[ad_1]
Forget the playoff rankings. There are five weekends left. Any poll before then is pointless. This week, we'll learn if we're playing the rest of the season is pointless, too.
Four preseason top-10 teams currently are unranked. Eleven ranked teams lost last week. Mediocre teams are masquerading as more than they are. Good teams are pretending to be great. And Alabama's spot on the throne.
The Crimson Tide's coaching remains the greatest sport ever. The Tua Tagovailoa-led offense (averaging 54.1 points) could be remembered the same way. Alabama won its first eight games by an average of more than 38 points.
But perhaps Alabama has not been threatened yet because he has not faced a worthy challenger.
The No. 1 Tide, highlighting a slate of four top-17 matchups this week, facing their toughest – and first – test of the season against No. 3 LSU in Death Valley.
Alabama has yet to play a meaningful second in the second half of any game, having faced no teams which are still ranked, while the Tigers have played the most challenging schedule in the country. They also picked up one of the season's most impressive wins, handing Georgia's only loss, 36-16.
The Tide, who have won seven straight games in the rivalry, were installed as two-touchdown favorites (making LSU the biggest home of the month). At every other position, however, the Tigers match up with Alabama as any team in the nation.
They are too familiar with the fields to be intimidated. They are too comfortable at home to be rattled. They are too talented and well-rounded to be blown out.
Alabama coach Nick Saban has dominated his team, but no SEC site has been created more than Baton Rouge. Two years ago, the teams entered the fourth quarter in a scoreless tie. Two years before that, they ended the fourth quarter tied. Two years before that, Alabama, the eventual national champion, trailed in the final minute.
LSU (+ 14½) will not end up in its length against the Crimson Tide, but the Tigers will at least provide hope for each other that Alabama can be taken down.
Temple (+10) over CENTRAL FLORIDA: The Knights' win streak has reached 20 games because this is the first opponent with a winning record. If UCF McKenzie Milton (game-time decision) is unable to play, double down.
VIRGINIA (-7¹ / ₂) over Pittsburgh: The Cavaliers are ranked for the first time in seven years. Virginia needs just three wins against teams without winning records to reach the ACC Championship game for the first time.
Louisville (+39) over CLEMSON: The Tigers have won their past three games by a combined 163-20. But, as brilliant as Trevor Lawrence has been, he has not earned the Tua treatment yet.
Nebraska (+ 18½) over OHIO STATE: It's understandable you after paying attention to the Cornhuskers after their 0-6 start, but Scott Frost is starting to right the ship. Nebraska has won two straight and the offense is starting to click, averaging nearly 30 points per game.
AUBURN (-4¹ / ₂) over Texas A & M: Auburn is 7-0 after bye weeks under Gus Malzahn. However, they have been plagued by the Tigers in their losses, the Aggies are the second-worst team in the nation.
WAKE FOREST (+6) over Syracuse: The Orange is ranked for the first time in 17 years, but it does not matter if the dome-dependent team, which most recently lost on the road at Pittsburgh, falls back out of the polls.
TEXAS (-2) over West Virginia: A share of first place in the Big 12 is at stake. The battle-tested Longhorns are far better than the Mountaineers, whose lone loss came on the road against the only ranked team (Iowa State) they've played this year.
KENTUCKY (+9) over Georgia: The Wildcats do not have the talent to emulate LSU's upset of the Bulldogs, but Kentucky can follow a similar game plan, with its top-ranked defense and the score close to the crowd.
Iowa (+3) over PURDUE: In their most recent home game, the Boilermakers blew out Ohio State. The difference is, Iowa's defense actually travels.
Penn State (+ 10¹ / ₂) over MICHIGAN: The double-digit spread made me do double-take. Since losing by 39 at Ann Arbor, the Nittany has lost five games by a total of 12 points.
FLORIDA (-6) over Missouri: The Tigers (4-4) are better than their record suggests, but potential first-round pick Drew Lock has been a disaster against elite defenses, throwing for an average of 183 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions in SEC play.
NORTHWESTERN (+ 9½) over Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish could see their playoff chances evaporate with just one loss. Some of the toughest steps on the tightrope will be against the Wildcats, who will have won their best games.
TEXAS TECH (+13) over Oklahoma: Kyler Murray can not be stopped. Kliff Kingsbury's offense knows the feeling.
Stanford (+ 9¹ / ₂) over WASHINGTON: The Pac-12's most disappointing teams have been winners since Oct. 6. The team can be trusted.
WASHINGTON STATE (-10½) over California: The Golden Bears are due for a letdown after their upset of Washington. Another subpar Pac-12 season could end up the Cougars, who could be kept out of the playoff with one loss.
Best bets: Texas, Penn State, Florida
This season (Best bets): 68-77-1 (13-14)
2014-17 Record:518-471-10
Source link
