The Morning After... The Heart Attack on Homecoming

WARNING: If you are a Clemson fan, you may not like what you read. 

1) NC State outplayed and outcoached Clemson, with the exception of one play and one player. The play was the final offensive play for the Wolfpack. Why would you run your QB outside and backward instead of handing it off to Matt Dayes to set up the field goal? That playcall will haunt Dave Doeren for some time. The player is kicker Kyle Bambard. I feel for the kid, who was 4-of-5 kicking field goals entering the game, but went 1-for-4, including doinking a kick off the upright early in the game, having one blocked and missing the game-winner as time expired.

Aside from those two things, NC State was more physical than Clemson. For the first time in a few years, it looked as if Clemson felt it could simply walk on the field and win the game. NC State had other plans and the Tigers were stunned. I have a lot of questions about playcalling and personnel, but that could be reserved for an entire other post. Hopefully Dabo gets those things adjusted in the bye week.

2) It's hard to put blame on Deshaun Watson for this one. All he did was go 39-for-52 for 378 yards with two touchdowns through the air and added another 35 yards and a TD on the ground. His one mistake was the first play of the third quarter. Watson threw the first pick-6 of his career, which tied the game at 10 at the time. This is the second time in three games that Clemson has driven the field to get a big score before halftime and gets the ball back after the break, only to throw an interception to turn the momentum of the game. It was his only mistake, but it was costly.

3) Turnovers continue to kill this team. Watson's pick was one thing, but the Tigers fumbled twice inside the five-yard-line and were stuffed at the goalline. Three drives that could have resulted in touchdowns would've completely changed the complexion of the game. Stop turning the ball over and this team can reach the heights it was projected to reach.

4) Positive note here: This defense is good. REAL good. NC State moved the ball extremely well and shot itself in the foot several times with penalties. But the Tigers stiffened up when they had to and allowed 10 offensive points. They picked off a quarterback that had thrown zero INTs all year. They added seven more tackles for loss and four sacks. And they refused to quit when the going got tough. That resilience resonated throughout Death Valley.

Marcus Edmond wins it for Clemson with this interception in overtime.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics)

4B) After all is said and done, the Tigers are 7-0 with a bye week to prep for Florida State. Clemson has won 21 straight regular season games, 20 straight at home, 24 of its last 25 games overall, 45 straight over an unranked opponent (AP Poll) and 13 straight over ACC teams. This era in Clemson history is arguably the best. Best is the Standard.

Perhaps that's why I'm a little upset. I hear all the positivity coming out of the Clemson camp, but it's hard to believe it. I don't believe we are playing to our standard...

5) I need to speak on the "storming the field" issue. Clemson has a tradition of allowing fans on the field following EVERY game. Win or lose, fans are encouraged to "Gather at the Paw" with the team to sing the Alma Mater. In big wins or close, exciting wins, Clemson students push the gate open on the Hill and hurdle the side walls to run on the field to celebrate. That's how it's been. That's how it will always be.

HOWEVER, yesterday was a storming of the field and it looked bad. Yes, the interception happened in the end zone in front of the student section. And yes, it was an exhilarating finish to a crazy game. It had to have felt incredible being in that stadium when Bambard missed the field goal and even better when Marcus Edmond came down with the pick to seal the victory. But if Clemson ever wants to be taken seriously, its fans need to act like they've been there before - students included. That may sound like a tired cliché because it is. Come on to the field and enjoy the win. Get pictures with the players and coaches. Find a player who is taking off his gloves and get those. Sing the Alma Mater with all your might. But stop acting as if we just won a championship for the first time in school history.

6) If Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook had the same connection of the last three weeks back in the first three weeks, we may be talking about Oklahoma as the only team with a chance to beat Alabama (more on the Tide later...). Westbrook has 574 yards and eight touchdowns since the calendar turned to October, including back-to-back games with three TD receptions. The latter of those games helped the Sooners beat down Kansas State 38-17 Saturday. Mayfield has found his go-to guy and it's helped Oklahoma get a firm grasp on the Big 12. Baylor and West Virginia may be undefeated, but OU looks like the team to beat.

7) ACC Coastal Chaos continues, but the ACC in general had a weird weekend. It started when Louisville needed a controversial roughing the kicker penalty to keep control of the game against Duke. Clemson needed overtime at home against an unranked opponent. FSU struggled with Wake Forest at home. Then there was the Coastal Division. Virginia Tech has looked like the Coastal's most complete team. The Hokies, though, were knocked off by beleaguered Syracuse, 31-17. Miami has fallen back to earth with two straight home losses. First on a blocked extra-point against FSU and now a 20-13 loss to North Carolina, who was just obliterated last week by VT.

Everyone in the Coastal Division has at least one conference loss and at least two losses overall. Miami goes to Blacksburg for a Thursday night affair this week. Pitt, which won at Virginia Saturday, still has VT, Miami and Clemson the schedule. There's a bundle of reasons to believe the Coastal champion may have three or more losses.

8) Alabama is playing in a different stratosphere. The Tide rushed for 438 yards on the road against Tennessee on their way to a 49-10 stomping of the Vols. Jalen Hurts is a weapon Nick Saban has never had at quarterback. They now have 11 non-offensive touchdowns this season. Simply, Alabama is scary.

Ohio State rallied to beat a darn good Wisconsin team on the road. The Buckeyes trailed 16-6 and couldn't get much going, but found a way in the end. JT Barrett is a natural leader and Urban Meyer's team is on its way to setting up a huge showdown with Michigan to close out the season.

9) Too much knee-jerk reaction to teams winning, losing, looking good one week or looking bad another. Time to start looking at the body of work - not what a team did yesterday and not a team's potential. We are seven weeks into this season and every team is showing pretty much exactly who they are. Take for example Ole Miss. The Rebs are 3-3. Why they were 3-2 and sitting at No. 12 is beyond me. A third loss should drop them completely from the Top 25. Don't forget to check out the Ben Ten on Monday to see where I rank the top teams in college football.

10) A bye week comes at the right time for Clemson. Rest up, heal the wounded and get ready for the trip to Tallahassee. That's the focus this week.

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 7

A light week of picks, but a strong slate of games. Nos. 1 and 2 have to go on the road in Top 10 battles. Surely there will be an upset somewhere along the way. On Rocky Top? At Camp Randall? See what BENched thinks with the picks below!

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 7-5
Game of the Week Pick: 1-1

Overall: 52-24 (.684 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Friday

Mississippi State at BYU (Line: BYU -7)
This late night Friday game won't be watched by many in the southeast and that's probably a good thing. The Cowbells didn't clanga-clanga much last week in a home blowout to Auburn. No cowbell this time either. Cougs 31-20

Saturday

NC State at No. 3 Clemson (Line: Clemson -17.5)
Deshaun Watson reportedly "has fun" against the Wolfpack. He's put up massive numbers in two seasons against NC State. The Pack finally plays someone that doesn't have multiple first names. Seriously. Tigers 55-23

Kansas State at No. 19 Oklahoma (Line: Oklahoma -14)
BENched is unsure if Ole Bill Snyder is still living or if the powers that be at Kansas State have cloned him. Either way, the Snydercats are the cream of the Big 12 defensive crop. Which ain't saying much in this league. OU exorcised its Longhorn demon last week. Can it do the same against a team that has won its past two in Norman? Ponies and Wagons 31-28

No. 20 West Virginia at Texas Tech (Line: West Virginia -1)
Welcome to the Central Time Zone, Mountaineers. WVU is playing its first game in Big 12 country this season, and first true road game. This is generally where the 'Neers have struggled. Does Kliff Kingsbury even know what a defense is? I mean, golly, the Red Raiders gave up 44 points to the Snydercats. Masked Riders 49-45 

No. 10 Nebraska at Indiana (Line: Nebraska -3)
This line should scare the corn out of the Huskers. Indiana was within seven of Ohio State on the road last week and upset Michigan State the week before the in Bloomington. Nebraska hits the stretch of its schedule where we find out who this team really is. Huskers 27-24

North Carolina at No. 16 Miami (Line: Miami -7)
Devastating losses for both of these teams makes this game mean more. UNC was walloped by the Hokies in Hurricane Matthew, 34-3, while the Canes fell to the rival Noles on a blocked extra point, 20-19. Loser here is basically eliminated in the Coastal Division. Canes 44-38

No. 1 Alabama at No. 9 Tennessee (Line: Alabama -12)
Tennessee volunteered to cough up seven turnovers last week at Texas A&M in an overtime loss. Alabama continues to dominate everyone in its path. That path heads north to Rocky Top. Alabama's good for one loss a year, right? Is this it? Nahhhh. Tide 45-27

No. 12 Ole Miss at No. 22 Arkansas (Line: Ole Miss -7.5)
This game is great for the fact that you will get to relive Arkansas' miracle win at Ole Miss several times throughout the broadcast. I think the over/under for showing that replay is set for 7.5. I'll take the over. As for the game, Ole Miss wants revenge. Arkansas just wants to be relevant. Bret Bielema will be on the hot seat after this one. Rebs 37-27

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 8 Wisconsin (Line: Ohio State -10.5)

No Lambeau Leaps this week, but will the Badgers be celebrating
a landmark victory over Ohio State?
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

Wisconsin went to the Big House two weeks ago and left as the only team to hold Michigan under 45 points. The Wolverines won that day 14-7. Clearly the Badgers have a tough defense. And they've had a week off to prepare for this one. Ohio State almost got caught looking ahead to this matchup last week, pulling away from Indiana late. The Mad House will be jumping around and the belief here is this line could get destroyed. How good is Ohio State? Probably good enough for a Playoff run. But will there be a bump in the road in Madison? Such a tough call. Why not, let's go for the upset. Badgers 27-21

The Morning After... The Blow Out Weekend

BENched presents The Morning After... My weekly college football observations, where this weekend you were either blown out by your opponent or by Hurricane Matthew.

1) Halfway through the 2016 schedule, we like to welcome the real Clemson Tigers to the season. Just six days removed from a huge emotional win over No. 3 Louisville, Clemson traveled to play Boston College, a place where wins have been a struggle. There was no struggle Friday night. Clemson clicked on all cylinders and led 21-3 after one quarter. When the backups entered the game in the fourth quarter, it was evident the talent gap between the two squads. Clemson's 56-10 win was the first time Clemson scored 50+ points since Oct. 31, 2015, at NC State (56-41 win).

The Tigers were able to rise above and soar past the Eagles Friday night.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

2) For the third time this season, Clemson's balanced offensive attack gained over 200 yards both rushing and passing. Wayne Gallman only needed nine carries to reach 100 yards rushing (109 to be exact). His 59-yard touchdown run was the first Tiger play over 50 yards this season. On the ensuing drive, Deshaun Watson hit Mike Williams for a 50-yard pass in which Williams dove and stretched out entirely to make a spectacular grab. The next drive, tight end Jordan Leggett went 56 yards to paydirt, giving Clemson three consecutive drives of 50+ yard plays after having zero such plays in the five previous games. It's safe to say the Tiger offense is gaining momentum.

3) BC's offense is abysmal, that much is clear. But Clemson's defense was able to get pressure with little blitzing. Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins and a host of other D-linemen ravaged the Eagle backfield all night. Like last year, Clemson's defense is ahead of the offense. With more depth, however, it appears the trudge toward the end of the season won't be a factor. It was made well known in 2015 that the defensive Tigers were worn down come season's end. This unit appears to be picking up steam with six regular season games to go.

4) Statistically speaking: Clemson has now won 44 straight games against unranked opponents. ... The Tigers are 6-0 for the fourth time in the last six years. Clemson had been 6-0 only four times in the previous 78 seasons. ... CU is 77-0-1 when gaining 200 yards passing and rushing. ... Watson is 24-2 as a starter. One of the losses came to Georgia Tech in 2014 when he was injured in the first quarter and didn't return. The other is to Alabama in last season's National Championship Game. ... Gallman has 15 career games with over 100 yards rushing. That ties a Clemson record with Raymond Priester. ... Deon Cain had two more TD receptions, the second consecutive game he's hauled in two scores. He leads the team with six touchdown catches.

5) The Red River Showdown was once called the Red River Shootout. While the name won't change back, the game itself turned into a shootout. Oklahoma's offense had little trouble solving Charlie Strong's defense, gaining 672 yards in the 45-40 win. Samaje Perine bulldozed his way to 214 yards and two scores, while receiver Dede Westbrook had 10 catches for 232 yards - a Sooner record - and three touchdowns. The trouble for the Crimson and Cream came on defense. Longhorn freshman quarterback Shane Buechele threw for 245 yards and three TDs. OU couldn't stop D'Onta Foreman on the ground either, allowing 159 yards and two TDs to the Horns runner.

It was the defense, however, that came up with two crucial stops late in the third and early in the fourth quarters. When OU took a 28-27 lead, the Sooners forced a 3-and-out. Westbrook then hauled in his third score of the game to put the Sooners on top 35-27. Another 3-and-out gave OU the ball back and again they scored for what ultimately proved to be too much for Texas to overcome.

With TCU and Texas behind them, OU has a clear shot at the Big 12 title. Kansas State, Baylor and Oklahoma State must visit Norman. Oklahoma travels to West Virginia late in the year, but the conference title may be wrapped up before then.

6) No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 9 Tennessee produced a classic. It seems that most games the Vols are involved in these days turn out to be classics. The Aggies led 28-7 early in the third quarter, and 35-21 late in the fourth. But don't count out Big Orange. Tennessee scored twice in the final three minutes to send the game to overtime. Both kicked field goals in the first frame, but Texas A&M prevailed 45-38 after scoring and then intercepting Josh Dobbs. The next two weeks see both teams facing No. 1 Alabama - Tennessee on Oct. 15 at home; Texas A&M on Oct. 22 at Bama.

7) Saturday Stunners: No. 6 Houston was the second Top 10 team to go down. The Cougs lost on the road to Navy 46-40. Houston's dream of crashing the Playoff party ended in Annapolis. ... No. 10 Miami became the third Top 10 team to fall, as the Canes dropped their seventh straight to No. 23 Florida State when the Noles blocked a potential game-tying extra point. ... Other Top 25 teams to go down were: No. 17 North Carolina getting blown away in Hurricane Matthew by No. 25 Virginia Tech, 34-3; No. 21 Colorado lost 21-17 at USC; No. 16 Arkansas lost big to No. 1 Alabama (not surprising here); And Washington State drop-kicked No. 15 Stanford on The Farm, 42-16.

8) Notre Dame is off to its worst start (2-4) since 2007 following a 10-3 loss at NC State. The Irish and Wolfpack played amidst the hurricane conditions in Raleigh. The field was more fit for slip-and-slide, but no excuses as both teams dealt with the problematic conditions. The Irish still have Stanford, Miami, Navy, Virginia Tech and USC still on the schedule. It's very possible Notre Dame won't make a bowl game this season.

9) There are now only 11 unbeaten FBS teams remaining. Nine are from Power 5 conferences and two Group of 5 teams.

Power 5
ACC - Clemson
Big 12 - Baylor and West Virginia
Big Ten - Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State
Pac-12 - Washington
SEC - Alabama and Texas A&M

Group of 5
MAC - Western Michigan
MWC - Boise State

Some games to keep an eye on next week - Alabama at Tennessee, Nebraska at Indiana, West Virginia at Texas Tech, and Ohio State at Wisconsin.

10) The schedule finally becomes a little more routine. Six games to go, all on Saturdays, one bye week, and four home games. One at a time. Beat NC State.

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 6

The first weekend of October provided some amazing finishes. On the second weekend of October, rivalries renew. Not your typical end-of-season rivalries, but some rather big ones. There are four matchups between Top 25 teams. Enough of the banter. On with the picks!

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 8-5
Game of the Week Pick: 0-1

Overall: 45-19 (.703 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Friday

No. 3 Clemson at Boston College (Line: Clemson -17)
Friday Night Lights for the No. 3 team in the land. Some things should just never happen. Lots of emotion in this one with the Eagles playing their annual "Red Bandanna Game." The Tigers are coming off the huge win over another bird type last week. The thought here is that Clemson has found its stride and is about to turn it up about 10 notches. Tigers 34-10

Saturday

Texas vs. No. 20 Oklahoma (Line: Oklahoma -11.5) - Red River Showdown at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas
Big Game Bob takes on Charlie "Save My Job Again" Strong. The Burnt Orange and Crimson split at the 50 of the Cotton Bowl is a spectacle. OU will be without several key defenders, including a couple on the defensive line. No way the Longhorns overpower the Sooners again. Right? Ponies and Wagons 38-30

Notre Dame at NC State (Line: NC State -2)
NC State playing a non-conference Power 5 opponent? Say whaaaat? Anyway, Notre Dame lacks a defense. NC State lacks the ability to have anything better than a mediocre season. The line flipped from ND -2.5 to State -2. There could also be potential weather issues from Hurricane Matthew. Take your pick. Irish 28-24

LSU at No. 18 Florida (GAME POSTPONED)
What could have been a 3-2 type ballgame has ended up 0-0 before it ever got started. The question now becomes what happens if either of these teams ends the SEC portion of their schedule 6-1? Hurricane Matthew 1, Gators and Gator Hunters 0

Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State (Line: Ohio State -29)
Look, the Hoosiers upset Michigan State last week, and that might have been worse for them heading into the Horseshoe. Now the Buckeyes can't not take them seriously. Bucks 52-21

No. 25 Virginia Tech at No. 17 North Carolina (Line: North Carolina -1.5)
Some people are high on the Hokies. Some, like me, have looked at their schedule and seen who they've beaten. The Heels are a tested bunch. And that kicker is savage. That's enough for me. Heels 37-28

BYU at Michigan State (Line: Michigan State -6)
Sparty, as mentioned, is sulking from the loss to Indiana. Probably not good for any team coming to East Lansing this week. Taysom Hill hasn't looked the same as he did pre-injury for the Cougars. Sparty 20-14

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Texas A&M (Line: Texas A&M -7)
Things sure are rocky on Rocky Top. Of Tennessee's five wins, four have been after trailing by double-digits and the other was a nine-point win over Ohio (Bobcats, not State) after only leading by two going into the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Aggies should be at full strength and are out to prove a 5-0 start for the third straight year will lead to bigger things. Expect another insane atmosphere at Kyle Field, much like that at Death Valley last week in Clemson. Aggies 41-31

How many more miracles do the Vols have in them?
(Photo courtesy Tennessee Athletics)

No. 21 Colorado at USC (Line: USC -4.5)
Last week, then 1-3 USC was a 10-point favorite over then 4-0 Arizona State. I questioned it. USC answered it. Final score: Trojans 41, Sun Devils 20. So once again, here we are with the sub-.500 Trojans facing a 4-1 and ranked Colorado squad. The Buffs are legit. But what does Vegas know? They can't be right about this. Buffs 34-30

No. 1 Alabama at No. 16 Arkansas (Line: Alabama -14)
Tricky trip for the Tide up to northwest Arkansas.  Bret Bielema's teams have played Bama tough the past few years. This Tide team is different with Hurts receiving the snaps. Tide 31-17

No. 5 Washington at Oregon (Line: Washington -9)
The Huskies haven't beaten Oregon in 12 years. Seriously, George W. Bush was wrapping up his FIRST TERM as President. A loss by the Ducks at home to end this streak and you can fully expect that Phil Knight will be phoning his best bud, Chip Kelly. Huskies 48-24

No. 23 Florida State at No. 10 Miami (Line: Miami -3)
I love this rivalry. It's how it's supposed to be. How much this game also gets affected by Hurricane Matthew could play a huge factor. Miami seems to be on the path back to glory, but hasn't played a worthy opponent yet. Don't fault the Canes for that, though. They've just beaten everyone on their schedule. However, they were out-gained by Georgia Tech and only defeated the Jackets by 14, a margin solidified by two defensive touchdowns. Take those away and Miami's offense tied GT's 21-21. On the flip side, this game is make or break for the Noles. A loss dooms the season (three losses before mid-October). A win gets FSU back on track for a decent bowl. Canes 23-17

Washington State at No. 15 Stanford (Line: Stanford -7.5)
How do the Trees react to being smoked by Washington last week? And did you see the Cougs wallop Oregon 51-33, beating the Ducks for the second straight season? Not real sure about the spread in this one. I like the upset! Cougs 41-35

-BtW

The Morning After... An Instant Classic!

1) What a time to be a Tiger! And what a game last night between two heavyweights. Before the game, Dabo Swinney said the contest would come down to defense. He was right. In a back-and-forth affair that produced over 1,000 yards of offense between the teams, Clemson's defense came up with a critical stop to earn the win.

5-0

🐅 What a time to be a Tiger 🐾 pic.twitter.com/TDX41kQUFo

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) October 2, 2016

2) Offensively, Clemson was a mess. Clemson had five turnovers - three INTs, two fumbles. Yet, the Tigers still put up 507 yards and scored 42 points. That's called resolve. That's called overcoming adversity. That's called having the will to win. Dabo has instilled a winning culture at Clemson. For all the errant throws Watson made, for the lack of ball security inside the red zone, and for the predictable playcalling, Clemson got done what it needed to when it needed to.

Deon Cain provided an early spark for the Tigers with two long TD catches in the second quarter.
(Photo courtesy The State)

3) For three drives, Clemson's defense was dominant. They set the tone, as did the incredible fans who made Death Valley the best it's ever been. Lamar Jackson was rattled. The Cardinal offensive line looked confused. It was the perfect start. Except the offense didn't do its job and eventually Bobby Petrino, the offensive genius that he is, solved the Tiger D. All that said, it was Clemson's offense that put the defense in horrible situations. Momentum shifted when Watson was picked early in the second half. It gave Louisville life and the Cards went on a 26-0 run, partly because Jackson is a freak of nature and partly because the Clemson offense couldn't stay on the field. I don't like giving up 36 points and 568 yards, but I don't fully blame the defense for it. When they needed the stops, they came up with two huge ones. One forced a punt so Clemson could take the lead, one secured the win.

4) Statistically speaking: Clemson now owns the nation's current longest active home winning streak at 19 games ... The win was the first in program history at home between two top-5 teams ... Dabo Swinney is 10-5 against top-10 opponents. Only three of the 10 wins have been at home ... CU is 56-1 in its last 57 games when leading going into the fourth quarter (CU led 28-26 going into the 4th last night), is 76-0-1 when posting at least 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing, and 87-1-1 when gaining over 500 yards of offense. The only loss came in last season's National Championship Game ... Deshaun Watson has thrown 22 interceptions in his career. Six of them have come against Louisville. Despite that, Watson is 3-0 against the Cards ... Underutilized tight end Jordan Leggett has now caught TD passes in two straight games after having just one catch through the first three games. Leggett's TD was the 13th of his career, setting a new Clemson record for TEs ... Deon Cain was a big factor with four catches for 98 yards and two long touchdowns ... Clemson is 19-1 since the start of the 2015 season.

5) The Oklahoma Sooners first of back-to-back trips to the DFW metroplex ended with a much-needed win. OU squeaked out a 52-46 victory over TCU in a game that saw three massive scoring runs. TCU jumped out to a 21-7 lead after one quarter; OU then went on a 42-3 run over the next two periods to take a 49-24 lead going into the fourth; TCU stormed back with 22 unanswered to make it a three-point game before the Sooners iced it late. Oklahoma stuffed the Horned Frogs run game, allowing just 65 yards, but the air attack by Kenny Hill and Co. torched the Sooners secondary to the tune of 449 yards and five TDs. Not a good look for a defense still yet to face Texas (next week), Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma State.

Michigan's Jourdan Lewis somehow pulled this in
for a game-winning interception.
(Photo courtesy AP)

6) Saturday produced more instant classics. It began with Baylor needing a last minute field goal to knock off Iowa State 45-42. The switch was flipped after that. ... North Carolina led 21-0 at Florida State, saw the Noles fight back to take a 35-34 lead with 23 seconds to go thanks to a blocked UNC extra point. A pass interference penalty allowed the Heels to attempt a 54-yard field goal to win it. And they did, 37-35. ... Tennessee came back from 17 down to take a 28-24 lead over Georgia. The Dawgs scored with 10 seconds to go on a long pass down the sideline to go up 31-28. Two penalties, a solid kickoff return and a crazy Hail Mary the Vols hauled in gave UT the 34-31 win in Athens. ... Michigan and Wisconsin produced a classic Big Ten battle, with the Wolverines coming out on top 14-7 thanks to the interception you see pictured. ... Indiana stunned Michigan State 24-21 in overtime after some #CollegeKickers madness. Cal stopped Utah at the goalline not once, not twice, but SEVEN times at the end of the game to emerge 28-23 victory. ... Oh, and in case you missed Friday night, BYU knocked off Toledo 55-53 on a last-second field goal in a wild Friday affair that saw color commentator Mack Brown leave the booth to catch a flight out of Salt Lake City.

WHEW!

7) Welcome to playoff football in the regular season. The ACC Atlantic Division is now Clemson's to lose. The Tigers would have to lose twice for anyone to have a shot down the stretch. Clemson is 19-4 against its remaining division foes over the last five years with three of those losses coming to FSU. At the top of the Coastal Division sits undefeated Miami along with unbeaten in conference North Carolina and Virginia Tech - also Virginia, but the Hoos won't be in contention long. North Carolina passed one test, beating the Noles on the road. Now the Heels have back-to-back games against the Hokies (at home) and Canes (in Miami). The Canes host Florida State this coming weekend, UNC the next, then travel to Virginia Tech for a Thursday night showdown in Blacksburg. VT aforementioned travels to UNC this week, then goes to Syracuse before the Thursday affair with Miami. By morning October 21, we will either know the Coastal favorite or we'll shift what was supposed to be the third-party tiebreaker for the Atlantic over to the Coastal.

8) Now that the calendar has flipped to October, we can begin to discuss playoff contenders. As mentioned above, there are still plenty of games to play that will decide all of this for us. I will have another post on this later this week. For now, here are a few contenders for the CFB Playoff from each conference (mostly, this means they are undefeated and/or have a chance to strengthen their résumés).

*Teams listed by conference and in order of greatest chance to reach Playoff
AAC - Houston
ACC - Clemson, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina
Big 12 - Baylor, West Virginia
Big Ten - Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, Maryland
Pac-12 - Washington, Colorado
SEC - Alabama, Tennessee, Texas A&M

9) Quick hitters: Colorado keeps on winning and its lone loss at Michigan isn't all that horrible, considering it held a 24-7 lead and the Buffs QB was hurt. CU has a huge Pac-12 South matchup at USC Saturday. ...  Staying in the PAC-12, the Oregon Ducks are 2-3 and are seeing bowl eligibility becoming nearly impossible. Oregon lost 51-33 at Washington State and still has Stanford and Washington on the schedule. ... Tennessee has firm control on the SEC East, while Texas A&M is the top SEC West opponent for Alabama. However, the Tide has to go to Arkansas this weekend. Bama has struggled with the Hogs since Bret Bielema has been at the helm. ... LSU has new life, thanks to Coach O. Ed Orgeron and LSU put up over 600 yards of offense against Mizzou. Might be too late to climb back into the picture, but good for the Bayou Bengals.

10) Prototypical letdown game coming up for the Tigers. A short week. On the road. Against a team that gives Clemson fits. After a huge emotionally-charged win. No excuses. Beat Boston College.

-BtW

The Morning After... A win on the Plains!

Well, that was quite the way to open the college football season. Every Power 5 conference suffered an inexplicable upset. Two preseason top five teams fell, the first time that's happened on opening weekend in 44 years. There was a kick six, a few overtime games, one that lasted until 4:30 AM EDT, and lots to discuss. Let's get to it!

Hunter Renforw makes a spectacular catch for a TD
in Clemson's 19-13 win at Auburn.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

1) When your offense is hyped up all offseason and sputters to produce 19 points, you blame it on the fact that you opened the season in a tough road environment and still have some kinks to work out. That's just shy of what happened with No. 2 Clemson Saturday night on the Plains at Auburn. Deshaun Watson never looked like the part of a Heisman candidate, but was able to find star receiver Mike Williams nine times for 174 yards. Watson also threw a beauty of a pass to Hunter Renfrow for his only TD toss of the night. And all criticism aside, he did notch 248 yards through the air and made a few nice plays with his feet, avoiding being sacked all game. There's much room for improvement, but you have to think this offense with all the weapons will figure it out.

2) When your defense is questioned all offseason after losing eight starters to the NFL for the second straight year, you turn to Brent Venables and go next man up. Man, what a performance on that side of the ball. Facing a carousel of Auburn quarterbacks and having the Wing-T thrown at them at last minute, the Clemson defense looked every bit the part of the top 10 defenses of the past two seasons. The line played with reckless abandon, and until Clemson went into prevent mode late, the back seven clamped down on Auburn's air attack. All-in-all, Clemson held Auburn to 87 rushing yards and 262 total. Clemson has led the country in tackles for loss each of the last two seasons and got 2016 started off with 13 TFLs. Any more questions?

Clemson DC Brent Venables says he got a tip Auburn's offense might have some shenanigans. So Thursday, he Googled, "How to Stop the Wing-T."

— Aaron Brenner (@Aaron_Brenner) September 4, 2016

3) If you had one more, Jadar Johnson answered the question of who is going to step up in the secondary. Cordrea Tankersley had a nice game, but Johnson took the game in his own hands. He climbed the ladder for an interception inside the 10-yard line early in the game. Then, he knocked away not one, but two Auburn Hail Mary attempts in the waning seconds. Big plays when the ACC Tigers needed them most.

4) In Dabo we trust, I know, but with such a veteran team, offensively speaking, how can you allow your star running back to run out of bounds on third down with 45 seconds to go? And after that, how do you not kick a field goal to put your team up by nine? I know the kicking game seems to have a big question mark after missing yet another PAT, but your kicker made two field goals - a 30- and 40-yarder - earlier in the game.

5) I believe my brother said it best last night: "Offense seems like it has too many plays to choose from and only one ball." That's often the case when there's so much returning. Tight end Jordan Leggett was MIA and Artavis Scott had three catches for 30 yards. When Watson needed a play, he made a back-shoulder throw to Williams. It felt like that was the only sure-fire play Clemson knew would work. Wayne Gallman had 123 yards on the ground on 30 carries. There just wasn't enough push up front to force Auburn into panic mode.

5B) By the way, I told a good friend of mine earlier this week that I fully expected Clemson to use some type of big boy package on the goal line and would include Dexter Lawrence a la William "The Refrigerator" Perry. Add in Christian Wilkins and you have 650 pounds of freaks of nature blocking for Wayne Gallman. Needless to say, Gallman waltzed into the end zone untouched. More of that, please!

Defense, #ReturnOf7 highlight Clemson's season opening win at Auburn. #ALLIN

MORE --> https://t.co/Bry1WNT4Yf pic.twitter.com/9kyQ3CtgC2

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) September 4, 2016

6) Moving on to other action, I was a bit surprised to see Oklahoma out-classed by Houston. The Sooners have talked a big offseason about getting a taste of the College Football Playoff and wanting to finish the job, but didn't appear to take their game to NRG Stadium. We saw that early from OU last season when the Sooners struggled to pull out a win at Tennessee and then were stuffed by Texas. Maybe Bob Stoops can right the ship, once again, but with Ohio State coming to Norman in two weeks, it'll have to be quick.

7) Alabama has a knack for being able to transition from one season to the next. USC is not a good team right now. The media tried to hype the Trojans as this top 20 club, but it was all smoke and mirrors. However, the Tide rolled in big fashion. A completely new backfield including a true freshman quarterback in Jalen Hurts proved once again that the title will go through T-Town. In fact, Alabama is the only team to have proven its preseason ranking worthy. There were some huge blowouts by other top 10 teams, but the level of competition gives us pause.

8) About those upsets... ACC - Virginia was routed by FCS Richmond. Big 12 - Northern Iowa rallied to take down Iowa State. Big Ten - Northwestern fell to Western Michigan. Pac-12 - Another FCS take down as Eastern Washington dropped Washington State. SEC - South Alabama stunned Mississippi State when the Bulldogs missed a 28-yard field goal in the final seconds; Kentucky was run over by Southern Miss.

9) Extra points: It's Week 1, so step back and relax. There's a lot of football to be played. In fact, there are still two HUGE games this weekend - Notre Dame at Texas tonight, FSU-Ole Miss Monday. In 2015, Stanford scored six points in a loss to Northwestern in Week 1, then reeled off 12 wins over its next 13 games, including blowing out Iowa in the Rose Bowl and producing a Heisman runner-up. Only one team ended the regular season undefeated - Clemson - so one loss now means very little come December. ... Wisconsin gave the Big Ten a chance to puff its collective chest out against the SEC by taking down LSU at Lambeau Field. The Badgers played with a lot of heart and kept Leonard Fournette out of the end zone. ... The ACC-SEC showdowns produced a win for each side - Clemson holding on at Auburn, and Georgia swarming past North Carolina. The weekend bragging rights will come down to Labor Day night when Ole Miss and Florida State battle in Orlando. ... Teams to watch other than the obvious: Louisville, Houston, Washington, Georgia. ... It is utterly ludicrous to say a conference is already out of Playoff contention after Week 1. Please don't listen to the pundits about how the Pac-12 is done or the Big 12 is done. I go back to my first Extra Point: There's a lot of football to be played.

10) A win in SEC territory to open the season (which happens to be the first time that's happened since 1903!) will only bolster this team's résumé come November and December. It'll be good to see the Tigers run down The Hill again Saturday. All In. Beat Troy.

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 1

Welcome back, College Football. It's so good to see you again!

Cal knocked off Hawai'i 51-31 in Australia to get the season started a week ago. There were more teams in action last night as Tennessee thwarted an Appalachian State upset with a come-from-behind overtime win, South Carolina stunned Vanderbilt, and Minnesota topped Oregon State in a Big Ten/Pac-12 battle, among other games Thursday.

For those new to the blog, every Friday will be my #PTF, or Prediction Time Friday. On occasion, I'll make picks a day early with some intriguing Thursday night games (i.e. - Sept. 22 when Clemson visits Georgia Tech), but the opening weekend to 2016 is all about Friday through Monday.

I had a decent record picking games in 2015, but I'm looking to build on that this season. With very little to go off of, and plenty of exciting matchups, it will be tough to get off to a good start. But I'll give it my best! Here's the run down on what's being hailed as the best opening weekend in college football ever.

2015 BENched PTF Record (includes bowl picks): 87-38 (.696 win %)

*Rankings below are the AP Top 25

Friday

Kansas State at No. 8 Stanford (Line: Stanford -14.5)
Bill Snyder's Wildcats head to NoCal to open the season. The trip sounds great minus the whole having to deal with Christian McCaffrey thing. Although the Cardinal will be breaking in a new quarterback, the all-purpose king of college football McCaffrey will lead Stanford to a big win.
Stanford 41, Kansas State 13

Colorado State vs. Colorado (Line: Colorado -8.5) - at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo.
Rocky Mountain Showdown
Nothing like an in-state rivalry to get the season started. The upstart Buffaloes may be a surprise team in college football this year. The two have alternated wins for five years, with Colorado winning a 27-24 overtime thriller in 2015. CSU may be in the running for a Big 12 expansion spot, but don't think they are quite ready for Power 5 football.
Colorado 27, Colorado State 14

Saturday

Georgia Tech vs. Boston College (Line: Georgia Tech -3) - at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland
Set your alarm clocks and grab a pint of Guinness! It'll be top o' the morning stateside when the Yellow Jackets and Eagles kickoff from Ireland (7:30 am EDT). This is one of the only conference tilts on the schedule in Week 1. Georgia Tech is looking to rebound from a dismal 3-9 season and should do so as it returns dynamic quarterback Justin Thomas. BC is simply searching for an ACC win after going 0-8 in 2015. We know BC's defense will be stout, but can Kentucky transfer Patrick Towles provide a spark to the Eagles' offense?
Georgia Tech 30, Boston College 17

No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Houston (Line: Oklahoma -11.5) - at NRG Stadium in Houston
Coming off a New Year's Six bowl victory in the Peach Bowl against Florida State to cap a 13-win season, the Houston Cougars are looking to solidify themselves among college football's top programs in 2016. Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. returns as one of the premier playmakers to lead UH's offense. On the flip side, the Sooners return a loaded backfield with Baker Mayfield, Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. There might not be a better offensive backfield trio in the country. Oklahoma got a taste of the CFB Playoff last season and is hungry to get back.
Oklahoma 44, Houston 34

No. 5 LSU vs. Wisconsin (Line: LSU -11) - at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc.
Will Leonard Fournette do the Lambeau Leap? Not if Les Miles has anything to do with it. The Hat laid down the law on the touchdown celebration, which is sad really. LSU is going to score a lot of touchdowns.
LSU 35, Wisconsin 17

No. 16 UCLA at Texas A&M (Line: Texas A&M -3)
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen made waves earlier this week when asked about the crowd noise at Kyle Field. Rosen was asked about playing in front of 100,000 people and he simply said after 50,000 the noise is all the same. Don't expect the farmers to greet the "Rosen One" with their usual "Howdy!" This game was already interesting as UCLA is a Pac-12 South favorite and the Aggies will get their first glimpse of OU transfer Trevor Knight behind center. It will be hot, humid and extremely loud in College Station.
Texas A&M 31, UCLA 27

Mitch Trubisky leads North Carolina into the Bulldogs' backyard
for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against Georgia.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

No. 18 Georgia vs. No 22 North Carolina (Line: Georgia -2.5) - at Georgia Dome in Atlanta
Heralded junior QB Mitch Trubisky gets his first start in a Tar Heel uniform. All he did in a secondary role last season was complete 40-of-47 passes (85.1%) for 555 yards and six touchdowns with no picks. All the playmakers are back for the Heels, but it won't be the offense that is the problem. Remember the last time out for the UNC defense - Baylor rushed for 645 yards in the bowl game. Nick Chubb should be licking his chops. The Georgia Dome will be rocking as the Bulldogs make the hour trip from Athens, along with their faithful who filled up Sanford Stadium to the tune of 93,000 for the Red and Black Spring Game. New top Dawg Kirby Smart named Greyson Lambert his starting signal-caller. Buckle up for this one. It has potential to be the best game of the weekend.
Georgia 38, North Carolina 37

No. 20 USC vs. No. 1 Alabama (Line: Alabama -11.5) - at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
The history of - and between - these two schools should not be overlooked. USC thumped Alabama 42-21 in Tuscaloosa in 1970. Then-head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant had not recruited black athletes, whereas the Trojans were integrated and running back Sam Cunningham tore up the Tide defense. Bryant changed his ways the next season. A brief history lesson there, but Saturday night in Arlington won't be very historical. Nick Saban and the reigning champion Crimson Tide start an entirely new offensive backfield, but may have the best defense in football once again. This will be the fifth season Saban begins the year with a first-year starting quarterback. The previous four resulted in a combined 52-4 record with three national titles. I can't see this one being close.
Alabama 42, USC 14

No. 2 Clemson at Auburn (Line: Clemson -7.5)
Probably the nation's most talked about team this offseason was the Clemson Tigers. Offensively, it's been discussed ad nauseam that the ACC Tigers return virtually everyone including Heisman front-runner Deshaun Watson. There are some question marks on defense, but most think this team will develop quickly and make another run at the Playoff. Auburn, however, is soul searching after back-to-back sub-par seasons by SEC standards. Gus Malzahn enters on the hot seat. A big home loss to open the season could turn up the flames quickly.
Clemson 44, Auburn 24

BYU vs. Arizona (Line: BYU -1) - at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Heartbreak hit Tucson this summer when Arizona lost a senior offensive lineman who was found dead one morning. Certainly his teammates will be playing with heavy hearts, and BENched would like to send its condolences to the Wildcat Family. On the field, we know Rich Rod's offense will be fast and BYU will see what it can get out of Taysom Hill. The oft-injured, sixth-year quarterback has been brilliant in his career when he's remained healthy. Should be a nice night-cap to the full day of games, if you can stay up late for it.
BYU 34, Arizona 31

Sunday

No. 10 Notre Dame at Texas (Line: Notre Dame -3.5)
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly seemingly will implement a two-quarterback system with DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire splitting duties. The Irish hope someone steps up to provide some consistency. At Texas, Charlie Strong joins Malzahn as a coach on the hot seat to start the year. Another sub-.500 record and Strong will be searching for a new job. Will his job security lie in the hands of a true freshman quarterback in Shane Buechele? More than likely, yes. He's sort of Colt McCoy 2.0. But how much of Colt and not Case McCoy he is remains to be seen. Don't be surprised if the Horns pull off the upset.
Notre Dame 27, Texas 21

Monday

No. 11 Ole Miss vs. No. 4 Florida State (Line: Florida State -4.5) - at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
Labor Day Night closes out the weekend with a bang. Ole Miss is in all kinds of hot water with the NCAA, something Florida State knows a little bit about. Chad Kelly proclaimed himself as the best quarterback in college football at SEC Media Days. The Rebels will need someone to step up on offense because his trusty go-to receiver Laquon Treadwell is in the NFL and Ole Miss lost the majority of its offensive line. Kelly could be running for his life against a talented FSU front. The Noles have a redshirt freshman quarterback - not unlike 2013 - as Deandre Francois has been named the starter. Luckily for Francois, he has one of the nation's best backs to hand the ball of to in Dalvin Cook. Could be wrong here, but the belief is the Rebels' time has passed.
Florida State 28, Ole Miss 24

-BtW

The Morning After... A Championship!

1) Man, what a time to be a Tiger! Clemson completed an undefeated season 13-0, winning 13 games for the first time in school history. Dabo Swinney won the ACC Championship for the second time in five years (2011) and the win came during his 100th game as a Clemson head coach. He has a 74-26 record. The Tigers will head to the Playoff as the No. 1 team in the nation and the ONLY undefeated team in college football. Clemson has a Heisman hopeful, a young and extremely talented team, a top 10 defense, wins over four teams with 10 wins or more - three of which are in the latest Top 10 of the Playoff Rankings - and another top 10-15 recruiting class on the horizon. Clemson is making history right before our eyes. What a time to be a Tiger, indeed.

2) I'll get right to the controversial call and nip it in the bud. I've seen all kinds of explanations as to why the referee called offsides. "The players head was crossing the 35-yard-line when the ball was kicked." "They lined up a player outside the 9-yard-hash mark when the whistle was blown to put the ball in play." Look, I don't know all the rules regarding kickoffs. All I know is the call on the field happened and Clemson was the beneficiary of it. The flag came out immediately, not after UNC recovered the ball. The ref either saw, or thought he saw something. Was it wrong? Probably. Does it mean the Tar Heels would have gone down the field, scored, converted a two-point conversion, taken the game to overtime and won? I don't know.

What I do know is this...

3) Clemson had 608 yards of offense, UNC had 382. Clemson ran 98 plays, UNC ran 67. First downs: Clem-33, UNC-21. Time of possession: Clem-38:56, UNC 21:04. Third down conversions: Clem-9 of 18 (50%), UNC-5 of 14 (37%). Rushing yards: Clem-319, UNC 142. Clemson had two 100-yard rushers, UNC had zero (leading rusher Elijah Hood 81 yards). Clemson had two sacks and eight QB hurries, UNC had zero sacks and one QB hurry.

My point is, Clemson dominated the game. The scoreboard reflects an 8-point win, but the Tigers were the better team on the field. They had the better quarterback, running back, offensive line, defensive line, wide receivers ... When Clemson stopped making stupid mistakes and stopped beating itself in the second half, it pulled away. Clemson led 35-16, 42-23, and 45-30 until the final two-minutes of the game. (More on this in a moment). Over the course of a season, teams get lucky bounces and breaks, or unlucky in some cases. It doesn't change an outcome. Clemson has been on the wrong side of these calls plenty of times in the past. It's about damn time some of them go our way.

Terrible call in ACC champ game on the onside kick, but my sympathy only goes so far for a team that allowed 600 yards.

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) December 6, 2015

4) Time and time again, Clemson has built a big lead and let it slip away late. Remember being up 21-3 on Notre Dame entering the fourth quarter, only to win 24-22? Remember a 31-17 lead at Syracuse entering the fourth, only to have the game in single digits and win by 10? Remember the 28-10 lead evaporated against South Carolina down to 28-25, up by 37-25, to a final of 37-32...against a three-win team? Other cases at Louisville and NC State come to mind. And then last night.

The takeaway: Yes, Clemson has given up big leads late, but the Tigers have found ways to win.

Deshaun Watson does the "Heisman pose" with the ACC Championship Football Trophy.
Watson was named the championship game's MVP.
(Photo courtesy Anderson Independent Mail)

5) What else can you say about Deshaun Watson? The sophomore - I REPEAT, HE'S A SOPHOMORE! - is the best quarterback in the country. In a championship setting against a defense all the pundits said would give the Tigers fits, Watson accounted for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing), threw for 289 yards, ran for another 131, led the offense to 608 yards - a ninth straight game of over 500 yards. He set an ACC Championship Game record for total yards. He has been in control of this offense since Day 1 and there is no one else I'd want leading my team.

Yards/touch this season: McCaffrey: 8.56 Cook: 8.05 Watson: 7.64 Henry: 5.97 (Watson = 7.92 w/o sacks)

— David Hale (@DavidHaleESPN) December 6, 2015

6) Speaking of the Heisman, it looks like it will be Watson, Alabama's Derrick Henry, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, and maybe Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield. The thing that hurt Mayfield (and the Sooners in the Playoff Committee's minds for that matter) was OU didn't play Saturday. Watson, Henry and McCaffrey were on full display Saturday and all three made a statement to the voters. McCaffrey had over 460 all-purpose yards and ran, passed and caught a TD in the Cardinal's 41-22 Pac-12 title game win. Henry was a workhorse for Bama, getting 44 carries, but only gaining 189 yards and scoring one TD, as the Tide rolled Florida 29-15. Any of the four could win the Heisman and there'd be little controversy, but my vote goes to ... Watson, duh!

vs Florida this year... Henry: 44-189-1 Fournette: 31-180-2 Cook: 26-183-2

— David Hale (@DavidHaleESPN) December 6, 2015

7) Alabama relied on Henry to wear down Florida, as he has done with many other opponents all season. However, Alabama has yet to play a complete team on its schedule, perhaps outside of Ole Miss ... which the Tide lost. Alabama is SEC Champions, but this is a really down year for the SEC. Clemson has three wins over teams currently in the Playoff Top 10. Alabama has three wins over teams in the current Top 25 total. Oklahoma has four Top 25 wins. Michigan State has four. I question the Committee keeping Bama second. I'll hang up and listen.

8) Michigan State now has three last-minute wins over Top 20 opponents, plus a three-point win over Oregon. The Spartans deserve to be in the Top 4, that much is true. But, there is no way you can tell me MSU should be any higher than fourth.

9) On that note, here's how I would rank the Top 4 today - 1) Clemson 2) Oklahoma 3) Alabama 4) Michigan State. I'm guessing it won't look like this. Bama will likely be second and because of some bogus "we don't want Alabama to play in the Cotton Bowl against OU" conspiracy, I'm guessing Michigan State will be third and they'll send OU to Miami against Clemson. Those who don't know - my wife is an OU grad. We've already been through this a season ago when the Tigers and Sooners squared off in the Russell Athletic Bowl. It's no fun.

10) 13-0. ACC Champs. Undisputed No. 1 in the country. 16 straight wins. Playoff Bound. CU in Miami!

Current Mood: 🏆💍 🐅 What a time to be a Tiger! 🐾 pic.twitter.com/ARezdNziAN

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 6, 2015

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Championship Week

Are we really at the final weekend of the season? Man, where did this fall go? Four of the Power 5 conferences host their championship games this weekend, while the other (Big 12) has already had its title decided. There's a lot on the line this weekend for multiple teams. How will it shake out and who after the weekend is headed to the College Football Playoff?

Last week's record: 12-7

Overall: 69-29 (.704 win %)
*Rankings below are CFB Playoff Committee rankings

Friday
MAC - Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois - At Detroit (Line: Bowling Green -12)
One last round of #MACtion. Northern Illinois backed its way into the title game after losing at Ohio to close the season then saw Toledo fall. Bowling Green is tied for fourth in the country at 44 points per game. There will probably be a lot of points scored ... it is #MACtion after all. The Falcons will score more. Bowling Green 47, Northern Illinois 30

Saturday
AAC - No. 22 Temple at No. 19 Houston (Line: Houston -6)
Tom Herman agreed to remain Houston's head coach and that alone is enough reason to believe the Cougars will roll in this one. Temple hasn't been the same since its loss to Notre Dame. The Owls are still a very good team, but they must travel for this one. Houston steamrolled past Navy last week and will carry that momentum into this one on its way to a New Year's Six Bowl. Houston 37, Temple 27

Conference USA - Southern Miss at Western Kentucky (Line: Western Kentucky -7.5)
Jeff Brohm has been another candidate for several head coach openings, but the Hilltoppers' coach said he's committed to WKU. Both teams missed out on chances to pull the upset against Power 5 teams earlier in the year. Aside from Southern Miss' flop at Marshall, both teams have dominated conference play. It could be another shootout. Western Kentucky 52, Southern Miss 49

SEC - No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 18 Florida - At Atlanta (Line: Alabama -18)
When Alabama and Florida get together for the SEC Championship Game, it just feels right. The Tide and Gators have met eight times with the conference crown on the line. The only real intrigue in this one is whether Florida's defense can slow down Derrick Henry for four quarters. No one has been able to do so, yet. But none of the defenses Alabama has faced compare to the Gators. Florida's inept offense won't be able to do much against Bama's D. This one should be over early. Alabama 35, Florida 7

Mountain West - Air Force at San Diego State (Line: San Diego State -6.5)
It's great to see one of the Service Academies with a chance to shine on a big stage. Troy Calhoun and the Falcons head west where the upstart Aztecs. SDSU reeled off eight straight wins to close out the regular season. Air Force won five in a row before losing at New Mexico last Saturday. Air Force's option offense will cause problems for San Diego State, which hasn't seen anything like it all season. Should be a good game that many will miss due to the final three games of the day. Air Force 34, San Diego State 31

Pac-12 - No. 7 Stanford vs. No. 20 USC - At Santa Clara (Line: Stanford -4.5)
Stanford defeated USC way back in September, 41-31, and the two teams went in opposite directions for a while. The Cardinal won their next six and have an outside shot at a Playoff berth. The Trojans lost two of their next three and found themselves with an interim coach (Clay Helton), who has now had the interim tag removed. Southern Cal clawed back to win the Pac-12 South over rival UCLA last week and not many are giving them a chance in Stanford's back yard. Christian McCaffrey is the best player on the field and that will be the difference. Stanford 28, USC 24

Big Ten - No. 4 Iowa vs. No. 5 Michigan State - At Indianapolis (Line: Michigan State -3.5)
A de facto play-in game for the College Football Playoff, the Big Ten Championship Game has plenty of intrigue. Can Iowa stay undefeated, or will Michigan State punch its ticket to the Playoff? Will the winner look impressive enough to move into the No. 3 spot. Spartan QB Connor Cook is the reason MSU is here and the senior leader looks to claim his second Big Ten Championship. Although the Hawkeyes are undefeated, they haven't been tested like the Spartans have. Michigan State 31, Iowa 17

Dabo Swinney can lead Clemson to an ACC title
and a Playoff berth with a win against North Carolina.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

ACC - No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 10 North Carolina - At Charlotte (Line: Clemson -5)
Perhaps the game of the weekend goes to the ACC. All the questions and build-up to this one have the Playoff Committee on edge. A Clemson win and they can rest easy. A Tar Heel win and the Playoff unveiling set for noon Sunday may have to be pushed back several hours - or days - to allow the Committee enough time to decipher the Top 4. The two quarterbacks in this game have received all the spotlight, and rightfully so. Clemson's Deshaun Watson is up for Heisman consideration and Marquise Williams has been nothing short of spectacular for 11 straight games for the Heels. But the defenses will be the key and that's where the Tigers have the advantage. UNC hasn't seen a defense like Clemson's all season. The Tigers have a few bumps and bruises, but they'll be ready to slow down the Tar Heel attack. Should be a dandy and might turn into a shootout. Clemson 41, North Carolina 34

-BtW

Rapid Reax: CFB Playoff Rankings - Week 5

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers top the College Football
Playoff Rankings for the fifth straight week.
(Photo courtesy The AP)

Not much changed at the top, as all the schools in the top five won over the weekend. Clemson holds onto the No. 1 spot for the fifth straight week. The Tigers have been at the top for all of the weekly rankings this season. Alabama remained No. 2 with Oklahoma and Iowa staying put at 3 and 4.

However, I'm surprised the Committee continues to value Alabama's schedule more than Oklahoma's. In this week's rankings, the Tide have wins over No. 21 LSU and No. 25 Tennessee. The Sooners have wins against No. 11 TCU, No. 12 Baylor, No. 17 Oklahoma State and No. 25 Tennessee.

I realize Oklahoma's loss is bad - very, very bad - and Alabama's loss is to the team currently ranked No. 13. But the Committee has said over and over that they value a team's wins more than the losses. If true, Oklahoma has three wins better than any of Alabama's and two more than the Tide over currently ranked teams. Plus, in the spirit of comparing games against common opponents, Oklahoma has a seven-point road win at Tennessee, while Alabama has a five-point home win over the Vols.

In my non-expert opinion, Oklahoma has looked much better than Alabama and has better wins more recently to back it up, which includes a 35-point beatdown over rival Oklahoma State (previously ranked No. 11) on the road. I guess Alabama's reputation weighs heavier than actual metrics and resumes.

Beyond the Top 4, Michigan State is fifth, which is irrelevant at this point because the Spartans and Hawkeyes battle for the Big Ten Championship this weekend with the winner all but certain to be in the final Top 4. Whether the winner jumps to the No. 3 spot or higher will be worth keeping an eye on Sunday when the final rankings are released.

Ohio State is sixth, followed by Stanford, Notre Dame, Florida State and North Carolina rounding out the Top 10. Speculation has run rampant as to what the Committee would do with the Tar Heels should they beat No. 1 Clemson in the ACC Championship Game this weekend. The Heels' schedule is one of the weakest in the country, but UNC would have one of the longest win streaks to that point and have arguably the best win of the season - over the top-ranked Tigers.

I'd hate to be a Committee member if that happened. You'd be arguing potential ACC Champ UNC vs. one-loss non-champ Ohio State vs. potential Pac-12 Champ but two-loss Stanford vs. one-loss non-champ Clemson (who the Committee had No. 1 in every poll). You could even throw the Big Ten title game loser - two-loss Michigan State, who beat OSU, or one-loss Iowa - into the debate as well. The guess here is Stanford would get the boost by being a conference champion, but honestly, that's throwing a dart at the wall.

One week left before the final poll. Remember, the final rankings will be released at Noon ET this Sunday.

Here's the CFB Playoff Top 10
1) Clemson
2) Alabama
3) Oklahoma
4) Iowa
5) Michigan State
6) Ohio State
7) Stanford
8) Notre Dame
9) Florida State
10) North Carolina

-BtW

The Ben Ten - Eighth Edition

Editor's Note: The Ben Ten is my attempt to put together the Top 10 teams (plus three) as of right now. Each week, I play the role of solo Playoff Committee member and submit my own ballot.

It was status quo for the Top 4 after a closer-than-expected rivalry weekend. Behind that, multiple changes. Championship Weekend is upon us, so let's see how they stack up at the top before the final rankings are released next week.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are locked in to the top spot again.
(Photo courtesy TigerNet.com)

1) Clemson (12-0)

Previously: 1
Clemson closed out the regular season with a second consecutive win over in-state rival South Carolina. Deshaun Watson was healthy all year and because of that, the Tigers are 12-0 for the first time since 1981. Clemson faces surging North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game Saturday night in Charlotte.

2) Iowa (12-0)

Previously: 2
The Hawkeyes are the only other unbeaten team in the FBS, having secured their 12th win with a 28-20 victory at Nebraska. Iowa has quality wins on its schedule, but not a signature one. That could come against Michigan State in the Big Ten title game this weekend in Indianapolis.

3) Oklahoma (11-1)

Previously: 3
Baker Mayfield has the Sooners offense rolling. Behind the ground attack of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, Oklahoma has reeled off seven impressive wins in a row, the latter three coming against ranked teams Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State - two of which were on the road. Oklahoma is the outright Big 12 champion and awaits the final CFB Playoff Poll to find out its fate.

4) Alabama (11-1)

Previously: 4
Alabama survived its trip to the Plains for the Iron Bowl. The Tide have a wrecking ball at running back in Derrick Henry and he gashed Auburn's defense to the tune of 271 yards on 46 carries. Now, Alabama faces Florida for the SEC championship in Atlanta. The Gators are coming off a 27-2 defeat at home at the hands of Florida State. 

Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Alabama in the Capital One Orange Bowl;  Iowa vs. Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee factors in many variables and does its best to send the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.

5) Michigan State (11-1)
Previously: 7
The Spartans emphatically defeated Penn State, 55-16, to clinch the Big Ten East Division and a matchup with Iowa in Indy. Connor Cook looked healthy over the weekend and that gives MSU a big advantage in the B1G Championship. Michigan State has wins over Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State, and would solidify its place in the Top 4 by knocking off currently undefeated Iowa.

6) North Carolina (11-1)
Previously: 8
Outside of Clemson and Iowa, there's only one team with 10-plus wins in a row ... that'd be North Carolina, which has 11 straight wins. The Tar Heels went up 35-7 in the first quarter over rival NC State on their way to a 45-34 win. UNC finished conference play 8-0 and set up one of the most intriguing championship games of the weekend against No. 1 Clemson. Can the Heels reach the Playoff with a win?

7) Ohio State (11-1)

Previously: 10

After looking offensively challenged against Michigan State, the Buckeyes bounced back and looked most dominant at Michigan in a 42-13 victory. The only question with this team is, where was that all year? Had the Buckeyes been that impressive, there'd be no questioning their ranking - and they might not have fallen to Michigan State. What could have been...

8) Stanford (10-2)
Previously: NR
Kevin Hogan and the Cardinal went blow-for-blow with Notre Dame and got in the last punch to knock off the Irish, 38-36. The win boosted Stanford's chances to reach the Playoff, should there be chaos at the top. In the Pac-12 Championship, Stanford will face four-loss USC, a team it beat way back in September, 41-31.

9) Florida State (10-2)
Previously: NR
Florida State's Dalvin Cook might be the most underrated running back in college. Cook carried the ball 26 times for 183 yards and two scores in helping FSU defeat the Gators in front of the largest crowd ever at The Swamp, 27-2. The Noles await the final poll for their destination - likely a NY6 Bowl.

10) Notre Dame (10-2)

Previously: 5

The Irish claim to fame right now? Two road losses to Top 10 teams by two points each. Notre Dame had its six-game winning streak snapped with a heart-breaking loss at Stanford and now has lost by two points to the Cardinal and Clemson. The problem is, other than a home win against USC, that's about all ND has to crow about. Still, the Irish are in a good position and will probably end up in the Fiesta Bowl

Next three up:

TCU (10-2)
In the cold and driving rain, TCU found a way in double OT to take down Baylor and come away 1-2 in its big November games. The Horned Frogs positioned themselves to grab a top-tier bowl game, but losing star receiver Josh Doctson (for the season) and quarterback Trevone Boykin (missed 1.5 games) ended championship hopes for Gary Patterson's squad.

Baylor (9-2)
Like TCU, the Bears went 1-2 during their three-game swoon against the Big 12's best. And like TCU, it was injuries that did Baylor wrong. Quarterback Seth Russell was sorely missed in losses to OU and TCU. Baylor still has one game to play, a home game against Texas, to try to reach double-digit wins for the fourth time in the last five seasons. It appears the Bears would be headed to the Sugar Bowl, but that is not certain.
 
Oregon (9-3)
The Ducks have to be wondering what this season could've been if Vernon Adams Jr. stayed healthy. Oregon has won six straight since his return to the lineup and the offense looks lethal, almost like when Heisman winner Marcus Mariota led the Ducks. Oregon could land in the Alamo Bowl against one of the Big 12 powers.

Dropped out:
Baylor (6) and Oklahoma State (9)

-BtW

The Ben Ten - Seventh Edition

The Clemson Tigers are one win away from capping
their first undefeated regular season since 1981.
(Photo courtesy The Greenville News)

Editor's Note: The Ben Ten is my attempt to put together the Top 10 teams (plus three) as of right now. Each week, I play the role of solo Playoff Committee member and submit my own ballot.

Two of my Top 4 teams fell this past week - Ohio State and Oklahoma State. Thus, there is shakeup at the top. Clemson continues to hold onto the top spot, but the rest of the Top 4 looks much different than a week ago. Without further ado...

1) Clemson (11-0)

Previously: 1
As mentioned, the Tigers hold onto the No. 1 spot in the Ben Ten. Clemson has been the most complete team all season, hasn't lost, has offensive and defensive balance, and has a Heisman hopeful quarterback. A tricky two weeks are on tap with a road trip to in-state rival South Carolina then the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte against North Carolina. It's simple for the Tigers: Win and they're in.

2) Iowa (11-0)

Previously: 4
The only other unbeaten remaining in major college football is the Iowa Hawkeyes. The schedule has been lacking, as Iowa missed out on the top four teams from the Big Ten East division. But, the Hawkeyes keep winning and if they can get past rival Nebraska and upset the East winner (TBD), they will be in the Playoff.

3) Oklahoma (10-1)

Previously: 6
No one has looked better since mid-October than the Sooners. Baker Mayfield is providing his magical playmaking ability and OU has knocked off its toughest tests. The blemish on the Sooners' record is fading with each big win. TCU gave Oklahoma a scare when Mayfield missed the second half with a head injury, but OU found a way to win. Oklahoma can win the Big 12 with a win in Stillwater against the Cowboys. Expect Bedlam.

4) Alabama (10-1)

Previously: 7
OK, so Alabama passes the so-called eye test. However, the résumé is taking a hit. Alabama has one win over a team in the current AP Top 25. That'd be No. 23 Mississippi State. The Tide have wins over quality teams with three and four losses, but let's not forget the struggles at home with Tennessee and Arkansas. I'm still not a believer that this Alabama team doesn't have any holes. The Iron Bowl is up next and Auburn would love nothing more than to spoil Bama's season.

Playoff projection: Clemson vs. Alabama in the Capital One Orange Bowl;  Iowa vs. Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
*NOTE: The CFB Playoff Committee factors in many variables and does its best to send the No. 1 overall seed to its closest destination. Clemson is geographically closer to Miami, Fla., than to Arlington, Texas.

5) Notre Dame (10-1)

Previously: 5
The Irish are slipping in my view, simply because they haven't been dominant. Notre Dame held off a bad BC team for a three-point win. Notre Dame has one last chance to impress with a trip to Stanford. A win caps an 11-1 season and could propel Notre Dame into the Playoff. Lot of factors at play here.

6) Baylor (9-1)

Previously: 9

Great bounce back win by Baylor to go on the road and knock off Oklahoma State. Even better the Bears were able to do a lot of the damage with their third-string quarterback. Baylor is still in the Big 12 hunt, but now needs to win out against TCU and Texas, and have Oklahoma State take down Oklahoma. Even then, that may not be enough to get the Bears into the Playoff.

7) Michigan State (10-1)
Previously: NR
Huge win by Sparty at Ohio State. When Connor Cook was announced out for the game during pregame, it seemed all hope was lost. But Michigan State played a solid game on both sides and is now in control of the Big Ten East. A win over Penn State sets up a huge chance for MSU to make a case for the Top 4.

8) North Carolina (10-1)
Previously: 10
It wasn't pretty this time, but North Carolina overcame adversity and the emotions of Lane Stadium to defeat Virginia Tech in Frank Beamer's final home game. The Hokies gave the Heels their best shot. UNC absorbed the punches and came out with an overtime win to clinch a spot in the ACC title game. A trip to in-state rival NC State is next, followed by a surprisingly good matchup with Clemson.

9) Oklahoma State (10-1)
Previously: 3
The early deficits finally caught up with Oklahoma State. Although OSU spotted Baylor 14 points and came right back to tie the game, it was clear the Bears were not going to lie down in Stillwater. A win over OU in Bedlam could ease the sting of that loss, but it would leave the Pokes asking "what if?"

10) Ohio State (10-1)

Previously: 2

So this is the real Ohio State, huh? Or is it? The Buckeyes fell in their only game against a ranked opponent, at home and to a backup QB no less. Ohio State now looks like it could finish third in its division. The battle in the Big House this week against Michigan is going to tell us what we need to know about the Buckeyes.

Next three up:

Michigan (9-2)
Michigan did what it needed to do against Penn State. That was win. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes didn't do their hated rival any favors. OSU's loss means Michigan State controls its destiny in the division, not Michigan. The Wolverines have the perfect opportunity to knock off Ohio State and make a good case for a New Year's Six Bowl.

Florida (10-1)
In the last three weeks, Florida has defeated Vanderbilt 9-7 and been taken to overtime by two-win Florida Atlantic. Not exactly what Gator Nation had in mind for picking up Ws before the big, bad Noles come to The Swamp. Florida's offense is bad and it's a good thing it has a stout defense. We'll see how far that carries them when Dalvin Cook is running the ball this week.

Stanford (9-2)
The Cardinal secured their spot in the Pac-12 title game and now have two giant matchups in the next two weeks. I don't believe Stanford has a shot at the Playoff, but it can play spoiler against Notre Dame this weekend. The Irish travel to Palo Alto for the regular season finale. After that, Stanford will face the winner of UCLA-USC for the Pac-12 Championship.

Dropped out:
Florida (8)

-BtW

The Evening After...

In keeping with Sunday tradition, The Morning After is alive and well, albeit a tad late. Sorry, folks. I ran in the Route 66 Half Marathon this morning. Set a new PR too (that's Personal Record for you non-running folks)! Anyway, here we go...

1) It is really difficult for me to sit here behind the computer screen after a 20-point win that led to Clemson's undefeated home and ACC records this season and be critical. Clemson has never finished 8-0 in ACC play and is riding a 14-game winning streak dating to last season. It's only the third time in Tiger history that the football team has started 11-0. What a time to be a Tiger!

2) All that said, I was disappointed with the lack of a running game. Clemson's two leading rushers were its two quarterbacks, backups Kelly Bryant (58 yards) and Deshaun Watson (44). Wayne Gallman being sidelined surely played a hand in that, but the backups had a tough time getting anything going. Still, the Tigers ran for 171 yards and finished with over 500 yards of offense to extend the school record to seven straight games.

3) Deshaun Watson has been incredible lately, but two ill-advised picks were uncharacteristic. Honestly, I hope a lot of the poor production (running game, breakdowns on defense, INTs) are just a lack of focus playing a really bad Wake Forest team. The Tigers rank 14th nationally in total offense and fifth in total defense through 11 games.

4) What a wild one in Norman between OU and TCU. The Sooners stormed out to a big lead and held on late after Heisman hopeful Baker Mayfield left at halftime with an undisclosed injury that surely was a result of a helmet-to-helmet hit he took in the second quarter. Give credit to TCU, down to its third string QB, for fighting and clawing all night. When the Horned Frogs scored with 51 seconds to go, Gary Patterson elected to go for the win with a two-point conversion. The Sooner defense bowed up and batted down the pass to preserve the win. It also preserved their Big 12 title hopes, which will be decided in Stillwater at Bedlam.

5) How about Sparty? With Connor Cook out, Michigan State rode its backup QB to a shocking upset in The Horseshoe. It appears the Buckeyes' best ballgames weren't ahead of them. They are what they have been all season. When Ohio State struggled in previous games, that wasn't a product of an elite team being bored. Michigan State has proved to be a solid program over the years and Mark Dantonio has the Spartans eyeing another Big Ten title game, if they can get past Penn State. On the other side, turmoil in Columbus following that one. Ezekiel Elliott calls out the coaching staff and says he's definitely not coming back next year. Cardale Jones announced on Twitter this was his final game in The Shoe. Oh yeah, and Michigan - or as Ohio State likes to call them "That Team Up North" - is chomping at the bits awaiting this wounded Buckeye squad. Good luck with that, Urban.

6) Back to Bedlam. Oklahoma State was shellshocked at home by a hungry Baylor squad. Clearly, the Bears and freshman QB Jarrett Stidham went into the OU game with all their eggs in that basket, but the moment was too big for Stidham. Kudos to Art Briles for using that game a week ago as a teaching opportunity and getting his team ready for the Cowboys. When Stidham went out, the Bears kept rolling behind third-stringer Chris Johnson. Johnson looked poised and comfortable running the offense. Baylor kept its Big 12 hopes alive and now needs to win out (at TCU, vs. Texas) and have Oklahoma State take down the Sooners this week. Bedlam it shall be.

7) The SEC (L)East was, well, um, underwhelming Saturday. Florida, the East champion, was taken to overtime by two-win Florida Atlantic. The same happened to Georgia and Georgia Southern, although the Eagles are 7-3. Vanderbilt was blanked by Texas A&M 25-0. South Carolina fell to FCS The Citadel for the program's first loss to a team from the other football division in 25 years - also The Citadel in 1990. And Tennessee won 19-8 over Missouri, who was playing its final home game for Gary Pinkel. As one of my buddies put it, you can't argue the SEC teams go through a gauntlet week-in and week-out. Thanks, Todd Mitchum for that.

8) It was really cool seeing Notre Dame and Boston College playing under the lights at Fenway Park. MLB's oldest baseball stadium hadn't hosted a football game in decades, but a job well done by the Fenway Park Grounds Crew and the two universities for setting up that matchup.

9) Quick hitters: Iowa is the only other undefeated team after a 40-20 win over Purdue. The Hawkeyes can wrap up a perfect regular season at Nebraska Friday. What a tremendous job Kirk Ferentz has done. ... LSU suffered its third straight loss, falling to Ole Miss 38-17. The wires are going berserk with reports that this could be Les Miles' final season in Baton Rouge. Time will tell. ...  Stanford clinched the Pac-12 North and awaits the South winner while that division sorts itself out. The winner of UCLA at USC will meet the Cardinal in the championship game. ... North Carolina wrapped up the ACC Coastal with a 30-27 OT win at Virginia Tech in Frank Beamer's last home game. The Heels locked up a date with Clemson in Charlotte Dec. 5.

10) The last week of the regular season is here. This game scares me more than any other. For one, throw out the records (Clemson 11-0, SC 3-8). It's a rivalry and you never ever know what will happen. Two, it's on the road. Three, the Gamecocks have nothing to lose. This is their bowl game, their national championship, if you will. This team is reeling. They're coming off four straight losses, the most recent against The Citadel. Time for the Tigers to put up or shut up. Beat South Carolina.

-BtW