2017-10-12 06:22

We have week 7 now coming up.
Two coaches down, several still on a hot seat I guess.

For sure not on a hot seat are right now the HCs of the teams, which did stay perfect so far.
There are not so many left, but still some.

Those are for now the leading candidates for the playoffs, but since there are still so many perfect teams and 1-loss teams (and even 2-loss teams could make it, if everything goes wrong), that I will not make a playoff list like last season at this point.
But to sort out the field a bit, here are the perfect teams left.

From the so called Power 5 conferences and leading candidates for a playoff spot are:

ACC
Clemson Tigers
Miami Hurricanes

Big 12
Texas Christian (TCU) Horned Frogs

Big 10
Penn State Nittany Lions
Wisconsin Badgers

PAC 12
Washington Huskies
Washington State Cougars

SEC
Georgia Bulldogs
Alabama Crimson Tide

From the other conferences are those left, with an outsider chance to get a playoff spot, if they stay unbeaten:

The American
South Florida Bulls
Central Florida (UCF) Knights
Navy Midshipmen

Mountain West
San Diego State Aztecs

So 9 power-5 teams and 4 others, which is not much.
A deeper look shows that it is possible that most of those will lose at least once during the season.
Especially the 4 other team will sort themselves out quickly.
But even if both conference will produce a perfect champion, it's highly unlikely one of them will get a playoff spot.
For that I guess they would need a perfect record, which is plausible, and several 2-loss teams as best teams out of the power 5 conferences.
That's not the most unlikely thing, but in the last few seasons it did not happen. A decade or so.

Expect a nice discussion for the playoff spots, as it happened last season.

I selected this 3 games as the BLOCK OF GRANITE TOP 3 GAMES FOR WEEK 7

Sat, Oct. 14
#6 TCU @ Kansas State
This could be the game TCU will fall.
They are only 4.5 point favorite and the Wildcats are always more serious a threat at home than on the road.
Will TCU fall?
Not sure, but I did pick KSU as the winner as an upset pick.
I would not be surprise if TCU wins, but I love the potential of that game and the result of that, so I did fall for the temptation.
Wildcats win.

Sat, Oct. 14
#24 Texas Tech @ West Virginia
West Virginia did play good so far, but had some tough opponent, while Texas Tech did play quick, but has not played this good teams.
Given the home field advantage, I guess it is fair to say that 3.5 points favorite does not reflect my opinion on that outcome.
I think Texas Tech will face a good team and will not be able to outscore them, and that way, they will lose.
Mountaineers win.

Sat, Oct. 14
#12 Oklahoma @ Texas
It's the first battle of the next generation of young coaches at those 2 programs and as far as I know one of the few games, where both coaches are new.
Oklahoma lost last week surprisingly and will do best to overcome this, while Texas did start awful, but since then did develop a good defense and stands now tall inside the Big 12.
For both coaches this is a bad situation, since expectations are high to win this rivaly game, the Red River Showdown.
Vegas sees the Sooners ahead by 7.5 points, but since they were 30+ points favorite last week, what does that mean?
My feeling is, that we will see a unique game, with Oklahoma playing out their more matured roster situation.
Texas is in rebuilding mode and even if this can happen quickly theses days, I doubt they will win here, this season.
Sooners win.

Other interesting games:

Sat, Oct. 14
Georgia Tech @ #11 Miami
Very well can be the deciding game for the division.
Miami is the favorite and I think they will win in a close one.
Hurricanes win.

Sat, Oct. 14
#25 Navy @ Memphis
Also very important for the American and I think Navys perfect record will fall here.
Memphis has a good team, plays at home and is the favorite here.
The only thing which could help Navy is their great coach I guess as the X-factor.
Tigers win.

Sat, Oct. 14
Boise State @ #19 San Diego State
Could be a preview for the Mountain West championship game, but likely not, if SDSU will win here.
Boise State needs the win here to stay in the competition, while the Aztecs could afford a loss, they will win their division likely anyhow.
Unfortunate for the Broncos, they are not as strong as in former days.
Aztecs win.

Tags: Block of Granite, News