarterback Mac Jones under center. Alabama plays the little sisters’ of the poor (Western Carolina) on Saturday before traveling to Auburn next week. Don’t count out Alabama for the playoff just yet.
Bounce Back Game For Minnesota
Penn State is currently ranked ahead of Minnesota despite Minnesota winning head to head. Here is why according to the College Football Playoff Committee. pic.twitter.com/2BWfhhKeui
I’m going to sit here and say No. 10 Minnesota was a fraudulent team. That’s not the case. Iowa is a tough place to play. Just ask Ohio State and Michigan how hard it is to win at Kinnick Stadium. There are no moral victories in losses, but Minnesota proved to me that they’re capable of being a force in the Big Ten West for years to come. That being said, their magical season is intact. If they defeat Northwestern on Saturday, the Gophers will have a winner-take-all game next week against No. 12 Wisconsin. Will the boat row into Wisconsin with only one blemish?
Can Baylor Ever Recover?
Move over, Atlanta Falcons. There’s a new member of the “28-3” club. Last Saturday night, Baylor was about to change the trajectory of its program. Up 28-3 in the second quarter and 31-10 at halftime, the Bears were in cruise control. Then, Jalen Hurts and the Sooners took over and mounted an improbable comeback, capped off by a field goal with under two minutes left in the fourth quarter to win, 34-31. I can’t even put into words how devastating of a loss that was for Baylor. However, their season is not over. They can still clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship with a win over Texas on Saturday. To add fuel to the fire, Oklahoma will most likely be their opponent in the conference title. Revenge game, anyone?
State Of The Pac-12
Tonights rankings tell us…absolutely nothing…as they did the first year, they will do whatever they want on selection day
Only consistency is that they take path of least resistance…generally favors brands
Oregon and No. 7 Utah are both 9-1 and sit atop of the Pac-12 North and Pac-12 South respectively. Both teams hit the road this weekend as Oregon plays Arizona State and Utah takes on Arizona. If both are 11-1 heading into the Pac-12 Championship, the winner of that game should make the College Football Playoff. The keyword is “should.” If you’re 100% convinced that the winner of the Pac-12 title game will make the playoff, then you haven’t followed college football the past five seasons. If Alabama is sitting at 11-1 at the end of the season, you’re crazy if you don’t think the committee will consider putting the Tide in. To be honest, the committee probably wants to put in Alabama over a Pac-12 champion. It’s a harsh reality, but it’s the truth. It’s not fair, but neither is life.
What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 13? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow, or email us at immad@unafraidshow.com.
This wee, only one Pac-12 NFL player repeated from Week 10’s Best Pac-12 NFL list. Finally, we get some fresh faces and new players on here. Let’s see who joined the ranks of the best!
It’s not often that a place-kicker joins the best of Pac-12 NFL players. Yet here we are. With the New England offense moving slowly, their defense and special teams are picking up the slack.
In a tight, 17-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Folk scored the majority of the Patriots’ points. He went three-for-three with field goals of 35, 22 and 39 yards.
Arizona State
Lawrence Guy – New England Patriots
Lawrence Guy's turn. #Eagles running zone weak away from the tight ends. Guy, with great pad level, knifes between the two blockers on the combo block on the right side to get into the backfield. #Patriotspic.twitter.com/oIHquCqBxU
On Sunday, he managed to hit quarterback Jameis Winston four times, get 1.5 sacks and add a tackle for a loss. It was another All-Pro game for Cameron Jordan. His stats and 82.0 PFF grade are why he is still among the best Pac-12 NFL players in the league.
Although the Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Oakland Raiders, Josh Tupou played very well. It was by-far his best game of the season. Tupou compiled seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, one stuff and one forced fumble.
Honestly, is there anything better to watch than a special teams touchdown? They are rare, special and should be treated as such.
In the first quarter, up 3-0, Kenjon Barner fielded the punt from Younghoe Koo at the Atlanta 22. He then took it 78 yards to the house. The seventh-year journeyman just earned his first, NFL punt/kick return touchdown. Of course, his highlight-touchdown is worthy of praise.
Yes, their game was against the hapless Miami Dolphins. Nonetheless, the Buffalo Bills won by 17 and Miami finally couldn’t cover the spread.
In this game, Jordan Poyer did his usual damage as a reliable tackler. He totaled six tackles (four solo) and also added a fumble recovery. On the season, Poyer now has 72 tackles, one sack, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception.
Stanford
Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers
.@run__cmc is the FIRST player in NFL HISTORY to rush for at least 1000 yards AND have at least 500 receiving yards in the first 10 games of a season. 💪 pic.twitter.com/C2anxZnrje
Somehow, even though he compiled nearly 200 yards from scrimmage, the Carolina Panthers only scored three points. How on Earth is that possible? What else does Christian McCaffrey have to do?
In their Week 11 matchup, our Pac-12 NFL superstar turned 14 carries into 70 rushing yards and also caught 11 balls for 121 yards. 191 yards from scrimmage. Yet, only three points for the Panthers. This team needs to get a viable quarterback or send the Stanford star to another team. His play deserves the playoffs.
UCLA
Eric Kendricks – Minnesota Vikings
Eric Kendricks restructured his contract in May to provide cap relief for the #Vikings.
Eric Kendricks is elite. Right now, he’s playing the best football of his career. He currently owns a 90.5 PFF grade. Last week, he earned a spot on the top Pac-12 NFL list with his fourth-down heroics.
Because of his stellar form, the Vikings have utilized Kendricks in pass coverage this season. He’s stepped up to the challenge with 12 pass break-ups. Eric Kendricks, with 85 tackles and 12 pass breaks-ups, is playing like a top-three linebacker.
Though his 43.7 (No. 25) QBR on the season is uninspiring, Sam Darnold played his best game this week. He displayed an excellent passing ceiling with 293 yards and 4 touchdowns. Yes, he still took two sacks and threw an interception against Washington. But, this was one of the better games for Darnold and his 6-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio since returning from illness is promising.
Also, keep in mind these two things before putting down Darnold:
Heading into Week 11, Marcus Williams already was PFF’s top safety. That’s already praise enough for a Pac-12 NFL player. But then, he went and showed out in Week 11. Games like this show why he is the best of the best. Not only did he record three tackles and two pass break-ups. But, he also took an interception to the house.
There’s nothing like a pick-six for football fans. Especially defense enthusiasts. Marcus Williams is having a career year.
Down ten to six with just over two minutes left in the first half, Danny Shelton came up big. His strip-sack of Carson Wentz put the Patriots in excellent field position. Unfortunately, as is the case this year with the Patriots’ offense, they came away with three points. Though they started at the Eagles 22, they couldn’t score a touchdown. It’s a shame.
But, what isn’t a travesty is the New England Patriots’ defense. They look like one of the greatest defenses of all time. If players like Danny Shelton can keep bailing out the offense, they might win yet another Super Bowl.
As most know, the Arizona Cardinals need help in their secondary. Their pass-defending is among the worst in the league. However, Jalen Thompson got his first interception this week.
Additionally, he also had his first pass break-up. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the rookie out of Washington State.
The 2019 Colorado Buffaloes season has been a roller coaster ride. Tough losses at home and blowout losses on the road have made this season tough, but there have been bright spots. The goal from the start was to make a bowl game. It may take a miracle for the Buffaloes to achieve that goal, but Mel Tucker has laid the foundation for a successful tenure in Boulder.
First Up: Washington
The Buffaloes host the Washington Huskies in College Football Week 13 next week on ESPN at 8 p.m. mountain time (7 p.m. pacific time). CU has never beat the Huskies since joining the Pac-12. In the 2016 Pac-12 Championship Game, the Huskies beat the Buffaloes 41-10, and the Buffaloes have never been the same since.
Washington has looked more vulnerable in 2019, as they sit at 6-4 (3-4 Pac-12 North). They are led by quarterback Jacob Eason, who will look to further expose the Buffaloes secondary. Eason, a transfer from Georgia, had high expectations from the Husky faithful. However, Washington ranks only sixth in offensive pass efficiency in the Pac-12. Eason is ready to have a breakout game against a Buffaloes defense who is second to last in defensive pass efficiency this season. For all the progress many believe the Buffaloes have made in Mel Tucker’s first year, the defense has been a weak spot.
However,
the Buffaloes have a chance to win this game. That chance is larger than most
may think. ESPN’s Football Power Index only gives the Buffaloes a 17.1% chance
to win this game. Despite the Buffaloes being 4-6, the respect that they have
been given nationally is nonexistent. The team has played hard in every game at
home. With the emotions of it being senior day and the possible last home game
for star receiver Laviska Shenault, one should expect the Buffaloes to show up
and possibly win this game.
After Washington, Buffaloes head to Utah
With a win against Washington, the Buffaloes would sit at 5-6. In the last week of the College Football regular season game, they have to go to Rice-Eccles Stadium to play Utah. In the latest College Football Power Rankings As They Should Be, Utah was ranked 7th. They are on a collision course with Oregon, as they will most likely be the two teams playing for the Pac-12 title at Levi’s Stadium.
ESPN’s
FPI gives the Buffaloes only a 4.3% chance to win this game. It may take a
miracle for the Buffaloes to do just that. After beating CSU 52-31 in Denver
and Arizona State 34-31 in Tempe, the Buffaloes have lost their past three road
games by an average of 30 points. They lost to UCLA 31-14, and they just lost
to Utah 49-3 in College Football Week 12.
Bowl Eligibility Longshot Due to Missed Opportunities
My
prediction for the Buffaloes is that they will have a 50-50 chance to beat
Washington, but it will take a miracle for them to beat Utah and make
themselves bowl eligible. The games that they will look back on as the main
reasons for not making a bowl game are their home losses to Air Force, Arizona,
and USC.
Against Air Force in College Football Week 3, the Buffaloes jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, but then they had to rally from down 23-10 to force overtime. The Falcons would score on the first play of overtime, and the Buffaloes would lose 30-23. One of Mel Tucker’s main goals as the Buffaloes’ head coach would be to show recruits in Colorado that CU was the best team in the state. Losing to Air Force was a bad look for the program, and Air Force also beat CSU in College Football Week 12.
Next, the Buffaloes lost a 35-30 heartbreaker to Arizona in College Football Week 6. They were unable to contain Khalil Tate through the air, as he threw for 404 yards and gashed the Buffaloes defense. Against USC in College Football Week 9, the Buffaloes relinquished a 31-21 fourth quarter lead. This loss was extremely frustrating because Montez got hurt, but then he came back into the game and was ineffective in the fourth quarter. The defense had chances to possibly end the game, but let USC get chunk plays and eventually score to take a 35-31 lead.
The Legacy of the 2019 Colorado Buffaloes
The 2019 Colorado Buffaloes will have a complicated legacy when they are talked about in the future. They will be remembered most for their comeback at Folsom Field against Nebraska, but will also be remembered for having narrow losses to teams that, at least from their perspective, they should have beat.
People will remember Steven Montez as a quarterback who showed flashes at times, but sometimes left Buffaloes fans wanting more. Montez is first in CU history in touchdown-to-interception ratio. Still, CU being 11th in quarterback efficiency this season shows how Montez was never able to have legendary moments as the Buffaloes’ quarterback. Along with Laviska Shenault and Nate Landman, Montez was a key leader of this team. It is frustrating that the Buffaloes have not been able to make a bowl game the last two seasons with the talented leaders they had.
With the hype surrounding recruiting for the Buffaloes, the future does look bright for them. They can lay a foundation for future success by being able to win their last two games. However, this task is close to insurmountable, and there is no real expectation that the Buffaloes will win out. If they are somehow able to do the impossible, it could bring out a new wave of enthusiasm for the Buffaloes now and into the future.
If you’re not watching This Is Us or you left the bandwagon after Season 2, it’s time to turn the channel to NBC at 9 PM EST on Tuesday nights. This Is Us is a television rollercoaster for both good and bad reasons. Season 1 was phenomenal. Season 2 was solid. Season 3 was a step in the wrong direction. Season 4 is back to creating the magic formed in Season 1.
If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you watched the midseason finale last night. First of all, it was another solid episode, but the ending was great thanks to a flash forward that revealed some major storylines. What do they mean? What does the future hold for the Big Three? Let’s break down all of the clues revealed in the final scene.
*This post will contain major spoilers from the midseason finale of This Is Us. You’ve been warned.
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Kevin’s 40 With An Engaged Fiancée
Kevin is having an excellent season on @NBCThisisUs. @justinhartley has been my favorite character on the show this year. Great performance. #ThisIsUs
Without a doubt, the MVP of Season 4 has been Kevin. The first member of the Big 3 is having his best season of the series. Between his chemistry with Uncle Nicky and the storyline with Cassidy, Kevin’s character arc is the one I’m invested in the most. Sterling K. Brown gets most of the love from critics (and rightfully so), but Justin Hartley is closing in fast. Hartley’s not just the comedic presence anymore. His performance is emotionally gripping, carefully nuanced, and when the smoke clears, he should be rewarded with an Emmy nomination.
In the episode, after becoming a better person thanks to his time Nicky, Kevin wants to marry a woman and start a family by age 40, which is nine months away. In typical This Is Us fashion, the flash forward revealed that Kevin has a pregnant fiancee on his 40th birthday. Who is the lucky lady? Many fans are saying that it’s Cassidy because the timeline of when they spent the night together matches up with Kevin’s 40th birthday. Could it be a past love such as Sophie or Zoe?
Prediction: Kevin’s fiancee is a new character that we’ll meet sometime in the second half of the season. However, I’m Team Sophie for life.
Are Kate And Toby Separated?
Kate and Toby are on the rocks and I, for one, am SHOCKED! Ok, I’m really not shocked because they fight every episode. Some type of separation has been brewing for a while now. Only time will tell if it leads to a divorce. Back in Season 3, fans (myself included) went wild when Toby was seen without a wedding ring in a flash forward. In last night’s midseason finale, This Is Us revealed a few more breadcrumbs. When Kate picked up Toby’s phone, he received a text from “LadyKryptonite” in the Crossfit Crew that implies Toby revealed his marital problems to his group. Is this woman Toby’s actual “kryptonite?”
Then, in the flash forward, Kate signed the police report as “Kate Pearson,” not “Kate Damon” or “Kate Pearson-Damon.” However, Kate is still wearing her wedding ring.
Prediction: Toby is not having an affair with Lady Kryptonite. However, Kate will accuse Toby of cheating on her, which Toby will deny because it never happened. However, the damage will be done. This accusation will lead to another fight and temporary separation. However, they won’t get divorced.
Rebecca’s Memory
‘This Is Us’ producer breaks down Rebecca’s fate and those flash-forward shockers https://t.co/nxE5C9rzmI
For a show about memory, this storyline hurts the most. For the past few episodes, Rebecca has been in a battle with memory loss. Losing her phone, forgetting the movie during the trailer, and constantly taking pictures on her phone hint that Rebecca’s memory is deteriorating. But how much is it deteriorating? It’s important to note that only Randall and Miguel know about Rebecca’s memory struggles. In the flash forward, Rebecca’s memory has gotten significantly worse, so much so that the police had to drive her to the cabin to meet up with the rest of the family. These aren’t what Miguel called “senior moments.” We know that Rebecca’s health will eventually lead to a hospital bed in Kevin’s house with Nicky at her side, but how will the show get there?
Prediction: Rebecca has Alzheimer’s and by the end of Season 4, that will be the official diagnosis.
Randall And Kevin’s Falling Out
Just when you think all is well with the Pearson brothers, think again. While the flash forward revealed Kevin’s future as a father, it also showed that Kevin is no longer speaking to Randall. Considering the two were on great terms during Thanksgiving means a huge fight is on the horizon.
Prediction: Kevin and Randall have a falling out over Rebecca’s mental health. Randall finds out about the diagnosis, but Rebecca swears him to secrecy so he doesn’t tell Kevin and Kate. Kevin eventually finds out months later and chastizes Randall for keeping this huge secret that leads to their split.
What are your predictions after themidseason finaleof Season 4? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow, or email us at immad@unafraidshow.com.
Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 13. These last three weeks, including the Pac-12 championship game are all about winning the beauty pageant for the CFB Playoff Committee. Utah and Oregon are both within striking distance to get a berth in the top four. They will need style points to fade the east coast bias and SEC media cycle pushing Alabama or a 2-loss SEC team. I do believe if Oregon and Utah meet with 1-loss in the Pac-12 Championship, the winner should land a spot in the College Football Playoff Top 4.
The rest of the conference still has a lot to play for as well. There are four bowl-eligible teams already plus four more who are sitting on five wins.
Check back on Unafraid Show this Friday to see all the internal and external threats to the Pac-12 conference and who will speak up to stop it.
Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.
Here are the Pac-12 Bowl Projections from Jerry Palm of CBS (many people expect Oregon or Utah to make the CFB Playoff):
I cannot figure out why Kevin Sumlin is juggling quarterbacks. He finally started freshman Grant Gunnell but pulled him after a couple of unsuccessful series. Then he turned to senior Khalil Tate for two quarters only to go back to Grant Gunnell. It makes zero sense. This team looks like a disaster. There is no way they should be the worst team in the Pac-12.
If you are looking for a positive, the defense came into the game giving up 37ppg, but only surrendered 34. If would have been 38 if Oregon’s kicker could make a 20-yard field goal and an extra point.
11. Stanford Cardinal (4-6, 3-5)
Last Week: 22-49 (L) at Washington State
Yikes. It is going to take a Herculean effort for the Cardinal to make a bowl game. They have Cal and Notre Dame left on the schedule. Between Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw coaching, Stanford hasn’t missed a bowl since 2008. In fact, they haven’t even won less than eight games during that time. I’m finding it hard to find any other solution for what is going on at Stanford other than a crisis. The last two seasons have looked nothing like the Stanford we are used to watching.
Things are tough for a team when they end up with three different quarterbacks starting games in one season. But the defense and special teams haven’t been much better or more healthy. The sole focus of these next two games should be about figuring out the new direction for the offense because “Intelectual Brutality” is dead.
10. Colorado Buffaloes (4-6, 2-5)
Last Week: IDLE
The good news is Colorado snapped their five-game losing streak before their off week. The bad news is they stand two wins away from a bowl game with Washington and Utah on the schedule. I said it would take a Herculean effort for Stanford to make a bowl game. It would take an act of God for Colorado to make a bowl game.
9. Washington State Cougars (5-5, 2-5)
Last Week: 49-22 (W) vs Stanford
Mike Leach to Arkansas and Florida State rumors are in full force. It feels like this relationship is at the end of its rope. Could he be coaching his last two games in Pullman? If so, he will want to go out like a pirate; with a bang. He will be going for broke against Oregon State and the Apple Cup vs Washington. Be prepared to see onside kicks, going for it on 4th and long, and trying to run up the score.
Wazzu hasn’t been any better on defense since Tracy Claeys left the program. They are giving up over 450 yards and nearly 30 points per game. Either WSU or OSU will get bowl eligible this weekend, while the other will have an uphill battle in their final game.
8. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-5, 2-5)
Last Week: 34-35 (L) at Oregon State
What a terrible loss for the Sun Devils. I realize Oregon State is much improved this season, but losses to them still look bad (OSU lost to Hawaii). Herm Edwards’ team continues to fall apart. The only freshman quarterback to even have a season close to Jayden Daniels was Rudy Carpenter. It’s unfortunate his record-setting performances aren’t being rewarded with more victories.
The Arizona State defense that was the strength of this team early in the season is now a liability. Over the past three games, they are giving up 36ppg. It is extremely difficult to win games like that. Oregon comes to town this with, so their bowl game hopes will lie squarely on the Arizona game.
7. Cal Golden Bears (5-5, 2-5)
Last Week: 17-41 (L) vs USC
What in the world happened to Cal’s pass defense? USC’s receiving corps is really good, but damn, they went crazy. The Takers allowed 405 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Not only did the defense make USC look like a top 10 team, but the offense also helped too. The Golden Bears only accumulated 263 yards of total offense.
As bad as this season has been for Cal since Chase Garbers got hurt they still can win seven games. After missing five games he returned to face USC but was injured again and his status remains in doubt.
6. UCLA Bruins (4-6, 4-3)
Last Week: 3-49 (L) at Utah
Chip Kelly had UCLA headed in the right direction until they ran into Utah. It seemed like the Bruins were going to keep the game competitive until Dorian Thompson-Robinson gave up a Jameis Winston like fumble-six.
Fun fact: Mika Tafua is an offense’s worst nightmare.
There is no team in the Pac-12 that is purely momentum-based like UCLA. If things are going well, they can beat anyone outside the top three. But when things go badly, they have no ability to overcome adversity. Their 32-point comeback victory against Wazzu is a perfect example. They were awful until momentum shifted, then everything went in their favor.
5. Oregon State Beavers (5-5, 3-4)
Last Week: 35-34 (W) vs Arizona State
I still cannot believe Oregon State has been consistently in the top half of the Pac-12 Power Rankings for the last few weeks. Jonathan Smith deserves a lot of praise for changing the culture in Corvallis. His team shows up to games expecting to win, and not just hoping to him. They are now ranked between 6th and 8th in most meaningful offensive and defensive statistical categories. That consistency is what may have them headed to a bowl game with a win over Washington State.
USC got a new athletic director and Clay Helton’s team found some fight. Mike Bohn said good football coaches finish strong and he would re-evaluate Helton after this season. If the Trojans finish 8-4 with all their injuries there is a distinct possibility there may not be a coaching change. USC fans would be fighting mad, but how do you fire a coach that won his five out of his last six games with a couple in impressive fashion?
Kedon Slovis has proven that he is that man and JT Daniels needs to get in the transfer portal as soon as he is healthy because there is no way he gets his job back. Slovis just had another 400-yard, four-touchdown performance. He is still a true freshman, just getting started.
3. Washington Huskies (6-4, 3-4)
Last Week: IDLE
All Huskies fans want to do is finish strong. This is not the season they envisioned with Jacob Eason at quarterback, but 6-4 is where they are. A trip to Boulder to face the second-worst Pac-12 pass defense should spell success for the offense. While a trip to the Rose Bowl is off the table, there is still a lot to play for. At this moment the Huskies have the #1 recruiting class in the conference. So, they must keep up that momentum to ensure players don’t flip to other schools.
Washington is clearly the 3rd best team in the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 13. However, it feels like a huge gap between UW and the top two teams.
2. Utah Utes (9-1, 6-1)
Last Week: 49-3 (W) vs UCLA
At this point, Utah is trying to embarrass every opponent they play. They have their foot on the gas and won’t let up. Their offense and defense are firing on all cylinders. Tyler Huntley is leading the way and may be having the best season of any Pac-12 quarterback. Kyle Whittingham’s defense doesn’t give anyone a chance to breathe. The defense has only given up 84 points in seven Pac-12 games.
Utah is the equivalent of Florida or Iowa, except they have a better offense.
The Ducks did not play their best football against Arizona but still did not allow a touchdown. Mario Cristobal has his team walking around like bullies. they just run through everyone and out physical them. Then Justin Herbert hits them over the head with big plays off play-action passes.
Both Utah and Oregon will need to remain dominant through the last two games is they hope to fend off Alabama for the final CFB playoff spot.
Check back every Monday for the next Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 13.
In this bonus episode, George and Ralph rank the 12 best Pac-12 quarterbacks of all-time. Send your list to immad@unafraidshow.com.
The Pac-12 Apostles is a podcast for fans who love the Pac-12 conference. George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden are committed to the honest and fair conversation about the Pac-12 conference. They talk about the good, bad, and the ugly about the Pac-12. Join them in becoming a Pac-12 Apostle by subscribing and sharing the podcast. Send your thoughts, comments, and :30 ranks to immad@unafraidshow.com. The best comments and rants will be included in the show.
Visit Unafraid Show to read unapologetic articles about the conference and the teams you love.
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Welcome to the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 13 As it Should Be. Every year there is always talk about the potential for chaos. This season looks like it might just happen. What happens if Georgia beats LSU in the SEC championship, Minnesota beats Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, Oregon dominates Utah in the Pac-12 championship, Oklahoma finishes 12-1, and Alabama looks good with Mac Jones at QB? How can the committee possibly figure out who the four best/most deserving teams are?
Wouldn’t it just make more sense to have an 8-team playoff? The five Power 5 champions and highest-ranked Group of 5 team would get automatic bids. The two remaining spots would be at-large bids.
I always talk about how big of an advantage playing eight conference games is for the ACC and SEC. In addition to the math that forces more losses within the conference, there is a grinding element to playing nine conference games. Injuries mount during the season and have a huge impact on a team’s record. Imagine if Alabama were playing Missouri, Miss St (again), or Florida this weekend instead of Western Carolina. All the injuries they have would affect the outcome. This is what happens in the Big Ten, Pac-12, and Big-12.
College Football Playoff
After two sets of CFB Playoff Committee rankings, we have more information to put playoff scenarios together. So here is how it should shake out at this point. Check back here on Tuesday for the Road to the Playoff series where we examine every team’s path to the top 4.
SEC Champion- LSU and Georgia have the inside track to play in the SEC championship. The conference could make a case for two teams if 1-loss UGA beats LSU.
Undefeated or 1-loss Big Ten Winner– (Ohio State/Minnesota/Penn State): The only thing that could mess up the Big Ten selection is if 2-loss Wisconsin wins the Big Ten Championship.
Clemson– They have no competition in the ACC so they will finish undefeated with a string of blowout victories.
Pac-12 Champion– (Oregon/Utah) If both teams finish the season 11-1 the conference championship game will feature a top 10 showdown. And both teams are playing exceptional football right now.
The Big 12 is in trouble. Oklahoma can’t play offense or defense in the first-half for the last three weeks and there are no signature wins possible to jump other teams.
The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings
There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 6. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.
I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 12.
College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 13:
Next Up: Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Auburn
10. Penn State (9-1)
Last Week: 34-27 (W) vs Indiana
James Franklin’s team bounced back from the Minnesota loss with a win, but they got ZERO style points. Indiana is a good football team at 7-3, but Ohio State beat them 52-10. They received low marks for dominance but got a solid win. The Nittany Lions are just too limited offensively to compete for a national championship. Sean Clifford has only thrown for over 200 yards once in the last five games. That just won’t cut it against the elite teams.
Everything is on the line for Penn State this week at Ohio State. Might they shock the world?
It’s hard to move up the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 13 As it Should Be when you have a dog fight against an unranked team, everyone who was looked at as better dominated, and the team that beat you lost a close game against a ranked team.
9. Minnesota (9-1)
Last Week: 19-23 (L) at Iowa
Playing against Iowa’s defense will make any offense look like a shell of itself. The Golden Gophers found themselves down 20-3 before they could get their feet underneath them. This game felt like the complete opposite of their game against Penn State. Iowa jumped out big, Minnesota came roaring back but didn’t have enough in the tank to get it done.
Minnesota has games against Northwestern and Wisconsin left. Both have turned into must-wins if they are to keep their CFB Playoff hopes alive.
8. Oklahoma Sooners (9-1)
Last Week: 34-31 (W) vs Baylor
Oklahoma forgot how to start football games. The Sooners have nine lives. I wish Oklahoma had a difference mascot so I could call them the “cardiac cats”. For the second week in a row, the Sooners have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. There is a finite number of times you can successfully execute big second-half comebacks. Two Saturdays ago, they barely outlasted Iowa State. Last Saturday they broke Baylor fans’ hearts after coming back from a 31-3 hole.
If it weren’t for UCLA coming back from a 32-point late 3rd quarter deficit to win, OU’s comeback would have been by far the best of the year.
Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch are playing with fire with their defense. Over the last three weeks, second-half Oklahoma looks like a playoff team. First-half Oklahoma shouldn’t even be a top 25 team.
Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:
Every college football analyst in the country is sleeping on Utah. No one is giving them the respect they deserve except the College Football Rankings Top 10 As It Should Be. They haven’t received 1/10 of the coverage as even Minnesota who doesn’t get a lot. Whoever they play in the bowl game will be in for a rude awakening. Their defense has only allowed over 13 points three times this season and has held five opponents to single digits.
I believe Bama is better than UGA and maybe Oregon, but how would I know? They have only played one good team, LSU, and they lost to them. Don’t even start with that “close game” nonsense. North Carolina played a close game with Clemon. Those two teams aren’t even in the same stratosphere.
Alabama won the game but it feels like they lost the war. Went Tua Tagovailoa was laying on the ground it was evident that this injury was not like his ankle injury. This was extremely serious. It turns out he has a dislocated hip. The injury is similar to the one that ended Bo Jackson’s career.
Stop with the “Tua should have never played” nonsense, it’s his hip, not his ankle.
It’s football, bad things happen to good people sometimes.
We always want to blame somebody. Just stop. Its not Saban’s fault. It does suck though. pic.twitter.com/ffBBpjurzQ
There were at least three other Alabama players who were injured in the game and didn’t return. Good thing they schedule that “November Cupcake” game to get healthy before Iron Bowl.
It will be interesting to see how Bama plays with Mac Jones at quarterback. Can they keep up the momentum to be in the final top four?
5. Georgia Bulldogs (9-1)
Last Week: 21-14 (W) at Auburn
Ultimately, Georgia’s undoing will be the same thing that has plagued them every year under Kirby Smart. They are too conservative. They won’t be able to run their way to an SEC championship or CFB Playoff Championship. Jake Fromm will have to show is elite and not just a game manager. The best teams won’t allow them to run the football at the level they are accustomed too. And the best opponents will score enough points to make the Bulldogs throw the ball more than 30 times.
It is difficult to look past UGA’s loss to South Carolina.
It is inexplicable. And the committee has a president for holding a top team
out of the top four with an awful loss (see Ohio State 2018). I know this is a
new committee, which clearly believes that two quality wins is greater than an
ugly loss at home.
4. Oregon Ducks (9-1)
Last Week: 34-6 (W) vs Arizona
The bar for Oregon is set extremely high. They didn’t allow a touchdown and under 300 yards of total offense to a team averaging over 32 ppg and 400+ yards. When a team covers a 27.5 point spread without allowing a TD against a conference opponent and fans say you played “just ok” the team has arrived. The Ducks are still as physical and nasty as they were at the beginning of the season.
This team dominated Auburn only to have conservative play-calling keep the game within striking range which ultimately got them beat.
Oregon fans, players, and coaching staff know they are playing for style points even more than they are playing for wins. They need to be able to pass the media’s “eye test” to generate enough momentum to power through the SEC Alabama, or two-loss team to the playoff hype train.
3. Clemson Tigers (10-0)
Last Week: 52-3 (W) vs Wake Forest
Maybe Clemson is like Roy Jones. Remember he said, “They say
I don’t fight nobody, I just make them look like nobody, y’all must have
forgot”. Wake Forest was the #19 ranked team a week ago and Dabo’s crew blew
the doors off them.
This season feels a lot like last year for Clemson. They started out the season slow, had a scare, then demolished everyone in their wake including Alabama. I’m hoping Clemson and Ohio State is not one of the semi-final matchups in the CFB Playoff. It would suck for the two teams I believe are the best to play each other first. Wouldn’t Ohio State vs Clemson be a helluva national championship game?
This game was over after Clemson scored 28 points int he first quarter. How is the ACC so bad?
Clemson doesn’t have any obvious opportunities for quality wins on the schedule, so it is crucial they finish the season undefeated.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0)
Last Week: 56-21 (W) at Rutgers
The Buckeyes look like the most complete team in college
football. But, there was nothing to be learned in a game the 2nd
string could have won. If they put together dominating performances against
Penn State and Michigan over the next two weeks, they may creep back into the
#1 spot. SEC fans will say no way, but sometimes fans won’t let common sense
get in the way of their argument.
No matter who you can a fan of, can you honestly say you have seen a better team than O-H-I-O State? And they get Chase Young back from his suspension this week. If OSU puts together a dominating performance against Penn State, they may move back into the #1 spot of the College Football Top 10 Rankings As It Should Be.
Chase Young being suspended over a loan he says he repaid only makes the #NIL situation worse for the NCAA. They will already be trying to push whatever “collegiate model” means as meaningful change but people and the states won’t be going for it.https://t.co/dPiwPEgyMi
Joe Burrow and company were like a hot knife through butter.
A lot of people will tell you they aren’t concerned about their defense but I
am. They aren’t Oklahoma bad, but they do give up a lot of points. I don’t want
to hear about “garbage time” points. Those are the same players that have to go
in when injuries happen or players get tired.
LSU has earned the #1 spot in the College Football Top 10 As It Should Be, but I don’t think they are the best team in the country. Ohio State is. It is impossible to deny the Tigers’ body of work up to this point.
Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 13.
His 156.1 Passing Efficiency Rating and 20-9 touchdown-interception ratio are both good. In the seven games he’s started and finished, Slovis has four wins, three losses. His wins came against Stanford, Arizona, Colorado and Arizona State. When he started, USC lost to BYU, Notre Dame and Oregon. All in all, he’s played well for a rookie.
Star Wide Receivers
#USC WR Michael Pittman Jr. recently accepted his Senior Bowl invitation.
His game against Utah (10 catches, 232 yards, and 1 TD) is a microcosm of what he is as a prospect. pic.twitter.com/ZJ3Szk173s
With all the praise given to Slovis, it’s important to remember that USC’s wide receivers are the stars of the show. In the Pac-12 conference, USC’s top-three wide outs are each top-ten in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Michael Pittman Jr.
71 (No. 1) receptions
938 (No. 1) receiving yards
8 (No. 3) receiving touchdowns
Tyler Vaughns
62 (No. 3) receptions
752 (No. 4) receiving yards
5 (No. 8) receiving touchdowns
Amon-Ra St. Brown
55 (No. 5) receptions
666 (No. 7) receiving yards
5 (No. 8) receiving touchdowns
USC’s Defense
On defense, they’re holding teams to 28.1 points-per-game and 418 yards-per-game. That’s not ideal, considering they’re only averaging 30.5 points-per-game. But, it highlights why they are 6-and-4 and not 8-2.
Why Cal Football will win
Injuries to USC
Unfortunately, USC’s recent health hasn’t been good. Running backs Stephen Carr, Merkese Stepp and Vavae Malepeai were all out. Hopefully Carr and Malepeai can play against Cal. But if not, USC plays without three, key running backs.
More importantly, USC’s Brett Neilon left last week’s game with a calf strain. That calf strain sidelines him for multiple weeks, while Justin Dedich takes over. Adding to that is the health of Kedon Slovis. Again, during the same game against WSU, Slovis dealt with cramps that briefly sidelined him. While he sat out two series, they had to use an IV pump.
After starting out the game 15 of 17 for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns (on the first four drives), USC slumped. They only scored three points the rest of the game. Following the four touchdowns, their drives ended:
5 punts
One fumble
One interception
One turnover on downs
One field goal
If USC isn’t in better health, Cal football takes the W.
While not elite anymore, the Cal football defense is still good. They rank 30th in DFEI, according to footballoutsiders. Their .38 DFEI best USC’s .25 DFEI. Additionally, the strength of Cal’s defense directly challenges the strength of USC’s offense. Cal’s secondary is their best feature, while USC’s talent is in their receiving corps. They’ll have their work cut out for them guarding Michael Pittman Jr., but if anyone can do it, Cal can.
Back when the Cal football program was winning and ranked, Garbers was their guy. Before his Week 5 injury, Garbers led Cal to four straight wins. In five games (one partial), Garbers showcased a 148.1 Passing Efficiency Rating, alongside an 8-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. After years of poor play, Cal actually had an offense. Following his injury, they lost four straight games.
But now, finally throwing without limitations, Chase Garbers is good to go. Even if Justin Wilcox won’t name him as the starter yet, he should be. Garbers played well enough at the start of the season to earn the job. Moreover, Garbers brings a running dimension. Oh, and let’s not forget that Garbers led Cal football to a victory last season against USC.
Wow. That was the worst call of the season. Every Washington State fan should be infuriated. It is despicable what the Pac-12 referees and officials did to their team. While mistakes happen every game, this was without a doubt a horrible penalty. But, even worse, this poor call and what ensued after uncovered pure incompetency by the Pac-12 conference.
For those that missed it, here’s what happened:
Saturday (An Egregious Mistake)
Tough night: a Cal penalty was incorrectly called against WSU. Have word that Harris’ qtr3 KR hands-to-face flag was actually supposed to be against Cal; incorrectly announced against WSU. Plays ran so it couldn’t be rectified. Ball should’ve been at Cal 33; was put at WSU 8
Down 20-11 in the third quarter, WSU’s Travell Harris returns kickoff to the 50-yard line.
WSU penalized for illegal hands to the face. Football placed at WSU 8-yard line.
Referee realizes he made an error. Because the penalty was against WSU, it should have been placed at Cal’s 35-yard line. The drive results in a field goal.
WSU loses to Cal 20-33
Sunday (Incorrect Apology)
Pac-12 Statement
First, the Pac-12 releases the above statement acknowledging “mechanics error”.
In that statement, they claim that WSU was informed of the mistake “After the next play was run”.
In punishment, the Pac-12 suspends referee for one game and crew is “downgraded”.
After realizing his mistake, Matt Richards (referee) decided to wait until the next media break to inform Washington State. Their drive took up 6 minutes and 38 seconds of the game clock…
What this all means for Pac-12 refereeing
Among college football, the Pac-12 is not respected. It’s the ugly duckling of the Power Five. Because of mistakes like this, and other failures of Larry Scott, Pac-12 football is taunted.
For Pac-12 fans, it’s clear that Pac-12 referees are inconsistent and consistently make poor judgment calls. But, it’s one thing to make a mistake as an official. It’s an entirely other issue to have no measures to correct it.
Is this not 2019? Don’t we have booths, staff and video replay? The Pac-12 should utilize on-site and off-site video assistants to make sure that errors like this don’t happen. Honestly, it’s pathetic. Absolutely depressing. Football programs shouldn’t endure Pac-12 referee mistakes that ruin a game. We are better than this.
It’s about time that the Pac-12 owns up to its faults, corrects its mistakes and takes action for the future. Apologies aren’t enough.
What are the Worst Pac-12 Referee Mistakes?
If you remember an official error that is bigger than this one, comment below or Tweet at us!
When I think of the perfect Christmas movie, one franchise comes to mind and that’s Home Alone. What’s not to like about the Home Alone franchise? The first two movies are hilarious, heart-warming, and most importantly, the most quotable Christmas movies of all-time. It’s rare to have two classic movies in the same franchise, but I’ll put Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York up with any Christmas movie out there.
This month, Home Alone will celebrate its 29th anniversary (Nov. 16) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York will celebrate its 27th anniversary (Nov. 20). Almost three decades later and these films are still extremely rewatchable. That being said, which one is better, the original or the sequel? Which movie has the better young Macaulay Culkin performance? There are no right answers, but then again, I have the right answer. Let’s break it down, shall we?
Better Plot
If you have never seen either movie, first of all, are you a normal human? Secondly, what basic plotline would grab your attention more?
“An eight-year-old troublemaker must protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.”
“A nine-year-old troublemaker accidentally boards a plane to New York instead of Florida and must defeat a pair of criminals who seek revenge in an NYC apartment.”
The first plot doesn’t make a lot of sense. Why would a kid have to defend his house from burglars? Why would burglars attempt to fight a kid? The second plot has more storylines built-in. A kid misses his plane to Florida, ends up in NYC, and has to fend off revenge-seeking criminals. I’ll take the second plot, which belongs to Home Alone 2.
Winner – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Better House
Home AloneHome Alone 2: Lost in New York
New York City brownstones are cool, but the McCallister’s Chicago residence is my dream home.
Winner – Home Alone
Better Proof That Peter And Kate McCallister Are The Worst Parents Ever
One of the underlying themes of the Home Alone series revolves around parenting. Peter and Kate McCallister SUCK as parents. How the hell do you leave your child behind not once, but twice? When/If I become a parent, my routine for leaving the house will be as followed: phone, keys, wallet, and child. The selfish McCallisters only care about arriving at the airport in order to enjoy Christmas in a foreign climate. How about you check to make sure you have your children before saying “bon voyage” to Chicago?
What makes you a worse parent, forgetting about your child before a flight the first time or the second time? Some may argue it’s the second time, but in Home Alone 2, getting lost in an airport and boarding the wrong flight is possible. You’re still a shitty parent, but I can throw you the tiniest of bones. In Home Alone, there are no excuses. Forgetting about your child who slept in the ATTIC is the more egregious offense.
Winner – Home Alone
Better Use Of The Angels With Filthy Souls Series
https://youtu.be/GcOsVzSOqoQ
“Keep the change, you filthy animal,” or “Merry Christmas, you filthy animal?” I’ll preface this argument by saying Home Alone 2 has the funnier scene. Between Tim Curry’s “I love you,” to Cliff’s “It’s a lie,” the scene is comedic genius. However, the better use of the Angels With Filthy Souls happens in Home Alone. Not only does Kevin use the movie to purchase a pizza (Kevin left a shitty tip, but no 8-year-old knows how to tip), but he successfully scares off Marv from burglarizing his house during the afternoon. It was the first of many wins for Kevin.
Winner – Home Alone
Better Old Person Who Saves The Day
Full disclosure, Old Man Marley and Pigeon Lady still scare me to this day. Both Old Man Marley and Pigeon Lady are old, social outcasts who provide Kevin with sage wisdom and loving advice. I think of them as Kevin’s grandpa and grandma. Old Man Marley saved Kevin from having his fingers eaten by Joe Pesci, but his “talent” is shoveling salt onto the sidewalk. Whoop-de-doo, Basil! Pigeon Lady was a badass who could control the minds of pigeons and manipulate them to attack her enemies. Ok, so not all of that is true, but Pigeon Lady and her bird friends saved Kevin from being shot to death. Pigeon Lady gets the nod.
Winner – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Better Performance From The Wet Bandits
https://youtu.be/-Xe0AzKBLzA
This is by far the toughest category. Kevin may be the heart of the Home Alone series, but Harry and Marv aka the Wet Bandits are the backbones. Without the stupidity and the charm of the Wet Bandits, this movie doesn’t work. Between their iconic one-liners to their near-death experiences, Harry and Marv are the worst criminals known to man and we love them for it. This category is a wash.
Winner – Tie
Better Traps
The Wet Bandits would have had a hall of fame career as criminals had it not been for a boy genius with a thrill for the dramatics and love for torture. In both films, Kevin created deathly traps that would kill most people. The first moviehas the iconic paint bucket trap as well as the tarantula scene. But, Kevin took his mischevious mind to the tenth power inthe sequel. The electrocution, the hat explosion, the staple gun, and the rope-burn still make cringe. However, my favorite is still the brick throw. Suck brick, kid!
Winner – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Better Ending
Waking up on a white, snowy Christmas to your mom and family is a pretty good ending. However, just like Kevin, I’m a sucker for Christmas trees and New York City has the crème de la crème of Christmas trees at Rockefeller Center. Kevin could have gone anywhere in New York City, but he chose one of the most magical (and touristy) places to go and for that, I salute him.
Winner – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
In the end, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York narrowly beats Home Alone. However, you truly can’t go wrong with either film. It’s one of the few times that both the original and sequel are top-notch. If I don’t see you over the holiday season, Merry Christmas, you filthy animals.
P.S. We don’t talk about Home Alone 3, 4, and 5. However, we can talk about how a young Scarlett Johansson was in Home Alone 3. Save that fact for a snowy day.
Which is better, Home Alone or Home Alone 2: Lost in New York? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow, or email us at immad@unafraidshow.com.
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