(Note: Somehow my week 5 results post got deleted from the blog, so I have had to recreate it here – sorry if you read the previous version that was online for like 24 hours and this one seems different. I normally keep a duplicate of my posting on my MySpace, but hadn’t gotten around to copying it there.)
The greatest thing about college football, is that you just never know what might happen from week to week. This year has been the greatest example of the increasing parity being exhibited in the game.
No fewer that 5 of the top 10 teams LOST this week, 8 of the top 25. and a couple of more had significant problems. These result is a massive shift in the Top 25 this week, causing some very interesting future matchups!
I’d also like to say that this week was the week of the terrible officiating. I dont think I’ve seen any game worse than the USC- Washington game, but the Florida-Auburn game was almost as bad. Ridiculous that you call 25 penalties in any game much less not knowing rules regarding fair-catch interference and when a ball goes 20 yards over someone’s head and you still call defensive interference. Very bad.
Also, Kirk Herbstreet – bite me. Moving LSU up to #1 just because USC beats Washington by 3 is just foolish. Where were you last week, when Florida struggled in their victory? You certainly didn’t talk about moving THEM down. Be consisitent or shut up. Otherwise, we will just get the idea that you are saying what you do, to get a rise out of us true fans of the game.
With that I try to reconcile all this with a new Top 25. Believe me this is really hard with all the losses!
1. USC (4-0). Defeated Washington 27-24. Next week: Stanford at home.
Let’s see what changed since week 4 -USC won and so did LSU. USC played a real opponent on the road and won by 3. LSU beat a nobody at home. Why does this justify any movement?
2. LSU (5-0). Defeated Tulane 34-9. Next Week: Florida at home.
I’m sorry, Tiger fans, but just because you beat Tulane by 25 at home, that doesn’t gain you additional cool points. You needed a trick play to beat So. Carolina. Let’s see how things go against a REAL opponent this week. Then we’ll see.
3. California (5-0). Defeated Oregon 31-24. Next Week: Oregon St. at home
Both Cal and Oregon played an outstanding football game. What for a somewhat close call at the end of the game to nullify a TD, Oregon ties or wins. They are evenly matched, but with all the losses in the top 10, they move up.
4. Ohio State (5-0). Defeated Minnesota 30-7. Next Week: At Purdue.
Quietly and steadily, the Buckeyes improve and dominate each week. Their first real test comes this week against the Boilermakers to break a logjam in the Big 10.
5. Wisconsin (5-0). Defeated Mich St. 37-34. Next Week: At Illinois.
It wasn’t easy for the Badgers against MSU, and doesn’t get easier this week either. Wisconsin reminds me a little of Texas, in that I don’t think they have played to their potential yet. They need to put it all together to beat a good Illinois team.
6. Boston College (5-0). Defeated UMass 24-14. Next Week: Bowling Green at home.
The Eagles have beat both Wake Forest and Georgia Tech, but that’s the extent of it. So I worry a little bit about them being up in the top 10 right now. Upcoming with Va Tech will tell the truth.
7. South Florida (4-0). Defeated W Virginia 21-13. Next Week: At FAU.
Big time for the Bulls. Second year in a row to beat the Mountaineers. Granted WVU was without their starting QB for most of the game. The Bulls should stay around a while here, but still on the schedule are Rutgers, Louisville and Cincy. The road to the Big East Championship is still wide open.
8. Oregon (4-1). Lost to Cal 31-24. Next Week: Idle.
I am sure that the polls will drop Oregon down, but they went toe to toe with Cal and for all intents and purposes they came out even. I see great things for the Ducks, and perhaps some upsets.
9. Florida (4-1). Lost to Auburn 27-24. Next Week: At LSU.
Well I really can’t in all honesty drop the Gators out of the top 10. After all, this is supposed to represent the best teams in the country and even with a slip up, the Gators are one of them.
10. Kentucky (5-0). Defeated FAU 45-17. Next Week: At So Carolina.
Like the Buckeyes, the Wildcats here are quietly performing at a high level every week. This could be the most underrated teams in the country. But, a true test will be how they perform this week on the road playing a tough Gamecock team.
11. Georgia (4-1). Defeated Ole Miss 45-17. Next Week: At Tennessee.
The Bulldogs seem to have overcome the heartbreaking loss to So. Carolina in week 2, and playing at a dominant level. Competition in the SEC this year is brutal!
12. Oklahoma (4-1). Lost to Colorado 27-24. Next Week: Texas at Dallas.
The Sooners rolled up big point against high-school caliber opponents the first four weeks, but when a real team showed up, they proved who they were. Maybe they will try to schedule a bit more challenging opponents in the future. In any case, they’ll go against another week 5 loser, Texas, who couldn’t cope with Kansas State. The Red River shootout went from gold to pewter in a single day.
13. So. Carolina (4-1). Defeated Miss St 38-21. Next Week: Kentucky at home.
Spurrier must buckle down this week against a Kentucky team that has found that the oval ball can be just as fun as the round one. The Gamecocks can’t afford to lose another SEC game.
14. West Virginia (4-1). Lost to So Florida 21-13. Next Week: At Syracuse.
Shame that Steve Slayton couldn’t rise up and help the Mountaineers after Pat White went down, but thats footbal for ya. Hopefully, with a healthy Pat White, they’ll get back on a winning track, but remember that the Orange beat Louisville earlier this year (their only win of the season thus far).
15. Hawaii (5-0). Defeated Idaho 48-20. Next Week: Utah State at home.
When your team is averaging 54 points per games and 531 yards of offense per week. Something is right. But unlike one-dimensional teams such as Texas Tech and Lousville, the Warriors only allow 18 points per game in defense. Considering that these games are long, that’s an amazing stat.
16. Va Tech (4-1). Defeated No Carolina 17-10. Next Week: At Clemson.
The Hokies have arisen after their nationally televised dismantling at the hand of LSU. They are now tied for the ACC Coastal lead with none other than their state rival Virginia and another Phoenix rising from the ashes, Miami. Clemson is also 4-1, and its always tough playing there. Should be a good ballgame if Va Tech can find an offense.Only 17 points against UNC is a bit anemic.
17. Missouri (4-0). Defeated Illinois St 38-17. Next Week: Nebraska at home.
QB Chase Daniels has matured into quite a solid QB and effectively moving a good Tiger offense averaging over 42 points per game and 544 yards. The scary part is their defense which is giving up 25 points per game putting alot of pressure on that offense. This might bode no good against the Cornhuskers.
18. Texas (4-1). Lost to Kansas State 41-21. Next Week: Oklahoma at Dallas.
I warned you that the Longhorns were showing up poorly. This week I drop them from 8th to 18th because well, they deserve it for almost losing to everyone else and finally getting smashed by K-State. They’ll need to muster some fortitude to get through the B12 South this year, beginning with a big loss to OU this week.
19. Rutgers (4-1). Lost to Maryland 34-24. Next Week: Cincinnati at home.
Another bad loss for the Big East throwing the whole thing wide open. They will need to get the offense on track this week against an undefeated Cincy team. Where did THEY come from by the way?
20. Purdue (5-0). Defeated Notre Dame 33-19. Next Week: Ohio St at home.
Its crunch time for the Boilermakers. They are off to a terrific start and tied for the lead in the B10. But the Buckeyes come to town with a very effective O and stingy D. Put up time for Purdue. Great game??
21. UCLA (4-1). Defeated Oregon St. 40-14. Next Week: Notre Dame at home.
The Bruins show that their 3rd week lapse against Utah wasnt permanent. I like the team, and it does seem to operate just as well with a backup QB. So you gotta respect that!
22. Clemson (4-1). Lost to Ga Tech 13-3. Next Week: Va Tech at home.
Hard to figure out what happened against Georgia Tech, except both teams played an extremely tough defensive battle. I dont know what happened to the offense though. They’ll need to find it by game time this week to hope to beat Va Tech who has a defense of their own!
23. Nebraska (4-1). Defeated Iowa St 35-17. Next Week: At Missouri.
The Cornhuskers have brushed off the Trojanizing, and shown that they can compete each week, though they almost lost it against Ball State, hence their low ranking here. They will need to beat Missouri this week or the B12-North Championship will be all but gone.
24. Arizona St (5-0). Defeated Stanford 41-3. Next Week: At Washington St.
The Sun Devils have a bit of a hard time gaining respect in a conference with USC, UCLA, California, and Oregon, but they deserve some note. Can’t imagine them sneaking up much unless they beat one of the above.
25. Illinois (4-1). Defeated Penn State 27-20. Next Week: Wisconsin at home.
Nothing like a little pressure. Crack the top 25 for the 1st time this year, but now have to play a top 5 team to stay there. But watch out. They could do it.
On The Bubble:
Miami
Michigan State
Auburn
Kansas
Most Impressive teams: California, Kentucky, So Florida
Least Impressive teams: USC, West Virginia, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Clemson
Have a great week!!
