College Football

With one month left in the college football regular season, I think it's time for some prognostication and discussion (read: ranting)

Let's start with my own top 10:
1. Michigan - The defense can be the best in the country when they want to, especially on the D-Line, and the offense is better than I expected, mostly because of Mike Hart. That blowout of ND is good enough for the #1 spot. Mario Manningham came out of nowhere to become a beast of a receiver.

2. Ohio State - Troy Smith is having a great year, and has the highlight plays, but James Laurenitis is my Heisman winner thus far, anchoring that defense. That win at Texas was impressive, but they beat a freshman QB making his 2nd start. Other than that, they haven't been challenged. Northwestern this wekend could be a trap game, with that spread offense, NW has a solid young QB.

3. Cal - I know I'll be called a west coast homer for this, but they were my preseason pick to win the Pac-10 and since that loss in the first game at Tennessee no team has been more consistent offensively (well, maybe Boise State). The defense is capable of making enough plays to keep them in the game for that offense with Lynch, Forsythe, and Longshore. That early loss was bad, but I give them a bit of a pass on it because it was Longshore's first game back from an injury and only his 5th or so start, which ruined any chance for Marshawn Lynch to get going.

4. Florida - Best team in the SEC, with their only loss coming because Urban Meyer undermined Chris Leak's confidence against Auburn in the 2nd half by bringing in Tebow in critical situations. I don't understand this SEC practice of cycling through QBs. Florida is the most complete, consistent team in the SEC.

5. USC - Big wins against Arkansas (who hasn't lost since) and Nebraska. The run game needs to improve, but the Carroll seems to have finally opened up the playbook for JD Booty to make use of Smith and Jarrett, both in the top 10 of college receivers. If they get healthy they have a chance to run the table in their brutal next month with games against Cal, Oregon, Notre Dame, and cross-town rival UCLA. If they win all of those games, they deserve to be in the title game.

6. Louisville - Big wins over a down Miami and West Virginia. With Brohm back in the lineup, they could finish up unbeaten, lest Rutgers pull the upset. They've managed well in the absence of Michael Bush.

7. Texas - If Cal gets a pass for an inexperienced QB, so does Texas, but they go lower because they lost at home. Sweed is one of the top 4 or 5 receivers in college football, and the defense can be staunch when they need to be. That fluke win over Nebraska keeps them out of the top 5, especially compared with what USC did against Nebraska. Big 12 title game should be a rematch with Nebraska in Kansas City means Texas is playing them on the road again, and Nebraska will be out for revenge, so we'll see where McCoy is in his development at that point.

8. Notre Dame - One big home loss ruined their chances at the national championship. Brady Quinn has occasionally looked great, but has looked mediocre against elite defenses. Samardijza and Zibikowski are about as good as a wide receiver and safety, respectively, can be at the college level.

9. Auburn - Blown out at home against Arkansas, but big wins against LSU and Florida get them in the top 10. The SEC keeps this whole thing screwy because Auburn beat Florida, but lost to Arkansas, but Arkansas is not as good as Florida, so it's a challenge to rank them. Auburn would be better with a better QB, but as it stands, they rely a little too much on Kenny Irons to be an elite team.

10. Arkansas - Since getting blown out against USC in the first game they're undefeated, and they played a different QB in that first game, and gave Darren McFadden, who's turned into an All-American caliber back, 9 carries. That blowout win at Auburn was impressive. Upcoming home games against LSU and Tennesee and then a potential SEC title game against Florida will show us how good (or not that good) this team is.



Just outside the top 10-
West Virginia - Slaton and White are a dangerous backfield and that offense can go point for point with just about every team in the country, but the defense looks like it was built by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Rutgers - The Scarlet Knights get little respect, but I think they can beat West Virginia and Louisville down the stretch with their defense and ball control ability with Ray Rice. An undefeated Rutgers is a scary thing, just because its Rutgers football.

Wisconsin - They look like they could be a great team, but the schedule was too easy for them, and they lost the one tough game they had against Michigan, so they'll finish with a very inflated 11-1 record.

Boise State - They need to schedule at least one tough out of conference game, because they smash every team they play by 25-30 points. Ian Johnson is a great running back and Jared Zabransky avoids making big mistakes.

LSU/Tennesee - Two SEC teams with 2 losses, due largely to coaching/injuries, because both of these defenses are every bit as good as Michigan when they play to potential. LSU beat Tennessee, but I imagine Tennessee would've won if Erik Ainge hadn't gotten injured early, and if Tennessee had won that game, they'd be #5 or 6, but they lost twice at home, so they slide.


Well, that top 10 took longer than I wanted it to, so I'm not gonna get into predictions tonight because now the Raider game is on. Maybe I'll come back to it after I go vote tomorrow morning.