As the dust of week 13 in college football settles, only a few teams have a chance to make the playoff. But which teams exactly have a chance? A couple of one loss teams hang around just behind the two undefeated teams left. The ACC, SEC, and Big 10 championship games will provide clarity this coming Saturday, but as of now, here's where every team stands.
CLEMSON- The undefeated tigers snuck by South Carolina, 37-32, in a game that was way closer than it should be. The next opponent for Deshaun Watson and the Tigers is 11-1 North Carolina. North Carolina doesn't have the consideration of the playoff committee due to their ugly early season loss to South Carolina. If Clemson wins the ACC championship over the Tar Heels, then Clemson is in. No doubt about that. All Clemson needs to do is win and they're in. IOWA- Who would have thought that at the beginning of the season the Hawkeyes would end up 12-0? Lots of experts expected them to win the Big Ten West but not this easily. The Hawkeyes beat Nebraska on Thursday and now look to Big Ten East champion Michigan State. Iowa wins, and they're in the playoff without a doubt. Should they lose, they still have a shot as long as a lot of other havoc happens. ALABAMA- The Tide are 11-1 with a bad loss to Ole Miss. They'll take on Florida after defeating Auburn in the Iron Bowl. If Alabama wins, they get in. If they lose, then the SEC won't have a team competing for the national championship. MICHIGAN STATE- Following a huge win over Ohio State two weeks ago, Sparty controlled their own destiny. With a win over Penn State, they clinched the Big Ten East and a date with undefeated Iowa in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship. Should MSU win, they book a trip to the playoff and it's a Sparty Party. But if they lose, they're out. Seems like the case with every team so far, win and you're in. OKLAHOMA- The Sooners have already lunched their ticket to the playoff with a huge win over Oklahoma State. Heisman candidate Baker Mayfield has Oklahoma waiting to see who's going to join them in the playoff. The committee would be making the biggest mistake ever if Oklahoma gets left out. OHIO STATE- After losing to Michigan State at home, their playoff hopes are slim. A huge 42-13 win at Michigan seemed to boost them a little bit, and Stanford winning over Notre Dame helped the Buckeyes a ton. The way the Buckeyes can weasel into the playoff as a second Big 10 team is if Alabama and Clemson lose. Florida as the SEC champion wouldn't be in because of two losses. One to Florida State and one to LSU. Ohio State also needs Iowa to win the Big 10 championship if they want in. Their chances are slim, but not dead. MY PREDICTION: RationalFanz is going to have a playoff predictions article when the pairings are released but for now, who's in and who's not? IN: 1. Clemson 2. Oklahoma 3. Iowa 4. Ohio state OUT: Alabama, Michigan State
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Just a few days away from the official start of college basketball. College Basketball offers the greatest tip off marathon in any sports world, 24 hours of non stop basketball. The season officially tips off with Vermont traveling into Eastern Michigan and continues through the wee hours of the night and into the early hours of Saturday morning. As always the narrative is Kentucky with their loaded freshman class most of whom will be one and done players yet again. But this season offers a crop of talented teams in what could be a very chaotic and hectic season. Are you ready? 1. Maryland Terrapins- I almost put North Carolina here, but the Paige injury halted that thought. That's not to say the Terps are a bad second option they were a very close second in my rankings. A very talented guard in Melo Trimble partnered with a 6-9 Jake Layman this Terps team could be dangerous . 2. North Carolina Tar Heels- Returning almost every player from last years sweet sixteen team is a sign of good things to come. Paige's hand could damper things for a while, although the interior of Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks will make up for that loss. This looks to be one of the more complete teams in recent Carolina history. 3. Kentucky Wildcats- Losing your top seven scorers will hurt just about any team, well that is except Calipari's Wildcats. Once again boasting a top recruiting class those shoes don't seem so big to fill this season. With Skal Labissiere being declared eligible for the upcoming season that is huge for the Cats, along with Tyler Ullis running the floor in Lexington 4. Kansas Jayhawks- Once again another college blue blood is loaded, The wildcats bring back Perry Ellis and Wayne Selden two of last years better players from a team that won the Big XII. All those two guys have to do is step up their game from last season and become team leaders 5. Duke Blue Devils- The only other team in the nation who can lose so many great guys and still be a top five team. Grayson Allen should be very good this season along with Marshall Plumlee. But adding the new talent in Derryck Thornton and Brandon Ingram is what's going to help this team a lot this season. 6. Wichita State Shockers- Year in and year out you hear cries over whether or not Wichita State plays a tough schedule or not. That shouldn't change anything really. The Shockers are still looking good this year no matter what their schedule is. Fred Van Fleet and Ron Baker highlight a great team under first year coach Will Wade 7. Iowa State Cyclones- Steve Prohm is the new face of Iowa State basketball. It seems like the past three year I've put Iowa State in my final four of my bracket at least and I'm usually dead wrong. I think this team may be different though Georges Niang is a light-out player and can be the one to push this team far this season. 8. Virginia Cavaliers- The Cavs will be losing a large amount of talent but having Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill will make up for the lost talent in Richmond 9. Oklahoma Sooners- Buddy Hield one of my preseason All Americans, is quite possibly the best guard in the NCAA, look for Oklahoma to challenge Kansas' reign of Big XII dominance 10. Gonzaga Bulldogs- Another mid major right up there with the powerhouses, headlined by forwards Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis the Zags have the size and speed needed to win their conference. The real question may be how far can they go in March 10+1. Indiana Hoosiers- Tom Crean is on the hot seat this season there's no question about that, Crean has the talent needed in Yogi Ferrell, James Blackmon Jr., and three Mcdonalds All Americans this could be a make or break season for Crean. All American First Team- C- Ben Simmons (Freshman) LSU F- Georges Niang (Senior) Iowa State F- Kyle Wiltjer (Senior) Gonzaga G- Buddy Hield (Senior) Oklahoma G- Melo Trimble (Sophmore) Maryland All American Second Team- C- Domantas Sabonis (Senior) Gonzaga F- Perry Ellis (Senior) Kansas F- Nigel Hayes (Junior) Wisconsin G- Yogi Ferrell (Senior) Indiana G- Marcus Paige (Senior) North Carolina |
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