Couch Power 10 + Bowl Projections, Week 13
Well, that game lived up to the hype. Ohio State-Michigan was somehow able to hurdle every benchmark of anticipation that the absurd ESPN hype machine had created. When all the dust cleared, millions of Michigan fans were red-faced and screaming about the refs, and Ohio State had inched (literally, a game of inches) closer to the playoff. But, as will be discussed in these rankings, there were some other major results from Thanksgiving Weekend! Speaking of the rankings, I decided to somewhat toss my "Current Form" criterion out the window; it's the penultimate week of rankings, thus they should reflect the season the respective teams had, methinks. Cool? Cool. Here we go:
1. Alabama
Auburn was the only team that was possibly going to beat Alabama in the regular season, but even that was clearly too much to ask. Next, the Tide rolls into a yawner of an SEC Championship against drastically overmatched Florida. We'll see if their domination continues in the playoffs...I don't think this Alabama team is the unstoppable force many seem to think they are, but I also don't know if any of the other competitors are consistent enough to beat them.
2. Ohio State
Yes, even though they didn't even win their division, Ohio State has done enough to warrant their 2nd-place ranking. They haven't always been scintillating, but their resumé includes: a 3-touchdown win over likely Big 12 champions Oklahoma, a road win against possible Big Ten champion Wisconsin, a 60-point demolition of 9-win Nebraska, and now a thrilling win over #3 Michigan. Yes, their close road loss to Penn State keeps them out of the Big Ten Championship, but it seems harsh to penalize this team for suffering because of Michigan's upset loss at Iowa.
3. Clemson
Here's the deal with Clemson this year: they've been really hard to pin down, but when they're good? They're really, really good. Case in point: quarters 2 and 4 against Louisville, quarter 4 at Florida State, the division-clinching win at Wake Forest, and now their absolute destruction of archrivals South Carolina. They still have the talent on both sides of the ball to give the best of them (yes, even Bama) fits, and if the team that showed up last week is the one that comes to play in the ACC Championship and the Playoffs, then look out America.
4. Washington
The Huskies are the unloved child of College Football. Seemingly nobody thinks these guys are for real, so let me boldly go out on a limb and declare it: these guys are for real. It doesn't mean they're going to beat Alabama in the playoffs, or even play them extremely close. But they are incredibly well-coached, have real talent on both sides of the ball, and play in a conference deeper than the East Coast would like to admit. If they can add #8 Colorado to their list of impressive scalps in the Pac-12 Championship Friday, this team deserves an invite to the Playoff.
5. Michigan
As much grief as I've given my Wolverine friends, I will be the first to admit that Saturday's game must have been absolutely heartwrenching for Michigan fans. If UNC-Duke transpired that way, I would still be hibernating. It's crushing for a team that is probably now on the outside looking in to the playoff, but things are clearly turning around under Jim Harbaugh. Besides, Michigan is probably headed to the Rose or Orange Bowl, so who's got it better than them?
6. Wisconsin
While everyone paid attention to Ohio State and Michigan, Wisconsin just quietly plodded along and put together one of the more impressive seasons in the Big Ten. Their only two losses were a hard-fought game in Ann Arbor and a nailbiter at home vs. Ohio State. What's more, they own a win over LSU, and swept their division which includes 4 other bowl teams in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern. For a team not ranked to start the season, Paul Chryst and company have put together a phenomenal year, and a Big Ten title would be the icing on the cake.
7. Colorado
Colorado?! Is it the 90s again?! Seriously, what a cool story these Buffaloes were, going from dead last in the Pac-12 in 2015, to 10-2 and Pac-12 South Champions this year. The Buffs' only losses were close road losses to Michigan and USC. They also beat Stanford (in Palo Alto), Washington State and Utah comfortably. They're not impostors, and Washington better be careful.
8. Western Michigan
Yeah! You heard me! Why the hell not? This team did everything one could ask of them. The MAC is consistently a more competitive conference than people give them credit for (#MACtion), and Western flew rowed through conference play easily. The Broncos also beat two Big Ten teams this year, and are the only 12-0 team in the country not named Alabama. With a win in the MAC Championship Friday, Western Michigan should clinch a spot in a New Year's Six bowl, and deservedly so. P.J. Fleck has done a tremendous job there.
9. USC
I'll admit, my old anti-Leinart/Bush bias prevented me from buying in on USC this year. But it's true: the Trojans have looked like a different team the second half of the season with Sam Darnold at QB, and you'd be hard-pressed to see a hotter side in the nation right now. Yes, their 3 early losses have them at a perhaps unimpressive 9-3, but down the stretch, they beat the two teams playing in the Pac-12 Championship: #4 Washington and #8 Colorado. Credit where credit is due.
10. Penn State
Look, it's a terrific story, but I still just don't think Penn State is that good. Their one big win was borderline flukey, they got beat by a mediocre Pittsburgh team, and they got steamrolled by Michigan. Of course, they have every opportunity to prove me wrong if they manhandle Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship. Knowing the way my predictions tend to go, it's entirely possible!
Just missed: Louisville, Oklahoma, Florida State, Navy, Oklahoma State, Ryan Switzer's letter to UNC fans
Bonus!-- Conference Championship Predictions
American: Navy 38, Temple 28
Conference USA: Western Kentucky 48, Louisiana Tech 42
MAC: Western Michigan 37, Ohio 21
Mountain West: San Diego State 35, Wyoming 31
ACC: Clemson 31, Virginia Tech 21
Big 12: Oklahoma 45, Oklahoma State 34
B1G: Wisconsin 27, Penn State 21
Pac-12: Washington 23, Colorado 14
SEC: Alabama 31, Florida 13
Bonus BONUS!-- New Year's Six Predictions
Orange
Michigan vs. Louisville
Cotton
Penn State vs. Western Michigan
Rose
Wisconsin vs. Colorado
Sugar
Oklahoma vs. Auburn
PEACH (Semifinal)
Alabama vs. Washington
FIESTA (Semifinal)
Clemson vs. Ohio State