2017 Couch Power 10 + Bowl Projections, Week 8
After two straight weeks of crazy results, Week 8 reverted to the mean. There were no major upsets; the only ranked teams that lost, in fact, lost to other ranked teams. Last Saturday did see two primetime games, however, and those primetime games both ended up being blowouts. The lopsided results helped provide a little clarity between contender and pretender. To the rankings!
1. Georgia
The Dawgs got a bye week at a good time, as they're about to head into a tough stretch. Though Georgia's best opponent is behind them (Notre Dame) their last 5 games will certainly be harder than the first half, as each opponent figures to be a bowl team.
2. Alabama
Another week, another easy Bama win against a bad SEC team. Last week's snoozer was Tennessee.
3. Penn State
A worthy opponent finally came to Penn State, as did a primetime setting. The Nittany Lions wasted no time in making Michigan feel like an unworthy opponent, though, racing out to a big lead and then finishing the job in the 2nd half with a 42-13 win. Their explosive offense (featuring the Heisman frontrunner) will be put to the test this weekend against big, bad Ohio State.
4. TCU
TCU avoided colossal embarrassment and shut out probably the worst Power 5 program in the country (Kansas) 43-0. I also want it to be known that I spelled embarrassment wrong 4 times before getting it right. Talk about embbarrasing.
5. Miami
Miami isn't making any game look easy, but they keep winning, and that goes for games against bad opponents, decent opponents, and potential trap opponents. The latter was the case last week, as they held off a Syracuse team fresh off beating Clemson.
6. Notre Dame
I hate ranking teams that have lost ahead of unbeaten teams, especially ahead of unbeaten Power 5 teams. But with the Irish's 49-14 destruction of USC, I'm ready to say I'm more impressed with one-loss Notre Dame than I am with unbeaten Wisconsin.
7. Wisconsin
To the Badgers' credit, they finally won a game about as comfortably as you'd expect them to, beating Maryland 38-13. But the fact that none of their remaining opponents are ranked gives one a healthy dose of skepticism about this team.
8. Clemson
The Tigers picked a nice time to catch a breath. The bye week gave them additional days to recuperate from their shock upset, and hopefully get quarterback Kelly Bryant healthy again. They play Georgia Tech, an oft-bogey team, this weekend.
9. Central Florida
Keep an eye on unbeaten UCF. With another solid win last weekend (at previously-ranked Navy), they could be, in the words of Cardi B "makin' money moves". The Knights are in pole position for a New Years Six spot, methinks.
10. Oklahoma
Where has the Oklahoma that ran riot against Ohio State gone? Since ascending to the top of the Couch Power 10, here has how their season has gone: nailbiter against winless Baylor, shock loss to Iowa State, nailbiter against sub-.500 Texas, and now nailbiter against sub-.500 Kansas State. The Sooners still control their own destiny, at least in the Big 12, but they have to improve greatly if they want to remain in playoff contention.
Just missed: Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, NC State (barf), South Florida, UNC's Jumpman apparel
Bonus: New Year's Six Bowl Predictions
Cotton Bowl
Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame
Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Ohio State
Orange Bowl
Miami vs. Wisconsin
Peach Bowl
Central Florida vs. Clemson
ROSE BOWL (Semifinal)
Alabama vs. Penn State
SUGAR BOWL (Semifinal)
Georgia vs. TCU