Top 25 Week Seven From an Oregon Perspective

Well folks, after a somewhat calm Saturday in the country, there were some shakeups in my poll.  Check out my top 25 below.

1. Virginia Tech

Yes, they lost to Alabama early in the year, but that loss has focused this team for a run at a national championship.  Their defense is suffocating as usual and nothing I have seen from Florida or Alabama recently (especially last weekend) would be able to do much against this stout unit.

2. Alabama

Solid as usual, but as Utah exposed in the Sugar Bowl last year, the lack of consistent offense needs to be a major concern.  They should roll through the lackluster SEC West setting up a possible showdown with Florida in the SEC Championship game.

3. Florida

Last Saturday's game with LSU was one of the most uninteresting football games I have watched this year.  SEC apologists will attribute this to suffocating offense, but it is obvious that if Tebow can't take as many carries as he did before the concussion, the Gators might be in trouble.

4. Texas

After sleep-walking through the first half against Colorado, Texas decided to show up and play football.  A big rivalry with Oklahoma looms and should tell us more about this Longhorn team.

5. USC 

Like most the other teams in the top 5, the offense is a question, but the defense is good.  Notre Dame will be an interesting matchup, but I expect the Trojans to be unscathed when they come to Oregon for a big matchup on Halloween night.

6. TCU 

This TCU team has an outstanding defense and if they continue to win (BYU and Utah) coming up, they will be BCS bound

7. Cincinnati

The Bearcats unfortunately play in a poor conference, but the road win at Oregon State is looking bigger by the week.  

8. Boise State

The Broncos play no one after Tulsa this Wednesday, so they better impress with a big win this week or watch one-loss teams pass them by.

9. Oregon

The Ducks are a completely changed team from the Sept. 3rd debacle in Boise.  Led by a strong defense and a suddenly clicking offense with Jeremiah Masoli, The Ducks are primed to steal the conference away from USC in 2009.

10. LSU

The game last week against Florida was not as close as it looked.  LSU's offense looks abysmal but their defense will keep them in every game.

11. Ohio State

Buckeye Nation cannot be pleased with the lack of development in Terelle Pryor's game.  They escaped against Wisconsin but a few more trap games loom.

12. Miami (FL)

The Hurricanes are a Jekyll and Hyde team.  Like any young team, consistency is an issue, but when they are good, look out.

13. Oklahoma State

Showed a ton of heart after losing Dez Bryant in a win against Texas A&M.

14. Brigham Young

The win over Oklahoma is still in people's minds but the home loss against Florida State looks very bad.

15. Iowa

The Hawkeyes are good, but a don't think they are that good.  Arkansas State almost nipped them and Penn State also was not as good as advertised.

16. Nebraska

The offense exploded in the second half to take care of Missouri, and Bo Pelini's team should win the  Big 12 North. 

17. Oklahoma

The Sooners are much better with Sam Bradford in the lineup, but the offensive line is a big concern.  If the line plays Texas the way it played Brigham Young, Bradford and the Sooners might be out of the game early.

18. Mississippi

I still think Ole Miss is a good football team, but recognition came to early.  I expect them to recover and play respectable football the rest of the way.

19. South Florida

The Bulls have been impressive without Matt Grothe and they should be a contender for the Big East crown.

20. Georgia Tech

The ramblin' wreck's team is tough to prepare for in one week and they should be in the running in the ACC late into November.

21. Houston

Head Coach Kevin Sumlin's dream of the BCS is over, but this Houston team still puts up ridiculous numbers and would be a dangerous bowl team.

22. Utah

The Utes still have some kinks to workout on offense, The Mountain West is three teams deep and Utah still has time to gain momentum before playing TCU and BYU.

23. South Carolina

The Gamecocks are a couple plays away from from being undefeated and could give Alabama a scare this weekend.

24. Tennessee

Lane Kiffin has the Volunteers playing well, and Montario Hardesty is the real deal.  They get another chance to impress in two weeks against Alabama.

25. West Virginia

The Mountaineers are on the way down, but Bill Stewart is still putting to use the talent Rich Rodriguez brought in.  Noel Devine is the real deal.