Top 25 Poll
Others receiving votes: Duke, Marshall, Ohio
State, TCU, Washington
Dropped from the rankings: Pittsburgh (20), Ohio
State (24)
25 (NR). Wisconsin
(2-1) – Melvin Gordon: 250+ yards and 5 TDs on 13 carries…what a freak! He
is the next Jamaal Charles. The team goes as he goes.
24 (25). East
Carolina (3-1) – After a third straight victory over North Carolina and
dropping 700+ yards and 70 points, we have potentially the scariest non-AQ team
in the nation.
23 (NR). BYU (4-0)
– It is difficult to really judge this team who dominates first halves and
then falters in the second halves, but they are a potent offense and near
unbeatable at home.
22 (18). Kansas
State (2-1) – They did everything possible to lose to Auburn on Thursday
night. They were the better team on that day, and maybe overall, but they need
to shut the door. K-State is on the cusp of greatness far too often to never
really get over the top.
21 (23). Oklahoma
State (2-1) – IDLE.
20 (22). Arizona
(4-0) – They were aided by a miracle 36 point 4th quarter and
hail mary to take down upset-minded and improved Cal. They are potentially the
most explosive and prolific offense in the nation not called Baylor or Oregon.
19 (17). Stanford
(2-1) – IDLE.
18 (16). USC (2-1)
– IDLE.
17 (8). LSU (3-1) –
They were physically dominated for about 55 minutes against Mississippi State
before mounting a near comeback in the final moments. This team just isn’t as
great defensively as they need to be to take that division.
16 (14). Mississippi
(3-0) – IDLE.
15 (15). Arizona
State (3-0) – IDLE.
14 (10). Georgia
(2-1) – They may have dismantled a team in record fashion, but they get a
net loss on the weekend when South Carolina struggled to beat the worst Power 5
team in the nation.
13 (19). Nebraska
(4-0) – The offense is humming and the defense showed some attitude in the
renewed rivalry game against Miami. The Big Ten’s chances might very well rest
on the shoulders of Nebraska and Ameer Abdullah.
12 (7). Auburn
(3-0) – They basically lost on the road, but they survive and advance, I
guess. The conference games are what will define this team, just like last year
after they nearly got beat by WSU and then nearly ran the table.
11 (13). Michigan
State (3-1) – The Big Ten had a big weekend, and Michigan State is
continuing to prove that they may be the best team in the conference. Losing in
Eugene should not take them out of playoff contention.
10 (21). Mississippi
State (4-0) – The Bulldogs finally get a big time win when it still
matters! This team is always on the verge of competing, and after a huge road
win in Death Valley, they are right in the thick of the race.
9 (9). UCLA (3-0) –
IDLE.
8 (12). Penn State
(4-0) – No one else really buys into this team as much as I do, but
whenever I see them, I am fully impressed. Hackenberg could carry this team all
the way to the B1G Title Game.
7 (11). Alabama
(4-0) – The defense is not what we have come accustomed to, but Lane Kiffen
has really ignited that offense. They could outscore almost the entire conference.
6 (5). Florida
State (3-0) – The ‘Noles got extremely lucky to survive without Jameis
Winston at home, but they did it in overtime. The defense is still really good,
and the running game was able to show its power. They aren’t good enough to go
unbeaten, though.
5 (6). Oklahoma
(4-0) – Winning in Morgantown should not be underestimated. This team is as
strong of a Sooner team as there has been since 2008.
4 (3). Baylor
(3-0) – IDLE.
3 (2). Notre Dame
(3-0) – IDLE.
2 (1). Oregon
(4-0) – The offensive line was exposed in Pullman, one of the toughest
places for teams to travel to. They will get it together and look back at this
game as a learning experience.
1 (4). Texas A&M
(4-0) – Kenny Hill has taken this team to places that Johnny Football never
did. The offense simply cannot be stopped, it appears. I like them to take the
SEC.
Top 5 Games
for Next Weekend
5. Tennessee at Georgia
(#14), 9:00AM ESPN – Tennessee is a decent team, despite what we saw from
them against Oklahoma a couple weeks ago. Georgia can be beaten again if they
bottle up Gurley. This could be start of a bit of a lull in the Bulldog
schedule after a tough stretch to start. PREDICTION: Georgia 28-24
4. Florida State
(#6) at NC State, 12:30PM ABC/ESPN2 – This may not seem like a great game,
but the last time that the Seminoles traveled to Raleigh they were upended and
received their only loss of the year. Can it happen again to a newly cocky and
seemingly vulnerable team against a team that hasn’t lost yet? PREDICTION:
Florida State 31-24
3. Stanford (#19)
at Washington, 1:15PM – This will probably wind up on one of the Pac-12 Network
channels. Every time these teams get together, something crazy happens. For the
fans in the west, this has got to be one of the top games of the weekend. PREDICTION:
Stanford 35-31
2. Arkansas vs
Texas A&M (#1) (in Dallas), 12:30PM CBS – Arkansas has improved since
their opening loss to Auburn, and they get the best team in the nation on a
neutral field. This could be a trap game for the Aggies before they get into
the meat of their conference schedule. PREDICTION: Texas A&M 48-38
1. UCLA (#9) at
Arizona State (#15), THU 7:00PM FS1 – Arizona State is the most
underappreciated team in the country, and UCLA still is the most talented. This
is one of those weird Thursday night matchups where we get an amazing game that
isn’t even on ESPN. Ridiculous. PREDICTION: Arizona State 24-23
Heisman
Trophy Watch
5. Kenny Hill, QB,
Texas A&M – I am beginning to think that anyone can put up numbers in
that offense, but it has rarely looked as easy and exciting as it does with
Hill calling the plays.
4. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor – He might put up historic numbers this
year, and if the team is able to run the table, then he might be an easy winner
in the end.
3. Todd Gurley,
RB, Georgia – He barely played against Troy, but he still has a couple
insane games to carry his candidacy to the top.
2. Ameer Abdullah,
RB, Nebraska – He is the entire team, and he has had a few Heisman-type
moments already. If the Huskers continue to win, then he needs to be invited.
1. Marcus Mariota,
QB, Oregon – He had a very methodical and productive game despite getting
sacked 7 times at WSU. He will be the frontrunner until they lose.
College
Football Playoff Projections
Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Arizona State
over East Carolina
Cotton Bowl: Alabama over Nebraska
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma over BYU
Orange Bowl: Florida State over
Michigan State
College Football Playoff Semifinal #1
(Rose Bowl): Baylor over Texas A&M
CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl):
Notre Dame over Oregon
National
Championship Game: Notre Dame over Baylor
What did you think of this weekend? Rankings? Heisman
predictions? Let me know below!
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