My Top 25 Final for Jan. 8, 2007

My Top 25 Final for Jan. 8, 2007
1. Boise State 13-0 I voted Boise State No. 1 because they did everything asked of them in their quest for a National Championship. They beat 11 win Hawaii. They beat 10 win Oregon State shortly after the Beavers beat 11 win USC. Remember USC slapped around several good teams including Michigan who some say where “cheated” out of the opportunity for the National Title game. The only team cheated out of a National Title was Boise State. They quietly accepted their bid and promptly beat 11 win Big 12 champion Oklahoma. Yes it was in OT and yes it was a trick play but an exciting win is an exciting win. You gotta love star running backand standup guy Ian Johnson proposing to his girlfriend cheerleader on national TV following the game. Just think what whould happen if we had a playoff and we had more exciting games like Boise State vs Oklahnoma. The NCAA basketball tournament thrives on the underdog and exciting games. Miles Brand and the NCAA would put the BCS money to the sade, they would realize more fans, better ratings and more money from a legitamate champion. Congratulations on Boise State for their never say die attitude and their ability to not wine even though they arguably should have had the chance for the championship. Oh yea, they also beat Nevada, Utah State, San Jose State, Fresno State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Utah and Wyoming.
2. Florida 13-1 The Gators where crowned National Champs after slapping around Ohio State. Would the Gators have beaten Boise State? Probably but we will never know because Miles Brand and the NCAA choose to take cash over a playoff system although every other other NCAA sport has one. Florida lost to Auburn earlier this year, that is why I put Florida No. 2. Beat Arkansas, Florida State, Western Carolina, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, Central Florida, Southern Miss and UTK.
3. Louisville 11-1 Beat Wake Forrest in the Orange Bowl. The loss to Rutgers, pretty much shot down their dreams of a National Title. Beat U Conn, Pittsburgh, South Florida, West Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnatti, Kansas State, Miami, MTSU and Kentucky.
4. Wisconsin 12-1 Beat Arkansas in the Citurus Bowl. The loss to Michigan pretty much knocked out Wisconsin’s title hopes. Beat Buffalo, Penn State, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa and San Deigo State.
5. Ohio State 12-1 Lost to Florida in the non-playoff “National Championship” game. Good team but not as good as Florida on gameday. The had a large bowl of choke soup flavored with Gator. Beat Michigan, Northwestern, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, Bowling Green, Iowa, Penn State, Cincinatti, Texas and Northern Illinois.
6. Auburn 11-2 Beat Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. They are the only team to beat Florida this season. Lost to Arkansas and Georgia. Beat Alabama, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, LSU, Washington State and Mississippi State.
7. LSU 11-2 Beat Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Lost to Florida and Auburn but beat Arkansas, Ole Miss, Alabama, Fresno State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Arizona, Tulane, UTK and Louisiana Lafayette.
8. Brigham Young 11-2 Beat Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. Beat Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, UNLV, San Deigo State, TCU and Utah State.
9. West Virginia 11-2 Beat Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl. Lost to South Florida and Louisville. Beat Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Cincinatti, U Conn, Syracuse, Mississippi State, East Carolina, Eastern Washington, Maryland and Marshall.
10. USC 11-2 After loosing to Oregon State and UCLA, USC finished the season strong beating Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Beat Notre Dame, Cal, Oregon, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State and Arizona.
11. Rutgers 11-2 Beat Kansas State in the Texas Bowl. Lost to West Virginia and Cincinnatti. Beat Louisville, Syracuse, U Conn, Pittsburgh, Navy, South Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Howard.
12. TCU 11-2 Beat Northern Illinois in the Poinsetta Bowl. Dropped to Utah and BYU. Beat San Deigo State, Air Force, Wyoming, Colorado State, Army, Texas Tech, UNLV, UC-Davis, New Mexico and Baylor.
13. Michigan 11-2 Choked to USC. So much for getting robbed for the Ohio State rematch. Lost to Ohio State. Beat Notre Dame, Indiana, Ball State, Northwestern, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, held off Vanderbilt and beat Notre Dame and Central Michigan.
14. Hawaii 11-3 Beat Arizona State in the Hawaii Bowl. Hawaii played a great game but lost to the same team that beat USC and was beaten by Boise State, Oregon State. Hawaii also lost to Boise State earlier this season. Yet another quality win for a team I think should play for the National Title. Hawaii also beat Purdue, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Utah State, Ohio, New Mexico State, Fresno State, Nevada and Eastern Illinois.
15. Texas 10-3 Beat Iowa in the Alamo Bowl. Lost to Texas A&M, Ohio State and Kansas State but beat Nebraska, Baylor, Oklahoma, Rice, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Iowa State.
16. Cal 10-3 Beat Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl. Beat Stanford, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State, Minnesota and Portland State but lost to Arizona, USC and UTK.
17. Boston College 10-3 Beat Navy in the Charlotte Bowl. Lost to the Fighting Hurricanes (Miami), Wake Forrest and NC State. Beat Buffalo, Florida State, Virginia, Maryland, Maine, BYU, Duke and narrowly edged Clemson.
18. Oklahoma 11-3 Lost to Boise State in OT in the Fiesta Bowl. Lost to Texas. Beat Nebraska, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Baylor, Colorado, Texas Tech, Iowa State and MTSU.
19. Notre Dame 10-3 Lost to LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Beat Army, Air Force, Navy, North Carolina, UCLA, Stanford, Purdue, Penn State, Georgia Tech and Michigan State. Lost to Michigan and USC.
20. Virginia Tech 10-3 Lost to Georgia in the Peach Bowl. Lost to Boston College and Georgia Tech. Beat Wake Forrest, Kent State, Miami, Clemson, Southern Mississippi, Cincinatti, Duke, Virginia, North Carolina and Northeastern.
21. Wake Forrest 11-3 Lost to Louisville in the Orange Bowl. Beat Georgia Tech, Maryland, Florida State, Boston College, North Carolina, NC State, Ole Miss, U Conn and Duke. Lost to Clemson and Virginia Tech.
22. Oregon State 10-4 beat Missouri in the Sun Bowl.
23. Georgia 9-4 beat Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl.
24. Arkansas 10-4 Lost to Wisconsin in the Citrus Bowl. Lost to Florida, USC and LSU. Beat Mississippi State, UTK, Beat South Carolina, LA Monroe, Ole Miss, Auburn and Alabama.
25. Penn State 9-4 beat UTK in the Outback Bowl.

Knocking on the Door
26. Maryland 9-4 beat Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl.
27. UTK 9-4 Lost to Penn State in the Outback Bowl. Beat Kentucky, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Memphis, Air Force, Marshall and Cal but lost to Arkansas, Florida and LSU.
28. Central Michigan 10-4 beat MTSU in the Motor City Bowl.
29. South Florida 9-4 beat East Carolina in the Papa Johns Bowl.
30. San Jose State 9-4 beat New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl.
31. South Carolina 8-5 Beat Houston in the Liberty Bowl.
32. Southern Miss 9-5 beat Ohio in the GMAC Bowl.
33. Kentucky 8-5 beat Clemson in the Music City Bowl.
34. Troy 8-5 beat Rice in the New Orleans Bowl.
35. Texas Tech 8-5 beat Minnesota in the Insight Bowl.

My Top 25 for Dec. 3, 2006

My Top 25 for Dec. 3, 2006
1. Ohio State 12-0 Next stop, National Championship Game. Beat Michigan, Northwestern, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, Bowling Green, Iowa, Penn State, Cincinatti, Texas and Northern Illinois.
2. Boise State 12-0 What more do you need this team to do to prove they belong in the BCS Championship game? They won every game they played this year. They handily beat Oregon State who beat USC. BS beat Hawaii. They best eight win Nevada. Their win over Oregon State was impressive. They also beat Utah State, San Jose State, Fresno State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Utah and Wyoming.
3. Michigan 11-1 I really wanted to rank Michigan higher after their loss to Ohio State. There should be no rematch for the National Championship. Yes they beat Notre Dame but there are no do-overs. Ohio State was the better team and someone else deserves a chance to prove they are better. Beat Indiana, Ball State, Northwestern, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, held off Vanderbilt and beat Notre Dame and Central Michigan.
4. Florida 12-1 The Gators made their case for the National Title game by beating Arkansas. Florida did lose to Auburn. In my mind Boise State has done everything asked of them and deserve to play for the title but if I had to pick another team to play Ohio State I would pick Florida because of their play during the season and win over Arkansas. Beat Florida State, Western Carolina, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, Central Florida, Southern Miss and UTK.
5. Louisville 10-1 The loss to Rutgers, pretty much shot down their dreams of a National Title. Beat U Conn, Pittsburgh, South Florida, West Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnatti, Kansas State, Miami, MTSU and Kentucky.
6. Wisconsin 11-1 The loss to Michigan pretty much knocked out Wisconsin’s title hopes. Beat Buffalo, Penn State, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa and San Deigo State.
7. LSU 10-2 Lost to Florida and Auburn but beat Arkansas, Ole Miss, Alabama, Fresno State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Arizona, Tulane, UTK and Louisiana Lafayette.8. Notre Dame 10-2 Beat Army, Air Force, Navy, North Carolina, UCLA, Stanford, Purdue, Penn State, Georgia Tech and Michigan State. Lost to Michigan and USC.
9. Virginia Tech 10-2 Lost to Boston College and Georgia Tech. Beat Wake Forrest, Kent State, Miami, Clemson, Southern Mississippi, Cincinatti, Duke, Virginia, North Carolina and Northeastern.
10. Auburn 10-2 Lost to Arkansas and Georgia. Beat Alabama, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Florida, South Carolina, LSU, Washington State and Mississippi State.
11. Oklahoma 11-2 Lost to Texas. Beat Nebraska, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Baylor, Colorado, Texas Tech, Iowa State and MTSU.
12. Brigham Young 10-2 Beat Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, UNLV, San Deigo State, TCU and Utah State.
13. West Virginia 10-2 Lost to South Florida and Louisville. Beat Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Cincinatti, U Conn, Syracuse, Mississippi State, East Carolina, Eastern Washington, Maryland and Marshall.
14. Wake Forrest 11-2 Beat Georgia Tech, Maryland, Florida State, Boston College, North Carolina, NC State, Ole Miss, U Conn and Duke. Lost to Clemson and Virginia Tech.
15. USC 10-2 USC beat Notre Dame but coulden’t win when it counted in SoCal at UCLA. No National Title ofr you! They also lost to Oregon State. Oregon State lost to Boise State. Beat Cal, Oregon, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State and Arizona.
16. Rutgers 10-2 Lost to West Virginia and Cincinnatti. Beat Louisville, Syracuse, U Conn, Pittsburgh, Navy, South Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Howard.
17. TCU 10-2 Dropped to Utah and BYU. Beat San Deigo State, Air Force, Wyoming, Colorado State, Army, Texas Tech, UNLV, UC-Davis, New Mexico and Baylor.
18. Hawaii 10-3 Hawaii played a great game but lost to the same team that beat USC and was beaten by Boise State, Oregon State. Hawaii also lost to Boise State earlier this season. Yet another quality win for a team I think should play for the National Title. Hawaii also beat Purdue, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Utah State, Ohio, New Mexico State, Fresno State, Nevada and Eastern Illinois.
19. Arkansas 10-3 Lost to Florida, USC and LSU. Beat Mississippi State, UTK, Beat South Carolina, LA Monroe, Ole Miss, Auburn and Alabama.
20. UTK 9-3 Beat Kentucky, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Memphis, Air Force, Marshall and Cal but lost to Arkansas, Florida and LSU.
21. Texas A&M 9-3 Beat Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana Tech and Louisiana Lafayette but lost to Texas Tech, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
22. Houston 10-3 Lost to Southern Mississippi and Louisiana Lafayette. Barely lost to Miami. Beat Southern Mississippi, Memphis, Tulsa, Central Florida, UTEP, SMU, Oklahoma State, and Tulane.
23. Texas 9-3 Lost to Texas A&M, Ohio State and Kansas State but beat Nebraska, Baylor, Oklahoma, Rice, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Iowa State.
24. Nebraska 9-3 GAME IN PROGRESS vs Oklahoma
Beat Colorado, Texas A&M, Missouri, Beat Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas and Troy. Lost to Oklahoma State and Texas.
25. Cal 8-3 GAME IN PROGRESS vs Stanford
Beat UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State, Minnesota and Portland State but lost to Arizona, USC and UTK.

Knocking on the Door
26. Navy 9-3 Lost to Rutgers, Notre Dame and Tulsa. Beat Army, Duke, Air Force, Temple, U Mass and U Conn.
27. Boston College 9-3 Lost to the Fighting Hurricanes (Miami), Wake Forrest and NC State. Beat Buffalo, Florida State, Virginia, Maryland, Maine, BYU, Duke and narrowly edged Clemson.

My Top 25 for Nov. 25, 2006

My Top 25 for Nov. 25, 2006

1. Ohio State 12-0 Next stop, National Championship Game. Beat Michigan, Northwestern, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, Bowling Green, Iowa, Penn State, Cincinatti, Texas and Northern Illinois.
2. Boise State 12-0 What more do you need this team to do to prove they belong in the BCS Championship game? They won every game they played this year. They handily beat Oregon State 8-4 who beat USC. BS beat two loss Hawaii. Today they beat 8 win Nevada. Their win over Oregon State was impressive. They also beat Utah State, San Jose State, Fresno State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Utah and Wyoming.
3. Michigan 11-1 I really wanted to rank Michigan higher after their loss to Ohio State. There should be no rematch for the National Championship. Yes they beat Notre Dame but there are no do-overs. Ohio State was the better team and someone else deserves a chance to prove they are better. Beat Indiana, Ball State, Northwestern, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, held off Vanderbilt and beat Notre Dame and Central Michigan.
4. USC 10-1 USC impressed me with their win over Notre Dame. They still have to beat UCLA next weekend. A dominating performance there and I may consider them for the National Championship game. The close loss to Oregon State is their lone blemish. Oregon State lost to Boise State hence my favoring for Boise State to play for the title rather than USC. Beat Cal, Oregon, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State and Arizona.
5. Florida 11-1 With their win over Florida State, Florida will now try to beat Arkansas next weekend to make their case for a shot at the National Title. Lost to Auburn. Beat Western Carolina, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, Central Florida, Southern Miss and UTK.
6. Louisville 10-1 The loss to Rutgers, pretty much shot down their dreams of a National Title. Beat Pittsburgh, South Florida, West Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnatti, Kansas State, Miami, MTSU and Kentucky.
7. Wisconsin 11-1 The loss to Michigan pretty much knocked out Wisconsin’s title hopes. Beat Buffalo, Penn State, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa and San Deigo State.
8. Rutgers 9-1 Lost to Cincinnatti. Beat Louisville, Syracuse, U Conn, Pittsburgh, Navy, South Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Howard.
9. LSU 10-2 Lost to Florida and Auburn but beat Arkansas, Ole Miss, Alabama, Fresno State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Arizona, Tulane, UTK and Louisiana Lafayette.
10. Arkansas 10-2 Lost to LSU in a good game but their National Championship hopes are over. Beat Mississippi State, UTK, Beat South Carolina, LA Monroe, Ole Miss, Auburn and Alabama. Lost to USC.
11. Notre Dame 10-2 ND’s Championship hopes are over after being humiliated by USC. Beat Army, Air Force, Navy, North Carolina, UCLA, Stanford, Purdue, Penn State, Georgia Tech and Michigan State. Lost to Michigan.
12. Virginia Tech 10-2 Lost to Boston College and Georgia Tech. Beat Wake Forrest, Kent State, Miami, Clemson, Southern Mississippi, Cincinatti, Duke, Virginia, North Carolina and Northeastern.
13. Hawaii 9-2 Beat Purdue, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Utah State, Ohio, Beat New Mexico State, Fresno State, Nevada and Eastern Illinois. Lost to Boise State.
14. Auburn 10-2 Lost to Arkansas and Georgia. Beat Alabama, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Florida, South Carolina, LSU, Washington State and Mississippi State.
15. Oklahoma 10-2 Lost to Texas. Beat Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Baylor, Colorado, Texas Tech, Iowa State and MTSU.
16. Brigham Young 10-2 Beat Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, UNLV, San Deigo State, TCU and Utah State.
17. West Virginia 9-2 Lost to South Florida and Louisville. Beat Pittsburgh, Cincinatti, U Conn, Syracuse, Mississippi State, East Carolina, Eastern Washington, Maryland and Marshall.
18. Wake Forrest 10-2 Beat Maryland, Florida State, Boston College, North Carolina, NC State, Ole Miss, U Conn and Duke. Lost to Clemson and Virginia Tech.
19. TCU 9-2 Dropped to Utah and BYU. Beat San Deigo State, Wyoming, Colorado State, Army, Texas Tech, UNLV, UC-Davis, New Mexico and Baylor.
20. UTK 9-3 Beat Kentucky, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Memphis, Air Force, Marshall and Cal but lost to Arkansas, Florida and LSU.
21. Texas A&M 9-3 Beat Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana Tech and Louisiana Lafayette but lost to Texas Tech, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
22. Houston 9-3 Lost to Southern Mississippi and Louisiana Lafayette. Barely lost to Miami. Beat Memphis, Tulsa, Central Florida, UTEP, SMU, Oklahoma State, and Tulane.
23. Texas 9-3 Lost to Texas A&M, Ohio State and Kansas State but beat Nebraska, Baylor, Oklahoma, Rice, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Iowa State.
24. Nebraska 8-3 Beat Colorado, Texas A&M, Missouri, Beat Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas and Troy. Lost to Oklahoma State and Texas.
25. Cal 8-3 Beat UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State, Minnesota and Portland State but lost to Arizona, USC and UTK.

Knocking on the Door
26. Georgia Tech 9-3 Lost to Georgia, Clemson and Notre Dame and beat The Fighting Hurricanes, NC, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Duke, NC State and Virginia.
27. Navy 8-3 Lost to Rutgers, Notre Dame and Tulsa. Beat Duke, Air Force, Temple, U Mass and U Conn.
28. Boston College 9-3 Lost to the Fighting Hurricanes (Miami), Wake Forrest and NC State. Beat Buffalo, Florida State, Virginia, Maryland, Maine, BYU, Duke and narrowly edged Clemson.
29. Ohio 9-3 Beat Miami of Ohio, Akron, Eastern Michigan and Kent State.

A Rematch Would be Just Wrong, Other Options?

A Rematch Would be Just Wrong
Saturday’s game Ohio State vs Michigan was one of the best games of the season. I can’t argue that. What I do have a problem with is a rematch. Yes it would probably be a good game but the National Championship game is not the place to relive good games. National Championship game was added to crown a champion (although the only true way to do that is to have a playoff but I digress.) Only two things can happen of Ohio State and Michigan meet again. 1. Ohio State wins and proves that they were better than Michigan twice in one year. 2. Michigan wins and everyone will then want to see a third game. There are no do-overs in college football. A do-over game to crown a “National Champion?” That’s pathetic.

Ok, so if not Ohio State vs Michigan then who?

USC
USC is a natural pick. They knocked off Arkansas, Nebraska, Oregon and Cal. They have yet to play Notre Dame and UCLA. If they were to win out they would have a good argument except for one big flaw. They choked to Oregon State 33-31. Oh sure it was close but Oregon State is 7-4 with two more big games to play. Yes USC has a tough schedule but they lost to one of the weaker teams on their schedule.

Florida
What about Gator Nation? They have also beaten good teams. Their only loss was to 10-2 Auburn. That is better than losing to Oregon State. They still have to beat Florida State and Arkansas in the SEC Championship game. Do that and they have a good argument.

Notre Dame
They still have to play USC but if they win that, they have a good argument. Their only loss came at the hands of Michigan. Michigan played Ohio State the closest but as I noted above, playing them in a do-over game us a mute point so Notre Dame may be the next best thing.

Arkansas
The Hogs’ only loss was a thumping at the hands of USC. At the time Arkansas had a young team, in fact their first few games were all tight but as the season moved on, the Hogs matured. Having wins over Auburn, and UTK will help but they still have to beat LSU Friday and Florida in the SEC Championship game. Arkansas is one of the most exciting teams in the nation and deserves a good look.

Wisconsin
The only ranked team the Badgers played this season, they lost to. Michigan slapped the Badgers 27-13.

West Virginia, Louisville, Rutgers
Oh what a tangled Big Least web we weave. It would have been so simple if only one of these teams went undefeated. West Virginia looks like the best of the three with their only loss at the hands of Louisville. Louisville lost to Rutgers. Rutgers choked to Cincinnati. Rutgers still has to play West Virginia. See the circle? All three have two conference games to play. All three are a far cry from the title game.

Boise State
Boise who? You know the guys that play on the Smurf Turf. The WAC team that is undefeated. No they didn’t play a top 25 team or beat USC but they did beat Oregon State 42-14. Oregon State beat National Championship favorite USC so why won’t the powers that be give Boise State a chance? Of the 12 teams on their schedule, 6 are bowl eligible. If they beat 8-3 Nevada Saturday, they will have gone undefeated. Boise State did all that they could do with the schedule they had. If they remain undefeated and USC stumbles, the Broncos deserve to get a good look to play in the National Championship game.

My Top 25 for Nov. 18, 2006

My Top 25 for Nov. 18, 2006
1. Ohio State 12-0 Next stop, National Championship Game. Beat Michigan, Northwestern, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, Bowling Green, Iowa, Penn State, Cincinatti, Texas and Northern Illinois.
2. Boise State 11-0 Why is Boise State #2? They handily beat Oregon State who beat USC 9-1. USC beat Arkansas 10-1. BS beat two loss Hawaii. They also beat three loss Nevada. Not stellar credentials but their win over Oregon State was impressive. They also beat Utah State, San Jose State, Fresno State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Utah and Wyoming.
3. Arkansas 10-1 Why Arkansas? They are on fire! They are the best in the SEC. A win against LSU and in the SEC Championship game and they have a good argument to face Ohio State. Beat Mississippi State, UTK, Beat South Carolina, LA Monroe, Ole Miss, Auburn and Alabama. Lost to USC.
4. West Virginia 9-1 They lost to Louisville. They beat everyone else handily and will beat Rutgers. Beat Pittsburgh, Cincinatti, U Conn, Syracuse, Mississippi State, East Carolina, Eastern Washington, Maryland and Marshall. Just win and a BCS Bowl is in their future.
5. Michigan 11-1 I really wanted to rank Michigan higher after their loss to Ohio State. There should be no rematch for the National Championship. Yes they beat Notre Dame but there are no do-overs. Ohio State was the better team and someone else deserves a chance to prove they are better. Beat Indiana, Ball State, Northwestern, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, held off Vanderbilt and beat Notre Dame and Central Michigan.
6. Notre Dame 10-1 If they deserve the No. 6 spot then they will beat USC next weekend. Beat Army, Air Force, Navy, North Carolina, UCLA, Stanford, Purdue, Penn State, Georgia Tech and Michigan State. Lost to Michigan.
7. Louisville 9-1 With the loss to Rutgers, Louisville pretty much shot down their dreams of a National Title. Beat South Florida, West Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnatti, Kansas State, Miami, MTSU and Kentucky.
8. Florida 10-1 An impressive win over Florida State next weekend and an SEC Championship win over Arkansas can hep their case for a shot at the National Title. Lost to Auburn. Beat Western Carolina, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, Central Florida, Southern Miss and UTK.
9. Wisconsin 11-1 The loss to Michigan pretty much knocked out Wisconsin’s title hopes. Beat Buffalo, Penn State, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa and San Deigo State.
10. USC 9-1 They embarrased a young Arkansas team at the beginning of the season, beat a decent Nebraska team but choked and lost to Oregon State 7-4. A win over Notre Dame and then UCLA will help their case for a shot at the National Title but they have to prove that their loss to an unranked team is a fluke. Beat Cal, Oregon, Stanford, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State and Arizona.
11. Rutgers 9-1 Lost to Cincinnatti. Beat Louisville, Uconn, Pittsburgh, Navy, South Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Howard.
12. LSU 9-2 Lost to Florida and Auburn but beat Ole Miss, Alabama, Fresno State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Arizona, Tulane, UTK and Louisiana Lafayette.
13. Georgia Tech 9-2 Lost to Clemson and Notre Dame and beat The Fighting Hurricanes, NC, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Duke, NC State and Virginia.
14. Virginia Tech 9-2 Lost to Boston College and Georgia Tech. Beat Wake Forrest, Kent State, Miami, Clemson, Southern Mississippi, Cincinatti, Duke, North Carolina and Northeastern.
15. Oklahoma 9-2 Lost to Texas. Beat Texas A&M, Missouri, Baylor, Colorado, Texas Tech, Iowa State and MTSU.
16. Hawaii 8-2 Beat San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Utah State, Ohio, Beat New Mexico State, Fresno State, Nevada and Eastern Illinois. Lost to Boise State.
17. Auburn 10-2 Lost to Arkansas and Georgia. Beat Alabama, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Florida, South Carolina, LSU, Washington State and Mississippi State.
18. Brigham Young 9-2 Beat New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, UNLV, San Deigo State, TCU and Utah State.
19. Texas 9-2 Lost to Ohio State and Kansas State but beat Nebraska, Baylor, Oklahoma, Rice, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Iowa State.
20. Wake Forrest 8-2 Beat Florida State, Boston College, North Carolina, NC State, Ole Miss, U Conn and Duke. Lost to Clemson and Virginia Tech.
21. TCU 8-2 Dropped to Utah and BYU. Beat San Deigo State, Wyoming, Army, Texas Tech, UNLV, UC-Davis, New Mexico and Baylor.
22. Boston College 9-2 Lost to Wake Forrest and NC State. Beat Buffalo, Florida State, Virginia, Maryland, Maine, BYU Duke and narrowly edged Clemson.
23. Clemson 8-3 Lost to Maryland and Virginia Tech. Beat NC, Georgia Tech, Temple, Wake Forrest, Louisiana Tech, North Carolina and Florida State.
24. UTK 8-3 Beat Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Memphis, Air Force, Marshall and Cal but lost to Arkansas, Florida and LSU.
25. Texas A&M 8-3 Beat Baylor, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana Tech and Louisiana Lafayette but lost to Texas Tech, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Knocking on the Door
26. Houston 9-3 Lost to Southern Mississippi and Louisiana Lafayette. Barely lost to Miami. Beat Memphis, Tulsa, Central Florida, UTEP, SMU, Oklahoma State, and Tulane.
27. Nebraska 8-3 Beat Texas A&M, Missouri, Beat Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas and Troy. Lost to Oklahoma State and Texas.
28. Cal 8-3 Beat UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State, Minnesota and Portland State but lost to Arizona, USC and UTK.
29. Maryland 7-3 Lost to Boston College. Beat Miami, Clemson, Beat Florida State, NC State, Virginia and FIU. Almost upset Georgia Tech.
31. Navy 8-3 Lost to Rutgers, Notre Dame and Tulsa. Beat Duke, Air Force, Temple, U Mass and U Conn.
32. Nevada 8-3 Beat Louisiana Tech, Utah State, Idaho, New Mexico State, Colorado State, Northwestern and UNLV.
33. Ohio 8-3 Beat Akron, Eastern Michigan and Kent State.

Not So Fast!

Not So Fast!

10.West Virginia 8-1 at Pittsburgh 6-4
Even though West Virginia lost to Louiville, they still have an outside chance at the National title. They must get by a good Pittsburgh team. They will but it will be no picnic.

16.Maryland 8-2 at 23.Boston College 8-2
The killer turtles want to take down the Eagles. They just may but it will be close.

19.Auburn 9-2 at Alabama 6-5
Even though Auburn looks to lock this final game up, it is never a lock in the Iron Bowl. Auburn by 6.

15.Virginia Tech 8-2 at 12.Wake Forrest 9-1
If Virginia Tech wants to be the best, they must beat Wake Forrest. They will but it will be a good game.

3.Rutgers 9-0 at Cincinnatti 5-5
Undefeated and a national title chance? Not until they win their next three games including the season ending game at West Virginia. They will win their first of three at Cincinatti this Saturday.

24.Cal 8-2 at 11.USC 8-1
Good but good enough for a title. USC was picked for the natioal championship and they still can get there. A win over Cal looks good on the resumae. Cal was picked as the top team in the PAC 10. Well they fell twice but they won’t fall this weekend. They beat USC by 3.

2.Michigan 11-0 at 1.Ohio State 11-0
The winner here goes to play in the national championship game. The looser will pray that the other one loss teams and undefeated teams lose. Ohio State has already been crowned the best team in football but some talking heads. I have been critical of the luckeyes but I can’t anymore. They are the best in the land. They won at Texas and Iowa back when Iowa was good. They also knocked off Penn State. They are playing at home Saturday with the hopes of running the table in the Big 10. But Not So Fast. Michigan also won all of their Big 10 re 11 games including beating Notre Dame. If this game was in Ann Arbor it would be a no brainer but because it is in C’bus, this one will be close but Michigan will win.

The phrase “Not So Fast!” is my tribute to Lee Corso of ESPN. It is not intended to infringe on any copyright laws or trademarks.

Look for my rankings Sunday night.

Welcome to My Top 25

Welcome to My Top 25. This website will be devoted primarily to college football, my personal rankings, picks and commentary. From time to time I may also throw in my take on other sports. I also have a sister website at www.openwheeler.blogspot.com. Thanks for visiting the website. If you have any ideas on how to make this website better, feel free to drop me a line.