Jarvis Benjamin Variety Hour

So this won’t be a Top 25. This will be the first ever Jarvis Benjamin CFP Ranking/Conference Championship Preview/Tranfer Portal Preview(?)! To be totally honest: I don’t totally see the point in ranking teams such as Oregon State and Missouri. Yes, they have had awesome seasons; and they will get their love in the Jarvis Benjamin Bowl Preview. For right now? I just don’t see the point in writing about how I think that Oklahoma is the 13th best team in the country. 

I won AGAIN last week. 4-2; which brings this season’s record to 51-34-1. I am sitting at 59.3 which is more than enough to turn a profit. If you know me, you know how badly I want to end the year above 60%. I will definitely have a Bowl Preview article (and winners); but the best way  to stay up-to-date with Jarvis Benjamin remains on X (@JBV60SHOW). College Football is definitely the cash cow, but to say your boy is heating up is probably an understatement. 

Here we go:

1. Michigan Wolverines (12-0) This Week: -23 vs. Iowa (B10 Championship @ Lucas-Oil, Indy): Jarvis’ #1 team finally gets the win to deserve the ranking! Michigan feels like a playoff lock (duh?). With a win (probably has to be convincing and have Georiga underwhelm) the Wolverines will vault up to the #1 spot for the last season of the four-team playoff. With a loss? That’s where it gets tricky. I don’t think Iowa can beat Michigan; but crazier things have happened. Is it wrong to call a conference championship game a look-ahead spot? Regardless: I’d imagine that Michigan has done enough already to be in, even if they are not the B10 Champion. See you soon, Coach Harbaugh.  

2. Georgia Bulldogs (12-0) This Week: -5.5 vs. Alabama (SEC Championship @ Mercedes-Benz, Atlanta): This is a tricky one. With a win? Georgia completes their dominance for yet another season and is our #1 seed in the CFP, even after not wowing the viewer (or the committee all year). Yes, they’d knock out Alabama too. With a loss? This is where it gets reaaally tricky. The argument that the best team of the last three years should get the benefit of the doubt with one loss in the SEC Championship holds up, I think. It’s hard to imagine a playoff without Georgia if they don’t win this game, but it’s not impossible. The easiest route for Kirby and his boys, is to take care of business at Mercedes-Benz. 

3. Washington Huskies (12-0) This Week: +9.5 vs. Oregon (Pac12 Championship @ Allegiant, Vegas) (FRIDAY): I may have talked myself back into the Huskies. For weeks, maybe months, the masses (including me) have written off Michael Penix in the inevitable rematch with Bo Nix. For the past few weeks, all Washington has done is improve. I was wowed by the win in Corvallis, in a big way. I’ll probably be saying #Fuck the points on Friday night in Las Vegas, as Washington needs to win to be selected. 

4. Florida State Seminoles (12-0) This Week: -3 vs. Louisville (ACC Championship @ Bank of America, Charlotte): Florida State HIGHKEY would have benefitted if they were independent and didn’t have to play in what will be a highly contested conference championship game. You didn’t hear that from me though. This one feels super simple: win and in.  

5. Texas Longhorns (11-1) This Week: -15.5 vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12 Championship @ JerryWorld, Arlington): Texas have (obviously) been kicking themselves over the loss to Oklahoma every day since it happened. Unfortunately for Coach Sark: he won’t even get the chance to avenge the loss. I’d like to sit here and tell Texas fans that with a win, they will also be in. I don’t think I can. Texas will need some help, I’m assuming. (They probably need all of: Alabama, Iowa, Louisville and Oregon(?) to win).

6. Oregon Ducks (11-1) This Week: -9.5 vs. Washington (Pac12 Championship @ Allegiant, Vegas) (FRIDAY): Win and In. Incredibly easy. 

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) This Week: +5.5 vs. Georgia (SEC Championship @ Mercedes-Benz, Atlanta): As you may know, if you’ve been reading, I am bullish on the Tide. I’d tell you that a win and an SEC Championship gets the Tide in. There are many (including the committee) who may disagree with this. Alabama and Texas ending up with one loss in a ‘stacked’ field probably does not bode well for the Tide. Alabama most likely needs to win AND some sort of help. 

8. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) This Week: N/A: #GoBucks. Real talk? Not sure if my close personal friend Ryan Day will have a job after this season. Ohio State is hoping for ultimate chaos; and even then, I’m not sure it will be enough. Only one man can return this program to its ultimate glory. 

FRIDAY:

New Mexico State (10-3) vs. Liberty (12-0) -11.5 o/u 56.5 (@ Liberty): Diego Pavia and New Mexico State have been a rather fun story all year. They fly high, and this game certainly COULD end up in a shootout. I’m not sure if Liberty will get past the big (ish) number; but I certainly like them to win. This is a rare home conference championship game for the Flames; and we (and the Aggies) will be able to tell. 

Oregon (11-1) -9.5 vs. Washington  (12-0) o/u 65.5 (Las Vegas): So, as I mentioned above: it feels that people have already written off Washington. With that being said: I can’t really endorse backing the Huskies tonight. Part of that is definitely because I am rooting for the Ducks to win. Mostly, it’s because they feel like a plucky (ten point) underdog. #Think about it. I expect this game to be close and less high-scoring than many believe.

SATURDAY:

Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Texas (11-1) -15.5 o/u 54.5 (JerryWorld): As I mentioned above, Texas needs to win (and probably convincingly) to have a shot at the CFP. I can’t in good conscious put my hard earned money on the Pokes this week, but the game should be close. If I know anything: its that a team that is gripping the stick too tightly, has a hard time breaking the puck out. Let alone cover a 2 TD+ spread. #Think about it. 

Miami Ohio (10-2) vs. Toledo (11-1) -8 o/u 44.5 (Detroit): Toledo have been the darlings of the MAC all year. They have really shown they were the cream of the crop. Miami Ohio led the other division for most of the year, and has a formidable defense for sure. Plain and simple? I am expecting some degree of MACtion here. The over made the official card. Miami Ohio feels like they could be a live dog; but I’m not too certain. Toledo wins this game; I’m just not sure of by how many. 

Boise State (7-5) -2.5 vs. UNLV (9-3) o/u 58.5 (Las Vegas): Two teams that had opposite paths to this game. Boise State was a little bit disappointing when you think about how stacked the roster is and where they figured to slot in in the Mountain West; but made the championship game regardless. UNLV has shocked people all season long and have assembled maybe the best season in program history. I like the Rebs to hoist the trophy. 

Georgia (12-0) -6 vs. Alabama (11-1) o/u o54.5 (Atlanta): My gut tells me that this game should FLY over the total. My brain (and Big Cat’s GOTY) tell me that it won’t be that easy. I’m on the Crimson Tide here; as I’ve said I would be all year. Give me Nick Saban: to break a Georgia SEC Championship streak, win this game, and take his team to the CFP. (At least cover)  

SMU (10-2) vs. Tulane (11-1) -3.5 o/u 47.5 (@ Tulane): SMU lost their quarterback last week (for what I presume is the year, definitely today) and it will be far too much to overcome. Yes, the line being only a hook more than a field goal in a home game for the Green Wave is a little bit perplexing. Not an official play; but don’t overthink it. Ride the wave or get out of the water. 

Appalachian State (8-4) vs. Troy (10-2) -6 o/u 52.5 (@ Troy): Troy. Big. Don’t overthink ANOTHER home conference championship game. It is definitely worth noting that I haven’t been able to figure out App State for pretty much the entire year! Gun to my head? I’d probably go under, too. (I have a black heart). 

Michigan (12-0) -23 vs. Iowa (10-2) o/u 34.5 (Indianapolis): This game will get over the ugly low total. Michigan can (obviously) hit 35 on their own. If the Wolverines score that many, iowa will not cover. #Think about it. (28-10 Final)

Louisville (10-2) vs. Florida State (12-0) -3 o/u47.5 (Charlotte): I’ve gone back and forth on this game somewhat. I just don’t think Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals have enough. I expect this game to be low-scoring and hard fought. In the end? I think it will come down to the skill position advantage that FSU has (Travis aside) and which dog is hungrier. I’d almost definitely be on Louisville if the Noles didn’t have a CFP berth on the line. Let’s go Norvell!

So that’s that. I will be back for a bowl preview/CFP preview when the time is right for sure. Once football ends, I hope to continue this writing in some sort of college basketball/Devils/NHL facet. For now? Enjoy the games folks. Conference Championship weekend LITERALLY only comes once a year. 

Also enjoy Jarvis’ Top5 Quarterbacks to already enter the Transfer Portal:

1. Will Howard
2. Riley Leonard
3. Dante Moore
4. Grayson McCall
5. EJ Warner

Then, there’s fifty feet of crap, and there’s Athan Kaliakmanis. 

200 years too late. 

Be Well.

JB