College Football Week 8 Power Rankings

I'm not going to be sold on those high flying Big 12 schools until I see them thrive against an SEC defense. I mean I'm sick to death of Alabama but I saw their poll position at "10" last week and though to myself, "does anyone really believe that there are 9 schools better than Alabama out there. They made Kyle Allen look completely lost in his own stadium this past weekend and I have a hard time seeing Seth Russell sitting in the pocket throwing bombs all day against them. The same for LSU.

I think the final four will be OSU, Alabama (or LSU), TCU or (Baylor) and possibly Utah.

I predict that Alabama will beat Ohio State for the National title...and I'm going to hate it.

 

If Ohio State's offense beat Alabama in the CG last year, I think Baylor is capable of the same this year. However, I just saw a report that Baylor's starting QB has some little bone broken in his neck and his backup is a true freshman. And the toughest part of their schedule is yet to come-- It's KSU this week, but then OU, OSU, and TCU. And UT has awakened and might develop enough consistency to pull a big upset Dec. 5, in case BU makes it undefeated through Nov. and thinks they've 'done it' for this year.

I know TCU was better than Baylor last year; they laid a big egg by feeling too secure with a 3-TD lead. But too obviously TCU does not have the defense this year to contain a scoring machine like Baylor (if QB is not terribly affected) or Ohio St.

And will Ohio St. beat both Michigan and Michigan St.? I think probably not.
LSU at Alabama Nov. 7 will be very significant.
Since Florida St. is shown be beatable, Clemson may have the easiest road to playoffs.
The media, of course, wants Notre Dame in on the playoffs, and they might make it if they can beat Stanford and the other teams beat each other up enough.

So even though it's too early, I will predict the final four.... Clemson, Baylor, Michigan St., and LSU. If they all get beat in the next week or 2, remember I said it's too early. But we like to do it, don't we?

 

That's not a bad final four at this point and certainly possible. I felt that FSU would eventually fall as their offense struggled at times against mediocre opposition. Clemson seems to be peaking. I'd probably go with TCU at this point if Russell can't go for Baylor. I had Utah but they went down in flames against USC. I feel that this years OSU team is beatable but I'll go with them as I think they will win a close one against Michigan State. I feel that Alabama is the best team in the country and even though LSU has Fournette, I think they will have to throw the ball to beat Alabama. I'm not convinced they can. I think Alabama is the most complete team in college football. I'll rerack my final four to Clemson, TCU, OSU and Alabama. Alabama beats OSU for the National title.

Edit: Baylor QB Seth Russell is in fact out for the season. That really stinks.

 

Yes, it does. But I'm already beginning to reevaluate my negativity about that. The true freshman backup, Jarrett Stidham, appears to be another Art Briles system operators. He was in high school at Stephenville last year, which happens to be one of those high schools in which Briles established himself as such an offensive mind, and currently he is, in passing, 24 of 28 for 331 yards. And just who thought Seth Russell, the injured starter, could drive this attack like Robert Griffin or Brice Petty? Briles seems to know who can do it and who can't.

 

So a lot has gone down since we discussed this last. New predictions.

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Notre Dame
4. Oklahoma

 

Meh, they held on though against a ranked team. Iowa will get in if they win the Big 10 and beat Michigan State but I'm not going to put them in there until they do. I actually hope Stanford does us a favor and knocks off Notre Dame. Notre Dame is skimming by on their name only.

 

Yeah, but I think Alabama passes the eye test as well. If I had to bet my mortgage I'd take Alabama against anybody in the country. I think Stoops could possibly outfox Sabin with Baker Mayfield's playmaking ability at QB but I'm picturing another scenario where Alabama ends up playing Notre Dame in the NC game and I don't want to see that again. Still a lot can happen.

 

Alabama seems to really have been taken to the top over Sabin!

 

Results are in.

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Iowa

Wow. Oklahoma got a pretty good push there. It's going to be really hard for Notre Dame to get back in if Oklahoma finishes off the season against a tough Oklahoma State and team and if Iowa can get through Michigan State. I'd almost put the winner of the Iowa/Michigan State team in anyway instead of Notre Dame.

 

Yep, Oklahoma is red hot right now and they are ripping through teams out there. The only unclear piece at this point is whether or not UNC will get in if they beat Clemson. A lot of talk about how their two FCS out of conference games are going to hurt them and allow Ohio State to sneak in if Clemson loses.

 

It's hard to see Oklahoma not getting in now. Clemson, Alabama, and Iowa win = in; Michigan St most probably in if win, but if of the conference cg winners look unconvincing, Ohio St might overtake, especially if Florida pulls a narrow upset. But no other teams have a chance imo.

 

I think tomorrow it will be:
1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Michigan St.
5. Ohio St.
6. Stanford
7. Iowa
8. North Carolina.

I really think Iowa should be #5, but I don't think the committee will think so simply because they are the newcomer to the top 10 and with less tradition behind them, which finally had its dream ended.

Now... the discussion will be, first, the order and seeding of the top 4, and then, and longer and more intense, whether we should go to an 8-team playoff format.