My top 10 in the Playoff Rankings, WS Game 6 Braves vs. ‘Stros
Kirk Herbstreit put out his top 6 Saturday Night on the ABC broadcast of the Ohio State-Penn State game and he challenged viewers to do the same before the Committee releases its first top 25 Playoff rankings tonight at 6 on ESPN.
He had 1. Georgia, 2. Bama, 3. Ohio State? 4. Cincy, 5. Michigan State, 6. Oklahoma.
I’m going to do a little better than that. I’ll give you my top 10 according to White’s World’s statistical, Analytical and Eye Test system. Herbstreit has nothing on this. By the way, WT with an awesome prediction of Mississippi State over Kentucky last Saturday Night in Starkvegas, and Brownie wanted Michigan to lose to Michigan State and he got that. So, WT gets a point and Brownie gets a half point. Brownie will take the half point and an Auburn 31-20 victory over Ole Miss all day.
Here’s DW’s Top Ten.
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Georgia, No doubter here. That defense is as good as LSU’s in 2011 and Bama’s through the earlier Saban years. The interesting thing with Georgia is their quarterback situation. Will Kirby stick with Stetson Bennett or go back to J.T. Daniels going forward. Bennett has done a really good job though he threw a couple of interceptions last Saturday against Florida though it didn’t matter as much because of huge defensive tackler Jordan Davis, and linebacker Jacobi Dean anchoring the lockdown Junkyard defense. Dean had a pick six off the Gators. It was a beautiful catch and run to the house. The Dawgs are so good on defense that a game manager will work, though I know Smart wants more than that out of his quarterback. Will be interesting what he does going forward. While Daniels may be the better passer, Bennett gives Georgia a very good run element at the quarterback position. Daniels HAS to have pass pro or he’s sunk. He can’t run at all. So while there are mixed results from Bennett at times, overall he’s been terrific this season in place of Daniels. Kirby is a loyal guy. He likes the guy who puts on the hard hat and goes to work every day and Bennett has been doing that while Daniels has been sitting on the bench. He can’t go wrong either way, but I’d stick with Bennett until proven that Bennett is not the man. I like him to be the guy right now. The Dawgs can win with him.
2. Alabama, The Bryce Young factor puts the Tide barely ahead in 2nd. Young is 187 of 267, 70%, for 2,453 yards 26 TDs against 3 ints. He’s been phenomenal. The defense is still a question mark and the O Line has been having some issues. The talent is there as always, it’s just a matter of DC Pete Golding and offensive line Coach Doug Marrone getting it out of them. I have the Tide barely ahead of this next team which has been superbly impressive especially this past Saturday.
3. Michigan State, Mel Tucker said he didn’t like Michigan before the game, but it looked like Michigan was going to get the better of him and his team leading 30-14 in the third quarter. But as Tucker said, his team never quits. Kenneth Walker III put his team on his back rushing for 197 yards and 5 TDs to lead the Spartans to the 37-33 victory in one heckuva football game and in an incredible comeback by the Spartans. They are right there with the Crimson Tide. That was the most impressive victory of the year in college football. Walker III leads in the Heisman after last Saturday as far as I’m concerned. You couldn’t play a better game than he did with everything on the line. He’s rushed for 1,194 yards and 14 TDs and caught another. He’s second in the country in rushing behind Syracuse’s Sean Tucker, who’s rushed for 1,267 yards. But he’s the heartbeat of one of the top 3 teams in the country. He’s also got an excellent offensive line. This is just a high quality team. Tucker may have an opportunity at LSU after the season, but Michigan State is a really good place too. He’s got it going there. The sky’s the limit for this football team.
4. Cincinnati, Not as impressive the past two Saturdays just getting by Navy, 20-13, and playing OK against Tulane in a 31-12 victory. They need to play better and they have to go 13-0 to make it in, so there’s a lot of pressure on the Bearcats.
5. Oregon, How could you not put them in front of Ohio State? They defeated them head to head in Columbus. That was the second most impressive victory of the season. Still bullish on this team.
6. Oklahoma, Freshman quarterback Caleb Williams has put the Sooners on his back. Their defense is a lot better, but it’s not elite yet. Still, a very explosive football team that is right in the thick of things. Defense is improved for sure, but still gives up plenty of yards and points.
7. Ohio State, Penn State played them tough at Columbus. C.J. Stroud is playing well at quarterback for the most part, but they have games against Michigan State at home and Michigan on the road awaiting them and what could possibly be a tricky one at Nebraska this Saturday.
8. Baylor, Now this is another outstanding team. They can really run it, throw it and play aggressive defense. Impressive victories over BYU and Texas in their last two games. With their schedule left, they’ve got a shot to win the Big 12 and get in if they can get some help. They’d have to defeat Oklahoma, and they’ve got them a week from Saturday in Waco, November 13th. That’ll be a blockbustuh.
9. Texas A&M, this spot is really a hard one to pick between the Aggies and my next team. I’ll take the Aggies with their victory over the Crimson Tide for now. But that could very well change this Saturday at 2:30 PM on CBS.
10,. Auburn, Love what Bryan Harsin and his staff are doing. Bo Nix has found a rebirth at quarterback under Harsin and Mike Bobo and Tank Bigsby is a beast. This is a really good football team. At College Station Saturday at 2:30 PM on CBS. The game of the week and one of the games of the year.
World Series Game 6 Braves @ Astros
Minute Maid Park, Houston, it’ll be rockin with the roof closed up
7:08 PM CT
FOX
Joe, Smoltzie, Tom, Ken, Alex, Papi, Big Hurt, Kevin Burkhardt
Astros -130, that just means the Astros are favored
It’ll be Max Fried of the Braves going against Louis Garcia of the Astros. Fried has been rocked his last 2 times out, but has been terrific most of the season and Brian Snitker trusts him. Garcia is 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA in the World Series. He’s pitched a lot, so it’ll be interesting to see if the wear and tear of the postseason finally gets to him. Fried is fully rested. The bats will be critical with these 2 times colliding. Can Eddie Rosario, Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Adam Duvall outhit the formidable Astros lineup of Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley and company. The Braves defense will have to do well, particularly my man, shortstop Dansby Swanson. Can’t make errors tonight. The Braves pitching is in better shape and the bats are a wash between the two teams.
ESPN MLB savvy analyst and commentator Buster Only from? Vanderbilt University, had the Braves winning the Fall Classic in 6. I like that. Give me the Bravos to take home the World Series Trophy to the ATL for the first time in 26 years, that would be 1995, the last and only other World Championship for the team. This is a special group of players and Snitker is a special manager and guy. I know Walter will be a happy guy when this happens.
Braves 5, Astros 4
MVP
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, Rosario