National Review: SEC on Bye

SEC on Holiday

It's the yearly tradition of the SEC playing schools that really shouldn't have football teams.  You can expect it just like you can expect Thanksgiving every year.  These teams would've been better off scrimmaging themselves and charging admission.

South Carolina beat South Alabama 37-12.

Florida beat East Kentucky 52-3.

Georgia beat Charleston Southern 55-9.

Alabama beat Western Carolina 48-14.

Auburn beat Samford 31-7.

How are these games still a thing?  It's 2014!

Baylor Throttles Oklahoma State

The Cowboys have been a bit of kryptonite to the Baylor Bears.  Baylor really took it to Oklahoma State this year in a statement performance as they continue to jockey for the fourth spot in the playoffs.

Baylor outgained the Cowboys 579-397 while going 50% on third down and converting every fourth down attempt.  This game was over by the end of the first quarter after Baylor built a 21-7 lead and never looked back.

The Bears had two 100-yard rushers, Shock Linwood and Devin Chafin, who each had 21 carries with Chafin adding three touchdowns on the ground.

Florida State Needs Late Game Heroics... Again

WE TALKIN' BOUT THE NOLES!   Boston College rushed for 240 yards and avoided committing any turnovers in their narrow loss to Florida State.  The Seminoles never pulled away and traded scores with the Eagles throughout the game.  Boston College had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth but missed a field goal.  Florida State responded with a long drive of their own and hit the game-winning field goal with three seconds left.

Florida State will make the playoffs on the old idea alone that undefeated means better.  They haven't looked great once all year but at the end of the day haven't been beaten.  I hope the Ducks get these guys in the first playoff game.

Arkansas Shuts Out Ole Miss

This is a game that many will point to when they say the SEC just has depth.  In reality, Ole Miss probably wasn't as good as their record showed and Arkansas is much better than your typical 5-loss team.

Ole Miss had to fight in a phone booth on defense and was torched by 30 points.  The Rebel offense was absolutely stifled by a solid Razorback defense.  Ole Miss did themselves no favors by committing 6 turnovers.  Dr. Bo Wallace, mistake machine, has returned and he threw two interceptions and finished with a QBR of 11.6.

Notre Dame Continues Sliding

Notre Dame was one of the biggest paper tigers of the season until they played Florida State.  Their mediocrity against quality teams continues against Louisville.  The Notre Dame defense gave up 229 yards on the ground while the Irish offense averaged only 3.4 yards per carry.  Everett Golson's performance was average as he had a QBR of 50, showing once again that he struggles against top defenses.

Minnesota Tops Nebraska

Minnesota came back to stun Nebraska in their latest game keeping their hopes of winning the Big Ten West alive.  Nebraska had been in control of the game until David Cobb broke off a 17-yard run to bring the game back to a two-score difference.  Runs by Rodrick Williams and Mitch Leidner, the latter coming with 3:25 left, pushed the Gophers over the Blackshirts at Nebraska.

The Golden Gophers travel to Wisconsin this weekend and the winner moves on to the Big Ten title game to take on Ohio State.

If the Playoffs Were Today

1.     Alabama v. 4.  Mississippi State

2.     Oregon v. 3. Florida State