The [Five] 25: Top 25 and College Football Week 10 in Review

Week 10 Top 25

TCU stated their claim as the best team in the nation. We hear you, Horned Frogs. In addition, Colt Murray provides an updated Top 25 along with updated BCS predictions, Heisman contenders, and 5 games to watch for Week 11.

Dropped out of Rankings: Florida State, Baylor, Hawaii

The Next [Five]: Florida, San Diego State, USC, Miami, Pittsburgh

Updated BCS Game Predictions

National Championship – Auburn vs. TCU

So Auburn blew out UT-Chattanooga. Who would’ve guessed? Cam Newton looked great as he put up some big numbers in one half of work. Auburn’s path to the SEC title game and to the National Championship game seems to be much easier as they only need to win against Georgia this weekend to clinch the SEC West. As for TCU, they looked absolutely, undoubtedly, scarily dominant against what many thought (including me) was a top 5 team in Utah. Not only did they punish Utah’s high powered offense, the Horned Frogs also won at Utah where the Utes had a 21 game home winning streak entering the game. After that game, I think TCU could shut down Auburn offense on the way to a National Championship title. Winner: TCU

Rose Bowl – Oregon vs. Michigan State

I think I am the only person in the country that thinks Oregon is not going to make it to the National Championship. While I think Oregon is a Top 2 team right now, I think, as I mentioned last week, they will end up losing to either Arizona or Oregon State. While Arizona looked terrible in a loss to Stanford, I think they have the defense to hold Oregon’s offense enough to allow Nick Foles and the Arizona offense to keep up in scoring. As for Oregon State, the Civil War is always competitive, regardless of win loss records. Just like last week, I think Michigan State will represent the Big Ten in the Rose. I expect Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan State to win out, and Ohio State will lose another game, which would result in a three-way tie between Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan State for the Big Ten title. This would then eliminate Iowa from contention as they would have two losses, which leaves Wisconsin and Michigan State. Head-to-head results then determine the conference’s BCS berth, which results in Michigan State making it to Pasadena. Winner: Oregon

Orange Bowl – Virginia Tech vs. Ohio State

Virginia Tech is the clear favorite in the ACC. Virginia Tech has 7 straight wins and is 5-0 in the ACC. I don’t think Virginia Tech will lose another game in conference and should dominate whoever they end up playing in the ACC Championship. Ohio State may not be a part of the three way tie for first place in the Big Ten, but if they are eligible for an at-large pick, then some BCS bowl game will pick them up. Ohio State may not be deserving as their best win is Miami, but they bring a lot of TV viewership as well as a passionate fan base. Winner: Virginia Tech

Fiesta Bowl – Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh

After watching Oklahoma State handle Baylor, part of me wanted to jump on the Cowboy bandwagon and declare them my prediction as the winner of the Big 12, but as I thought about it more, I think the Cornhuskers would prevail in an Oklahoma State vs. Nebraska Big 12 championship game. As for the Big East, the Fiesta Bowl will get last pick for BCS teams, so they will probably be stuck with the Big East champion which will probably be Pittsburgh barring any major shake-up as they currently have a two game lead over the second place team.   Winner: Nebraska

Sugar Bowl – LSU vs. Boise State

LSU finally figured out an offense in their win against Alabama this past weekend. The Mad Hatter made some gutsy decisions that paid out as they dashed any hopes Alabama had at a BCS invite. The Sugar Bowl will lose the SEC Champ Auburn to the National Championship, but this bowl game probably would prefer having LSU in their game anyways due to proximity of Baton Rouge and LSU fans to New Orleans. I think Boise State deserves to be in a BCS game as they are definitely a Top 4 team in the nation, but there does not seem to be any BCS bowl games that will be good fit for them based on my predictions. I think the average college football fan would like to see Boise State against and SEC team, so I think the Sugar Bowl will grab them as the Tigers competitor.  Winner: Boise State

Top Heisman Candidates

1. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
2. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn
3. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
4. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
5. Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
6. Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
7. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
8. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
9. Matt Barkley, QB, USC

5 Games to Watch – Week 11

Georgia at #4 Auburn – 3:30 PM EST

#25 Penn State at #9 Ohio State – 3:30 PM EST

San Diego State at #1 TCU – 4:00 PM EST

#17 Mississippi State at #11 Alabama – 7:15 PM EST

USC at #19 Arizona – 8:00 PM EST

Image courtesy of The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)