SEC ROOTING GUIDE
In which we tell you which teams you should root against in the upcoming week.
The turmoil around college football this year has been terrific for the SEC. At this rate, the conference has a realistic chance to send two teams into the inaugural College Football Playoff. But so much can happen with half a season remaining. SEC fans should root for Big 12 chaos this weekend.
Notre Dame at Florida State: There’s no clear-cut pick for SEC fans in this one. If Notre Dame loses, it’s not out of playoff contention. The Fighting Irish already have beaten Stanford and still have games against Arizona State, Louisville and USC. A road loss to what could be an unbeaten FSU team would put Notre Dame in the wild discussion of potential one-loss playoff teams. Florida State probably does slip out of the playoff with a home loss here. For that reason, it may be best for the SEC if FSU loses now, then Notre Dame stumbles in the final month of the season.
Baylor at West Virginia: The Mountaineers ruined Oklahoma State’s 2013 season at home. WVU already gave Alabama and Oklahoma competitive games. Maybe it catches Baylor in recovery mode after a 21-point fourth quarter comeback against TCU. The SEC’s hopes for a second team in the playoff get much better if turmoil strikes the Big 12. Baylor and Oklahoma both would have excellent chances at a playoff bid even with a loss. So hanging an “L” on Baylor prior to the Bears’ trip to Norman, Okla., would be a boon for SEC fans.
Kansas State at Oklahoma: See above. The Wildcats’ lone loss is at home to Auburn, and by beating Oklahoma, KSU may start to creep into the national picture. But right now, a one-loss Oklahoma remains one of the SEC’s biggest playoff threats. The Sooners will have the pedigree and resume to make the playoff if OU wins its remaining games and finishes as the Big 12 champion. But lose here and Bob Stoops, Trevor Knight and the others will have to watch the College Football Playoff on TV.
Oklahoma State at TCU: Think this is a huge weekend in the Big 12? The top six teams all play each other. TCU has gotten rocked with back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Baylor, and QB Trevone Boykin is playing with an elbow injury. If the Horned Frogs keep winning, it’s not inconceivable the team could sneak back into the playoff discussion. The Cowboys also have only one loss, but almost fell to Kansas last week, and don’t figure to be a realistic threat even with a win at TCU.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
