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hokies220 Ballot for 2019 Week 15

Ballot Type: Hybrid

Submitted: Dec. 1, 2019, 12:04 p.m.

Overall Rationale: And just like that another regular season is done. Congrats to the teams that won their divisions and are playing for a conference championship and also congrats to the bowl eligible teams. This week cleared a little bit up as there are only 7 teams left for the four spots. Biggest argument will arise if UGA, Utah, and Baylor win IMO. Anywho, here's what I got for this week as always I won't put multiple teams from the same conference in my top 4.

Rank Team Reason
1 Ohio State Buckeyes (Computer #1: Ohio State) Ohio State still manages to be lightyears ahead of #2 in the computer, and they look like the most complete team so #1 heading into their rematch vs Wisconsin.
2 LSU Tigers (Computer #2: LSU) Really whoever has the bigger win between them and OSU will likely be #1 and avoid Clemson in the first round.
3 Clemson Tigers (Computer #3: Wisconsin) Clemson plays UVA for the ACC title and are probably locked into #3 with a win. UVA was #29 in my computer poll.
4 Oklahoma Sooners (Computer #4: Notre Dame) OU took care of rivalry week on the road with yet another Bedlam win by 3 scores. Edge over Utah here for better wins, though a worse loss. 
5 Georgia Bulldogs (Computer #5: Michigan) Georgia manhandled a bad GT team as expected, real tough game in LSU, but a win and they're in. Still have easily the worst loss of the top teams, but wins against ND, UF, and Auburn. 
6 Utah Utes (Computer# 6: Penn State) Man, my computer really loves the B1G. Utah crushed yet another team and plays Oregon for the Pac-12 title. Win big enough and hope for a little help and maybe a CFP berth. Win at all and Rose Bowl. So it's a win-win...as long as they actually win. The North owns the Pac-12 though.
7 Baylor Bears (Computer #7: Clemson) Baylor destroyed an inferior opponent as expected. Rematch with OU for the conference title and a possible CFP shot. Honestly, if they win I'd probably put them in over Utah. 
8 Wisconsin Badgers (Computer #8: Georgia) Well. Wisconsin won the Axe, the West, and a rematch with OSU all at once. With an added bonus of likely eliminating their rival from the Rose Bowl. Unless Wisconsin gets railed 59-0 again because they still have that bad loss to Illinois. 
9 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Computer #9: Oklahoma) Keeping Minnesota higher than I'd really like, but there's not many teams with a good argument for top 10 really and I had to keep them ahead of PSU.
10 Penn State Nittany Lions (Computer #10: Auburn) Didn't really impress anyone with the Rutgers game, but still won by 3 scores. 10-2 and an outside shot at the Rose Bowl though I don't think they should get it regardless.
11 Memphis Tigers (Computer #11: Utah) Memphis had one hiccup on the road @Temple way back and they've gotta be kicking themselves over it. Three ranked wins right now has them looking great and if they were only undefeated they'd be making more waves. Basically a Cotton Bowl lock if they can beat Cincy again.
12 Michigan Wolverines (Computer #12: Baylor) I don't really like Michigan here especially after making so many mistakes against OSU and having three losses. But, who else should be ahead of them? ND with one less loss, but got pounded by Michigan? Florida with one good win and two FCS games? Auburn has two good wins, but shouldn't be ahead of Florida even. So here's a top 12 9-3 Michigan team. Again. Maybe they'll play Florida in a bowl to decide who's better. Also again.
13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Computer #13: Iowa) Looked sluggish early against a bad/bipolar Stanford team, but got their shit together in a hurry and stepped on their neck to win by 21 and finish 10-2. NY6 maybe? Money involved with ND in anything makes me think yes.
14 Florida Gators (Computer #14: Oregon) Kinda funny that Oregon edged out Florida by .5 points in my computer poll, and I could actually see them playing a close game with no idea who wins. But anyways, nice win against your rival.
15 Auburn Tigers (Computer #15: Florida) Defense decided to add 14 points of their own since they didn't feel like stopping Bama's offense without Tua even. Good thing it's a team sport.
16 Oregon Ducks (Computer #16: USC) Oregon State is the best 5-7 team in the country and had Luton played maybe they win. But the reality is Oregon won and has a 10 win season with a shot at the Rose Bowl.
17 Iowa Hawkeyes (Computer #17: Alabama) Really lackluster against Nebraska, but they got the win. Solid 9-3 season with a shot at 10 wins against probably a good SEC team. Maybe Auburn? That would be fun.
18 Boise State Broncos (Computer #18: Cincinnati) Closer win than expected, but still a win. If they wax Hawaii again, and Cincy pulls out a close or ugly win @Memphis maybe Boise makes the Cotton Bowl.
19 Alabama Crimson Tide (Computer #19: Texas) Texas still being top 20 is proof of why computers aren't the only thing that should be used. Now. For the hate I'll surely get for this ranking, what has Alabama done to deserve to be higher this year? They've played two ranked teams and lost to both, sure they can be quality losses all you want, but they're still losses. Navy has two ranked losses, but a ranked win at least. I honestly considered ranking them here and dropping Bama further. Call me a hater or delusional if you want, but based on resume for this season Alabama is not impressive at all.
20 Appalachian State Mountaineers (Computer #20: tieMinnesota/Boise St) App State is still trying to send a message I guess, but the loss to GA Southern killed any NY6 hopes. They finish hosting ULL who is #30 in my computer poll.
21 USC Trojans (Computer #20: tie Boise State/Minnesota) Season was already done after last week, but my computer has loved them, and really at 8-4 with a top 10 win in Utah and 2 ranked losses, but 2 unranked losses I still feel like USC could go toe to toe with anyone yet also lose to anyone. 
22 Navy Midshipmen (Computer #21: Memphis) Shootout win @Houston was entertaining. Get a week off before playing rival Army for a shot at a 10 win season.
23 Air Force Falcons (Computer #22: App State) Air Force has two losses on the season both on the road to ranked teams by a total of 20 points. They finish 10-2( 7-1) but without a shot at the conference title, they destroyed West division winner Hawaii earlier. I think they're playing seriously good football and would have beaten Boise if they played later in the year. I think they overmatch their bowl opponent and finish 11-2 with an eight game win streak.
24 Cincinnati Bearcats (Computer #23: Iowa State) Cincy lost what was really a meaningless game, I expect them to play better in the rematch this week with a shot at the Cotton Bowl on the line.
25 SMU Mustangs (Computer #24: tie Air Force/Oklahoma St) (Computer #25: SMU) Giving SMU the nod over the two Big 12 teams simply out of respect for their season. 10-2 with two losses coming to ranked teams on the road by a total of 13 points. 

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