Top 25 (Oct 21st)

Well, I decided to relax a bit this weekend, and skipped out on doing any more picks (and, hey, I went 4-0 for a +10 week!). I'm thinking about tailing off on the spread picks, at least until/unless more people start paying more attention here, as they are really detracting from the point of this website... which is the championing of the BCS!

But it's Sunday, and that means it's poll time. And I'm a happy man as I look down the top 25!

1 Ohio State 8-0 / win vs Michigan State || 0
2 Boston College 6-0 / OFF || +1
3 Oregon 6-1 / win @ Washington || +4
4 LSU 7-1 / win vs Auburn || 0
5 Oklahoma 7-1 / win @ Iowa State || 0
6 Kansas 7-0 / win @ Colorado || +4
7 West Virginia 6-1 / win vs Mississippi State || +1
8 South Florida 6-1/ loss @ Rutgers || -6
9 Arizona State 7-0 / off || 0
10 Virginia Tech 6-1 / off || +2
11 Hawaii 7-0 / off || +3
12 Florida 5-2 / win @ Kentucky || +3
13 Missouri 6-1 / win vs Texas Tech || +3
14 Virginia 7-1 / win @ Maryland || +6
15 Kentucky 6-2 / loss @ Florida || -4
16 South Carolina 6-2 / loss vs Vanderbilt || -10
17 USC 6-1 / win @ Notre Dame || +2
18 Penn State 6-2 / win @ Indiana || +4
19 Texas 6-2 / win @ Baylor || -2
20 Michigan 6-2 / win @ Illinois || NR
21 Connecticut 6-1 / win vs Louisville || NR
22 Alabama 6-2 / win vs Tennessee || NR
23 Wake Forest 5-2 / win @ Navy || +2
24 Rutgers 5-2 / win vs South Florida || NR
25 Clemson 5-2 / win vs Central Michigan || NR



Others Considered: (generally ranked highest to lowest):
Troy, UCLA, Auburn, Georgia, California, Maryland, Georgia Tech, BYU, Boise State, Kansas State, Purdue, Miami, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, Houston, New Mexico, Fresno State

Dropped out: Tennessee, Texas Tech, Auburn, California, Kansas State


Team by team:
Ohio State doesn't come out looking all that great. The widespread word is they survived the upset curse (I was REALLY hoping for a second straight week of top 2 going down - last week was the first time the top 2 went down once since 1996! But honestly, they were cruising until a really bad string of mistakes. But USC, Oklahoma, and even UCF have had the same periods of misfortune and not managed to win. Yes, they beat an unranked team, and yes they go to State College next week. But I think they are looking solider by the week, and this was as tough a game as any. Won't be easy, but they are starting to smell it perhaps.

Boston College moves up to #2 by default. Thankfully for them, their next four opponents continue to look better and better, and help them separate from the 1-loss teams... should they manage to win out somehow. I still don't see them doing it... but Thursday's game (wow, what a set of Thursday games this year, huh!?!) is the biggest of them all!

Sorry Oklahoma and sorry LSU, Oregon just couldn't sit behind you anymore. While you both struggled with teams I really feel you should have beaten (LSU's was the more difficult, but at home and in a game they should've shown they were not an ordinary team by responding after last week's tough loss), Oregon went on the road and beat another pretty decent team. I see that they didn't exactly dominate... but keep in mind, this team is one last second fumble from tying it versus Cal. LSU is close, but I think Oregon has to get the tweak here, if only based upon recent play. I am becoming quite certain that if Oregon wins out, they should be #2. Hello two top 25 (or probably top 10 in most polls) teams the next two weeks. At home, you have to think they can. Nov 3 vs ASU could be epic! The two forgotten Pac 10 teams battling it out for supremacy!

LSU you only lost out this week. You broadened the gap over Oklahoma by beating another top 25 team... but in the meantime, Kentucky and South Carolina both took one on the chin. If Virginia Tech wins next week, I'll have to hand a few points back over... but until Oregon loses, you are now behind for struggling so bad against Auburn and letting them impose their will in the 4th quarter at home... plus almost another coaching travesty with the pass... 1 more second, a drop... different outcome. These coaching gambles and slips will catch up. I thought they were invincible 3 weeks ago. Nope. And now Alabama has suddenly emerged. It's like every team who is getting set to play LSU suddenly becomes good!

Oklahoma fails to capitalize in my poll as well... but they'll move up where it counts - the BCS. Early Christmas cards for Rutgers. Oklahoma is looking pretty good to slide in, even as their play leaves a lot to be desired. They also definitely aren't the team they were before Colorado, and with Texas Tech and OSU remaining, it could go south. Then again, the giant test is almost certainly going to be the conference title game, where Kansas (or Missouri) are really starting to look monstrous and scary!

Speaking of the Jayhawks! How can they not be a top 10 team after going on the road to beat a top team in their division for the second time in 3 weeks. And this time, it was their defense that really showed muscle! Yes, I agree, you can still fiddle with the question of whether they can beat a top team... I can understand wariness... but they have done some pretty amazing things the past couple weeks... winning on the road in places Oklahoma and Texas (ok, fine, Texas didn't even lose AT Manhattan) couldn't! If they are one of only 1 or 2 undefeated teams (discounting Hawaii), it's tough to say they don't deserve to play, especially given how no one else is really outstandingly emerging!

So, does the whole world criticize me for moving USF behind the team they beat, West Virginia? It will be REALLY interesting to see how the pollsters settle this one (or if it's an issue at all). But there are two key rules in college football
- If you lose, lose early
- We vote on who is the better team, not who has the deciding record
And these are what make college football great! The importance of timing of a loss came up twice in conversation this week somehow! People argue: 'why should a team be punished for playing their best opponents later in the season?'. Sorry, but it really is a story of what have you done for me lately........ we are trying to crown the best team in the nation here. Whichever one lost earlier in the season is showing they are better. The real key here is the second great thing about college football, and it's polls.... we can compare two teams, two games, and recognize which one looks better. West Virginia looked much more solid against USF earlier this year than USF did this past Thursday. USF just kept throwing away chance after chance. And Rutgers didn't have nearly as much to play for as USF did in their game vs WVU. Long discussion short: I think West Virginia is definitely the better team. Beating Miss State more handily than I really would have imagined today continued to show me they are for real. And while I loss half my title game I got settled with a couple weeks back (that being South Carolina vs West Virginia), WVU looks like they are ready to roll into this deal. Winning at Rutgers handily should and will seal the deal this week.

South Florida stays inside the top 10, but they looked weak on offense and paper thin on defense against West Virginia. 362 yards looks fair enough for offense. But they failed to convert at key times on long drives in the 3rd quarter, dropping them behind... and then, following the td drive that looked like it might define their season... they got the ball 3 times and went nowhere. USF's defense gave up 400 yards to Rutgers... who only managed 392 against Maryland. And they just couldn't get it done. I'm sure USF and Rutgers will both get more love in the polls this week than I'm willing to give them; I'm ready to jump off the Big East bandwagon once-and-for-fully. But we'll see how it goes the next few weeks. South Florida loses at UConn. By 14 or more. You heard it hear first (I hope).

Here Arizona State, have an idle. Wait, you've already had 7 of those this year (sorry still Colorado). Road games against opponents with combined 5-9 (1-8 conference) records = useless. You look like Hawaii. Just thank God that you aren't, and you get a shot to prove it the next four weeks (wow, Cal, Oregon, UCLA, USC looks like the hardest schedule since the advent of the forward pass). Enjoy!
Oh, I'm already more interested in like 2009... Elway!!! Sorry Rudy Carpenter!

We're going to have to enjoy the top 10 battle this week in the ACC. Savor it, they don't happen very often in that conference in recent years! I continue to hold my breath wondering whether Virginia Tech will finally take the big step they never really seemed to take... and forcefully wrest control of their conference away. All they have to do is beat an overrated team at home, so it looks palatable. But don't give them too much credit just yet! You know, they win, they could (pretty amazingly) play in the National Championship game. Even as disgusting as that LSU drubbing/manhandling was.

I almost cried. I had to move Hawaii up 3 slots. New Mexico State is 4-4... so if I were setting Vegas odds, I'd favor them! 8-) What's kind of sad is that Hawaii will move up to around 15 in BCS... only 3 slots out of a guaranteed BCS payday. Oh well, they deserve their shot, and it'll be fun watching an SEC team like Kentucky/LSU, Pac 10 team like USC/Oregon/ASU, or someone like Michigan dissect them! What's REALLY sad (ok, really it's just plain scary) is that they would be within 13 spots of the BCS title game... and at the this season's rate (and given their remaining schedule that will only significantly boost their SOS)... they're bound to end up #1. Oh the humanity.

Why mommy, why can't I move Florida past Hawaii!?! Ooh, I can smell it! I've been saying it since before the LSU game even ended... don't count the Gators out of going back to Baton Rouge... for the National Championship! #15 going into the week, and they should easily now pass Kentucky, South Carolina, and Cal. Plus I argue the great victory should move them past USC if anything is fair in the world (and thanks to computers, it sort of is!). That's 11th. Oregon still plays ASU. Oklahoma would still have to play Kansas. VT plays BC. And they all have conference title games to worry about, sans Ohio State and the Pac 10 remnant(s). And they still get South Carolina (ok, I wish you hadn't lost), Georgia, and quite possibly LSU again. It isn't probable. But it continues to keep steam and look more possible by the week. A lot of football to go! And everyone would then hate UF if they won ANOTHER title!
Oh, I can't forget... the day also went terrific just because Tennessee lost and the Gators are 100% back in control in the east. With 2 losses. In the SEC. They are in control of their destiny in October!?! Crazy days!
Now WIN that cocktail party, please! One more loss and you ARE done. And I cry.

Missouri looks solid, and maybe I should be moving them past Florida (and maybe the voters/BCS should/will as well). Really a tough battle, as Missouri blasted the second best Big 12 south team at home, while Florida went on the road to beat a top 10 team. Really hard to move Missouri past UF. Really I didn't even consider, though, that Missouri might be the better team last week. Now it's a thin hair dividing them. Seeing as they should move past Hawaii in both human polls, I should correct and move Florida down a spot in the BCS. Oops, sorry, too tired to. :-) Still, at Kansas and Kansas State will define their season. If they win those two and in San Antonio... oh look, yet another fringe team crossing their fingers that they might do the inconceivable. This indeed could end up the most amazing college football season ever......... Missouri vs. Hawaii!?!? **coughs up blood**

There weren't a lot of teams moving way up on the opinion poll this week. Kansas. And Virginia. I'm a jerk. I just won't stop giving this team no love. But after this weeks win, ON THE ROAD, against a pretty hulky Maryland squad, it's time to stop being a jerk. So who things they stumble now that that happens? Oh no, that's a lot of hands! Actually, here's another team that could roll through the ACC and set up a historic battle against Virginia Tech. Don't even start mentioning National Championship to me, or I'll throw grapefruit.

Kentucky didn't have it today. I wouldn't write them off just yet... except probably when it comes to the SEC East race. Having lost to the two top contenders (UF and USC) in their side of the division divide, and with the other two (Georgia and Tennessee) still to come, they are all but toast. It's a very interesting east race this year, because it's really being controlled by the western teams and when everybody plays them. Has anybody realized that Florida has only lost to west teams.... but also that Vandy is the only other team done with their western schedule (losing 2 of their 3 there) and could still sneak into the division title!?! What if they'd beaten Georgia!?! Whoa! Oh yeah, I was talking about Kentucky. Definitely still a potent threat... it'll be interesting to see where they end up during bowl season. Beyond that, the excitement is gone from Kentucky, off to find another home for next week on it's weekly travelling.

In most years, this upset would mark the upset of the year. Except that we've arguably had the three biggest upsets in college football history (Michigan-App St, Louisville-'Cuse, and USC-Stanford) plus Oklahoma-Colorado, Texas-KState, Florida-Auburn, and Cal-OregonSt among others. Still, what a kick in the groin for Steve Spurrier! They lost to Vandrebilt!?! At HOME!?!?!?! I caught the score early in this one (17-0 early 2nd) and said "rut roh" immediately for South Carolina. Vanderbilt finally stopped being pesky this year and won. You can look back now... Carolina looked spectacular before this week on first glance... having one loss... by 12... at LSU. And having beaten Kentucky and won at Georgia. But now the other stat leaps out: they didn't win a game by more than 17 points all year, except versus DI-AA South Carolina State... including such avid opponents as Louisiana-Lafayette, North Carolina, and Mississippi State. I'll give you a cookie (a nice invisible one) or an ESPN 2 Minute Drill muffin, though, if you saw this one coming. I must say, though, that I still favor the Gamecocks to win out. I don't know how Florida can win this year after surviving last year in the Swamp. And what if SC wins out with Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, and Clemson... and adds a crowning blowout of LSU in Atlanta... where in the world does that put them in the BCS!?!

USC, congratulations, you move up a couple spots. I guess I am almost impressed with your treatment of Notre Dame after they've started looking like a team again. But wow it just furthers the overrating. It's still Notre Dame!!!! Ummm, maybe I'll give you even odds at Oregon next week now? I doubt it, but they've got a shot now. One team's season will end there. Can they right the ship rapidly and somehow beat three of their best 4 conference opponents... on the road!?

Penn State moves up with a good win at Indiana. They should emerge into the top 25 just in time for next week's hosting of Ohio State. And there are a LOT of people rooting for them next week. This is now just like the white out game 2 years ago in terms of attention and seriousness. Time to salvage a bit of their season, I hope! 10-2 would look respectable, and Michigan State and Purdue aren't the most difficult finishing stretch.

Texas settles back down to earth a bit here. I thought they could do more with Baylor. Plus I may've been a little too giddy that they blew out Iowa State as predicted last week. Still, it looks they might have stabilized things... and now I'm only calling for about 1 more loss, instead of 2 or 3 as I did at one point. But I wonder if Mac Brown gets fired if Texas loses to Nebraska in Austin!!?!? :-P

Michigan is officially back in the House. Wow, when people snuck in the reality that Michigan could still turn things around and win the Big 10... did you actually take them seriously!?!?!?! Maybe after the Appalachian State game... but how would you do that after Oregon literally toasted them. Yet here they are, they just keep getting past one big test after another. Notre Dame. Penn State. Northwestern. Eastern Michigan. Ok, at that point, we believed they had balanced things out on board, and would settle into a healthy bowl game. But then beating Purdue and then winning at Illinois!?! You might want to take notice Ohio State. Maybe. They haven't totally proven themselves yet. Michigan State and Wisconsin will certainly bring fuller measurement.

UConn rebounds terrifically back into the polls this week after beating Louisville. I can't say I'm surprised, as Louisville is all about emotion this year. They were missing inspiration vs. Syracuse... then came out the next two games depressed. Then it was a big ranked Cincy team and suddenly they were everything. And now, welcome back to the less exuberant Louisteam. I'm not sure where to put Uconn. Remember, they're one simple point from still being undefeated. Hi, meet South Florida. Prove who you are. I'll come back in a week.

Thanks Alabama. You're another up-and-down club... and I thought this could be the week you really lost all heart, after you were knocked back to the bottom dwellers of the SEC West. But I'll give you major props, you responded big time against Tennessee (thanks again!), and now it's time to get a bit excited about LSU! Maybe I was quick to write them off after being lifeless versus Georgia (whom they should have thwomped)... but they are tied for the division lead with LSU next week at home... and then the Iron Bowl to close out. The could still pull BCS out of the letter grabbag!

Wake Forest beats a decent Navy team and keeps rolling. Yes, their record doesn't look spectacular with the loss to Nebraska... but having won 5 straight, I think they are really rumbling along at this point. I thought this season would be a washout, but here they are in the Atlantic race (theoretically). If they lose anywhere coming home, I repeal my impressed nature... especially if that someone in UNC this week.

Rutgers slides back in obviously after beating South Florida, but I'm not sure they are really as good as they smell after this one. Then again, maybe this win will inspire them. And Cincy and Maryland still look like ok losses. This week's game versus WVU probably decides the Big East in my opinion, though. If Rutgers wins they are ready to run the table.

Last but not least, Clemson moves in by the route of domination. Yikes, anyone buying MAC stock had better sell rapidly. Clemson showed me that they are back on the hot side of the road, DISMANTLING the Chippewas. Yes, Central Michigan may be paper pretty, being 4-3 before this week and leading the west, while having beaten no one and having been beaten hard by Kansas and Purdue as well... but I didn't expect that kind of score. What's so bad about close losses to Georgia Tech (admittedly ugly) and Virginia Tech? So they don't like Tech's, that's all! Show me you are interested in this ranking by beating Maryland in a week. Oh, and then make sure and handle Duke. Then you may get 3 top 25 teams to show off against!





How about this year?!? How can you argue for a playoff though? It's bad enough that all these teams that keep losing still can entertain outside shots at the title game! If you instill an 8 or 16 team playoff, it could get putrid. Heck, Hawaii would end up with a shot, and I think is exactly what is a retarded idea. Even if they win out. Especially if they win out. Unless it's by 14 or more a game, with some serious potency.
This will be every year if you want a playoff. Teams will realize that top 2 or top 4 don't matter... that they can play subs. If 1 or 2 losses means nothing. So stick with the BCS. More down the line!