It was a rough week for one college football team in this week’s power rankings, as they will not only fall down the list, but they’ve lost their starting quarterback for the season. That’s the Florida State Seminoles, who were in the vicinity of 8/1 by the time they were ready for kickoff against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night. However, they have now fallen all the way down to 25/1.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Last Week: 1
National Championship Odds: +175
The Crimson Tide (1-0) rolled over Florida State 24-7 in Atlanta behind a dominant defensive performance. However, linebackers Terrell Lewis and Christian Miller are out for the season due to injuries and while it is Alabama, Nick Saban has to due some juggling now. Damien Harris was the star man for the offense as he had nine carries for 73 yards for the Crimson Tide, while Jalen Hurts was 10-of-18 for 96 yards and a score through the air, and he ran 15 times for 55 yards. Alabama will host Fresno State on Saturday.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Last Week: 2
National Championship Odds: +450
The Buckeyes (1-0) pulled away in the second half of a 49-21 win in Indiana, with J.K. Dobbins running for 181 yards on 29 carries. However, it wasn’t a very pretty effort. In the first half, Ohio State looked like they had all kinds of problems – particularly on offense. On defense, they simply couldn’t get stops. In the end, though, J.T. Barrett was 20-of-35 for 304 yards and three touchdowns, while running 13 times for 61 yards and a score. The defense played much better in the second half and forced three turnovers. Buckeyes fans have to be worried about allowing 437 yards of offense, though. The Buckeyes will have to sort that out before this week’s visit from Oklahoma as the Sooners are a much tougher opponent than what they faced last Thursday.
3. USC Trojans
Last Week: 3
National Championship Odds: +800
The Trojans (1-0) outscored Western Michigan 28-10 in the fourth quarter of a 49-31 home win, and it wasn’t the best game for Heisman favorite Sam Darnold. He was 23-of-33 for 289 yards and two picks, but Ronald Jones III had 18 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans, who ran for 232 yards as a team. Still, Darnold has to be much better if the Trojans are going to compete for the national title. They have a huge visit from Stanford coming on Saturday.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last Week: 9
National Championship Odds: +1200
It was all Penn State (1-0) from the beginning of a 52-0 shutout of Akron at home, as Trace McSorley was 18-of-25 for 280 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and he also had 12 carries for 48 yards and a score. Saquon Barkley ran 14 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns for the Nittany Lions, who racked up 569 yards to 159 for Akron, and like mostly every major team outside of Alabama and Florida State, they managed to get out of the game healthy. That is usually the biggest aspect of these early-season games. The Nittany Lions will will host Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon.
5. Michigan Wolverines
Last Week: 10
National Championship Odds: +1200
The Wolverines (1-0) got carried to the win by their defense in a 33-17 win over Florida in Arlington, as the Gators only found the end zone via interceptions from Wilton Speight, who went 11-of-25 for 181 yards and a score. Michigan’s defense held the Gators to 192 yards of offense
and forced three turnovers, which offset Speight’s two turnovers, but he has to be better if the Wolverines are going to serious challenge in the Big Ten. The Wolverines will welcome Cincinnati in their home opener on Saturday.
6. Oklahoma Sooners
Last Week: 5
National Championship Odds: +1300
The Sooners (1-0) thumped UTEP 56-7 at home as Baker Mayfield was 19-of-20 for 29 yards and three touchdowns, and the defense allowed 167 yards. More importantly, the Sooners came out of this game healthy and that was the main goal as they have a massive trip to Ohio State on Saturday in what has to be considered the marquee matchup of the week. Their odds are going to change quite a bit based on what happens in that contest.
7. Auburn Tigers
Last Week: 6
National Championship Odds: +1500
The Tigers (1-0) ran over Georgia Southern by a score of 41-7 at home, and they were a force on the ground. Kam Martin ran 14 times for 136 yards and a score as the Tigers rank for 351 yards as a team. Jarrett Stidham was 14-of-24 for 185 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and he also ran nine times for 17 yards, but he found the end zone for Auburn, who have a clash of the Tigers coming up: they’ll visit Clemson on Saturday night.
8. LSU Tigers
Last Week: 7
National Championship Odds: +1500
LSU (1-0) pitched a shutout in New Orleans as they blanked BYU 27-0, allowing 97 total yards, including -5 yards on the ground. Danny Etling was 14-of-17 for 171 yards for the Tigers, who also got 122 yards and two scores on 27 carries for Derrius Guice. It was a great start to the Ed Orgeron era (as the full head coach with no interim tag) for the Tigers, who will get a visit from Chattanooga on Saturday night.
9. Washington Huskies
Last Week: 8
National Championship Odds: +2500
The Huskies (1-0) outscored Rutgers 20-7 on the road after halftime of a 30-14 win, and Jake Browning was 17-of-30 for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Myles Gaskin ran seven times for 59 yards for the Huskies, who forced a pair of turnovers. The Huskies were efficient on offense as they had the ball for only 21:51, and that might have to change when they start playing better teams than Rutgers. The Huskies will be at home against Montana on Saturday night.
10. Florida State Seminoles
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +2500
It was all bad for the Seminoles (0-1), who were beaten soundly by Alabama. The special teams made some huge mistakes, but Deondre Francois went 19-of-33 for 210 yards, a touchdown and two picks, and now he is out for the season because of a knee injury. Florida State now has to go to James Blackman, who is a true freshman, as was Francois last season. The Seminoles are at home this weekend taking on UL-Monroe.
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