Note: J.P. Giglio is one of 65 voters in the AP Top 25. This is his ballot.
The best thing about the preseason poll is it can be changed. When I'm wrong, I have no problem admitting it and making the necessary adjustments.
Virginia Tech, Michigan State and Washington (ouch!) are gone. East Carolina (21), Oregon (22) and Wake Forest (24) are in.
USC (2), LSU (7) are both better than I thought.
Clemson (19) takes the biggest fall while Alabama (8) makes the biggest jump — although in my defense, I started Alabama higher than most voters at No. 16.
At least I was right about Tennessee and Pitt, two teams I didn't have in the preseason top 25. Can't say the same about Washington (double ouch!).
1. Ohio State
Record: 1-0
Last week: 1 (beat Youngstown State, 43-0)
Next: Ohio University
Best thing that could happen to Ohio State was USC trashing Virginia. Now the public opinion is behind the Trojans.
Public opinion matters, ask Alabama, whose victory over Clemson was inspired by the number of people telling them they couldn't win.
Beanie Wells has to be healthy, though. Like Texas in 2005 with Vince Young, tOSU can't afford to lose Wells.
2. USC
Record: 1-0
Last week: 5 (beat Virginia, 52-7)
Next: Ohio State (Sept. 13)
Just pure dominance in every sense of the word. Virginia looked softer than Saracen's Powder Puff team. Almost made you feel sorry for Al Groh. Almost.
3. Georgia
Record: 1-0
Last week: 2 (beat Georgia Southern, 45-21)
Next: Central Michigan
If the first weekend was any indication, the SEC East is weaker than the West. But do the Dawgs have the all the championship parts, like tOSU or USC?
4. Oklahoma
Record: 1-0
Last week: 3 (beat Chattanooga, 57-2)
Next: Cincinnati
Theoretically an impressive win over the Mocs, who don't have another Terrell Owens in the pipeline. Cincy will be more of a test but the Bearcats aren't ready to win in Norman.
5. Missouri
Record: 1-0
Last week: 6 (beat No. 18 Illinois, 52-42)
Next: SE Missouri State
Fun start to the year, Mizzou almost outscored the Atlantic Division. The Tigers won't be tested again until Oct. 4 (@ Nebraska).
6. Florida
Record: 1-0
Last week: 4 (beat Hawaii, 56-10)
Next: Miami
Will the Canes put up more points against the Gators' defense than Hawaii? Maybe but it's guaranteed Tim Tebow will rush more than the nine times he did against the Rainbows.
7. LSU
Record: 1-0
Last week: 12 (beat App State, 41-13)
Next: Troy
Second-best power display of the week (behind Alabama), both lines absolutely owned App State. Andrew Hatch still isn't the answer at quarterback, but he might not have to be much with that O-line. Impressive.
8. Alabama
Record: 1-0
Last week: 16 (beat No. 7 Clemson, 34-10)
Next: Tulane
Coaches love to talk about "re-establishing the line of scrimmage." The Tide's D pushed Clemson's blockers off the ball like they were on skates.
Calling the Tide, the third-best team in the West, might be wishful thinking by Auburn or LSU fans.
9. South Florida
Record: 1-0
Last week: 8 (beat Tennessee-Martin, 56-7)
Next: UCF
Nothing to see in the opener, UCF should offer a fight and then business picks up with a Friday night tilt with Kansas on Sept. 12.
10. Auburn
Record: 1-0
Last week: 9 (beat Louisiana-Monroe, 34-0)
Next: Southern Miss
If Auburn's the preseason favorite in the West, the Tigers must be great because LSU and Alabama both looked better than the two favorites, and higher-ranked teams, in the East.
Season doesn't start until Sept. 20 when LSU visits The Plains.
11. West Virginia
Record: 1-0
Last week: 10 (beat Villanova, 48-21)
Next: @ No. 21 ECU
Early challenge for rookie coach Bill Stewart because Greenville and ECU will be juiced on Saturday. Pirates will be eager to repay 48-7 beatdown. The 2006 game in G-Vegas was closer (Neers, 27-10).
12. Kansas
Record: 1-0
Last week: 11 (beat FIU, 40-10)
Next: Louisiana Tech
The Mangia Manginos feasted on their usual light September fare but Louisiana Tech, who beat Mississippi State, should be a step up and then it's off to USF on Sept. 12.
13. Texas
Record: 1-0
Last week: 17 (beat Florida Atlantic, 52-10)
Next: @ UTEP
FAU is the best team in the Sun Belt. You either are impressed with that or not. Either way, the Horns opened strong and they have three scrimmages before going to sneaky-good Colorado (Oct. 4) and the Red River Rivalry (Oct. 11).
14. Texas Tech
Record: 1-0
Last week: 13 (beat Eastern Washington, 49-24)
Next: @ Nevada
Wake me when Texas Tech plays someone.
15. Wisconsin
Record: 1-0
Last week: 14 (beat Akron, 38-17)
Next: Marshall
The Herd is just another C-USA team. A trip to Fresno State, next Saturday, looms.
16. Utah
Record: 1-0
Last week: 21 (beat Michigan, 25-23)
Next: UNLV
Took the first step back to a BCS bowl (against the ACC champ in the Orange?). One down, 10 to go before the Utes get BYU in Salt Lake.
17. Penn State
Record: 1-0
Last week: 15 (beat Coastal Carolina, 66-10)
Next: Oregon State
Coastal Carolina. Why?
18. BYU
Record: 1-0
Last week: 23 (beat Northern Iowa, 41-17)
Next: @ Washington
Tougher road than Utah but the BCS is certainly in play for the Cougs and Max Hall, who threw for 486 yards in the opener.
19. Clemson
Record: 0-1
Last week: 7 (lost to No. 16 Alabama, 34-10)
Next: The Citadel
Broke my own rule — No. 2 Offensive line play — in ranking the Tigers so high in the preseason. Clearly, the Tigers have blocking issues and not just "Tommy" issues.
But they have to be better than they showed in Atlanta on Saturday. Right?
20. Florida State
Record: 0-0
Last week: 19
Next: Western Carolina
Bye in Week 1 and basically in Weeks 2 (Western Carolina) and 3 (Chattanooga). I'm alone in my faith in the Noles. I'll at least wait until they play before kicking them out.
21. ECU
Record: 1-0
Last week: Not ranked (beat No. 20 Virginia Tech, 27-22)
Next: No. 11 West Virginia
Is there a West Coast bias or East Coast bias? There's no way UCLA, who's No. 23 in the AP proper poll, is better than ECU, who is ARV.
Back-to-back wins over Boise State and Virginia Tech should have gotten the Pirates noticed.
22. Oregon
Record: 1-0
Last week: Not ranked (beat No. 25 Washington, 44-10)
Next: Utah State
What do you want me to say here, Oregon/Washington State fan? You were right, I was wrong.
The Ducks looked strong (yes, I watched the late game on FSN), although Mike Belotti wasn't afraid to throw a couple of garbage touchdowns on there to make it look worse than it really was (14-10 at the half).
23. Arizona State
Record: 1-0
Last week: 22 (beat Northern Arizona, 30-13)
Next: Stanford
Could lose to Stanford this week.
24. Wake Forest
Record: 1-0
Last week: Not ranked (beat Baylor, 41-13)
Next: Ole Miss
Could lose to Ole Miss this week. (What would that do for the ACC's image?)
25. Illinois
Record: 0-1
Last week: 18 (lost to No. 6 Missouri, 52-42)
Next: Eastern Illinois
Won't lose to Eastern Illinois this week.
In: ECU, Oregon, Wake Forest
Out: Virginia Tech (20), Michigan State (24), Washington (25)
Comments
why do people think WFU is
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 11:59 — gvillegatrwhy do people think WFU is going to lose to Ole Piss?? One team is clearly better than the other and both team never get any respect ... so why give it to the team thats not nearlly as good and has to go on the road?? Ole Piss Coach is over rated simply b/c of RB's named McFadden and Jones.
Deacs roll Ole Piss 31-9.
top 25 week 1
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 09:36 — Patrick (not verified)I just wanted to say thanks for showing ECU some Love in your poll this week. I thought they should be in the top 25, maybe not 21 like you put them, but thats awesome that you ranked them that high.