According to the College Football Playoff rankings, the top four teams each control their own destiny heading in to the final week of the season. While No. 3 Oklahoma appears to have locked up its spot in the playoff by winning a Big 12 championship, the other three teams still have to win this week to secure their berths. A loss for the Clemson Tigers, Alabama Crimson or Iowa Hawkeyes would likely open the door for a team on the outside looking in. Even those potential contenders will have to take of their own business in order to even be relevant after this weekend. Here is a look at four ranked teams on upset alert for Week 14 of the college football season.
No. 5 Michigan State Better Not Slip Versus Iowa
The Spartans made sure they stayed in the College Football Playoff conversation with a 55-16 blowout win over Penn State on the weekend to improve to 11-1 and earn a berth in this year’s Big Ten championship game. Michigan State’s lone loss was a 39-38 defeat at Nebraska a couple of weeks ago and they have quality wins over Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State that support their case for the playoff. With the Spartans ranked No. 5 and Iowa ranked No. 4 heading into their Big Ten championship game showdown this Saturday, it appears as though the committee has set up a situation where the winner will secure that final playoff spot. Michigan State fans have talked a lot about how all they need is a win this weekend and they are in but they have to be wary of a Hawkeyes’ side that is still a little underrated after running the table with a 12-0 record. They’ll come in with a chip on their shoulder and throw everything they have at the Spartans in an effort to shock the world and reach the playoff.
No. 7 Stanford Has To Pass USC…Again
Stanford is another potential contender still in the conversation but on the outside looking in. They’ll need a little help in addition to taking care of its own business this weekend. The Cardinal will need Clemson, Alabama and Iowa to falter in order to open the door for them to even be in the discussion and even then it will likely take a blowout win over USC in the Pac-12 championship game to have a shot. Stanford has secured impressive wins over UCLA, Notre Dame and even USC earlier in the season but the Trojans have played their best football down the stretch including wins in five of their last six and will have the Cardinal on upset alert this weekend.
No. 12 Baylor’s Bowl Projection Can Change Drastically
Baylor has lost two of its last three games and was forced to turn to its No. 3 quarterback Chris Johnson in last week’s loss to TCU. The Bears return home looking to finish a disappointing season on a high note but they are coming off a brutal stretch in which their Big 12 title hopes were crushed after facing three straight Top 20 opponents. Now they will face a Texas side that will love to kick them when they are down. Baylor can still get to 10 wins but they will be on upset alert against the Longhorns this weekend.
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No. 22 Temple In A Trap Situation?
The Owls booked their ticket to the AAC championship game with a 27-3 win over Connecticut to hit the 10-win mark for just the second time in program history. However, they still have to beat Houston this week in order to earn a New Year’s Six berth. That won’t be easy with the Cougars coming off an impressive 52-31 win over Navy to join Temple in the conference title game with Greg Ward Jr. proving how dominant he can be. Houston is a one-loss team that came so close to perfection. They’ll want to ruin things for Temple. Both teams have been fun to watch all season but only one can win this weekend and the upset alert will be in place in their AAC Championship game clash.
