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SportsRant’s Weekly Top 25
And then there were two. At least the BCS people breathed a sigh of relief. All the Trojans and Longhorns need to do is remain victorious in very winnable games. If one loses, the BCS goes back to a complete mess. Wait, it’s a mess anyway but this season shapes up to be the smoothest yet if both teams stay undefeated.
Well, this week’s version is going to reflect the losses the ranked teams suffered and their remaining schedules. The Bowl season is fast approaching, but this week’s games will determine which teams play for conference championships. There is still a lot to play for as a couple two loss teams still harbor BCS hopes. Notre Dame needs to not slip up at Stanford and Miami needs to get back on track at home against Virginia. The Irish have the best chance as the Hurricanes would need some serious help to make it. UCLA could shock the world but would that still be enough?
The goal is to win. Being the best three loss team in the country means nothing to the Rant. Minimizing your losses do, and that’s why the teams you’ll see below are ranked. Remember, the teams are ranked based on number of losses first, whether or not they’ve beaten a team with the same amount of losses second, and, finally, whether or not the Rant feels a team can beat another team with the same amount of losses.
Ya just gotta win!
1. USC 11-0 Fresno St. put a serious scare in the Trojans
last week. Only cross-town rival UCLA remains.
And it’s at the Coliseum.
2. Texas 10-0 The last time the Longhorns had a test?
How ‘bout September 10 at Ohio State. The next
time the Longhorns get tested? Probably in the Rose Bowl.
3. Penn State 10-1 Clinched BCS game with win at Michigan
(Michigan) State.
4. Virginia Tech 9-1 Better schedule strength puts them at top of
(Miami) one loss teams. UNC and the Conference Championship remain.
5. Oregon 10-1 Only loss is to top ranked USC. Possible
(USC) BCS bowl awaits.
6. Louisiana State 9-1 Loss to Tennessee hurts Tigers here. Still
(Tennessee) must play Arkansas and Conference Championship.
7. West Virginia 8-1 Better loss than LSU, but schedule strength
(Virginia Tech) is weaker. Facing a stout South Florida team that
beat Louisville and played Penn State tough. Also
still plays Pittsburgh.
8. UCLA 9-1 No one outside of Westwood give the
(Arizona) Bruins a chance to beat mighty USC on Dec 3.
9. TCU 10-1 The BCS people sent SMU coach Phil
(SMU) Bennett a thank you card. Imagine the chaos had
the Horned Frogs beat the Mustangs. Bowl game is
next.
10. Ohio State 9-2 Both losses by a combined ten points. (Penn State and they get shut out of a BCS berth.
Texas)
11. Miami 8-2 Is the offense struggling again? Virginia
(Florida State is not a gimme so they better figure it out quick.
Georgia Tech)
12. Notre Dame 8-2 I know the “other” polls love the Irish. But,
(Michigan State seriously, who have the beaten? Their best win is USC) against a four loss Michigan team. Could Stanford
pull off the upset in Palo Alto?
13. Auburn 9-2 Tigers regular season is complete. Now
(Georgia Tech, await bowl fate.
LSU)
14. Louisville 7-2 Cardinals seem to have found their offense,
(West Virginia, scoring at least 44 points in six straight games.
South Florida) UConn and Syracuse remain.
15. Fresno St. 8-2 Will surely finish with ten wins after
(Oregon, USC) dispatching Nevada and Louisiana Tech, but
the Bulldogs sure wish they could have finished
off the Trojans.
16. Texas Tech 9-2 Red Raiders basically got a gift, three of
(Texas, Oklahoma State) them, in the Oklahoma victory. Probable Cotton Bowl bound against Alabama.
17. Alabama 9-2 All they really had was a top notch defense.
(LSU, Auburn) until Auburn put up more first quarter points than
The Tide defense had averaged per game all season.
18. Georgia 8-2 The Bulldogs lost to the only decent teams
(Florida, Auburn) on their schedule. Their last game is against a
Georgia Tech team that just knocked off Miami.
What do you think will happen?
19. Georgia Tech 7-3 Yup, I’m putting ‘em up here. You go in
(Virginia Tech, to Miami and beat a Hurricane team that still has a
NC State, Virginia) shot at the National Championship, you deserve to be ranked. Rival Georgia remains, and it’s in
Atlanta. Take the Yellow Jackets.
20. Boston College 8-3 Eagles season is complete except for Bowl.
(Florida State, UNC,
Virginia Tech)
21. Florida State 7-3 What are the chances of the Seminoles
(Virginia, Clemson, joining Tennessee and Nebraska in the land of the
NC State) unranked? If Florida can mount any type of offense, it will happen.
22. Iowa State 7-3 Victory at home versus Colorado vaults
(Baylor, Missouri Cyclones back in to the Rant Poll. Now they can’t
Nebraska) slip up against a Kansas team looking for bowl
eligibility.
23. Colorado 7-3 Buffaloes get Nebraska before the Big XII
(Texas, Miami, Championship against Texas. Iowa State loss hurt. Iowa State)
22. Florida State 7-3 What are the chances of the Seminoles
(Virginia, Clemson, joining Tennessee and Nebraska in the land of the
NC State) unranked? If Florida can mount any type of offense, it will happen.
24. Wisconsin 8-3 Badgers will try to stop the bleeding at
(Northwestern, Hawaii after two straight losses. Penn St, Iowa)
25. South Florida 6-3 This is the Rant Compassion Pick…like
Rutgers a few weeks ago. Bulls can make a big
statement by beating West Virginia next weekend.
Dropped out: Rutgers, California,
Others considered: Florida, UTEP, Boise St, Nevada
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