TCU looks to be in if it wins Saturday
Star-Telegram writers Jimmy Burch and Carlos Mendez sound off on the issues of the day in College Confidential at star-telegram.com.
No. 3 TCU (10-1) and No. 6 Baylor (10-1) make their final statements to the College Football Playoff selection committee in Saturday’s games. How do you handicap each team’s chances of reaching the four-team bracket?
Jimmy: TCU is in the best shape of any team in the country to make the playoff field because it sits within the projected playoff pool and faces the weakest remaining opponent (Iowa State) of any CFP candidate. Baylor must beat No. 9 Kansas State, combined with losses from two other teams (No. 4 Florida State, No. 5 Ohio State) to have a good chance. That’s not likely, but it’s not impossible, either.
Carlos: TCU’s built up so much credit with the committee, even a modest 35-20 win probably keeps you in the bracket, if not the 3 seed. Baylor is two spots out, which is still reachable. But the committee gave a pretty clear signal that Florida State has a cushion at No. 4. It may be only two spots that Baylor has to make up, but it sounds like a long two spots.
TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin is one of three finalists for the 2014 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, an honor named for the Horned Frogs’ 1938 Heisman Trophy winner. What needs to happen for Boykin to become the first TCU quarterback to deliver an O’Brien acceptance speech at the Fort Worth Club?
Jimmy: He’ll need Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota to have a dreadful performance while losing to Arizona in Friday’s Pac-12 title game. If the Ducks win, the hardware belongs to Marcus.
Carlos: If Boykin can put together a five- or six-touchdown game, running and/or passing, all while leading TCU to a share of its first Big 12 championship and a spot in the sport’s first playoffs, in the very home of the trophy, let him have it.
What upsets, if any, are most likely to unfold in Saturday’s conference championship games that will help shape the CFP playoff field?
Jimmy: The two that Baylor needs, No. 11 Georgia Tech over No. 4 Florida State (ACC), and No. 13 Wisconsin over No. 5 Ohio State (Big Ten), are the two most likely to unfold. No. 7 Arizona dusted No. 2 Oregon (Pac-12) earlier this year but I’m expecting payback Friday.
Carlos: If I was a betting man, which I’m not, my money would be on Wisconsin and Melvin Gordon over Ohio State. That is one nice back.
When the CFP selection committee announces its playoff bracket Sunday, which four schools do you envision being part of the mix?
Jimmy: The current top four advance (Alabama, Oregon, TCU, Florida State), but the order might be different. I could see Florida State regaining the No. 3 spot with an ACC title.
Carlos: It’s hard to argue against those four. But what if ’Bama, Oregon and FSU all win by a field goal and TCU rolls by four touchdowns? Frogs get to wear the home unis on New Year’s?
This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 6:21 PM with the headline "TCU looks to be in if it wins Saturday."