Things to Watch

College Football Playoffs

My predictions from last week remain the same, I predict one team from the ACC (Florida St.), Pac-12, SEC, and B1G being selected for the playoffs. If Ohio State loses a game, look for the Big 12 to take one spot. If Florida State stumbles then the SEC or Pac-12 will take a second spot. The committee appears to be devaluing the Big 12, as I have done all season, and without a conference championship game TCU and Baylor have a limited ability to impress the committee. The Big Ten continues to gain respect with Ohio State and Michigan State ranked highly with Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Minnesota also in the top-25. Minnesota did not drop after its loss to Ohio State. If Ohio State wins out, it should be in the top-four.

B1G Conference Standings
Wisconsin ran over Nebraska and it appears to be the favored team to win the B1G West, but don't tell that to Minnesota. Minnesota's schedule is back loaded with remaining games against Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Minnesota could come out of that stretch with two additional losses or as the B1G West representative in the conference championship game. Nebraska was humbled in the Wisconsin loss, but it still has a shot at the conference championship. Iowa is also a long shot, but there are scenarios in which it could represent the B1G West.