The Top 10 Rankings: Time To Review

Since there hasn't been a whole lot of recruiting news from last weekend's visitors I figured I'd take the opportunity to break down the Top 10 for the second time this season.

Before I do that though I'd like to invite the blog readers to partake in a Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball league. It will be a competitive rotisserie point style league with a live draft set for Tuesday the 21st at 7:15 PM. Right now there are 3 teams signed up which leaves 7 spots open for a 10 team league. To join the league go to Yahoo's Fantasy Sports page and click the link for Fantasy Basketball. You will be asked to join either a "public" or "custom" league...opt for the custom league. You will need to enter a league ID and Password for entry into the league. That information is posted below.

Fantasy Basketball League ID# is 1606
Password: pdx08

With that out of the way here's the newest link to College Football's Top 25 on ESPN.com. I still don't think some of the teams in the Top 10 have started playing the meat of their schedules considering most teams are heading into their tougher games during the next few weeks. I'll probably do one more "Top 10 Breakdown" before I begin my bowl projections in the next few weeks.

1) Texas - I can't argue with the way they beat Oklahoma...it was gritty, physical and they simply beat the Sooners at their own game. They were able to capitalize on big plays when they needed them, especially when the game was looking like it might be blown wide open. Watching Jordan Shipley return a touchdown to keep the game in reach (score was 14-3 in favor of the Sooners at the time) was a thing of beauty. Great teams make big plays to win games of last Saturday's magnitude, and after beating the previous #1 ranked team they definitely deserve to inherit that ranking this week.

2) Alabama - Alabama has shown to be a national title contender at times (ex. beating Georgia 31-0 at halftime) but at the same time they have looked fairly ordinary (giving up 30 to Georgia in the second half and beating them 41-30). A bye last week helped prepare them for the second half of their SEC schedule, and I'd assume they will be ranked #2 or even #1 for at least the next few weeks. They face Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas St. before facing off against LSU on November 8th down in the bayou. Due to his recent success perhaps the Miami Dolphins will attempt to lure Nick Saban back to the organization for the simple task of locking him up for a day and letting fans kick him in the nuts for subjecting them to the fiasco that was the Miami Dolphins last season. Hey, I can wish right?

3) Penn State - Penn State wasn't always known for its offensive prowess, but this years team is putting up points and yards. The October 25th game at Ohio St. will be the make or break game for this team. If they can get by the Buckeyes there is little doubt that they will make up one of the teams playing for the National Title. Maybe then Joe Pa will finally retire and we all won't have to watch him wander around the sidelines like he's Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man." For that reason alone I'm hoping that the Nittany Lions make it to the big dance.

4) Oklahoma - This team has a knack for losing big games. Whether it be back to back BCS bowl losses to Boise St. and West Virginia there is little doubt that Bob Stoops hasn't been able to coach his teams to victory in the games that really matter. However, that doesn't mean this team isn't a good one. If Jordan Shipley doesn't return that kickoff for a touchdown the Longhorns may have proceeded to get their ass kicked because Oklahoma was in full control of that game. Sam Bradford is one hell of a quarterback, and his 5 TD passes against Texas makes you wonder if maybe he is the best QB in the Big 12.

5) Florida - This team is 1 point away from being undefeated and quite possibly the #1 team in the country. With the exception of Ole' Miss Florida has beaten their opponents by 20 points or more, but that could come to a halt real soon. Kentucky is next up with away games at Georgia and Vanderbilt to follow. I'm sure Urban Meyer is breathing a sigh of relief that Alabama is nowhere to be found on this year's schedule too. If Florida wins out and handles business in the SEC Championship there is no doubt that Gator fans will be calling for the National Title game. I can't say that I blame them either...especially if Texas was to lose between now and then.

6) USC - Oh how the Trojans are slowly making their way up the ladder. We all know the Pac-10 is in a down year which makes it even more surprising that USC already has a loss in conference play. With the BCS standings coming out this week there has been speculation that USC will be ranked #4 which would allow them to have a legit possibility at playing for the title. What USC needs is Cal to keep winning so "if" they beat them they would have one more quality win to help elevate them with the BCS computers. Pete Carroll knows how to get his boys up for a big game, and "if" a title game is in their future I definitely seem them taking care of business.

7) Texas Tech 8) Oklahoma St. and 9) BYU - Hey look everybody it's the 3 jackass teams that have no real reason even being ranked this high. I figured I'd just compile these teams because I don't feel like they have really accomplished anything. Oklahoma St. beat Missouri which was pretty cool, but who had Missouri played up until that point? I might tip my hat if Missouri goes out and beats Texas this week, but until then I don't really think that win is as great as people are making it sound. BYU didn't exactly light up the scoreboard last week against New Mexico (beat them 21-3) which is why they've stayed at the #9 position for quite some time. Or maybe it's because BYU opponents have a combined record of 10-27. I wouldn't be surprised if the BCS rankings have them somewhere around 13th or 14th...hell with those opponents they should be ranked in the high 20's! Texas Tech STILL hasn't played anybody and their fun begins a week from Saturday. They then play Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma St. and Oklahoma...all in a row. At that point the Red Raiders should put their heads firmly between their legs and kiss their asses and the Top 10 goodbye.

10) Georgia - They probably won't be on this list too much longer. Dealing with Vanderbilt, LSU and Florida 3 weeks in a row doesn't bode well for the Bulldogs. If they lose any of those games they will likely be out of a BCS bowl bid. Is there much else to say for this team other than they have Knowshon Moreno? I don't really think so.