Thoughts:
1) Stanford doesn't suck. This had "trap" written all over it, and the Ducks proved they're not-ready-for-prime-time. Maybe this is why the Pac-10 gets no national love, but in reality, they just beat each other up;
2) I was at the Florida-Vandy game with some old law school pals yesterday. It amazes me how one-dimensional Florida's offense really is, and I do think a team with a decent defense can beat them. And no, LSU doesn't have a decent defense;
3) Michigan and Notre Dame have both fallen off the silly pedestal people put them on after Week 2. Neither can play defense, neither has a good head coach, and both will be very disappointed all offseason;
4) TCU really should be the No. 4 team in the next BCS standings, period. THAT's a defense, folks.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (9-0): Kind of funny how the SEC title game is already decided with three more regular season games to play. What happened to the "depth" of the SEC? Seriously, this conference is a joke this year, built upon the fraudulent OOC scheduling I've exposed in my previous McMNC posts. Both Florida and the Tide struggled to put away a mediocre LSU team. Whichever team emerges from the SEC title game is going to lose their bowl game, if not both of them. Mark it down.
2. Florida (9-0): It's sad when everyone in the stands knows Tebow is going to hog the goal-line carries, and Vandy still can't stop you. I mean, put 11 guys in the box and see what Touchdown Jesus Deux does. Please give me Danny Wuerffel any day of the week over TJD.
3. TCU (9-0): Their SOS is almost as good as Florida's, and they have a chance to rise higher. They obviously have a BIG hurdle to clear next week at home against Utah, but I suspect they'll be focused and ready to do this. They could have had a big trap game this week, and they didn't even blink on the road.
4. Texas (9-0): I think Texas and TCU are the two best teams in the country right now, even if my system says differently. The 'Horns are hurt by their SOS, which isn't going to get any better in the last three regular season games -- or in the Big XII title game. Right now, it looks like Nebraska or Kansas State in the Big XII North.
5. Cincinnati (9-0): A couple of garbage-time TDs made their win over UConn look closer than it was, but still. They have three interesting games coming up, and if they run the table, it will be impressive.
6. Boise State (9-0): More than anything, Boise never looks consistent to me. They can play very well in bursts, but not over 60 minutes. They can get away with that in the WAC, but never in the BCS.
7. Georgia Tech (9-1): Another example of why we need a playoff. Having to play Tech on short rest would be a great matchup in a tournament, like playing Syracuse in the basketball tourney.
8. Iowa (9-1): I suspect they'll lose in Columbus next week, especially now that Ohio State is in the driver's seat for the Rose Bowl. Too bad; this was a good story, but it wasn't meant to be.
9. Pittsburgh (8-1): If Cincy and Pitt meet in that final game with a combined 21-1 record, that's going to be the equivalent of a playoff (or so some will say). And if Cincy emerges unscathed, they are deserving of a BCS title game slot.
10. Houston (8-1): Eventually, the BCS will find itself (if it's allowed to exist beyond this year) with nine or ten perfect teams in one season. And it will have no ability to argue its usual shit. Houston came close to making that possibility more of a reality this year than ever before, but I also don't think they're very good.
11. Utah (8-1): Again, the mark of a great coach is leaving an imprint on the program when you leave it. Look at what Meyer did here; look at what Saban did at LSU. Look at ... oh, I don't know. Either way, I expect Utah will finish 10-2, which is a helluva follow-up to 13-0.
12. Oregon (7-2): My system actually has the Trojans slightly ahead of the Ducks, but common sense made me flip them. And that, my friends, is how you blow your dream season ... twice.
13. USC (7-2): Having a bit of an identity crisis right now, I think. A mediocre win in their final road game of the year, and they have two tough games sandwiching a rivalry game left. Could they lose all three? Sure. Will they? I doubt it. But Stanford, UCLA and Arizona to close out the season is no picnic.
14. Arizona (6-2): Funny how Washington beat two of the best three teams in the Pac-10. Talk about conference strength. But this may be the peak for the 'Cats, as they close at California, host Oregon, visit ASU and close in Los Angeles against the Trojans. Yikes, that's a not-fun gauntlet of death.
15. Miami-FL (7-2): It's too bad the Gators don't play the 'Canes this year. Instead, Florida takes on FIU, and Miami takes on USF. Lame.
16. Ohio State (8-2): Impressive. Or maybe Penn State just sucks. I'm more inclined to believe the latter now. They control the Big Ten, I think. BFD.
17. Wisconsin (7-2): I don't trust this team, but the numbers are more reliable than my instincts, so whatever. They got payback on Sparty for last year, and I think they'll get payback on Rich-Rod for last year, too.
18. BYU (7-2): Pass.
19. West Virginia (7-2): Run.
20. Oklahoma State (7-2): Hide?
21. Penn State (8-2): I really can't decide between Penn State and LSU for the top of the bottom five this week. They were separated by two slots in the AP poll before losing this weekend. Penn State's best win is over Temple (see below?), and LSU's best win is over Auburn (don't see below, because they ain't even listed with their three losses). Maybe this would be a good bowl matchup.
22. LSU (7-2): For all the Les Miles Adoration in Ann Arbor, why do they really want him? His LSU teams have always been overrated, his game tactics are suspect, and the 2007 BCS "title" was a bought-and-paid-for joke. I wouldn't want Rich-Rod, either, but I also wouldn't want Miles running my program.
23. South Florida (6-2): They're better than FIU.
24. Central Michigan (7-2): Sneak.
25. Troy (7-2): Makes Florida's SOS look a lot better than it is, eh?
Also considered: Temple, Rutgers
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