2017 (Final!) Couch Power 10 + Bowl Simulation, Week 13
Thanksgiving has some dubious cultural history, but it can be wonderful for many reasons: family, community, graciousness, FOOD, great college football, and a perfect opportunity to clear the air and see eye-to-eye for once. In the vein of those last two, I have a rare announcement: the Playoff Committee and I are actually close to perfect agreement.
I've been griping about college football rankings almost my entire life, from the weird computer rankings, to the awful biases of the BCS rankings, and now to the inconsistencies of the playoff committee. But, after the latest eventful weekend in a topsy-turvy year, in which the #1 and #2 teams both lost, I tried to mentally rank the teams in my head and to my shock and awe, found Tuesday's release of the CFP rankings to nearly match my own.
Sure, I morally oppose the way the committee has criminally underrated UCF (and Group of Five teams in general), but considering those teams' astronomical odds of winning the playoff anyway, it's a tradeoff I'll accept. Anyways, heading into Championship Week, here are the (weirdly familiar) rankings!
1. Clemson (11-1)
I've been more bullish than most on Clemson than most recently...is it bearish? What's the bad one? I don't speak Stock Markets. Anyways, I've been skeptical of their form, but for one, they've absolutely rolled in the final weeks, in a fashion that's almost identical to last year. What's more, nobody is playing better football than Auburn right now, and who is the only team to outplay Auburn for at least 3 quarters this year? You got it. The defending national champs look every bit capable of repeating.
2. Auburn (10-2)
Right, so as I just said, nobody is playing better football than Auburn right now. They're on a 6-game winning streak, and now have beaten the #1 team in 2 of the last 3 weeks. It's not just that vaunted Guz Malzahn spread offense, either. Their defense has been absolutely smothering all year, and has proven to be the true difference-maker. Who ever thought that would be the case against Saban and Bama?
3. Oklahoma (11-1)
Don't sleep on these Sooners, though. The skepticism people have towards the Big 12 is justified, as it's a conference full of teams seemingly allergic to defense. But you won't find a more lethal offense in the country than Oklahoma's, and this year, may have just enough playmakers on the other side to keep them in any game.
4. Wisconsin (12-0)
I feel dirty jumping the poor, sweet, unbeaten Badgers with a 2-loss team. But ignoring the records, and looking at the schedule strength, and quite frankly, the product on the field, there seems to be a world of difference between them and the Auburns/Clemsons of the world. I hope they can prove me wrong though, and it starts with the Big Ten Championship this weekend against Ohio State: win, and the Badgers are in the playoff, where they can prove themselves. Simple as that.
5. Central Florida (11-0)
Indulge me here. Why do the Knights, with an identical record, at least comparable schedule strength, and far superior margin of victory, find themselves 9 places behind Wisconsin? No, they deserve to be on the doorstep of the playoff too. Do they "want Bama"? They probably don't. Does any big team really want to play them, though? I don't think so. They just played their biggest game of the year against their 1-loss rivals in a virtual New Year's elimination game, and won on a last-minute kick return touchdown (by a former Tar Heel, I might add). So yeah, they're feeling alright in Orlando.
6. Georgia (11-1)
The Dawgs seem to have been forgotten since running into the wood chipper that Auburn was a couple weeks back. But, after two blowout wins over decent Kentucky and Georgia Tech teams, they have a chance to re-assert themselves in the national conscience by avenging that loss in the SEC Championship this weekend, which would of course vault them into the playoff.
7. Alabama (11-1)
Yeah, this is a steep drop for our a dynasty-level team whose one loss finally came to their now-#2 rivals. But like, I kinda warned you, didn't I? The makings were there all season of this not being a particularly dominant Bama side. They struggled to put away every decent-to-good team they played. Their offense lacks the star power they've had in teams past, and their defense is too injury-riddled to be feared as they once were. I know the media wants them t make the playoff still, but the reality is, we're talking about a team who finished 2nd in their division, and whose only ranked wins are 3-loss LSU and 4-loss Mississippi State.
8. Miami (10-1)
See: Georgia. People have been waiting all year to write Miami off as overrated, and the Canes finally gave them their opportunity to. On Thanksgiving Friday, they got stifled by a not-great Pittsburgh team, something that doesn't bode well going into the ACC Championship against the #1 team. But, same situation as Georgia: despite the crushing loss, if they win, they're in. It's up to them now.
9. Ohio State (10-2)
Hats need to be tipped to Michigan for making The Game interesting, and I truly mean that. Not many people gave the Wolverines a chance, but they pushed Ohio State to the limit. Still, the Buckeyes ability to rally on the road, without their star quarterback in the 2nd half, is impressive.
10. Penn State (10-2)
The back-to-back last-minute losses to Ohio State and Michigan State will be one of the worst storylines of the season for me. I still think top to bottom, Penn State is better than both of those teams, and just lacked the mental edge to close either of those games out. It will nevertheless be fun to see McSorley and Barkley in a New Year's Six Bowl.
Just missed: TCU, USC, Memphis, Stanford, Washington, Anthony Ratliff-Williams' First-Team All-ACC Credentials
Bonus: New Year's Six Bowl Simulation
Cotton Bowl
Penn State vs. TCU
Fiesta Bowl
USC vs. Ohio State
Orange Bowl
Miami vs. Alabama
Peach Bowl
Central Florida vs. Georgia
ROSE BOWL (Semifinal)
Auburn vs. Oklahoma
SUGAR BOWL (Semifinal)
Clemson vs. Wisconsin