Tis The Season: Week 8 Takeaways

Late October is when CFB really starts to get fun (I mean, it’s always fun, but it really starts to heat up). The last two weekends have been proof of why. Another weekend of statements. Another #2 goes down.

It wasn’t the sexiest slate by any means. But it was fun and things are shaking up. So, here we go on week 8:

1. Michigan does – in fact – control their own destiny.

This game had all the makings of a great rivalry game. From start to finish.

But it was all Michigan in this one. The score doesn’t do it justice. The Wolverines dominated their in-state rival. No, it wasn’t a pretty win. But it works. I mean MSU had a grand total of 94 yards. Woof.

This Harbaugh team has all the makings of a playoff team right now: The defense is unreal good. Shea Magic plays his role inside this system well. The ground game does just enough to be effective. Their only loss is to undefeated Notre Dame.

We’ll see. I can’t wait for Michigan/OSU. Speaking of…

2. Ohio State doesn’t deserve to be in the playoffs. 

Sure, this may be an overreaction. But I don’t give a fuck if they win out. You can’t get absolutely shellacked by an un-ranked team (who lost to Eastern Michigan) with one of the most talented rosters in the country, a Heisman candidate at QB and Urban Meyer – albeit not a great guy – as your head coach and deserve one of those 4 spots. I know it’s happened before, but I’m salty because I’ve been high on OSU and Dwayne Haskins all year.

(I realize that this is in a vacuum, but I just think OSU stunk out loud so bad that they don’t deserve it. What a disaster. We’ll see what happens when they play the fighting Portnoys.)

Credit to Jeff Brohm too. He coached a hell of a game.

3. Apparently OU can actually play some defense.

Let’s be honest, nobody in the Big 12 can play great defense. But if anybody can, it’s usually Gary Patterson’s teams. Not on Saturday. Kyler Murray did Kyler Murray things (So much so that TCU fans wanted his autograph) and they had 300+ on the ground.

But more importantly for the Sooners: On the flip side, the Ruffin McNeill era in Norman started out well. The Sooners were able to stop an offense in the red zone for the first time all year and figured out how to finally slow down a passing attack. TCU isn’t a good football team this year, but it was still a good bounce back win for a team that lost to rival Texas a few weeks ago.

4. It’s still Alabama… and everybody else.

Sure, Tennessee stinks. But this team can’t be stopped. I still contend that they’re the best team in the country and it’s not close. They continue to dominate. In a microcosm, your 2018 Heisman winner continued to dominate too. Tua showed zero signs of slowing down even after a knee injury. Up next: LSU.

PS – LOL at intern Butch Jones Gatorade bath. What an embarrassment.

Advertisement

5. Clemson is going to the playoff. Mark it down.

The NC State game was a perfect opportunity for Clemson to prove it’s not as good as it’s ranking and Dabo’s team didn’t blink. It got ugly in a hurry. Not to mention, Trevor Lawrence had a career high night.

If you look at the rest of their schedule, it’s an absolute cake walk. (I feel like I’ve used that term a million times for Clemson this season). As expected, their going to waltz through the ACC easily and take one of those four coveted spots.

6. I love Mike Leach.

What a weekend in Pullman. I mean there was an actual state of emergency. Insanity. I love everything Mike Leach (friend of the program – shout out #ComebackSZN) does.

It was 27-0 at half. Naturally, Justin Herbert and Oregon didn’t go quietly and got it close late in the game, but Washington State was just too much in the end. Gardner Minshew came up big for the Cougars.

Cannibalism in the Pac-12 continues.

7. Nebraska finally won a football game.

Bless up, Huskers.

———–

We’re headed to Jacksonville this weekend for a live CFB show before the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Come one, come all. Let’s get weird.