Oct 4, 2010
Now that we’re almost halfway through the 2010 season, the cream is starting to rise to the top of the polls. Conversely this means the pretenders and overrated contenders are falling faster than the autumn leaves.
Week 5 proved to be a particularly efficient cleansing cycle for separating the true contenders from the wannabes, as seven ranked teams lost, including a pair of Top 10s. Another 3-4 teams could have lost, but were spared from the guillotine by fortunate, or unfortunate, circumstances, depending on your rooting interest.
While Alabama, Boise State and Oregon all asserted their dominance, other power teams such as Ohio State, Florida and Stanford did little to establish credibility as national title contenders. Let’s get to the list of teams that moved up, down and out of the Top 25 after Shakeup Saturday.
DOWN:
-Boise State, #3 to #4 the biggest surprise this week belonged to the team that dropped in the poll despite winning its game 59-0. But the voters felt that Oregon’s 52-31 desecration of former Top 10 Stanford was more impressive than the Broncos’ pasting of hapless New Mexico State, thus warranting the Ducks leapfrogging them. It was going to be tough enough for Boise to crack the BCS title game from the three spot; now their task just got even tougher
- Florida, #7 to #14 the Gators kissed the Top 10 goodbye and should be glad they didn’t tumble further after being humiliated by Alabama, 31-6. Sure there’s no shame in losing to the number one team at home, but Bama exposed the problems that have been plaguing Florida all year: turnovers, miscues and a general lack of direction & focus. Here’s a little hint for you, Urban: lose the jump pass. Tebow’s gone.
-Stanford, #9 to #16 the Cardinal were poised for the upset when they jumped out to a 21-3 first quarter lead and scored on their first four possessions against the shell-shocked Ducks . But Oregon regrouped and scorched the Stanford defense to the tune of a 49-10 over the last three quarters, leaving Jim Harbaugh, Andrew Luck and the rest of the Cardinal nation stunned. Pity that poor Duck mascot – he’s going to look like Mr. Olympia when this season’s over after all those pushups!
-Wisconsin, #11 to #20 Wisky had been living on the edge most of the year, and it finally fell off with a discouraging 34-24 defeat to Michigan State. The Spartans, who jumped from #24 to #17, were obviously fired up after learning coach Mark Dantonio had to be readmitted to the hospital due to a blood clot. MSU played like a team possessed, taking it to the Badgers with a ball control attack that racked up 444 total yards, 175 on the ground. We all hope you get well soon, Coach, but your team is doing fine without you.
UP:
-Florida State reentered the rankings at #24 following its impressive 34-14 win at Virginia. With a home date against turnover-prone #13 Miami (FL) looming this week, the Noles are poised to either move into the middle of the pack, or drop out of the polls completely once again
-#24 Missouri finally cracked the Top 25 after drubbing Miami (OH), 51-13. But after this week’s tilt against Colorado, the Tigers face a brutal stretch that includes Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas Tech, so its stay could be short-lived, too
-the Oklahoma State Cowboys showed a lot of heart in their come-from-behind victory over the Aggies on Thursday night, vaulting them to #22 in the poll, but they too face a deadly gauntlet of Big-12 foes after devouring this week’s pastry, Louisiana-Lafayette
-and the nation’s top-ranked rushing team, the Air Force Falcons, can enjoy their first national ranking (#25) since 2002 for a few weeks before a key showdown with #5 TCU on October 23rd
OUT:
-Texas dropped its second consecutive decision and dropped out of the polls for the first time in a decade after losing a 28-20 heartbreaker to Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout Rivalry. The loss was all the more depressing for Longhorn fans because their club fought back from an early 21-7 deficit only to see a late rally fall short on a fumbled kick return with a minute to play.
-Penn State was overmatched against a hungry Iowa club and failed to get in the end zone in a demoralizing 27-3 loss to the Hawkeyes. Could this have been JoePa’s swan song as coach of a ranked team?
-NC State couldn’t hold a 17-0 lead against resurgent VA tech and lost 41-30 to the Hokies, preventing Tom O’Brien from earning his first-ever 5-0 start and making the Wolfpack’s stint in the polls a brief one
-USC can drop its undefeated dreams following its shocking 32-31 loss to previously underachieving Washington at the Coliseum. A missed FG by the Trojans with two minutes left paved the way for Jake Locker and the Huskies to drive the field and kick its own game winner with: 02 to play. The look on Lane Tosh.0 Kiffin’s face when he realized he lost to his old buddy Steve Sarkisian was priceless. Enjoy obscurity for a few years, Lane!
SHOULD BE DOWN and/or OUT:
-#12 LSU survived a sloppy, ugly affair against unranked Tennessee when the Vols where whistled for too many men on the field as time ran out and the Tigers were fumbling away an attempt to score at the buzzer. Given the reprieve LSU punched the ball in, but the same old problems plagued Les Miles’ club, namely poor clock management and lack of discipline. Somehow the Mad Hatter escaped with an undeserved 16-14 win, and the Tigers retained their #12 ranking, but it won’t be long before this pretender is out of the polls for good
And I would be foolish to end this column without mentioning the latest heroics from Heisman winner frontrunner Denard Robinson. The Michigan magician racked up his second 200/200 game of the season, tallying 277 yards passing and 217 yards rushing and 5 total TDs, including the game winner with under a minute to go, in the Wolverines’ 42-35 victory over Indiana.
All eyes will be focused on Ann Arbor Saturday when the Spartans come to the Big House for what could be the game of the year in the Big-10. At least until the Ohio State game at the end of the season.
But who knows where the Buckeyes will be ranked by then.
Or Michigan, for that matter.
Post Tags:boise state, coach, home, loss, national title contenders, new mexico state, stanford 9, team, unfortunate circumstances, Week
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by: J Rose
more by: J Rose
