I’ll cut to the chase: Florida State is No. 1, Texas is No. 2. The Seminoles and Longhorns are atop my Associated Press Top 25 ballot this week based on their impressive starts.
Does this mean I’m predicting FSU and Texas to play for the national title? No. It's only a snapshot of what has happened so far this season. So far — based on their wins and who they’ve defeated — they are my top two teams.
Read on to see my AP Top 25 Poll ballot for Week 3, compared to Action Network senior writer Collin Wilson's updated betting power ratings.
1
AP
Florida State Seminoles
4
PR
2
AP
Texas Longhorns
2
PR
3
AP
Georgia Bulldogs
1
PR
4
AP
Michigan Wolverines
5
PR
5
AP
Washington Huskies
7
PR
6
AP
Penn State Nittany Lions
9
PR
7
AP
USC Trojans
10
PR
8
AP
Oregon Ducks
6
PR
9
AP
Ohio State Buckeyes
3
PR
10
AP
Alabama Crimson Tide
8
PR
For maybe the first time ever, Collin and I actually agree on the nation’s top 10 teams — just not their specific rankings.
11
AP
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
11
PR
12
AP
Oregon State Beavers
16
PR
13
AP
LSU Tigers
13
PR
14
AP
Tennessee Volunteers
17
PR
15
AP
Duke Blue Devils
40
PR
16
AP
Ole Miss Rebels
14
PR
17
AP
North Carolina Tar Heels
24
PR
18
AP
UCLA Bruins
26
PR
19
AP
Utah Utes
12
PR
20
AP
Washington State Cougars
32
PR
Our similarities end here.
Of my teams ranked between Nos. 11-20, Collin only has six rated in the same range. The six teams we both had between 11-20: Notre Dame, Oregon State, LSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Utah.
The biggest difference was Duke. I had the Blue Devils at No. 15, while Collin has Duke power-rated at No. 40.
21
AP
Miami Hurricanes
23
PR
22
AP
Colorado Buffaloes
44
PR
23
AP
Oklahoma Sooners
15
PR
24
AP
Kansas State Wildcats
19
PR
25
AP
Iowa Hawkeyes
34
PR
Not surprisingly, there isn't much agreement in my final five teams and Collin's final five teams.
The biggest difference is Colorado. I ranked the Buffaloes at No. 22, and Collin rates CU at No. 44.
Collin also has five teams in the top 25 of his betting power ratings that I did not have on my AP ballot: No. 18 Auburn, No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 21 Texas Tech, No. 22 Clemson and No. 25 Kentucky.
