Picks for the College Football Playoff Week 8
Eight weeks into this college football season, the picture is starting to get a lot clearer. Ohio State looking dominant in their first game? Check. They will be favored in every game the rest of the way. I wanted to say that Wisconsin might sneak up on the playoff field after their performance on Friday against Illinois (a dominating 45-7 W), but COVID-19 had something to say about it, and the Badgers have canceled Saturday’s bout with Nebraska. Who knows how long the Badgers will be sidelined and how they will look after (we wish them a speedy recovery and good health).
That means I’m going to have to buy into Michigan for my sneaky playoff pick. I don’t like relying on Jim Harbaugh teams to come through in the clutch and win big games (I would hope they beat Michigan State this weekend after MSU lost to Rutgers on Saturday, but with rivalry games who knows?). Even if I don’t think they can beat Ohio State later this year, I can’t take away what I saw on Saturday in Minneapolis. The Michigan offense looked like a modern college offense, and Joe Milton looked like a seamless fit. It felt so clunky with Shea Patterson in that role last year, not so much with Milton. I’m excited to watch Michigan progress and see if they can break into the top four.
Let’s see who I have in the field:
No. 1: Clemson Tigers (6-0) (LW: 47-21 W vs Syracuse)
I was shocked by how this game was actually close for so long. The Tigers punted away after a stalled drive with just over two minutes left in the third quarter leading only 27-21. Does Syracuse have a chance to drive down and take a lead? Not so fast. A fumble return touchdown two plays later sets off a 20-0 Clemson run to end the game. Trevor Lawrence could’ve been better (289 yards two TD and a pick-six), Travis Etienne hit paydirt three times, and the Clemson defense forced four turnovers. Perhaps the Tigers overlooked the Orange a little bit, but they are still far and away from my No. 1 team.
No. 2: Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0) (LW: 48-17 W vs Tennessee)
Jaylen Waddle being injured and out for the year on the opening kickoff for the Crimson Tide is a crushing loss. It didn’t affect the outcome against a clearly inferior and reeling Tennessee team, but Waddle can break a big play any time he touches the ball. Against the Clemson’s and the Ohio States of the world, that could be the difference. Mac Jones continues to challenge Trevor Lawrence for the Heisman (387 yards), Najee Harris added three more touchdowns and has 14 now on the season. It was nice to see the defense capitalize on a turnover and score a touchdown on a scoop and score. Bama stays comfortably at No. 2 this week.
No. 3: Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) (LW: 52-17 W vs Nebraska)
A near-perfect opener from Justin Fields gives me all the confidence in the world to keep the Buckeyes locked into this No. 3 spot. Fields (20/21 276 yards and 2 touchdowns) and his Olave/Wilson combination looked like they didn’t miss a beat. Five-star freshman Jaxson Smith-Njigba had a neat touchdown snag of his own late in the game. The Buckeyes defense looked a little suspect and got gashed on a few plays by the Nebraska offense, especially on QB runs by Adrian Martinez and Luke McCaffery. That’ll need to get cleaned up before facing Sean Clifford Saturday, who ran for 119 yards of his own against Indiana.
No. 4: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-0) (LW: 45-3 W vs Pitt)
I had ND on upset watch this week, however, I was very impressed by what I saw from Ian Book on Saturday. Facing a Pitt defense with one of the best rush defenses in the country (and held ND to 2.3 yards/rush), Book took the responsibility on his right arm and excelled. I don’t think the throws he made will be sustainable against teams with more secondary talent (hello Clemson), they floated in the air a little too much. WR Ben Skowronek made a couple of really nice grabs to help his quarterback out. The defense just abused Joey Yellen and the Pitt offense. ND looked like a playoff team Saturday.
Next few:
Georgia
Oklahoma State
Texas A&M
Writer
-By: TJ Mathewson