The college football season has made it through three weeks. As teams head into week four, where do they stand? There wasn’t movement at the top, but in positions six through nine, yes.
1. Florida State Seminoles
This week: 5/1
Last week: +385
The Seminoles are getting ready to host the Clemson Tigers in one of the bigger games of the week. Florida State has suffered injuries to starting defensive tackles, but the Seminoles had a bye week this past weekend, enabling them to get healthy for Clemson at some positions, enough that the team won’t be operating at much of a deficit. The key question against Clemson will be if Florida State’s defensive line is indeed able to play at a high level and rotate bodies in and out of the lineup so that players stay fresh. If Florida State can get enough pressure on Clemson quarterback Cole Stoudt, the Seminoles will probably be able to rattle him and create turnovers, which could very easily lead to a blowout since FSU has Jameis Winston at quarterback and would be in position to score a lot of points.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
This week: 7/1
Last week: +700
The Crimson Tide are preparing for a Southeastern Conference game against Florida, knowing that they really haven’t been tested the past two weeks. Alabama has played patsies at home after beating West Virginia on a neutral field in week one of the season. The Crimson Tide also know that while quarterback Blake Sims has one of the better passer ratings in the country, that rating has been achieved against relatively weak defenses. Florida’s defense is easily going to be the strongest one the Tide have faced to this point in the young season. Alabama’s defense should be able to contain a struggling Florida offense led by quarterback Jeff Driskel. The Crimson Tide’s real challenge in this game is going to come on the offensive side of the field.
3. Oregon Ducks
This week: 7/1
Last week: +700
The Ducks are getting ready to start conference competition this season with a game at Washington State. Last year, Washington State was a bowl team, but this season, the Cougars have stumbled to a 1-2 start and have not yet beaten a team from the Football Bowl Subdivision. Oregon should be able to score a very high number of points against Washington State’s defense, which made a very mediocre quarterback, Rutgers signal caller Gary Nova, look very good in week one of the season. We won’t learn too much about Oregon this week, but the Ducks, thanks to their win over Michigan State, are well positioned for the College Football Playoff.
4. Oklahoma Sooners
This week: 15/2
Last week: +865
The Sooners’ defense stole the show in a 34-10 win over Tennessee. Cornerback Zack Sanchez came up with an interception that he returned for a touchdown, the big play which stopped a Tennessee drive and put the game away on the scoreboard for the Sooners. Oklahoma’s offense was inconsistent against Tennessee, as Trevor Knight had to quarterback his teammates against a tough opponent after coasting past a few inferior teams in weeks one and two. The Sooners learned that they have to be a lot better against opponents that are stronger, thicker, and more agile. Their offense, following a so-so performance, will need to be at its best this weekend, because Oklahoma is playing a West Virginia team that scored 40 points in a win over Maryland in week three. Oklahoma will need to be prepared to win a shootout, because West Virginia’s offense is a lot better this season under quarterback Clint Trickett, whose health (shoulder injury) is far better than it was a year ago.
5. Auburn Tigers
This week: 9/1
Last week: +1700
The Tigers are getting ready for a Thursday night game at Kansas State. Auburn knows that it just needs to stick to its formula of running the ball consistently. If you can do that, you can win on the road and quiet a loud crowd of hostile fans. Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall will need to come out of the blocks quickly and lead his team to early touchdowns that can take the Kansas State crowd out of the game. If Auburn gets off to a slow start, Kansas State will be inspired, and the Wildcats could very easily get the jump on the Tigers. This is Auburn’s first road game of the season, and that could prove to be a challenge at times for the younger members of Auburn’s roster. However, Marshall and other members of the offensive line are returning starters, so that should help the Tigers a lot.
6. Texas A&M Aggies
This week: 14/1
Last week: +1850
The Aggies are waiting to be tested by the SEC West, a division that has placed five teams in the top 10 of the Associated Press writers’ poll. Texas A&M needs to see if quarterback Kenny Hill can continue to enjoy the success he found against South Carolina’s a defense a few weeks ago. South Carolina, though, is an SEC East team. Only when A&M plays the West will a lot of football analysts really know how good the Aggies are… and aren’t.
7. UCLA Bruins
This week: 16/1
Last week: +1750
The Bruins won to move to 3-0. They defeated the Texas Longhorns in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex. A point of concern for the Bruins was an elbow injury to starting quarterback Brett Hundley in the first half. However, subsequent examinations and reports show that Hundley’s injury is not too serious. Since UCLA does have a bye week before a big game on Sept. 25 at Arizona State, Hundley will definitely start that game, a huge relief for the Bruins, who need him on the field.
8. Baylor Bears
This week: 18/1
Last week: +2400
The Bears are another team that’s waiting to be challenged. Baylor cruised past the Buffalo Bulls last Friday night, a game that was the second half of a two-year home-and-home series. Baylor will crush weak teams without much of a problem. How Baylor handles its nine-game Big 12 schedule will be a much more interesting test for the Bears and head coach Art Briles.
9. LSU Tigers
This week: 18/1
Last week: +1650
The Tigers are the owners of a big win over Wisconsin from Aug. 30. They face an interesting challenge this week in the form of Mississippi State, a team that has been talked up a lot but which has to prove it belongs in the SEC and, more specifically, the SEC West. Dak Prescott is the quarterback for Mississippi State. He’s an agile dual-threat kind of signal caller. LSU’s defense needs to be able to contain him in the pocket and generate strong pressure with its base front four. If the Tigers do that while also avoiding turnovers, they should be in very good shape for this contest.
10. Georgia 20/1
11. Notre Dame 25/1
12. Michigan State 33/1
13. Ohio State 33/1
14. Florida 40/1
15. Mississippi 40/1
16. South Carolina 40/1
17. USC 40/1
