2017 NCAA Playoff Points: Week 8

We continue on with our look at the 2017 college football season with a look back at the numbers from Week 8.

You've probably noted by now that by and large, I don't really go into individual results of games. This post takes into focus conference averages of win totals and more of an in depth look into how good teams actually are.

With these numbers in mind, combined with a few others, later today I'll come back with my third Death to the BCS Playoffs mock bracket. But for now, here are the updated Playoff Point numbers. In case you need a reminder of how these work, you can view that here.


American Athletic
Wins: 4.00 (T-5th)
PP1: 10.42 (5th)
PP2: 5.31 (5th)
aPP: 4.58 (5th)

ACC
Wins: 4.29 (T-3rd)
PP1: 12.50 (3rd)
PP2: 6.48 (3rd)
aPP: 8.00 (2nd)

Big Ten
Wins: 4.29 (T-3rd)
PP1: 13.00 (2nd)
PP2: 6.71 (1st)
aPP: 8.14 (1st)

Big XII
Wins: 4.00 (T-5th)
PP1: 9.30 (6th)
PP2: 4.17 (6th)
aPP: 2.70 (6th)

Conference USA
Wins: 3.29 (11th)
PP1: 6.14 (10th)
PP2: 3.26 (9th)
aPP: -4.07 (8th)

Independents
Wins: 3.50 (10th)
PP1: 8.00 (7th)
PP2: 3.67 (8th)
aPP: -4.50 (T-9th)

MAC
Wins: 3.58 (T-8th)
PP1: 6.83 (9th)
PP2: 4.06 (7th)
aPP: -4.50 (T-9th)

Mountain West
Wins: 3.58 (T-8th)
PP1: 7.42 (8th)
PP2: 3.05 (10th)
aPP: -2.75 (7th)

Pac-12
Wins: 4.50 (T-1st)
PP1: 13.25 (1st)
PP2: 6.59 (2nd)
aPP: 6.92 (4th)

SEC
Wins: 4.50 (T-1st)
PP1: 12.36 (4th)
PP2: 5.57 (4th)
aPP: 7.86 (3rd)

Sun Belt
Wins: 4.00 (T-5th)
PP1: 4.58 (11th)
PP2: 2.28 (11th)
aPP: -7.92 (11th)

To see the updated spreadsheet, click here.

Photo by Brian Spurlock (USA TODAY Sports)

The SEC was in first last week in both PP1 and PP2. This week they fall to fourth in both categories. Football is weird. I also almost forgot to update a category in the spreadsheet. It's not visible, but I have a sheet that tracks losses of FCS teams that beat an FBS program this season. The only metric this matters in is Adjusted Playoff Points, where the penalty to the score for losing to an FCS program is double the number of losses for said FCS program. For example, Nevada lost to Idaho State in Week 3. Idaho State, a team from the Big Sky, is 4-4 on the year, so Nevada got a score of -8 that week for aPP. By contrast, that same week Charlotte lost to FCS program North Carolina A&T. But A&T is 8-0 on the year, so Charlotte has not lost any Adjusted Playoff Points for that loss. I've put notes on the spreadsheet for those losses.

Photo from the Associated Press (photographer uncredited)

Now, on to the part that you're probably really here for: the individual team rankings. You should be able to sort through these yourself as well if you go to the sheet, but looking at the top teams by each metric, Alabama leads the way in PP1 with 29 points. Clemson isn't far behind with 27 points, Penn State has 26, Georgia is at 23, and Notre Dame cracked the top five with 23 points. In PP2, Notre Dame leads the way with a 12.50 point average, Clemson sits at 11.50, Iowa is at 10.75 points, Syracuse is fourth at 10.25, with Stanford right behind them to round out the top five with 10.20 points. The aPP top five starts with Alabama at 29 points, Penn State second with 26, Clemson and Georgia tied for third with 24, and Notre Dame bringing up the end of the top five with 23 points. In case you're curious, Massachusetts is dead last in aPP with -26 points; being 1-6 with your lone win coming just this week against winless Georgia Southern will do that.

With all of this information in hand, I'm going to head to the lab and build out a third mock bracket. I'll be back this afternoon with the results.