1. Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) LW 1
The Sooners had the weekend off and will have two weeks of preparation to get ready for their match up with #11 ranked Florida State. The winner of this game will be well set up for the rest of the season. My bets are on the Sooners to get the win and continue their streak of being #1.
After a so-so game against Kent State, they had a much more impressive win over Penn State. It wasn't a blow out, but Alabama dominated the entire game. Defensively they isn't a better team. They forced turnovers and harassed the Penn State Qbs. Their offense continues to improve under AJ McCarron and that will only make the running game of Trent Richardson even better.
3. LSU Tigers (2-0) LW 3
LSU continues to roll on, easily taking care of in state Northwestern State University. The game wasn't close and LSU was able to get their starters out of the game early in preparation of their big Thursday matchup against SEC West rival Mississippi State. The LSU offense will also gets a big jolt with the return of dynamic WR Russell Shepard who returns from suspension. This game is crucial for both teams. An LSU win gives them an early lead in the toughest conference divison in college football.
4. Boise State Broncos (1-0) LW 4
A weekend off for the Broncos after their big win over Georgia allows the Broncos to rest up and focus on the remainder of their season. This week they travel to Toledo on Friday night who gave Ohio State a run for their money. There isn't many sure things in life, but Boise State winning weekday games in one of them.
5. Stanford Cardinal (2-0) LW 5
It was looking like Duke was going to give Stanford a game, but Andrew Luck and the defense took control and put the game out of control. Andrew Luck had another good game and matched his career high on 4 passing touchdowns. Next week Stanford faces off against Arizona who just got rolled by Oklahoma State. This should be a good Pac 12 opener for Stanford.
6. Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) LW 6
After manhandling UNLV and now Oregon State, the Badgers look like the team to beat in the Big 10. What makes them even more dangerous is that Russell Wilson has added another dimension to this offense. In previous years you could focus on the running game, but their passing game is just as dangerous. Watch out!
7. South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0) LW 7
Melvin Ingram with his two touchdowns was the star of the game for the Gamecocks. His fumble return and run on a fake punt helped South Carolina hold off Georgia for an early SEC conference win. South Carolina was outplayed by Georgia, but took advantage of some costly mistakes the Bulldogs made. However good teams find ways to win and South Carolina was no different here.
8. Oregon Ducks (1-1) LW 8
Oregon quickly bounced back after their tough loss to LSU with an big win against Nevada. Darren Thomas picked up where he left off with last week and threw for a very impressive 6 touchdowns. Next week the Ducks host Missouri State in what should be at least a 50 point victory and a chance for Oregon to pad their offensive stats.
9. Arkansas Razorbacks (2-0) LW 9
Another week, another over matched opponent, another big Arkansas win. Nothing special in this one. Taylor Wilson did whatever he wanted against a New Mexico team that could go win less this year. Next week the Razorbacks face off against Troy before facing Alabama in two weeks.
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-0) LW 11
Their game on Thursday night against Arizona was over pretty quick. QB Brandon Weeden threw for 397 yards and 2 touchdowns in the route. Next week Okie State faces off against in state Tulsa in what should be another blow out win before they match up with #13 Texas A&M in their Big 12 opener.
11. Florida State Seminoles (2-0) LW 12
I'm not has high on the Seminoles as a lot of other people, but you have to give them credit for how they have looked this year. Sure its been against Louisiana-Monroe and Charleston Southern, but they took care of business in both games in impressive fashion. However next week is a huge game for them. If the Seminoles want to be "back" they are going to have to knock off the #1 team in the nation. They struggled against them last year in Norman, but this year its in Tallahassee. A win could do a lot for the confidence of this young team.
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0) LW 10
The Huskers won their game against Fresno State by a couple of touchdowns but they struggled for most of the game before pulling away late. I question Taylor Martinez and if he can lead this team against the Big 10's elite. But their vaunted defense really seemed to struggle against a team that played bad against Cal. This might have been just a bad game, but the Huskers still have some big questions to address. We'll see how they play against Washington next week.
13. Texas A&M Aggies (1-0) LW 13
A&M got a week off after their thrashing of SMU. Next week they face off against Idaho in what should be another blowout. The Aggies offense is loaded this year with talented QB Ryan Tannehill who has one of the best WRs in the nation in Jeff Fuller and two very talented RBs in Cyrus Gray and Chrstine Michael. But their defense will be the key to their season. How their defensive line plays will be if they are a Big 12 Title contender or if they'll be in the Cotton Bowl again.
14. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0) LW 14
This win over East Carolina marks HC Frank Beamer's 200th career win. What an accomplishment for Beamer who has turned VaTech from a nobody into a constant BCS Bowl contender. In this game VaTech was able to pull out the win despite a poor performance, especially from QB Logan Thomas. However in typical VaTech fashion the defense stepped up and helped win this game. The Hokies are matched up with Arkansas State next week before starting their ACC conference play.
15. Michigan State Spartans (2-0) LW 16
How good was Michigan State's defense? They held Florida Atlantic to only one first down. Not in the first or second half. But for the entire game. Now I don't care who you play, that is impressive. Offensively the Spartans weren't impressive, but they didn't turn the ball over and took advantage of great field position all day long. Their next game is against Notre Dame who is coming off two straight losses. But State needed a fake field goal last year to win the game. Will this year be a barn burner again? We'll see.
16. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0) LW 17
West Virginia went into halftime trailing 12-10 but rattled off 45 unanswered points to win 55-10 over Norfolk State. Geno Smith looked good for a second straight game throwing for 371 and 4 TDs. The Mountaineers are going to need two good half if they are going to win against Maryland who looked good in their win over Miami. This will be a great test for Geno Smith, Dana Holgerson and company.
17. Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) LW 21
Even though they needed to 4th down stop, the Buckeyes are better than I thought they would be. They beat Toledo 27-22 and that makes it 90 straight years they have beaten every Ohio school they have played. What is even better is that Joe Bauserman has taken control of the starting QB spot. Rotating or playing two QBs never really seems to work out. Look for Ohio State to continue to get better, especially when they get Dan Herron, DaVier Posey, and Mike Adams back. This will be a good Buckeye squad.
18. Central Florida Knights (2-0) LW 19
Central Florida exploded for 21 fourth quarter points to help put away a victory over Boston College. The Knight defense was the key to this game. They held Boston College to only 141 total yards. Central Florida isn't getting a lot of hype, but they are a very good team and their easy schedule could allow them to go undefeated. However next week they face off against Florida International who is coming off of a win against Louisville.
19. Florida Gators (2-0) LW 20
Another impressive win for a Florida team under first year head coach Will Muschamp. RB Chris Railey led the way with 182 total yards and a touchdown. Defensively they held UAB to a shut out. They look like a new team, however they schedule takes a turn for the worse. Tennessee is their next opponent and they are coming off a impressive win over Cincinnati and will give their rivals everything they have.
20. Texas Longhorns (2-0) LW 22
In a tough match up against BYU the Longhorns were looking like they were going to drop a tough loss. Mack Brown pulled ineffective Garrett Gilbert and inserted Chase McCoy. The younger brother of Colt McCoy came in and lead the Longhorns to a come from behind victory. McCoy was very effective in relief and looks to become the new starter. Texas is hoping he can do what his brother was use to doing and that was winning games. Next week they face off against UCLA and try to avenge a loss to the Bruins last year.
21. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0) LW 23
The Arizona State Sun Devils were a team a lot of people expected good things from. Well they aren't letting people down on those expectations. In a big non conference game they beat previously ranked Missouri in overtime to start the season 2-0. Now they look to continue their roll against an Illinois team that is in the same position.
22. Baylor Bears (1-0) LW 24
Baylor fans are still riding high after their thrilling victory over TCU last week. Luckily they've had a week off to refocus themselves and get ready for the rest of their games. They play Stephen F. Austin next week and then Rice after that. Those two games they should win convincingly. They don't have a tough game till October 8th when they face an Iowa State team that just knocked off Iowa. It's time to get use to Baylor being ranked in the top 25.
23. South Florida Bulls (2-0) LW 25
After knocking off Notre Dame in a weird rain/lightning game the Bulls faced a much easier game against a sub par Ball State team. It was an easy matchup for the Bulls who never struggled. South Florida is an experienced team with a veteran QB. They were a fringe contender in the Big East, but they should challenge West Virginia and Pittsburgh for the right to go to a BCS game.
24. Auburn Tigers (2-0) LW NR
I'm still not sold on Auburn this year, but their victory over a very good Mississippi State team was impressive to say the least. Especially after they should have gotten beaten by Utah State. Michael Dywer did his best to get people to forget about Cam Newton with 150 yards rushing and 2 TDs. But Auburn is still not a good team. Their defense will be their Achilles heel. If they continue to play like they did this past weekend they might make me a believer.
25. Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-1) LW 15
The Bulldogs from Mississippi State were a team that I thought could make a run and maybe sneak their way into the SEC Title game. However that won't happen after they dropped a bad loss to an Auburn team that I still think won't make a bowl game. Their rush defense was the biggest problem against Auburn and they have to fix that. Otherwise teams like Alabama will destroy them.
Dropped Out: Missouri Tigers
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