Editor's note: J.P. Giglio is one of 60 AP voters.
• JP Top 25 archive
• AP, USA Today polls
• Pollspeak (how everyone else voted)
Philosophical voting question: Should Southern California, with one loss, be ranked ahead of unbeaten teams such as Boise State, Cincinnati, TCU and Iowa?
You can see my answer below.
But is a one-loss USC better than a one-loss SEC team (Florida or Alabama)?
Tougher but I'd still side with USC. I try to base my vote on results, particularly using road results as an indicator of strength. I try not to make it a beauty contest but there's virtually no getting around the "eye" test.
Through the wonder of cable television, and a Thursday night game for North Carolina, I watched Alabama, Florida, Texas and USC play on Saturday. Florida has the best defense, Texas has the best offense and USC has the best combination of both (don't be misled by the 42-36 final against Oregon State. USC led by three scores in the fourth quarter).
USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley looks like the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft but that's only one reason to like the Trojans. Half of their wins — Ohio State, Notre Dame and California — have come on the road (as did their loss, at Washington and minus Barkley).
TCU and Cincinnati also have good road wins but I can't help but wonder if either (or Iowa) could beat USC? I just don't think so, hence USC's position at No. 4.
1. Alabama
Record: 8-0
Good wins: Virginia Tech, @ Ole Miss, South Carolina
Losses: none
Last week: 1 (beat Tennessee, 12-10)
This week: bye
2. Florida
Record: 7-0
Good wins: @ LSU
Losses: none
Last week: 2 (won @ Mississippi State, 29-19)
This week: vs. Georgia (@ Jacksonville)
3. Texas
Record: 7-0
Good wins: Oklahoma, Texas Tech
Losses: none
Last week: 3 (won @ Missouri, 41-7)
This week: @ Oklahoma State
4. USC
Record: 6-1
Good wins: @ Ohio State, @ Notre Dame, @ Cal, Oregon State
Loss: @ Washington
Last week: 4 (beat Oregon State, 42-36)
This week: @ Oregon
5. Boise State
Record: 7-0
Good wins: Oregon
Losses: none
Last week: 5 (won @ Hawaii, 54-9)
This week: San Jose State
6. Cincinnati
Record: 7-0
Good wins: @ South Florida, @ Oregon State
Losses: none
Last week: 8 (beat Louisville, 41-10)
This week: @ Syracuse
7. TCU
Record: 7-0
Good wins: @ BYU
Losses: none
Last week: 11 (won @ BYU, 38-7)
This week: UNLV
8. Iowa
Record: 8-0
Good wins: @ Penn State, Arizona, Michigan
Losses: none
Last week: 12 (won @ Michigan State, 15-13)
This week: Indiana
9. Georgia Tech
Record: 7-1
Good wins: Virginia Tech
Loss: @ Miami
Last week: 7 (won at Virginia, 34-9)
This week: @ Vanderbilt
10. Oregon
Record: 6-1
Good wins: Utah, Cal
Loss: @ Boise State
Last week: 10 (won @ Washington, 43-19)
This week: USC
11. LSU
Record: 6-1
Good wins: @ Georgia
Loss: Florida
Last week: 9 (beat Auburn, 31-10)
This week: Tulane
12. Virginia Tech
Record: 5-2
Good wins: Miami
Losses: @ Georgia Tech, Alabama
Last week: 13 (bye)
This week: UNC (Thursday)
13. Houston
Record: 6-1
Good wins: @ Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
Loss: @ UTEP
Last week: 14 (beat SMU, 38-15)
This week: Southern Miss
14. Utah
Record: 6-1
Good wins: none
Loss: @ Oregon
Last week: 16 (beat Air Force, 23-16, OT)
This week: Wyoming
15. Oklahoma State
Record: 6-1
Good wins: Georgia
Loss: Houston
Last week: 17 (won @ Baylor, 34-7)
This week: Texas
16. Penn State
Record: 7-1
Good wins: @ Michigan
Loss: Iowa
Last week: 19 (won @ Michigan, 35-10)
This week: @ Northwestern
17. Miami
Record: 5-2
Good wins: Georgia Tech, Oklahoma
Loss: @ Virginia Tech, Clemson
Last week: 6 (lost to Clemson, 40-37, OT)
This week: @ Wake Forest
18. Pitt
Record: 7-1
Good wins: Navy, South Florida
Loss: @ N.C. State
Last week: 25 (beat South Florida, 41-14)
This week: bye
19. West Virginia
Record: 6-1
Good wins: none
Loss: @ Auburn
Last week: 20 (beat UConn, 28-24)
This week: @ South Florida (Friday)
20. South Carolina
Record: 6-2
Good wins: Ole Miss
Loss: @ Georgia, @ Alabama
Last week: 23 (beat Vanderbilt, 14-10)
This week: @ Tennessee
21. Ohio State
Record: 6-2
Good wins: Navy
Losses: USC, @ Purdue
Last week: 21 (beat Minnesota, 38-7)
This week: New Mexico State
22. Arizona
Record: 5-2
Good wins: Central Michigan, @ Oregon State
Losses: @ Iowa, @ Washington
Last week: NR (beat UCLA, 27-13)
This week: bye
23. Central Michigan
Record: 7-1
Good wins: none
Loss: @ Arizona
Last week: 22 (won @ Bowling Green, 24-10)
This week: @ Boston College
24. Ole Miss
Record: 5-2
Good wins: none
Losses: @ South Carolina, Alabama
Last week: NR (beat Arkansas, 30-17)
This week: @ Auburn
25. Notre Dame
Record: 5-2
Good wins: none
Losses: USC, @ Michigan
Last week: NR (beat Boston College, 20-16)
This week: vs. Washington State (@ San Antonio)
Out: BYU (15), Texas Tech (18), Arkansas (24)
Comments
GT Looks BCS Bound
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 13:45 — jeromfitzWe're over the half way point in the ACC Standings and it looks like GT should lockup a BCS Bowl for the ACC Title game. Their offense with respectable defense is holding it down to win the game of possession football. I never seen a college team that looks so big offensively that the opponents looks nervously to find out who to tackle from the triple option offense. They should play in a top bowl most definitely. Who they will play I don't know? How about Texas or Alabama? Florida or USC? Do anyone want to play a ball possessive offense like GT?
Good Wins
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 03:48 — LetsGoPittHey, don't forget TCU's win @Clemson. (You only listed @BYU.)
It looks like a very tough choice for positions 4 thru 20 or so. With Clemson beating Miami, South Carolina barely losing two road games, no one has really seprated themselves from the pack.
As for cable TV: I get Versus and love that they carry teams ABC never shows. If it weren't for 'Canes games, we'd see even more football on FSN. So you are correct that the wonder of cable provides excellent CFB viewing opportunities.