TERRY MOSHER
USC exposed Washington as a second-tier football team on Saturday. The Huskies are good, don’t get me wrong, but they are not ready to be ranked among the top four in the country. And I expected that to be so even before taking a physical pounding from USC, 26-13.
So just go along with me on this. First, I don’t think there is any doubt that Alabama is in a class by itself. The Tide are rolling once again and I don’t see them being stopped this year.
Thus, Alabama is No. 1 and more than likely will be the national champion this year.
I would put Ohio State second in the rankings with Louisville third and (drum roll), three-lost USC as the fourth team for the playoffs. USC dominated Washington on both sides of the ball, punching the Huskies in the nose and showed the Dawgs as a pretender not a contender for a national crown.
USC, on the other hand, showed the country that they are back to the great Trojan teams of the past. They are playing as well as anybody in the country, with the exception of Alabama, and have won six in a row now.
I’d put Michigan in the fifth spot, Wisconsin sixth and Penn State seventh, making the Big 10 the best football conference in the land with four teams among the top seven.
Eighth would be the year’s best surprise team, Washington State. The Cougars are now playing better than Washington and probably will win their Apple Cup showdown in Pullman on Nov. 25, which could settle the Pac-12 North Division title.
It won’t be easy, though, for the Cougars to win the Pac-12 North because they play at the conferences South Division leader 8-2 Colorado on Saturday and the Cougars will have to win both games to clinch the North.
If the Buffalos beat the Cougars that will set up a big game on Nov. 26 when the Buffalos host Utah for probably the South Division title. Utah hosts Oregon on Saturday and that should be an easy win for the Utes.
Clemson falls to the ninth spot and I reluctantly give the 10th spot to the Huskies over Oklahoma.
The Huskies will have to prove themselves all over, though, beginning Saturday at home against Arizona State, which seems like almost a sure win for the Dawgs. They have to find some resolve to shore up an offensive line that leaked badly against the more physical play of USC to beat Arizona State.
That’s it for tonight (actually it’s 3:15 in the morning on Sunday). It may be a double-dose of bad reality for Seattle-based teams by Sunday night because New England is a clear favorite to knock off the Seahawks.
Anyway, back to bed.
Be well pal.
Be careful out there.
Have a great day.
You are loved.
