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At this point it’s common knowledge that Mr. Barta and his cartel of corrupt henchmen have made their feelings towards the Cincinnati Bearcats football team incredibly clear. Each week they come go on television and do mental backflips to distort reality. The Cincinnati Bearcats should already be in the top 4 and ready to make their playoff birth.
The Bearcats still have some decent challenges left on their schedule. The Bearcats host 8-2 SMU this Saturday at Historic Nippert Stadium, a game they’re favorited in by 12+ points, then they travel to Greenville, NC to take on a bowl eligible ECU Pirates team. If all goes according to plan, the Bearcats will host #24 Houston in the AAC Championship game. Repeating as AAC Champs would make the Bearcats 13-0.
We’ve been told however, that winning the conference and going 13-0 isn’t enough. The Bearcats “need some help” to breakthrough that glass ceiling. The Bearcats are being forced to rely on chaos to get in. All season the talking heads have told Bearcats fans to wait on the chaos. With just two weeks left it’s time for the chaos to get going. So, let’s look at the schedules that lay ahead for the teams that are in contention for one of the coveted top 4 spots and some scenarios that would leave UC out or push them in.
First up, the schedules.
1-seed Georgia —– Charleston Southern —— Georgia Tech ——– SEC Championship Game
2-seed Alabama —– @ #21 Arkansas —– Auburn —— SEC Championship Game (not guaranteed)
3-seed Oregon —– @ #23 Utah —— Oregon State —— PAC12 Championship Game (Most likely vs. Utah)
4-seed Ohio State —– #7 Michigan State —— @ # 6 Michigan —— Big 10 Championship game (Not guaranteed)
5-seed Cincinnati —— SMU —— @ ECU —— AAC Championship game vs #24 Houston (not guaranteed)
6-seed Michigan —— @ Maryland —— #4 Ohio State —— Big 10 Championship game (Not likely)
7-seed Michigan State —– @ #4 Ohio State —– Penn State —– Big 10 Championship game (Not likely)
8-seed Notre Dame —— Georgia Tech —– @ Stanford
There’s a lot happening there so let’s take a look at some of the most likely scenarios.
Scenario 1
Georgia wins out — in
Alabama loses to Georgia in the SEC Championship — probably in
Oregon loses to Utah this week — Oregon is out
Ohio State wins out — in
UC wins out — in
Scenario 2
Georgia loses to Alabama in the SEC Championship game — Georgia is still in
Alabama wins out — in
Oregon wins out — in
Ohio State wins out — in
UC is out
Scenario 3
Georgia wins out — in
Alabama loses to Auburn — out
Oregon loses to Utah — out
UC wins out — in
Michigan wins out — in
Notre Dame wins out — in
Scenario 4
Georgia wins out — in
Alabama loses to Georgia — probably in
Oregon loses to Utah — out
Ohio State loses to Michigan State — out
Michigan State wins out — in
UC wins out — in
If you’ve made it this far you’ve probably noticed that the Bearcats should be pulling for Oregon and Alabama to lose as many games as possible for the rest of the short season that’s left. Oregon losing once or twice to Utah is key. Alabama losing to Auburn in the Iron Bowl could make Bearcats fan’s lives much easier. Are these all the scenarios? No, not at all but they’re the ones I think are most likely to possibly happen.
Big 10 Thoughts
At this rate the winner of the Big 10 is in, unless they come out of the Big 10 west (Wisconsin), which is highly unlikely. Michigan State winning out is also very unlikely at this point. I also would not put my money on Michigan to beat Ohio State. I think Ohio State will make it in.
Notre Dame
They’re a long shot as is but there’s still a chance and with the committee’s willingness to complete disregard head to head matchups, maybe they’re not that far out.
Bottom line
Go Utes! Go Beavers!
Go Razorbacks! Go Tigers!
Go Bearcats!