The latest US LBM Coaches Poll saw some noticeable changes following some dramatic results in Week 9. This all helps to set the stage for the College Football Playoff selection committee's first batch of playoff rankings this week as the regular season makes the final turn down the final stretch. While we now seem to know which teams are safely in the top 12 (like Miami and Georgia), we also don't really know who else could be viable down toward the bottom of those 12 spots. Chances are a lot of two-loss teams will either be on the right side of the cut or on the outside looking in. Here are the most overrated and underrated teams in this week's coaches poll.
Overrated: No. 3 Indiana
When you need a miracle 60-yard kick to send a game to overtime against an unranked
team, you know you're in trouble. This is the second straight week where Indiana had to struggle through a mistake-filled game, especially considering what is potentially happening in their QB room. With doubts surrounding the status of Josh Hoover, it could be backup Grant Wilson who has to take the wheel the rest of the way. Their next game against a resurgent USC could be a true test of whether this team can truly weather whatever storm is brewing in Bloomington. It's been quite some time since we've seen the Hoosiers struggle.
Underrated: No. 4 Utah
As of right now, Utah is only one of three unbeaten teams in the sport. And yet, they still aren't considered a top 3 team in the nation. In a potential trap game against a Cincinnati team coming off a win against Texas Tech, they took care of business, trouncing the Bearcats 49-25. Devon Damiper was excellent, throwing for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns, and the run game had over 200 yards on just 42 carries. The Utes now have two of the best wins in the entire conference. Next week? A date with BYU in the Holy War to potentially determine who represents the conference not only in the championship game, but in the CFP as well.
Overrated: No. 21 Boise State
As the current frontrunner for the Group of Six's lone playoff spot, the Broncos must manuever through what could turn out to be a problematic injury to QB Maddux Madsen. He left their game against Texas State with a left knee injury. True freshman Mat Cutforth had three touchdown passes, but the game was too close for comfort. Boise State can rely on having the nation's rushing leader, but they may not be able to rely on Cutforth for a prolonged period of time should Madsen be sidelined. The Group of Six CFP race just got very interesting.
Underrated: No. 15 LSU
If you're wondering how an idle team can be underrated, it's about who they play after their bye that should tell you. LSU may be the team that decides the entire fate of the SEC. Next week, they play Alabama at home, then host Texas. Should the Tigers go 2-0, they could become the two-loss team no one wants to face. It all rests on the shoulders of QB Sam Leavitt. If he looks like he has in the weeks leading up to the bye, LSU could be a fearsome unit.
Overrated: No. 23 Northwestern
There may just be no dark horses in the Big Ten race after Week 9. Wisconsin left the rankings as swiftly as they entered, but the biggest disappointment is Northwestern losing to a banged-up Oregon team. In a pretty even game, the defense allowed backup QB Dylan Raiola to have one of the best games of his career, throwing for 336 yards and a touchdown. It is clear that perhaps the Wildcats are just in these rankings for who they've played so far rather than who they've beaten. In fact, in their only ranked game thus far, they blew their shot at upsetting the Hoosiers. Now, over the next few weeks, they get Ohio State, Minnesota, and Illinois. Either they buck up or succumb to the pressure of playing better teams.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Most overrated and underrated teams in Week 9 US LBM Coaches Poll
