I'm calling this the "weekend of almost." So many games almost provided upsets that we all enjoy so much (and some actually did provide those upsets).
So how do we feel about our teams this week? I expect that the Bama faithful have to be at least a little concerned. After all, Florida is not Georgia.
And what about Georgia? Look, I'm a little biased in my opinion here. JT Daniels is an alum of my high school, and yes I am pulling for him to have an amazing season, then get drafted in the top 5. Bryce Young is also from my high school, but he has 2 more years to dazzle us. So, JT: 23/31 for 303yds, 3TD/1INT. Yes, the one interception was a poor decision. Other than that he looked utterly in command. Why Smart put Stetson in at all is a mystery, let alone in the 1st quarter after JT drove them to TDs on their first 2 drives. Maybe not-so-Smart?
And I do not understand why the media constantly overlooks Daniels. Yes, he had a rough first season at USC, but he's the only true freshman ever to start the season for the Trojans. He still ended with a 128+ passer rating. And they completely ignore that he was the 3rd rated QB in the class of '18 behind only Sunshine and Fields (and only barely behind them). I don't know if they just feel that he hasn't lived up to his potential or what? I say he hasn't had a real chance to show what he can do. Ok, off my soapbox for now.
Georgia's defense? 96 rush yards allowed; 214 pass yards allowed and most of that in trash time. The 4th qtr TD was the first they allowed this season. I think they're for real.
Ok, done oozing over Georgia. Let's take a look at the new Top 25 and break down their games this weekend. As per usual: no eye test, not voting, no feels. This is straight math, folks. And I have pulled out preseason and Massey's numbers; this is straight from my system alone.
25. SDSU - The Aztecs (interesting that no one seems to care if we name teams for other countries' native people) needed a little luck to beat a potentially underrated Utah, but they got the job done. They let the Utes back in the game in a very entertaining 4th qtr, then held on through 3 OTs. BTW, I do not like the new OT rules. Yet. It could grow on me.
24. Miami (FL) - I was scratching my head over this one. Still sorta am. One win vs a mediocre App State and got pounded by MSU. The algorithm moves in mysterious ways this early in the season.
23. Texas - Yes, I know. They are 2-1, though, and their 1st level points are not awful right now, and their 2nd and 3rd level are better than most. They beat Rice 58-0. Whoop de doo.
22. Minnesota - The GGs looked pretty good against OSU, and this week they beat up on a Colorado team that put the fear of the buffalo into TAMU.
21. Maryland - I don't care what anyone says, I love the state flag helmets these guys wear! The Terps scored twice in the last 2:13 to pull out the win over Illinois, and that's what winners do. Little Tagovailoa is pretty darn good.
20. Miss St - The Bulldogs lost in our first "almost" game. Leach's team almost doubled Memphis' total yardage, and lost on a failed 2pt conversion at the end. Not sure how long an SEC school will put up with that.
19. Florida - "Almost" game #2. To be honest, I didn't watch much of this game after the 1st quarter and so I'm not sure if Bama just has no running game or the Gators have a great rushing D? Anyway, that 2pt attempt at the end looked like Jone had never run the read option in his life. Great comeback that fell just short.
18. USC - Another game that I stopped watching at halftime (I really need to stop doing that). It really looked like Wazzu had the Trojans covered, and with the new coach and back up QB I did not expect much from USC. I was way wrong!
17. Oregon - Yes, the Ducks are 3-0. They are also a victim of the system. I don't know how else to say it: don't schedule FCS schools! They beat Stonybrook. So what. All they had to do is not lose. Lose one point, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
16. Stanford - the Tree is here because they beat USC. Beating Vandy this weekend earned them 0.015pts. That's how bad Vandy is.
15. Notre Dame - The Irish are 3-0 against all FBS schools, but Florida State is historically bad this year and Toledo isn't exactly UM. When Purdue is your best win, expect to be lacking points on all 3 levels.
14. UCLA - The Bruins lost to what appears to be a very good Fresno State. It was a close score, but UCLA needed 20 4th quarter points to make it look that way. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they played Cal Poly and so lost a 1st level point. That keeps UCLA here and Fresno State at 41.
13. Iowa - The Hawkeyes beat Kent State this weekend. Not really much to say about that.
12. Alabama - The Tide beat a scrappy Florida; you've already read about that game. So where is their pain? Mercer. They played Mercer.
11. Ohio State - I haven't read anything about Kerry Coombs being fired. I wonder why not? Tulsa hung 500+ yards on the Buckeyes, almost exclusively through the air. And while the OSU secondary is young, they were playing very well. The scheme was completely wrong, and there was no pressure at all on Tulsa QB Brin. Ugly.
10. Texas A&M - So far, the Aggies have beaten a dismal Kent State, a dismal Colorado barely, and a pretty dismal New Mexico. Don't buy into the hype just yet. The Lobos were only able to muster 122 total yards, so it's possible that TAMU has a great D. It's also possible that New Mexico isn't very good.
9. Wisconsin - The algorithm strikes again! No idea how this happens. The Badgers are 1-1 with a win against Eastern Carolina. Thing is, that nets them decent 1st level points this early, and their 2nd and 3rd level points are better than most.
8. Army - Go Army, beat Navy! Or in this case, beat truly awful UConn. Army is benefiting from 3-0 vs all FBS schools that are better than the schools ND has played.
7. Pitt - Pitt lost to WMU, with a ton of points scored by both squads. This is another weird system result. They've beaten 2 mediocre teams, but both are FBS and so Pitt reaps the 1st level points benefit.
6. Va Tech - The Hoakies lost a very fun game to watch. WVa looked very good in the first half, then VaTech showed up for the second half. Unfortunately, that was just a bit too late. 700+ yards offense combined made for an enjoyable spectacle.
5. Arkansas - Sooie! The Razorbacks dropped the hammer on Georgia Southern on Saturday, to the tune of 633 yards of total offense. 3-0 vs all FBS gives Arky 2nd most 1st level points so far.
4. Penn State - I really had higher expectations for this game. And I certainly did not expect Clifford to outplay Nix, but here we are. Truthfully, I was a little bored, and I blame Auburn. Penn State looked good, and their D is at least some of the reason Bo Nix did not. But really his decision making is not where it should be 3 years in. Yes, new system and such, but he's supposed to be able to handle that.
3. North Carolina - 2nd weirdest ranking on here. Anyway, Sam Howell brought the pain against UVa: 14/21 for 307 and 5TDs to 1INT. The Heels also gave up 553yds passing to the Cavs. Not good, defense, not good.
2. Michigan - I think this is the weirdest of them all. That said, 3-0 vs all FBS schools, top marks for 1st level points, and a rock solid SRS so far all take UM to #2 in the system. Yeah, they beat Northern Illinois, but they beat them they way you're supposed to. They gave up only 208 yards while rolling up over 600 for themselves.
1. Georgia - They have beaten 3 mediocre FBS teams (yes, Clemson is mediocre so far), but that's enough. Their OW% is high, their OOW% is high, their SRS is high. And that D! So far, the Bulldog D has given up a total of 16 points...and they've scored 16 points! They seem to spend as much time in the backfield as the opposing QB. South Carolina was supposed to be a bit of a test. They were more like a speed-bump.
So, there's my Top 25 for week 3/4. How do I compare to the AP biased voters, only 3 of which think UGA is #1?
We are very early in the season, so I expected this to look weird.
It does. I'm not even going to bother with the stats!
Hope you all have a great week!
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