– Brian Wolf
Trevone Boykin and TCU will be out to impress the Playoff Committee in their showdown with undefeated Oklahoma State
Do you have anything going on today? If not, we have you covered from 12pm EST till almost midnight with some must watch college football games. With the College Football Playoff rankings coming out this past Tuesday, things are getting even tighter and some teams cannot afford another loss. Here are six games today that you should definitely keep an eye on.
Vanderbilt at #10 Florida – 12pm EST (ESPN)
The Gators (7-1) can lock up the SEC East with a victory. Quite a job by their first-year coach, Jim McElwain.
Duke at North Carolina – 12pm EST (ESPN2)
Just imagine if the refs would have got the call right in that crazy ending between duke and Miami. Duke would still be ranked in the top 25 and both Duke and UNC would be sitting at 7-1. Who would have thought this football game could bring the same attention as between these two programs on the hardwood. Despite Duke’s loss last week, the winner of this game is in a great position to win the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division.
#5 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh – 12pm EST (ABC)
This is a sneaky contest for the Fighting Irish who travel to Pittsburgh to take on the 6-2 Panthers. Pitts last 6 games have been decided by a touchdown or less. For Notre Dame (7-1), they are averaging almost 500 yards of offense, and while the defense up front has been solid, it has been the secondary that has question marks surrounding this team. Some late interceptions have masked the issue. Brian Kelly and this Fighting Irish are still in playoff contention, but a loss today will end those hopes.
#16 Florida State at #1 Clemson – 3:30pm EST (ABC)
After earning the top spot in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Clemson Tigers (8-0) have an interesting test as they host the one loss Florida State Seminoles. The Tigers have won 11 straight games, their longest streak since the 1981 season, the last time they won a national championship. A good outing by Deshaun Watson would improve his stock and into the thick of the Heisman race. The Seminoles will have running back Dalvin Cook and quarterback Everett Golson after injuries sidelined the two. A win today and rarer this season against Florida could put this FSU team right back into playoff contention.
#8 TCU at #14 Oklahoma State – 3:30pm EST (FOX)
The month of November promises to be quite the month for the Big12 conference. The four teams at the top of the conference have a combined record of 31-1, and they all play one another down the stretch. Neither of these two teams have faced a ranked opponent all season. Trevone Boykin is one of the most electrifying players in college football this season and has one of the best wide outs to throw to in Josh Doctson. The Cowboys have the second best defense in the conference, but had to lean on their offense last week against Texas Tech.
#2 LSU at #7 Alabama – 8pm EST (CBS)
In what many may call the “Grand Daddy of Them All” this has been the premier game in college football over the last decade. A lot of focus entering this game is on the running backs. L.S.U.’s Leonard Fournette is the Heisman Trophy front-runner and has been a seemingly unstoppable force, leading the Football Bowl Subdivision with 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns through seven games. Derrick Henry is right behind, with 1,044 yards and 14 scores, and he has carried much of the Crimson Tide’s offensive load this season.
The matchup at quarterback is likely to be the difference. L.S.U.’s Brandon Harris and Alabama’s Jake Coker have been steadily improving, but it remains to be seen how they will respond in such a big game. L.S.U. (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference West) is alone in first place in the division, and a win here would keep it near the top of the playoff rankings and move it a big step closer to the conference championship. A loss would all but eliminate Alabama (7-1, 4-1) from SEC West contention and most likely knock it out of the playoff conversation, too.
– Brian Wolf (@bwolf_17)
HARD FOUL SPORTS 