There was a lot of shake up in this week's poll. The top 5 looks decidedly different from last week. You might notice one big change at the top of the poll...
1. Alabama Crimson Tide - Bama wrestles the number 1 spot away from Florida this week. This is the first week that the Orange and Blue do no sit atop my rankings. I know it's pretty simple, but I made my decision based on the two team's games vs. Arkansas. The Tide dominated the Hogs earlier in the season, while Florida struggled mightily against Arkansas.
2. Florida Gators - Florida didn't fall to number 2 simply because they struggled this week. After all, Arkansas was a ranked team in my poll last week. The fact that Alabama has dominated everyone placed before them like sacrificial lambs helped in the move.
3. Texas Longhorns - The Horns stand pat at the number 3 spot this week. Their win over Oklahoma isn't impressive as it has been in the past, but a win in the Red River Shootout is always impressive. Colt McCoy is just about out of the Heisman race.
4. Cincinnati Bearcats - Cincy jumps up into the top 5 this week. A few teams in front of them either struggled or lost outright, while the Bearcats were able to hand USF their first loss of the season. On the road. With a back up QB. Brian Kelly's team is for real.
5. USC Trojans - I still don't know if the Trojans are all that great yet. The Ohio St. win doesn't look too impressive now. And I haven't been impressed with Notre Dame all season long. I still think SC is a good team with a possible future Heisman candidate in Matt Barkley at the helm.
6. Boise St. Broncos - Boise St. slides out of the top 5 this week despite remaining undefeated. The Broncos struggled mightily against Tulsa on Wednesday night. It should be smooth and unimpressive sailing the rest of the way.
7. LSU Tigers - The Tigers enjoyed a bye week this week. Their schedule is really about to pick up real soon.
8. Miami(FL) Hurricanes - The Canes continued their tear through the Sunshine State on Saturday Night. Miami slowly put UCF out of its misery. That's FSU, FAMU and UCF. The Canes still have to play USF and Florida's School For The Blind.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes - The Hawkeyes are starting to look like the clear favorites in the Big Eleven. Their only real threat is Penn St. and Iowa is already ahead in the head to head battle in that one. They do have a big game next week in East Lansing. MSU is starting to finally put it together.
10. Oregon Ducks - The Ducks enjoyed a nice break from running through PAC-10 opponents this week. Only a bye week could slow down Oregon's attack.
11. TCU Horned Frogs - It took TCU a half to get things going against Colorado St. Once hey did, they couldn't be stopped. The Frogs demolished the struggling Rams in a warm up before next week's showdown against BYU.
12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Ga Tech moves up a lot after their impressive win over Virginia Tech. The ACC is starting to slide back into mediocrity. Hopefully, for them, Georgia Tech and Miami can both keep up their winning ways.
13. Penn St. Nittany Lions - Penn St. won a traditional Big Eleven game in traditional Big Eleven weather. The Fighting JoePa's knocked off the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a freezing rain storm. Darryl Clark is starting to look more and more like the best QB in the conference.
14. Oklahoma St. Cowboys - The Cowboys finally looked impressive in knocking off Missouri at home this week. Zac Robinson and Co. looked like they really didn't miss Dez Bryant's presence on the field. We'll see how long that lasts...
15. BYU Cougars - BYU had their hands full vs. Brady Hoke's San Diego St. team on Saturday Night. Struggling against a perennial loser like that is not the way the Cougars wanted to go into the TCU game. Good news for BYU; The game is in Provo.
16. Virginia Tech Hokies - Virginia Tech fall all the way from number 4 to the 16 spot this week. The Hokies were simply outclassed by Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Hopefully for the Hokies, Ryan Williams' injury isn't that serious. They'll need his running threat if they still hope to pull off an ACC Championship game bid.
17. West Virginia Mountaineers - West Virginia's offense looked horrid against Marshall this week. They still came away with the win, though. Much like Texas' win over OU, this rivalry win is still a good one.
18. Utah Utes - Utah took down hapless UNLV this week. The Utes look to benefit from the TCU-BYU tilt. They should jump ahead the loser of that game in the Mountain West standings.
19. Pittsburgh Panthers - Pitt has constantly been one of the first teams left off of my weekly poll. They finally cracked the top 25 this week after another Big East victory over Louisville. I'm sure Dave Wannstedt will find some way to screw this up.
20. Houston Cougars - Houston jumps back into my top 25 this week. Couple their dominating performance over Tulane with nearly everyone in last week's poll falling flat on their faces, and you see why Houston is back in.
21. Texas Tech Red Raiders - Tech is back in my poll after a few weeks hiatus. They have now put up over 60 points in consecutive Big XII games. Tech's only two losses this season were close games against two good teams, Texas and Houston.
22. South Carolina Gamecocks - The Gamecocks hold on in the top 25 barely after falling to Alabama this week. Carolina actually looked like they could compete with Bama at times on Saturday Night. I said, "looked like."
23. Michigan Wolverines - Michigan makes their first appearance in my top 25 this week. I really don't care if the Wolverines would have put 100 on Delaware St. They only crack the top 25 because of other team's incompetence.
24. Kansas Jayhawks - Kansas completely shit all over themselves against Colorado on Saturday Night. I should take them out of the top 25 altogether, but I know that Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier are a good trio and they will bounce back.
25. Ohio St. Buckeyes - I really was close to completely dropping OSU from my rankings altogether. However, there really aren't any other viable options here. The Buckeyes barely held off Arizona, Central Michigan, South Florida and Oregon St.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide - Bama wrestles the number 1 spot away from Florida this week. This is the first week that the Orange and Blue do no sit atop my rankings. I know it's pretty simple, but I made my decision based on the two team's games vs. Arkansas. The Tide dominated the Hogs earlier in the season, while Florida struggled mightily against Arkansas.
2. Florida Gators - Florida didn't fall to number 2 simply because they struggled this week. After all, Arkansas was a ranked team in my poll last week. The fact that Alabama has dominated everyone placed before them like sacrificial lambs helped in the move.
3. Texas Longhorns - The Horns stand pat at the number 3 spot this week. Their win over Oklahoma isn't impressive as it has been in the past, but a win in the Red River Shootout is always impressive. Colt McCoy is just about out of the Heisman race.
4. Cincinnati Bearcats - Cincy jumps up into the top 5 this week. A few teams in front of them either struggled or lost outright, while the Bearcats were able to hand USF their first loss of the season. On the road. With a back up QB. Brian Kelly's team is for real.
5. USC Trojans - I still don't know if the Trojans are all that great yet. The Ohio St. win doesn't look too impressive now. And I haven't been impressed with Notre Dame all season long. I still think SC is a good team with a possible future Heisman candidate in Matt Barkley at the helm.
6. Boise St. Broncos - Boise St. slides out of the top 5 this week despite remaining undefeated. The Broncos struggled mightily against Tulsa on Wednesday night. It should be smooth and unimpressive sailing the rest of the way.
7. LSU Tigers - The Tigers enjoyed a bye week this week. Their schedule is really about to pick up real soon.
8. Miami(FL) Hurricanes - The Canes continued their tear through the Sunshine State on Saturday Night. Miami slowly put UCF out of its misery. That's FSU, FAMU and UCF. The Canes still have to play USF and Florida's School For The Blind.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes - The Hawkeyes are starting to look like the clear favorites in the Big Eleven. Their only real threat is Penn St. and Iowa is already ahead in the head to head battle in that one. They do have a big game next week in East Lansing. MSU is starting to finally put it together.
10. Oregon Ducks - The Ducks enjoyed a nice break from running through PAC-10 opponents this week. Only a bye week could slow down Oregon's attack.
11. TCU Horned Frogs - It took TCU a half to get things going against Colorado St. Once hey did, they couldn't be stopped. The Frogs demolished the struggling Rams in a warm up before next week's showdown against BYU.
12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Ga Tech moves up a lot after their impressive win over Virginia Tech. The ACC is starting to slide back into mediocrity. Hopefully, for them, Georgia Tech and Miami can both keep up their winning ways.
13. Penn St. Nittany Lions - Penn St. won a traditional Big Eleven game in traditional Big Eleven weather. The Fighting JoePa's knocked off the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a freezing rain storm. Darryl Clark is starting to look more and more like the best QB in the conference.
14. Oklahoma St. Cowboys - The Cowboys finally looked impressive in knocking off Missouri at home this week. Zac Robinson and Co. looked like they really didn't miss Dez Bryant's presence on the field. We'll see how long that lasts...
15. BYU Cougars - BYU had their hands full vs. Brady Hoke's San Diego St. team on Saturday Night. Struggling against a perennial loser like that is not the way the Cougars wanted to go into the TCU game. Good news for BYU; The game is in Provo.
16. Virginia Tech Hokies - Virginia Tech fall all the way from number 4 to the 16 spot this week. The Hokies were simply outclassed by Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Hopefully for the Hokies, Ryan Williams' injury isn't that serious. They'll need his running threat if they still hope to pull off an ACC Championship game bid.
17. West Virginia Mountaineers - West Virginia's offense looked horrid against Marshall this week. They still came away with the win, though. Much like Texas' win over OU, this rivalry win is still a good one.
18. Utah Utes - Utah took down hapless UNLV this week. The Utes look to benefit from the TCU-BYU tilt. They should jump ahead the loser of that game in the Mountain West standings.
19. Pittsburgh Panthers - Pitt has constantly been one of the first teams left off of my weekly poll. They finally cracked the top 25 this week after another Big East victory over Louisville. I'm sure Dave Wannstedt will find some way to screw this up.
20. Houston Cougars - Houston jumps back into my top 25 this week. Couple their dominating performance over Tulane with nearly everyone in last week's poll falling flat on their faces, and you see why Houston is back in.
21. Texas Tech Red Raiders - Tech is back in my poll after a few weeks hiatus. They have now put up over 60 points in consecutive Big XII games. Tech's only two losses this season were close games against two good teams, Texas and Houston.
22. South Carolina Gamecocks - The Gamecocks hold on in the top 25 barely after falling to Alabama this week. Carolina actually looked like they could compete with Bama at times on Saturday Night. I said, "looked like."
23. Michigan Wolverines - Michigan makes their first appearance in my top 25 this week. I really don't care if the Wolverines would have put 100 on Delaware St. They only crack the top 25 because of other team's incompetence.
24. Kansas Jayhawks - Kansas completely shit all over themselves against Colorado on Saturday Night. I should take them out of the top 25 altogether, but I know that Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier are a good trio and they will bounce back.
25. Ohio St. Buckeyes - I really was close to completely dropping OSU from my rankings altogether. However, there really aren't any other viable options here. The Buckeyes barely held off Arizona, Central Michigan, South Florida and Oregon St.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment