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Due_Connection179 Ballot for 2022 Week 14

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Nov. 28, 2022, 11:14 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Now that were past the mid-point of the season, it's strictly game film, opponents, and articles written for the games I either chose to miss or couldn't watch. My "Next 8 Out" are (in no order): Boise State, Cincinnati, Illinois, NC State, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Alabama, UTSA.

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs Last Week #1 vs Georgia Tech Won 37-14. Started off rocky, but ended up cruising to an easy 3 TD win. This Week the SEC Championship Game vs #12 LSU (Georgia is my lock of the week to win).
2 Michigan Wolverines Last Week #4 at #2 Ohio State Won 45-23. Literally what I've been saying all season long. If Michigan can keep it close in the first half, then they will just roll over their opponent in the second half. Dominated Ohio State to move on to the Big Ten Championship Game. This Week the Big Ten Championship Game vs Purdue.
3 TCU Horned Frogs Last Week #3 vs Iowa State Won 62-14. I said last week that TCU would stay #3 regardless of what happened vs Iowa State, but winning by 50 almost changed my mind. It doesn't really matter whether TCU is #2 or #3 because they would play Michigan in the first round either way. This Week the Big 12 Championship Game vs #14 Kansas State.
4 USC Trojans Last Week #5 vs #15 Notre Dame Won 38-27. Solid game from both sides of the ball vs the Irish, and USC is in prime position to make their CFP debut. This Week the PAC 12 Championship Game vs #18 Utah.
5 Ohio State Buckeyes Last Week #2 vs #4 Michigan Lost 23-45. Ohio State probably played their way out of the CFP last weekend with how terrible they looked at home in the second half. I only say probably because if TCU or USC loses this weekend, I'm sure the CFP committee will find a way to put the Buckeyes over them.
6 Tennessee Volunteers Last Week #7 at Vanderbilt Won 56-0. The Volunteers did their best to give the CFP Committee something to talk about should 1 or more of the top 4 lose during Championship Week.
7 Alabama Crimson Tide Last Week #10 vs Auburn Won 49-27. I hate saying this, but there is a scenario where both TCU & USC lose and the CFP Committee looks at Alabama's schedule, sees that their two losses are by a combined four points to the #6 team & #12 team (my polls) while on the road, and puts Alabama in the CFP as the #4 team. I personally think that the four teams currently in are our four CFP teams based off how the season played out, but I'm sure the CFP committee will find a way to ruin it.
8 Washington Huskies Last Week #11 at Washington State Won 51-33. I personally think that Penix Jr has played his way to being the best overall QB in the FBS this season, and Washington is rolling right now because of it. If USC does make the CFP, then Washington should represent the PAC 12 vs Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, and what a QB battle that would be.
9 Clemson Tigers Last Week #6 vs South Carolina Lost 30-31. The only reason Clemson is still in the top-10 is because they are a 2-loss P5 team who is playing for their conference championship this weekend. There are more than a few teams that I think would beat them (that is currently ranked under them), but I have to go by resume instead of heart in this case. This Week the ACC Championship vs #19 UNC.
10 Penn State Nittany Lions Last Week #13 vs Michigan State Won 35-16. Penn State has zero wins over a current top-25 team, and only 1 win over any team receiving votes (Purdue). The Big Ten is awful, and if it wasn't for Michigan & Ohio State then they would be worse than the American & Sun Belt this season.
11 Florida State Seminoles Last Week #15 vs Florida Won 45-38. Finished off their season strong with a win over their biggest rival. Now they wait for their bowl game selection (I'm hoping for either Tennessee or Alabama).
12 LSU Tigers Last Week #8 at Texas A&M Lost 23-28. Unless they beat Georgia by 40, then LSU's CFP dreams have ended for this season. Strong run for LSU from what many considered a throw away season. Funny to look back a week 1 vs Florida State and realize I have them at #11 & #12 in my next-to-final poll.
13 Tulane Green Wave Last Week #17 at #24 Cincinnati Won 27-24. Tulane now gets a revenge game at the chance for a NY6 Bowl vs Clemson/UNC, Tennessee, or Alabama. This has been a fun ride this season and hopefully the wave continues. This Week the American Championship Game vs #23 UCF.
14 Kansas State Wildcats Last Week #19 vs Kansas Won 47-27. Kansas State has the opportunity to play spoilers this week and potentially knock TCU out of the CFP. Kansas State is having their best season in recent memory going 9-3 and only losing to (in my poll): #3 TCU, #13 Tulane, and #24 Texas. This Week the Big 12 Championship Game vs #3 TCU (Kansas State is my lock of the week to lose).
15 Oregon State Beavers Last Week #21 at #9 Oregon Won 38-34. The Beavers went into their rivals stadium and runied any chance that the Ducks would play in the PAC 12 Championship Game, and what a great way to end a 9-3 regular season. Would be fun to see this team vs Florida State, LSU, or Kansas State in a bowl game.
16 Oregon Ducks Last Week #9 vs #21 Oregon State Lost 34-38. The Ducks season is officially closed on any type of significant postseason bowl. Bo Nix turned out to be a good addition for Oregon.
17 UCLA Bruins Last Week #18 at California Won 35-28. Not a great way to end the season, but a close win is better than a loss to a bad team. I feel like a bowl game vs a team like Mississippi State would be fun to see.
18 Utah Utes Last Week #20 at Colorado Won 63-21. Utah luckily had all the dominoes fall in their favor last weekend, as they will now be the ones representing the PAC 12 (alongside USC) in the Championship Game. These four PAC-12 teams are hard to put over each other so I just went ABC order for Oregon, UCLA, and Utah. Utah seems to have USC's number in recent years, so maybe we will see another shocker this weekend. This Week the PAC 12 Championship vs #4 USC.
19 North Carolina Tar Heels Last Week #12 vs NC State Lost 27-30. Like Penn State, UNC really benefited from poor competition all season, but unlike Penn State the Tar Heels couldn't beat their rivals. UNC is the worst 3-loss team, but being a 9-3 P5 team they do deserve to be ranked over the 4-loss P5 squads. This Week the ACC Championship vs #9 Clemson.
20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Last Week #14 Notre Dame at #5 USC Lost 27-38. Last week Notre Dame was the best 3-loss team and this week they are the best 4-loss team. Pretty unbelievable turn around from where the Irish were after the Marshall loss. I would love to see this team against any of the four PAC 12 teams right above them in a bowl this season.
21 Mississippi State Bulldogs Last Week NR at #16 Ole Miss Won 24-22. Two 8-4 SEC teams, two top 25 upsets on the road, and the coin flip determined that the Bulldogs would be ranked #21 instead of #22. Great way to end the season with an Egg Bowl win. Maybe they can build off of it and make an LSU-type run next season.
22 South Carolina Gamecocks Last Week NR at #6 Clemson Won 31-30. Completely unraveled Clemson in the 2nd half thanks to a couple special teams fumbles. Back-to-Back wins over top 6 teams gives South Carolina a top 25 finish in my poll. Maybe the bowl committee gets cheeky and gives South Carolina the chance to beat Oklahoma in a bowl this season.
23 UCF Knights Last Week #22 at USF Won 46-39. This game was over a halftime, and the Golden Knights coasted to an easy win over the Bulls (even if it got closer than what they wanted). Three pretty big upsets (Oregon State, Mississippi State, South Carolina) drop them down a spot unfortuantely, however, UCF is playing for a NY6 Bowl appearance this weekend. This Week the American Championship Game vs #13 Tulane.
24 Texas Longhorns Last Week #25 vs Baylor Won 38-27. A win the close out an 8-4 season, and unfortunately they have to watch a fellow Texas team try to keep their undefeated season (and CFP hopes) alive.
25 Troy Trojans Last Week NR at Arkansas State Won 48-19. This was another coin flip between Troy & UTSA, and Troy won. There's also a chance that they make the NY6 Bowl as the heighest ranked G5 Champion if they win in a blowout + UCF barely beats Tulane. This Week the Fun Belt Championship vs Coastal Carolina.

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