College Football Top Ten as of 10-16-2023

The field is starting to thin for potential playoff teams but one thing remains the same, the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Here is this week’s new Top Ten:

*Need help with finding winners? Try ourExpert Picksand find your favorite handicapper. Just check the records and discounted prices.

Top Ten as of 10-16-2023

#10. North Carolina 6-0 (+7500) - The Tar Heels dominated the second half and rolled over Miami 41-31 to remain perfect. Next Up: vs. Virginia; Last week’s Rank (Unranked)

#9. Oregon 5-1 (+2500) - It doesn’t get any easier for the Ducks this week, hosting WSU after a heartbreaking loss to Washington. Next Up: vs. Washington State Last week’s Rank (7)

#8. Texas 5-1 (+1800) - Texas benefits from a few Top Ten team losses to move up two spots while being off this week. A pesky Houston team awaits them. Next Up: at Houston Last week’s Rank (10)

#7. Washington 7-0 (+800) - The Huskies showed grit in surviving Oregon this week after trailing late. They still have USC looming on their schedule. Next Up: vs. Arizona State; Last Week’s Rank (8)

#6. Florida State 6-0 (+800) - The Seminoles' march to the ACC title continues after a comfortable win over Syracuse on Saturday. Next Up: vs. Duke; Last week’s Rank (6)

#5. Oklahoma 6-0 (+1200) - The Sooners hold their spot after an off-week this week. Oklahoma should move to 7-0 this week before the road gets murkier down the stretch. Next Up: vs. UCF; Last week’s Rank (5)

#4. Penn State 6-0 (+1200) - A tuneup vs. UMass leads to the biggest game of the season for the Nittany Lions this week. Next Up: at #3 Ohio State; Last week’s Rank (4)

#3. Ohio State 6-0 (+800) - The Buckeyes seem to be hitting their stride after pummeling Purdue 41-7 on the road to remain perfect. A big test this week looms Next Up: vs. #4 Penn State; Last week’s Rank (3)

#2. Michigan 6-0 (+280) - Seven up and seven down for a Wolverines team that has yet to be tested. A road test this week at Michigan State will not be much of a test. Next up: at MSU; Last week’s Rank (2)

#1. Georgia 7-0 (+280) - Georgia remains undefeated headed into their bye week. The road ahead includes Ole Miss, Missouris and one big road test at Tennessee. Next Up: Idle; Last week’s Rank (1)

• In parenthesis, the odds of winning the National Title.

Upset Watch Week 3:

Things don’t always go according to plan in college football. Each week we will look at a possible upset against one of our top ten teams.

Duke at FSU (-13.5) 7:30 PM on Saturday: Duke QB Leonard has yet to be cleared to play but, if he is able to go, the Dukies have the firepower to make this game very interesting and make this double-digit line seem very high.

The One That Got Away Week 1:

Each week we will look at a game from the previous week in which defeat was snatched away from the jaws of victory with a fateful play near the end of the game. We’ve all been there, why not painfully rehash it?

#5 Oregon (+3) at #7 Washington

Few teams can drive you as crazy as the Oregon Ducks when it comes to playing the line. The Ducks are unorthodox. They’ll go for two without a second thought to sabermetrics. They’ll keep trying to put up points even with a comfortable lead, potentially destroying what looked to be a sure cover for a hapless opponent, and they’ll keep pressing offensively even when a run play could salt a game away. The Ducks are also never seemingly out of it, which makes any game in which they are getting points so appealing.

On Saturday, Oregon was getting three points in a critical road contest vs. Washington. By halftime, the score was 22-18 Washington and I was already annoyed by the unorthodox Ducks. The Ducks had gone for the two-point conversion once, kicked the extra point the second go-round, and then settled for a rare field goal in their third scoring drive. Already, I knew it was going to be a math test trying to utilize the three points I was getting.

Washington came alive in the third quarter and led the game 29-18 with under two minutes left in the third quarter. Luckily, this is the Pac-12 and neither of these teams will wow you with their defensive prowess. Oregon struck quickly to close the third quarter and added the two-point conversion. 29-26 Washington and I was staring at the dreaded ‘push’, not to be confused with the Eagles’ tush push. Still, the fourth quarter loomed and more scoring would follow.

Oregon finally scored with just over two minutes left and added an extra point to lead 33-29. The Huskies couldn’t tie this one with a field goal so a touchdown would decide this one. Here’s where the unorthodox Ducks will burn you or lift your spirits. Fourth down, just inside the Washington 50. Punt it…PUNT IT!! Nope, the Ducks have their own analytics invented in the forests of Oregon somewhere. They fail to convert!!! Washington marched down the field in just two plays and 33 seconds. Touchdown! Ugh…extra point and we have a 3-point deficit, the dreaded push looming. But wait, this is the Pac-12, these are the Ducks. They are down the field and suddenly find themselves with a very makeable 43-yard field goal with time running out. Overtime brings with it hope of a win. The Ducks just need to make this…oh for the love of kissing your sister!! He missed it! I tie! A push!! Final Score: Washington 36 Oregon 30 (+3) - PUSH

*All odds courtesy of Draftkings.com

By Mark Ruelle