Week 8 Top 25
| RANK | TEAM | W-L | PREV. | NEXT |
| 1. | Boise State | 6-0 | 1 | @ Louisiana Tech (Oct 26th) |
| 2. | Oregon | 7-0 | 2 | @ #22 USC |
| 3. | TCU | 8-0 | 3 | @ UNLV |
| 4. | Auburn | 8-0 | 5 | @ Ole Miss |
| 5. | Utah | 7-0 | 6 | @ Air Force |
| 6. | Michigan State | 8-0 | 8 | @ #18 Iowa |
| 7. | Alabama | 7-1 | 9 | @ #12 LSU (Nov 6th) |
| 8. | Wisconsin | 7-1 | 11 | @ Purdue (Nov 6th) |
| 9. | Missouri | 7-0 | 17 | @ #14 Nebraska |
| 10. | Ohio State | 7-1 | 12 | @ Minnesota |
| 11. | Oklahoma | 6-1 | 4 | Vs. Colorado |
| 12. | LSU | 7-1 | 7 | Vs #7 Alabama |
| 13. | Stanford | 5-1 | 13 | @ Washington |
| 14. | Nebraska | 6-1 | 15 | Vs. #9 Missouri |
| 15. | Florida State | 6-1 | 14 | @ North Carolina State (Oct 28th) |
| 16. | Arizona | 6-1 | 18 | @ UCLA |
| 17. | South Carolina | 21 | 21 | Vs. Tennessee |
| 18. | Iowa | 5-2 | 10 | Vs. #6 Michigan State |
| 19. | Oklahoma State | 6-1 | 16 | @ Kansas State |
| 20. | Virginia Tech | 6-2 | 22 | Vs. Georgia Tech (Nov 4th) |
| 21. | Arkansas | 5-2 | 23 | Vs. Vanderbilt |
| 22. | USC | 5-2 | 24 | Vs. #2 Oregon |
| 23. | Mississippi State | 6-2 | 25 | Vs. Kentucky |
| 24. | Miami | 5-2 | NR | @ Virginia |
| 25. | Hawaii | 6-2 | NR | Vs. Idaho |
Dropped out of Rankings: Texas, West Virginia
Others Considered: Nevada, Baylor, Syracuse, West Virginia, Michigan
Updated BCS Game Predictions
National Championship – Auburn vs. Boise State
This prediction remains the same as last week. Auburn’s offense looked great against LSU as they amassed 526 total yards with 440 of those on the ground (Cameron Newton alone rushed for 217 yards) Now, Auburn faces an easy slate of games before they head to Tuscaloosa at the end of November. I still expect them to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl and then defeat whoever wins the SEC East. On a related note, many thought Cameron Newton improved his Heisman candidacy against LSU, but I, however, felt that he might have hurt his chances as he only threw for 86 yards. If Cameron Newton continues becomes more of a one dimension running quarterback, I think his Heisman chances will suffer. Boise State was off this weekend, but plays Tuesday October 26th against Louisiana Tech. Expect them to have their first team out by halftime as they win big. They will continue to win big, but they may not win as big in games against Hawaii and Nevada. Boise State is still the best team in the land with (in my opinion) the best offense and defense in all of college football. Winner: Boise State
Rose Bowl – Oregon vs. Michigan State
Same pick as last week as Oregon manhandled UCLA, but I still think they will lose a game before the season is over and that could very well happen this weekend as they travel to USC. In addition, Oregon has only beaten one team this year with a winning record. Until I see more, I can’t see them winning out and playing in the national championship. Michigan State looked great as they came back from being down 17 points against a good Northwestern team. All good teams will face deficits like this at some point in the year, but great teams will find a way to come back and win. Michigan State will end the year undefeated, but I still think they’ll miss out on the National Championship due to their weak nonconference schedule and missing Ohio State. Winner: Oregon
Orange Bowl – Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma
Virginia Tech is gaining momentum in their last couple games and seems to be a different team than the one that lost to Duke. After 6 straight wins with and being 4-0 in the ACC tells me that the Hokies are the team to beat in the ACC. While Florida State is still a great team, I think Virginia Tech will beat Florida State in the ACC Championship game. Oklahoma was the projected Big 12 winner last week, but after the loss to Missouri, I don’t think they’ll be able to win the conference. However, they should win the Big 12 South, but will lose the rematch to Missouri in the Big 12 Conference Championship. I’m sure the Orange Bowl would be more than happy to have Oklahoma in their bowl game and, thus, will be the pick. Winner: Oklahoma
Fiesta Bowl – Missouri vs. TCU
I greatly underestimated Missouri at the beginning of the year and throughout the season. I had discredited the team due to their schedule up until the Oklahoma game, but no more! The Tigers looked like the best team in the Big 12 Saturday night as they took down the Sooners. However, Missouri faces a tough game this weekend as they must go on the road to Lincoln to take on Nebraska, but if they are able to get past this game with a victory, I don’t see anyone else in the Big 12 getting in their way of a Big 12 conference championship. TCU continued to take care of business against a very good Air Force team. The potent Air Force offense was held to just 7 points and 231 total yards. I am getting more excited for TCU’s game at Utah on November 6th. I expect TCU to beat Utah and end the season undefeated and go to their second BCS bowl game in a row. Winner: TCU
Sugar Bowl – Alabama vs. Syracuse
Alabama beat Tennessee in the Third Saturday of October in which the game was actually held on the fourth Saturday of October. Was anyone surprised? Alabama will win out until the Iron Bowl and the SEC West will be on the line against Auburn. I expect for the Crimson Tide to lose, but the Sugar Bowl should snatch them up as a BCS at-large invite. As for their opponent, I think it will be the Big East champion. As of now, who knows who this will be. Since I thought it would be West Virginia last week, then I guess I’ll pick the team that beat them which was Syracuse. The Big East conference race has been very exciting so far and will continue to be exciting as nobody has any idea who might come out on top. Whoever it is will get beaten soundly by Alabama. Winner: Alabama
Top Heisman Candidates
- Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
- Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn
- Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
- LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
- Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
- Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
- Matt Barkley, QB, USC
- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
5 Games to Watch – Week 9
#6 Michigan State at #18 Iowa – 3:30 PM EST
#9 Missouri at #14 Nebraska – 3:30 PM EST
#13 Stanford at Washington – 7:00 PM EST
#5 Utah at Air Force – 7:30 PM EST
#2 Oregon at #22 USC – 8:00 PM EST
Image courtesy of The Columbia Missourian (http://www.columbiamissourian.com/)
How can you possibly have anyone ahead of Cam Newton? Illogical at best…
How can you possibly have anyone ahead of Cam Newton? Illogical at best…
With all due respect to Colt and The [Five], of course 🙂
With all due respect to Colt and The [Five], of course 🙂
GO ORANGE!!!
GO ORANGE!!!
Jon, good question.
I looked at them side by side and think Denard Robinson is a better player. He is doing more with little at Michigan than Cam is doing at Auburn. Denard hasn’t had the pleasure of a good defense to help him win games, rather he’s had to do it on his own. If Denard is taken off that team, then there is no way Michigan is even close to going 5-2 so far.
Looking at stats, Denard is also the better player. Denard is averaging 345 total yards per game (which includes the Bowling Green game in which he was hurt in the first quarter and the Iowa game where he didnt play the second half) compared to Cam’s 305 yards per game . As a runner, Denard averages 157 yard per game compared to Cam’s 135 yards per game.
However, if Cam keeps putting up the same numbers and Auburn goes undefeated, then he’ll definitely get the Heisman nod due to level of competition.
Jon, good question.
I looked at them side by side and think Denard Robinson is a better player. He is doing more with little at Michigan than Cam is doing at Auburn. Denard hasn’t had the pleasure of a good defense to help him win games, rather he’s had to do it on his own. If Denard is taken off that team, then there is no way Michigan is even close to going 5-2 so far.
Looking at stats, Denard is also the better player. Denard is averaging 345 total yards per game (which includes the Bowling Green game in which he was hurt in the first quarter and the Iowa game where he didnt play the second half) compared to Cam’s 305 yards per game . As a runner, Denard averages 157 yard per game compared to Cam’s 135 yards per game.
However, if Cam keeps putting up the same numbers and Auburn goes undefeated, then he’ll definitely get the Heisman nod due to level of competition.
Do you have a “mobile” site? I’m trying to look at this from my phone and it is just way to big.
Do you have a “mobile” site? I’m trying to look at this from my phone and it is just way to big.
John,
We don’t quite yet. I’m still working on it. Apparently it’s a lot harder to do than expected. I’ll get cracking on it ASAP.
John,
We don’t quite yet. I’m still working on it. Apparently it’s a lot harder to do than expected. I’ll get cracking on it ASAP.
All good points, I’m just an SEC homer who doesn’t believe there is anything relevant in college football outside the SEC 🙂
But I think you said it in level of competition. In Cam’s four games against teams currently ranked in the Top 25, he ran for 70 yards (Miss St.), 176 yards, 3 TD (South Carolina), 188 yards, 3 TD (Arkansas) and 217 yards, 2 TD (LSU). In those games he’s also thrown a total of 5 TD’s to just one INT. (And we’ll leave out the road game against a solid Kentucky team where he threw for 210, ran for 198 more, and scored 5 total touchdowns).
Denard’s best games (and wins) were against UCONN, Bowling Green, UMASS, Notre Dame, and Indiana. Yea, take Denard off of Michigan, they’re not 5-2…give them Auburn’s schedule, they’re not 5-2, either.
And as for that Auburn defense that supposedly helps Cam win so many games, don’t be fooled by the SEC reputation: they gave up 27 to South Carolina, 34 to Kentucky, and 43! vs. Arkansas. Take Cam off of Auburn and they’re no closer to 8-0 than Michigan is to 5-2 with Robinson. Probably further…
It’s a valid comparison, and Denard is a great player and producer — perhaps even a better all-around player/qb — but he’s a distant second to Newton in the important Heisman categories. However, Denard will have his chance in the last two weeks vs. Wisconsin and @ Ohio St. to prove himself against the big boys as Newton has already done.
They ought to be 8-2 going into that stretch, so let’s stay tuned…
All good points, I’m just an SEC homer who doesn’t believe there is anything relevant in college football outside the SEC 🙂
But I think you said it in level of competition. In Cam’s four games against teams currently ranked in the Top 25, he ran for 70 yards (Miss St.), 176 yards, 3 TD (South Carolina), 188 yards, 3 TD (Arkansas) and 217 yards, 2 TD (LSU). In those games he’s also thrown a total of 5 TD’s to just one INT. (And we’ll leave out the road game against a solid Kentucky team where he threw for 210, ran for 198 more, and scored 5 total touchdowns).
Denard’s best games (and wins) were against UCONN, Bowling Green, UMASS, Notre Dame, and Indiana. Yea, take Denard off of Michigan, they’re not 5-2…give them Auburn’s schedule, they’re not 5-2, either.
And as for that Auburn defense that supposedly helps Cam win so many games, don’t be fooled by the SEC reputation: they gave up 27 to South Carolina, 34 to Kentucky, and 43! vs. Arkansas. Take Cam off of Auburn and they’re no closer to 8-0 than Michigan is to 5-2 with Robinson. Probably further…
It’s a valid comparison, and Denard is a great player and producer — perhaps even a better all-around player/qb — but he’s a distant second to Newton in the important Heisman categories. However, Denard will have his chance in the last two weeks vs. Wisconsin and @ Ohio St. to prove himself against the big boys as Newton has already done.
They ought to be 8-2 going into that stretch, so let’s stay tuned…