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YOUR BALANCE
Week 2 and the contenders and pretenders already show
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Week 2 and the contenders and pretenders already show


Sep 11, 2017, 12:28 PM

You can look up and down the "Power 5" conferences and it's already pretty clear who the true contenders and pretenders are. For all that college football changes, it's amazing how much it stays the same...the only real new-money superpower that's forced its way into the elite from the middle of the pack is, well...us, frankly.

I count 11 teams that would seem to have the roster power to legitimately contend for one of those four playoff spots. Two losses effectively pencils any of these off and two of them - FSU and Auburn - already have one loss against them.

I count another 12 that are either undefeated or have one loss that can make some sort of argument that if all the bounces go their way they could fight their way in. These aren't perfect teams but they appear to be bottom-half-of-the-Top-25 quality.

There's another handful of teams - I count another 13 - that have started 2-0 but it's a mirage; there is just no way these teams make it through 12 games with 11 or more wins and put themselves in a spot to make the final four. Unless a miracle happens, anyhow.

I did not count any of the Group of 5 teams since it would take a miracle for them to get in as well. I mean, I love me some Chad Morris and he has SMU up to 2-0...but does anyone really think he's going to make the playoffs?

ACC
Legit Contenders - Clemson, Florida State
Dark Horses - Louisville, Virginia Tech, Miami
Pretenders Soon to Be Exposed - Wake Forest, Duke

B1G
Legit Contenders - Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State
Dark Horses - Wisconsin, pretty much on their lonesome
Pretenders Soon to Be Exposed - Michigan State, Iowa

BIG 12
Legit Contenders - Oklahoma
Dark Horses - Oklahoma State, TCU
Pretenders Soon to Be Exposed - K-State

PAC 12
Legit Contenders - USC, Washington
Dark Horses - Utah, UCLA, Colorado
Pretenders Soon to Be Exposed - Oregon, Washington State

SEC
Legit Contenders - Alabama, Auburn, LSU
Dark Horses - Georgia, Tennessee, Florida
Pretenders Soon to Be Exposed - South Carolina, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State

Any arguments or disagreements about any of the above? I personally doubt any of the "pretenders" make it through September unbeaten, and I suspect most of the dark horses will be long gone by then too. (I'm cheating a bit, September has 5 weeks this year.) But really it's between about 11 teams for those four spots...so if you're like me, have that red magic marker ready when any of these guys take that Loss #2, because history tells us they're officially Outta There at that point. No 2-loss team has yet to make the playoffs and you'd probably have to be Alabama - and win the SEC - to manage it.

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Re: Week 2 and the contenders and pretenders already show


Sep 11, 2017, 12:31 PM

CORRECTION: Beg pardon. Three of these teams have 1 loss already. Forgot OSU, they're already one in the hole as well thanks to Baker Mayfield. (This will be the one and only time I ever thank Baker Mayfield.)

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I'd list merryland as a pretender***


Sep 11, 2017, 12:31 PM



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FSU, Auburn, and Ohio State will each lose at least one more


Sep 11, 2017, 12:49 PM

IMO

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Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.


Re: FSU, Auburn, and Ohio State will each lose at least one more


Sep 11, 2017, 1:03 PM

Georgia a darkhorse ? With their non-athletic, overhyped QB's ? Oh yeah, they beat a 4-8 Notre Dame team in South Bend. My bad.

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UGa is the tallest midget...


Sep 11, 2017, 1:08 PM

They play in the $EC Least which the absolute weakest Division among all of the Power Five conferences.

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Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.


Re: UGa is the tallest midget...


Sep 11, 2017, 2:50 PM

Don't forget, Duke beat ND in South Bend last year. That puts UGAs victory in perspective.

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Re: UGa is the tallest midget...


Sep 11, 2017, 2:50 PM [ in reply to UGa is the tallest midget... ]

Don't forget, Duke beat ND in South Bend last year. That puts UGAs victory in perspective.

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Go away nerd, nobody asked you anyways***


Sep 11, 2017, 2:14 PM [ in reply to Re: FSU, Auburn, and Ohio State will each lose at least one more ]



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"IDIOT POSTER OF THE MONTH SO FAR...GWP-- You have won IPM Award for your failure to completely comprehend a clear post & then choose to attack someone who points out your ignorance. While you are not yet in the same No Class Catagory as deRoberts, ClemTiger117 & Tigerdug23, you are getting closer to the Sewer Dwellers." - coachmac


swap Utah and Washington state


Sep 11, 2017, 1:11 PM

Utah has not looked good in 2 games

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Re: Week 2 and the contenders and pretenders already show


Sep 11, 2017, 1:14 PM

I think Ok St could be a legit contender. Probably not to win it all (I think they'll stumble when they face a real defense), but that offense puts them in position to outscore anyone. I think they'll beat everyone on their schedule besides maybe OU. That should be an interesting game to see how good OU's defense really is.

Also, imo Tennessee should be a pretender soon to be exposed. I expect them to lose at least 3 of their next 6 games.

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Re: Week 2 and the contenders and pretenders already show


Sep 11, 2017, 1:21 PM

Tennessee definitely a pretender. That is without question.

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Re: Week 2 and the contenders and pretenders already show


Sep 11, 2017, 2:31 PM

If you guys had done your job they would already be in that status.

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Wisconsin is legit because of their schedule


Sep 11, 2017, 1:53 PM

They play no one until the conference championship.

Florida is soon to be on loss 2,3,4.....

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I was most surprised by Oklahoma


Sep 11, 2017, 2:06 PM

They (along with all big 12 teams) have consistently gotten whipped on both lines of scrimmage when going up against other legit power 5 teams in recent years. That didn't happen at all Sat night in Columbus. Sacks and TFL were essentially even. OU didn't run the ball particularly well but they did enough on the ground and, unlike OSU, it's not like they needed to rely on the ground game with Baker Mayfield at QB.

I still see no legit WRs at OSU which is just stunning considering their recruiting. This is 3 straight years now with a lack of playmakers out wide. Barrett has been bad but he certainly isnt getting any help from the WR corp.

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Re: Week 2 and the contenders and pretenders already show


Sep 11, 2017, 2:39 PM

Nice list.

I'd say Auburn is a darkhorse. Their offense was bad.

Louisville is definitely a contender. Their schedule is cake after us.

Saw a great quote on Twitter. "Ohio State is only 2 more losses from being knocked out of playoff contention." So true.

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Re: Week 2 and the contenders and pretenders already show


Sep 11, 2017, 2:54 PM

Where does Notre Dame fit?

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