Remember to call us with your questions/comments/suggestions for the show #708-316-8822…
0:06:10 – BSV: Right off the hop! The guys check in on the BS Voicemail. MLB Free Agents, Rugby concussions, and Binge Fantasy Football!
0:30:05 – 60 SECONDS: New Segment where we highlight as many topics in 60 sesconds and pick one to discuss. GO!
0:44:48 – COLLEGE ROUNDUP: The College Football Playoff is set. The Championship games were a bit of a disappointment, but does it really matter? Did the committee get it right? Ohio State fans are pissed, but should they be?
0:57:07 – AROUND THE LEAGUE: What’s happening with the NFL? We’ve got guys taking cheap shots during plays and after the whistle. Teams firing coaches and GMs who said they’d never fire anyone during the season. All this… and it’s actually overshadowing what is looking to be a pretty fun playoff run! (In the NFC at least).
1:27:18 – THE PICKS: TM and PJ had good weeks… 4 weeks to go. Can PJ catch TM? Chad D helps out with the guest picks
1:36:50 – FANTASY: We have our playoff picture set! TM was locked into first, but did he outscore Chad C enough to win that money? Who’s in? Who’s out? and Who’s in the Toilet… we’ll give you one guess! Playoffs Start this week! Hold on to your butts!
Keep an eye out for the Binge Sportscast on a weekly basis through the NFL season!
Remember to call us with your questions/comments/suggestions for the show #708-316-8822…
0:02:12 – BSV: Right off the hop! The guys check in on the BS Voicemail. 3 new BSVs!
0:30:37 – COLLEGE ROUNDUP: The College Football Rankings are out for the last time before the Final Four are announced and… it’s Championship Week! Are the guys excited with the mix-up at the top? Is this the year Alabama gets left out? Would an 8-team playoff make this better or worse? Who’s a shoe-in…. and who is the long shot to get in?
0:42:25 – Other news? Is there anything except football? Tiger Woods is back on the course… does anyone still care? Soccer gets talked about for more than 5 minutes. You’re welcome!
0:54:00 – AROUND THE LEAGUE: Eli sitting… Jimmy G starting. Chain fight!! Other news? Did the “Contenders” remain as contenders or was there another shake-up at the top? Now that the good teams are staying on top, how do the guys feel about this years possible playoff matchups. Who’s going to come out on top in the NFC behind Phili… a crazy next 3 weeks for the other contenders.
1:27:24 – THE PICKS: “Check out the big brain on TM!” What a week for the Gamblin Man! Does anyone else get out of the red?
1:38:37 – FANTASY: Guess who won a game? And guess who he possibly knocked out of playoff contention! Boom! TM clinches 1st place and a bye. Everything else is going to come down to the final regular week of the regular season!
Keep an eye out for the Binge Sportscast on a weekly basis through the NFL season!
TM is gone for the week, so PJ is flying solo through the first 2 weekends of college football. He dives in to the biggest matchups of the season thus far; who impressed and who looks like they may be in trouble. Is college football becoming too PC? Ask Baker Mayfield… someone was chirping in his ear. ND’s fanbase should be ashamed of themselves and the Buckeyes may be looking for a new QB.
Afterwards, PJ welcomes Jack back to the SportsCast to dissect and analyze exactly what we witnessed in the first week of the NFL season. Surprise losses, dominating wins, Coaches not knowing what planet their on, and a city that can’t fill an NFL stadium on opening weekend now having, not 1, but 2 NFL franchises. It’s officially overreaction week for the NFL, so let us know what changed in your predictions after watching week 1.
Welcome back to Binge Sports and let’s all welcome back college football. Well, let’s just welcome back any football that actually means something. No, the NFL preseason doesn’t count. And with the NFL regular season still over a week away, let’s put some focus on the college game. And speaking of college football, DO NOT MISS what’s coming tomorrow at Binge Media, a good old-fashioned commentary on one of the great college football movies of all time. Check back tomorrow morning to find out what’s going on with that.
But for now, let’s take a look at a few things. The AP Preseason Top 25 was released recently, and for the first time in history, there is a unanimous number one, and unfortunately for this Michigan fan, it is the Ohio State Buckeyes. Luckily, I’m professional enough to say that it does not come as a surprise, and it is not without merit. They are stacked and are in a prime position to put themselves in a position to repeat. Okay, that hurts too much. Let’s take a look at how the top 25 breaks down. Following the breakdown, you’ll have a chance to vote on the four teams you think will make the College Football Playoff, which begins on New Year’s Eve. The first playoff committee rankings don’t come out until November, so I’ll also give you a few games to look out for that might impact how that first set of rankings. They could also impact how you vote, so pay attention.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes: (61 first-place votes) 1525 points-First game: 9/7 @ Virginia Tech
22. Arizona Wildcats: 311 points-First game: 9/3 vs Texas-San Antonio
23. Boise State Broncos: 240 points-First game: 9/4 vs Washington
24. Missouri Tigers: 219 points-First game: 9/5 vs Southeast Missouri State
25. Tennessee Volunteers: 114 points-First game: 9/5 vs Bowling Green
Others receiving votes: Mississippi State 100, Texas A&M 61, Oklahoma State 46, Virginia Tech 42, Utah 36, Penn State 20, Louisville 12, Cincinnati 8, Nebraska 6, Kansas State 5, NC State 4, Florida 4, Texas 3, Michigan 2, Northern Illinois 2, Brigham Young 2, West Virginia 1, California 1, Western Kentucky 1
Okay, let’s check out a few of those big games from the first couple of months of the season.
Week 1
Michigan @ Utah-Okay, this one’s for me. Maybe I’m not that professional.
Alabama vs Wisconsin
Ohio State @ Virginia Tech
Week 2
Oregon @ Michigan State
Oklahoma @ Tennessee
Week 3
Ole Miss @ Alabama
Georgia Tech @ Notre Dame
Week 4
USC @ Arizona State
Mississippi State @ Auburn
Week 5
Alabama @ Georgia
Notre Dame @ Clemson
Week 6
Georgia Tech @ Clemson
Arkansas @ Alabama
Week 7
Michigan State @ Michigan
USC @ Notre Dame
Week 8
Auburn @ Arkansas
Utah @ USC
Week 9
West Virginia @ TCU
Ole Miss @ Auburn
Okay, that gets us to that first week in November, at which point we’ll start really breaking it down. I’ll be throwing up the following poll from time to time that lets you vote for the four teams you think will make the playoffs, so be on constant lookout for that. Who’s it gonna be?
[yop_poll id=”250″ tr_id=””” show_results=”-1″]
That does it for today. But as I mentioned earlier, make sure to check back in tomorrow for a new commentary, and make damn sure to come back for next week’s all-new Binge SportsCast, which I’ll go ahead and call an NFL preview, but it’s going to be so much more than that. You do not want to miss this. For all the latest, make sure to follow me on Twitter @BingeSports and @THElukenorris. Binge Sports is going to be busy. Don’t get left behind.
Before I get to this weekend’s action in the NFL, I wanted to let you know how you did in the voting for the College Football Playoff National Championship this past Monday night between Oregon and Ohio State. In another exciting college football game that broke tons of records, the Buckeyes were victorious 42-20. In the final poll results, 42% of you voted for Ohio State to win. Admittedly, I was not one that voted that way. I didn’t think that they could keep up, but Urban Meyer had that team ready to play. Believe me, it pains me to say this as a Michigan fan, but that win was impressive. But as a fan of the game and of the Big 10, I couldn’t help but respect it. Congrats to the Ohio State Buckeyes. But still, GO BLUE!!!!
Now let’s get to the pro action.
We’re down to four teams left on the road to Arizona. After an exciting and controversial weekend of action (for some anyway), we’re left with a solid final four in the NFL. But before I go on, let me just get something out of the way. As a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, I’ve been asked all week on my thoughts on how the game ended on Sunday afternoon, obviously referring to the Dez Bryant play. And honestly, it doesn’t really matter what I think, does it? I absolutely love sports and I love the teams that I root for and I always will. But seriously, if you let the outcome of a football game ruin your day or ruin your week, then you’ve got problems. Look at what I wrote above. As someone who roots for Michigan, I just congratulated Ohio State. Does that make me a bad fan? Does it make me a bad fan that I haven’t put up fifty memes about the Dez Bryant catch? No, it just means that I can watch a game, be absolutely caught up in the emotions that sports can bring out, but when that final buzzer sounds, I can let it go. Maybe that’s not for everybody, but hey, it works for me. So with that being said, I can still say that I’m excited for some great football this weekend, even with my team being out of it. I’ve always tried to be fair and impartial as your Binge Sports guy, so let me take another crack at it. We’ll start with the early game in the NFC, but before that, take a look to see how you did in the divisional round.
New England-def. Baltimore 35-31 (81% voted correctly)
(2) GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-4, won NFC North)
@
(1) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (13-4, won NFC West)
WHEN: Sunday, January 18th, 2015-3:05ET/2:05CT
TV: FOX
Current Line: Seahawks favored by 7
Why You Should Watch: Because this is the game that was expected to happen from the start of the year. Hopefully, we’ll get a better contest than the one we had to start the season. Also played in Seattle, the Seahawks bested the Packers by 20 in Week 1. But there’s been a lot of football between then and now.
Similar to last week, the question of the week will be the status of Aaron Rodgers’ calf injury. He battled through last week to defeat the Dallas Cowboys, but as good as they were, that defense isn’t that of the Seahawks, who’ve been on a tear as of late.
The home field advantage obviously helps Seattle on Sunday, who always rely on “The 12th Man” for that extra edge. Having Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch playing at the level they’ve been playing at doesn’t hurt either. It’s going to be hard to beat that Packers-Cowboys game last week, but if any two teams can do it, it’s these two. Expect a classic if Rodgers can go.
[yop_poll id=”168″]
(4) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (13-5, won AFC South)
@
(1) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-4, won AFC East)
WHEN: Sunday, January 18th, 2015-6:40ET/5:40CT
TV: CBS
Current Line: Patriots favored by 7
Why You Should Watch: Because you either love or hate the Patriots. Like it or not, New England has become one of those franchises, pretty much the Yankees of the NFL. There’s guys like our very own Jack who live and breathe that team, and there’s those that will tune in to watch them lose. The question is whether or not Andrew Luck is ready to grab that brass ring.
Let’s face it. The Patriots are going to do what they’ve always done. Brady and Belichick are in their ninth AFC Championship together and they’ll be ready to go. But Andrew Luck and the Colts just went to Denver and beat Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Granted, Manning was injured and doesn’t have the best playoff history in the world, but still impressive nonetheless. With Brady and Manning getting older, Luck has been on the fast track to being the elite quarterback in the AFC. A win in Foxboro on Sunday speeds that up even more. It should be fun to watch.
[yop_poll id=”169″]
And there you have it. We’re in for another great day of football. It’s high profile teams with high profile players. Who’d you pick? As always, you can comment below or follow and tweet @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. Binge Sports will return soon with a Pro Bowl preview. I’m completely kidding…nobody watches the Pro Bowl. But I’ll definitely be back before the Super Bowl. Enjoy.
Okay, here we go for all the marbles. Welcome to Binge Sports and our continuing coverage of the College Football Playoff. We started our coverage with a few weeks to go in the regular season and let you vote on the teams you thought would make to college football’s version of “The Final Four”. From there, we got to here:
You know what the beauty of this playoff is? Quite simply, it’s working. In the old BCS system, what would have happened? We would have gotten Alabama v. Florida State in the national title game while Oregon and Ohio State would have been left to play in the Rose Bowl. Not a bad consolation prize, but we would have asked “what if this and what if that” yet again. But instead, what we have is two teams who have truly earned their chance to play for the very first College Football Playoff National Championship.
New Year’s Day was a very exciting day for college football as a whole. While the Rose Bowl game wasn’t exactly close, that Oregon offense is just fun to watch. And the Sugar Bowl gave us one of the best college football games I’ve ever seen. It seemed early on that Alabama was going to win in a walk, but the Buckeyes fought back and knocked the SEC out of the title picture for a second straight year. So where does that leave us? With one game to go. But before I get to the game, let’s see how the vote went on the way here.
17% voted for Ohio State to win the Sugar Bowl
100% voted for Oregon to win the Rose Bowl
Now let’s get to it.
(4) OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (12-1, Big 10 Champs, def. Alabama in Sugar Bowl)
(2) OREGON DUCKS (12-1, Pac-12 Champs, def. Florida State in Rose Bowl)
When: Monday, January 12, 2015-8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT
Where: AT&T Stadium-Arlington, Texas
TV: ESPN
Current Line: Oregon is favored by 7
Why You Should Watch: Because it’s the national championship game. Is there more of a reason than that? I’ll spare you a long breakdown this time around because we know what to expect. The two best teams in the country will battle for the sport’s top prize. Oregon can score in a hurry. Ohio State has a head coach who’s been here before and will have the Buckeyes ready to go. The easy pick here is Oregon, but hey, everybody said that about Alabama too. One thing is for certain. We’re in for a hell of a ride on Monday night.
[yop_poll id=”167″]
Who’d you pick and why? Let me know below or follow me and tweet @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. And if you can’t get enough football, click HERE for previews of this weekend’s NFL Playoffs and vote for the winners there as well. Enjoy the action and check back soon for previews of the AFC and NFC championship games.
Okay, here we go. After years of waiting and whining through the BCS, an actual playoff will determine a national champion in the world of college football. Welcome to Binge Sports coverage of the inaugural College Football Playoff.
We’ve seen some great moments and some great games this year, and with the four teams that remain, chances are we’ll have some more. So let’s get to it. As I’ve done in the past, I’ll give you a quick breakdown of the teams, followed by a preview of the match-up, and of course my favorite part, an opportunity for you to vote for the winners. Both of these games are on New Year’s Day, so vote early and vote often. We’ll start with the early game….
Thursday, January 1st, 2015–5E/4C–ESPN
(2) OREGON DUCKS (12-1, PAC-12 CHAMPIONS)
(3) FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (13-0, ACC CHAMPIONS)
Current Line: Oregon favored by 9
THE BREAKDOWN:
Outside of the big story that is simply the Rose Bowl itself, the talk of this game begins under center as the last two Heisman Trophy winners, Florida State QB Jameis Winston and Oregon QB Marcus Mariota, face off in Pasadena in what has the chance to be amazing game.
A wise man once said “to be the man, you gotta beat the man”. And that’s the task in front of Oregon on Thursday. The high-octane offense of the Ducks (46.3 points per game) leads the way as they look to dethrone the Florida State Seminoles, who enter this game as the reigning, defending national champions and have won 29 consecutive contests. Granted, FSU hasn’t been winning big (7 games won by 6 points or less), or winning pretty, but they’re still winning. Winston leads an offense that will have a great chance to move the ball on the Oregon defense, who only ranks 103rd against the pass.
And speaking of defense, the Seminole defense may finally be the healthiest that it’s been all year and it’s certainly going to have to be to keep this game close. The Ducks will have five players on the field with more than 25 receptions this year, a 1300-yard rusher in Royce Freeman (16 TD as well), and obviously Heisman winner, Marcus Mariota, who only threw 2 interceptions this season while throwing 38 touchdowns.
I think that Florida State can keep it close for a while. Let’s face it. You don’t win 29 games in a row without doing some things right, but in the end, I just don’t think they can keep up with the Ducks. I’m going with Oregon here, 41-31.
[yop_poll id=”158″]
Thursday, January 1, 2015–8:30E/7:30C–ESPN
(1) ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (12-1, SEC CHAMPIONS)
(4) OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (12-1, BIG 10 CHAMPIONS)
Current Line: Alabama favored by 10
THE BREAKDOWN:
As usual, Alabama is just plain good. Besides one of the best defenses that Nick Saban has ever assembled, he’s got probably the most dynamic skill player in college football in wide receiver Amari Cooper (115 catches, 1656 yards). He’ll be looked at quite a bit on Thursday night as running back T.J. Yeldon continues to recover from multiple leg injuries. That leaves the Alabama offensive line, not the best it’s ever been,with the big job to give quarterback Blake Sims time to get the ball to Cooper. That won’t be the easiest task as Ohio State boasts a dangerous defensive front, led by unanimous All-American Joey Bosa (13.5 sacks, 20 tackles for losses).
The biggest question mark for the Buckeyes, however, remains on the other side of the ball in quarterback Cardale Jones, who will only be making his second career start. I must say that the first one was quite impressive. Playing a very smart style, he went 12 for 17 with 257 yards and three touchdowns in that 59-0 drubbing of Wisconsin in the Big 10 title game. But this is Alabama, and this is the chance to play for a national championship. Can Cardale Jones impress again. We’ll find out on Thursday.
Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have combined to win six titles. They’ve faced each other three times, with all three times being games where both teams were in the top ten. Saban currently has a 2-1 edge and I think he gets win number three here, 35-24.
[yop_poll id=”157″]
Who you got? Justify your picks below or follow us @BingeSports or hit me up @THElukenorris. I’ll be posting the results in the new year during my preview of the national championship game in a couple of weeks. But until then, be on the lookout for some NFL playoff previews coming up later this week. And of course, more fan votes. And never forget, Binge Sports has all the balls.
Welcome back to Binge Sports and the continuing coverage of the College Football Playoff rankings. Not much has changed this week as only one team from last week’s top ten is gone after Ole Miss was humiliated over the weekend. The top seven remained the same. UCLA and Georgia each moved up a spot and Michigan State entered at number ten. So let’s check out this week’s action and see who has the inside track.
(1) ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
CURRENT RECORD: 10-1, lost to Ole Miss
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Auburn, SEC Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: If the Tide can win the Iron Bowl this weekend, I think they get in no matter what happens in the SEC title game. But I’ve been wrong before. Not often, but I have.
HOW THEY GET IN: As I said last week, the Ducks have already won the Pac-12 North and solidified their spot in the Pac-12 title game. Their opponent still hasn’t been decided, but will be this weekend. I don’t think anybody will beat them coming in, so I’m calling them a lock for the final four.
(3) FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
CURRENT RECORD: 11-0
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Florida, ACC Championship
HOW THEY GET IN: The Seminoles have kept on winning, but they haven’t been winning in a big way. But as the defending national champions and an undefeated record, they deserve to be here right now. I don’t think they’re as strong as they were last year, but if they win the next two, they’ll definitely be in.
(4) MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
CURRENT RECORD: 10-1, lost to Alabama
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @Ole Miss, SEC Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: It’s still tricky right around spot number four. They can’t control what Alabama does, but they’re certainly hoping for an Auburn win this weekend. They’ve got their rivalry game with Ole Miss this weekend and it’s on the road, but they should still win. They’ll be relying on their strength of schedule to earn a spot over teams such as………
(5) TCU HORNED FROGS
CURRENT RECORD: 9-1, lost to Baylor
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @Texas, v. Iowa State
HOW THEY GET IN: TCU actually gets things going tonight with a game against in-state rival Texas. I don’t know why, but this feels like a trap game to me. The Longhorns aren’t what they once were, but they could give the Horned Frogs a game tonight. And don’t forget, TCU’s lone loss came to a Baylor team that’s fighting for a spot as well.
(6) OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
CURRENT RECORD: 10-1, lost to Virginia Tech
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Michigan, Big 10 Championship
HOW THEY GET IN: Rivalry games continue with arguably the biggest one in college football history as the Michigan Wolverines come to Columbus on Saturday to try and derail the Buckeyes chances of getting into the playoffs. However, Michigan is just terrible and the Buckeyes should win this in a walk. They’ve already earned a spot in the Big 10 title game, probably against Wisconsin. Win that game and the committee will have to take notice.
(7) BAYLOR BEARS
CURRENT RECORD: 9-1, lost to West Virginia
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Texas Tech, v. Kansas State
HOW THEY GETIN: As I said last week, Baylor controls their own destiny. If they win the next two games, they’ll be the Big 12 champion thanks to that head-to-head win against TCU, who they’re actually chasing in these standings. Will the committee take that into account? The Bears certainly hope so.
(8) UCLA BRUINS
CURRENT RECORD: 9-2, losses to Utah and Oregon
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Stanford, Pac-12 Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: It’s pretty simple for UCLA. Beat Stanford tomorrow and they’re into the Pac-12 championship game against Oregon. It’s a longshot, but a win against Oregon could vault them into the top four. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.
(9) GEORGIA BULLDOGS
CURRENT RECORD: 9-2, losses to South Carolina and Florida
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Georgia Tech, SEC Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: First of all, the Bulldogs have to beat Georgia Tech this weekend. But they’ll also be rooting heavily for Arkansas to knock off Missouri, as that is what they need to earn a spot in the SEC title game. Get there and beat Alabama or Mississippi State and the committee would take a long look at Georgia.
(10) MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
CURRENT RECORD: 9-2
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @Penn State
HOW THEY GET IN: They don’t. But I wanted to give you the top 10. They’ll likely be in a big bowl game, but not part of the playoff. Sorry Spartan fans. It’s the truth.
[yop_poll id=”156″]
Who did you vote for and why? Comment below or follow @BingeSports on Twitter or tweet me directly @THElukenorris. I’ll be back next week with conference title game previews and the top ten heading into the final weekend before selections are made.
The fan vote is back! Welcome to Binge Sports coverage of the inaugural College Football Playoff. After years of dealing with the dreaded BCS, the human element has been brought to the world of college football. The conversation we’ve been dealing with for years has been “Well, what about that third team that’s left on the outside looking in?” And now, it will probably be the same. Just substitute “fifth” for “third” and we’ll go from there. Instead of relying on computers to give us the top two teams to play for a title, a committee has been formed to vote in the top four teams, who will battle in January in the first-ever playoff in big time college football. Over the next few weeks, I’ll give you the top ten teams as ranked by the committee, their current record, their remaining schedule, and how they get in. At the end, you’ll have the chance to vote for the four teams that you think will get in. I’ll reveal the results when the teams are officially announced in a few weeks. Let’s start at the top with a familiar face.
(1) ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
CURRENT RECORD: 9-1, lost to Ole Miss
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Western Carolina, v. Auburn, SEC Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: I know everybody is upset that Alabama is back at number one and thinks there may be some bias here, but no matter how you look at it, Alabama deserves to be here, as much as we all may hate it. But they’re not a shoe-in just yet. Yes, they’ve got a cupcake this week, but as we’ve seen before, the Iron Bowl against Auburn could derail their title hopes once again. If they do survive that game, just getting to the SEC Championship against Georgia or Missouri may get them in.
(2) OREGON DUCKS
CURRENT RECORD: 9-1, lost to Arizona
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Colorado, @Oregon State, Pac-12 Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: The Ducks have already won the Pac-12 North, so we know they’re into the conference championship game. Logic says they should win their final two regular season games. But their opponent for the Pac-12 title game has yet to be determined as the teams in the South division are battling for the right to face Oregon. If I had to put money on it, I’d say that Oregon wins out and gets in.
(3) FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
CURRENT RECORD: 10-0
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Boston College, v. Florida, ACC Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: It’s going to be very difficult for the committee to keep Florida State out, barring some crazy scenario that sees them lose these games to sub-par opponents like BC and Florida. I don’t think they’re as strong as they were last year, but they’ve kept on winning, coming from behind many times, including the Miami game last weekend. It looks like they’ll play Duke or Georgia Tech in the ACC title game, which shouldn’t be too much of a struggle, but stranger things have happened.
(4) MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
CURRENT RECORD: 9-1, lost to Alabama
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Vanderbilt, @Ole Miss, SEC Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: Here’s where things get tricky. First of all, the best thing for Mississippi State would be for Auburn to beat Alabama. As far as what they can control themselves, they shouldn’t have a problem with Vanderbilt, but a big rivalry game looms with #8 Ole Miss in the last week of the regular season. If they win out and Alabama wins out, they’ll have to hope that the committee can see past them not being in the SEC Championship game and put them in ahead of another conference winner, such as……….
(5) TCU HORNED FROGS
CURRENT RECORD: 9-1, lost to Baylor
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @Texas, v. Iowa State
HOW THEY GET IN: There’s certainly no guarantee that TCU even wins the Big 12. Remember the head-to-head loss against Baylor in the 61-58 game of the year candidate? While ranked ahead of Baylor at the moment, they’ll have to hope that the committee just sees them as a stronger team at the end of the year. And with no conference championship game, they don’t have a chance to exact revenge on the Bears.
(6) OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
CURRENT RECORD: 9-1, lost to Virginia Tech
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Indiana, v. Michigan, Big 10 Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: A few weeks ago, nobody was really considering Ohio State as a contender. But they went up to East Lansing and put a beating on Michigan State, followed by another impressive win against a surprisingly good Minnesota team. They should handle Indiana this week and “The Game” against Michigan shouldn’t be too much trouble either (damn, it pains me to my core to write that). It looks as if a showdown with Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship is coming. Will the committee reward Urban Meyer for being….well, Urban Meyer, or is the Big 10 just not good enough this year? A few upsets up top wouldn’t hurt the Buckeyes either.
(7) BAYLOR BEARS
CURRENT RECORD: 8-1, lost to West Virginia
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Oklahoma State, v. Texas Tech, v. Kansas State
HOW THEY GETIN: As I said above in the TCU portion, if Baylor can win out, they’re the automatic champion of the Big 12. That head-to-head win against TCU looks damn good right now, but that loss to West Virginia doesn’t. Their finisher against Kansas State won’t be any picnic either. The good news is that they’re at home for their final three games, which may play a big part in deciding the Big 12.
(8) OLE MISS REBELS
CURRENT RECORD: 8-2, losses to LSU and Auburn
REMAINING SCHEDULE: @Arkansas, v. Mississippi State
HOW THEY GET IN: It’s hard to see Ole Miss getting in now after recent back-to-back losses against LSU and Auburn. But they do have that big game with Mississippi State coming up and they are the team that pinned that loss on the Crimson Tide. But they would also need a ton of help at the top and a loss in either of the next two games would easily eliminate them.
(9) UCLA BRUINS
CURRENT RECORD: 8-2, losses to Utah and Oregon
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. USC, v. Stanford
HOW THEY GET IN: This is another long shot, but their two losses are to good teams. If they can somehow make their way into the Pac-12 title game and knock off Oregon, the Bruins will at least give themselves a chance.
(10) GEORGIA BULLDOGS
CURRENT RECORD: 8-2, losses to South Carolina and Florida
REMAINING SCHEDULE: v. Charleston Southern, v. Georgia Tech, SEC Championship?
HOW THEY GET IN: They have to get to the SEC Championship and win and hope for other help. It’s as easy as that and highly unlikely. They may not even get that far if Missouri can win out.
Okay, there you have it for this week. And now I leave it to you. Which four teams are you picking to go the inaugural College Football Playoff. Pick your four below and back up your votes with comments below or tweeting @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. I’ll be back next week with an update. And remember, Binge Sports has all the balls.