Upsets Galore As We Enter Championship Week in This Week's Pool Poll

 

Rivalry Week could not have gone better in the Pool house as Eastern Michigan and Michigan dominated their rivals and the Ohio Bobcats clinched a spot in the MAC Championship. The Eagles earned a share of the MAC West title but lost the tiebreaker with Toledo. Meanwhile, the Wolverines planted the flag in Columbus where they dominated the Buckeyes for the first time on the road since 2000. They finally learned of their opponent when Purdue sheepishly won the Big Ten West.

More chaos ensued as Clemson and North Carolina limp into the ACC Championship with both teams losing their rivalry games to South Carolina and NCST respectively. Moose Muhammad single-handedly stunned LSU to knock them out of the playoff race. The Oregon Ducks were plucked after blowing a 34-10 lead to Oregon State. Georgia and TCU took care of business to ensure that three of the teams in the college football playoffs will remain the same. Here's a look at the conference championship lineup for this week:

AAC: Tulane (10-2) vs UCF (9-3)

ACC: Clemson (10-2) vs UNC (9-3)

Big Ten: Michigan (12-0) vs Purdue (8-4)

Big 12: TCU (12-0) vs. Kansas State (9-3)

CUSA: UTSA (10-2) vs North Texas (7-5)

MAC: Ohio (9-3) vs Toledo (7-5)

MWC: Boise State (9-3) vs Fresno State (8-4)

Pac 12: USC (11-1) vs Utah (9-3)

SEC: Georgia (12-0) vs LSU (9-3)

SBC: Coastal Carolina (9-2) vs Troy (10-2)

There is one spot that was clinched on Saturday when UMass (1-11) was waxed by Army 44-7 to ensure a last-place finish in the Pool Poll for the Minutemen. What's more interesting is that the bowl situation is slightly hectic. There is one spot left and three teams vying for that spot. Army is sitting at 5-6 and has a guarantee with a couple of bowl games if they become bowl eligible, but they don't play Navy until Dec. 10. Buffalo (5-6) is playing a make-up game with Akron (2-9) after they were snowed out. New Mexico State is looking for a 12th game after a tragedy at San Jose State caused the Spartans to cancel their matchup with the Aggies (5-6). If all three of these teams fail to reach six wins, then the spot will be filled with the best academic 5-7 team, which could be Michigan State. There are two teams guaranteed a spot as the Miami Redhawks (6-6) and UAB Blazers (6-6) won their way to Nassau for the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 16.

Here's a look at this week's Pool Poll heading into Championship Week:

1. TCU (-) 12-0, 56.1 WP, 0 LP

Last Week: 62-14 over Iowa State

Up Next: Big 12 Championship (Kansas State)

2. Michigan (+2) 12-0, 60.8, 0

Last Week: 45-23 dismantling of Ohio State

Up Next: Big Ten Championship (Purdue)

3. Georgia (-1) 12-0 64.9, 0

Last Week: 37-14 over Georgia Tech

Up Next: SEC Championship (LSU)

4. Ohio State (-1) 11-1, 65.2, 4

Last Week: More worried about crossing out Ms than covering Cornelius Johnson

Up Next: Pray that USC and TCU lose

5. USC (+1) 11-1, 72.2, 47

Last Week: 38-27 over Notre Dame

Up Next: Pac 12 Championship (Utah)

6. Alabama (+3) 10-2, 54.1, 3

Last Week: 49-27 over Auburn

Up Next: Also in need of some help

7. Penn State (+3) 10-2, 58.3, 6.5

Last Week: 35-16 over Michigan State

Up Next: Maybe the Citrus Bowl?

8. Clemson (-3) 10-2, 58.6, 41.5

Last Week: Stunned by South Carolina 31-30

Up Next: ACC Championship (UNC)

9. Tennessee (+2) 10-2, 60, 31

Last Week: Blanked Vanderbilt 56-0

Up Next: A date with Penn State?

10. Washington (+3) 10-2, 68.6, 70

Last Week: Win over Washington State

Up Next: Holiday Bowl?

11. Tulane (+5) 10-2, 76.6, 69

Last Week: 27-24 over Cincinnati

Up Next: AAC Championship (UCF)

12. Troy (+2) 10-2, 80.7, 36

Last Week: 48-19 over Arkansas State

Up Next: Sun Belt Championship (Coastal Carolina)

13. UTSA (+4) 10-2, 85.2, 45.5

Last Week: 34-31 rally past UTEP

Up Next: CUSA Championship (North Texas)

14. South Alabama (+5) 10-2, 94.7, 41

Last Week: 27-20 over Old Dominion

Up Next: A rare bowl appearance

15. Coastal Carolina (-8) 9-2, 86.9, 62.5

Last Week: Dismantled by future of the Sun Belt, James Madison, 47-7

Up Next: SBC (Troy)

16. LSU (-8) 9-3, 48.1, 51.3

Last Week: 38-23 upset of the hands at Texas A&M

Up Next: SEC Championship (Georgia)

17. Kansas State (+4) 9-3, 52, 33

Last Week: 47-27 over Kansas

Up Next: Big 12 Championship (TCU)

18. Oregon (-6) 9-3, 65.2, 16.3

Last Week: 38-34 collapse against Oregon State

Up Next: Not the Pac 12 Championship

19. UNC (-4) 9-3, 77.7, 72.7

Last Week: Double Overtime loss to NCST

Up Next: ACC Championship (Clemson)

20. Florida State (+4) 9-3, 78.2, 20

Last Week: 45-38 edging of Florida

Up Next: A decent bowl game

21. UCF (+1) 9-3, 78.7, 93

Last Week: 46-39 over USF

Up Next: AAC Championship (Tulane)

22. Oregon State (+6) 9-3, 82, 34.3

Last Week: 38-34 rally past Oregon

Up Next: A nice bowl game

23. UCLA (+2) 9-3, 84.3, 46.7

Last Week: 35-28 over Cal

Up Next: A nice bowl game

24. Utah (+2) 9-3, 88.7, 27

Last Week: 63-21 over Colorado

Up Next: Pac 12 Championship (USC)

 

25. Boise State (+4) 9-3, 88.7, 81.7

Last Week: 43-23 over Utah State

Up Next: Mountain West Championship (Fresno State)

Dropped Out: Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Ole Miss

Waiting List: Cincinnati, Ohio, Air Force, James Madison, Notre Dame, Mississippi State, NCST, Texas, South Carolina, Purdue, Ole Miss, Pitt, Illinois, Duke, and Liberty

Gone But Certainly Forgotten (Teams That Lost Bowl Eligibility...For Now?):

Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Rice, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Miami (FL), and Ball State