Crimson Red Sports

OK, so last week the AP poll has had four teams from the Big10 in the top 10.  4! 

Two loss Wisconsin was ranked 10 for playing OSU and Michigan close, and beating LSU early in Wisconsin.   :eyeroll:

Are we going to see five top teams from the Big10 this week, with Penn State beating OSU?  (and Wisconsin "rolling over" last year's hot team Iowa?)

And then we had Houston at No. 11 for an early season victory over OK.  Even after the loss to Navy.  Maybe now that they had their clocked cleaned by SMU, maybe they'll drop off the charts. 

All this is to say that, with the advent of the Selection Committee, the AP has become even a bigger joke.

Here are my top teams after Week 8:

1.  Bama

(intentional gap, followed by current leaders for playoffs:)

2. Michigan.  Yes, they haven't played anyone, but they've looked very good doing it.  And Coach H knows how to coach.
3. Clemson.  Based more on potential than what we've seen on the field.  Louisville looks like the better team, despite the loss.
4. Washington.  Another team that hasn't played anyone, but also another coach who can get it done.  Pretty soft PAC12 schedule left
5.  West Virginia.  On the outside looking in at this point, but only Big12 team that plays defense.  Will move into playoffs if it can win out.

And then the rest

6.  Louisville. 
7.  Aggies
8.  Baylor (this is a place holder.  they haven't played anyone even resembling a ranked team)
9.  Ohio State  (still in it if they can beat Michigan)

10.  The way they're playing now, I'd probably have Auburn or LSU as the number 10 team, but I can't rank them that way.

Pretenders

Nebraska (this year's Iowa)
Houston (can we get them out of the ranking yet?)
Utah (one of the best PAC12 teams, which is saying something)
Wisconsin (still overrated)
Tennessee and Arkansas (ouch)

CP I have to say I am the only one with CNS on this one item I guess. I don't believe in rankings at all until after week 8. What all the others are doesn't even matter to look at up to now. I have not set down and took a real look yet but I would say your 1st 4 are super right now. SOS is my big thing. If you beat good teams and whip them pretty soundly then I start thinking your a playoff type team. Right now I would honestly say Alabama vs Michigan will be the NCG. Both of these teams have some playing to do but I don't see anybody beating either one except maybe we play a bad game and lsu might upset us, then after that one only auburn is left if we once again beat our self.
Michigan wins out I believe and goes in the playoff undefeated. tosu will not fall into a win this year I don't believe and as far as Clemson and Coach Dabo they won't be in the playoff cause they will lose one regular season game. This just my honest feelings about it. RTR!

I can't really argue with you, CP. I might move Louisville up, because they are a very talented team despite their loss to Clemson, and I think Clemson will stumble along the way. Louisville would still need some help to get in though.

If tOSU and Michigan win out until they meet each other, the winner between the 2 will go to the playoffs.

I'm also impressed with WV, If they win out, they're in, even though there is no Big 12 playoff. Same with Washington.

But a lot can happen along the way which makes college football fun. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 :popcorn2:

FWIW here are this week's polls.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings


Just eyeballing this, looks to me like at the end of the season we'll have more Top 20 teams on our schedule than any other of the highly rated teams.

Just wondering about Nebraska. Won't they play tOSU or Mich, at least in the BIG10 champ game?  Could be a sleeper.

Thanks McB. It will be interesting to compare the committee votes to these polls.

If Nebraska wins out and I wouldn't mind that since they have an Alabama coach. If they do they will meet one of the 2 in the CG and if I am right I believe it would be they would play tosu because I think they are in Michigan's side of the conference. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong. RTR!