Badgers Inch Closer to the CFB Playoff
On Tuesday, the CFB Playoff Committee came out with another round of rankings. These nights haven’t been friendly to Wisconsin thus far, but last night, they saw their first window of opportunity. Wisconsin is the first team out at number five with Alabama, Clemson, Miami and Oklahoma taking the four spots. Badgers will need to win out to make the playoff, and that’s been established. Yet I think we can officially say that if Wisconsin wins out, they’re in. No question about it.
Good news for Wisconsin is all of these teams will have challenges in the next three weeks.
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- Alabama will have to play Auburn in two weeks then if they win, an Alabama-Georgia showdown in Atlanta.
- Clemson and Miami have an ACC Championship date in two weeks, and while the Tigers have themselves an easy couple weeks, Hurricanes have an obvious letdown home game against Virginia this week then a predictable chilly road trip to Pittsburgh.
- Oklahoma has a cakewalk this week with Kansas then home game versus West Virginia while awaiting who will be playing them in a Big 12 championship whether it’s TCU or Oklahoma State. Either way, both teams will likely not carry the same weight as the other championship games.
Wisconsin knows their road isn’t easier as well. Michigan looks really good in the last three weeks with Brandon Peters, and their defense apparently woke up. It’s going to be a dogfight where points will be at a premium. Minnesota isn’t good, but P.J. Fleck would love nothing more than to stamp his season with a win over their hated rival. They also could be looking for bowl eligibility if the Gophers cannot beat Northwestern on the road this week. Ohio State will be waiting for them in the Big 10 championship barring anything crazy.
Whether Wisconsin was in or not, this is when college football is at its best. Multiple teams, multiple situations where we are three weeks out from knowing the CFB Playoff teams and we have zero idea who they will be.
Charlie.