Man, the cream has already risen, and we're left with dogs who have at least lost to RANKED teams!
1. LSU (5-0) – Winners of a “road” game, they may be the most fortunate MNC contender, schedule-wise, that I have ever seen. If LSU doesn’t win the BCS title, Les Miles should never be allowed to coach again.
2. Ohio State (5-0) – Ho hum. Nice defense.
3. USC (4-0) – The Huskies are not weak, but considering what Ohio State did in Washington, USC should have been better. Then again, maybe merely avoiding the upset bug is enough for them this week.
4. South Florida (4-0) – Are they this good? Maybe not, but with all the upsets, they had the most impressive win of the unbeatens. Then again, maybe WVU is just soft. They’ve really killed themselves two years in a row against USF, so it’s time to give USF credit for that.
5. California (5-0) – Holding the Ducks to 24 points and four turnovers while only winning by seven points says more about Oregon than it does about Cal. But hey, their defense did the job, and their offense did the job, ON THE ROAD. LSU couldn’t win a road game like this, that’s for sure. Although we’ll probably never find out, will we?
6. Boston College (5-0) – I don’t even know who they played this week. But who cares? They won. In all seriousness, though, they needed to beat UMass by more points than that.
7. Arizona State (5-0) – The Pac-10 has three undefeated teams in my Top 7. They are in Sagarin’s Top 8. Les Miles, you better win the MNC, because if you lose it to a Pac-10 team, you should never be allowed to coach again. Oh, and Harbaugh? Stanford sucks.
8. Wisconsin (5-0) – Sparty had two chances to tie or win in your house, and you pretty much got lucky, Mr. Badger. But hey, wins are wins when so many others in the Top 25 lost. Kudos, and as I said earlier, you’re beginning to look a lot like Ohio State did in 2002. Nothing wrong with that.
9. Kentucky (5-0) – FAU? Seriously? Why do SEC teams schedule like pussies? Either way, they avoided the upset bug. That has to count for something.
10. Missouri (4-0) – Bye weeks are nice, especially when everyone else is losing.
11. Purdue (5-0) – They beat Notre Dame, and they didn’t look good doing it. That says more about the Irish than it does about the Boilermakers, though. I mean, Notre Dame can’t suck forever, right? Right? RIGHT?!
12. Cincinnati (5-0) – Along with USF, they are now in the driver’s seat for the Big East’s BCS spot. Man, they just beat each other up in that league! Pounded a state school on the road, as they should have.
13. Hawaii (5-0) – Another blowout win for Colt & Co. I am rooting them to bust the BCS this year, of course, just like Boise State and Utah did in the past few years.
14. Connecticut (5-0) – Comparative scores are nice. UConn beat Akron by more than #2 Ohio State did. I am surprised they are still undefeated, but hey, they keep winning, right? Right? RIGHT?!
15. Kansas (4-0) – Hey, even better than scheduling a cupcake, they had a bye week! And they’re officially the worst of the remaining unbeatens in the FBS. Don’t expect them to stay here long …
16. South Carolina (4-1) – The run of SEC also-rans can begin now. No shame in losing road games to LSU, I guess. Oh, and my list, the only one-loss teams who make it are the ones who lost to still-unbeaten teams.
17. Oregon (4-1) – The only problem I have with them losing is that they should have been able to beat Cal at home, but they kept giving the ball away. When you lose a close one like this, you question all your efforts and focus on every little mistake you made. This loss will have psychological damage to the Ducks. It would have been better for them to lose by 30 points than to lose the way they did.
18. West Virginia (4-1) – Wow, you really suck, Mountaineers. Slaton? Say good bye to your Heisman. White? You just entered J.J. Stokes Territory with that thigh bruise. Pussies, all of you. Truthfully, I hope they lose to Louisville, Cincinnati, and every other team in the Big East from here on out. What a bunch of cunts.
19. Michigan State (4-1) – The difference between the past and the present? In the past, when Wisconsin took a 10-point lead in the third quarter, Sparty would have rolled over and lost by 20+ points. But don’t congratulate them yet: they blew two relatively good chances to tie or win the game late. However, with Northwestern and Indiana up at home next, Sparty should be 6-1 when they play at Ohio State. If they’re not, well – then they’re still the same ol’ Sparty.
20. Illinois (4-1) – They were a sleeper this year, and they are now officially off the sleeper list. Clearly, Penn State sucks, though. Zooooooooooooooooook!
21. Nebraska (4-1) – Their only loss was to an unbeaten team, even if it was a blowout at home that they were supposed to be fired up for. This is not a good team.
22. Virginia Tech (4-1) – This is not a good team, either, but their only loss was on the road to an undefeated team. Even if it was a huge ass-fucking, even bigger than the one USC gave the Cornhuskers …
23. Georgia (4-1) – No shame in losing a to a team who’s only loss was to a team that lost at LSU, right? Right? RIGHT?!
24. Kansas State (3-1) – Since their only loss was to Auburn, and it was on the road, they get the nod for this spot. Are they better than Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Rutgers? On paper, probably not. But on the field, they’ve earned this spot for Week 5.
25. Florida (4-1) – They should have known better than to lose to Auburn at home. You cannot lose to unranked teams at home, Urban Meyer!
Others receiving consideration, in order:
Clemson, Florida State, Oklahoma, Boise State, Texas, Rutgers, Texas Tech, Miami-FL, Texas A&M, UCLA and Virginia
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
McMisanthrope’s Top 25 – September 23, 2007
If you've lost once, you're still second-rate …
1. USC – The Trojans held serve with a 30-point win over Wazzou. Pretty good effort, showing Wazzou to be better than Nebraska, in essence (if you want to play that game, and I’m not sure I do). Of course, things get tougher (maybe?) for USC, but clearly, they may be the only Pac-10 team who can play any defense.
2. LSU – I think this win was their best one, by far. Crafty opponent, etc., but again, can this team play away from home? Thanks to a ridiculously lame schedule and fortuitous BCS rotation, we may never find out. And that’s the shame about college football. If they had to play in L.A., they’d get smoked by the Trojans. If they had to play in the Horseshoe, they’d lose. If they get to play in Louisiana, probably only USC can hang with them. I wonder how they’re going to fair in the SEC title game; or is that in New Orleans this year, too?!
3. Oklahoma – I think we may see another 2004 here, with three undefeated teams at the end of the year. Oklahoma absolutely whipped a decent Tulsa team, and it was ugly. I like Patrick Allen a lot, by the way.
4. Ohio State – They finally delivered the type of ass-kicking that had been missing from their resume this season. Up by 28 after the end of the first period? Is Northwestern still in the Big Ten? Should they be?
5. Florida – Everyone is allowed a hiccup, but this one drops the Gators a bit this week. Even for a road game in the SEC, you must dazzle more than that.
6. Rutgers – Byes are nice, especially when some of your conference mates drop the ball. Maybe this is too high, because they haven’t really played anyone yet, but at least they’ve been dominating those schlubs.
7. West Virginia – All I heard was how Skip Holtz’ defense was so good at limiting WVU’s running attack the past two years. Whatever.
8. Boston College – I keep thinking they’re in the Big East, but you’re probably looking at the new ACC champs. Probably shouldn’t have given up 17 points to Army, but 20-point wins are expected in games like this.
9. Oregon – I guess they’ve played a “tougher” schedule than some of the teams below them, but when you’re behind at Stanford at halftime, I don’t care if you rip them a new one in the second half on the way to a big win. You suck, and like most Pac-10 teams on this list, the Ducks can’t play defense (and that says A LOT about Michigan’s offense, by the way, and the quality of the Big Ten this year).
10. California – Why am I putting them below Oregon? Because I have been pointing out their defensive deficiencies since the first week of the season. They might be able to score as well as USC and Oregon, but like the Ducks, anyone can score them in return. Predictions for the big game in Eugene next weekend? How about 51-45? 65-61? 78-71 in 2OT? Should be a fun game to watch, unless you’re a defensive maven.
11. Wisconsin – Winning ugly, for sure. A formula that worked for Oklahoma in 2000 and Ohio State in 2002. Am I really comparing the Badgers to those teams? No, not really. But they’re not going to win a lot of style points this season.
12. Kentucky – Their win over Louisville lost some luster, and a two-loss Arkansas team isn’t as good as we thought, either. But you have to give them credit for beating both those teams nonetheless.
13. Arizona State – Fell behind 19-0 in the first quarter at home to an average Beaver squad, but they rallied for the win. Again, there’s a team in the Pac-10 for teams other than the Trojans: No Defense!
14. South Florida – So I heard a funny anecdote from a USF administrator last night. He said all the previous campus presidents had opposed football, until this one president made an off-the-cuff comment, on the record, that if the football supporters could raise $10M, they could start a football program – never thinking the $10M could actually be gathered. Then in a matter of weeks, the money was raised. The guy had to keep his word, and there you have it: USF football. I really think stories like this are great for college football. Maybe the Big East can give us a fourth undefeated BCS team this year; maybe it will be USF.
15. Clemson – Dominating road win in ACC play. With BC, they seem to be the cream of that crop.
16. Cincinnati – Their SOS is not great, but I think they’re right up there with USF. Why did their coach leave? He could have had an Urban Meyer 2004 Utah-like season this year and parlayed that into the MICHIGAN job.
17. Hawaii – I don’t think too many teams would want to play Hawaii on a neutral field. Hopefully, they will run the table, and we’ll get to see them matched against the ACC champ (yawn).
18. Texas – Who friggin’ made this schedule? At least the ‘Horns finally got a blowout win, but they had to play Rice to get it. Seriously, I have major doubts about this team. I suspect Oklahoma will eradicate them easily.
19. Michigan State – Interestingly, Sagarin has them rated as the worst of the remaining Division 1-A unbeatens. Putting them behind a team like Kansas, however, Mr. Sagarin, is unfair, since the Spartans at least tried to schedule some good teams. They’ve faced some adversity in each of the past three weeks, and they’ve won all three games. It may be an interesting game in Madison next weekend.
20. Purdue – Do I think Purdue is better than Michigan State? Yes. The offense seems to be working well enough, as a Tiller O should. Giving up 31 points to Minnesota, however, is not good. That knocks you below Sparty for a week, though. Have fun with the Irish chew-toy next week, Boilermakers!
21. Missouri – Big win over a pancake this week. Will they give Nebraska a run for Big XII North title? Or will Kansas sneak in and take it while no one’s looking? Okay, you can stop laughing now.
22. Connecticut – Beating Pittsburgh was a surprise to me, as they stayed unbeaten for another week. Their SOS is better than Kansas’, so that’s why they’re here.
23. Kansas – Play a real friggin’ team, already – PLEASE. Amazing how you can stack a schedule to get you to a bowl game, huh? When teams like Michigan are 2-2 and this team is 4-0, it makes you realize why college football still has a lot of issues. But it’s my rule to penalize teams severely for losses (especially to Division 1-AA teams, Wolverines), so get over it.
24. South Carolina – Certainly, there was NO shame in their loss to LSU. If they played on a neutral field, it might be a much closer game, too. And if LSU played at USC (either one), the Tigers would be kittens.
25. Georgia – They get the edge over Alabama for obvious reasons. Impressive fortitude to hold on for the OT win last night. And everyone loves it when Saban loses …
1. USC – The Trojans held serve with a 30-point win over Wazzou. Pretty good effort, showing Wazzou to be better than Nebraska, in essence (if you want to play that game, and I’m not sure I do). Of course, things get tougher (maybe?) for USC, but clearly, they may be the only Pac-10 team who can play any defense.
2. LSU – I think this win was their best one, by far. Crafty opponent, etc., but again, can this team play away from home? Thanks to a ridiculously lame schedule and fortuitous BCS rotation, we may never find out. And that’s the shame about college football. If they had to play in L.A., they’d get smoked by the Trojans. If they had to play in the Horseshoe, they’d lose. If they get to play in Louisiana, probably only USC can hang with them. I wonder how they’re going to fair in the SEC title game; or is that in New Orleans this year, too?!
3. Oklahoma – I think we may see another 2004 here, with three undefeated teams at the end of the year. Oklahoma absolutely whipped a decent Tulsa team, and it was ugly. I like Patrick Allen a lot, by the way.
4. Ohio State – They finally delivered the type of ass-kicking that had been missing from their resume this season. Up by 28 after the end of the first period? Is Northwestern still in the Big Ten? Should they be?
5. Florida – Everyone is allowed a hiccup, but this one drops the Gators a bit this week. Even for a road game in the SEC, you must dazzle more than that.
6. Rutgers – Byes are nice, especially when some of your conference mates drop the ball. Maybe this is too high, because they haven’t really played anyone yet, but at least they’ve been dominating those schlubs.
7. West Virginia – All I heard was how Skip Holtz’ defense was so good at limiting WVU’s running attack the past two years. Whatever.
8. Boston College – I keep thinking they’re in the Big East, but you’re probably looking at the new ACC champs. Probably shouldn’t have given up 17 points to Army, but 20-point wins are expected in games like this.
9. Oregon – I guess they’ve played a “tougher” schedule than some of the teams below them, but when you’re behind at Stanford at halftime, I don’t care if you rip them a new one in the second half on the way to a big win. You suck, and like most Pac-10 teams on this list, the Ducks can’t play defense (and that says A LOT about Michigan’s offense, by the way, and the quality of the Big Ten this year).
10. California – Why am I putting them below Oregon? Because I have been pointing out their defensive deficiencies since the first week of the season. They might be able to score as well as USC and Oregon, but like the Ducks, anyone can score them in return. Predictions for the big game in Eugene next weekend? How about 51-45? 65-61? 78-71 in 2OT? Should be a fun game to watch, unless you’re a defensive maven.
11. Wisconsin – Winning ugly, for sure. A formula that worked for Oklahoma in 2000 and Ohio State in 2002. Am I really comparing the Badgers to those teams? No, not really. But they’re not going to win a lot of style points this season.
12. Kentucky – Their win over Louisville lost some luster, and a two-loss Arkansas team isn’t as good as we thought, either. But you have to give them credit for beating both those teams nonetheless.
13. Arizona State – Fell behind 19-0 in the first quarter at home to an average Beaver squad, but they rallied for the win. Again, there’s a team in the Pac-10 for teams other than the Trojans: No Defense!
14. South Florida – So I heard a funny anecdote from a USF administrator last night. He said all the previous campus presidents had opposed football, until this one president made an off-the-cuff comment, on the record, that if the football supporters could raise $10M, they could start a football program – never thinking the $10M could actually be gathered. Then in a matter of weeks, the money was raised. The guy had to keep his word, and there you have it: USF football. I really think stories like this are great for college football. Maybe the Big East can give us a fourth undefeated BCS team this year; maybe it will be USF.
15. Clemson – Dominating road win in ACC play. With BC, they seem to be the cream of that crop.
16. Cincinnati – Their SOS is not great, but I think they’re right up there with USF. Why did their coach leave? He could have had an Urban Meyer 2004 Utah-like season this year and parlayed that into the MICHIGAN job.
17. Hawaii – I don’t think too many teams would want to play Hawaii on a neutral field. Hopefully, they will run the table, and we’ll get to see them matched against the ACC champ (yawn).
18. Texas – Who friggin’ made this schedule? At least the ‘Horns finally got a blowout win, but they had to play Rice to get it. Seriously, I have major doubts about this team. I suspect Oklahoma will eradicate them easily.
19. Michigan State – Interestingly, Sagarin has them rated as the worst of the remaining Division 1-A unbeatens. Putting them behind a team like Kansas, however, Mr. Sagarin, is unfair, since the Spartans at least tried to schedule some good teams. They’ve faced some adversity in each of the past three weeks, and they’ve won all three games. It may be an interesting game in Madison next weekend.
20. Purdue – Do I think Purdue is better than Michigan State? Yes. The offense seems to be working well enough, as a Tiller O should. Giving up 31 points to Minnesota, however, is not good. That knocks you below Sparty for a week, though. Have fun with the Irish chew-toy next week, Boilermakers!
21. Missouri – Big win over a pancake this week. Will they give Nebraska a run for Big XII North title? Or will Kansas sneak in and take it while no one’s looking? Okay, you can stop laughing now.
22. Connecticut – Beating Pittsburgh was a surprise to me, as they stayed unbeaten for another week. Their SOS is better than Kansas’, so that’s why they’re here.
23. Kansas – Play a real friggin’ team, already – PLEASE. Amazing how you can stack a schedule to get you to a bowl game, huh? When teams like Michigan are 2-2 and this team is 4-0, it makes you realize why college football still has a lot of issues. But it’s my rule to penalize teams severely for losses (especially to Division 1-AA teams, Wolverines), so get over it.
24. South Carolina – Certainly, there was NO shame in their loss to LSU. If they played on a neutral field, it might be a much closer game, too. And if LSU played at USC (either one), the Tigers would be kittens.
25. Georgia – They get the edge over Alabama for obvious reasons. Impressive fortitude to hold on for the OT win last night. And everyone loves it when Saban loses …
Sunday, September 16, 2007
McMisanthrope’s Top 25 – September 16, 2007
Where if you’ve lost already, you ain’t worthy …
1. USC – They were up 42-10, on the road, against a ranked team, which was pumped for the game. This wasn’t beating an emotionally-ravaged team in your stacked viper-pit of a home stadium. The final score doesn’t truly tell how thoroughly the Trojans kicked Nebraska’s ass. UCLA’s loss took some shimmer off the Pac-10 SOS, of course.
2. LSU – These two teams are easily playing the best right now, so … not much material to a debate right now. The SEC looks pretty weak, in truth, save Florida, so as they “beat each other up” in the SEC, it will be interesting to see how LSU’s SOS is affected.
3. tOSU – Beat a rising BCS team on the road, which cannot be underrated. The defense is solid, the offense is coming around, and maybe they’re playing better knowing Michigan stinks this year. Certainly, they rose to the challenge after the Akron slugfest.
4. Oklahoma – Have they done anything wrong? No. But their schedule is weak. I don’t see anyone in the Big XII challenging them this season (sit down, Mack Brown).
5. Florida – Beating Tennessee (now a two-loss team in mid-Sept) doesn’t win you any style points. And let’s be honest: it was only 28-20 in the third quarter. You’re good, Gators, but the four teams above you have been playing better (so far). No shame in being Top 5.
6. Boston College – This ranking may be too high, but when you’re 3-0 already in your BCS conference standings, you’ve gotten off to a great start. You beat the defending ACC champs, you beat a good Georgia Tech team in an upset on the road, and you are going to get to kick Notre Dame’s ass in a few weeks. Enjoy this, and may you keep it going.
7. Penn State – Who have they played so far? No one, really. The slow start against Buffalo can be overlooked by the fact that it was 31-3 after three periods. TCB? Oh yes, especially with a reeling Michigan team on the horizon.
8. West Virginia – Forget Steve Slaton. Say hi to Noel Devine. Impressive road win over Maryland, too. The defense finally showed up. With Louisville’s loss, they have to be considered the Big East favorites (although watch Cincinnati).
9. Rutgers – The Knights haven’t played anyone yet, but that’s in their favor since they’ve been kicking ass thoroughly. Here comes the real schedule for you now; let’s see what you got.
10. South Carolina – There’s a big drop-off already, from #9 to #10. We will learn all we need to know next weekend about these Gamecocks and the Ol’ Ball Coach. Somehow, if Spurrier manages to win at LSU this year, I think he’s officially “back”. He just hasn’t had a big enough win yet at USC-Lite to announce that.
11. Kentucky – Probably too high of a jump for them, but Louisville was a CONTENDER. Rich Brooks is a good guy; he deserves this success.
12. Alabama – They can earn this spot by beating Georgia next weekend. In the meantime, they beat Arkansas, which really shouldn’t have been losing to the Tide this season. Good for Saban, although it just means he’s more likely to leave sooner rather than later.
13. California – Beating LaTech by 30 at home doesn’t make me think anything more of their defense, which still has a lot of holes in it. When they play at Autzen in two weeks, then we’ll know what we need to know about Cal.
14. Wisconsin – The Citadel scored 31 points on the Badgers in Madison. Not good. But hey, at least Michigan sucks this season.
15. Oregon – Blowouts wins over bad teams can only get you so high, but they get Cal in a few weeks.
16. Purdue – The Boilermakers just might be Oregon East. They should be 5-0 when they host the Buckeyes.
17. Arizona State – Easy wins over weak teams (sorry, Colorado). So what?
18. South Florida – Should they be ranked this high based on a road win over an overrated SEC team which has since lost AGAIN? Maybe not. When they play the Mountaineers in two weeks, though, we’ll know all we need to know.
19. Cincinnati – Along with Utah, they’ve punctured some Pac-10 dreams. But what else? Giving up 16 points in three games is a purdy stat.
20. Air Force – Wins over Utah and TCU are looking good right now. Can they run the table with no games against ranked teams? Remember, they get to play the Irish, too.
21. Clemson – Still looking for a quality win over a good team. They’ll have chances before the season is over.
22. Missouri – Two so-so BCS wins before some play toys. Giving up 83 points in three games, however? Not good.
23. Texas – That win over TCU doesn’t look so good now, and the other wins are bad wins. How good is this team? They may be 5-0 when they play Oklahoma, but it’s going to be ugly when the Sooners are through with them.
24. Hawaii – So they hiccupped last week; they rebounded hard this week. They, like Air Force, have a good shot at running the table. I am betting they will, and they’ll still end up in the Honolulu Bowl.
25. Michigan State – Only here because of the lack of quality in still-undefeated teams. Which begs the question: should I be ranking teams with losses? No. Not yet. Not until the BCS standings come out. In the meantime, the Spartans are much improved on defense – and they get to play Notre Dame next before going to Madison to end the month. If the Citadel can score on the Badgers …
Others receiving consideration:
* Kansas – Given up only 20 points in three games against nobodies is a good sign.
* Texas Tech – Giving up 64 points in three games against nobodies is not a good sign for the defense.
* Texas A&M – Pancake schedule so far, and it says here the Hurricanes are going to pound them.
* Tulsa – Sure, they can score. But can they play defense?
* Connecticut – SOS went up when Duke won a game. Five points wins against Temple? Stinky.
* Indiana – If they can beat Minnesota, Ball State and Northwestern, they can go bowling.
1. USC – They were up 42-10, on the road, against a ranked team, which was pumped for the game. This wasn’t beating an emotionally-ravaged team in your stacked viper-pit of a home stadium. The final score doesn’t truly tell how thoroughly the Trojans kicked Nebraska’s ass. UCLA’s loss took some shimmer off the Pac-10 SOS, of course.
2. LSU – These two teams are easily playing the best right now, so … not much material to a debate right now. The SEC looks pretty weak, in truth, save Florida, so as they “beat each other up” in the SEC, it will be interesting to see how LSU’s SOS is affected.
3. tOSU – Beat a rising BCS team on the road, which cannot be underrated. The defense is solid, the offense is coming around, and maybe they’re playing better knowing Michigan stinks this year. Certainly, they rose to the challenge after the Akron slugfest.
4. Oklahoma – Have they done anything wrong? No. But their schedule is weak. I don’t see anyone in the Big XII challenging them this season (sit down, Mack Brown).
5. Florida – Beating Tennessee (now a two-loss team in mid-Sept) doesn’t win you any style points. And let’s be honest: it was only 28-20 in the third quarter. You’re good, Gators, but the four teams above you have been playing better (so far). No shame in being Top 5.
6. Boston College – This ranking may be too high, but when you’re 3-0 already in your BCS conference standings, you’ve gotten off to a great start. You beat the defending ACC champs, you beat a good Georgia Tech team in an upset on the road, and you are going to get to kick Notre Dame’s ass in a few weeks. Enjoy this, and may you keep it going.
7. Penn State – Who have they played so far? No one, really. The slow start against Buffalo can be overlooked by the fact that it was 31-3 after three periods. TCB? Oh yes, especially with a reeling Michigan team on the horizon.
8. West Virginia – Forget Steve Slaton. Say hi to Noel Devine. Impressive road win over Maryland, too. The defense finally showed up. With Louisville’s loss, they have to be considered the Big East favorites (although watch Cincinnati).
9. Rutgers – The Knights haven’t played anyone yet, but that’s in their favor since they’ve been kicking ass thoroughly. Here comes the real schedule for you now; let’s see what you got.
10. South Carolina – There’s a big drop-off already, from #9 to #10. We will learn all we need to know next weekend about these Gamecocks and the Ol’ Ball Coach. Somehow, if Spurrier manages to win at LSU this year, I think he’s officially “back”. He just hasn’t had a big enough win yet at USC-Lite to announce that.
11. Kentucky – Probably too high of a jump for them, but Louisville was a CONTENDER. Rich Brooks is a good guy; he deserves this success.
12. Alabama – They can earn this spot by beating Georgia next weekend. In the meantime, they beat Arkansas, which really shouldn’t have been losing to the Tide this season. Good for Saban, although it just means he’s more likely to leave sooner rather than later.
13. California – Beating LaTech by 30 at home doesn’t make me think anything more of their defense, which still has a lot of holes in it. When they play at Autzen in two weeks, then we’ll know what we need to know about Cal.
14. Wisconsin – The Citadel scored 31 points on the Badgers in Madison. Not good. But hey, at least Michigan sucks this season.
15. Oregon – Blowouts wins over bad teams can only get you so high, but they get Cal in a few weeks.
16. Purdue – The Boilermakers just might be Oregon East. They should be 5-0 when they host the Buckeyes.
17. Arizona State – Easy wins over weak teams (sorry, Colorado). So what?
18. South Florida – Should they be ranked this high based on a road win over an overrated SEC team which has since lost AGAIN? Maybe not. When they play the Mountaineers in two weeks, though, we’ll know all we need to know.
19. Cincinnati – Along with Utah, they’ve punctured some Pac-10 dreams. But what else? Giving up 16 points in three games is a purdy stat.
20. Air Force – Wins over Utah and TCU are looking good right now. Can they run the table with no games against ranked teams? Remember, they get to play the Irish, too.
21. Clemson – Still looking for a quality win over a good team. They’ll have chances before the season is over.
22. Missouri – Two so-so BCS wins before some play toys. Giving up 83 points in three games, however? Not good.
23. Texas – That win over TCU doesn’t look so good now, and the other wins are bad wins. How good is this team? They may be 5-0 when they play Oklahoma, but it’s going to be ugly when the Sooners are through with them.
24. Hawaii – So they hiccupped last week; they rebounded hard this week. They, like Air Force, have a good shot at running the table. I am betting they will, and they’ll still end up in the Honolulu Bowl.
25. Michigan State – Only here because of the lack of quality in still-undefeated teams. Which begs the question: should I be ranking teams with losses? No. Not yet. Not until the BCS standings come out. In the meantime, the Spartans are much improved on defense – and they get to play Notre Dame next before going to Madison to end the month. If the Citadel can score on the Badgers …
Others receiving consideration:
* Kansas – Given up only 20 points in three games against nobodies is a good sign.
* Texas Tech – Giving up 64 points in three games against nobodies is not a good sign for the defense.
* Texas A&M – Pancake schedule so far, and it says here the Hurricanes are going to pound them.
* Tulsa – Sure, they can score. But can they play defense?
* Connecticut – SOS went up when Duke won a game. Five points wins against Temple? Stinky.
* Indiana – If they can beat Minnesota, Ball State and Northwestern, they can go bowling.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
McMisanthrope’s Top 25 – September 9, 2007
Where no team with a loss will be ranked in September
1. Oklahoma – They beat down Miami-FL pretty well, in a game that should have been more of a contest. Maybe we learned more about Miami here than the Sooners, but in a TCB game, Oklahoma did their job, putting 51 points on the board and limiting the Hurricanes to 139 total yards.
2. LSU – First, they were at home. As we see almost every year, LSU looks like world-beaters at home, but then they lose a game (or two) on the road they shouldn’t. Second, when there is a blowout like this in a Top 10 matchup, you have to wonder whether the losing team belonged in the Top 10 (remember Notre Dame last year?) in the first place. LSU’s win said more about Virginia Tech than it did about LSU. That being said, this is a very good team, and they kicked the crap out of a BCS opponent.
3. USC – Idle weeks are rarely good for your ranking, but the Trojans moved up this time because so many others sucked. The so-so win over Idaho seems like a long time ago in comparison to LSU’s romp over Virginia Tech.
4. Penn State – The defense still hasn’t given up a TD, which is very good for the first two games, no matter who you play. And when you play bad teams, it’s almost expected of you. So Penn State is doing its job well thus far.
5. Georgia Tech – Are they this good? I have no idea. But they have to big wins so far, which means they’re doing what they should be doing. And that’s more than a lot of schools can say thus far in 2007.
6. Ohio State – The good? Michigan lost (again), and the Buckeyes defense threw a shutout. The bad? The offense only put 20 points on the board against the friggin’ Zips. But hey, defense wins championships as the 2002 Buckeyes (and the 2006 Buckeyes?) can attest.
7. Rutgers – Probably gave up too many points to Navy, but it was a win over a pesky opponent you always have to respect.
8. West Virginia – Losing by seven at halftime to Marshall wasn’t good, but winning the second half 42-10 certainly means they’re listening to their coach at halftime. That’s a good sign.
9. Florida – Giving up 31 points to the school formerly known as Troy State isn’t good. Nice offense, though.
10. Wisconsin – Even for a road win over a non-BCS team, it was lackluster. It was a trap game, for sure, but the Badgers did what they needed to. They just didn’t do it very impressively.
11. UCLA – A blah win over BYU gets added to a resume with a blah win over Stanford. But hey, 2-0 is 2-0, and that means you’ve got a spot on this list.
12. Louisville – Bad defensive outing against a directional. When you give up 42 points to a directional, you really need to work on something. Louisville drops a bunch this week.
13. Washington – They ended the nation’s longest winning streak in dominant fashion, holding Boise to ten points. They’re looking good, so here they are. It’s up to them, of course, to decide if they stay here.
14. California – The win over the Volunteers showed Cal’s defensive weaknesses. Colorado State re-emphasized this weakness. Maybe Cal should be in the Big East.
15. Oregon – So they beat the Wolverines. Big deal. But it’s HOW they beat them, on the road, in the House Formerly Known As Big. Put the second half of their first win together with the first half of this win, and you have an impressive 60 minutes of football.
16. Boston College – Two ACC wins already, and it’s not even September 10. Good way to start the season.
17. Missouri – Two wins over two BCS teams means the Tigers have done more than most teams already.
18. South Carolina – The weak first win over a directional is forgotten by an SEC win on the road. Maybe Georgia wasn’t all that good, anyway (see LSU’s win above), but you have to like the Ol’ Ball Coach this year in the SEC East.
19. Cincinnati – I’d heard this team was loaded, and with two wins in dominant fashion (giving up six total points) over a directional and a Pac-10 school, they’ve proven it. The Big East is good!
20. Texas – The first game is now forgotten. Down 10-0 at halftime, the Longhorns responded the way they should have responded, outscoring TCU 34-3 in the second half. Wow! About time the Longhorns showed up for the 2007 season.
21. Nebraska – Just like UCLA, they’re getting it done, but they’re not as good as UCLA at this point. I think it’s going to be UGLY when the Trojans come to town next week, so enjoy the moment, Cornhuskers.
22. South Florida – Hey, they’re a BCS team, and they’re 2-0, so yeah, I’ll rank ‘em somewhere. Beating Auburn on the road was definitely more impressive than beating Elon (?!).
23. Clemson – Beating a former directional is expected. Giving up 26 points to a former direction is not. Impress me, Tigers!
24. Alabama – An SEC road win is always good, even if it’s just over Vanderbilt.
25. Arizona State – Beat a BCS team pretty solidly, even if it was just the Buffalo.
** And just because I can, I’ll throw 13 more bones out there **
26. Iowa – Defense has only surrendered three points in two cupcake wins. If the offense comes around …
27. Michigan State – Being tied at halftime against a decent middling school isn’t good enough. I don’t care if the refs blew two fumble calls in favor of Bowling Green, either.
28. Kansas – Two huge wins over two directionals means you are doing what you should do when you’re in the Big XII.
29. Kentucky – Two big wins over two bad schools. Okay, so show us something in the SEC slate.
30. Connecticut – Also two big wins over two bad schools. Are they a Big East fraud?
31. Hawaii – Escaped with their lives in Ruston, thanks to the defense (sort of?). Colt is Colt, but if Hawaii struggles this much every time they leave the Islands, it’s going to be an interesting season for the Rainbow Warriors.
32. Purdue – Who is the next cupcake on their schedule?
33. Pittsburgh – Solid wins over bad teams are better than weak wins over bad teams. Another Big East team at 2-0? The conference is STACKED!
34. Texas Tech – You shouldn’t be giving up 31 points to UTEP, no matter what offense you run.
35. Maryland – So-so wins over bad teams means it could be a long year in the ACC, but for now, here they are.
36. Northwestern – What were they doing down 14 at halftime to Nevada?
37. Indiana – Giving up 27 points to a directional means the Big Ten season is going to hurt.
38. Texas A&M – Wins are wins, but lackluster wins over Montana State and Fresno State aren’t impressive.
1. Oklahoma – They beat down Miami-FL pretty well, in a game that should have been more of a contest. Maybe we learned more about Miami here than the Sooners, but in a TCB game, Oklahoma did their job, putting 51 points on the board and limiting the Hurricanes to 139 total yards.
2. LSU – First, they were at home. As we see almost every year, LSU looks like world-beaters at home, but then they lose a game (or two) on the road they shouldn’t. Second, when there is a blowout like this in a Top 10 matchup, you have to wonder whether the losing team belonged in the Top 10 (remember Notre Dame last year?) in the first place. LSU’s win said more about Virginia Tech than it did about LSU. That being said, this is a very good team, and they kicked the crap out of a BCS opponent.
3. USC – Idle weeks are rarely good for your ranking, but the Trojans moved up this time because so many others sucked. The so-so win over Idaho seems like a long time ago in comparison to LSU’s romp over Virginia Tech.
4. Penn State – The defense still hasn’t given up a TD, which is very good for the first two games, no matter who you play. And when you play bad teams, it’s almost expected of you. So Penn State is doing its job well thus far.
5. Georgia Tech – Are they this good? I have no idea. But they have to big wins so far, which means they’re doing what they should be doing. And that’s more than a lot of schools can say thus far in 2007.
6. Ohio State – The good? Michigan lost (again), and the Buckeyes defense threw a shutout. The bad? The offense only put 20 points on the board against the friggin’ Zips. But hey, defense wins championships as the 2002 Buckeyes (and the 2006 Buckeyes?) can attest.
7. Rutgers – Probably gave up too many points to Navy, but it was a win over a pesky opponent you always have to respect.
8. West Virginia – Losing by seven at halftime to Marshall wasn’t good, but winning the second half 42-10 certainly means they’re listening to their coach at halftime. That’s a good sign.
9. Florida – Giving up 31 points to the school formerly known as Troy State isn’t good. Nice offense, though.
10. Wisconsin – Even for a road win over a non-BCS team, it was lackluster. It was a trap game, for sure, but the Badgers did what they needed to. They just didn’t do it very impressively.
11. UCLA – A blah win over BYU gets added to a resume with a blah win over Stanford. But hey, 2-0 is 2-0, and that means you’ve got a spot on this list.
12. Louisville – Bad defensive outing against a directional. When you give up 42 points to a directional, you really need to work on something. Louisville drops a bunch this week.
13. Washington – They ended the nation’s longest winning streak in dominant fashion, holding Boise to ten points. They’re looking good, so here they are. It’s up to them, of course, to decide if they stay here.
14. California – The win over the Volunteers showed Cal’s defensive weaknesses. Colorado State re-emphasized this weakness. Maybe Cal should be in the Big East.
15. Oregon – So they beat the Wolverines. Big deal. But it’s HOW they beat them, on the road, in the House Formerly Known As Big. Put the second half of their first win together with the first half of this win, and you have an impressive 60 minutes of football.
16. Boston College – Two ACC wins already, and it’s not even September 10. Good way to start the season.
17. Missouri – Two wins over two BCS teams means the Tigers have done more than most teams already.
18. South Carolina – The weak first win over a directional is forgotten by an SEC win on the road. Maybe Georgia wasn’t all that good, anyway (see LSU’s win above), but you have to like the Ol’ Ball Coach this year in the SEC East.
19. Cincinnati – I’d heard this team was loaded, and with two wins in dominant fashion (giving up six total points) over a directional and a Pac-10 school, they’ve proven it. The Big East is good!
20. Texas – The first game is now forgotten. Down 10-0 at halftime, the Longhorns responded the way they should have responded, outscoring TCU 34-3 in the second half. Wow! About time the Longhorns showed up for the 2007 season.
21. Nebraska – Just like UCLA, they’re getting it done, but they’re not as good as UCLA at this point. I think it’s going to be UGLY when the Trojans come to town next week, so enjoy the moment, Cornhuskers.
22. South Florida – Hey, they’re a BCS team, and they’re 2-0, so yeah, I’ll rank ‘em somewhere. Beating Auburn on the road was definitely more impressive than beating Elon (?!).
23. Clemson – Beating a former directional is expected. Giving up 26 points to a former direction is not. Impress me, Tigers!
24. Alabama – An SEC road win is always good, even if it’s just over Vanderbilt.
25. Arizona State – Beat a BCS team pretty solidly, even if it was just the Buffalo.
** And just because I can, I’ll throw 13 more bones out there **
26. Iowa – Defense has only surrendered three points in two cupcake wins. If the offense comes around …
27. Michigan State – Being tied at halftime against a decent middling school isn’t good enough. I don’t care if the refs blew two fumble calls in favor of Bowling Green, either.
28. Kansas – Two huge wins over two directionals means you are doing what you should do when you’re in the Big XII.
29. Kentucky – Two big wins over two bad schools. Okay, so show us something in the SEC slate.
30. Connecticut – Also two big wins over two bad schools. Are they a Big East fraud?
31. Hawaii – Escaped with their lives in Ruston, thanks to the defense (sort of?). Colt is Colt, but if Hawaii struggles this much every time they leave the Islands, it’s going to be an interesting season for the Rainbow Warriors.
32. Purdue – Who is the next cupcake on their schedule?
33. Pittsburgh – Solid wins over bad teams are better than weak wins over bad teams. Another Big East team at 2-0? The conference is STACKED!
34. Texas Tech – You shouldn’t be giving up 31 points to UTEP, no matter what offense you run.
35. Maryland – So-so wins over bad teams means it could be a long year in the ACC, but for now, here they are.
36. Northwestern – What were they doing down 14 at halftime to Nevada?
37. Indiana – Giving up 27 points to a directional means the Big Ten season is going to hurt.
38. Texas A&M – Wins are wins, but lackluster wins over Montana State and Fresno State aren’t impressive.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
McMisanthrope’s Top 25 – September 4, 2007
Where we don’t rank 0-1 teams no matter what
1. Oklahoma – This is what good teams do to bad teams in Week One. My lord, up 49-0 at halftime, the Sooners still scored 30 more points in the second half. Thank you, Bob Stoops, for showing these other teams what they should have been doing right out of the gate.
2. Louisville – Like the Sooners, the Cardinals put on a clinic in Week 1. They clearly are the team to beat in the Big East (and they can play defense, too).
3. Florida – Another good example of a woodshed beating from the get-go. Beating a directional school 49-3 is expected of a Top 5 team, and they didn’t have to wait to get it started, either. Up by 14 after one quarter, leading 28-3 at halftime … good enough for my Top 5.
4. Wisconsin – Doubling up a decent BCS opponent (sit down, LSU) first game out is impressive. Depending on perspective, this might have been the most impressive win of the weekend. After a close first quarter, the Badgers dominated for three quarters.
5. Boise State – Let’s see, they finished last season in the Top 5. They have the longest winning streak in Division 1-A (FBS). They won a conference game with a 49-0 halftime edge. Yeah, I’ll keep them in the Top 5 until they fail to impress.
6. Georgia – Close behind Wisconsin’s quality win, the Bulldogs turned a close game at halftime into a solid victory by shutting out a decent BCS opponent in the second half. If you’re going to schedule a BCS team to start the season, this is the way to beat them.
7. U$C – I am not sure a 38-10 win at home was good enough to put the Trojans at No. 1, but they were up 21-0 after 18 minutes of play. It was also 38-3 after three periods. They didn’t keep their first-quarter pace into the second quarter, but at least they buried their opponent early enough.
8. LSU – They did what they were supposed to, but it took them too long to establish themselves. You have to play more thoroughly than being up 3-0 after 21 minutes against a bad team. I don’t care if it was a road game. You don’t get a Top 5 ranking playing like that; not in my rankings, at least.
9. Virginia Tech – They get one free pass for the emotional challenge of Week 1. But they have to play better than that to stay in the Top 15. I suspect we’ll see them play a bit better in Week 2, win or lose.
10. Penn State – A big shutout win over a nobody team is what you’d expect from a Big Ten team. Very good start to the 43rd season of JoePa.
11. tOSU – It was basically 14-0 after one quarter, but then the Buckeyes (like U$C) didn’t sustain their success well enough. Considering the opponent, they should have rolled by more at home. Up only 24-6 at the end of three quarters just isn’t good enough for the Top 10.
12. Rutgers – Up 21 after the first quarter, the Scarlets cruised to a 35-point win. Good, but you need to be better to win the Big East.
13. UCLA – Up only 14-7 at halftime, the Bruins got it going in the second half. A conference road win early is good, but then again, it was only Stanford.
14. West Virginia – Great offense, but giving up 14 first-half points to a MAC team isn’t the way to BCS glory. This isn’t going to be a Top 10 team unless they fix that defense ASAP.
15. California – Nice win, but they should have won by more. The defense isn’t good enough to sustain a season-long schedule against very good offenses. I see them as a Top 15 team, at best.
16. Miami (FL) – I am a big Randy Shannon fan, and Miami started its season the right way with a dominant win over a solid middling team. I suspect this team is only going to get better, too.
17. Alabama – This is how you beat a bad team to start the season. Impressive return for Nick Saban, but will it last?
18. Michigan State – Scoring TDs on your first six possessions while shutting a Conference USA team out leads to a 42-0 lead and cruise control the rest of the way. Impressive return for Sparty, but can it last?
19. Hawaii – Is Northern Colorado a Division 1-AA team? It’s hard to win in Hawaii, but this was just ugly. Maybe Michigan can get this UNC on their schedule for next season …
20. TCU – The defense was there, but the offense needs to show more soon.
21. Wyoming – Beating a BCS team (even a weak one) in Week 1 is a good start for a non-BCS team. Defense? Good. Offense? Needs work.
22. Arkansas – Too close at halftime, Hogs. Great finish, but your engine needs to be warmed up sooner, especially with that RB duo. Or maybe it’s just your defense?
23. Boston College – Tied at halftime, you pulled away at home in the second half. A good win, but hardly a great win. At least it was over the defending ACC champs, though.
24. Missouri – A big road win over a trendy BCS team on the rise. Can’t complain there.
25. Nebraska – It took them awhile to shake a weak team, but in the end, the score looked nice. Just what you might expect from a team on the bottom ledge of the Top 25. Not what you expect from team that claims to have MNC aspirations, of course.
** Just for the heck of it, here are 18 more teams **
26. Texas Tech – A blowout win on the road against a lame team. Just what the doctor ordered for an unranked team. Even though they were only up 14-6 until right before halftime, this is how you win your first game when you’re unranked. Notice the similarities between this win and LSU’s …
27. Kansas – That is how you beat a MAC team.
28. Auburn – Perhaps the best example of the SEC’s perennial blowhardness. While it’s nice they beat a BCS school to start the season, struggling to beat them at home in the fourth quarter does not a good team make.
29. Georgia Tech – I am not ranking them high based on a whitewashing of a bad Notre Dame team. In essence, the Wreck should have beat the Irish last year, too. So I ain’t impressed.
30. Clemson – So you beat F$U again. Big deal. You never should have let them back in the game, either.
31. Arizona State – Big blowout win over a bowl-winning team from last season. Solid start for an unranked team.
32. Oregon State – Solid win over a solid (albeit not BCS) opponent. Nothing special, nothing negative.
33. Purdue – You have to be up more than 14 points at halftime over a MAC team, even if you are on the road.
34. Oregon – The final score hides the three-point halftime lead the Ducks held at home. I suspect the Wolverines will play a bit tougher in this next game, too.
35. Washington – So you beat Syracuse by a lot. So what?
36. Maryland – Is Villanova FBS or FCS? You need to beat them by more, either way.
37. Texas – Wow, you’re no Top 5 team. An eight-point win over Arkansas State at home? Sit down and shut up, Longhorns. You’re going to have to earn some respect this year.
38. Texas A&M – What was that halftime score again? 17-7 over Montana State? At home? Please: you’re not worthy right now.
39. BYU – You need to beat Arizona by more than that at home.
40. Pittsburgh – You beat a MAC team by 24 points at home. Not good enough.
41. Iowa – Weak win over a weak team. Why am I even including them on this list? I have no idea.
42. Colorado – Beating your in-state rival is a good win, but in OT against a MWC team? Well, I guess it’s better than last year’s start, right?
43. South Carollina – A 14-point win at home over a former directional? I thought the ol’ ball coach said this team was good. Evidently not.
1. Oklahoma – This is what good teams do to bad teams in Week One. My lord, up 49-0 at halftime, the Sooners still scored 30 more points in the second half. Thank you, Bob Stoops, for showing these other teams what they should have been doing right out of the gate.
2. Louisville – Like the Sooners, the Cardinals put on a clinic in Week 1. They clearly are the team to beat in the Big East (and they can play defense, too).
3. Florida – Another good example of a woodshed beating from the get-go. Beating a directional school 49-3 is expected of a Top 5 team, and they didn’t have to wait to get it started, either. Up by 14 after one quarter, leading 28-3 at halftime … good enough for my Top 5.
4. Wisconsin – Doubling up a decent BCS opponent (sit down, LSU) first game out is impressive. Depending on perspective, this might have been the most impressive win of the weekend. After a close first quarter, the Badgers dominated for three quarters.
5. Boise State – Let’s see, they finished last season in the Top 5. They have the longest winning streak in Division 1-A (FBS). They won a conference game with a 49-0 halftime edge. Yeah, I’ll keep them in the Top 5 until they fail to impress.
6. Georgia – Close behind Wisconsin’s quality win, the Bulldogs turned a close game at halftime into a solid victory by shutting out a decent BCS opponent in the second half. If you’re going to schedule a BCS team to start the season, this is the way to beat them.
7. U$C – I am not sure a 38-10 win at home was good enough to put the Trojans at No. 1, but they were up 21-0 after 18 minutes of play. It was also 38-3 after three periods. They didn’t keep their first-quarter pace into the second quarter, but at least they buried their opponent early enough.
8. LSU – They did what they were supposed to, but it took them too long to establish themselves. You have to play more thoroughly than being up 3-0 after 21 minutes against a bad team. I don’t care if it was a road game. You don’t get a Top 5 ranking playing like that; not in my rankings, at least.
9. Virginia Tech – They get one free pass for the emotional challenge of Week 1. But they have to play better than that to stay in the Top 15. I suspect we’ll see them play a bit better in Week 2, win or lose.
10. Penn State – A big shutout win over a nobody team is what you’d expect from a Big Ten team. Very good start to the 43rd season of JoePa.
11. tOSU – It was basically 14-0 after one quarter, but then the Buckeyes (like U$C) didn’t sustain their success well enough. Considering the opponent, they should have rolled by more at home. Up only 24-6 at the end of three quarters just isn’t good enough for the Top 10.
12. Rutgers – Up 21 after the first quarter, the Scarlets cruised to a 35-point win. Good, but you need to be better to win the Big East.
13. UCLA – Up only 14-7 at halftime, the Bruins got it going in the second half. A conference road win early is good, but then again, it was only Stanford.
14. West Virginia – Great offense, but giving up 14 first-half points to a MAC team isn’t the way to BCS glory. This isn’t going to be a Top 10 team unless they fix that defense ASAP.
15. California – Nice win, but they should have won by more. The defense isn’t good enough to sustain a season-long schedule against very good offenses. I see them as a Top 15 team, at best.
16. Miami (FL) – I am a big Randy Shannon fan, and Miami started its season the right way with a dominant win over a solid middling team. I suspect this team is only going to get better, too.
17. Alabama – This is how you beat a bad team to start the season. Impressive return for Nick Saban, but will it last?
18. Michigan State – Scoring TDs on your first six possessions while shutting a Conference USA team out leads to a 42-0 lead and cruise control the rest of the way. Impressive return for Sparty, but can it last?
19. Hawaii – Is Northern Colorado a Division 1-AA team? It’s hard to win in Hawaii, but this was just ugly. Maybe Michigan can get this UNC on their schedule for next season …
20. TCU – The defense was there, but the offense needs to show more soon.
21. Wyoming – Beating a BCS team (even a weak one) in Week 1 is a good start for a non-BCS team. Defense? Good. Offense? Needs work.
22. Arkansas – Too close at halftime, Hogs. Great finish, but your engine needs to be warmed up sooner, especially with that RB duo. Or maybe it’s just your defense?
23. Boston College – Tied at halftime, you pulled away at home in the second half. A good win, but hardly a great win. At least it was over the defending ACC champs, though.
24. Missouri – A big road win over a trendy BCS team on the rise. Can’t complain there.
25. Nebraska – It took them awhile to shake a weak team, but in the end, the score looked nice. Just what you might expect from a team on the bottom ledge of the Top 25. Not what you expect from team that claims to have MNC aspirations, of course.
** Just for the heck of it, here are 18 more teams **
26. Texas Tech – A blowout win on the road against a lame team. Just what the doctor ordered for an unranked team. Even though they were only up 14-6 until right before halftime, this is how you win your first game when you’re unranked. Notice the similarities between this win and LSU’s …
27. Kansas – That is how you beat a MAC team.
28. Auburn – Perhaps the best example of the SEC’s perennial blowhardness. While it’s nice they beat a BCS school to start the season, struggling to beat them at home in the fourth quarter does not a good team make.
29. Georgia Tech – I am not ranking them high based on a whitewashing of a bad Notre Dame team. In essence, the Wreck should have beat the Irish last year, too. So I ain’t impressed.
30. Clemson – So you beat F$U again. Big deal. You never should have let them back in the game, either.
31. Arizona State – Big blowout win over a bowl-winning team from last season. Solid start for an unranked team.
32. Oregon State – Solid win over a solid (albeit not BCS) opponent. Nothing special, nothing negative.
33. Purdue – You have to be up more than 14 points at halftime over a MAC team, even if you are on the road.
34. Oregon – The final score hides the three-point halftime lead the Ducks held at home. I suspect the Wolverines will play a bit tougher in this next game, too.
35. Washington – So you beat Syracuse by a lot. So what?
36. Maryland – Is Villanova FBS or FCS? You need to beat them by more, either way.
37. Texas – Wow, you’re no Top 5 team. An eight-point win over Arkansas State at home? Sit down and shut up, Longhorns. You’re going to have to earn some respect this year.
38. Texas A&M – What was that halftime score again? 17-7 over Montana State? At home? Please: you’re not worthy right now.
39. BYU – You need to beat Arizona by more than that at home.
40. Pittsburgh – You beat a MAC team by 24 points at home. Not good enough.
41. Iowa – Weak win over a weak team. Why am I even including them on this list? I have no idea.
42. Colorado – Beating your in-state rival is a good win, but in OT against a MWC team? Well, I guess it’s better than last year’s start, right?
43. South Carollina – A 14-point win at home over a former directional? I thought the ol’ ball coach said this team was good. Evidently not.
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