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Each week when the Associated Press releases its Top 25 college football poll, there are two prevailing thoughts on the minds of most fans. It’s either, “How can that team be ranked so high?” or “Why is that team ranked so low?”
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Many factors go into ranking teams. Of course, record is the biggest factor, as it should be. But other factors are also considered like strength of schedule and, sometimes wrongly, conference affiliation.
Using just a simple eye test, here is our five most overrated and underrated teams in this week’s poll:
OVERRATED
- Ohio State (8-0): The Buckeyes will stay on this list for a few more weeks until they play Michigan State Nov. 21. The teams OSU have beaten are a combined 29-32, with the nonconference wins coming against Virginia Tech, Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. Ohio State’s best win is against 6-2 Penn State.
- Iowa (7-0): Much like its Big Ten brother Ohio State, Iowa’s schedule has been baby’s-bottom soft, even though the opponents are 30-21. The opponents the rest of the way are a combined 14-23 and the Hawkeyes miss OSU, Michigan State and Michigan in conference. Iowa should easily win out and a win in the Big Ten championship game will force the playoff committee to extend a bid. Iowa could be the worst undefeated team since the 1984 BYU Cougars.
- Notre Dame (6-1): The only Irish loss was to undefeated Clemson, but where is a quality win? Georgia Tech upset Florida State, but the Yellow Jackets are not world beaters. Southern Cal, which beat Utah? This USC doesn’t have Reggie Bush or Ronnie Lott or Carson Palmer. Temple, Pitt, Wake Forest and Boston College are all that stands between Notre Dame and a playoff berth.
- Florida State (6-1): Not only did the Seminoles lay a garnet and golden egg against Georgia Tech, they don’t have a marquee win this year. FSU beat Miami 29-24, but the Canes just let Clemson put 58 on them and forced Al Golden to leave Coral Gables. Florida State can redeem itself and stay playoff relevant when it plays on the road at Clemson and at Florida.
- Utah (6-1): The Utes were actually on the underrated list last week. But that was before they were exposed by an average USC team. Utah has only one ranked team on the schedule (UCLA), but if last week’s Utes are the real Utes, they could easily fall to Oregon State, Washington, Arizona or even Colorado might knock them off.
UNDERRATED
- Oklahoma State (7-0): The Cowboys have won blowouts, close games and an overtime game. They simply do what they need to do to earn a victory. Sure the win over Texas was close, but the Longhorns knocked off Oklahoma. Speaking of the Sooners, they are still on the schedule along with TCU and Baylor. Don’t be shocked if OSU is the last team standing in the Big 12.
- Memphis (7-0): Bowling Green coach Dino Babers called Memphis the best team in Tennessee and he is in a good position to judge. The Eagles are 6-2 with the two losses coming against Tennessee and Memphis. Add to that the marquee win over ranked Ole Miss and a look at the remaining schedule, the Tigers have a legitimate shot at a New Year’s Day Bowl. Especially if Memphis beat ranked Houston and Temple in back-to-back weeks in November.
- Ole Miss (6-2): The Rebels were on the overrated list last week after losing to Memphis, but a loss to the Tigers might not be as bad as first thought if they win out. Ole Miss also has the win over Alabama and last week dismantled Texas A&M. The Rebels will be favored the next two weeks against Auburn and Arkansas, then has a bye the week before LSU comes calling. A win against the Tigers and a week later over Mississippi State and the Rebels win the SEC West. If they play like last week, that is a definite possibility.
- Toledo (7-0): During the first half of last week’s game against UMass when they fell behind, people were launching off the Rockets’ bandwagon. But Toledo rebounded after halftime and won going away, 51-35. Only four MAC games and a conference championship game stands between Toledo and an undefeated season.
- Houston (7-0): Although this is not one of the run-and-shoot Houston teams of the 1980s, it is still very good. The Cougars’ closest game was a three-point win at Louisville early in the year, since then, their average margin of victory is 32.8 points. Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, UConn, Navy and a huge game with Memphis still remain to be played.
Steve Barnes is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football.
