Top 25 Poll - Week 11 - No. 1 - The Auburn Tigers, Until They Lose
The AP Top 25 and Coaches Top 25 College Football Polls are nationally recognized, but after 50+ years of watching and/or covering college football games, and being a former sports editor for a daily newspaper, here is another view:
No. 1 now is clearly Auburn, and here's why:
1) Auburn (11-0) - Spotted Georgia 3 quick touchdowns, but still won by 18 points, 49-31. Only a trip to Alabama stands between the Tigers and a perfect regular-season record. Despite all of the bad press last week for Auburn and its Heisman-candidate Cam Newton, they responded well to the pressure. There are no wimps in hometown Auburn at this point in time. Only 1 of the AP Top 25 teams have beaten 4 ranked opponents, and that is Auburn. Only 8 other teams among the 25 have beaten even 2 opponents. Cease the talk about Boise State and TCU, which have each beaten only 1 ranked opponent all year - talk about a lack of competition.
2) Oregon (10-0) - The high-powered Duck offense (the leader nationally in scoring offense and total offense) suddenly looks like they can be beaten, barely escaping from California with a 15-13 win they could have easily lost. Still ahead are games against Arizona and at Oregon State. Oregon has beaten 2 ranked teams - Stanford and Southern California.
3) LSU (9-1) - Whipped an inept, in-state Louisiana Monroe team, 51-zip. Feeling their oats. Has beaten 2 currently ranked opponents - Mississippi State and Alabama - and has only lost to Auburn. Hosts Mississippi next.
4) Wisconsin (9-1) - Tore up Indiana 83-20, the Badgers best offensive performance in 95 years! Has beaten two Top 25 teams, Ohio State and Iowa. Now travels to Michigan's Big House and a showdown with Denard Robinson.
5) Boise State (9-0) - Slapped around a lame Idaho team, 52-14. Gets Fresno State next; the Bulldogs should be a tad tougher than the Idaho Vandals. Has only beaten 1 ranked team, Virginia Tech. Only here because they are 1 of 4 unbeaten teams left.
6) TCU (11-0) - The Horned Frogs, who led the nation in scoring defense and total defense, gave up 35 points and 300 yards to State Diego State before winning by 5, 40-35. Has beaten only 1 ranked team, Utah, who lost this week to Notre Dame, 28-3. Plays 173rd-ranked New Mexico in its last game, a real laugher for stiff competition. Only here because they are 1 of 4 unbeaten teams left, little wonder considering their level of competition.
7) Michigan State (9-1) - Was idle this week. Has as many wins as any team below them, but also has beaten only one ranked team, Wisconsin, a very good team that is also 9-1. Hosts Purdue next, ranked 93rd and not exactly a powerhouse at 4-6.
8) Stanford (9-1) - Not impressive in 17-13 win against Arizona State. Has beaten 2 ranked opponents - Southern California and Arizona. Now must travel to California, where the Bears just lost to No. 1 Oregon, 15-13. The Cardinal had better be ready, or they may be beaten for the second time this year. A great win against California would give Stanford added stature.
9) Nebraska (9-1) - The pesky Cornhuskers just held Kansas to 87 yards total offense, 5 first downs and 6 sacks while winning 20-3. It's a good thing Nebraska has a defense with its on-again, off-again offense. Has beaten two ranked teams - Oklahoma State and Missouri. Travels to Texas A&M this week.
10) Alabama (8-2) - Knocked off 17th-ranked Mississippi State 30-10. Has victories against two ranked teams - Arkansas and Mississippi State. Keeps hanging in there despite losses to South Carolina and LSU. Plays AA Georgia State next, an absolute joke. The Crimson Tide had better tromp Georgia State to remain here.
11) Arkansas (8-2) - Just beat UTEP 58-21. Has beaten 2 ranked teams - Texas A&M and South Carolina. Has lost only to Auburn and Alabama. Travels to Mississippi State next.
12) Oklahoma State (9-1) - Turned back Texas, 33-16, but the Longhorns are weak this year. Win was not that big of a deal but no other team is really doing all that well either. Has beaten 1 ranked team - Texas A&M. Travels to Kansas next. Should score more points against the Jayhawks than Nebraska.
13) Southern California (7-3) - Upset 18th-ranked Arizona 24-21. Trojans are starting to feel their mojo. Arizona was Cal's first win over a ranked team. Travels to Oregon State next and must win to stay here.
14) South Carolina (7-3) - Beat 24th-ranked Florida convincingly, 36-14, to wrap up the SEC Eastern Division title and snap a 12-game losing streak to Florida. Never underestimate Steve Spurrier on the road in The Swamp. When he coached the Florida Gators, his record was 122-27-1 with 9 SEC East Division or outright titles, and the National Championship in 1996.
15) Ohio State (9-1) - Whipped Penn State 38-14. Has beaten 1 ranked team, Miami, FL. Travels to Iowa next, and had better win big to remain here. Buckeyes not that big of a deal, but neither are the teams below.
16) Texas A&M (7-3) - Blew past Baylor 42-30. Has beaten 1 ranked opponent, Oklahoma. Hosts Nebraska next in what should be a great opportunity for either the Aggies or the Cornhuskers.
17) Virginia Tech (8-2) - Took North Carolina to school, 26-10. Has not beaten a ranked opponent this season. Travels to Maimi next (not Ohio, but Florida). Must have a no excuses victory to stay here.
18) Oklahoma (8-2) - Slammed Texas Tech, 45-7, but still has not beaten a ranked team this year. Gets the Baylor Bears next.
19) Nevada (9-1) - Almost croaked and choked against Fresno State, finally winning 35-34. Has not beaten a ranked team. Only here because the Wolf Pack has 9 wins with a lousy defense.
20) Missouri (8-2) - Slid by Kansas State 38-28. Has beaten 2 ranked teams - Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Travels to Iowa State next, and should have a field day with an easy victory.
Ed's Note: I am just tired of Iowa, Utah, Arizona, Mississippi State and Central Florida, all of them lost again this week, so I am dumping them and going for some new blood. My new choices may not be that much better, but they could use some recognition.)
21) San Diego State (7-3) - Woke up 11-win TCU by scoring 35 points on the nation's best scoring defense, and only lost to the Horned Frogs by 5. Hosts Utah next. Good luck to the Utes, they may really need it.
22) Northwestern (7-3) - Upset 13th-ranked Iowa 21-17. Wildcats have the nation's 11th-best passing efficiency and 18th-best passing quarterback in Dan Persa. Northwestern now has a victory over a ranked team, something Virginia Tech, Oklahoma and Nevada cannot say. Hosts Illinois next, a real test against a solid team.
23) Northern Illinois (8-2) - Has no really good victories over tough teams, but does have 8 wins, similar to Nevada. Travels to Ball State next, and should win.
24) Temple (8-2) - Has no real big victories, but does have 8 wins. Hosts Ohio next.
25) Notre Dame (5-5) - Hey, don't freak out. Just beat the snot out of Utah 28-3. Did college football a huge favor by exposing a team that was unbeaten and 8-0 two weeks ago. The Utes first lost to TCU 47-7 and now get beaten by Notre Dame 28-3. TCU was the first real team Utah has played all year - apparently Notre Dame was the second. Notre Dame has a chance to become bowl eligible this week when the Fighting Irish host Army.
Key games this coming week include only 3 games with opposing ranked teams - Ohio State at Iowa, Arkansas at Mississippi State, and Nebraska at Texas A&M. Other games of interest are Utah at San Diego State, Wisconsin at Michigan, and Fresno State at Boise State. Watch college football on Saturday, it sure beats raking leaves or shoveling snow.
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