The Top 10 - NCAA Football: Week 9

10. Boise State (8-0)/ Rutgers (7-0) (tie) Lets face it, mid-majors do not get any respect, but here are two that are still unbeaten (yes, I'm labeling Rutgers as a mid-major). Obviously, Boise State has a better track record than Rutgers, but Greg Schiano has steadily built up the jewel of the Garden State (take that Princeton). We’ll see how long Rutgers can hold on to their lofty ranking with tough games coming up. The Broncos, on the other hand, faced no one tougher than Pac-10 also-ran Oregon State (or possibly 5-2 Hawaii). I have a soft spot for Hawaii, because it’s just so damn fun building them up as a powerhouse in NCAA Football. Rutgers probably won't go undefeated, but they did win me a drink in a bar bet - that’s more than enough for this season.
Next goal for Rutgers: keep Jersey kids in Jersey.
Next goal for BS: Continue laughing at Dan Hawkins.

9. Auburn (7-1) I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but I almost put Auburn ahead of Arkansas. Luckily I corrected my obvious mistake. I hate it when teams have played each other and the loser of that game sits one spot ahead of their better. Case in point: this week the AP Poll had Tennessee one spot ahead of Florida, but Florida beat UT. What in Jim Bob Cooter is going on? Maybe if the AP corrected those aberrations they would actually get a say in the BCS. In the USA Today poll, Florida jumped UT (correcting their own dunce move of last week). Unfortunately, the Harris poll voters aren’t quite as smart yet. Maybe this whole BCS thing is a little complicated, but that’s for another day.
Next goal: Rise in polls to match high BCS rating.

8. Arkansas (6-1) What’s not to love about a true freshman quarterback leading a BCS conference team? On top of that, Mitch Mustain came to Arkansas with 3 classmates and their high school coach, who is now the Razorbacks Offensive coordinator. Oh, and Arkansas also has stud RB’s and a hobbit for a linebacker. If early season losses are better than late season losses, then why isn’t this team higher in the polls? Besides, that early loss came to undefeated Southern Cal and Arkansas went on to stun Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Next goal: Win the SEC West.

7. Clemson (7-1) Ok, Arkansas should probably be here (and maybe even Auburn), but it’s my poll. No one’s saying you have to agree, but hear me out. What’s not to love about this team outside of a 1-point loss to a tough BC squad? If Chansi Stuckey wasn't injured Clemson would be even more of an offensive super beast. Instead, they have been "forced" to rely upon 1,484 yards and 23 TDs from a two-headed monster backfield: James Davis and CJ Spiller. As if that isn't enough, Demerick Chancellor also has two 100 yard games from the RB position (albeit in scrub time against weak teams). Still, how can you not love three separate 100 yard rushers in one game, with no one exceeding 15 carries? Who needs a defense? Yet conveniently, Clemson fields a defense that just happens to allow the fewest PPG in the ACC. Even so, it might be more exciting if they'd just let the other team score so we could see that offense on the field more. Next goal: Win ACC Atlantic.
[I get it, "Atlantic" and "Coastal" divisions, just like the conference name. CLEVER!]

6. Louisville (7-0) They are undefeated and in a BCS conference. If Michael Bush was not hurt they might have moved past Texas in the rankings. That said, I still have a feeling that they will lose a game or two.
Next goal: Don’t F*** up. That, or get Bush to sign on for a senior year instead of a lucrative NFL contract.

5. Texas (7-1) I really don't think they're that great, but they did return alot of players from what I’m told is the team that won the National Championship. I could have sworn I only saw Vince Young playing in that game - didn't he win the title all by himself? Regardless, this year’s version has a good secondary and a very large go-to WR. They also have some talented RBs that can keep pressure off the QB. They got away with a gift vs. Nebraska, so until Texas can beat the Cornhuskers in the Big 12 Championship game I don't see them moving up in these rankings. I’m not saying Nebraska deserves to crack the top 10, but their only other loss was to USC, and that was by a smaller (MUCH smaller) margin than Arkansas’s loss.
Next goal: Win the Big 12 Title. If you can’t make the national championship game, complain and get into a better bowl than you deserved.

4. WVU (7-0) The Mountaineers are the real reason the option still exists in any form. Pat White and Steve Slaton lead the offense, Dan Mozes leads the offensive line, and Rich Rodriguez leads the whole thing. How far can they go? This is a team that got back to basics this year after wiping the floor with Georgia in last years Sugar Bowl (at least for the first half). WVU is no stranger to backyard brawls and the meat of their schedule still lies ahead of them (Louisville, Pitt (THE Backyard Brawl), Rutgers (yes, Rutgers can be considered on the meat of somebody’s schedule, just not the cream)). Football has a lot of food analogies...I’m hungry. Anyway, I hope WVU goes undefeated and gets a shot at the national championship. It should be noted that Pat White is the real Heisman hopeful from this team, even though we all know he won’t win.
Next goal: Beat your Big-East challengers, one at a time - next up...Louisville.

3. USC (6-0) They have not lost yet. Otherwise, they remain unimpressive.
P.S. Mitch Mustain did not start the Arkansas game.
P.P.S. It probably wouldn't have mattered.
P.P.P.S. USC should forfeit all wins under Reggie Bush.
P.P.P.P.S. Ernest Shazor should have blocked that field goal in the ’05 Rose Bowl.
P.P.P.P.P.S. Texas never deserved to be there in the first place. Mack Brown and Tom Osborne are babies.
P.P.P.P.P.P.S.U. I know PSU fans agree with me on that last one.
Next goal: Lose to a team you shouldn’t for once.

2. Ohio State (8-0) This ranking comes down to pure bias (moreso east coast/northern mid western bias). OSU really hasn’t played anyone tough this year (Colt McCoy was starting his first real college game in Texas). Why the hell is a plant your mascot anyway? (Quick thanks to wikipedia for your fast information which may or may not be correct.) Anyway, I’ll wait for the game on November 18th to prove me right.
Next goal: Win out until Nov. 18th.

[







]<---That’s the gap between first and second and it’s not even that close.


1. Michigan (8-0) Despite what I said before - I am saying you have to agree with this. The only weak spot on this team is Junior QB Chad Henne (and according to revered magazine Sports Illustrated, he is the 8th best QB in the country). And please, please, PLEASE stop saying things like “healthy Hart” and “Hart of the team” if you are a highly paid broadcast announcer. You should be ashamed and fired. Just call it like it is...Mike “Sexy” Hart.
Next goal: Win and stay healthy.