1. LSU Tigers (10-0) LW 1
This was perfect scheduling for LSU. After their huge victory over Alabama, they face off against Western Kentucky. Why not play a lowly Sun Belt team after an emotional victory over the Crimson Tide. Even if they would still be thinking of the Alabama game, they would still have an easy road to a win. So their 42-9 win wasn't a surprise. It also helps that they face Ole Miss this week before facing off against an Arkansas team that they can't take lightly.
2. Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-0) LW 2
What a blowout that was. The Cowboys were facing off against a Texas Tech team that upset Oklahoma at Oklahoma. But the Cowboys wasted little time and jumped out to an early 35-0 half time lead. Okie State looks for real and only Oklahoma stands in their way of a possible National Title Game appearance.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-1) LW 4
After their tough loss to LSU, the Crimson Tide bounced back and took care of a Mississippi State team that is a lot better than their record indicates. Alabama was lead by RB Trent Richardson who had 127 yards rushing ad a TD. Just because Alabama lost to LSU doesn't mean that they are out of it. If they win out and LSU loses to Arkansas, it would be the Crimson Tide who hold the tie breaker and would represent the SEC West in the SEC Title Game and a win would sent them to the National Title.
4. Oregon Ducks (9-1) LW 7
For most of the season the Ducks have flown under the radar. Not anymore. With their 53-30 win over Stanford the Ducks are right back in forefront. They wins over USC and Oregon State would put them into the Pac 12 Championship Game and if a couple of teams ahead of them lose, we could see them back in the National Title Game again. It also helps that QB Darron Thomas and RB LeMichael James are getting healthy. Don't forget about these Ducks.
5. Oklahoma Sooners (8-1) LW 6
After their convincing win over SEC bound Texas A&M, the Sooners got a much needed weekend off. This comes at a good time because Oklahoma can figure out how they can replace WR Ryan Broyles who tore his ACL against A&M. Now the Sooners face off against a Baylor team that has lost a few games since their great start. But the Sooners cannot take QB Robert Griffin lightly and will need a good defensive effort to win.
6. Stanford Cardinal (9-1) LW 3 *
If you read my Week 11 Pick Em you would have seen that I didn't think that Stanford would be able to handle Oregon's speed and would lose the game. And sure enough LeMichael James ran rough shot over Stanford and the Ducks drilled the Cardinal 53-30. But the biggest story might have been the 7 turnovers they had. Hard to win games when you turn the ball over that much. This loss eliminates Stanford from the National Title race and from winning a Pac 12 Championship. Tough loss for the Cardinal.
7. Arkansas Razorbacks (9-1) LW 8
With their 49-7 win over Tennessee the Razorbacks improve their record to 9-1 with their only loss coming to Alabama. Taylor Wilson continues to shine throwing for 224 yards and 3 TDs. The offense continues to be explosive as the Razorbacks look to get back to their 2nd straight BCS game. The win also extends their winning streak to 6 games and with game against Mississippi State next week they should make it 7. However their big match up will be against LSU in the last week of the regular season. A win there would make it a three way tie between them, LSU, and Alabama. It could also allow them to sneak into the SEC Title Game.
8. Clemson Tigers (9-1) LW 9
It was a close one, but the Tigers clawed their way back and beat a tough Wake Forrest team 31-28. QB Tajh Boyd threw for 343 yards and 2 TDs, but also threw 2 INTs. With the win Clemson clinches the Atlantic Division and will likely play Virginia Tech in the ACC Title Game. Clemson has to figure out their slow starts are it is going to come back to haunt them later in the season.
9. Boise State Broncos (8-1) LW 5 *
For a second straight year the Broncos have lost a big time game at the end of the season because of a missed FG. Last year it was to Nevada and this year it was to TCU. This is a tough loss because it not only ends their perfect season and a shot at a BCS Bowl, but also gives TCU the conference championship. But all Boise State can do now is win out and hope that they can somehow sneak their way back into a BCS Game. But that doesn't seem likely.
10. Virginia Tech Hokies (9-1) LW 10
In a big game against a tough Georgia Tech team, the Hokies offense finally broke out of their slump and in a big way. QB Logan Thomas threw for 3 TDs while RB David Wilson ran for 175 yards. This is a great sight for Hokie fans who have been waiting for a game like this all season long. Now the Hokies hope that the triple option hang over goes away before a match up against a tough North Carolina team this weekend.
A game against Minnesota is always a good sign for teams looking to get back on track. Wisconsin coming off a couple of consecutive losses gets a game against a poor team to get their momentum going. Lost in the whole Wisconsin season is the play of RB Monte Ball. Russell Wilson gets all the talk, but it's Ball that is the driving force behind this offense. Against Minnesota, Ball ran for 166 yards and 2 TDs. The Badgers are going to need Ball to keep playing at a high level as they look to get back into the lead in the Leaders Division. But they'll have to win out against Illinois and Penn State to get there.
12. Michigan State Spartans (8-2) LW 12
Michigan State continues to control their own path to the Big 10 Title Game. Right now they have a lead on Nebraska and if they win out they'll be Legends Division Champions. Their win over Iowa was a big step in doing so. The Spartans got their first victory in 7 tries against Iowa and did it convincingly. The offense bounced back and led the way to a 37-21 win. Their next two games should be easier as they face off against Indiana and Northwestern.
13. Houston Cougars (10-0) LW 13
Houston has started 10-0 for the first time in school history. They did it with by both air and ground. Sure Case Keenum threw for 325 yards and 3 TDs, but they also got 207 yards rushing by Charles Sims. Now the Cougars play host to SMU who is off to a 6-3 record and looking like a team that will give Houston all they can handle. This could be a good tune up battle before the Cougars face off against Southern Miss in the Conference USA Title Game.
14. Georgia Bulldogs (8-2) LW 15
Georgia continues their now 8 game winning steak getting a big victory over Auburn 45-7. The Bulldogs look like a completely different team than the one that lost their first two games of the season. Against Auburn they were lead by QB Aaron Murray who threw for 4 TDs and 224 yards. However the Bulldogs need South Carolina to lose if they want to get to the SEC Title Game.
15. South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2) LW 16
It wasn't pretty, but the Gamecocks got a huge win over Florida. The win keeps the Gamecocks in the drivers seat in the SEC East and a chance at the SEC Title Game. QB Connor Shaw started off slow, but bounced back to rush for 88 yards and 2 TDs. Not what you'd expect out of their QB. But pair that up with a stingy defense and it is a recipe for a win over a struggling Florida team. All the Gamecocks have to do now is beat in state rival Clemson and their are in the SEC Title Game. But that's no easy task.
16. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-2) LW 17
It took a couple of late 4th quarter defensive stops, but with their victory over Penn State the Huskers get their first win over a top 15 ranked team in over a decade. It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win. The win keeps the Huskers in the hunt for the Legends Division race, but they'll need Michigan State to lose to either Indiana or Northwestern.
17. Michigan Wolverines (8-2) LW 19
After a horrible loss to Iowa, the Wolverines bounced back and got a good win over Illinois. What is very impressive is that Michigan held Illinois offense to only 14 points. If Michigan wants to continue to improve they are going to need the defense to keep getting stops. Next week they host a Nebraska team that is coming off of a win over Penn State. If they are going to beat Nebraska they are going to have to slow down Nebraska's option attack.
18. USC Trojans (8-2) LW 20
USC made little work of Washington easily winning the game 40-17. The Trojans have gotten better each week and are playing some really good football. USC was carried by Curtis McNeal who rushed for 148 yards and a TD. USC now gets an opportunity to face off against an Oregon team that is coming off a huge win over Stanford. The Trojans have the athletes to match up with Oregon and with the way they are playing don't expect a blow out.
19. Kansas State Wildcats (8-2) LW 22
After going 0-2 against the state of Oklahoma, the Wildcats finally got back on the winning path. But it took them 4 OTs to beat Texas A&M. KState QB Colin Klein was all over the place. He threw for 281 yards and rushed for 103. Add in 6 total TDs and you understand how important he is to his team. KState doesn't have a shot to win the Big 12 this year, but if they can beat a struggling Texas team and take care of business they should find themselves in the Cotton Bowl. What a change this program has had in the past three years.
20. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (9-1) LW 24
Central Florida was the favorite to win Conference USA before they just fell apart this year. Southern Miss found out that you can't take them for granted and barely got out of the game with a win. Southern Miss had to bat down a two point conversion attempt to get the win. The Golden Eagles can now breathe a little bit easier now with games against UAB and Memphis left on their schedule.
21. TCU Horned Frogs (8-2) LW NR
When TCU lost early games to Baylor and SMU you didn't think it was going to be a good season for the Horned Frogs. However they righted the ship and came into their match up with Boise State with something to prove. And they did what they came to do. Win. It took a ballsy 2 point conversion on their last score to take the lead and force Boise State to go the length of the field to win. And as long as TCU takes care of UNLV and Colorado State, they'll also win the Moutain West Conference Championship.
22. Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2) LW 18 *
It's hard to talk about Penn State with all that has gone on this week. It wasn't surprise that they came out a little sluggish, but they really stepped up their play in the 2nd half and gave themselves an opportunity to win the game at the end. It will be a tough remander of their schedule for Penn State. Not only do they have to deal with all the distractions, but they also have to face Ohio State and Wisconsin. Looks like a 3 game losing streak to me.
23. West Virginia Mountaineers (7-3) LW NR
After losing two games in the past three weeks, the Mountaineers bounced back and got a big win over Big East leader Cincinnati. However if they want to represent the Big East in the BCS, they are going to have to win out and hope that Cincinnati loses a game. Sounds unlikely, but crazier things have happened in the Big East.
24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3) LW NR
Take away their two early season losses where they turned the ball over religiously in the end zone, and we might have a 9-1 team here. This past week they just manhandled Maryland winning 45-21. RB Jonas Gary ran for 136 yards while WR Michael Floyd had 90 yards receiving. Look for the Irish to continue their winning ways as they face off against Boston College before their annual game against Stanford.
25. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2) LW 21*
Now that Cincinnati is in the meat of the Big East schedule we are finally going to see who they really are. Against West Virginia they played strong, but couldn't pull out the victory when they needed to. West Virginia got a late FG to win the game and gives the Bearcats their first loss in conference play. Now Cincinnati faces a three game stretch against Rutgers, Syracuse, and UConn. All three are winnable games.
Dropped From Rankings: Georgia Tech, Texas, Auburn
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