Top 25 Poll
Others receiving votes: Clemson, Georgia Southern,
Minnesota, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Dropped from the rankings: West Virginia (20), East
Carolina (24)
25 (23). LSU (7-2)
– IDLE
24 (21). Boise
State (6-2) – IDLE
23 (12). Georgia (6-2)
– The Bulldogs at times look like the best team in the nation, and then
they get blown out by a horrible Florida offense. I don’t know what to make of
this team anymore.
22 (NR). Iowa (6-2)
– Iowa opened some eyes with their dismantling of a normally pretty solid
Northwestern squad. They are the dark horse in the conference.
21 (NR). Oklahoma (6-2)
– Trevor Knight and company got back on track with a huge offensive day
against Iowa State. The Big 12 is insane.
20 (22). Colorado
State (8-1) – This is a team that we really don’t know much about, but they
keep piling up wins in a really decent Mountain West Conference. They are a
program on the rise.
19 (14). Mississippi
(7-2) – Ole Miss gets their first home loss of the year at the hands of
Auburn. It’s hard to believe that they have lost two in a row after those
magical first 7 games.
18 (18). Marshall (8-0)
– IDLE
17 (17). Utah (6-2)
– The Utes got a hard fought road loss at ASU. The Pac-12 South is up for
grabs. They are all taking each other out.
16 (19). Duke (7-1)
– Duke is rolling right now. They look better than they did last season and
is clearly the 2nd best ACC team.
15 (8). Arizona (7-2)
– For the first time, the slow offensive start for the Wildcats translated
into a loss. UCLA was able to just confuse and shut them down all game.
14 (25). UCLA (7-2)
– I really wish I could figure this team out. They are up and down and
still the most talented team in the conference.
13 (16). Nebraska (8-1)
– They won a sluggish game, but that was mostly due to Abdullah getting
injured early on. They get a week off for him to get right before a key matchup
in Madison.
12 (13). Ohio
State (7-1) – This team is really hitting its stride and is as scary as any
team in the nation with JT Barrett at the helm.
11 (10). Michigan
State (7-1) – IDLE
10 (15). Arizona
State (7-1) – They got one of the more impressive wins of the weekend with
their gutsy victory over Utah. This team, aside from a disastrous special teams
effort against UCLA, looks like one of the elite teams in the nation.
9 (11). Baylor (7-1)
– The Bears continue to roll all over the weak teams and battle with the
good teams. I love following that conference.
8 (6). Alabama (7-1)
– IDLE
7 (5). Notre Dame (7-1)
– They struggled mightily against Navy, as they usually do. Some games this
team just decides to go through the motions. Remember the UNC game?
6 (9). Oregon (8-1)
– The Ducks were able to open it up against Stanford for the first time in
a while. This team is constantly improving.
5 (7). Auburn (7-1)
– Winning in Ole Miss is nothing to take lightly. They looked like one of
the nation’s elite, aside from their inconsistent pass defense.
4 (4). Kansas
State (7-1) – What makes this K-State team different than the previous ones
is that this team really can score.
3 (3). TCU (7-1) –
TCU got another very impressive road win in Morgantown. It is hard to fathom
that it really only took two years for this program to take over the Big 12.
2 (2). Florida
State (8-0) – They got another scare and another huge comeback. They can’t
win it all if they come out like that against a decent team.
1 (1). Mississippi
State (8-0) – They still deserve to be #1, despite a lackluster effort
against Arkansas. They get a glorified bye next week before heading to
Tuscaloosa.
Top 5 Games
for Next Weekend
5. Oregon (#6) at
Utah (#17), 7:00PM ESPN – Oregon is not the best road team out there, and
Utah is typically very tough to beat at home. I am really intrigued by the
clash of styles as well.
PREDICTION: Oregon 34-27
4. Alabama (#8) at
LSU (#26), 5:00PM CBS – This matchup has become an annual thriller. Even
though LSU is down, they proved that they can still take care of a top ranked
team in Death Valley. Can they slow up the Tide offense?
PREDICTION: LSU 21-19
3. Ohio State
(#12) at Michigan State (#11), 5:00PM ABC – Last year, in the B1G
Championship Game, this game was uncompetitive. I can’t see that being the case
this year. Michigan State seems incapable of losing a conference game, but this
Ohio State team is frightening.
PREDICTION: Ohio State 34-30
2. Notre Dame (#7)
at Arizona State (#10), 12:30PM ESPN – This is one of the marquee matchups
of the season. ASU is coming in hot, and Notre Dame just nearly lost to Navy.
What does that mean?
PREDICTION: Notre Dame 24-10
1. Kansas State
(#4) at TCU (#3), 4:30PM FOX – This is the game that will likely decide the
conference. K-State is still unbeaten in Big 12 play, and TCU has an offense
that is relentless. This should be a stunner.
PREDICTION: Kansas State 23-21
Heisman
Trophy Watch
5. Melvin Gordon,
RB, Wisconsin – It is hard to get in when you are on a team that has a
couple losses, but he is having a ridiculous season.
4. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – He is actually asked to do a
lot more for this Seminole squad, and he is racking up the Heisman moments once
again.
3. Ameer Abdullah,
RB, Nebraska – The injury should not take him out of contention. If he
still comes back and carries his team to a conference title, then he should be
a shoo-in nominee.
2. Dak Prescott,
QB, Mississippi State – He had a shaky effort this week, but he is the best
player on the best team. That is almost always enough to get invited.
1. Marcus Mariota,
QB, Oregon – He has been unbelievably efficient, and he finally beat Stanford.
He is and should be the frontrunner.
College
Football Playoff Projections
Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Mississippi
State over Colorado State
Cotton Bowl: Baylor over Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl: TCU over Auburn
Orange Bowl: Oregon over Duke
College Football Playoff Semifinal #1
(Rose Bowl): Kansas State over Florida State
CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl):
Alabama over Notre Dame
National
Championship Game: Alabama over Kansas State
What did you think of this weekend? Rankings? Heisman
predictions? Let me know below!
