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The_Horse_Joke Ballot for 2022 Week 6

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 3, 2022, 9:35 p.m.

Overall Rationale: I have my overall rationale for each team listed, but want to point out I have them more in "tiers" than a straight up 1-25. Tiers are: The teams who can make the playoffs and win a game [1-3] Teams vying for that "get your teeth kicked in by the SEC champ" spot in the playoffs [4-6] The undefeated teams who can make a run for the playoffs but a trip to the NY6 wouldn't be disappointing [7-12] The undefeated teams who deserve recognition but a NY6 feels out of reach [13-15] The 1 loss teams people seem to be sleeping on but will be able to make a good run for a conference championship [16-19] The 1 loss team people don't seem to be sleeping on but I apparently am [20] 1 loss teams who have a bad loss or couple of close wins, either way you're still a good team but shouldn't be sniffing the top 15 in my opinion [21-25]

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs Georgia has the best win. Yes they had closer games to a MAC and Mizzu team than they should have, but that's just a couple of bumps in the road. I fully expect them go to 12-0.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes Of the top 3 teams, Ohio State is the most consistent. Anybody acting like it was the same ND team against Marshall as it was against OSU is just a h8r. Defense could still do better and somehow our WR isn't literally made of gold.
3 Alabama Crimson Tide Nick. Saban.
4 Penn State Nittany Lions It's a coin toss between them and Michigan. I think Penn State has a better shot of going 2-0 against Michigan and Ohio State (and by extension, going 11-1 or 12-0) than Michigan does which is why I have them above Michigan
5 Michigan Wolverines Bruh that offense scary
6 Clemson Tigers If this Clemson team had Lawrence or Watson I'd have them at #1, but only time will tell. With at most 5 teams in front of them and at most 3 go to the playoffs, I have Clemson ending up in the top 4 again
7 TCU Horned Frogs TCU straight up spanked Oklahoma on national TV this past week and hasn't any super close games yet
8 Oklahoma State Cowboys Also like TCU, they don't have any close losses and their statement game @ Baylor was great
9 Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee is pretty vulnerable and I think their next 5 games will be brutal, but they very well could be on their way to being the 10-2 team ranking 3rd in the SEC
10 USC Trojans USC still has a lot to prove but another 5-0 team who's 3-0 in conference play with at most 2 games on their schedule where they'll be the under? I am not calling it a success in the long run at all, but Kiffin to USC has proven to be a success story (go Wazzu)
11 Ole Miss Rebels Ole Miss is 5-0 with one of the best wins (per my rankings) but I don't think that alone should launch them above the teams I have ranked 1-10, but we all know they'll ball out against Vandy and most likely get into my top 10 next week
12 UCLA Bruins Unlike some in here, I am not lumping UCLA with Kansas/Syracuse (even though those my next 2 picks) UCLA is a 5-0 team with their closes margin being 8 points which involved an incredible comeback by Penix & Washington. I wouldn't be surpsied if we saw UCLA top 10 next week
13 Syracuse Orange The Orange beat a good Purdue team and have a couple of conference wins. I don't want rain on the parade but Syracuse might not be going to a bowl game, but I do have to respect their record
14 Kansas Jayhawks I am not a coward (remember to upvote me!!) I love the meme and see Kansas going 7-5 or 8-4, but man can the Leipold to "blank university" stop already? Let's enjoy the ride!
15 James Madison Dukes The last of the undefeated teams. I think that I will have to start scrambling the lossless with the loss. But! 4-0 deserves respect, especially when you realize they beat Middle Tennessee and App State who have some pretty funny wins
16 Kentucky Wildcats I still think Kentucky can be competing for the SEC East, but given they are 0-1 against the other 2 teams who can get that spot I have to leave them out
17 Washington State Cougars Washington State helped get Chryst fired which is fun. Oh, they're also 4-1 with some good wins and a close to Oregon. This is going to be the first case of me having a team ranked ahead of a team they have a loss to. Deal with it.
18 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Wake has a good record and their loss was heartbreaking to Clemson to any non-Clemson fans who watched. I'm high on Norvell and FSU too so they get good points for that conference win
19 LSU Tigers I think this is the one that I'm being the most influenced on by the AP poll on. LSU is 4-1 and is an extra point and OT (sadly a coinflip these days) from being 5-0 and probably being in my top 10 based on the Mississippi State game alone. That Auburn game was nasty though. LSU at 19 feels right, but it's more of a "could be 10, could be 28" spot
20 Utah Utes The more and more time goes on, the more and more forgivable that Florida loss was. I think I combined the excuse of Utah losing with the idea that Florida might actually be a powerhouse, and when the latter was untrue I assumed so was the former. Utah has a road game (neutral site game?) against one of the teams in my top 12 and then hosts a team in my top 10. It's basically put up or shut up time for the Utes
21 Cincinnati Bearcats I'm giving Cinci the nod for two reasons: their loss to Arkansas is about as forgivable as they come. I'm not going to be boasting about their effort, but when was the last time Arky had as hyped of an opening week as hosting Cinci in a ranked match up? Secondly, they beat Indiana better than another 4-1 team: Illinois. (Man, what a time to be alive)
22 Oregon Ducks Had a nasty loss on the road to open as well all know, but has rebounded well and has a good path to the pac-12 championship. We'll know how much much Bo Nix is having after their 10/22 match up against UCLA
23 Maryland Terrapins Maryland is the sleeper cell agent in the Big10 East and I am here for it. They nearly beat Michigan, destroyed Michigan State, and get the "not highly ranked" +2 armor benefit against Purdue. 9-3 is on the Terp's menu!
24 Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State is still in the "prove it to me" stage. 4-1 is good, and they beat an Oklahoma team that we all in hindsight realize was overrated. Doubly so for their Texas Tech win of 2 scores. I still think they are the sleeper in the conference, but don't put their aspiration at much more than 2nd or 3rd in a middle heavy conference.
25 NC State Wolfpack I haven't seen NC State play a good game against a good team yet. I know they beat Texas Tech more than Kansas State did, but if anybody watched that game and is following Texas Tech you know it's not like NC State dominated while KSU struggled

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