College Football Top Ten as of 10-02-2023
Utah is no longer among the unbeaten. The Pac-12 still has three teams in the Top-10 but that will eventually sort itself out when they start to match up. The Bulldogs had another scare but they streaked on. Here is this week’s new Top Ten:
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College Football Top Ten as of 10-02-2023
#10. Notre Dame 4-1 (+4000) - The Irish did not suffer a letdown after a tough last-second loss to Ohio State this week on the road at #17 Duke. They led from nearly start to finish and closed out the Blue Devils with a great game-winning drive of their own to pick up the win. Next Up: at Louisville Last week’s Rank (Unranked)
#9. Oregon 5-0 (+1600) - Oregon was sluggish in the first half against Stanford, up just 14-6 at the half. They righted the ship in the second half and rolled to a 42-6 win. Next Up: Idle Last week’s Rank (9)
#8. Washington 5-0 (+1500) - The Huskies survived a scare at Arizona, holding on for a 31-24 win. Can the defense hold up against the iron of the Pac-12? They’ll find out in two weeks against Oregon. Next Up: Idle Last week’s Rank (8)
#7. Penn State 5-0 (+1400) - A 10-10 first half quickly turned into a 41-13 Penn State victory on Saturday. They can rest up this week before another cupcake against UMass. Next Up: Idle Last week’s Rank (7)
#6. Ohio State 4-0 (+750) - Ohio State enjoyed a week off after the thrilling win over Notre Dame. Now they get set for the high-octane offense of undefeated Maryland. Next Up: vs. Maryland Last week’s Rank (6)
#5. USC 5-0 (+1800) - USC’s defense looked shaky on the road against Colorado, nearly blowing a huge lead in a 48-41 win. They return home to face a mediocre Arizona team that should be another showcase of the All-World talents of QB Caleb Williams. Next Up: vs. Arizona Last week’s Rank (3)
#4. Florida State 4-0 (+750) - The Seminoles enjoyed a week off after the emotional win over Clemson on the road. They are back home this week against an inferior Virginia Tech squad. Next Up: vs. Virginia Tech Last week’s Rank (5)
#3. Texas 5-0 (+750) - Texas dominated the second half on their way to a convincing 40-14 win over Kansas on Saturday. Texas now readies for Oklahoma on Saturday in a collision that could determine each team’s playoff fate. Next Up: vs. #12 Oklahoma Last week’s Rank (4)
#2. Michigan 5-0 (+400) - The Wolverines have been dominant thus far on both sides of the field. They demolished Nebraska 45-7 on Saturday and don’t expect a close one this week either. Next up: at Minnesota; Last week’s Rank (2)
#1. Georgia 5-0 (+300) - Georgia survived another scare with a 27-20 road win over Auburn. The Bulldogs get ready for a red-hot Kentucky team this week. Next Up: vs. #20 Kentucky; Last week’s Rank (1)
In parenthesis, the odds of winning the National Title.
Upset Watch Week 3:
Things don’t always go according to plan in college football. Each week we will look at a possible upset against one of our top ten teams.
Maryland at Ohio State (-19.5) 12:00 PM on Saturday: Ohio State had a week off to recover from the grueling game against Notre Dame. Still, this one looks a bit like a trap game against a 5-0 Maryland team that can put up points. Has Ohio State earned the right to get a nearly three-touchdown spread in this spot?
The One That Got Away Week 1:
Each week we will look at a game from the previous week in which defeat was snatched away from the jaws of victory with a fateful play near the end of the game. We’ve all been there, why not painfully rehash it?
#11 Notre Dame (-5.5) at #17 Duke
So last week, we documented Notre Dame’s last-second fail against Ohio State at home which was another one that got away. Why not go against the Fighting Irish here with #17 Duke getting 5.5 points at home? Seems reasonable.
Notre Dame dominated the first half but only had a 10-0 lead despite two missed Duke field goals and a turnover. The Fighting Irish took a 13-0 lead past the midway point of the third quarter. Trailing 13-0 with 5.5 points, suddenly going against the Irish looked like a bad idea.
Late in the third quarter, the Blue Devils scored a touchdown to cut the lead to 13-7, still not covering but getting close. When Duke scored with under 10 minutes to go to take a 14-13 lead, things were looking up. Still a lot of time left but the Irish offense, missing several key players, couldn’t get anything going. Then, with under a minute left and facing a fourth and 16, this one looked like a lock. Receivers were covered and at least ND QB Hartman isn’t much of a…get him! Get him! Hartman rumbles for 16 yards and a first down!! NO!!! Ok, no time to panic. The Irish will just run it up the middle and set up for the game-winning field goal. Still a win with the 5.5 points. ND sends the back up the middle into the line and…oh no!! He breaks free. He could…go…all…the…way. Oh for God’s sake! Notre Dame up 19-14 with under 30 to play. Hopefully, they’ll just kick the extra point and…going for two!! God help me! Ok, perhaps I shouldn’t be asking for Divine Intervention in a game featuring Notre Dame. No!! Two-point conversion is good. Final Score: Notre Dame 21 Duke 14 (+5.5) - LOSS
*All odds courtesy of Draftkings.com
By Mark Ruelle