College Football’s New Year’s 6 Watch, Week 12: Cincinnati a lock?
By Dante Pryor
2. No. 8 BYU Cougars (8-0)
There is an old country saying, “the meat is off the bone.” That is true about BYU’s schedule. Here on the watch, it’s flip a coin between BYU and Liberty. It is a toss-up between the schedule and the eye test. While Liberty has a better schedule, BYU has laid waste to everyone they’ve defeated this season.
One could argue BYU’s score differential — 31.3 points per game — would not be that ridiculous if the Cougars played Liberty’s schedule. The fact that BYU is ranked No. 8 and Liberty No. 21 is silly, however.
1. No. 7 Cincinnati Bearcats (7-0, 5-0 AAC)
The Bearcats need a lot to happen if they are going to sneak in the back door of the National Semifinal. No matter what anyone thinks of USC, if the Trojans get seven games in and run the table, they are the fourth seed in the National Semifinal. There is no scenario an undefeated Power Five gets snubbed for a Group of Five team with no Power Five wins on its schedule.
Right in front of them, however, it making sure they get into the AAC championship game. The Bearcats need to focus on an always dangerous UCF team and tough and undefeated Tulsa to close the season.