A slew of games may impact playoff
Check out the top college football five games to watch today.
No. 1 Georgia (9-0, 6-0 SEC) at No. 10 Auburn (7-2, 5-1) Today, 3:30 — WKMG-6
The Buzz: Now that Georgia has wrapped up the SEC East, coach Kirby Smart can turn his attention to a possible spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Staying undefeated could be a challenge this week, with the Bulldogs facing a very good Auburn team that is looking for a little revenge after last season’s 13-7 upset loss to Georgia that effectively ended the Tigers’ run at the playoff. Gus Malzahn’s team still has a chance to win the SEC West, but Auburn will need to topple the Bulldogs this weekend and upend No. 2 Alabama in the Iron Bowl on Nov. 25.
Iowa (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) at No. 8 Wisconsin (9-0, 6-0)
Today, 3:30 — WFTV-9
The Buzz: Wisconsin has quickly become the Obi Wan Kenobi of the Big Ten: the only hope for the conference when it comes to getting a team into the College Football Playoff semifinals. But the selection committee isn’t impressed with the Badgers’ schedule to date. A win Saturday over Iowa would not only wrap up the West title, but give Wisconsin a muchneeded boost to its résumé. The Hawkeyes, meanwhile, are looking to knock off ranked teams in back-toback games for the first
time since 2004.
No. 2 Alabama (9-0, 6-0 SEC) at No. 16 Mississippi State (7-2, 3-2) Tonight, 7 — ESPN
The Buzz: Alabama comes into this week’s matchup with the Bulldogs battered and bruised after losing linebackers Shaun Dion Hamilton (knee) and Mack Wilson (foot) to injuries. The position was already thin with the early season losses of Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis, but coach Nick Saban stressed this week it provides opportunities for some of his younger players. Meanwhile, Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald continues to impress. The dual-threat quarterback is third in the SEC in total offense (2,260 yards) and extended his 100-yard rushing streak to four games.
No. 3 Notre Dame (8-1) at No. 7 Miami (8-0, 6-0 ACC) Tonight, 8 — WFTV-9
The Buzz: This is the most meaningful game in this series since 1990, when second-ranked Miami lost a hard-fought contest to No. 6 Notre Dame by a score of 29-20 in South Bend. ESPN’s College GameDay is making its first appearance in Coral Gables since 2001. Both of these defenses have excelled in forcing mistakes and creating turnovers. Twelve of Miami’s 20 takeaways this season have come during the past three games, while Notre Dame hasn’t turned the ball over in more than a month (Oct. 7). While the game has no impact on Miami’s chances of clinching the ACC Coastal, the Hurricanes could still wind up with their first division crown if Louisville can beat Virginia this weekend.
No. 6 TCU (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) at No. 5 Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1) Tonight, 8 — WOFL-35
The Buzz: The top two teams in the Big 12 hook up with not only conference but playoff implications on the line. Oklahoma has won five out of the past six meetings, but the last six games have been decided by seven or fewer points. This showdown features the conference’s top offense in Oklahoma (608 yards per game) against its best defense in TCU (284.1 yards per game). The Horned Frogs have held opponents to 10 points or less five times so far this season. Oklahoma, meanwhile, hasn’t been held to under 20 points in a game since the 2015 Orange Bowl.