NCAA Football

FanHouse Top 25: Crimson Comeback

Posted Nov 08, 2009 3:30PM By Brett McMurphy (RSS feed)

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The guidelines provided to the Associated Press voters are fairly simple. One, I've particularly taken to heart lately: "Don't hesitate to make significant changes in your ballot from week to week."

And that's exactly what I did in this week's ballot, voting Alabama as my new No. 1. The Crimson Tide defeated LSU 24-15 Saturday, their fourth victory against a Top 25 ranked team this season.
More Coverage: Latest BCS Standings

Alabama benefited from a non-reversal on what should have been an interception -- hey, I've got an idea: let Brandon Spikes gouge the eyes of the SEC officials; it might improve their vision -- but still outgained the Tigers (452-253) and nearly doubled them in first downs (24-13).

The victory sets up a second consecutive SEC title game showdown between the Crimson Tide and Florida. I dropped the Gators to second after their 27-3 victory against Vanderbilt.

The biggest climbers in my AP ballot this week were: Pittsburgh, up five spots to No. 8; and Ohio State, up seven spots to No. 9. Iowa, Oregon and Penn State took the biggest dives, while Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Cal all dropped out of my Top 25.

This week's newcomers: Navy, Clemson and South Florida.

Here is my ballot this week with my ranking last week in parentheses.

  • 1. Alabama (2)
    The Crimson Tide is 9-0 for the second consecutive season for the first time since 1973-74 under Bear Bryant. The Crimson Tide rolled up 452 yards on LSU – 177 more yards than what the Tigers were allowing in SEC play. Mark Ingram (144 yards rushing) topped 100 yards for the fifth time this season and Greg McElroy threw for 276 yards. Saturday the Crimson Tide visits Mississippi State, which has defeated Alabama two of the last three seasons.
  • 2. Florida (1)
    The Gators posted a lackluster win against Vanderbilt, extending their winning streak to 19 games. "Have you ever gone 19-0?" Coach Urban Meyer said. "It's not ho-hum, I can assure you that. If it's ho-hum for someone, you've got to really reflect to say: 'Where am I headed in this life right now?' " The Gators are headed to South Carolina Saturday to face former UF coach Steve Spurrier. UF then hosts Florida International and Florida State before meeting Alabama in Atlanta for the SEC title.
  • 3. Texas (3)
    Jordan Shipley had 273 yards receiving against UCF – or 122 yards more offense then UCF's entire team. Texas QB Colt McCoy threw for a career-high 470 yards as the Longhorns continued their march to the BCS national title game. The Longhorns' final three opponents – Baylor, Kansas and Texas A&M – are a combined 4-11 in Big 12 play.
  • 4. Cincinnati (4)
    In sophomore Zach Collaros' three starts since replacing injured Tony Pike, Collaros has completed 80.5 percent (66-of-82) for 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns. Collaros set the Big East record with 555 yards total offense in Saturday's 47-45 win against UConn. Friday, the Bearcats host West Virginia. The last two meetings have been decided by a total of eight points.
  • 5. TCU (6)
    TCU DE Jerry Hughes and the Horned Frogs held San Diego State to 279 yards as TCU won its 11th consecutive game, the nation's third-longest winning streak. Next up: the Horned Frogs host Utah Saturday in "The Game" in the Mountain West. TCU has won 12 consecutive homes games, but has lost its last three meetings with the Utes.
  • 6. Boise State (7)
    The Broncos rolled up more than 500 yards of offense Friday, but still barely escaped with a 45-35 victory at Louisiana Tech. The Broncos have scored at least 45 points in all four of their WAC games. QB Kellen Moore now has 27 touchdown passes and three interceptions. On Saturday, the Broncos host Idaho and have won 10 consecutive against the Vandals.
  • 7. Georgia Tech (10)
    The Ramblin' Gamblin' Wreck went for it five times on fourth down – and converted only once on Josh Nesbitt's 2-yard run on fourth-and-inches in overtime against Wake Forest. Georgia Tech's 27-24 victory moved the Yellow Jackets closer to their first outright conference championship since 1990. A win Saturday at Duke clinches the Coastal Division and advances Tech to the ACC title game in Tampa, Fla.
  • 8. Pittsburgh (8)
    The Panthers pummeled Syracuse 37-10 to improve to 8-1 for the first time since Dan Marino's senior season 27 years ago. Freshman Dion Lewis had 110 yards rushing, his sixth 100-yard game, and Bill Stull threw for 225 yards and one touchdown. The degree of difficulty increases as the Panthers' final three opponents – Notre Dame, West Virginia and Cincinnati – are a combined 22-5.
  • 9. Ohio State (16)
    Has it really been 13 years since the Buckeyes have smelled the Roses? The Buckeyes have won their last three games – only allowing two TDs in the three wins – to get back into the Big Ten race. Ohio State can earn its first Rose Bowl berth since 1996 (where have you gone, John Cooper?) by defeating Iowa and Michigan.
  • 10. Houston (11)
    The Cougars pulled off another last-second comeback. Last week, Houston scored the winning TD against Southern Miss with 21 seconds remaining. Saturday at Tulsa, Houston's Matt Hogan kicked a 51-yard field goal with no time remaining four plays after the Cougars recovered the onside kick. Think Case Keenum is excited about UH's next game at UCF? On Saturday, the Knights allowed 470 yards passing to Texas' Colt McCoy.
  • 11. Miami (14)
    The Hurricanes delivered some serious payback to Virginia. "I'm not going to lie to you: It feels good to hang 52 on them," said Miami center A.J. Trump after the Hurricanes blew out Virginia 52-17. The win avenged a 48-0 loss to Virginia in 2007 in the Cavs' last visit to Miami. Saturday, the 'Canes visit North Carolina, looking to avenge last year's 28-24 loss to the Tar Heels.
  • 12. LSU (9)
    I wonder if it's worth $30,000 for Coach Les Miles to blast the SEC officials for blowing the call on Patrick Peterson's sideline interception midway through the fourth quarter that would have given the Tigers one last chance to upset Alabama. The hard-luck Tigers have lost two games this year to No. 1 Florida by 10 and No. 3 Alabama by nine.
  • 13. Oregon (5)
    I guess that Boise State-Oregon debate has been deemed meaningless at this point. The Ducks, who had allowed only 58 points in their five Pac-10 games, allowed 51 to Stanford in the 51-42 loss. Look for the Ducks to take out their frustrations on Arizona State. Oregon has won four consecutive against the Sun Devils by an average margin of 24 points.
  • 14. USC (15)
    The Trojans improved to 28-0 under Pete Carroll in November – but just barely. USC held off Arizona State 14-9 Saturday despite the Sun Devils finishing with more first downs (23-12) and total yards (347-258) than the Trojans. USC hosts Stanford Saturday. The last time Stanford visited USC, the 41-point underdog Cardinal upset the Trojans, 24-23, in 2007.
  • 15. Iowa (8)
    The Hawkeyes finally met a fourth quarter deficit they couldn't overcome. Northwestern knocked out QB Ricky Stanzi and then knocked off Iowa 17-10. Iowa's national title hopes went up in smoke, but the Hawkeyes can still reach the Rose Bowl by winning at Ohio State Saturday and the following week at home against Minnesota.
  • 16. Utah (17)
    The Utes prepped for Saturday's clash at TCU by seal-clubbing New Mexico 45-14, their 17th consecutive home victory. RB Eddie Wide set a school record with his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game (145 yards), but Utah will find the going much tougher against the Horned Frogs. TCU ranks No. 3 nationally in total defense and No. 7 in rushing defense.
  • 17. Oklahoma State (18)
    The Cowboys have scored at least 34 points in every game this season except a 24-10 win against Georgia and a 41-14 loss to Texas. Keith Toston rushed for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns in Oklahoma State's 34-8 win at Iowa State. Oklahoma State hosts Texas Tech on Saturday in a series that the home team has won the last seven meetings.
  • 18. Arizona (19)
    Arizona in the Rose Bowl? The Wildcats are the only current Pac-10 or Big Ten member that has never played in the Rose Bowl. But it could happen. The Wildcats can earn their first Rose Bowl berth by winning out against Cal, Oregon, Arizona State and USC. It won't be easy: only the Oregon game is in Tucson.
  • 19. Wisconsin (21) The Badgers badgered Indiana to the tune of 294 yards rushing. John Clay (134 yards) and Montee Ball (115 yards) each topped the century mark. In Wisconsin's seven wins the Badgers are averaging 34.7 points per game, compared to 11.5 points in their two losses.
    • 20. Oregon State (24)
      Leave it to the Beavers: Oregon State won for the fifth consecutive time at Cal 31-14. Sean Canfield threw for 342 yards and two TDs, his third consecutive 300-yard game. The Beavers' three losses were to teams currently ranked in the AP Poll – Cincinnati (28-18), Arizona (37-32) and USC (42-36). Oregon State has back-to-back games with Washington and Washington State before the Civil War battle at Oregon on Dec. 3.
    • 21. Virginia Tech (25)
      Will the Hokies put Ralph Friedgen out of his misery at Maryland Saturday? Virginia Tech visits the Terps and has won the last four contests by an average margin of 26 points. Freshman RB Ryan Williams is coming off a career-high 179 yards in Thursday's victory at East Carolina.
    • 22. Penn State(12)
      The Nittany (Paper) Lions were held to a season-low 201 yards against Ohio State in the 24-7 loss to the Buckeyes. In Penn State's two losses, the Nittany Lions have managed only a total of 17 points against Iowa and Ohio State. That shouldn't be a problem Saturday against Indiana. Penn State has never lost to the Hoosiers, who are allowing an average of 30 points a game against FBS teams this season.
    • 23. Navy (NR)
      When Notre Dame starts looking for a replacement for Coach Charlie Weis – what, they already are? – it might want to consider Navy's Ken Niumatalolo. Before he took over the Midshipmen, Navy had lost 43 of the last 44 games against the Irish. Under Niumatalolo, they're 1-1 against the Irish and could have their first 10-win season since 2004.
    • 24. Clemson (NR)
      C.J. Spiller had a school-record 312 all-purpose yards in the Tigers' win against Florida State. He had a 58-yard touchdown reception and also rushed for a career-high 165 yards as the Tigers won their fourth consecutive game since a 2-3 start. "I doubt anyone is playing better than him in the country," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said.
    • 25. South Florida (NR)
      The Bulls, who were off last week, visit Rutgers Thursday. Two years ago when USF visited Rutgers for a nationally-televised Thursday night contest, the Bulls were ranked No. 2 in the nation. However, USF lost 30-27 and since that game is only 11-11 against BCS opponents.

    Teams that are close to making my Top 25 (in alphabetical order): Auburn, BYU, Stanford, Texas Tech

    See you later (teams that fell out of my Top 25 this week): Notre Dame, Cal, Oklahoma

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