Aside from the
downward movement by LSU from #5 to #9 after its last minute loss to #1
Alabama, there’s almost no movement in the Top Ten. Below that, however,
there’s plenty of shuffling going on.
There are some
interesting match-ups this week and not all of them are at the top of the list.
Things get going Tuesday night. For those of you not interested in following
the election returns we have a MAC contest between #23 Toledo (7-2) against
Ball State (6-3).
(This week’s
rankings from the AP, Coaches’, Harris Interactive, BCS Standings. Rankings
given last week appear in parentheses.
NR = Not Rated. Numbers in parentheses after the team’s name are the
records.)
1/1/1/1 (1/1/1/1) Alabama (9-0) The Crimson Tide hosts the #15
Texas A&M Aggies (7-2). The Aggies have a more potent offense than LSU but
their defense has been suspect at times. Alabama should continue to be
undefeated.
2/2/2/3 (2/2/2/4) Oregon (9-0) The Ducks head south to play
the California Golden Bears (3-7). Why isn’t there a mercy rule in college
football? Oregon may post 70 points in this one even playing the second and
third string in the second half.
3/3/3/2 (3/3/3/2) Kansas State (9-0) The Wildcats head to
Texas to play the TCU Horned Frogs (6-3). A lot will depend upon whether Collin
Klein can play in this one. If he plays, the Wildcats will win big, if he doesn’t,
they win small with more depending upon the KState defense.
4/4/4/4 (4/4/4/3) Notre Dame (9-0) The Fighting Irish will
play on the road against the Boston College Eagles (2-7). BC is not Pitt. They
have little on offense and, perhaps, even less on defense. The Irish should win
easily as long as they don’t look past the Eagles.
5T/NR/NR (6/NR/NR/NR) Ohio State (10-0) The Buckeyes have
the week off.
5T/5/5/5 (7/6/6/6) Georgia (8-1) The Bulldogs are on the
road to play the Auburn Tigers (2-7). The Dogs should chew up the Tigers. This
isn’t the Auburn of a couple of years ago.
7/7/7/6 (8/8/8/7) Florida (8-1) The Gators host the Ragin’
Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette (5-3). If the Gators execute, they should chomp
the Cajuns. But, Florida has been known to underperform.
8/6/6/10 (9/7/7/9) Florida State (8-1) The Seminoles are on
the road to play the Virginia Tech Hokies (4-5) Thursday night. Yeah, it’s
being played in Blacksburg, but that won’t make a difference. FSU has too much
talent and the Hokies haven’t played well this year at all.
9/9/8/7 (5/5/5/5) LSU (7-2) The Tigers host the #22 Mississippi
State Bulldogs (7-2). LSU should rebound after that heartbreaking, last minute
loss to Alabama. It will still be close, however.
10/8/9/13 (10/9/9/13) Clemson (8-1) The Tigers host the
Maryland Terrapins (4-5). Welcome to the Tajh Boyd show. Tigers by at least
four TDs.
11/10/10/9 (12/10/10/10) Louisville (9-0) The Cardinals are
on the road to face the Syracuse Orange (4-5). It gets noisy in the Dome. When the home team
has fans show up. Will they show for the Orange? Louisville wins another one.
12/11/11/8 (11/11/11/8) South Carolina (7-2) The Gamecocks
will host the Arkansas Razorbacks (4-5). South Carolina should win this one easily.
13/12/12/11 (13/13/13/11) Oregon State (7-1) The Beavers head
south to play the #16 Stanford Cardinal (7-2). This will be one very close game
with lots of scoring. As for who wins? Flip a coin.
14/13/13/12 (14/12/12/12) Oklahoma (6-2) The Sooners will
host the Baylor Bears (4-4). The Sooners have more than enough defense and just
enough offense to down the Bears.
15/14/15/15 (16/16/18/16) Texas A&M (7-2) The Aggies
travel east to face the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0). Aggies fall victim to
one very powerful team.
16/15/14/14 (15/15/14/14) Stanford (7-2) The Cardinal host
the #13 Oregon State Beavers (7-1). A high scoring affair that will be decided
in the fourth quarter. The team that punts least wins.
17/19/21/18 (25/NR/NR/NR) UCLA (7-2) The Bruins head north
to play the Washington State Cougars (2-7). The Cougars are a team on the
rocks. The Bruins are much better. Bruins will win by at least 14 points.
18/16/16/16 (21/21/21/20) Nebraska (7-2) The Cornhuskers
host the Penn State Nittany Lions (6-3). Despite their record, Nebraska hasn’t
really impressed me. They can be had and Penn State may be able to pull off the
upset even if it is on the road.
19T/18/19/20 (22/23/24/25) Louisiana Tech (8-1) The Bulldogs
are on the road to play the Texas State Bobcats (3-5). The Bulldogs will score
early and often on the Bobcats.
19T/17/17/17 (NR/22/22/23) Texas (7-2) The Longhorns host
the Iowa State Cyclones (5-4). Texas is starting to look really, really good.
They win handily.
21/22/18/19 (18/17/16/17) Southern California (6-3) The
Trojans will host the Arizona State Sun Devils (5-4). Southern Cal wins a blowout.
22/23/20/21 (17/18/15/15) Mississippi State (7-2) The Bulldogs
started the season 7-0 but consecutive losses to Alabama and Texas A&M have
knocked them down a peg or two. The schedule doesn’t get much easier as the
head to Baton Rouge to face the #9 LSU Tigers (7-2). LSU should win.
23/25/NR/25 (NR/NR/NR/NR) Toledo
(8-1) The Rockets host the Ball State Cardinals (6-3) on Tuesday night. This
could be an entertaining game between to MAC squads that can post some
offensive numbers. I would give Toledo a slight edge, however.
24/20/22/23 (NR/25/23/NR) Rutgers (7-1) The Scarlet Knights
will host the Black Knights of Army (2-7). It’s been a tough week in the New
York/New Jersey area. I don’t know how things went at West Point, but I’m glad
RU had a bye this last weekend. Army can run the ball down your throat all day
long with the triple option. They are #1 in the nation in rushing. If Rutgers
can stop them, as they have Navy in the past, and force the Black Knights into
passing situations, the Scarlet should prevail. (Army is #120 out of 124 in
passing offense.) RU should also be able to run the ball against Army. Big day
for Jawan Jamison .
25/NR/25/22 (20/20/19/18) Texas Tech (6-3) The Red Raiders
will host the Kansas Jayhawks (1-8). Raiders will turn those Jayhawks blue.
NR/21/24/24 (NR/NR/NR/NR) Northwestern
(7-2) Wildcats will be on the road against the Michigan Wolverines (6-3). Could be a close game. Go with the home
team. Wolverines claw their way to a win.
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