Ohio State once more misplaced to Michigan, however essentially the most impactful end result occurred within the Atlantic Coast Conference in one other memorable faculty soccer weekend.
No. 6 Miami’s 42-38 loss to Syracuse opened the door for a three-loss Southeastern Conference crew (Alabama, Ole Miss or South Carolina) to sneak into the College Football Playoff and threatens to make the ACC a one-bid league. No. 9 SMU (11-1) may very well be the one ACC crew that makes the sector if it beats No. 12 Clemson, which is coming off a loss to South Carolina, in subsequent Saturday’s ACC Championship.
The two-loss Hurricanes are at present with no win over a crew ranked within the CFP high 25 and have gotten a whole lot of profit from the committee over how potent Cam Ward and the remainder of the offense has been. Miami’s title odds plummeted from +2600 after final week’s win over Wake Forest to +35000 now, behind groups like Colorado, BYU and UNLV.
That dropped Miami out of our grades group — we solely grade groups with nationwide title odds of +4000 or higher — however there was loads of different motion value weighing in on. Below are how the title contenders fared within the ultimate common season week earlier than convention championships.
Betting odds are through FanDuel Sportsbook. Use FanDuel promo code to get within the sport for all of the motion.
Grade: A | Title odds: +350
Poor Washington’s offensive line had no likelihood towards Oregon’s stout defensive entrance because the Ducks manhandled the Huskies for 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in a dominant 49-21 victory. No. 1 Oregon accomplished the right 12-0 common season and can now face Penn State in subsequent week’s Big Ten Championship. Oregon operating again Jordan James had 99 yards and a couple of touchdowns to energy the Ducks’ offense whereas the protection had Washington star Jonah Coleman to a season-low two yards on 9 carries. In a 12 months stuffed with parity and bizarre outcomes, Oregon continues to appear to be the most effective crew within the nation.
Grade: A- | Title odds: +420
Texas let Texas A&M linger round late into the sport however a terrific defensive efficiency was the distinction in a 17-7 win. The Longhorns had an incredible aim line stand late within the fourth quarter, stuffing Amari Daniels on a 4th-and-goal from the one-yard line to all however finish Texas A&M’s possibilities of coming again. Quinn Ewers once more had some shaky moments, notably throwing a pick-six that gave the Aggies their solely factors of the sport, however when Texas’ protection is taking part in like this, it might probably beat anybody. Quintrevion Wisner was improbable, too, operating the ball throughout Mike Elko’s protection to the tune of 186 yards on 33 carries. Texas dominated this sport minus a pick-six and a blocked punt that set A&M up deep within the Longhorns’ territory.
Grade: D | Title odds: +450
Georgia may be very, very lucky to come back away with a win towards Georgia Tech in an eight-overtime battle. The Bulldogs benefited from a number of questionable calls late, together with recovering a fumble late within the fourth quarter that regarded like focusing on, to maintain its playoff hopes alive. The Bulldogs have proven they will knock off a top-flight opponent like No. 3 Texas, however have regarded virtually apathetic in different wins. Georgia’s protection struggled to cease GT quarterback Haynes King on the bottom (24 carries for 110 yards and three TDs) whereas producing little of worth in its personal run sport. If that stays the identical, Georgia will want much more from QB Carson Beck and his solid of receivers if the Bulldogs are to make a CFP run.
Ohio State
Grade: F | Title odds: +450
Ryan Day once more does not look able to main Ohio State to a nationwide championship. That a lot was clear in Saturday’s pathetic 13-10 loss to 7-5 Michigan to mark the fourth consecutive loss to the Wolverines. Ohio State overloaded its roster this offseason, including costly and confirmed gamers like Alabama defensive again Caleb Downs and Ole Miss operating again Quinshon Judkins, in a direct response to Michigan successful all of it final season. And but regardless of being a 21-point favourite over Michigan, Ohio State will not even make the Big Ten title sport as a result of Day and the Buckeyes blew it but once more. Will Howard threw two interceptions, the run sport managed an anemic 77 complete yards and the protection bought bullied late for the Wolverines to kick a game-winning discipline aim. Ohio State will nonetheless make the playoff, however the head coach is holding the expertise again proper now.
Grade: A- | Title odds: +1000
Penn State had a disastrous begin, fumbling the ball on its first offensive play after which giving up a landing on Maryland’s first. But it settled in from there for a convincing 44-7 win over the Terrapins. Penn State held Maryland to solely 10 speeding yards within the first half – the Terps managed solely 72 complete – and harassed QB MJ Morris into three interceptions. Every week after struggling in a win over Minnesota, Penn State did what it was presupposed to in a blowout over an overmatched opponent. Nicolas Singleton rallied effectively with two touchdowns after his early fumble.
Grade: B- | Title odds: +1000
With USC driving to tie the sport late within the fourth quarter, Christian Gray delivered the play of the sport, a 99-yard interception return for landing that extinguished the Trojans’ comeback efforts. Notre Dame added a 100-yard interception return for landing on USC’s subsequent offensive drive for a 49-35 win to all however clinch a playoff spot. Notre Dame’s protection had its arms full as USC attacked Gray all through the sport and had 360 passing yards however the Fighting Irish stepped up when it mattered late. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard led the best way with two passing touchdowns and a speeding landing. Notre Dame regarded slightly shaky towards the Trojans however ought to profit from a possible residence playoff sport.
Grade: B | Title odds: +1600
Tennessee regarded very shaky early as Vanderbilt raced out to a 14-0 lead solely 5 minutes into the sport, capitalizing on a kickoff return landing after which a landing off a brief discipline following a Dylan Sampson fumble on the Vols’ 19-yard line. Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava was prepared for the second, although, scoring three second-quarter touchdowns to present the Volunteers a halftime lead they might by no means relinquish. Tennessee’s gradual begins have gotten it in hassle earlier than and will rear their head once more on the mistaken time, however the Vols held off a strong Vanderbilt crew and booked a (seemingly) journey to the College Football Playoff. The protection deserves credit score, too, for the way it buckled down after the early 14-0 deficit.
Alabama
Grade: C+ | Title odds: +2300
Alabama misplaced the turnover battle 4-1, three of which got here from Jalen Milroe, however nonetheless beat Auburn, 28-14, to present Kalen DeBoer his first Iron Bowl win. Milroe’s three turnovers (2 fumbles, 1 INT) contrasted along with his three speeding touchdowns completely encapsulated the current Alabama QB rollercoaster expertise. The protection did a terrific job limiting Auburn’s run sport to solely 98 yards however nonetheless let the Tigers hold round longer than they need to have. The Crimson Tide regarded lifeless every week in the past after a loss to Oklahoma, however Syracuse knocking off No. 6 Miami has opened the door for Alabama to sneak into the final playoff spot.
SMU
Grade: A | Title odds: +3100
SMU accomplished an ideal 8-0 first season within the ACC with a simple 38-6 win over Cal. Kevin Jennings threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns, Brashard Smith had 134 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns and the Mustangs held the Bears to solely 254 complete yards. SMU will get No. 13 Clemson within the ACC Championship subsequent Saturday and a win over the Tigers is not going to solely assure a playoff spot however ought to result in a first-round bye. Rhett Lashlee deserves critical Coach of the Year consideration for the wonderful job he is completed along with his 11-1 SMU crew.
Grade: A+ | Title odds: +4000
Every week after dropping its greatest take a look at of the season towards Ohio State, Indiana responded properly in a 66-0 throttling of hapless Purdue. Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke threw for 349 yards and a whopping six touchdowns and the Hoosiers added one other 233 yards and three touchdowns by means of the speeding sport. Most impressively, Indiana allowed the Boilermakers solely 67 complete offensive yards, a mere 13 of which got here on the bottom. It was the most important win over a FBS opponent in Indiana historical past and conversely the worst loss in Purdue historical past.
MORE: College soccer’s winners and losers of rivalry weekend
