October 12, 2008

Survive and Advance

Each week the teams at the top of the standings know two things must happen to move up. Others around you must lose and you must win. The following are the top 15 teams in the AP(Coaches) poll that failed to accomplish this task.

#1(1) Oklahoma
#3(2) Missouri
#4(3) LSU
#13(14) Vanderbilt

Oklahoma and LSU have an excuse for a loss due to the fact that they played other top 15 teams and one had to lose. That does not excuse the margin of Florida's win over LSU. Missouri also faced a team that should be ranked in the top 15, if not top 10, this week.

Florida made the loudest statement while Oklahoma State showed they are for real. Texas took the lead in the BIG 12 South race that could lead to a Big 12 championship game for a shot at the national championship game. Penn State knocked a serious contender out of their conference race. These teams should gain serious points this week.

Texas Tech, Ohio State, Georgia and BYU did not look as impressive as they could have. USC and Utah destroyed opponents that they should have. Alabama took the week off.

Vanderbilt's dream season came to an end, not to Alabama, not to Georgia, not even to South Carolina, but to a Mississippi State team that just won their first SEC game of the season.

Unranked Northwestern's streak of wins came to a halt against a ranked Michigan State team that finally gave them a solid test and found them lacking.

One thing is certain, the polls will get shaken up tomorrow. Alabama should be #1, followed by Texas. I expect some permutation of Penn State, Texas Tech and Florida should round out the top 5, though Oklahoma can't be ruled out.

I don't expect BYU, Utah or Boise State to move much this week as teams shuffle around them. BYU might even drop as people are starting to devalue their win over UCLA and the close game with Washington is becoming a liability. That said, this week put serious cracks in the glass ceiling at the top of the standings. Last week 6 teams needed to lose 2 games and another 8 needed to lose 1 to open a door. Now those are reduced to 3 and 10 respectively.

Comments:

Survive and Advance
Each week the teams at the top of the standings know two things must happen to move up. Others around you must lose and you must win. The following are the top 15 teams in the AP(Coaches) poll that failed to accomplish this task. #1(1) Oklahoma #3(2) Missouri #4(3) LSU #13(14) Vanderbilt Oklahoma and LSU have an excuse for a loss due to the fact that they played other top 15 teams and one had to lose. That does not excuse the margin of Florida's win over LSU. Missouri also faced a team that should be ranked in the top 15, if not top 10, this week. Florida made the loudest statement while Oklahoma State showed they are for real. Texas took the lead in the BIG 12 South race that could lead to a Big 12 championship game for a shot at the national championship game. Penn State knocked a serious contender out of their conference race. These teams should gain serious points this week. Texas Tech, Ohio State, Georgia and BYU did not look as impressive as they could have. USC and Utah destroyed opponents that they should have. Alabama took the week off. Vanderbilt's dream season came to an end, not to Alabama, not to Georgia, not even to South Carolina, but to a Mississippi State team that just won their first SEC game of the season. Unranked Northwestern's streak of wins came to a halt against a ranked Michigan State team that finally gave them a solid test and found them lacking. One thing is certain, the polls will get shaken up tomorrow. Alabama should be #1, followed by Texas. I expect some permutation of Penn State, Texas Tech and Florida should round out the top 5, though Oklahoma can't be ruled out. I don't expect BYU, Utah or Boise State to move much this week as teams shuffle around them. BYU might even drop as people are starting to devalue their win over UCLA and the close game with Washington is becoming a liability. That said, this week put serious cracks in the glass ceiling at the top of the standings. Last week 6 teams needed to lose 2 games and another 8 needed to lose 1 to open a door. Now those are reduced to 3 and 10 respectively.