Category: College Football (Page 275 of 296)

With the new AP and USA Today Top 25 polls posting over the weekend, it’s time to take a look at the top 10 in college football.

All I have to say on the national rankings is this: everybody told you so USA Today. How the hell could it have had USC ranked over Michigan for the past four weeks? Give me a break.

Here is how I see the Top 10:

1. Ohio State (9-0)
The national media continues not to disregard what a solid season running back Antonio Pittman (21 carries, 116 yards, two touchdowns, two receptions for 47 yards against the Minnesota) is having. I understand Troy Smith, the duo of Anthony Gonzalez and Ted Ginn Jr. and the rest of the Buckeyes’ passing attack open up lanes for Pittman – but that cat has been great for OSU.

2. Michigan (9-0)
The Wolverines continue to win games sort of unfashionably, but it doesn’t matter with the way Michigan’s defense has risen to the occasion this year. The Wolverine D completely dismantled Northwestern’s running attack on Saturday. It’s amazing how big of a game is shaping up in Columbus next month. Win and you’re in the National Championship – does it get any bigger than that?

3. Texas (8-1)
I think a lot can be said for how the Long Horns consistently get behind anywhere from one to three touchdowns and still find ways to win in the second half. Imagine what Colt McCoy and the rest of this Texas team could do if it actually played all four quarters.

4. West Virginia (7-0)
It’s finally go-time for the Mountaineers on Thursday when they travel to Louisville. Forget the home field advantage that the Cardinals will have, West Virginia is the better team and needs to play like it. With the loser of the Michigan-Ohio State game likely out of the National Championship contest, a win over Louisville could place the Mountaineers (albeit reluctantly by most NCAA fans) into the title game.

5. Auburn (8-1)
With a narrow win over Mississippi, Tigers fans have got to be sweating a little bit with another Arkansas team coming into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. I know, I know, the Indians aren’t the Razorbacks, but something doesn’t sit right with me about this Auburn team.

6. Florida (7-1)
Georgia fans would be fooling themselves if they honestly felt like they hung with the Gators in Jacksonville on Saturday. Florida fell asleep after building a 21-0 lead and the Gators now have had back-to-back games where they suddenly can’t take care of the football. Trust me, the trip to Vanderbilt will be tougher than what most people are thinking.

7. USC (6-1)
Hear this: nobody was that surprised with what Oregon State did against the Trojans on Saturday. A USC loss was brewing for weeks and not that they’re the Yankees of the NCAA, but I get the feeling that college football fans everywhere rejoiced with the Trojans loss. John David Booty wasn’t the problem either – the defense was atrocious.

8. Tennessee (7-1)
South Carolina and Alabama (the past two Volunteer victories) are tough programs. But for this team to be taken seriously, Tennessee needs to come out this Saturday against LSU and put the hurt on a good team for once. Or else this squad has fraud written all over it.

9. Louisville (7-0)
I can’t believe the Cardinals are ranked over SEC teams like Auburn, Florida and Tennessee in the national polls. I’ll eat crow if Louisville comes out this Thursday and tops West Virginia at home, but come on – this isn’t a top five team.

10. Notre Dame (7-1)
Let me just say that I hate this #10 spot. I hate the #5 spot in the NFL Power Rankings and I absolutely at this #10 ranking for the NCAA. Clemson dropped the freaking ball in Virginia Tech and now the Irish somehow sneak right back into the top 10. But whom else are you going to go with? California? Arkansas? No, ND is ranked where it needs to be.

Top 10 Rewind:

1. Ohio State (9-0)
Well it’s about time the Buckeyes give a little love to RB Antonio Pittman. Pittman rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in OSU’s 44-0 pummeling of Minnesota. While QB Troy Smith and WR Ted Ginn Jr. have been the flash and dash for the Buckeyes, Pittman, in my opinion, has been the backbone of the offense. Speaking of Smith, he ran for a touchdown against the Gophers – his first of the year – and threw for one more. The story of the game was the total yardage by both teams. OSU racked up 476 to Minnesota’s paltry 179.
Next Game: at. Illinois, Nov. 4.

2. Michigan (9-0)
No hiccup for the Wolverines in Ann Arbor as Michigan topped Northwestern 17-3 on a sloppy, rain-soaked field. There hasn’t been any real secret in how the Wolverines have been winning without stud WR Mario Manning, who has missed significant time with an injury. Michigan has been victorious with a powered running attack with RB Mike Hart (95 yards and a score), don’t let turnovers kill you and play suffocating defensive. Teams were able to run on U of M last year, but that certainly isn’t the case for ’06. Check this stat out: the Wildcats mustered minus-13 total yards on the ground on Saturday.
Next Game: vs. Ball State, Nov. 4.

3. USC (6-1)
This has been brewing for weeks hasn’t it? The Trojans were drop kicked by unranked Oregon State 33-31 after a John David Booty two-point conversion fell incomplete with just seven seconds reaming. This loss is huge for teams like Auburn and Florida, who have beaten tough competition and needed another one-loss team like USC to justify a big rising in the rankings. Here’s what makes matters worse for USC: the Trojans only “decent” win was over Nebraska at home in September. But with the Cornhuskers dropping another game on Saturday (41-29 to OK State), that “big” victory looks more like the rest of the cupcakes USC has squeaked by this season. Have a nice day Trojans.
Next Game: at. Stanford, Nov. 4.

4. West Virginia (7-0)
BYE week – sleep tight little Mountaineers. Your big game is coming.
Next Game: at. Louisville, Nov. 2.

5. Texas (8-1)
Why do the Long Horns seem to always give up two or three scores before coming to play each week? Texas Tech led 21-0 in the first quarter before Texas rallied to beat the Red Raiders 35-31 on yet another solid performance by freshman Colt McCoy. McCoy went 21 of 31 for 256 yards and four touchdowns to keep the Long Horns at one loss. Check out this stat: Texas Tech passed for 519 yards while only rushing for minus-1 yard. Talk about your imbalance attack on offense. Any sort of running game and the Red Raiders easily dispose of the Long Horns on Saturday.
Next Game: vs. Oklahoma State, Nov. 4.

6. Louisville (7-0)
BYE week – sleep tight Cardinals. Your big game is coming as well.
Next Game: vs. West Virginia, Nov. 2.

7. Auburn (8-1)
The Tigers had visions of the loss to Arkansas dancing in their heads after a closer-than-expected run in with Mississippi. Auburn needed two John Vaughn field goals in the forth quarter to break a 17-17 tie and give the Tigers a 23-17 win. Kenny Irons kept Auburn afloat with 106 yards on 23 carries while QB Brandon Cox completed 21 passes on 34 attempts for 253 yards and a touchdown. Ole Miss didn’t do anything exceptional in this contest. In fact, they were out gained by Auburn 428-256, but the Tigers could just never break away and kept the Rebels in the game with two turnovers.
Next Game: Arkansas State, Nov. 4.

8. Tennessee (7-1)
The Game Cocks came strong at the Vols didn’t they? Erik Ainge put in a solid performance, however, and led Tennessee to a nice 31-24 win over a tough South Carolina opponent. Ainge went 21 of 29 for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the win, while completing five passes for 106 yards to his go-to-guy Robert Meachem. Despite getting out-rushed 165-71 by the Game Cocks, Tennessee was able to notch a last second interception to seal the game.
Next Game: vs. LSU, Nov. 4.

9. Florida (7-1)
You can always throw out the records in rivalry games right? The Gators looked liked world-beaters when they went up 21-0 on unranked Georgia in “The World’s Largest Cocktail Party”. Although the Bull Dogs eventually fell to Florida 21-14, give UGA credit for hanging tough. The Dawgs forced a late turnover on RB Tim Tebow and almost had a shot to tie the game late if it weren’t for a late Florida first down to ice the game. The Gators won this game on defense by forcing two fumbles and nabbing two Matthew Stafford passes for interceptions. Nice day by WR Andre Caldwell of Florida. Caldwell scored once on a reverse and then once on a touchdown pass from Chris Leak. He also finished with eight receptions for 86 yards and rushed five times for 29 yards.
Next Game: at. Vanderbilt, Nov. 4.

10. Clemson (7-2)
What a trap game for the Tigers. Clemson headed into Blacksburg and faced an undefeated, supposedly un-motivated Virginia Tech team and it got crushed 24-7. What an incredible game by RB Brandon Ore, who rushed for 203 yards on 37 carries and scored two touchdowns. The Tigers didn’t have an answer for Ore or the rest of the Hokies – hope they enjoyed their quick stop in the top 10.
Next Game: vs. Maryland, Nov. 4.

Most impressed with: Oregon State for finally exposing USC for what the Trojans really are: a solid squad, but not one that deserves to be #2 or #3 in the country.

Least impressed with: Clemson. I’ve backed the Tigers for weeks now, but they laid an egg in Blacksburg and you just can’t allow a back to churn out 203 yards on you when you’re ranked 10th in the nation.

Congratulations: Mad congrats go out to Temple for knocking off Bowling Green University 28-14. The Owls officially ended their 20-game losing streak with the win.

Shame on you: The shame on you honors go out to Bowling Green University for its loss to Temple. How could you lose to freakin’ Temple? The Owls are one step above high school football.

Looking forward: I hope the contest between #4 West Virginia and #6 Louisville is even half of what people are making the game out to be. Something tells me that the Mountaineers are a far superior team and that will come out on November 2nd. LSU at Tennessee should be a decent game too and OK State-Texas is always good too.