bigtenboy07

The Bowl season was nuts, and some of the games were really good. Some shockers, and some teams really rose, while others fell. Without further adeu....

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Florida- LW 1- The Gators held off a very game Oklahoma team. The Florida defense is downright nasty. The scariest part? They don’t have a single senior on the two deep defensive roster (although Spikes is definitely gone imo). Congrats to the National Champs.
2. University of Southern California- LW 5- The Trojans are extremely talented, and rolled Penn State. Their defense is superior, and Sanchez appears to be a little better than I initially suspected. Damien Williams is the real key to their offense.
3. Utah- LW 7- Utah played very well against a very good Alabama team. Their lines did more than hold up, but controlled the game. Brian Johnson is a very good QB, and this team was a little underrated throughout the year.
4. Texas- LW 3- Colt McCoy is very good. The defense played better than expected against Ohio State. They don’t have a great run game, but Colt can complete the short passes to substitute. The Horns would have loved a shot in the NC game.
5. Oklahoma- LW 2- Obviously the best two loss team in the country. Their offense is really good and the defense played much better than expected. The DL is what really helped their defense in the NC game. A nice showing for Stoops and the Sooners.
6. Alabama- LW 4- The loss has a sting, but their turnaround and future is very impressive. Alabama didn’t play well up front, and JPW paid the price. Their running game wasn’t like it was all year. This team however is still very dangerous.
7. Pennsylvania State University- LW 6 Joe Pa and co went out to the west coast and got handled by the Trojans. They have a couple of good wins, and although they didn’t play great against So Cal they are a very solid team.
8. Ohio State- LW 10- Even with a loss the Bucks are able to move up. Their defense proved to be pretty impressive, mostly because of an aggressive blitz scheme. The offense was not explosive, but Pryor shows a lot of promise. Laurinaitis, Jenkins, Wells, and many others did great things at Ohio State.
9. Texas Christian University- LW 14- The Horned Frogs beat a very game Boise State team. The Poinsettia bowl was very good. TCU played very well with their losses being to Utah and Oklahoma. Their defense is electric for sure.
10. Oregon- LW 12- The Ducks played very well offensively and even played some defense. The Holiday is a good bowl, and the victory was very good for the Pac 10 and the Ducks. Their run offense is ridiculously good.
11. Ole Miss- LW 23- Sure they have a couple of losses, but right now they are playing as well as just about everyone. They handled Texas Tech, and they play very well on the lines which keeps them in every game they play. Their win over Florida was impressive. Houston Nutt did a great job this year, and they will be competing in the SEC for a while under Nutt.
12. Boise State- LW 9- The Broncos went through the regular season undefeated, but lost to TCU. They are a good team, but their freshman QB showed up a bit in the bowl game against a really good TCU defense. They could compete with the teams ranked around them though (although I think the Fiesta made the right choice in picking Ohio State).
13. Virginia Tech- LW 16- The Hokies played a pretty good Cincinnati team and shut down their offense after the first drive. Their offense is still not their strong point, but this is a solid team. They notched the first win in a bowl game for the ACC since 1999! (When FSU beat VT).
14. Georgia- LW 20- The Dawgs finally put some of that talent together on the field. Their defense is aggressive and fast, and their offense can be really good with Moreno and Stafford. The future for Georgia is a little shaky losing Moreno and Stafford (however they have Cox and King in the wings). A nice win over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl.
15. Texas Tech- LW 8- The Red Raiders have a prolific pass offense, and their defense was their Achilles heal all year. They lost to a very good Ole Miss team who is playing very well right now. Harrell will leave with a lot of records, but not with a victory in the Cotton Bowl.
16. Cincinnati- LW 11- The Bearcats had struggles throughout the year, most of them had to deal with finding a QB. Their defense is pretty good, but their offense struggled against VT. A really great season for Brian Kelly and the Bearcats with 11 wins, and a Big East title.
17. Oklahoma State- LW 15- The Pokes couldn’t stoop the Oregon offense, but few could. Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant are a great combo and Kendall Hunter is a really underrated running back. This team surprised a lot of people, and their coach Mike Gundy is really good (and he’s a man!).
18. Missouri- LW 22- The Tigers had a lot of trouble with Northwestern, who took them to overtime. Chase Daniel did not play very well, but Maclin is outstanding. Not the season Daniel was looking for, will he get drafted?
19. Iowa- LW 24- The Hawkeyes looked pretty good in dominating South Carolina. Shonn Greene is a great RB and he wills his team on offense. He got 100 yards in every game this season (the only RB to do so). Stanzi was serviceable at QB, and this was good for the Big Ten’s only bowl win.
20. Florida State- LW UR- The Seminoles are a really talented team, and their defense is fast and opportunistic. The real reason the Seminoles are ranked here is the improvement of Ponder throughout the year, and the big WR’s who can dominate DBs.
21. West Virginia- LW UR- Pat White went out in style, and won another bowl game. Their offense is good with White, even throwing the ball a little, and Devine. Their defense has improved and they had an impressive win over UNC.
22. Georgia Tech- LW 13- GT got embarrassed by LSU, but that doesn’t diminish their season. 9 wins for Paul Johnson is really good, and this offense should get more dynamic since he can recruit more athletes and mix the pass in more often with the option.
23. California- LW UR- Cal is a solid football team and Jhavid Best is a really good RB. Their QB situation with Longshore/Riley is tough to figure, but good enough. The defense plays pretty well, and they had a pretty good win against Miami in the Nut Bowl.
24. Michigan State- LW 17- This team outdid what many expected them. They finished with 9 wins, a great improvement over their 6 last year. Now they just have to play better against the best teams (that is how you have to build a program, and Dantonio is doing a great job).
25. Oregon State- LW UR- The Beavers won one of the most scintillating Bowl games in the entire bowl season (ok not!). Their offense is solid, and their defense slowed down Pitt to a near crawl.

Dropped: Ball State (18), BYU (19), Pittsburgh (21), Northwestern (24)

Well after an interesting weekend the regular season has concluded. Some of the bowl matchups are lackluster, but some seem to be great. All the extra awards are at the end of the poll. Thanks for the support throughout the year, and keep the Best Damn Poll in the Land going strong into next year and years after.

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Florida- LW 3- The Fighting Reptiles played a very good Alabama team, and came out on top in large part due to Tim Tebow. Even without Harvin the offense is loaded with weapons and their defense will surely be tested against a potent Oklahoma offense.
2. Oklahoma- LW 2- The Sooners continue to put up a ridiculous number of points. Sam Bradford is very good, and their defense played well on Saturday night holding a solid Missouri offense to just 21 points. Maybe they didn’t need the last TD to get over 60…
3. Texas- LW 4- The Longhorns will have a reason to dispute the results of the BCS NC Game if they handle the Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl. Colt McCoy will lead a solid offense, and Brian Orakpo (Defensive player of the year) will lead an underrated defense against the Buckeyes.
4. Alabama- LW 1- The Tide put up a good fight against the Gators. Their defense is really good, and should be able to slow down the spread attack of Utah. They should be able to handle Utah on both lines as well, and win the Sugar Bowl.
5. University of Southern California- LW 5- The Trojans have the best defense in the country, and their offense has the potential to be really good. They will get their shot against a Penn State team that they better not overlook.
6. Pennsylvania State University- LW 6- The Lions have been done with their season for a while, and are now gearing up for the Granddaddy of them all. Their defense is really good and Darryl Clark leads a better than expected offense.
7. Utah- LW 7- The Utes finished their undefeated season what seems like a month ago… They have a spread offense but will have trouble with Alabama’s impressive lines, and will have the role of David in the Sugar Bowl.
8. Texas Tech- LW 8- The Red Raiders have an impressive offense, and are matched up with the Rebels in the Cotton Bowl.
9. Boise State- LW 9- The Broncos were left out of the BCS equation this year, but get a good matchup with the Horned Frogs of TCU. The defense of TCU will cause a major problem for the Bronco offense. Congrats on their 3rd undefeated season in 5 years.
10. Ohio State- LW 10- The Bucks got picked to play against a very solid Texas team in the Fiesta Bowl. The Buckeyes have made themselves at home in Arizona and have won 3 Fiesta bowls since 2002. Can they matchup with the Longhorns, or did the BCS make a mistake?
11. Cincinnati- LW 11- The Bearcats had a bit of a scare against the mighty Hawaii Warriors. Could it be because of a lack of focus, celebrating their BCS bid, the long travel, or are the Bearcats just not that good? Brian Kelly is the real deal, and if he stays in Cincy they will make real waves in the Big East for years to come.
12. Oregon- LW 12- The Ducks can score it with the best of them, and they will get their chance in the always explosive Holiday bowl. Although they have a rotating QB situation (and have throughout the season) they can rush the ball as good as any team in the country.
13. Georgia Tech- LW 14- The option attack can work in a BCS conference and Paul Johnson is one of the better coaches in the country. They may end up passing the ball more often when they get better recruits in to make the option even more potent.
14. Texas Christian LW 15- The Horned Frogs finish their season 10-2 and have a matchup with undefeated Boise State. Their defense is aggressive and is one of the better ones in the country.
15. Oklahoma State- LW 16- Although the Pokes had a big loss to Oklahoma they are still a top 15 team in the country. Their offense is explosive, and their defense is probably better than most think.
16. Virginia Tech- LW UR- The Hokes have a good defense and just enough improve from Tyrod Taylor to win them another ACC championship. They get rewarded with an Orange Bowl berth and a possibly the ACC’s 2nd BCS win.
17. Michigan State- LW 17- The Fighting Dantonio’s get a talented UGA team who might be healthier during the bowl game then they were for most of the season. The MSU defense will be tested against the big play ability of Stafford, Greene, Moreno, and Massaqoui.
18. Ball State- LW 12- The Cardinals slipped up against Buffalo. They imploded with turnovers. The Cardinals finish the season with 12 wins, and they get a date against an explosive Tulsa team in a bowl game (much better than San Jose St).
19. Brigham Young University- LW 18- BYU is led by Max Hall and they got a terrible bowl bid and opponent. Their loss against TCU turned a lot of people off to this team.
20. Georgia- LW 20- The Dawgs are a very talented team, and have a chance to win the Capital One Bowl against a game Michigan State team. They are more talented than MSU, but that doesn’t always result in a victory.
21. Pittsburgh- LW 25- Shady McCoy is one of the better RB’s in the country. If he does in fact stay and their QB play improves the Fighting stache and company could make a run at a BCS game.
22. Missouri- LW 21- Missouri got handled by the Sooners, but their offense is good enough to beat most of the teams ranked below them.
23. Ole Miss- The Rebels have improved this year under Houston Nutt, and with Jevon Snead playing great at the QB position they have a shot at competing with Alabama in the SEC west in the near future.
24. Northwestern- LW 22- Northwestern won 9 games this year, and had a great year under Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is so excited about the game, that sometimes you think he is going to put pads on and go play LB himself…
25. Iowa- LW 24- Shonn Greene leads the offense, and they have a serviceable QB. Their defense has improved, and they have a shot in the Outback Bowl.

Dropped out: None
On the cusp: WVU, Cal, UNC, and several others

Coach of the year: Paul Johnson, GT. In his first year he implemented his own style of offense, and used the players already there to make them a very good team and beat their rival Georgia to end with 9 wins. This guy can flat out coach. Nick Saban just missed out on the award.

Player of the Week: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida- Tim Tebow put the Gators on his back and did it all for the Gators against the tough defense of the Tide. Was it enough to put him at the head of the Heisman list?

Heisman:
1. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
3. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
4. Graham Harrell, QB, TTU

Another really interesting weekend, I cannot hardly wait until the championship games. Florida vs. Alabama. Oklahoma vs. Missouri, and then that ACC game too...

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Alabama- LW 1- The Tide did not look past their arch rivals, they put it to the Tigers. Now they have to focus on one of the scariest teams in the country in the National Championship Tournament Semi-Final Game (aka SEC CG).
2. Oklahoma- LW 2- Another impressive win in Stillwater. Their defense shows signs at times. If their defense plays well for longer stretches then they could certainly give any team in the country a problem. We know they are going to score (they have scored 60+ in 4 straight games).
3. Florida- LW 3- The Gators romped arch rival Florida State at Doak. Them being ranked here doesn’t matter because if they win the SEC CG they are in the BCS NC game. No doubt about it, and Timmy looks like he is making another run at the Heisman.
4. Texas- LW 4- The Horns will need help from voters and the computers. Can they stay ahead of Oklahoma in the BCS rankings? That is the tie-breaker in the Big 12 South. I have a feeling that the team from the South will wax Missouri.
5. University of Southern California- LW 5- The Trojans beat the hapless Irish rather easily. A date with UCLA is all that stands between them and the Rose Bowl. The National Title game looks unlikely at this point.
6. Pennsylvania State University- LW 6- The Lions are in the clubhouse and have a chance to prove themselves in the Rose Bowl. Outside of the Iowa game (who ended up with 8 wins) this team has been very impressive, easily dispatching of the other teams on their schedule.
7. Utah- LW 7- The Utes are done with their season and are waiting for their destination for their BCS bowl. Will the Utes be able to prove that they are one of the top teams in the country and the MWC has arrived as being on the same level as the BCS conferences (from top to bottom?)?
8. Texas Tech- LW 8- The Red Raiders struggled with Baylor. Perhaps it was a hangover from the Oklahoma drubbing. They don’t have a shot at the Big 12 title game because Ok. St. lost tonight.
9. Boise State- LW 9- The Broncos put it on Fresno. They have been impressive in their games, but their opponents have been less than stellar. BCS bowl or Humanitarian bowl appear the likely destinations. This is their third undefeated season in the last 5 years.
10. Ohio State- LW 10- The Bucks are basking in the glory of their gold pants over a large turkey dinner. They still have a chance to get to a BCS game thanks to Oregon State’s loss. Do they get picked over an undefeated Boise? Should they?
11. Cincinnati- LW 16- The Bearcats are a solid team who finds a way to win games. They have 10 wins, a date with Hawaii and then the Orange bowl. A 12 win season is not out of the question, really impressive.
12. Ball State- LW 14- Ball State still has one more game against Buffalo. If they win that game they will 13-0. A win in their bowl game could give them a 14 wins season, I don’t care who you play that is a great year, congrats to Ball State.
13. Oregon- LW 20- The Ducks absolutely put it on a pretty good Oregon State team. They dismantled their opponents and rumbled for almost 700 yards against them. This win most likely puts them in the Holiday Bowl.
14. Georgia Tech- LW 17- A nice win against UGA. Their offense is very good with Dwyer and their other skill players. Nesbit has made a difference at QB and his footwork is outstanding. Finishing the season with 9 wins in Paul Johnson’s first year is impressive.
15. Texas Christian- LW 18- The Horned Frogs continue to climb in the rankings, and they will most likely not be rewarded by their bowl selection. Their win against BYU still looms large in many minds.
16. Oklahoma State- LW 11- They gave up a boatload of points to the Sooners…but so is everyone else playing the Sooners. Zac Robinson and their offense with Hunter and Bryant will give some DC nightmares as they watch their film preparing for their bowl game.
17. Michigan State- LW 22- The Spartans have shown that they are not the team who collapses in the second half of the season, I attribute most of that to Mark Dantonio who is a great coach. Outback bowl?
18. Brigham Young University- LW 21- The Cougars had a nice season in the MWC, but their losses against TCU and Utah most likely really hurt their bowl chances at least a good bowl game.
19. Boston College- LW 25- The Eagles have a very good defense and have a chance to prove themselves in the ACC championship game (I think…).
20. Georgia- LW 13- I am glutton for punishment with this team. They are too talented to keep losing these games right? Their defense looked uninspired and confused against the option attack of GT.
21. Missouri- LW 12- What happened against Kansas? We know it is a rivalry game and perhaps they were looking ahead to the Big 12 title game, but there is no excuse for that. They might be in a lot of trouble in the Big 12 title game. A lot.
22. Northwestern- LW 23- The Cats had a great season. Pat Fitzgerald is the youngest coach in the NCAA and he is doing a great job under tough academic standards, mostly because of the passion he has for the game.
23. Ole Miss- LW 24- Ole Miss had a great turnaround which culminated in dominating Miss St. in the Egg bowl. Houston Nutt has done an outstanding job this year, and Jevon Snead is showing why he was a highly touted recruit.
24. Iowa- LW UR- Iowa has a dynamic run game with Shonn Greene and their defense has been solid. They have 8 wins including an impressive win over Penn State.
25. Pittsburgh- LW UR- Pitt has Shady McCoy and when they use him right they are a very solid team. Their pass game leaves something to be desired though. No doubt how good Shady is though…he might be gone after this year.

Dropped out of the rankings: Oregon State (15), Florida State (19)

POW: Sam Bradford again he had an outstanding game on the big stage.

Heisman: Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, Graham Harrell

Rivalry week had several disappoinments. Many of the top teams did not play this week, but are gearing up for really big matchups next week and the week after that. Oklahoma destroyed TTU. Which made the later games lackluster. Penn State clinched a BCS bid (Rose). Cincinnati clinched a BCS bid (Orange?). Utah clinched a BCS bid (in all likelyhood). So as some of the picture clears up, other parts of it blur (who is at the top now?)

Here is how I have it this week:

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Alabama- LW 2- The Tide move up to the top of the poll on an off week. They still have a rivalry game against Auburn. Then against the Gators for a spot in the NC game.
2. Oklahoma- LW 6- The element that was missing for me for the Sooners showed up this week. If their defense can hold as it did against the Red Raiders then their offense will take care of the rest. A running game with Murray and a passing game with Bradford, yikes. Still a test in Stillwater, then the Big 12 Title game.
3. Florida- LW 3- The Gators took care of the Citadel. Luckily they called off the dogs to keep it to just 70 (seriously). They have a rival in Florida State, then Bama.
4. Texas- LW 4- The win against Oklahoma looks very good right now. But Oklahoma is the hotter team and probably has the inside track to the Big 12 title game at this point.
5. University of Southern California- LW 5- USC has a couple of games left with ND and UCLA. They will beat those poor saps. But will Oregon State lose in the Civil War? So USC is either Rose Bowl bound…or Fiesta bound.
6. Pennsylvania State- LW 7- The Lions put it on the Spartans. They stopped Ringer and beat them up on the line of scrimmage. Outside of the Iowa game this team has been pretty impressive (and Iowa has looked good lately).
7. Utah- LW 8- The Utes continue to do what they need to do. They win, and they beat BYU in a tough rivalry game. They put it out of reach at the end of the game, and will be headed to a BCS game. Can they climb higher in the rankings?
8. Texas Tech- LW 1- The Red Raiders looked terrible against Oklahoma. Completely outclassed. They have a couple of marquee wins to keep them high in the rankings. They appeared to quit in the game against Oklahoma which is something that really turns me off to this team.
9. Boise State- LW 9- The Broncos also handled their business. But their shots at a BCS game appear to be dwindling with Ohio State in the clubhouse and Utah ahead of them.
10. Ohio State- LW 10- They beat a hapless Michigan team. Michigan hung around for a while, but big plays turned out to be the difference for the Buckeyes.
11. Oklahoma State- LW 11- The Pokes have a big matchup with Oklahoma. Bedlam will be coming to Stillwater. Are Zac Robinson and the defense ready to compete with Oklahoma?
12. Missouri- LW 12- Their ticket is already punched for the Big 12 Title game in the North. They are waiting for those other teams to sort it out in the South.
13. Georgia- LW 13- The Dawgs still have what looks to be a very tough game against Paul Johnson and the Yellow Jackets. If they win this rivalry game (again) they will most likely be looking at a date in the Capital One Bowl.
14. Ball State- LW 16- The two teams in front of Ball State lose and their impressive win against Central Michigan leaps them up a few spots. Nate Davis is a monster, and can lead this team to an undefeated season. Their reward maybe the Motor City Bowl though (against Big Ten number 6 or whatever it is).
15. Oregon State- LW 17- The Beavs had an impressive win against a feisty Arizona team. The loss of Quiz Rodgers could prove to be big in their finally against Oregon (the Civil War). Can they steal a BCS bid? Still control their fate.
16. Cincinnati- LW 19- The Bearcats beat a solid Pittsburgh team. They let them get back in at the end of the game, but they will mature. They are going to a BCS game by virtue of their Big East title.
17. Georgia Tech- LW UR- Tech absolutely put it to the Canes. They ran all over them. Paul Johnson’s offense appears really dangerous with a few more skill players. Their defense also played very well, which was somewhat overlooked because of their almost 500 yards of rushing.
18. Texas Christian University- LW 20- The Horned Frogs are still rolling along. They have a real chance to jump up and beat someone down in a bowl game.
19. Florida State- LW- UR- The Noles are a team that is tough to figure out. Ponder is a good QB and as he develops the Noles will continue to improve. Their defense is good. The ACC is still confusing…
20. Oregon- LW 24- The Ducks are an impressive team. They don’t have any great wins to really hang their hats on but they continue to run the ball impressively against just about everyone they line up against.
21. Brigham Young University- LW 14- BYU got beat up pretty good by Utah. The rivalry game got out of hand at the end. Max Hall and company are still a solid team.
22. Michigan State- LW 15- They ran into a buzz saw. Penn State was clicking on all cylinders at home. A 9-3 season for the Spartans shows that they are improving under Dantonio. Ringer and co will provide a difficult challenge in a bowl game (Outback maybe).
23. Northwestern- LW 23- The Cats finish the season with 9 wins. This is very impressive. Pat Fitzgerald is a good young coach, and he is rebuilding this program and could win 10 games if they win their bowl game (incredible).
24. Ole Miss- LW UR- The Rebels are making a serious comeback under Nutt. Snead is a very good QB who had a great game against LSU. They are steadily improving and can hang their hat on the win against Florida especially.
25. Boston College- LW UR- BC is another good team in the ACC. They still have a shot if they continue to win. They can win out and still be in the ACC title game.

On the cusp: VT, Pitt, Iowa, Western Michigan, Miami FL, West Virginia, UNC

Dropped out of the rankings: Pitt (19), Miami (21), LSU (22), Maryland (25)

POW: Pat White, QB/RB WVU: Pat White ran for 200 yards on 21 carries. He scored 3 times on the ground. In the process he became the all-time leader rusher for a QB (4,00 yards or something ridiculous). He also completed 6 passes in 11 attempts for 122 and 2 TDs. Pretty impressive day, and career for the kid.

Another exciting 'revenge' weekend. Some of the games were duds, but the ACC contributed a couple of pretty good ones...even if we don't really know how good those teams are. Although the games were not great some crazy good plays this week. One of the most impressive was Desmond Briscoe's catch against Texas. The 'Jumping Bean' was also pretty impressive against the Illini.

Here it is:

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Texas Tech- LW 1- The Red Raiders handled the bye week but now have to go to Norman to play the Sooners. The Sooners are 60-2 at home under Stoops…yo.
2. Alabama- LW 2- The Tide finally scored a TD against Miss. St. The Tide has a couple more ‘tests’ including Auburn before they find Florida in the SEC CG.
3. Florida- LW 3- The Gators look outstanding. Their defense is swarming, and their offense is explosive. They beat the Fighting Spurriers by 50.
4. Texas- LW 4- The Horns shut down the Kansas offense which was impressive. Colt McCoy did throw a couple of incomplete passes though. Texas needs help to get into the Big 12 Title game, they could get it with Oklahoma beating TTU.
5. University of Southern California- LW 5- The Trojan defense did not look like world beaters in the first half, but buckled down later in the game. The offense has tons of talent, but they don’t seem to know what they want to do.
6. Oklahoma- LW 6- The Sooners had the week off to prepare for the Red Raiders. That gave them plenty of time to watch film of the TTU offense…the DC still cannot sleep. It will be a fireworks show in Norman on Saturday.
7. Pennsylvania State University- LW 7- The Lions handled their business this week. They have a game Michigan State team at home to finish the season. If they can win that they will be going to the Rose Bowl.
8. Utah- LW 9- The Utes looked impressive this week. Brian Johnson is a still leading this team at QB. They have a showdown at the end of the season with BYU which is basically an elimination game for a BCS bowl.
9. Boise State- LW 8- Boise did not dismantle the Vandals as most thought they would, but those rivalry games are often closer than they should be. The Broncos are still a very solid team, and with a loss by Utah they are BCS bound, or maybe an at-large selection (need some help here).
10. Ohio State- LW 10- The Buckeyes beat Illinois on the road, the Illini have given the Buckeyes fits for years. The offense was very run based as usual, with Pryor and Wells both going over 100 yards defensive coordinators will be scratching their heads…or pulling their hair out.
11. Oklahoma State- LW 11- The Pokers take care of another opponent. The offense of this team is crazy. Dez Bryant is a beast at WR, and made an outstanding catch the other day. This team is going to give someone a lot of trouble in a non-BCS bowl.
12. Missouri- LW 12- The Tigers scored basically at will. This team has won the Big 12 North and could challenge the winner of the Big 12 South in the Big 12 Title game.
13. Georgia- LW 13- The Dawgs had a scare this week against Auburn. They needed a stop on the last play of the game to prevent the win. This team has to stop playing down to their opponents. Appear to be Capital One Bowl bound.
14. Brigham Young University- LW 14- The Cougars have a very solid offense with Max Hall at the helm. The Cougars have a date with Utah at the end of the season which could improve their bowl invitation.
15. Michigan State- LW 15- The Javor Ringer lead squad will have to play very well in Happy Valley to beat Penn State. A win in Happy Valley gives Michigan State a chance at the Capital One Bowl.
16. Ball State- LW 16- The Fighting Cardinals stay in the same spot and wait for help in order to get into a BCS game. Nate Davis continues to impress anyone who is willing to watch on Tuesday night.
17. Oregon State- LW 25- Finally totally believe in the Beavers. To go along with their talented offense they sport an improved defense. Riley is a great coach and has this team in position to go to the Rose Bowl.
18. Cincinnati- LW 19- Another win for the Bearcats. They beat one of their rivals in Louisville. Now the Bearcats have to focus on the Fighting Mark Mays (not USC)
19. Pittsburgh- LW 18- The Panthers had the week off but were no doubt preparing for their showdown with Cincinnati. A win in that game will give someone the inside track to a BCS game with the bid from the Big East.
20. Texas Christian University- LW 21- The Horned Frogs continue to move up the rankings as their defense is dominant. Watch out for this team in a non-BCS bowl, they could beat the ever impressive ‘BCS school’, maybe even handily.
21. Miami (FL)- LW UR- The Hurricanes win another game against VT. They control their destiny in the ACC, which no one can figure out.
22. Louisiana State University- LW 22- The Tigers had a scare against Troy, and made a furious comeback in the fourth quarter (30-0!). They have some fight in them, and they have too much talent to be playing like this…right?
23. Northwestern- LW UR- The Cats beat Michigan this week and move to 8-3. This team has a chance to win 9 games (this week against Illinois). What a great turnaround for Pat Fitzgerald who is young and doing well at NU.
24. Oregon- LW 24- The Ducks almost let a big lead slip away from them at home against Arizona.
25. Maryland- LW UR- The fighting Turtles had an impressive win against UNC. They are leading the Atlantic division in the ACC, and could be in the ACC CG.

On the cusp: Minnesota, BC, Georgia Tech

New Arrivals: Miami FL (21), Northwestern (23), Maryland (25)

POW: Case Keenum, QB, Houston: He had an outstanding week against Tulsa with his team hanging 70 points, which resulted in a 40 point victory. He went 24/37 for 402 yards and 6 TDs. He also rushed the ball 4 times for 43 yards, and a TD.

Another great week in college football. The ALA-LSU game was one of my favorites to watch, love the hard hitting, and the intensity. Of course it went to OT. Texas Tech rolled again, which is very impressive. The ACC is still really tough to figure out. The Big East is still a mess with Cincinnati making a splash. The spots after 15 or so are really tough to fill out right now, might as well flip a coin. Forgot a quick shoutout to Tennessee and Illinois...nice work your giving Flame more fuel for the Non-BCS argument. Without further ado...

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Texas Tech- LW 2- The Red Raiders finally have me convinced all the way. With the way this team is playing defense now they are the top team in the country. Their offense is incredible as usual, but their improved defense and running game finally have them contending in the big time. An off week (deserved) and then a trip to Norman.
2. Alabama- LW 1- The Tide made several mistakes against a fired up LSU squad. They came away with an impressive win in Death Valley. Their ability to throw the ball to beat you is something I find suspect. Their defense is still very good. Their showdown with Florida in the SEC CG will be for a spot in the NC Game.
3. Florida- LW 4- This team is on cruise control. Timmy Tebow is back to his usual beastmode self, and is dominating again. The defense led by Spikes is improving every week. The speed this team has…is just scary.
4. Texas- LW 5- Hookem Horns continues to go through the Big 12. They got the really tough ones out of the way and have to stay focused. Unless Texas Tech loses they cannot get to the Big 12 CCG, they will be very tough in a BCS game though.
5. University of Southern California- LW 5- Cal is one of the better teams on their schedule and they won the game. I am not sure how good this team really is. They haven’t really been tested by a really good opponent yet. Still have doubts about this team.
6. Oklahoma- LW 7- The Sooners can score with the best of them…and they will have to in order to hang with TTU in a couple of weeks. Sam Bradford throws it all over the field, and their talented group of WR makes moves after the catch. The defense continues to be a slight question mark in my mind.
7. Pennsylvania State University- LW 3- The game against Iowa turned out to be a trap. Please remember the name Shonn Greene because he is a monster. Penn State did not look great, but this team is still better than the rest. If they win against Indiana (duh) and Michigan State (likely) they will go to the Rose Bowl, not a bad season for old Joe Pa (The game was mismanaged though, in the wind as well).
8. Boise State- LW 9- This team is one that I have trouble figuring out. They look very good against their competition, but their competition hasn’t been much at all. A win against Oregon is really the only hallmark on the schedule. I guess we will see after they run the WAC and play in a BCS game.
9. Utah- LW 10- A nice win over TCU this week. Brian Johnson leads the team well, and will lead them to an undefeated season (still have BYU), doubtful for an at-large bid though.
10. Ohio State- LW 12- The Bucks offense looked better this week. If Pryor keeps improving this team will not only be dangerous down the stretch…but in the foreseeable future. The defense is solid as usual.
11. Oklahoma State- LW 8- Zac Robinson is still a very good QB, but they ran into a buzz saw. Their schedule has been very tough, but they can prove a lot by winning ‘BEDLAM’.
12. Missouri- LW 13- The offense appears to be back on track. Chase Daniel leads the offense, and the defense needs to continue to improve if they want a shot at winning the Big 12 Title game against one of those monsters from the South.
13. Georgia- LW 14- UGA wins a shootout in the SEC? It was good to see Matt Stafford get back on track. UGA can still get to the Capital One Bowl (disappointment), but might meet the also disappointed Buckeyes.
14. Brigham Young University- LW 16- The Cougars continue to climb back up the rankings in part due to Max Hall’s impressive performance at QB. How good are they really? We’ll find out…
15. Michigan State- LW 17- This team is not your uncle’s Michigan State. They are not going to fold like a lawnchair down the stretch. Dantonio has them playing well and Hoyer is playing just well enough to give Ringer room to run. An improved defense gives them a chance to beat Penn State in the final week.
16. Ball State- LW 19- Flame’s boys jump up the rankings in part because this is the first full game I have seen of theirs. Nate Davis is a very good QB who is NFL caliber. Winning the MAC will not get them in a BCS bowl, but small steps and the recognition from 08 could get them into a BCS game in 09 (if Davis stays).
17. North Carolina- LW 22- This team continues to win with Sexton (backup ) at QB. Their defense is tenacious. They are a team who is coached by Butch Davis and they just find a way to win. The ACC is wide open, but they are top of the class.
18. Pittsburgh- LW 23- Pitt handled Louisville easily. This team seems to finally have found their grove. Shady McCoy is one of the best RB’s in the country. We could see them in a BCS bowl…
19. Cincinnati- LW UR- The Bearcats beat WVU in OT this week. A very nice game for them. At 7-2 they still have Pitt but then SYR and @Hawaii (nice scheduling in Dec. by the way).
20. Florida State- LW UR- Bobby got a nice birthday gift an easy win (in the former Bowden Bowl). Ponder continues to improve as do the Noles. ACC champ?
21. Texas Christian University- LW 11- A tough loss to Utah this week on Thursday night. The Horned Frogs have a great defense, and could pose a problem to a BCS conference team in a bowl game.
22. Louisiana State University- LW 16- The Tigers played very well against the Tide. They matched up well, and played well on the lines. Their running game is very good, and could frankly beat the teams ranked behind them.
23. Tulsa- LW UR- Tulsa is recovering from their loss against Arkansas and are still a one loss team. Their schedule is weak, but their offense is still pretty impressive.
24. Oregon- LW UR- The Ducks have a solid offense, but have not beaten a good team all year.
25. Oregon State- LW UR- The Quiz is a beast at RB. He has been very good for them. This team still controls their own destiny in the Pac 10. Win out…and the title is theirs.

On the cusp: A ton of teams…Minnesota, Northwestern, BC, VT, South Carolina, and a couple more.

Dropped out: Georgia Tech (18), WVU (20), Cal (21), Minnesota (24), Maryland (25)
New Arrivals:  Cincinnati (19), Florida State (20), Tulsa (23), Oregon (24), Oregon State (25)

POW: Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech: Hate giving it to the same guy again but cannot deny 40/50 for 456 yards, and 6 TDs (no INTS!). Oklahoma State has a good defense too. What a great player, and your Heisman leader…

What a crazy weekend. The Texas-TTU game was outstanding, a true shootout, with even a little defense sprinkled in. Florida shows they are one of the top teams in the country, if we didn't know this already. The games get even more important now...and next week a real big one as Alabama and Nick Saban come to play AT LSU. Should be a warm homecoming...

Here it is:

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Alabama- LW 2- The Tide rolls into the top spot after an easy win over Arkansas St. Remaining games against LSU, Auburn (rivalry), and Florida (SEC CG) will prove whether Bama will be in the title game
2. Texas Tech- LW 4- I was convinced last week they were a top team, and right now the way their lines are playing they are going to be very tough to beat. Will really know a lot more with dates with Ok. St. and Ok. left on the schedule
3. Penn State- LW 3- They stay in the same spot during the bye. The teams in front of them have a chance to lose, and they need to stay focused against Iowa and Michigan State.
4. Florida- LW 6- Whoa Gators. This team is clicking right now. Their offense is outstanding Demps and Rainey are a whole new dimension. The defense has been playing very well. This team will give Bama a test in the SEC CG, and possibly a ticket to the NC? Who wants to play them now? Not me…
5. Texas- LW 1- The Horns don’t fall too far for losing on the road to a top 5 team. They showed some weaknesses, but they came back valiantly. The question is…why try to cover Crabtree 1 on 1 in the final moments?
6. University of Southern California- LW 5- They fall…only because of them teams in front of them. They are very talented but their lack of a strong schedule will hurt them, especially in the ever present computers.
7. Oklahoma- LW 8- The offense is outstanding. Sam Bradford is a monster, and their receivers are very good. The defense…still leaves me with questions.
8. Oklahoma State- LW 9- Zac Robinson is the best QB most of us don’t think about. Oh and he throws to the best WR we don’t think about in Dez Bryant. Watch out…they invade Lubbock next.
9.  Boise State- LW 11- Boise rolled again this week. This team can compete in a BCS game, and they might get a shot this year. Ian Johnson is still there…seems like he has been there forever.
10. Utah- LW 10- They remain in their spot after a tough game against New Mexico. They are talented, and have a chance for another spotlight game this year.
11. Texas Christian University- LW 12- They move up…as others continue to move down. Their defense is ferocious.
12. Ohio State- LW 13- The Bucks move up after they easily take care of BYE. Their remaining schedule isn’t too easy but they go and visit Northwestern where Kafka was a huge surprise this week. No Sutton though…
13. Missouri- LW 14- The Tigers have a good offense, but their defense continues to be a cause for concern. They struggled to slow down Baylor and their great QB in Griffith (he is really good).
14. Georgia- LW 7- They got dominated by the Gators, but I am not sure a lot of teams wouldn’t have done the same with the intensity of the Gators and their great skill. This team still has the tools to compete against good teams…they just need to show up. They appear headed for the Capital One Bowl…
15. Louisiana State University- LW 18- They dropped after a poor performance against UGA, but with all others in front of them losing, and their upcoming date with Bama…they could be on the rise again.
16. Brigham Young University- LW 19- The Cougars got by the Colorado State Rams. They can pass it with Max Hall but their defense gave up a bundle of points.
17. Michigan State- LW 20- This is not the same old Michigan State. They came back and defeated Wisconsin mostly with heart. Ringer was slowed…and Hoyer won the game. This makes them more impressive to me.
18. Georgia Tech- LW UR- They run the ball as good as just about anyone. Their defense is impressive and the win against Florida State was impressive. They are the leader in the ACC.
19. Ball State- LW 21- Nate Davis is a great QB who can lead Ball State to an undefeated season. They will still most likely get to the Motor City Bowl to play a Big Ten team.
20. West Virginia- LW 24- An impressive win on the road against UCONN gets them up a few spots. Pat White is back and healthy, and they can win the Big East…and get to a BCS bowl game.
21. California- LW UR- The Bears have a nice win over Oregon in some nasty conditions. They have a tough test against USC… The Pac 10 is really down though…
22. North Carolina- LW 22- The Heels stay in this spot, with the opportunity to continue rising as the rest of the ACC is all about the same spot…
23. Pittsburgh- LW UR- A pretty impressive win over Notre Dame. It took 4 OT’s but Shady McCoy is a beast at RB, and they have a chance in the Big East still getting to play WVU.
24. Minnesota- LW 15- A heartbreaking loss on the final play will be tough for Brewster’s team to take. They have 2 losses and can go 10-2, a hell of a story and still a coach of the year candidate.
25. Maryland- LW 25- This team has a very tough schedule remaining. They will be tested against VT, UNC, FSU, and BC. This team who has been very inconsistent will need to play consistently to get into the ACC title game. They are in the drivers seat in the ACC…with a loss against Middle Tenn. State.

Dropped out: Florida State (16), Tulsa (17), Oregon (23)

New arrivals: Georgia Tech (18), California (21), Pittsburgh (23)

POW: Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech: Harrell lead his team to a bundle of yards (474 to be exact). He completed a high number of passes against the number 1 team in the country at home. He threw a couple of TD’s including the biggest one of the week to Michael Crabtree as the clock ticked down to 1.

Wow folks..what a weekend. Texas proves yet again they are top dog, and Penn State passed a tough test. Bama rolled again. The top three remains the same. However other things were cleared up this weekend in the top 10. Beyond about 15 the teams are really up for grabs, really tough to rank this week in my opinion.

Here it is folks:

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Texas- LW 1- The Horns win another one… Oklahoma State took them to the brink, but the way McCoy is finding Shipley is just sick. A great offense and holding Oklahoma State to 24 points is pretty impressive.
2. Alabama- LW 2- This may have been the best start to finish game this team has played. No let up in the second half. They ran the ball, and didn’t do anything ‘spectacular’ but got the win. Does anyone play more combo coverages more effective than the Tide?
3. Penn State- LW 3- The Bucks played well defensively, but it was the turnover that got Penn State the victory. Clark will have to play better to move the ball more effectively. The Lions still had 160 yards on the ground…pretty impressive. The Shoe was a tough place to play tonight…and the Lions has 0 penalties.
4. Texas Tech- LW 7- Fine… I am buying this team. Their offense is very good, but their defense held Kansas to 21 points. If they get stops with any regularity, they will be very tough to beat. They have Texas next week (at home).
5. University of Southern California- LW 5- The Trojans went and beat Arizona. Another win for this squad, and their remaining schedule is pretty easy. This team is loaded with talent…if others falter watch for them to slip into the Title game (the computers still hate them).
6. Florida- LW 6- The Gators dominated the Cats. Their special teams is truly special. Meyer makes it an honor to be on these units, and they provided a spark, actually several. The offense is still very good and getting better with Rainey and Demps. Watch out for this squad (the WLOCP is next).
7. Georgia- LW 9- The Dawgs offense looked very good. Moreno and the patch work O-Line did very well running the ball and Stafford’s big arm with the great wideouts Massaqoui and Green make this team nasty. Their defense is fast…and can force mistakes.
8. Oklahoma- LW 4- I cannot continue to rank a team that plays putrid defense in the top 5. I thought it may have just been a fluke…but not anymore, you are what you are. Freeman unloaded on the Sooners D.
9. Oklahoma State- LW 8- Perhaps we learned more about this team from this weeks loss than any of their previous wins. The Pokes went and played a very good Texas team and took them down to the wire. Their defense showed up by giving up just 28 points to a red hot Texas offense. This is a very good squad.
10. Utah- LW 12- Johnson and co. continue to play well on offense. Utah got the bye week, but tests with TCU and BYU await them.
11. Boise State- LW 13- Boise State continues to beat who is put in front of them. This team is disciplined and their test with Fresno State is the only one left on their schedule. Watch for them…and Utah to bust the BCS party.
12. Texas Christian University- LW 15- The Horned Frogs just continue to pound their opponents. They have few remaining tests on their schedule. They probably will not get a BCS invite though.
13. Ohio State- LW 9- Many might have them lower, but their defensive performance was very good on Saturday night. The offense needs to continue to improve. Pryor is a dynamic player, who is a great leader, a little O-line blocking would help (the run game too…).
14. Missouri- LW 23- The Tigers can score it…they are still leading the Big 12 North and will most likely get to the title game. Daniel and Maclin are outstanding, but the defense needs to show up (they did against Colorado).
15. Minnesota- LW 16- The Gophers win another…they got to 7-1. They have not beaten a bundle of stellar opponents, but this team could end up 11-1. They avoid Penn State and Michigan State this year in the Big Ten. Weber and co. have improved so much from last year. Tim Brewster for Coach of the Year?
16. Florida State- LW 22- Finally a favorite emerges in the ACC. Ponder is a good QB, who can move around a little bit. As he improves and their rush game plays well and the defense is fast. This team may go through with just one loss…but like most ACC teams they are a Jackyl and Hyde act.
17. Tulsa- LW 19- This team can score…a lot. They seem to run up the score on their pitiful opponents. They are undefeated…but they will not have a chance to really ‘prove’ anything in a bowl game this year because of the number of non BCS teams in front of them.
18. Louisiana State University- LW 13- I cannot believe how this defense is getting gashed. Florida and Georgia have good offenses, but did not even slow them down at times. LSU is very talented and can run the football improved decisions at the QB spot would go a long way for this team. Their remaining schedule is easy, with the exception of hosting Bama (they have 4 home games left).
19. Brigham Young University- LW UR- The Cougars need to prove a lot more to me… Their offense is good, but their defense has struggled of late. At least one more chance for them to make a mark on the national stage.
20. Michigan State- LW UR- The Spartans are a good football team, and their bounce back against Michigan shows it. Previous Michigan State teams have folded in the second half, and this team could have after getting smashed by Ohio State. They hung in, and this team can win 9 games, with their lone remaining loss being Penn State.
21. Ball State- LW 24- Nate Davis is a good QB who can lead the Cardinals to an undefeated season. The problem is their schedule. It doesn’t impress anyone in terms of OOC and this will not garner respect from pollsters.
22. North Carolina- LW UR- the Tar Heels bounced back, and beat a pretty good Boston College team. This team can still compete in the ACC and their defense has been solid and opportunistic.
23.  Oregon- LW UR- The Ducks continue to find a way to get it done, especially with their make shift QB situation. They have played well, and have been taking care of business in the Pac 10.
24. West Virginia- LW UR- This team is leading the Big East, and this is the first Big East team on the ballot. They are still explosive with Pat White and Noel Devine. They have a tough finishing stretch with UCONN, Cincy, South Florida, and Pitt. They control their destiny in the Big East…and can still get the auto-bid for a BCS game, wow.
25. Maryland- LW UR- This team is one of the ultimate Jackyl and Hyde’s. They lost to Middle Tennessee State, but have shown up in several big games. The Fridge has this team going…watch out ACC.

On the Cusp: South Florida, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, and Connecticut

Dropped out: South Florida (14), Georgia Tech (17), Boston College (18), Northwestern (20), Pittsburgh (21), Cincinnati (25)

POW: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia- Knowshon did very well on the road against LSU. He ran for 163 yards and a score. His work on the ground kept things open for Stafford and co. The impressive victory gets the Dawgs ready for the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (oh wait…can’t say that anymore, hate that PC crap).

Wow what a weekend, a lot of shakeup this week as teams get into conference play and get their second loss of the season. Texas looks as dominating as ever, and the top 3 just got by. A couple of big matchups this week with Penn State visiting Ohio State and Texas hosting Oklahoma State. I had a tough time filling out the middle-bottom of the ballot. Really think after 13 or so the poll is wide open.

Here is the ballot folks...

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Texas- LW 1- The Horns dominated the Missouri Tigers at home and the offense looked outstanding. McCoy threw the ball 32 times…and it was incomplete 3 times. Crazy. The schedule for Texas is still very tough
2. Alabama- LW 2- Bama won the game against a scrappy Ole Miss team. However the biggest news for Tide fans will be the result of the injury of Terrance Cody. How hurt is the big fella? If he is out for any period of time that would really hurt the Tide as they have won most of the time because of outstanding line play (O and D).
3. Pennsylvania State University- LW 3- They appeared asleep for a while against Michigan. Perhaps they were looking towards Ohio State. 39 unanswered points left little doubt that Penn State is a very good football team. Big showdown in C-Bus where Joe Pa has not won since they entered the Big Ten.
4. Oklahoma- LW 4- Oklahoma offense looks very good again against a solid Kansas team. The defense still has me a bit worried. Sam Bradford is an outstanding QB, but they need a couple of Texas L’s to get to the Big 12 CG.
5. University of Southern California- LW 5- USC went on the road and beat the worst BCS team in the country. Sure the game wasn’t close…but no other team is close to as bad as WSU. Good game to inflate stats though…
6. Florida- LW 6- The Gators took care of the bye… The impressive win over LSU will leave a good taste in their mouth. A large matchup with UGA remains.
7. Texas Tech- LW 7- Still not in love with this team as they continue to look unimpressive. T&AM is not good, but it is a rivalry game so we can make an exception. They have a gauntlet of a schedule to prove themselves contender or pretender.
8. Oklahoma State- LW 9- The Pokes could have had a big letdown, but handled a talented Baylor team (watch out for Griffith). Zac Robinson is a very good QB, and Dez Bryant continues to make plays. They also have a great running game.
9. Georgia- LW 10- UGA climbs up a spot after a nice win against Vandy. Knowshon Moreno got some yards this week (172!). Finally they realized that if they gave him the ball enough…he would dominate. Novel idea…
10. Ohio State- LW 12- The Bucks showed up on the road and put up a 45 spot. The running offense was impressive, but they only passed the ball 11 times. The defense held Ringer to just 67 yards. A HUGE matchup for the Big Ten title looms in Columbus with the Nittany Lions.
11. Louisiana State University- LW 13- The Tigers fought off a tough South Carolina team on the road. They still need to figure out that QB spot…a tough date with Bama remains on their schedule.
12. Utah- LW 14 Utah beats down another inferior opponent. They continue to climb as others falter. They have a large matchup with BYU and one with TCU to see if they are worthy.
13. Boise State- LW 19- A shakeup in the middle of the poll and another impressive win over an improving Hawaii team jumps the Broncos up to 13. They still have to win the WAC and will most likely get an invite to a BCS bowl.
14. Pittsburgh- LW UR- LeSean McCoy is a great RB, and the team seems to be gelling under the stache. This team can still get to a BCS game…by winning the Big East.
15.South Florida- LW 15- South Florida wins again, and is probably still the favorite for the Big East, but their loss to Pitt puts them in a tough spot.
16. Texas Christian University- LW UR- This team jumps up the rankings after destroying a BYU team. The Horned Frogs have an outstanding defense, and their big win over BYU is impressive, and their only blemish is against Oklahoma.
17. Minnesota- LW 23- Minnesota is a team that is vastly improved. They are bowl eligible after a 1 win season. Weber is a very good QB you probably don’t know and Decker is a beast at WR. Their defense has an impressive front as well.
18. Georgia Tech- LW UR- The Ramblin Wreck is a team that can run the ball with their option look. They never seem to blow anyone out but they are very talented. Paul Johnson is a good coach.
18. Boston College- LW UR- BC gets an impressive win against VT. Who wants to win the ACC? Anyone? Bueller?
20. Tulsa- LW 23- Tulsa scored 77 points and put up 791 yards of offense. That is insane. This team probably will not get a BCS berth at this point, but they are a very solid team.
21. Northwestern- UR- This is a team that can do a little damage. Bacher needs to limit the number of picks if this team wants to upset a some people. This team is 6-1 folks. Their win AT Iowa is looking a little more impressive but their remaining schedule is tough (Minnesota, Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois). 
 22. Florida State- LW UR- The defense can be good, although they looked bad against NC State. If Ponder grows into the role of a good QB for them they can be pretty solid, especially in the ACC.
23. Missouri- The Tigers can still score it well, and Chase Daniel is still an impressive QB. Their running game is bad, and their defense is bad. This is a team that will probably lose at least 1 more game this year.
24. Ball State- LW 25- Ball State continues to roll…but what is the marquee win?
25. Cincinnati- LW UR- The Bearcats can play a little bit. Their lone loss at the hands of the Sooners.

On the cusp: BYU, Kansas, Virginia Tech, Oregon

Dropped out: BYU (8), Kansas (16), Michigan State (17), Virginia Tech (18), North Carolina (20), Wake Forest (21), Vanderbilt (24)

POW: Colt McCoy, Texas QB: I hate to put a big name guy up there and I have picked him as POW several times. But going 29/32 for 337 yards and 4 total TDs has to be on here. This guy is also a great leader. Hello Heisman…maybe.

Wow what a week... A couple of really good games, and some really impressive showing by teams many were uncertain about. The cream seems to be riasing to the top, and Oklahoma State is shocking the world...they are good.

Here is the ballot for BigTen:

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Texas- LW 5- The Horns jump into the top spot after a very impressive win against Oklahoma. They were resilient, and McCoy is the real McCoy. The defense tightened up (most of the credit goes to Muschamp imo). They still have to work on the run game, and the schedule is looking tough.
2. Alabama- LW 2- The Tide is a very good football team, and has impressed a lot of people. All of a sudden the Tide’s schedule doesn’t look that tough. LSU is still a major hurdle.
3. Pennsylvania State University- LW 6 YO! What a performance. They went into Camp Randall and put a beat down on the Badgers. It is not easy to win road conference games…especially not by 40+ points. Start believing folks.
4. Oklahoma- LW 1- They lost a tough game at a neutral site. Several other upsets and the talent including Sam Bradford keep them in the top 5.
5. Southern California- LW 8- USC finds their way back in the top 5 after dominating Oregon, and taking care of ASU. Sanchez is solid, and the defense appears to be back on track. This team may go unchallenged in the Pac 10…but still maybe left out.
6. Florida- LW 11- How good is this team? They were great on Saturday night. The offense was clicking, and the defense looked very good. Demps and Rainey give them a running attack that they sorely lacked in 07. Their schedule doesn’t look too tough (outside of UGA).
7. Texas Tech- LW 7- After an unimpressive showing against Nebraska (who played well) they stay here. I still need to see them against some better competition to really believe.
8. Brigham Young University- LW 9- BYU handled New Mexico, but didn’t blow them out. Max Hall can throw it around the yard.
9. Oklahoma State- LW 19- A huge leap for the Cowboys. They went into Columbia and beat a tough Missouri team. They forced Chase Daniel to make mistakes. Their defense was the question mark, they performed well. Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant are amongst the best QB-WR combos you don’t know, but should.
10. Georgia- LW 12- They didn’t look over impressive, but Stafford threw the ball well. The O-Line needs to step up and help out Knowshon some more for their offense to be as dynamic as many believed it would.
11. Missouri- LW 3- The Tigers struggled at home. Their video game offense suddenly looked a little less impressive against pressure. Daniel is a very good QB, but thew 3 INTs which cost his team the game in the end.
12. Ohio State- LW 10- An unimpressive showing makes me move the Bucks down a little. Pryor made progress against Wisconsin, and the offense looked bad against Purdue (not a good defensive team). The D for the Bucks looked much better against a pretty good offense. Malcolm Jenkins reminds everyone why he is an early first round pick.
13. Louisiana State University- This team finally struggled because of their QB. The defense got tired, and the DL did not play particularly well.
14. Utah- LW 14- Utah beat down Wyoming…not overly impressive. They are however 7-0 and Johnson and co. are running a pretty solid offense. They are eyeing a BCS birth.
15. South Florida- LW 15- Matt Grothe can lead this team to a Big East championship and a BCS game. Their win over Kansas is still quite impressive.
16. Kansas- LW 13- Todd Reesing is a very solid QB who just knows how to win games. The game in Boulder was close for a while, and the JayHawks pulled away in the end. A tough schedule remains.
17. Michigan State- LW 18- MSU has one of the best backs in the country in Ringer. If Hoyer can give them any type of pass game (off PA usually) then this team can score some points. Their defense needs to continue to improve, and probably will under Dantonio.
18. Virginia Tech- LW 17- Tyrod Taylor seems to be the spark this team needs on the offensive side of the ball. Take out the lunch pails…the ACC is up for grabs.
19. Boise State- LW 20- Moore is the key to the offense, but perhaps they need to balance that with the run more to be successful against the better teams on their schedule.
20. North Carolina- LW 22- Butch Davis has this team playing very well. The defense is opportunistic and picks QB’s at will. The win against Notre Dame was pretty impressive. This team is one to watch out for in the ACC.
21. Wake Forest- LW 21- Wake is not a beauty team. Skinner is a very accurate passer and they do just enough to win the game. That is enough in this poll…
22. Tulsa- LW 23- Tulsa scores at will. This team can be dangerous considering their schedule. They are probably too low for a BCS game now, but they could seriously challenge someone in a bowl game.
23. Minnesota- LW UR- Yes…that Minnesota. The same team that won 1 game last year. Weber is a great leader at QB, and Erik Decker is the best WR you don’t know. This team had a nice win At Illinois. Hello bowl season for the Gophers.
24. Vanderbilt- LW 16- Vandy went down to Starksville, and came away with a L. The feeling had to be weird for them as they were expected to win easily. Hopefully this team can regroup and contend as they are a great story.
25. Ball State- UR- I had to put them up here because of old David Letterman…ok not really. Their passing game has been very good even without Love who was by far their best WR.

On the cusp: Fresno State, Boston College, Northwestern, Cincinnati

Dropped out: Northwestern (24), Boston College (25)

POW: Michael Smith, RB, Arkansas: He carried the rock 35 times for 176 yards against Auburns D. He rushed for a TD (63 yarder). He also caught 2 passes for 46 yards. He had a nice game in the upset of Auburn…at Auburn.

What a week. The Buckeyes went on the road and beat a tough Wisky team...other than South Florida's loss the rest of the top was status quo. The bottom of the top 25 is very different, including several new arrivals.

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Oklahoma- LW 1 Boomer Sooner runs up and down the field at will. Bradford is a beast. We will learn a lot more in the Red River Shootout.
2. Alabama- LW 2 I am not really discouraged by the game against Kentucky. Every CFB knows that you can’t win them all pretty…and this was one of the ugly ones. If you don’t know about Glenn Coffee yet…wake up! They have tests remaining, and Saban will have them ready.
3. Missouri- LW 3 They stay in third spot after ringing up points like they are playing a video game. Chase Daniel is ridiculious, and Maclin is a monster. If their defense can keep people under 50…they win most games.
4. Louisiana State University- LW 4 LSU is a team that still surprises me. They have plenty of skill guys, and if Lee can get it to them in any type of efficient manner they will be tough. Their defense is beastly (have you seen that D-line?). Scott is an under the radar Heisman candidate as well.
5. Texas- LW 5 Horns! They can score very well with Colt McCoy (what a great name by the way). Their defense still needs to step up, and has a big test in Oklahoma.
6. Pennsylvania State University- LW 6 Penn State finally looked unimpressive. A road win at Purdue isn’t too bad. They just didn’t look great, but they will be ready to go play Wisconsin in Madison… (what a tough stretch for the Badgers especially without a QB)…
7. Texas Tech- LW 7 The video game offense continues. Harrell gets 7 TDs this week…what a joke. Crabtree is almost unguardable. Their defense needs to prove itself against a couple of worthy foes…but they are contenders.
8. Southern California- LW 8 They blew out the Ducks in the Collesium. Just because they lost a game people are really underrating them. They are still good folks…really good.
9. Brigham Young University- LW 13 This team almost has me convinced… I guess they can’t do anything but beat up who they play. Their offense with Hall is crazy.
10. Ohio State- LW 10 The Bucks get a hard fought win on the road against a pretty good Wisconsin team. It is tough to play there in Camp Randall. Pryor and Wells continue to grow, and hopefully the offense keeps getting better.
11. Florida- LW 11 A blowout for the Gators. They take care of a pretty bad Arkansas team. Harvin is a beast, and almost impossible to guard. Watch out SEC if this offense gets back on track they can still be dangerous (this means you Vandy!).
12. Georgia- LW 12 This was a much needed off week. They got trounced last week and need to recover. Stafford and Knowshon still make them a great offense (the O-line needs to step up a bit..) Their defense needs to recover and shut people down.
13. Kansas- LW 16 Rock Chalk moves back up. They fell behind early…but woke up to hold onto the win. I still really like Todd Reesing at QB and think he is an absolute winner.
14. Utah- LW 17 Hello Bowl eligibility! Well that was impressive…their win this week was ok against Oregon State, a nice comeback for sure. Still a few hurdles left before BCS time…
15. South Florida- LW 9 It is tough to lose a home game…but it apparently happens when you don’t play on Saturday. Grothe is a good QB who will make plays for them. Still a solid team down there, especially against the rest of the Big East.
16. Vanderbilt- LW 22 No folks…this is not a misprint. This team found a way to win the game at home, a very impressive performance. No longer are the ‘Dores the pushovers in the SEC East…Tennessee now that is your job.
17. Virginia Tech- LW 18 I wasn’t really impressed this week, but this team seems to be getting better. The defense has to continue to improve and Taylor will make plays at QB.
18. Michigan State- LW 19 Michigan State threw the ball a little bit this week. They didn’t look great against a subpar Indiana team, but with Ringer running the ball they will be very tough. Don’t forget about the talent WR they have…Mark Dell (if only they could throw him the ball).
19.  Oklahoma State- LW 21 The Pokes can score it a bit now folks. Robinson is a talented QB and runs the offense well. Sure they beat a bad Texas A&M team…but they still put up 56.
20. Boise State- LW 25 They still roll em up on the Blue Turf. This is a tem who went into Autzen stadium and got the win, pretty impressive. Ian Johnson and co including Moore keep the offense rolling.
21. Wake Forest- LW 23 The Demons got the week off but have to get ready for Clemson. That is a big game…no worries for the Decs then…
22. North Carolina- LW UR The Tar Heels make their appearance. This team finds a way to win, and beat up on a pretty good UCONN team.
23. Tulsa- LW UR Tulsa scores a bundle…and their schedule appears pretty easy from here on out.
24. Northwestern- LW UR Yup…THAT Northwestern. Sure they are smart…but they can play some football too. Could be a spoiler, watch out for Tyrell Sutton a very good RB (from Ohio I might add…).
25. Boston College- LW UR BC is a pretty good football team. They have QB whose name is Crane who had a great week. Those type of performances continue and this team could challenge for the ACC.

On the Cusp: Wisconsin, Illinois, Auburn, Fresno State, Ball State, TCU, Florida State.

Dropped out: Auburn (14), Wisconsin (15), UCONN (20), Fresno State (24)

POW: Graham Harrell QB, Texas Tech: I don’t care that he threw the ball 51. It is impressive he completed 38 for 454 yards and 6 TDs. For good measure he ran one in too. I don’t care who they are playing, those numbers are sick. Juice Williams comes in a close second with 431 total yards against an ok Michigan D.

This is what people wait for...this is why it is dangerous to look a schedule and pencil in wins. College football is Crazy! This week was littered with them including previous number 1 USC, 3, UGA, 4 Florida, 8 Wisconsin. The picture for the National Title is way up in the air. Some of the rankings will look different from the AP and USA Today. The reason for that is because I can't stand moving all teams up because they won, and others lost. For example. I still think Florida and Georgia are top 15 teams. I am not dropping them below some other 1 loss teams just because they lost this week. That is the problem with the polls, not with this one! Everyone loves to overract to a loss, but the fact is just about every team (if not every team) will lose at least 1 game/yr.

Name: bigtenboy07
1. Oklahoma- Oklahoma arrives at the top spot after a crazy week around the top of the rankings. Oklahoma took care of a pretty good team in TCU. The Sooners have a great offense with Sam Bradford at the helm and a dynamic group of WRs, and a solid running game. If the defense holds up, which has been good this team could run through the Big 12.
2. Alabama- Hello Bama! Welcome to big time fellas. This team absolutely took it to Georgia at Georgia. That is impressive, Coffee ran the ball well and JPW threw the ball well. Julio Jones is an explosive WR. The defense was also good, and the game was not as close as the final score indicated. Bama appears to be the team to beat in the SEC West (with LSU).
3. Missouri- Missouri handled the ever difficult BYE, and jumped in the rankings. They jump because of the difficulty of Florida, USC, and UGA.
4. Louisiana State University- The defending champs will not go away without a fight. This team may have found a QB in Lee, and he made some big plays. If he can take care of the ball Scott and the talented wideouts will make the offense formidable. The defense is outstanding, especially that D-Line, just nasty.
5. Texas- The Longhorns land here after another blowout win, this time over Arkansas. Colt McCoy has been the general of the offense, and they can light it up.
6. Penn State- The Nittany Lions are very solid, and you don’t need Joe Pa’s big ole glasses to see it. The defense is solid, and the offense can be very good with Clark at the helm, and a very solid running game with Evan Royster.
7. Texas Tech- The offense is outstanding, and the defense doesn’t appear to be too bad. They haven’t really played anyone yet, but they will be tested. I am not sold on this team quite yet…
8. Southern California- The loss to Oregon State was not good, not good at all. But the Beavers came to play, and USC looked flat. They are still a very talented team, and have a stout defense. This team could go through the rest of their schedule without another loss.
9. South Florida- South Florida has done well this season with a nice win over Kansas. The rest of their schedule is pillow soft, and a final showdown with WVU could be for a lot…a whole lot.
10. Ohio State- The Bucks got Beanie back this week. Pryor has to continue to improve and throw the ball more for the offense to remain effective. The defense looked good until a couple of garbage TD’s when the game was well in hand. Pryor will get a road test when he goes to Camp Randall next week against a pretty good Wisconsin team.  
11. Florida- Florida is a very good football team. The defense which was the question mark needs to step up and help the offense. Tebow is a great leader, and he should be able to get the Gators back on track, a loss in the Swamp is rare, and was a shocker indeed.
12. Georgia- The Dawgs got smacked in the mouth at home. Bama brought the thunder and Georgia did not look good. The fact remains that Georgia is loaded with talent, and can still compete in the SEC East, and in the SEC. The offensive line needs to mature quickly and give help to the skill players, they need to win more often in the trenches.
13. Brigham Young University- BYU continues to wear out the lights on the scoreboard. Max Hall could lead this team to a bundle of wins. TCU and Utah remains hurdles on their schedule before the BCS comes calling.
14. Auburn- The Tigers got another hard fought win. They never win a beauty contest, but they are a good team. The defense is solid, and they need to continue to improve on the offensive side of the ball if they want to compete in the SEC (West that is).
15. Wisconsin- Wisconsin cannot lose a game where they get 5 turnovers from Michigan. Evridge showed some skills in the end of the game, but he has to stop throwing INTs because the line and Hill should open more play action passing.
16. Kansas- The Jayhawks have a very good leader in Todd Reesing, and Mangino is just eating up other coaches (both with X and O’s and literally). Reesing always finds a way to make a play, really a winner.
17. Utah- Utah has a good offense, and they  need to improve the defense if they want to win the MWC. Without watching the game it was tough to tell why the score against Weber State was not impressive, but most of the points were scored in the last quarter so who knows.
18. Virginia Tech- The Hokies went out and beat a pretty good Nebraska team. What is really impressive is that they did it on the road. Pelini has them playing pretty well out there. The Hokies can still compete in the ACC.
19. Michigan State- Javon Ringer is a MAN! The guy has carried this team on his back. Another day at the office for Mr. Ringer only 198 yards this week. If Hoyer can have any type of passing game their offense could be very solid. They need to sure up their defense. Mark Dantonio is a very good coach, and the Spartans could be a dangerous team.
20. Connecticut- UCONN never wins pretty, just can’t. They had another ho hum win against Louisville, and hurdles against North Carolina and South Florida are challenges left…and that is about it.
21. Oklahoma State- The Pokes are a solid team. They can light up the scoreboard, and put 55 on Troy. Robinson is a very good QB (who isn’t in the Big 12?) Watch out for this team to be a possible spoiler.
22. Vanderbilt- Vandy doesn’t have great wins, but they do have wins. They could be a thorn in some teams side in the rugged SEC.
23. Wake Forest- Wake had a bad loss to Navy, but they still have a shot to compete for the ACC. Their three wins against Baylor, Mississippi (looks better now), and Florida State are not terrible, so they keep some cred. Skinner is a good leader, and can take this team to the ACC championship...possibly.
24. Fresno State- Fresno State finds their way back in the rankings, and take out UCLA this week. Fresno appears to have a pretty easy schedule until they conclude with Boise State.25. Boise State- The blue turf boys return to the rankings. The win against Oregon got them ‘back on the map’. Ian Johnson is still a beast for Boise, and Moore has done well taking over at the QB spot.

On the cusp: North Carolina, Oregon

Dropped Out: Illinois (19), Clemson (20)

POW: Manuel Johnson, WR, Oklahoma- Well as a WR he had 5 catches, but 3 of them went for TDs. He had 206 yards receiving, which is good for a 41.2 yard average. The kid had a great week against one of the top defenses (statistically) in college football (TCU has a good defense).

Another interesting week, with some great performances, and a couple of upsets. My top 25 was shaken this week with 4 teams dropping out of the rankings after unimpressive performances. Here it goes fellas:

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Southern California- How many bye weeks does this team have? This team has been impressive thus far…although they have only played 2 games.

2. Oklahoma- Sam Bradford is a very good QB who has a great efficiency rating. The defense is very good, and Oklahoma seems to like to hang half a hundred on people. They have a long road to go in the Big 12.

3. Georgia- UGA went on the road and beat an ok Arizona State team. I am impressed when a team goes on the road, and takes care of the opponent. Knowshon is a beast, and the defense is physical. Knowshon just does crazy stuff…the dive into the endzone was just crazy. Watch out SEC.

4. Florida- The Gators went in and just destroyed the Vols. Tebow is doing what his team needs him to do to win, but isn’t putting up the gawdy stats. Percy Harvin and the rest of the weapons are enough to put fear in any defense.

5. Louisiana State University- LSU went on the road in a very tough place to play, and beat a good Auburn team. The offense is good with Charles Scott, but the QB spot is still in a little bit of question. If the QB manages the game, and doesn’t throw those pick 6’s the LSU team could be very very tough.

6. Missouri- Missouri drops one this week after beating Buffalo by 21. It wasn’t as much what the Tigers did, but what the other Tigers did (LSU that is). Chase Daniel has led that offense…and with Jeremy Maclin they will be really tough to even slow down.

7. Texas- The Longhorns took care of a pretty good Rice team. Rice can score, but Muscamp (one of the best DCs in the country) held them to just 10 points. Colt McCoy is really stepping up this year.

8. Wisconsin- The Badgers got the week off after an impressive win against Fresno State on the road. The Badgers will have to bring it in Big 10 play if they want to get a shot at that coveted BCS spot (which they have missed out on the last couple of years, because no conference can provide 3 teams).

9. Alabama- The Tide rolls on, this time on Bobby Petrino. They did that one for all loyal fans across the country. Julio Jones is an absolute monster, and Bama ran it all over Arkansas this week.

10. Penn State- Hello Nittany Lions. Joe Pa is leading this squad against inferior competition thus far, but they are just taking them to the woodshed. The running game is good with Royster and co., and the passing game is improving with Clark at the helm, and Butler on the outside. The defense is still untested.

11. Texas Tech- The Red Raiders appear to have a bit of a defense with that outrageous video game offense. I would say put two guys on Michael Crabtree…but I am not sure it would make a difference.

12. Ohio State- Many will have them ranked lower than this, but this team may be energized with Pryor running the show. Boeckman got just one snap this week. Pryor appears to be the new QB, and he did well today throwing 4 TD passes. He needs to work on when to put touch on the ball, and when to throw that laser. His mobility makes the Bucks offense at least able to move the ball. They enter Big 10 play next week with Minnesota…what a test…

13. South Florida- The Bulls are a team that I have trouble figuring out. Matt Grothe is a good QB, and they have a fairly solid D, but sometimes they look less than impressive. They get the benefit of the doubt with their nice win against Kansas, but will they be tested in the BE? Who knows?

14. Auburn- The Tigers had a tough game against LSU, and came up on the short end of the stick. LSU got a late TD to go up. Auburn has a very good defense which will keep them in games, if the offense ever comes along they will be really tough to beat.

15. Brigham Young University- BYU continues to put up points seemingly at will. Sure Wyoming isn’t a very good team, but blanking them 44-0 ain’t bad. Max Hall can throw it around, and they may run the table and be looking to be a spoiler in a BCS game.

16. Wake Forest- This team will not ‘wow’ anyone with flashy games, but they just win games. Skinner can throw it through a pinhole by the way. This team has a shot get through the ACC nearly unscathed.

17. Kansas- A lot of people don’t quite believe in this team yet, but I am not one of them. Reesing is one of those QBs I really like watching. He seems to move around the pocket all the time, and almost always find an open receiver. This kid will lead the JayHawks to many more wins this year.

18. Utah- They did not look great against Air Force, but came away with the win. Johnson runs their spread offense very well, and makes them difficult to stop. I am not sure this team has a great win yet (Michigan is not a great win this year).

19. Illinois- The Illini got the week off after an unimpressive win last week. Juice and the boys will have a tough task next week going to Penn State at night. That place gets crazy, and Penn State is a good football team. This game will show us a bit more about the Illini (was last week a fluke?).

20. Clemson- The Tigers still impress with their potentially great rushing attack. They need to improve winning those games they are supposed to win (they always seem to lose a couple of those). The team is talented, but they need to stay focused to have a chance to win the ACC.

21. Virginia Tech- VA Tech beat a pretty good North Carolina team, which seemingly has a lot of weapons. Tyrod Taylor can be a good QB, and the VA Tech defense needs to step up and get their lunch pail in order for VA Tech to compete in the ACC.

22. Michigan State- Javon Ringer is an absolute beast. The guy can just run the football. Dell is a very good WR, and they need their QB to pick it up a bit if they want defenses to respect the pass. They will need to throw the ball (preferably off play action for them) in order to keep lanes open and 9 out of the box against Ringer.

23. Connecticut- They finally make it from ‘on the cusp’ into the poll. Not a lot of folks know about this team, but Brown can run the football. They didn’t play great against Baylor (who has a beast at QB by the way). They just find a way to win games, that is something that I respect. They also have that soft BE schedule…look out.

24. Vanderbilt- Wait…this is not a joke. Yes that Vandy that is 4-0. Vandy has a tough test with Auburn next week, when will find out if this team is for real.

25. Oklahoma State- Another team goes from ‘on the cusp’ into the rankings. Oklahoma State had the bye this week, and were successful. Robinson is a very good QB who can lead the offense to scores. The defense will have to step up. The schedule doesn’t get easier…with games AT Missouri, Texas, and Texas Tech.

On the cusp: East Carolina, Oregon, Miami (FL), North Carolina

Dropped Out: Oregon (17), ECU (15), WVU (23), Fresno State (25)

POW: Colt McCoy, Texas- Colt had yet another great week. He went 19/23 with 329 yards passing and 4 TDs. He also rushed 8 times for 83 yards, and a TD. A nice game for Colt who is quietly (in the QB packed Big 12) having a very good year.

Wow what a week. It wasn't a great one to be a Buckeye fan...but some of the other games were OK including Wisconsin with a nice road win. Whoa its late...lets hope this doesn't have tooooo many errors (or miscues).

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Southern California- USC arrives at the top spot after taking the Buckeyes to the woodshed. USC has a nasty defense, a great combo of RB’s, big play receivers, and a QB who when given time can pick ya apart. Also the Trojans have their toughest games at home, expect to see this team in Miami.

2. Oklahoma- The Sooners are boomin’. Sam Bradford looks to be as good as they get, and he has plenty of weapons. The offense maybe one of the top in the country, and they continue to run up 50 points on teams. The defense is also solid, but their performance in big games still remains a question mark under Stoops (he used to be sooo good in those big games).

3. Georgia- Georgia doesn’t drop as much  because of their performance, but because of the teams that jumped them. UGA has plenty of talent with Stafford and Moreno and co. AJ Green is an outstanding WR. The playcalling baffled me, Moreno should have gotten MANY more carries against a game USCe defense.

4. Florida- Florida got the week to rest, and they can use it. They go to Tenn. Next week, which is always a tough place to play. The Vols were Gator Bait last year, and appear to be the same this year. Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin lead a very potent offense. If the defense continues to play well they can be a serious NC contender. If the defense struggles…they just have to score more to be NC contenders.

5. Missouri- Can anyone stop their offense? I am not sure if anyone can. Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin are an outstanding combo. Don’t forget about Chase Coffman one of the better TE in the country. The question about this team is their defense. A lot of teams score on them…but then again they did score 69 against Nevada.

6. LSU- The Bayou Bengals didn’t have any trouble this week. LSU is loaded with talent at the skill positions and the QB just has to manage the game. The defense is still stifling. The Bayou Bengals will not relinquish the crown easily…

7. Texas- Sure the hurricane stopped them this week…but that may be one of the only things that stops them all year. The offense appears back in gear with Colt McCoy and Crosby at WR. The defense under Will Muscamp will continue to get better, and could help them contend in the Big 12.

8. Wisconsin- Wisconsin went to play Pat Hill at their place, and came away with a tough win. The big offensive line for Wisconsin can run some people over now, and their defense looked pretty good tonight. This was a very good win for Wisconsin, and now they look to their Big Ten schedule.

9. Alabama- The Tide is still rolling. JPW is a solid leader and the mixture of older guys and young guys makes them a fun team to watch.

10. Texas Tech- Michael Crabtree is just ridiculious. Can anyone stop him? I doubt it. The Red Raiders can score with anyone, if they stop some people they may be a serious threat.

11. Penn State- The Nittany Lions looked very good. Ok so it was against Syracuse, but they have looked good all year. The offense with Clark is showing they can throw the ball a little bit and they can certainly run it. They will contend in the Big Ten, they have been amongst the most impressive teams of the season, albeit against flimsy competition.

12. Auburn- Auburn drops in my poor after their terrible offensive performance. I am not sure their offense can do well enough to contend in the SEC this year. It just doesn’t seem to be working for them, although the defense is still outstanding.

13.Ohio State- Many will have the Buckeyes ranked lower than this due to their poor performance against USC. They still have plenty of talent, and will win most of the rest of the games on their schedule. Perhaps they will still make a BCS bowl.

14. East Carolina- They struggled with Tulane, but they got away with the win. They have to stay focused on their C-USA schedule in order to get a possible BCS bid.

15. BYU- BYU put it on UCLA. Max Hall can throw it around the yard, and didn’t leave any doubt, and gave some confidence to voters. 59-0 ain’t bad…watch out for the BCS buster (one of them).

16. South Florida- They won a tough game against Kansas and looked good. Matt Grothe is a good QB who could possibly lead the Bulls to a serious run in the Big East.

17. Oregon- Finally got to see the Ducks. They may have problems if their QB is hurt (although the Freshman can run it a bit). They were way down to the Boilers, but pulled it out, and won it in 2 OT on the road. This team is solid, and I am glad I finally got to see them.

18. Wake Forest- Wake continues to win and Skinner is the definition of a precision passer.

19. Utah- The Utes put a whopping on the Aggies. They can score with anyone with their spread offense with Johnson at the helm. The Utes are also looking to crash the BCS party.

20. Illinois- Illinois didn’t play too well against LL but pulled out a victory. Juice Williams is getting better and better in that offense, and a sured up defense could have the Illini contending for the Big Ten.

21. Clemson- The Tigers claw their way back into the rankings. They still have the talent to win the lackluster ACC.

22. Kansas- The Jayhawks remain in the rankings after a tough tough loss to South Florida on the road. Reesing is magic in the pocket, and is a very good QB. He could lead to the Jayhawks to some serious wins in the Big 12.

23. West Virginia- The Mountaineers remain in the rankings after an off week. They should win the rest of their games until they face Auburn on 10/23. That will be an interesting OOC matchup.

24. Virginia Tech- VA Tech is a much better team with Taylor at QB. He can make plays. The VT defense will have to begin to live up to their reputation if they want to win more games. They are in the ACC though, and the win against GA Tech was a good one.

25. Fresno State- Most will probably drop them out of the rankings, but I like the way they played against Wisconsin. They missed FG, dropped a couple of big pass plays, and were still right with the Badgers. The Bulldogs could run the table the rest of the way…but will the BCS come calling?

On the Cusp: UCONN, Michigan State, Florida State, Oklahoma State

POW: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma: He gets my honor for the second week in a row throwing 5 TDs and rushing for another. He also completed 18 of 21 passes for 304 yards. The runner up was last weeks POW Javon Ringer who carried the ball 43 times!

Whoa...what a week it was. The Buckeyes looked terrible, and they felt it in my rankings, I am sure they will in many other pollsters as well. East Carolina really impressed and jumped up in the rankings. Clemson makes their valient return to the top 25...albeit with a bit of skepticism from me. WVU got smoked...yet clings to the last spot in the rankings.

Here it is folks

Name: bigtenboy07

1. Georgia- The Dawgs remain number one in my poll after demolishing Central Michigan. Central Michigan has a good offense with Dan LeFevor, and UGA slowed them down nicely. Knowshon again looked very good for the Dawgs.

2. USC- After a strong showing at Virginia the Trojans got the week off to prepare for the Buckeyes. The team is loaded with talent, and has a chance to really impress some people on Saturday.

3. Oklahoma- The Sooners rolled the Bearcats who were ranked 23rd in my poll last week. The offense with Sam Bradford and all those weapons is really impressive. The defense has the ability to be very good, if they can remain focused and continue to win the battle at the line of scrimmage.

4. Florida- The Gators played a game Miami (FL) team at the Swamp. The defense was impressive albeit against a couple of young QBs (they are talented). The offense sputtered a bit, but a large part of that had to do with the Miami defense. The Gators just keep on trucking, as they follow their leader Tim Tebow.

5. Ohio State- The Bucks plummet in poll after a very suspect showing against Ohio. Why did it happen? In part because the Bucks didn’t seem prepared or inspired early in the game. Were they looking ahead to USC? Perhaps. Is that an excuse for the poor play, of course not. The Bucks offensive line finally starting controlling the line of scrimmage late in the game. They will have to bring their A+ game to beat USC….today they brought their D game.

6. Missouri- Again the Tigers dominated the game offensively. Chase Daniel is right on point, and continues to improve his Heisman stock. It was of course against a D-IAA team but never the less… The Tigers will have to make sure their defense is sured up if they want to seriously contend for a National Title.

7. LSU- The Bayou Bengals did not play this week, but believe me they would have loved too. Unfortunately they had to deal another hurricane issue. We can only hope that these young guys, their families and the people effected by these hurricanes are ok. Hopefully these young guys can pull it together again, and seriously compete in the SEC…if they find a QB.

8. Texas- The Longhorns appear to be back. The defense appears to be getting better with one of the better defensive minds in the country in Will Muscamp. If Colt McCoy can continue to help that offense roll they could seriously contend for the Big 12 Championship…with Oklahoma and Missouri, and possibly several others.

9. Auburn- The Auburn Tigers are solid as usual. The defense is very good, and looks like they let up a couple of late scores. Their defense can be straight up nasty.

10. Wisconsin- The Badgers got off to a very slow start. They ran the ball ok with PJ Hill, and Brown. What was really impressive was Evridge threw the ball well for them today. If he can continue to throw the ball well and loosen up the run for that group of backs the offense will be very good. 51 unanswered is pretty impressive.

11. Kansas- Todd Reesing is a very good QB who has done a very good job leading the Jayhawks offense. Their defense has also looked good. The Jayhawks schedule gets a lot tougher with South Florida, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas, and Missouri. If they can navigate that…I will be REALLY impressed.

12. Alabama- The Tide continues to roll up the rankings. This team has a very veteran QB in John Parker Wilson. Julio Jones the great freshman WR is a physical specimen and can do some serious damage this year. Gilbert Arenas’ brother (I think his brother) is a great kickoff and special teams player. It is all starting to lock into place for the boys in Tuscaloosa.

13. Texas Tech- Tech is what it is. A great offensive club who throws the ball all over the place, but their defense is still suspect to me. Harrell and Crabtree continue to put up eye popping numbers…just ridiculous video game numbers.

14. East Carolina- This team made a huge leap in my rankings. Last week they were ranked 24 just cracking the top 25. This week they jump up after beating WVU, and the game wasn’t even close. East Carolina won just about every part of the game. Not that I think WVU is as good as they have been in the recent past, but not a team in the country has two more impressive wins than the ones the Pirates have on their resume at this point.

15. Arizona State- Carpenter is again throwing the ball around the yard. This week they played a better opponent in Stanford. Arizona State has looked pretty good early, but a date with UGA looms…

16. Penn State- This team is the one that perhaps impressed me the most this weekend (outside of ECU). Penn State came out and ran the ball and passed the ball at will. Clark’s (the QB) ability to run the ball has never been in doubt…his passing has been. If he can pass as consistently and accurately as he did today the Lions offense will become much much better. Of course Royster and company racked up a bundle of yards on the ground too.

17. BYU- BYU played a game Washington team, and won on a blocked XP. Jake Locker was very impressive in the game for Washington. Hall was also very impressive for the Cougars. BYU has a couple of more hurdles before they can really start thinking BCS buster.

18. South Florida- Matt Grothe leads the Bulls to another win. A tough fought game against their in state rival was a good win for this club. They are one of those teams you almost forget about…but don’t sleep on them.

19. Fresno State- The win last week against Rutgers got some people’s eyes opened. The play anyone, anywhere, at anytime is something I really admire in this club. They will be tested as Wisconsin comes to their place to play a very big game. Winning a high profile game like Wisconsin could help secure a BCS birth for the non BCS school.

20. Wake Forest- Wake is that team that just consistently finds a way to win football games. Skinner throws the ball on target all day, and they win on a FG at the end. None of their numbers really wow you, and they don’t have ‘flare’ but they are a well coached and tough football team. This team will compete for the ACC (not saying much here) but they will still have to deal with Miami…

21. California- Last week Cal beat a tough MSU team at home. They looked fast, although young. The toughness they showed against MSU was a big step for that team. Cal is vying to being the second best team in the PAC 10, they still have USC though.

22. Illinois- Juice man got back to his running game. The offense appears to be pretty solid, but the defense is more than suspect. The Illini will have to seriously step up their D if they want to be considered serious contenders for the Big Ten title.

23. Oregon- The Ducks continue to impress. I am not quite sure how they are doing it…but they just keep on keeping on.

23. Utah- The Utes win yet again. Johnson is a very good QB at running the spread. He is going to be tough, and has a couple more big games to prove himself and this team as being a serious BCS buster.

24. Clemson- Clemson sneaks back in my top 25 here. I still really like Harper, Spiller, and Davis on offense. They need to step up and play well in big games if they want to compete for anything more than their annual award of ‘underachievers with the most talent’.

25. West Virginia- I hate to put this team in the top 25. Last week they were in the top 10, but looked inept. Pat White couldn’t pass the ball, and struggled to run it as well. The high powered offense was held to 3 points. The defense hasn’t proven to be worthy of a highly ranked team. Expect this team to lose a couple more, and could possibly cost Pat White his Heisman bid.

On the cusp: UCLA, Georgia Tech, UCONN, Michigan State

POW: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma-  He came up huge against a pretty good Cincy defense, and torched them. He threw 29/38 for 392 yards and 5 TDs.