Top-ranked Georgia enjoyed an off week as it prepares for the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party against Florida. Given how lackluster—and perhaps even downright bad—the other highly-ranked teams in the nation looked on Saturday, the Bulldogs had a successful time at the office simply by sitting on their couches. And their National Championship odds did, in fact, improve (albeit just slightly from +125 to +120). It was a thoroughly unspectacular weekend for the likes of Cincinnati, Oklahoma, and Alabama even in victories.
Let’s reflect on what transpired this week on the college football gridiron and what it means.
In the era of the College Football Playoff, sleepy semifinal games have been an annual tradition. Obviously there have been some exceptions (the Rose Bowl between Georgia and Oklahoma, for example) but far too many times we see Alabama and Clemson just beating up on people (mostly Notre Dame).
Well, we could be in store for more of the same this season assuming both UGA and ‘Bama are part of the quartet and the committee finds a way to prevent them from playing against each other in the semis. Oklahoma and Cincinnati are the other two teams currently in semifinal position and neither looked good on Saturday. OU survived yet another competitive contest, this time scoring a 35-23 come-from-behind victory over Kansas. Cincy scraped past Navy 27-20.
In addition to their scare against KU, the Sooners have won five games by single-digits. That includes a 5-point margin vs Tulane, a 7-point win over Nebraska, and a 6-poing defeat of Kansas State. This team just isn’t very good. If the Sooners somehow win the Big 12 (far from a look with three straight top-25 opponents in Baylor, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State to close their schedule), they will surely get humiliated by Georgia or Alabama in the CFP semis.
But, hey, at least Caleb Williams made an incredible play.
On 4th and 1 Caleb Williams just did this 😱 https://t.co/fvtjO8S1O8
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) October 23, 2021
Heisman Trophy odds generally fluctuate wildly throughout every college football season. Since Crimson Tide QB Bryce Young and Ole Miss signal-caller Matt Corral became the top two favorites early in the season, nothing of the sort has happened. They have remained as the No. 1 and No. 2 favorites with room to spare. But with more than a month left in the regular season, there is still plenty of time to see some movement and I am not about to touch one of the favorites.
Instead, a better play is on Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett at +1000. Yes, it’s time to get on the bandwagon. Pickett has tossed 23 touchdown passes compared to only 1 interception and the Panthers are 6-1 following Saturday’s 27-17 win over Clemson.
If Young gets stymied by Georgia’s incredible defense in the SEC Championship and Corral’s Rebels lose at least one more time (likely to either Auburn or Texas A&M), the door could be wide open for Picket—who plays a much softer schedule in the ACC.
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