The college football season has made the final turn and is heading down the home stretch. This weekend will be pretty important with a number of key Top 25 matchups. Here’s a look at the updated futures power ranking:
Tie, 1. Oregon Ducks
Championship Odds: 4/1
The Ducks are in a very strong position to make the playoff right now, as they jumped over FSU to nab the second spot in the latest college football playoff rankings. Oregon got past a big road test at Utah late on Saturday night. The Ducks probably won’t get tested by Colorado or Oregon State in upcoming games, so they should cruise into the Pac-12 Championship Game. A potential meeting with surging Arizona State will then decide if the Ducks can get one step closer to the national championship.
Tie, 1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Odds: 4/1
The Crimson Tide enjoy favorable odds largely because they are a 8.5-point favorite over Mississippi State this Saturday. If Alabama wins that game – a game the oddsmakers clearly think it will – coach Nick Saban’s team would just need to beat Auburn a few weeks later in order to win the SEC West and play for the SEC championship, likely gaining a College Football Playoff berth in the process.
It’s not going to be easy for Alabama to beat Auburn, but playing that game at home will certainly give the Tide a strong chance. Beating Mississippi State might not be a piece of cake either, but with the way the Bulldogs have been playing of late, Alabama has to like its chances on Saturday.
Tie, 3. Florida State Seminoles
Odds: 6/1
The Seminoles are unbeaten but they’re third in the odds list because of their countless number of close calls against a schedule perceived to be weaker than others. They’re only a very slight favorite this week against Miami, which tells you quite a bit.
There are a lot of questions surrounding Florida State right now, with the main concern being a collection of injuries that have left this team shorthanded. Florida State is also facing a Miami team that has played really well on offense in recent weeks and is coming off a bye week. The question is if Miami is truly talented enough to play a complete game against its foremost rival, one it hasn’t beaten since 2009 and not at home since 2004. Florida State has fallen behind a lot in games this season but it has always come back. An impressive effort would help their cause.
Tie, 3. TCU Horned Frogs
Odds: 6/1
The Horned Frogs have only one potentially challenging game left in their regular season – a game at Texas on Thanksgiving. If they win it, they’re going to be in the running for a playoff berth all the way through the selection show for the four teams on Dec. 7. TCU’s offense will need to be ready to face the challenge provided by Texas’ defense.
5. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Odds: 15/2
The Bulldogs are unbeaten, but they’re fifth on the odds list. Why is this the case? See the section on Alabama, above. The Crimson Tide have a loss but they’re favored by 8.5 points over Mississippi State. There’s a widespread belief in the public that the Bulldogs, who are new to the playoff spotlight, won’t hold up under pressure. We’ll see if that that’s true or not on Saturday. If Mississippi State wins, it’s pretty much assured of the SEC West title and the chance to play for the playoff in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 6.
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
Odds: 8/1
The Buckeyes had the most impressive performance of the past weekend, crushing Michigan State by a score of 49-37. Ohio State’s offense was as close to perfect as one could get in the second half. Michigan State never truly stopped the Buckeyes – not if you realize that a last-minute punt by Ohio State came at the end of a possession in which the Buckeyes ran out most of the clock. Ohio State has more tough games ahead, however, against Minnesota and then in the Big Ten Championship Game.
7. Baylor Bears
Odds: 16/1
The Bears were also great last weekend, clubbing Oklahoma on the road in Norman. Baylor’s offense, with its attention to spacing and tempo, overran and overwhelmed Oklahoma’s secondary in the final three quarters. The Sooners had absolutely no answer for what the Bears tried to do. Baylor should enter the season finale with Kansas State with a chance to win a second straight Big 12 championship.
Tie, 8. Arizona State Sun Devils
Odds: 25/1
The Sun Devils scored 34 straight points against Notre Dame on Saturday. Then they allowed 28 straight points. Then they scored 21 points in the last 4:30 of regulation to win by 24 points. The bottom line is that Arizona State could get a chance to play Oregon for the Pac-12 championship and a chance at the playoff. People will wonder if the win over Notre Dame will carry enough weight, though.
Tie, 8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Odds: 25/1
The Huskers are going to get their chances to play their way into the playoff discussion – not the playoff itself, but the discussion surrounding the playoff as an outside possibility. Nebraska faces Wisconsin this Saturday. If it wins, it would play Minnesota, a team currently ranked at No. 25. Then, Nebraska would face a solid Iowa team and possibly get to play Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. If Nebraska could win all four games, it might be able to be considered for a playoff spot.
Tie, 8. Ole Miss Rebels
Odds: 25/1
The Rebels have a slight chance at the playoff. They need Mississippi State to lose to Alabama this Saturday, which is probable. They then need Alabama to lose to Auburn, which is possible. They would also have to beat Mississippi State on Nov. 29 to have a chance.
Tie, 11. Auburn 33/1
Tie, 11. Georgia 33/1
13. UCLA 100/1
