12 in the Box: The Judge’s Unique Week 9 CFB Rankings

by | Oct 26, 2022 | Football

Welcome to Twelve in the Box. Here, you will see twelve teams making the biggest impact on college football. Is this a CFB Week 9 rankings? Not really—you won’t find any numbers by the team names. Is this a power ranking? Sort of, kind of. The Judge will use his arbitrary sliding scale of indiscriminate factors to present the twelve teams (and three alternates) Your Honor thinks you need to be paying attention to.

Week 8 served as another Saturday of separation as three undefeated teams were served their first loss of the season. There was no hangover from the insane Week 7. While we might not have gotten the same magical finishes, there was plenty of action and plenty to play for. There is only one week to go before the official College Football Playoff rankings are unveiled. In the meantime, let’s look at who’s still in the hunt along with the teams that just need some love.

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Alabama

Poor ol’ Mississippi State. The visiting Bulldogs, once again, were subject to a rebound game from the Crimson Tide. Let me tell you how those rebound games go. The nation’s best collection of athletes, coached by the best coach in college football history, come together with full focus and beat the hell out of whoever is in front of them. 

That is exactly what we saw from Alabama on Saturday. The Tide will have a bye before traveling to play a hot LSU team.

To Win SEC Conference

+140    

To Make Playoff

+130

To Win FBS Championship

+340

Next Game: BYE

Clemson

Clemson’s record may be perfect still, but Tiger fans can’t feel great after barely edging Syracuse at home in Week 8. Yes, Syracuse was undefeated prior, but it was still Syracuse and, well, Clemson is Clemson. It didn’t help that quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was benched and the Tigers relied on freshman Cade Klubnik to lead a comeback. The Tigers will get a week to think it over and they need it. With so many competitive teams this season, an undefeated regular season still doesn’t guarantee a playoff.

To Win ACC Conference

-600

To Make Playoff

-165

To Win FBS Championship

+1600

Next Game: BYE

Georgia

Georgia’s season starts this week. Of course, the Bulldogs have played games against other teams and those will count for their record. However, there are no more conference bottom-feeders for the Dawgs to roll through. Georgia starts this new season by playing Florida before a showdown with Tennessee, which will presumably determine which team gets to go to Atlanta. We’ve seen what Georgia is capable of, now let’s see if they can live up to it.

To Win SEC Conference

-110

To Make Playoff

-700

To Win FBS Championship

+180

Next Game: vs. Florida

Michigan

The Wolverines had an extra week to celebrate the Week 7 win over Penn State and now turn to face in-state rival Michigan State. Michigan has taken care of business to this point and certainly looks the part. However, there is only one game this team will be judged by and that isn’t until November 26th. That game will determine this team’s postseason chances and overall legacy. Until then, all Michigan can do is just beat the next team on the schedule. That should be manageable for the next few weeks. 

To Win Big Ten Conference

+400

To Make Playoff

+200

To Win FBS Championship

+1500

Next Game: vs. Michigan State

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Ohio State 

The Buckeye defense was the story of Week 8, forcing six Iowa turnovers and returning one for a touchdown. At this point, Ohio State looks destined for the playoffs. If the defense plays like they did on Saturday, they might just win the whole thing. The Buckeyes still need to clear a few obstacles on the way. Their next obstacle: this Saturday on the road at Penn State, where Ohio State has only lost once since 2005.

To Win Big Ten Conference

-450

To Make Playoff

-650

To Win FBS Championship

+180

Next Game: at Penn State

Oklahoma State

The Big 12 may not have as much firepower at the top of the conference as the SEC or Big Ten, but you would be hard pressed to find a conference as deep. That speaks volumes for what Oklahoma State is doing so far this season with a lone loss coming in double overtime at TCU. The Cowboys came back from 14 down to beat Texas in Week 8. They are right in the mix for a spot in the Big 12 championship game. Next, they will have to travel to play a solid Kansas State team in Week 9.

To Win Big 12 Conference

+280

To Make Playoff

+1600

To Win FBS Championship

+10000

Next Game: at Kansas State

Oregon

Just about everything went right for the Ducks on Saturday—College Gameday, onside kick, and Bo Nix. It was validation that Dan Lanning’s team has indeed improved since Week 1. Also, it was validation for Nix in his decision to transfer. Lastly, it was validation that Oregon would not suffer from Mario Cristobal leaving for Miami. 

The Ducks are the odds-on favorite to win the Pac-12. However, there are plenty of landmines left on the schedule, starting with a two-week road campaign.

To Win Pac-12 Conference

+110

To Make Playoff

+650

To Win FBS Championship

+4000

Next Game: at Cal

Penn State

The Nittany Lions bounced back from the embarrassing loss to Michigan in a big way, dominating Minnesota 45-17. Sean Clifford recorded an impressive performance, and the defense held their own. Penn State will have another opportunity to prove it belongs in the upper tier of Big Ten teams when they host Ohio State in Week 9. A win would certainly mix things up in the Big Ten East. James Franklin will need to pull every trick he has to slow down the Ohio State offense.

To Win Big Ten Conference

+4000

To Make Playoff

+2500

To Win FBS Championship

+15000

Next Game: vs. Ohio State

South Carolina

You probably haven’t had much reason to follow the Gamecocks this season. However, they are now a team that deserves some love. In his second season, head coach Shane Beamer has his team improving and playing good football. This isn’t a team that is going to knock down the door of an SEC championship, but this is a team that opponents are dreading to have on their schedule. Just ask Kentucky and Texas A&M, two of the latest to fall victim to this salty South Carolina squad.

Next Game: vs. Missouri

Southern Cal

The Trojans may have failed their week 7 test at Utah, but Southern Cal is still in the mix for a Pac-12 championship. Even more importantly to fans, this is still a team worth watching every single Saturday. The Trojans will be significant favorites in their next three games before closing the season against UCLA and Notre Dame. They will need to dial up some style points if they want to have any playoff hopes.

To Win Pac-12 Championship

+260

To Make Playoff

+450

To Win FBS Championship

+5000

Next Game: at Arizona

TCU

TCU became the second team in the past twenty years to make 17-point comebacks in consecutive games with their 38-28 win over Kansas State. The Horned Frogs remain undefeated in a tumultuous Big 12 division and have quite the road to stay undefeated. This road begins next weekend at West Virginia. TCU seems to be comfortable playing with fire, having to play from behind in each of its last three games. 

Is it a matter of time before they get burned?

To Win Big 12 Conference

+140

To Make Playoff

+700

To Win FBS Championship

+6000

Next Game: at West Virginia

Tennessee

The party rolled through Week 8 as the Vols put up 52 points in the first half against UT Martin. Josh Heupel will need to refocus his team for the last stretch of the season. Tennessee will play a wounded Kentucky team in Week 8 before going to Athens to take on Georgia. The Vols can’t get caught looking ahead to Georgia or they’ll risk the playoff equity they have earned this year. If the Vols remain engaged, there doesn’t seem to be any way to stop the juggernaut offense.

To Win SEC Conference

+600

To Make Playoff

+220

To Win FBS Championship

+1600

Next Game: vs. Kentucky

Week 9 Alternates:  LSU, Oklahoma State, UCLA