Curator & Coach - Week 11

Curator's Game of the Week
Oklahoma @ Baylor

This game has bigger implications that anyone might think. The Sooners are trying to get themselves in the CFB Playoff. They are going to need some help as the standings looking today. But they are going to get that help. The SEC and Big Ten Championships will help, but the Sooners also have to help themselves. Thir final three games are Baylor, Iowa State, and  Oklahoma State. They could possibly win or lose any of those. But if they want to be in the playoff, they need to win them all.

Baylor has other ideas. They would love nothing more than to upset Oklahoma and ruin those playoff hopes. That would take some of the sting out of losing to TCU last week. The Bears have a pretty balanced attack. They have outgained their opponents by almost 1000 yards this year. Oklahoma could have their hands full. 

​With Georgia in Knoxville and Bama hosting New Mexico State, this is one of the best games this week.

Coach's Game of the Week
​Texas A&M @ Ole Miss

One of the most intriguing parts of College football is looking back on the head to head matchups late in the year and having a chuckle. I’m not talking about the games that teams lost by a score, I mean the big ones. In the first week of October Ole Miss took a 42-21 beating at the hands of Alabama who was up 42-7 in the 4th before the backups allowed the final 2 touchdowns to the Lane Train. It was a tough night for the Rebs fueled, no doubt, by an upset pick by yours truly. Texas A&M would go on to defeat the Tide (who I still insist were “loosened up” by Ole Miss the week before) the very next weekend. That puts a black eye on Ole Miss until you look at A&M’s skeletons in their own closet. You could start with the last minute 10-7 win over Colorado or the loss to Mississippi State and suddenly your left scratching your head as to how they possibly took Bama into deep water and drowned them. Ahh yes. That’s the game we all know and love. Anything can, and will, happen from week to week. A million variables go into the outcome of every game and it’s such a delicate process that makes undefeated seasons so very special. Saturday we will see the SEC’s #1 total offense take the field in an effort to stomp out the Aggies remaining hopes of sliding into Atlanta in December. That’s a stat you would expect from a Lane Kiffin team. In one that may surprise you, the Rebels are also #1 in sacks and fumble recoveries. They have been getting to business on both sides of the ball and they’re really starting to hit their stride at the right time. After their rocky start, A&M has been on fire the last month as well. They have much more on the line this weekend. Both teams hold 2 loss SEC records, but A&M has the wild card with a head to head tie breaker with Alabama. They’re one Sam Pittman juke box or Iron Bowl gaffe away from a title game. The pressure is on. With something to fight for, tensions will be high in their camp. Meanwhile, Kiffin’s crew are essentially playing for a better bowl game and that’s about the end of it. Can the Aggies walk the tight rope with poise or do they crash against a very dangerous team? The Grove will be electric Saturday and I think this one is bound to live up to the hype. ​

Curator's Upset Alert
Purdue @ Ohio State

Yeah, I'm putting the Buckeyes on alert again. This time I'll have more to back it up. 

Purdue is playing the part of the giant killer this year. They have two wins over Top 5 opponents - Iowa and last weekagainst Michigan State. They'll be going to the air and the Buckeyes are going to have to find a way to stop that. If they underestimate the Boilermakers at all, Purdue is going to make them pay. 

For Purdue, there is no pressure. No one really expects them to pull this one off. The Buckeys, like the Sooners above, have to win out for any chance at the playoff. A two loss Ohio State team will spend the post season in Tampa or Orlando. Look for Purdue to send them there 

Coach's Upset Alert
Michigan @ Penn State

​I took a long look at Purdue at Ohio State for the upset trifecta here, but decided that 3 top 5 wins is just too many for them this season. I appreciate their help last weekend padding my stat line. Michigan had all of the wind sucked out of their sails 2 weeks ago in an instant classic against Sparty. They rebounded nicely against a struggling Indiana squad with a win and seemed poised to make a New Years 6 game push here down the stretch. Penn State also found a much-needed win last week after a 3-game skid that featured 2 top 5 losses and the longest game in college football history. Now that they’ve dusted themselves off they focus their sights on their 2 remaining statement games. This is their final chance to fuel a big-time environment at home this year. Happy Valley will be packed to the gills to take on Harbaugh and his khakis. I think that Michigan may be comfortable after settling down from their loss

Curator's Picks (27-23)

Georgia over Tennessee
Arkansas over Arkansas
Oklahoma over Baylor
Mississippi State over Auburn
Ole Miss over Texas A#M

Coach's Picks (25-25)

Georgia over Tennessee
LSU over Arkansas
Oklahoma over Baylor
Mississippi State over Auburn
Texas A&M over Ole Miss

​