After this weekend of college football the rematch seems more likely than ever but the Trojans are still standing in the way of the Wolverines. This weeks Power Rankings had some movement in the top and the bottom but with only two weeks remaining in the regular season its now just a matter of finalizing the BCS games. Oh and I'm sure they'll be some good debating as to who really deserves that #2 spot.
Picking teams 1 through 6 is relatively easy, after that, it gets tough.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes - Back to the top for the Buckeyes after a one week hiatus. The Buckeyes jumped out in front of the Wolverines and minus the turnovers really dominating the game. It was interesting to see how Michigan's front 7 crashed the line so hard, and once Pittman or Wells got past them they took it to the house. Were you expecting the Buckeyes to have such game changing plays from both their running backs. I don't think there's a defense in the land that could stop the Buckeyes from putting up 30. The only thing I think that could stop Tressel's boys from taking home his second Buckeye National Title is the stupid 50 day layoff they have before the game.Quality Wins: Penn St., @Texas, Michigan
2. Michigan Wolverines - Why does Michigan remain #2 on the power rankings following a loss? Well the answer isn't very complex right now at this point in the season the Wolverines have the two best wins of any 1 loss team and the best loss of any 1 loss team. Considering the Wolverines hold the lone defeats of both the Wisconsin Badgers as well as the Fighting Irish and lost in a tight battle against by hands down the best team in the Nation, its not difficult to position themselves as #2. However, while their season is done others still lurk behind to pass them up. Quality Wins: Wisconsin, @ND, @Penn St.
3. Southern Cal Trojans - The Trojans jumped the Gators this week in the power rankings after a very nice victory over the Cal Bears. A win over Notre Dame, especially a convincing win would and should have the Trojans jump the Wolverines to put them one rivalry game against UCLA to having their 4th straight opportunity to play for the National Title. Once again the Trojans are closing in on making me look good and satisfying my preseason picks. Quality Wins: Nebraska, @Arkansas, Oregon, Cal Bad Loss: Oregon St.
4. Florida Gators - Mr. Athletic Director scheduler guy, remember next time you want to go to the National Championship game to not schedule a 2-8 1-AA team at a crucial point in the season. While I think that a 1 loss SEC most likely deserves to head to Glendale over Michigan, with a USC loss, Florida has no right to complain with the way they have played the past few weeks and the fact that instead of schedule a single decent out of conference game they scheduled a terrible 1-AA team and are unfortunate that Florida St. stinks this season.Quality Wins: @Rocky Top, LSU, South Carolina
5. Arkansas Razorbacks: Arkansas survived an early scare and for the first time in recent memory I am fully interested in the game they play every year against LSU on the friday after thanksgiving. The Razorbacks not only obviously need to win this game but the way they are positioned in the rankings they might just have to do it convincingly. Quality Wins: @Auburn, @South Carolina, Tennessee Bad Loss: USC
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish- And here lies the Fighting Irish. Personally I'm under the impression that they should have no shot at the national title game, not solely because they lost the head to head matchup versus the Wolverines but in general their resume doesn't match up versus the Maize and Blue but I'll get into that in detail sometime later this week. With that being said Charlie Weis could certainly use a signature win at ND. He's won all the games he should have won and lost pretty much all the games he should have lost, with maybe the exception of last year versus Michigan. A win in LA versus the Trojans would certainly qualify as a signature win. Quality Wins: Penn St., @GaTech Bad Loss: Michigan
7. Louisville Cardinals - Out of the remaining squads Louisville has the best win against the Mountaineers and probably the best loss against Rutgers. They easily could have won that game versus the Scarlet Knight and are definately kicking themselves that they didn't hold on. Why the are ranked below the Mountaineers in basically every poll just seems stupid to me. Who has WVU beaten this season that makes you go wow that was a good win. Even when WVU pounds Rutgers at home, they should not be ahead of the Cardinals. Quality Wins: Miami, WVU, @Kansas St., South Florida
8. Wisconsin Badgers - Are the Badgers a product of the weak Big 10 and a weak out of conference schedule? Definately unfortunate that they didn't play the Buckeyes and that they finished the season with friggin Buffalo. Why, oh why do you play Buffalo, I hate that. Is Purdue any good? How did they finish 8-4? We'll see how good Wisconsin really is when they play in the Capital One Bowl.Quality Wins: Penn St., @Purdue
9. Texas Longhorns - One loss against the #1 team in the country and the other when your quarterback gets injured early in the game can't be held that strongly against a team. The Longhorns really shouldn't care less where they are ranked though, win the Big 12 title game against an inferior team and you get a nice ticket to the Fiesta Bowl.Quality Wins: Oklahoma, @Nebraska
10. Auburn Tigers - The last two teams in the Power Rankings could easily be debated but the Tigers have a victory over the #4 team in the country, no one else has that. The win against LSU also is solid and despite the fact the did get blown out twice at home, atleast one of those was to Arkansas a team with no conference losses. Quality Wins: Florida, LSU Bad Loss: Georgia
11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Their loss against Notre Dame is nothing to kill them about and while their loss to Clemson was by a large margin, Clemson is a solid team. I still have to put up their big time performance at VaTech as one of the best wins this season. Any of the bubble teams could just as easily be in the spot. However, if GaTech beats Georgia and either BC or Wake in the ACC title game they'll solidify the Power Rankings spot.Quality Wins: @VaTech, Maryland Bad Loss: Clemson
Dropped Out: Wake Forest took a nice beating at home, Rutgers just got killed at Cincy really can't keep them in the top 11 after a beatdown by an unranked team and only one very good win
Bubble Teams: VaTech, Oklahoma, Boise St., Boston College, West Virginia, Rutgers
Past Power Rankings: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Notes
~How far did Iowa fall off the tracks this year? You can't even call them a quality win anymore for these top rated Big 10 teams. Once again Mark May proved how much of a dope he is when he predicted that the Hawkeyes would win the Big 10 title this season. Instead? 2-6 in conference with no right to head to any bowl game. Nice season Mr. Tate. Oh and Mr. Ferentz not quite the Hot Coaching Prospect right now.
~While Alabama's expectations weren't nearly as large as those on Iowa this season both sit at 6-6 and 2-6 in conference, that is terrible. Alabama losing 5 in a row in the Iron Bowl? Equally poor and unacceptable. Alabama is a program that should never be this down and Mr. Shula should be double checking with his AD to see if he's still going to have a job come 2007.
~Kansas St. goes and follows up their win over the Longhorns with a loss to Kansas, go figure.
~I can't foresee how Miami could possibly keep Larry Coker next season, the Hurricanes currently sit at 5-6 which is terrible. Their team just lost to a very bad Virginia team. Combined with the fact that they started a brawl against a terrible team in Florida Int. While you obviously can't put him at fault for the death of Brian Pata, still at happened under his tenure and unfortunately for him and Miami, this is something that when it happened you weren't surprised it happened at Miami. Someone needs to come in clean out that program and get the Florida talent that usually flows to the U.
~If LSU is the most talented team in the SEC as so many people keep on saying, why did they beat Ole Miss by a field goal in overtime? Most talented team in the country my ass.
~Confusing as to how the Buckeyes didn't play Purdue or Wisconsin this season, aka 2 of the top 5 teams in the Big 10. They would have dominated either, but interesting how that scheduling worked.
~West Virginia will crack the rankings definately when they crush Rutgers, but most likely next week when someone else in front of them falls. Right now their best win is a so,so Maryland team.
~The opening hit in the BC game was the only positive moment of my football weekend, hopefully you saw the highlight cause I certainly got a smile out of it.
Picking teams 1 through 6 is relatively easy, after that, it gets tough.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes - Back to the top for the Buckeyes after a one week hiatus. The Buckeyes jumped out in front of the Wolverines and minus the turnovers really dominating the game. It was interesting to see how Michigan's front 7 crashed the line so hard, and once Pittman or Wells got past them they took it to the house. Were you expecting the Buckeyes to have such game changing plays from both their running backs. I don't think there's a defense in the land that could stop the Buckeyes from putting up 30. The only thing I think that could stop Tressel's boys from taking home his second Buckeye National Title is the stupid 50 day layoff they have before the game.Quality Wins: Penn St., @Texas, Michigan
2. Michigan Wolverines - Why does Michigan remain #2 on the power rankings following a loss? Well the answer isn't very complex right now at this point in the season the Wolverines have the two best wins of any 1 loss team and the best loss of any 1 loss team. Considering the Wolverines hold the lone defeats of both the Wisconsin Badgers as well as the Fighting Irish and lost in a tight battle against by hands down the best team in the Nation, its not difficult to position themselves as #2. However, while their season is done others still lurk behind to pass them up. Quality Wins: Wisconsin, @ND, @Penn St.
3. Southern Cal Trojans - The Trojans jumped the Gators this week in the power rankings after a very nice victory over the Cal Bears. A win over Notre Dame, especially a convincing win would and should have the Trojans jump the Wolverines to put them one rivalry game against UCLA to having their 4th straight opportunity to play for the National Title. Once again the Trojans are closing in on making me look good and satisfying my preseason picks. Quality Wins: Nebraska, @Arkansas, Oregon, Cal Bad Loss: Oregon St.
4. Florida Gators - Mr. Athletic Director scheduler guy, remember next time you want to go to the National Championship game to not schedule a 2-8 1-AA team at a crucial point in the season. While I think that a 1 loss SEC most likely deserves to head to Glendale over Michigan, with a USC loss, Florida has no right to complain with the way they have played the past few weeks and the fact that instead of schedule a single decent out of conference game they scheduled a terrible 1-AA team and are unfortunate that Florida St. stinks this season.Quality Wins: @Rocky Top, LSU, South Carolina
5. Arkansas Razorbacks: Arkansas survived an early scare and for the first time in recent memory I am fully interested in the game they play every year against LSU on the friday after thanksgiving. The Razorbacks not only obviously need to win this game but the way they are positioned in the rankings they might just have to do it convincingly. Quality Wins: @Auburn, @South Carolina, Tennessee Bad Loss: USC
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish- And here lies the Fighting Irish. Personally I'm under the impression that they should have no shot at the national title game, not solely because they lost the head to head matchup versus the Wolverines but in general their resume doesn't match up versus the Maize and Blue but I'll get into that in detail sometime later this week. With that being said Charlie Weis could certainly use a signature win at ND. He's won all the games he should have won and lost pretty much all the games he should have lost, with maybe the exception of last year versus Michigan. A win in LA versus the Trojans would certainly qualify as a signature win. Quality Wins: Penn St., @GaTech Bad Loss: Michigan
7. Louisville Cardinals - Out of the remaining squads Louisville has the best win against the Mountaineers and probably the best loss against Rutgers. They easily could have won that game versus the Scarlet Knight and are definately kicking themselves that they didn't hold on. Why the are ranked below the Mountaineers in basically every poll just seems stupid to me. Who has WVU beaten this season that makes you go wow that was a good win. Even when WVU pounds Rutgers at home, they should not be ahead of the Cardinals. Quality Wins: Miami, WVU, @Kansas St., South Florida
8. Wisconsin Badgers - Are the Badgers a product of the weak Big 10 and a weak out of conference schedule? Definately unfortunate that they didn't play the Buckeyes and that they finished the season with friggin Buffalo. Why, oh why do you play Buffalo, I hate that. Is Purdue any good? How did they finish 8-4? We'll see how good Wisconsin really is when they play in the Capital One Bowl.Quality Wins: Penn St., @Purdue
9. Texas Longhorns - One loss against the #1 team in the country and the other when your quarterback gets injured early in the game can't be held that strongly against a team. The Longhorns really shouldn't care less where they are ranked though, win the Big 12 title game against an inferior team and you get a nice ticket to the Fiesta Bowl.Quality Wins: Oklahoma, @Nebraska
10. Auburn Tigers - The last two teams in the Power Rankings could easily be debated but the Tigers have a victory over the #4 team in the country, no one else has that. The win against LSU also is solid and despite the fact the did get blown out twice at home, atleast one of those was to Arkansas a team with no conference losses. Quality Wins: Florida, LSU Bad Loss: Georgia
11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Their loss against Notre Dame is nothing to kill them about and while their loss to Clemson was by a large margin, Clemson is a solid team. I still have to put up their big time performance at VaTech as one of the best wins this season. Any of the bubble teams could just as easily be in the spot. However, if GaTech beats Georgia and either BC or Wake in the ACC title game they'll solidify the Power Rankings spot.Quality Wins: @VaTech, Maryland Bad Loss: Clemson
Dropped Out: Wake Forest took a nice beating at home, Rutgers just got killed at Cincy really can't keep them in the top 11 after a beatdown by an unranked team and only one very good win
Bubble Teams: VaTech, Oklahoma, Boise St., Boston College, West Virginia, Rutgers
Past Power Rankings: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Notes
~How far did Iowa fall off the tracks this year? You can't even call them a quality win anymore for these top rated Big 10 teams. Once again Mark May proved how much of a dope he is when he predicted that the Hawkeyes would win the Big 10 title this season. Instead? 2-6 in conference with no right to head to any bowl game. Nice season Mr. Tate. Oh and Mr. Ferentz not quite the Hot Coaching Prospect right now.
~While Alabama's expectations weren't nearly as large as those on Iowa this season both sit at 6-6 and 2-6 in conference, that is terrible. Alabama losing 5 in a row in the Iron Bowl? Equally poor and unacceptable. Alabama is a program that should never be this down and Mr. Shula should be double checking with his AD to see if he's still going to have a job come 2007.
~Kansas St. goes and follows up their win over the Longhorns with a loss to Kansas, go figure.
~I can't foresee how Miami could possibly keep Larry Coker next season, the Hurricanes currently sit at 5-6 which is terrible. Their team just lost to a very bad Virginia team. Combined with the fact that they started a brawl against a terrible team in Florida Int. While you obviously can't put him at fault for the death of Brian Pata, still at happened under his tenure and unfortunately for him and Miami, this is something that when it happened you weren't surprised it happened at Miami. Someone needs to come in clean out that program and get the Florida talent that usually flows to the U.
~If LSU is the most talented team in the SEC as so many people keep on saying, why did they beat Ole Miss by a field goal in overtime? Most talented team in the country my ass.
~Confusing as to how the Buckeyes didn't play Purdue or Wisconsin this season, aka 2 of the top 5 teams in the Big 10. They would have dominated either, but interesting how that scheduling worked.
~West Virginia will crack the rankings definately when they crush Rutgers, but most likely next week when someone else in front of them falls. Right now their best win is a so,so Maryland team.
~The opening hit in the BC game was the only positive moment of my football weekend, hopefully you saw the highlight cause I certainly got a smile out of it.
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