By Jeremy Sickel
Sweet
1. Kansas State – The Wildcats will stay on this list until they lose and are now 5-0 for the first time since starting the 2000 season 6-0. Bill Snyder, should be considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all time leading K-State to a second resurgence under his tutelage.
2. Houston – Fourteenth year senior Case Keenum has a shot at breaking the NCAA all time record for passing yards and touchdowns. He has had the injury bug his entire career but now has the Cougars poised to possibly run the table in Conference USA and become a BCS Buster later in the year as the big boys beat each other out of contention week after week.
3. Illinois – Things are looking good right now for the Fighting Illini’ with dual threat Kansas City native Nathan Scheelhaase running the show. They have played the soft part of their schedule on their way to being 6-0 but they do get Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin on their home turf.
4. Alabama – Saban seems to always be in reload mode instead of rebuilding after losing multiple stars to the NFL draft every year. Trent Richardson is the real deal and is likely the first running back taken in next year’s draft. With only two tough games remaining, a possible national title deciding home game against LSU and a road game at Auburn, Alabama looks poised to make another run at the BCS Title.
5. Oklahoma – Nobody saw that coming did they? Many likely expected Texas’ young quarterbacks to struggle a little against OU’s NFL-quality defense, but 55-17? The Sooners really must be taking the drop in the polls personally and with a couple of gimmes coming up they will look to ride the momentum until they travel to “The Little Apple” – Manhattan, KS – to take on the Big 12’s 2011 cinderella; the Kansas State Wildcats.
Sour
1. Texas – How could they not have made this list? The Longhorns were probably rated too high at #11, but Oklahoma handed Mack Brown his worst loss of his current head coaching tenure, and they won’t receive a break having to take on the high-flying offensive display of the Oklahoma State Cowboys next. Look for Texas to score more easily but I’m not sure they can keep up with Gundy’s offensive barrage.
2. Auburn – They couldn’t muster much of anything against the Arkansas Razorbacks but they get a reeling Florida squad at home next week to possibly take the sour taste out of their mouths. The loss of all that talent to the NFL is proving to be too much to overcome for Chizik and the Tigers this season.
3. Florida – I told you last week they could find themselves on this list for a very long time and the matchup with Auburn next week on the road will go a long way towards whether or not that statement will be a reality. The loser stays and the winner buys themselves another week of mediocrity. Florida is still struggling to find an identity in the Post-Tebow/Urban Meyer Era and I don’t see it getting better anytime soon.
4. Florida State – The fact that there is no Florida team in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1982 is just as big of a shock as the Seminoles fall from the polls itself. A sexy pick to make some noise come January, Florida State has fallen flat with three consecutive close losses to tough teams. The question is whether or not they can pick it up with a cupcake like remaining schedule or will they give up and make this more of a lost season than it already is?
5. Oregon – You are probably scratching your head with this one right, but this is my risky prediction pick of the week. I know the Ducks have tons of talent, but LaMichael James is an irreplaceable cog in their machine. They have a tricky game coming up against a surprising Arizona State Sun Devils team that is gradually making its way up the rankings. If Oregon can continue to win then I will eat crow, but I like ASU to upset the Ducks next week which could derail their confidence.
Pop Fly Boys 