The Wide World of Sports* (11/11/14)

*Well, only the ones I care about.

NCAA Football

It's starting to get down to the nitty gritty part of the season now so I am just going to start focusing on the top ten teams. This is the first year that the top four teams will meet in a playoff (committee rankings announced every Tuesday). Well, this is what the Top 10 looked like before Saturday: 

1 Mississippi State (45) 8-0 1484

2 Florida State (15) 8-0 1452

3 Auburn 7-1 1345

4 Alabama 7-1 1281

5 Oregon 8-1 1275

6 TCU 7-1 1148

7 Michigan State 7-1 1120

8 Notre Dame 7-1 1096

9 Kansas State 7-1 1049

10 Baylor 7-1 961

Texas A&M 41, #3 Auburn 38. When all the attention was on other highly anticipated match-ups, this happened. All the "luck" that has surrounded this team for the last two years has finally worn off. They played horribly and their defense has gotten worse each of the last four weeks. I like that trend...

I think I know where some of the "luck" went. #4 Bama 20, #16 LSU 13. When Yeldon fumbled that ball on the 5 yard line with the score tied at 10 with a little over a minute left, I saw the whole season disappear in front of my eyes. We held them to a FG, and somehow managed to drive and kick one of our own in less than fifty seconds. We score a TD in overtime. They scored nothing. I walked around my apartment in disbelief for hours before it actually sunk in that we won that game.

Not much drama this week though. We only host #1 Mississippi State. It might be on TV somewhere.

#14 Ohio State 49, #7 Michigan State 37. Now the Big10 and Sparty can finally shut up. You've had two decent teams on your schedule and lost to them both. No pity from me. Now we get to hear the whining from OSU. Sorry, but that loss to VTech isn't going to go away.

#11 Arizona State 55, Notre Dame 31. Copy/paste what I said about MSU above. Two big L's to the only decent teams you have played. You gave up 55 points (and ASU was scoreless in the 3rd quarter!). Does anyone play defense anymore?

#6 TCU 41, #9 Kansas State 20. Ditto that thing about defense.

The playoff committee rankings do not reflect the polls and changed a bit with the Ole Miss loss. The top four make the playoffs. It looks like this:

1) Mississippi St 9-0
2) Oregon 9-1

3) Florida State 9-0

4) TCU 8-1

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5) Alabama 8-1

6) Arizona State 8-1
7) Baylor 8-1

8) Ohio State 8-1

I stopped at eight teams because I am pretty sure this playoff system will be expanded at some point in the future and I was just curious what it would look like.

Umm, Bama got passed by again? And by TCU? Really? I guess it's okay to lose and give up 61 points. SIXTY ONE. Whatever. Thanks for pissing us off. That's one thing you don't want is a mad Alabama team.

The games of note this week with major playoff implications and my predictions:

Seriously, there's only one game that matters this week. I think Bama will remind Mississippi State that they are, in fact, still Mississippi State.

Prediction: #4 Bama 36, #1 MSU 20. 

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NFL

The Falcons won a game! It was against Tampa Bay, but it still counts right? Right!?!

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MLB

Braves: Looks like Ervin Santana rejected the Braves offer, so if he signs with another team they will get a draft pick compensation for losing a free agent. And I think with all the turnover in the front office that building through the draft again will be a major objective.

Case in point: apparently the Braves are pushing Evan Gattis hard at the GM meetings. I would hate to see El Oso Blanco go, but if you can make some major upgrades to your club and farm system then you better start using your assets to their fullest.

Transactions: Signed Pitcher Chien Ming Wong to a minor league deal. He's still alive?