Most overrated, underrated teams in Week 3 US LBM Coaches Poll - Nittany Lions Wire
It's safe to say that after three weeks of the college football season, a lot of things have changed. Texas is now the No. 1 team in the country with perhaps the best win on any team's resume, while No. 6 Ole Miss is the only team to have two ranked wins on its resume after just three weeks. Meanwhile, the Big Ten has been relatively disappointing, with Oregon suffering an early embarrassing loss and Michigan not quite looking right. However, a familiar dark horse has emerged in the conference that could potentially surprise.
Here are the most overrated and underrated teams in the country based on this week's US LBM Coaches Poll.
Sure, Georgia has looked like one of the most efficient teams in the country with Gunner Stockton looking like one of the most composed quarterbacks in the nation. But look who they have played and you could see a different story. Nothing much can be gleaned from wins against FCS Tennessee State and a Western Kentucky team that just allowed 38 points to Indiana. While it's always tough to doubt a Kirby Smart-coached team, I'm waiting to see how this offense looks when No. 24 Oklahoma comes to town.
I know, this could become quite the overreaction. But it just seems as if Penn State is lurking around the middle of the polls, waiting to surge up the rankings with a couple of solid wins. Of course, this could play out much like last season where the Nittany Lions completely folded in the second half of the year. However, this feels different. Quarterback Rocco Becht looks entirely comfortable in this system, Koby Howard looks like a breakout star at wide receiver, and the defense is solid as always. Michigan, USC, and Washington had all better be warned, because this ranking could quickly look silly.
Speaking of the Trojans, while the offense continues to surge, the defense yet again looks to be the problem for Lincoln Riley. They truly believed that the hire of former TCU head coach Gary Patterson would help that unit, but that has not been the case. They just gave up 35 points to a Rutgers team that looked lifeless through the first two weeks with losses to UMass and Boston College. In fact, it is the second straight week that USC has given up 30+ points. Now they have to fly back across the country to welcome a potentially ticked-off Oregon Ducks squad. This could be the last time we see the Trojans ranked this high.
It feels weird for a team ranked this high to be considered underrated. But the Rebels can boast something on their resume that no other team can: two ranked wins to start the season. By beating the 11th-ranked LSU Tigers, Ole Miss has proven they have the pedigree to potentially be the top-ranked team in the nation, with many pundits believing they should be. Trinidad Chambliss proved he is the most dynamic quarterback in the country with a brilliant game-winning touchdown against his former coach's team and proved that any team with him at the helm will be dangerous no matter what. The schedule gets harder in October and November, but it's nothing this Rebels squad can't handle.
Michigan may be the most unconvincing 3-0 team in the nation. While they had an impressive win over Oklahoma, they still needed a miracle to beat Western Michigan at home, and struggled early against UTEP this week. Kyle Whittingham has not been entirely confident in his new squad either, but he understands that the Wolverines can't complain. As they enter Big Ten play, there is little margin for error and no excuses for the maize and blue. The month of October has become a potential litmus test for a team I'm not completely sold on.
