In all the talk this weekend about point spreads and margins of victory--with both being the key for some teams with BCS playoff hopes--it's worth reminding you, dear reader, that apparently it's okay to openly discuss wagering on college football, as long as it involves betting on the games, and not on individual player performance.

We realize we're preaching to the choir here.

And we know you don't come here for, well, political football. With that in mind, our final regular-season rankings for CFB after championship week, from our usual fantasy perspective (won-loss records in parentheses). See you in January.

 

NCAA College Football (CBB) Rankings

1. Alabama, (13-0)

The Crimson Tide needed neither style points, nor even a victory, in the SEC Championship Game to ensure their place in the BCS playoffs. They got both anyway. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley had just four catches for 43 yards on the day, but he has 66 grabs for 727 yards on the season--certainly more than enough to bolster his NFL resume.

2. Clemson, (12-1)

The Tigers needed to win handily to restore pollsters faith in them. They didn't. But they did win, which is enough. But will it be enough for QB Deshaun Watson? Once the consensus first-overall pick in the 2017 draft, his NFL future is now a mystery. Another pick (albeit off a deflection) against Virginia Tech won't help. He's now thrown 12 for the season.

3. Ohio State, (11-1)

The Buckeyes watched the Big 10 Championship Game at home, yet many still consider them the conference's best. We'll soon learn whether Urban Meyer gleaned enough from his former employer's (Florida) defensive performance against 'Bama.

4. Oklahoma, (10-2)

We know. Washington is in, and deservedly so. But the Sooners are still the nation's hottest team, and we'll give the Huskies their due in our final rankings. For now, props to QB Baker Mayfield and his teammates for putting on a show.

5. Washington, (12-1)

The Huskies needed a big win in the Pac-12 title game to convince the selection committee they belonged. They got one, despite a lackluster performance from QB Jake Browning. U-Dub has a lot of weapons, though, including backs Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman, both of whom ran for more than 100 yards against Colorado.

6. Western Michigan, (13-0)

Undefeated is undefeated. Western needed style points and a Navy loss to clinch a place in the Cotton Bowl. They didn't get the former, but got the latter. Although the MAC Championship Game was closer than expected, the country did get to see Broncos' wide receiver Corey Davis at his best.

7. Penn State, (11-2)

We're still pinching ourselves. The Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl?! QB Trace McSorley may be too small to play at the next level, but boy does he have a lot of guts, and a knack for pulling off the big play. He set title-game records against a stout Wisconsin defense, and broke all of Penn State's passing records in the process.

8. Michigan, (10-2)

The Wolverines sat on the sidelines this week, too, but they are probably the second-best team in the Big 10. Jim Harbaugh is still crying about refs, but he's got this storied program heading in the right direction.

9. Oklahoma State, (10-3)

The Cowboys lost Bedlam, but it was always going to be a tough ask at Norman. We'd love to see the 'Pokes go head-to-head with either Clemson or Ohio State, at a neutral site.

10. Colorado, (10-3)

Consider this our protest vote. The Pac-12 gets more slights than a deck of cards at David Blaine's house. The Buffs lost their QB early against UW, and then lost the title game big. No shame there.