The 10th week of the college football season has many questions. Journalists/wannabe college football insiders Mark Bergin and Lara Saavedra try to answer some of them.
What’s your tweet-length reaction to Week 9 of the college football season?
Mark Bergin: Texas is back! Florida State suffered its worst loss ever at Doak Campbell Stadium in Clemson’s 59-10 thrashing of the Seminoles. It tied for the school’s worst margin of defeat ever, matching a 49-point loss to Florida in 1973.
Lara Saavedra: Week 9 was kind of uneventful due to the fact Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, Michigan, LSU and UCF all had a bye week. The most memorable moment honestly was this Northwestern coach getting ***hyped*** after the Wildcats’ win against Wisconsin. Loved. Every. Move.
Which Week 10 game are you most looking forward to?
Bergin: No. 6 Georgia at No. 9 Kentucky: Are the Wildcats actually legitimate this year or do the Bulldogs secure their way to their second consecutive appearance in the SEC title game? Regardless, the winner of this game – the SEC East winner – will likely get whipped by Alabama in the conference title game on Dec. 1.
Saavedra: No. 12 West Virginia at No. 15 Texas: Texas’ loss to Oklahoma State last week against Mike Gundy and company has the Longhorns looking for redemption. It’s a chance to switch up the narrative on which team plays in the Big 12 Championship next month. It’s a tossup for me. The homer in me wants West Virginia to win.
Which teams will make the College Football Playoff?
Bergin: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame (if the Fighting Irish remain undefeated) and Oklahoma.
Saavedra: Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Ohio State
Will Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa play in the fourth quarter this week?
Bergin: Am I crazy to think a 14.5-point spread isn’t enough for the Alabama-LSU game? I know the game is in Baton Rouge, but I think the Crimson Tide go another week with Tagovailoa resting in the fourth quarter.
Saavedra: Other than Saturday against LSU, I don’t think Tagovailoa will have to play in the fourth quarter for the rest of the season. Barring their opponent having a near-flawless game, I don’t think they’ll need to, but I think Tagovailoa plays against the Tigers.
ESPN’s College GameDay heads to Baton Rouge, Louisiana as the No. 4 LSU Tigers host No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide. Which team will Lee Corso pick?
Bergin: Alabama is king of the hill until someone knocks the Crimson Tide off.
How's this for a stat? Alabama is 8-0 against the first-half spread this year. The Crimson Tide are favored by 7.5 points in the first half Saturday against LSU.
Saavedra: To pick anyone other than Alabama would be lunacy, but then again, Lee Corso is everyone’s goofy loveable uncle. He just might pick the Tigers.
What will Sunday’s headline be?
Bergin: Georgia Bulldogs rip out the beating hearts of Kentucky Wildcats, “Temple of Doom” style (In honor of Clay Travis)
Saavedra: LSU Tigers have near-perfect game and beats the golden child Alabama Crimson Tide, “Rumble in the Jungle” style
Note: The AP Top 25 Poll is used for the team rankings throughout this story.
Mark Bergin is a journalist with 10News WTSP. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email him at mbergin@wtsp.com. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri.