College Football Thoughts: Week 11

By:  Joe Cardoso

November MADNESS!! This is why I love college sports and I am not alone in this way of thinking, this past Saturday was MEGA. Three of the top 4 teams for the college football playoffs lost and lost in all that hype is the fact for some of them it may not hurt them. Only other time the number 2,3 and 4 teams all lost on the same day was in 1985!  Other one-loss teams were up late Saturday partying because their season wasn’t lost and they have a chance to make the final four. The big theme for me this season has been two things comebacks and growth. Programs that started off horrible being able to shake off the cobwebs and get it together and for some who have been hot they are reaching nuclear levels. It’s the job of the CFB playoff committee to make college football great again let’s see what Tuesday brings. As for my thoughts on Saturday’s action here, we go kids.

Other one-loss teams were up late Saturday partying because their season wasn’t lost and they have a chance to make the final four. The big theme for me this season has been two things comebacks and growth. Programs that started off horrible being able to shake off the cobwebs and get it together and for some who have been hot they are reaching nuclear levels. It’s the job of the CFB playoff committee to make college football great again let’s see what Tuesday brings. As for my thoughts on Saturday’s action here, we go kids.

1. Washington Huskies have their undefeated season stopped by a reborn USC Trojans team. The table was all set for U-Dub national televised game at a decent hour for all those old folks who can’t stay up for Pac 12 after dark action. A Heisman-contending quarterback with a chance to show voters why he should be considered. No one gave USC the memo the Trojans came out and played hard and earned the win. When Washington had its field, goal blocked to me that was the back breaker, along with a next to the nonexistent running game. The Trojans balled out in all three phases, Sam Darnold is going to be a stud and the old-school USC swagger may be coming back. For Washington, all you can do is look at missed chances and hope that winning out and someone slipping up helps their case. The stat that shocked me is Washington having 17 TOTAL rushing yards. USC, as I’ve been saying, has risen from the dead to be a factor.
2. Michigan on the road vs Iowa not going to lie I saw this as a win and they move on. I know, I know, I know Wolverine fans the facemask call oh the outrage. Hey, I am with you but how about the lack of offense to the tune of 201 yards TOTAL! The maize and blue had been getting over 600 yards easy all year so what the heck happened? You have to ask which offense shows up vs Ohio State? All is not lost for Jim and his gang but no more slip ups. I had said from the start of the year “my boys” were a year away from greatness hope I’m wrong. And for one night Iowa was the place to be for the ultimate party. Wolverines have got to get better QB play and start faster.
3. Clemson has been playing with fire all season and finally got burned at home vs Pitt. Dabo has had a rabbit’s foot for a long time. Well on Saturday luck ran out for the Tigers and out of all the teams that lost Saturday with it being Pitt and at home they may be hurt the most. Check the stats they lost to an unranked, 4 loss team at home and turned over the ball to lead to the loss. Doesn’t get any worse than that. They still have the ACC title game to play and the committee loves them some conference title games. You also have to feel the Tigers defense was exposed on Saturday and that could be the blueprint for other teams down the road.
4. Who went to bed Saturday night feeling better than when they woke up? West Virginia, Louisville, Penn State, Wisconsin. These teams have something to play for in the home stretch of the season. Big game for WVU as Oklahoma comes to town and YES the Sooner name still matters. If Houston had lived up to early season hype the game against Louisville would be MAJOR. Week after week we talk about the big boys and meanwhile, James Franklin and Penn State just keep on trucking along.
   

My CFB Top 4:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Louisville
4. Michigan

Another GREAT week of games coming our way, for more college football talk and articles follow our blog @NutsAndBoltsSP or myself @Cright.

Until next time college football fans!