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I didn’t think this was possible.

In 2009, Alabama had an incredible defense, ranking 1st or 2nd in points allowed, yards allowed, first downs allowed, completion percentage allowed and rushing yards allowed en route to a 14-0 season and a national title. In the 2010 draft, Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson went in the first round, Javier Arenas and Terrence Cody in the second, and Marquis Johnson and Brandon Deaderick in the seventh. In 2010, a young Alabama defense wildly exceeded all expectations — how could they lose so much talent and still dominate? — but the team did regress and finished the year 10-3.

Last year, as the younger defense matured, Alabama had one of the greatest defenses in the history of college football. The Crimson Tide allowed a miniscule 8.2 points per game, by far the fewest in college football. Alabama’s defense also ranked 1st by large margins in rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, and first downs per game. But then Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, Dont’a Hightower, and Courtney Upshaw were top 35 picks in the NFL draft this year, while cornerback DeQuan Menzie and defensive tackle Josh Chapman were fifth round picks. With six defensive starters for the Crimson Tide getting drafted in 2012 — including five members of the first- or second-team All-SEC defense from 2011 [1]Upshaw and Barron were All-SEC first team selections by the AP, and Chapman, Hightower and Kirkpatrick earned second-team honors. — 2012 should have represented a significant step backwards for what was a historically dominant defense.

But the Crimson Tide death star is at full throttle now. After winning on the road at Tennessee and sucking the life out of another offense — and the Vols have one of the most explosive offenses in the SEC — Alabama continues to look invincible. While every other team in college football has question marks, Alabama has allowed just 8.3 points per game this year and has a mercilessly efficient offense. Quarterback A.J. McCarron still hasn’t thrown an interception in 2012.

Here’s a look at the SRS ratings after eight weeks. As a technical matter, two 7-0 teams square off in Tuscaloosa next week. But according to the SRS, Alabama should be expected to win by about 24 points.

RkTeamConfConf RkGMOVSOSSRSREC
1AlabamaSEC1727.842.570.37-0
2OklahomaB121623.443.767.15-1
3OregonP121725.638.864.47-0
4Kansas StB12272242.364.37-0
5FloridaSEC2716.846.663.47-0
6Texas TechB123717.142.9606-1
7Texas A&MSEC3715.444.559.95-2
8Notre DameIND--713.945.359.27-0
9South CarolinaSEC4813.544.858.36-2
10LSUSEC5813.741.955.67-1
11TexasB1247846.954.95-2
12Oregon StP12269.84554.86-0
13StanfordP12377.147.754.85-2
14Florida StACC1823.930.554.47-1
15Arizona StP124714.63953.65-2
16Southern CalP125715.637.4536-1
17GeorgiaSEC6713.638.652.26-1
18Ohio StateB101813.338.7528-0
19MichiganB102710.341.651.95-2
20ArizonaP12676.145.851.94-3
21Oklahoma StB125614.13751.14-2
22WisconsinB10389.640.650.26-2
23Utah StWAC1814.935.1506-2
24Iowa StB12673.246.649.84-3
25ClemsonACC2713.635.949.56-1
26Mississippi StSEC7718.530.749.27-0
27TCUB127712.436.548.95-2
28Fresno StMWC1812.336.648.95-3
29BaylorB12862.845.648.43-3
30MississippiSEC874.443.848.24-3
31West VirginiaB1297246.248.25-2
32Louisiana TechWAC2715.93247.96-1
33Brigham YoungIND--87.640.247.84-4
34Louisiana-MonroeSun1711.63647.65-2
35North CarolinaACC3814.332.847.15-3
36RutgersBgE1715.631.4477-0
37UCLAP12778.638.346.95-2
38Boise StMWC2711.435.6476-1
39Penn StateB104711.435.346.75-2
40San José StWAC379.835.845.65-2
41NebraskaB105710.235.345.55-2
42Northern IllinoisMAC1816.628.344.97-1
43Michigan StB10682.941.544.44-4
44TulsaCUS1812.23244.27-1
45PurdueB10770.942.743.63-4
46MissouriSEC97-3.947.443.53-4
47NorthwesternB10886.936.743.66-2
48CincinnatiBgE261528.543.55-1
49CaliforniaP1288-1.344.743.43-5
50LouisvilleBgE3710.932.243.17-0
51TennesseeSEC107-0.243.2433-4
52ArkansasSEC117-2.845.642.83-4
53San Diego StMWC388.733.642.35-3
54Western KentuckySun276.935.342.25-2
55Central FloridaCUS279.931.841.75-2
56WashingtonP1297-7.549.241.73-4
57North Carolina StACC476.235.441.65-2
58UtahP12107-4.645.841.22-5
59Miami FLACC58-3.944.740.84-4
60VanderbiltSEC127-1.542.240.73-4
61NevadaMWC488.931.740.66-2
62ToledoMAC288.331.7407-1
63SMUCUS37138.739.73-4
64IowaB1097-0.44039.64-3
65Louisiana-LafayetteSun369.629.639.24-2
66SyracuseBgE47-0.13938.93-4
67DukeACC686.532.338.86-2
68Virginia TechACC78335.638.64-4
69South FloridaBgE57-2.64138.42-5
70IndianaB10107136.337.32-5
71MinnesotaB101170.33737.34-3
72Kent StMAC379.627.637.26-1
73AuburnSEC137-10.647.737.11-6
74TempleBgE66-137.736.73-3
75Georgia TechACC875.431.236.63-4
76East CarolinaCUS481.535.136.65-3
77Ohio U.MAC4713.223.236.47-0
78TroySun47234.236.24-3
79Ball StMAC580.835.336.15-3
80KentuckySEC148-1348.635.61-7
81MarshallCUS571.533.635.13-4
82New MexicoMWC580.93434.94-4
83Air ForceMWC675.629.134.74-3
84KansasB12107-13.24834.81-6
85MarylandACC971.133.634.74-3
86Middle Tennessee StSun570.83333.84-3
87HoustonCUS67-3.136.833.73-4
88NavyIND--7-1.53533.54-3
89Bowling GreenMAC686.826.533.35-3
90PittsburghBgE77231333-4
91Texas St-San MarcosWAC46-3.135.532.43-3
92Washington StP12117-9.841.932.12-5
93Arkansas StSun671.230.8324-3
94North TexasSun77-3.635.431.83-4
95UTEPCUS78-940.731.72-6
96Alabama-BirminghamCUS87-8.639.430.81-6
97ConnecticutBgE88-2.132.930.83-5
98Western MichiganMAC78-0.330.730.43-5
99WyomingMWC77-8.93930.11-6
100Boston CollegeACC107-8.53829.51-6
101VirginiaACC118-9.338.729.42-6
102Wake ForestACC127-5.134.229.14-3
103IllinoisB10127-11.639.928.32-5
104RiceCUS98-7.535.5282-6
105UNLVMWC88-12.34027.71-7
106Colorado StMWC97-15.141.226.11-6
107Florida AtlanticSun87-12.438.4261-6
108Florida Int'lSun98-10.735.925.21-7
109Central MichiganMAC87-12.635.823.22-5
110BuffaloMAC97-11.634.6231-6
111Southern MissCUS107-18.841.622.80-7
112Miami OHMAC107-11.133.822.73-4
113AkronMAC118-9.331.922.61-7
114ColoradoP12127-18.440.121.71-6
115Eastern MichiganMAC127-14.135.721.61-6
116TulaneCUS117-21.142.521.41-6
117Texas-San AntonioWAC578.113.121.25-2
118South AlabamaSun107-9.930.9212-5
119Hawai`iMWC106-1838.420.41-5
120ArmyIND--7-1333.220.21-6
121MemphisCUS127-13.93420.11-6
122New Mexico StWAC67-11.930.118.21-6
123IdahoWAC78-20.437.216.81-7
124MassachusettsMAC137-23.934.710.80-7

And the top games of the week:

RkTmPFOppPAH/RW/LdiffMOVCONCONSOSSRS
1Florida44South Carolina11HW3327SECSEC58.385.3
2Kansas St55West Virginia14RW4134B12B1248.282.2
3Oregon43Arizona St21RW2224.5P12P1253.678.1
4Alabama44Tennessee13RW3129SECSEC4372
5Arizona52Washington17HW3528P12P1241.769.7
6LSU24Texas A&M19RW58SECSEC59.967.9
7Oklahoma St31Iowa St10HW2118B12B1249.867.8
8Oklahoma52Kansas7HW4533B12B1234.867.8
9Mississippi St45Middle Tennessee St3HW4231.5SECSun33.865.3
10Penn State38Iowa14RW2425.5B10B1039.665.1
11Stanford21California3RW1821P12P1243.464.4
12Rutgers35Temple10RW2526BgEBgE36.762.7
13Wisconsin38Minnesota13HW2522B10B1037.359.3
14SMU72Houston42HW3025.5CUSCUS33.759.2
15Brigham Young14Notre Dame17RL-30INDIND59.159.1
16Florida St33Miami FL20RW1316ACCACC40.756.7
17Clemson38Virginia Tech17HW2118ACCACC38.656.6
18Syracuse40Connecticut10HW3025.5BgEBgE30.856.3
19Texas Tech56TCU53RW37B12B124956
20Texas56Baylor50HW67B12B1248.355.3
21Fresno St42Wyoming14HW2824.5MWCMWC30.154.6
22Southern Cal50Colorado6HW4432.5P12P1221.754.2
23Marshall59Southern Miss24RW3531CUSCUS22.853.8
24TCU53Texas Tech56HL-3-7B12B1260.153.1
25Oregon St21Utah7HW1411P12P1241.152.1
26Michigan St10Michigan12RL-20B10B1051.951.9
27Northern Illinois37Akron7RW3028.5MACMAC22.651.1
28Ohio State29Purdue22HW77B10B1043.750.7
29Nebraska29Northwestern28RW17B10B1043.550.5
30Toledo29Cincinnati23HW67MACBgE43.550.5
31Boise St32UNLV7HW2522MWCMWC27.749.7
32Louisiana-Monroe43Western Kentucky42RW17SunSun42.249.2
33San José St52Texas-San Antonio24RW2827.5WACWAC21.248.7
34Louisiana Tech70Idaho28HW4231.5WACWAC16.948.4
35Baylor50Texas56RL-6-7B12B1254.947.9
36Notre Dame17Brigham Young14HW30INDIND47.847.8
37Texas A&M19LSU24HL-5-8SECSEC55.647.6
38San Diego St39Nevada38RW17MWCMWC40.647.6
39Duke33North Carolina30HW30ACCACC47.147.1
40Georgia Tech37Boston College17HW2017ACCACC29.546.5
41North Texas30Louisiana-Lafayette23HW77SunSun39.246.2
42Utah St41New Mexico St7HW3427.5WACWAC18.345.8
43Purdue22Ohio State29RL-7-7B10B105245
44Michigan12Michigan St10HW20B10B1044.444.4
45Kent St41Western Michigan24HW1714MACMAC30.444.4
46Kentucky24Georgia29HL-5-8SECSEC52.244.2
47Vanderbilt17Auburn13HW47SECSEC37.144.1
48Utah7Oregon St21RL-14-11P12P1254.843.8
49Georgia29Kentucky24RW58SECSEC35.643.6
50South Florida25Louisville27RL-20BgEBgE43.243.2
51Air Force28New Mexico23HW57MWCMWC34.941.9
52North Carolina St20Maryland18RW27ACCACC34.741.7
53Tennessee13Alabama44HL-31-29SECSEC70.341.3
54Central Florida35Memphis17RW1821CUSCUS2041
55East Carolina42Alabama-Birmingham35RW710CUSCUS30.940.9
56Western Kentucky42Louisiana-Monroe43HL-1-7SunSun47.540.5
57Pittsburgh20Buffalo6RW1417BgEMAC2340
58Arizona St21Oregon43HL-22-24.5P12P1264.439.9
59North Carolina30Duke33RL-30ACCACC38.838.8
60Northwestern28Nebraska29HL-1-7B10B1045.538.5
61Miami FL20Florida St33HL-13-16ACCACC54.538.5
62Louisville27South Florida25HW20BgEBgE38.438.4
63Wake Forest16Virginia10RW69ACCACC29.438.4
64Navy31Indiana30HW10INDB1037.337.3
65Ball St41Central Michigan30RW1114MACMAC23.237.2
66Rice24Tulsa28RL-4-7CUSCUS44.237.2
67South Carolina11Florida44RL-33-27SECSEC63.436.4
68Bowling Green24Massachusetts0RW2425.5MACMAC10.836.3
69Florida Int'l37Troy38RL-10SunSun36.236.2
70Nevada38San Diego St39HL-1-7MWCMWC42.335.3
71Tulsa28Rice24HW47CUSCUS2835
72Maryland18North Carolina St20HL-2-7ACCACC41.634.6
73Kansas7Oklahoma52RL-45-33B12B1267.134.1
74California3Stanford21HL-18-21P12P1254.833.8
75Auburn13Vanderbilt17RL-4-7SECSEC40.733.7
76Indiana30Navy31RL-10B10IND33.533.5
77Iowa St10Oklahoma St31RL-21-18B12B1251.133.1
78Cincinnati23Toledo29RL-6-7BgEMAC39.932.9
79Virginia Tech17Clemson38RL-21-18ACCACC49.531.5
80West Virginia14Kansas St55HL-41-34B12B1264.330.3
81UTEP24Tulane20HW47CUSCUS21.428.4
82Minnesota13Wisconsin38RL-25-22B10B1050.228.2
83New Mexico23Air Force28RL-5-7MWCMWC34.827.8
84Eastern Michigan48Army38HW107MACIND20.227.2
85Alabama-Birmingham35East Carolina42HL-7-10CUSCUS36.626.6
86South Alabama37Florida Atlantic34HW30SunSun2626
87Troy38Florida Int'l37HW10SunSun25.225.2
88UNLV7Boise St32RL-25-22MWCMWC4725
89Louisiana-Lafayette23North Texas30RL-7-7SunSun31.824.8
90Tulane20UTEP24RL-4-7CUSCUS31.724.7
91Wyoming14Fresno St42RL-28-24.5MWCMWC48.924.4
92Washington17Arizona52RL-35-28P12P1251.923.9
93Western Michigan24Kent St41RL-17-14MACMAC37.223.2
94New Mexico St7Utah St41RL-34-27.5WACWAC5022.5
95Central Michigan30Ball St41HL-11-14MACMAC36.122.1
96Iowa14Penn State38HL-24-25.5B10B1046.821.3
97Florida Atlantic34South Alabama37RL-30SunSun21.121.1
98Temple10Rutgers35HL-25-26BgEBgE4721
99Memphis17Central Florida35HL-18-21CUSCUS41.820.8
100Colorado6Southern Cal50RL-44-32.5P12P1253.120.6
101Virginia10Wake Forest16HL-6-9ACCACC29.120.1
102Boston College17Georgia Tech37RL-20-17ACCACC36.719.7
103Texas-San Antonio24San José St52HL-28-27.5WACWAC45.618.1
104Middle Tennessee St3Mississippi St45RL-42-31.5SunSEC49.217.7
105Akron7Northern Illinois37HL-30-28.5MACMAC44.916.4
106Idaho28Louisiana Tech70RL-42-31.5WACWAC47.816.3
107Buffalo6Pittsburgh20HL-14-17MACBgE3316
108Army38Eastern Michigan48RL-10-7INDMAC21.614.6
109Houston42SMU72RL-30-25.5CUSCUS39.714.2
110Connecticut10Syracuse40RL-30-25.5BgEBgE38.913.4
111Massachusetts0Bowling Green24HL-24-25.5MACMAC33.37.8
112Southern Miss24Marshall59HL-35-31CUSCUS35.14.1

The SRS was extremely impressed with Florida, Kansas State, and Oregon this week. Florida struggled mightily on offense in the first half against South Carolina, but at the end of the day, escaped with a 33-point victory. If not for three critical Gamecock fumbles, USC could have won, but that doesn’t explain the poor second-half effort.

Meanwhile, Collin Klein threw 3 touchdowns and ran for 4 more against West Virginia. Last year, Kansas State seemed to use every ounce of grit, tenacity, luck, spackle, and magic fairy dust to earn a 10-2 regular season record. This year, the Wildcats legitimately look like a top-five team.

Meanwhile, Oregon put to rest any notion that Arizona State was a sleeper in the conference. I noted last week that Arizona State, while ranking 10th in the SRS, didn’t really pass the sniff test, and that we’d find out a lot more about them this week. Well, Oregon went into Tempe and raced out to a 43-7 halftime lead. The Ducks haven’t had the hardest schedule, but look like a worthy #2 team in the polls. Even at 13-0 they’re not a lock for the BCS National Championship Game, but at this point, they seem to be the most likely entrant from the rest of the pack to face Alabama in Miami.

And one non-FBS note. Each week, I rank all the teams — not just the FBS ones — using the SRS. I don’t publish the results from the other leagues, but I eyeball the top teams in the FCS. The past few weeks, Harvard was ranking in the top three or four with teams like North Dakota State, Cal Poly, and Georgia Southern, and would basically have been considered a top-80 team. This week, I noticed they had dropped, so I went to investigate. As it turns out, they led 34-10 entering the 4th quarter against Princeton, but 29 fourth-quarter points by the Tigers lifted them to victory. Because I know you need to know these things.

References

References
1 Upshaw and Barron were All-SEC first team selections by the AP, and Chapman, Hightower and Kirkpatrick earned second-team honors.
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