CFB Playoff Week 16 Preview and What These Games Mean for the ‘Noles

#3 TCU vs. Iowa State

John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Personally, I don’t understand TCU being #3… at all. Statistically, it is worse than Florida State in almost every major category, and it lost to an average West Virginia football team. Florida State has beaten five teams ranked in the top 17 of total defense, TCU has faced zero. TCU has beaten three teams in the bottom 20 in total defense; FSU hasn’t even played a team that ranks in the bottom 20 in total defense. The only reasoning that makes sense would be the playoff committee setting up these two semi-finals geographically, which would be absolutely absurd in terms of football logic, yet smart for ticket sales and travel expenses, which is what ESPN is all about.

Either way, TCU should come into this game and dominate a 2-9 Iowa State team that has absolutely nothing to play for Saturday afternoon. TCU averages 46 points per game, which is good for 3rd in the country; Iowa State allows 37.4 points per game, which is good for 115th in the country.

Iowa State has played a couple of teams fairly close this season though, losing 32-28 vs. Kansas State, losing 48-45 at Texas, and losing 37-24 vs. West Virginia. TCU is predicted to win by 33 points, I don’t think it will be that bad, but it will be convincing enough for TCU to retain their inexplicable #3 spot.

TCU- 49 Iowa State- 24

What does this mean for the ‘Noles? The ‘Noles should remain at #4 in the rankings with a win and barring any upsets in front of them.