If You Had A Vote

[AUChizad]

What would your Top 25 look like after week 3? Or maybe just Top 10?

This is how I would vote based on THIS year, including competition faced and performance, and what is returning from LAST year. A lot can change.

1. Auburn
2. Texas A&M
3. Oregon
4. Oklahoma
5. LSU
6. Notre Dame
7. Alabama
8. Florida State
9. Ole Miss
10. South Carolina
11. Georgia
12. Baylor
13. UCLA
14. Arizona State
15. Arkansas
16. Missouri
17. BYU
18. Nebraska
19. Kansas State
20. Mississippi State
21. Clemson
22. Wisconsin
23. Florida
24. Kentucky
25. East Carolina

USC, Stanford, Michigan State, and Ohio State, GTFO of my Top 25. Clemson & Wisconsin, you got lucky.

People will say FSU is too low, but a 37-31 4th quarter rally win against unranked Oklahoma State and 37-12 against Citadel is all you've got to show for this year so far? That earns you an unquestioned #1 spot? Give me a break. Pretty much the same goes for Bama. A showcase 10 point victory against WVU impresses me just enough for a #7 spot, albeit mostly only due to pathetic competition.

My Top 3 is a tier of its own. Big dropoff before Oklahoma. Their showpiece win is Tennessee. I guess ours is Arkansas. We both won by 24 and I think Arkansas would soundly defeat UT.

Having Notre Dame that high isn't because I'm dying to "restore them to their rightful place" as actual pollsters do. I just think that a 31-0 win over Michigan, while they suck, is still so far better than the resumes of anyone below them in my rankings. Still plenty of time for them to take a tumble, but I'll wait until they do.

Arkansas, as much as I hate BERT, should be at least ranked in the Top 25 at this point. They're not in the top 40 schools receiving votes. Pretty ridiculous. I think if they were in the East, they would be in contention for Atlanta.

[jmar]

What would your Top 25 look like after week 3? Or maybe just Top 10?

This is how I would vote based on THIS year, including competition faced and performance, and what is returning from LAST year. A lot can change.

1. Auburn
2. Texas A&M
3. Oregon
4. Oklahoma
5. LSU
6. Notre Dame
7. Alabama
8. Florida State
9. Ole Miss
10. South Carolina
11. Georgia
12. Baylor
13. UCLA
14. Arizona State
15. Arkansas
16. Missouri
17. BYU
18. Nebraska
19. Kansas State
20. Mississippi State
21. Clemson
22. Wisconsin
23. Florida
24. Kentucky
25. East Carolina

USC, Stanford, Michigan State, and Ohio State, GTFO of my Top 25. Clemson & Wisconsin, you got lucky.

People will say FSU is too low, but a 37-31 4th quarter rally win against unranked Oklahoma State and 37-12 against Citadel is all you've got to show for this year so far? That earns you an unquestioned #1 spot? Give me a break. Pretty much the same goes for Bama. A showcase 10 point victory against WVU impresses me just enough for a #7 spot, albeit mostly only due to pathetic competition.

My Top 3 is a tier of its own. Big dropoff before Oklahoma. Their showpiece win is Tennessee. I guess ours is Arkansas. We both won by 24 and I think Arkansas would soundly defeat UT.

Having Notre Dame that high isn't because I'm dying to "restore them to their rightful place" as actual pollsters do. I just think that a 31-0 win over Michigan, while they suck, is still so far better than the resumes of anyone below them in my rankings. Still plenty of time for them to take a tumble, but I'll wait until they do.

Arkansas, as much as I hate BERT, should be at least ranked in the Top 25 at this point. They're not in the top 40 schools receiving votes. Pretty ridiculous. I think if they were in the East, they would be in contention for Atlanta.

I don't like #s 2, 4, 6 or 9 in my top ten and not sold on UCLA as a top 15 yet.

[jmar]

Michigan State?
This is a team that would beat Oregon in a rematch and most of the others on any given day.

[Montezuma58]

#1 Auburn
#everyone else can sodomize themselves with a splintered ax handle.

[AUChizad]

I don't like #s 2, 4, 6 or 9 in my top ten and not sold on UCLA as a top 15 yet.

It's hard because hardly anyone has impressed all that much.

If not these teams, what's your Top 10 look like?

A&M has the best win of the season so far.

As I said, not crazy  about OU in my top 4, but who else? At least they've beaten an SEC school and haven't shat the bed yet. Already justified Notre Dame. Boise & Vandy is pretty much equal to Bama's schedule of WVU and nobody.

That was kind of the point of this excercise. Who is that impressive so far this year?

[AUChizad]

Michigan State?
This is a team that would beat Oregon in a rematch and most of the others on any given day.

Serious, Clark?

Then why'd they get their shit pushed in when they actually played them?

Based on what? Jacksonville State?

[Ranger12]

#1 Auburn
#25 Alabama

I don't want to come off as too biased and have that other school unranked. Put whomever you want in between.

[jmar]

1. Auburn-
Best offense. The front seven on defense will improve as year progresses with enough stops up front to tilt scores per possession in its favor.

2. Oregon-
The difference between the Ducks and Tigers is up front on both sides of the ball. I think this time Oregon with a healthy Mariota makes the playoffs going undefeated and winning the PAC 12.

3. Michigan State-
It's no shame losing to Oregon any more than it was Auburn losing to FSU in the NCG. This is a very good team that I think will get better and will be better overall than the Big Twelve Champion at season's end.

4. Florida State-
Still have to credit them with the ability to win games no matter the score and if you flinch they will find a way to win. Schedule indicates they will be one of the four.

5. Alabama-
QB situation is stable but not enough to scare anybody. The playmakers are what makes the difference and they have plenty. Alabama hasn't played anybody yet and it will be interesting to see how their offense responds when their defense is actually being challenged.

6. LSU-
Jennings is talented but lacks experience and hasn't really been tested in a big game yet but like Alabama, this team will improve and will figure heavily in the SEC West.

7. Missouri-
This team is loaded with veterans but not overly talented yet to me it has more going for it with Mauck at QB than do the other SEC East teams. Not sure they could stop Gurley and company but they can go toe to toe with South Carolina if Thompson isn't on his game.

8. Baylor-
Petty truly is a system QB and unless a team can put pressure on him or disrupt the pass routes this team can hang 40 on anybody. The defense is sort of built like Oregon's, just not as talented.

9. South Carolina-
See Michigan State for teams with one loss. This is a good team if it shows up and I think they proved it against Georgia. Not sold on the QB yet although he can hit an open receiver.

10. Georgia- This is a good team that IMO has a QB with playmakers similar to that of Alabama. When Georgia is able to run the ball about 40+ times and mix in play action effectively there's no stopping them.
They have similar challenges to many of those above with pass defense.

Others: Oklahoma, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Mississippi St. and Texas A&M.

More: Ole Miss, East Carolina, Kansas State,  Notre Dame, UCLA, Ohio State, Arkansas, BYU, Clemson and
Nebraska

[jmar]

Serious, Clark?

Then why'd they get their shit pushed in when they actually played them?

Based on what? Jacksonville State?

I think Oregon and Auburn are better than Michigan State but I haven't seen another team that can beat them...not yet. To your question, yes I'm serious. See Auburn 2010 and 2013. Losing a game can often have a lasting effect on a team but again, losing to maybe Oregon's best overall team since before Chip Kelly doesn't destroy ones entire season. The final score of the game, at least to me, is insignificant. 

I do think we trip up once but still win the SEC and make the final four along with Oregon and FSU. Michigan State IMO just so happens to be my favorite over the Big Twelve teams with no playoff, the rest of the PAC 12, the rest of the Big Ten teams and forget the ACC.
My guess is that Baylor or Oklahoma will get the final spot though.

And I DO NOT think this panel allows a second SEC team in the playoff.

[Saniflush]

#1 Auburn
#everyone else can sodomize themselves with a splintered ax handle.

This for the uncomfortable win.

[Townhallsavoy]

I don't know if I can do a top 25. 

I think at this point, you have to put Oregon at #1.  Is Michigan State a better opponent than Arkansas?  I would say so.  Oregon handled Michigan State better than Auburn handled Arkansas. 

I agree that Notre Dame should be up there, but I couldn't tell you if they're really that good or not. 

Alabama may not have played the best opponents, but they did at least play a neutral site game against a Power 5 conference opponent. 

Similar with Florida State. 

And then there's BYU.  Based on the rules of the OP, you have to put BYU way up there.  I think out of the entire country, they've played the 2nd toughest three game stretch yet (South Carolina).  I know Georgia's played two Power 5 opponents, but they did have a week off in between.  BYU absolutely destroyed Texas AT Texas, and they haven't had much trouble with their other two opponents as well. 

And then there's Miss State.  You included who they return from last year.  They return everybody and then some on defense, and that defense was pretty stout last season.  They also have a returning QB.  Maybe not championship material, but where do we put them?  How much more does #9 Ole Miss have that #20 Miss State doesn't?   

I think I'd put Auburn #2 or #3.  Our offense looks unstoppable and we haven't really had to try that hard yet.  Everyone keeps gushing over the strength of the SEC West, and we've already won an SEC West conference game, and we won by 24 points.  But the defense has me a bit wary at times. 

[jmar]

I don't know if I can do a top 25. 

I think at this point, you have to put Oregon at #1.  Is Michigan State a better opponent than Arkansas?  I would say so.  Oregon handled Michigan State better than Auburn handled Arkansas. 

I agree that Notre Dame should be up there, but I couldn't tell you if they're really that good or not. 

Alabama may not have played the best opponents, but they did at least play a neutral site game against a Power 5 conference opponent. 

Similar with Florida State. 

And then there's BYU.  Based on the rules of the OP, you have to put BYU way up there.  I think out of the entire country, they've played the 2nd toughest three game stretch yet (South Carolina).  I know Georgia's played two Power 5 opponents, but they did have a week off in between.  BYU absolutely destroyed Texas AT Texas, and they haven't had much trouble with their other two opponents as well. 

And then there's Miss State.  You included who they return from last year.  They return everybody and then some on defense, and that defense was pretty stout last season.  They also have a returning QB.  Maybe not championship material, but where do we put them?  How much more does #9 Ole Miss have that #20 Miss State doesn't?   

I think I'd put Auburn #2 or #3.  Our offense looks unstoppable and we haven't really had to try that hard yet.  Everyone keeps gushing over the strength of the SEC West, and we've already won an SEC West conference game, and we won by 24 points.  But the defense has me a bit wary at times.

BYU narrowly escaped Houston 33-25 but they still won right?
Notre Dame Imo must re-prove themselves over the course of the season.
I suppose most of us thought B.C. upset USC right? Look at the stats. The Trojans we're humiliated.
I thought State might be the team that gets us in between two tough games as did Prowler. I still think it happens.
Michigan State is a tough assed team with an excellent college QB running the show but they might lose again... I just don't think so.

We lost to LSU last season and we simply got better as the season progressed.

The honks are pointing out certain teams they like saying "this year's Auburn."
The season is a marathon, not a sprint.

I can only do a do a final ranking as the teams might finish, not week to week because it is still too early and we just now are getting past the cupcakes. Speaking of which...we really know nothing of TAMU and conversely LSU...not yet.

[Godfather]

#1 Auburn
#everyone else can sodomize themselves with a splintered ax handle.

Good answer... Good answer.... I like the way you think. I'm gonna be watching you.

[GH2001]

Aub, Aggy, Oregon, Oklahoma (maybe).....in no particular order. Those are the best 4 teams in the country right now. And thats all that matters after the last game.

[AUChizad]

3. Michigan State-
It's no shame losing to Oregon any more than it was Auburn losing to FSU in the NCG. This is a very good team that I think will get better and will be better overall than the Big Twelve Champion at season's end.

Are you high? What is with the Michigan State love? They're .500. There's about 50+ DI schools with better records right now. They lost 46-27 and the complete and utter domination in the 2nd half makes it not even close. Maybe I could see the gushing over this team if there was another halfway decent win on this schedule, but their only other game is one in which they couldn't get a 40 point margin of victory over Jacksonville State, the joke FCS school in Alabama. That's your #3 team in the country? Just one spot below the team that prison raped them and about 15 spots above A&M? Are you serious? The B1G is eliminated FOR SURE from the Top 10 IMO. I can see justification for some of them scraping the bottom, but #3 is goddamn ridiculous.

4. Florida State-
Still have to credit them with the ability to win games no matter the score and if you flinch they will find a way to win. Schedule indicates they will be one of the four.

Not a fan of rewarding teams for cupcake schedules. How do they look against who they've played so far? Like they could and probably will lose to Florida, the maybe 10th or 11th best SEC team.

8. Baylor-
Petty truly is a system QB and unless a team can put pressure on him or disrupt the pass routes this team can hang 40 on anybody. The defense is sort of built like Oregon's, just not as talented.

Fine...for now...I'm not gushing over wins to SMU, Northwestern St, and Buffalo unless they're all >50 point blowouts.

9. South Carolina-
See Michigan State for teams with one loss. This is a good team if it shows up and I think they proved it against Georgia. Not sold on the QB yet although he can hit an open receiver.

10. Georgia- This is a good team that IMO has a QB with playmakers similar to that of Alabama. When Georgia is able to run the ball about 40+ times and mix in play action effectively there's no stopping them.
They have similar challenges to many of those above with pass defense.

Others: Oklahoma, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Mississippi St. and Texas A&M.

Again, what planet are you watching these games from? South Carolina #9, but the undefeated team who prolapsed their anus is a distant honorable mention? How?

[GH2001]

UGA is a one trick pony with decent LB play from Herrera and NOTHING ELSE. You can't give the ball to Gurley every single play. Even after just 20 carries, the guy is noticeably tired when running after a few seconds. Watch and see. They will try and run him ragged before the season is over. Their secondary may be the worst in the sec...yes, moreso than SCe or Aggy.

[AUChizad]

I think at this point, you have to put Oregon at #1.  Is Michigan State a better opponent than Arkansas?  I would say so.  Oregon handled Michigan State better than Auburn handled Arkansas. 

Fair enough, but at this point, I'm not as sure as everyone else that Michigan State is that much better than Arkansas, if any. I agree with GH2001 that Auburn, A&M, & Oregon, in any order you want to put them in are Top 3. Oklahoma gets to lead the distant next tier.

And then there's Miss State.  You included who they return from last year.  They return everybody and then some on defense, and that defense was pretty stout last season.  They also have a returning QB. 

And they went .500 with that team last year. Returning starters doesn't equal a great team if those starters were mediocre to shitty to begin with.

[AUChizad]

Also, I probably had East Carolina too low at #25. Really should be up in the Top 15 around SCe & Georgia's neighborhood.

[Godfather]

Not a fan of rewarding teams for cupcake schedules. How do they look against who they've played so far? Like they could and probably will lose to Florida, the maybe 10th or 11th best SEC team.

Disagree here.  You obviously didn't watch UF vs UK game. UK is improved but Florida still looks like reheated baby puke, and their secondary was exposed.  FSU would stomp that ass at this point. 

Don't really have many thoughts on the matter.  I would probably have Oregon at #1, Auburn #2 and FSU #3.

Oregon has the highest quality win over us and anyone else. 

[WiregrassTiger]

Alabama, Notre Dame, Penn State and Texas. These teams haven't hit their stride yet but this may very well be your final 4. You have to figure tradition into the equation.  It's what the country wants to see and the selection committee realizes this.