The Chosen Blog

OK, just saw your Top 25 now. Not be a dick, but not only is this not better than mine, it's frigging horrible. Where do I begin?

 

First off, West Virginia at #1? WHY? WHY? WHY? I'm really curious why you'd possibly have them that high. Their pass defense has been really bad this year (they rank 71st in the country in pass efficency D), they gave up over 20 points in both of their first two games and they trailed Marshall at the half. Where in all that, did you get the impression that they were better than LSU or USC? All I can guess is that it's a preseason impression based on their skill guys that you stuck with, but I think their offense should actually be slightly worse this year as they lost their two top linemen including a first-team All-American at center who's being replaced by a converted tight end.

 

Next off, Virginia Tech at #10? What the hell? They haven't played one good game all year and currently rank 102nd in the country in total offense and 103rd in scoring offense. Yeah, they have a good defense, but they still gave up 48 points to LSU and I don't see how you can have them ahead of a balanced team that's actually beaten someone like South Carolina. Do you really think the Cocks will lose to LSU by 41 points this week? I'd be shocked and amazed if they did. If they do, all it means is that LSU is just that good and should be ranked #1 instead of #3 behind West Virginia and Florida. You can't have it both ways saying LSU's good but not great if the team they beat by 41 is still in the Top Ten after losing to them.

 

You'd think I'd be getting bored writing this much, but then we come to the most ridiculously overrated team on your list. Hawaii at number FOURTEEN! OMGWFTBBQ! Are we sure you didn't accidentally post your preseason rankings here? Have you been paying any attention to what's been going on at all? In Week 2, Hawaii played Louisiana Tech who is one of the very worst teams in the country. They're coming off of a 3-10 season and were picked to finish last in the WAC. What happens in that Louisiana Tech/Hawaii game? Hawaii gives up 410 yards and 44 points en route to a one point win in overtime. Yeah, that's a real national title contender all right. Maybe you were impressed by those tough wins over Northern Colorado (1-10 in I-AA last year) and UNLV (2-10 last year) though. Seriously, Hawaii's defense looked terrible against La. Tech and they shouldn't be within sniffing distance of a Top 25 until they play someone who's at least in the top half of I-A. (Not going to happen until Nov. 10 against Fresno State.)

 

Also, Oregon's way too low (best yardage differential in the Pac-Ten last year, dominating wins over good teams in Michigan and Fresno State), Missouri's too high (no good wins, nearly lost to Illinois), and South Carolina should at least be Top 15 if not Top 10 (very good win on the road vs. Georgia, 17 starters back from a team that went 8-0 last year vs. teams outside the Top 12.)

 

P.S. Don't take this personally. I just really enjoy arguing about college football, and with no Dama around or anything, you provided a pretty ripe target.

First to answer your questions.

 

1. West Virginia, they are hanging on to a preseason #1, and just barely. If they don't dominate ECU this week, and I suspect they won't, I will drop them to at least #3. They had an off game against Marshall, but unlike, say Texas for example, they pulled away in the 2nd half. When Texas has an off game, it come down to the wire.

 

2. Virginia Tech, they got blown out by a great LSU team. The only reason I dropped them 2 spots for that is because it was a blow out, otherwise I wouldn't have dropped them at all. And they've beaten 2 decent teams in ECU and Ohio. And you used South Carolina as an example as someone who has beaten someone. True they are undefeated, but take away the 1 game against ranked opponents for each and Tech's schedule is WAY tougher than SC's.

 

3. Hawaii, you're probably right here, to be honest I'm not sure why i didn't drop hawaii more for that OT game. but to be fair i'm not moving them up at all unless they start blowing teams away in the conference schedule. They are gonna hang around the 14-15 mark until they lose, or start kicking ass late in the season.

 

4. Oregon is very good and will probably be in the top 25 all year, but i don't think they are a top 10 team, unless they beat Cal. I still see them as #3 in the pac 10. And the pac 10 isn't that strong.

 

5. Missouri, they almost lost their opener against an "ok" illinois team. Since then they have kept it together and beat an "ok" ole miss team. I think missouri is the 2nd best team in the big 12 behind Oklahoma, and we'll see if they prove it in 2 weeks when they have nebraska at home.

 

 

I'm posting your top 25 for comparison here.

 

(Previous week's rank in parenthesis)

1. USC 2-0 (2)

2. LSU 3-0 (1)

3. Oklahoma 3-0 (3)

4. Florida 3-0 (12)

5. Oregon 3-0 (7)

6. West Virginia 3-0 (9)

7. Ohio State 3-0 (16)

8. Texas 3-0 (4)

9. South Carolina 3-0 (11)

10. Boston College 3-0 (22)

11. Penn State 3-0 (14)

12. California 3-0 (13)

13. Rutgers 3-0 (15)

14. Alabama 3-0 (17)

15. Louisville 2-1 (8)

16. Wisconsin 3-0 (10)

17. Kentucky 3-0 (NR)

18. Cincinnatti 3-0 (NR)

19. Texas A&M 3-0 (19)

20. USF 3-0 (21)

21. Missouri 3-0 (25)

22. Clemson 3-0 (NR)

23. Georgia 2-1 (24)

24. Georgia Tech 2-1 (5)

25. Nebraska 2-1 (18)

 

Close: Arizona State, Virginia Tech, Air Force, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Miami, Tennessee

 

 

1, USC, who have they beaten? Nebraska? Nebraska will not be ranked come the end of the season and USC will lose at least 1 game, just like last year. Maybe not to ucla, but cal, oregon, asu, even washington could beat them. I can understand if they are still hanging on to a preseason #1, cuz they haven't done anything to prove they shouldn't be #1, but they haven't done anything to prove they should be either.

 

2, Oregon, OMG WAAAAAAAAAAAY too high. You'll see, they will drop, HARD.

 

3, South Carolina, I don't think they are THAT good, they are on the same level as Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.

 

4, Virginia Tech should at least be ranked, thats insane.

 

5, but not as insane as MIAMI being close. wow. When Texas A&M blows them out will they drop out? Or do they still look better than Hawaii?

 

btw, none of this is personal. i just wanted to start a friendly rivalry of top 25's this year.

USC was my preseason #1, yeah. I briefly dropped them after LSU stomped Virginia Tech, but then when the Trojans got a win that was just as impressive, I moved them back up. I feel Nebraska and Virginia Tech are really comparable in talent and the fact that LSU blew out Virginia Tech worse is mitigated by the fact that USC had to play on the road. And actually, it was probably just as impressive, since Nebraska's only TD in the first 3 quarters came on a ridiculously silly penalty.

 

I see Miami as almost the same as Virginia Tech. Both looked like Coastal division contenders coming into the season, both got blown out by a Top 3 opponent, and neither has been really impressive in their other two games. Virginia Tech gets the nod for now due to a higher preseason ranking, but I didn't have them ranked that much higher than Miami in the preseason anyway. (Maybe #15 vs. #21.) At home, I'd actually expect Miami to beat Texas A&M, but yes, if they lose, they'll be out of the Top 32 for the foreseeable future.

 

As for Oregon, yes, I'm really sold on them. I think that not only will they beat Cal at home, they'll also beat USC, but will drop a road game somewhere along the way to either Washington or UCLA on the way to an 11-1 record.

 

Oh, and on West Virginia, yes they performed better than Texas this year. That's why they deserve a #6 ranking. However, no way in hell should they be ahead of USC, Oklahoma, LSU, or Florida, all of whom have been completely dominant, and all of whom have beaten better teams than Maryland.

5, but not as insane as MIAMI being close. wow. When Texas A&M blows them out will they drop out? Or do they still look better than Hawaii?

 

LOL. Still think having Miami at #31 last week was ridiculous? They'll almost certainly be moving into my real Top 25 after the stomping of Texas A&M.

First thing i thought when i saw the score:

 

"Fuck...I was just telling iggy how much they suck, now i gotta eat my words."

 

I will have my day in the college football sun.....just wait.