Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 11

After two months of the regular season, the first College Football Playoff rankings were revealed this past Tuesday. Let’s just say that fans of the Big Ten and SEC should be very happy.

Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, and Penn State are in the first four spots. For reference, my playoff heading into Week 11 is LSU, Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson. The playoff rankings are guaranteed to change after this weekend because of the showdown in Tuscaloosa when No. 1 LSU plays No. 2 Alabama. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 11.

The SEC (And National) Game Of The Year

If No. 1 vs. No. 2 doesn’t get your juices going, then you must be a corpse. LSU and their high powered offense travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama in one of the most important games of the year. However, the real story is the health of Tua Tagovailoa. Will his ankle hold up? If Tua has limited mobility and can’t make the plays fans are used to seeing him make, Alabama is in for a long day especially if their defense can’t contain Burrow and the fourth-ranked offense in the country.

Can Minnesota Derail Penn State’s Perfect Season?

Should we be rowing the boat with Minnesota? The Golden Gophers have been the surprise of the Big Ten with an 8-0 record. However, the committee did not show any love towards the Gophers as Minnesota ranked 17th in the first playoff ranking. That ranking reflects their lack of quality opponents and 77th ranked strength of schedule. However, that can all change with a win over Penn State on Saturday. The Nittany Lions surprised some by receiving the final playoff spot over Clemson. Penn State still has a clash with Ohio State later this month, but they can’t afford to overlook Minnesota. PJ Fleck could have the entire country rowing the boat around 3 o’clock on Saturday if Minnesota upsets Penn State.

Clemson Is Fine… If They Win Out

Clemson is the defending National Champion and owns the nation’s longest winning streak (24), but the Tigers were outside of the top four in the CFP. Tiger fans are wondering why “no one respects them.” What do you want me to tell you? The toughest game Clemson has played all season was in Week 2 against Texas A&M. Currently, A&M is 6-3 and unranked. The Tigers started off slow and accumulated few quality wins. That being said, the Tigers still have Dabo Swinney, Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, and the fourth-ranked defense in the country. Clemson fans, relax. Win out and the Tigers will be in the playoff. However, lose one game and Clemson won’t be able to defend their championship.

Iowa And Wisconsin Still Fighting For The Big Ten West

Minnesota is in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten West with a 5-0 conference record. However, Iowa and Wisconsin are both alive at 3-2 in the conference. After Penn State, Minnesota plays both Iowa and Wisconsin (along with Northwestern) to wrap up the regular season. If Minnesota loses to Penn State, the winner of this week’s Iowa and Wisconsin game will control their own destiny for the chance to play in the Big Ten Championship. Expect a low scoring game at Camp Randall as Wisconsin and Iowa have the first and sixth-ranked defenses respectively.

Hypothetical Season Has Only Just Begun

College Football Playoff

The reveal of one playoff ranking has sent both teams and fans into pandemonium. The long list of hypotheticals aka “What Ifs” will dominate discussion over the next month. George broke down each team’s potential road to the playoff, but I want to focus on the biggest hypothetical in college football. Let’s say LSU, Ohio State, and Clemson all win out and win their respective conference championships. Those three teams would make the playoff, which leaves one remaining spot left. Who gets in if Alabama has one loss to LSU, Penn State has one loss to Ohio State, and Oregon has one loss to Auburn but wins the Pac-12? The answer should be Oregon, but that’s no guarantee. As we’ve seen in years past, teams with one loss have gotten into the playoff over conference champions. Nothing is written in stone.

What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 11? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow or email us immad@unafraidshow.com.

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 9

Penn State College Football Top 10 Rankings

Am I a jinx? In my Week 7 column, I wrote about Boise State and how we need to keep an eye on them going forward. Last week, I added SMU to the mix and said the race is on between Boise State and SMU for the right to play in a New Year’s Six bowl game. For Boise State, that dream was derailed after a 28-25 loss to BYU. Apologies to all of my Bronco fans. Ahead of Week 9, my College Football Playoff includes:

  1. LSU
  2. Alabama
  3. Ohio State
  4. Oklahoma

No changes to the top four. Without a doubt, these are the four best teams in the country right now. You can make an argument for each team to be number one and I wouldn’t disagree with your rationale.

Week 9 is highlighted by two Top-15 matchups: No. 13 Wisconsin vs. No. 3 Ohio State and No. 9 Auburn vs. No. 2 LSU. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 9.

Wisconsin vs. Ohio State In Potential Big Ten Championship Preview

Wisconsin, you blew it! Wisconsin suffered an inexcusable loss to Illinois, 24-23, which could be their nail in the coffin in terms of making the College Football Playoff. However, the Badgers have a gigantic opportunity to make up for their loss when they travel to Columbus on Saturday to take on the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes. Both offenses are led by Heisman hopefuls Jonathan Taylor, who leads the nation in touchdowns with 19, and Justin Fields, who is tied for second in points responsible for with 180. However, the offensive fireworks may be hindered because Wisconsin and Ohio State have the number one and number two defenses in the country respectively. No matter what happens in this game, these two teams could meet again in the Big 10 Championship.

LSU Faces Another Top 10 Opponent

Find me a team with a better resume than LSU. The Tigers defeated Texas in Austin and Florida in Baton Rouge when both opponents were ranked in the top ten. Now, the Tigers will once again have a top 10 opponent when Auburn comes to Death Valley on Saturday afternoon. If Coach O, Joe Burrow, and the boys defeat Auburn, they will be the number one ranked team in the country.

Penn State Continues To Shine Despite Brutal Schedule

Two down, three more tough games to go. Penn State survived a late comeback against Michigan to hold on 28-21, improving to 7-0. The schedule does not get any easier for the No. 6 ranked Nittany Lions. Penn State heads to East Lansing to take on Michigan State, who is coming off back-to-back blowout losses against Ohio State and Wisconsin. Their Big Ten title hopes are dead, but they would love to play spoiler against Penn State for the third straight year. The Spartans own this rivalry as of late, having beaten the Nittany Lions in five of the last six years.

Alabama’s Season Rests Upon Tua’s Ankle

Alabama will beat Arkansas this weekend no matter who lines up under center. Mac Jones will start this weekend and Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua’s little brother, will serve as his backup. Frankly, a third-string offensive lineman could play quarterback and the Tide would still win by double digits. That being said, the future of Alabama’s season will come down to Tua Tagovailoa’s ankle. The superstar quarterback will miss at least one game with a right ankle sprain. Remember that Tua sprained his left ankle last season and it affected his mobility at times. High ankle sprains are no laughing matter. Thankfully for Tide fans, Alabama has a bye week after this game before the LSU Tigers stroll into Tuscaloosa for the SEC Game of the Year. If Tua’s not healthy for the LSU game, it will be tough for the Tide to roll.

It’s Do-or-Die For Jim Harbaugh

Is this Jim Harbaugh’s last stand? After the Wolverines suffered their second loss of the season to Penn State, NFL rumors circulated, stating that Harbaugh has an exit strategy in place to leave Michigan. Harbaugh quickly denied the rumor, but can we really trust college coaches in general? Most of them are snake oil salesmen who would leave at a moment’s notice if a better job came calling, leaving the players to suffer. So if you’re asking if I believe these NFL rumors, then I would say I do. Michigan will have to look past these distractions and worry about No. 8 Notre Dame coming to the Big House for a Saturday night showdown. If Michigan loses, it could be the final nail in the coffin for Harbaugh.

What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 9? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 8

Mario-Cristobal

Last week, I said, “Where is the chaos?” Well, the football gods were listening because #3 Georiga lost at home to unranked South Carolina. The first domino fell in Week 7. There will be more to fall. It’s only a matter of time. Going into Week 8, my College Football Playoff includes:

  1. LSU
  2. Alabama
  3. Ohio State
  4. Oklahoma

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a new number one in my College Football Playoff rankings. To be honest, LSU should have already been number one after their win over Texas, but thanks to their second win against a top-ten opponent, moving them to the top position was a no brainer. Also, Oklahoma slides in at number four thanks to their win over Texas.

Week 8 is highlighted by Oregon traveling to Husky Stadium to take on Washington in a battle for Pac-12 supremacy. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 8.

Trap Game For Ohio State

No player, coach, or team has been able to stop the Ohio State offense in 2019. The Buckeyes average 534 yards per game while scoring a total of 39 touchdowns on the season, which is tied for second in the nation. The offense may be great, but the defense is even better as the Buckeyes come into this game ranked second in the country in total defense. If the Buckeyes can get past Northwestern on Friday night in Evanston, it sets up the potential Big 10 “Game of the Year” next week when Wisconsin strolls into Columbus.

Keep An Eye On Baylor

Hats off to the Baylor Bears. This past offseason, head coach Matt Rhule was one of the final candidates in the Jets’ coaching search. Rhule didn’t get the job and returned to Baylor, which turns out to be the best thing that happened for the program. Rhule has led the Bears to an undefeated 6-0 start. With the mess that Art Briles left a few seasons ago, Rhule has done a hell of a job making the Bears relevant again. Baylor will look to remain undefeated when they travel to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State.

Boise State, SMU Look To Stay In The Race For The New Year’s Six

The race to represent the “Group of Five” in the New Year’s Six is heating up. Right now, the two teams fighting for the spot are #14 Boise State and #19 SMU. Both teams are 6-0 thanks to stellar quarterback play from freshman Hank Hank Bachmeier at Boise and Texas transfer Shane Buechele at SMU. However, Bachmeier injured his hip last week against Hawaii so he’s most likely not going to play this weekend against BYU. On the flip side, Buechele and the SMU offense are firing on all cylinders as they average close to 500 yards per game. SMU faces a tough Temple team this weekend.

For Penn State, One Down, Two To Go

It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win. Despite gaining less than 300 yards of total offense, Penn State survived a tough trip to Iowa and left Kinnick Stadium with a hard-fought 17-12 win. As I mentioned last week, Penn State was entering their “Murderer’s Row” section of their schedule. It doesn’t get any easier for the Nittany Lions as they welcome the Michigan Wolverines to Happy Valley on Saturday night. Win that game and Penn State could crack the top five in the polls.

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Battle For Pac-12 North Supremacy

Washington Huskies

Every game is a must-win, but for Oregon, this game against Washington is a must-win game to the tenth power. The Ducks travel to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies in a game that has huge implications on who will represent the Pac-12 North in the conference championship. Washington (most likely) can’t make the College Football Playoff, but Oregon still has a shot. The Ducks’ only loss on the season came Week 1 against Auburn so they still have a shot to be in the final four if they run the table. The quarterback matchup between NFL prospects, Justin Herbert and Jacob Eason, should be as good as advertised.

What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 8? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

What Worked And What Didn’t Work In El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Aaron Paul El Camino

The wait is over. Jesse Pinkman, welcome back to our lives. After six long years, Jesse Pinkman has returned to our television screens in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. After taking the weekend to process my thoughts, I’m ready to talk. Here’s what worked and what didn’t work in El Camino.

This post will contain major spoilers for El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. If you have not watched the film yet, stop reading now.

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Seriously, spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned.

What Worked: Jesse’s Ending

Out of all the major characters in Breaking Bad, Jesse was the biggest name to have an open-ended future. In the series finale, Jesse escaped in Todd’s El Camino and his future was up to the audience to decide. Part of me believes that Gilligan created El Camino because of his unsatisfaction and guilt with how Jesse’s story ended and felt like he needed to properly close his saga. In 2013, Gilligan stated that he hoped Jesse moved to “Alaska to live a peaceful life.” Then, in the first scene, Mike mentioned that he would go to Alaska if he were Jesse. Right then and there, I knew Jesse was making it to Alaska. Did that ruin the film for me knowing that Jesse would stay alive the entire time? No, it did not. After being tortured for the last season and a half of Breaking Bad, Jesse deserved a peaceful resolution.

What Didn’t Work: The Entire Film Being Set In Albuquerque

I have no problem with Jesse getting to Alaska successfully. However, I wish the film spent more time in Alaska and less time in Albuquerque. Between Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, we spend so much time in Albuquerque. It would’ve been awesome to see a Breaking Bad movie in Alaska. Imagine if we saw Jesse adjusting to life in his Alaskan cabin and had to interact with the townspeople. If El Camino spent the first half of the film in Albuquerque and the second half in Alaska, then I’d sign up for that film in a heartbeat. Setting the film in Alaska would have been a risk, but these Gilligan could have pulled it off.

What Worked: Todd

TODD! My biggest takeaway from the film revolves around Todd and how amazing he was as a villain. Breaking Bad highlighted on a few of Todd’s evil tendencies (most notably, shooting Drew in “Dead Freight” and Andrea in “Granite State“), but the show never fully displayed how Todd broke Jesse, both physically and mentally. The scene where Todd convinced Jesse to give him the gun in the desert while persuading him with a pepperoni pizza and some beer is equally horrifying as it is impressive. This scene is why Jesse exacting his revenge on Todd in “Felina” is so satisfying. Jesse Plemons is a fantastic villain as evidenced in Breaking Bad, Fargo, and Black Mirror. If Breaking Bad ever wanted to do a spinoff on Todd’s life and how he got mixed up with Uncle Jack and the drug universe, I’m all in for “Breaking Todd.”

What Didn’t Work: Walt

It truly pains me to type this, but Walt’s flashback scene did nothing for me. In El Camino, the flashback takes place during a season two episode titled, “4 Days Out,” where Walt and Jesse go on a meth-cooking bender in order to try and secure enough money for Walt’s family. The scene takes place sometime between leaving the desert and dropping off Walt at the airport. The significance is that it takes place a few episodes before meeting Gus Fring and Jane’s death. In other words, it’s a few episodes before Walt breaks bad. The scene at the cafe is purely fan service, which is both good and bad. If Walt was not featured in some capacity, fans would have rioted. It was a light, semi-fun scene that highlighted the initial friendship between Walt and Jesse. But that friendship was so long ago that it’s hard to remember Walt as a “good guy.” I preferred Heisenberg Walt in a flashback over “I’m selling drugs for my family” Walt.

What Worked: Aaron Paul

Aaron Paul
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad / Sony Pictures Television

Jesse might have been Walt’s sidekick, but Aaron Paul was equally as good as Bryan Cranston. Just like his character, it took some time for Paul to find his own as Jesse, but when he got it right, it was magic. Walt might have been the brains behind the show, but Jesse was the heart. Walt may have broken bad, but Jesse tried to hold onto his morality throughout the entire show. El Camino gave Paul a chance to shine as the true lead, and he made the most of this opportunity. Paul’s Jesse is the perfect mix of a criminal trying to make up for previous mistakes. Paul’s performance is full of heartbreak, compassion, and finally, satisfaction as the book of Jesse Pinkman came to an end.

What Didn’t Work: It Felt Like A Long Episode of Breaking Bad, Not A Film

To some, this is a positive. A long episode of Breaking Bad is better than no Breaking Bad at all. El Camino was a fan service at its finest. The montage in Todd’s apartment, the return of memorable characters, and the aerial camera shots were all familiar elements from the series. However, I wouldn’t consider El Camino a film. El Camino felt like an episode during the middle of a season. Spending time at Skinny Pete’s house and searching for money at Todd’s dragged out and could have been shorter. I expected the film to be more action-packed and to the point. The film didn’t really “get going” until Jesse interacted with the Kandy Welding Company at Todd’s apartment. As I said earlier, a long episode of Breaking Bad is better than no Breaking Bad at all, but that doesn’t necessarily work for something billed as a film.

Final Takeaway

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie was a satisfying film that provided a lot of fan service thanks to cameos from memorable characters. Will it be ranked towards the top of the Breaking Bad universe? No. Will it be ranked towards the bottom? No. It will stand on its own as a tribute to a phenomenal show, which is where it should be.

Did you enjoy El Camino? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Joker Review: Joaquin Phoenix Goes All In And Shines

Joker Movie Joaquin Phoenix

While speaking with his mother, Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck turns to his mother and says, “I used to think that my life was a tragedy. But now, I realize it’s a comedy.” Arthur may be smiling, but the audience cowers in fear as they watch a man embrace his inner demons and become one of the world’s most famous villains, the Joker.

*This article will have light spoilers. However, it will not discuss major plot points.

Phoenix stars as Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill man who has been humiliated and disregarded by society in Gotham City circa 1981. Arthur, who has little to no money, is a clown for hire who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. Arthur cares for and lives with his mother Penny (Frances Conroy), who is both mentally and physically ill. The duo both share a love and obsession for acclaimed late-night host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro), who they watch every night on television. Franklin inadvertently becomes a catalyst for Arthur’s violent turn after the late-night comedian poked fun at Arthur’s standup. When Arthur and Murray finally meet, it’s suspenseful and downright terrifying because Arthur finally goes off the deep end. However, not all things are bad for Fleck as he’s able to strike up a relationship with Sophie (Zazie Beetz), who lives down the hall.

The entire film rests on the protruding backbone of Phoenix, who lost 52 pounds for the role. There’s going “all in” for a role, and then there’s what Phoenix did. Phoenix completely immersed himself into the mind of a mentally ill and deranged man who turns to unspeakable actions of violence. The way Phoenix contorts his body and maniacally laughs is both disturbing and unsettling, but also spellbinding. Phoenix expertly toes the line between a sympathetic and hopeful Arthur to a twisted and demented Joker. Phoenix, a three-time Academy Award nominee, terrifies and dazzles in a performance that will most certainly be nominated for Best Actor.

At the very beginning, there is some sympathy for Arthur after witnessing how society made him feel inconsequential and inferior. All of that sympathy is a credit to Phoenix’s ability to connect with the audience. That being said, the sympathy disappears as Joker reminds the audience that it’s a character study into the mind of a monster. Arthur is a murderous psychopath who commits heinous crimes that are unforgivable. Joker is a look into how a man could break bad and turn into a nihilistic outlaw who shows no remorse for his actions.

For the first time, the Joker is not the calculated criminal that Jack Nicholson and the late Heath Ledger, whose legendary performance earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, portrayed. In fact, Batman is not even here to save the day. Joker is the origin story about how the villainous clown became a murderous criminal. This version of the Joker is not a mastermind. There’s never a moment where the Joker becomes the strategic genius that will rule Gotham. From the start, Arthur is suffering from a severe mental illness and the film never strays away from that fact.

Had it not been for a handful of references to the Wayne family and Gotham City, Joker would be a standalone film about a dark, damaged outcast from society. The film is actually better when it steers away from the comics and focuses on a man and his path towards evil. Joker was director Todd Phillips’ trojan horse as he used the famous clown to create an homage to dark, 70s crime movies. Phillips, who is known for directing comedic hits like Old School and The Hangover trilogy, crafted a film that’s the lovechild of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. The grim setting and spine-tingling score become characters in their own right as it adds to the suspense and pure shock value of the film.

Ever since Joker won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, critics have been divided on whether the film is a masterpiece or a Taxi Driver ripoff. With the FBI monitoring mass shooting threats ahead of its premiere, some critics have even debated if this movie is dangerous, saying that it glorifies villains and could incite violence from the “kill the rich” scenes in the movie. That being said, Joker makes the audience aware that it’s an origin story about a villain. Villans are bad guys who do bad things and yes, sometimes those bad things are murder. It’s not a sympathy piece to glorify a murderer, but rather a look at the circumstances that fueled a chaotic man to commit brutal crimes. Plus, the references to the Wayne family and Gotham City instill that the film is based on a famous villain from a comic book, not real life.

Joker is going to stir up controversy, but that’s the Joker’s job. The Joker is not kind or good, but rather, sadistic and evil. The film reflects those dark themes of isolation and omission. Furthermore, Joker also will change the future of superhero films especially if Phoenix receives a Best Actor nomination and the film is up for Best Picture. Some will call Joker a triumph. Others will say it’s a letdown because of the insurmountable hype it created. What it really caused is chaos and for that, Joker gets the last laugh.

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 6

Florida-Gators-Football-2019-Entrance

It’s time to make a change to my College Football Playoff rankings. After Week 5, it’s time to update my top four teams because frankly, my previous number one team has not played like it. I’m still waiting for this team to really show what they can do, but for now, they have been surpassed by four teams. Going into Week 6, my College Football Playoff includes:

  1. Alabama
  2. LSU
  3. Georgia
  4. Ohio State

If you’ve watched college football this year, there’s no way you can say that Clemson has been one of the four best teams in the country. In fact, my number five team would be Ohio State followed by Clemson at six. Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers have struggled all season and it’s clear there’s a championship hangover in effect. Now, I fully believe Clemson will turn it around and make the CFP, but for now, they’re the odd man out. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 6.

One Month Before First College Football Playoff Rankings

We are just about a month away from the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings. If the rankings were to be released today, the top four would be Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. Does being in the top four in the first ranking matter? Since the CFP’s inception, 13 of the 20 teams revealed in the first week made the CFP. So, teams will be fighting to make the first ranking over the next month. Buckle up.

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Jim Harbaugh’s Last Stand

After the first month of the season, did you ever think that Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh would be on the hot seat? One close win against Army and one ass-kicking against Wisconsin put Harbaugh’s job in jeopardy. This Saturday, Michigan welcomes the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes to the Big House. This is a must-win game for Michigan. I don’t care what happens the rest of the season. If Harbaugh can’t beat Iowa at home, he doesn’t deserve to coach Michigan.

College Football Playoff

Auburn Continues To Run The Gauntlet

Defeat Oregon on a neutral site? No problem. Beat Texas A&M at Kyle Field? No problem. So far, Auburn passed every challenge with flying colors. Unfortunately for the Tigers, it’s only going to get harder. Undefeated Auburn heads to the Swamp to take on the undefeated Florida Gators in an SEC showdown. Bo Nix continues to improve as the freshman quarterback has thrown for 980 yards and seven touchdowns to two interceptions while adding two rushing scores. For the Gators, Kyle Trask has flourished since he took over for Feleipe Franks. Trask is 2-0 as the starter this season and has given the Gators a jumpstart on offense. The winner of this game will have a shot at cracking the top 5 in next week’s poll.

Ohio State Is Just Fine Without Urban Meyer

I knew Ohio State would be good, but I never expected it would be this good this quickly. The Buckeyes rank eighth in total offense and second in total defense. Ryan Day taking over for Urban Meyer reminds me a lot of when Lincoln Riley succeeded Bob Stoops. Both teams never missed a beat and even improved. After curb-stomping Nebraska in Lincoln, the Buckeyes return to Columbus to take on a tough Michigan State defense. I can’t wait for the Buckeyes to face Wisconsin at the end of the month.

Watch Out For Texas

Oklahoma, watch out. Oklahoma may have Jalen Hurts, but Texas has Sam Ehlinger, who has arguably been just as impressive. The Longhorn QB has thrown for over 1200 yards with 15 TDs to 1 INT. Texas only has a loss to LSU so if the Longhorns can survive at West Virginia this Saturday, they can take control of the Big 12 with an upset win over Oklahoma next weekend. Please, Texas, don’t lose this weekend.

What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 6? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 5

Justin Fields Ohio State

After the highly anticipated Week 4, I’d say most fans including myself were satisfied with the slate of games last weekend. Wisconsin destroyed Michigan, Auburn held on against A&M, and Notre Dame/Georgia was close the entire night. All in all, it was a solid day. Week 5 is all about conference play as a few matchups will have a significant impact on the standings. Going into Week 5, my College Football Playoff includes:

  1. Clemson
  2. Alabama
  3. LSU
  4. Georgia

The only change this week involves inserting Georgia to the fourth spot instead of Oklahoma because of their win over Notre Dame. Three SEC teams in the playoff? As much as the majority of the country fears this possibility, this scenario could happen. It’s still early so don’t tar and feather me just yet. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 5.

Will The Scoreboard Break When Penn State Plays Maryland?

Through two weeks of the season, Penn State and Maryland had two of the highest-scoring offenses in the country. Through 4 games, both teams combined for an average of 66.5 points per game. Then, Week 3 happened where both teams scored 17 points each. Penn State narrowly escaped against Pittsburgh while Maryland suffered a setback in the loss to Temple. I’m expecting both offenses to get back on track Friday night in College Park. If Josh Jackson and the Maryland rushing attack to get going early, the over will hit easily.

California, Here We Come

To be honest, I’ll use any excuse to play the theme song to The O.C. That being said, California sits atop the Pac-12 as the only remaining unbeaten in the conference. It hasn’t been pretty, to say the least, but teams that find a way to win close games especially when two of those games were at Washington and at Ole Miss. Linebacker Evan Weaver leads the nation in tackles and quarterback Chase Garbers is coming off of a 4 TD performance. Now, Cal hosts Arizona State in what many will call a trap game because next week, Cal travels to Eugene to play Oregon. Survive this week and Cal may move into the Top 10.

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Wisconsin Is A Legitimate Playoff Contender

Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

After two weeks, Wisconsin outscored their two inferior opponents, 110-0. How did Wisconsin fare when playing Michigan at home? The Badgers bullied Michigan the entire game as they won 35-14. It’s time to start mentioning running back Jonathan Taylor in the Heisman race after his 203 yards and 2 TD performance against the Michigan defense. Wisconsin should beat Northwestern on Saturday and if all goes well the next few weeks, the Badgers could be 7-0 before their trip to Ohio State with huge College Football Playoff implications on the line.

Can Notre Dame Rebound After A Tough Loss To Georgia?

Some say there’s no such thing as a moral victory, but I say they’re wrong. For a team that allegedly can’t compete with the “big boys,” Notre Dame proved that they belonged against Georgia. Had Notre Dame been able to establish a running game (14 runs to 47 runs) and eliminate some of their 12 penalties on the night, the Irish might have escaped Georgia with a win. However, there’s no time to dwell on the loss and Notre Dame welcomes the No. 18 Virginia Cavaliers to South Bend. Notre Dame’s chances to make the playoff decreased, but if the Irish win out, they’ll be in the conversation.

Will Ohio State Survive?

The Big Ten West has been a thorn in Ohio State’s side the past two seasons. In 2017, Ohio State went on the road to Iowa and lost to the Hawkeyes 31 points. In 2018, Ohio State went on the road to Purdue and lost to the Boilermakers by 29. These two games cost the Buckeyes a chance at the playoff. Now, Ohio State travels to Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers in Lincoln on Saturday night. For Ryan Day and Justin Fields, it’s time to earn their stripes. Survive Saturday night and the College Football Playoff is insight.

What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 5? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 3

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 3

It turns out that not everyone supports the troops. I’m looking at you, Michigan. For the second year in a row, Army took a Top 10 team with playoff aspirations to overtime only to fall short once again. Week 2 also confirmed that LSU is for real and should join Alabama and Georgia on the list of SEC schools who can make the College Football Playoff. Going into Week 3, my College Football Playoff is as follows:

  1. Clemson
  2. Alabama
  3. LSU
  4. Oklahoma

Week 3 does not have any ranked vs. ranked matchups, but there are a few intriguing matchups that catch my eye. Look at Week 3 as a layover from last week and transitional period into next week’s huge slate of games highlighted by Notre Dame vs. Georiga. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 3.

The “Jalen Hurts Show” Hits The Road For The First Time This Year

To say Jalen Hurts has been spectacular in his two games for Oklahoma would be an understatement. Through two games, Hurts is 34/41, 591 yards, 6 TDs, and 0 INTs to go along with 223 rushing yards and 3 TDs. This week will be Hurts’ first road game at OU as the Sooners head to the Rose Bowl to take on UCLA for a Saturday night showdown. A win on the road against UCLA is a lot better than a win against the Little Sisters of the Poor. Style points against Power 5 schools are important so if Hurts balls out once again, Oklahoma is in the driver’s seat for the College Football Playoff heading into conference play.

Alabama Heads To South Carolina For Its First Road Test

Ok, I’m using the word, “test,” very liberally. This is not a test for Alabama. Alabama has given up a combined 13 points in two games while South Carolina lost to North Carolina in Week 1. Plus, South Carolina is starting freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski because the Gamecocks lost senior starter Jake Bentley in Week 1. To set the scene, South Carolina is starting a freshman at quarterback and in the first SEC game of his career, he gets to face Nick Saban. Good luck, kid! Funny story. South Carolina defeated Alabama in their last meeting back in 2010. Stephen Garcia and Alshon Jeffrey are not walking through the door anytime soon, Gamecock fans.

Can Syracuse Make It Two Out Of 3 Against Clemson?

As good as Clemson has been over the past four years, there have been a few thorns in their side. One of those thorns belongs to Syracuse. Two years ago, the Orange upset the No.2 ranked Tigers, 27-24. Last year, Clemson needed backup quarterback Chase Brice, who came into the game for an injured Trevor Lawrence, to lead the Tigers on a 13-play, 94-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes to win, 27-24. This year, the Orange welcome the Tigers to the Carrier Dome for a Saturday night showdown. Forget the spread. If history repeats itself, this will be no easy game for the Tigers.

UCF Gets A Crack At a Power 5 Team

If UCF wants to dance with the big boys in the College Football Playoff, it needs to beat the big boys in a Power 5 conference. Ask and you shall receive as UCF welcomes Stanford out of the Pac-12 to Orlando. I said that style points matter so UCF not only has to beat Stanford, but they have to dominate them if they ever want to sniff the College Football Playoff. Keep an eye on the quarterback battle. K.J. Costello returns for Stanford while it’s unclear whether Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush, freshman Dillon Gabriel, or sophomore Darriel Mack will line up under center.

Game With The Most Playoff Implications Outside Of The Top 10: Iowa vs. Iowa State

The battle of the Cy-Hawk is the biggest game of the weekend as Iowa travels to Ames to take on in-state rival, Iowa State. It’s so big that College GameDay will be on the scene in Ames for the first time ever. Is either of these teams going to make the College Football Playoff? I can definitively say no, but both teams are undefeated in Power 5 conferences so, in theory, they have shot still. This game has slugfest written all over it. Iowa has the better defense so I’ll take the Hawkeyes to beat the Cyclones by a field goal.

What are your top storylines for the College Football Week 3? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week Two

Week 1 might have lacked many high profile matchups, but it was full of fireworks. Alabama and Clemson took care of business, Jalen Hurts inserted himself into the Heisman race, and multiple Power 5 schools lost to inferior opponents. How’s that for College Football Playoff drama?

Week 2 is highlighted with two spectacular games that will have CFP implications, Texas A&M vs. Clemson and LSU vs. Texas. The winners of both games will take giant leaps forward toward the CFP. Let’s take a look at the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 2.

Can Jalen Hurts build upon his strong debut?

https://youtu.be/SjuDLVxnXI8

Last week, I said I had no idea what to expect out of Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma. I had doubts that Hurts could be the third straight Oklahoma quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy. However, Hurts was in a good situation with Lincoln Reilly calling plays. To put it nicely, Hurts took my doubts and shoved them right up my candy-ass. Hurts was spectacular against Houston, going 20/23 for 332 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 interceptions. He also ran for 176 yards and 3 TDs. I’m not an expert, but it looks like Hurts catapulted himself into the Heisman race. Hurts will have another chance to impress this Saturday night against South Dakota.

Can Jimbo Fisher exact revenge on Clemson and ruin their chances for a repeat?

It’s time for Jimbo Fisher to earn the big bucks. If you’re paid like a top coach, it’s time to win like a top coach. Fisher will have a chance at a signature win this Saturday as Texas A&M strolls into Memorial Stadium to take on the defending College Football Playoff Champion, Clemson. Last year, A&M was on the verge of an upset over Clemson in College Station, but a failed 2-point conversion ended up being the difference as Clemson escaped with a 28-26 win. If Fisher can pull off the upset, it will be A&M’s biggest win since Johnny Football defeated Alabama in 2012.

Will LSU or Texas move into the playoff conversation with a win?

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week Two

Saturday night is going to rocking as the #6 LSU Tigers invade Austin to take on the #9 Texas Longhorns. The matchup to watch is Joe Burrow versus Sam Ehlinger at quarterback. Take your pick as to who you want under center because both QBs can sling it all over the field. In Week 1, Burrow threw for 278 yards and 5 TDs while Ehlinger threw for 276 yards and 4 TDs. The x-factor is Ehlinger’s running ability. If Ehlinger can move the chains with his legs, it opens up a new dimension to Tom Herman’s offense. Circle this game because the winner will have a huge nonconference win on their resume when the playoff rankings come out.

Can USC survive with a true freshman quarterback?

Week 1 was bittersweet for the Men of Troy. USC beat Fresno State, but it came at a price. Starting quarterback JT Daniels tore two ligaments in his knee, ending his season. Now, USC turns to true freshman Kedon Slovis. Congratulations, Kedon, on the job. Let’s take a look at his prize. In his first start, Slovis takes on Stanford under the lights at the Coliseum on Saturday night! Having the game at home will help the young signal-caller, but Stanford has beaten USC in 8 of their last 12 meetings. It’s a tall task for Slovis, but not impossible.

Is Jeremy Pruitt on the hot seat if he loses to BYU?

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week Two

I’m not a Tennessee football historian, but losing to Georgia State at home in Week 1 has to be in the Top 3 worst losses for the program. No one expects Tennessee to make the College Football Playoff, but it’s inexcusable and frankly, embarrassing, to lose to Georgia State at home. Now, Tennessee welcomes BYU to town on Saturday night. Jeremy Pruitt is in his first must-win game as head coach of the Volunteers. If the Volunteers fall at home once again, Pruitt’s coaching seat won’t just be hot. It will be in flames.

What are your top storylines for the CFP in Week 2? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week One

College football is back. Thank the lord! I couldn’t watch another cornhole and spikeball tournament on ESPN2. I need college football back in my life and that’s exactly what we’re getting this weekend. Fans received an amuse-bouche of football with a few games last weekend including Miami vs. Florida, but Week 1 starts the road to the College Football Playoff (CFP).

Every week this season, we’ll look at the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into the weekend. We’re a long way from the first 2019 College Football Playoff rankings, which will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. However, every game matters so let’s kick it off with Week 1.

Are we destined for Alabama vs. Clemson In The National Championship?

This college football season feels a lot like when the Cavs and Warriors met in four straight NBA Finals. The question was not “if” they would play in the NBA Finals, but “how” would they get there. Alabama and Clemson are the two best teams in college football right now. There’s nothing to debate here. Alabama and Clemson have the two best coaches, Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney, and two best quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence, in the country. Both teams will be double-digit favorites every game with the exception possibly coming in the final game of the regular season when Alabama travels to Auburn. If the Crimson Tide and Tigers meet in the championship, it would be the fifth straight year those two teams met in the College Football Playoff with three of those coming in the national title game. Bama should roll through Duke and Clemson should dominate Georgia Tech in Week 1.

Who is the third-best team in the country?

Is there a consensus third-best team in the country behind Clemson and Alabama? Most fans and experts would choose Georiga as the third-best team in the country. Who can blame them? Georgia has lost three games in the regular season the past two seasons with one of those losses coming to Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs will be very good this year. It all starts with the return of third-year quarterback Jake Fromm. Remember the name, D’Andre Swift. The junior running back rushed for 1,049 yards and 10 TDs last season while splitting time with Elijah Holyfield. It’s Swift’s backfield now. If all goes according to plan, the Bulldogs are on a collision course with Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

Can Jalen Hurts become the third straight Oklahoma quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy?

Jalen Hurts on Oklahoma / Alonzo Adams

The Jalen Hurts Era at Oklahoma begins Sunday night in Norman against Houston. Hurts has not been a starting quarterback since 2017 when he was at Alabama. Lucky for Hurts, he’s going to a coach in Lincoln Riley who happens to be the best play-caller in the nation. It’s safe to say that Riley has a more versatile offensive strategy at Oklahoma than Hurts’ former coordinators at Alabama. Riley also has two straight quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, who have won the Heisman Trophy. Can Hurts make it three for three? To be honest, I have no idea what to expect out of Hurts. Can he throw the ball for more than 4,000 yards as Mayfield and Murray did over the past two seasons? Only time will tell if Hurts fits into Riley’s explosive offense.

The game with most the College Football Playoff implications in Week 1 is Oregon vs. Auburn

The marquee game of Week 1 with the most CFP implications on the line is #11 Oregon vs. #16 Auburn at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday night. Oregon’s 2019 expectations are very high thanks to the return of senior quarterback Justin Herbert. In 28 starts, Herbert and the Ducks offense have averaged 38.3 points per game in his 28 starts. They’ll need every point on Saturday as Auburn’s defense is coming off a season where it ranked 28th nationally allowing 361.9 yards per game and seventh holding teams to just 17.1 points per game. Coach Guz Malzahn believes this year’s defense could be the best defense he’s ever had during his tenure thanks to Nick Coe, Derrick Brown, and Marlon Davidson. Not to add any more pressure, but the entire Pac-12 conference is rooting for Oregon. This is the Ducks’ chance to put their conference on the playoff radar versus arguably the best conference in the nation.

Can Michigan Finally Win The Big Ten Title Under Jim Harbaugh?

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

If there has ever been a year for Michigan to win the Big 10 Conference, it’s 2019. Urban Meyer is no longer at Ohio State. Trace McSorley is not at Penn State. Wisconsin is still not back to their 2017 form where they went 13-1. Michigan State is average. There are no more excuses for Michigan. Returning quarterback Shea Patterson is in for a treat as new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis will implement an up-tempo, no-huddle, speed-in-space offense. For Jim Harbaugh, it’s time to win the Big 10 and beat Ohio State.

What are your top storylines for the CFP in Week 1? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.