Joel Klatt, where you at? The lead college football analyst for FOX Sports makes a living calling primarily Big Ten games that involve Ohio State. He may have been a sensational passer for a Big 12 school that spent a decade or so wandering in the wilderness of the old Pac-12, but he will occasionally call it as he sees it. He found some clarity amid all of the Gus Johnson yelling nonsense.
Klatt shared on social media his top 10 teams in college football heading into the new week. While working his way up from No. 10 all the way to No. 1, Klatt actually did a great job of explaining his logic, until he let his Big Ten bias show by having the Oregon Ducks coming in at No. 5. If Oregon came in at No. 5, that had to have meant Klatt would be so far down on Georgia. It was not the case.
Here is Klatt's top 10 teams in college football heading into the Week 12 slate. What shocks you all?
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Oregon Ducks
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Texas Longhorns
Klatt having Georgia up at No. 4 was a pleasant surprise, as well as seeing Alabama behind at No. 6.
Joel Klatt explains why he believes Georgia is the No. 4 team in the nation
Klatt did not beat around the bush too much explaining why he likes Georgia as much as he does.
"Georgia finally goes from the team that's just toying with everybody, to putting the hammer down in the SEC. They drilled Mississippi State. That's not a team I would love to see in the playoff, with Kirby Smart and that Georgia Bulldogs team."
This point, as well as him not believing Alabama can run the football effectively, is why UGA is at No. 6.
Admittedly, that is a bit rich, not to the degree of seeing the biggest frauds in the entire playoff field in Oregon sitting at No. 5. Of course, Klatt had beloved Ohio State at No. 1 and an Indiana that does not play anyone worth a damn sitting at No. 2 over Texas A&M. Yes, the Aggies have avoided seemingly everyone good of note in SEC play, but they have a big one-point road win over No. 10 Notre Dame.
Having Georgia at No. 4 can be justified, but he has the wrong team ranked behind them in Alabama.
Georgia being No. 4 is about as strong as Joel Klatt's entire top-10 field
If there are two teams that belong ahead of Georgia, it would be Alabama and Ohio State in no particular order. The Crimson Tide have regularly beaten the Dawgs like a drum head-to-head. Yes, their one loss on the season to Florida State is looking worse by the week, but Alabama is still Alabama. As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes are the reigning national champions and have not lost yet.
As for Indiana and Texas A&M being propped up ahead of Georgia, they do not appear to be as much of substance as the other would-be contenders. Texas A&M can get through SEC play without facing Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ole Miss or Vanderbilt during the regular season. Ohio State may only play cupcakes, but at least Ryan Day has the stones to schedule good teams, unlike Curt Cignetti...
If Indiana beats Wisconsin, Purdue and Ohio State en route to a 13-0 Big Ten championship, then the Hoosiers will have earned their top-two seed. Otherwise, this is a top-eight team masquerading as a top-tier one. As for Texas A&M, when was the last time you could ever trust Texas A&M to play winning football when it is required. The Aggies do recruit phenomenally, but it is a sit-down program.
Klatt putting Georgia up at No. 4 seems understandable, but his top 10 is really all over the place.