| 1. Georgia (3-0) |  | BYE | ||
| 2. Ohio State (3-0) |  | BYE | ||
| 3. Penn St (3-0) |  | BYE | ||
| 4. Miami (1-0) |  | -3.0 | Florida |  |
| 5. Oregon (1-0) |  | -35.5 | Oregon State |  |
| 6. LSU (1-0) |  | NL | Southeast Louisiana |  |
| 7. Texas A&M (1-0) |  | BYE | ||
| 8. Tennessee (1-0) |  | -39.5 | UAB |  |
| 9. Ole Miss (1-0) |  | -11.5 | Tulane |  |
| 10. Florida State (1-0) |  | -44.5 | Kent State |  |
| 11. Oklahoma (1-0) |  | -6.5 | Auburn |  |
| 12. Illinois (1-0) |  | +3.5 | Indiana |  |
| 13. Texas (0-1) |  | -41.5 | Sam Houston |  |
| 14. Alabama (0-1) |  | BYE | ||
| 15. USC (1-0) |  | -17.5 | Michigan State |  |
| 16. Auburn (1-0) | | +6.5 | Oklahoma | |
| 17. Iowa State (1-0) |  | BYE | ||
| 18. Notre Dame (0-1) |  | -26.5 | Purdue |  |
| 19. Michigan (1-1) |  | -2.5 | Nebraska |  |
| 20. Vanderbilt (3-0) |  | -25.5 | Georgia State |  |
| 21. Indiana (1-0) | | -3.5 | Illinois | |
| 22. Georgia Tech (3-0) |  | -23.5 | Temple |  |
| 23. Texas Tech (3-0) |  | +3.5 | Utah |  |
| 24. Utah (2-0) | | -3.5 | Texas Tech | |
| 25. South Carolina (1-0) |  | NL | Missouri |  |
Betting Lines & External Odds (Where Available)
While ESPN’s schedule doesn’t always carry spread info, other sources have released lines for some of these games. These lines often reflect how oddsmakers believe GTM’s rankings will be challenged or affirmed.
- Utah vs. Texas Tech: Utah is favored by ~3.5 points in some sportsbooks. This suggests that while Utah is slightly stronger (as GTM places them at 16), the matchup is viewed as competitive.
- Tennessee vs. UAB: Tennessee is heavily favored — lines in some sources show large margins, reinforcing GTM’s belief in their dominance in that matchup.
- Oregon vs. Oregon State and Ole Miss vs. Tulane also have spreads in favor of the higher-ranked teams, in some cases by sizable points.
These external odds align fairly well with GTM’s belief in which teams are strongly ahead at this point. Where oddsmakers set large spreads in favor of top ranked teams, GTM’s rankings seem to reflect that strength.
Analysis: What We Can Infer & Where GTM Might Be Vulnerable
Using GTM’s rankings + the ESPN schedule + betting info, here are some takeaways:
Validations
- Teams like Tennessee, Oregon, and Ole Miss are likely to affirm their rankings if they win by comfortable margins at home. Large spread expectations give them a buffer: a win will look convincing; a close win less so.
- Rivalry or high profile matchups like Miami vs. Florida provide narrative tests. Even without spread info, public and media attention (ESPN’s primetime slot, GameDay visits) suggest GTM expects Miami to continue commanding respect.
Vulnerabilities
- Mid-ranked matchups like Utah vs. Texas Tech are especially vulnerable. The small spread indicates that if Texas Tech wins — or keeps it close — GTM’s ordering here may need adjustment.
- Some ranked teams (#11-#25) play against unranked or weaker opponents. Even if they win, not much will be proved unless they win decisively. If they underperform or are close wins, GTM may be overrating them early in the season.
- Teams with tougher schedule ahead (travel, road games, rivalry atmospheres) might falter; GTM’s ranking might look generous for teams that haven’t yet been stress-tested.
Forecasts: What to Watch This Week
Here are a few predictions or things to monitor, based on GTM + ESPN + odds:
- If Oregon beats Oregon State by a large margin, they may move up or remain strong in all polls. If the game is closer than expected, that may introduce doubt.
- Miami needs a solid performance vs Florida (especially given rivalry pressure) to justify its top-5 placement in GTM. Even a win by modest margin might be viewed as less convincing.
- Utah vs. Texas Tech could be a key arbiter. A Texas Tech win or near upset would shake up mid-ranking for both teams in GTM’s list.
- Tennessee vs. UAB and similar mismatches: expected victories, but style matters. If “domination” is clear, GTM’s trust in those teams solidifies.