Week 10

SEVEN Top 25 matchups. #1 v. #11. #2 v. #10. #3 v. #9. Bama-LSU in Death Valley. Buckeyes-Ducks in the Shoe. A Holy War in Salt Lake City.

Was this the best weekend of college football (on paper at least) in college football history? POTUS should have declared a national holiday. Your couch deserves a day off.

And amidst it all, the top storyline shines: after 4 weeks of carnage for the #2 team in the country, the 2nd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs SURVIVED. And by survived, I mean ripped the soul out of Oxford, Mississippi. Talk about exorcising a curse. FORTY-TWO to SEVEN. On the road. Against a Top 10 team. That demon is back in the Seventh Circle of Hell.

Unfortunately, the football gods turned their attention to the top spot in Week 10, dealing #1 Miami (FL) their first defeat of the season.

In South Bend, #11 Notre Dame jumped out to a commanding 24-3 lead over the top-ranked Canes. But if your crystal ball said blowout, Cristobal said no. The Hurricanes came roaring back, cutting the deficit to 7 late and threatening to complete one of the great comebacks of the season. The Fighting Irish were forced to use a “call a friend” lifeline. Get Jesus on the line. He answered. Notre Dame 31. Miami 24.

Speaking of Jesus, let's head west for that Holy War.

In what I believe was an inexplicable 10am local time kickoff time, #3 Utah welcomed #9 BYU for one of the most consequential editions of their bitter rivalry in years. And the Utes delivered, blanking the Cougars in the 2nd half. Utah 28. BYU 20. My formerly beloved Cougars, who just 3 weeks ago were celebrating their monumental victory over #2 Notre Dame, have now lost 2 of their last 3 games. The Utes, meanwhile, remain undefeated at 9-0.

Meanwhile, in Columbus, the Ohio State Buckeyes are officially cooked. Seven days after getting embarrassed by USC, the Buckeyes welcomed #23 Oregon to town, jumped ahead 14-0, and then surrendered THIRTY-EIGHT unanswered points. Oregon 41. Ohio State 28.

It’s the first time the scarlet and gray have lost consecutive regular season games since 2011. 

Down in SEC country, two programs delivered emphatic statements.

#13 Tennessee absolutely dismantled #6 Kentucky 34-6. SIX POINTS from the 6th-ranked team in America. Neyland was ROCKING. And #5 Alabama marched into Baton Rouge as a 6-point underdog and beat #14 LSU 31-13. Lane Kiffin looking a lot like Brian Kelly these days…

Of course, this being the SEC, we still managed to squeeze in some controversy.

#7 Texas escaped #18 Missouri 34-20, aided by an officiating performance that had Mizzou fans seeing burnt orange. Missouri led 20-13 late in the third quarter before a questionable fumble ruling helped Texas extend a drive that eventually tied the game.

And while the traditional powers continue to beat the living hell out of one another, two programs have quietly emerged as the last undefeated teams standing.

Utah, as mentioned earlier.

And UCLA. Yes. UCLA.

The #8 Bruins improved to 9-0 with a 34-20 win over Minnesota. Their remaining regular-season schedule? Illinois, Michigan, and USC. Not exactly a cakewalk. But hardly a death march.

Around the rest of the OTC slate, #19 Iowa beat Northwestern 24-10, handing the Wildcats their second consecutive loss. Remember when we were asking if Northwestern was actually good? The investigation is rapidly approaching a verdict.

And Air Force knocked off Army 24-21 to claim the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Go… Air Force? Beat Army!

In OTC, we have a THREE-WAY tie atop the Week Ten leaderboard. DSS, John Cochtosin, and David's USA each posted 43 points to share the weekly crown.

Atop the overall standings, WahooWa continues to set the pace with 367 points, opening up a 12-point lead over Juan's 1st Entry and 404NoPointsFound, tied for second at 355. Kybow Picks is breathing down their necks at 354, with Circlecityandy just one point behind at 353.

And don't sleep on the pack at 351: Walla Walla JRobb, Tyler's 2nd Entry, and Back 2 Back.

Eight entries within 16 points of second place. This thing is FAR from over with 4 weeks to go.

And then there's THE. Like his likely namesake Ohio State, talk about a bed shitting. 17 points. Dead last on the week. AGAIN.

I know what you’re thinking. Does that mean Diamond Dave’s 1st Entry was NOT last? That’s correct. Davey posted a very respectable 34 points in Week 10. A pulse! Signs of life! 

Ten weeks down, and November is officially upon us. If this season has taught us anything, it's that no ranking is safe and no contender is immune.

Week 11 awaits. Only 4 weeks remain. And after what we just witnessed, I wouldn't dare predict what comes next. No rest for the weary. Think you're slick? Make that pick!

 

 

              VEGAS

#9 BYU @ #3 Utah (-4.5)

#8 UCLA (-4.5) @ Minnesota

#7 Texas (-2.5) @ #18 Missouri

#23 Oregon @ #12 Ohio State (-7.5)

#5 Alabama @ #14 LSU (-6)

#6 Kentucky @ #13 Tennessee (-6.5)

#1 Miami @ #11 Notre Dame (-7.5)

Air Force @ Army (-3)

#2 Georgia (-3.5) @ #10 Ole Miss

#19 Iowa @ Northwestern (-2.5)