2019 Couch Power 10, Week 3
I think the College Football Gods heard me proclaiming how much fun I was having this season, and decided I should take a major chill pill. I should have known we were in for a long weekend when my beloved Tar Heels took their first L of the season on a Friday night, amidst a clusterf*** of officiating, but the disappointment continued into Saturday, which featured a grand total of 0 matchups between ranked teams and predictably, several blowouts in games that had previously been circled as must-watches, a la Clemson and Syracuse. One positive was that GameDay Game-- this week, the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry --was once again an exciting, close affair, but even that was sullied by 2 long weather delays and much ensuing sloppiness.
However, don't stop reading; just because there was very little turnover in the real polls doesn't mean that will be the same in our Couch Power 10 (trademark pending). Indeed, it was a rough week for our trendy "flavors of the week" from Week 2. The aforementioned Tar Heels (#10 last week) were upset by Wake Forest. USC (#5) followed up their upset of Stanford with a surprise loss to BYU. Maryland (#6) beat Syracuse by a million last week, only to turn around and lose to Temple, scoring 54 less points than their season average. Even Cal (#7) takes a hit in our rankings despite winning; they held on for a close win over North Texas, who in all fairness is a decent team. But struggling to score on a North Texas defense that gave up 80 total points to Abilene Christian and SMU is not a good sign.
Just a reminder, as you are preparing to shout "MY TEAM IS 3-0 AND YOU DON'T EVEN MENTION THEM" , this is not a statement on who I think have the most talent and quality, or on who I think will be/deserves to be in the playoff at the end of the year. Rather, it's more of a "What if preseason rankings and bigwig bias didn't predetermine the top teams" kind of thing, an ideal ranking of the country's teams based on what they've proved on the field.
1a. Clemson
1b. Alabama
That being said, the Saban-Dabo Rule dictates that until Clemson and Alabama lose and/or give us reeeeeeeeally good reason to drop them from the joint top spot, we're keeping them here. Why? Because drawing from every year since 2014, we're working off the assumption that it doesn't really matter how these teams look during the regular season. Alabama and Clemson will make the playoff, and one of them will win the title.
Clemson especially appears to be in cruise control. Most people thought this two-week stretch, hosting Texas A&M then traveling to Syracuse, would be the only chance of tripping them up, but the Tigers won both by an average of 23 points. Alabama, too, passed their first moderate test by blowing open a previously close affair at South Carolina in the 2nd half.
3. LSU
Two of LSU's wins came against Georgia Southern and Northwestern State. So why are they #3 in our rankings? Because they beat both teams by a million, which is what great teams should do, and those wins were sandwiched around a road victory at Texas, which is definitely what great teams do.
4. Auburn
Auburn hasn't done anything of note since Week 1. But that Week 1 win over Oregon is still among the best of the year, so they keep their spot for now.
5. Ohio State
Look, I'm not here to say that Florida Atlantic, Cincinnati, and Indiana is a season-opening gauntlet. But three FBS programs, at least one of which is supposed to actually have a very good year, don't make for the worst competition, either. And the way Ohio State has played against them? Sheeeeeeeeeesh.
6. UCF
Awwwwww yeah, baby, the champs are BACK! The nation is very split on how they feel about the gadflies of college football, but be warned: The Couch is thoroughly pro-UCF. The Knights' destruction of Stanford (with a 2nd-string quarterback, no less) might be a good indication of why so few power 5 programs want to face them.
7. Oklahoma
Oklahoma's offense, Jalen Hurts specifically, has looked unstoppable from Week 1. But that's always been the case; what is giving Sooner fans hope is the way Oklahoma's defense has stifled South Dakota and UCLA the last couple weeks. That will be the secret to them finally being a championship contender.
8. Georgia
Look, I'm not here to say that Vanderbilt, Murray State, and Arkansas State is a season-opening gauntlet. But the Dawgs' average scoreline is 49-11. Sheeeeeeeesh.
9. Wisconsin
Wisconsin had a bye week to prepare for their big game against Michigan. Or maybe it was just a chance to ruminate on the fact that we're entering Week 4 and the Badgers STILL HAVEN'T CONCEDED A POINT.
10. Iowa
The Hawkeyes have had a weird year. Their one Big Ten game was a cruise over Rutgers (as it should be), but it was flanked by a win against Miami-Ohio that was harder than it should have been, than the slopfest against rivals Iowa State. But at the end of the day, Iowa is 3-0 with an impressive road win under their belt.
Just missed: Cal, Utah, Florida, Boise State, Notre Dame, Whatever the polar opposite of ACC Refs are