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
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
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
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
Sunday, October 12, 2008
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
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
Sunday, October 5, 2008
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
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
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