PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 4

Conference play is virtually in full swing now. The days of Power 5 vs. Mid-major are nearly over. After a strong start to the year, BENched is ready for the challenge of picking these tougher matchups. There's no real marquee game this week, but the slate is full of intrigue. Here we go!

2017 Record

Overall: 46-8 (.852 win %)
Last Week: 14-4
Game of the Week Pick: 2-1

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
1 Alabama at Vanderbilt
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Alabama -18.5

Confidence is sky high in Nashville, as the Dores are set to host the Crimson Tide. Vandy is off to a 3-0 start, including a win last weekend over ranked Kansas State. No upset this weekend. Tide 27-9

Boston College at 2 Clemson
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN2
Clemson -34
Good chance this one is over by halftime. Clemson is riding a big wave of momentum after knocking off Auburn and Louisville in consecutive weeks. The Tigers are probably looking ahead to taking on Virginia Tech next week. BC gave up over 500 yards rushing to Notre Dame a week ago. Clemson's stable of backs and QB Kelly Bryant will have a field day. Tigers 45-3

3 Oklahoma at Baylor
Saturday, 6:30 pm ET, FS1
Oklahoma -27.5
Will Baker Mayfield and the Sooners be able to name their own score? Probably. For some reason, I think this will be closer than most expect ... at first. Oklahoma rolls. Sooners 50-17

4 Penn State at Iowa
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ABC
Penn State -11.5
Plenty of teams have stumbled in Iowa over the years. Just ask Michigan last year. Penn State is a different animal. The Nittany Lions seem to be one of the most complete teams in the country. Saquon Barkley is going to go off. Lions 45-13

5 USC at Cal
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
USC -17
An underrated matchup between the Trojans and Golden Bears. Cal has already taken down an ACC and SEC team en route to a 3-0 start. USC needed a bit of a miracle to come back against Texas, but still remains the team to beat in the Pac-12. This one kicks off at 12:30 local time. Consider the Trojans on upset alert. Trojans 34-31

16 TCU at 6 Oklahoma State
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Oklahoma State -12.5
The high-powered Pokes are one of the scariest offenses in the nation. Through three games, OSU has outscored its opponents 59-0 IN THE FIRST QUARTER! TCU gave up 36 to SMU last weekend. Good luck, Frogs. Pokes 49-24

7 Washington at Colorado
Saturday, 10 pm ET, FS1
Washington -12
A rematch of last year's Pac-12 title game, the Huskies look to remain in the Top 10 and the firm leader in the North. Colorado has other plans and is upset it's not getting respect in the rankings. Phillip Lindsay will go over 140 yards for the third time this year and the Buffaloes score the upset. Buffs 33-28

8 Michigan at Purdue
Saturday, 4 pm ET, Fox
Michigan -10.5
Jeff Brohm has reinvigorated the Boilermakers to the point that this is actually a tricky spot for Michigan. The Wolverines are struggling mightily on offense. If Purdue can create a turnover or pile on some points early, watch out. Boilers 31-27

9 Wisconsin - OFF

UNLV at 10 Ohio State
Saturday, Noon ET, Big Ten
Ohio State -40
One of the few matchups this weekend to turn your eyes away from. Buckeyes 56-10

Must Watch
NC State at 12 Florida State
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2/ABC
Florida State -11.5
The Noles are back on the field for the first time since falling to Bama in Atlanta. FSU endured Hurricane Irma and its effects. In case you need a reminder, quarterback Deondre Francois is out for the season and in steps freshman James Blackman. Preseason expectations were squashed for NC State when the Wolfpack dropped their opener against South Carolina. Despite playing Marshall and Furman since, it hasn't been all rainbows and unicorns. Will FSU be sluggish? Can NC State score an upset in Tallahassee? Noles 26-17

GAME OF THE WEEK

UGA (right) is the most well-known of the Bulldogs.
But Bully hay have something to bark about this weekend.

17 Mississippi State at 11 Georgia
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN
Georgia -4
The battle of the SEC Bulldogs should be a good one. Mississippi State pulled off a stunner last week against LSU, not so much beating the Tigers, but how they did so: 37-7. Nick Fitzgerald's veteran leadership will be relied upon for MSU going Between the Hedges. That's where MSU has the advantage. Georgia, despite playing at home, has freshman Jake Fromm under center. He impressed in the road win at Notre Dame and has five TDs to one INT on the year. There's a good chance UGA lets its Big Dawgs eat and tries to play keep-away. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are averaging over six yards per carry. If Georgia can't put it in the end zone, though, it could be a long night in Athens. MSU Bulldogs 30-24

20 Florida at Kentucky
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, SEC
Florida -2.5
Why are you tuning in? Because Kentucky is 3-0 and Mark Stoops may have his best Wildcats team yet. Oh, and Florida has won 30 straight games against UK. That seems impossible. Will the streak continue? Cats 17-13

UCLA at Stanford
Saturday, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN
Stanford -7.5
Two Pac-12 teams walked into Group of 5 stadiums a week ago and stumbled away with deflating losses. UCLA, which lost to Memphis, and Stanford, which fell at San Diego State, now face off in a must-win California battle. The Bruins need a defense to back Josh Rosen (and they need Rosen to be sharper than he has been). The Cardinal are probably just happy to be home after spending the first three weeks in the air and on the road (vs. Rice in Australia, at USC, and at SDSU). Since Stanford already has a conference loss, this game holds slightly more importance for the Cardinal. If UCLA does go down, the heat will be turned all the way up on Jim Mora. Cardinal 35-30

Keep An Eye On
Texas Tech at Houston
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2/ABC

Houston -7
Texas Tech is brutal on defense yet again. The Red Raiders gave up 45 points to Arizona State. Luckily, the Sun Devils are equally as bad on D and Tech got the win, 52-45. On the road at Houston in an early game (11 AM kick local time), against a Coug team hungry for another Big 12 win, this could spell the end of the Kingsbury era in Lubbock. Cougars 55-45

Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Texas A&M -2.5
Like their West Texas counterparts, the Aggies too could see the beginning of the end of their head coach if they go down in Jerry World. When these two get together, it's always an exciting game. Arkansas had the week off to regroup following its loss to TCU. A&M needed a second half comeback to take down Louisiana-Lafayette, and even then Kevin Sumlin's seat hasn't cooled. The quarterback battle will be interesting to watch. Austin Allen is one of the league's better passers. Kellen Mond is trying to prove his worth for the Aggies. Arkansas is due in the series. Hogs 27-20

Duke at North Carolina
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPNU
Duke -1
If it was basketball, this is Must Watch material, probably Game of the Week. Alas, the Tobacco Road Rivalry doesn't quite have the same shine on the field as it does on the court. Duke has impressed early on, while North Carolina picked up its first win a week ago. Daniel Jones is the next David Cutcliffe prodigy and he has Duke on the rise in the ACC. Blue Devils 44-37

Notre Dame at Michigan State
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Fox
Notre Dame -3
Another big game that is usually the game to be watching, ND and MSU have taken quite a few steps backward from their recent glory days. The oddsmakers have the Irish as a road favorite, which is surprising only because that tells me they don't have faith in Mark Dantonio anymore. Irish 24-21

-BtW

The Morning After... Back-to-back

A short and sweet TMA today, as the final ranking for the CFB Playoff will be announced at noon ET. BENched will have a reaction piece and a look ahead to the Playoff and New Year's Six bowls.

This guy is the best player in the nation.
As Dabo Swinney said, "... And it ain't even close."
(Photo courtesy Associated Press)

1) Earlier Saturday, I texted a good buddy of mine and said I had trouble sleeping because I kept having the thought that Clemson would lose to Virginia Tech. His response was simple, "Take a deep breath and remember we have #4." How could I be so silly? Deshaun Watson (that'd be the #4 he was talking about) is the best player in football. Period. He proved it again Saturday night on another big stage, claiming the ACC Championship for the second straight year and becoming the first player ever to win consecutive ACC Championship Game MVPs. He did so with 288 passing yards, 85 rushing yards and five touchdowns (three pass, two rush). Clemson fans have had the pleasure of watching DW4 for the last three years and if we ever doubt our Tigers, we should all keep in mind that he's on our side.

2) "All we need is an opportunity. Once we get an opportunity, we're going to take full advantage of it. ... We're going to go for that natty." Clemson is rolling into the Playoff and Watson's quote tells me the Tigers have had their eyes on this prize all year long. Now that the opportunity is here - or we assume it is - the rest of the country should look out. Clemson is coming.

3) Clemson has now scored 35+ points in six straight games. The Tigers have scored 30 or more in 10  of their 13 games. ... Clemson has won a record 16 ACC Championships, breaking a previous tie with Florida State. ... The back-to-back titles are the first for Clemson in 28 years (CU won three in a row from 1986-88). ... The win was Clemson's 10th over a bowl eligible team this season - the most in the nation. The Tigers played a record 11 bowl eligible teams, going 10-1. ... The Tigers' 12-1 record is tied for the second most wins in school history. In 1981, the Tigers finished 12-0 to win the National Championship. Clemson went 14-1 in 2015, falling short in the title game.

*BENched will produce more stats in another post later this week.

4) My hat is off to Virginia Tech. The Hokies are a fun club to watch. Jerod Evans is a talented quarterback and he has some really good weapons around him. He has some things to work on, but the Hokies are scary with him back there. Bud Foster is one of the best defensive minds in the business. There wasn't much he was going to do to slow down the Tiger train, but Foster dialed up some things that confused the heck out of the Clemson offense and disrupted its rhythm. Justin Fuente has ignited a fire in Blacksburg that is going to rage on for a while. Expect a lot of Clemson-VT and FSU-VT matchups in the ACCFCG in the near future.

5) Oklahoma won Bedlam in impressive fashion, 38-20. The Cowboys scored to go ahead 17-10 with 1:42 to go before halftime. The Sooners marched down the field and scored in 1:10 to tie the game. OSU returned the ensuing kickoff near midfield. The Pokes ran one play and did not call their final timeout, instead opting to go into halftime tied. OU dominated the second half 21-3. When the game was within 11, Mike Gundy called for a run play on 3rd and long to set up a field goal to cut it to an eight-point deficit. OSU missed the field goal and Sooner running back Joe Mixon went 79 yards on the next play to ice the game. Oklahoma now leads the Bedlam series 86-18-7 and is likely headed to the Sugar Bowl to face off against Auburn. Oklahoma State is likely going to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl against either Colorado or USC.

6) The only other conference championship game that was worth watching was the Big Ten, and even it looked like a blowout early. Wisconsin jumped all over Penn State, leading 28-7 late in the second quarter. If you read BENched, you knew this nugget: Penn State is a second half team. The Nittany Lions scored just before half to cut the lead to 28-14, then outscored the Badgers 24-3 in the second half. Penn State, a two-loss team, claimed the Big Ten Championship out of the East Division. That same division has Ohio State (which its only loss is to Penn State) and Michigan (which blew out PSU 49-10 way back in September). Are the Nittany Lions Rose Bowl bound or Playoff bound? Time will tell.

7) Washington crushed Colorado 41-10 Friday night to claim the Pac-12. The Huskies seem to be a lock for the Playoff at 12-1 with the conference title. But the Huskies are holding their breath, as their strength of schedule and many other metrics are not in their favor. ... Alabama throttled Florida 54-16 to win the SEC again and finish 13-0. Florida actually looked like it was going to be in the fight early, marching down the field and scoring to go up 7-0. Two interceptions - one a pick-six - and a blocked punt for a TD gave Bama a lead despite the Tide having minus-7 yards. They did not look back.

8) It's been a really fun year and I hope you've enjoyed delving into my brain each Sunday morning. BENched will have much more on the upcoming Heisman presentation, CFB Playoff, and other Clemson thoughts and reflections. Until then, enjoy your holiday season with friends and family. Go Tigers!

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 14 (Championship Week)

Another month of football gone. Hard to believe we've reached the end of the college football season. Championship Week presents a whole new season in itself. Plenty is on the line for all the championship games - Playoff positioning, New Year's Six Bowls, bragging rights (in Bedlam). It's time to man up or shut up. As for BENched, we've had a good, not great, season of picks. Rivalry Week pulled a fast one with several upets. But we're in the championship phase. Just like these games, this is when it counts most.

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 10-10
Game of the Week Pick: 5-4

Overall: 117-54 (.684 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the CFB Playoff Top 25

Friday

MAC Championship (Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.)
Ohio vs. No. 17 Western Michigan (Line: Western Michigan -17)
On the verge of a 13-0 season, Western Michigan is staring a New Year's Six Bowl in the face. It's right there for the taking and all that stands in its way is Ohio, which has lost four games, but all have been decided by single digits. The Broncos, on the other hand, have had one game decided by single digits. In fact, it was a single-digit win (22-21) at Northwestern to start the season. No slowing down the boats. They can row right on down to the Cotton Bowl after this one. Boat Rowers 41-24

GAME OF THE WEEK
Pac-12 Championship (Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.)

Sefo Liufau has Colorado in position for one of the best
turnarounds in college football history.
(Photo courtesy Associated Press)

No. 8 Colorado vs. No. 4 Washington (Line: Washington -7.5)
Implications in this one are larger than the Pacific Ocean. Washington knows it must win the Pac-12 to be considered for the CFB Playoff. The Huskies have had a fantastic year, but despite the 11-1 record, they are just 1-1 against the current Top 25. Colorado can creep into the conversation by knocking off No. 4. The Buffaloes are the turnaround team of the year, led by Sefo Liufau. Colorado's defense may be the best the Huskies have faced, but UW's defense is far and away the best the Buffs have seen. Huskies 27-21

Saturday

AAC Championship (Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.)
Temple at No. 19 Navy (Line: Navy -3)
Navy has a chance - albeit slim - to earn a New Year's Six berth. Ironically, Navy needs the boats to stop rowing and sink.  The Midshipmen need a Western Michigan loss and to beat Temple for that conversation to begin. If the Broncos win tonight, which BENched predicts, all Navy can play for is a conference championship. That'd be tremendous for our nation's Naval Academy. Middies 34-20

Big 12 Championship - Bedlam (Oklahoma leads 85-18-7)
No. 10 Oklahoma State at No. 9 Oklahoma (Line: Oklahoma -11)
One of the few regular season games remaining on the schedule, Bedlam figures to live up to its name. The Sooners and Cowboys will go toe-to-toe with the Big 12 title on the line for the fourth time in the last six years. Oklahoma has a dynamic offense that is unstoppable with Baker Mayfield leading the charge. Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon are a great one-two punch in the backfield, but Dede Westbrook is a sensational wide receiver. Opposite OU is Oklahoma State's high-octane offense that has recently found a running game. Both defenses are, for lack of a better word, awful. This one will have points galore. Ponies and Wagons 55-45

SEC Championship (Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.)
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 15 Florida (Line: Alabama -24)
Unlike the matchup above, defense won't be optional in the Georgia Dome. Alabama boasts the nation's best and Florida isn't far behind. Alabama didn't allow a touchdown in four games in November. Florida has no offense, so this one shouldn't be close. Tide 33-3

ACC Championship (Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.)
No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 23 Virginia Tech (Line: Clemson -10)
Clemson has been on a tear since its loss to Pitt three weeks ago. Actually, the Tigers' offense has been on a tear since their Oct. 29 game at Florida State. In the fives game since, Clemson has scored 37, 54, 42, 35 and 56 points. Virginia Tech always has a tough defense with Bud Foster sailing that ship. And the Hokies' offense has seen an uptick with new head man Justin Fuente and quarterback Jerod Evans. But Clemson looks to be on a mission and VT won't be able to keep up the whole game. Tigers 41-17

Big Ten Championship (Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.)
No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 7 Penn State (Line: Wisconsin -3)
The storylines out of the Big Ten are numerous. Ohio State allegedly is a lock for the Playoff. Penn State, which beat Ohio State, could win the Big Ten and be left out of the Playoff. Wisconsin is most likely left out even if it wins. These scenarios are all barring what may or may not happen in other conferences, like the ACC and Pac-12. There's little arguing that the Big Ten is the best conference this season, but whether its champion slides into the Top 4 is a mystery. As for the game, Penn State is a second half team, so ignore whatever may happen in the first half. Wisconsin has a stout defense and will pose problems for the Nittany Lions. Expect this one to be close and low-scoring. Nittany Lions 16-9

-BtW

Reax: Interesting debates as penultimate Playoff Ranking revealed

Not a whole lot changed from last week, considering previously No. 3 Michigan fell on the road in double overtime at No. 2 Ohio State. The only other mover in the Top 10 of the Playoff Committee ranking was Colorado jumping Oklahoma. The Sooners were off, while the Buffaloes took down Utah to clinch the Pac-12 South. Here's the Top 10 and some thoughts, courtesy of BENched.

A quick reminder: The rankings today have absolute no bearing on the final rankings on Dec. 4. If a team is ahead of another team now and both win out, they can flip-flop. Here's the Playoff Committee's Top 10:

The Playoff Poll Top 10

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Washington
5. Michigan
6. Wisconsin
7. Penn State
8. Colorado
9. Oklahoma
10. Oklahoma State

Alabama is all but assured a spot in the College Football Playoff. Even if the Crimson Tide lose to Florida in the SEC Championship Game, they will surely not fall out of the Top 4.

Ohio State held onto its No. 2 ranking, while Clemson and Washington each moved up one spot to Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Two years ago, the Committee dropped TCU from No. 3 to No. 6 because it did not play in a conference championship game, thus not collecting a "13th data point." Ohio State also won't be playing in a championship game, but everyone seems to think the Buckeyes are guaranteed a Playoff spot.

I have a lot of thoughts on this, but the most prevalent right now is that it is hard for me to understand why Ohio State gets a virtual bye week, whilst Clemson and Washington are in must-win games against ranked opponents. If Clemson or Washington lose, they'll be out of the Playoff. Ohio State gets to enjoy the weekend on the couch.

The Huskies are excited to be back in the Top 4.
Washington needs a win Friday over Colorado in the
Pac-12 title game to remain there. We think.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Michigan dropped to fifth and is the first of three straight Big Ten teams (after Ohio State). Wisconsin and Penn State, the two teams playing in the Big Ten Championship Game, follow at sixth and seventh. The winner more than likely jumps Michigan, but the question remains if the Committee will put the Big Ten champ in the Top 4. All season, the Committee has said the Big Ten is the best conference and the metrics prove that. So, how can the champion of that conference be left out of the Playoff?

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are behind Colorado, meaning Bedlam will simply be for the Big 12 title and a trip to the Sugar Bowl. Even if Clemson and Washington lose, the Bedlam winner will be competing with: Michigan, the Big Ten champion, and Colorado for the final two spots. Advantage: those other teams.

Other thoughts:

• The SEC had three teams that lost this past weekend remain in the Top 25. That's not all too shocking. What is baffling is how those three teams - Auburn, Florida and Tennessee - somehow managed to drop a combined six spots. Auburn fell one spot from 13 to 14, despite an 18-point loss at Alabama. Florida also lost by 18 at Florida State, but the Gators remained exactly where they were a week ago at 15th. And Tennessee was pummeled by a 5-6 Vanderbilt team by 11 points and only dropped five spots from 17 to 22. LSU entered the rankings at No. 21 after beating unranked Texas A&M.
• Auburn, the highest ranked of that group is in the best shape to head to the Sugar Bowl, as the SEC representative. That would pit the Bedlam winner against the Tigers in New Orleans.
• Louisville and Florida State give us another interesting debate. The Cardinals and Seminoles are both 9-3. Louisville has lost its last two games to Houston and Kentucky, while Florida State has won four straight, including the 31-13 win over Top 15 Florida. Louisville went 7-1 in the ACC; FSU went 5-3. And Louisville beat FSU 63-20 back in September. Yet, the Noles are ranked 12th and Louisville is 13th. This makes sense from a "FSU is playing better right now" perspective. But if the two teams are so close that they are one spot apart, how is head-to-head not used, especially when that head-to-head result is a 43-point shellacking?
• That said, I actually agree that FSU is the better team right now.
• Western Michigan is now the highest ranked Group of 5 team at No. 17. The Broncos are undefeated and play for the MAC Championship Friday night against Ohio. A win in Detroit all but guarantees they will be headed to the Cotton Bowl.
• That is unless Navy, which is No. 19 but has two losses, impresses the committee more by winning the AAC. It's possible, but not probable, that the Midshipmen could jump Western Michigan and claim that coveted spot in the New Year's Six.

CFB Playoff and New Year's Six Bowl Projections (Based on current rankings)

• Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Washington
• PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson
• Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 Florida State
• Goodyear Cotton Bowl: No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 17 Western Michigan
• Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual: No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Colorado
• Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Auburn

-BtW

Final Ben Ten Rankings before Playoff announcement

Well, here we are. The final weekend of the season draws near. Here's what we know: Alabama is No. 1. After that, there will be at least five teams arguing for three Playoff spots. Those five are: Clemson (if it wins the ACC), Ohio State, and the Big 12, Big Ten, and Pac-12 winners. Good luck to the Playoff Committee Saturday night into Sunday morning. For now, here's how I see it. Remember, I'm not predicting the Playoff rankings that will come out Tuesday, I'm giving you my Top 10 as of the games played Saturday.

Playoff Teams

1) Alabama
Last week: No. 1
Record: 12-0
Wins over currently ranked teams: USC, LSU, Auburn
This week: vs. Florida (SEC Championship)
Alabama will enter the College Football Playoff regardless of what happens in Atlanta Saturday. The Crimson Tide didn't allow a touchdown in the month of November (against LSU, Mississippi State, Chattanooga and Auburn). It appears Alabama will earn back-to-back games in the Georgia Dome, as both the SEC Championship and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the site of one of the semifinal games, are held in the Dome.

2) Clemson

Clemson flexed its muscle against South Carolina. The Tigers
are flexing at the right time with the Playoff around the corner.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics)

Last week: No. 3
Record: 11-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Auburn, Louisville, Florida State
This week: vs. Virginia Tech (ACC Championship)
Clemson annihilated South Carolina 56-7 and has been on a tear since losing to Pitt. The Tigers jumped out to a 28-0 lead before Wake Forest scored and led 42-0 before the Gamecocks scored. Clemson has taken its focus to a new level and though the competition hasn't been great, both Wake Forest and South Carolina are going bowling. Clemson has scored 35 points or more in five straight games, including 54+ points in two of the five. The reason for flipping Clemson ahead of Ohio State? Simple: The Tigers earned the chance to play for a conference championship. The Buckeyes did not.

3) Ohio State

Last week: No. 2
Record: 11-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan
This week: N/A
Color me unimpressed with Ohio State in its games against quality competition. If not for a few boneheaded mistakes - both on the field and by the coaches - the Buckeyes could have three losses. Ohio State lost at Penn State, was fortunate the escape East Lansing as Michigan State decided to go for two points and the win - and failed - and used a handful of Michigan turnovers to upend the Wolverines in double overtime at home.

4) Washington
Last week: No. 5
Record: 11-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: N/A
This week: vs. Colorado (Friday in Pac-12 Championship)
Washington drubbed Washington State in the Apple Cup 45-17 in a game that wasn't that close. The Huskies still need to win the Pac-12 to earn a Playoff bid. Washington's résumé took a hit as both the ranked teams it had beaten - Utah and Washington State - fell out of the AP Top 25. The only quality game on UW's schedule is now a 13-point home loss to USC, which has three losses.

Next in line

5) Michigan
Last week: No. 4
Record: 10-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: Colorado, Penn State, Wisconsin
This week: N/A
Michigan led Ohio State for over half the game. The Wolverines were literally inches away from taking down the Buckeyes in Columbus. However, the takeaway here is that Michigan went 2-2 in road games. The two wins were against Rutgers and Michigan State, two teams with a combined 5-19 record. The two losses: Iowa (8-4) and Ohio State (11-1). Essentially, Michigan couldn't handle two quality opponents in their home environment. They do, however, hold wins over both teams playing in the Big Ten title game - Wisconsin and Penn State.

6) Wisconsin
Last week: 6
Record: 10-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: LSU, Iowa, Nebraska
This week: vs. Penn State (Big Ten Championship)
We've reached the point in the rankings where Big Ten teams are actually headed to the conference championship game. Wisconsin used a second half comeback to knock off a pesky Minnesota team, 31-17. The Badgers already locked up the Big Ten West a day earlier when Nebraska was taken down by Iowa. Wisconsin's body of work is nice, with three wins over ranked teams and two seven-point losses to Michigan and Ohio State. Still, that's two losses and the Badgers will need help to jump into the Top 4.

7) Oklahoma
Last Week: 7
Record: 9-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: West Virginia
This week: vs. Oklahoma State
Oklahoma received no help this weekend. The Sooners were on a bye and hoped for chaos. Instead, much of the action ahead of them went as expected. It's been a nice turnaround since the 1-2 start for Oklahoma, but going undefeated in the Big 12 (to this point) won't win over very many committee members. OU can still win the conference by winning Bedlam over Oklahoma State in Norman. That'd send the Sooners to the Sugar Bowl against some SEC team (Auburn and Florida seem the likeliest of the bunch). An 11-win season with a New Year's Six Bowl win over an SEC team would be great momentum heading into the offseason - a far cry from the past two offseasons.

8) Penn State
Last week: 8
Record: 10-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: Ohio State, Iowa
This week: vs. Wisconsin (Big Ten Championship)
Penn State erupted for 35 points in the second half of its 45-12 win over Michigan State to clinch the Big Ten East title. The Nittany Lions earned their first trip the Big Ten Championship Game. Penn State will have a solid argument to get into the Playoff because it A) beat Ohio State head-to-head and B) would have a conference championship. That's not to say PSU will be in, but it will have a strong argument for winning the toughest conference this season.

9) Colorado
Last week: 9
Record: 10-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: Stanford
This week: vs. Washington (Friday in Pac-12 Championship)
Colorado edged Utah 27-22 in a game the Buffs needed big time. It's been a while since Folsom Field has had that kind of celebration and it is great to see what Mike MacIntyre has done in Boulder. Colorado will get its chance to put an exlamation point on its season with the Pac-12 Championship game against Washington. A win at least gets Colorado in the conversation of the Playoff, but assures the Buffaloes at least the Rose Bowl. A loss, and they could still make the Rose Bowl by being the highest ranked Pac-12 team after Washington (if Washington makes the Playoff).

10) Western Michigan
Last week: 10
Record: 12-0
Wins over currently ranked teams: None
This week: vs. Ohio (Friday in MAC Championship)
Here they are, the only other undefeated team in the land after the regular season. Western Michigan can lock up a New Year's Six Bowl bid by winning the MAC title Friday against Ohio. If the Broncos do win, they will be rowing the boat from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Arlington, Texas, for the Cotton Bowl. What a fantastic job P.J. Fleck has done.

Dropped out: None

Four on the outside: Oklahoma State, Southern Cal, Florida State, West Virginia

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 13 (Rivalry Week)

Savor the leftovers and kick back on the couch. Rivalry Week is here! This is the best week of the college football season, as hate fills the air. Your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers are either with you or against you. There's nothing like these heated games. Throw out the records, throw out the statistics. With 365 days of bragging on the line, expect the unexpected. After this, we'll be on to championship weekend. But there are lots of scores to settle. Onward with the picks!

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 10-1
Game of the Week Pick: 4-4

Overall: 107-44 (.709 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the CFB Playoff Top 25

Friday

NC State at North Carolina - Carolina-State Game (UNC leads 66-33-6)
(Line: North Carolina -10.5)
Not the best game of the weekend, but a solid rivalry here. NC State needs a win to become bowl eligible. Carolina needs a win to have a chance at the Coastal Division title (the Heels still have to wait on the Virginia Tech game on Saturday). The Wolfpack have come oh so close several times this season. The difference in this one will be UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Heels 27-21

Arkansas at Missouri - Battle Line Rivalry (Mizzou leads 4-3)
(Line: Arkansas -8)
This has never been much of a rivalry, but the SEC is trying to make it one. The Razorbacks knocked off Mississippi State on the road last weekend, a first in the Beilema era. Mizzou pretty much stinks. Hogs 34-17

No. 16 Nebraska at Iowa - Heroes Game (Nebraska leads 29-14-3)
(Line: Iowa -1.5)
An intriguing game for Nebraska as the Huskers need a win and a Wisconsin loss to clinch the Big Ten West. Iowa has already taken down Michigan a few weeks ago. The Huskers are ranked, but the Hawkeyes are favored. Huskers 23-20

TCU at Texas - (Texas leads 62-23-1)
(Line: Texas -3)
Is Charlie Strong out or is he staying? Will his players play for him or are they tired of the season-long drama? TCU is coming off its worse loss in a long, long time, so the Horned Frogs might be desperate. So might the Longhorns trying to either save Strong's job, or send him off on a positive note. Both teams clinch bowl eligibility with a win, though TCU has one more opportunity next weekend. Horns 45-34

No. 5 Washington at No. 23 Washington State - Apple Cup (UW leads 70-32-6)
(Line: Washington -6)
The most interesting Apple Cup probably ever. Wazzu hosting UW with the Pac-12 North on the line. The Huskies are arguably the more talented team, but the Cougs are led by the unheralded Luke Falk. Washington needs the win to remain in Playoff contention. WSU would love nothing more than to spoil that opportunity. What a game this should be on the Palouse! Huskies 38-37

Baylor vs. Texas Tech - at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas - BUTT Bowl (Baylor leads 37-36-1) 
(Line: Baylor -5.5)
OK, so it's called the BUTT Bowl unofficially - Baylor's initials BU added to Texas Tech's TT. But that's just too funny not to use here! Anyway, the Bears have lost four straight since starting 6-0 this season. Their last three losses have come by 21 points or more each. Texas Tech was just blown out by Iowa State 66-10. What in the world is going on in Lubbock? Bears 44-42

Arizona State at Arizona - Territorial Cup ('Zona leads 48-40-1)
(Line: Arizona State -3)
The Wildcats and Sun Devils duel in the desert for a rivalry lacking intensity this season. Arizona State can only become bowl eligible with a win. Arizona is just 2-9. No gold coming out of the Copper State this time. ASU 31-26

Saturday

GAME OF THE WEEK

JT Barrett and the Buckeyes look to upend
Michigan's shot at the CFB Playoff.
(Photo courtesy The Lima News)

No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State - The Game (Michigan leads 58-47-6)
(Line: Ohio State -6.5)
This one is known as The Game and this year, it is the game of the weekend. No. 3 Michigan pays a visit to arch-rival No. 2 Ohio State. With the winner eyeing a Playoff berth, this one means more than most years. In 2006, a similar event occurred in Columbus and the Buckeyes emerged with a thrilling win. Michigan will likely be without starting QB Wilton Speight. A win sends the Wolverines to the Big Ten Championship Game. Ohio State can only win and hope Penn State loses later in the day. Still, the Buckeyes would be in the conversation for a Top 4 spot. All signs point to a Buckeye win, creating chaos for the Playoff Committee. Bucks 30-17

Georgia Tech at Georgia - Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate (UGA leads 65-40-5) 
(Line: Georiga -4)
Mark Richt ain't on the sidelines in red and black anymore. He coached UGA to a 13-2 record against the Yellow Jackets. The Bulldogs, now under Kirby Smart, defeated Auburn and North Carolina, but have a loss to Vanderbilt and narrow wins over Nicholls, Missouri and UL-Lafayette. Tech bounced back from a three-win season to reach seven so far, including an upset in Blacksburg over Virginia Tech. Outside of that, however, the Jackets have basically beaten everybody they should've and lost to everyone better. Dawgs 20-17

Kentucky at No. 11 Louisville - Governor's Cup (Series tied 14-14)
(Line: Louisville -26)
A year ago, Louisville fell behind Kentucky 24-7 before storming back with 31 straight points to win 38-24. Lamar Jackson is the Heisman front-runner and the Cards had an extra couple days to digest their loss at Houston. I doubt this one is close, but we all know anything can happen in these rivalry games. Cards 56-28

Virginia at Virginia Tech - Commonwealth Cup (VT leads 55-37-5)
(Line: Virginia Tech -18.5)
All the Hokies have to do is beat Virginia and they'll travel to Orlando next week for the ACC Championship. Seems pretty easy, as VT has dominated this series, winning 12 in a row. Three of the last four, however, have been by four points or less. Lane Stadium will get to celebrate a Coastal championship along with winning the Commonwealth Cup. Hokies 34-13

Michigan State at No. 7 Penn State - Land Grant Trophy (MSU leads 15-14-1)
(Line: Penn State -12)
If Ohio State beats Michigan and that game ends just prior to kickoff in Happy Valley, the whole stadium will let James Franklin and the Nittany Lions know. All Penn State has to do is take down three-win Sparty. MSU gave Michigan and Ohio State fits, although both of those games were in East Lansing. Penn State is seeking its first-ever trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. Nittany Lions 24-14

No. 13 Auburn at No. 1 Alabama - Iron Bowl (Bama leads 44-35-1)
(Line: Alabama -17)
Two weeks ago, this looked like a clash of SEC West titans once again. Then, Auburn looked inept at Georgia. Alabama doesn't have to win this game, but you and I both know Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide faithful feel otherwise. Both defenses are tough, but the edge has to go to Bama and its ability to wear teams down over four quarters. Tide 34-21

Mississippi State at Ole Miss - Egg Bowl (Ole Miss leads 63-43-6)
(Line: Ole Miss -8)
The Egg Bowl has lost some luster due to both teams fading fast in the last year. An Egg Bowl win gives Ole Miss another bowl trip, while Mississippi State would love to have the Rebels staying home for the holidays too. Freshman Shea Patterson will be baptized by fire in this heated rivalry. He could be the key to an Ole Miss win. Rebs 28-24

Minnesota at No. 6 Wisconsin - Paul Bunyan's Axe (Minnesota leads 59-58-8)
(Line: Wisconsin -14.5)
It's simple for Wisconsin: Win and clinch the Big Ten West. Minnesota has been solid all year, but the Badgers are just too good a team and are playing at home. Camp Randall will be rocking and Wisconsin will get the Axe. Badgers 41-24

Notre Dame at No. 12 USC - Jeweled Shillelagh (ND leads 46-36-5)
(Line: USC -17.5)
These two teams went in opposite directions following Week 1 losses. Remember when USC lost 52-6 to Alabama and began the year 1-3? The Trojans now find themselves in contention for the Pac-12 South, or at the very least a potential berth in a New Year's Six Bowl. That's all thanks to the emergence of quarterback Sam Darnold. As for the Irish, who lost 50-47 in double-OT at Texas, the season ends with this one. ND is 4-7, will miss out on a bowl, has rumors swirling about its head coach, and to top it off was just forced by the NCAA to vacate wins from the 2012 and 2013 seasons. What a nightmare of a fall in South Bend. Trojans 42-20

Oregon at Oregon State - Civil War (Oregon leads 63-46-10)
(Line: Oregon -3)
Aside from the Ducks pulling off a shocker in Utah last weekend, the Civil War has turned into a Civil Pillowfight. Oregon and Oregon State have combined for a 7-15 record. Bragging rights for the next 365 days are all that is on the line. Ducks 31-23

South Carolina at No. 4 Clemson - Palmetto Bowl (Clemson leads 67-42-4)
(Line: Clemson -24)
A fine season for the Gamecocks in Year 1 of the Will Muschamp era. Despite true freshman Jake Bentley leading the charge the last five games (S.Car is 4-1 in that stretch and became bowl eligible), South Carolina might be in over its head in Death Valley. Bentley's only road start was a miserable one at Florida in which the Cocks scored seven points and gained just 256 yards. Clemson is looking for a third straight win in the series and to keep its Playoff hopes on track. This line is strange, considering the Tigers' last two wins in the series have been by a combined 23 points. Deshaun Watson needs to be mistake free. If he is, look out. Tigers 38-24

No. 22 Utah at No. 9 Colorado - Rumble in the Rockies (Colorado leads 31-28-3)
(Line: Colorado -10)
Utah was about an inch away from making this a de facto Pac-12 South championship game. The Utes loss to Oregon was heartbreaking. Now, they travel to resurgent Colorado. The Buffaloes are having  a tremendous turnaround season and could win 10 games for the first time since 2001. Quarterback Sefo Liufau is fun to watch. Colorado looks to earn its first trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game. Buffs 37-20

No. 15 Florida at No. 14 Florida State - Sunshine Showdown (Florida leads 34-24-2)
(Line: Florida State -7.5)
When the Noles and Gators get together, expect fireworks. A scrum typically breaks out during pregame and the trash talking goes on all night. Florida is coming off an emotional win at LSU to secure the SEC East crown again. FSU has won three straight, posting 45 points in back-to-back games. The Noles seniors can accomplish something no other senior class has: finish their careers 8-0 against Miami and Florida. Florida State handled the Gators in The Swamp last year, 27-2. It won't be that bad, but the Noles should take care of business. Noles 31-13

-BtW

Rapid Reax: Not much changed in Playoff poll, but changes are afoot

A week after half the Top 10 lost, only one of the Playoff Committee Top 10 teams fell during Week 12. That was Louisville, which was crushed by Houston, 36-10. Not much changed other than that, but we are less than two weeks away from finding out who goes to Atlanta and Glendale, and who doesn't.

A little reminder: The rankings today have absolute no bearing on the final rankings on Dec. 4. If a team is ahead of another team now and both win out, they can flip-flop. Here's the Playoff Committee's Top 10:

The Playoff Poll Top 10

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Clemson
5. Washington
6. Wisconsin
7. Penn State
8. Oklahoma
9. Colorado
10. Oklahoma State

Alabama remains No. 1 as the only Power 5 undefeated team. The Crimson Tide collide with rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl this Saturday. The game is in Tuscaloosa and the Tide are favored by 17.

Michigan made snow angels after beating Indiana.
Will the Wolverines be able to celebrate a win at Ohio State?
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

Despite both team's struggles, Ohio State and Michigan will head into their annual meeting ranked No. 2 and 3. This will be the second time in the rivalry's history that the two teams are in the Top 3. The Buckeyes struggled with three-win Michigan State while the Wolverines were in a battle with Indiana. For at least the next ranking, the winner of this game will remain in the Top 4, while the loser will suffer its second loss and be eliminated from Playoff contention (barring more chaos).

The intriguing thing here is a Michigan win sends the Wolverines to the Big Ten title game, whereas an Ohio State win combined with a Penn State win would put the Nittany Lions in Indianapolis. If the Buckeyes win, but don't get a chance to win the conference, it will be interesting to see where the committee places OSU in the final ranking on Dec. 4 with just one loss, but without a conference championship.

Clemson handled its business with Wake Forest and stays at No. 4. The Tigers have in-state rival South Carolina visiting Death Valley Saturday before heading to Orlando for the ACC Championship Game.

Washington moved up to fifth thanks to Louisville's loss. The Huskies are in great position to slide into the Top 4 ahead of the Michigan-Ohio State loser. UW must get by Washington State in the Apple Cup to win the Pac-12 North.

Other thoughts:

• Wisconsin and Penn State remain behind Washington, which will make it tough for them to jump the Huskies even if one of them claims the Big Ten Championship. If Washington has a Pac-12 title and just one loss, compared to two losses by the Badgers and Nittany Lions.
• Oklahoma benefitted from a road win over a Top 15 team. The Sooners, though, take a week off before hosting Oklahoma State in the Bedlam game and the unofficial - but official - Big 12 championship game. It will be important for OU or OSU to be playing on the final weekend of the season, but taking this weekend off could also hurt as everyone around them is playing in a meaningful game.
• Despite its loss, Louisville (No. 11) remains ahead of Florida State (No. 14) in the poll. That gives the Cards a chance at the Orange Bowl bid should Clemson win out and make the Playoff. Louisville absolutely needs to beat Kentucky this weekend to stay ahead of FSU.
• Western Michigan, the only other unebaten team in the land, stayed at No. 21, while Boise State moved up to No. 19. Houston, previously unranked, also moved ahead of WMU at No. 20.
• Interesting for the Pac-12 with Washington out front, but with a big game at Wazzu; Colorado can clinch the South title at home against Utah. The Pac-12 championship could end up deciding the fourth team in the Playoff. If Washington wins, they more than likely would be in at 12-1. If Colorado wins, there'd be lots to debate.
• The Pac-12 leads the way with six teams in the Top 25; Big Ten has five, including four in the top seven (Nebraska is 16th); SEC has four, while the Big 12 and ACC have three each.

CFB Playoff and New Year's Six Bowl Projections (Based on current rankings)

• Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Clemson
• PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan
• Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 11 Louisville vs. No. 7 Penn State
• Goodyear Cotton Bowl: No. 9 Colorado vs. No. 21 Western Michigan
• Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual: No. 5 Washington vs. No. 6 Wisconsin
• Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Auburn

-BtW

Huskies, Badgers rise in this week's Ben Ten

Rivalry Week is upon us. It's perhaps the greatest week of the college football season. Bragging rights are on the line across the land and in some cases, much more. One thing for sure is a spot will open up inside the Top 4 as Michigan visits Ohio State. Will any other crazy things happen before the season ends? Only time will tell. For now, onto the Ben Ten rankings.

Playoff Teams

Nick Saban wasn't a happy camper after
a 31-3 Alabama win over Chattanooga.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

1) Alabama
Last week: No. 1
Record: 11-0
Wins over currently ranked teams: USC, Texas A&M, LSU
This week: vs. Auburn
Uh oh. The Crimson Tide beat Chattanooga by only 28 points. Is this team slipping?

**Currently hiding from Nick Saban who is surely sending someone to get me**

2) Ohio State

Last week: No. 2
Record: 10-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Nebraska
This week: vs. Michigan
Ohio State escaped East Lansing when Sparty decided to throw the ball on a two-point conversion (which failed) after running the ball eight straight times for 56 yards to score the TD. That kinda year for MSU. But this is about Ohio State, which now turns its attention to Michigan.

3) Clemson
Last week: No. 3
Record: 10-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Auburn, Louisville, Florida State
This week: vs. South Carolina
Clemson claimed the ACC Atlantic Division championship for the second straight year. The Tigers had a balanced performance in a 35-13 win over Wake Forest. A visit from South Carolina is next.

4) Michigan
Last week: No. 4
Record: 10-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Colorado, Penn State, Wisconsin
This week: at Ohio State
Michigan trailed Indiana late in the third quarter before finally kicking into gear to pull away for the win. It wasn't the perfect bounce back performance, but the Wolverines have their sights set on Ohio State.

Next in line

5) Washington
Last week: No. 6
Record: 10-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Utah
This week: at Washington State
Washington looked better in a romp over Arizona State. The Pac-12 North is on the line on the Palouse as the Huskies look to take down in-state rival Washington State. A win in the Apple Cup would likely put UW back in the Top 4.

6) Wisconsin
Last week: 7
Record: 9-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: LSU, Nebraska
This week: vs. Minnesota
The Badgers have been better than a lot of teams, but their two losses are to the two top dogs of the Big Ten East. A win against Minnesota not only gives Wisconsin Paul Bunyan's Axe, but also the Big Ten West championship and a trip to the B1G Championship Game.

7) Oklahoma
Last Week: 8
Record: 9-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: West Virginia
This week: Bye
Without a doubt, Oklahoma has been on a tear since Big 12 play began. The Sooner Schooner is rolling. The caveat, though, is the Big 12 is not on par with other conferences. OU gets the week off after demolishing West Virginia in Morgantown. Up next: Bedlam for the Big 12 championship.

8) Penn State
Last week: 10
Record: 9-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: Ohio State
This week: vs. Michigan State
Two things have to happen for Penn State. First, it must win against Michigan State. Easier said than done, yes, but the Spartans have just three wins on the season. Second, Ohio State must beat Michigan. If those two happen, the Nittany Lions will head to Indianapolis.

9) Colorado
Last week: NR
Record: 9-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: Washington State
This week: vs. Utah
What has transpired in Boulder this season is remarkable. Colorado continues to impress, taking down previously unbeaten in the conference Washington State, and can put a bow on the season by beating Utah to clinch the Pac-12 South.

10) Western Michigan
Last week: NR
Record: 11-0
Wins over currently ranked teams:
This week: None
Kudos to those in Kalamazoo, Mich., this past weekend for putting on quite a show for ESPN's College GameDay. Western Michigan, as was pointed out by one GameDay sign, has more Big Ten wins than Michigan State. That's not saying much this season, but still a proud accomplishment for the Broncos. And what's not to love about Coach P.J. Fleck?

Dropped out: Louisville (5), Utah (9)

Four on the outside: Oklahoma State, Louisville, Southern Cal, Florida State

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 12

Welp, last week went just as expected. Not! With half of the top 10 losing, the winds of the college football world have changed ever so slightly. Doors have been cracked back open that were previously slammed shut. This week figures to have some upsets, one of which took place Thursday night in Houston with the Cougars dropkicking Louisville. BENched is here to tell you where the other upsets may happen.

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 8-5
Game of the Week Pick: 3-4

Overall: 97-43 (.693 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the CFB Playoff Top 25

Saturday

No. 2 Ohio State at Michigan State (Line: Ohio State -21.5)
A little different script from a year ago when Sparty went to the Horseshoe and upset Ohio State on its way to the CFB Playoff. Urban Meyer remembers these things and guarantee he ain't happy about it. Bucks 52-10

No. 11 Oklahoma State at TCU (Line: TCU -4.5)
Tricky spot for the Cowboys who head south to Ft. Worth for an 11 AM kick against a fickle TCU team that had a bye week to prep. Mason Rudolph is a phenomenal QB and OSU is finding a good rhythm lately. Pokes 41-31

No. 23 Florida at No. 16 LSU (Line: LSU -14)
The "Relocation Bowl" could haunt the Gators if they lose to LSU. With a win, Florida clinches the SEC East. With a loss, it's all but assured to go to Tennessee, which must beat Mizzou and Vandy. This game was originally scheduled for The Swamp on Oct. 8, but Hurricane Matthew forced the game to be rescheduled, and after much debate, relocated to LSU's Death Valley. This should be a defensive slugfest. Bayou Bengals 17-10

Indiana at No. 3 Michigan (Line: Michigan -24)
Let's see how Michigan bounces back from its loss at Iowa. The Wolverines are big home favorites, but quarterback Wilton Speight broke his collarbone in the loss. This should be a tune-up game before the trip to Ohio State. Indiana, though, will play this one tough. Wolverines 28-17

Virginia Tech at Notre Dame (Line: Virginia Tech -1)
So much for two bigtime programs squaring off late in the season with bigtime implications. The Hokies still have an ACC Coastal to clinch, but that can't happen until next weekend. And Notre Dame is on the verge of being bowl ineligible with a loss. Hokies 31-28

Missouri at Tennessee (Line: Tennessee -16)
Tennessee will know its fate just prior to or just after kickoff - whether the Gators win at LSU or not. That outcome could affect how the Vols play in this one. A Florida win could deflate Big Orange. Still, it's Missouri. Vols 37-17

No. 22 Washington State at No. 10 Colorado (Line: Colorado -4.5)
This is the best game in the country that no one is talking about. It could be a Pac-12 title game preview. Washington State is on an eight-game winning streak since losing to Eastern Washington and Boise State to open the season. The Cougs have rolled through Pac-12 play until now, but face two Top 10 teams in these final two weeks. Colorado is the nation's biggest surprise team and a tremendous story in Boulder with what Mike MacIntyre is doing. Luke Falk loves to throw it all over the yard, but the Buffaloes have a well-rounded squad. Buffs 33-28

No. 3 Clemson at Wake Forest (Line: Clemson -22.5)
Another team looking for a bounce-back performance. Clemson gained over 600 yards of offense last week, but lost in heart-breaking fashion to Pittsburgh at home. The Tigers still can clinch a spot in the ACC title game by winning at Wake. The Demon Deacons are having a nice season - they're bowl eligible and have played FSU and Louisville well. Wake Forest leads the conference in turnovers and Clemson has been careless with the ball this season. Turnovers have been the Tigers Achilles' heel. I don't see how this one will be as big as the spread and don't be shocked if the Deacs pull off the upset. Tigers 31-20

Arizona State at No. 6 Washington (Line: Washington -27)
The final Top 4 team from a week ago that lost is Washington. The Huskies have everything in front of them, just like Michigan and Clemson. Washington just needs to win out and it likely will play itself back into the Top 4 with a Pac-12 championship. Good news: Arizona State comes to Seattle this weekend. That's a nice follow-up game. Huskies 55-23

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 14 West Virginia (Line: Oklahoma -3.5)

Who knows if the winner of the OU-WVU game
will be able to make a run to the Playoff?
(Photo courtesy ESPN.com)

Weather will play a role in this one. The temperature is expected to drop and some precipitation - possibly snow - is in the forecast. West Virginia boasts the Big 12's best defense. Oklahoma has the most dynamic offense. The Sooners can hand it to Samaje Perine or Joe Mixon, or have Baker Mayfield connect with the best receiver in the country, Dede Westbrook. Skyler Howard hasn't earned the trust that he can handle the hype of a big game, but maybe that changes. The interesting thing to keep an eye on here is whichever team wins, how that will affect their standing in the Playoff race next week. Get your popcorn ready for this one. Sooners 37-34

No. 13 USC at UCLA (Line: USC -13)
The battle of Los Angeles has tilted back in favor of the Trojans. UCLA won three straight from 2012-14, but USC stopped the streak with a 40-21 win last season. Now, the men of Troy are eyeing a potential Pac-12 South title and playing at a much higher level than the start of the season. The Trojans' win over Washington last week was evidence of that. Trojans 34-13

-BtW

Chaos causes shakeup in latest Ben Ten

As it stands right now, it's Alabama and everyone else. So where does everyone else rank? It's not easy now-a-days because there's a lot of comparing to do. How do you compare a team's loss in November to someone's in October? Or one that was on the road vs. one that was at home? Shouldn't overall "body of work" count as well as the eye test? Yes, the Playoff Committee has a tough job this week, but here's how I see it.

Playoff Teams

1) Alabama
Last week: No. 1
Record: 10-0
Wins over currently ranked teams: USC, Texas A&M, LSU
This week: vs. Chattanooga
No real need to expand on this one. Alabama has proven to be the best team in the land.

2) Ohio State

Ohio State leapt to No. 2 in the newest Ben Ten rankings.
(Photo courtesy Ohio State Athletics)

Last week: No. 6
Record: 9-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Nebraska
This week: at Michigan State
The Buckeyes have won back-to-back games in November by a score of 62-3 after a shaky October that included a loss to Penn State, an OT win at Wisconsin, and a four-point home win against Northwestern. The competition hasn't been anywhere close to tough, but Ohio State is peaking, a good thing with the Michigan schools on tap.

3) Clemson
Last week: No. 2
Record: 9-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Auburn, Troy, Louisville, Florida State
This week: at Wake Forest
Look, I don't like placing Clemson here as much as you don't like seeing a Clemson fan blogger putting Clemson here. But who else deserves to be No. 3? Louisville, the team Clemson beat? Michigan, remain No. 3 after losing a game? The Tigers have been playing with fire all year and were finally burned Saturday. Despite the loss, Clemson put up over 600 yards of offense, and was threatening to ice the game and go up by double-digits before things fell apart. With four Top 25 wins, the Tigers' résumé is still one of the best in the country.

4) Michigan
Last week: No. 3
Record: 9-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Colorado, Penn State, Wisconsin
This week: vs. Indiana
Michigan drops a spot, but remains a Playoff team. I couldn't simply keep Michigan at No. 3 following a loss. The Wolverines were finally tested on the road and put up just 13 points and 200 yards of offense. Jim Harbaugh gets a home game with Indiana to right the ship before heading south to Columbus.

*Note: You could flip-flop Clemson and Michigan and I'd have no problem with that. In the end, Michigan and Ohio State will play next weekend, so we'll know the status of those two teams in due time.

Next in line

5) Louisville
Last week: No. 5
Record: 9-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Florida State
This week: at Houston (Thursday)
The strength of Louisville's wins is holding it back. Currently, the Cardinals have just two wins over teams with a winning record - FSU and Wake Forest. The Deacons led 12-0 at one point and 12-10 going into the fourth quarter before a Louisville barrage. A short week and a road trip will make or break the Cards' season.

6) Washington
Last week: No. 4
Record: 9-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Utah
This week: vs. Arizona State
Many have waited for the Huskies to play a solid team and the Huskies were exposed against a pretty talented USC squad. The home loss hurts, but doesn't completely knock Washington out. The Huskies can still go 12-1, defeat a ranked opponent on the road (Washington State next weekend) and win the Pac-12 championship against a ranked team from the South Division. That'd be enough to put UW back in the Playoff.

7) Wisconsin
Last week: 7
Record: 8-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: LSU, Nebraska
This week: at Purdue
Fortunately for Wisconsin, the Badgers have two really close losses at Michigan (14-7) and vs. Ohio State (30-23 in OT). Unfortunately, that's one more loss than the teams above the Badgers and it only proves they can play with the top teams, but not beat them. Hence why they reside here.

8) Oklahoma
Last Week: 9
Record: 8-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: None
This week: at West Virginia
Without others losing, this might be as high as Oklahoma can go. The Sooners are rolling through the lower two-thirds of the Big 12. But that grouping is pretty, um, pathetic. Oklahoma gets a chance to earn two quality wins at West Virginia this weekend and against Oklahoma State on Dec. 3. Win and we can at least talk. But talk might be as far as it gets.

9) Utah
Last week: 10
Record: 8-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: USC
This week: vs. Oregon
It appears Utah will head into its final game at Colorado with the Pac-12 South title on the line. The Utes hold the tiebreaker over USC in the division already. First, they must entertain Oregon. The Ducks are officially bowl ineligible and Utah is a 13-point home favorite. Lots to look forward to in the next two weeks in the Pac-12 South.

10) Penn State
Last week: NR
Record: 8-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: Ohio State
This week: at Rutgers
The Nittany Lions get the nod here simply for two reasons: 1) They have a win over Ohio State and 2) They sort of control their destiny in the Big Ten East. If Penn State wins out over Rutgers (2-8) and Michigan State (3-7) AND Ohio State beats Michigan, PSU will go to Indianapolis.


Dropped out: Auburn (8)

Four on the outside: Western Michigan, West Virginia, Colorado, Oklahoma State

-BtW