Week 2 was not kind to Auburn and Oregon, who both suffered their first losses of the season and have subsequently been knocked out of this week’s power rankings. Both Los Angeles schools – USC and UCLA – were the direct beneficiaries, as both moved three spots higher. However, the two will face some significant tests this week, which will definitely test their top 10 credentials.
Read on to get a complete breakdown of the rest of the 10 best teams in college football with our Week 3 power rankings. Meanwhile, look ahead to the top matchups in Week 3 with our list of the five can’t miss college football games, which you can find right here.
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Week 3 NCAA College Football Power Rankings
1. Ohio State Buckeyes – 2-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 1
Next Game: vs. Northern Illinois
[sc:NCAA240banner ]It’s telling that even with quarterbacks Cardale Jones and JT Barrett, as well as running back Ezekiel Elliot (who had just 3.7 yards per carry against Hawai’i) still far from Heisman form, Ohio State has still been well in control in its first two games. The Buckeyes are so stacked that they can pretty much sleepwalk their way through the rest of their non-conference slate.
Writer’s Prediction: Ohio State improves from last week’s performance to win and cover the 34.5-point spread as favorites.
Derrick Henry (31 carries, 243 yards, six touchdowns) has bulldozed his way into the Heisman discussion with two dominant performances in his first two games. But he and the Crimson Tide will finally get a chance to show how good they really are when they visit a dominant-looking Ole Miss which dealt the Tide its lone regular season loss last year.
Writer’s Prediction: Alabama’s running game is slowed down, but it still finds a way to win at home, 20-17. However, the Tide (-7) fail to cover.
3. Michigan State Spartans – 2-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 6
Next Game: vs. Air Force
The Spartans’ 31-28 home win over Oregon was a huge result, and proved three things: 1) they’re really that dominant on both sides of the line of scrimmage, 2) running backs Madre London and LJ Scott as well as senior receiver Aaron Burbridge can ably fill the shoes of Tony Lippett and Jeremy Langford at the skill positions, and 3) Sparty is a legit playoff contender.
Writer’s Prediction: The Spartans (-26) turn on the jets and beat up on Air Force, 42-13.
The offense bounced back from a sputtering start against Minnesota to drop 70 on Stephen F. Austin. Trevone Boykin got his Heisman candidacy back on track with four first quarter touchdown passes. But while Gary Patterson knows how to coach defense, the list of hurting Horned Frogs on that side of the ball is a concern to keep an eye on.
Writer’s Prediction: TCU smokes SMU at home, 60-21, to cover the 38.5-point spread.
5. Baylor Bears – 2-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 3
Next Game: Bye
Baylor’s on a bye this week, which should be a chance for head coach Art Briles to address some of his team’s concerns, notably the Bears’ slow starts to their first two games. Quarterback Seth Russell’s turnover problems should also be brought up, especially after he gave away possession four times against Lamar, three of which coming in the first half.
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The Trojans have had their fun, spanking their first two opponents – Arkansas State and Idaho – by a combined score of 104-15. Cody Kessler has looked immaculate (45-of-57, 650 yards, seven touchdowns), but it’s time to play that well against a top defense. That’ll come this weekend when USC starts conference play against an always tough Stanford team.
Writer’s Prediction: USC’s offense overpowers Stanford as the Trojans (-10) win and cover at home, 28-14.
As expected, Josh Rosen didn’t throw for over 350 yards with three touchdowns in his first career road start. But Paul Perkins was on hand to rush for 151 yards and two scores against UNLV. UCLA has shown few holes in its first two games, but the defense, which lost star defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes for the year, will be put to the test against a dangerous BYU team.
Writer’s Prediction: UCLA gets the home win, 34-24, but fails to produce enough offense to cover as 16-point favorites.
This could very well be the last time the Irish are featured in these rankings for quite some time after the season-ending ankle injury to quarterback Malik Zaire, which also comes the week before their tough home game against Georgia Tech. Unless, of course, DeShone Kizer looks as impressive as he did against Virginia (8-of-12, 92 yards, two touchdowns) and manages to take down the dangerous Yellow Jackets.
Writer’s Prediction: Kizer rises up to the occasion to lead the Irish (+2.5) to an “upset” win at home.
9. Georgia Bulldogs – 2-0 (1-0)
Last Week: N/A
Next Game: vs. South Carolina
Nick Chubb (8.8 yards per carry in his first two games) has been as good as advertised, as has the rest of the Georgia team… except for quarterback. Starter Greyson Lambert didn’t even complete a single pass in the first half against Vanderbilt. Chubb will have to do some very heavy lifting for this offense if the passing game doesn’t improve.
Writer’s Prediction: Georgia (-16.5) wins, 28-14, at home despite its problems at quarterback, but doesn’t win big enough to cover.
Where would the Noles be without Dalvin Cook? The sophomore running back – who was in jeopardy of missing time after a run-in with the law – has been simply Heisman-caliber for the first two weeks (49 carries, 422 yards, five touchdowns). It wasn’t against top competition, but with conference play starting this week, he has a chance to strengthen his case for the title of best back in the country.
Writer’s Prediction: Cook carries the Noles (-7.5) to a 34-24 road win to cover on the road.
