Teams with 1st Loss Week 9:
Michigan
Southern Methodist
San Diego State
Teams with 2nd Loss Week 9:
Iowa
Mississippi
Kentucky
Pittsburgh
Teams with 1st Win Week 9:
none
Maximum number of Undefeated Teams at the End of the Regular Season:
6: Michigan State, Georgia, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, UTSA, Wake Forest
-We lost one this week with San Diego State losing. This removes the chance at an unbeaten Mountain West team.
Teams with 1st loss:
Week 0 and 1: 41.53% (54 of 130)
Week 2: 34.21% (26 of 76)
Week 3: 32% (16 of 50)
Week 4: 23.53% (8 of 34)
Week 5: 34.62% (9 of 26)
Week 6: 23.53% (4 of 17)
Week 7: 15.38% (2 of 13)
Week 8: 18.18% (2 of 11)
Week 9: 33.33% (3 of 9)
Week 9 Thoughts:
-We no longer have any potential games between undefeated teams in the regular season. Michigan State won the in-state undefeated battle this week and SMU's loss removes the possibility of having undefeated vs. undefeated in the American.
-Pitt losing this week was a bigger deal than will generally be given credit. They were quietly rising a bit on odds to make the playoff before the surprise defeat to a Miami (FL) team that seems to be rising. This leave unbeaten Wake Forest as the conference's only hope for a CFP bowl team.
-Before the stroke of midnight marking the start of Halloween, Georgia was mathematically locked into the SEC Championship game. I understand why they do the schedule the way they do, but I have to say I would not want to have enough of the conference schedule completed before November to lock that in (that is just personal preference though). The SEC East might well not be decided until after the Iron Bowl after Thanksgiving (Auburn continues to control their own destiny).
–Speaking of SEC, we lost the 1-loss teams who were sticking around who were unlikely to make conference championship game in Kentucky and Ole Miss.
-The Big Ten's position for a playoff bowl is still good, but continues to go down a bit this week again. Iowa lost to Wisconsin, which means the representative from the west will have at least 2 losses going to Indianapolis. Meanwhile Ohio State/Michigan/Michigan State have 3 games left against each other (with only Michigan/Michigan State played and the latter two still having to face Penn State too). I think a 1-loss champ has very high odds for the CFP. I don't think a 2 loss champ does. For the Big Ten Championship Game, it is worth noting that Wisconsin controls its own destiny now despite its rocky start.
-Texas had chances the last few weeks to knock out (or at least damage) several Big 12 teams playoff bowl hopes, but after leading in the 4th vs. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Baylor, managed to lose them all. The Big 12 needs at least a 1-loss team to get in. In some circumstances, might need undefeated Oklahoma.
-With San Diego State's loss, only Cincinnati and UTSA remain unbeaten out of Group of 5 conferences. I think the American is now in a position to take the automatic NY6 bowl bid even with a 1-loss champion. There would be some argument if we have an undefeated UTSA, but my guess would be on the American. Now a 2-loss American champ might throw things up a little.
Week 10 Thoughts:
-We will have no more games between undefeated teams in the regular season.
Undefeated Wake Forest at North Carolina: This is actually considered a non-conference game. The two are in opposite divisions and don't play that much, so they scheduled this out of conference between each other. The ACC's only playoff bowl hopes rely on Wake Forest.
Undefeated Michigan State at Purdue: Purdue upset a then undefeated Iowa a few weeks ago. They are only small underdogs here now. Would help non-Big Ten teams to see the Spartans fall now after having already knocked down Michigan.
1-loss Oklahoma State @ West Virginia: The cowboys are only a small underdog here. Very much better for Big 12 to have its zero and 1 loss teams win.
1-loss Oregon @ Washington: Oregon a 6.5 point favorite here. PAC-12 likely out of playoff bowl race if Oregon loses.
1-loss SMU @ Memphis: SMU a 5.5 point favorite here. Cincinnati's case will be helped a lot if SMU and Memphis can keep winning now and it beats both teams.
Cal @ winless Arizona: Arizona 12 point underdogs here, but is probably about their best chance at a win left.
1-loss Baylor @ TCU: Baylor favored here by 6.5. TCU winning and knocking out 1 of the single loss Big 12 teams does help open some doors for others.
Winless UNLV @ New Mexico: UNLV only a small road underdog. They can get off the winless list with this game.
Remaining Undefeated Teams: ACC: 1, American: 1, Big 12: 1, Big Ten: 1, Conference USA: 1, Mountain West: 0, SEC: 1, total: 6
Wake Forest
Oklahoma
Cincinnati
Michigan State
Georgia
UTSA
1-Loss Teams: ACC: 0, American: 2, Big 12: 2, Big Ten: 2, Conference USA: 1, Mountain West: 1, PAC-12: 1. SEC: 1, Sun Belt: 2, independents: 1, total: 13
Houston
Baylor
Ohio State
UTEP
Oregon
Louisiana-Lafayette
Notre Dame
Alabama
Coastal Carolina
Oklahoma State
Southern Methodist
San Diego State
Remaining Winless Teams: Mountain West: 1, PAC-12: 1, total: 2
UNLV
Arizona
