It’s getting close to crunch time … want some?
1. Kansas (10-0): The process of attrition is almost complete. They have a gimme next week at home, before facing Missouri at home on Thanksgiving Saturday. And THEN they have a Big XII title game looming if they’re still undefeated. Wow. A lot of work left to do, but the fact they’re #1 in mid-November is still amazing. Sure, the SOS isn’t impressive, but they’re the last undefeated BCS conference team. You just can’t slight that, no matter how hard you try – because if you do, then the whole system is worthless.
2. Hawaii (9-0): If Colt Brennan is hurt, all bets are off. And they have three tough tests to finish the season: at Nevada, home against Boise, home against the Willinghams. If they beat Nevada, I think they’re good, because they’re hard to beat on Oahu.
3. Oregon (8-1): All three of their remaining games are trap games (at Zona, at UCLA, and home for the Civil War). But if they win out, they’ll be in the BCS title game. If they finish 11-1 and don’t make the title game, it’ll be just like 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, etc., for the Pac-10: the East Coast Media Bias will have struck again. But until then, the Ducks had a bye this week. Must have been nice to sit back and relax, while watching Ohio State blow it. Oh, and their current SOS is better than LSU’s, by the way. That will change, but for now …
4. LSU (9-1): They’re big Tennessee fans right now, because I guarantee you they’d much rather play the pathetic Vols in the SEC title game than face Georgia in Atlanta. Does the road game at Ole Miss scare them? I doubt it. Does the home finale against the Fading McFaddens worry them? Probably not. So again, they’re big Phat Phil Phans right now.
5. Arizona State (9-1): If ASU wins out, they should get a BCS bid, period. Either they would win the Pac-10 with an Oregon loss or they’d be 11-1 themselves. Heck, what if Kansas and LSU lose while Oregon and ASU win out? Would we get an all Pac-10 title game? Surely not. Either way, they have a home date with the Trojans on Turkey Day, and I cannot see Pete Carroll taking three losses. Then again, I didn’t think Urban Meyer would go there, either, so … anything’s possible.
6. West Virginia (8-1): They have a slightly better SOS than the next two teams, and they’ve become the team to beat in the Big East. The SOS should rise in the next two weeks as they face Cincy on the road and UConn at home. If they win both, they’ve probably put themselves in the “one-loss title game team” argument. Which brings another question about: will Slaton and White return for a senior season, knowing they’ve really blown it these last two years? Do they want glory’s last shot ($1 to the PGA Championship)?
7. Missouri (9-1): First, outside of Missouri and Kansas, the Big XII North sucks. Second, I predict right here, right now, that K-State will beat Mizzou next week. Maybe holding Texath Tech to ten points was their best achievement this year, and the clock is about to strike midnight for the Tigers. Of course, if they do lose to K-State next week, that just means they’ll beat Kansas in two weeks. Watch.
8. Ohio State (10-1): How do you blow that game? I mean, sure, Illinois isn’t a bad team, especially with a healthy Juice Williams at QB. But it’s SENIOR DAY, for Christ’s sake. How does Tressel and Co. lose this game? Just a shock to me, actually. But hey, it probably saved us from another BCS title game blowout, so maybe it was a good thing. Since all the Buckeyes have to play for now is the Big Ten title, you can bet they’ll be FOCUSED next week. Either way, the Big Ten sucks: we now have definitive proof for those non-believers.
9. Oklahoma (9-1): They have a really weak SOS, and losing to Colorado, only beating Iowa State by ten, and Texas by seven haven’t been impressive benchmarks. Of course, the voters don’t care: it’s Oklahoma! Lest we forget 2003, 2004, etc. This team has no business being in the title game discussion until all these other teams above it lose. How did they lose to Colorado?! They must KICKING themselves. And geez, how did they ever lose with Adrian Peterson in the backfield?!
10. Boise State (9-1): It’d be a shame if they ruined Hawaii’s season. They had their moment last year. But here they are again. They, too, must be kicking themselves, over that Willinghams loss. Every season, there are a handful of teams who must be just pissed that they lost that one game that kept them from greater glory. The beauty – and the horror – of college football, in its essence.
11. USC (8-2): They should have beaten defenseless Cal by more last night. Is Carroll slipping? Or is it just mediocre QB time in LaLaLand? I think the new kids on the Trojan block haven’t learned the lessons from the old kids on the Trojan block. The turnovers and the penalties are evidence; it’s like the Trojans just expect other teams to roll over for them. Carroll, in the end, is responsible for that problem. They have a big test coming at ASU on Thanksgiving. Given 12 days to prepare for that game, I’m still giving the edge to USC.
12. Georgia (8-2): First, Auburn really sucks. How did they ever go 13-0 in 2004? This maddening inconsistency must drive Auburn fans to drink excessively. Second, Georgia was drinking a bit to lose to Spurrier and Fulmer in the same season, thereby blowing their best chances to win the SEC East. Id0ts!
13. Virginia Tech (8-2): Okay, the ACC is now officially the worst BCS conference this season. This is their highest team in the rankings, and this team lost 48-7 to LSU. If the Big Ten sucks, the ACC sucks more. What if Michigan ends up winning the Big Ten? Then you have two BCS leagues with absolutely ridiculously-bad –horrible champions. Where did all the talent in the FBS go?!
14. Virginia (9-2): Ouch, they really ruined Miami’s Orange Bowl swan song. That was painful to watch … then again, no. They have a winner-take-ACC-Coastal match with the Hokies in two weeks, and you have to like their chances at home with two weeks’ prep time. But until they beat the Hokies, I am not putting them above the Hokies: wear it.
15. Clemson (8-2): They’re on a roll right now, which is more than I can say for #16 below. And they have a winner-take-ACC-Atlantic match against #16 next week (sort of). And they’re at home for that game, so … here they are. The Best Bowden in 2007? Uh huh.
16. Boston College (8-2): Lame asses. Talk about punting away your season. Id0ts.
17. Cincinnati (8-2): Put UConn in its place, that’s for sure. However, that’s not saying much. The Big East is weird; it’s like SEC North up here. I mean, Louisville is 5-5 and 2-3 in conference. Second-to-last place, only a game ahead of Syracuse – who whupped them! Anyway, this is about Cincy. I am uninspired to write much about them, so they’re here by default.
18. Texas (9-2): How is this team 9-2? This may be Mack Brown’s best coaching job ever. This team just isn’t that good. Proof? A three-point home win over NEBRASKA. ‘Nuff said.
19. Connecticut (8-2): I still hate spelling out C-O-N-N-E-C-T-I-C-U-T, just as much as I did in grade school. And they finally cashed out yesterday. I suspect the free fall will begin in earnest now. When does basketball season start in Storrs?
20. BYU (7-2): Sometimes I think they’re still in the WAC. That’s not a good thing. The Mountain West has four bowl-eligible teams, though (seven wins or more).
21. Florida (7-3): Is it mathematically possible for Florida to still win the SEC East? I hope so. If Tebow gets a month to heal, however, this is a team I would NOT want to face in a bowl game.
22. South Florida (7-3): Nothing like a Slice o’ Orange to heal what ails ya, eh? They should win out against Louisville at home and Pitt on the road, but no matter what happens, what a season for the Bulls …
23. Illinois (8-3): Hey, look! Another Big Ten team finally makes the Top 25! Zook’d, indeed.
24. Kentucky (7-3): With a road game at Georgia and a home date against Tennessee, the Wildcats will have a lot to say about the fate of the SEC East – and ultimately the SEC. What if they win both games? Will that get Florida into the SEC title game? Oooo, the possibilities!
25. Wisconsin (8-3): I don’t know what to say. They should have beaten Michigan, and they did beat them. Ho-hum.
Also receiving consideration: Tennessee, Michigan, Penn State, Utah
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