Week 13: Nowhere To Run

Standings:

1.) Seeberg 35-12 (3-9 upset)
2.) Draper 34-13 (4-8 upset)
2.) Hoying 34-13 (4-8 upset)
2.) Schweinfurth 34-13 (3-9 upset)

Here we stand, once again, Wolverines. You know what you did last year. Unfortunately for you, Ryan Day's offer didn't include an expiration date. Enjoy your centuplicate.

THANKSGIVING

_ississippi Rebels @ _ississippi State Bulldogs
Draper: Who doesn't love a good Egg Bowl? Can we top an ending in which a player pretended to urinate on the goalpost and drew a penalty which cost the rivalry? I don't know, but I know that this contest features the two coaches with the greatest chance of insanity.  Joey Freshwater has the Rebs flying high in the top ten....but...why? A nice win over the Aggies 2 weeks back, but nothing terribly awe-inspiring.  With that said, Leach and Co. also fail to push the needle with their body of work.  Honestly, the Bulldogs season looks nearly equivalent.  Both beat the Aggies and got destroyed by the Tide.  The best solution in this situation....keep tranquil and CLANGA. I just can't quit Leach.  Rebs: 42-Dogs: 45
Hoying: Leachball is back in full force in Stark Vegas, as the Bulldogs have one of the few passing offenses in the nation outpacing C.J. Stroud, along with virtually zero rushing threat. But the better QB is still probably the erstwhile Davey O’Brien candidate Corral for the Rebs. The Lane train is still running hot after a suffocating victory over the Texas Aggies and I think the D holds against the air raid, followed by a 1-2 counterattack with Corral and Reb RB Jerrion Early. Rebs: 34—Dogs: 27
Schweinfurth: Egg in a Bowl...er Egg Bowl!! The Bulldogs have hung around so far, but Little Lane has had the Rebs defense playing better. The Rebels should win this one. Rebs: 38--Dogs: 35

Seeberg:  Tough to figure out the Bulldogs this year, feast (beat the Aggies and won at Auburn), or starvation (lost to Louisiana and Tennessee-based Tigers in consecutive weeks).  We know these two offenses can score in bunches, but the clanga crowd should help the Dogs' D get enough stops, and perhaps a turnover or two.  Bulldogs' repel the rebels.  Rebs: 31-Dogs: 34

SATURDAY

Oklaho_a Sooners @ Oklaho_a State Cowboys
Draper: This contest is truly interesting.  The Pokes and Sooners appear to collide with the little brother ruining the big dog's year....but the roles are (kinda) reversed.  Both squads have an outside shot of the playoff with a slight edge to OkSt.  Caleb's shine has worn off a bit, but the question is 'can the Pokes step up to the plate on the biggest of stages?'  The gut says to revert to priors and lean on the Sooners to get it done, but the Cowboy defense has been a force of late and the Sooners haven't looked the part all year. Lee Corso said it best, I have a cousin that went to Stillwater for his degree....Go Pokes! OU: 20--OkSt: 27

Hoying: We return to everyone’s favorite Spencer vs. Spencer showdown, although the Sooners will probably go with Caleb to start the action on Saturday. Of course, they tried that two weeks ago against Baylor and got stonewalled when Caleb ground the offense to a halt (speaking of erstwhile Davey O’Brien candidates). Turning to Spencer Rattler didn’t effect a lick of difference. Then again, that was against the Bears, who are only allowing 19 points a week. Now the Sooners get the Cowboys, who give up…15 points a week? Uh oh. The Sooners have consistently struggled to push the ball against solid defenses (and Kansas) and I don’t expect their fortunes to change this week. OU: 13--OkSt: 24
Schweinfurth: The B12's playoff hopes look like they are on the Cowboys at this point. The Sooners just don't have the juice the year. Rattler isn't the answer and apparently, neither is Caleb. At this point, I have to believe the Sooners are a two loss squad. The 'Boys keep the B12 playoff hopes alive. OU: 17--OSU: 28

Seeberg:  Anyone think the Cowboys and not the Sooners would be the likelier squad that could rep?  Nope, neither did I.  Back to back wins against the Sooners and the Baylor Bears COULD be enough to let the CFP bail out of taking a non-p5 opponent.  Step one?  Beat your hated rivals...and OU has appeared to worsen as the season has gone on, so let's take it there early and often.  OU: 24--OkSt- 31

_aryland Terrapins @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Draper: Does anybody really know what bowl the winner goes to? Does anybody really care? The answer is a resounding no. Can the Terps derail the Schiano Train? I think I'll lean on the group with a new experience on the line. It's been seven long years since the Knights graced the Quick Lane Bowl.  That's just too big a prize to sleep on.  It's Buttgers' hour! Terps: 24--Rut: 31

Hoying: Be honest, to what extent have you seen of either of these two this season, other than being part of Ohio State’s Evisceration October? It was fun to see the updates of last week’s Rutgers-Penn State tilt, featuring 12 straight punts to start the afternoon (and another 5 straight out of the half). Yeah, Penn State’s offense isn’t that great, but at least a result like that gives this writer hope that the Scarlet Knights can play a bit of defense. Both of these offenses are going to be awful, but past results this year suggest that the Terps’ attack will be just a little bit awfuller. Is it wrong to hope for a 10 OT atrocity with the final score I’ve predicted? Terps: 16--Rut: 18

Schweinfurth: Which Taulia do we get to watch? Good Taulia, or Bad Taulia. It's funny, because you know exactly how this will go depending on his play. Schiano continues to rebuild Rutgers, and there is talent there. I'll take the Knights. Terps: 31--Rut: 35

Seeberg:  Yay for trophy-centric rivalry contests?  (Or not).  Regardless, this one is being contested on Saturday too.  And that's about all the attention it warrants.  Fire the (non-Blue Jacket) cannon boys.  Terps: 24--Rut: 28

Florida State Se_inoles @ Florida Gators

Draper: Rebuilding and all, this is when your season grows into a success.  There have been ups and a lot of downs, but if the Noles can get bowl eligible, beat their rival, AND keep the Gators outside of bowl eligibility, the season isn't lost.  While it's been a trying season, no one has fallen apart quicker or as holistically as the Gators.  Only one last thing needs to be said...TALKIN! FSU: 20--UF: 17

Hoying: This sure isn’t 1996. Don’t expect these two to face each other again a bowl, because the loser is enjoying New Year’s the way the rest of us do: eating out at Texas Roadhouse and playing WarioWare (or Wii Play, pick your poison). Fresh off playing the Tide within one possession for the second year in a row, Florida finally (?) decided to part ways with Darth Dan before their recruiting dried up entirely. The Gators, frankly, haven’t looked good this year since their inexplicable thrashing of a decent Tennessee squad in week 4, while the Noles have been quietly clawing their way up to quasi-respectability after losing to Jacksonville freaking State (not to be confused with Neon Deion’s Jackson State). Are these squads on different trajectories, or are these just the respective costs of doing business this year in the SEC (good) and ACC (blaaaagggh)? I don’t really expect Florida to rally around their fallen coach, and FSU will scrape and scrap to take any positives they can find in their post-Fisher purgatory. FSU: 27--UF: 24

Schweinfurth: Florida State vs Florida for a bowl! The state of both squads is nothing short of sad. Florida is in a tail spin with no way out. I guess the 'Noles have been consistent? Yea, I'll go with that. FSU: 24--UF: 21

Seeberg:  Ah yes, your older brother's days, when these squads were perennially gunning for titles, now relegated to a fully unranked clash with only bowl eligibility to play for.  Regardless, it will be a heated affair.  With all the disarray currently in Gainesville it would appear an easy FSU victory, but I can picture the Gators rallying around their new coach enough to sneak out a W, giving Greg Knox a bowl appearance to audition for the newly anointed coach.  FSU: 20--UF: 28

THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ That School Up North

Draper: It is the reason for donning the scarlet and gray; It was taken away last year; and now, the hour of battle is nigh.  Top 5 titans collide once again for the right to go to Indy, for the right to contend for the CFP, but of principal gravity, because it has to be done.  The Wolverines have a stout defense (arguably the best to face the Scarlet and Gray this year) with stellar defensive ends, but the Boilers ran into this buzzsaw.  Stroud and friends have clicked on all cylinders of late.  The question is 'can the Buckeye Oline (full of NFL talent) protect the best player in the country to allow Earth, Wind, and Fire to create fireworks?'  There will be a few plays in which the foes will wreak havoc, but the balance of good will erupt out of the chaos to defeat the forces of evil.  As the D pins their ears back, look for Henderson to break a few and shock the wolverines with his speed.  Let's also not forget how the Bullets killed the candidacy of one Kenneth Walker III for the nation's top award.  The OSU defense (even including the first 2 HORRIBLE weeks against the Gophers and Ducks) sports the #11 rush defense (TTUN is #30).  I have faith that old Cade isn't going to be able to win this one on his own.  The Bucks bottle up the TTUN on the ground and while Hutchinson & Co. will hinder the explosive Buckeye passing attack, they cannot contain #7 (or #2, #5, or #11).  Lay a hundred on these losers.  OSU: 45--TTUN: 20

Hoying: I think it’s safe to say that spirits in central Ohio are a bit higher after the last two Buckeye buttkickings than after the previous two struggle bus stops. Yes, the Buckeyes will be leaving the friendly confines for this one, but, top 5 ranking notwithstanding, their opponent is not built to stop this Ohio State onslaught. I’ve been hearing for weeks about how the Wolverines are well equipped to keep pace with the Buckeyes in a way no other school on their schedule has been able to do since Oregon, and I gotta tell you, I just don’t see it. Those vaunted Wolverine strengths? The pass rush? Ohio State has the edge on sacks, 35-29. The rushing attack? Ohio State leads the nation at 5.82 yards/rush (the Wolverines are just about a full yard below this). The only true edge the skunk weasels have is in the secondary. But I have bad news for any fans up north: the Buckeye secondary is facing Cade (or worse, JJ) & friends, while the yellow and blue back seven are facing one of the greatest juggernaut passing attacks in college football history. Oh, sure, just play two-high and send your ends upfield to pressure Stroud as fast as you can. See what TreVeyon and the slobs have to say about that. I guess this one could be close if the Buckeyes turn the ball over a bunch or forget how to tackle, but the gap (talent, preparation, coaching, or otherwise) between these two is as wide as ever. Go Bucks. OSU: 41--TTUN: 20
Schweinfurth: This has the feel it's supposed to have. A top 5 contest with TTUN actually holding up their end of the bargain. I get the sense that the Buckeyes are ticked off after Harbaugh tried to save face by waving the white flag TTUN's COVID outbreak last year (it's not like they had a hard practice the next day...). The Buckeye's schedule has been slowing building to this crescendo and they have a season's worth of scars to lean into. TTUN looks like a one trick pony on offense and Cade is a serviceable QB. Stuff the two headed beast in the Wolverine backfield, and I think Harbooger panics. Day has created a habit of carpet nuking this rivals and he is bringing the Scarlet and Gray Death Star into the Big House. The Buckeye offense is just so explosive, I can't see a way this is close past the first quarter. Bucks win again and onto Indy! BEAT BLUE!!! OSU: 49--TTUN: 14

Seeberg:  Full disclosure- as a child of the Cooper era, this contest will ALWAYS cause the nerves to escalate!  Sadly, this year is no different.  The Buckeye O is absolutely zipping along right now, but begrudgingly, TTUN possesses two elite defensive ends that could even give our excellent pass-blocking line a few issues.  AND they can suddenly kinda/sorta/perhaps/nearly throw the ball too, to the tune of nearly 400 yards against their not-so-little brother.  CJ's toughest experience to date was the opener against the Gophers, and this will undoubtedly be several notches tougher.  The utter destruction of our northern rivals cannot continue indefinitely, and could cease with this one.  In the end, however, I just flat out don't trust a Harbaugh-led offensive unit to outscore this iteration of the OSU juggernaut.  Bucks head to Indy- and I kinda want to find seats! OSU: 41--TTUN: 24

Upset Special
Draper: South Carolina over Cle_son
Hoying: LSU over Texas A&_
Schweinfurth: Auburn over Ba_a
Seeberg:  Texas Tech over Baylor