Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
College Football is back! Every week, I will provide an update that summarizes our College Football Power Rankings. FTN’s simulation model repeats 10,000 iterations and powers our weekly College Football Power Rankings. The rankings will update at the start of each week as the model collects additional data. If you are looking for weekly picks? Check out our CFB Betting Model which is updated every Monday for the upcoming slate of games.
Let’s take a quick look at the biggest discrepancies from the AP Top 25 to our own FTN Power Rankings.
Iowa State
AP Ranking: 18
FTN Power Ranking: 23
Change: +11
We are still lower than consensus on Iowa State’s ranking, but its impressive 52-7 blowout of Arkansas State moves the Cyclones up 11 spots to No. 23 in our Power Rankings. Iowa State has skyrocketed 23 spots from our preseason spot of No. 46, the biggest move of any Top 25 team on our list. The Cyclones have a very winnable game at Houston before hosting Baylor in two weeks.
Louisville
AP Ranking: 15
FTN Power Ranking: 14
Change: +4
The Cardinals put forth an impressive 31-19 win over Georgia Tech to push their record to 3-0.
Louisville rose four spots in our Power Rankings to 14th overall, now one spot ahead of its AP spot entering Week 5. Quarterback Tyler Shough is making the most of his third collegiate opportunity with eight touchdowns and no interceptions through the first three matchups. The Cardinals face their biggest test of the season on Saturday when they travel to Notre Dame to face the No. 16 Fighting Irish.
Indiana
AP Ranking: NR
FTN Power Ranking: 31
Change: +11
Indiana rose 22 spots last week after a shocking 42-13 pounding of UCLA in Pasadena. The Hoosiers easily disposed of Charlotte, 52-14, and climbed an additional 11 spots in our Power Rankings. The 4-0 Hoosiers have now outscored their opponents 202-37 on the season. Indiana does not face a ranked opponent until it hosts Nebraska on October 19.
Nebraska
AP Ranking: NR
FTN Power Ranking: 38
Change: +10
Sometimes when you lose, you still win. The Cornhuskers lost a close 31-24 home battle to No. 19 Illinois, which dropped Nebraska from the AP Top 25 Rankings, but bolstered them 10 spots to No. 38 in our Power Rankings. The Cornhuskers competed well and should have actually won the game if they could have reduced penalties. Nebraska is 0-1 in Big Ten play, with two critical matchups at Purdue and home to Rutgers the next two weeks.
North Carolina
AP Ranking: NR
FTN Power Ranking: 43
Change: -13
The Tar Heels suffered a brutal 70-50 home loss to James Madison, including a program-record 53 first-half points against. It was just the second time an ACC team allowed 70 points to an opponent. North Carolina plummeted 13 spots to No. 43 in our Power Rankings and now heads to undefeated rival Duke on Saturday.
