NCAA Football Top 25 Rankings – Week 10 - by Neil Kogut

There were some emphatic performances this weekend from some of the top teams in the country.  With Alabama on a bye, Texas and Florida really brought their A-game and you can see the momentum building for them.  In the game of the week, Oregon thoroughly dominated USC taking the reigns of the Pac-10 and most likely denying Pete Carroll his eighth straight conference championship.  The last weekend in October kept the Heisman trophy race in a major state of flux as some of the top performers in the country continue to be inconsistent.  There is a change at the top this week, and I am sure more to come as the season winds down.  Bring on November…

1. Texas (3) – Texas has been picking up steam lately and for now look like the top team in the nation.  Their defense has been maybe the best in the nation and that offense is getting rolling.  Between the defense and special teams Texas has nine touchdown returns this season.  They went into Stillwater this weekend and just put a whooping on an overmatched Oklahoma State team.   

2. Alabama (1) – Alabama had a bye week, but their solid play has been slipping the last few weeks and for that they drop a spot.  Get right back on track and they can jump back to number one.

3. Florida (2) – Tim Tebow led two first quarter scoring drives and Florida never looked back in completely demolishing Georgia in Jacksonville.  This was the most impressive victory of the season for the Gators and it was their 17^th win in the last 20 games of the rivalry.  I am curious to know if Georgia’s Gatorade was spiked with a cocktail.

4. Iowa (4) – While most of the country has problems with how Iowa is winning, I am enjoying watching them play four full quarters and getting gutsy win after gutsy win.  Iowa had six turnovers and were down ten points at the start of the fourth quarter, but rallied for an 18 point win.  They may not be the prettiest girl in the pageant, but they have as much heart as any team I have ever seen.

5. Cincinnati (6) – Zach Collaros continues to impress in Tony Pike’s absence as Cincinnati won easily again this past weekend.  The win was not the most impressive, but at this point it is just win and advance.  Tougher times are on the horizon for Cincinnati and we will find out how for real they are in this last month.

6. Boise State (7) – San Jose State was the latest WAC team to be sacrificed to the Boise State gods.  Kellen Moore had three touchdowns and the Broncos easily rolled to a 45-7 victory.  If I had three wishes, one would be lots of money, two would be a beautiful woman or two and three would be to give Boise State a schedule worthy of one of the nation’s top teams. 

7. TCU (8) – TCU scored early and often and the defense held UNLV to 160 total yards.  The Horned Frogs shutout the Rebels 41-0 further showing their dominance.  Andy Dalton had three touchdowns in the easy win.

8. Oregon (9) – Oregon has shown amazing resolve this season, bouncing back from the horrible opening weekend incident to winning one of the most impressive games of the season.  Oregon completely dominated USC in every facet of the game.  LeGarrette Blount may come back from suspension for this week’s game, how big would that be for this already loaded offense?

9. LSU (10) – Since their bye week, LSU has gotten the offense rolling, even if it has been against inferior opponents.  Russell Sheppard has really become an x-factor from the quarterback position and Jordan Jefferson has seemed to take the reigns of this team.  A big showdown with Alabama is looming, will LSU show up for this one?

10. Georgia Tech (11) – Georgia Tech has quietly become one of the best teams in nation and Josh Nesbitt is maybe the best quarterback that no one ever talks about.  Jonathan Dwyer rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns as GT had to come from behind for an easy win vs. Vanderbilt.

11. USC (5) – Pete Carroll suffered his worse loss as coach of the Trojans, getting beat in every area of the game at Oregon.  This game exposed USC’s lack of a downfield threat on offense and showed that they still are a good defense but not great as in years past.  I recall some guy on this website saying those things for weeks.  Oh wait, that was me.

12. Penn State (12) – Penn State scored on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter sealing a victory at Northwestern.  Penn State went into halftime trailing, but scored all the points in the second half en route to another Big Ten victory.

13. Miami (14) – Miami has made a habit of playing in close games, narrowly escaping defeat at the hands of Wake Forest.  Jacory Harris threw for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns, including the game winner with 68 seconds left in the game.  Miami still has wins over three top 25 teams.

14. Houston (16) – Houston and Southern Miss combined for 1538 total yards this past weekend, in a shootout that UH won on a Case Keenum TD pass with 23 seconds left.  Keenum threw for 559 yards and 5 touchdowns in the win.  If you haven’t seen Nick Saenz’s blocked kick return for two points, check it out, it was a pretty amazing run.

15. Ohio State (22) – The Buckeyes took a break from conference play and easily shut out New Mexico State 45-0.  That is all.

16. Pittsburgh (17) – Pittsburgh had a bye week last weekend, but after an easy game vs. Syracuse this weekend they finish the season with Notre Dame, West Virginia and Cincinnati.

17. Utah (19) – Utah did all of the second half scoring, distancing themselves from a pesky Wyoming team.  They held Wyoming to 202 yards in a 22-10 win.

18. Oklahoma State (15) – Zac Robinson threw four interceptions and Texas jumped all over Okie State in a bloodbath.  Oklahoma State just couldn’t get their offense rolling and never had a chance without Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter.  They still have a very realistic chance at finishing 10-2. 

19. Oklahoma (21) – Kansas State led a furious comeback, but Oklahoma had a huge day from Landry Jones and the Sooners held off the North Division leading Wildcats.  The young QB had almost 300 yards and is showing the country what they will be facing the next three years as Oklahoma looks to build momentum for next year.  How does a USC-Oklahoma Holiday Bowl sound?

20. Notre Dame (23) – The Golden Domers finally got a blow out win against a lifeless Washington State team in San Antonio.  Jimmy Clausen had 268 yards and 2 touchdowns in Notre Dame’s 40-14 win. 

21. Arizona (24) – Arizona had a bye week last week.  They have another bye week this week as they play the aforementioned Washington State Cougars.

22. BYU (25) – BYU had a bye week this past weekend.

23. Wisconsin (NR) – Wisconsin joins the top 25 this week, with a 6-2 record.  They have losses against the two ranked teams they have played, but have been solid against the rest of the competition they have played.

24. Virginia Tech (13) – Tyrod Taylor had an off night and Virginia Tech did a big no-no, losing to an unranked team on ESPN, on a Thursday night game that was nationally televised.  They get that stage to themselves again this week, with a date with East Carolina on Thursday night.

25. California (NR) – California has gotten their season back on track after blowout losses to USC and Oregon.  They squeaked by a pesky Arizona State team in one of the ugliest games in recent memories.  They are lucky to be here after calling one of the stupidest play calls with the game on the line, ever.

- For all the people who think that Texas is a shoe in for the national championship, they need to get their head evaluated.  Sure, Texas looks very strong right now, and doesn’t have the most difficult schedule ahead, but I would be weary of Kansas and more so, Texas A&M.  Colt McCoy is 1-2 against the Aggies, losing his first two games against inferior A&M squads.  Anything can happen in rivalry games, and now that Texas A&M can score points at any time, this game is now really dangerous.  Texas is by far the superior team, but if they do not bring their A-game to Kyle field, they will be Fiesta Bowl bound. 

- Oregon is by far the best one loss team.  They showed that by beating the previously best one loss team, USC.  Oregon looked prepared for the matchup with the Trojans, and not intimidated in the least.  The defense did a great job containing the USC offense and the offense moved the ball at will.  They are the best team in the Pac-10 by far and even if I was Texas, Florida or Alabama I would not want to play Oregon this season.  I do not know how long I will keep Boise State ranked ahead of Oregon.  Sure they won the head to head matchup, and that holds a lot of weight, but Oregon has beaten 3 top 25 teams this season and is playing their best football.  Boise State is as good as they were a few months ago, but just don’t get to prove it.  If Boise State and Oregon played today, it would still be a competitive game, but I think Oregon would outmatch the pesky Broncos. 

- LSU is about to walk into a buzz saw this weekend in Tuscaloosa, or maybe not.  LSU’s defense has proved it is very talented, holding Florida to 13 points.  Alabama is not that explosive a team either and I expect another low scoring affair here.  Mark Ingram will need to carry Alabama on his back if they want to win.  In order to get a convincing win they are going to need Greg McElroy and the Tide defense to have an outstanding game.  There has been strides made the past two weeks by LSU’s offense, but that was against some weak defensive competition.  LSU’s offensive woes and Alabama coming off a bye week spells L-O-S-S for LSU.

- There was more movement in the Heisman race this week as Tim Tebow finally posted a huge game with four touchdowns.  His yardage numbers weren’t spectacular, but four scores is four scores.  The two most consistent performers so far this season are Mark Ingram and Jimmy Clausen.  Case Keenum has been very consistent, just not against quality teams like the other contenders.  Colt McCoy had a fine game this past weekend, but with the help he received from his defense and running game, his numbers weren’t up there with Tebow.  I see Tebow and Colt almost in a dead heat and if they can continue to lead their teams to impressive victories, while keeping their numbers up, one of these guys will take home the hardware.  Ingram is still the guy to beat, and if Tebow and McCoy can’t stay consistent, Jimmy Clausen could really come in and swoop up this award. 

- Georgia Tech has really impressed me as a very consistent football team this season.  They fly under the radar because of their triple option scheme they run, but they play smart, disciplined football and that is what makes their offense run so well.  Josh Nesbitt has completed just under half of his passes throwing for almost 1200 yards and six touchdowns to add to his 763 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.  Jonathan Dwyer is averaging six yards a touch, compiling 904 yards and eight touchdowns this season.  Since losing to Miami they have reeled off 6 straight wins, and they average 35 points per game, pretty darn good for a team that doesn’t fancy the forward pass too much.  I think Georgia Tech, as of now, is very worthy of a BCS bowl and I look for them to win the ACC and enjoy the Sugar Bowl.

If the season ended today, my Heisman ballot would read—

1.        Mark Ingram
2.        Jimmy Clausen
3.        Tim Tebow
4.        Colt McCoy
5.        Case Keenum

Week 5 predictions:
*Projected Winner in CAPS

TEXAS ATM @ Colorado

Lsu @ ALABAMA

Ohio State @ PENN STATE

WASHINGTON @ ucla

OKLAHOMA @ Nebraska

FLORIDA STATE @ Clemson

Upset Special:

OREGON STATE @ California

Last Week: 6-1
Overall: 44-24

Comments

bearcats182000

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There is no way Texas should be No. 1. They havent beaten a legit top 15 team this season. If Florida or Alabama had their cake schedule, than they would dominate it. Texas is very beatable from what I have seen and I hope they get torn up by bama or the gators in the nati'l champ game this year

Tuesday 03 November 2009, 06:34

Rooster Cogburn

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I think the truth is that you cant really argue with any of those three teams at the top. None of those teams has really made the claim that they are by far and away the best in the nation. They all have flaws, Alabama's QB production, Florida's speed on the outside and their inability to score like they did last season, and for Texas, their run game is improved but still not dominant, and they havent been tested week in and week out. That being said, who has FLorida played? I dont think LSU was legit when they played and I think Oklahoma would beat LSU if they played tommorow. The reason Texas is number one right now is because they have been the most consistent recently. Their offense is starting to click, and they have a defense every bit as good as Florida and Bama. Alabama played the best early on, but their lack of a stud QB is apparent now. They are still solid, but not running over teams they should. As for Florida, they seem to be turning the corner, but I need to see them do it a few weeks in a row. Sure, Texas is beatable, but Alabama and Florida are absolutely beatable as well. If they played tomorrow I would put my money on Texas over Florida or Bama.

Tuesday 03 November 2009, 22:07

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