McMisanthrope's Top 25: September 19, 2010

Thoughts:

1) Great finishes dominated the landscape on Saturday, but a few teams were lucky: Sparty, Bucky and 'Zona. Maybe Michigan, too. I'm stealing the phrase, but winning hides flaws. If Notre Dame, for example, had won the past two weeks, they'd be in the Top 20, easily;

2) Word is MSU's Dantonio had a heart attack last night after the game. Hope he recovers completely and soon;

3) I wish I could have watched Oregon's game yesterday, but it was only available on Comcast in Oregon and Washington. The Pac-12 Network can't come soon enough;

4) When you play a patsy, you have to smack the patsy thoroughly. Winning by a TD or less over a mediocre team is a sign of weakness.

Rankings:

1 -- Alabama (3-0): Sure, it was just Duke, but I'm willing to revise my earlier contention that the Tide won't run the table in the SEC this year. They are miles and miles and miles ($1 to Al Shepard) above every other team in their conference;

2 -- Oregon (3-0): I figure playing Portland State (weren't they D-II in the 1990s?) is a regional favor, but ouch. The Ducks can roll anyone in the country on a neutral field;

3 -- Boise State (2-0): They play a road game against a MWC team, and they destroy them. Again, they get Oregon State at home next week, and I'll bet they win that one. But that road date at Nevada looks a lot more imposing now, doesn't it?;

4 -- Ohio State (3-0): Another regional-favor smackdown. I realize the "value" of these games for the local interest, but I don't like them;

5 -- TCU (3-0): I bet it's fun for the Horned Frogs to beat on Baylor, considering the SWC rivalries and the fact the Big XII wanted Baylor instead of TCU. Two years in a row now, I've heard a lot about Baylor's QB, and I've yet to understand why;

6 -- Stanford (3-0): Like Cal-Maryland a few years ago, the Stanford-Wake home-and-hoe demonstrates why you don't schedule major road games across multiple time zones that start at funky times. Old story but the newest example;

7 -- Utah (3-0): This team will be a fine addition to the Pac-12, for sure. The Utes will give the Oregon schools a run for the Pac-12 North division title every season;

8 -- Arizona (3-0): Okay, so the defense finally gave up some points, and they let Iowa back into the game. But they still won against a great team with BCS aspirations of their own. Yes, home-field advantage matters. Anyone remember all those September NFL games in Phoenix where the visitor would collapse and blow big leads? I know Tucson is even worse than Phoenix when it comes to heat;

9 -- Texas (3-0): Revenge wins are sweet, even if hollow;

10 -- Oklahoma (3-0): Not sold on them yet, but I also think Air Force may win ten games this year;

11 -- Nebraska (3-0): That was impressive, despite the hype. The Huskies aren't quite ready for prime time yet, are they?;

12 -- USC (3-0): Why did Wendell Tyler's kid go to USC instead of UCLA?;

13 -- South Carolina (3-0): I want to believe, Coach. I really do;

14 -- LSU (3-0): I don't have a single interesting thing to say about this team;

15 -- Florida (3-0): I don't think they're this good, but they overcome adversity for the third game in a row to win again. But it's getting ugly;

16 -- Oklahoma State (3-0): Weak schedule so far, but whatever;

17 -- Arkansas (3-0): It would have been bad to lose that one;

18 -- Nevada (3-0): Is this too high? Their QB runs weird, like Michael Johnson (upright). Hard to believe his speed when he runs so oddly. But he killed Cal;

19 -- Auburn (3-0): Easily could have lost that game, if the Clemson QB makes that third-down throw in OT. Cheesy win, and Auburn won't be able to escape reality before October is done;

20 -- West Virginia (3-0): The Big East makes my Top 25!;

21 -- Missouri (3-0): Sleeper team in the Big XII North to challenge Nebraska?;

22 -- Fresno State (2-0): Three WAC teams in my Top 25. Schedule them!;

23 -- Michigan (3-0): No FBS team should be giving up 37 points to an FCS team at home;

24 -- Kentucky (3-0): Look, it's another SEC team building a house of cards!;

25 -- North Carolina State (3-0): An ACC team makes an appearance ...;

Also considered mildly: Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan State, Texas A&M, James Madison.