Tim Brando and college football fans are looking for a clearer picture this Saturday; Does TCU have a shot?

Fox’ Tim Brando’s weekly college football comments:

1- Georgia’s spanking of Tennessee was certainly worthy of seeing the defending champs back to the top.

2- Ohio St. Buckeyes have NOT impressed but their embarrassment of riches have overcome a ton of injuries. It’s gonna take one impactful win and they’ll punch their ticket into the CFB Playoff.

3– Michigan – Yeah, in my opinion, the one win Ohio State needs is against the Wolverines for stronger consideration. The two schools are on a collision course for an elimination game at The Shoe!

4- TCU, the Horned Frogs – the outlier for now continues – to impress and finally with Bama’s loss at LSU the Committee was forced to move them up.

5– Oregon the Ducks are unquestionably the Top ‘one loss team in America.’ QB Bo Nix has vaulted into the upper tier of Heisman candidates. Its battle with Utah a week from the Saturday will be its biggest hurdle.

6- Tennessee The Vols have to burn last week’s tape and start concentrating on holding serve. Enough defeats of those in front of them, they can sneak into the field of four.

7- LSU Tigers are the most compelling ‘Two loss X-Factor’ since the CFB Playoff was created. Can it run the table? Gnashing of teeth will be hot and heavy. An 11am start in Arkansas puts LSU squarely on Upset Alert.

8- UCLA takes a long look Boo Corrigan (CFB Playoff Chairman). This is where the Bruins should be in the current standings. My FOX CFB colleague Matt Leinart even said so!

9- Ole Miss‘ Lane Kiffin spent all of this week praising Nick Saban knowing all to well how tough it is to get the Tide to lose two in a row. The Rebels can do this but do they feel it too?

10- Alabama Tide fans have heaped nothing but negativity or fat poison on their team this last week. That’s usually enough for Saban’s teams. However exactly who’s the leader for this season’s version?

Tim’s additional notes:

• (From Tim’s Facebook page): Our Sports Television Industry lost a Giant Wednesday night. Fred Hickman only 66 years of age, was a brilliant Studio Anchor for CNN and CNN Sports died suddenly Wednesday night. I last saw Fred as a Weeknight News Anchor in Baton Rouge La. He was a Pro’s pro and for a time he and his partner Nick Charles formed the hippest, coolest tandem in Television. CNN Sports Tonight aired every night at 11et. If you loved sports and wanted your highlights before going to bed “Hick & Nick” were MUST SEE! I got to know both Nick (who died 11 years ago at 64)and Fred while at Turner Sports. They were both fun loving, entertaining and grounded gentlemen. I hope they’ve reconnected above the clouds as Al McGuire used to say bringing all the sports to Heaven. RIP 🙏

• Couple of big-picture items. No, Nick Saban’s dynasty isn’t over because he’s not gonna make the Playoff in 22’! Daytime gabfests always take the easiest path to bring attention to themselves. Alabama’s not bad. The Tides are just not as good as they’ve been the last decade plus! One item that can’t be overlooked is Saban’s staff which hasn’t changed as much recently. He’ll make changes after this season, unless assistant Bill O’Brien gets a Head Coaching opportunity and that can happen.

• The rubber meets the road for #4 TCU and frankly this is a game that could turn heads in primetime. Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns up and down all season could spoil a magical season for the geographical rivals up north in Ft. Worth. TCU’s former Head Coach, the Legendary Coach Gary Patterson, is currently a Defensive Analyst for the Horns. His knowledge of Sonny Dykes’ tendencies as Head Coach, plus the knowledge of the personnel could be a difference maker Saturday night.

Spencer and I travel to Happy Valley to see Maryland’s outstanding offense against #14 Penn St. and its stingy defense. 3:30 ET on FOX. It’s game #2 of a quadruple-header!