Week 9 Top 25
Utah survived Air Force this weekend and host TCU in Week 10’s biggest game. In addition, Colt Murray provides an updated Top 25 along with updated BCS predictions, Heisman contenders, and 5 games to watch for Week 10.
| RANK | TEAM | W-L | PREV. | NEXT |
| 1. | Oregon | 8-0 | 2 | Vs. Washington |
| 2. | Boise State | 7-0 | 1 | Vs. #24 Hawaii |
| 3. | TCU | 9-0 | 3 | @ # 5 Utah |
| 4. | Auburn | 9-0 | 4 | Vs. Chattanooga |
| 5. | Utah | 8-0 | 5 | Vs. #3 TCU |
| 6. | Alabama | 7-1 | 7 | @ #11 LSU |
| 7. | Wisconsin | 7-1 | 8 | @ Purdue |
| 8. | Ohio State | 8-1 | 10 | @ Penn State (Nov 13th) |
| 9. | Oklahoma | 7-1 | 11 | @ Texas A&M |
| 10. | Stanford | 7-1 | 13 | Vs. #14 Arizona |
| 11. | LSU | 7-1 | 12 | Vs. #6 Alabama |
| 12. | Iowa | 6-2 | 18 | @ Indiana |
| 13. | Nebraska | 7-1 | 13 | @ Iowa State |
| 14. | Arizona | 7-1 | 16 | @ #10 Stanford |
| 15. | South Carolina | 6-2 | 17 | Vs. #18 Arkansas |
| 16. | Missouri | 7-1 | 9 | @ Texas Tech |
| 17. | Oklahoma State | 7-1 | 19 | @ #23 Baylor |
| 18. | Arkansas | 7-2 | 21 | @ #15 South Carolina |
| 19. | Michigan State | 8-1 | 6 | vs. Minnesota |
| 20. | Virginia Tech | 6-2 | 20 | Vs. Georgia Tech (Nov 4th) |
| 21. | Florida State | 6-2 | 15 | Vs. North Carolina |
| 22. | Mississippi State | 7-2 | 23 | @ #6 Alabama |
| 23. | Baylor | 7-2 | NR | @ #17 Oklahoma State |
| 24. | Hawaii | 7-2 | 25 | @ #2 Boise State |
| 25. | Nevada | 7-1 | NR | @ Idaho |
Dropped out of Rankings: USC, Miami
Others Considered: Syracuse, North Carolina State, Northwestern, Oregon State, Pittsburgh
Updated BCS Game Predictions
National Championship – Auburn vs. Boise State
Auburn not only survived this weekend in what many expected to be a trap game after last weekend, but they won in very impressive fashion. Auburn has a very easy slate of games coming up (against Chattanooga and Georgia) and will most likely head to Alabama undefeated. With how the season is playing out, I think the winner of the Iron Bowl should head to the national championship. For now, I will stick with Boise State as the pick here, but I think Oregon and TCU are right on their heels as Oregon and TCU could overtake Boise State in the BCS due to strength of schedule. I do think Boise State is a top 2 team in the nation, but their perceived weak schedule may hurt them in the long run. For now, the tentative pick is Auburn vs. Boise State, and I still think Boise State would win this game. Winner: Boise State
Rose Bowl – Oregon vs. Michigan State
It was very hard not picking Oregon to the National Championship this week after they went on the road to a packed Coliseum and beat the Trojans handedly, but they still have tough games against Arizona and Oregon State coming up. I still am under the assumption they will lose to either of those teams, but still win the Pac-10. While Michigan State was destroyed by the Hawkeyes, I think they will still be the Big Ten’s Rose Bowl berth. I think Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan State will 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. Oklahoma
Virginia Tech now looks like the clear ACC favorite after Florida State lost to North Carolina State last Thursday. Virginia Tech has 6 straight wins and is 4-0 in the ACC, however, they face three tough games in a row versus Georgia Tech, at North Carolina, and at Miami. After seeing the way Virginia Tech has played recently, I think they will get through all those games and then beat Virginia at the end of the year. Oklahoma is still the Big 12 South division projected winner, but I am not as confident with the pick based on how well Baylor and Oklahoma State are playing. In addition, Oklahoma must end the season on the road against those two teams, but for now, I expect them to win their remaining games, and then lose to Nebraska in the Big 12 championship. Winner: Oklahoma
Fiesta Bowl – Nebraska vs. TCU
I had thought Missouri would be able to continue the winning ways and beat Nebraska this past weekend, but apparently I was wrong. Because of that, I’ll revert to my older pick to win the Big 12, which was Nebraska. TCU may wind up in the National Championship if the seasons plays out right, but for now I think they’ll just miss it and be selected to the Fiesta Bowl. However, this weekend, they must go on the road and take on #5 Utah. If Utah wins that game, then I think the Fiesta Bowl will take the Utes. Winner: TCU
Sugar Bowl – Alabama vs. Syracuse
Alabama may be in the national championship if they win out and beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl, but for now, I think they’ll lose that game and get selected by the Sugar Bowl as an at large berth. As for their opponent, I think the Sugar Bowl will take the Big East champ. It looks like it will be either Pittsburgh or Syracuse, but since I had Syracuse last week and the Orange then went on the road and beat Cincinnati, I’ll keep them as the pick here for the Sugar Bowl. Syracuse’s surprising season will continue all the way to New Orleans. Winner: Alabama
Top Heisman Candidates
- LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
- Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn
- Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
- Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
- Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
- Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
- Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
- Matt Barkley, QB, USC
5 (+1) Games to Watch – Week 10
#23 Baylor at #17 Oklahoma State – 12:30 PM EST
#3 TCU at #5 Utah – 3:30 PM EST
#24 Hawaii at #2 Boise State – 3:30 PM EST
#18 Arkansas at #15 South Carolina – 7:00 PM EST
#6 Alabama at #11 LSU – 8:00 PM EST
#14 Arizona at #10 Stanford – 8:00 PM EST
Image courtesy of The Oregonian (www.oregonlive.com)
Colt,
Firstly, I enjoy reading your posts. You give an interesting look week-by-week of how the college football season is shaking out. It is like nothing else on the web. Really. But, even though I have been reading your Top 25 for the past few weeks I have to say that I disagree with your top 5 on a regular basis. This week you got Oregon right, but Auburn is the easiest No. 2 pick in the history of Top 25’s. TCU and Boise are both good teams but they belong at 4 and 5 and Utah or Alabama at 3.
Come on!
Colt,
Firstly, I enjoy reading your posts. You give an interesting look week-by-week of how the college football season is shaking out. It is like nothing else on the web. Really. But, even though I have been reading your Top 25 for the past few weeks I have to say that I disagree with your top 5 on a regular basis. This week you got Oregon right, but Auburn is the easiest No. 2 pick in the history of Top 25’s. TCU and Boise are both good teams but they belong at 4 and 5 and Utah or Alabama at 3.
Come on!
Hey David, thanks for reading.
In response to your comment, I don’t think Auburn is such a clear #2 as many people think. In terms of offense, Boise State is the better offense, and stats back this up, with Auburn and TCU being comparable. Boise State is 5th total yards and 2nd in scoring offense. TCU has the 11th ranked offense in total yards and 9th ranks in scoring offense. Auburn, is 6th in total yards, and 10th in scoring offense.
As far as defense is concerned, Auburn is not even on TCU and Boise State’s level. Boise State has the 3rd ranked defense in terms of total yards and scoring defense. TCU has the top ranked defense in terms of total yards and scoring defense. And Auburn is way down at 57th in total yards and 59th in scoring defense.
In addition to the story the stats tell, if Auburn played Boise State and TCU on a neutral field, I think both TCU and Boise State would win.
Hey David, thanks for reading.
In response to your comment, I don’t think Auburn is such a clear #2 as many people think. In terms of offense, Boise State is the better offense, and stats back this up, with Auburn and TCU being comparable. Boise State is 5th total yards and 2nd in scoring offense. TCU has the 11th ranked offense in total yards and 9th ranks in scoring offense. Auburn, is 6th in total yards, and 10th in scoring offense.
As far as defense is concerned, Auburn is not even on TCU and Boise State’s level. Boise State has the 3rd ranked defense in terms of total yards and scoring defense. TCU has the top ranked defense in terms of total yards and scoring defense. And Auburn is way down at 57th in total yards and 59th in scoring defense.
In addition to the story the stats tell, if Auburn played Boise State and TCU on a neutral field, I think both TCU and Boise State would win.