Back to poll results >>

CarbonCamaroZL1 Ballot for 2017 Week 3

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 11, 2017, 7:05 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Dangerously Close to Drop Teams: Utah, Colorado, Louisville, Florida. 2 of these teams looked bad against their competition but still got their wins. Colorado had a good showing this week against a smaller school. Florida will remain in because they couldn't play this week. Teams to Keep an Eye On: Maryland, TCU, Mississippi State

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide +0 spots. 2-0. Alabama continued to trounce on their competition. They may not have hit their odds, but they still got the win and looked strong doing it.
2 Clemson Tigers +0 spots. 2-0. Clemson took down the first of many top 15 teams on their schedule. It may not have been pretty, but they got the win by 2 scores.
3 Oklahoma Sooners +2 spots (previously 5). 2-0. Oklahoma went into Columbus and dominated Ohio State. The offense was terrifying and the defense equally so. Plant that flag!
4 Penn State Nittany Lions +2 spots (previously 6). 2-0. Penn State handled their rival Pitt rightfully so. Barkley continues his hardcore rushing and receiving with 2 touchdowns. Definitely a contender for the playoffs if they were to start this week.
5 Washington Huskies -1 spot (previously 4). 2-0. Despite winning their game, Penn State deserved the spot more due to beating a tougher opponent. Washington did handle their Big Sky opponent, Montana, with a massive 63-7 victory. Schedule weakness is a terrible thing, however. Especially when Rutgers loses to Eastern Michigan and Washington didn't look particularly strong against them.
6 LSU Tigers + 1 spot (previously 7). 2-0. LSU did exactly what they were supposed to do against Chattanooga.
7 Michigan Wolverines +2 spots (previously 9). 2-0. Michigan moves up 2 spots despite looking weak in the 2nd and early 3rd quarter in the Big House against a MAC team. However, they quickly calmed those worries when the defense and offense both stepped back up. Still a lot of worries in the QB situation, but the receivers and defense are still relatively young and have at least 2 more games to work those kinks out safely.
8 USC Trojans +2 spots (previously 10). 2-0. USC put a hurting to their ranked rivals, Stanford. They had three solid quarters putting up 14 points and only allowed for 10 points max in one quarter and 7 in two others. Completing 80% pass percentage and rushing for 300+ yards proves this team has improved drastically since their tough fight with Western Michigan. Their defense still needs work, however, as does their 2 interceptions.
9 Florida State Seminoles -1 spot (previously 8). 0-1. Not playing because of a Hurricane doesn't mean you get to stay where you are. USC looked very strong and deserves the higher spot.
10 Ohio State Buckeyes -7 spots (previously 3). 1-1 Ohio State got embarrassed on their own home field. Looming offensive issues remain an issue in the Toilet Bowl and they continue to flush points down the drain. Their secondary needs a second wipe as well. They still remain in the Top 10, but barely. 
11 Georgia Bulldogs +0 spots. 2-0. Another not-so-beautiful game for Georgia, especially against an overrated Notre Dame. Bad 3rd down efficiency but decent rushing and passing yards equate for staying put.
12 Wisconsin Badgers +0 spots. 2-0. Much like Michigan, they had a bit of a struggle against a lower team. Unfortunately, there isn't really anywhere for them to move up to and they don't deserve to move back as they got the Win. So they stay put for now. A tougher game at BYU may show where Wisconsin stands this season.
13 Oklahoma State Cowboys +1 spot (previously 14). 2-0. Moves up one spot for doing exactly what they were supposed to do against a no-win Big 12 team.
14 Virginia Tech Hokies +1 spot (previously 15). 2-0. Shutout Delaware. 27 points scored is good, but not quite what they should have done. Regardless, their defense looked pretty good and so did their passing. Their rushing needs some work.
15 Washington State Cougars +3 spots (previously 18). 2-0. Yeah, yeah. They only beat an MWC team in triple overtime at home. But it was with a back up QB against a team who was ranked last season, made a bowl game and was actually considered in the joining process of the Pac-12. It's no easy task beating them.
16 Auburn Tigers -3 spots (previously 13). 1-1 Auburn looked dead against Clemson. Never got into the end zone, never scored all 2nd half. However their defense looked very strong against Clemson only holding them to 2 scores. Auburn could be a contender later this season if they can complete more passes.
17 Miami Hurricanes +0 spot. 1-0. Didn't play a game so they don't move anywhere. Washington State moves ahead of them.
18 Kansas State Wildcats +1 spot (previously 19). 2-0. Kansas State also did what they were supposed to against a C-USA team.
19 West Virginia Mountaineers +1 spot (previously 20). 1-1. WVU may have given 20 points to ECU late game, however they still looked pretty strong offensively. Grier is a force to be reckoned with. Especially when put up 352 yards and 5 touchdowns. Why they became unranked in AP after losing to Virginia Tech in a close game, I don't understand.
20 Stanford Cardinal -4 spots (previously 16). 1-1. Stanford flat out got beat on every level against a strong USC team. But still a potentially strong team to come.
21 Colorado Buffaloes +2 spots (previously 23). 2-0. Colorado did what they were supposed to against Texas State, only allowing 3 points defensively. Strong showing and have been swapped with Utah.
22 USF Bulls +0 spots. 2-0. Another team who didn't play due to a hurricane. Not moving anywhere right now.
23 Utah Utes -2 spots (previously 21). 2-0. While Utah did get the win, it was against a team who got shut out last week and they only won by 2 field goals. Nonetheless, it's early in the season and there isn't many great teams in the final 5 of the top 25 that are truly showing yet. So they are still on thin ice for now.
24 Louisville Cardinals +1 spot (previously 25). 2-0. I still feel that Louisville is overrated. They only have an athletic Lamar Jackson and nothing else. The defense failed to show against North Carolina. Why they are ranked so high in AP, I don't really know. If Clemson can put up a lot of points against them and uses their tight defense to shut down Louisville, then maybe AP will understand. Or I will get shown up and they will be competitive. Who knows?
25 Florida Gators -1 spot (previously 24). 0-1. Florida was the other ranked team who didn't get to play this week due to the hurricane. But yet again, that doesn't mean you don't move back when another behind you has a strong showing. 

Back to poll results >>