The Rest of the Week in College Football:
Regression Rankings:
Last week's upset bonanza actually didn't hurt these rankings too much. It's almost like they're ignoring poll inertia that the AP voters use, huh.
1) Central Florida (-)
2) Alabama (Up 1)
3) Penn State (Up 1)
4) Ohio State (Up 1)
5) Washington (Down 3)
6) South Florida (Up 2)
7) TCU (-)
8) Georgia (Up 2)
9) Wisconsin (Down 3)
10) Oklahoma State (Up 5)
11) Notre Dame (Up 3)
12) Oklahoma (Down 1)
13) Auburn (Down 4)
14) Arizona (Up 5)
15) Clemson (Down 3)
16) Virginia Tech (Up 5)
17) Texas Tech (Down 4)
18) Stanford (New)
19) West Virginia (Up 6)
20) Georgia Tech (Down 3)
21) UTSA (Down 3)
22) NC State (New)
23) Wake Forest (New)
24) Miami (Down 4)
25) Fresno State (New)
...
101) Nebraska (Down 16)
...
126) Kansas (New)
127) San Jose State (Up 1)
128) Rice (Down 1)
129) UTEP (-)
130) East Carolina (-)
If these rankings were reflective, here would be the conference championships!
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia (West vs. East)
B1G: Penn State vs. Wisconsin (East vs. West)
Pac-12: Washington vs. Arizona (North vs. South)
Big XII: TCU vs. Oklahoma State (Top 2)
ACC: Clemson vs. Virginia Tech (Atlantic vs. Coastal)
Best G5 Team: Central Florida
But now we need to ask ourselves. Are we on path for something like this to happen for these championship games?
Pac-12:
Projected: Washington vs. Arizona
If Season Ended Today: Stanford vs. USC
My pre-season claim of the Pac-12 Champion having at least 1 loss has now come true with both of the Washington teams losing this past week, which unfortunately, also takes away the glamor of their rivalry game deciding who will be the North representative. But it still could! It is unlikely, but still possible. And that's the downfall of the Pac-12 actually. As seen with the upsets, the Pac-12 holds a lot of parity among themselves where we might just be getting started with the upsets. Stanford has realized they have McCaffrey 2.0 in Bryce Love, but as we've seen, it takes more than just a really good RB to be a good team. Stanford still needs to play both of the Washington teams (in back to back weeks no less), so they could cement their North status one way or another. If they split between them, then the Chaos gods will be smiling upon the Pac-12. The Washingtons meanwhile, need to make sure they don't take another stumble until they play each other at the end of the season. A rivalry game where the winner goes to the championship game will be fun to watch (and we will also see later). It's a bit too late for any other North team to make a case, barring a barrage of upsets.
The South meanwhile, is a crapshoot. USC still has The Darnold, albeit not having a great year as expected, and Arizona seems to have found their magic QB in Khalil Tate. The rest of the conference doesn't suck per se, they're just not fabulous. Which still makes for great TV and upsets across the board. USC and Arizona still need to play each other, so that could most likely decide the South, however Arizona still needs to play Washington State, while USC has already lost to them. Will we have more upsets brewing in the works? I hope so!
Big XII:
Projected: TCU vs. Oklahoma State
If Season Ended Today: TCU vs. Oklahoma?
I think we can all agree, that barring some losses, TCU is safe to be in the championship game as they are the only undefeated left (while yet having to play Oklahoma or Texas). The fight for who the second team will be gets interesting as we currently have 5 2-1 teams vying for that second championship spot. Personally, my vote is on the winner of Bedlam (between the Oklahomas), but we do need to keep in mind that again, Oklahoma and TCU haven't played yet, so that will be a game worth watching depending on how the standings shake out from there. But honestly, outside of TCU and the Oklahomas, I just don't see anyone else stepping up in this conference, or in short, everyone else's defense sucks ass. Texas Tech can maybe play some spoiler, but it'll be tough as they already have two losses with TCU, Oklahoma, AND Texas still on the schedule.
B1G:
Projected: Penn State vs. Wisconsin
If Season Ended Today: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
For as overrated as Wisconsin is, it would still be completely embarrassing (yet hilarious) if they DIDN'T win the West at this point. With Nebraska on bye, Wisconsin effectively has a two game lead in the West if they win this week, and their only tough roadblock is playing a questionable Michigan team in Madison. They have such a cake schedule that they should be able to win the division as every other two loss team still has one more tough game, but they will not be going far in the championship game. The East meanwhile, will be another battle between Ohio State and Penn State ft. Michigan State and Michigan. I still think Penn State is the class of the conference and could very well win the national championship. BUT, Ohio State is getting their shit together after some nice blowouts.
SEC:
Projected: Alabama vs. Georgia
If Season Ended Today: Alabama vs. Georgia
Yikes. The SEC has lost their ways outside of these two teams ft. Auburn. The East could still provide trouble for Georgia, but they seem to be getting their work done this year. The only challenge on their schedule prior to a potential championship date with Alabama, is traveling to Auburn, which if Auburn wins, could make for an interesting Iron Bowl game...
ACC:
Projected: Clemson vs. Virginia Tech
If Season Ended Today: NC State vs. Miami
If you thought the Pac-12 had parity, then let me introduce you to the ACC. The NC State/Clemson game might decide the Atlantic, while teams like Syracuse and Wake Forest are also licking their chops at a potential stab at the division (Wake Forest has already lost to the two "good" teams in the ACC, while Syracuse just upset Clemson). THEN, on the other side in the Coastal, we have four teams in contention for that division, between Miami, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Georgia Tech. In my personal opinion, Miami should be the team to beat, but my model has been pretty low on them due to their last minute victories. The ACC could very well come down to the last week of the season.
Over(rated)Watch:
#5. Wisconsin - Overrated AF. After being exposed by Northwestern and Nebraska, they should have caught a break by blowing out Purdue at home, right? NOPE. Who the fuck only puts up 17 on Purdue, and gets shutout by them in the second half? It is unfortunate that Wisconsin has such a simple schedule, but that also means everything they have done with success is extremely padded (except their defense, that is legit). It is only a matter of time before someone beats them. They host Maryland this week, so we'll see.
#11. USC - Being Watched. Not so fast Trojans, just because other teams lost doesn't mean you can climb up the rankings without proof...They're at Notre Dame this week, so the proof better be in the pudding (or would it be potatoes for this week?)
#13. Notre Dame - Being Watched. Similarly, that doesn't mean Notre Dame can climb without a free pass too. Beat USC with conviction this week, and I'll take you off.
No team proved their worth last week
Properly taken care of and being low key watched: #15 Washington State, #21 Auburn
Prediction Center:
I hate being right when we lose, but sometimes it happens. 16-5 on the season, and we have a couple games to predict after last weeks blank slate.
Michigan @ Penn State - Penn State 27, Michigan 10
Both teams boast a really good defense, but unfortunately for Michigan, their bed-ridden offense will be devoured by Penn State on the road. The question becomes, how successful can Michigan be in containing McSorley and Barkley?
USC @ Notre Dame - Notre Dame 34, USC 24
Battle of the overrated teams! Notre Dame might have some kick behind them with their 1 point loss to Georgia as to being a good team, not much is being spoken of for USC as The Darnold has seemingly lost his Heisman ways. USC doesn't exactly have much of a defense either...
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