College Football Rankings 2012: Top 10 Teams Whose Stock Is Overrated

At this point in the consistently crazy, week-to-week drama that riddles college football, top 10 rankings facilitate intriguing debate, but the stock of some teams is inevitably overrated.

Some squads have lived up to their preseason hype, while others have either yet to prove their worth as a top-tier team due to weak early season competition.

Here are three teams in the top 10 of the latest AP rankings whose stock is inflated.

University of Southern California Trojans: No. 2 in AP poll

Matt Barkley once again was the beneficiary of a stupendous supporting cast, with the likes of Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and Xavier Grimble, not to mention transfer running back Silas Redd.

But heck, it was the dynamic receiving duo of Woods and Lee that combined for nearly 100 yards rushing on just two carries, making life pretty easy for Barkley.

The Trojans signal-caller did throw a record-tying six touchdowns against Syracuse, but the team didn't look utterly convincing in a game it should have easily won.

Barkley threw a lot of dink-and-dunk passes, or just lofted it up to his big-time targets, and his playmakers did the rest. He is no Matt Leinart, but Barkley's stock alone is overhyped.

Absent a formidable opponent to date, much more will be known about USC when they travel to Stanford this weekend to take on the Cardinal.

There is plenty of incentive to redeem last year's thrilling, double-overtime loss. If the Trojans don't take care of business in a relatively stress-free way, it's hard to justify their status as a top-two team in the nation.

West Virginia Mountaineers: No. 9 in AP poll

That explosive spread attack quarterbacked by Geno Smith was certainly aflame in the home opener. However, the opponent happened to be the Marshall Thundering Herd.

In a 69-34 victory, Smith had a game that most quarterbacks couldn't dream about having: 32 of 36 for 323 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also ran for 65 yards and a score.

The Mountaineers compiled 655 yards of total offense, as Marshall was simply no match for the speed and general talent mismatch on the West Virgina side.

Important to note, though: Thundering Herd QB Rakeem Cato threw for over 400 yards on the day, and his unit put up 534 yards of their own.

By any estimation, that is not bad at all for a sophomore Conference USA quarterback against a top-10 team on the road.

It also begs the question: Is West Virginia actually a top-10 team? The answer is at least up for debate after such a poor defensive showing.

Maybe the Mountaineers sagged off in coverage since their offense couldn't be stopped, but that's still an awful lot of yards to let up against an unranked opponent.

A relatively cupcake-laden schedule should fatten up WVU's record and ranking through September, but their first road test will take place in Texas in game No. 5.

That tussle with the Longhorns may yield a rude awakening for the Mountaineers, and a cliff dive from the upper echelon of the rankings.

Michigan State: No. 10 in AP poll

What looks like a mildly impressive win in the home opener against Boise State actually was about as ugly as it gets.

The offense produced, but to only win 17-13 despite controlling the time of possession at a ratio of nearly 2-to-1.

Junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell threw three interceptions on the day, but the AP seems to think he can fill in seamlessly for his record-setting predecessor, Kirk Cousins.

Those are big shoes to fill, since Cousins was the most winning quarterback in school history.

What Michigan State does have working in their favor is a solid running game led by workhorse back Le'Veon Bell, and a stellar defense, which is fitting for head coach Mark Dantonio's philosophy.

The Spartans should shut down Notre Dame QB Everett Golson this weekend, but another crazily athletic sophomore signal-caller may provide more significant problems.

A home Big Ten opener against No. 12 Ohio State in three weeks will see Braxton Miller as the catalyst for Urban Meyer's spread attack. Sparty's defense will have to prove its legitimacy against the most explosive offense it will face all season.