PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 10

The College Football Playoff Poll is out. That means we've reached November and the final full month of regular season play. With four weekends to go until Championship Saturday in December, plenty is still on the line. Only five unbeatens remain - four from Power 5 conferences. As the saying goes, "They remember November." Time to make your mark.

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 6-6
Game of the Week Pick: 2-3

Overall: 78-36 (.684 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the CFB Playoff Top 25

Saturday

No. 7 Louisville at Boston College (Line: Louisville -25)
Things haven't come easy the recently for Lamar Jackson and the Cards. A game at noon at sleepy Chestnut Hill could produce another lackluster performance. But ESPN will find a 12-yard first down pass and claim it's his new Heisman moment anyway. Cards 33-10

No. 4 Texas A&M at Mississippi State (Line: Texas A&M -13)
Something about this game has me on edge. A&M somehow ended up at No. 4 in the Playoff Poll and no one knows how. Starkvegas will bring the clanga-clanga of the cowbells and this might be closer than the experts think. Aggies 31-20

No. 8 Wisconsin at Northwestern (Line: Wisconsin -6.5)

The City of Chicago will be hungover from the Cubs World Series victory. The party through the weekend could end with an upset bid by Northwestern. The Wildcats came close to knocking off Ohio State last weekend. The Badgers escaped another overtime game. Close, but the cheeseheads get it done. Badgers 27-17

Texas at Texas Tech (Line: Texas -3.5)
After the Longhorns upset over Baylor, Charlie Strong is eyeing a bowl bid. This will probably be another Big 12 shootout. Expect points and not very much defense. Horns 47-44

Georgia Tech at No. 21 North Carolina (Line: North Carolina -10.5)
North Carolina needs a win to keep pace with Virginia Tech in the Coastal race. Georgia Tech needs a win to become bowl eligible a season after winning just three games. The Jackets don't get it in Chapel Hill. Heels 38-27

Syracuse at No. 2 Clemson (Line: Clemson -26.5)
Dabo Swinney calls November the "Championship Phase" of the season. The first marker is the Atlantic Division championship. Clemson can't clinch it here, but expect the Tigers to play their best game. Syracuse will put up points with its uptempo offense, but not enough to take down Deshaun Watson. Tigers 49-24

Maryland at No. 3 Michigan (Line: Michigan -31)
Michigan is playing another home game? This is my shocked face. Harbaugh's boys cruise against a Maryland team that started 4-0, but is 1-3 in its last four games with losses to Minnesota and Indiana. Big Blue 41-10

No. 11 Florida at Arkansas (Line: Florida -4)
The Gators have a stout defense, but are lacking in the offense department. Florida has some wiggle room should it lose here, but really needs a win against one of its two SEC West opponents. Meanwhile, Bret Beliema and the Hogs had a bye week to think about their 56-3 whoopin' at Auburn. Arkansas will play better and could pull the upset. Hogs 20-17

TCU at No. 17 Baylor (Line: Baylor -7.5)
Once a budding rivalry in the Big 12, now an afterthought. TCU is on the verge of not making a bowl this season, while Baylor needs a win to remain in conference title contention. The Battle on the Brazos will be fun to watch, but the implications are lacking. Bears 45-38

Iowa at No. 12 Penn State (Line: Penn State -7.5)
Penn State finds itself ranked much higher in the CFB Playoff Poll than any other poll. I guess a 62-point outburst against Purdue will do that for you. The Hawkeyes are in the middle game of playing Wisconsin, at Penn State and Michigan. They lost to the Badgers at home two weeks ago and got a bye week to prep for the trip to Happy Valley. James Franklin has called for an impromptu whiteout. Nittany Lions 23-13

No. 10 Nebraska at No. 6 Ohio State (Line: Ohio State -17)
After Nebraska's overtime loss on the road in Madison, it's somewhat shocking to see such a large spread for the Huskers' trip to Columbus. Maybe the tank is on empty. Maybe the Buckeyes are that much better. But Ohio State hasn't shown much the past few weeks needing OT to win at Wisconsin, falling to Penn State on the road, then struggling in a 24-20 win at home against Northwestern. Vegas knows something... Buckeyes 34-14

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 1 Alabama at No. 13 LSU (Line: Alabama -7.5)

Louisiana boy Ed Orgeron can become the state's
favorite son by leading LSU to a win over Alabama.
(Photo courtesy The Advocate)

Arguably the best coach in the game vs. arguably the best interim coach in the game. Nick Saban vs. Ed Orgeron. The headlines surrounding Alabama at LSU are plentiful, and Oregeron has made sure LSU is at its best when the Crimson Tide come to Baton Rouge. Jalen Hurts has been in a few hostile environments this season, but LSU's Death Valley will be the toughest venue the freshman has entered. Leonard Fournette was swallowed up in last year's game, gaining just 31 yards on 19 carries. Fournette is coming into his own at the right time this year. I'm not calling the upset because I just can't pick against Bama, but don't be surprised if the Tigers take down the Tide. Bammers 30-20

No. 5 Washington at Cal (Line: Washington -17)
Through three road games, the Huskies have an OT win at Arizona, a seven-point win at Utah which was won on a late, controversial punt return, and a blowout at Oregon (70-21). How angry is U-Dub that it didn't make the initial Top 4 of the Playoff Poll? And how will that translate to the field? On the other side, Cal is unbeaten at home this season with wins over Texas, Utah and Oregon. Davis Webb and the offense can hang with Jake Browning and the Huskies. I just don't see that lasting too long. Dawgs 37-23

-BtW

Movement in the bottom half of new Ben Ten

Four undefeated teams lost over the weekend, dropping the total from nine to five. We've reached November which means the College Football Playoff Committee will release its initial ranking Tuesday. Visit this blog afterward as BENched will have a Rapid Reaction to the release. Until then, here's my Top 10.

Playoff Teams

1) Alabama
Last week: No. 1
Record: 8-0
Wins over currently ranked teams: Texas A&M
This week: at LSU
The Tide had a bye week to get ready for the big one in Baton Rouge. Alabama is playing better than anyone in the country, but they are not unbeatable. LSU gets a crack at the Tide this weekend.

2) Clemson

Deshaun Watson has Clemson on track for another Playoff berth.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

Last week: No. 3
Record: 8-0
Wins over currently ranked teams: Auburn, Louisville, Florida State
This week: vs. Syracuse
There is not a résumé out there better than Clemson's. The Tigers are the only team with three wins against Top 20 foes, two of them on the road. The combined record of the FBS teams Clemson has faced is 37-18 and all 11 FBS teams on the schedule are currently .500 or better.

3) Michigan
Last week: No. 2
Record: 8-0
Wins over currently ranked teams: Colorado, Penn State, Wisconsin
This week: vs. Maryland
While Clemson has two wins on the road against Top 20 teams, Michigan has just two road wins period. And they are against Rutgers and Michigan State, both of which are 2-6. The drop this week is a matter of wanting to see Michigan against better competition. That may only come when the Wolverines travel to Columbus.

4) Washington
Last week: No. 4
Record: 8-0
Wins over currently ranked teams: Utah
This week: at Cal
Big win for the Huskies on the road against Utah, but that remains the lone good win on Washington's schedule. The rest of UW's schedule will let us know if this team is worthy of a Playoff spot. Washington travels to Cal, hosts USC and Arizona State, then goes to Washington State for the Apple Cup.

Next in line

5) Louisville
Last week: No. 5
Record: 7-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Florida State
This week: at Boston College
Virginia gave the Cards all they could handle. Three of the last four games have seen Louisville struggle (vs. Duke and at UVA) or lose (at Clemson). The sizzle from September is slowly fading. How will Louisville handle the snoozefest in Chestnut Hill this weekend?

6) Ohio State
Last week: No. 8
Record: 7-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Oklahoma, Wisconsin
This week: vs. Nebraska
Like Louisville, Ohio State hasn't had a very good last few weekends. They escaped Wisconsin with a big overtime win, but then fell at Penn State and almost slipped up at home against Northwestern. Nebraska is next and the Huskers just went toe-to-toe with the Badgers.

7) Texas A&M
Last week: No. 10
Record: 7-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: Auburn
This week: at Mississippi State
The Aggies beat the other Aggies - New Mexico State, that is. Texas A&M takes on the state of Mississippi in its next two games. Any slip up there would be a killer to A&M's outside chance of reaching the Playoff.

At this point, I should remind you that I am putting what I perceive as the best teams in the ranking. 

8) Wisconsin
Last week: NR
Record: 6-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: LSU, Nebraska
This week: at Northwestern
Take Wisconsin, for example. The Badgers have two seven-point losses to Michigan and Ohio State. Along with wins over LSU and Nebraska (and Iowa), Wisconsin might be the best two-loss team in the country. What that really means in the grand scheme of things ain't much, though.

9) Florida
Last week: NR
Record: 6-1
Wins over currently ranked teams: None
This week: at Arkansas
Florida is in control of the SEC East, which also ain't saying much. But the Gators have to travel to Arkansas and now LSU to close out conference play. A trip to FSU also looms, so Florida could very well end up with an 8-4 record.

10) Auburn
Last week: NR
Record: 6-2
Wins over currently ranked teams: LSU
This week: vs. Vanderbilt 
Does anyone want to play Auburn right now? The Tigers' two losses did come at home to Clemson and A&M, but they've reeled off five wins in a row to reach bowl eligibility. They've also separated themselves from the middle tier of the SEC West. They should handle Vandy and Georgia, which sets up another big Iron Bowl.

Dropped out: West Virginia (6), Boise State (7), Nebraska (9) 

Four on the outside: Nebraska, Oklahoma, Western Michigan, West Virginia

-BtW

The Morning After... Conquering the Unconquered!

Jordan Leggett's diving touchdown was the game-winner
and an incredibly athletic play.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

I thought about being lazy and linking articles from ESPN, Fox, Yahoo!, USA Today and more. Because everything I've read this morning regarding Clemson's win last night is exactly what I have thought about the game. Instead, I'll encourage you to go read those articles and I'll try a different angle.

1) Clemson is 8-0 against what ESPN says is the No. 1 strength of record schedule to date. All 11 FBS teams on Clemson's schedule currently have a .500 record or better. Three of the Tigers' wins are against teams ranked in the Top 20, two of which were on the road (Auburn and FSU). The combined record of Clemson's seven FBS opponents it's faced so far is 37-18 (SC State is not factored into this). The Tigers' wins haven't been pretty, but the résumé cannot be compared.

2) Dabo Swinney's checklist is down to one. Of all the things he has accomplished at Clemson in his eight-plus years, there were only three things he hadn't done entering this season: Win at Georgia Tech, win Florida State and win a National Championship. Well, the first two have been crossed off.

3) Embrace the Target was the Tigers' motto entering the year. Dabo semi-stole this from the Chicago Cubs, and the idea is that coming into the year Clemson would be considered the favorite. The Tigers could either take everyone's best shot and eventually falter, or enjoy being on top of the college football world, take everyone's best shot and respond with the kind of resilience we've seen thus far.

4) Speaking of taking their best shots, Florida State gave Clemson its best. The Tigers led 20-14, but the Noles - playing at home - put the ball in their best player's hands. Dalvin Cook quickly turned a six-point deficit into an eight-point lead going into the fourth quarter. Clemson's D was gassed, the crowd was raucous and the Tigers needed to finish stronger than ever to overcome. Clemson did just that, silencing the crowd by outscoring FSU 17-6 in the fourth quarter to win on the road. That might be the most impressive stat I've seen from a Clemson football game/team in a long, long time.

5) There is no use arguing with anyone about how horrible the refs were. Both teams were on the wrong end of some awful calls or no-calls. But if you're Jimbo Fisher, you absolutely cannot place blame on the officials for the loss. The way you handled yourself following one of those calls (the chop block) is what cost you on that drive. You showed your true colors. Dabo Swinney could have easily done the same with the officials on several borderline pass interference calls, a missed facemask and a missed holding in the end zone that would have resulted in a safety and a tie ballgame at 28. Your offense was moving the ball well on the final drive and your offensive line literally blew the game. Two false starts to set you back 10 yards and two sacks on third and fourth downs. When it came down to it, YOUR players were the reason YOU lost. To throw a tantrum postgame is childish.

6) That was an October to remember. It began on the first day with an all day affair - College GameDay live from Bowman Field to the exhilarating last-second win over Louisville. It continued with a Friday night beatdown in Beantown. Then came the Wolfpack into Death Valley. They nearly walked out with the win, but instead left with a limp. The month closed with another thriller and a win in Tallahassee for the first time in a decade. The fun is in the winning, as Dabo likes to say. Well, October has certainly been most fun.

7) On to the other games from the weekend, seven unbeatens played Saturday and only three survived. Alabama and Western Michigan were off, and Nos. 2 through 4 - Michigan, Clemson and Washington - were the only other teams to wake up Sunday unscathed. Nebraska had the best effort in a hard-fought overtime loss at Wisconsin. Boise State fell at Wyoming, knocking the Broncos out of NY6 consideration for now. And the Big 12 eliminated itself from the CFB Playoff as both West Virginia and Baylor went down to Oklahoma State and Texas, respectively.

8) Washington's win at Utah was big in many ways for the Huskies. First and most importantly, they remained undefeated. Secondly, it puts one more hurdle behind them. It also paves the path for the belief system that Washington is for real - both from the team standpoint and the nation's perspective. The Apple Cup showdown in Pullman on the last weekend in November is shaping up to be a classic.

9) For the first time this season, a spot on TMA is reserved for the South Carolina Gamecocks. There is a very little talent on the Gamecocks' roster. That much is clear when a kid who is supposed to be in his senior year of high school is your starting quarterback. Another caveat, the SEC East is downtrodden. It's horrible. And those words might not be strong enough to describe how bad it really is. But South Carolina picked up a monumental win in the beginning stages of the Will Muschamp era. Beating a ranked Tennessee squad which had an extra week to prepare is a pretty good win, no matter how lost Josh Dobbs and the Vols have looked the last three games. The win moves South Carolina to 4-4. With Mizzou and Western Carolina still on the schedule, it appears the Gamecocks will be going bowling. Quite an accomplishment for a three-win team a season ago.

10) Everyone is penciling in Clemson into the Playoff already with four games to go. You cannot sit back and relax, Tigers. You have to bring it five more times. First, Saturday. Beat Syracuse.

-BtW

PTT: Prediction Time Thursday - Week 9

BENched had a great week of picks, going 15-2 with the lone losses being a Penn State upset of Ohio State and an Auburn thrashing of Arkansas. The fun is only beginning, though, because we enter the time of year when one upset sets off a snowball effect. Every top rated team playing in Week 9 is on the road. Certainly someone is going to fall. But who?

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 15-2
Game of the Week Pick: 2-2

Overall: 72-30 (.706 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Thursday

No. 25 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh (Line: Virginia Tech -3.5)
The Hokies are in control of the ACC Coastal, but just when things seem clear, Coastal Chaos happens. Pitt had a week off to prepare for Virginia Tech. The way this VT team is playing, it probably wasn't enough. Hokies 31-24

Saturday

No. 2 Michigan at Michigan State (Line: Michigan -24.5)
Wow, what a difference a year makes in the Mitten State. In 2015, Sparty turned in the play of the year with a touchdown on messed up/blocked punt to beat Big Blue in the Big House. MSU went to the College Football Playoff later that season. Now? The Spartans are 2-5 and Michigan is No. 2 in the land. Fightin' Harbaughs 41-13

No. 10 West Virginia at Oklahoma State (Line: West Virginia -3.5)
Dana Holgorsen has us on edge every week. "Well that's good, but can they win on the road in Lubbock?" "Nice win, but can they get past TCU?" This time, it's to the house that Boone built. And yes, another win. 'Neers 36-27

No. 14 Florida vs. Georgia - "No Longer the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party Because That's Not PC" at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. (Line: Florida -7.5)
For the first time since the late 1980s, neither Steve Spurrier nor Mark Richt are coaching in this game. Wow. The Gators have won two in a row after losing three straight. Uga will be one tired dawg after this one. Gators 27-10

Miami at Notre Dame (Line: Miami -2)
Remember when this was the "Catholics vs. Convicts?" Now it's just the mediocre vs. the mediocre-er. Sheesh, what a waste of a good game that no one will watch. Canes 24-21

Texas Tech at TCU (Line: TCU -9)
All you need to know about this one is Texas Tech had 854 yards of offense, 59 points, an all-around record-setting performance by its QB ... and LOST. TCU is not likely to give up that many yards or points, so expect another L for Kliff's boys. Frogs 38-34

No. 8 Baylor at Texas (Line: Baylor -3.5)
Here's the first chance BENched sees an unbeaten falling. Baylor has literally played nobody. The Bears have been underwhelming under interim coach Jim Grobe. Meanwhile, Texas has been underwhelming for over half a decade. Bears 40-30

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Washington at No. 17 Utah (Line: Washington -10)

Utah's Joe Williams has been unstoppable since
coming out of retirement.
(Photo courtesy AP)

The Pac-12 finally produces something that is worth watching AND puts it on TV when no one east of the Mississippi is sleeping! Jake Browning is in the Heisman hunt and has the Huskies eyeing a Pac-12 title and Playoff berth. Utah may have other plans. The Utes are physical, moreso than U-Dub has seen this season. Washington's six FBS opponents to date are a combined 16-28. Utah is 7-1, playing at home with College GameDay line from Salt Lake City. Utah also has a formerly retired running back - Joe Williams - who has rushed for 179 and 332 yards with five total TDs in the two games back since he unretired. This has all the ingredients for a disaster national showing for the Huskies. Utes 34-31

No. 7 Nebraska at No. 11 Wisconsin (Line: Wisconsin -8)
Here is the Huskers make or break two-game stretch. The people of the corn must go to Madison and Columbus on back-to-back weekends. Escape and say hello to the CFB Playoff Top 4. Fall in both (bigtime) are say goodbye to the Top 20. Wisconsin is battled tested and has a pair of seven-point losses to Michigan (on the road) and Ohio State (in overtime). Nebraska has been tested by 2-5 Oregon and 3-4 Indiana. Yeah... Badgers 34-17

No. 13 Boise State at Wyoming (Line: Boise State -13.5)
Much has been made about Boise's late-season road trips to altitude troubling places like Laramie (and later Colorado Springs). But Vegas doesn't see the Broncos having much trouble with the CowPokes and neither does BENched. Broncos 28-14

No. 15 Auburn at Ole Miss (Line: Auburn -4.5)
These two teams have traded spots from preseason picks. Auburn enters on a four-game winning streak and appears to be full-steam ahead. Ole Miss has only beaten SEC East foe Georgia for its lone Power 5 win. Even in Oxford, you have to like the Tigers. Once again, Chad Kelly will prove to not be the best QB in the game. War Eagles 42-24

No. 3 Clemson at No. 12 Florida State (Line: Clemson -4.5)
This was billed as the ACC's game of the year and in some places, the national game of the year. Clemson did its part and showed up unbeaten at 7-0. FSU fought and clawed its way to a 5-2 record, which includes a dismantling at the hands of Louisville and a heartbreaker at home against UNC. The Noles have righted the ship somewhat against arch-rival Miami and upstart Wake Forest. But Saturday night, it comes full circle for Deshaun Watson. You see, Watson surged into the national spotlight when he entered the game part-way through at FSU in 2014. As a true freshman, he nearly led Clemson to a win at No. 1 FSU. This time, he gets it done and gets Dabo Swinney's first win at Doak Campbell Stadium as a head coach. Tigers 35-24

-BtW

Bama, Michigan atop latest Ben Ten

Alabama is the clear No. 1 heading into a bye week, meaning the Tide will be No. 1 in the Playoff Committee's initial rankings on Nov. 1. With Ohio State's loss to Penn State, there's plenty of change in this week's ranking. Washington enters the top 4 and West Virginia makes a big leap. With a big weekend of top teams on the road coming up, expect more change next week.

Playoff Teams

Alabama has soared past its competition this season.
The Tide take a break before heading to the Bayou in two weeks.
(Photo courtesy AP)

1) Alabama
Last week: No. 1
Record: 8-0
Key win(s): Tennessee, Texas A&M
This week: Bye
Another week, another non-offensive touchdown. Alabama's suffocating defense limited Texas A&M and Trevor Knight. The Tide roll into the bye week with their eye toward LSU Nov. 5.

2) Michigan
Last week: No. 3
Record: 7-0
Key win(s): Colorado, Wisconsin
This week: at Michigan State
Michigan isn't far behind Alabama on the defensive side of the ball. The Wolverines' rivalry with Michigan State lost some luster, but Sparty will be 100% geared up to stop Harbaugh's crew.

3) Clemson
Last week: No. 4
Record: 7-0
Key win(s): Auburn, Louisville
This week: at No. 12 Florida State
Clemson's wins over Auburn, Louisville and even Troy are looking better every week. Auburn is now 5-2 and ranked 15th. Louisville is No. 5 and beats down everybody - except Clemson. And Troy is 6-1. The Tigers are the only team to have beaten two teams currently ranked in the top 15. They need a win in Tallahassee this week to secure their place in the Top 3.

4) Washington
Last week: No. 5
Record: 7-0
Key win(s): Stanford
This week: at No. 17 Utah
Jake Browning might be the surprise of the season. The Huskies' QB has 26 TDs to just two interceptions and is completing nearly 70% of his passes. Oh, and he has Washington well on its way to a Pac-12 championship. In the way is a big trip to Salt Lake City this weekend.

Next in line

5) Louisville
Last week: No. 7
Record: 6-1
Key win(s): Florida State
This week: at Virginia
Just give Lamar Jackson the Heisman Trophy now. He's totaled 34 touchdowns. He's leading the nation's best offense. All that is great and all, but Louisville is just on the outside awaiting someone in the top four to falter.

6) West Virginia
Last Week: No. 10
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Kansas State, TCU
This week: at Oklahoma State
West Virginia is showing the Big 12 exactly what defense is about. The Mountaineers have held Texas Tech and TCU to a total of 27 points the past two weeks combined. This week's game at Oklahoma State will be a true litmus test.

7) Boise State
Last week: No. 9
Record: 7-0
Key win(s): Washington State, Oregon State, BYU
This week: at Wyoming
It wasn't pretty, but Boise State found a way to win against hapless BYU. The Broncos remain the Group of 5's best shot at crashing the Playoff party, but they'll need a bunch of help. A few road tests lie ahead, starting this weekend in Laramie against an upstart Wyoming team led by former North Dakota State coaching legend Craig Bohl.

8) Ohio State
Last week: No. 2
Record: 6-1
Key win(s): Oklahoma, Wisconsin
This week: vs. Northwestern
The Buckeyes left Happy Valley extremely sad. A blocked field goal with 4:27 to go led to Penn State's final touchdown, sending Ohio State on its way to its first loss of the year. Many think the Buckeyes can find themselves right back in the Playoff hunt if they win out. BENched isn't buying that just yet.

9) Nebraska
Last week: No. 8
Record: 7-0
Key win(s): N/A
This week: at No. 11 Wisconsin
Nebraska's only "good" win has turned sour. Oregon? They're 2-5. The Cornhuskers have their shot with back-to-back road games at Wisconsin and Ohio State. Good luck with that. But hey, if they come out 2-0 or even 1-1, that's a big step in the right direction for the program.

10) Texas A&M
Last week: No. 6
Record: 6-1
Key win(s): UCLA, Auburn, Tennessee
This week: vs. New Mexico State
Trevor Knight couldn't repeat what he did in the Sugar Bowl in 2014 when he was with Oklahoma. Honestly, the Aggies held their own against Alabama. No moral victory, of course, but Bama struggled to score (27 offensive points) and A&M had a lead in the third quarter.

Dropped out: None

Four on the outside: Baylor, Wisconsin, Florida State, Florida

Tigers fall in latest Ben Ten

We are now at the point in the season where preseason hype has run out and it's all about the performance. It is certain that at this point, Alabama has passed the eye test as well as the statistical test. After the Tide, there are myriad teams who could rank anywhere from 2-6. We'll continue to dwindle down the unbeaten teams, but for now it remains at 11.

Playoff Teams

Freshman Jalen Hurts has made his way into the Heisman discussion
with big performances like that against Tennessee.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

1) Alabama
Last week: No. 1
Record: 7-0
Key win(s): USC, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee
This week: vs. Texas A&M
The Tide looked smooth on Rocky Top and added two more non-offensive TDs for a total of 11 this season. Alabama returns home to take on the Aggies for this week's biggest showdown.

2) Ohio State
Last week: No. 3
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Oklahoma, Wisconsin
This week: at Penn State
It took guts and heart, but the Buckeyes got it done in overtime at Wisconsin. JT Barrett continues to rise in Heisman talk. Ohio State trucks on to Happy Valley next.

3) Michigan
Last week: No. 4
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Colorado, Wisconsin
This week: vs. Illinois
Jim Harbaugh enjoyed his bye week in a way only Jim Harbaugh can. Don't anticipate any upset by Illinois this weekend.

4) Clemson
Last week: No. 2
Record: 7-0
Key win(s): Auburn, Louisville, NC State
This week: Bye
Had it not been for NC State's missed field goal, Clemson would have fallen much further. The Tigers are probably still one of the top four teams in the nation, but they need to prove it over their last five games.

Next in line

5) Washington
Last week: No. 5
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Stanford, Oregon
This week: vs. Oregon State
The Huskies remain put after the bye week. Washington might get caught looking ahead to next week's game at Utah, but Oregon State still won't have enough to trip up UW.

6) Texas A&M
Last week: No. 6
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): UCLA, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee
This week: at No. 1 Alabama
If Texas A&M can find a way to slow down Jalen Hurts and Bama's offense, the Aggies will shoot up to No. 1 in the rankings. Winning in Tuscaloosa won't be easy, but at least they had a week off to get ready for it.

7) Louisville
Last week: No. 7
Record: 5-1
Key win(s): Florida State
This week: vs. NC State
Louisville complained about officiating after its loss to Clemson, but benefited greatly from the refs in a close win over Duke. How sorry the Wolfpack feels for itself will determine if the Cards win in blowout fashion or if they face another stiff test.

8) Nebraska
Last week: No. 8
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Oregon
This week: vs. Purdue
With a win at Indiana in the rear-view and Purdue up next, the Huskers can officially look forward to the Wisconsin-Ohio State road trips in two weeks.

9) Boise State
Last week: No. 10 
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Washington State, Oregon State
This week: vs. BYU (Thursday)
Boise State held on to defeat Colorado State 28-23 after leading by 18 late in the game. The win over Washington State (4-2) looks better with every Cougar victory. BYU, fresh off an OT win over the SEC's Mississippi State Bulldogs, visits the Blue for an intriguing Thursday night affair.

10) West Virginia
Last Week: NR
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Kansas State, Texas Tech
This week: vs. TCU
Welcome to the Ben Ten, Mountaineers. Extremely dominant performance by what may be the Big 12's most complete team. WVU has a Big 12 style offense and a legit defense. That gives the Mountaineers a leg up over their Midwestern brethren.

Dropped out: Tennessee (9)

Four on the outside: Baylor, Houston, Wisconsin, Florida State

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 7

A light week of picks, but a strong slate of games. Nos. 1 and 2 have to go on the road in Top 10 battles. Surely there will be an upset somewhere along the way. On Rocky Top? At Camp Randall? See what BENched thinks with the picks below!

2016 BENched PTF Record

Last Week: 7-5
Game of the Week Pick: 1-1

Overall: 52-24 (.684 win %)

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

Friday

Mississippi State at BYU (Line: BYU -7)
This late night Friday game won't be watched by many in the southeast and that's probably a good thing. The Cowbells didn't clanga-clanga much last week in a home blowout to Auburn. No cowbell this time either. Cougs 31-20

Saturday

NC State at No. 3 Clemson (Line: Clemson -17.5)
Deshaun Watson reportedly "has fun" against the Wolfpack. He's put up massive numbers in two seasons against NC State. The Pack finally plays someone that doesn't have multiple first names. Seriously. Tigers 55-23

Kansas State at No. 19 Oklahoma (Line: Oklahoma -14)
BENched is unsure if Ole Bill Snyder is still living or if the powers that be at Kansas State have cloned him. Either way, the Snydercats are the cream of the Big 12 defensive crop. Which ain't saying much in this league. OU exorcised its Longhorn demon last week. Can it do the same against a team that has won its past two in Norman? Ponies and Wagons 31-28

No. 20 West Virginia at Texas Tech (Line: West Virginia -1)
Welcome to the Central Time Zone, Mountaineers. WVU is playing its first game in Big 12 country this season, and first true road game. This is generally where the 'Neers have struggled. Does Kliff Kingsbury even know what a defense is? I mean, golly, the Red Raiders gave up 44 points to the Snydercats. Masked Riders 49-45 

No. 10 Nebraska at Indiana (Line: Nebraska -3)
This line should scare the corn out of the Huskers. Indiana was within seven of Ohio State on the road last week and upset Michigan State the week before the in Bloomington. Nebraska hits the stretch of its schedule where we find out who this team really is. Huskers 27-24

North Carolina at No. 16 Miami (Line: Miami -7)
Devastating losses for both of these teams makes this game mean more. UNC was walloped by the Hokies in Hurricane Matthew, 34-3, while the Canes fell to the rival Noles on a blocked extra point, 20-19. Loser here is basically eliminated in the Coastal Division. Canes 44-38

No. 1 Alabama at No. 9 Tennessee (Line: Alabama -12)
Tennessee volunteered to cough up seven turnovers last week at Texas A&M in an overtime loss. Alabama continues to dominate everyone in its path. That path heads north to Rocky Top. Alabama's good for one loss a year, right? Is this it? Nahhhh. Tide 45-27

No. 12 Ole Miss at No. 22 Arkansas (Line: Ole Miss -7.5)
This game is great for the fact that you will get to relive Arkansas' miracle win at Ole Miss several times throughout the broadcast. I think the over/under for showing that replay is set for 7.5. I'll take the over. As for the game, Ole Miss wants revenge. Arkansas just wants to be relevant. Bret Bielema will be on the hot seat after this one. Rebs 37-27

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 8 Wisconsin (Line: Ohio State -10.5)

No Lambeau Leaps this week, but will the Badgers be celebrating
a landmark victory over Ohio State?
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

Wisconsin went to the Big House two weeks ago and left as the only team to hold Michigan under 45 points. The Wolverines won that day 14-7. Clearly the Badgers have a tough defense. And they've had a week off to prepare for this one. Ohio State almost got caught looking ahead to this matchup last week, pulling away from Indiana late. The Mad House will be jumping around and the belief here is this line could get destroyed. How good is Ohio State? Probably good enough for a Playoff run. But will there be a bump in the road in Madison? Such a tough call. Why not, let's go for the upset. Badgers 27-21

Shake up in the Ben Ten - Second Edition

A week after releasing my initial 2016 Ben Ten rankings, a few things happened to shake them up. First, Clemson leapt Ohio State for No. 2 - which if this were the playoff really wouldn't matter. Two teams lost allowing two new teams to enter the ranking. And one team lost, but actually moved up! Who was it? Find out with the second week of the Ben Ten.

Playoff Teams

1) Alabama
Last week: No. 1
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): USC, Ole Miss, Arkansas
This week: at No. 9 Tennessee
Alabama continues to roll and continues to score in all phases. The Tide have nine non-offensive touchdowns. Another big road test awaits on Rocky Top.

2) Clemson
Last week: No. 3
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Auburn, Louisville
This week: vs. NC State
Clemson resembled the team that went to the National Championship last season in a 56-10 win at Boston College. The Tigers are the only Power 5 team with three true road wins so far this season.

Clemson soared past BC Friday and now soars up to No. 2 in the Ben Ten.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Football)

3) Ohio State
Last week: No. 2
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Oklahoma
This week: at No. 8 Wisconsin
Perhaps the Buckeyes didn't pay close enough attention to Indiana. The Buckeyes led by seven midway through the third before pulling away late. A trip to Madison looms.

4) Michigan
Last week: No. 4
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Colorado, Wisconsin
This week: Bye
Who leads the nation in scoring offense? That'd be Michigan. The Wolverines are the first to reach 300 points this season and did so with an emphatic 78-0 win at Rutgers. Rest up, Big Blue. And enjoy Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

Next in line

5) Washington
Last week: No. 6
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): Stanford, Oregon
This week: Bye
After gut-busting Stanford, the Huskies curb-stomped Oregon, 70-21, in Autzen. Ouch. That's a combined 114-27 over the two Pac-12 teams who have won the past seven conference titles.

6) Texas A&M
Last week: No. 9
Record: 6-0
Key win(s): UCLA, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee
This week: Bye
Texas A&M survived the late Tennessee rally. The reward? A bye week to prepare for the Aggies' road trip to Tuscaloosa on Oct. 22.

7) Louisville
Last week: No. 7
Record: 4-1
Key win(s): Florida State
This week: vs. Duke (Friday)
Discussion about Louisville this weekend was that the Cards lost during their bye week due to Houston falling to Navy. On the flip side, how good did Louisville look to hang with a Clemson team that is finding its stride?

8) Nebraska
Last week: NR
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Oregon
This week: at Indiana
The Huskers make an appearance here for the first time this season. Nebraska has yet to impress and its best win is against a team that is now 2-4 (Oregon). Nebraska, though, could easily get to 7-0 before back-to-back road trips at Wisconsin and Ohio State, where it could prove its ranking. Or not.

9) Tennessee
Last week: No. 10
Record: 5-1
Key win(s): Virginia Tech, Florida, Georgia
This week: vs. No. 1 Alabama
Yes, the Vols moved up despite a loss. Tough pill to swallow for the Vols, who turned the ball over seven times and fell in overtime on the road at Texas A&M. No time to sulk, though, as the Crimson Tide invade Neyland Stadium.

10) Boise State
Last week: NR
Record: 5-0
Key win(s): Washington State, Oregon State
This week: vs. Colorado State
Sure there are a few more unbeaten Power 5 teams who could be ranked here - Baylor or West Virginia - but the Broncos are playing extremely well. Boise State has yet to trail this season and has wins over two Pac-12 opponents.

Dropped out: Houston (5), Miami (8)

Four on the outside: Wisconsin, Baylor, West Virginia, Houston

The Morning After... The Much-Needed Win

1) As stated in last week's TMA, Clemson's lopsided win over SC State was fully expected. And the result didn't matter. Clemson may as well have been playing a high school team. The Tigers were superior at every position, led 31-0 after just one quarter, and held SC State to 102 total yards, most of which came in garbage time at the end of the game.

2) On the plus side, Clemson did look extremely loose and as close to what it was a season ago on offense as it has through three games this year. Deshaun Watson started 6-for-6 and finished with three touchdown passes. The receivers had a tremendous game, including Ray-Ray McCloud who scored twice and is looking like a dynamic threat to go alongside Mike Williams and Artavis Scott. And defensively, the Tigers' front seven harassed Bulldog QBs early and often.

3) The other positive was all the playing time young players received. Freshman sensation Tavien Feaster led Clemson with 12 carries for 83 yards and scored his first career touchdown. A total of 15 Tigers caught passes - sophomore Trevion Thompson and freshman Diondre Overton collected the first TD receptions of their careers. Clemson had 30 defensive players record a statistic. It was everything Dabo Swinney could have hoped for.

4) There's trouble brewing in Norman, Oklahoma. The preseason No. 3-ranked Sooners are now 1-2 with a bye week ahead of a road game at TCU and the Red River Showdown with Texas. I won't win over many of my OU friends with this statement, but the Sooners have become soft. In the past season plus three games when Oklahoma has faced a team that smacked it in the mouth, OU has rolled over. Texas did it. Clemson did it. Houston and now Ohio State. In fact, Oklahoma is 8-4 in its last 12 games. From my point of view, Oklahoma isn't throwing the first punch and asserting its dominance like the big boys in college football do. Nor is it responding to a few blows - like Alabama did yesterday with Ole Miss. Once the other team gets in a few shots, consider the Sooners done.

5) Over the course of the game with Ohio State, the Buckeyes showed a clear talent gap. OU at times looked lost defensively, which has led to many Sooner fans calling for the firing on defensive coordinator Mike Stoops. That's going to make it pretty awkward for brother Bob to make that call. Speaking of Bob, you have to wonder if his moniker "Big Game Bob" will ever return. Aside from stomping a weak Big 12 schedule, there have been few times when Oklahoma walked onto a big stage and walked away with a victory. Somethings gotta change, or we can continue to put OU in the top five during the preseason only to see the Sooners falter.

6) Can someone check Lamar Jackson for a birth certificate? Because he just doesn't even seem human. Or as my father-in-law put it, he has "Alien skills." With road games at Clemson and Houston remaining, the Cards have only a few hurdles to jump through before stating their case for a Playoff spot. Expect Oct. 1 at Death Valley to be a monster matchup.

6B) Speaking of "Alien skills," check out the photo below for not only the catch of the year, but arguably one of the top three catches in college football. Ever. How Ohio State's Noah Brown - who is barely seen here - caught this for a touchdown is beyond me.

(Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports)

7) The Gus Bus is getting lighter by the day. Gus Malzahn's time at Auburn may soon be up. The War Eagles looked pathetic on offense again, falling to Texas A&M 29-16 at home. Auburn (1-2) still has games against LSU (this weekend) and a home date with Arkansas, but has to travel to Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama. Chalk up at least four more losses for a 6-6 finish. People on The Plains won't be thrilled with playing in the Birmingham two years in a row.

8) Conference watch: The Big Ten has depth. Michigan State opened a big lead at Notre Dame before holding on late. Michigan is where we thought it'd be at this point. Wisconsin already has a win over LSU. Nebraska beat Pac-12 power Oregon and is finding its rhythm on offense. And there's aforementioned Ohio State. ... On the flip side, the Big 12 is treading water. Only two teams are undefeated - Baylor (3-0) and West Virginia (2-0). The Bears have beaten Northwestern State, SMU, and Rice. The conference slate begins with Oklahoma State Saturday, and there's a three-game stretch at Texas, vs. TCU, and at OU. The Mountaineers had a bye, but so far have defeated a now 1-2 Missouri team and Youngstown State. In the way-too-early, but probably true department, it looks like the Big 12 will be out of the Playoff for the second time in three years. ... Elsewhere, the ACC looks to come down to the Clemson-Louisville game on Oct. 1. It's Alabama in the SEC, and then everyone else. And Stanford looks to be the class of the Pac-12 once again, but a Friday night date with Washington to close out September could change things there. ... Houston has the clear shot to lead the Group of 5 teams if it can finish undefeated with that win against Louisville in November.

9) Quick hitters: Don't schedule North Dakota State. Iowa found out the hard way, losing the game 23-21 to the Bison and losing $500,000 in the process. ... Arkansas meets Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas, this weekend. The winner will assert itself as next-in-line behind Alabama in the SEC West. In the SEC East, Florida takes an 11-game winning streak over Tennessee to Rocky Top. The winner there has the upperhand to take that division. ... It might be time to recognize that Bobby Petrino is one of the best coaches currently in college football. Aside from his legal issues, Petrino has taken Louisville to new heights two different times, and don't forget what he did at Arkansas pre-motorcycle accident. It'll be interesting to see if Petrino bolts Louisville a second time if say Auburn, LSU, or someone of the like calls.

10) Clemson enters conference play and goes on the road to a place it hasn't won since 2003 - Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are primed for an upset on a Thursday night Whiteout game. The Tigers have won three of the last four in the series and seemingly have the upperhand in the talent area. Won't matter come Thursday in ATL. Beat Georgia Tech.

-BtW