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Alabama Football: After week six, SEC top teams and Playoff contenders

By Ronald Evans

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 17: Fans cheer as coach Nick Saban leads the Alabama Crimson Tide out of the locker room for a game against North Texas on September 17, 2011 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 17: Fans cheer as coach Nick Saban leads the Alabama Crimson Tide out of the locker room for a game against North Texas on September 17, 2011 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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Six weeks into the 2017 season, the air is thinning on the CFB mountaintop. Alabama football, standing tall but not invulnerable, climbs toward two championships.

Last week we reminded Alabama football fans and the broader world of college football,

"Upsets happen. A weaker team plays its best game while a stronger team is shackled by mistakes and turnovers. Championship dreams can die any week in college football."

Soothsayer, we are not. Anyone and everyone can predict top teams will be upset. In week six, there was only one stunning upset. Iowa State taking down Oklahoma in Normal was a major upset. Making it even more odd, the Cyclones did it with a combo linebacker/quarterback.

Does the Sooners loss also say something about Ohio State? Yes and perhaps the B1G as well. Speaking of the B1G, Michigan State knocked the Wolverines from the list of unbeatens. Based upon rankings and record the Spartans win was an upset.

For close followers of Jim Harbaugh, it was no surprise. Perhaps the University of Michigan calculates Harbaugh’s salary on the basis of brash soundbites. They certainly cannot be paying him $9 million this season on the basis of his 1-4 record against Michigan State and Ohio State.

In other upsets from week six, North Carolina State beat Louisville, 39-25. With a second loss, mark off the Cardinals as a CFB Playoff contender. Stanford upset Utah, 23-20, reducing the number of PAC 12 undefeated teams to two.

The CFB Playoff committee releases the first 2017 ranking on October 31st. There are now only nine undefeated Power Five conference teams.

Let’s look at the Power Five conference leaders.

Atlantic Coast Conference

The ACC has two undefeated teams: Clemson (6-0) in the Atlantic Division; and Miami (4-0) in the Coastal Division. Miami’s win over FSU increases the national perception that Alabama football has not played a good team yet.

If you look close enough you can find pundits who last week said Alabama football had played no one, now saying Miami’s win over FSU means the Hurricanes are back.

Best Bet for the CFB Playoff – Clemson

Big 12 Conference

The Big 12 has one undefeated team: TCU (5-0).

Best Bets for the CFB Playoff – TCU

Big Ten Conference

Penn State (6-0) and Wisconsin (5-0) are the league leaders. Wisconsin is quietly looking like the best team in the league.

Best Bets for the CFB Playoff – Penn State and Wisconsin

Pac 12 Conference

Washington (6-0) and Washington State (6-0) lead the North Division. USC (5-1 and Utah (4-1) lead the South Division.

Best Bet for the CFB Playoff – Washington but don’t count out Wazzu and USC.

Southeastern Conference

SEC EAST

Georgia (6-0 overall) 3-0

Florida (3-2 overall) 3-1

Kentucky (5-1 overall) 2-1

South Carolina (4-2 overall) 2-2

Tennessee (3-2 overall) 0-2

Vanderbilt (3-3 overall) 0-3

Missouri (1-4 overall) 0-3

SEC West

Alabama (6-0 overall) 3-0

Auburn (5-1 overall) 3-0

Texas A&M (4-2) 2-1

LSU (4-2 overall) 1-1

Mississippi State (3-2 overall) 1-2

Ole Miss (2-3) 0-2

Arkansas (2-3) overall) 0-2

Best Bets for the CFB Playoff – Alabama, Georgia and Auburn

Biggest Surprises in Week Six

  • LSU found some hope in Gainesville.
  • TAMU has improved enough that Kevin Sumlin might survive.
  • Arkansas went from bad to the edge of a death-spiral. And at the absolutely wrong time.
  • Gus may have learned to be a head coach OR Chip Lindsey is an offensive genius.

Biggest ‘Not a Surprise’ in Week Six

  • The Gators need a QB.
  • The Dawgs are very good.
  • The Rebels-Black Bears-Landsharks are dreadful and there is more downhill ahead.
  • Kentucky is not very good. Pre-season predictions the Wildcats could win the East now look laughable. They could still beat Tennessee.

One more that fits both ‘Surprise’ and ‘No Surprise’ (based on fan perceptions)

  • Alabama football is not invulnerable.

Next: Is Jeremy Pruitt a Head Coach candidate?

Check in with us each week as we chart the progress of the top teams. While Alabama football held on to its No. 1 ranking in both polls, the polls matter little or nothing. For the Tide, it is all about winning a SEC Championship and making the four-team CFB Playoff field.

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