We’ve had 2 full days to move on from the Notre Dame loss, it’s time to take a look at the rest of the country and march towards another weekend of football. We now have a new No. 1 in the 18 Stripes weekly poll!
Top 11
1 Oklahoma (+5, 2-0, 31-16 W at Ohio State)
The Sooners pick up what could be the country’s best road win for 2017.
2 Alabama (-1, 2-0, 41-10 W vs. Fresno State)
In a first-ever meeting with the Bulldogs this one was a boring sleepwalk soon to be forgotten.
3 Clemson (+8, 2-0, 14-6 W vs. Auburn)
Zero sacks against Kent State in week one and 11 sacks against Auburn in week two. Okay, then.
4 Michigan (-1, 2-0, 36-14 W vs. Cincinnati)
A pretty uninspired effort almost drops UM down several spots.
5 USC (NR, 2-0, 42-24 W vs. Stanford)
The Trojans shoot right back up the rankings after thoroughly dismantling Stanford.
6 Penn State (+2, 2-0, 33-14 W vs. Pitt)
The Nittany Lions lost this game last year but passed with flying colors this time around.
7 LSU (-3, 2-0, 45-10 W vs. Chattanooga)
Our first of three straight snoozers.
8 Oklahoma State (-3, 2-0, 44-7 W at South Alabama)
Snoozer number two.
9 Washington (+1, 2-0, 63-7 W vs. Montana)
Snoozer number three.
10 Georgia (+3, 2-0, 20-19 W at Notre Dame)
If the Irish turn out pretty decent this is a quality road win for the CFP committee.
11 Ohio State (-9, 1-1, 31-16 L vs. Oklahoma)
The Buckeyes drop just 6 spots in the AP Poll but we’re a little tougher in these parts.
Next 2
Auburn (-6, 1-1, 14-6 L at Clemson)
You could make the case a team that just averaged 1.77 YPP doesn’t deserve to be here.
Florida State (-1, 0-1, Idle)
The Seminoles will have 3 weeks off thanks to Hurricane Irma. Up next, NC State next weekend.
Dropped out: Stanford
G5 Top 3
Houston (NR, 1-0, 19-16 W at Arizona)
Hurricane Harvey delayed the Cougars debut this season and they take a W from Rich Rod to start things off.
South Florida (-1, 2-0, Idle)
The Bulls fall one spot after being idle from Hurricane Irma.
San Diego State (NR, 2-0, 30-20 W at Arizona State)
You’d think the Aztecs would take a step back without Donnel Pumphrey. Perhaps not!
Dropped out: Navy, Boise State
You Were Bad
Northwestern
It’s one thing to lose to Duke (heh) but by 24 points is really, really bad.
East Carolina
Blown out by West Virginia, now -56 in point differential through 2 games.
Boston College
Gave up 34 points to Wake Forest–the Deacons haven’t scored that many against a P5 program since October 19, 2013.
Syracuse
Lost at home to an extremely middling Middle Tennessee State team.
UMass
A second straight loss to a FCS team (Old Dominion this time) and Mark Whipple can’t be long for this job.
Rutgers
Somehow hung with Washington for a while in their opener only to allow Eastern Michigan their first win ever over a Power 5 program.
Georgia Southern
Lost to FCS New Hampshire and have only scored 19 points through 2 games.
Bowling Green
Lost to FCS South Dakota but maybe not too much of an upset.
Baylor
Could it get worse than last week? Yes, it can! How about a loss to the University of Texas-San Antonio!
Western Kentucky
Mike Sanford’s first big test as 5-point favorites at Illinois falls flat on its face with a 20-7 loss.
New Mexico
Bob Davie hadn’t lost to in-state rival New Mexico State, until this past Saturday.
Week 3 Preview
Enemy Watch
UMass (+14.5) at Temple
#17 Miami at #11 Florida State (postponed)
Furman (OFF) at NC State
Utah State (+13.5) at Wake Forest
North Carolina (OFF) at Old Dominion
Samford (OFF) at #13 Georgia
Cincinnati (+4.5) at Miami (OH)
Texas (+16.5) at #4 USC
#19 Stanford (-9.5) at San Diego State
There’s noting worth watching here until the evening when it’s 2006 Rose Bowl rematch time! Sometimes college football can be a great leveler and I know I’m not the only one wondering if USC is looking at a big let down while Herman can shake off the opener and create his first big moment at Texas.
The Tree traveling down the California coast to visit the Aztecs was on my radar in the pre-season and that’s before SDSU beat Arizona State. I think the modern Stanford playbook says to lose this game, look poor on offense, then somehow win their last 9 games or something.
Too Close for Comfort
Illinois (+18) at #22 South Florida
Illinois were 5-point dogs to Western Kentucky last weekend and won 20-7, as mentioned above. Â USF might be the best G5 team in the country but this is a ton of points to lay down against a Power 5 program that (I think?) has a pulse.
Upset Pick of the Week
Purdue (+7.5) at Missouri
The Tigers have allowed 74 points through 2 games and just fired their defensive coordinator. Purdue’s offense under new head coach Jeff Brohm has been looking awfully noice so far. Do the math.
National Spotlight
#9 Oklahoma State (-14.5) at Pitt
Baylor (+14) at Duke
#10 Wisconsin (-14) at BYU
#23 Tennessee (+5.5) at #24 Florida
#3 Clemson (-3) at #14 Louisville
The depth of week 3 is typically quite poor and this year is no different. We have Oklahoma State traveling back East for a tricky (but probably not really) noon start at Heinz Field. We Irish fans know how that can be sometimes.
I was definitely expecting Baylor to be an underdog at Duke (2015 me is so confused right now) this weekend. I was not expecting Baylor to be a two touchdown dog! Hell yeah this is on the national radar!
Wisconsin traveling to BYU is kind of interesting and maybe worth some of your time.
I don’t know how anyone could feel positive that Florida can cover 5.5 points with the display of offense they exhibited in their opener. Does the cancelled game last weekend benefit the Gators and allow them to re-group?
Man, who works Clemson’s scheduling am I right? They’re coming off a super physical game against Auburn and have to turn around and face Lamar Jackson. I guess not many people could see a Lamar Jackson coming through a school like Louisville. Anyway, this is probably The Game for Jackson’s bid to repeat as Heisman winner. Their schedule is pretty blah the rest of the way with the exception of Florida State on the road.
I take a little issue with you saying Penn St passed with flying colors. Yeah, the game was never in doubt but they were outgained, and Pitt held the ball for 12 more minutes, and Pitt looked bad against Youngstown. Granted I’m very biased against Penn St but I think they’re overrated.
Hate on playa.
I watched that game and thought it was never in doubt, despite Pitt hanging tough for a while.
To me, Penn State’s pretty good, a legit All-American TE and RB and athletic QB that can make plays (though I think HE’S a little over-rated, especially within the commonwealth of PA). I’m not sure if they’re quite playoff material but tOSU despite talent hasn’t looked terribly sharp, Michigan is very meh, Wisconsion might fatten on all the creampuffs, Big-10 ought to be just as much PSU as anyone else this year.
It was never in doubt. I still think they get spanked in Columbus. If it happens like you say and all the Big Ten is down, that doesn’t make Penn State great.
FWIW Old Dominion is an FBS team. Member of C-USA East.
Considering what Wake Forest did to BC last weekend, anything less than 42 points for the Irish would be disappointing. Let’s see how the team rebounds after a tough loss.
UMass going FBS was so stupid. Were they even good in FCS?
Every time I see a UMASS score I think the same exact thing. Congratulations to the taxpayers of Massachusetts!
Don’t worry, you’ll get even with me. Temple wants to build a zillion mega-buck stadium in North Philly. Whaaaaaaa?
A quick note on site procedural stuff… One or two anonymous users have been tossing around downvotes like candy the last few days. The really weird thing is that the same people will downvote positive and negative comments. That’s not support of a position, that’s just being a pain in the ass. Normally I still wouldn’t care that much, but as those of you who are actually part of the community here know, the downvoting itself has come up as a topic in the recent comment threads.
I have no patience for childish behavior that interferes with the community. I’ve changed our comment plugin to only allow logged-in users to vote. Whoever you are, if you want to continue your gadfly campaign, you’re going to have to create an account to do so. You want to join the discussion? Join it. If not, don’t be annoying.
I’m sorry, does voting this down count as childish behavior that interferes with the community, or is it all right since I’m logged in?
Asking for an anonymous, non-logged in user friend.
Only if it’s you doing it
Haha, I knew I’d get at least one sarcastic -1. Not surprised you’re behind it. Play on!
I noticed that too. I lurk, but if I vote it’s almost always up. I don’t really understand the case for downvotes in the first place. This isn’t Reddit (thank goodness)…
Wait….this isn’t reddit? I think I made a wrong turn somewhere
should have made that left turn at Albuquerque
As the resident Illinois analyst, I’ll say this:
I don’t think the team really has a pulse, but they might have a budding young defense.
Also, I’m wondering if you might be too generous WRT Georgia. I won’t necessarily argue their position, but I’m not sure if beating ND is worth moving up 3 spots.
Someone’s gotta be there with all the team’s losing behind them.