We’re coming around the home stretch. This is the “calm before the storm” weekend where many games can be considered “under the radar”. And while there isn’t a wide selection of ranked matchups this weekend, there are indeed some games that could become huge traps for some top teams.
Kansas State at West Virginia
A Thursday night matchup with plenty of CFP implications. While both teams will surely see this as a critical game in and of itself, this game could also go a long way in settling the Baylor/TCU debate. A K-State win should set up an epic Wildcat/Bear finale on Championship Saturday, barring major upsets by Oklahoma State, Kansas, or Texas Tech. And while a WVU win would make TCU’s big win against K-State a little less impressive, it would help reinforce the comparative results against the Mountaineers in Morgantown (Baylor lost, TCU won) – perhaps the best comparison that works in favor of the Frogs.
North Carolina at Duke
Between this and the K-State/WVU game, this should be a fantastic Thursday night for college football! Some of the major impacts are obvious (Duke gunning for 10 wins and a Coastal title again by winning their last 2, Georgia Tech already with a share of the Coastal but needing Duke out of the way in order to go to Charlotte) – some others less so. Like last year, the Tar Heels got off to an awful start yet are now in position to end its regular season on a 5-1 run. Can UNC get the Victory Bell back to Chapel Hill, and follow it up with a win against already-bowl-eligible NC State to complete the déjà vu?
Marshall at UAB
I suspect this game will be a rout, but UAB has some potential on its side. First off, the Blazers played valiantly against Arkansas and Mississippi State. Second, they’ve done this kind of thing before (in November 2011, they beat a ranked Southern Miss team that may have otherwise gone to a BCS Bowl). And third – program pride! With talks of a possible football closure, a big win over a ranked team could do wonders to revitalize the UAB program! As for Marshall…just keep winning! A blowout would be particularly nice for the Herd – especially when comparing the UAB games against the two SEC teams. If 10-0 isn’t enough for a CFP committee ranking, surely 11-0 with yet another convincing win must be!
Maryland at Michigan
After a disastrous 3-game stretch that many believed spelled the end for Brady Hoke, the Wolverines have quietly gone on a 3-1 run in the last month. Can a 5-1 finish (4 in a row, which would also mean a win over a highly-ranked Buckeye squad in Columbus) be enough to change that fate? Maybe, maybe not. One thing’s for sure: losses to BOTH of the Big Ten newcomers would have to signify the need for change (particularly since the AD already stepped down). And don’t count out Maryland. The Terps can still finish at 8-4, perhaps 9-4 and ranked with a bowl win, and make a statement that they indeed intend to contend in the years to come.
Miami at Virginia
Like the Maryland/Michigan game above, this has more to do with the possible coaching future than the game itself. After a close, heartbreaking loss against major rival FSU, the Hurricanes could very well be due for a major physical/emotional letdown. Playing a night game in the cold Charlottesville weather can’t possibly help! Both fan bases are grumbling loudly at their head coaches – remember: UVA has gone from 4-2 to 4-6, due in part to some hilariously awful late game coaching blunders. The losing coach of this game may end up playing himself out of a job, or at least find himself on a red-hot seat. But then again, the winning team could use the experience to sprint to the finish, and salvage at least some optimism as a program moving forward.
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