Another week in College Football led to some teams dropping precipitously down my Top 20 Rankings. Alabama didn’t. Penn State and TCU did. Check out my College Football Top 20 going into Week 10!
2017 College Football Top 20 Rankings Week 10
1. Alabama Crimson Tide 8-0
The Tide got the week off. Bama battles one of their top SEC opponents this Saturday in the LSU Tigers. LSU is a +22 dog. I’m not sure Bama’s a lock just because these 2 always play each other tough. Alabama had better be ready for the improving LSU Tigers. I know that.
2. Georgia 8-0
The Georgia Bulldogs continue to rout opposing teams. I didn’t want to believe in Georgia just because I know a lot of their fans. The Georgia fans I know can be tough to be around when the Bulldogs are winning. But, an undefeated record makes me pay attention to Georgia. The Bulldogs are legitimate. They have a real shot of winning the National Championship this season. There. It’s in writing. I can never deny that I wrote it.
3. Wisconsin 8-0
The Badgers have gone undefeated as well this season. Wisconsin has done it quietly. No matter what anybody tells you, Wisconsin does have a chance of going undefeated the entire regular season. The Badgers can hang with Penn State or Ohio State. Most college football fans don’t know this, but Wisconsin allows less than 13 points per game. The Badgers’ D allows less than 270 total yards per game. Those are both excellent signs that Wisconsin can hang with any team in the Big Ten.
4. Notre Dame 7-1
The Irish dominated a Top 15 ranked opponent in NC State. If NC State upsets Clemson in Week 10, Notre Dame’s victory is going to appear even more impressive. The Irish are hot. Their one point loss to Georgia looks better and better the more Georgia dominates their opponents.
5. Ohio State 7-1
Ohio State made a furious rally to beat Penn State this past Saturday. The AP Poll has Ohio State ahead of Notre Dame. In fact, the AP Poll has Ohio State all the way up to number 3 ahead of both Notre Dame and Wisconsin. What do they know? They’re just a bunch of writers. Oh, wait…
6. Penn State 7-1
It’s difficult for me to drop Penn State further than 6th on my rankings. The Nittany Lions should have beaten Ohio State instead of losing 38 to 39. Yes, that’s true. But, Penn State entered the game as a +7 road dog. The fact that they won ATS means that Penn State now has a fantastic 6-1-1 record against the spread this season.
7. Miami 7-0
Miami’s undefeated. They’re in the same conference, the ACC, as Clemson. Why is Clemson ranked ahead of Miami in the AP Poll? I don’t know. I really don’t.
8. Clemson 7-1
Maybe, it’s just reputation. That’s why Clemson, with a loss to Syracuse, a team that Miami beat, is ranked ahead of the Canes in the AP Poll. That could be it. What also could be it is that Clemson is just better. The Tigers have a tough game in Week 10 versus NC State.
9. Oklahoma 7-1
I like Oklahoma, just like the AP Poll and Coaches Poll writers, more than I like Oklahoma State. We’re going to find out which of the Oklahoma schools is better in Week 10. Oklahoma travels to Stillwater to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
10. Oklahoma State 7-1
The one thing Oklahoma State didn’t want to happen is for TCU to lose to Iowa State. Now, if Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma, the win won’t matter nearly as much if Oklahoma beats TCU in a couple of weeks. The loss to TCU might have been what ended Oklahoma State’s chances at moving back into the CFP Top 4.
11. Washington 7-1
I have no doubt that Washington moves into the Top 10. Unfortunately for Washington, the team they lost to, ASU, played about as badly this past Saturday as they’ve played all season long. USC dominated ASU in that game. It means Washington, like Oklahoma State, could go undefeated and win the Pac 12 by beating USC only to discover that they’re still not worthy of a Top 4 in the College Football Playoff.
12. TCU 7-1
The TCU Horned Frogs saw their quest for a National Championship go down the drain in Week 9. They lost to Iowa State. They aren’t the first team in the Big 12 this season to do that. Oklahoma lost to Iowa State before TCU did. The thing I noticed about TCU’s loss is that Iowa State beat the Frogs 14 to 7. You’re telling me that TCU’s offense couldn’t manage more than a TD versus Iowa State’s defense? That should make every team in the Big 12 scared to face the Cyclones.
13. Virginia Tech 7-1
Virginia Tech gets much love for winning 3 in a row after losing 17 to 31 to Clemson over a month ago. The Hokies could move back into the Top 10 with a big win over the Miami Hurricanes. Will Tech do it? We only must a wait a few days to find out.
14. UCF 7-0
I’m not moving UCF into the Top 10 after their 73 to 33 win over Austin Peay in Week 9. There are a couple of reasons why. First, South Florida lost straight up to Houston as a -10 home favorite. It means the American Athletic Conference isn’t that great. Second, UCF scored 73 points against Austin Peay and they still didn’t cover the spread. If you score 73 points against any opponent in college football, you should cover the spread.
15. Iowa State 6-2
Iowa State has become the best team in the Big 12. If you doubt me, just look at what State has done since losing 7 to 17 to Texas? The Cyclones beat Oklahoma 38 to 31 on the road when the Sooners were ranked third in the nation. They trounced Kansas 45 to 0. They beat Texas Tech 31 to 13 at Texas Tech. Then, they beat TCU 14 to 7. TCU was ranked 4th in College Football Week 8 when Iowa State beat them. If not for a 41 to 44 loss to Iowa and the 7 to 17 loss to Texas, Iowa State might be in the CFP Top 4.
16. LSU 6-2
The Tigers racked up their third straight win by beating Ole Miss 45 to 24 on the road in Week 8. It was a nice victory for the Tigers. This weekend is the game. If LSU can beat Alabama straight up as a +22 dog, it would be the upset of the year. No doubt that’s what the Tigers from the bayou are shooting for. Will it happen? I don’t think so. But when LSU plays Alabama it’s usually a tight, tough, low-scoring, game. You never know, right?
17. Auburn 6-2
Auburn could keep climbing. All they must do is keep winning. Week 10 purports a key battle for the Auburn Tigers. Auburn heads to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies lost 13 to 35 to Mississippi State. A&M should be ready after such a stunning loss at home. If Auburn can beat A&M handily, it’s going to be hard to keep them from climbing up my rankings.
18. USC 6-2
Arizona State’s defense had been hot. USC went into the game having lost 14 to 49 to Notre Dame. There was every reason for the Trojans to simply lie down and wait for the kicks and punches in Week 9. The Trojans didn’t do that. Instead, they showed why so many were high on their CFP chances at the beginning of the season. USC trounced the Sun Devils 48 to 17.
19. Arizona 6-2
Arizona battles USC at the L.A. Coliseum in Week 10. The Wildcats have suddenly become a real Pac 12 threat. Zona dominated then 15th ranked Washington State 58 to 37 this past Saturday. That’s 4 weeks in a row where Arizona’s offense has scored 45 points or more. What makes the Wildcats’ offense so good? QB Kahlil Tate. Tate, a sophomore, averages close to 14 yards per rush. He’s rushed the football 69 times this season. He’s scored 8 rushing TDs. When he does throw it, he completes over 68% of his passes. Rich Rod finally has a QB akin to Major Harris, who played for Rich Rod at West Virginia, in Tucson.
20. Memphis 7-1
Memphis’ lone loss this season, to UCF, was ugly. UCF is undefeated, though. The Tigers have beaten every other team they’ve faced this season. Wins versus UCLA, Navy, and Houston, means that Memphis should garner a decent bowl berth should they go undefeated the rest of the way.