Musings from the Coast

LSU and the SEC departed the national championship picture this week. Notre Dame won for the second week in a row. Hawaii is the last unbeaten. Missouri is in a one game playoff against Oklahoma to enter the MNC likely against at least this week, West Virginia if the human voters don’t reorder their ballots – which could happen, witness the Michigan vote last year.

OSU Opponent Watch

Youngstown State (7-4) – Season complete.
Akron (4-8) – Played Central Michigan at home, lost 32-35. Conclusion: Expected Loss
Washington (4-7) – Played Washington State at home, lost 35-42. Conclusion: Unexpected Loss
Northwestern (6-6) – Season complete.
Minnesota (1-11) – Season complete.
Purdue (7-5) – Season complete. Bowl TBD.
Kent State (3-9) – Played Buffalo at home, lost 23-30 in OT. Conclusion: Unexpected Loss
Michigan State (7-5) – Season complete. Bowl TBD.
Penn State (8-4) – Season complete. Bowl TBD.
Wisconsin (9-3) – Season complete. Bowl TBD.
Illinois (9-3) – Season complete. Bowl TBD.
Michigan (8-4) – Season complete. Bowl TBD.

Buckeye opponent’s records after the 13th week, 73-70. Ohio State is going to the Rose Bowl, at worst. Depending on how voters view West Virginia, the Buckeyes will either be 2nd or 3rd in the BCS rankings this week. Michigan, Illinois, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Indiana, and Purdue are awaiting their bowl destinations. Iowa and Northwestern, though eligible, are not likely participate in the post-season.

Quick Hits from Around College Football

And then there was one, Hawaii knocked out Boise State at home to remain perfect, win the WAC, and secure a berth in a BCS bowl – provided they can beat Washington next week. Florida International maintained its perfect zero win season with one game remaining against North Texas next week.

Projected BCS Top 5: West Virginia, Missouri, Ohio State, Georgia, and Virginia Tech.

Game of the week? Arkansas ran over LSU 50-48 in multiple OTs.

Mismatch of the week? West Virginia ran by Connecticut 66-21.

My Special Top 12 rankings: (Why Top 12? That’s where you need to be to get into BCS contention.)

Missouri – Outlasted Kansas.
Ohio State – Season complete.
West Virginia – Hammered Connecticut.
Kansas – Lost to Missouri.
USC – Beat Arizona State.
Georgia – Beat Georgia Tech.
Illinois – Season complete.
Oklahoma – Beat Oklahoma State.
Virginia Tech – Beat Virginia.
Wisconsin – Season complete.
Arizona State – Lost to USC.
Hawaii – Beat Boise State.

My Special Bottom 5 rankings: (Why bottom 5? If you finish there you should be relegated to I-AA) Wonder of wonders, Notre Dame played itself out of the Bottom Five – I wouldn’t have predicted that.