Week Seven: The College Football "Playoffs" Continue

Let's be honest: If there was a real 16-team playoff, Texas vs. Oklahoma and Florida vs. LSU wouldn't mean jack this weekend. Oh, we'd watch. The games would be good. They would count. But they wouldn't have a fraction of the juice. Win or lose, all four teams would likely end up in the playoffs anyway. At the end of the year everyone will be moaning that the National Championship isn't being "settled on the field." Wrong. It's being settled on the field right now—during the regular season through virtual elimination "playoff" games like those I'm previewing today. Texas (5) vs. Oklahoma (1) This is the third time this year that two top eight teams have squared off in high drama. First, USC-Ohio State, then Georgia-Alabama, and now Texas-Oklahoma. This should be a great game. There's nothing like a showdown between traditional rivals when they're ranked in the top five together. Oklahoma has to be slightly favored to go all the way to the NC because of an easier schedule. ... (link)