CFB Weekly Review/Preview: Who's #1?

Defending National Champion Ohio State came in to this season as the overwhelming number one team in the land. While they still are #1 in the polls and still have the most talent of any team in the country, they haven't exactly looked like favorites to repeat. However, neither have a lot of other top teams. The Buckeyes had some offensive struggles (aside from All-World running back Ezekiel Elliott) again last Saturday against a good Indiana team, escaping Bloomington with a 34-27 win. #2 Michigan State also struggled against a conference foe, barely getting past 1-4 Purdue 24-21. Outside of the Big Ten, #3 Ole Miss was embarrassed by #25 Florida 38-10, #6 Notre Dame lost to #12 Clemson 24-22, #7 UCLA was bamboozled by Arizona State 38-23, and #8 Georgia got the wrath of #13 Alabama 38-10. So who deserves to be #1 in the country? TCU? Well, although they walloped Texas last week 50-7, their only two challenging games were a 24-17 win over Minnesota in Week 1 and a 55-52 win over Texas Tech two weeks ago. They could easily be 4-1 or 3-2. Baylor? The toughest team they've played is Texas Tech (in Waco). Right now, Ohio State's keeping the number one spot because nobody else has overwhelmed enough to overtake them, and because voters (be it coaches or writers) know Ohio State has the talent to be the best team in the country. They just haven't really shown it so far. On to Week 6.

Note: I would be remiss to not mention that the majority of the stats and information I gather for my weekly review/preview is from ESPN.com. I also get rankings from the AP Top 25.
Week 5 Review

Observations
1. Running Back League
Here are two numbers: six and 200. Six FBS running backs ran for at least 200 yards last week. In comparison, the top NFL running back last week ran for 166 yards. While the NFL has largely become a "passing league", the running game is still going very strong in the college ranks. That's especially true for Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott and LSU's Leonard Fournette. Zeke has run for over 100 yards in 10 straight games, including a career-high 274 (and three touchdowns) last week against Indiana. Fournette has been so good, he's raised debate over whether he should sit out next year to preserve his draft stock, since he's still a year away from being eligible for the NFL Draft (I personally don't think he should sit out). He's run for over 200 yards the last three games (228, 244, and 233, respectively).
2. Wild, Wild West
I have probably used the Wild West analogy before, and I will probably use it again. But that's what the Pac-12 has turned into. Eight different Pac-12 teams have been ranked at one time or another this season. Currently, five Pac-12 teams are ranked, one of them for the first time. Only two Pac-12 teams remain unbeaten, and they may not be the ones you would think. Utah and California are the last two undefeated teams remaining in the Pac-12, and they play each other this weekend. Preseason Pac-12 favorites Oregon, Arizona, and Arizona State all have two losses (and both of Arizona's losses are in the conference). The Pac-12 is wide open right now.
3. Close Not Close, But No Cigar
Once again last week, there were quite a few hyped matchups between ranked teams that ended up being blowouts. Who knew Ohio State-Indiana and Michigan State-Purdue would be closer than #3 Ole Miss vs. #25 Florida (Florida won 38-10), Texas Tech (who only lost to TCU by three last week) vs. #5 Baylor (Baylor won 63-35), Arizona State vs. #7 UCLA (ASU won 38-23), #13 Alabama vs. #8 Georgia (Bama won 38-10), #21 Mississippi State vs. #14 Texas A&M (the closest of these scores, A&M won 30-17), #23 West Virginia vs. #15 Oklahoma (OU won 44-24), and Arizona vs. #18 Stanford (Stanford won 55-17). Here's hoping for closer games between top teams this week.

Play of the Week

This is why you never give up on a play. Play until you hear the whistles. That's what Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage did here. He (and the offensive line) took on the entire UCLA defense, and he kept grinding (backwards) into the end zone. What an effort.

Game of the Week
Notre Dame 22, Clemson 24
What was billed as the game of the week lived up to it, albeit in very soggy conditions. Down 14-3 at the half, host Clemson rallied in the second half behind quarterback Deshaun Watson, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another (he actually had four less yards rushing - 94 - then he had passing). The Clemson rally was helped by four Notre Dame fumbles in what was a somewhat sloppy game (understandable, given the conditions). Notre Dame did drive down the field to get within two with seven seconds left. They had gone for two earlier in the fourth quarter and failed, so they had to go for two again, and once again, they failed, getting stuffed on a quarterback run. The game was followed by an impassioned speech by Clemson coach Dabo Swinney that was interrupted when ESPN inadvertently cut to two Sportscenter anchors (unbeknownst to them) preparing for the upcoming show. Dabo followed that up by doing his token victory dance.

Performances of the Week
Florida QB Will Grier vs. Ole Miss (W 38-10): 24-29, 271 yards, 4 TD
There was doubt about whether Grier would play due to a stomach virus that had spread to many Gator players. But he played, and he played well against the third-ranked team in the country. He was efficient and mistake-free in a rout of the Rebels.
Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott @ Indiana (W 34-27): 23 carries, 274 yards, 3 TD
Zeke powered the Buckeye offense once again, gashing the Hoosier defense and helping Ohio State escape with a win. He had three of Ohio State's four touchdowns.
LSU RB Leonard Fournette vs. Eastern Michigan (W 44-22): 26 carries, 233 yards, 3 TD
Fournette continues to make a mighty strong case to win the Heisman Trophy. It may be early, but Fournette already has 864 yards and 11 touchdowns through four games.

Playoff Picks After Five Weeks
1. Ohio State
The Buckeyes struggled again last week, barely getting past Indiana on a last-second batted pass in the end zone, but the fact remains that Ohio State has the most talented roster of any team in the country, and they're still undefeated. Plus, as I said before, no other team has really overwhelmed enough to overtake them. Next Game: Maryland, Saturday, Noon
2. TCU
The Horned Frogs take over the second spot this week after their utter domination of Texas last week. They've had some close calls, but they, like Ohio State, are very talented, especially on offense, and they've completely dominated the games they were supposed to dominate. Next Game: @ Kansas State, Saturday, 7:30 PM
3. Michigan State
The Spartans drop one spot after a close call against Purdue, and the Oregon win looks less impressive each week. However, they are still unbeaten, and they are very capable with an experienced veteran quarterback and other offensive weapons. Next Game: @ Rutgers, Saturday, 8:00 PM
4. Baylor
The Bears at number four makes for just two conferences represented in the top four, which will most likely not happen, but right now, these are my top four teams in the country. Baylor has breezed through everyone on their schedule so far, winning each of their four games by at least 28 (although the best team they've played is Texas Tech). Next Game: @ Kansas, Saturday, Noon
Next Four: Utah, LSU, Clemson, Alabama

Trending Up: The likelihood a running back will win the Heisman...Clemson...The continued legend that is Dabo Swinney..."BYOG" (Bring Your Own Guts)...The Big 12...The middle of the Big Ten...Alabama...Florida...Toledo.
Trending Down: Charlie Strong and Texas...Texas Tech...West Virginia...The top of the Big Ten...Ole Miss...Notre Dame...The Pac-12...Georgia.

Week 6 Preview

Quick Picks (Home team listed last)
Last Week: 12-5 
Maryland 21, #1 Ohio State 38 (Saturday, Noon, BTN)
#2 TCU 42, Kansas State 28 (Saturday, 7:30 PM, FOX)
#3 Baylor 50, Kansas 14 (Saturday, Noon, FS1)
#4 Michigan State 34, Rutgers 17 (Saturday, 8:00 PM, BTN)
Game to Watch: #23 California 34, #5 Utah 40 (Saturday, 10:00 PM, ESPN)
You should stay up to watch this week's best matchup between the last two unbeaten teams in the Pac-12. It features two Pac-12 (and playoff?) sleepers who have taken over the conference. Two players to watch in this one are Cal quarterback Jared Goff (1,630 yards, 15 TD, 4 INT so far this season) and Utah running back Devontae Booker (443 yards rushing, 4 TD, 149 yards receiving).
Georgia Tech 24, #6 Clemson 28 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN2)
#7 LSU 28, South Carolina 17 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, Baton Rouge, LA)
Arkansas 13, #8 Alabama 35 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN)
#10 Oklahoma 42, Texas 20 (Saturday, Noon, ABC)
Upset Special: #11 Florida 27, Missouri 28 (Saturday, 7:30 PM, SEC)
I originally had all chalk, but that's boring (and somewhat unrealistic), so I went with this one (as well as Miami over Florida State), because Missouri could be a trap game for Florida after their big win over Ole Miss, and the Tigers are capable of upsetting the Gators at home.
Miami 31, #12 Florida State 28 (Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC)
#13 Northwestern 21, #18 Michigan 31 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, BTN)
New Mexico State 3, #14 Ole Miss 38 (Saturday, Noon, SEC)
Navy 31, #15 Notre Dame 34 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, NBC)
Washington 17, #17 USC 28 (Thursday, 9:00 PM, ESPN)
#19 Georgia 28, Tennessee 21 (Saturday, 3:30 PM)
#21 Oklahoma State 37, West Virginia 31 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN2)
Illinois 23, #22 Iowa 32 (Saturday, Noon, ESPNU)
Kent State 14, #24 Toledo 30 (Saturday, 3:00 PM, ESPN3)
#25 Boise State 34, Colorado State 21 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, CBSSN)