College Football Rankings 2014: Latest Standings and Predictions for Week 3
There are going to be better weeks of action in college football than the slate of games on tap for Week 3. Let's just call a spade a spade in that regard. Still, there are enough juicy games and marquee teams in action to keep things interesting.
Below, we'll take a look at the rankings and make a few predictions for the top squads in the country. Spoiler alert: Don't expect a ton of upsets this week.
Standings
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
| 1 | Florida State (38) | 2-0 | 1,463 |
| 2 | Oregon (16) | 2-0 | 1,415 |
| 3 | Alabama (1) | 2-0 | 1,334 |
| 4 | Oklahoma (2) | 2-0 | 1,303 |
| 5 | Auburn | 2-0 | 1,236 |
| 6 | Georgia (1) | 1-0 | 1,201 |
| 7 | Texas A&M (2) | 2-0 | 1,101 |
| 8 | Baylor | 2-0 | 1,043 |
| 9 | Southern California | 2-0 | 1,039 |
| 10 | LSU | 2-0 | 1,029 |
| 11 | Notre Dame | 2-0 | 815 |
| 12 | UCLA | 2-0 | 779 |
| 13 | Michigan State | 1-1 | 751 |
| 14 | Mississippi | 2-0 | 703 |
| 15 | Stanford | 1-1 | 592 |
| 16 | Arizona State | 2-0 | 570 |
| 17 | Virginia Tech | 2-0 | 532 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 1-1 | 391 |
| 19 | Kansas State | 2-0 | 285 |
| 20 | Missouri | 2-0 | 237 |
| 21 | Louisville | 2-0 | 234 |
| 22 | Ohio State | 1-1 | 222 |
| 23 | Clemson | 1-1 | 206 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 1-1 | 199 |
| 25 | BYU | 2-0 | 179 |
Georgia at South Carolina
In a week largely devoid of top-notch matchups, this SEC clash is the cream of the crop. Coming into the season, it was expected the SEC East would come down to one of these two teams, and with South Carolina already losing to Texas A&M, its season will be on the line here.
Of course, slowing down Todd Gurley won't be easy. The Heisman candidate absolutely shredded Clemson in Week 1, rushing 15 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Oh, and he took a kick to the house, too, giving him four scores already on the season.
So good has Gurley looked on the season, a former college star, Herschel Walker, has already been heaping the praise on him this year, per Thayer Evans and Pete Thamel of SI.com:
"'Every time he touches the ball,' Walker said, 'you’re looking for something to happen.'
Walker didn’t get a chance to talk with Gurley after Georgia’s 45-21 victory over Clemson on Saturday, a game in which he set a school record with 293 all-purpose yards and scored four touchdowns. But Walker said Gurley knows 'how special he is to me.'
'Todd is the best running back in college football,' Walker said. 'Right now, you can’t argue that point.'
"
Walker might be a bit biased—he's a Georgia alum, after all—but it's hard to argue with his assessment of Gurley.
Of course, when South Carolina was blitzkrieged by Texas A&M, it wasn't the running game that killed them. Yes, it gave up 169 yards on the ground and a rushing score, but it was the 511 passing yards and three touchdowns it gave up to Kenny Hill and Co. in the passing game that really did the Gamecocks in during the 52-28 loss.
It will be interesting to see if they can slow down the very different attack Georgia will bring into Williams-Brice Stadium. If South Carolina can contain Gurley, it'll likely win this game at home. But if Gurley gives the Heisman voters another marquee performance, Georgia's going to come away with the vital victory.
Prediction: Georgia wins
Tennessee at Oklahoma
Let's be clear right up front: Oklahoma is probably going to roll Tennessee. Trevor Knight has been brilliant thus far (553 passing yards, three touchdowns), the Sooners have allowed just 23 total points in two games, and the talent on this team is really impressive. They have one of the truly balanced offenses in college football (286.0 passing yards and 222.0 rushing yards per game).
Knight will be the difference, of course. If he's consistently a stud, Oklahoma will be tough to top. Thus far, Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports has been impressed:
But Tennessee is no pushover. Despite a pretty weak schedule to start—to be fair, Oklahoma hasn't been tested either—the Vols have been impressive in their 2-0 star, as quarterback Justin Worley has been excellent (520 passing yards, five touchdowns).
Still, Tennessee is a young team, and the trip to Memorial Stadium might be a taller task than it's ready for at the moment. Oklahoma looks, once again, like one of the most talented and balanced squads in the country. It'll prove it Saturday night.
Prediction: Oklahoma wins
Other Marquee Teams in Action
Look folks, there just aren't a ton of prime-time matchups this week, so let's buzz through a few of the bigger contests.
Baylor should cruise against Buffalo. UCF might give Missouri a headache or two, but it couldn't pull off the win over Penn State, and it won't take down the Tigers, either. Louisville should squeak by a tough Virginia team that played UCLA really tough.
Oregon will demolish Wyoming. Stanford will recover in style against Army, while Notre Dame will handle Purdue without any issue. UCLA will make BYU's rout against Texas look like a paper cut when the Bruins face the Longhorns.
USC's defense will shut down Boston College. Texas A&M will breeze past Rice, and Arizona State won't be troubled by Colorado. Perhaps Nebraska will have learned from its scare this weekend and take Fresno State seriously. If it does, it'll win big.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
