1 Oregon (7-0) – The point a minute offense goes on the road where its not quite a point a minute. It probably won't matter at USC where there are major defensive problems and a lack of depth, but it could catch up later on at Cal, a team that looks like world beaters at home.
2 Auburn (8-0) – Cam Newton is the best player in the country and Nick Fairley might be the best defensive player in the country. That equals one of the best teams in the country, but with Georgia having rounded into form, that game looks nasty along with the Alabama game.
3 Boise St. (6-0) – Play tonight against Louisiana Tech. Ho hum. Wake me next Saturday when Hawaii comes to town and the real conference schedule (if there is a real portion in the WAC) begins.
4 TCU (8-0) – Horned Frogs destroyed Air Force and have given up 10 points in four conference games. With UNLV on the slate this week, it could become 10 points against in five conference games.
5 Missouri (7-0) – Tigers are for real. That probably doesn't matter with a road trip to Lincoln to play Nebraska.
6 Michigan St. (8-0) – It's now a one game season for Sparty. Win Saturday at Iowa and cruise the rest of the way with no Ohio St. on the schedule.
7 Alabama (7-1) – The whole bye week things doesn't matter this week. The Tide have a bye too and should be very scared of LSU. The Tigers have been lucky, but the defense is really really good. Despite all the yards they gave up to Auburn, they held the Tigers to 24 points. DO that at home and it could be enough against Alabama.
8 Wisconsin (7-1) – Badgers have the best back-to-back wins of the season so far with the victories over Ohio St. and Iowa in consecutive weeks. Now they need to take care of business and get some help to win the Big Ten.
9 Utah (7-0) – Utes continues to blow teams up on the JV portion of the schedule. This week they move into slightly more difficult territory though Air Force has lost most of its luster the last two weeks losing to San Diego St. and getting destroyed at TCU.
10 LSU (7-1) – The luck finally ran out for Les Miles and his Tigers. They now need a lot of help in the SEC title race, help they aren't likely to get.
11 Ohio St. (7-1) – Buckeyes are in the same spot as Wisconsin, but probably need more help with no really difficult games left for the Badgers. The way things are going, Ohio St. should enjoy Orlando. They haven't been there for a bowl game in quite some time.
12 Oklahoma (6-1) – Sooners are actually still in decent shape in the national title race as the computers still love them (5th place) and there is the possibility of a rematch with Missouri.
13 Nebraska (6-1) – Cornhuskers got the gut check win they needed over Oklahoma St. Now they must win again or the Big 12 title is completely gone as a loss to Missouri would leave them two games behind and without the tiebreaker.
14 Arizona (6-1) – Backup quarterback Matt Scott was impressive against Washington and the Wildcats are in capable hands. It won't help them when they go to Oregon, but it could lead to a 10-2 regular season.
15 Stanford (6-1) – Washington St. week is always a good week to have the off week in Pac-10 play. Cardinal were not impressive at all, but they got the much needed win.
16 Florida St. (5-1) – ACC title hopes are on the line this week for the Seminoles at NC State. Win and it should be clear sailing even if there is a slip up somewhere. Lose and nearly everyone in the division is in play as usual.
17 South Carolina (5-2) – As long as Marcus Lattimore plays, I am confident this team will win the SEC East and prove worthy of being ranked somewhere. Without him, they are as good (or bad) as everyone else in the sad sack SEC East.
18 Iowa (5-2) – Hawkeyes didn't drop too far after home loss to Wisconsin because the teams behind them lack the wins needed to jump them. I wish the rankings could be cut off here. Nobody else is really worthy and even these guys are way higher than a team with their resume would normally be at this point in the season.
19 Virginia Tech (6-2) – Exhibit 1 for my point in the Iowa blip. Virginia Tech has done nothing out of conference play, play in a weak conference and lost to an FCS team. Yet I have them in the top 20.
20 Mississippi St. (6-2) – Bulldogs have done a good job to reach top 25, but they really aren't that good as the close game against UAB showed. Probably due for a big fall with Alabama and Arkansas still on the schedule.
21 Arkansas (5-2) – This team stinks in the second half of games. The question is if they can get enough of a lead in the first half to hold on for the win. Against elite teams, that strategy hasn't worked all that well.
22 Miami (6-2) – I'm not sold on Miami and think they are going to get run by Virginia Tech just like they did against Florida St. and Ohio St. That said six wins is six wins and Pittsburgh is playing a little better to give one of the wins some extra value.
23 Oklahoma St. (6-1) – No defense at all in Stillwater. Its back to where this team was two years ago as opposed to last years underrated defense and overrated offense.
24 Baylor (6-2) – Bears at six wins, bowl eligible and in top 25 is more an indictment of everyone else than show of Baylor strength. The offense is really good though.
25 USC (5-2) – I still don't think they are any good at all, but nobody else is either and considering they won at Hawaii, they get the nod here over Hawaii and Nevada who lost on the islands.
Others considered
Hawaii (6-2) – Too bad they didn't beat USC. Would be a shoo-in for the rankings even with the ugly loss to Colorado on the record.
Kansas St. (5-2) – Wildcats are good, but not great or even very good. Should manage eight wins which might get them back into top 25 at the rate things are going this season.
West Virginia (5-2) – Ugly loss to Syracuse, but everyone knew something like that was coming for this team at some point. Win a couple of Big East games against even average teams and the Mountaineers should be back.
Nevada (6-1) – Loss to Hawaii is still too recent to rank this team in front of Warriors. Don't have signature win either considering everyone who Cal has played on the road has had similar results against the Golden Bears.
NC State (5-2) – Top 25 teams don't lose to East Carolina this season.
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