Curator Sam Burnham

PLAYOFF TEAMS
MIAMI - The Hurricanes are still looking strong. They are doing what they have to do to stay on top. Even in the unlikely event of a loss this weekend, a win vs Clemson in the ACC Championship could still get them into the playoff, But look for them to win. And look for them in a playoff game.
ALABAMA - A lot of people out there questioning Bama's schedule and asking if they are the real deal. That is the dangerous game. With Auburn and Georgia standing between them and a playoff appearance, we'll see how real they are My guess is they are who we think they are.
WISCONSIN - The Badgers have games against Minnesota and Ohio State to solidify their claim to a playoff spot. With a solid win over Michigan last week they finally have a serious win to point to. If they finish strong, they should pick up a spot easily. But The Buckeyes (and the Gophers for that matter) aim to play the spoiler. 
CLEMSON - I just spent about a week in South Carolina and it is still Clemson crazy. Do not try to tell the Tiger faithful that they are not in. Beat the Gamecocks and Hurricanes and no one will be able to deny them entry. But they need to be playing their best football as neither of those wins will come easy.
FIRST 2 OUT
GEORGIA - Yes, I'm still beating the Bulldog drum. There are too amny of the teams ahead of them that have to play each other in the next two weeks, An expected win at Tech and Bama or Auburn coming to Atlanta leaves the Dawgs still in cntol of their own fate. Win and they are in. And I see a good chance for them.
AUBURN - i've got them behind Georgia because they have the harder road. Two losses and they have to beat Bama and Georgia (again), Beating those two back-to-back is hard enough without having Georgia already mad about being embarrassed on The Plains. If Auburn pulls off those two wins, they've in. Period. But is that possible?
UNDER THE RADAR
TCU & OKLAHOMA - Call his the wild card toss up. With wins this weekend these tow have a rematch next weekend that could give them an outside claim to a playoff spot. I think they both need some help - the kind of help teams traditionally get during Rivalry Week and Championship Week. When the Playoff Contender Blender starts stirring one of these two just might be floating near the top.
GAMES TO WATCH
CLEMSON @ SOUTH CAROLINA - These two will always bring a serious game to this rivalry. These two never want to lose this game and they are going to be playing to win. Add to that Clemson is in a must win situation. For them, this is a playoff game. Lose and go home. 
IRON BOWL - Speaking of heated rivalries where everyone shows up to play, don't miss this one. There are people in Alabama who won't speak to each other this weekend. And that is just the married couples on different sides. This year the winner is still in and the loser is out. It is going to be loud and intense. Expect one of the best games of the year. 
OHIO STATE @ MICHIGAN - Another storied rivalry that holds playoff implications for one team. The Buckeyes need the win but "that team up north" isn't going to lie down and let them have it. If you don't have a dog in the fight, his game rarely disappoints.
UPSET OF THE WEEK
WISCONSIN @ MINNESOTA - The Gophers are no powerhouse but they've played some solid games this year. They have the chance to play spoiler in a story that still just seems too good to be true to me. I don't think Wisconsin is going to finish this story the way is looks to be scripted. They've got a road game against a solid conference team that has nothing to lose. Wisconsin could get caught looking forward to the Big Ten Championship Game and Ohio State. If that happens an alert Gophers team could sound midnight for Cinderella. 
(But don't sleep on Tech. Better hope the Dawgs don't either.)

Curator Sam Burnham

PLAYOFF TEAMS
MIAMI - I've put the Hurricanes in my top spot this week. Their victory last week over a good Notre Dame team was brilliant. They had a plan, they were prepared and they executed. This was a well coached team who did everything they could to win. This is a championship caliber football team. Go ahead and circle the upcoming showdown with Clemson. 
ALABAMA - The win on Saturday was not as impressive as many expected but it was a win. Bama can overcome adversity in a close game just as well as they can roll in a blowout.That is a team that is ready for the playoff where the best teams in the country will truly test each other. Bama's challenge will be getting healthy. Injuries in key positions, especially defensively, will have to be overcome.
CLEMSON -  They're still here. I expect them to stay here at least until they face Miami in the ACC Championship Game. I don't expect to see them challenged by The Citadel or South Carolina. But, as I mentioned above, the showdown with Miami could be an instant classic. Clemson has the challenge of staying on target and not letting themselves get derailed by looking ahead to Miami and losing a gimme.
WISCONSIN - i don't trust this team. I don't know why. They've beaten every team that has been placed in front of them and so I can't help but put them here. I just have this feeling in my get that as soon as I say they belong here, they're gonna pull the rug out from under me. With Michigan coming to town, they have a chance to do that this week. But Michigan is pretty choke worthy as well. So look for the Badgers in this exact same spot next week. Let's see how it turns out.
FIRST 2 OUT
GEORGIA - They got their butts spanked on Saturday, that is the truth. They were dominated from their second possession. But their season now rests on how they respond to that. One loss, against a good team on the road. Otherwise this is the same team that we discussed here last week. If we see that tough gritty defense and dominating offense spring back up I think there is a good chance this team still makes the playoff. If the Auburn game gets in their heads, we'll be talking about them visiting Orlando or Tampa in January. With Kirby Smart at the wheel and only Alabama or a rematch with Auburn between them and the playoff, don't bet against them. 
OKLAHOMA - I'm not happy with this pick. They have no discernible defense. They have Johnny Manziel's future cellmate for a starting QB. Their schedule is looking questionable at this point. But here they are. With one loss as opposed to Auburn's two, I'd say they get a small nod above the Tigers...for now. I think their offense will not match up with the defense any SEC or ACC team in the playoff. I think the other offenses will walk the field with them. But this is why they play the games. Their remaining schedule should be enough to keep them in the hunt. So there they'll probably stay. 
UNDER THE RADAR
AUBURN - This is more of a wildcard category for me this week. Call it a 2nd Out (b). A one loss Auburn team is in my Top 4 right now. But a two loss Auburn team that beats Bama and Georgia twice is still in my Top 4. And I think this team is capable of that. But capable and accomplishing are two different things.
GAMES TO WATCH
KENTUCKY @ GEORGIA - This is not supposed to be a good match up but it will be an indicator of Georgia's mindset. If they are going to rebound from their loss, it will happen early Saturday. If Auburn shook them, Kentucky may prove to be that old unexpected nemesis that the Dawgs are familiar with.
CALIFORNIA @ STANFORD - Let's pick one for the fun of it. it's a slow week for games, next week is a slow one for everything (except antacid) so let's take off some of the stress, kick up our heels, and watch this one for the heck of it. Watch Bryce Love - google this guy and read his story - putting another bid in for the Heisman. it's gonna be quirky and whatever with these two fan bases. Stanford is gonna win so their freaky tree mascot will be dancing. Let's hope their band stays off the field.
UPSET OF THE WEEK
NAVY @ NOTRE DAME - Navy comes into South Bend and no one is expecting them to do much against a strong Fighting Irish team. With Notre Dame coming off that clobbering in Miami, they are in a serious gut check time. The playoffs are gone, they are playing for pride. Navy has a powerful offense and they are a giant killer. Ken Niumatalolo is going to have them prepared for this game. Watch for the Midshipmen to pull out all the stops and make a game of this. It is the classic set up for an upset. 

Curator Sam Burnham

PLAYOFF TEAMS 
GEORGIA - Georgia has clinched the East and are headed to Atlanta. This is a dominant football team. There is some skepticism about the Dawgs because they are overdue for a slip up and there is evidence to support that The Plains is a likely location for the to happen. But Georgia's goal was not to win the East, They have higher aspirations. Trust the process.
ALABAMA - We all saw the Ric Flair 30 For 30 this week. If you din't, you should. We all know the drill. "To be The Man, you gotta beat The Man." Clemson won the title last year but all of college football still knows that Alabama is The Man. No one is chanting "We want Clemson." Alabama is going to have a say in the final result. It's eaither them or someone has to beat them. Until one of those happens, here they sit. 
MIAMI - Undefeated. Dawg fans can say what they will - good and bad - about Mark Richt. He remains undefeated this season. This is a Miami team that has us thinking about the old days off the field, but without a lot of the off-field drama of yesteryear. I think this team is not getting their due from the other polls. Beating Virginia Tech 28-10 was not a fluke. That wasn't Rutgers they were playing. Miami has an impressive football team and they belong in this spot this week. 
CLEMSON - The Tigers still have a rightful claim to this spot. one minor hiccup, much like one last year, but otherwise spotless. Getting here in the end will involve surviving a storm that is brewing down in South Florida. We'll see how that shakes out soon enough.
FIRST 2 OUT
NOTRE DAME - The Irish have one loss. They lost by one point at home to the #1 team in the nation. They've beaten everyone else that has been put in front of them. That includes Miami (Ohio) but it also includes Southern Cal, NC State, and Sparty. If you see me slinging kudos in the direction of South Bend, you better believe they've earned it because I don't enjoy it. 
OKLAHOMA - i counted them out. Don't laugh, you did too. But it turns out that that little team in Ames isn't the joke everyone thought they were and The Sooners are back in the playoff chat, albeit on the fringe. Oklahoma is still on the outside looking in but after theis week's match ups? Who knows? They could be sitting at the top. 
UNDER THE RADAR
AUBURN - Yeah, I've beaten the Sparty drum for so long that y'all know where I stand there and Coach is talking about them over to your right. Auburn is still a very dangerous football team and they are in the unique position of having the opportunity of knocking off the top two teams in the nation. It wasn't that long ago that both Bama and Georgia had the Plainsmen beaten, done for. But the football gods cried War Eagle and the rest is history. Granted this was a stroke of magic, a highly unlikely series of events and lightning could never strike twice...twice...or could it? 
GAMES TO WATCH
Holy smoke where do we start? We could do an entire post on the games to watch this week. Let's try to narrow it down:
GEORGIA @ AUBURN - This is The South's oldest rivalry. Georgia and Auburn have slugged it out almost every year since the first time in Atlanta's Piedmont Park in 1892. In a 120 game history, Georgia has a two game lead in the series and there have been 8 ties. If you can find a closer, more exciting rivalry than this one, I'll call you a liar. This is the greatest active rivalry in college football. There is no coherent argument to the contrary. 
NOTRE DAME @ MIAMI - Talking about stirring up echoes and Hurricane warnings. This is another great rivalry that is being dusted off and there could not be a better time to do it. Notre Dame and Miami have had some of the greatest games out there, especially when there were national championship implications involved. The old Lou Holtz vs Jimmy Johnson days were a living highlight reel. This renewal promises to be equally exciting and equally important. Thus game holds enough importance that it is a playoff game. Loser go home. A one loss Miami team might, MIGHT, be able to creep back in if they win the ACC. A two loss Notre Dame team is O-U-T. 
UPSET ALERT OF THE WEEK
IOWA @ WISCONSIN - This will be Wisconsin's first game against a ranked opponent. Iowa is coming off a viscous demolition of the Buckeyes. The Hawkeyes are playing good ball and the Badgers are untested. This one is ripe for an upset.  (p.s. Whoever put Sparty as 17-point underdogs to the Buckeyes was a fool.)

Coach Drew Burnham

PLAYOFF TEAMS
ALABAMA – There’s no easy way out now for the Tide. Mississippi State Saturday on the road followed by a visit from Mercer and then the Iron Bowl in Auburn the final week of the season presents a final push worth noting. 2 tough road games are winnable for the Crimson and White but will not be easy. I have an idea of how the Tide will answer the bell…What do you think?
WISCONSIN – “They haven’t played anybody” seems to work for the Badgers, but never seems to come up when considering that the best team Alabama has played is LSU by far. Interesting. Could it be that strength of schedule is actually a nonfactor and good football is good football regardless of who it is played against? Or could it be that football fans of a certain region simply do not possess the ability to acknowledge that good football could be played in other far corners of this beautiful country? I’m not sure. What I am sure of is that the boys in red are absolutely playing football in Madison, Wisconsin and I enjoy watching them.
NOTRE DAME – The Irish jump right back on to the Murderer’s Row this week as they travel to take on Coach Richt and the Hurricanes in what is sure to be a thriller. Saturday Night in Miami. One of college football’s dirtiest rivalries reloaded after a hiatus. In light of the 30 for 30 release this week: “Woooo!!”I believe the Irish have what it takes to win a big one and stay in the hunt.
CLEMSON – The Tigers are on the downhill side of the schedule. They should be able to make it through the last 3 games unscathed but, as we all know, “Should” means exactly nothing in college football. Clemson has to keep their head on straight and power through the rest of the schedule, but I don’t believe that will be a problem. They’re still in.
FIRST 2 OUT
No one makes it to this point in the season undefeated by accident, happenstance or luck. If you still have a 0 in the L column at this point, you’re a fantastic football team. Don’t overlook that.
GEORGIA – The Dawgs are phenomenal and I feel like a broken record, I just don’t think they can get past the Tide (Much like the rest of the country) and believe that they will be left in the cold by the committee. I don’t have to agree or think it’s right to believe that it will happen. I don’t, for the record.
MIAMI – Much like the UGA situation, I think the Canes are a fantastic bunch and Coach Richt is doing a great job there, I just don’t think they can win out. There is a lot of exciting ball happening in Coral Gables and change is coming for them. The resurgence of The U has started.
UNDER THE RADAR
SPARTY- Haven’t heard much about ole Sparty this year (except for in the column to your left). An early loss to Notre Dame and dropping a tough one to Northwestern removed them from the playoff talk and seemingly every other talk. Now you look up and they’re…..in 1st place in the Big 10 East??? How did this happen? I had the outstanding pleasure of meeting Coach Dantonio in January and he was everything I had dreamed of. Lax, boring, quiet, unexcitable….but steady. That’s what this season has been for Michigan State. Steady. Never too high up, never too far down. Steady. Now they’re in a position to potentially take the Big 10 and no one notices. Just the way coach likes it.
GAMES TO WATCH
7 games this week feature ranked teams matched up. What a week we are in store for!
IOWA @ WISCONSIN – The Badgers take on their 1st ranked opponent of the season Saturday afternoon thus allowing them to make their first major statement. I hear a lot of hate for the Badgers. Just maybe, this will help them sure up some legitimacy in the eyes of the public. Not me. I think they’re absolutely the real deal and will not disappoint this weekend.
TCU @ OKLAHOMA – Playoff game! Absolutely no chance of the loser of this game getting in makes this one certainly exciting to watch. If you like defense, change the channel. What a shootout this is destined to be! Give the track meet a look Saturday night.
UPSET ALERT OF THE WEEK
Last week the Frogs were held to their 2nd lowest offensive production numbers of the season but managed to escape with a W nonetheless.
UGA @ AUBURN – The Dawgs have sealed their trip to Atlanta. Probably feeling themselves a little bit. Probably feeling like they can finally take a breath for the first time this season. Auburn is highly underrated. Perfect storm. Keep your eyes open for this one. ​

Curator Sam Burnham

PLAYOFF TEAMS
DISCLAIMER: My playoff teams are presented here as if the playoffs were to be announced today and the top 4 seeds were to be picked today. These are, in my opinion, the four best teams in the country right now, as we stand today.
GEORGIA - I'm giving the Dawgs the edge here today. I think they are playing better football right now than anyone. And I'd not be the only one to mention this week that they have not peaked yet. They are dominating on both sides of the ball. They are boasting 5 running backs who'd all be starting anywhere else in the SEC. I'd gladly pick them tomorrow against any other team in the nation. They will run all over Carolina tomorrow. 
ALABAMA - The committee put them at #2 and I'll do the same. This is the one team that can beat Georgia right now. We are most likely a few weeks away from seeing the greatest SEC Championship game in the history of that series. Alabama has the hosses to stay on the field for the entire game with anyone. In a game that matters, as opposed to a random bowl game, I think Georgia is the only team that beats Alabama. LSU won't be doing it. 
MIAMI - Miami remains undefeated. It hasn't always been pretty. They aren't blowing their opponents off the fired. What they are doing is whatever it takes to win a ballgame against whoever they are playing that day. I don't think they are on the level of the two teams listed ahead of them but I think they can play with anyone at this moment. They can contend. 
CLEMSON - It would be wrong to assume that the loss to Syracuse has taken the shine off this team or made them something less than a champion. This is still a very good football team. The Tigers are well coached and learned last year that eh adversity of an upset loss does not automatically disqualify a team from the championship. They are a disciplined, hard working unit and I expect to see them finish strong. 
FIRST 2 OUT
NOTRE DAME - The Irish have been my biggest surprise this year. Coming off an 4 win season they have looked strong against everyone they've played. They are big and strong in the trenches which will be needed should they reach the playoff. With a few challenges left and 1 in the L column they may need some help.
OHIO STATE - The Buckeyes came from behind on the road to knock off Penn "We Want Bama" State, proving that 1) Penn State really didn't want Bama and 2) We can't overlook the Buckeyes. I do not seriously foresee them making the playoff but as of this week, they belong in this spot. That loss to Oklahoma is holding them out right now but they still have opponents they cannot look past or their playoff concerns won't need much anyway. 
UNDER THE RADAR
WISCONSIN - I'm going with the Badgers because they are undefeated but no one is really talking about them, not even me. So I'm looking at their undefeated record and looking at the schedule and trying to figure out what it is about them. Thy're winning but I don't trust them. I just know as soon as I mention them they will choke. I'm probably jinxing them by even mentioning them.
GAMES TO WATCH
CLEMSON @ N.C. STATE - The Wolfpack have two losses but still lead the Atlantic Division with no conference losses. Clemson has to win this week to have any hopes of defending their title. NC State will be wanting to bounce back after that loss to Notre Dame. But Clemson has the most on the line. This is a playoff game for the Tigers.
IOWA STATE @ WEST VIRGINIA - This one might get overlooked but it shouldn't. This is not your daddy's Iowa State. The Mountaineers have three losses to great teams by a total of 25 points. They are much better than their record. If you want to see a good game without the usual suspects, thei is the one to watch.
OKLAHOMA @ OKLAHOMA STATE - Bedlam they call it. A tradition over a century old and these folks don't like each other too much. Both teams need a win. Again, the loser of this one is eliminated. This is how a small playoff works. These games all count now. Want to make the playoffs? Congratulations, you're there. Win or go home.
UPSET ALERT
PENN STATE @ MICHIGAN STATE -  Yes, I'm beating my Sparty drum again. But keep an eye on East Lansing because I think this is where we'll see an upset. Sparty is looking for a bowl game, no playoff for them now. They have nothing to lose. But Penn State is coming off a heartbreaking loss after blowing a big lead to the Buckeyes in Happy Valley. If any frustrations linger after that loss, it could be a long day for Penn State. They need a win this weekend and some help.