My Top 5: Elephants, Lions, Gators and... Raiders...

So far this year being ranked number one has been a pain in the you-know-what.  But for a select few teams, losses suffered while occupying the No. 1 spot might not be a deal breaker for their National Championship hopes. 

Presumably, every team in the Top Ten has a chance at playing in Miami on Jan. 8.

1. Alabama, 9-0

The Tide have their toughest test to this point when the roll into Baton Rouge on Saturday to battle LSU for the SEC West title.

Alabama had what seemed to be a tough schedule, starting off with Clemson in the Georgia Dome and recently handling Georgia in Athens.  But after a thumping by Florida in Jacksonville last weekend the win versus Georgia looks about as good as the win on Clemson did. 

Those two wins have lost some of their luster and will probably lose a bit more before the end of the regular season.  Undoubtedly, Alabama has the talent and the coaching to win it all this year, but a lot other teams who have actually been battle tested seem to have what it takes as well. 

If not this week, at the SEC Championship Game against Florida, look for Alabama to fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.

2. Texas Tech, 9-0

A lot of missed opportunities and dropped balls, plus the best effort I've ever seen after a catch, propelled Tech to No. 2 in my poll.  But staying there might be harder than getting there.

Oklahoma State is coming to town and bringing along an offense that is second to none. Two running backs averaging more than six yards per carry, the nation's second best wide receiver and a quarterback that just doesn't make mistakes. 

Add a defense that hasn't allowed more than 30 points all season, and Tech's spot near the top might be short-lived.  Even if the Red Raiders do get past the Pokes, their last test will be against OU in Norman...I smell another ABC Friday Night game in BIG XII country.

3. Penn State, 9-0

Unfortunately for Penn State, even if they were to go undefeated, chances are they could be jumped by three or four different one-loss teams.  Blame the competition: the Big 10 isn't what it used to be. 

4. Texas, 8-1

The Longhorns had the most impressive loss of the year.  Showing the heart of a champion, Colt McCoy brought his team back from a 22-6 halftime deficit, only to leave a few too many seconds on the clock.

Look for Quan Cosby and Brian Orakpo to come back from injuries this week and the Horns to run up the score for the next three games to gain fashion points among voters.

5. Florida, 7-1

Tim Tebow and his NFL combine backfield have run over their two biggest obstacles, LSU and Georgia, hanging half-a-hundred on both.  Florida is probably the best one-loss team left, and if their loss to Ole Miss wouldn't have come so soon, they would more than likely be in the driver seat.