College Football Playoff teams after Week 7
RELATED ARTICLES: W7 RECAP, G5 TOP 4, GOPHERS UPDATE, W8 PREVIEW
Well, I tried my hardest to keep the Crimson Tide off the top spot in the playoff, but my hands were tied this week. The argument could be made that they were the best team all year, and you wouldn't have received an argument from me. But having someone new in the top spot is what keeps people interested because its different. Speaking of different, the Tide are playing phenomenal offense, which is something were just starting to get used to. Averaging 42.7 points per game, the Tide are winning with offense along with their defense. Nick Saban continues to adapt and excel in new territory, and he continues to prove that he'll find an advantage in any situation.
Georgia has been a surprise. Many picked them to be the winner of the East, but not everyone did. Kirby Smart has his team poised for a run at Alabama's reign atop the SEC, and they're doing it by running the ball and playing elite defense. Georgia boasts the third best defense in the country in total defense and is allowing just 12.6 points per game. Their next three games will determine their place in the SEC East, as well as how good they can actually be. The Bulldogs host Florida and South Carolina in consecutive weeks before heading to Auburn. If they can continue to achieve success in that three game stretch, the East division crown should be theirs.
There weren't many that pegged TCU to win the Big 12, but it's not completely surprising to see them at the top. The Horned Frogs endured what seemed like an eternal lightning delay against Kansas State, and won 26-6 on Saturday. TCU can't rest easy even with Kansas on the schedule next. For whatever reason, the Jayhawks provide issues for TCU. In their five games as members of the Big 12, TCU has won all five, but has only won by a combined 35 points. The last three were decided by 11, so Gary Patterson knows his team can't take a break. Follow that up with trips to Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech along with home games against Texas and Baylor, and the rest of the season is still quite daunting.
Penn State was off, and I'm sure they didn't mind the extra time to prepare for their big three game stretch. This week, the Nittany Lions host #19 Michigan, followed by trips to #6 Ohio State, and #18 Michigan State. That's a brutal stretch to endure, and we will see if who will be the contender out of that foursome. It's too bad that they all play in the same division though.
Wisconsin continues to win its extremely easy schedule, but that doesn't mean the Badgers haven't slipped up. Last weeks win over Purdue was closer than many wanted it to be, but they hung on to win 17-9. Maryland comes to town this weekend, and it appears that the Badgers may not get tested for a little while. Freshman running back Jonathan Taylor is the next great back, and has 468 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games.
Miami did it again, and did so in less-than-ideal conditions. Down 24-22, the Hurricanes needed a comeback but Mother Nature decided to make it difficult for them. Rain started to come down on the final drive, but Malik Rosier and Darrell Langham found their magical connection for the second consecutive week. On fourth down, Rosier threw a pass seemingly to two Georgia Tech defenders, but Langham stuck his hands in and somehow tipped the ball up to himself and made the catch falling down. Michael Badgley chipped in a 24 yard field goal to put the Hurricanes ahead with six seconds remaining. I'm not sure if they can keep this up, but it's been an entertaining first half of the season for them.
