College football Week 13: What we learned and how it applies to the playoffs
This past week was Rivalry Week. It was a good one too, with several underdogs coming through and a bunch of good games.
We also had many teams proving that they are ahead of the programs they most enjoy beating and as we head into Championship Week this week we now have a complete season's worth of data.
I wish that meant we were going to bat 1.000 this week. Those sportsbook oddsmakers are always learning things too.
What We Learned in Week 13
No More Reason To Doubt USC
There was a lot on the line for the Trojans this past week. They were playing ND so their spot in the Pac-12 title game was already secure, but the win over the Irish made them a legit playoff contender and might have won QB Caleb Williams the Heisman. If you thought it was too much to expect such a dramatic turnaround in less than a year, you were not alone, but this team is really good and seems to be getting better as the season progresses.
Betting Takeaway: I still might stay away from them against nemesis Utah this week.
No More Reason to Doubt Michigan, Either
All season long this Michigan team has looked very good. However, they put a stamp on this elite two-year period with a win over Ohio State at the Horseshoe. Big Blue just didn't make any mistakes, and they hit home runs with RB Donavan Edwards in the run game to nearly double up their rival on the road. They get an easy game in the Big Ten Championship against Purdue but unlike last season, they look legit for the playoffs.
Betting Takeaway: This team is a lot more than RB Blake Corum, who barely played against the Buckeyes.
More SEC Nonsense
LSU might have had an outside shot to make the playoffs coming into the week. All they had to do was beat Texas A&M, then beat Georgia. At least one of those looked like a gimme but they gave up more points to the Aggies than any team has this season. That hardly feels like coach Brian Kelly is pushing all of the right buttons. The results we saw this week hardly confirmed that this is the best conference in America either. I have been beating that drum for a while though.
Betting Takeaway: I don't know how good Georgia is, or isn't.
Thank You, TCU
All season long TCU has been slagged for winning. In their final chance to show off a little before the Big 12 Championship game, they took full advantage, destroying Iowa State in a game that was over by the end of the first quarter. In the past three games, ISU had not given up more than 24 points but they gave up 24 points in the fir1st quarter against TCU on Saturday. The Horned Frogs showed they can show out and it was impressive.
Betting Takeaway: A healthy TCU is going to be a dangerous underdog in the playoffs.
See Ya Later, ACC
Clemson was the last playoff hope in the ACC, then South Carolina ended their season, the same way they ended that of Tennessee a week earlier. This result was even more shocking given how the Tigers have dominated the Gamecocks over the past decade. It was a close game, but how do you not score at all in the fourth quarter at home? It was a choke job by Clemson, and you have to wonder if their run among the elite is over.
Betting Takeaway: Fade ACC teams in bowl games this year, it is hard to know what they are after a season of playing each other.
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