Week 15 rankings

Well, if anything, we learned who the real best team in the country is. I can't say I'm too happy about it, but it is what it is. Here we go.

1. Alabama (13-0): Well, there's really no question left about it now, is there?
2. Texas Christian (12-0): They've played like the second best team in the country all year and deserve to play for the title.
3. Texas (13-0): That didn't look like a championship team. If not for a stupid horse-collar tackle by Nebraska, the Huskers are playing in Glendale, with Texas probably playing in the Orange.
4. Cincinnati (12-0): Are they better than the Longhorns as well? Probably not, but their one point win was arguably better than Texas'.
5. Florida (12-1): Alabama pretty much annihilated Florida. Without Dunlap to put pressre on McElroy, the Florida D couldn't get pressure to force the Tide into making mistakes. A date with Cincy probably awaits in the Sugar Bowl.

Week 14 rankings

Not much to say this week- Les Miles remembered how to coach, and I grudgingly moved Southern Cal back into the rankings. The national semi-final is all set for the SEC Championship next week, and there's some small upheval in the top five.

1. Florida (12-0): They had the best performance of any of the three big contenders this weekend. Tim may have cried before the game, but the Gators dominated and never looked back. This team is starting to fire on all cylinders at just the right time.
2. Alabama (12-0): Going down 14 points on the road in a rivalry game isn;t the best way to start off, but Bama showed that even if that does happen, they are prepared to handle it and win the game.
3. Texas Christian (12-0): They just looked better than Texas this weekend. They dominated a very dominate-able team, but like I said, they've often looked better than Texas this season. Rivalry weekend was the straw that broke the camel's back.
4. Texas (12-0): Unlike Florida, they didn't dominate. Unlike Bama, they never seemed like they would need a big comeback. They just played a sloppy game against a rival. You can't do that this late in the season, especially with a very good Nebraska defense up next.
5. Cincinnati (11-0): Remember Tony Pike? He's back. Six TDs on the day makes you wonder, would he have been running away with the Heisman if he hadn't been hurt?

Week 13 rankings

So, nothing too crazy happened this weekend. USC's defense managed a shutout. Taylor Mays and co. were tremndously helped out by the fact that they had a bye-week. By the way, they're still not ranked. You don't climb back in with a bye week.

In the only matchup of ranked teams, LSU fell to Mississippi on what has got to be one of the dumbest plays I have ever seen. Why wait until there's single digits on the clock, Les? You rarely see hail marys completed, and once you do you gotta get your field goal team out there. If anyone was wondering, I was going to blog about how I think LSU will win a close one, because Dexter McCluster scares me- looks like I was right on one count. Anyways, without further ado, here's this week's top teams.

1. Florida (11-0): Yes, they're back at number one. I think this is the fifth time Florida and Alabama have switched spots in the rankings, which says a lot about these clubs. Florida dominated a better team in FIU compared to Alabama's dominating (but less so) performance against a I-AA team.
2. Alabama (11-0): As long as Alabama shows up this week, they're going to beat Auburn (probably). What more can I say? If they and Florida take care of business as they should, the National SEC Championship in Atlanta will be the most important game of the year.
3. Texas (11-0): The Longhorns are still hanging around. They get to beat up on the Aggies before Nebraska gives them a much tougher game than anyone thinks they will.
4. Texas Christian (11-0): This is why college football needs a playoff. Many times over the past few weeks I've considered moving the Horned Frogs up to number three. That they don't get to play for a championship is a damn shame. Can we at least get a plus one?
5. Cincinnati (10-0): The Bearcats got a week heal the wounded (Tony Pike- remember him?) before pretty much a scrimmage against Illinois this week. I bet Cincy would love it if Nebraska were to show up Texas in two weeks... But Cincy has to win in Pittsburgh for it to matter.

Week 12 rankings

1. Alabama (10-0): They put Mississippi State away a lot easier than Florida did, and also did it a lot easier than Florida put away South Carolina. The waffling continues, because as of right now, Alabama is the top team in the country. After an off week (i.e. game against Chattanooga) the Tide faces Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
2. Florida (10-0): As a Florida fan, I was dying for about 2 and a half quarters. I'd never been happier than when Justin Trattou grabbed that ball out of the air, separated biceps and all. The Gamecocks are good, but the Gators shouldn't have had the problems they did. A game like that against Alabama won't cut it.
3. Texas (10-0): Another week, another chance for Texas to beat up on a cellar-dweller. Nebraska could end up making it an interesting game should they meet in the Big 12 championship game.
4. Texas Chrisitian (10-0): I'm really surprised that Utah managed as many points as they did, but it wasn't enough. While TCU has only two games left, Boise State has three. Will that hurt the Horned Frogs? I doubt it.
5. Cincinnati (10-0): The Bearcats have what should be a laugher against Illinois coming up before the big showdown with Pitt. If the Panthers beat WVU, then it will be for the Big East title and  BCS bid, because fo some reason, if Pitt wins, I think the Bearcats will be left in the cold by the BCS.

This weekend's previews

#9 Iowa vs #16 Ohio State
These two teams have the 2nd and 3rd ranked scoring defenses (Ohio State and Iowa) in the conference. Both allow under 300 yards a game, and both have over 15 picks (16 for OSU and 20 for Iowa).
I think that the difference in this game is going to come down to personel and home field advantage.

Week 11 rankings

Once again my hectic life (sort of) has caused me to miss posting predictions, but for what it's worth, I would have gone 1-1 in my ranked game previews. I was planning on picking Bama and Penn State. Also, not to toot my own horn, but I do believe I somewhat called Oregon's upset (refer here to Oregon's entry). Anywho, without further tarrying, here are my rankings for week 11.

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 stiff test when they travel to South Carolina next week.
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.

Week 10 rankings

1. Florida (8-0): For the first time this year, they looked like the Gators of 2008. Yeah, it came against Georgia, but it was rivalry game, and those can be crazy. Ask the 2006 USC squad.
2. Alabama (8-0): Alabama had the week off to prepare for #6 LSU this week, and despite Texas's big win against Oklahoma State, I think Alabama is still the more impressive team.
3. Texas (8-0): Dayum Texas, that's the kinda shellackin' people have expected from you all year. With Oklahoma State taken care of, all Texas must do is avoid the upset until they reach Pasadena.
4. Iowa (9-0): Those first three quarters were textbook Iowa football. The last quarter was surreal. If they can play whole games like they played in the first quarter, the Big 10 could be sending a team to the national championship for the third time in four years.
5. Cincinnati (8-0): An admirable performance by Cincinnati and a three touchdown win wasn't enough to keep Iowa from jumping them again. Still, with a backup quarterback in, that's not a bad week for the Bearcats. They get UConn at home this week.

Week 9 rankings

For once, a week in college football where a top 5 team didn't fall, though Alabama did their damnedest. That said, there were some ranked teams that lost and will be falling down (or falling out of) the rankings.
So without further ado, here's the new top 25 for week 9.

1. Alabama (8-0): They may have had a rough time against Tennessee, but even elite teams don't completely dominate every week. That game reminded me of Florida vs South Carolina in 2006. The Tide are certainly good enough to win it all.
2. Florida (7-0): It was better than last week's game against Arkansas... kind of. Tebow needs to stop making bad throws, and Steve Addazio needs to work on his play calling. If the Gator offense can't get it together, Georgia will be tougher than anyone thinks.
3. Texas (7-0): There's the Colt McCoy we're looking for! Texas absolutely lit up a good Mizzou team, which does not bode well for the rest of the Big 12.
4. Cincinnati (7-0): They jump Iowa because of the way they win. Cincinnati does not play teams close. Blowing out Louisville is just the latest example.
5. Iowa (8-0): Iowa has won every game they've played in so far this year, and they've done it in the ugliest way possible. They needed a touchdown on 4th down with two seconds left this week. Still, ugly or not, they are undefeated.

Week 8 rankings

Another weekend of college football behind us, and more top 5 upsets in the books. Virginia Tech went down, Florida lucked out, and Colt McCoy showed that he's only a field goal better than Landry Jones (which my girlfriend pointed out before me). More undefeated teams fell by the wayside (South Florida, Kansas), and the first BCS rankings of the year are out. Without further ado, my rankings for week 8.

1. Alabama- They've played better than and worse than Florida against Arkansas and Kentucky respectively, but a win over Virginia Tech (which honestly, doesn't look quite as good now) has them ranked #1 in my poll for the first time this season.
2. Florida- Even elite teams have a bad game. If the Gators didn't want to lose the top spot, they should probably stop scheduling cupcakes and start playing some better teams.
3. Texas- "Colt McCoy is only 3 points better than Landry Jones."- Megen Olivo. True, but they're still undefeated in the Big 12.
4. Iowa- It's not pretty watching this football team, but they're 7-0 and that's impressive. Why they're not getting more love from the flesh and blood, I don't know.
5. Cincinnati- They steamrolled a good South Florida team in Tampa despite losing star quarterback Tony Pike. They still have Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Connecticut, but if they win out, they have a real shot at playing for a national title.

This weekend's previews: #5 Iowa @ #22 Wisconsin

Iowa is one of those teams that the folks at ESPN don't give much respect to. Despite a 6-0 record, they're ranked outside the top 10 in both the AP and USA Today polls, behind (one-loss) Ohio State and only a few spots above (one-loss) Penn State. Wisconsin is in a similar boat- despite being 5-1 and thuroughly outplaying Ohio State in the Horseshoe (Ohio State's defense sealed the deal), they find themselves unranked going into this week's matchup with the Hawkeyes.