AP Top 25 Poll: Week Eleven

UNC rolled to a 48-20 victory this past Saturday over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. With the victory, where would the Tar Heels rank in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll and the College Football Playoff rankings? As we get closer to the end of the season, where do experts think that the Tar Heels may end up during the bowl season? What are the big games to watch this upcoming week, and why did one pollster leave UNC out of his top 25?

Let’s take a closer look at this week’s AP Top 25 Poll.

AP Top 25 Poll

1. Alabama (60) 9-0
2. Michigan (1) 9-0
3. Clemson 9-0
4. Washington 9-0
5. Louisville 8-1
6. Ohio State 8-1
7. Wisconsin 7-2
8. Auburn 7-2
9. Oklahoma 7-2
10. Texas A&M 7-2
11. West Virginia 7-1
12. Penn State 7-2
13. Utah 7-2
14. Western Michigan 9-0
15. North Carolina 7-2
16. Colorado 7-2
17. Oklahoma State 7-2
18. Virginia Tech 7-2
19. LSU 5-3
20. FSU 6-3
21. Nebraska 7-2
22. Florida 6-2
23. Washington State 7-2
24. Boise State 8-1
25. Baylor 6-2

College Football Playoff Top Ten (and UNC’s ranking)

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Michigan
4. Washington
5. Ohio State
6. Louisville
7. Wisconsin
8. Texas A&M
9. Auburn
10. Penn State

• UNC is ranked #17 in the College Football Playoff rankings (up 4 spots from last week).

Where is UNC?

After moving up three spots from last week, the Tar Heels have climbed to their highest ranking of the season at #15 in the AP Top 25 Poll. UNC also moved up four spots to #17 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Heels will probably not move up much higher in the coming weeks, due to playing some weaker teams in their next three games, unless a lot of teams ahead of them lose in the coming weeks.

Sam McKewon (Omaha World-Herald) had UNC ranked at #9 this week. I don’t think that Mr. McKewon is far off with his ranking, as I think that the Heels are better than Western Michigan, Utah, and West Virginia (but I am a little biased).

UNC Bowl Projections

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports - TaxSlayer Bowl vs. Tennessee

Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports - TaxSlayer Bowl vs. Arkansas

Colin Becht of Sports Illustrated: Belk Bowl vs. Tennessee

College Football Poller-coaster

Up: Penn State (8 spots), Colorado (5 spots), Oklahoma State (5 spots), Virginia Tech (5 spots)

Free-Falling: Nebraska (12 spots), Florida (12 spots), Baylor (12 spots), *FSU (1 spot)

*NC State is so bad this year that even with Florida State’s win on Saturday (on the road), the Seminoles dropped a spot. However, FSU did move up four spots in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Best Top 25 Games of the Week

#25-Baylor at #9-Oklahoma: Only game between two top 25 teams, too bad it is a Big 12 match-up.

Georgia Tech at #18-Virginia Tech: Tar Heel fans will be praying for a Georgia Tech upset this weekend.

#15-North Carolina at Duke: Thursday night battle for the “new” bell.

- I understand why Duke would agree to this, but come on Bubba. Poor decision and an unnecessary one.

How are UNC’s opponents doing?

Georgia (5-4): Won 27-24 over Kentucky last week.

Illinois (3-6): Won 31-27 over Michigan State last week.

James Madison (8-1): Won 47-42 over Richmond last week.

Pittsburgh (5-4): Lost 51-28 to Miami last week.

Florida State (6-3): Won 24-20 over NC State last week.

Virginia Tech (7-2): Won 24-21 over Duke last week.

Miami (5-4): Won 51-28 over Pittsburgh last week.

Virginia (2-7): Lost 27-20 to Wake Forest last week.

Georgia Tech (5-4): Lost 48-20 to UNC last week.

Duke (3-6): Lost 24-21 to Virginia Tech last week.

Citadel (9-0): Won 37-34 over Samford last week.

NC State (4-5): Lost 24-20 to Florida State last week.

What are they thinking? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Brett McMurphy (ESPN) - UNC unranked?

- Looks like McMurphy made a honest mistake.

Conference Breakdown

ACC - 5 teams

Big Ten - 5 teams

Big 12 - 4 teams

Pac-12 - 4 teams

SEC - 5 teams