McMisanthrope's Top 25: December 7, 2008

Thoughts:

1. If ever a year screamed for a Plus-One, this is it. I want to see another game to decide a real national champion after the Bullshit Bowls are done. When USC pounds Penn State and the other bowl game is a laughable shootout without defense, people will cry for a recount.
2. Alabama was better than I thought they’d be, but Florida didn’t impress me at all. The fact they were trailing going into the 4th quarter says it all: overrated.
3. USC dismantled another team Saturday, holding them to miniscule yardage and few points. This is probably the most understated story of the year: a truly dominant defense college football hasn’t seen in three decades. Giving up 93 points in 12 games is amazing.
4. Penn State has to be bitter. For two reasons.
5. Ball State learned a lesson about turnovers, didn’t they?

Rankings:

1. Utah (12-0): They have the best wins of any top team, period. And they’re undefeated.
2. Boise State (12-0): Undefeated and shafted by the BCS. Ridiculous. Luckily, they still have a shot at the McMNC for 2008, the only “real” award out there.
3. USC (11-1): Seriously, if Florida or Oklahoma went to the Rose Bowl to face USC, they’d lose. Period. And you can’t say the same about USC going to Gainesville or Norman.
4. Texas (11-1): They beat Oklahoma. Nothing else to say.
5. Oklahoma (12-1): Can’t rank them ahead of Texas, even if they did “win” the Big XII.
6. Penn State (11-1):
7. Florida (12-1): Look, I’m a Florida alum. Yes, it’s true. I have a law degree from Fredric G. Levin, and it’s enough to remind me of the SEC hyperbole. The SEC really was down this year, and it’s a shame they’re getting by on reputation alone in 2008. And no team that schedules The Citadel on purpose should ever be allowed to play for the MNC. Ever.
8. Alabama (12-1): What’s to say? They had the chance, and they blew it. Oh well.
9. Texas Tech (11-1): They beat Texas, but that ugly loss to Oklahoma matters more.
10. Ball State (12-1): You just can’t turn the ball over three times and let that turn into 21 points, can you? Even when you’re undefeated and playing a lame team, you still need to play hard.
11. Ohio State (10-2): They don’t deserve a BCS bid. Which is why the BCS is shit.
12. Cincinnati (10-2): Someone had to win the Big East.
13. TCU (10-2): I think if there were a 16-team tournament, TCU would win in the first round.
14. BYU (10-2): I think if there were a 16-team tournament, BYU would lose in the first round.
15. Georgia Tech (9-3): Best team in the ACC, and they don’t even get to the title game.
16. Georgia (9-3): I think if there were a 16-team tournament, Georgia would lose early. They seem to play best when the pressure is off them. Pathetic.
17. Oregon (9-3): They get the Holiday Bowl against Texas Tech, right?
18. Michigan State (9-3): First, UNC lays the wood on the hard court, and now Georgia’s gonna do the same on the turf. But hey, it’s better than being 3-9, right?
19. Northwestern (9-3): They’re going to win their bowl; I mia-guarantee it.
20. Pittsburgh (9-3): Nice turnaround for Dave Wannstedt. I still think it’s an anomaly, though. The guy has proven he can’t coach.
21. Oklahoma State (9-3): Considering they only lost to a trio of top teams, maybe they should be higher, but that 60-spot they gave up to Oklahoma still hurts my eyes.
22. Virginia Tech (9-4): Ugly.
23. Missouri (9-4): Gary Barnett survived for years by winning the Big XII North.
24. Florida State (8-4): Just go away, Bobby. Please?
25. North Carolina (8-4): I’ve said it before, but the Heels will rule the ACC from 2009 until Butch Davis leaves Chapel Hill.

McMisanthrope's Top 25: November 30, 2008

Thoughts:

1. Sooner or later people are going to realize the Big XII teams are overrated. I truly hope Missouri wins the Big XII title game, because any Big XII team that makes the BCS title game is going to pull an Ohio State on us.
2. I am pulling for Alabama in the SEC title game. I want at least one spot in the BCS title game to be without controversy.
3. So the mighty SEC began the year with four teams in the Top 10, and now they really have shown themselves to be a two-team “juggernaut”. Why the voters haven’t clued in on this is again mystifying. This is just like the Big Ten in 2006.
4. I am sick of that Ozzy Samsung phone ad on the telly. Really sick of it.

Rankings:

1. Boise State (12-0): Talk about halftime adjustments. Pat Hill still doesn’t know what hit him.
2. Alabama (12-0): That’s how you treat a rival with everything on the line, Rich-Rod.
3. Utah (12-0): Sucks to be idle. What have you done for me lately?
4. Ball State (12-0): Like ‘Bama, they ain’t done yet.
5. USC (10-1): UCLA awaits. Can The Rick do it?
6. Florida (11-1): Both the Trojans and the Gators would beat any of these teams above them. But the losses have to count for something.
7. Texas (11-1): See above Alabama comment.
8. Penn State (11-1): The Big Ten really needs to add a 12th team and play deeper into the season if they want to re-establish themselves in this BCS era. Ohio State has really done the conference wrong.
9. Oklahoma (11-1): Not impressed at all.
10. Texas Tech (11-1): Not impressed at all.
11. Cincinnati (10-2): The only two-loss conference winner goes to the top of the third tier.
12. Ohio State (10-2): No BCS for you, Buckeyes.
13. TCU (10-2): Not a lot of two-loss teams.
14. BYU (10-2): Ditto.
15. Tulsa (10-2): Yawn. Can you tell I am tired of this season already?
16. Oregon (9-3): Nice offense.
17. Georgia Tech (9-3): Bragging rights are nice.
18. Georgia (9-3): No shame in the loss.
19. Michigan State (9-3): Whatever.
20. Missouri (9-3): Whoops. This loss may actually prime them for an upset next week. Watch.
21. Northwestern (9-3): Quietest 9-3 season ever?
22. Pittsburgh (8-3): Two years in a row, Pat White can’t get it done in the BYB.
23. Boston College (9-3): Was there a Flutie on the field yesterday? Ask ESPN.
24. Western Michigan (9-3): I hear they open in Ann Arbor next year.
25. Oklahoma State (9-3): Couldn’t get a defensive stop to save their lives.

McMisanthrope's Top 25: November 23, 2008

Thoughts:

1. How could Oklahoma lose to Texas?
2. Since no one, single game can determine a team’s worth, it’s even more important to have a tournament.
3. Coaching decisions in-game are quite amusing to watch.
4. Maybe Mississippi is better than Iowa, but I doubt it. So does Jeff Sagarin. Either way, Oregon State is better than them both.
5. Teams that lose from here on out? Choke artists.

Rankings:

1. Utah (12-0): They beat Oregon State, TCU and BYU. I don’t if any other team has three such quality wins.
2. Alabama (11-0): Their singular impressive win (Georgia) is slightly better than Boise State’s singular impressive win (Oregon), but at least they play a BCS schedule.
3. Boise State (11-0): On paper, they don’t look at good as the 2006 team, but the talent on this 2008 team is greater than that of two years ago. And if two years ago, they could beat a big boy in a BCS bowl, they could do it again this year. I am afraid they won’t get the chance, and that’s just pure ridiculousness.
4. Ball State (11-0): They have no impressive wins over anyone notable.
5. Oklahoma (10-1): They played like thugs on Saturday night, and Bob Stoops just lost a lot of respect in my corner. But they ambushed a Tech team that should have been able to play better after a bye week. So again, how did the Sooners lose to Texas?
6. USC (9-1): Why does their loss to Oregon State hurt them more than Florida’s home loss to Mississippi? I have yet to understand why the pollsters currently and conveniently ignore realities they demanded as fact last year.
7. Texas (10-1): How did they lose to Tech when Oklahoma was able to score 65 points on them?
8. Penn State (11-1): Again, a road loss should always be weighted less than a home loss. Always. But the SEC can do no wrong, evidently. By the way, does Paterno even coach from the box? Every shot ABC showed of him yesterday, he looked like he was drooling. Does he even speak into the faux headset he was wearing?
9. Florida (10-1): I am going to echo the thought that even scheduling The Citadel shows how pathetic the SEC is as a conference. But the pollsters moved Florida up after they pounded a nothing team. Oklahoma pounds an undefeated team? It doesn’t matter. But I am sure it will matter when Florida pounds Alabama. This subjective favoritism toward the SEC will end the BCS up in court; watch.
10. Texas Tech (10-1): All lubricant jokes aside, I don’t know what Mike Leach did to prepare his team for that game, but such coaching incompetence is just shocking.
11. Ohio State (10-2): If Michigan isn’t careful, they’re going to find themselves on the wrong side of an eight-game losing streak in this series in November 2011.
12. TCU (10-2): Their only losses are to Oklahoma and Utah. Heck of a season that deserves more than the crappy bowl they’ll end up in.
13. Georgia (9-2): Yawn.
14. BYU (10-2): Only losses are to Utah and TCU. Again, a heck of a season that deserves more than the crappy bowl they’ll end up in.
15. Cincinnati (9-2): Is someone finally in the driver’s seat for the Big East title? And Brian Kelly is doing it all with someone else’s recruits. I guess he can coach his way to Tennessee if he wants, but I wouldn’t touch the Vols job with a ten-foot pole.
16. Oklahoma State (9-2): An overrated team that still beat Missouri.
17. Missouri (9-2): An overrated team that still lost to Oklahoma State.
18. Tulsa (9-2): Yawn.
19. Oregon State (8-3): They didn’t go down due to a missed extra point, and you have to winder if Mike Stoops is really a worthy coach. Arizona blew this game, big-time.
20. Michigan State (9-3): The only two games they played this year against good teams? They got hammered by a combined 94-26. Has Sparty really turned a corner? In 1999, they lost two games by a combined 92-38 but still finished 10-2 and launched Little Nicky to stardom elsewhere. Will history repeat?
21. Pittsburgh (7-3): Doh.
22. Boston College (8-3): At some point on TV yesterday, the talking heads noted that unranked ACC teams were 11-3 against ranked ACC teams this year. They really do just beat each other up.
23. Georgia Tech (8-3): Did I stutter?
24. Oregon (8-3): They have a big game coming up next week in the Civil War. It’s going to be hard for the Beavers to get to Pasadena, but if they do, they will have done it the old-fashioned way.
25. Northwestern (9-3): Nice season under the radar for the Wildcats. It’s always good to see the smart kids in purple win a lot of games.

Also considered for a starring role this week: Connecticut, Florida State, West Virginia

The McTop 25: November 16, 2008

Thoughts:

1. The SEC sucks. After watching Georgia struggle to beat Auburn (!) and watching LSU spot Troy a 21-point lead in the 4th quarter, who cares if they “won” the games? They lost face, and this conference is pathetic. Florida is good; ‘Bama is alright. Georgia is tolerable. The rest are barely worth mentioning.
2. The Pac-10 is better than advertised. One great argument for a tournament has always been about getting your team to peak at the right time, and the Pac-10 has two teams who are very hot right now.
3. The Big Ten isn’t good. 8-3 Northwestern struggles to beat 3-8 Michigan? And as someone noted, that Wisconsin-Minnesota game was just unwatchable. Sparty is vastly overrated, and we saw what USC did to Ohio State. Penn State: slightly the best of a mediocre bunch. It is a good thing they won’t make the title game.
4. The ACC is better than advertised; THEY are truly beating each other up this year. Six teams are 7-3. How do you separate them?
5. The Big XII is overrated. I am going to predict that the conference’s bowl record will be slightly embarrassing this year.
6. The Big East is the Big Least for 2008. Not much else to say there.
7. Yay, I don’t have to rank Tulsa anymore! Anyone who gives up 70 points in a single game won’t sniff my rankings.

Rankings:

1. Texas Tech (10-0): Good time for a bye week, eh? I think they’re the best of the undefeated teams, and I’d like to see them go undefeated, even if means Florida or USC misses their rightful spot in the BCS “title” game. And unlike Oklahoma, they can play a little defense.
2. Utah (11-0): Laid the wood to San Diego State. That’s what good teams do to bad teams. Take note, Alabama.
3. Boise State (10-0): Laid the wood to Idaho. That’s what good teams do to bad teams. Take note, Alabama.
4. Alabama (11-0): Seriously, a 12-7 halftime lead at home over Mississippi State? What a joke the SEC is if this is their “No. 1” team right now. Everyone knows this team is the equivalent of 2007 Kansas, right? Except because of the SEC bias, no one has noticed. But really, who have they beaten? Georgia and Clemson suck, as does LSU. Look at their SOS: not very good. They’ll lose the SEC title game and get an undeserved BCS bid, where they’ll get mauled by some ACC team.
5. Ball State (10-0): If they had beaten Miami-OH by more than two TDs, I’d have put them ahead of Alabama, too.
6. Texas (10-1): How many teams are going to be fighting for those BCS at-large bids? This will get ugly, especially if Mack Brown is involved in the politicking. But I think their defense is … suspect.
7. Oklahoma (9-1): After Texas Tech beats them, they’ll become irrelevant in this discussion. But for now, I need to keep them here to be consistent.
8. USC (9-1): Oregon State may win out. Do the Trojans even get an at-large BCS bid? My two favorite teams this year are ranked No. 8 and No. 10 in my own system. Sucks to maintain objectivity, doesn’t it?
9. Penn State (10-1): Since they’ve only been to the Rose Bowl once since they joined the Big Ten, this should be a nice reward for JoePA.
10. Florida (9-1): They still have the worst loss of any of the BCS one-loss teams, and it should cost them. Oh, except for the SEC love affair currently en vogue. Complete hypocritical turnaround from 2007 if they end up in the title game, deserving or not. Every year, the criteria changes to whatever suits the SEC. Completely transparent and bogus. And I really LIKE Florida. But if the BCS was consistent, Florida would be NOWHERE near the title game. Why was South Carolina even ranked? Two words: SEC bias.
11. BYU (10-1): Can they spoil Utah’s season? Stay tuned.
12. TCU (9-2): Only two losses to Oklahoma and Utah. Not a bad resume.
13. Ohio State (9-2): Another team I don’t think anyone would want to play in a tournament right now. They’ll make it five in a row or whatever is now against Michigan. No sweat. It might even be ugly. Considering their only losses were to USC and Penn State …
14. Georgia (9-2): I’m only ranking them here, because based on their talent, they should beat the rest of the two-loss teams below. But this team is just not good. Matthew Stafford? Pathetic. How could they even let Auburn sniff a chance in that game? AUBURN! Both these teams had no business being ranked in the Preseason Top 10. This SEC crap is just laughable, and if the media had any shame, they’d admit their idiocy now. They look good on paper, but since they got HAMMERED in both their losses …
15. Michigan State (9-2): The quality in this poll dropped off at #10.
16. (tie) Cincinnati (8-2) & Pittsburgh (7-2): No, this isn’t the AFC Central, circa 1975. But they will break the stalemate atop the Big East this upcoming weekend when they face each other. That’s good enough for now.
17. Oklahoma State (9-2): I really don’t want to rank them, but their only losses are to Texas and Tech. Why are they so low? Because they gave up 50+ points. Sure, Sparty gave up 45 to Ohio State, but there’s a big difference at that 50-spot threshold.
18. Missouri (9-2): No defense. I have a feeling they will get smoked in the Big XII title game. But if they pull off the upset to put USC into the title game against Florida, I’d be happier than a clam. But are clams really happy? That is a fixed smile; nature has shafted the clam with a fake smile.
19. Oregon State (7-3): They have two tough games left. Winning in Tucson won’t be easy, and defeating the Ducks in the Civil War is never a cakewalk. Stay tuned.
20. Northwestern (8-3): They have an inexcusable loss to Indiana, but I’d still take them over LSU on a neutral field. Or in the snow.
21. Oregon (8-3): They lost to Boise State, USC and California. No shame there.
22. Miami-FL (7-3): Best combination of record, conference mark and SOS in the ACC.
23. Maryland (7-3): Second-best combination of record, conference mark and SOS in the ACC.
24. Georgia Tech (7-3): Here via virtue of their win over Florida State. Subject to change, week-to-week, in the topsy-turvy ACC.
25. West Virginia (6-3): Still have an outside shot at the Big Least title if Pittsburgh beats Cincy.

Others receiving acknowledgement: Florida State, North Carolina, Boston College, Connecticut, Air Force, LSU

The McTop 25: November 9, 2008

Thoughts:

1. I think it’s very possible we SHOULD end up with two Big XII teams in the BCS title game – if the powers that be let it happen. We’re headed in that direction. See below.
2. If Penn State runs the table, they’re going to feel like they did in 2005, too. That has to suck.
3. USC held another team scoreless in the second half. They have given up 60 points in nine games. Amazing. And they won’t sniff the BCS title game without a lot of luck. Just another reason why the BCS is a joke.
4. The ACC and the Big East really are afterthoughts this year, aren’t they?

Rankings:

1. Texas Tech (10-0): Believe it or not, they have played a tougher schedule than Alabama.
2. Alabama (10-0): Why couldn’t Alabama put up 50 on LSU, too? I don’t understand. Glass stilts here.
3. Utah (10-0): Very close to crashing the party. And heck, Utah beat Wyoming, 40-7. Wyoming beat Tennessee, 13-7. Florida beat Tennessee, 30-6. Utah is 15 points better than Florida. Urban Meyer must find that funny.
4. Boise State (9-0): If Utah loses to BYU, then Boise State is going back to the Fiesta Bowl.
5. Ball State (9-0): Undefeated is undefeated.
6. Texas (9-1): I think Texas will finish with the one loss. Even if they don’t get to the Big XII title game, it should be enough to get them into the title game. There is no way Florida should be ranked ahead of Texas, no matter which way you cut it. And if they are? We know the BCS is fixed.
7. Oklahoma (9-1): See above. If Texas or Texas Tech loses again, the Sooners move up.
8. USC (8-1): This may be one of the best college football defenses you’ve seen in recent years.
9. BYU (9-1): The Cougars beat Wyoming, 44-0. Wyoming beat Tennessee, 13-7. Florida beat Tennessee, 30-6. Do your own math.
10. Penn State (9-1): Whoops. Someone forgot to tell the Hawkeyes about Paterno’s Retirement-into-the-Sunset Plan.
11. Florida (8-1): How did they lose to Mississippi? That loss is absolutely inexcusable, especially when Texas lost to Texas Tech and Oklahoma lost to Texas. There is absolutely no logic for placing the Gators in front of Texas or Oklahoma. Or even USC, for that matter. When they win the SEC, and they will wipe the field with ‘Bama’s collective ass when the time comes, the corruption of the BCS will be complete.
12. Tulsa (8-1): Yes, sometimes I hate my own rules.
13. TCU (9-2): No shame in losing to only Oklahoma and Utah this year.
14. Georgia (8-2): That was an ugly win against Kentucky, but as usual, the SEC is overrated.
15. North Carolina (7-2): That was an impressive win for the ACC’s best team.
16. Ohio State (8-2): Oh, they’re bitter right now for letting that Penn State game get away from them, aren’t they? Not that it would mean the BCS title game, but it could have meant the Rose Bowl. And for all Tressel’s success, I don’t think he’s ever even gone to the Rose Bowl, has he?
17. Pittsburgh (7-2): Only because of their SOS are they here.
18. Missouri (8-2): No defense for these Tigers. Maybe that’s a pattern/theme this year.
19. Michigan State (9-2): I have no idea how this team is 9-2, but wins are wins.
20. Cincinnati (7-2): This is like Urban Meyer/Utah Lite.
21. Florida State (7-2): Nice to Bobby back.
22. Air Force (8-2): Weak schedule, but oh well. Air Force beat Wyoming, 23-3. Wyoming beat Tennessee, 13-7. Florida beat Tennessee, 30-6. But the Falcons have an extra loss, so I can’t put them ahead of Florida where they belong.
23. Western Michigan (8-2): Zook, indeed.
24. Oklahoma State (8-2): I really hate ranking any team which gave up 56 points, even when it’s to the No. 1 team in the country.
25. Wake Forest (6-3): Sagarin says they have played the 4th-toughest schedule in the country. Good enoughf for me, when it comes to picking a single, three-loss team for my Top 25.

Also-rans: Miami-FL, Virginia Tech, Oregon State, California, LSU, South Carolina, Connecticut, Oregon, Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Navy, West Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, East Carolina, South Florida, Boston College, Arizona

The McTop 25: November 2, 2008

Thoughts:

1. Colt McCoy just lost the Hypesman Trophy, fair or not.
2. There are only 14 teams left in FBS who have one loss or fewer. This is just getting to be a joke with the BCS not-so-arbitrarily picking title game contestants. In this era of more parity than ever, FBS really needs to become the Senior FCS. Enough is enough.
3. There are only 32 teams left in FBS who have two losses or fewer. I hate ranking teams with three losses!
4. The Big Ten sucks. They may barely get seven bowl-eligible teams this season.
5. November will be another crazy month.

Rankings:

1. Penn State (9-0): Sometimes it pays to be idle.
2. Alabama (9-0): Florida beat Georgia by more than the Tide beat Arkansas State. Enough said.
3. Texas Tech (9-0): Great win, but it’s only one win. The teams above have more than one great win.
4. Utah (9-0): How long can they hang in here? Destiny calls on Thursday night.
5. Boise State (8-0): They may end up being the only undefeated FBS team at the end.
6. Ball State (8-0): Their final two games are against Michigan directionals (see below). Something’s gotta give.
7. Texas (8-1): They almost ran the gauntlet, and if that DB makes the interception, it’s over. How many times do you see a play like that ALWAYS comes back to burn you? Losing on the road in the final seconds is no disgrace.
8. USC (7-1): Why am I putting them here? They lost on the road to a good team, and they’ve give up 51 points ALL SEASON. LSU gives up more than that each week. Georgia almost gave up that in one game to Florida. The two best teams in the country? The Trojans and the Gators, and we won’t get to see either in the BCS title game.
9. Oklahoma (8-1): They lost at a neutral site to a great team. That’s why they’re above Florida.
10. Florida (7-1): You just can’t lose a home game to a 5-4 team and expect to be ranked higher than this. The double-standard that sunk USC last year should sink Florida this year as well, but you know it won’t.
11. Oklahoma State (8-1): They will lose again, but for now, they stay here.
12. TCU (9-1): See Utah above.
13. BYU (8-1): Maybe the MWC is the best conference in the country this year?
14. Tulsa (8-1): I really don’t even want to rank them, but I have to be consistent.
15. North Carolina (6-2): The ACC is going to have to get used to the monster being birthed in Chapel Hill.
16. Ohio State (7-2): Nothing to say about the Buckeyes this week, except they can’t wait to play Michigan.
17. Georgia (7-2): Smart people knew they were overrated from Day One. Dumb people? Just figuring it out.
18. Maryland (6-2): The ACC has four two-loss teams fighting for respectability. It could be worse …
19. California (6-2): Nothing gold can stay.
20. Michigan State (8-2): Wisconsin really loves gift-giving in the state of Michigan this year, huh?
21. Missouri (7-2): Baylor?
22. LSU (6-2): The SEC sucks. It really does. It’s Florida, Mebbe ‘Bama and the 10 Stooges.
23. Northwestern (7-2): That was a fun ending, wasn’t it?
24. Minnesota (7-2): Bad loss to stomach at home. But still a good season for the Gophers.
25. West Virginia (6-2): Rich-Rod is wishing he’d stayed put.

Others receiving token musings: Georgia Tech, Florida State, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Air Force, Central Michigan, Western Michigan

The McTop 25: October 26, 2008

Thoughts:

1. Dave Wannstedt may have altered the future of college football without even realizing it. Say West Virginia wins that game against Pitt last year. Rich Rod stays at WVU and goes to the BCS title game; Les Miles goes to Michigan to replace Lloyd Carr. Who would have ended up at LSU? Miles’ world is going to start crumbling at LSU, now that his Saban recruits are gone. Rich Rod has single-handedly sunk “once-mighty Michigan”, as they were referred to yesterday. It’s interesting to ponder.
2. LSU sucks. They’re just as bad as they were last year, but they were gifted a BCS title last year. Ain’t gonna happen this year.
3. Florida may be the best team in the country, and if they don’t make the BCS title game with one loss, it might truly be a shame. But if Texas and Penn State run the table, the Gators are going to get left on the sideline.
4. At one point yesterday, Colt McCoy was 32-for-35 or something insane like that. WTF? His completion percentage this year is absolutely insane.
5. Lou Holtz really needs to be removed from the airwaves.

Rankings:

1. Texas (8-0): See above. If they get by Texas Tech, they will be in the BCS title game at 13-0. I’ve really been impressed with their ability to match up against everyone they play.
2. Penn State (9-0): It comes down to this – they just won a road game against Ohio State with a backup QB. ‘Nuff said.
3. Alabama (8-0): Considering how badly Florida beat Kentucky – a team Bama beat by three points – I don’t think the Tide can run the table. The winner of the SEC East will hammer them in the SEC title game.
4. Texas Tech (8-0): They have a decent defense, too. Seriously.
5. Utah (8-0): That early win over Michigan looks weak now, huh?
6. Boise State (7-0): Another tough road win over the Spartans of San Jose State. Ahem.
7. Ball State (8-0): I hear their schedule gets tougher now.
8. Tulsa (7-0): They play Sunday night, so I just stuck them here anyway.
9. USC (6-1): That early win over Virginia looks a lot better now, huh?
10. Florida (6-1): The Trojans still have an SOS edge on the Gators right now, but I expect that to change.
11. Georgia (7-1): As noted, they still have a chance to win the SEC title.
12. Oklahoma (7-1): They’re shooting for a BCS bid, obviously, and they’ll probably get it.
13. Oklahoma State (7-1): Unless Oklahoma State gets it instead? I was impressed with them in the loss, although I still can’t name a single player on their team.
14. Minnesota (7-1): Amen to junior college transfers as a stop-gap technique. Why didn’t Rich Rod think of that?
15. Florida State (6-1): Quietly sneaking up the rankings. Inconceivable!
16. TCU (8-1): One of two reasons Utah may not run the table.
17. BYU (7-1): The second of two reasons Utah may not run the table.
18. Ohio State (7-2): If this is a rebuilding year for the Buckeyes … watch out. Can Pryor top Leinart’s accomplishments before he’s done? I think he has a chance.
19. North Carolina (6-2): I love Butch Davis. I really do. He will be ruling the ACC before too long.
20. Michigan State (7-2): They tried to give it away with turnovers and FG mishaps, but in the end, Michigan just sucked too much for even Sparty to blow it.
21. Missouri (6-2): Chase who?
22. Connecticut (6-2): This is where the real drop-off in the rankings begin, so it’s good we’re almost to the end, anyway.
23. Pittsburgh (5-2): Finally brought back to Earth. Phew. I was worried I was going to have echo Lucy’s shock at any success by Charlie Brown: “Stop the world. I want to get off.”
24. Oregon (6-2): This helps USC’s SOS, doesn’t it?
25. Notre Dame (5-2): Since I cannot rank a team that’s given up 50+ points twice this year, it looks like the Irish get the final nod. I didn’t think they’d win six games this year. Color me surprised.

Also receiving consideration: LSU, California, Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Cincinnati, Central Michigan, West Virginia, Boston College, Air Force, South Florida, Louisville, Troy, Western Michigan

The McTop 25: October 19, 2008

Thoughts:

1. The BCS is lame. That is all.

On to the rankings:

1. Texas (7-0): Their SOS is just significantly better than every other undefeated team. It helps when you beat Oklahoma and Missouri in back-to-back weeks. Who would have thunk it?
2. Alabama (7-0): Let’s be realistic. If the SEC really is about beating each other up, there is no way a team with John Parker Wilson at QB is going to win the SEC without a blemish on the record. But it sure makes it more fun to listen to “Deacon Blues”.
3. Penn State (8-0): I suspect the Nittany Faithful were QUITE nervous at halftime on Saturday. Luckily, Michigan played like Michigan State in the second half of the game.
4. Utah (8-0): Circle that date on the calendar, because BYU will want nothing more than to mess up the Utes’ season.
5. Oklahoma State (7-0): It’s been a nice run, but if they can beat Texas? What a story …
6. Texas Tech (7-0): How long will the gimmick hold?
7. Ball State (7-0): The pressure is going to get to them eventually.
8. Boise State (6-0): Been there, done that.
9. Tulsa (7-0): Is anyone watching or caring about Tulsa? They could sneak in if things break right.
10. USC (5-1): The SOS won’t hold, and with the SEC love affair, any one-loss SEC champ will finish ahead of one-loss Pac-10 champ USC. Assuming the Trojans can focus long enough to win out …
11. Florida (5-1): I am putting them head of Georgia, simply because I think the Gators will beat Georgia.
12. Georgia (6-1): See above.
13. Ohio State (7-1): Michigan State wanted to play like Michigan against Ohio State, but …
14. Pittsburgh (5-1): If this keeps up, Wannstedt will be COTY. And that’s just laughable.
15. Oklahoma (6-1): They need a lot of help to have any say in the BCS world. Did I stutter?
16. LSU (5-1): Way down the SEC totem pole this year.
17. Northwestern (6-1): If they could just get that first quarter against Sparty back …
18. Minnesota (6-1): The Big Ten is POWERFUL!~
19. TCU (7-1): That’s what you call a smackdown.
20. South Florida (6-1): This is that point in the rankings where I often get bored. Is Pitt really the best team in the Big Least?
21. Georgia Tech (6-1): I don’t know about you, but I loved watching Jamelle Holloway play football in 1985. This takes me back … * sigh *
22. Cincinnati (5-1): I am sure this will not keep.
23. BYU (6-1): Id0ts. They just wasted the win over UCLA, didn’t they?
24. Boston College (5-1): The ACC sucks, too. But does it suck more than the Big Least? Yes!
25. Florida State (5-1): Bowden Rule is now that F$U is the lowest-ranked one-loss team each week?

Teams considered but rejected because they suck: Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, California, Notre Dame, Kansas, Oregon, Connecticut, Troy, Air Force, Kentucky, Arizona

The McTop 25: October 12, 2008

Thoughts for the week:

1. No BCS team is going undefeated this year. Watch. Only BYU/Utah and/or Boise State will go undefeated in 2008;
2. Another weekend of “upsets”, but that’s the problem: who really knows the truth until they play on the field?;
3. I am happy for Mike Gundy;
4. The unrequited love for the SEC must stop; the conference is just as bad as any other;
5. What the fuck is wrong with Michigan?

The rankings for the week:

1. Alabama (6-0): So they were idle. Big deal.
2. Texas (6-0): Colt McCoy had a bad year last year; it’s safe to say he’s back.
3. Penn State (7-0): The Big Ten’s best (so far).
4. Utah (7-0): Still getting too much SOS love from those Michigan and Oregon State wins.
5. Oklahoma State (6-0): Biggest win of the year so far on an otherwise lame schedule.
6. Texas Tech (6-0): Still haven’t beaten a team worth its salt.
7. Boise State (5-0): That win over Oregon will go a long way on this list.
8. BYU (6-0): Their wins over Washington and UCLA look weaker ever week.
9. Ball State (7-0): Really no impressive wins to speak of, but they beat Toledo, 31-0.
10. Tulsa (6-0): Comeback wins over SMU don’t rate here.
11. USC (4-1): Realistically, they only need to pass four teams on this list above.
12. Wake Forest (4-1): Winning ugly, but they’re winning.
13. Florida (5-1): They should have beaten LSU last year, too.
14. Georgia (5-1): Another mediocre win; Florida will destroy them.
15. Virginia Tech (5-1): Nothing about this team stirs my loins. Thankfully.
16. Oklahoma (5-1): They have no shot at the BCS title game now. Mark it down.
17. North Carolina (5-1): They should have beaten the Domers by a lot more.
18. Ohio State (6-1): Freshman QBs sometimes play like freshman QBs.
19. California (4-1): The win over Sparty looks good now, but nothing else does.
20. Michigan State (6-1): Weird to think they could be 7-0 right now if Cal sucked a little more.
21. Vanderbilt (5-1): What a typical nerdy-school choke job.
22. Pittsburgh (4-1): “But they lost to Bowling Green!”
23. LSU (4-1): This is why I don’t buy into any SEC hype.
24. Northwestern (5-1): Well, that sucked.
25. Connecticut (5-1): No comment.

Also considered: Minnesota, Missouri, Georgia Tech, South Florida, TCU, Kansas, Cincinnati, Boston College, Florida State

The McTop 25: October 5, 2008

Thoughts:

1. College football really is a love/hate relationship, isn’t it?
2. Vandy?!
3. Michigan is under .500. They were clearly lucky to beat Wisconsin.
4. How USC ever loses a game is beyond me.
5. Notre Dame?

The Top 25 for the week:

1. Oklahoma (5-0): Thy name is consistency. At least as much that has been shown this year. The Sooner schedule leaves a lot to be desired so far, but I’ve always had a belief that if you’re playing a weak schedule, you need to be TORCHING your opponents: 57-2, 52-26, 55-14, 35-10, 49-17. Check!
2. Alabama (6-0): The Tide is set up for a relatively direct route to fighting LSU for the SEC East title. It was Lil’ Nicky’s second year in Baton Rouge that he led the Tigers to the SEC title. Pattern? Oh wait; the Miami Dolphins sort of ruin that alleged pattern, huh?
3. Vanderbilt (5-0): With Georgia and Florida ahead on their SEC slate, I don’t expect the Commodores (I had to look that up, by the way) to win the SEC East. But with two wins over then-Top 25 teams already, you have to think they will certainly make a bowl game. They might be good for four or five more wins in 2008.
4. Utah (6-0): This is why SOS is so bogus. As Michigan continues to play its Big Ten schedule, it will just strengthen Utah’s SOS. Is that right? No. Yes, the Utes beat the Wolverines, but when Michigan plays all the bowl-bound teams in the Big Ten, it just over-inflates Utah’s SOS. Silly.
5. Penn State (6-0): Speaking of the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions are in control right now, but that was a lackluster win over Purdue. A win is a win, but PSU was blowing bad teams OUT, in Sooner fashion, prior to this weekend. Stay tuned ...
6. Texas (5-0): Like the Sooners, the Longhorns have been blowing teams out. Good sign. This should be an epic battle this weekend. Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford, good ol’ fashioned gunslingin’ time.
7. Missouri (5-0): Two battles on unbeatens this upcoming weekend in the Big XII, as Mizzou will take on Oklahoma State. Then Missouri plays Texas after that. You have to like the way this plays out for Mizzou: they get the Cowboys at home, and then they get the Longhorns – who will be SORE, win or lose against Oklahoma. I know this storyline is stale, but are there three better QBs in the country than at the top of the Big XII?
8. Northwestern (5-0): You know, they really haven’t played a good team yet, but they are undefeated. The BCS wins are against Syracuse, Duke and Iowa. Their biggest win, MOV-wise, was against Southern Illinois. I am not sure what to make of them, and hosting Sparty isn’t going to tell us much, either. Stay tuned ...
9. LSU (4-0): Still not impressed. Two wins over SEC foes by a combined 15 points. The five-point win on the road against Auburn is more impressive than a ten-point win at home over Mississippi State. With games remaining against Florida, Georgia and Alabama, they have a rough road ahead. This upcoming game at The Swamp will tell us all we need to know about the defending B(C)S “champs”.
10. Texas Tech (5-0): They finally played a BCS team, and they won by 30 points. They are blowing teams out, too, for the most part. They also have two probable wins up next before they play four ranked teams in a row: Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. Time will tell on this one.
11. Boise State (4-0): They have that nice win at Oregon, but the SOS is all down hill from here. Sagarin has them at #9, and the pollsters have them in the Top 20. It could be a dogfight between the Broncos and the MWC winner (if undefeated) for that solo non-BCS slot in the BCS. Heh.
12. BYU (5-0): The Pac-10 wins are nice, but they mean little in 2008. And like Utah, the more UCLA and Washington play, the higher the Cougs’ SOS will go. In the end, though, it comes down to that Utah game AND Boise State’s run through the WAC. Oh, the irony ...
13. Oklahoma State (5-0): They have two wins over BCS teams, so maybe they should be higher. But I think the Cowboys’ defense is about to be exposed as fraudulent.
14. Ball State (6-0): Sagarin has their SOS higher than LSU’s, which is just silly. See my comment above. Plus, they lost their star WR for life, so ...
15. Tulsa (5-0): They’re blowing teams out, too. But who cares? It’s Conference USA, and they haven’t even sniffed a BCS team this season. They do play at Arkansas on November 1, though.
16. USC (3-1): I have a feeling that if the Trojans finish 11-1, they’ll have a pretty good shot at the BCS title game. But as we know, the Trojans often lose interest in the bad teams on their schedule. And no team left on their schedule is currently ranked (although that may chance in time). Buyers beware, self-included.
17. Wake Forest (3-1): The only game Wake has scheduled against a currently ranked team is their last regular season game when they host Vandy. I bet they’re smoking mad they lost to Navy, for they could win out the rest of the way. And no way a one-loss ACC champ makes it to the title game, unless every other BCS conference has a two-loss champion.
18. Virginia Tech (5-1): Wins over Georgia Tech and North Carolina are going to look better as the season progresses, as the ACC is better than we might think. The Hokies have their next five against BC, FSU, Maryland, Miami-FL and Duke. I wouldn’t like that stretch if I was Virginia Tech.
19. Georgia Tech (4-1): We’re on an ACC run here. The Yellow Jackets can win their next three games (Gardner-Webb, though), and then we’ll speak more of them.
20. Georgia (4-1): Sure, they still control their own destiny in the SEC East, but they don’t look as good as the hype suggested. We may not know how good they are until that game at LSU on October 25, where both teams may be fighting for their BCS lives.
21. North Carolina (4-1): They host Notre Dame next, and since the Irish themselves are overrated, nothing will be learned about the Heels until they play BC, Georgia Tech and Maryland in consecutive weeks later on. But I would never bet against Butch Davis.
22. Ohio State (5-1): So I watched the second half of the game against Wisconsin, and this much I know is true: Terrelle Pryor is good, already. The schedule is favorable, too, for our favorite BCS punching bag. They get PSU and Michigan at home, and even though the game against Illinois is on the road, I feel there will be some payback involved for last year. We may seriously be looking at a BCS title game featuring USC and tOSU, and no one wants to see that (which means it won’t happen, since the BCS isn’t about determining a true champion; it’s about money and TV ratings!).
23. Florida (4-1): I do think Florida has a chance to run the table, too, and provided they can win the SEC title game (no easy assumption, considering), tOSU won’t be in the title game. I would pay to see USC and Florida fight it out, though.
24. California (4-1): There was a hierarchy here to maintain amongst four relatively even teams, due to H2H matchups. The Golden Bears came out on top, because I can’t rank a team that lost to Bowling Green.
25. Michigan State (5-1): I suspect our resident Sparties were on the verge of breaking shelves as MSU tried to give away another game that their opponent tried to hand to them first.

Also considered: Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Minnesota, Cincinnati, TCU, Kansas, Kentucky, South Florida, Boston College, Florida State, Arizona

The McTop 25: September 28, 2008

Thoughts on the weekend:

1. The regular season IS a playoff! If so, then we can get rid of a lot of teams. But I have a feeling Florida, Georgia and USC will all still be in this come December. Watch.
2. College sports are games of emotions! If so, then this weekend was its poster child.
3. This sport is crazy and too exciting not to have a tournament at the end of the season. It really is, and college football is just missing the chance to really cement itself as THE season of all sports seasons, whether college or professional. A 16-team tourney, with six BCS conference winners and ten at-large berths competing in a four-week tournament, would be THE MOTHER of all events in this world.

On to the rankings:

1. Alabama (5-0): I don’t know how you can’t have Little Nicky at the top with the wins this team has in the young season. Impressive.
2. Vanderbilt (4-0): Why am I putting them here? Because the SEC is clearly dominate, and Vandy is 2-0 in the SEC.
3. Utah (5-0): Clearly, Michigan is a good team, which makes Utah look even better.
4. Oklahoma (4-0): The Big XII probably has the best shot left at producing an unbeaten BCS team, but will it be the Sooners or one of the many Big XII teams below? Sorry, but maybe the Big XII is the best conference this year.
5. Boise State (3-0): We all know Boise State is better than the Sooners, right?
6. Northwestern (5-0): The best Big Ten team left? Oh dear Lord.
7. Texas (4-0): Why not?
8. Penn State (5-0): Clearly, PSU >>> USC. Penn State could run the table in the Big Ten, but that would be … weird.
9. LSU (4-0): Les Tigres still hasn’t done much to impress (other than win, of course), and they won’t get through the SEC, anyway.
10. BYU (4-0): Maybe they should join the Pac-10. Utah, too.
11. Oklahoma State (4-0): I can’t name a single person on this team, but I do know the coach. He’s a man!
12. Connecticut (5-0): The beasts of the East!
13. Texas Tech (4-0): Always a gimmick until they get that BIG win.
14. South Florida (5-0): I hope they don’t crumble under the hype THIS year.
15. Ball State (5-0): Letterman is proud.
16. Missouri (4-0): Clearly, their “best” win is now dubious.
17. Kentucky (4-0): Bottom of the top of the SEC. Nothing to complain about. Andre who?
18. Tulsa (4-0): Everyone rides the Golden Hurricanes to something better.
19. USC (2-1): They really should be ashamed of themselves. It’s like, they just don’t care. The Trojans have passed from greatness, because they’re more interested in being NFL stars than being college champions. Pete Carroll needs to connect those dots for his players.
20. Virginia Tech (4-1): Nothing wrong with a road win in Lincoln.
21. Georgia Tech (3-1): I hope Paul Johnson succeeds here, because I always enjoyed watching this offense.
22. Georgia (4-1): I am sure the ‘Dawgs will still make the BCS title game. Otherwise, the voters will have to admit their ridiculous preseason stupidity.
23. Wisconsin (3-1): Looks like the Badgers borrowed a page from Sparty.
24. Wake Forest (3-1): Doh!
25. California (3-1): I think a lot of teams will stop scheduling cross-country road games at BCS opponents in September. If you’re going to play a BCS team early, you only play host. Or at least stay in your general region.

Also receiving consideration (in order): Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State, TCU, Fresno State, Oregon, Auburn, Duke (!), Minnesota, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Maryland, Air Force, Kansas, Cincinnati, Florida State, Colorado, Arizona, Boston College, Kansas State

The McTop 25: September 21, 2008

Thoughts this week:

1) USC needs to play every week.
2) Jimmy Clausen sucks.
3) Florida is the best team in the SEC, hands down.
4) 90% of the Pac-10 sucks.
5) The Holtz family is overrated.

On to the rankings …

1. USC (2-0): No team did anything impressive enough this week to unseat the idle Trojans. See below for explanations.
2. Florida (3-0): Not that beating Tennessee means anything, but Florida has impressive wins over BCS teams to match the Trojans somewhat. I really hope Florida can get through the SEC unscathed, because I’d love to see an SEC-USC matchup in the BCS title game so the SEC can be shut up once and for all. But I am sure Vandy will knock off the Gators at home on November 8 …
3. Wake Forest (3-0): The DDs have three wins over three BCS teams. Talk about “great” scheduling … Are they this good? Maybe not, but so far, they have three “quality” wins, and my rankings are about results, not predicted potential.
4. Georgia (4-0): If ASU hadn’t lost to UNLV the week before, the Bulldogs’ first trip west of the Mississippi in 40 years might have actually meant something. As it was, it was a good road win over a mediocre BCS squad. Combined with the previous week’s mediocre win over South Carolina, Georgia still hasn’t done anything noteworthy to earn/deserve its preseason hype.
5. Vanderbilt (4-0): They have two BCS wins so far; actually, it’s two SEC wins as well. This could be the year they break .500 and go bowlin’. I seriously think they can surprise some people in the SEC. And if Vandy’s making noise, the conference can’t be THAT good. Then again, if Vandy’s makin’ noise, the conference might be THAT good.
6. Alabama (4-0): They also have two DOMINATE wins over BCS teams, so the SEC might be THAT good. But they don’t play Florida this year. That’s why the SEC continues to be lame: unbalanced scheduling.
7. BYU (4-0): Okay, with two BCS wins over Pac-10 mediocrity, it’s not saying much, but … hey, two BCS wins are two BCS wins. It’s smart scheduling.
8. Oklahoma (3-0): I hate bye weeks. But I like Sam Bradford a lot.
9. Connecticut (4-0): More creative scheduling nets two early BCS wins for the Huskies. Generally, I respect the University of Connecticut, so I’d like to see them get a football program to match their basketball program. BUT … they need a signature, come-of-age win this year to really put themselves on the Big Least map.
10. Northwestern (4-0): Again, two BCS wins makes the schedule look better than it is, but it’s what we’ve got to work with.
11. Penn State (4-0): Ditto. And I am positive Penn State is a better team than Northwestern, but for now, the Nittany Lions take a back seat to their purple friends in Evanston.
12. Utah (4-0): We now get into the teams with only one BCS win on their slate so far. And sure, all the Utes did was beat a raw Wolverine team in Ann Arbor, but it counts for something.
13. Colorado (3-0): With great pride, I place the Buffaloes in the Top 25 this week. Sure, West Virginia clearly sucks (maybe Rich-Rod knew what he was doing after all?), but that was a big win for Dan and Cody.
14. LSU (3-0): Beating a team that only beat MSU South by a 3-2 score last week is not impressive. Needing a last-minute comeback to do so is even less impressive. This is why LSU doesn’t impress me. They need last-second wins against teams they should be crushing, if they were as good as advertised. They’re underwhelming at best, but again, this is the only true measure we have of LSU so far: a road win that was much harder than it should have been. I’ll call it rust and give them another shot next week.
15. Boise State (3-0): Gritty win in Autzen. With East Carolina choking, the field narrows for the singular BCS crasher spot (don’t get me started on THAT lame-ass BCS limitation, either). The 2006 McMNC could be poised for another good run.
16. Ball State (4-0): It is what it is. Deal with it.
17. South Florida (4-0): The Big Least does suck, doesn’t it?
18. TCU (4-0): Stanford is its one BCS win, but creative scheduling gives them an edge on many teams below who have yet to beat a BCS team.
19. Kentucky (3-0): Livin’ large off that opening win over Louisville.
20. Oklahoma State (3-0): Washington State has given a lot of teams access to my Top 25.
21. Missouri (4-0): Yes, they’re better than this, but they still haven’t done much outside of that Illinois win.
22. Wisconsin (3-0): The best of the no-wins-over-BCS-teams bunch.
23. Texas Tech (4-0): Some seriously WEAK scheduling here.
24. Minnesota (4-0): Ditto. But did they need this, or what?
25. Tulsa (3-0): I have no idea.

Also considered (but then rejected): Nebraska, Texas

The McTop 25: September 14, 2008

Thoughts for the week:

* USC is clearly the team to beat. Considering the poor Pac-10 showing on the day, the Trojans may need these two early wins to convince the SEC-biased world that they deserve a BCS title game slot, or else we're going to end up with an All-SEC BCS title game;

* Will LSU schedule some decent opponents, please?;

* Oklahoma and Missouri look very good.

* Quick look at the Big Ten standings tell us that Michigan is the only Big Ten team under .500 right now. Weird ...

That is all for now. Without further adieu, your McTop 24 for the week:

1. USC (2-0): The Trojans have beaten Virginia and Ohio State by a combined score of 87-10. Hmmm. Not sure what else can be stated here. The Trojans made mistakes and still throttled the Buckeyes. Not that the latter was a surprise, but if the Trojans stay focused, no one is beating them this season.

2. East Carolina (3-0): The Pirates have beaten Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Tulane. Still the best slate out there so far. But they need to really BEAT teams if they want a crack at the BCS title game.

3. Oklahoma (3-0): The Sooners have beaten Chattanooga, Cincinnati and Washington. At least they scheduled some BCS teams.

4. Oregon (3-0): The Ducks have beaten Washington, Utah State and Purdue. Not bad. But lose the white helmets, fellas.

5. Wake Forest (2-0): The Demon Deacons have beaten Baylor and Mississippi. Not super impressive, but they are clearly the class of the ACC at this point (insert joke here).

6. BYU (3-0): The Cougars have beaten Northern Iowa, Washington and UCLA. Mixed bag, but two BCS wins already. Not many others can say that right now.

7. Missouri (3-0): The Tigers have beaten Illinois, Southeast Missouri State and Nevada. They have scored a lot of points. They gave up too many points against their only real competition, though.

8. South Florida (3-0): The Bulls have beaten Tennessee-Martin, Central Florida and Kansas. Solid.

9. Florida (2-0): The Gators have beaten Hawaii and Miami-FL. Eh.

10. Penn State (3-0): The Nits have beaten Coastal Carolina, Oregon State and Syracuse. Looks better on paper than it is in reality.

11. Alabama (3-0): The Tide have beaten Clemson, Tulane and Western Kentucky. If Clemson wasn’t such a perennial choke artist, this might mean something.

12. Northwestern (3-0): The Wildcats have beaten Syracuse, Duke and Southern Illinois. What? Baylor and Stanford weren’t available? Vanderbilt say no?

13. Georgia (3-0): The Bulldogs have beaten Georgia Southern, Central Michigan and South Carolina. Three directionals, and only a lackluster win over the Ol’ Ball Coach is worthy of anything. Eh.

14. Vanderbilt (3-0): The Commodores have beaten Miami-OH, South Carolina (by the same margin that mighty Georgia did), and Rice. Eh.

15. Utah (3-0): The Utes have beaten Michigan, UNLV and Utah State. Whatever.

16. Notre Dame (2-0): The Irish have beaten San Diego State and Michigan. Yawn.

17. Auburn (3-0): The Tigers have beaten Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State. Since the only win over a BCS team was that 3-2 shootout against the Bulldogs, well … BFD.

18. Connecticut (3-0): The Huskies have beaten Hofstra, Temple and Virginia. Whatever.

19. North Carolina (2-0): The Tar Heels have beaten McNeese State and Rutgers. But beating the Scarlet Knights isn’t meaningful anymore.

20. Kentucky (3-0): The Wildcats have beaten Louisville, Norfolk State and Middle Tennessee. This might have meant something in 2006, but everyone beats Louisville now.

21. Oklahoma State (3-0): The Cowboys have beaten Washington State, Houston and Missouri State.

22. Iowa (3-0): The Hawkeyes have beaten Maine, Florida International and Iowa State. Whatever.

23. TCU (3-0): The Horned Frogs have beaten New Mexico, Stephen F. Austin and Stanford. BFD.

24. Wisconsin (3-0): The Badgers have beaten Akron, Marshall and Fresno State. At least Fresno State had a pulse.

Also considered but later dismissed since they haven’t beaten ANY noteworthy teams yet (in no order): Florida State, Nebraska, Kansas State, Minnesota, LSU, Arkansas, Boise State, Troy, Ball State, Air Force, Tulsa, Colorado, Texas Tech, Texas, Indiana

The McTop 25: September 7, 2008

Some observational thoughts this week:

1) The celebration penalty called against Washington on Saturday was just asinine. I am going to echo the talking heads on ESPN who said that kind of bonehead call can cost a coach his job. The officials must do a better job calling penalties like that;

2) The SEC officials tried to steal a game against Wake Forest on Saturday. That pass interference call on the Demon Deacons right before Ole Miss scored to take the lead? Absolutely laughable: no one was within five yards of the area where the ball landed, and no one was capable of catching it. At the bare minimum, neutral officiating crews need to call non-conference games between BCS schools. Otherwise, calls like this one can really do too much damage long-term;

3) Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Michigan struggles to beat a MAC team at home, leading only 10-6 in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame struggles to beat a Cal State school at home, trailing 13-7 in the fourth quarter. It’s ridiculous that either team is getting any press this year. If either team was in the Pac-10 or the SEC, they’d never finish above .500 on the season. This headline actually appeared on MSNBC.com Saturday night: “Aerial assault powers Notre Dame to victory”. Oh dear Lord …

4) You want cupcakes? You don't get ranked in my book.

Okay, on to the Top 25:

1. East Carolina (2-0): No one else has beaten two ranked opponents already this season. Sure, they were both home wins, but now Skip Holtz’s team becomes a trendy pick to crash the BCS.
2. USC (1-0): I have a feeling it is going to get ugly for the Buckeyes this weekend in Los Angeles. But at least Ohio State will play USC in the City of Angels.
3. Vanderbilt (2-0): Laugh all you want, but they beat Miami-OH on the road by twice as much as Michigan beat them at home, AND they beat a ranked SEC team to open league play with a win.
4. Utah (2-0): Yes, we have some random team crashing the Top 25 this week, but I don’t reward teams for playing cupcakes. The Utes are BCS slayers.
5. California (2-0): Maybe they should be higher than the Utes, but Wazzoo isn’t a real BCS team this season.
6. UCLA (1-0): They have more wins over SEC teams than Florida does.
7. Fresno State (1-0): With a road win over a BCS team, they belong here. Another potential BCS crasher. We could have three BCS crashers this year; that would be far out.
8. Florida (2-0): The win over Miami was impressive, showing Florida isn’t afraid to schedule good teams.
9. BYU (2-0): They were helped by a lame call (see above), for they could have lost that game in overtime. But in the end, a win’s a win, right?
10. Oklahoma State (2-0): They’re not as good as Cal, based on the comparative Wazzoo scores, but …
11. Alabama (2-0): They’ve played Clemson. They’ve played Tulane. Who else has Tommy Bowden coached?
12. Wake Forest (2-0): The ACC isn’t that bad, is it?
13. LSU (2-0): With a single win, over a FCS team at that, you just can’t rank them any higher right now.
14. Georgia Tech (2-0): Beating BC on the road counts for something.
15. Texas Tech (2-0): For some reason, their SOS rates kind of high. Not sure I buy it.
16. Minnesota (2-0): Ditto.
17. Auburn (2-0): Then you remember that Auburn played Louisiana-Monroe, and you realize why Texas Tech and Minnesota have played better schedules so far.
18. Wisconsin (2-0): MAC-friendly Bucky.
19. Colorado (2-0): Dan Hawkins’ kid can play ball.
20. Arizona State (2-0): Stanford rates in the SOS.
21. Oregon (2-0): Washington does not.
22. Nebraska (2-0): Not sure how you need a 21-point fourth quarter to pull away from a Cal State school at home, but …
23. Notre Dame (1-0): See above, except change the number from 21 to 14.
24. Oklahoma (2-0): Playing a BCS team offsets playing Chattanooga.
25. Georgia (2-0): Still waiting for the Dawgs to play a real team.

Also considered, but rejected for lack of scheduling prowess: Texas, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Tulsa, Ohio State, Penn State, TCU, South Florida, Air Force, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa, Florida State, Boise State, Purdue.

The McTop 25: September 2, 2008

Welcome back to another fall of the McMisanthrope Top 25, where teams only get ranked the old-fashioned way -- they earn it ($1 to Smith Barney and John Houseman). But remember, these rankings have little weight so early in the season, so before mianderson gets his panties in a bunch, just fuckin' chill, bitches.

1. USC (1-0): They beat a BCS team by 45 points. Easily the top performance of the weekend. I don't know how any one could claim they aren't the best team in the country, right here, right now ($1 to Jesus Jones).

2. Alabama (1-0): So they beat Clemson. Everybody does that in games that matter. Little Nicky is back! But the question really is this: when will Tommy Bowden get the boot?

3. Missouri (1-0): Wow, they can't play defense, can they? Or is Juice just that good? Nope. They can't play defense. Oklahoma will SHRED them when the time comes.

4. UCLA (1-0): They beat an allegedly good SEC team. Not much else to say here but what's already been said: the Pac-10 is better than the SEC.

5. Cal (1-0): They beat a BCS team, which is more than a lot of teams this week can claim. But it was just self-defeating Sparty, so ... it don't mean a lot right now.

6. Stanford (1-0): Hey, Oregon State is better than all these other opponents below.

7. Oregon (1-0): Still better than beating a non-BCS team. Poor Ty ... he never should have left Stanford.

8. Oklahoma State (1-): Beating Wazzou on the road by 26 points is good enough for Week 1's Top 10.

9. South Carolina (1-0): Beating an ACC chump is not noteworthy, but at least they shutout a BCS team.

10. Wake Forest (1-0): Poor Baylor. They never should have left the SWC.

11. Fresno State (1-0): I would love to see two non-BCS teams crash the party this year, so here's to the 'Dogs.

12. Utah (1-0): Not much of an upset, but still another bad surprise in Ann Arbor.

13. Northwestern (1-0): Everyone beats the 'Cuse.

14. Florida (1-0): So now we're on to teams that scheduled non-BCS opponents. As for the Gators, they look fine. But poor Hawai’i. When will an SEC team ever travel to Honolulu to face them?

15. Wisconsin (1-0): They beat an FBS team, so they will automatically go ahead of any school that beat an FCS team. But they had to wait until the third quarter to really pull away. Not a good sign.

16. Ohio State (1-0): Now, we're onto the teams that merely beat 1-AA squads. They shut out their FCS opponent, unlike other teams lower on this list. And Youngstown State is no FCS weakling. Or is it now that Tressel isn't there anymore? Put this one on the list of favors paid.

17. Oklahoma (1-0): Pardon me, boy, was that the Chattanooga choo choo? Track 57, boy, you can gimme a safety! I can afford to brat a Chattanooga choo choo; I've got my fare and just a few points to spare.

18. LSU (1-0): While they played an FCS team, they at least played the FCS champs. And they did what they should have done: win big. But beating an FCS team isn’t like beating an FBS team. And it’s not like beating a BCS team, either. And even the second-team defense should be able to hold an FCS team scoreless.

19. Georgia (1-0): Maybe this is the trend -- play an FCS team, but play a “good” one? Just don’t cough up 21 points on defense, however.

20. BYU (1-0): At least Northern Iowa had a semi-pulse. Or did they?

21. Arizona State (1-0): Regional matchups as a favor need to end. I am stealing this idea off RSFC (can't remember who wrote it?), but they should have pre-season interconference series every year between BCS teams.

22. Texas Tech (1-0): Ugh, these early schedules are paining my heart.

23. Texas (1-0): When is Mack Brown going to get bored in Austin?

24. Kansas (1-0): Ditto. Since Kansas was screwed last year, hopefully they will learn for the future like K-State never really did.

25. Auburn (1-0): Ditto, although from an SEC team, it's merely business as usual. As these SEC teams see the Vols get their hats handed to them two years in a row on the Best Coast, there's NO way this trend is going to change -- thereby making most SEC teams merely .500 squads against real opponents.


Also receiving consideration due to their cupcakes scheduling: South Florida, West Virginia, Penn State

On haitus until Fall 2008

In the meantime, check out my off-season exploration of who I would have selected as the "mythical" national champion in football over the last 70+ years:

http://mcmncs.blogspot.com/

See you again in September!

McMisanthrope’s Top 25 – FINAL

A flawed system which just embarrasses the NCAA on all levels …

1. Kansas (12-1): Sure, it’s an unpopular pick, because people will say they played an easy schedule. But you know what? They played in a BCS conference, they finished with one loss, and they won a bowl game. No one else in the country has the same claim, and why crown a two-loss champion to embarrass the game if you don’t have to? They won the Orange Bowl, beating a team many felt had a claim to the BCS title game. They only lost to the two-loss Cotton Bowl champion. They played a BCS conference schedule they had NO control over. Sorry, but if people truly understood what college athletics were about, Kansas would be the champion. And so they’re my champion. Congratulations, Jayhawks!

2. Hawaii (12-1): They lost their Sugar Bowl, but no way Georgia flies to Honolulu and wins. Hawaii has perhaps the best HFA in college football right now, and it makes them a better team than they showed in New Orleans. One loss, even a blowout one at the end of the year, shouldn’t kill your season. Ask the 2004 Oklahoma Sooners.

3. USC (11-2): Two years in a row, the best team on the field had no chance at the BCS title, which simply shows how biased and corrupt the BCS system really is today. It doesn’t crown a champion; it makes a mockery of the MNC concept. The Trojans would have beaten Florida last year, and they would have beaten LSU this year. That simple. I find it ironic that LSU made the title game on perceived reputation, even though USC started the season ahead of LSU in the polls based on those same reputations. The anti-Pac 10 bias came through again, once again demonstrating the corruption rampant in the BCS system. USC would clean LSU’s clock, and Pete Carroll is ten times the coach Les Miles is. Pathetic.

4. West Virginia (11-2): I guess this is really all THEIR fault. If they had just been able to beat friggin’ Pitt, LSU would never have been allowed to mess all this up. Fuck you, West Virginia. Forever. I do find it ironic how they BLEW OUT the Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl, when they couldn’t even score in double digits against Pitt. It defies logic; it really does, like USC losing to UCLA last year in roughly the same fashion. I suspect the Wolverines won’t be happy when their new coach pulls the same garbage against Sparty, Purdue and Iowa, though.

5. LSU (12-2): I guess they have to be someone’s champion in order to pay the bills, right? A flawed champion of a corrupt system where votes are bought and sold like currency? When college football finally gets around to doing things the right way, the debates will rage on about these laughable BCS title games in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2007. I’m sure someone will prove that Michigan or Notre Dame really should have been the BCS champions in all those years, and they’d be just as right as the assclowns who put FSU (twice!), Nebraska, Oklahoma, Florida and LSU into these “championships”. I also find it laughable that LSU has won both its BCSMNCs in the Sugar Bowl; send these fuckers to Pasadena? They’d get snot-fucked sideways. Yet another reason why college football is a joke, and the LSU Tigers are its poster children.

6. Missouri (12-2): Justification of sorts? Not really. Our highest non-BCS entry won its bowl game easily, and they had a great season. If there had been an eight-team tournament, they wouldn’t have been in it. This is the equivalent of winning the NIT. Enjoy it, Tigers.

7. Ohio State (11-2): What can you say? The Big Ten does suck. But they did win it.

8. Georgia (11-2): Different draw, and it could have been them beating Ohio State for a tainted BCSMNC. BTW, they are behind Mizzou, because they didn’t even make it to their league title game.

9. BYU (11-2): Quietly under a lot of voters’ radars for two seasons in a row now.

10. Oklahoma (11-3): Heh. Told you they sucked.

11. Virginia Tech (11-3): The ACC sucks, too. The Hokies lost to someone else’s version of Beamer Ball. That has to hurt.

12. Texas (10-3): It’s amazing how bad college football was this year, when severely flawed teams like OU and Texas can still win 10+ games and finish so high.

13. Arizona State (10-3): They’d beat LSU if the Tigers played in Tempe.

14. Boston College (11-3): Weak bowl win over a mediocre team from a mediocre conference. BTW, some teams can play 14 games in a season, but a playoff/tournament would add too many games to the season? Whatever. The BCS sucks; LSU as a two-loss champion is more proof.

15. Cincinnati (10-3): Should Michigan have hired Brian Kelley? Only time will tell.

16. Boise State (10-3): Never should have lost that bowl game.

17. Oregon (9-4): Nice bowl win without their Heisman QB. Every season has multiple layers of storylines, and the Dennis Dixon Story has been overlooked. If he stays healthy, Oregon wins the BCS title. What a shame … reminds me of the Kenyon Martin injury right before the 2000 NCAA Basketball tournament.

18. Tennessee (10-4): See the Texas note above and see the Boston College note above. If teams THAT HAVE NO CHANCE AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP can play 14 games in a season, explain again WHY a tournament wouldn’t work? Oh yeah … the BCS sucks cocks.

19. Oregon State (9-4): Mike Riley is quietly making this program very good on a yearly basis.

20. Auburn (9-4): I have nothing interesting or original to say about Auburn.

21. Michigan (9-4): Nice to see Lloyd Carr go out on a high note. The man deserved better than this, but his seniors let him down. At least they finally won a bowl game, though.

22. Penn State (9-4): JoePa is going to coach forever, isn’t he?

23. Texas Tech (9-4): My early, dark horse Heisman prediction for 2008? Mr. Crabtree.

24. Florida (9-4): Lame bowl loss. Watch out for this team in 2008.

25. Wake Forest (9-4): Nothing to complain about for this follow-up to their 2006 ACC championship.

Also considered: South Florida, Clemson, Illinois, Utah, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Virginia, Central Florida, Air Force