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JP Top 25: Week 5

Submitted by jpg on 09/29/2008 - 08:14

Tags: ACC Now | JP Top 25 | Virginia Tech | Wake Forest

Note: J.P. Giglio is one of 65 voters in the AP Top 25. This is his ballot.

Note, part 2: I'll be on 850 the Buzz from 3 to 5 p.m. today. If you have any questions about the top 25, call in to the show (919-860-0850).

• JP Top 25 archive
• AP Top 25

I'm one of the 21 AP voters to move Alabama to No. 1 after the Tide dominated Georgia on the road. I think Alabama's resume, to this point, is more impressive than Oklahoma's.

The top 25 is an opinion poll and in that regard, a voter can't be wrong. But funny, the Harris Poll was created, because the AP withdrew from the BCS process, to correct the preseason bias of starting teams too low based on expectations and not results. Lo and behold, the Harris voters have Alabama is No. 3 with seven first-place votes.

The coaches' poll is even more of a popularity contest. Ya think there are few coaches who don't like Nick Saban? His colleagues have the Tide at an inexcusable No. 4 with just two first-place votes.

Oh well, it will all change in due time, if we learned anything last week with the losses of USC, Florida and Georgia.

As for the rest of my Top 25, I can never guess which fan base I'll end up insulting. It turns out its BYU this week. I've got the Cougars at No. 16, they're No. 8 in the proper AP poll. What's really bothering BYU Fan is that I have Utah at No. 13.

We'll find out everything we need to know about BYU and Utah on Nov. 22.

1. Alabama

Record: 5-0
Last week: 6 (beat Georgia, 41-30)
Next: Kentucky

Best combination of offensive and defensive lines in the country. The Tide is just mauling teams off the ball and letting its talented young playmakers do the rest.

Question is how will this team handle success? They fell apart after losing to LSU last season. They have to be able to handle the other end of the spectrum.

2. Oklahoma

Record: 4-0
Last week: 2 (beat TCU, 35-10)
Next: @ Baylor

If Ohio State had wins over a I-AA team, Cincinnati, Washington and TCU, do you think the Buckeyes would be ranked No. 1?

Oklahoma has been just as bad, if not worse, in BCS bowl games as the Buckeyes, but the Sooners are not punished in the court of public opinion for their transgressions.

That's not why they're No. 2 here — which is harder, beating TCU at home or winning at Georgia? — just pointing out the double standard between OU and OSU.

3. LSU

Record: 4-0
Last week: 4 (beat Mississippi State, 34-24)
Next: @ Florida (Oct. 11)

Is LSU the New York Giants of college football or are the Giants the LSU of the NFL? Either way, both champions are being overlooked in the big picture.

Les Miles wouldn't have it any other way. He couldn't have asked for a better "Nobody respects us" card to play.

We'll find out if the quarterback-challenged team can win at The Swamp in two weeks.

4. Missouri

Record: 4-0
Last week: 7 (off)
Next: @ Nebraska

That worked out well, the Tigers didn't even play and moved up three spots here and even got a first-place vote. Given what Nebraska went through on Saturday, and the Huskers' limitations on offense, the Tigers should win in Lincoln on Saturday. Should.

5. South Florida

Record: 5-0
Last week: 8 (beat N.C. State, 41-10)
Next: Pitt (Thursday)

I don't know if seeing a team in person helps or hurts because maybe I saw the Bulls at their best but I can't believe there are nine teams better than USF (it's No. 10 in the AP poll). That's way too low if Matt Grothe is going to be as good as he was Saturday against the Wolfpack.

6. Penn State

Record: 5-0
Last week: 16 (beat Illinois, 38-24)
Next: @ Purdue

I reluctantly move the Nits here because I still have doubts about their ability to beat Ohio State (Oct. 25) or Michigan (Oct. 18) but I don't vote on what will happen but what has happened. PSU wiped the floor with Oregon State, which turned around and beat USC. Illinois is also a good team.

7. Texas

Record: 4-0
Last week: 10 (beat Arkansas, 52-10)
Next: @ Colorado

Trap game alert! The Buffs are a thousand times better at home and the Horns have No. 1 Oklahoma on Oct. 11. Guaranteed prediction of the week: This Texas-Colorado game will be closer than the last time these two teams played, a 70-3 UT win in the 2005 Big 12 title game.

8. Texas Tech

Record: 4-0
Last week: 12 (off)
Next: @ Kansas State

Wake me when Texas Tech plays someone.

9. Georgia

Record: 4-1
Last week: 3 (lost to Alabama, 41-30)
Next: Tennessee (Oct. 11)

Not out of the national title hunt but the Dawgs have obvious flaws on both sides of the ball, namely the offensive line. They're a good team, just not a great team.

10. Florida

Record: 3-1
Last week: 5 (lost to Ole Miss, 31-30)
Next: @ Arkansas

Bad call by Urban Meyer to go for it on fourth down, instead of kicking the field goal, and he made it worse with the play call — a shotgun QB keep, instead of puttng Tebow under center and letting him push forward for the first down.

The Gators, like UGa, aren't dead yet, but the defense has to get better for Meyer's second national title, so does his late-game decision-making.

11. Auburn

Record: 4-1
Last week: 11 (beat Tennessee, 14-12)
Next: @ Vanderbilt

The Tigers won't win many style points this season but they'll take the wins. Betcha you didn't think this week's game at Vandy would be between two ranked teams?

12. USC

Record: 2-1
Last week: 1 (lost to Oregon State, 27-21)
Next: Oregon

The Trojans had no excuse for looking past Oregon State. They had a bye after the big win over Ohio State and the game was on national television. That's bad coaching, pure and simple.

With that being said, I feel sorry for Oregon and the rest of the Pac-10. USC is now in a BCS beauty contest and nobody dresses up for the voters like Pete Carroll.

13. Utah

Record: 5-0
Last week: 14 (beat Weber State, 37-21)
Next: Oregon State (Thursday)

Bad news, BYU fans, if the Utes beat Oregon State this week, they'll jump in front of USC.

14. Ohio State

Record: 4-1
Last week: 15 (beat Minnesota, 34-21)
Next: Minnesota

OSU is certainly a different team with Terrelle Pryor at quarterback and a healthy Beanie Wells. Jim Tressel can't control the latter but what took him so long on the former?

15. Kansas

Record: 3-1
Last week: 17 (off)
Next: @ Iowa State

Biding their time until a trip to Oklahoma on Oct. 18.

16. BYU

Record: 4-0
Last week: 18 (off)
Next: @ Utah State

History lesson, BYU fans, I was the only AP voter to put your team in the preseason top 25 in 2006. That team won 11 games. So don't tell me how good the Cougs are, I know, I started the bandwagon.

Win at TCU on Oct. 16 and you'll move up. Until then, get used to the neighborhood.

17. Boise State

Record: 3-0
Last week: 19 (off)
Next: Louisiana Tech (Wednesday)

Might be awhile before the Broncs are tested.

18. Virginia Tech

Record: 4-1
Last week: Not ranked (beat Nebraska, 35-30)
Next: Western Kentucky

Unbeaten with Tyrod Taylor at QB and a healthy Macho Harris. Strong back-to-back road wins over UNC and Nebraska.

19. Wisconsin

Record: 3-1
Last week: 9 (lost at Michigan, 27-25)
Next: Ohio State

Well, the Badgers were looking ahead to OSU and now they get 'em. We'll see what they do with the chance.

20. Vanderbilt

Record: 4-0
Last week: Not ranked (off)
Next: Auburn

Follow the dominoes: Vandy beat Ole Miss ...

21. Ball State

Record: 5-0
Last week: 23 (beat Kent State, 41-20)
Next: @ Toledo

... Ball State beat Navy ...

22. Wake Forest

Record: 3-1
Last week: 13 (lost to Navy, 24-17)
Next: Clemson (Oct. 9)

... Wake lost to Navy but beat Ole Miss ...

23. Ole Miss

Record: 3-2
Last week: Not ranked (beat Florida, 31-30)
Next: South Carolina

Only two-loss team in here but easily could be 5-0.

24. Tulsa

Record: 4-0
Last week: 24 (beat Central Arkansas, 62-34)
Next: Rice

The class of C-USA.

25. Michigan State

Record: 4-1
Last week: Not ranked (beat Indiana, 42-29)
Next: Iowa

Javon Ringer is putting up Heisman numbers: 897 yards and 12 touchdowns in five games.

In: Virginia Tech (18), Vanderbilt (20), Ole Miss (23), Michigan State (25)

Out: Clemson (20), Illinois (21), Nebraska (22), ECU (25)

Comments

Legends Poll

Wed, 10/01/2008 - 19:23 — AC Legend (not verified)

If you want to see the most trusted poll go to www.legendschannel.com to see the Legends Poll. The 18 voters are all retired legendary Hall of Fame material coaches from the entire country. Guys like George Welsh, Vince Dooley, LaVell Edwards, John Cooper, JohnRobinson to name a few.

These guys actually watch game DVDs each week and participate in a conference call with together on Mondays. They are the only poll that does this.

Tom Osborne (who doesn't vote anymore because he's now the Nebraska AD) told me that VT is for real after beating Nebraska in Lincoln last Saturday. He thought Tyrod Taylor might make a mistake playing on the road, but he didn't and VT won. Give them some credit. Their loss came with the other QB.

LaVell Edwards pointed out that BYU is a good physical team, but can't be ranked higher yet, because they haven't beaten anybody of note yet.

Come on over to www.legendschannel.com and read the commentary and hear the thoughts of the Legends Poll coaches.

Low BYU ranking

Wed, 10/01/2008 - 14:24 — Tyler (not verified)

I am not sure why you have BYU ranked so low. SOS may be low but so is most football teams in the first weeks of the season (Tech which you have ranked 8th has plaued to 1AA teams). BYU last two games they have outscored thier opponents 103 - 0. That is hard to do, no matter who yiu are playing. The defense was the question mark coming into the season and I think that question has been answered.

UNCAlum

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 20:39 — gvillegatr

I agree with you. but I disagree anyone in this area is sleeping on UNC. all 3 voters in NC greatly despise UNC, so we'll see no love here even though they know.

I like everybody sleepin' on UNC

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 18:49 — UNCAlumnus

I'll not argue any rankings. I just don't watch enough on a national level. I want to thank all voters who did not vote for UNC, though. I'm confident that as the year plays out they will earn a better opinion. They have some games against some up and coming teams. If they win the majority, that will be good enough for this Tar Heel fan.

JPG

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 17:09 — gvillegatr

so, you think Tulsa is better than UNC or GT?

Lucy, you got some splainin' to do....

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 11:46 — Rocky (not verified)

How could you have VT at eighteen, and not vote for UNC? Anyone who saw the UNC-VT game will tell you UNC is the better team. VT was also beaten by ECU, another team you understandably did not give a vote. I'm not saying that UNC deserves to be in the top 25 yet, but if VT does, UNC does. Honestly, how many games did you watch last week? Not picking on you singly, but the whole AP voting process as a whole. Let's face it, they're all popularity contests. The USA Today poll (coaches poll), is also slanted. Coaches tend to vote for teams in their conference to give wins over them more weight and tend to vote down the real top 3 teams or so in order to manipulate the BCS score against them.

Rocky is drunk again................

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 21:23 — Beamer Ball (not verified)

Are you kidding? Vt losing to ECU was a fluke. Tech was breaking in 8 new (underclassmen) people on the defense. On offense all of the quality receivers ( Eddie Royal included) were drafted so new people there. You are going to have growing pains! As you see the team is growing together...... definitely alot better in talent and skill than UNC. Quit whining and get your weight up!

Beamer Balls

Tue, 09/30/2008 - 13:12 — gvillegatr

"definitely alot better in talent and skill than UNC"

you are kidding right!! well, I'll give you, your qb's were better than Mike Paulus was that day.

losing to ECU was not a fluke. why do you think it was a fluke? b/c ECU has lost to NCSU and Houston? does that make you feel better, b/c you do not think your team would have lost those games?

I guess if you want to say something along these lines ... "Our coach, Frank Beamer, did not have us prepared for the first game of the season and unexplicably he listened to the parents of Tyrod Taylor and red shirted him. We also got beat by something we usually beat other teams by, special teams. those things contributed to losing to ECU." I would accept that.

you are lucky VT does not have three losses already. Nebraska is not one of them.

Uh, VT beat UNC

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 16:44 — jpg (author)

Final score:

VT 20, UNC 17

You didn't answer the questions

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 23:34 — Rocky (not verified)

Come on JP, you can do better than that....how many games did you watch last week? Also, by your logic, how does a 3 point difference in one game translate into at least an 8 position difference in ranking?

in principle

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 16:20 — izzykareem

rocky, i agree with you in priciple, the whole voting process is silly, grown men, wondering who is better and then if they are wrong, no big deal, and if they are right, they are geniuses. Not picking on JPG, he's the man, but he's stil part of the axis of sports evil.

Even though VT lost to EZU, it was on a blocked punt. I know the whole game matters, but VT was ahead before that. Also when Sean Glennon came in, UNC-CH really couldn't stop him, it messed up whatever plan they had for Tyrod and didn't adjust, plus UNC-CH couldn't stop VT running back when the game mattered. UNC-CH still doesn't have a quality win because who they have beaten don't have quality wins

Disgruntled BYU Fans

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 11:03 — A.Fro. (not verified)

To be honest, I think BYU is in the right ballpark on your poll (I'd probably have them 12-14), but putting Utah above them is a joke.

Utah hasn't beaten us in three years; they don't have the longest winning streak in the country, and I have not been blown away by their wins. BYU shook off some rust in the first two games and are obviously clicking on all cylinders now.

looks like a good top 25

Mon, 09/29/2008 - 10:46 — gvillegatr

looks like a good top 25 overall JPG, but I dont know what Tulsa has done to deserve to be in the top 25.

at UAB

at North Texas

vs New Mexico

vs Central Arkansas

started the season off against, maybe, the 2 worse teams in Div 1-A. a used to be decent NM team and Scottie Pippens alma mater <---(i think)!! thinking a team is the class of C-USA just doesnt cut it anymore. see, i got jokes at the expense of me too!!