Week Nine - Top Twenty Five

#1 - LSU.
They should probably check the monitor and see if THIS game registered on the seismic scale. The Tigers last second TD pass sealed the deal for the third straight week of an epic SEC clash (actually two this week with UK and UF playing down to the wire). Tiger fans rumbled the very foundation of their hallowed stadium - and with good reason; I believe that very play will catapult the Tigers to no less than a national championship bid.

#2 - Ohio State.
For 56 seconds, I had flashbacks of the January 8th debacle  in the desert. As the offense played hot potato with the ball, and Michigan State ran back defensive touchdowns left and right (and were this close --> |... THAT CLOSE, to having a third to run back) - I could hardly watch until Ohio State clinched the game winning first down. This game also proved another thing - if the Buckeyes want to win out, they will have to inevitably rely on the team's defense. The D played a SOLID game against MSU, holding the #1 offensive team in the Big Ten to under 190 yards. The offense might want to improve in a hurry with a trip to Happy Valley this weekend.

#3 - Oklahoma.
Although the Sooners struggled mightily on the road to Iowa State, they keep themselves on course for a national championship bid in the event others fall in front of them. Expect Stoops to whip this team back into shape in no time.

#4 - South Florida.
Despite losing to Rutgers, I'll keep South Florida in my top five. They've played one of the toughest SOS in the country, and though the BCS will surely drop them out of title contention, I think they deserve to be rewarded for their play thus far.

#5 - Boston College.
Get back to me AFTER their visit to Lane Stadium (which will be the first ranked opponent at Virginia Tech I will have missed in three and a half years, sad...).

#6 - Oregon.
That offense is looking better and better.  Do we have a new Pac-10 front runner in Dennis Dixon and Co.?

#7 - Arizona State.
Erickson and Crew take on a reeling California at home. Though the Bears have dropped two in a row, this is the Sun Devils first "test"; and the first chance we get to see if these Devils are real...

#8 - Missouri.
There will be no post-loss slide for these Tigers. Mizzou spanked Texas Tech, and absolutely thronged the infamous "Air Raid" aerial assault of Leach and Harrell. With a defense that continues to improve, we could see Mizzou in the Big Twelve title game for a rematch against Oklahoma. This game could be a lot different on a neutral field.

#9 - West Virginia.
They continue to win in wrecking ball fashion. Yawn.

#10 - Florida.

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