1. Florida (9-0): Are the oddsmakers still setting absurd lines for these games? For some reason I think Vandy covered, even though they got beat by 24. Since when are 24 point wins not good? Florida faces a
2. Alabama (9-0): The SECCG is set, and once again it's Alabama and Florida in the BCS play-in game. The win over LSU was ugly, but the Tide got it done. Nick Saban has proved his team is a step above the rest of the SEC.
3. Texas (9-0): The "real" polls will probably have Texas at three as well, since voters are just so fickle. Can we complain that Texas didn't beat UCF by enough since the same thing I happening with the Gators' game against Vandy?
4. Cincinnati (9-0): It's not just Cincy- UConn is giving every team they play all they can handle. In a week where a lot of things didn't go well for a lot of teams, Calleros and Cincy are able to capitalize with a win, however slim the margin may have been.
5. Texas Christian (9-0): The strength of this team is their defense, and they had another fine performance this weekend. They've done a great job scheduling strong out-of-conference games, and their next game against Utah is their last shot to show they deserve to play in a BCS bowl, or maybe even a national championship.
6. Boise State (9-0): As unimpressive a win as their win over Louisiana Tech was, they got it done in a week where teams in front of them didn't. Still, I don't think Boise State is a top 5 team. They need to get back to winning big, or risk being jumped... again.
7. Georgia Tech (9-1): Another top team, another narrow escape. Wake Forest gave the Yellowjackets all they could handle, but they've all but assured they're playing in the ACC Championship game. Duke and Georgia are all that remains to bolster their resume before bowl season.
8. Houston (8-1): At least this almost-loss came in spectacular fashion. I had counted them out, but lo and behold they make a 51-yarder to hang on. Some people may think I'm crazy to have Houston in the top 10, but their strong out-of-conference showing earlier means they've earned this spot.
9. Iowa (9-1): They finally ran out of that magic. They can still claim a Rose Bowl berth and keep Ohio State out of the BCS if they can win in Columbus this Saturday. And I really hope they do.
10. Pittsburgh (8-1): Who would've thought that the Big East would be the only conference other than the SEC to have two teams in the top 10? Both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati still have their toughest tests ahead of them, including a head-to-head.
11. Miami (FL) (7-2): Miami wasn't going to buy into any of this "close game" stuff this weekend. They walloped Virginia like they used to wallop people in 2001-2002. As long as they keep winning, Miami keeps their slim chances of playing in the ACC Championship for the first time alive.
12. Louisiana State (7-2): Thems the breaks. You almost feel bad for LSU. Their only two losses are against the two best teams in the country, and they came relatively close to winning both. An 11 win season is still a possibility for the Tigers.
13. Oregon (7-2): Talk about a letdown game. The Ducks still control their destiny and can win the Pac-10 by winning out. But that possibility seems less likely than it did just last week.
14. Arizona (6-2): Arizona also controls its destiny in the Pac-10, but showdowns with Oregon and USC still loom large. Still, a beatdown of Washington State has to have them feeling good going into a matchup against a Jahvid Best-less Cal.
15. Utah (8-1): This is the week for Utah to prove that they belong in a BCS bowl, or, if they win, probably just make sure the best non-BCS team doesn't make it into a bowl. Win or lose, Utah will get a decent bowl game anyways.
16. Ohio State (8-2): Terrelle Pryor silenced his critics with a big win in Happy Valley. Now the Buckeyes host Iowa in the Big 11 Championship game. Well, not really, but the two teams are playing for the conference crown this weekend. Can Ohio State prove itself the most undeserving conference champ in the nation once again? We'll have to wait and see.
17. Oklahoma State (7-2): Mike Gundy's team showed some resiliance this week, making sure they didn't get beat by Iowa State after their dissapointing loss to Texas last week. The loss of Dez Bryant (this time for sure) was also surely a distraction they were able to overcome.
18. Southern Cal (7-2): Looks like the Pac-10 is finally not scared of the big-bad USC anymore. Arizona State almost beat them, and they're another sub-.500 team. You think USC can avoid losses to Stanford and Arizona? I'm not so sure they can.
19. Penn State (8-2): That's gotta be tough. Thinkin' you have a chance against the Buckeyes, only for them to punk you... Luckily for Penn State, they're still most likely going to book a nice bowl game to sunny Florida instead of getting beat up by a Pac-10 team in the Rose Bowl.
20. Wisconsin (7-2): With matchups against three sub-par teams still to go, and their only losses against the two best teams in the conference, the Badgers have a chance to hit double digit wins before bowl season begins.
21. Texas Tech (6-3): No news is good news for the Red Raiders. No game means no chance to lose, and Mike Leach's team is safe for now. Second place in the Big 12 south is on the line this weekend against Oklahoma State.
22. South Florida (6-2): Same story as above. Thankfully for South Florida, the bulk of the Big East schedule is behind them. They travel to Rutgers this weekend. After that, it's doormat Louisville followed by a visit from the Hurricanes.
23. Virginia Tech (6-3): Check out who's back! A win against the Purple Pirates coupled with losses by formerly ranked teams allows the Hokies to climb into the rankings. Their final three games are all very winnable, but don't be surprised if the Hokies stumble yet again.
24. Clemson (6-3): Did they really rush the field against Florida State? They realize that this is 2009, not 1999, right? Two winnable games preceede the matchup against South Carolina. After that, expect a rematch against Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game.
25. Auburn (7-3): A third Tigers team in the top 25? Yep. After their three game slide, Auburn has won two in a row. That's good enough for the last spot in this week's rankings. They face a very beatable Georgia this weekend before the Iron Bowl.
Dropped form the rankings:
Notre Dame (formerly #15): They lost to Navy. Navy is a good team, but quarterbacks as good as Jimmy Clausen with weapons like Golden Tate have no excuse losing to service academy schools. The disparity in talent should be too large.
Oklahoma (formerly #21): I guess Landry Jones isn't that good when he faces a good defense. Nebraska held Oklahoma to three points. The last time they didn't have a touchdown was all the way back in 1998. Embarassing. But at least the defense is still solid.
California (formerly #22): Jahvid Best is out. Cal got beat. Overall, not a very good weekend for the Golden Bears.
Matchups of ranked teams this week:
#9 Iowa @ #16 Ohio State
#5 TCU vs #15 Utah
#17 Oklahoma State vs #21 Texas Tech
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