Reactions from Week 6

Just as the polls were a little late this week due to the hurricane, as am I due to an extended weekend of travel.



The Over-Reaction:

• Texas A&M got past the 5-0 hurdle...they're Playoff bound now!
• 78-0 against Rutgers...Michigan has no flaws!
• It doesn't matter who's coaching Miami, they'll never beat Florida State!
• Houston has nothing left to play for this season! They lost a Division game, and their coach is bound to leave without a shot at the CFP!

The "Wait-and-See" Reaction:

• Wisconsin played Michigan close in a valiant affair. Can the Badgers do the same against Ohio State in Madison?
• UNC and Miami are coming off disappointing ACC losses. Who will suffer a second this coming weekend and see their Coastal Division aspirations take a major (if not fatal) blow?
• A pair of Broncos (Boise State and Western Michigan) are now the lone two unbeaten Group of Five teams. Both have made at least a reasonable effort in non-conference scheduling. Can either run the table, and if so, make a push for the New Year's Six?
• With close losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State in the last 2 weeks, is Iowa State building confidence toward an eventual season-impacting upset? Or will the Cyclones unravel and implode?
• Is Washington State - who started 0-2 against an FCS team and Boise State - a surprise PAC-12 North contender after beating Stanford and Oregon the last 2 weeks? The Cougars can absorb a loss and still make the Apple Cup a winner-take-all for the Division.
• Could the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC all be fighting for a second CFP slot at season's end? It's not out of the realm of possibility to see an at-large Bama/A&M, Ohio State/Michigan, or Clemson/Louisville stake a claim as being 4th-best.

Tony's Takeaways:

• Wow, has the PAC-12 beaten itself up! While Arizona State is theoretically still in contention, it's basically Washington-or-bust for a shot at the CFP! 
• The Group of Five race has officially become interesting! The American, MAC, and Mountain West all with a legitimate path to the Cotton Bowl. Depending on how things shake out, could we even see two of these teams (or perhaps non-champ Houston) squaring off in Arlington, TX?
• Just 20 or so miles apart, I was amazed at just how different UNC and NC State's field conditions were. A much better drainage system in Chapel Hill for sure! 
• And a great job to the Hokies, who made some rain-induced errors but didn't use the rain as an excuse as they POUNDED the Tar Heels 34-3. I am no longer hopeful for an 8-4 season, but now expectant! The Fuente-Foster pairing has worked wonders in 2016 so far!