The Eliminator: 3rd Edition
I hope you guys have been keeping up with Patrick Stevens' columns about the impending hellfire that could be the "Bowl-Pocalyspe" come season's end. We've got 44 teams with bowl spots all sewn up while 61 teams remain in limbo land. While the ranks of the bowl eligible are swelling rapidly the the disqualifications are slowly mounting as well; some fifteen teams are completely eliminated from post-season play.
Of those eliminated we've got a couple teams very familiar with the painfully soul crushing teeth of The Eliminator. In just two short weeks we've seen Washington State, Vanderbilt and Maryland wiped from righteous path towards endless SWAG and a month of practice.
This week we've got a robust class as the season's end is a mere three weekends away. The ranks have grown from four teams to a healthy helping of ten teams ready to get Christmas break started early. Notice newest Eliminator toy the Wheel of Death:
Let's see what happens in this edition of The Eliminator so read more...
Point Spread:
NC State +8.5
Purdue +1.5
We've got three favorites hanging out at the gallows this weekend; Wake and Illinois by way of a quarterback injury and the Fighting Kragthorpe's through the inevitable favoritism that comes with being "the school playing Syracuse."
Indiana's a 26 point dog but the Syracuse Orangemen fill the requisite role of being the most awfulest team of the week as they're the standard touchdown dog to fellow Eliminator contestant Louisville.
Indiana looks like the easy choice but if last week taught us anything it taught us GO WITH THE TEAM WHO IS AN UNDERDOG TO ANOTHER ELIMINATOR TEAM!
The Eliminator politely passes on the Hoosiers and devours the chilled Orangemen.
Opponent Quality:
NC State vs Clemson
Purdue vs
Only one BCS ranked team at the Eliminator's disposal this week as Penn State takes on the Hoosiers. There are no real juggernauts as FSU's offense is without their go-button in Ponder. The Beavers have been surprising but Washington has beaten USC and had Notre Dame on the ropes. Syracuse and Louisville would have trouble against some high school teams and BC is about as explosive as a sparkler; unless they're playing NC State.
The only team that's been scary to date is Clemson with Heisman candidate CJ Spiller. Heading up to Raleigh to play a team that has literally stopped no one since week three expect the kid to have a huge day. I'm thinking two punt return TDs, one TD reception, two rushing TDs but only one kickoff return TD since NC State probably won't score a touchdown.
The Eliminator takes CJ Spiller's output alone, gives the 8.5 and snuffs out NC State
Game Locale:
Not much to choose from unless you count Papa John's Stadium as one of the more enticing venues in America. There's a slight nod to teams knowing their back's against the wall and playing at home. No one wants to get capped in front of their fat little girlfriend. You'd rather have that humiliation happen when you're out of town and the game is only available via pay-per-view satellite or the myth that is ESPN360.
The only venue that stands out among the monoliths in this week's round up is Beaver Stadium at State College. The Nittany Lions will be 100,000+ strong there to root on the bruised and ego hurt home team. After last week's debacle you can expect Joe-Pa's team to be focused and feast on another soft team that enters their football palace.
The Hoosiers turn finally comes as the Eliminator cannot ignore the 26 point spread or the fact that Daryll Clark and Evan Royster played like garbage a week ago.
The Intangibles:
We'll do a quick run down of the biggest reason a team can or in most cases cannot prolong the meaninglessness of their season:
NC State has no defense, they haven't talked anyone since September and CJ Spiller is driving his Heisman bus straight out on to Carter-Finley's field.
Wake Forest has got a puncher's chance. They play Jimbo Fisher's prodigal son EJ Manuel in his first start so the experienced Deacons have a shot to stave off elimination.
Virginia is turning the Al Groh show into a yearly occurrence and with their standard on and off again styled play they can go from losing 52-17 to Da U to beating BC in an ugly game.
Colorado is playing the only team in the Big 12 North that's been worse than them this past decade. At least most of this team knows what its like to beat the Cyclones.
Syracuse and Louisville are going to be embroiled in the tickle fight of the season. Kragthorpe's era will be ending while Doug Marrone's finishing up the first of at least two season's for the 'Cuse.
Illinois' playing the best football that Champaign's seen since 2007 and although the Juiceman is out, Eddie McGee can keep the "Save Ron Zook" war chant rolling.
The Boilermakers were last week's victim and after screwing up my prediction they will fall just one week later to a worse team.
Washington goes to take on the gallant Brothers Rodgers and the fact that they lead the Beavers in every category should make Sarkisian a little wet in the pants.
Two words for the Hoosiers. Senior. Night. Paternoville started getting set up on Tuesday; last home game for guys like Daryll Clark and Sean Lee for sure as well as possibly Evan Royster and Navorro Bowman.
Generally the Eliminator doesn't go in for all that sentimental feelings type stuff but hey when in Rome. The Lions got their brains beat in last week, they lost their mojo and they are now faced with a senior night that will spell destruction for the Hoosiers.
The Verdict:
This week folks you get a five for one deal as at least half of this field is going down to the gluttony of the Eliminator. Plus I want them gone so that I can create an all new Wheel Of Death.
NC State, Washington, Indiana, Louisville and Virginia. That's right folks the Orange beat the Cardinals. Marrone gets at least one Big East win to ride into the awesome recruiting season with. Perhaps the Paulus' have another little brother down the street.
