Category: College Football (Page 281 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.

As far as the two official polls, Virginia Tech and TCU took the two biggest hits (and rightfully so) after being upset victims to Georgia Tech and BYU, respectively. The Hokies dropped all the way out of the top 15 in both polls and the Horned Frogs got booted from the top 25 altogether.

After four weeks in my poll, however, I think it’s time to shake up these Power Rankings a little bit in the top 10. After watching some dominating performances over the weekend, I’ve got a few teams on the move this week.

Here is how I see the Top 10:

1. Ohio State (5-0)
Critics and upset enthusiast can sit down and shut up after the Buckeye’s 38-17 rout over the Hawkeyes – in Iowa City mind you. You look at QB Troy Smith’s yardage stats and they aren’t eye popping. However, you scroll your eyes over to his touchdown total (12) and you understand what this guy means to this team. The backbone of this offense is RB Antonio Pittman though. Pittman doesn’t get as much national recognition as Smith and WR Ted Ginn Jr., but is the reason why the Buckeyes can close out opponents early in the second half. WR Anthony Gonzalez is another guy that doesn’t get enough credit – he has one more reception than Ginn, more receiving yardage and only one less touchdown.

2. USC (4-0)
I’m bumping up the Trojans for the way they went into Washington State and beat a team without their number one offensive weapon. WR Dwayne Jarrett didn’t dress due to injury and USC responded by getting the ball to Steve Smith 11 times for 186 yards and two scores. QB John David Booty has been on fire this season and had another stellar game Saturday night in going 23 of 32 for 269 yards and three touchdowns. The defense is barely letting opponents score and doesn’t have one weakness like other top rated programs do.

3. Michigan (5-0)
That’s right, the Wolverines jumped up two spots in my Power Rankings to No. 3. Here’s why – they finally have a potent passing offense and they completely fixed the leaky run defense that doomed U of M all last year. Of course, two things have to happen for Michigan to stay this high. One, it can’t do the standard Michigan thing and somehow lose to an inferior Big Ten opponent like Michigan State or Northwestern or something. The reason why I mention this is because, well, the Wolverines always lose one or two of those games every season. The second thing is that they have to keep RB Mike Hart healthy because if not – they have no chance against Ohio State at the end of the year.

4. Auburn (5-0)
I’ll probably catch some hell for this one, but I don’t care because I’ve masked what I really think about Auburn for a couple weeks. LSU should have beat these guys and they almost lost to South Carolina over the weekend. The way Auburn beats you is the way NFL teams like to win – run the ball and play good defense. Which is totally fine, but Tommy Tuberville doesn’t ask QB Brandon Cox to really do too much and I think sometime soon that is going to burry the Tigers. What happens when they face another team that can stop the run like when the Tigers played LSU? Can the defense hold the opponent to only three points again? I guess we’ll find out when the Gators come to town in two weeks.

5. Florida (5-0)
Yeah, I know – the Gators almost lost to Alabama at home over the weekend. That however, should have been more of an indication of how tough the Crimson Tide actually are instead of a chink in the armor for Florida in my opinion. Here’s what I really like about the Gators and it’s painstakingly simply to grasp: they just find a way to win. They did it late in the game against Tennessee a few weeks ago on the road and did it again Saturday against ‘Bama. Here’s another thing – Florida is the only team I have in my top 10 that has both the offense and defense ranked in the top 15 in the nation (both units sit at No. 13 at the moment).

6. Texas (4-1)
Man, can the Long Horns put up points. Fourth behind only Louisville, Clemson and Nebraska, Texas is averaging just over 40 points a game and has the fourth rated defense in the nation. After the loss to Ohio State, media outlets have been mum about these guys, but I’d still watch out for the kids from Austin. Big test this weekend against Oklahoma, however.

7. LSU (4-1)
Why, why, why can’t you find a running game Tigers? I would love to put you higher, but you are so one dimensional that I can’t! QB JaMarcus Russell has been fantastic for this program this season and if it weren’t for one blemish against Auburn, LSU would be the second rated team in the nation. The Tigers can erase the loss to Auburn, however, with a huge win over Florida this Saturday in Gainesville. If not, LSU might be doomed to sit on the back of the bus for the rest of the season.

8. West Virginia (4-0)
Lets see, the Mountaineers don’t even play last weekend and they get bounced all the way to No. 8? Ouch, but that’s the way it goes in college football – out of sight, out of mind. Although, as SEC fan John posted last week – you don’t play anybody tough, you get bounced behind LSU who has the number one rated defense in the nation.

9. Louisville (4-0)
Off week for the Cardinals this past weekend and they’ll have another off week this Saturday against Middle Tennessee State.

10. Oregon (4-0)
I warned you last week Georgia – if you don’t step up to the plate with a strong showing against Mississippi you get booted. Although, I still feel dirty putting the Ducks up here so high with their cheat-win over Oklahoma. Ahh well, I think this No. 10 spot is going to be a revolving door for teams all season anyway.

So, what did we learn this weekend in college football?

– If anyone still thinks Ohio State is primed for an upset, think again because nobody is coming close to defending that offense.

– This just in: Michigan’s Mario Manningham is pretty good.

– Also just in: Division II Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, MI has a better offense than the University of Miami – by leaps and bounds.

– I think Georgia is actually considering about just playing without a quarterback for the rest of the season.

– LSU is good, real good. The Tigers have possibly the best defense in the nation and if they had anything resembling a run game, I would put them in the top five of all of college football– easily (I’ll admit my wrong in my latest College Football Power Rankings below).

– Two of the most overachieving programs in the nation right now are both in the ACC: Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Lets take a look at the biggest games of the day and then follow the rest of the action with some quick hits:

(#1) Ohio State 38, (#13) Iowa 17
I thought this was supposed to be a huge Big Ten match up with Ohio State meeting its match with upset-minded Iowa? I guess not, because this game was virtually over by halftime.

To me, there’s no doubt that the Buckeyes have the most balanced team in all of college football right now. Add to the fact that OSU has already topped three ranked programs so far this season – including embarrassing Texas in Austin – and this team is the clear cut #1 with no dispute.

It should be clear sailing for Buckeye nation until November 18 when OSU takes on Michigan.

Most impressed with: Ohio State’s offense is just phenomenal. QB Troy Smith only threw for 186 yards in this contest, but finished with four touchdown passes and continues to get all of his playmakers involved in the passing game. RB Antonio Pittman is one of the least talked about backs in the nation, but he continues to be the backbone of OSU’s offense. Pittman totaled 117 yards on 25 carries and got into the end zone once. What more do you want from your starting back?

Least impressed with: I thought this was supposed to be the night Drew Tate showed the nation how good he is? Nice player, good team leader, but he was harassed into three interceptions tonight and his average pass completion was barely over six yards. He doesn’t deserve all of the blame for this loss though, because Tate barely got any support from his running backs. The Buckeyes have been vulnerable all season to the run on defense, but the Hawkeyes only managed 82 total yards on the ground tonight.

(#3) USC 28, Washington State 22
The Trojans got a huge road test against Washington State and hey, they came away with a victory. It can’t be pretty all the time, but good teams find ways to win in the end and that’s exactly what USC did Saturday night.

Most impressed with: You have to love the effort Steve Smith put forth in this game with No. 1 receiver Dwayne Jarrett sidelined with an injury. Smith caught 11 passes for 186 yards and two scores in Jarrett’s absence.

I have to mention the Cougars’ Michael Bumpus too, however. Bumpus didn’t score, but did have 11 receptions for 112 yards.

Least impressed with: The amount of penalties USC had in this contest. Usually Pete Carroll’s bunch is extremely disciplined, but the Trojans were flagged eight times for 105 yards in this game.

(#5) Florida 28, Alabama 13
This game had upset written all over it early on, but the Gators defense came up huge in the second half. Give ‘Bama credit though – the Crimson Tide went right at Florida all day long and showed how tough they can play.

Most impressed with: I have to go with Alabama RB Kenneth Darby. Darby finished with 76 yards and no touchdowns, but anybody who saw the game witnessed a back that runs with purpose. Darby ran north and south all game and rarely was brought down after the initial hit. If Florida’s run defense wasn’t so stingy, Darby might have carried the Crimson Tide to an upset victory on the road.

Least impressed with: QB John Parker Wilson virtually handed this game on a silver platter to Florida. Not that the Gators didn’t earn this win or didn’t work hard, but as soon as they got any kind of pressure on Wilson, he folded like a deck of cards. Three picks on the day for Wilson – including one that cost Alabama a time out late in the game because of a review.

Quick Shots:
How about (#24) Georgia Tech going into Blacksburg and stunning (#11) Virginia Tech 38-27? Holy smokes, great win for a Yellowjackets squad that played Notre Dame tough at home in the opener and have beaten the teams that they are supposed to beat and have done so soundly. What a battle it’s going to be two weeks from now when Ga Tech travels to (#18) Clemson…I must admit – one of the posters earlier in the week had it right when he said (#9) LSU should be higher in my College Football Power Rankings. Consider the Tigers’ 48-17 rout over Mississippi State (although a very bad team) a wake up call for me as far as LSU’s offense. Although I still have major speculation with its run game, QB JaMarcus Russell is the real deal and was on fire throwing for 327 yards and three touchdowns in this contest…Another team that impressed me was (#15) Tennessee. The Vols haven’t looked good at times this season, but they completely dominated in their 41-7 win over Memphis. The Tigers were without both of their starting running backs in the first half, but I don’t think it would have matted. Tennessee’s Erik Ainge was on target all game, going 23 of 27 for 324 yards and four scores and the Vols ran Memphis’s defense ragged all day… Thursday night action featured (#2) Auburn surviving a huge scare from South Carolina as the Tigers barely squeaked out a 24-17 victory over the Game Cocks. Tommy Tuberville has got to be scratching his head on how his normally stout defense surrendered 349 total yards against SC…One team that didn’t survive a scare was (#17) TCU. The Horned Frogs fell victim to BYU 31-17 and it wasn’t even that close. TCU’s potent offense was held in check all game…(#12) Notre Dame didn’t need to mount a mammoth comeback like the one the Irish had last weekend against MSU. The Irish built a 28-14 halftime lead in route to a 35-21 win over Purdue. Brady Quinn threw two touchdown passes and RB Darius Walker finally produced for the Irish with 31 carries for 145 yards and a score…(#10) Georgia shouldn’t scare anybody after another too-close-for-comfort victory over Mississippi. 14-9 over an unranked opponent after you just had a huge scare from Colorado in between the hedges last weekend, Bulldogs? They better find a quarterback – and fast…(#6) Michigan took back the Little Brown Jug from the Golden Gophers in Minnesota with a 28-14 victory on the baseball field that is the Metrodome. Manningham must feel like he’s playing with junior high athletes every weekend. Five catches, 131 yards, one touchdown and a 26.2 yards per catch average for Super Mario. Good grief.

Random Thoughts:

– Michigan State goes from nearly beating Notre Dame a week ago to fumbling away its homecoming game to a lousy Illinois team 23-20. Is there any program in the nation that crumbles as fast as the Spartans do after a huge loss? And get this – MSU’s players picked a fight with the Illini for sticking an Illinois flag at midfield in Spartan Stadium. Excuse me, but wasn’t it you MSU, that did the same thing in South Bend last year? If you dish it, you better be prepared to take it too.

– (#21) Nebraska finally plays a program just above a Division II level in Kansas and almost gets hammered. The Cornhuskers needed OT to eek out a win against the unranked Jayhawks 39-32. If NEB moves up more total spots in the AP or USA Today Polls than Georgia Tech, I may throw up.

– The Wolverines’ Mike Hart is a tough little runner. On more than a couple occasions against Minnesota, Hart was heading out of bounds and then turned back into the field for more contact. He finished with 31 carries for 195 yards and is really benefiting from Michigan throwing the ball more this season, because teams can’t key solely on the run like years past.

– (#7) Texas had a little bit of trouble in beating Sam Houston State. You see, after the Long Horns went up 42-0 at halftime, Texas only mustered 14 more points the rest of the game and only beat the Bearkats 56-3. Pfff, number seven ranked team my a…

– Watch Notre Dame sneak back into the top 10 with Virginia Tech losing. One would think it would be (#12) Oregon since the Ducks squashed Arizona State on the road, but I can almost guarantee the Irish find themselves at #10 when the new polls are released.