College Football Power Rankings Week 10
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
This week: 5/1 odds to win the national championship
Last week: 7/1
The Crimson Tide are first in the betting odds. Why is this the case, even though teams such as Mississippi State and Florida State are unbeaten? Alabama hosts Mississippi State later in the season, and Florida State is taking on a lot of injuries, which are driving the betting odds on the Seminoles far down.
However, Alabama wasn’t fully on top of things in a recent win over Tennessee. The Crimson Tide relaxed in the second half and allowed Tennessee to get within 10 points, 27-17. However, Alabama started the game with a 27-0 surge, and the Tide can probably be forgiven for coasting after the easy start. Nick Saban could very well be getting his team to perform at the height of its powers. If Alabama is rounding into shape, it makes sense to put the Tide at the top of the list.
Tie, 2. Mississippi State Bulldogs
This week: 7/1
Last week: 13/2
The Bulldogs are not at the top of this list, but they’re definitely next in line. The big game at Alabama is going to be the huge event that’s going to determine the odds in future weeks. Mississippi State has played most of its tougher games at home, especially against Auburn, but the Alabama game is going to be looked at by a lot of analysts and seen as the game which will probably make or break the Bulldogs’ season. Mississippi State shouldn’t be challenged much by Arkansas. It’s the “other” U of A that people will be watching against the Bulldogs. Dak Prescott will also be fighting to keep himself ahead of the Heisman Trophy race during the month of November. That’s a sideshow the Bulldogs can’t allow themselves to be distracted by.
Tie, 2. Oregon Ducks
This week: 7/1
Last week: 15/2
The Ducks are looking better and better with each week, having smoothed things out because of their ability to get offensive linemen healthy, namely left tackle Jake Fisher. But now, Oregon now runs into its recent nemesis – the Stanford Cardinal.
Oregon has lost to Stanford the last two seasons, getting overpowered by the Cardinal at the line of scrimmage. Marcus Mariota, who is very much in the Heisman race himself, wants to be able to beat Stanford one more time before his career ends. Oregon will suffer an enormous blow if it fails to win this one game. The consequences will reverberate far beyond losing control of the Pac-12 North. The Ducks need to put away the Stanford threat once and for all.
Tie, 2. Georgia Bulldogs
This week: 7/1
Last week: 8/1
The Bulldogs are still benefiting from being in the SEC East. They are in the weaker half of the SEC and will be playing the Florida Gators this Saturday. They’re a favorite of more than 11 points so far. They would not have had such fortune if they were in the SEC West, with Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, and Ole Miss. Georgia is therefore a betting favorite because the Bulldogs don’t have nearly as many tough games as a lot of the other teams on this list. If Georgia gets past Auburn later in November, it will enter the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 6 in Atlanta with a chance to play its way into the College Football Playoff. The path is more open for Georgia than it is for several other contending schools.
5. Florida State Seminoles
This week: 15/2
Last week: 7/1
The Seminoles are absorbing a lot of injuries, especially to their defense and even more specifically to their defensive line. Florida State has dropped to a slight, four-point favorite in this Thursday’s night game at Louisville. The 6-2 Cardinals are coached by Bobby Petrino, one of the more talented X-and-O masterminds in the Football Bowl Subdivision. A lot of people are expecting Florida State to lose, but if the Seminoles get past this game, they’re going to play a lot of teams in November that they should beat without too much of a problem. This Louisville game may be the last big hurdle in front of Florida State’s playoff hopes.
6. Michigan State Spartans
This week: 8/1
Last week: 15/2
Michigan State handled Michigan very easily this past Saturday. The Spartans were not at their best on offense, though. They used a pick-six to take advantage of Michigan’s feeble offense. Michigan State was not seriously challenged by Michigan, a departure from most of the games in that series over a larger period of time. Michigan State knows it has to be a lot better on offense if it is to move forward in the Big Ten and win the big game against Ohio State that’s coming up in a few weeks. That’s the game a lot of people across the nation are going to want to see.
Tie, 7. Ole Miss Rebels
This week: 12/1
Last week: 15/2
The Rebels lost to LSU, but they get Auburn at home this weekend. If Ole Miss can knock Auburn out of the playoff picture, it will be able to look forward to a game against Mississippi State later in the season, one that could still decide the SEC West. Ole Miss has already beaten Alabama, so if it can get past Auburn, it would still be in line to possibly play for the SEC Championship Game and a chance to get to the College Football Playoff. Everything’s still there for the Rebels.
Tie, 7. Ohio State Buckeyes
This week: 12/1
Last week: 10/1
The Buckeyes barely escaped Penn State, blowing a 17-0 lead and falling behind 24-17 in overtime before rallying to win. Ohio State has to be a hundred times better if it wants to win at Michigan State later in November. If the Buckeyes lose there, they’ll be out of the College Football Playoff race.
Tie, 7. Auburn Tigers
This week: 12/1
Last week: 12/1
The Tigers face Ole Miss this Saturday. They lost at Mississippi State a few weeks ago and must learn how to win in the state of Mississippi if they want to remain alive in the playoff race. Auburn plays Alabama later in the season, so if the Tigers can get the job done against Ole Miss, they’ll move a step closer to all their preseason goals.
Tie, 10. TCU 18/1
Tie, 10. Notre Dame 18/1
12. Kansas State 25/1
Tie, 13. Baylor 33/1
Tie, 13. Nebraska 33/1
