AP Poll Top 25 Prediction: Georgia, Vanderbilt Headline Biggest Winners After Chaotic College Football Weekend

AP Poll Top 25 Predictions: Georgia and Vanderbilt among the teams to move up, while LSU and Miami Hurricanes fall significantly.

Following yesterday’s College Football action, a number of ranked matchups took place, with multiple top-25 teams taking a loss. These teams included the No.5 Ole Miss, No.10 LSU, No.11 Tennessee, and No.23 Utah.

Meanwhile, both the No.2 Miami Hurricanes and No.22 Memphis Tigers took shocking defeats to the unranked Louisville Cardinals and UAB, respectively.

These are the biggest risers and biggest fallers in the AP rankings following yesterday’s action.

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AP Poll Top 25 Predictions: Who Are The Risers And Fallers From Week 9?

Vanderbilt

After a 6-1 start to the season and being ranked in the AP Poll, this is the best start for the Commodores program since 1950. This meant that a victory for the home crowd over No.17 LSU could have a massive effect on Vanderbilt’s AP Rankings.

After losing eleven straight games to the Tigers, the Commedores finally got their victory yesterday in a huge ranked clash. Following a ranked SEC victory, as well as the losses around them, the Commodores could rise as high as seventh in the rankings.

According to current PFSN CFB projections, Vanderbilt is currently ranked 21st nationally. However, what is more telling is their current playoff chances. According to PFSN’s CFB Playoff Meter, the Commedores have a 36.93% chance of reaching the playoffs.

Georgia

Georgia managed to rally to defeat Ole Miss in an SEC top-10 showdown as Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs look to be back in top form. The Rebels were 6-0 going into today’s game, with Smart handing the Rebels’ head coach, Lane Kiffin, his first defeat of the season.

The Bulldogs now have two ranked wins and are 6-1 on the season. After a huge victory within the SEC against an unbeaten opponent, Smart’s team could rise significantly. Currently, their most likely ceiling is rising as high as the 6th, behind Alabama in the SEC.

BYU

After the Utes joined BYU in the Associated Press Top 25 last week, following a dominant 42-10 victory over No. 21 Arizona State. This sets up the first ranked-versus-ranked Holy War since 2009, with the Cougars entering as the No. 15 team in the nation.

Following the Cougars’ victory yesterday, they are currently 7-0 on the season after beating their Big 12 rivals. With losses for the Tennessee Volunteers and Texas Tech, Kalani Sitake and BYU could potentially rise up as far as 13th in the AP poll.

Top Three Losers

LSU

Undeniably, the biggest losers from this week’s games were the LSU Tigers. Following another ranked loss within the SEC, a case could be made for Brian Kelly’s side to fall out of the rankings completely. Despite that, they aren’t out completely yet.

This season, all of LSU’s wins have come against unranked teams. This includes wins over Clemson (3-4 as of this moment), Florida (3-4 at this moment), and South Carolina (3-4).

Miami

Going into yesterday’s game, Miami was ranked No.2 on the AP poll and looked to be the favorite for the conference title. However, they suffered a shocking loss to Louisville, who entered the contest at 4-1 with almost no chance of reaching the playoffs.

Following this game, the Hurricanes have some massive ACC games against SMU and Pitt; another conference loss could knock the Hurricanes out of contention. With their season suddenly in jeopardy, they could fall as far as tenth.

One factor that will work in their favor is their head-to-head record against other ranked teams. With Notre Dame taking out USC last night, they will remain just below the Hurricanes.

Texas Tech

After suffering their first defeat of the season to the Arizona Sun Devils, the Red Raiders could drop significantly in the rankings. Despite this being their first defeat of the season, they could fall as far as ten places in the AP poll, to the seventeenth or sixteenth spot.

However, Arizona State could potentially make its way back into the rankings following its victory, meaning the Red Raiders lost out to a ranked team rather than an unranked defeat. The Sun Devils are 5-2 with losses to two teams, Utah and Mississippi State.

Other teams who could drop out of the rankings include: the Memphis Tigers, who came in undefeated and ranked 22nd overall before falling to a shocking defeat. No.23 Utah, following their defeat to BYU, as well as No.25 Nebraska, which suffered an upset to Minnesota.

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