Mark Blaudschun
By Mark Blaudschun
FWAA.com
It's almost here.
Ah November when we theoretically can start eliminating teams from playoff consideration.
The only problem is that the field is getting LARGER, with the distinct possibility a three-loss SEC team will be part of this year's 12-team field.
Let's see what we have.
Arizona at Texas Tech: Tech got surprised by Cincinnati last week, so the Red Raiders will be in a nasty mood when Arizona arrives in Lubbock.
The only problem is that Arizona is pretty good and has only a loss to BYU to spoil its season. Tech should win and can not afford a second consecutive loss. Arizona is a fringe team which hopes to sneak into the Big 12 title game.
Florida vs. Georgia: The "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" has moved rom Jacksonville and inside a dome in Atlanta, which is unfortunate, but money talks and the game will move around for a bit. Georgia is much better, a two-touchdown favorite, which sounds right. Florida is a strange team, beating Texas in Austin and getting trounced by South Carolina in The Swamp.
Which Gator team will show up is the question in what is a huge rivalry game.
Ohio State at USC: Ah, a Classic Rose Bowl matchup on Halloween.
Well, it's a Big Ten tilt with the loser (especially if it's USC) in deep trouble.
USC was offensively shut down by Wisconsin last week, which is not a good sign.
Ohio State, even without its starting QB, is a solid favorite against the Trojans.
USC also needs a big win to shift attention away from unbeaten Big Ten leader UCLA, the darling right now in the City of Angels.
Miami, Fla. at North Carolina: As a Hurricane alum, this one scares me.
Miami is much better and should have the game wrapped up before halftime.
But it is on the road and against a team coached by Bill Belichick who is a master of taking away what a team does best, even it is for just a short time.
Plus there is the look-ahead factor, which Miami must deal with as it approaches its game at Notre Dame next week.
Miami seems to lose a game it has no business losing at least once a year.
We hope we're wrong, but....
Clemson at Florida State: Remember when this game was a Top 5, even Top 2 matchup, with national championship implications?
In 2026, it's 4-3 Clemson vs. 3-4 Florida State, with a spot in the Fenway Bowl a possible prize for the winner.
Enough said.
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