Week Two has produced a new #1 team in the Bloggers Poll. LSU's demolition of Virginia Tech has vaulted the Bengal Tigers ahead of idle USC. I'm excited to see it. Anyone who's been paying any attention has to realize LSU has been the most impressive team in the land so far this fall. It's early yet, but you guys know a great team when you see one.
Contrast the rapid reshuffling of our poll that reflects actual game results vs the major polls that won't drop a team 'til it loses. I think it's a great thing. I won't argue with those who still think USC is #1, there's plenty of reasons to think so. I just like the open minded nature of our pollers in freely admitting that things can change from week to week.
Some thoughts:
SEC -
I said before the season started that I didn't think the SEC would be as strong as everyone else was predicting in 2007. And other than LSU, I haven't seen much to make me change my mind.
Georgia looked good against Oklahoma State, average against South Carolina. Auburn struggled with Kansas State before their offensive woes proved fatal against USF. The rest of the league hasn't played anyone with a pulse, so who knows? This week, Kentucky hosts Louisville, Arkansas and 'Bama square off in Tuscaloosa and Tennessee travels to the Swamp. We'll know more after Saturday.
Big 10-
Michigan was run over by a herd of Ducks, I guess the Wolverines weren't all they were quacked up to be. Funny how Ron English has gone from a defensive genius to a goat in four games. My observation is that the genius coaches are the ones with great players, the dummies have bad talent.
OSU is still struggling to find consistency on offense, but looks very strong on defense. PSU ran over ND, hohum. The Nittany Lions need to find some offense before they can be considered a legitimate threat outside their conference. Wisconsin struggled on the road with UNLV, but still looks to be the class of the Big 10. Keep an eye on Purdue.
PAC 10 -
The West Coast boys have arguably been the most impressive conference so far. We all know about USC, and Cal exorcised some demons against Tennessee in week one. This week, Oregon looked phenomenal in lighting up Michigan, Washington ended Boise State's 14 game win streak, and Dennis Erickson shows signs of awakening all that talent at ASU.
USC has a big game in Lincoln Saturday, I can't wait to see that one.
Big East -
It's time to stop the jokes, this is another conference that has been impressive so far. Not so much the top teams WVU and Louisville, which have had some weaknesses on defense exposed, but the next level of teams. Rutgers, USF and Cincinnatti were all impressive Saturday, and the Big East is now 6-0 vs the SEC this century. The BEast rules the SouthLeast Conference.
Pat White is proving what most WVU fans have said all along, he's the best player on that team, not RB Steve Slaton. Ray Rice is a bowling ball, how do you tackle someone with no legs?
ACC -
The ACC has proved they have several quality teams, but do they have any great ones? Wake scared Nebraska, almost spoiling their matchup with USC. Georgia Tech looks like top 10, and Clemson is off to a strong start. BC has maybe the best QB in college ball, this may be the year they finally get recognized for their on field success.
My feeling is that all these teams will beat each other up, with no team coming out with less than two losses. If one team does dominate the league, you can bet they're a great team.
Big 12 -
Oklahoma has been probably the second most impressive team so far behind LSU. Texas struggled with TCU before finally waking up in the 4th quarter to win by a score that doesn't reflect how close the game actually was. Missouri almost blew a big lead for the second week in a row, A&M needed triple overtime to escape Fresno State, Iowa State is terrible and TexasTech looked bad in beating UTEP.
Oklahoma may benefit from being a great team in a weak conference. That's a proven recipe for making it to the NC game.
My conference rankings after week 2:
- PAC 10
- Big East
- SEC
- ACC
- Big 10
- Big 12
Okay, enough about me. Here's this weeks poll: (Updated to reflect late ballots.)
SEC again leads with 6 teams, PAC 10 has 4, Big 12 has 4, ACC has 4, Big East has 3, Big 10 has 3, and the WAC has 1
- LSU (11) 295
- USC (3) 285
- Oklahoma 261
- WVU 238
- Florida (1) 232
- Texas 209
- Wisconsin 194
- California 170
- Penn State 164
- Louisville 153
- Ohio State 140
- UCLA 118
- Rutgers 97
- Ga Tech 94
- Nebraska 91
- Arkansas 88
- S Carolina 57
- Oregon 48
- BC 43
- Va Tech 28
- Hawaii 25
- Tennessee 22
- Texas A&M 19
- Clemson 16
- Georgia 18
Also receiving votes: USF, Oregon State, Washington State, Auburn, Alabama, Arizona State
BLOGGER OF THE WEEK
Nostradamus sent in his vote about the same time i was posting this. He included some great thoughts, and he is this week's featured blogger. Great job by our resident expert on CFB.
Nostradamus' Ballot
Nos Top 25:
- LSU: Most impressive team thus far. Only 2 shutouts away from a meaningless touchdown by Tyrod Taylor (Va Tech stud recruit) from a perfect defensive shutout season. This looks like the team to beat. THUS FAR.
- USC: We will see how good they are this weekend. A 10 point favorite at Nebraska, and the entire football world watching. Here is hoping my Huskers don't get emabarrassed. I'm not holding my breath.
- Oklahoma: The 2nd most impressive team thus far. Sam Bradford is the best QB of the Stoops era. And Allen Patrick and DeMarco Murray are SOLID RB's as well. Not too mention Malcom Kelly and Iglesias are likely the most underrated top notch receiving corps as well. Talent abounds in Norman. And I haven't even mentioned their STOUT defense.
- West Virginia: You need to have defense. You need to show us you have one. Slaton and White are awesome, but the Big East is too good if you don't shore that up to roll undefeated.
- Florida: Tim Tebow is for real. Can they play defense? We'll see this weekend against Tennessee. This is another scary team from Urban Meyer.
- Texas: You answered a lot of questions from week one. Now can we get an answer from Colt that this will not be a Sophomore slump. Too much talent on with his receiving corps to be throwing INT's much less ones that get returned for TD's.
- South Carolina: Re-enter my top 10. I had them 9 in my preseason, and it took a win against Georgia on the road to re-enter. Spurrier has a tough road to hoe in front of him, but this is a good SC ball club.
- Penn State: Less than impressive outing by the Lions on Saturday against an overmatched Irish squad. However, they play too good of defense to move out of the top 10.
- California: By default you get here. Bad performance last week against Colorado State, but I'll give you a mulligan this time.
- Louisville: You are on SERIOUS warning that you probably don't belong up here. Heck, you probably don't belong in the top 20, but nobody else is that impressive, thus you remain. Play defense to stay up here or you drop quickly.
- UCLA: Should have you in front of Louisville, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. 2 solid wins thus far, and if you keep it up, you will rise.
- Oregon: Nice showing against what is likely a less than stellar Michigan squad. Nonetheless a 39-7 win on the road gets your promotion here when it could have easily been 53 points.
- Georgia Tech: You jump the most this week. Your defense is just that good, and as we all know, defense wins championships.
- Alabama: Your game against Arkansas this week proves your mettle. Show you belong.
- Boston College: From unrated to 15th. I'm that impressed.
- Ohio State: You need to shore up some QB problems if you want to move up, until then you continue your slide down.
- Georgia: Your loss to South Carolina should not be looked at as being that bad. You are still a quality ball club who can beat nearly everyone in front of you.
- Arizona State: Show me you are for real. I'm impressed big time thus far. Ryan Torain is a stud. If Dennis Erickson can keep this team playing defense, look out. He also must keep Carpenter from making stupid mistakes as well.
- Tennessee: You'll move up IF you beat Florida. Another embarrassing defeat, and you likely won't be back for a while.
- Clemson: You are here by default due to VERY poor showings by other ball clubs. I still don't think you are that good.
- Wisconsin: Once again you still stay in my rankings. Show me something or this is your last week in.
- Rutgers: I should have ranked you earlier. My apologies Mr. Schiano.
- Nebraska: You are lucky to stay in here. But nobody has proved that they deserve to be in here either.
- Texas Tech: One of the scariest teams in the country to play. You still have a tough slate ahead of you. You keep winning, and you will move up.
- Arkansas: On a BYE week you enter my rankings. Prove you belong when you travel to Alabama, and you get immediate entrance into the top 15.
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