Couch Power 10 + Bowl Projections, Week 8

Week 7's Power Rankings and Bowl Projections can be found here.

In a week that had only one true big-time game, there were no shortage of big results last weekend-- most of them being surprising blowouts. It started on Thursday, when Virginia Tech regained the inside track in the ACC Coastal by demolishing Miami. The string of "anticipated games turned yawners" continued on Saturday, with West Virginia stomping TCU, Auburn skulldragging Arkansas, LSU running away from Ole Miss, and SMU stunning Houston with shocking ease. In the aforementioned big-time game, Alabama remained dominant in knocking off Texas A&M. But wait! The day was not totally without drama. In one of the bigger upsets of the year thus far, Penn State upset #2 Ohio State on its home field, thanks to fantastic special teams play down the stretch. That result could potentially throw a wrench in the playoff picture...but more on that in a minute. To the rankings!

1. Alabama (LW: 1)

Well, Alabama's "Murderers Row" (albeit in a diluted SEC) is 75% of the way through, and they have beaten Arkansas by 20, Tennessee by 40, and now previously unbeaten A&M by 20. This team's not gonna lose in the regular season, enough said. Next!

2. Michigan (LW: 3)

There's nothing special about beating Illinois, but the Wolverines move up by default after Ohio State's shock loss. Goodness gracious, though, I can't figure out whether the demise of their rivals is a good or bad thing for Michigan. Yes, it puts them in the driver's seat for the Big Ten and for Playoff contention. However, it also means that a 1-loss (at best) Ohio State is their season finale, instead of an unbeaten Ohio State. If they lose to unbeaten OSU, they still have a not-so-outside shot at sneaking into the playoff with an 11-1 record. But an 11-1 record with that loss coming to a team that couldn't beat Penn State? Less likely. All in all, the Wolverines will be living by Al Davis' mantra: just win, baby.

3. Washington (LW: 6)

The Pac-12 is simply not very good this year. There's no denying it. There's also no denying how good the Huskies are looking. After their demolition of Stanford and Oregon (who, by the way, have won the last SEVEN Pac-12 titles), they avoided any trap game scenarios by rolling Oregon State as well. Big, big game for them this weekend as they play Utah in what is likely their toughest game yet.

4. Clemson (LW: 5)

Clemson had a nicely-timed bye week, sandwiched between their ugly win over NC State, and their big game against Florida State on Saturday night.

5. Louisville (LW: 7)

The Cardinals' absolute spanking of NC State came just one week after the Wolfpack nearly beat Clemson, and it perhaps just further proved that this team could very well be a Playoff team. Yes, even if they don't win their division. They're knocking on the door.

6. Ohio State (LW: 2)

Buckeye fans will certainly feel like they let a win get away last week, and it may be true. They looked like the better team in all 4 quarters, and only conceded the lead on a rare blocked-FG-return touchdown. But, at the end of the day, they weren't mentally tough enough (and their O-line wasn't physically tough enough). After playing with fire the last two weeks against Indiana and Wisconsin, their mistakes finally caught up with them in Happy Valley.

7. West Virginia (LW: 9)

Usually I'm not a fan of sticking undefeated teams behind those who have lost. But, at the end of the day, Ohio State has two wins and a loss against teams who are better than any of the opponents these next few teams have played. That said: the Mountaineers showed their mettle against TCU, on both sides of the ball, and may have staked a claim as the Big 12 favorite in the process.

8. Baylor (LW: 8)

See above reasoning, except that the Bears haven't really proved anything. That won't likely change this weekend, either, as they face a drowning Texas team.

9. Nebraska (LW: 10)

See above reasoning, except that the Cornhuskers haven't really proved anything. That could change this weekend, however, as they face Wisconsin in a de facto Big Ten West playoff game.

10. Texas A&M (LW: 4)

You can't really fault the Aggies for losing in Tuscaloosa. So why don't they get the Ohio State treatment? Well, they just didn't even look very competitive against Alabama, and in fact, their results have looked a lot more impressive than their play has. That being said, finishing with 11 or even 10 wins this year would be an enormous achievement, and it's certainly doable.

Just missed: Western Michigan, Boise State, Wisconsin, Utah, Navy, UNC's Newly Discovered Defense

Bonus: New Year's Six Predictions!

Orange Bowl

Louisville vs. Nebraska

Cotton Bowl

Baylor vs. Boise State

Rose Bowl

Ohio State vs. Utah

Sugar Bowl

West Virginia vs. Texas A&M

PEACH BOWL (Semifinal)

Alabama vs. Washington

FIESTA BOWL (Semifinal)

Michigan vs. Clemson