Power Poll: Does Alabama have best shot at one

Diposkan oleh silent aja 1:26 AM Post a Comment

The Discussion has begun.

The Discussion has begun because we're all but assured of at least one, one-loss team in the first college football playoff. Do the math: We're down to four unbeatens. Throw out Marshall because an undefeated season by the Herd probably isn't good enough to crack the top four in a race populated by one-loss teams from Power 5 leagues.

Reasonable folks can argue that point but it's hard to disagree about the remaining top three unbeatens going 1-2-3 in the Power Poll -- Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida State.

Which one-loss team ya got at No. 4? There are 15 remaining from Power 5 conferences. For now, the Power Poll is going with Auburn by a thread on Gus Malzahn's sweater vest. The Tigers have a quality road win (Kansas State) that just got a whole lot better. The Tigers' only loss is to No. 1 Mississippi State. Tell me you wouldn't like to see that game over again in a playoff.

A snapshot look at some -- but not all -- No. 4-slot contenders (rankings reflect this week's Power Poll):

No. 5 Alabama: Beat its first ranked team (at time of kickoff) Saturday, that's if Texas A&M even counts as a ranked team now. While you debate that, Bama's opening-night win over West Virginia looks better all the time.

No. 6 Michigan State: The Big Ten has rehabbed its image a bit. Four of its 14 teams have one only loss (Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio State, too). The Spartans have pretty much rolled the opposition since losing to Oregon.

No. 7 Georgia: If the Dawgs keep winning, they might have the best argument. Beat the SEC West champ and what one-loss team do you put in front of them?

No. 8 Notre Dame: Judging by Saturday night, the argument could be made the Irish are one of the four best teams in the country. That FSU game was as 'good' a loss as you'll see. Two teams ranked in the Power Poll are still on the schedule -- No. 16 Arizona State, No. 22 USC -- plus Louisville.

No. 9 Oregon: Arizona remains a quality loss, but one that is keeping the Ducks out of the top four. Cal, Stanford, Utah are remaining on the schedule. Having Marcus Mariota and Royce Freeman in top form doesn't hurt.

If you don't agree, that's what we're here for. The Discussion has begun.

How my playoff would look today

Rose Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Florida State

Baca Juga

Sugar Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Auburn

Remainder of the New Year's Six bowls

Orange: Duke vs. Alabama

Peach: East Carolina vs. Notre Dame

Cotton: Michigan State vs. Georgia

Fiesta: Oregon vs. Kansas State

1. Mississippi State (1): Bye. The Keep Dan Mullen Campaign has heated up. The Bulldogs' coach will make $3 million this year according to USA Today. That doesn't mean someone else can't outspend Scott Stricklin. If Mullen keeps winning, they will. Big Time. Think Michigan more than Florida.

3. Florida State (4): A signature win for Jameis. Go ahead, call the Pun Abuse Hotline. The biggest challenge remaining is Oct. 30 game at Louisville. The Noles are now on a collision course with a playoff berth.

5. Alabama (16): Nick can climb in off the ledge. His team is pretty good. More than 600 yards vs. Texas A&M, 140 receiving yards for Amari Cooper, four total touchdowns by Blake Sims. Can't wait for this week's Saban rant.

8. Notre Dame (7): I'd take a rematch with FSU right now. The Irish have the talent and schedule to be in the Football Four. Everett Golson, Corey Robinson, etc., proved themselves on the national stage. If they win out it's going to be hard to deny them with a four-point loss on the road to the defending national champs.

18. West Virginia (NR): Yo, Morgantown. Stop with the riots. We thought it was just the Mountaineers who were the loaded musket ready to go off. West Virginia doesn't care one bit it depressed the league's playoff stock by beating Baylor. Clint Trickett surpassed 300 yards passing for the eighth straight game.

20. Marshall (21): Rakeem Cato set an FBS record with his 39th consecutive game with a touchdown pass. Herd hadn't trailed all season until Saturday, briefly against Florida International.