Underrated: #10 UCF at Memphis
While three games feature matchups with three ranked opponents; the best game of the weekend could be #10 Central Florida traveling to the Liberty Bowl to face an unranked Memphis. UCF has not lost in eighteen games and has a very good shot at reaching another New Year’s Day bowl. Memphis, on the other hand, hasn’t quite lived up to expectations losing to two West Division opponents (Navy/Tulane) and is in danger of falling three games out of the West race. So why is the game underrated? I’ll answer that in two words: Points and offense. Both teams are top six in yards per game, top eleven in scoring, top six in plays going for 20 yards or more, top 10 in yards per rush, in other words, Memphis and UCF are really good on offense. Expect the Nation’s leading rusher in Darrell Henderson of Memphis (11.8 yards per carry!) to get a lot of carries in this game to keep the potent UCF offense off the field.
Overrated: #15 Wisconsin at #12 Michigan
In another game with teams that have similar styles (UCF/Memphis-offense, Wisconsin/Michigan-running, defense) number #15 Wisconsin travels to the Big House to face #12 Michigan in my overrated game of the week. Why is this game overrated you ask? This game has little effect on the divisional races. Wisconsin will run away with the West division, Michigan still has games against Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State for the East. Even the most diehard Wolverine fans will say that 3-0 is a stretch. If Michigan happens to win out and play Wisconsin again in the title game would the committee chose them over a one-loss Georgia/Alabama/Oklahoma/Ohio State for the playoff? Michigan would need some chaos to have a punchers chance. With Michigan Quarterback Shea Patterson is coming into his own, the defense is playing lights out, and thus far in four home games, Michigan has outscored opponents 192-54.
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Best: #7 Washington at #17 Oregon
#7 Washington travels to Autzen Stadium to face #17 Oregon on Saturday afternoon in a matchup that could determine the Pac-12 North division. Outside of the more traditional powers of College Football Autzen stadium is the toughest stadium to play in. Added in that Oregon may have the #1 pick in next year’s draft in Quarterback Justin Herbert; Washington will have its hand full. The Huskies do have the advantage defensively especially in the secondary where Washington ranks sixth nationally in passing yards allowed per attempt and has only allowed two passing plays that have exceeded thirty yards. Washington is the better team on paper, but road games against conference foes are always tricky in October.
Effect on playoff: #2 Georgia at #13 LSU
In another marquee game in the SEC #2 Georgia travel to Death Valley to take on #13 LSU in a game that will have the most effect on the College Football playoffs. An LSU win keeps their playoff hopes alive creating a showdown against Alabama in two weeks. On the other hand a loss by LSU certainly eliminates them from playoff contention, Georgia on the other hand can survive a loss, but has to win out the remaining portion of the schedule that includes rivalry games against Florida, Auburn, and Georgia Tech (The Yellowjackets do not impose as big as a threat as Florida and Auburn but with Paul Johnson’s Triple Option anything can happen……look at what Army did to Oklahoma) then the SEC Championship game against Alabama. That is very difficult to accomplish. Both teams have to win to keep playoff chances alive.
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