My pick of Alabama at #1 is becoming stronger and stronger as the Crimson Tide continue to steamroll everybody in their path, including a decent Arkansas team this week. If anything, the top 3 teams separated themselves from the rest of the field. Virginia Tech has a better victory (Miami) and a better loss (Alabama) than everybody else, so they jump up to #4. I hate to bump Boise down a spot. LSU wasn't impressive, but who would jump them?
 | ||
| Rank | Team | Delta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | |
| 2 | Florida | |
| 3 | Texas | |
| 4 | Virginia Tech |  5 |
| 5 | Boise State |  1 |
| 6 | LSU | 1 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | |
| 8 | Southern Cal | |
| 9 | TCU | 1 |
| 10 | Cincinnati | 1 |
| 11 | Nebraska | 6 |
| 12 | Ohio State | 2 |
| 13 | Houston | 7 |
| 14 | Oklahoma State | 7 |
| 15 | Iowa | |
| 16 | Kansas | 2 |
| 17 | Georgia | 1 |
| 18 | Missouri | 1 |
| 19 | Oregon | |
| 20 | Miami (Florida) | 8 |
| 21 | California | 15 |
| 22 | Mississippi | 9 |
| 23 | Penn State | 8 |
| 24 | Michigan | 1 |
| 25 | Georgia Tech | |
| Last week's ballot | ||
Dropped Out: Washington (#22), North Carolina (#24), Florida State (#25).
The obvious homer pick is Nebraska jumping to #11. If I think Virginia Tech is #4, then #11 for a Nebraska squad that outplayed the Hokies in Blacksburg is probably too low. But they failed to finish the deal, so they're at #11. I'm not sure what to do with Iowa; I think #14 is too high ...but I can't find a team to rank above them....and that's the way this should work. I'm thinking Missouri is overrated at #18; who have they played? Their opponents have only won one game against a 1-A opponent (Bowling Green beat Troy).
Big XII PowerPoll
The obvious homer pick is Nebraska jumping to #11. If I think Virginia Tech is #4, then #11 for a Nebraska squad that outplayed the Hokies in Blacksburg is probably too low. But they failed to finish the deal, so they're at #11. I'm not sure what to do with Iowa; I think #14 is too high ...but I can't find a team to rank above them....and that's the way this should work. I'm thinking Missouri is overrated at #18; who have they played? Their opponents have only won one game against a 1-A opponent (Bowling Green beat Troy).
Big XII PowerPoll
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma State
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Texas A&M
- Texas Tech
- Baylor
- Iowa State
- Kansas State
- Colorado
We are teetering on being a top 10 team. Good choice at #11. Beat Missouri Oct 8 and I will believe this is a top 10 team. CFB (Scout) already thinks so!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure why we think we should be ranked higher than Missouri or Kansas? Who have we beaten? 3 Sun Belt teams at home? Give KU credit for winning all of their (albeit, easy) games, and to MU for scheduling two games away from home and winning all four. Plus, I'm also not sure where all of this confidence is coming from for next week's game: they did lose a lot of players (so did we) and they SPANKED us IN LINCOLN last year, 52-17. Let's temper our enthusiasm a little so our hopes aren't crushed again.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that we think we should be higher, but rather we WILL be higher after playing both of them!
ReplyDeleteSince Oct. 18 of last year this team is 9-2 with another year of experience on defense. We were very close to being 4-0 this year. But we cannot look back, only ahead.
If you ask me I would tell you were are better than Missouri and Kansas this year.
But to say that we are THAT much better this year than we were a year ago is a little drastic, don't you think? They beat us by 35 points in Lincoln. You throw on 6 points for the change in venue, and we are supposed to make up 41 points on them in one calendar year? Baby steps, folks. Baby steps. Let's hope we compete with them this year. That would be progress.
ReplyDeleteWell, Nebraska made up 38 points on Missouri between 2003 and 2004. My optimism comes by how Nebraska played in their 4 games this season, and leading a now-Top 5 opponent for most of the second half on the road builds NU's resume better than anything Missouri has done this season.
ReplyDeleteYes, Missouri is 4-0...but their opponents have defeated exactly ONE 1-A opponent this season (Bowling Green over Troy). So while it's true Nebraska hasn't beaten anybody of consequence...neither has Missouri to this point, and in fact, hasn't looked all that good doing it except against a very bad Illinois squad.
We can talk about this all We want and it will accomplish anything. We both know we are an improved team on Defense. Can see it on the field. Also the past year we heard Bo say "we are getting there but have a lot of work to do." Once that is accomplished you will see a drastic improvement in the defensive play - In fact we have already witnessed a very good defense away from home at VT - that cannot be denied unless you believe VT is not a top 10 team. I believe they are.
ReplyDeleteThe answer will come in 8 days. I believe if the offense is ON, we will take them by 14 in their house!
I appreciate your optimism. I'm afraid my realistic prediction has 10-14 points the other way.
ReplyDelete