B/R Top 25 College Football Poll: Week Seven
By on October 8, 2008
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At least three of the top 16 teams in the nation will lose this Saturday.
Sounds like a tip you could take to Vegas, but really it’s just a product of great matchups.
The Big 12 got fat on non-conference contests, rising to assume three of the top five rankings. Now the cannibalization begins, as Oklahoma and Texas renew their rivalry, while the two best scoring offenses in the conference—Oklahoma State and Missouri—meet in Columbia.
Not to be outdone, the SEC offers LSU-Florida on primetime network television.
For all the stunning upset Saturdays we’ve had in the past two seasons, here’s a weekend where three of the top four teams in the nation could fall, and it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising.
Number of Voters: 74
NCAA Strength of schedule based on overall record of cumulative opposition.
Click on each team for more commentary from our pollsters.
Previous: 1
Strength of Schedule: 4
Last Week: Beat Baylor 49-17
This Week: No. 5 Texas (+7)
It all kicks off with a noon EST kick from the Cotton Bowl, where the Red River Rivalry is renewed in top five fashion. With a renovated venue, an additional 16,200 fans will be able to take it all in.
The Sooners and Longhorns have brought unbeaten and untied records to this contest 23 times, and the all-time series record in those games is 11-11-1. Expect a similarly even battle on Saturday, as OU head coach Bob Stoops says both programs are stronger than they were a year ago.
Oklahoma and Texas are two of the best at creating pressure with just four down linemen. That will be important considering both defenses will have to be stacked with defensive backs to contend with the opposing quarterback’s precision.
Give Boomer Sooner the advantage along the offensive line and in the secondary. Add in a better rushing attack, and OU should prevail.
Previous: 2
Strength of Schedule: 58
Last Week: Beat Kentucky 17-14
This Week: BYE
The Crimson Tide barely retained the No. 2 position after a less than convincing home win over Kentucky. Now a bye week gives Nick Saban time to determine whether this Alabama team will be good...or great.
Without question, the most important remaining game on Alabama’s schedule is Nov. 8 at LSU. A regular season finale at home against Auburn is the only other game against a ranked opponent.
Even though they’re idle, the Crimson Tide have an important game this weekend. Florida can do Alabama a big favor on Saturday by handing the Bayou Bengals their first SEC loss.
Previous: 4
Strength of Schedule: 17
Last Week: Beat Nebraska 52-17
This Week: No. 16 Oklahoma State (+14)
We’ve talked extensively about Chase Daniel and Missouri over the past several weeks. Perhaps the most astounding statistic we have yet to mention is that the starting offense has not been held to a three-and-out yet this season.
But the Oklahoma State offense has been nearly as productive. It’s just that two of their games haven’t been televised—even regionally.
Dez Bryant is a bona fide No. 1 draft pick, and the Cowboys rank second in the nation in rushing at well over 300 yards per game. Their ability to move the ball on the ground also means quarterback Zac Robinson has been able to do a ton of damage with a minimal number of throws—averaging a touchdown every 6.2 throws.
High school coaches across the country—and maybe even a few college coordinators—should TiVo this game.
Previous: 3
Strength of Schedule: 52
Last Week: BYE
This Week: No. 11 Florida (-6)
GameDay may be at the Cotton Bowl, but LSU-Florida will be the prime time main event.
For the first time since Notre Dame and Miami clashed in South Bend 18 years ago, the last two national champions will meet in the regular season.
LSU had a bye week to get healthy; Florida had a get-healthy week at Arkansas.
The Gators can ill afford another slip-up, having already lost at home to Ole Miss. The way Alabama is playing the SEC West, the Tigers can ill afford any slip-up whatsoever.
Mix in two of the best big-game coaches in college football, and you’d be foolish to bet anything more than bragging rights on this game.
Previous: 5
Strength of Schedule: 13
Last Week: Beat Colorado 38-14
This Week: at No. 1 Oklahoma (-7)
Has there ever been a more murderous stretch of conference games in the history of college football?
Barring a complete meltdown by the Big 12 heavyweights, Texas will play five of its next six games against “ranked opponents”—a description that simply doesn’t do OU, Missouri, OSU, Texas Tech, and Kansas justice.
Those five foes are a combined 24-1. Four of them rank in the top five nationally in scoring offense. Each has arguably the best quarterback in school history under center.
If the Longhorns can win three of those five contests, they’ve done exceptionally well.
Previous: 6
Strength of Schedule: 61
Last Week: Beat Purdue 20-6
This Week: at Wisconsin (+5.5)
This has the feel of an ambush.
Penn State comes to Madison riding high, undefeated, and relatively untested on the road—unless you count the pacified, daytime crowd of 57,215 last week at Purdue.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin has lost its last two games by a total of five points and is threatened by the possibility of a 0-3 start in conference play.
There will be 81,000-plus lying in wait for the Nittany Lions at Camp Randall. If you’re looking for an upset special, this may be your game.
Previous: 8
Strength of Schedule: 15
Last Week: Beat Kansas State 58-28
This Week: Nebraska (+21)
The question was could they win on the road against a legitimate opponent. The answer was a resounding, 30-point-thumping-yes.
Of the Big 12 South contenders, Oklahoma and Texas Tech continue to have the most favorable schedule set up—and favorable is a relative term in this division. The Red Raiders' toughest task will be a November trip to Norman. But if Texas manages to knock off the Sooners, the Red Raiders instantly become the front-runner in the South.
Previous: 10
Strength of Schedule: 61
Last Week: Beat Oregon 44-10
This Week: Arizona State (+27.5)
For years, we’ve suspected that USC’s backup quarterback is probably a better option than any other Pac-10 team’s starter. But what if the opponent’s starter goes down as well?
Highly-touted Mitch Mustain is the latest Trojan to hold the Matt Cassel honorary clipboard, and this Saturday, he’ll get his shot against Arizona State and...Danny Sullivan?
Injuries to both Mark Sanchez and Rudy Carpenter have created a potential battle of the backups at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
In just nine attempts, Mustain has tossed two touchdowns this season. In just eight attempts, Sullivan has thrown for minus-one yard.
Previous: 7
Strength of Schedule: 74
Last Week: Beat Utah State 34-14
This Week: New Mexico (+23.5)
Neither of BYU’s next two opponents are ranked, but New Mexico and TCU are both more than capable of snapping the nation’s longest winning streak.
The Lobos have one of the best defenses in the Mountain West and proved it with a 24-0 shutout of Wyoming. Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs had cracked the top 25 before a loss at Oklahoma, and they responded from that loss with a 41-7 thrashing of San Diego State.
So mid-major haters, here’s the plan. Hope BYU drops one of the next two (preferably both). Then the Cougars snipe unbeaten Utah in the season finale.
Previous: 11
Strength of Schedule: 1
Last Week: BYE
This Week: Tennessee (+12)
The Phil Fulmer Farewell Tour continues this weekend in Athens.
After racking up a whopping 13 points at home against Northern Illinois, the Vols hit the road to face a Georgia program that has been backed into a corner by an early loss to Alabama.
The ‘Dawgs have won nine of their last 10 coming off a bye week, and this had to be a particularly focused stretch of practice for the team tabbed as the preseason pick to win the national championship.
To get that campaign back on track, Georgia needs a healthy Knowshon Moreno and they need a win over a Tennessee team that held the star running back to a career-low 30 yards last season.
Previous: 12
Strength of Schedule: 22
Last Week: Beat Arkansas 38-7
This Week: No. 4 LSU (+6)
Previous: 15
Strength of Schedule: 12
Last Week: Beat Wisconsin 20-17
This Week: Purdue (+19)
Previous: 18
Strength of Schedule: 32
Last Week: Beat Auburn 14-13
This Week: at Mississippi State (+2.5)
Previous: 14
Strength of Schedule: 56
Last Week: Beat Oregon State 31-28
This Week: at Wyoming (+23.5)
Previous: 16
Strength of Schedule: 89
Last Week: Beat Louisiana Tech 38-3
This Week: at Southern Miss (+11)
Previous: 20
Strength of Schedule: 28
Last Week: Beat Texas A&M 56-28
This Week: at No. 3 Missouri (-14)
Previous: 17
Strength of Schedule: 2
Last Week: Beat Iowa State 35-33
This Week: Colorado (+14)
Previous: 21
Strength of Schedule: 36
Last Week: Beat Western Kentucky 27-13
This Week: BYE
Previous: 9
Strength of Schedule: 76
Last Week: Lost to Pittsburgh 26-21
This Week: BYE
Previous: 25
Strength of Schedule: 26
Last Week: Beat Iowa 16-13
This Week: at No. 24 Northwestern (+2)
Previous: 13
Strength of Schedule: 37
Last Week: Lost to Vanderbilt 14-13
This Week: Arkansas (+18.5)
Previous: NR
Strength of Schedule: 59
Last Week: BYE
This Week: Clemson (+2.5)
Previous: NR
Strength of Schedule: 39
Last Week: Beat Connecticut 38-12
This Week: Notre Dame (+8)
Previous: NR
Strength of Schedule: 69
Last Week: BYE
This Week: No. 20 Michigan State (-2)
Previous: NR
Strength of Schedule: 109
Last Week: Beat Toledo 31-0
This Week: at Western Kentucky (+16)
Also receiving votes: Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, Cal, Tulsa, TCU, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Florida State, Notre Dame
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