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BunnySelfDestruct Ballot for 2017 Week 2

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 5, 2017, 5:02 p.m.

Overall Rationale: We're through our first week of regular football. We have information. At this point we can loosely sort teams into buckets. The names and descriptions of these buckets will change to reflect how everyone's doing and where we are in the season.Buckets are as follows:Bucket 1 (Likely Playoff Teams) [1-6]These teams distinguished themselves as meeting the preseason hype. They're not perfect (Washington struggled against Rutgers, Ohio State struggled against Indiana) and there are even two Big 12 teams, but if the season ended today I would feel comfortable putting any of these 6 teams in a playoff and knowing the winner could probably beat any one of the other 122 other schools a majority of the time. Bucket 2 (Teams with reasonable expectations to win their conference) [7-14]Everyone on this list had a good showing this weekend, some even beat some other good teams. Everyone here could wind up in the playoffs, or lose 11 more games. It's too early to tell, but they looked the part in week 1.Bucket 3 (Teams who can beat teams in Bucket 1) [15-20]These are teams with star players, deep rosters, and/or recent strong showings. Everyone in this group has a shot to knock off the teams above them to make their way into the playoff. Some of these schools would be higher if they didn't disappoint against potentially weaker competition this weekend. (USC, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Louisville)Bucket 4 (Congratulations! You Won!) [21-81]81 FBS teams have won all of their games so far, so they all have a shot. So we'll give honorable mentions for teams who did something exciting this weekend for 21-25.Bucket 5 (Houston) [82]Haven't played a game, due to horrible circumstances. I can't help but believe this will bring them together as a team and potentially win them a few additional games.Bucket 6 (UTSA) [83]I don't think you would beat Houston, but you haven't lost so you get your own special place this week.Bucket 7 (You're not a winner) [84-128]Some of you won some games. But this early in the season I can't put you with everyone else. West Virginia looked good and will probably jump up several buckets over the course of the season, but it's early, and I have to draw lines somewhere. Florida State's injury situation actually saved me from having to justify a 1 loss team in the top 25.

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama controlled the second half against a mostly whole Florida State. They have the strongest win of the first week of the season.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes The Indiana game was way too close, but as someone deeply invested in the B1G I know the Indiana game can be a lottery with they way their offensive and defensive systems work. Their mid game adjustments make me think they'll find a winning combination by the time they need it.
3 Oklahoma Sooners Want to be a preseason favorite and still be considered a favorite a week later? Crush your week one opponent.
4 Clemson Tigers Clemson jumps 16 spots for 2 reasons. 1. They look a lot like last year's team. 2. Everyone else in the ACC has some pretty glaring concerns after one game. 
5 Washington Huskies Sure they struggled against Rutgers, but I think they're still my favorite to win the Pac 12. Performances like this probably leave them out of the playoff because they lose 2 games, but they have become my Pac 12 favorite after USC nearly dropped a game to a Directional Michigan.
6 Oklahoma State Cowboys Want to be a preseason favorite and still be considered a favorite a week later? Crush your week one opponent.
7 Penn State Nittany Lions Absolutely crushed Akron, but I don't know how much of a data point that really is, but no reason to drop them.
8 Virginia Tech Hokies Probably the second strongest week one victory. Sure they didn't dominate WVU, but they won and a quality win will certainly run you up the ladder this early in the year.
9 Michigan Wolverines There are a lot of questions about their offense. Florida was depleted. But they absolutely shut down the Gators on defense, Strong quality win, need to keep reminding myself that this is not the Florida team that everyone else will play.
10 LSU Tigers They got a de-facto home game against BYU. They out performed BYU. This goes in the quality win category after 1 week, it might change, but for now, take your points.
11 Auburn Tigers Soundly beat Georgia Southern. It's Auburn or LSU for #2 in the SEC West right now. LSU with the slight edge for the perceived quality of BYU.
12 Georgia Bulldogs They beat App state, this bump up may be more of a result the teams that were ahead of them under performing than anything Georgia actually did. That said, I still consider App St. favorites to win their conference so we'll notch this one as a quality win until otherwise informed.
13 Kansas State Wildcats Did everything they were supposed to do and still fall a spot? Honestly, I think they have the weakest chance of winning their conference of the 6 "Bucket 2" teams, the Big 12 belongs to the state of Oklahoma until they show otherwise.
14 Miami Hurricanes Is Miami the last team in Bucket 2 or the first team in Bucket 3? It's early, I'll be optimistic for them and put them in Bucket 2.
15 USC Trojans Survived a closer than it should have been game against a directional Michigan. I think the gap between them and Washington certainly got a little bigger. I think the Pac 12 is too good for USC to pull this again.
16 Washington State Cougars You beat your FCS opponent. Good job Cougars and Pirate. Good job.
17 Louisville Cardinals Purdue almost beat them... survived a potential train wreck. Lamar Jackson looks great, everyone else better do everything they can to make sure he stays healthy. He is this football team.
18 Northwestern Wildcats Thank Wisconsin for this bump from unranked to ranked. They didn't do anything to impress me, but they are certainly in contention to win the B1G west.
19 Wisconsin Badgers Eventually they pulled away from Utah State... eventually.
20 Colorado Buffaloes By transitive property they have a Pac 12 win! Also a pretty strong defensive performance.
21 USF Bulls They've won 2 in a row, which is more than many other teams can say about their 2017 season so far.
22 Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors They've won 2 in a row, which is more than many other teams can say about their 2017 season so far.
23 UCLA Bruins In the last quarter and a half you're up 35-0... so that's some domination, if we ignore the fact that you let aTm put you in a situation where you needed to do this.
24 Maryland Terrapins Scoring 51 points against a Big 12 defense is not a reason to be excited. But hey, Texas isn't back, so maybe Testudo is?
25 TCU Horned Frogs Congratulations on your amazing weekend. Shoot, you probably didn't even have to play football to have a pretty fantastic weekend did you?

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