Back to poll results >>

Due_Connection179 Ballot for 2022 Week 8

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 17, 2022, 8:39 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Game Film & Game Reports. You can have all the analytics in the world, but nothing beats the eye test.

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs Last week #2 vs Vanderbilt won 55-0. Took care of business against the worst SEC school, but at least they didn't lose like the #1 team. Next week is a Bye Week.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes Last week #3 had a Bye Week. Next week vs Iowa.
3 Tennessee Volunteers Last week #7 vs #1 Alabama won 52-49. The game looked like a blowout at the end of the 1st, a collapse at the end of the 3rd, but in the end they pulled it out in thanks to a missed Alabama FG. If Tennessee was in the SEC West, then they would be in the perfect position, but unfortunately for them they are in the East with Georgia, who they visit on 11/5. Next week vs UT-Martin.
4 Clemson Tigers Last week #4 at Florida State won 34-28. Very hard to keep Clemson above Michigan this week, but I'm going to hold off putting 2 SEC & 2 B1G teams in my CFP for now. Clemson was cruising going into the 4th up 34-14, but allowed the Seminoles to make this a "respectable" loss in the end. Next week vs #14 Syracuse.
5 Michigan Wolverines Last week #9 vs #8 Penn State won 41-17. Michigan has a 1st half problem and they really need to fix it. They absolutely dominated Penn State from start to finish but were only winning 16-14 at halftime. If they play like they do in the 2nd half of all their games, then they will be a CFP team again this season, but they cannot start slow vs Ohio State or (if they make it) against whoever in the B1G Championship Game. Next week is a well deserved Bye Week.
6 TCU Horned Frogs Last week #10 vs #5 Oklahoma State won 43-40 in 2OT. There are two Cinderellas still dancing this season and TCU is building a resume to rival the other schools, and will jump into my top 4 with a decisive win next week. It did not look good for TCU at halftime (down 24-13) and really not good at the end of the 3rd (down 30-16), but TCU rallied with two 4th quarter TDs including the game-tying 94-yard TD drive with 1:57 left. TCU has playmakers at every position on offense and seems to be able to light up the score at any moment. Next week vs #21 Kansas State (this is my lock of the week).
7 Ole Miss Rebels Last week #11 vs Auburn won 48-34. The Rebels keep chugging along winning easily vs Auburn. They have a couple "don't overlook me" games (at LSU then at A&M) coming up, then a bye week, then what might be the SEC West decider in vs #9 Alabama on 11/12. Next week at LSU.
8 UCLA Bruins Last week #12 had a Bye Week. Next week at #12 Oregon (College GameDay).
9 Alabama Crimson Tide Last week #1 at #7 Tennessee lost 49-52. Just like against Texas, the Crimson Tide started off slow in the 1st quarter this time being down 21-7. Looked like they would bounce back nicely, but ironicly (Bama fans were bragging about not having kicker problems) Alabama missed a potential game-winning FG that lead to Tennessee winning on a GW FG of their own. Next week vs #24 Mississippi State.
10 Oklahoma State Cowboys Last week #5 at #10 TCU lost 40-43 in 2OT. The one positive to this game is that they lost in 2OT, so if they win out and beat TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game, then all will be forgiven and they should have a CFP spot. However, going into the 4th quarter up 30-16 and coming off of two drives where their pass game looked a lot better than their run game, Oklahoma State's OC decided to go run three times then punt, and you could feel the momentum start to shift from there. After that drive, TCU outgained Oklahoma State 148 yards to 28 in the 4th. Next week vs #19 Texas.
11 USC Trojans Last week #6 at #17 Utah lost 42-43. Back-to-Back teams on my rankings who were CFP hopefuls and who had leads on the road going into the 4th quarter. USC trailed for all of 48 seconds of this game, and it seems like their main problem was they couldn't guard one Utah WR (Kincaid) who had 16 rec for 234 yards and a TD. They will now have to win out, including a road trip to #8 UCLA on 11/19 to make the PAC 12 Championship Game to even have a thought about the CFP. Next week is a Bye Week with a lot to think about.
12 Oregon Ducks Last week #14 had a Bye Week. Next week vs #8 UCLA (College GameDay).
13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Last week #16 had a Bye Week. Next week vs Boston College.
14 Syracuse Orange Last week NR vs #13 NC State won 24-9. Syracuse's defense absolutely dominated NC State's offense from start-to-finish last week to stay undefeated. The turnovers are a bit of a concern, but for now we will just talk about the dominating defense in the 1st half then the offense that scored TDs on both of their drives in the 2nd half. Outgained NC State 226-72 yards at half then had a 13-play TD & 9-play TD in the 2nd half to seal it. Adds a lot of hype going into next week with the ACCs last two undefeateds. Next week at #4 Clemson.
15 Illinois Fighting Illini Last week #25 vs Minnesota won 26-14. Little known fact about Illinois is that after week 7 they have the best defense in the FBS. Low scoring game last week, but Illinois was in the drivers seat the whole way. Next week is a Bye Week.
16 Penn State Nittany Lions Last week #8 at #9 Michigan lost 17-41. The 2nd-worst performance by a ranked team this week (week 1 Oregon by the worst). Michigan aboslutely dominated Penn State from start-to-finish and Penn State had to buisness having the lead after the 1st drive in the 2nd half. They have a lot of offensive and run game defensive problems to work through before their game vs Ohio State in two weeks. Next week vs Minnesota.
17 Utah Utes Last week #17 vs #6 USC won 43-42. Utah capped off probably the best week of college football so far with a 2-pt conversion to beat the Trojans. It was pretty close the whole game, but it did seem like USC was the better team so I was very happy when Utah decided to go for two there at the end. You will also notice that Utah beat the #6 team but stayed at #17, and thats because they need a massive amount of help to make the CFP. They are the best two loss team in the FBS, but there are currently 16 undefeated or one loss P5 schools left (including three in their own conference). Long road ahead, but not an impossible climb with a little luck. Next week is a Bye Week.
18 Kentucky Wildcats Last week #18 vs #23 Mississippi State. Going into the game, I thought it was crazy that people had the Bulldogs shoot past the Wildcats. I understand that Kentucky was coming off a bad loss to South Carolina, but they had a top defense with a top running game and that combination usually wins, and thats what happened this week. Kentucky had 239 rushing yards compared to Mississippi State's 235 total yards. All Levis had to be this week was a Game Manager, and Kentucky is back in the win column. They have an extremely tough game coming up at #3 Tennessee, but first they have a little rest. Next week is a Bye Week.
19 Texas Longhorns Last week NR vs Iowa State won 24-21. I don't know how they pulled off the win last week, but the Longhorns improve to 5-2 on the season. This week however starts their extremely tough conference schedule of: at #10 Oklahoma State then at #21 Kansas State then finally vs #6 TCU. Next week at #10 Oklahoma State.
20 Tulane Green Wave Last week #20 at USF won 45-31. There was a lot of dancing around in my polls from #19-25, but Tulane stays firm at #20 after being USF in a game in which Tulane really put in on in the 2nd half out scoring USF 28-10 before a late USF TD. My top G5 school (mainly for being #21 Kansas State on the road) is currently crusing through conference play. Next week vs Memphis.
21 Kansas State Wildcats Last week #21 had a Bye Week. Next week at #6 TCU.
22 Kansas Jayhawks Last week #15 at Oklahoma lost 42-52. Even without their starting QB, the Jayhawk offense looked great scoring 42pts with a balanced offense 265 passing yards to 165 rushing yards. The problem came from Kansas' defense (which was their strength this season) giving up a total of 701 yards and 7 TDs. Oklahoma's five TD drives in the first half combined for 9 minutes and 1 second a play time. The Sooners were just hitting big play after big play on the Jayhawk defense then strolled to a 10pt win in the 2nd half. I won't over react too much with the injuries on the Kansas side, but something needs to stop the bleeding. Next week at Baylor.
23 Cincinnati Bearcats Last week #19 had a Bye Week. I mentioned this during my Texas description, but I feel my least confident about my 19-25 in my polls and that's because there are 16 teams with 0 or 1 loss, but there are 30 teams with 2 losses so there will be a lot of movement in this area. Next week at SMU (this is my upset pick of the week).
24 Mississippi State Bulldogs Last week #23 at #18 Kentucky lost 17-27. Mississippi State was dominated by Kentucky's line on both sides of the ball, and this seemed like a bigger loss than just by 10pts. Luckily for Mississippi State was that six teams ranked from #22-33 in my rankings lost last week which keeps them in the top 25 for now. Next week at #9 Alabama.
25 Purdue Boilermakers Last week NR won vs Nebraska 43-37. Winning against Nebraska isn't special (especially by such a close margin) but Purdue has two losses on the season, and both of those teams are currently ranked (at #14 Syracuse & vs #16 Penn State). They are setting themselves up for thier highly anticipated matchup on 11/12 that will probably decide who represents the Big Ten West in the Championship Game when they go to #15 Illinois (should be College GameDay if both win until then and yes I want them over Alabama-Ole Miss). Could be the best Purdue Cannon Game of all-time. Next week at Wisconsin.

Back to poll results >>