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JB_Gibson Ballot for 2022 Week 2

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 6, 2022, 10:30 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Prediction of season's end placement based off of current performance and expectations.

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs Until proven otherwise, I believe the former year's NC is the number 1. Saturday's performance against a talented Oregon team, albeit one that is breaking in a new staff, proved just how dominant the Dawgs STILL are. This wasn't a pathetic Oregon team, this was a talented and well coached team with veterans from other schools. Yes, Lanning is a year one coach, but that was not why Oregon lost this game.
2 Alabama Crimson Tide If there's a way to make a team 1a, I didn't see it. I see two teams that are neck and neck with talent, coaching, and ability. What didn't Bama do on Saturday that I have to look to knock them on? No turnovers against a woefully over matched foe. But that's splitting hairs.
3 Ohio State Buckeyes OSU has the talent to hang with anyone and the much improved defense won them a game where they were struggling offensively in the first half. Coming out and finishing the way they did was impressive.
4 Michigan Wolverines As with Bama, Michigan showed efficiency in their play against an overmatched team. The stats aren't necessarily eye popping, but they don't need to be if you handle business early and often
5 Oklahoma Sooners Venables showed he knows what he's doing, but still dealt with the first time coach issues that we always see. Gabriel will need to improve, but the ceiling is high to contend for and win the BIG 12 after the exodus caused by Riley last year.
6 Clemson Tigers Still showing some of those offensive concerns with DJ. Some might argue, but this was not a team that was winning an NC or Playoff game this year. Tech is obviously improved, and I give credit where credit is due, but the offense was just sputtering in the first half. I don't like their chances as is, but I expect a QB change before October.
7 Texas A&M Aggies Texas A&M is going 9-3. They will be the best 9-3 team you've seen. This isn't their year. They will develop and improve their players and that historic class to the point where next year is going to be an incredibly interesting year in the west.
8 Baylor Bears If this were a BIG12 poll, we'd have 1a here. Aranda proves to be the hire of the century for Baylor after the mess of Briles. Yes, it was only Albany, but there's something to be said for handling your business the way they did.
9 Oklahoma State Cowboys OKST looked great for a while there then let it slip from them. I'm not sure what happened, but we know the players are there and Mason is a helluva defensive coach. Sometimes it just slips when you think you have them and the other side refuses to give up.
10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish I can't think of a reason to push them lower. They did everything they could, but a new head coach got beat by an experienced coach... It's that simple, and I think there was ample opportunity for it to swing the other way. I am still wondering why there were 3 runs on a 1st and 25 though....
11 Arkansas Razorbacks The fighting Sam Pittman's did what they should have done and did it well. Cincy is no slouch even after the leaving talent, and anyone thinking that this was just another G5 team hasn't been paying attention. The line was 6.5 and the hogs covered. They did what they should have done against a good team.
12 Miami Hurricanes There's not much to say other than they did what they should have done. This is going to be a team that will compete in the ACC this year and looks good to potentially win it.
13 Utah Utes Despite the loss, which I think had more to do with humidity and Swamp voodoo than we may want to admit, The Utes are still poised to do what they want and control it all. I don's see a scare until October. They have the talent and they have shown they can adjust. It's still there for them, just the others are better.
14 Kentucky Wildcats Next week is going to be touch without chris rodriguez. They proved they can handle the teams below them and probably most that are their equals. But sans the bell cow, Levis and co. are in for a fight. That said, minus UGA, they should be able to put up points and hang with everyone on their schedule.
15 Wisconsin Badgers I never know what to think of Wisconsin. They have so much potential but always seem to piddle it away. Here's a team that can get to the playoffs, but who knows what they're going to do.
16 Florida Gators This year's UF is not next year's UF. They will surprise a few teams, Richardson looks the real deal, and they have that swagger back. But the talent and depth just isn't there due to the poor choices of the previous regime(s). Give it a year.
17 USC Trojans The influx of transfer talent and coaching talent will help, but I don't see a top tier team ready to win it all. Yet. Not only that, all Riley has shown us is how to make bad brisket and lose playoff games. I need to see more.
18 Pittsburgh Panthers The battle of former USC QB's was great, but I was concerned by punishment inflicted on Slovis. Before Thursday I'd say ACC Championship bound. Now... not so sure.
19 Cincinnati Bearcats Cincy is a solid team. There really is nothing else to say. They're going to win and surprise a few teams.
20 Michigan State Spartans A Mel Tucker Defense giving up that many rushing yards and losing the TOP battle that bad is surprising. I felt they'd take that next step this season, but now I don't think so.
21 NC State Wolfpack I'm not even going to dignify this game with a response.
22 Tennessee Volunteers This will be the best 8-4 team in the nation. They have the tools and the capability to hang up points on teams that are their equal, but their defense just isn't there.
23 BYU Cougars The issue that BYU is going to have this season is how many teams I predict will finish ahead of them that they have to play. It doesn't mean they're bad, it means that they have a solid schedule -- 4 games against top 25 teams (currently). Going 9-3 or 8-4 is completely possible and they could still be a top 25 team.
24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Wake Forest showed they had that pizazz last year. I think they still have it and can do it again.
25 Oregon Ducks This one hurts. I still think the pieces are there to finish top 25, but I think we see now that top 15 was a stretch. Lanning got a real baptism by fire, but his pedigree shows he knows how to adjust and fix. I think there's hope still for them to finish right around here.

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