What Must Happen for Notre Dame Saturday...

Here's my "two cents" as it relates to the most favorable outcomes in Saturday's Conference Championship games involving top ranked teams:

 

NOON ET Kick-off:  Oklahoma State (+5.5 pts) vs. Baylor (on ABC)

• Notre Dame will hope that Baylor finds a way to beat the Cowboys
• If they do -- Notre Dame moves up to #5 in rankings

 

4:00 PM ET Kick-off:  Georgia (+6.5 pts) vs. Alabama (on CBS)

• Notre Dame will hope that Georgia beats Bama by 14+ points
• If the game is closer than that, I fear Bama stays in top 4 -- though they have no business doing so with their very difficult wins over some average teams these last few weeks
• Georgia's average margin of victory this season:  32.4 points
  
• If Bama gets walloped -- Notre Dame moves up in the rankings 
  

 

4:00 PM ET Kick-off:  Cincinnati (+10.5 pts) vs. Houston (on ABC)

• Notre Dame needs Houston to beat Cincinnati -- but not by much
• If Cincinnati loses -- Notre Dame moves up in the rankings

 

8:00 PM ET Kick-off:  Michigan (+10.5 pts) vs. Iowa (on FOX)

• Notre Dame needs Iowa to beat Michigan
• This would more than likely be the biggest upset of the day
  

 

So, here is our best route to the College Football Playoffs:

1. Decisive win for Georgia over Alabama -- this is a must
• Get Bama out of top 4 in final poll
  
2. And, then we just need one upset in the next three games
• Bettors believe the closest game will be Baylor vs. Oklahoma State
  
3. If this happens -- we have a GREAT shot of making the CFB Playoffs