Jarvis Benjamin Variety Hour

Elephant: The first CFP Rankings are borderline malpractice. 

Coping Mechanisms: We are still months away. Take a breath and don’t pick up the rope. Move on. Read ‘The Actual NCAAF Top 25’. Prosper.  

5-1. Welcome back to the winner’s circle. The record on the year comes back up to 38-27-1; and I will be the first person to tell you, it feels fucking good. Excuse my French. I’ll see you all there again this week. X : @JBV60SHOW 

Here we go:

1. Michigan Wolverines (8-0) This Week: -32.5 vs. Purdue (2-6): It seems like (for whatever reason) I am going to catch heat for having the only team in the country that has won every game about as convincingly as it gets (shoutout Rutgers) on the number one line. If you don’t like it; make your own rankings! Moral of the story? (Pun semi-intended) I don’t necessarily subscribe to the logic that Ohio State BARELY (and I mean barely (10 guys on the field (time+tragedy=comedy)) beating Notre Dame is the ‘best win in the country’ and in my mind, that victory certainly does not solidify them on the #1 line as it does in some rankings. Land the plane Jarv, it’s the first team. 35-0 for Connor Stallions and Co. this week, big.  

2. Georgia Bulldogs (8-0) This Week: -16 vs. Missouri (7-1): Absolutely nailed the ‘everyone is low on the Dogs’ take last week. Georgia rolled relatively easily for their 25th straight win. Yes, that’s real. It is pretty damn scary how quickly this team can turn it on when they need to. Last year against Mizzou was incredibly close; and (for my money) the Tigers are better this year and the Dogs are worse. You know how that goes… 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0) This Week: -18.5 @ Rutgers (6-2): As previously mentioned; this is not the best team in the country. *whispers* Wisconsin was in the game last week for a decent bit. As I have previously mentioned (again), I truly do not like the Buckeyes chances against Michigan this year. To be totally frank? I don’t LOVE the Buckeyes chances this week! The only real question at this point is: will a loss to Michigan be bad enough for the committee to knock Ohio State all the way out? Time will tell. Columbus, Ohio is another city that would not mind some #chaos down the stretch. 

4. Florida State Seminoles (8-0) This Week: -21.5 @ Pittsburgh (2-6): I’ve personally been thinking/saying that Florida State feels like they are going to lose a game before their eventual ACC Championship berth. I definitely don’t have the gumption (or the delusion) to sit here and tell you that Pitt is going to be the unlikely defeater of Goliath this week; but, if it’s not Pitt? I’m not sure that loss before the ACC Championship is coming. I expect Mike Norvell to have his boys ready for both in-state rivals late in the season. It feels like the Noles will be CFP bound. 

5. Washington Huskies (8-0) This Week: -4 @ USC (7-2): If I didn’t know that USC was probably already done for the year, I’d be backing the Trojans this week. I am not certain when, but in these very articles, I said that USC is not a good matchup for Washington. The Huskies may have peaked at the wrong time, playing the last two games close with (far) inferior opponents. Admittedly: they may have been looking ahead to this game and the matchup vs. Utah next week. The Huskies certainly have their work cut out for them, if they want to get to the last Conference of Champions Championship game. 

6. Oregon Ducks (7-1) This Week: -24 vs. California (3-5): As you may have heard me say on Great Take Tuesday (available everywhere you get your podcasts (I think?)): Oregon is trending extremely well right now. I’d even go as far as saying if the season ended today, the Oregon Ducks are my National Champion. How’s that for a great take? Plain and simple? Bo Nix has seen it all. The most experienced college football player ever started in the SEC, so he won’t be all that overwhelmed should that be the Ducks’ opponent in the CFP. In my opinion, Oregon has the dudes in the trenches to compete in the Big 10 (gigantic realignment cringe). Yes, I am making the case before they even qualify. Yes, I expect them to make the Pac 12 Championship game. Yes, they still have to get there. Go Ducks Go. 

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) This Week: -3 vs. LSU (6-2): This is one of my favorite spots of the week that did not make the official card. If you’ve read any of the past weeks: you know that the Alabama Crimson Tide are my eventual SEC Champion. That doesn’t happen without a win this week. Duh. I know this sounds incredibly naive, as LSU’s offense is up there with Washington for the most explosive in the country; but, I don’t give Brian Kelly a snowball’s chance in hell at beating Nick Saban twice in a row. Is it really that easy sometimes? I think so. 

8. Texas Longhorns (7-1) This Week: -4 vs. Kansas State (6-2): As I forecasted last week, Texas and Maalik Murphy got past BYU very easily. Oklahoma’s loss guarantees that another loss for the Longhorns will end their CFP dreams, but for now? They are stronger than ever. I was close to getting to the window with Texas again this week, but chickened out. I expect them to beat K-State, but it should be a close game. Full disclosure? I’m hoping to see Texas in the CFP. Hook ‘em.

9. Ole Miss Rebels (7-1) This Week: -3.5 vs. Texas A&M (5-3): Shoutout to Ben Mintz, the most oblivious guy on Twitter. Lane Kiffin took a hilarious shot at Jimbo this week, which will surely add some fuel to the fire. Plain and simple? Ole Miss has real aspirations this season. How realistic they are? I’m not too sure. I don’t expect them to slip up against the likes of A&M this week though. The Rebs need to be wary of looking ahead to Georgia next week, but they should take care of business. 

10. Oklahoma Sooners (7-1) This Week: -6 @ Oklahoma State (6-2): Pour one out for the Oklahoma Sooners. In typical fashion, the Sooners melted down. Brett Venables really had the world by the balls. He beat Texas AND he survived the scare from UCF! I guess nobody told Coach Venables that the job was not even close to finished. Bedlam this week will not be remotely easy as a get-right spot for OU. They better hope they can get right quickly though, as the Big 12 Championship is probably not off the table! 

11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2) This Week: -3 @ Clemson (4-4): The Irish are currently firmly sitting on the outside looking in of the Playoff picture, unfortunately for this National Championship future holder. This is the hardest game left for the Irish; but I’m not sure it will be all that difficult. I’m well aware that it seems like a get-right spot for Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers. Truthfully? Slowly becoming more and more out on Dabo. How on Earth could anyone justify backing that team? If this game was at night, it would be a lot tougher for the Irish. I expect them to win by 7-10 points.  

12. LSU Tigers (6-2) This Week: +3 @ Alabama (7-1): As mentioned earlier: I do not think LSU has enough, specifically defensively, to get past Alabama @ Alabama this week. Do not let that take away from probable Heisman nominee Jayden Daniels and that offense. Brian Thomas Jr and Malik Nabers give the wide receiver duo from Florida State a real run for their money when it comes to top Wide Receiver Rooms in the nation. If this game is going to go Brian Kelly’s way, he will need it to be up and down, with points aplenty. Alabama has the toughest defense that the Tigers will face this year. Up and down with points a plenty is going to be tricky to accomplish. This will be an awesome game. 

13. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1) This Week: -11.5 @ Maryland (5-3): Your boy is on the Terps this week. Your boy also took Maryland at 11.5 and at the time of writing, the line has fallen to 8.5 (and is still moving)! Here’s the logic: Maryland hasn’t played well in weeks (maybe months). Penn State looked bad against Ohio State and then worse against Indiana the week after that. Every person who watches college football (and their mother) is waiting for the Penn State get-right. Not this week. Tua Jr outright keeps it close. 

14. Oregon State Beavers (6-2) This Week: -13.5 @ Colorado (4-4): The Beavs got Zona’d! Late night in Tucson plus a Bean Man Game of the Year: Oregon State really had no chance. While they are on the outside looking in for the Pac 12 Championship, the Beavs are certainly not dead yet. They might be dead shortly though. No. Not Coach Prime. Washington on the 18th and Oregon on the 24th. Fs in the chat. P.S. DJ’s brother is on Arizona’s D-Line. If you know me you know how overly cool I think that is. 

15. Missouri Tigers (7-1) This Week: +16 @ Georgia (8-0): As I alluded to earlier, it still feels like everyone is low on Georgia. Missouri is not your stereotypical SEC powerhouse, and going into Athens is not an easy task. With all of that said: it feels like a kitchen sink game for Mizzou. What does that even mean? Quite simple. Missouri is going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Georgia. Anybody know where this is headed yet? #Fuck the points. 

16. Louisville Cardinals (7-1) This Week: -9.5 vs. Virginia Tech (4-4): In a true #personal growth moment; Louisville almost made the card this week. That says less about them, and how impressed I was last week with their defense; and more about Virginia Tech’s ineptitude. What’s really shocking is: this game is a battle for second place in the ACC! Just let that sink in for a minute. I am hopeful that somehow neither one of these teams ends up in second place and earns an ACC Championship berth. Neither team has nearly enough (although strong defensively) to stay close to Florida State.   

17. Tennessee Volunteers (6-2) This Week: -36 vs. UConn (1-7): Not very pretty, but the Vols finally got a win in a tough environment last week over Kentucky. What sucks for this Kentucky win total bettor is: Devin Leary actually played well! Sigh. The Mets are going to have no hits next year. I’d say it is safe to say that the Vols are looking past the National Champion Huskies this week, with a trip to Mizzou next week. It’s probably also safe to say it won’t matter. It’s the Vols this week. By a lot.  

18. USC Trojans (7-2) This Week: +4 vs. Washington (8-0): As previously mentioned: if I didn’t already know about USC, Caleb, Lincoln Riley, etc. I’d be on the Trojans this week. I’m not on them this week. I still hope expect they will be able to score on Washington relatively easily and stay in this game. If not? The late slate Saturday night has the potential to be UGLY.   

19. UCLA Bruins (6-2) This Week: -2.5 @ Arizona (5-3): The Bruins are the (most likely) next team in the Pac 12 to get Zona’d. 10:30 Eastern @ Tucson is really as close to unwinnable as a game can get. UCLA turned it on rather late last week to get past Colorado. I’m not saying they will, but the path is certainly there for UCLA to win out and end up in a NY6 game. They have the tough test of Arizona this week; followed by: Arizona State, USC and Cal. It’s doable. Won’t be easy. But doable. 

20. Air Force Falcons (8-0) This Week: -18.5 vs. Army (2-6): I narrowed it down for you all last week. Air Force’s loss is coming. I have 0 idea how it happens; but #Fuck the points.  

21. James Madison Dukes (8-0) This Week: -5.5 @ Georgia State (6-2): That was definitely a lot closer than JMU hoped it would be last week. It shouldn’t get any easier this week. Georgia State is frisky; and god knows that teams are going to be giving undefeated JMU their best shot down the stretch. I am truly hoping they don’t stumble and make it easy on the NCAA. Take no prisoners, Duke Nation.  

22. Tulane Green Wave (7-1) This Week: -17 @ East Carolina (1-7): #Think About it. The quoted tweet here is all but 100000% true.

23. Kansas State Wildcats (6-2) This Week: +4 @ Texas (7-1): K-State is a pretty fun team! This game against Texas is going to be entertaining, there is no way around that. As I said earlier, I don’t think the Wildcats have enough to win this game. Will Howard (the truth) and Avery Johnson have a weirdly productive QB tandem thing working; and K-State should be able to score. Not as many points as Texas will score, but they will score. 

24. Kansas Jayhawks (6-2) This Week: +2.5 @ Iowa State (5-3): If I wasn’t scarred from the Brock Purdy Iowa State teams, I’d be all over the Cyclones this week. The spot is unthinkably good. This game is going to be incredibly ugly. This game will be even closer than it is ugly. It is SO close to Nic Timberlake time at KU; and I cannot wait. 

25. Liberty Flames (8-0) This Week: -17 vs. Louisiana Tech (3-6): How high can you rank an undefeated C-USA team that’s best win is *checks notes* Jacksonville State New Mexico State(?) Western Kentucky? Asking for a friend. 

26. Toledo Rockets (7-1) This Week: -15.5 vs Buffalo (3-5): Hopefully #MACtion will not get in the way of a NY6 game for the Rockets. It is sort of possible. 

27. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-2) This Week: +18.5 vs. Ohio State (8-0): “If Lil Marvin is not on Ohio State, they are not THAT much different than Rutgers.” Honorary #THINK about it. (It’s true)  

28. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-2) This Week: +6 vs. Oklahoma (7-1): #Fuck the points.

29. Duke Blue Devils (5-3) This Week: -12.5 vs. Wake Forest (4-4): Typically, players who average 15 and 9 go to the NBA. It’s Championship or Bust in Durham. 

30. North Carolina Tar Heels (6-2) This Week: Line N/A vs. Campbell (4-4): Can Hubert Davis restore order? Mack Brown is certainly struggling to. 

Saturday night’s slate has all-time potential, if I’m being totally honest.  There’s a game on Sunday that will determine my outlook on the NFL the rest of the year, if I’m still being totally honest. 

200 years too late. 

Be Well.

JB