The Playoffs Are Here*

All the complaining worked this time. For those of you in the media who shall remain nameless whining incessantly for a college football playoff system, it looks like you got what you wanted, or as close as you are going to get if all works out (it rarely does). After this past weekend’s results, Alabama, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Florida are ranked as the top 4 teams in the BCS and gee golly would you believe that they each play one of the other 4 between now and the end of the season? Alabama and Florida are now set to meet in the SEC title game and if both can win their remaining games, it will be a (oh my gosh I can’t believe I’m saying this!) a playoff game for a trip to the BCS championship in the Orange Bowl. Likewise, Oklahoma and Texas Tech meet in 2 weeks in Norman and the winner of that game, if they can traverse the rest of their schedule, will likely play for the title. It’s not the final four, but about as close as we are going to get, without President-elect Obama stepping in and fixing the current system. By the way don’t hold your breath on that one as Fox and the NCAA are now negotiating to extend the BCS TV contract which would keep the system in place for several more years, if enough of us watch 24 and Family Guy this year so that Fox can afford the payout. For those still wishing for a playoff, not sure what you were watching on Saturday but it was pretty dramatic.

Without the drama of the regular season in college football, would 5-4 Iowa beating undefeated Penn State on a last second field goal register as a huge upset? Not so much. Instead the Nittany Lions are now all but out of the National Title race as that kick knocked them from the ranks of the unbeaten. Think of all the oxygen wasted the last 2 weeks pontificating whether or not they were going to get left out of the 1 vs. 2 game at the end of the season. Penn State can still win the Big 10 title and go to the Rose Bowl, their first since 1994, with a win in 2 weeks over Michigan State, if they can sneak by Indiana this week. The Spartans can win at least a share of the league title with a win over PSU. And don’t look now but Ohio State is still tied for first and would be in line to win a share of their 4^th straight Big Ten title if they can win their last 2. November 22 will tell the tale in the Big Ten. Wisconsin and Illinois are still fighting to get to bowl games.

In the ACC the chaos continues. Wake Forest leads the Atlantic division by virtue of their earlier win over Florida State, and FSU has the tougher schedule left. Maryland would need to win out and hope Wake loses to NC State or BC for the Terps to have a shot at the league title. In the Coastal Virginia Tech faces Miami on Thursday night for the division lead. UNC would also factor into the mix if Miami wins, but Va Tech holds the head to head tiebreaker over the Tar Heels, if anyone still cares.

Cincinnati’s overtime win after a huge comeback by West Virginia put those 2 and Pitt into a 3 way tie for first in the Big East. Pitt faces both the Bearcats and the Mountaineers in the coming weeks and can control its own destiny to win the conference. Their game with Cincy in 2 weeks will determine who still has a chance at the end.

In the Pac 10 Oregon State and USC remain tied at the top, the Beavers have the tougher road left with Cal, Arizona, and Oregon on their schedule, but they hold the tiebreaker over USC from their win on September 25^th (that’s why all the games matter in this sport). OSU will likely lose one allowing USC the path to another Rose Bowl as no game left on the Trojans schedule will be daunting enough for them to win over the voters and jump into the top 2.

The SEC title game is set as Florida and Alabama have clinched their divisions and now must clear their last hurdles to set up a National Title play in game in the SEC Championship. Look for former Gator coach Spurrier and his Gamecocks to give the Gators a tough game this Saturday but if they can survive and get by Florida State, the winner of the Alabama-Florida game (assuming Alabama can beat Auburn for the 1^st time in 7 years) will play for the National Title. If one of them loses before then, the system will get even more chaotic.

Texas Tech is undefeated and in 2 weeks they go to Norman to play Oklahoma to clinch the Big 12 South title. The winner of this game, if they can get by their respective finales (TT vs. Baylor, OU vs. OkSt) would likely go to the Big 12 Championship. Texas Tech will clinch it with a win and the Sooners would likely vault to the highest ranking of the 3 1 loss teams in the division with a win, sorry Texas we know you beat them but you lost last, and the Sooners would go and likely play Missouri. A win by the South Champion in the title game would likely send them to Miami to play the SEC champion for all the marbles.

Heisman Race:

1. Graham Harrell Texas Tech-can clinch it with a big game vs. OU
2. Tim Tebow Florida
3. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
4. Colt McCoy, Texas

Keep watching the “playoffs” but be prepared to be surprised. And in between games on Saturdays don’t forget to tell your friends about ScrubSports.com.