He still has only one start to his name, after all, and Griffin’s early years under Briles prove that even something this efficient can’t totally account for inexperience. “This will be a statement game, a time to make them change their minds”. And another well-known fact is that the Bears have the No. 1 offense in college football. “You can’t take them lightly”. Maybe it’s because of all of the close calls they’ve had this season. He missed the last two games against Baylor, getting knocked out last year – and caught just three passes against the Bears as a freshman, but he’s overdue to go off. He doesn’t have the numbers of a Coleman or a Josh Doctson, but he’s averaging 17.5 yards per catch on the year with four touchdown passes in the last four games as a unsafe part of the puzzle. It’s win and in for the Buckeyes.
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Stidham had appeared in every game for the two-time defending Big 12 champion Bears before top-rated FBS passer Russell fractured a bone in his neck in their last home game October 24.
Iowa: Iowa actually has a fairly solid resume, but is saddled with a major perception issue.
Iowa State has averaged 209.1 rushing yards per game in the last seven games, but dipped in production last week against a physical front seven. Their three starting quarterbacks during that time-Griffin, Nick Florence, and Bryce Petty-never finished lower than 12th in the season-ending QBR rankings.
Each Monday, the Iowa State defense gathers for a walkthrough.
Budke and Gundy’s friendship began when both were hired as head coaches in 2005. One of these teams will more than likely get the third spot.
MI: Michigan’s potential path to the Playoff really deserves the treatment of a full article, which may just be forthcoming if the Wolverines still have a chance after this weekend. Houston, on the other hand, barely held onto its undefeated record with 33-30 win against Cincinnati. They have been the favorites for the number one seed since before the poll came out. A Clemson loss will help, but it is very unlikely and might not even be enough. The Jayhaws are coming off a 59-20 loss to Texas on the road last week.
Crystal balls were adjusted accordingly, and Baylor, which had been the most dominant team in college football this year by a comfortable margin, checked in at sixth in the initial college playoff rankings last week. The Wolverines are as deep 1-10 as any team in the country, with their top-ranked recruiting class from three years ago expected to help the program push Penn State, Iowa and Ohio State in the top-heavy Big Ten. “We take pride in that”. But there’s one team outside the top ten that has a chance to still barge their way into the top four and a national championship. Stoops’ 13 wins against Baylor are his most against any opponent.
It is 16th in the nation in scoring defense and the only Big 12 unit in the top 45 (Oklahoma State is 46th). Also, limiting yardage on first and second downs (Baylor is averaging over eight yards per play this season) and being able to get off the field on third downs and turn the possession over to the Sooner offense will be a critical factor in keeping Baylor off the scoreboard.
The key for the Bears also focuses in on the quarterback position.
“You don’t have big games unless you take care of games prior to big games”, Baylor coach Art Briles told reporters.
Once again, this will be no easy task for the Sooners, but they definitely don’t lack confidence that they can get the job done.
BAYLOR (-2¹/₂) over Oklahoma: Baylor has dominated Oklahoma the last two years, winning by 34 and 29 points.
Clemson: The Spartans probably need the Tigers to win out. LSU fans’ eyeballs will be trained on Starkville, where they hope Dak Prescott and Mississippi State can knock off Alabama and put LSU back in the SEC West driver’s seat. The Gators are rooting for Georgia and Florida State this week. She said, ‘I know you’re busy, but we need you.’ Of course, I was always there.
“It was enormous. You’re talking about a team that had not only dominated Baylor, but certainly had dominated the Big 12 the previous decade…”
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“But they haven’t. They’ve come in with the intention and the intent to learn and go secure victories”.
