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| Published: Oct 26, 2009 4:47 PM EST |
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Incredi-Hull Poll: Differing opinion on Florida, Iowa |
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It doesn't matter what "human" you ask, chances are that "person" believes Alabama, Florida or Texas is the No. 1 team in the country.
Ask a computer and you get a completely different answer.
None of the top three teams in the BCS, Coach's and AP polls are listed as the No. 1 squad in the computer polls, which figure into the overall BCS standings.
Instead, it's the Iowa Hawkeyes. That's right. Iowa. A team that has just escaped with its undefeated status week after week after week.
One can't take everything away from Iowa. The Hawkeyes have figured out a way to win eight games not matter how unimpressive those wins have been. At some point, does the last-second magic, which they needed to defeat Michigan State Saturday, run out? One has to believe so. No team can continously put itself in that kind of trouble and expect to always come out with a win.
The Incredi-Hull Rankings are bucking trends. While the other polls were in a rush to push Florida back to the top despite an unimpressive win over Mississippi State, I'm having the Gators lose ground rather than gain it.
Here's my take on the Top 25 teams in the country heading into Week 9.
1. Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC)
Previous: 1
Polls: BCS - 2; Coach's 2; AP - 2.
Last week: 12-10 over Tennessee; This week: vs. No. 13 LSU.
Tennessee is underrated. The Vols have plenty of questions to answer on offense, but their defense is rock solid. Bama needs to be thanking the stars that Terrance Cody wears crimson, and a lot of it, on game days. His two blocked FGs, including a potential game winner as time expired, were the obvious difference in the game.
2. Texas (7-0, 4-0 Big 12)
Previous: 3
Polls: BCS - 3; Coach's - 3; AP - 3.
Last week: 41-7 over Missouri; This week: at No. 15 Oklahoma St.
Why Texas ahead of Florida? This season has been about great defensive play and Texas' defense has been more impressive than the Gators'. Florida has a nice win over LSU, who I still say is overrated and I consider Texas' victory over OU just as impressive. Of the three debatable No. 1 squads, Texas was the most impressive Saturday.
3. Florida (7-0, 5-0 SEC)
Previous: 3
Polls: BCS - 1; Coach's - 1; AP - 1.
Last week: 29-19 over Mississippi St.; This week: vs. Georgia.
The Gators looks very vulnerable right now and Tim Tebow doesn't have the edge, the chip on his shoulder, we've seen him play with in the past. Georgia could be a dangerous game for the Gators.
4. Cincinnati (7-0, 3-0 Big East)
Previous: 4
Polls: BCS - 8; Coach's - 7; AP - 5.
Last week: 47-10 over Louisville; This week: at Syracuse.
No Tony Pike, no problem. Brian Kelly is the Coach of the Year in my book. He's got the Bearcats defense playing ferociously and the offense hasn's missed a beat even with a completely different style of QB, Zach Collaros, at the reigns.
5. TCU (7-0, 3-0 MWC)
Previous: 8
Polls: BCS - 6; Coach's - 6; AP - 8.
Last week: 38-7 over BYU; This week: vs. UNLV.
Was there a more impressive win achieved last week than TCU's beatdown of BYU? The Horned Frogs have the second-best defense I've seen this season, just behind Alabama and just ahead of Oklahoma.
6. USC (6-1, 3-1 Pac-10)
Previous: 5
Polls: BCS - 5; Coach's - 4; AP - 4.
Last week: 42-36 over Oregon St.; This week: at No. 9 Oregon.
The Trojans were able to escape from Oregon State, something they couldn't do in 2008. Now they're faced with a difficult challenge in Oregon, which might be playing the best football in the country. If USC takes down Oregon, then moving them to No. 4 overall is finally feasible for me.
7. Iowa (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
Previous: 6
Polls: BCS - 4; Coach's - 8; AP - 7.
Last week: 15-13 over Michigan St.; This week: vs. Indiana.
Last-second heroics keeps Iowa undefeated, but the Hawkeyes are passed by TCU in these rankings. Michigan St.'s defensive play call on the game-deciding play baffles me. Iowa is on the 7 and has to score with two seconds left. Richard Stansi isn't a great running QB, so drop seven or eight guys into coverage right? No. The Spartans blitz eight and Iowa uses a simple slant pattern to get into the end zone. Horrid play call.
8. Boise State (7-0, 2-0 WAC)
Previous: 9
Polls: BCS - 7; Coach's - 5; AP - 6.
Last week: 54-9 over Hawaii; This week: vs. San Jose St.
Boise State blew out another inferior opponent. That sentence should be uttered for the rest of the season.
9. Oregon (6-1, 4-0 Pac-10)
Previous: 12
Polls: BCS - 10; Coach's - 12; AP - 10.
Last week: 43-19 over Washington; This week: vs. No. 6 USC.
Oregon has been the most impressive team in the nation over the past month. Saturday, the Ducks essentially play for the Pac-10 title and have a great chance of stealing it from USC.
10. Virginia Tech (5-2, 3-1 ACC)
Previous: 10
Polls: BCS - 13; Coach's - 14; AP - 14.
Last week: Idle; This week: vs. North Carolina.
This is probably the highest you'll still find Va. Tech. It's going to take another loss to convince me the Hokies should drop any further.
11. Penn State (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten)
Previous: 11
Polls: BCS - 12; Coach's - 10; AP - 12.
Last week: 35-10 over Michigan; This week: at Northwestern.
Penn State holds steady after its most impressive win of the season. The team finally played a complete game on both sides of the ball against a solid opponent.
12. Georgia Tech (7-1, 5-1 ACC)
Previous: 13
Polls: BCS - 11; Coach's - 11; AP - 11.
Last week: 34-9 over Virginia; This week: at Vanderbilt.
The Yellow Jackets are in a great position to win out the rest of the way and claim a shot at the ACC title.
13. LSU (6-1, 4-1 SEC)
Previous: 14
Polls: BCS - 9; Coach's - 9; AP - 9.
Last week: 31-10 over Auburn; This week: vs. Tulane.
This is probably the lowest you'll find the Tigers ranked. This is an overrated team without a good offense. Bama is looming.
14. Miami, Fla. (5-2, 2-2 ACC)
Previous: 7
Polls: BCS - 19; Coach's - 18; AP - 18.
Last week: 40-37 loss to Clemson; This week: at Wake Forest.
Tough loss for Miami, who suddenly couldn't play defense against a struggling Clemson offense. The Canes are still a young team. Time to see how they respond to a heartbreaking loss.
15. Oklahoma State (6-1, 3-0 Big 12)
Previous: 15
Polls: BCS - 14; Coach's - 13; AP - 13.
Last week: 34-7 over Baylor; This week: vs. No. 2 Texas.
With all the issues surrounding Oklahoma St., the Cowboys still remain in the midst of this poll and have to be taken serious by the Longhorns Saturday. Stillwater provides one of the toughest venues in which to play in all of college sports.
16. Ohio State (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten)
Previous: 16
Polls: BCS - 17; Coach's - 15; AP - 17.
Last week: 38-7 over Minnesota; This week: vs. New Mexico St.
Terrelle Pryor was great against Minnesota and will be great against New Mexico St. as well. Can he look great against Penn State and Iowa in the two games after this week's? That's the real question.
17. Oklahoma (4-3, 2-1 Big 12)
Previous: 19
Polls: BCS - NR; Coach's - 23; AP - 22.
Last week: 35-13 over Kansas; This week: vs. Kansas St.
Underrated should be chanted over and over again with Oklahoma. The defense is one of the best in the nation and will lead the Sooners to winning out the rest of their season.
18. Houston (6-1, 2-1 C-USA)
Previous 18
Polls: BCS - 18; Coach's - 16; AP - 15.
Last week: 38-15 over SMU; This week: vs. Southern Miss.
No reason to move Houston up or down. The Cougars simply did what they were supposed to and routed SMU. So. Miss is going to be a much more difficult opponent.
19. Pitt (7-1, 4-0 Big East)
Previous: 22
Polls: BCS - 15; Coach's - 17; AP - 16.
Last week: 41-14 over South Florida; This week: Idle.
Pitt's defense shut down a reeling USF squad and Dion Lewis disected the Bulls defense. Pitt gets a week off to prepare for Syracuse. Then, closes the season vs. Notre Dame, at West Viginia and vs. Cincinnati. The Panthers are about to be measured.
20. West Virginia (6-1, 2-0 Big East)
Previous: 21
Polls: BCS - 21; Coach's - 20; AP - 20.
Last week: 28-24 over UConn; This week: at South Florida.
West Virginia earned an emotional win over UConn. Beating a team that went through the tragedy the Huskies did last week is always difficult. For one, the Huskies were obviously inspired, but also, the Mountaineers had to keep their focus on winning the game no matter how bittersweet the victory might be.
21. Utah (6-1, 3-0 MWC)
Previous: 23
Polls: BCS - 16; Coach's - 19; AP - 19.
Last week: 23-16 over Air Force; This week: vs. Wyoming.
Utah needed overtime to take out Air Force, which has presented a problem for multiple opponents this season. Upset alert this week. Don't be shocked if Wyoming knocks off the Utes.
22. Arizona (5-2, 3-1)
Preview: NR
Polls: BCS - 20; Coach's - 24; AP - 23.
Last week: 27-13 over UCLA; This week: Idle.
Arizona's two losses came to undefeated Iowa and surprising Washington. The Wildcats are figuring out ways to win under Mike Stoops.
23. Central Michigan (7-1, 5-0 MAC)
Previous: 25
Polls: BCS - NR; Coach's - NR; AP - NR.
Last week: 24-10 over Bowling Green; This week: at Boston College.
The Chippewas are off the grid for most college football fans and pundits, but they play great football and deserve to be in the Top 25. Defeating Boston College would further cement that opinion, especially if they do it in a more impressive fashion than Notre Dame just did.
24. Notre Dame (5-2)
Previous: 24
Polls: BCS - 23; Coach's - 25; AP - 25.
Last week: 20-16 over Boston College ; This week: vs. Washington St.
Speaking of the Irish, they remain in the poll, but only by the skin of their teeth. Saturday's performance wasn't very impressive and the Irish still seem on the verge of quitting on the season following the loss to USC.
25. South Carolina (6-2, 3-2 SEC)
Previous: NR
Polls: BCS - 22; Coach's - 21; AP - 21.
Last week: 14-10 over Vanderbilt; This week: at Tennessee.
This was a do-or-die season for Steve Spurrier and he seems to be getting more out of what might be his least talented group of players since he's been at South Carolina. Vandy has been a trap for the Gamecocks the past two seasons. Just escaping with a victory is a positive thing for this squad. |
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| Published: Oct 26, 2009 4:47 PM EST |
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