| Harris Poll | Coaches Poll | Computer Avg. |
1. Oregon (9-0) | 1 | 1 | 3 |
2. Auburn (10-0) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
3. TCU (10-0) | 3 | 3 | 2 |
4. Boise State (8-0) | 4 | 4 | 5 |
5. LSU (8-1) | 6 | 6 | 4 |
6. Stanford (8-1) | 8 | 9 | 6 |
7. Wisconsin (8-1) | 5 | 5 | 10 |
8. Nebraska (8-1) | 9 | 8 | 6 |
9. Ohio State (8-1) | 7 | 7 | 15 |
10. Oklahoma St. (8-1) | 13 | 11 | 6 |
11. Michigan State (9-1) | 10 | 10 | 9 |
12. Alabama (7-2) | 11 | 12 | 11 |
13. Iowa (7-2) | 12 | 13 | 14 |
14. Utah (8-1) | 15 | 15 | 13 |
15. Arkansas (7-2) | 14 | 14 | 17 |
16. Oklahoma (7-2) | 16 | 16 | 16 |
17. Missouri (7-2) | 20 | 20 | 12 |
18. Arizona (7-2) | 19 | 19 | 17 |
19. Mississippi St. (7-2) | 18 | 18 | 19 |
20. Virginia Tech (7-2) | 17 | 17 | 25 |
21. Nevada (8-1) | 21 | 21 | 21 |
22. Florida (6-3) | 23 | 24 | 23 |
23. South Carolina (6-3) | 22 | 22 | 26 |
24. Kansas State (6-3) | NR | NR | 20 |
25. Texas A&M (6-3) | 24 | 25 | 23 |
Fell from poll: Baylor, North Carolina State, Florida State
Voters get it right…? I like the voters poll’s for a couple of reasons this week. First, I’m not ready to make Oklahoma State a Top 10 team just yet. The Cowboys have beat two talented teams in Kansas State and Baylor in consecutive weeks, but I’m not sold on a team with a defense giving up more than 28 points a game. I like the voters ranking of No. 6 for LSU better than the BCS ranking of No. 4. I have to give the Tigers some credit, they’ve found ways to win and score points when it’s seemed impossible, but I still think Boise is the better team. Good move by the voters not giving a ranking to Kansas State in ether poll. The Wildcats have failed miserably in all three of their test this season in games against Nebraska, Baylor and Oklahoma State. The computers liked the win over Texas last week, and we all know beating Texas this season is about as good as beating Iowa State. Something the Longhorns couldn’t do.
Computer Malfunctions…? This really pains me to say this, but what about Ohio State? The computers give the Bucks a No. 15 ranking. I’m a Buckeye hater as much as anyone outside the state of Ohio but come on, we’ve got to play fair here. The human ranking of No. 7 feels a little better than a No. 15. Fortunately, the Buckeyes get their chance this week against a hot Penn State team followed by a meeting against No. 13 Iowa to prove the computers wrong. I’m not exactly sure what the Ducks did this week to move down a spot in the computer average ranking, but Oregon continues to be hated by the computers. I actually like the computer ranking for Nebraska of No. 6. They’re still a dominant team and my favorite to roll with the Big 12 title. Alabama still holding a No. 11 ranking in the computer poll, and in the human poll for that matter, is witness to the bias towards the SEC and SEC power schools. Congratulations to Virginia Tech, who finally came away this week with a Top 25 ranking from the computers, with a ranking of No. 25.
Biggest Movers…The biggest movers for teams that won Saturday go to Stanford and Oklahoma State. Both moved up seven spots and now sit as Top 10 teams in the BCS poll. LSU took a five spot jump with their win over Alabama. There were a few losing teams that took expected falls in the poll. Utah took the hardest drop at eight spots falling down to No. 14 from No. 5. Oklahoma took their second loss of the season Saturday, falling eight spots in the poll. Missouri, who also took their second loss, fell just five spots.
Welcome to the Top 25…Three teams jumped in this week, two deserved to. Texas A&M moved into the No. 25 spot with their win over then No. 8 Oklahoma. The Aggies have found a new life this season with quarterback Ryan Tannehill under center, who has led the Aggies to three straight wins. Kansas State, as previously discussed, moved into the Top 25 with a win over Texas Saturday. The third was the Florida Gators. UF absolutely destroyed Vanderbilt Saturday, but I think the Gators are still a week off from moving back into the polls. I like the Florida move better than Kansas State’s, however. The Wildcats will need to prove themselves this week against Missouri.
We were snubbed...! Well, Ohio State can certainly use a snub card this week. A No. 15 ranking is a bit harsh. Besides the Bucks, a few teams outside the Top 25 could have moved into the polls over Kansas State. Penn State has pulled in three straight Big Ten wins, including wins against Michigan and Northwestern. San Diego State is a team I’ve been on all season and one who continues to win. They’re another Mountain West team that deserves some attention and may get it in the very near future with big games down the line. I don’t know what the deal is with the Big East. I think voters and the computers might be keeping any Big East team out of the polls as a sense of motivation? If there is any team that deserves it at this point, however, it is Pittsburgh.
There’s always next week…This week there are a few matchups that could propel outside teams into the Top 25 poll. The first is Miami (6-3) against Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes will travel to Atlanta with most likely backup quarterback Stephen Morris as the starter once again. A win could bring back a ranking and set up a pivotal game against Virginia Tech the next week. San Diego State (7-2) has a chance for a huge upset against TCU this week. All I can say after seeing what the Horned Frogs did to Utah is good luck. We may find out who’s heading to the SEC championship game in the SEC East this week with a matchup of No.23 South Carolina against No. 22 Florida. No. 12 Alabama needs to be on upset alert against No. 19 Mississippi State this weekend. As does No. 20 Virginia Tech heading to North Carolina Saturday. The Heels are riding high after their road win over Florida State.
No comments:
Post a Comment