Logo via Gannett
College football, since the mid-30s, always had polls to tell us what was right and just in the sport. The media types gave us the AP Poll, and the Assistant to the Sports Information Director voted for the “Coaches” Poll (brought to you by Sears, Circuit City and other companies that no longer exist). But Tuesday was the true death of the polls. We now have a Selection Committee, and this group of 12 (Archie Manning recently removed himself due to a health issue) now singlehandedly controls the college football postseason. Because they hate themselves, this group will be releasing a ranking each week, and it is the only ranking that matters. Time will tell where we go from here. But let’s focus in on teams that still have a shot at the playoff.
(3) Auburn at (4) Ole Miss (-2) (7 p.m., ESPN): If it’s possible for the third and fourth ranked teams in the country to limp into a showdown, we have it hear. Auburn was crushed on the road by Mississippi State two weeks ago, then let an underachieving South Carolina squad stay around for way too long, notching a weak 42-35 win. Ole Miss finally got a bad Bo Wallace game in Baton Rouge, and LSU took advantage with a walk off interception in a 10-7 slugfest. One more loss would probably signal the death of the loser’s playoff hopes, as the SEC West continues to cannibalize each other. Home field does appear to be a thing this season, so let’s ride the Rebels at home, despite the threat of another Wallace dud. Perhaps the real fluke was that Auburn defense until the voyage to Starkville.
Pick: Ole Miss 26-23
(17) Utah at (14) Arizona State (-6) (11 p.m., Fox Sports 1): This appears to be the most exciting of three massive Pac-12 games this week (see below for Stanford-Oregon and Arizona-UCLA), mostly because the two teams here are essentially Cinderellas. Utah has been mostly overmatched in their brief existence in a Power 5 conference. Although they are the defending South Division champs, the Sun Devils still are not the glamour team in the division, mostly because of long-standing jokes against head coach Todd Graham and at last check, Tempe is not in Los Angeles. So what will happen here? ASU should win, as Utah lost top receiver Dres Anderson for the rest of the year, and that bizarre blowout loss to UCLA was a blip on the radar.
Pick: Arizona State 34-21
(7) TCU (-5.5) at (20) West Virginia (3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN2): Dammit, TCU. You should be undefeated. But you just had to go and give up 61 at Baylor. However, the response since that game (42-9 over Oklahoma State and OH SWEET JESUS 82 FREAKING POINTS against Texas Tech) has literally caused the school to run out of fireworks for touchdowns. On the other hand, West Virginia got Baylor the week after that TCU loss to them, and let’s just say the Mountaineer supporters burnt several couches out of happiness. So anything could and hopefully will happen. Will either team be held under 35? Nah. But for the Horned Frogs, this feels like a massive trap.
Pick: West Virginia 42-37
Quick Picks from here on out will feature the teams that are still alive for a playoff spot not mentioned in the big games.
Arkansas @ (1) Mississippi State (-10.5) (7:15, ESPN2): Mississippi State 34-24
(2) Florida State (-3.5) @ (25) Louisville (7:30 p.m. Thur, ESPN): Florida State 24-13
Stanford @ (5) Oregon (-8) (7:30 p.m., Fox): Oregon 44-24
Oklahoma State @ (9) Kansas State (-14.5) (8 p.m., ABC): Kansas State 35-13
(10) Notre Dame (-14) @ Navy (8 p.m., CBS): Notre Dame 27-10
Florida vs. (11) Georgia (-13) (3:30 p.m., CBS): Georgia 38-7
(12) Arizona @ (22) UCLA (-6.5) (10:30 p.m., ESPN): Arizona 34-28
Kansas @ (13) Baylor (-35.5) (4 p.m., Fox Sports 1): Baylor 63-7
Purdue @ (15) Nebraska (-23.5) (3:30, ABC/ESPN2): Nebraska 49-17
Illinois @ (16) Ohio State (-28.5) (8 p.m., ABC): Ohio State 48-16