A win is better than a loss. Especially when it is against a team like Rutgers. I did not get a chance to watch the game, but it looked like once Christian Veilleux got comfortable, the offense was able to move the ball effectively. Who knows how things will go next week against Michigan State. I have decided that I want Penn State to play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. If they would, I would definitely try to go and stay at my father-in-law’s place…hey, I can continue to dream.
- Georgia (11-0)–crushed Charleston Southern 56-7
- Cincinnati (11-0)–I was going to drop them from the top two, but they beat up SMU 48-14 (the Mustangs only scored in the 4th quarter when it was backup time.
- Ohio State (10-1)–had the Bearcats won a close game, then I would have put Ohio State in at #2. The 56-7 thrashing of Michigan State was impressive. What was most impressive though: 49-0 at halftime and the Buckeyes sat Stroud after in the third quarter (he already had six touchdowns in the first half and threw for 432 yards!).
- Alabama (10-1)–the offense looks great, but the defense is suspect at this point. They gave up 35 to Arkansas.
- Notre Dame (10-1)–55-0 over Georgia Tech.
- Michigan (10-1)–destroyed Maryland, 59-18.
- Oklahoma State (10-1)–so weird seeing them as a defensive team
- Oklahoma (10-1)–they beat Iowa State in a close one.
- Ole Miss (9-2)–a win over Vandy, nothing impressive, but a win is a win.
- BYU (9-2)–they easily handled Georgia Southern, 34-17
- Baylor (9-2)–they jumped over Iowa because of another win over a quality opponent (Kansas State was an HM for me last week).
- Iowa (9-2)–the Hawkeyes beat Illinois, yay
- Oregon (9-2)–got smacked around by Utah. Sorry, but that drops you significantly in my book.
- Texas A&M (8-3)–an easy win over Prairie View A&M
- Pitt (9-2)–it was a hard fought win for the Panthers over Virginia, but they did it and they clinched the ACC Coastal.
- Michigan State (9-2)–utterly destroyed by Ohio State
- UTSA (11-0)–came back to pick up a big win over UAB.
- Wisconsin (8-3)–continued to rack up the wins
- Wake Forest (9-2)–lost badly to a not that good Clemson team
- Houston (10-1)–beat Memphis
- Louisiana-Lafayette (10-1)–crushed Liberty, 42-14
- Utah (8-3)–I guess it is time to take them seriously after that beatdown they gave Oregon
- Appalachian State (9-2)–defeated Troy
- San Diego State (10-1)–won a close one against UNLV, who is not very good.
- NC State (8-3)–I thought about putting Mississippi State here, but their win was over a FCS opponent, while NC State beat Syracuse.
Honorable Mention: Mississippi State (7-4), Coastal Carolina (9-2), Kentucky (8-3), Arkansas (7-4), Kansas State (7-4), Oregon State (7-4), SMU (8-3), Boise State (7-4), Northern Illinois (8-3)
I am bumping Northern Illinois and Boise State into the HM conversation. Boise State because they have beat teams on this list and lost to a few teams who are probably ranked in the top 35ish. They have a big game next week against SDSU. I think Northern Illinois is a decent team (personally, I think the MAC takes a lot of shit–the conference is solid and the teams are fairly evenly matched, hence the records). I feel if some of the top MAC teams played in C-USA or the Sun Belt, they might be champs (I have no clue if that is true, haha). I just feel the MAC should get some love.
There are some great games this week! On Thanksgiving we get the Egg Bowl (Ole Miss heading to Mississippi State for a high scoring affair). On Friday we have Boise State and San Diego State, UNC and NC State, and then finally we have the Apple Cup (Washington State at Washington–the Cougs have a chance to win the Pac-12 North if things fall their way). Alabama faces Auburn, who would love to ruin their rivals season. Oregon State and Oregon, Wisconsin vs. Minnesota, Notre Dame vs. Stanford, BYU vs. USC. Those are all interesting for a variety of reasons, but there are two games above all others.
At noon we have Ohio State at Michigan. I want to think the Wolverines can hang with the Buckeyes, but something tells me this could turn ugly like it did for Sparty. Then at 7:30 we have Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (yes, you will have to hear the word Bedlam like 10,000 times this week…but impress your friends by letting them know that the first Bedlam Series was actually between the school’s wrestling programs). I think Oklahoma State defense is going to give the Sooners troubles.
