Most Impactful Games of the Upcoming Weekend

 

1) (5) North Carolina State (2-0, 0-0, +159) at (64) Wake Forest (2-0, 0-0, +6) - Early season ACC match-up, and test to see if NC State belongs in the conversation for conference champs.  Wake Forest beat Kennesaw State 10-9 in Week One.  Current spread is NCSU (-6.5).  They'll win by more than that.

2) (28) Oregon (2-0, 0-0, +73) at (91) Northwestern (1-1, 0-0, -44) - Oregon is currently 27.5 point favorites at Northwestern.  So far, it seems like the Wildcats haven't done or said anything to piss off Dan Lanning.  I'd still bet on Oregon to cover the spread before they pull their starters.  Even with a win, though, they probably won't crack my Top 25.  (Because Northwestern is very bad.) 

3) (40) Clemson (1-1, 0-0, +52) at (18) Georgia Tech (2-0, 0-0, +89) - Clemson is 2.5 point favorites, so it's barely considered "upset watch".  Do you trust Dabo Swinney to fix what ails the Tigers?  My heart wants Georgia Tech, but my brain says Clemson.

4) (43) Wisconsin (2-0, 0-0, +48) at (59) Alabama (1-1, 0-0, +15) - Alabama three touchdown favorites at home?  Bet on Wisconsin to #CoverTheSpread .

5) (47) Georgia (2-0, 0-0, +39) at (24) Tennessee (2-0, 0-0, +83) - I have no idea what to expect.  Georgia is 3.5 point favorites on the road at Tennessee.  We really haven't seen anything from the Bulldogs yet this season, and Tennessee did beat Syracuse, but then Syracuse needed a miracle to beat UConn, so what does that mean? I don't know.  Flip a coin and go with Georgia.  But don't surprised if both of these teams are in the playoff picture near the end of the year.

6) (2) South Florida (2-0, 0-0, +191) at (9) Miami (FL) (2-0, 0-0, +132) - Game of the Century of the Week.  Probably the biggest game in the history of the USF Bulls.  Hard Rock Stadium will be rockin'. The winner of this game will probably be my No. 1 going into Week 4.  I like South Florida, but I also think that Miami is legit a title contender this year.  I predict something crazy happening (Gramatica missing game winning FG), and the Hurricanes escaping with a win, 32-30.

7) (76) Florida (1-1, 0-0, -5) at (3) LSU (2-0, 0-0, +176) - LSU is 7.5 point favorites at home against Florida. They will win by more than that.  By a lot more than that.

8) (4) Texas A&M (2-0, 0-0, +168) at (80) Notre Dame (0-1, 0-0, -14) - This is another game where I have no clue what will happen. Texas A&M has two decent wins (scores of 42-24 and 44-22) over two decent programs (Texas-San Antonio and Utah State).  Notre Dame has one tough loss on the road against a Top 5 Team, 24-27 at Miami.  The Aggies are 6.5 point underdogs on the road in South Bend, so let's pick them to win, just for fun.  Texas A&M 27, Notre Dame 21

9) (96) Duke (1-1, 0-0, -54) at (12) Tulane (2-0, 0-0, +117) - This was going to be my upset special, except I just found out that Tulane is 1.5 point favorites at home against Duke.  Pick the Green Wave to cover the spread.

My Top 25

1) Notre Dame (12-0, 0-0, +20)
2) Florida (11-1, 7-1, +18)  
3) Alabama (11-1, 7-1, +17)
4) Oregon (11-1, 8-1, +17)
5) Stanford (10-2, 8-1, +17)

6) Georgia (11-1, 7-1, +14)
7) LSU (10-2, 6-2, +13)
8) Texas A&M (10-2, 6-2, +13)
9) Kansas State (10-1, 7-1, +12)
10) Ohio State (12-0, 8-0, +12)

11) Oklahoma (9-2, 7-1, +10)
12) South Carolina (10-2, 6-2, +10)
13) Kent State (11-1, 8-0, +9)
14) Florida State (10-2, 7-1, +7)
15) Oregon State (8-3, 6-3, +5)

16) UCLA (9-3, 6-3, +5)
17) Northern Illinois (11-1, 8-0, +5)
18) Clemson (10-2, 7-1, +3)
19) Nebraska (10-2, 7-1, +3)
20) San Jose State (10-2, 5-1, +2)

21) Boise State (9-2, 6-1, +1)
22) Rutgers (9-2, 5-1, 0)  
23) Utah State (10-2, 6-0, -1)
24) Texas (8-3, 5-3, -2)
25) Michigan (8-4, 6-2, -2)

Ball State (9-3, 6-2, -2)
Louisville (9-2, 4-2, -3)
Washington (7-5, 5-4, -5)
Arkansas State (8-3, 6-1, -5)
Cincinnati (8-3, 3-2, -5)
Vanderbilt (8-4, 5-3, -5)
Fresno State (9-3, 7-1, -5)
Arizona (7-5, 4-5, -6)
Oklahoma State (7-4, 5-3, -6)
San Diego State (9-3, 7-1, -6)
TCU (7-4, 4-4, -6)
USC (7-5, 5-4, -7)
Toledo (8-3, 5-2, -7)
Middle Tennessee State (8-3, 6-1, -7)
Louisiana Tech (9-3, 4-2, -8)
Texas Tech (7-5, 4-5, -8) 
Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4, -8)
Tulsa (9-3, 6-1, -9)
Northwestern (9-3, 5-3, -9)
Penn State (8-4, 6-2, -9)
UCF (8-3, 5-1, -10) 
Louisiana-Monroe (7-4, 5-2, -11)
Syracuse (7-5, 5-2, -11)
Ohio (8-4, 4-4, -12)
Bowling Green (8-4, 6-2, -12)
West Virginia (6-5, 3-5, -12)
Arizona State (7-5, 5-4, -13)
Miami (FL) (7-5, 5-3, -13) 
Brigham Young (7-5, 0-0, -13)
East Carolina (8-4, 7-1, -14)
Louisiana-Lafayette (5-4, 3-3, -15)
North Carolina (8-4, 5-3, -15)
Mississippi (6-6, 3-5, -16)
North Carolina State (7-5, 4-4, -16)
Texas-San Antonio (8-4, 3-3, -16)
Baylor (6-5, 3-5, -16)
Temple (4-7, 2-5, -17)
Iowa State (6-6, 3-6, -17)
Nevada (7-4, 4-3, -17) 
Navy (7-4, 0-0, -17)
Western Kentucky (7-5, 4-4, -18) 
Wisconsin (7-5, 4-4, -19)
Missouri (5-7, 2-6, -21)
Pittsburgh (5-6, 2-4, -21)
Duke (6-6, 3-5, -22)
Michigan State (6-6, 3-5, -22)
Georgia Tech (6-6, 5-3, -25)
Tennessee (5-7, 1-7, -25) 
Purdue (6-6, 3-5, -25)
Central Michigan (6-6, 4-4, -25)
Connecticut (5-6, 2-4, -26)
Virginia Tech (5-6, 3-4, -27)
Minnesota (6-6, 2-6, -29)
Arkansas (4-8, 2-6, -29)
Rice (5-6, 3-4, -29)
Air Force (6-6, 5-3, -30)
Utah (5-7, 3-6, -30)
SMU (6-6, 5-3, -30)
Wake Forest (5-7, 3-5, -31)
North Texas (4-7, 3-4, -31)
Auburn (3-9, 0-8, -32)
Houston (4-7, 4-4, -33)
Troy (5-7, 3-5, -35)
South Florida (3-8, 1-4, -36)
Marshall (5-7, 4-4, -36)
Miami (OH) (4-8, 3-5, -37)
Buffalo (4-8, 3-5, -37)
Florida Atlantic (3-8, 2-5, -37)
Washington State (3-9, 1-8, -37)
Western Michigan (4-7, 2-5, -38)
Virginia (4-7, 2-5, -38)
Indiana (4-8, 2-6, -39)
Maryland (4-8, 2-6, -39) 
Texas State (3-8, 1-4, -40)
Iowa (4-8, 2-6, -41) 
Wyoming (4-8, 3-5, -42)
California (3-9, 2-7, -39)
New Mexico (4-8, 1-6, -40) 
UAB (3-8, 2-5, -43)
UTEP (2-8, 1-4, -43)
Colorado State (3-8, 2-5, -44)
Florida International (3-8, 2-5, -44)
Memphis (4-8, 4-4, -44)
Kansas (1-9, 0-7, -46)
Kentucky (2-10, 0-8, -47)
Hawaii (2-9, 1-7, -49) 
South Alabama (2-9, 1-6, -50)
Army (2-9, 0-0, -50)
Boston College (2-10, 1-7, -51)  
Colorado (1-11, 1-8, -54)
Illinois (2-10, 0-8, -54)
New Mexico State (1-10, 0-5, -54)
Eastern Michigan (2-10, 1-7, -55)
Tulane (2-10, 2-6, -58)
Akron (1-11, 0-8, -60)
Massachusetts (1-11, 1-7, -61) 
Idaho (1-11, 1-5, -62)
UNLV (2-11, 2-6, -63)
Southern Miss (0-12, 0-8, -68)

Power Rankings

1) Notre Dame (10-0, 0-0, +18) - Notre Dame looked much better this week, steamrolling 2-win Boston College 21-6.  The Irish get another ACC team, Wake Forest, before finishing their season at USC.  The AP has Notre Dame third, behind Oregon and K-State, and most experts agree that, if all three win-out, the Irish will be on the outside looking in.  In that case, it is very likely that Notre Dame could be sent to the Rose Bowl.  If the Ducks get to the NC, that frees up the Rose Bowl from their contractual obligation to the Pac-12.  They tend to prefer sticking with their conference affiliates, but if it's a choice between 9-3 Stanford, 9-3 Oregon State, 8-5 USC, or 12-0 Notre Dame, they would probably invite the Irish.  (For the first time since 1925!)

2) Kansas State (10-0, 7-0, +18)

3) Oregon (10-0, 7-0, +16) - Being an Oregon fan kind of skews your perspective of reality.  Last night, I was watching the Ducks against Cal, thinking to myself, "Man, we're playing terribly!"  This was the third quarter, when Oregon was up 24-17 and Cal was driving.  Two Bears turnovers and five minutes later, it was 45-17, and Oregon coasted to the win, 59-17, although it still felt  like the Ducks were doing poorly.  There were plenty of bad signs for the Ducks; nagging injuries to Barner and Mariota, the decimation of their entire defensive line, and the allowance of 236 rushing yards on 5.9 yards per rush.  Next week is Stanford, who has a much, much better running back than Cal. 

4) Alabama (9-1, 6-1, +15) - Down goes 'Bama!  After waiting 10 weeks to reach my #1, the Tide promptly give it right away, losing at home to Texas A&M, 29-24.  Andy Staples seems to think that this loss will end the SEC's six year championship run, but I am not so sure.  Alabama has games left against FCS West Carolina and might-as-well-be-FCS Auburn, and if they win those, they're in the SEC Championship against Georgia.  Remember; all of the teams ahead of them have very losable games left in the schedule.  And it would be a little anti-climactic if the SEC's title streak ended without a loss. 

5) Georgia (9-1, 7-1, +12)

6) Florida (9-1, 7-1, +13) - The Gators needed to block a punt and return it for a touchdown with :02 left in order to avoid overtime and beat the mighty Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns 27-20.  Although Alabama's loss probably ended any slim chances Florida had of getting to the BCS-NC, they're still in a position to grab a BCS-at large bid, especially if they beat Florida State on Nov 24th. 

7) LSU (8-2, 4-2, +11) 
8) Texas A&M (8-2, 5-2, +11)
9) Ohio State (10-0, 6-0, +10)
10) Oklahoma (7-2, 5-1, +8)

11) Stanford (8-2, 6-1, +8) - I took my teacher certification tests on Saturday, and got home just as the Stanford players began celebrating their 27-23 win over Oregon State, during which freshman QB Kevin Hogan was 22/29 for 254 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs.  The win probably goes to the Cardinal defense, however, who held Oregon State to only 3 points on 4 Stanford turnovers.  Next week, Stanford is at Oregon, and will be trying to replicate Texas A&M's success by pulling off the upset.  If I were coach David Shaw, I would just run right at the Ducks, and try to make their defense get a stop while draining the clock and keeping their offense off the field.  Easier said than done, though. 

12) Florida State (9-1, 6-1, +7)
13) Kent State (9-1, 6-0, +7)
14) Oregon State (7-2, 5-2, +6)
15) South Carolina (8-2, 6-2 , +6)

16) Rutgers (8-1, 4-0, +5)  
17) Clemson (9-1, 6-1, +5)

18) UCLA (8-2, 5-2, +5) - UCLA's 44-36 win over Washington St., combined with USC's 38-17 win over Arizona St., means that the winner of next week's Battle for Los Angeles will win the Pac-12 South and get to play for the Rose Bowl.  The Bruins, actually, still have a viable shot at an at-large bid, if they beat USC and Stanford, and maybe have Notre Dame lose to USC and Clemson lose to South Carolina.  Of course, I doubt that the Rose Bowl would like to host a rematch between AP #17 UCLA and #16 Nebraska.

19) Texas (8-2, 5-2, +4)
20) Texas Tech (7-3, 4-3, +4)

21) Louisville (9-1, 4-1, +3)
22) Northern Illinois (9-1, 6-0, +3)
23) Louisiana Tech (9-1, 4-0, +3)
24) Nebraska (8-2, 5-1, +1)
25) Boise State (8-2, 4-1, 0)

Power Rankings

1) Alabama (9-0, 6-0, +18) - It's a little ironic that the game that finally elevates Alabama to my No. 1 is the one where they looked the most vulnerable, needing a 28-yard touchdown off a screen pass with 51 seconds left to win at LSU, 21-17.  Alabama gave up 435 yards of offense on 5.1 yards per play, while gaining 331 yards on 6.4 ypp.  The key for LSU's almost-win was time of possession, which they led by a whopping 39:15 to 20:45.  This meant that Alabama's defenders lost a little gas at the end of the game, and allowed LSU to have two touchdown scoring drives in the second half.  On the other hand, the Tigers botched a disastrous fake field goal in the first half, missed another in the second, and turned the ball over on downs in the 4th quarter.  Sometimes, the team that wins is simply the team that doesn't make as many mistakes.  Next week will be interesting, as the Tide host Texas A&M's high powered Big-12 style offense and their elite QB, Johnny Manziel.

2) Notre Dame (9-0, 0-0, +17) - OK, I am officially off the Notre Dame bandwagon.  The Irish needed a furious comeback and a botched field goal to beat mighty 4-4 Pittsburgh 29-26 in triple overtime.  I know that every championship team needs the football gods on their side at some point in the season, but not against a Big East also-ran.

Now, here's the thing.  If, in August, you told me that Notre Dame would go 12-0 and beat Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford, Oklahoma, and USC, I would say that they're an elite team and are in the National Championship, because I'm expecting at least 2 conference championships and 3 BCS bowl berths from those teams.  But then you tell me that none of those teams win their conference, and only one (Oklahoma) will be playing in a BCS bowl.  Just says something about how much pre-season expectations shape how we view the actual season. 

3) Kansas State (9-0, 6-0, +17) - I really hope that Collin Klein is OK.  The do-everything QB left Kansas State's 44-30 win over Oklahoma State with an unspecified knee injury and he is questionable for next week's game against TCU.  The Wildcats need to win 2 out of their last 3 against TCU, Baylor, and Texas to win the Big 12 and go to the Fiesta Bowl, which they could do without Klein, because of their good defense and ability to control the ball.  But their eyes are on a bigger prize right now.  And I think they will need Klein at 100% to do that. 

4) Oregon (9-0, 6-0, +15) - For the first time all season, I think I saw an Oregon team that belongs on the same field as Alabama in their 62-51 win at USC.  Kenjon Barner had a historic day, rushing for 321 yards and 5 touchdowns, and the Ducks put up 730 yards of offense on 8.8 yards per play.  And, even though they gave up 615 yards and 7.7 ypp to the Trojans, I was still impressed with Oregon's defense.  They forced three first half turnovers, two of them in the red zone, and if it were not for one 75 yard Marquise Lee touchdown catch and one 82 yard Marquise Lee kickoff return, the game would not have been nearly as close.  Something to note: There were two punts in the entire game, one by each team, 0 in the first half.

5) Georgia (8-1, 6-1, +11)

6) Florida (8-1, 7-1, +12) - The Gators needed a last minute interception in the endzone to defeat Missouri, 14-7, and wrap up their SEC schedule.  If Georgia stumbles next week against Auburn, the Gators win the East and will head to the SEC Championship.  However, even if Georgia wins, Florida can still compete for an invitation to the Sugar Bowl if they beat Florida State.  In fact, Florida still has an outside chance at getting to the National Championship if they win out, if Georgia loses to Alabama, and if everybody outside the SEC suffers at least one loss.  In the meanwhile, they get to rack up the ticket receipts with awkward home games against Louisiana-Lafayette and Jacksonville State. 

7) Ohio State (10-0, 6-0, +10) - The Buckeyes won at home against Illinois, 52-22, and the Big Ten narrowly averted disaster with Nebraska beating Michigan State, 28-24.  The Cornhuskers remain the Big Ten's last bowl eligible team with fewer than 3 losses.  Nebraska remains the favorite to reach the Big Ten championship, with games left against Penn State, Minnesota, and Iowa.  There, they will probably meet Wisconsin, although there is a chance that 4-5 Indiana could meet them there, if the Hoosiers win out against Wisconsin, Penn State, and Purdue.

And what to make of Ohio State's curious season?  They're undefeated, but their opponents are a combined 44-49, with only three (Nebraska, Penn State, and UCF) currently with winning records.  They still get Wisconsin and Michigan, and could ruin either or both of those teams Rose Bowl hopes.  But I seriously doubt that an undefeated Ohio State will have enough respect to get a split national title from the AP.  (They are fifth this morning.) 

8) Oregon State (7-1, 5-1, +10)

9) LSU (7-2, 3-2, +10) - The Tigers don't get punished much for losing to the #1 team in the country by a last-minute touchdown, dropping from 7th to 9th.  (5th to 9th in the AP.)  However, their second loss seriously damaged their chances at securing an at-large BCS bowl berth.  Their head-to-head loss to Florida looms large, and they would probably be picked after a two-loss Georgia team, too, unless the Bulldogs just get blown out by Alabama in the SEC Championship game.  The Tigers still have work to do, with Mississippi State up next.  Even if they miss out on the Sugar Bowl, a Cotton Bowl berth against, say, Texas or Oklahoma would be nothing to sneeze at.  

10) Louisville (9-0, 4-0, +9)

11) Oklahoma (6-2, 4-1, +7)
12) Florida State (8-1, 5-1, +6)
13) Kent State (8-1, 5-0, +6) 
14) South Carolina (7-2, 5-2 , +5)
15) Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2, +5)

16) Rutgers (7-1, 4-0, +4) 

17) Toledo (8-1, 5-0, +4) - Toledo is ranked for the first time ever this week, debuting at #23 in the AP poll.  Northern Illinois, Kent State, and Ohio have all received votes, too.  The MAC won't get settled out for another two weeks, when Toledo plays at Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Nov. 14, and Ohio plays at Kent State on Friday, Nov. 23.  I highly doubt that even a one-loss MAC champ will be invited to a BCS bowl, although it is possible, especially since the Big Ten will probably only be sending one team this year. 

18) Clemson (8-1, 5-1, +4)

19) UCLA (6-2, 3-2, +3) - In case you didn't notice, there were two games played in the Los Angeles area last night, and the same Arizona team that beat USC 39-36 last week fell on the road to UCLA 66-10.  In the first half, Arizona had 79 yards on 25 plays, and the Bruins led 42-3 at the half.  UCLA, USC, and Arizona State all still have a chance at winning the Pac-12 South.  The Bruins have a one-game lead and hold the tie-breaker over ASU, with game left at Wazzu, vs. USC, and the finale at home against Stanford.  Arizona State needs to beat USC and then have UCLA lose twice. The Trojans can still win the division by winning out: They host ASU next week and then take on the Bruins in the Rose Bowl on Nov. 17th.  That game should be fun. 

20) Stanford (7-2, 5-1, +3) - Stanford beat Colorado, ending a brutal three-game stretch where the Buffaloes lost at USC 50-6, at Oregon 70-14, and against Stanford 48-0.  The Cardinal end their season at home against Oregon State, at Oregon, and at UCLA.  (APs, 13, 2, and 17).  Next week's OSU game will essentially be a "play-in" for the Pac-12 North Division, with the winner getting a shot at the Ducks for the division title and the loser having 2 conference losses and awaiting a Holiday Bowl invitation in the mail. 

21) Texas (7-2, 4-2, +3)
22) Ohio (8-1, 4-1, +3)
23) Texas Tech (6-3, 3-3, +3)
24) Northern Illinois (9-1, 6-0, +3)
25) Louisiana Tech (8-1, 3-0, +2)

Power Rankings

1) Oregon State (6-0, 4-0, +15) - The Beavers notched their second consecutive win against the Beehive State, 21-7 at home against Utah, and now have their best start to the season since 1907.  They climbed to 7th in this morning's AP poll, two spots behind Notre Dame.  I would like to point out that Oregon State had 450 yards, 7.5 per play, in beating BYU 42-24, while allowing 4.6 yards per play and forcing three turnovers; yesterday, Notre Dame beat that same Cougars team 17-14, allowing 4.0 yards per play and forcing two turnovers while registering 389 yards of their own, 6.5 per play.  So, yeah, Notre Dame's definitely better than Oregon State.  

2) Florida (7-0, 6-0, +15) - Hopefully Florida's 44-11 dismantling of South Carolina made the Crimson Tide sit up and take notice.  South Carolina turned the ball over four times, and at one point the Gators had 21 points on 24 total yards.  Florida is for real, though, with wins against South Carolina, LSU, and Texas A&M.  A lot will be at stake next week against Georgia.  Then, strangely enough, the Gators have one more game, versus Missouri, and then they'll be done with their SEC schedule.  They finish their season against Louisiana-Lafayette, Jacksonville State, and then at Florida State, in a game that might have BCS implications. (For the first time in a long time!)

P.S. - One voter in this morning's AP poll switched their No. 1 vote from Alabama to Florida.  I'm disappointed.  There should be more.  

3) Oregon (7-0, 4-0, +13) - So, beating a good-not-great Arizona State team 43-21 doesn't seem like much... until .... until you realize that the Ducks scored all of their points over the course of 16 minutes, 22 seconds in the first and second quarters.  That means they could have conceivably scored 160 points for the game. They led at half time 43-7, against what had been a top 10 defense, and played mostly bench warmers in the second half.  The Ducks get one more tune-up at home against Colorado before they get to run the USC, Stanford, Oregon State gauntlet.

4) Notre Dame (7-0, 0-0, +12) - OK, I know that Lou Holtz is both an Irish Homer and kind of insane.  But last night, I think he was stumbling upon one of the essential contradictions of the BCS, the polls, and college football.  Everyone agrees that Oregon is better than Notre Dame.  But if they both go undefeated, should the Ducks automatically get the BCS nod?  Holtz thinks not. The Irish will have four wins against AP Top 25 teams (USC, Stanford, Oklahoma, Michigan) as will the Ducks (Oregon State, Stanford, USC twice).  But Notre Dame will have played all its games against BCS conference opponents; they've got no cupcakes like Arkansas State or FCS Tennessee Tech on their schedule.  (We can debate the relative merits of Colorado and Boston College later.) But how valid would it be to punish the Ducks for what's essentially an accident of the calendar?  Hopefully, the Ducks will demolish Stanford, who came within a centimeter of beating the Irish, and make this whole talk academic.

P.S. - Oh wait, we don't have to!  Thanks to all my hard work, we can see that 1-6 Colorado is a -30, meaning that they are slightly less of a drag on their opponent's strength of schedule than 1-6 Boston College, a -33.  Hurray!

5) Kansas State (7-0, 4-0, +12) - Kansas State dominated West Virginia 55-14, and now ought to be considered the hands down favorite to win the Big 12.  In a showdown of Heisman Trophy hopefuls, West Virginia QB Geno Smith was 21/32, 143 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTS, whereas K-State QB Collin Klein was 19/21, 323 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTS, plus 41 rushing yards on 12 attempts with 4 TDs.  Ladies and gentlemen, your new Heisman leader. 

6) LSU (7-1, 3-1, +11)  - Yes, I think that LSU will have a chance in their Nov. 3 showdown against Alabama. But they still needed a bit of luck in beating Texas A&M 24-19.  Specifically, much maligned QB Zach Mettenberger was 11 for 29, with 0 TDs and 1 INT.  The Tigers get next week off to prepare for Alabama.

On a related note, I don't think that there will be another all-SEC national championship this year.  We really needed a perfect storm last year of not having Alabama and LSU play each other in the SEC championship, and of having Oregon and Oklahoma State lose late in the season.  Never say never, I guess, but also, remember that the BCS Championship last year was terrible TV.  ESPN remembers that, and I'm sure will remind the voters of that when it comes time to make a decision.

7) Rutgers (7-0, 4-0, +10)

8) Alabama (7-0, 4-0, +9) -  Alabama rolled on the road, 44-13 against Tennessee.  Preseason is over, and now it's time for the Tide to make their move.  Next week they play Mississippi State - win, and I'll move them to third or fourth.  The week after that, they get LSU.  Win again, and they'll be Top 3, maybe higher, depending on what the Ducks and the Gators do.  But everyone has to prove their worth on the field. 

9) Ohio (7-0, 3-0, +8)

10) Ohio State (8-0, 4-0, +8)  - The Buckeyes were the first of several Big Ten teams that escaped from an inferior opponent, beating Purdue 29-22 in overtime.  Nebraska had to make a furious comeback to win at Northwestern 29-28, and Michigan beat Michigan State 12-10 on a last minute field goal.  Ohio State is good, but not without (big) weaknesses: They gave up 347 yards on 5.0 yards per play to the Boilermakers a week after surrendering 49 points and 6.2 yards per play to Indiana.

11) Louisville (7-0, 2-0, +7)

12) Mississippi State (7-0, 3-0, +7) - Mississippi State has two wins against FBS teams with winning records: 4-3 Troy and 4-3 Middle Tennessee State.  In the next three weeks, they play Alabama, Texas A&M, and LSU.  Good-bye, so long, aufwiedersehn farewell. 

13) Oklahoma (5-1, 3-1, +7) - Oklahoma coasted at home 52-7 against Kansas.  Next week, they get their big showdown against Notre Dame. The Sooners will have homefield advantage, but I'm picking Notre Dame, based on how Oklahoma wilted against the only other defense they've faced so far this season, K-State.

14) Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1, +10)  - Tech is kept low because they cannot pass Oklahoma, to whom they lost.  This will change next week, when the Red Raiders play Kansas State and Oklahoma plays Notre Dame.  (Unless they both lose.)(Which they will.)(Sorry Tech.)

15) Florida State (7-1, 4-1, +5)

16) South Carolina (6-2, 4-2, +4)

17) Georgia (6-1, 4-1, +4)  - The Bulldogs just beat a Kentucky team, 29-24, that had previously lost to Florida 38-0 and Western Kentucky 32-31.  Georgia's single loss this season was at South Carolina, 35-7, a team Florida beat 44-11.  I'm putting money on the Gators next week. I might take the Bulldogs against Western Kentucky.  I don't know.

18) Boise State (6-1, 3-0, +4) - Maybe the Broncos are better off not being in the national spotlight this year.  After coming out flat in a 13-17 loss at Michigan State, Boise has quietly won six in a row, including 32-7 against UNLV and 20-10 last week against their old rivals, Fresno State.  They don't have much opposition the rest of the way, though, until they finish the season against another old rival, Nevada.  A Mountain West championship and an invitation to a third consecutive Las Vegas Bowl against UCLA may be the best Boise State can hope for at this point.  Sigh.  Viva Las Vegas.  I guess. 

19) USC (6-1, 4-1, +4) - Don't count out the Trojans.  Matt Barkley broke a school record with his 101st career touchdown pass, and went 19/20 for 298 yards, 6 TDs and 0 INTs in a 50-6 win against hapless Colorado.  'SC still has a tough road ahead, but Oregon and Notre Dame both have to come to SoCal this year.  Meanwhile, poor Colorado, now 1-6.  They get to travel to Eugene next week, and then host Stanford the week after.  Remember when they beat Oregon 38-6 in the 1996 Cotton Bowl?  No.  You don't.

(P.S. - Rick Neuheisel was the coach of that Colorado team.  Weird.)

20) Michigan (5-2, 3-0, +3)  - With their last minute 12-10 win over Michigan State, the Wolverines ended a four game losing streak to the Spartans, their longest in history.  Likewise, this win gets them one step closer to their first Rose Bowl since 2007.  If they fail to make the Rose Bowl this year, it will be their longest absence from the Grandaddy since they failed to make the trip to Pasadena from 1952-1965. 

21) Toledo (7-1, 3-0, +3)
22) Clemson (6-1, 3-1, +2)
23) UCLA (5-2, 2-2, +2)
24) West Virginia (5-2, 2-2, +1)
25) Stanford (5-2, 3-1, +1)

My Top 25

1) Oregon State (6-0, 4-0, +15)
2) Florida (7-0, 6-0, +15)
3) Oregon (7-0, 4-0, +13)
4) Notre Dame (7-0, 0-0, +12)
5) Kansas State (7-0, 4-0, +12)

6) LSU (7-1, 3-1, +11)
7) Rutgers (7-0, 4-0, +10)
8) Alabama (7-0, 4-0, +9)
9) Ohio (7-0, 3-0, +8)
10) Ohio State (8-0, 4-0, +8)

11) Louisville (7-0, 2-0, +7)
12) Mississippi State (7-0, 3-0, +7)
13) Oklahoma (5-1, 3-1, +7)
14) Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1, +10) 
15) Florida State (7-1, 4-1, +5)

16) South Carolina (6-2, 4-2 , +4)
17) Georgia (6-1, 4-1, +4)
18) Boise State (6-1, 3-0, +4)
19) USC (6-1, 4-1, +4)
20) Michigan (5-2, 3-0, +3)

21) Toledo (7-1, 3-0, +3)
22) Clemson (6-1, 3-1, +2)
23) UCLA (5-2, 2-2, +2)
24) West Virginia (5-2, 2-2, +1)
25) Stanford (5-2, 3-1, +1)

Northern Illinois (7-1, 4-0, +1)
Tulsa (7-1, 4-0, +1)
Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2, 0) 
Louisiana Tech (6-1, 1-0, 0) 
Kent State (6-1, 4-0, 0)
Cincinnati (5-1, 1-0, -1)  Louisiana-Monroe (5-2, 4-0, -1)
Western Kentucky (5-2, 2-1, -2) 
Arizona State (5-2, 3-1, -2)
Texas (5-2, 2-2, -2)
Arizona (4-3, 1-3, -2)
North Carolina State (5-2, 2-1, -2)
Duke (6-2, 3-1, -3)
San Jose State (5-2, 1-1, -3)
Nebraska (5-2, 2-1, -3)
TCU (5-2, 2-2, -4)
Penn State (5-2, 3-0, -4)
Iowa State (4-3, 1-3, -5)
Northwestern (6-2, 2-2, -6)
Nevada (6-2, 3-1, -6) 
Utah State (6-2, 3-0, -6)
Wisconsin (6-2, 3-1, -6)
Texas-San Antonio (5-2, 1-1, -7)
Oklahoma State (4-2, 2-1, -7)
San Diego State (5-2, 3-0, -7)
Washington (3-4, 1-3, -8)
Louisiana-Lafayette (4-2, 3-1, -8) 
UCF (4-2, 2-0, -8)
Ball State (5-3, 2-2, -8)
Mississippi (4-3, 1-2, -9
Arkansas State (4-3, 2-1, -9)
Fresno State (5-3, 3-1, -9)
Miami (FL) (4-4, 3-2, -10)
Brigham Young (4-4, 0-0, -10)
Temple (3-3, 2-1, -10)
Vanderbilt (3-4, 2-3, -10)
Middle Tennessee State (4-3, 2-1, -11)
Tennessee (3-4, 0-4, -11)
Texas State (3-3, 0-0, -11)
East Carolina (5-3, 2-1, -11)
Iowa (4-3, 2-1, -12)
North Carolina (5-3, 2-2, -12) 
Michigan State (4-4, 1-3, -12)
Troy (4-3, 3-2, -12)
Missouri (3-4, 0-4, -13)
Arkansas (3-4, 2-2, -13) 
Syracuse (3-4, 2-1, -13)
Bowling Green (5-3, 3-0, -13)
Minnesota (4-3, 0-3, -14)
Maryland (4-3, 2-1, -14)
Wake Forest (4-3, 2-3, -14)
North Texas (3-4, 2-2, -14)
Navy (4-3, 0-0, -14)
Air Force (4-3, 3-1, -14)
Baylor (3-3, 0-3, -15)
New Mexico (4-4, 0-2, -15)
Houston (3-4, 3-1, -16)
Purdue (3-4, 0-3, -16)Washington State (2-5, 0-4, -18)
Pittsburgh (3-4, 0-3, -18)
South Florida (2-5, 0-3, -19)
Virginia Tech (4-4, 2-2, -20)Marshall (3-4, 1-1, -20)
Utah (2-5, 0-4, -21)
Miami (OH) (2-4, 1-1, -21)
SMU (3-4, 2-1, -21)
Georgia Tech (3-4, 1-3, -21) 
Central Michigan (2-5, 0-3, -23)
Connecticut (3-5, 0-3, -23)
Indiana (2-5, 0-3, -23)
California (3-5, 2-3, -23)
UTEP (2-5, 1-1, -25)
Auburn (1-6, 0-5, -26)
Hawaii (1-5, 0-2, -26) 
South Alabama (2-5, 1-2, -26)
Florida Atlantic (1-6, 0-3, -27)
Western Michigan (3-5, 1-3, -27)
Illinois (2-5, 0-3, -28)
Buffalo (1-6, 0-3,-29)
Kansas (1-6, 0-4, -29) 
Memphis (1-5, 1-1, -29)
New Mexico State (1-6, 0-3, -30)
Colorado (1-6, 1-3, -30)
Kentucky (1-7, 0-5, -30)
Rice (2-6, 0-3, -32)
UAB (1-6, 0-3, -33)
Boston College (1-6, 0-4, -33)
Virginia (2-6, 0-4, -34)
Wyoming (1-6, 0-3, -35)
Army (1-6, 0-0, -35) 
Tulane (1-6, 1-4, -35)
Colorado State (1-6, 0-3, -35)
Eastern Michigan (1-6, 0-2, -35)
Akron (1-7, 0-3, -37) 
Idaho (1-7, 1-1, -38)
Southern Miss (0-7, 0-3, -38)
Massachusetts (0-7, 0-3, -39)
Florida International (1-7, 0-4, -40)
UNLV (1-7, 0-3, -40)  

My Top 25

1) Oregon State (5-0, 3-0, +14)
2) Oregon (6-0, 3-0, +12)
3) Notre Dame (6-0, 0-0, +11)
4) Florida (6-0, 5-0, +11)
5) Rutgers (6-0, 3-0, +9)

6) Kansas State (6-0, 3-0, +9)
7) LSU (6-1, 2-1, +9)
8) Alabama (6-0, 3-0, +8)
9) Ohio (7-0, 3-0, +8)
10) Ohio State (7-0, 3-0, +7)

11) Louisville (6-0, 1-0, +6)
12) Mississippi State (6-0, 3-0, +6)
13) Oklahoma (4-1, 2-1, +6)
14) South Carolina (6-1, 4-1 , +5)
15) Texas Tech (5-1, 2-1, +9) 

16) Cincinnati (5-0, 1-0, +5) 
17) Florida State (6-1, 3-1, +4)
18) Western Kentucky (5-1, 2-0, +4)
19) Georgia (5-1, 3-1, +3)
20) West Virginia (5-1, 2-1, +3)

21) Boise State (5-1, 2-0, +3)
22) USC (5-1, 3-1, +3)
23) UCLA (5-2, 2-2, +2)
24) Michigan (4-2, 2-0, +2)
25) Texas A&M (5-1, 2-1, +2)


Clemson (5-1, 2-1, +1)
Iowa State (4-2, 1-2, +1)
Northwestern (6-1, 2-1, 0)
Nevada (6-1, 3-0, 0) 
Northern Illinois (6-1, 3-0, 0)
Toledo (6-1, 3-0, 0)
Tulsa (6-1, 3-0, 0)
Stanford (4-2, 2-1, 0)
Louisiana Tech (5-1, 0-0, -1) 
Texas-San Antonio (5-1, 1-0, -1)
TCU (5-1, 2-1, -1)
Arizona State (5-1, 3-0, -1)
Kent State (5-1, 3-0, -1)
Washington (3-3, 1-2, -2)
Louisiana-Lafayette (4-1, 3-0, -2) 
Texas (4-2, 1-2, -3)
Arizona (3-3, 0-3, -3)
North Carolina State (4-2, 1-1, -3)
Duke (5-2, 2-1, -4)
San Jose State (4-2, 0-1, -4)
Nebraska (4-2, 1-1, -4)
Louisiana-Monroe (4-2, 3-0, -4)
Penn State (4-2, 2-0, -5)
Miami (FL) (4-3, 3-1, -6)
Iowa (4-2, 2-0, -6)
North Carolina (5-2, 2-1, -6) 
Michigan State (4-3, 1-2, -7)
Utah State (5-2, 2-0, -7)
Wisconsin (5-2, 2-1, -7)
Minnesota (4-2, 0-2, -8)
Middle Tennessee State (4-2, 2-1, -8)
Oklahoma State (3-2, 1-1, -8)
Maryland (4-2, 2-0, -8)
San Diego State (4-2, 2-0, -8)
UCF (4-2, 2-0, -8)
Tennessee (3-3, 0-3, -9)
Baylor (3-2, 0-2, -9)
Brigham Young (4-3, 0-0, -9)
Ball State (4-3, 1-2, -9)
Mississippi (4-3, 1-2, -9
Arkansas State (4-3, 2-1, -9)
Temple (3-2, 2-0, -9)
New Mexico (4-3, 0-1, -9)
Fresno State (4-3, 2-1, -10)
Houston (3-3, 3-0, -10)
Vanderbilt (2-4, 1-3, -11)
Texas State (3-3, 0-0, -11)
East Carolina (4-3, 1-1, -12)
Troy (3-3, 2-2, -13)
Missouri (3-4, 0-4, -13)
Arkansas (3-4, 2-2, -13) 
Purdue (3-3, 0-2, -14)
Syracuse (2-4, 1-1, -14)
Bowling Green (4-3, 2-0, -14)
Virginia Tech (4-3, 2-1, -14)
Wake Forest (3-3, 1-3, -15)
North Texas (2-4, 1-2, -15)
Navy (3-3, 0-0, -15)
Air Force (3-3, 2-1, -15) 
South Florida (2-4, 0-2, -16)
Central Michigan (2-4, 0-2, -17)
Connecticut (3-4, 0-2, -17)
Indiana (2-4, 0-3, -17)
California (3-4, 2-2, -17)
Washington State (2-5, 0-4, -18)
Pittsburgh (2-4, 0-3, -19)
Utah (2-4, 0-3, -20)
Auburn (1-5, 0-4, -20)
Miami (OH) (2-4, 1-1, -21)
Florida Atlantic (1-5, 0-2, -21)
Western Michigan (3-4, 1-2, -21)
Marshall (2-4, 0-1, -21) 
SMU (2-4, 1-1, -22)
Georgia Tech (2-4, 0-3, -22)
Buffalo (1-5, 0-3,-23)
New Mexico State (1-5, 0-2, -24)
Colorado (1-5, 1-2, -25)
Hawaii (1-5, 0-2, -26) 
UTEP (1-5, 0-1, -26)
Kansas (1-5, 0-3, -26)
Rice (2-5, 0-2, -26)
Kentucky (1-6, 0-4, -27)
South Alabama (1-5, 0-2, -27)
UAB (1-5, 0-2, -27)
Boston College (1-5, 0-3, -27)
Virginia (2-5, 0-3, -28)
Illinois (2-5, 0-3, -28)
Wyoming (1-5, 0-2, -29)
Army (1-5, 0-0, -29) 
Memphis (1-5, 1-1, -29)
Tulane (1-5, 1-3, -29)
Akron (1-6, 0-2, -31)
Idaho (1-6, 1-0, -32)
Southern Miss (0-6, 0-2, -32)
Massachusetts (0-6, 0-2, -33) 
Florida International (1-6, 0-3, -34)
Colorado State (1-6, 0-3, -35)
UNLV (1-6, 0-2, -35) 
Eastern Michigan (0-6, 0-2, -36)

My Top 25

1) Oregon State (4-0, 3-0, +13)
2) Oregon (6-0, 3-0, +12)
3) Notre Dame (5-0, 0-0, +10)
4) Florida (5-0, 4-0, +10)
5) South Carolina (6-0, 4-0, +9)

6) Rutgers (5-0, 2-0, +8)
7) Alabama (5-0, 2-0, +7)
8) West Virginia (5-0, 2-0, +7)
9) Ohio (6-0, 2-0, +7)
10) Kansas State (5-0, 2-0, +6)

11) Ohio State (6-0, 2-0, +6)
12) Louisville (5-0, 0-0, +5)
13) Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0, +5)
14) Oklahoma (3-1, 1-1, +5)
15) Louisiana Tech (5-0, 0-0, +5)

16) Texas-San Antonio (5-0, 1-0, +5)
17) Cincinnati (4-0, 1-0, +4)
18) Texas Tech (4-1, 1-1, +4)
19) Iowa State (4-1, 1-1, +4)
20) LSU (5-1, 1-1, +3)

21) Georgia (5-1, 3-1, +3)
22) Florida State (5-1, 2-1, +3)
23) Washington (3-2, 1-1, +4)
24) Western Kentucky (4-1, 1-0, +3)
25) Duke (5-1, 2-0, +2)


San Jose State (4-1, 0-0, +2)
Boise State (4-1, 1-0, +2)
UCLA (4-2, 1-2, +1)
Michigan (3-2, 1-0, +1) 
Stanford (4-1, 2-1, +1)
USC (4-1, 2-1, +1)
Clemson (5-1, 2-1, +1)
Texas (4-1, 1-1, 0)
Miami (FL) (4-2, 3-0, 0)
Northwestern (5-1, 1-1, -1)
Michigan State (4-2, 1-1, -1)
Nevada (5-1, 2-0, -1) 
Northern Illinois (5-1, 2-0, -1)
Toledo (5-1, 2-0, -1)
Tulsa (5-1, 3-0, -1)
 TCU (4-1, 1-1, -2)
Minnesota (4-1, 0-1, -2)
Arizona State (4-1, 2-0, -2)
Louisiana-Lafayette (4-1, 3-0, -2)
Kent State (4-1, 3-0, -2)
Texas A&M (4-1, 2-1, -2)

Arizona (3-3, 0-3, -3)
North Carolina State (4-2, 1-1, -3) 
Baylor (3-1, 0-1, -3)
Nebraska (4-2, 1-1, -4)
Fresno State (4-2, 2-0, -4)
Louisiana-Monroe (3-2, 2-0, -5)
Penn State (4-2, 2-0, -5)
Tennessee (3-2, 0-2, -6) 
Iowa (3-2, 1-0, -7)
North Carolina (4-2, 1-1, -7)
Purdue (3-2, 0-1, -8)
Utah State (4-2, 1-0, -8)
Troy (3-2, 2-1, -8)Wisconsin (4-2, 1-1, -8)
Brigham Young (4-2, 0-0, -8)
Middle Tennessee State (3-2, 1-1, -9)
Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1, -9)
UCF (3-2, 1-0, -9)
Maryland (3-2, 1-0, -9)
San Diego State (3-2, 1-0, -9)
Ball State (3-3, 0-2, -10)
Mississippi (3-3, 0-2, -10)
New Mexico (3-3, 0-1, -10)
Arkansas State (3-3, 1-1, -10)
Temple (2-2, 1-0, -10)
Vanderbilt (2-3, 1-2, -10)
Central Michigan (2-3, 0-2, -11)
Missouri (3-3, 0-3, -11)
 Connecticut (3-3, 0-1, -11)
 Houston (2-3, 2-0, -11)
 Texas State (2-3, 0-0, -12)
Washington State (2-4, 0-3, -12)
Syracuse (2-3, 1-0, -12)
East Carolina (3-3, 0-1, -13)
Indiana (2-3, 0-2, -14)
Utah (2-3, 0-2, -14)
Arkansas (2-4, 1-2, -14) 
Auburn (1-4, 0-3, -14)
Wake Forest (3-3, 1-3, -15)
North Texas (2-4, 1-2, -15)
Miami (OH) (2-3, 1-0, -15)
Florida Atlantic (1-4, 0-1, -15)
Western Michigan (3-3, 1-1, -15) 
Bowling Green (3-3, 1-0, -15)
Pittsburgh (2-3, 0-2, -16)
Virginia Tech (3-3, 1-1, -16)
South Florida (2-4, 0-2, -16)
Navy (2-3, 0-0, -16)
Air Force (2-3, 1-1, -16) 
SMU (2-3, 1-0, -16)
Buffalo (1-4, 0-2,-17)California (2-4, 1-2, -18)
Colorado (1-4, 1-1, -19)
Hawaii (1-4, 0-2, -20)
UTEP (1-4, 0-1, -20)
Kansas (1-4, 0-2, -20)
Marshall (2-4, 0-1, -21)
Kentucky (1-5, 0-3, -21)
South Alabama (1-4, 0-1, -21)
UAB (1-4, 0-1, -21)

Georgia Tech (2-4, 0-3, -22)
Virginia (2-4, 0-2, -22)
Illinois (2-4, 0-2, -22)
Boston College (1-4, 0-2, -22)
Wyoming (1-4, 0-1, -23) Army (1-4, 0-0, -23) 
Memphis (1-4, 1-0, -23)
New Mexico State (1-5, 0-2, -24)
Idaho (1-5, 1-0, -26)
Southern Miss (0-5, 0-1, -26)
Florida International (1-5, 0-2, -28)
Akron (1-5, 0-1, -29)
Colorado State (1-5, 0-2, -29)
Rice (1-5, 0-2, -29)
UNLV (1-5, 0-1, -29) 
Tulane (0-5, 0-3, -30) 
Eastern Michigan (0-5, 0-1, -30)
Massachusetts (0-6, 0-2, -33)