Jim Young's AP Poll Week 10
This week was actually relatively sedate. Relatively. Once again though, I was left to search high and low for a team worthy of filling those last few spots in the Top 25.
Here's one little transitive property explanation of my dilemma. UConn lost Virginia, which lost to N.C. State, which lost to Central Florida, which lost by about 50 points to South Florida which lost to ... UConn. You see my point?
But enough whining. Filling out a Top 25 poll is part of my job. Actually, I'm not getting paid any extra to do it, so I reserve my right to keep on whining.
The usual reminder: The format is my ranking/my ranking the previous week and then the national AP poll ranking in parentheses.
1/1 Ohio State (1) - I'm starting to think that Penn State wasn't that much of a test, yet with each week I also become more convinced that the Buckeyes are a legit national title contender. Does that make any sense? Or course not.
2/2 LSU (2) - Once again the Tigers were one play away from defeat. But once again, LSU came through. Still, I wonder if - If LSU is really the nation's best team, why do they court disaster so often?
3/3 Oregon (3) - The Ducks are looking great, so every week I wonder a little bit more how they lost at home to Cal.
4/6 West Virginia (6) - The same thing goes for the Mountaineers. You could make a strong case for an Oregon-West Virginia title game. Tell me again how they lost to South Florida?
5/8 Kansas (5) - Mark Mangino has the Jayhawks at 9-0. Mark Mangini has the New York Jets at 1-8. Can we arrange a transfer of the nickname "Mangenious"?
6/7 Oklahoma (4) - Just biding time in Norman until the Big 12 title game. Unless the Sooners get tripped up by OK State on the way. I doubt it. But hey, stranger things have happened in 2007.
7/9 Missouri (7) - Am I the only one that's wondering why Chase Daniels, who's putting up enormous numbers as the QB for a top 10 Missouri team, isn't getting more serious Heisman consideration?
8/10 Georgia (10) - Yeah the Bulldogs struggled with Troy. But they didn't get upset. These days, that's saying something.
9/5 Arizona State (9) - The Sun Devils weren't shown to be frauds in losing at Oregon. But they weren't shown to be national title contenders either.
10/4 Boston College (8) - So BC performs its annual ritual of losing a game it really should have won. Only this time, Eagles fans can't blame this one on Tom O'Brien.
11/15 Virginia Tech (11) - At some point while the Hokies were manhandling Georgia Tech, it hit me. Tech probably will never have a consistent offense this season and it probably won't matter. Win with special teams, defense and a big-play or two on offense. The old Beamer Ball formula.
12/16 Southern Cal (12) - I've got nothing to say about the Trojans. It's amazing how a couple of losses can hurt a team's national relevance.
13/13 Michigan (13) - Once again, the Wolverines beat the Spartans, who once again can't hold a lead in a late game. At last, some consistency in the 2007 season.
14/14 Florida (17) - Next.
15/17 Texas (15) - Did you see Mack Brown blow a gasket on the sideline when the Longhorns were down by about 21 or so? I personally thought the players would crack up, but they must have responded. There's probably also a Mike Gundy joke here after the Cowboys choked a huge lead away, but I just can't seem to find it.
16/22 UConn (16) - I still can't believe the Huskies are for real, but the results can't be overlooked. Believe me, I tried.
17/19 Clemson (20) - The Tigers are in the driver's seat in the ACC Atlantic Division. Maybe, just maybe, this time they won't blow it. Nahhhh.
18/18 Auburn (18) - Next.
19/11 Alabama (21) - You really have to feel for Nick Saban after his team came so close to knocking off LSU. Okay, maybe you don't.
20/20 Tennessee (22) - Next. Notice how I'm running out of things to say about SEC teams? After nine weeks of chaos, I guess I'm just spent.
21/21 Hawaii (14) - Next up is 6-3 Fresno State. Maybe the Warriors can finally prove something to me. Maybe.
22/NR Boise State (19) - I'm counting the weeks until Hawaii and Boise State meet. There's only room for one of these WAC teams in the poll.
23/NR Virginia (23) - At this point, I'm starting to feel like even if the Cavaliers played LSU they'd probably still win by one point.
24/NR Illinois (NR) - Maybe I have a soft spot for the Zooker. Really though, I brought back Illinois into the poll because everybody and his brother has three losses and at least two of the Illini's were to legit teams - Michigan and Missouri.
25/NR Arkansas (NR) - I wouldn't have any reservations about ranking Arkansas except their non-conference schedule may actually be worse than Hawaii's.
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