WEEK SEVEN RECAP

•  Assuming two losses would eliminate a team from consideration for the College Football Playoff, the Big 12 still has five teams that have a mathematical shot at making it. Four of the five play each other this coming weekend.  Oklahoma hosts Kansas State.  Oklahoma State travels to TCU.  The loser of those matchups will be eliminated.  Assuming the favorites win, there would be three teams left for consideration: TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma.  Baylor is the only team that has control of its own destiny.  Win out, and they are in for sure.  TCU and Oklahoma need to win out, but also need help from around the country.  If the Big 12 winner has less than two losses, they will have a good shot at getting in.  However, there are several scenarios that could keep them out.

How the Big 12 Gets In:

Big Ten Perception:  Unless one or more of the other Big Five conferences produces a two loss champion, the Big Ten will likely be watching the playoff on TV.  That opens up a spot for every other conference, including the Big 12.

Pac 12 Attrition:  There are no undefeated teams left in the Pac 12.  It is possible that the conference champion will have two losses.

Florida State:  Florida State is the only team that has a shot at making the playoff from the ACC.  The only other teams with less than two losses are Georgia Tech and Duke.  There is no way they survive the rest of the season unscathed.  An undefeated FSU would make the playoff for sure.  A one loss FSU could be left out.  A defeat could come this weekend against Notre Dame or somewhere down the road if when Jameis Winston is suspended.

How the Big 12 Gets Left Out:

Notre Dame:  If they go undefeated, they’ll steal one of the four spots.  Even a one loss Irish could get in, especially if the one loss is a close defeat to FSU.  The Big 12 needs ND to lose a couple.

SEC West:  The strength of the SEC West is undeniable.  The SEC champion is guaranteed a spot in the playoff.  If two SEC West teams survive conference play with less than two losses, the conference could easily get two teams in the playoff.

No Conference Championship:  The lack of a Big 12 Championship game could hurt the conference.  The Big 12 needs a clear-cut winner to give itself the best shot at making the playoff.  The scenario exists where TCU, OU and Baylor could tie for the conference championship with one loss.  A tie only muddies the waters.  How would the committee choose which team would represent the Big 12, especially since they claim the playoff teams will be chosen based on the eye-test, not necessarily whether or not a team won the conference championship?  In that scenario, you would think strength of schedule would eliminate Baylor.  That would leave OU and TCU.  OU’s strength of schedule is slightly better than TCU’s, but the Horned Frogs won head-to-head.

WEEK SEVEN RESULTS

• WEEK SEVEN WINNER: Charles Spierto.  Charles was the only person to go 6-0.  He climbed all the way up to 200th place.  Yes, 200th place.  He didn’t get off to the best start.
•  Another bad week: 42.7%.  The group is due for a rebound.
•  The lock winning percentage was even worse: 32.7%.
•  Nobody has a perfect lock record anymore.  Debbie Brandt and Robert Spierto lead the way at 6-1.
• 31 people have a lock record of 1-6 or worse!
• 7 people have at least 25 wins.  Thru seven weeks last season, 28 people had at least 25 wins.
• Double digit favorites had another bad week.  They went 0-5-1, ATS.
• Two weeks ago, Candice Murphy was in 99th place.  She is now in 5th place.