SteveDeace
Well-Known Member
2010 College Football Report – Week 5
Weekly Top 25
If I had a vote in the AP Poll this would be my ballot based on how good I think the teams are right now.
1. Alabama (5-0)…Don’t look now but that young Crimson Tide defense leads the nation in scoring defense almost halfway through the season.
2. Oregon (5-0)…This is now definitely Darron Thomas’ team as the Ducks officially turn the page from the Jeremiah Masoli era and again look like class of the Pac-10.
3. Ohio State (5-0)…Buckeyes’ first road game of the year wasn’t exactly an inspiring effort, but Illinois deserves some credit for having an improved defense.
4. Boise State (4-0)…Broncos need Virginia Tech to keep rolling through the ACC otherwise they may get forgotten now that the big boys are in conference play.
5. Auburn (5-0)…Got just the breather it needed after three straight physical games, and Cameron Newton continues to put up some scary numbers.
6. Oklahoma (5-0)…Don’t look now but the Sooners will certainly be favored in every one of their games the rest of the way.
7. TCU (5-0)…Horned Frogs got the win over Colorado State, but not quite the style points and statement they were hoping for.
8. Arizona (4-0)…Had an extra week to heal up for this week’s visit from Oregon State, which if it wins could lead to a rare 8-0 start.
9. Nebraska (4-0)…Better not sleep on a Thursday night game at Kansas State, who gets their last crack at the Huskers before they bolt for the Big Ten.
10. Iowa (4-1)…Rick Stanzi is the first quarterback in college football history to beat Penn State three times, and Hawkeyes might have best defense in the country.
11. Miami, Fla. (3-1)…Schedule now softens somewhat after three straight road games, and Hurricanes could be favored in every game the rest of the way.
12. LSU (5-0)…Probably no team in college football has played in more crazy finishes in recent years, and the Tigers again have quarterback questions.
13. Michigan State (5-0)…Got a big win over the Badgers so for just the third time since 1967 comes into its instate rivalry game the higher ranked team.
14. Stanford (4-1)…Blew a 21-3 lead at Autzen Stadium but if Cardinal can rebound this week at home versus USC it can still be a factor in Pac-10 race.
15. Arkansas (3-1)…Have had two weeks to stew over blowing a 20-7 lead versus Alabama in advance of old SWC reunion against Texas A&M.
16. Michigan (5-0)…Off to its first 5-0 start since 2006 and just its second since 1999, and has already matched last season’s win total.
17. Florida (4-1)…Doesn’t get a lot of time to get its offensive issues ironed out because visiting LSU is pretty stout defensively as well.
18. South Carolina (3-1)…Gamecocks have won just nine or more games twice since 1892, but they get their shot to make a statement hosting #1 Alabama this week.
19. Wisconsin (4-1)…Scott Tolzien was the top-ranked passer in the Big Ten last season, but he’s not played up to expectations so far this season.
20. Utah (4-0)…After basically a month of glorified scrimmages Utes gets the chance to face a Big 12 foe with some momentum on the road.
21. West Virginia (3-1)…Don’t look now but the Mountaineers could very well be yet another team favored in every one of its games the rest of the season.
22. Nevada (5-0)…Struggled a little bit against UNLV playing with the pressure of its first national ranking since 1948.
23. Virginia Tech (3-2)…Hokies have impressively put the James Madison debacle behind them by winning consecutive tough ACC road games.
24. Oklahoma State (4-0)…Lost a lot of its name players but is off to a solid start and has the second most prolific offense in the country.
25. Missouri (4-0)…One of the few teams in the sport that is in the top 20 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Honorable Mention:
26. Kansas State (4-0), 27. UCLA (3-2), 28. Texas (3-2), 29. Northwestern (5-0), 30.Florida State (4-1).
Cheers & Jeers
Cheers to…Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin, who put up Denard Robinson like numbers by setting a school record for total offense and vaulting the Bears just two wins shy of their first bowl bid since 1998.
Jeers to…LSU Coach Les Miles, who once again put on a coaching clinic for time management; as in demonstrating to aspiring coaches what not to do.
Cheers to…An Iowa State offensive line that paved the way for two 100-yard rushers, protected a quarterback who had a career-high four touchdown passes, and led the Cyclones to their first win over Texas Tech since 2002.
Jeers to…Illinois Coach Ron Zook, who made the questionable decision to kick a field goal down 17-10 to Ohio State instead of going for it on a 4th-and-7 from about the Buckeye 15-yard line with less than five minutes to go. The Illini converted the field goal, but never got the ball back to threaten again and lost, 24-13. The Zooker again proved that touchdowns count for more points than field goals.
Cheers to…Washington kick Erik Folk, who wins this week’s Bon Scott Award for testicular fortitude by knocking hated USC from the ranks of the unbeaten with a last minute field goal for the second straight year.
Jeers to…Rutgers, who contributed to the Big East’s woes by losing at home to terrible Tulane despite surrendering only 245 yards to the Green Wave.
My Heisman Ballot
With the season one month old, now’s the time to begin our weekly rankings of the top three contenders for college football’s most coveted award.
1. Denard Robinson, Michigan…The only player in college football history to have 200 yards rushing and passing in the same game twice in a season, and the sensational sophomore is only five games into his career.
2. Cameron Newton, Auburn…Physically comparable to Terrelle Pryor, but putting up the numbers you would expect Pryor to have.
3. Dan Persa, Northwestern…He likely won’t last here, but for at least for one week I wanted to acknowledge who could very well be the most important player to his team in the sport.
Big Ones
A look at the top five games this week in college football.
Michigan State at Michigan…One of only two battles of unbeatens in college football this week, and the first time both of these teams have been undefeated in this game since Tom Brady vs. Plaxico Burress in 1999.
Alabama at South Carolina…Third straight tough opponent for Crimson Tide, so Gamecocks can make a game of it if Stephen Garcia can protect the football.
LSU at Florida…Combined for three of the last four national championships, but neither team has an identity at the moment.
Florida State at Miami…Not quite the annual game of the year it was back in the day but still important in the ACC race nonetheless.
Nebraska at Kansas State…The other battle between two undefeated teams this week features Daniel Thomas running against a rugged black shirt defense.
Weekly Top 25
If I had a vote in the AP Poll this would be my ballot based on how good I think the teams are right now.
1. Alabama (5-0)…Don’t look now but that young Crimson Tide defense leads the nation in scoring defense almost halfway through the season.
2. Oregon (5-0)…This is now definitely Darron Thomas’ team as the Ducks officially turn the page from the Jeremiah Masoli era and again look like class of the Pac-10.
3. Ohio State (5-0)…Buckeyes’ first road game of the year wasn’t exactly an inspiring effort, but Illinois deserves some credit for having an improved defense.
4. Boise State (4-0)…Broncos need Virginia Tech to keep rolling through the ACC otherwise they may get forgotten now that the big boys are in conference play.
5. Auburn (5-0)…Got just the breather it needed after three straight physical games, and Cameron Newton continues to put up some scary numbers.
6. Oklahoma (5-0)…Don’t look now but the Sooners will certainly be favored in every one of their games the rest of the way.
7. TCU (5-0)…Horned Frogs got the win over Colorado State, but not quite the style points and statement they were hoping for.
8. Arizona (4-0)…Had an extra week to heal up for this week’s visit from Oregon State, which if it wins could lead to a rare 8-0 start.
9. Nebraska (4-0)…Better not sleep on a Thursday night game at Kansas State, who gets their last crack at the Huskers before they bolt for the Big Ten.
10. Iowa (4-1)…Rick Stanzi is the first quarterback in college football history to beat Penn State three times, and Hawkeyes might have best defense in the country.
11. Miami, Fla. (3-1)…Schedule now softens somewhat after three straight road games, and Hurricanes could be favored in every game the rest of the way.
12. LSU (5-0)…Probably no team in college football has played in more crazy finishes in recent years, and the Tigers again have quarterback questions.
13. Michigan State (5-0)…Got a big win over the Badgers so for just the third time since 1967 comes into its instate rivalry game the higher ranked team.
14. Stanford (4-1)…Blew a 21-3 lead at Autzen Stadium but if Cardinal can rebound this week at home versus USC it can still be a factor in Pac-10 race.
15. Arkansas (3-1)…Have had two weeks to stew over blowing a 20-7 lead versus Alabama in advance of old SWC reunion against Texas A&M.
16. Michigan (5-0)…Off to its first 5-0 start since 2006 and just its second since 1999, and has already matched last season’s win total.
17. Florida (4-1)…Doesn’t get a lot of time to get its offensive issues ironed out because visiting LSU is pretty stout defensively as well.
18. South Carolina (3-1)…Gamecocks have won just nine or more games twice since 1892, but they get their shot to make a statement hosting #1 Alabama this week.
19. Wisconsin (4-1)…Scott Tolzien was the top-ranked passer in the Big Ten last season, but he’s not played up to expectations so far this season.
20. Utah (4-0)…After basically a month of glorified scrimmages Utes gets the chance to face a Big 12 foe with some momentum on the road.
21. West Virginia (3-1)…Don’t look now but the Mountaineers could very well be yet another team favored in every one of its games the rest of the season.
22. Nevada (5-0)…Struggled a little bit against UNLV playing with the pressure of its first national ranking since 1948.
23. Virginia Tech (3-2)…Hokies have impressively put the James Madison debacle behind them by winning consecutive tough ACC road games.
24. Oklahoma State (4-0)…Lost a lot of its name players but is off to a solid start and has the second most prolific offense in the country.
25. Missouri (4-0)…One of the few teams in the sport that is in the top 20 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Honorable Mention:
26. Kansas State (4-0), 27. UCLA (3-2), 28. Texas (3-2), 29. Northwestern (5-0), 30.Florida State (4-1).
Cheers & Jeers
Cheers to…Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin, who put up Denard Robinson like numbers by setting a school record for total offense and vaulting the Bears just two wins shy of their first bowl bid since 1998.
Jeers to…LSU Coach Les Miles, who once again put on a coaching clinic for time management; as in demonstrating to aspiring coaches what not to do.
Cheers to…An Iowa State offensive line that paved the way for two 100-yard rushers, protected a quarterback who had a career-high four touchdown passes, and led the Cyclones to their first win over Texas Tech since 2002.
Jeers to…Illinois Coach Ron Zook, who made the questionable decision to kick a field goal down 17-10 to Ohio State instead of going for it on a 4th-and-7 from about the Buckeye 15-yard line with less than five minutes to go. The Illini converted the field goal, but never got the ball back to threaten again and lost, 24-13. The Zooker again proved that touchdowns count for more points than field goals.
Cheers to…Washington kick Erik Folk, who wins this week’s Bon Scott Award for testicular fortitude by knocking hated USC from the ranks of the unbeaten with a last minute field goal for the second straight year.
Jeers to…Rutgers, who contributed to the Big East’s woes by losing at home to terrible Tulane despite surrendering only 245 yards to the Green Wave.
My Heisman Ballot
With the season one month old, now’s the time to begin our weekly rankings of the top three contenders for college football’s most coveted award.
1. Denard Robinson, Michigan…The only player in college football history to have 200 yards rushing and passing in the same game twice in a season, and the sensational sophomore is only five games into his career.
2. Cameron Newton, Auburn…Physically comparable to Terrelle Pryor, but putting up the numbers you would expect Pryor to have.
3. Dan Persa, Northwestern…He likely won’t last here, but for at least for one week I wanted to acknowledge who could very well be the most important player to his team in the sport.
Big Ones
A look at the top five games this week in college football.
Michigan State at Michigan…One of only two battles of unbeatens in college football this week, and the first time both of these teams have been undefeated in this game since Tom Brady vs. Plaxico Burress in 1999.
Alabama at South Carolina…Third straight tough opponent for Crimson Tide, so Gamecocks can make a game of it if Stephen Garcia can protect the football.
LSU at Florida…Combined for three of the last four national championships, but neither team has an identity at the moment.
Florida State at Miami…Not quite the annual game of the year it was back in the day but still important in the ACC race nonetheless.
Nebraska at Kansas State…The other battle between two undefeated teams this week features Daniel Thomas running against a rugged black shirt defense.
