College Football Rankings 2014: Final Overview of Week 3 Standings
The heart of the Week 3 college football schedule is finally upon us, and fans of the sport are looking to check the rankings one last time before the top teams take the field.
With many of the best programs in the nation going to battle on Saturday like Oregon, Alabama and Georgia, college football fans will be treated to a day full of marquee matchups.
Here are the full Amway coaches', Associated Press and Bleacher Report Top 25 polls, followed by a breakdown of the matchup fans can’t miss in Week 3.
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| 1 | Florida State Seminoles | Florida State Seminoles | Florida State Seminoles |
| 2 | Oregon Ducks | Alabama Crimson Tide | Oregon Ducks |
| 3 | Alabama Crimson Tide | Oklahoma Sooners | Georgia Bulldogs |
| 4 | Oklahoma Sooners | Oregon Ducks | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| 5 | Auburn Tigers | Auburn Tigers | Auburn Tigers |
| 6 | Georgia Bulldogs | Georgia Bulldogs | Oklahoma Sooners |
| 7 | Texas A&M Aggies | Baylor Bears | USC Trojans |
| 8 | Baylor Bears | Texas A&M Aggies | Texas A&M Aggies |
| 9 | USC Trojans | LSU Tigers | LSU Tigers |
| 10 | LSU Tigers | USC Trojans | Baylor Bears |
| 11 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| 12 | UCLA Bruins | UCLA Bruins | Michigan State Spartans |
| 13 | Michigan State Spartans | Michigan State Spartans | UCLA Bruins |
| 14 | Mississippi Rebels | Arizona State Sun Devils | Mississippi Rebels |
| 15 | Stanford Cardinal | Mississippi Rebels | Stanford Cardinal |
| 16 | Arizona State Sun Devils | Stanford Cardinal | Arizona State Sun Devils |
| 17 | Virginia Tech Hokies | Wisconsin Badgers | Virginia Tech Hokies |
| 18 | Wisconsin Badgers | Ohio State Buckeyes | Kansas State Wildcats |
| 19 | Kansas State Wildcats | Virginia Tech Hokies | South Carolina Gamecocks |
| 20 | Missouri Tigers | Kansas State Wildcats | Ohio State Buckeyes |
| 21 | Louisville Cardinals | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Clemson Tigers |
| 22 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Missouri Tigers | Wisconsin Badgers |
| 23 | Clemson Tigers | South Carolina Gamecocks | Florida Gators |
| 24 | South Carolina Gamecocks | Clemson Tigers | Missouri Tigers |
| 25 | BYU Cougars | North Carolina Tar Heels | BYU Cougars |
Game of the Week: Georgia vs. South Carolina
There are several intriguing matchups in Week 3, but none will be as entertaining as or more important than the SEC battle between the Georgia Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams Brice Stadium.
Both teams are ranked in all three polls.
The official Twitter of the Bulldogs revealed the vital viewing information for this game:
Georgia is the betting favorite to win this matchup, according to OddsShark.com, and for good reason after beating Clemson in decisive fashion in Week 1.
Bulldogs senior quarterback Hutson Mason was not asked to do much in the first game due to the elite play of junior running back Todd Gurley, who ran the ball 15 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns.
South Carolina has a much tougher run defense than Clemson, and Georgia will be forced to air the ball out more on Saturday. With a wide receiver like Michael Bennett healthy and ready to make an impact, Mason should be able to make big plays down the field.
Add in the animosity these two SEC East rivals have, and the winner of the Week 3 matchup will have serious momentum heading into the remainder of the regular-season schedule.
When asked about the rivalry, Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier told Ralph D. Russo of the Associated Press (via ABCNews.com) “We don't have a whole lot of rivals. We haven't beaten anybody enough to have rivals.”
While the betting favorite is Georgia, Fox College Football believe two players could help lead South Carolina to a victory, according to a post from their official Twitter account:
The players Fox mentioned in the photo above are running back Mike Davis and wide receiver Shaq Roland, but the team has the depth to challenge the Bulldogs for the win.
Not only is Davis one of the top running backs in the country, but the team also has Brandon Wilds as another threat out of the backfield.
Roland is also not alone in the wide receiver group, either. He has help from talented players like Pharoh Cooper and Nick Jones, and the trio gives quarterback Dylan Thompson the chance to shine. After the QB only threw for 266 yards and one touchdown against East Carolina in Week 2, expect a bounce-back performance from the senior.
As talented as South Carolina is on the offensive side of the ball, the edge in this matchup goes to Georgia. The Bulldogs have a superior rushing attack and will be able to control the pace of the game and the clock.
The Gamecocks have a serviceable defense, but after allowing 52 points to Texas A&M and 23 points to East Carolina, Georgia should be able to put up big points in Week 3.
Ride with the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Predicted Winner: Georgia 40, South Carolina 30
*Stats via ESPN.com.
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