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Ugh, what a disappointing roller coaster ride against Syracuse. It couldn't have started much better. Then it couldn't have gone much worse. Thankfully, we got things together enough to come away with the win. It's disappointing to see the team, or at least the defense, regressing at this point in the season. We have a couple of weeks to get things in order before the competition ramps up. I know Wake has a respectable defense, but if we can't go out there on Senior Day and the lay the wood, I'll be extremely disappointed. I'm hoping we come out firing, put up some quick points, and get our backups some quality reps after the game is out of hand.
Wake Forest at #1 Clemson
Kickoff at 3:30pm EST
TV: ESPN2
We're treated to a number of very interesting games this weekend--no thanks to the SEC's laugh-track of an OOC schedule. Depending on how things play out, either a number of teams will be all-but-eliminated from the playoff picture or things will be a lot more interesting Sunday morning. I'm at a conference this weekend, but if the presentations begin to bore, these are the games I'll pull up on my iPad in the back of the room:
#17 North Carolina at Virginia Tech
Kickoff at 12:00pm EST
TV: ESPN
Lane Stadium may have opened in 1965, but Frank Beamer is the one who really built that house. No one would know that Virginia Tech has a football team if it weren't for him. He was known for his own brand of football, "Beamer Ball," and no one wanted to play against him, especially in Lane Stadium at night. While the last couple years haven't been great, Beamer had the Hokies playing at a high level for the better party of the past twenty years. With this being his last home game before retirement, some think the team will rally and ride the emotions to a big upset over one of the hotter teams in the country. On the other hand, UNC is, as I just said, one of the hotter teams in the country. I have a lot of respect for Beamer, but the Tar Heels just have too much offense. UNC 45 - VT 20
#9 Michigan State at #3 Ohio State
Kickoff at 3:30pm EST
TV: ABC
This game is basically a playoff elimination game. If Michigan State loses, they'll have two losses and no chance at the Big "10" championship, which would eliminate them from the playoff picture. If Ohio State loses, though it would be their first loss, it would almost certainly keep them out of the Big "10" championship game, which would almost certainly eliminate them from the playoff picture. Ohio St has looked better recently, but I'm still not completely sold on them. Mich St has an ugly loss, and they've barely squeaked by a number of times in their wins. I haven't watched a full game of either of these teams this year, so I'm going strictly off perception. Ohio St seems to be the better team. I think the smart money is on them. I, however, would love to see the upset, just to make the CFP that much more exciting down the stretch. Sparty 27 - Eyes 24
#10 Baylor at #6 Oklahoma State
Kickoff at 7:30pm EST
TV: FOX
The Big "12" round-robin tournament continues. Baylor looked like the scariest offense in the FBS until Russel went down. Now, they look a little more mortal, though they've still put up some points. I poo-pooed OkSt a few weeks ago, and they completely surprised me by beating TCU soundly. Are they really that good? I don't know that I'm convinced. Also, a Cowboys loss would make both the Big "12" "championship" a lot more interesting and the CFP selection process a lot crazier. Like the game just above this one, I think the smart money is on the higher ranked team. However, I'd love to see the insanity that would ensue if Baylor can pull off the upset. I'll go with my heart again. Baylor 52 - OkSt 48
#18 TCU at #7 Oklahoma
Kickoff at 8:00pm EST
TV: ABC
A friend and I were trying to decide who would be in the final four if various scenarios played themselves out over the next few weeks. If OK can win out, they would have a number of really good wins on their resume, possibly more than Alabama. However, they would also have the worst loss (barring something crazy these last few games). Would they be able to jump ND or Bama if they win out? This time of year is a lot of fun. TCU was one of my early season crushes. Trevor Boykin and Doctson are fun to watch. With Doctson now out for the year and Boykin questionable, the Horned Frogs don't seem nearly as scary. It's hard for me to believe that they will be able to score enough points without their two best offensive players, and they haven't really played defense all year. It could get ugly. OU 55 - TCU 24
ESPN
East Carolina
ESPNU
CBSS
Cincinnati
ESPN2
Air Force
Boise State
SECN
(8) Florida
The Citadel
South Carolina
(17) North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Rutgers
FSN
West Virginia
Kansas
FS1
Iowa State
Kansas State
Purdue
(5) Iowa
BTN
Indiana
Maryland
ESPNN
Illinois
Minnesota
ABC
(12) Michigan
Penn State
ESPN3
Georgia Tech
Miami (FL)
Syracuse
NC State
Miami (OH)
FCS
BYU
(14) Florida State
UTEP
Connecticut
Buffalo
CBS
(15) LSU
(22) Mississippi
Wake Forest
(1) Clemson
Duke
Virginia
Arizona
Arizona State
(24) USC
(23) Oregon
FOX
UCLA
(13) Utah
(20) Northwestern
(25) Wisconsin
(9) Michigan State
(3) Ohio State
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Auburn
(2) Alabama
PAC12
Washington
Oregon State
Mississippi State
Arkansas
Georgia
Tennessee
Missouri
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt
NBC
Boston College
(4) Notre Dame
Kentucky
(10) Baylor
(6) Oklahoma State
(18) TCU
(7) Oklahoma
Cal
(11) Stanford
Colorado
Washington State