So THAT was an eventful Saturday, wasn't it? 3 of my top 10 went down, not least of which was #1 Bama to Texas A&M. Dammit! I did not want my Dawgs ranked 1st, but now I have no choice. I don't mind saying, I had my doubts about Georgia early on against Auburn, but it turned out fine after a 34-10 victory. I will say that I continue to have little trust in Stetson Bennett as QB for a potential National Championship team, but I'll give him credit. He can run and I was more impressed with his arm after this last game. Here is some food for thought...in many of the years in which Bama ran the table and won or played for championships, the QB didn't really matter because there were so many other talents on the team. Just plug and play because everything around will elevate. I suppose that could be the case here, but I don't like taking that chance. Anyway, we've had some shake up and so here is my latest top 10:
- Georgia (6-0)
- Iowa (6-0)
- Oklahoma (6-0)
- Cincinnati (5-0)
- Michigan (6-0)
- Michigan State (6-0)
- Oklahoma State (5-0)
- Kentucky (6-0)
- Alabama (5-1)
- Penn State (5-1)
There can be little doubt that Georgia should be ranked number 1 at this moment. No team this year has looked as total as this Dawgs team and while the offense remains a little doubtful at moments, the defense remains all world. More to that, only Bama and Iowa have as many victories against ranked opponents with three for each. The Clemson victory looks less now, but they were highly ranked when we played and there is a chance for a fourth when Georgia plays Kentucky this next weekend.
As for Iowa, and while it was close, a victory against a top 10 team counts every time and so they naturally get the second spot. I must say that I am skeptical of this #3 ranking for Oklahoma, but that come back against Texas was rather epic and so I'll leave them high. And for Cincy...let's just say that I am being kind. For Michigan, this is likely too high given that they nearly lost to Nebraska, but for now I'll place them here knowing there are later dates with Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State. With the Spartans ranked next, the sorting will work itself out as the season progresses.
OK State did not play this Saturday and so missed out on upset watch. They can breath easy for now until they visit Texas (4-2) this next Saturday and Kentucky is flying high after their victory at LSU (3-3). As I understand, this is the first time they have been 6-0 since the 1940's. Good for them but I think this ends on the 16th. As for the last two spots? Well, here's my thinking...
You are going to see Alabama still in the top 5 in most polls, most especially the AP and Coaches that come out today. Is that fair? Has their #1 ranking been due to their many long years of dominance or what they have done thus far this year? That said, if Bama played Iowa, Oklahoma or Cincinnati tomorrow who do you think would win? My ranking of 9 is probably too low for them because they remain with a plethora of talent and are still likely the second best team in the country. But they did lose yesterday. To a Texas A&M (4-2) team that lost pretty decisively against Arkansas (4-2)...that just lost to Ole Miss (4-1) in a shoot out...after the Rebels were destroyed by Bama the previous week. Welcome to the SEC where we eat our own week in and week out. It is a grind and other conferences should be so lucky to have so much talent.
The only other one that can lay claim to a top spot is the Big 10. Thus I will not ding Penn State too much for losing, and closely, to the aforementioned Iowa on Saturday. As stated, their round robin will start a bit later because there are still only four or five teams that could challenge and they are nearly all in the East side of that conference. Look, Ohio State (4-1) looked awesome yesterday. They likely deserve to be in this ranking. But they lost to Oregon (4-1) already and if I'm going to rank them, I have to rank Oregon before THE Ohio State (is there some question about which Ohio State team is which, by the way?) Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State will all face each other before everything is said and done. That will be telling and given that all are (or should be) highly ranked, it bodes well for the Big 10 getting into the playoffs.
As for your other unbeaten teams, there are five. Here I will list them...SMU (6-0) in the AAC, Wake Forest (6-0) in the ACC, UTSA (6-0) in Conference USA, San Diego State (5-0) in the Mountain West and Coastal Carolina (6-0) in the Sun Belt. I'll just ask this question...Arkansas has now lost to both Georgia and Ole Miss. and if they were to play any of these unbeaten teams, who do you think would win? OK, you say, maybe Arkansas wasn't as billed. How about Tennessee, now 4-2 as well? Florida (4-2)? Mississippi State (3-2)? SMU still has to play Cincinnati and Wake Forest has not even played either North Carolina schools much less Clemson. Sorry, but those unbeaten records will not last. As for the others...look, if you're a fan then I'm happy for you. As they say in the South, bless your heart.
So another week down and more separation between the contenders and the pretenders. This next weekend will see more. GA/Kentucky, OK State/Texas and one I think should be looked at BYU/Baylor. Both are 5-1 now. Outside of Michigan State at Indiana (2-3), it appears the rest of the big boys in the Big 10 are taking the week off. We're about halfway through for most teams and this season continues to provide what we all love about college football. I have no doubt that we'll see some more of that excitement and I will try to rank accordingly. That is all.
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