What to Watch: Week 10

We're bringing back this segment of the blog, now that we've got some elimination games going on.  Instead of necessarily pointing out the biggest or most intriguing games, we'll be pointing out the games that will shape the conference races the most.


Saturday, November 4

Noon
#7 Penn State at #24 Michigan State, FOX.  The battle for second place behind Ohio State.

Baylor at Kansas.  The loser will be officially eliminated from Big 12 contention.

Florida at Missouri, ESPN2.  Missouri is already out but needs to start winning if they want to go bowling.  Florida will be playing the first game under an interim coach, and immediately plays an elimination game.

3 PM
Georgia Tech at UVA, RSN.  This game is a small, but important key to the Coastal race.  UVA is also fighting for bowl eligibility, which has been just outside of their reach for the last two weeks.

3:30 PM
#4 Clemson at #20 NC State, ABC.  The first of two de facto ACC semi-finals this week.  The remaining contenders in the Atlantic will be rooting for NC State.

South Carolina at #1 Georgia, CBS.  An elimination game for most of the SEC East.  Georgia can clinch the division with a win here and a loss by Kentucky.

#6 Ohio State at Iowa, ESPN.  An OSU win could eliminate the teams at the bottom of both Big Ten divisions.

#15 Iowa State at West Virginia, ESPN2.  Iowa State has a history of not being very good, but still managing to ruin the season of one Big 12 team.  This year, they've already done that twice, and if they keep it up, they're going to singlehandedly keep the Big 12 out of the Playoff.  Meanwhile, WVU has been jumping that line of ranked vs. unranked.  I have a feeling they'll end the season about where they started, ranked in the 20s.

Maryland at Rutgers, BTN.  The loser of this game is eliminated if Ohio State wins.

#21 Stanford at #25 Washington State, FOX.  This game has implications for the top and bottom to the Pac-12 North.

4 PM
#5 Oklahoma at #11 Oklahoma State, FS1.  This game was moved from its traditional post-Thanksgiving spot because the Big 12 is afraid that it will end up being a championship game rematch.  In the somewhat confusing Big 12 conference race, this game is a big key that will cause separation.

8 PM
#13 Virginia Tech at #10 Miami, ABC.  The other de facto ACC semi-final.  It's also an elimination game for VT.  The remaining contenders in the Coastal are also rooting for VT to win to keep their chances alive.  If Miami and GT both win, then Miami clinches the Coastal.

#19 LSU at #2 Alabama, CBS.  The Championship of Life is once again up for grabs.  An Alabama loss would keep the rest of the SEC West alive, as well as keeping the season fun.

10:45 PM
Arizona at USC, ESPN.  It's a battle for the two teams that still control their destiny in the Pac-12 South.