College Football Rankings: USC, West Virginia and Other 2-0 Frauds

Each year various college football teams seem to get off to hot starts to begin the season, only to fall flat on their face when they get into the meat of their schedule. 

For some teams, it is easy to see it coming, while for others it may come as a complete shock. 

This season is no different as dozens of teams have started the season 2-0 and shot up the national rankings. 

Little do they know, their luck is about to run out.

Here are some of the biggest 2-0 frauds in college football. 

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Mohamed Sanu #6 (L) of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs the ball against the Norfolk State Spartans at Rutgers Stadium on September 2, 2010 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights beat the Spartans 31 - 0. (Ph

While, the Scarlet Knights are off to a 2-0 start on paper, they have struggled mightily on offense. 

In what was supposed to be a breakout season for sophomore quarterback Tom Savage and playmaker Mohamed Sanu, through two games the Scarlet Knights have totaled only 250 passing yards, and Sanu has only seven catches for 90 yards.

Hardly the numbers they were looking for, especially against teams like Norfolk St. and Florida International.

Many people pegged Rutgers as a sleeper heading into the season, but after two weeks, they look to have some major issues to figure out as the schedule will begin to get tougher with North Carolina looming next week. 

Florida Gators

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GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback John Brantley #12 of the Florida Gators attempts a pass during a game against the South Florida Bulls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Im

The Florida Gators were ranked extremely high to begin the season, but have since slid a little in the rankings, despite two 20-point victories. 

The reason for that slide? They have looked awful for the better part of both games.

After struggling with a Miami (OH) team who only won one game last season, the Gators were trailing a South Florida squad, who is one of the worst teams in the Big East, for an entire half Saturday before pulling away in the third quarter. 

Quarterback John Brantley has yet to prove that he can replace Tim Tebow as the passing game ranks 104th in the country through two weeks. 

The Gators will need to pick up the pace a little as SEC play starts this week. 

Michigan State Spartans

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SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 19: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Michigan State Spartans turns to hand off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 19, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 33-30. (Photo by J

The Michigan State Spartans have scored 30 plus points in each of their first two games, yet at 2-0 they are one of the biggest frauds in the country.

After a 38-14 win over Western Michigan, the Spartans struggled to a 30-17 victory over Florida Atlantic. 

The Spartans are a decent team, but hardly deserving of cracking the Top 25, which is what will happen with a victory over Notre Dame on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish will more than likely put them in their place unless quarterback Kirk Cousins can become more of a factor on offense. 

Missouri Tigers

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ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 4: Blaine Gabbert #11 of the University of Missouri Tigers looks to pass against the University of Illinois Fighting Illini during the State Farm Arch Rivalry game on September 4, 2010 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri.

Despite a 50-6 win over McNeese State on Saturday and quarterback Blaine Gabbert having already thrown for over 500 yards on the season, the Missouri Tigers are in for a wake-up call when Big 12 play begins. 

The Tigers struggled in Week One with rival and Big Ten bottom feeder Illinois, winning 23-13. Another performance like that this week against San Diego St. could spell upset. 

Missouri is a solid team, but certainly not deserving of a Top 25 ranking after two weeks. 

Look for the Tigers to fall off once the competition gets a little stiffer, and finish in the middle of the pack in the ultra-competitive Big 12. 

USC Trojans

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans throws a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 11, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. USC won 17-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty I

After opening the season with two big wins, people are quick to point out that the Trojans are back. Not so fast. 

After struggling with Hawaii on the road in Week One, the Trojans squeaked out their home opener on Saturday 17-14 against a Virginia team picked to finish near the bottom of the ACC.

They may be 2-0, but the Trojans are in for a huge wake-up call when the schedule gets a little tougher. Too bad that won't be until they travel to Stanford on Oct. 9. 

The Trojans could conceivably be 5-0 at that point and near the Top 10 in the country. 

Now that would truly be a fraud. 

West Virginia Mountaineers

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 19: Jock Sanders #9, Noel Devine #7 and Wes Lyons #4 of the West Virginia Mountaineers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

By far one of the biggest frauds so far this season are the West Virginia Mountaineers. 

A preseason pick to finish near the top of the Big East, WVU is off to an expected 2-0 start, just not in the fashion they would have liked. 

After opening the season with a 31-0 win over Coastal Carolina, the Mountaineers took to the road and were lucky to pull out an overtime victory against a Marshall team that was thrashed by Ohio State the previous week. 

Maryland comes to town this week and will give Mountaineer fans a chance to see if their team is truly a fraud. 

A decisive victory may just change all that. 

LSU Tigers

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Les Miles of the LSU Tigers against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

As was expected going into the season, the LSU Tigers are once again one of the biggest frauds in the country. 

After being given a free win over a Top 20 team to kick-off the season, the Tigers did everything they could to hand the game to North Carolina, before narrowly escaping with a victory.

Last week's 27-3 showing against SEC bottom feeder Vanderbilt was not impressive, as Les Miles and his bunch have a lot of work to do if they plan on contending for an SEC title. 

Things get a little tougher with Mississippi St. this week and fellow fraud West Virginia next weekend.