Overrated/Underrated: Initial reactions to first CFP rankings
On Tuesday the initial College Football Playoff top 25 rankings were released. The North Carolina Tar Heels check in at No. 17 with a 7-1 record. Despite their only loss coming at the hands of an unranked Notre Dame team, UNC still made the top 20.
As it should come as no surprise, the Clemson Tigers were the highest-ranked ACC team at No. 4 overall. Joining the Tigers and Tar Heels from the ACC are No. 20 Syracuse, No. 21 Wake Forest, and No. 22 North Carolina State.
With the first rankings being revealed, we break down initial reactions with the most overrated and underrated teams. Where does that put Mack Brown and UNC?
Overrated
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama checks in as the first overrated team at No. 6 in the initial CFP rankings. They barely defeated the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies. While you can justify the team being in the top 10 with their 7-1 record, this feels too high for them.
For more on Alabama check out Roll Tide Wire
Underrated
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No. 7 TCU Horned Frogs
This is certainly a team that no one expected to be in the top 10 when the season began but the Frogs are undefeated and lead the Big 12 Conference. TCU won four-straight matchups over then-ranked opponents this season and has at least one more on the schedule with Texas in two weeks. At a minimum, this is a team that should be ranked ahead of Alabama.
Overrated
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No. 10 LSU Tigers
The highest-ranked team with two losses in the initial poll, this is one that makes you scratch your head. Being above Ole Miss makes sense with the head-to-head victory. But they were throttled by No. 1 Tennessee and a loss to unranked Florida State. Should they be ranked? Yes, but perhaps No. 10 is just too high for my liking.
For more on the Bayou Bengals check out LSU Wire
Underrated
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No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels
UNC lands in the top 20 but behind several two-loss teams in the rankings. The only loss for the Tar Heels comes against Notre Dame, who just throttled No. 22 Syracuse, 41-24. A ranking in the top 15 feels more appropriate for this Tar Heels team.
Overrated
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No. 15 Penn State Nittany Lions
This year Penn State is doing exactly what you expect against unranked foes, they are a perfect 6-0. In those games, the Nittany Lions are outscoring the opposition 217-91. However, they have lost both matchups against ranked opponents. James Franklin’s team lost to Michigan by 24 and Ohio State by 13. No. 15 is too high for the team that hails from Happy Valley.
For more on Penn State check out Nittany Lions Wire
Overrated
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No. 24 Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns are the only three-loss team to make the initial CFP top 25 rankings. In their three losses, they held second-half leads in each of them. Against Alabama, they led by two with 1:29 left in the game. Against Texas Tech, the Longhorns were ahead 31-17 with 4:27 in the third quarter before the Red Raiders went on a 20-3 run the rest of the way. Sark’s squad also led Oklahoma State 34-24 with 2:10 left in the third before a 17-0 run by the Cowboys to win. Texas is 0-2 against ranked opponents, blowing leads in both games. I am scratching my head at the rankings.
For more on Texas check out Longhorns Wire
