Yesterday was a good day, all told. Both of my local teams won and it's not too often that happens here. The Braves win was awesome, but for these purposes we're talking the Dawgs and yes...another resounding victory for what is clearly the best team in the country. I could do without some penalties and I'm still not sold on Stetson Bennett, but he played a great game and indeed he can use his legs.
For the rest of college football, things did not go so well. We'll get to that below so let's go ahead and list my latest scientific and oh so accurate top 10 list:
- Georgia (7-0)
- Oklahoma (7-0)
- Michigan (6-0)
- Cincinnati (6-0)
- Oklahoma State (6-0)
- Michigan State (7-0)
- Alabama (6-1)
- Penn State (5-1)
- Oregon (5-1)
- Ohio State (5-1)
I've already said my words on the Georgia victory and no team can really lay claim to the top spot right now other than them. Oklahoma is looking better week by week and may have found the QB to keep their offense going (still a question, but the talent is there) and Michigan didn't play. Loathe as I am to give Harbaugh any love, the Wolverines remain undefeated (for now) and so why shouldn't they be here? I'm not letting Cincy get any higher than 4th here because of their conference and schedule, so keep winning and enjoy a shot at my hypothetical playoff.
As for the rest, I allowed OK State to jump Michigan State because a comeback victory over Texas (now 4-2) means more than a near run thing against what was supposed to be a good Indiana team (now 2-4). This should be a byline, but Bama remains Bama (except for that loss to A&M.) That said, and on that score...what to make of the Florida loss to LSU? Are the Gators just talented enough to lose a close game, or does Bama have enough flaws that a just talented enough team can take them to the wire? Again...see the A&M game.
After that, we get into the other one loss teams. Once more apologies to your other unbeatens. Wake Forest (6-0) gets at shot at Army (4-2) this next week. SMU (6-0) is playing Tulane (1-5). And sure, Coastal Carolina (6-0) is at App State (4-2). But I don't see any of these teams being competitive with those I am placing in this top 10 list. So we begin ranking the one loss programs and I still say Penn State has some legs. They were off this week and still don't get a real test until later in the season but I'll keep them here. And while I think Ohio State is the better team, they still lost to Oregon. This ranking has to be this way.
I am still (and always) looking at who might crack this list and that includes Baylor (6-1) that took BYU (5-2) down another notch. It includes Ole Miss (5-1) that snuck out (and nearly got clobbered by golf balls and who knows what else) a win at Tennessee (4-3)...a team I think that is much improved even if their fans may not be. It still includes Kentucky (now 6-1) because they were not embarrassed and should not be dinged too much for losing to the top team in the country. I'm looking at a 5-1 Pitt all the sudden that plays Clemson (4-2) this next week. And Iowa (now 6-1)...wow! OK. My eyes are still there, and Purdue (4-2) can upset every now and then, but you just went from almost ran to why were we talking about you? Plus...Notre Dame is still sneaking around at 5-1. Their schedule doesn't look as good as it might at the start of the season, but their only loss is the highly ranked Cincy and they beat a ranked Wisconsin, a Purdue that just beat #2 Iowa and still have USC, UNC and Stanford on their list. Never underestimate the Playoff Committee's love for the Fighting Irish.
Overall, I think this is a solid top 10 given what we have seen thus far this year. Your networks are trying to tell you that Cincinnati is #2. They are wrong. They are also trying to say that your usual suspects will be back when Oklahoma, Ohio State and Bama get back into the picture. They are not so wrong there. One thing is clear...we won't be seeing Clemson in the playoffs but I'm not so sure these other usual suspects will be either. The Big 10 still has their late date round robin tourney and OK/OK State is still out there. For the SEC, Georgia pretty much punched their ticket to the championship game this week barring a complete collapse and as I see it, the only team able to topple Alabama in the West is Auburn (now 5-2) if they could win the Iron Bowl.
There is a lot more football to be played and I'll be there for it all (should you care whatsoever about my opinion my awesome two and a half readers!) Stay tuned and as always...that is all.
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