Note: J.P. Giglio is one of 65 voters in the AP Top 25. This is his ballot.
Update: Expanded version (9:40 a.m.)
• JP Top 25 archive
• AP Top 25, BCS rankings
When you lose shouldn’t matter, who you lose to should.
The top 25 is an opinion poll and the 64 other voters are simply exercising their opinion but I don’t understand how Texas can go from a unanimous No. 1, ahead of Florida on every ballot, to No. 5 in the proper AP poll this week, one slot behind the Gators.
Texas and Florida each have one loss. Texas lost on the road, on the last play, to a top 5 team. Florida lost at home, on the last play, to an unranked team.
Texas has three wins over ranked teams, Florida has two. I don’t get it.
For the record, I should have ranked Florida State No. 24, not Tulsa, I’ll fix the mistake next week if FSU beats Clemson.
1. Alabama
Record: 9-0
Good wins: @ UGa, vs. Clemson
Loss(es): none
Last week: 2 (beat Arkansas State, 35-0)
Next: @ LSU
Nevermind LSU's effort vs. Florida and Georgia, the Tigers will play their Super Bowl on Saturday for the return of their former coach and the last punch from a proud champion.
The Tide did catch one break — kickoff is 3:30, not at night, when the Tigers are unbeatable in Death Valley.
2. Penn State
Record: 9-0
Good wins: @ Ohio State, Oregon State, @ Wisconsin
Loss(es): none
Last week: 3 (bye)
Next: @ Iowa
Penn State's resume is closer to Alabama's than the public at-large would like to give the Nits credit. Thanks to Ohio State, PSU's guilty by assocation. And while we only have comparisons to judge, to say that USC destroyed Ohio State while Penn State only beat OSU by a touchdown, ignores both the setting and the availability of Beanie Wells.
It also discounts the fact that teams improve as the season goes along (see Virginia).
Of course, Penn State still has three games to close out before reserving plane tickets for Miami and before you say Iowa, Indiana and Michigan State stink, let's remember Pitt was 4-7 before ending West Virginia's championship dream last season.
3. Texas Tech
Record: 8-0
Good wins: Texas, @ Kansas
Loss(es): none
Last week: 9 (beat Kansas, 63-21)
Next: Oklahoma State
Here's my problem with Texas Tech, and it's obviously not beating the No. 1 team in the country — the nonconference schedule.
The Raiders played Eastern Washington (I-AA), Nevada, SMU and UMass (I-AA). That's two I-AAs and zero BCS teams. Like Kansas State under Bill Snyder, Leach has adopted the scheduling philosophy of fattening up on cupcakes and deceiving the world at-large about how good your team really is.
Here's the kicker: Those I-AA games might cost Texas Tech the Big 12 tiebreaker (see No. 6 Oklahoma).
4. Texas
Record: 8-1
Good wins: vs. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri
Loss(es): @ Texas Tech
Last week: 1 (lost at Texas Tech, 39-33)
Next: Baylor
The Horns are the best one-loss team and are ranked accordingly here. That's no disrespect to Florida or what the Gators did to Georgia.
5. Florida
Record: 7-1
Good wins: Georgia, LSU
Loss(es): Ole Miss
Last week: 5 (beat Georgia, 49-10)
Next: @ Vanderbilt
It's a two-game season for the Gators: win at Florida State and beat Alabama in the SEC title game and they're off to Miami.
6. Oklahoma
Record: 8-1
Good wins: TCU, Kansas
Loss(es): Texas
Last week: 6 (beat Nebraska, 62-28)
Next: @ Texas A&M
Texas Tech comes to Norman on Nov. 22. If Oklahoma beats Texas Tech, and both finish 7-1 tied with Texas, also 7-1, a three-way tie in the Big 12 is broken by:
• The BCS rankings
• Overall winning percentage, excluding exempted games (see No. 3 Texas Tech)
7. USC
Record: 6-1
Good wins: Ohio State, Oregon
Loss(es): @ Oregon State
Last week: 7 (beat Washington, 56-0)
Next: Cal
Time to give up the ghost, Trojans, you're headed for the Rose Bowl, which is not a bad consolation, just not the top prize.
8. Oklahoma State
Record: 8-1
Good wins: @ Missouri
Loss(es): @ Texas
Last week: 6 (beat Iowa State, 59-17)
Next: Texas Tech
I'd be surprised if the Pokes lost to Texas Tech.
9. Utah
Record: 9-0
Good wins: Oregon State, @ Air Force
Loss(es): none
Last week: 10 (beat New Mexico, 13-10)
Next: TCU (Thursday)
As predicted, the Utes were tested by New Mexico before the big finish: home games with TCU and BYU.
10. TCU
Record: 9-1
Good wins: BYU
Loss(es): @ Oklahoma
Last week: 14 (beat UNLV, 44-14)
Next: @ Utah (Thursday)
The Frogs blasted UNLV and are off to Salt Lake City. I'd put a one-loss TCU team, with wins over BYU and Utah, over an unbeaten Boise State. I don't think reputation is going to allow that to happen though, which says a lot for what Boise's been able to accomplish.
11. Boise State
Record: 8-0
Good wins: @ Oregon
Loss(es): none
Last week: 12 (beat New Mexico State, 49-0)
Next: Utah State
Random stat: Five of the 12 teams on Boise's schedule are "States." Fresno looms on the day after Thanksgiving.
12. Georgia
Record: 7-2
Good wins: @ LSU
Loss(es): Alabama, Florida
Last week: 4 (lost to Florida, 49-10)
Next: @ Kentucky
Repeat after me: Offensive line matters. Offensive line matters. Offensive line matters. Offensive line matters. Offensive line matters. Offensive line matters.
Now e-mail that to me when I'm doing the 2009 preseason top 25 please.
13. Ohio State
Record: 7-2
Good wins: @ Wisconsin, @ Michigan State
Loss(es): @ USC, Penn State
Last week: 14 (bye)
Next: @ Northwestern
No matter how the '08 title game turns out, at least we don't have to worry about the Bucks.
14. LSU
Record: 6-2
Good wins: none
Loss(es): @ Florida, Georgia
Last week: 11 (beat Tulane, 35-10)
Next: Alabama
Great game with Alabama last year in Tuscaloosa. The visitor won the game and went to win the national title. Will the Tide follow suit?
15. Ball State
Record: 8-0
Good wins: Navy
Loss(es): none
Last week: 17 (bye)
Next: Northern Illinois (Wednesday)
The Cards get a national stage to impress voters on Wednesday.
16. BYU
Record: 8-1
Good wins: none
Loss(es): @ TCU
Last week: 17 (beat Colorado State, 45-42)
Next: San Diego State
I repeat: The luckiest team in America.
17. Missouri
Record: 7-2
Good wins: Illinois
Loss(es): Oklahoma State, @ Texas
Last week: 19 (beat Baylor, 31-28)
Next: Kansas State
Running neck-and-neck with Georgia for biggest disappointment, outside of Clemson, this season.
18. Maryland
Record: 6-2
Good wins: Cal, Wake Forest
Loss(es): @ Middle Tennesse, @ Virginia
Last week: 21 (bye)
Next: @ Virginia Tech (Thursday)
Virginia Tech's 14-3 on Thursday night with all three losses coming to Boston College.
19. UNC
Record: 6-2
Good wins: Boston College, Notre Dame
Loss(es): Virginia Tech, @ Virginia
Last week: 22 (bye)
Next: Georgia Tech
Good time to catch Georgia Tech, who was beat up by Florida State — the Quarterback Wrecking Crew — and likely due for an emotional letdown.
20. Oregon State
Record: 5-3
Good wins: USC
Loss(es): @ Stanford, @ Penn State, @ Utah
Last week: 23 (beat Arizona State, 27-25)
Next: @ UCLA
There is such a thing as good losses.
21. Georgia Tech
Record: 7-2
Good wins: Florida State, @ Boston College
Loss(es): Virginia, @ Virginia Tech
Last week: Not ranked (beat Florida State, 31-28)
Next: @ UNC
There's a significant difference between Josh Nesbitt and Jaybo Shaw, regardless of what numbers Shaw put up against average teams.
22. Cal
Record: 6-2
Good wins: Michigan State, Oregon
Loss(es): @ Maryland, @ Arizona
Last week: Not ranked (beat Oregon, 26-16)
Next: @ USC
This spot is reserved for either Cal or Oregon, it seems to flip every week.
23. Michigan State
Record: 8-2
Good wins: Northwestern, Notre Dame, Wisconsin
Loss(es): @ Cal, Ohio State
Last week: 25 (beat Wisconsin, 25-24)
Next: Purdue
The Spartans get a bye week after this and then onto Penn State on Nov. 22.
24. Tulsa
Record: 8-1
Good wins: none
Loss(es): @ Arkansas
Last week: 18 (lost to Arkansas, 30-23)
Next: @ Houston (Nov. 15)
My bad, Florida State.
25. West Virginia
Record: 6-2
Good wins: none
Loss(es): ECU, @ Colorado
Last week: not ranked (beat UConn, 35-13)
Next: Cincinnati
Look who's in control of the Big East at 3-0? The Mountaineers could be headed to the Orange Bowl to face the ACC champion, which would leave the Fiesta with the Mountain West champion or Boise State.
Out: Florida State (13), Minnesota (20), Oregon (24)
Comments
UNC & UGA
Mon, 11/03/2008 - 17:05 — Kyle (not verified)I disagree with those that think that Georgia is overrated at #12. They've lost 2 games to teams that collectively have 1 loss, are both going to the SEC championship, and are both top-5 teams. It's very likely that the winner of Florida-Alabama in the SEC championship will be in the national championship game. Remember that Georgia made it a game in the 2nd half against Alabama. And I don't think that UNC defensively would do a better job against Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer's offense than what Georgia did.
UNC's 2 losses were to VT and UVa, neither of which is currently ranked or in the driver's seat for a trip to Tampa. Don't get me wrong. UNC is a good team and is certainly between 15-25. But I think Georgia is a very good team that is just unfortunate enough to have 2 of the VERY best teams in the country on their schedule.
UNC
Mon, 11/03/2008 - 16:02 — tarheel man (not verified)Most underrated team in America. We should be in the top ten. 6-2 with an inexperenced QB and should be undefeated. Virginia and Virginia tech were lucky. We easily run the table, win the Championship game, and end in the top 8 in the country. Butch Davis is the best coach in the nation. Our defense will kill GT, NCSU, and DOOK. Just a note: We will beat State by 30 and Dook by 20. The woofies should have kept Chuck because they are on the biggest slide in the world in all sports. Maybe they would be better in division 2. Go TARHEELS
"i'm calling for a win out"
Mon, 11/03/2008 - 13:34 — Anonymous (not verified)Yeah....you can really tell those "tarhole" fans a mile away, always putting the proverbial cart b4 the horse. They're almost as arrogant as their basketball fans. You're forgetting one small detail....when the PACK comes calling, and Sexton has to pick the grass from his teeth with a toothpick that Nate Irving hands him. I can't wait! Bunch of overated wine & chesse nobodies.....
UNC
Mon, 11/03/2008 - 10:37 — festerIs a team that belongs in top 20, but I wouldn't say they are underrated by any means. Until UNC get's an offensive line and some depth they will be less than a top 15 team. Next year they should be knocking on the door but don't get ahead of yourselves. There are still too many true freshman, redshirts and sophomores anchoring key positions to expect more from them. I would love to head down to a bowl game in Orlando New Years for a bowl game. Go Heels!
Fester
Mon, 11/03/2008 - 10:52 — gvillegatrI hear ya man but just dont sell the team short just b/c they are doing it in an unconventional way (underclassmen). next 2 games will tell the tale.
I dont understand Georgia at
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 15:46 — gvillegatrI dont understand Georgia at #12. they've been been embarssed twice now. once at home and another on a neutral field. I think UNC could beat Georgia. keep it up Dawgs and we'll find out in Atlanta ... maybe!
Little difference
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 15:56 — jpg (author)Between Nos. 12 through 25. I do think Georgia's win over LSU is better than any win UNC has.
Georgia's losses — Fla and Ala — are also better than UNC's.
But I hope you're right, that would be a fun game: UNC vs. UGa in Atl.
— JPG
12-25
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 16:48 — gvillegatrI agree and thought about that before I wrote what I did when I looked at who was behind Georgia. I should have just written, "i'd like to see UNC get a shot at Georgia or another SEC school."
and dont buy into what you might think about UNC. I honestly believe they are a vastly underrated team. i'm hard pressed to find a better secondary in the country and the d-line isnt shabby either. Mark Paschal, while not the most athletic, is the most not talked about LB in the country. this guy always has 10 + tackles it seems.
get the offense working consistently (more than not, it is the pass albeit the running game has come alive over the last 3 weeks or so) and this is a dangerous, dangerous ball club.
i'm calling for a win out and at least one more VT and UVa loss.
"i'm calling for a win out"
Mon, 11/03/2008 - 10:02 — Anonymous (not verified)The fly in the ointment here is gonna be when the Pack ruins your prediction. They will have their injured healthy and if Irving plays, which I feel sure he will, Sexton will be picking grass out of his teeth and, Oh,...how I'm going to enjoy it!