Week 8 Rankings College Football

There are a few reasons I don't try to make predictions on football games

Reason #1 - I go with the favorite too often
Reason #2 - The times where the favorite has an obvious flaw that I'm pretty sure the underdog can exploit, I talk myself into going with the favorite far too often
Reason #3 - Random upsets like Vanderbilt 17, South Carolina 6

I guess that 3rd reason isn't really a random upset, so perhaps Reason #3b should read "I have a job and so I don't have enough time to analyze each matchup and team. If I did, I'd be able to say prophetic things like South Carolina's offense has been stuggling and Vandy's D is playing well, therefore, an upset is possible.

As we go on, I'll try to do better.

The Race For #1 (and #2, BCS-wise at least)
For some reason I thought Boston College played Va Tech this past weekend. But that game is on Thursday. That's cool, because I get to see how they do, then get to watch Ohio State against Penn State. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they do not both win these games, so next week, we'll have a more clear cut #1...that is, until Arizona State beats Cal and then Oregon and muddles everthing up even further

So let's see where we are:

THE UNDEFEATEDS

Ohio State - 4 Big Ten games left. Toughest appear to be this week at Penn State and to end the season at Michigan. Michigan has a habit of preventing Ohio State from getting to the national title game. Last year was the exception because Michigan was also trying to go. Wolverines are haters/spoilers, not front-runners apparently

Boston College - we'll learn a ton about the Eagles when they head to Blacksburg on Thursday night on national TV. After that, they have those hard-to-figure-out ACC games. I say that because the ACC might be the conference with the most true parity. Anyone can beat anyone in any given week without raising an eyebrow. And that includes once mighty Florida State and Miami.

Kansas - I'm not convinced. They could conceivably skate through to a Big XII title game with Oklahoma and legitimize themselves...BUT, they gotta go to Texas A&M next week. Coach Fran is trying really hard not to get fired.

Hawaii - is not ranked by the computers and has not played a schedule to even really warrant BCS consideration, better yet national title thoughts

Arizona State - I probably don't give teams enough credit when I see they have a tough schedule coming up. I might even be pre-docking Arizona State points in my rankings for having to go through this for the next 4 weeks: vs Cal, at Oregon at UCLA vs USC, and then the rivalry game vs Arizona. That being said, you tell me what the odds should be of them winning all those games...I'd say 15-to-1 at best. Which could be worth it if Vegas was putting that line out there.


THE ONE-LOSS CONTENDERS

LSU - has the most quality wins and the most respect by the pollsters. They have 5 first place votes with 5 undefeated teams still out there in the AP poll. I'd rank them higher if I could..oh wait, I can...hmm...

Oregon - LSU has the #2 spot on lock if Ohio State or Boston College should fall, and so Oregon, which has an easier path remaining than Arizona State, could be trying to upgrade their Rose Bowl tickets to New Orleans if LSU should lose to Alabama or Arkansas (or Ole Miss or Louisiana Tech...I had to add those since this season has been so off-the hook).

Oklahoma - for some reason, I think Oklahoma is going to lose another game. I'm sure Bob Stoops has other ideas though.

South Florida - its a shame that West Virginia is #6 in the coaches poll and South Florida is now #12. They dropped ten spots for losing a close game to a decent Rutgers team? And now they are 6 spots behind a West Va team they BEAT? This is why the phrase "FUCK THAT SHIT" exists.

Virginia Tech - could conceivably get back in the title picture by beating Boston College convincingly. That ugly loss to LSU doesn't help though, especially when you consider it might be a rematch and the pollsters aren't fond of rematches

West Virginia - the pollsters like West Va and I like their offense but they seem to have a focus problem. They haven't played the meat of their Big East schedule (nor has Rutgers or Louisville or UConn either), so we'll see how good they really are.

UConn, Missouri and Virginia - are not likely to get the kind of poll support needed to be in the Top 5 unless they are one of the only 3 or so teams left with 1 or fewer losses by the end of the season.

And now, the Rankings

I cannot ignore quality wins against Florida, Virginia Tech, and Auburn.
However, I promise to move Boston College ahead of LSU if they beat Va Tech. Similarly, I promise to move Ohio State ahead of LSU if they beat Penn State.

1. LSU
2. Boston College
2b. Ohio State
4. Oregon
5. Oklahoma
6. Arizona State
7. Kansas
8. South Florida
9. Florida - I see some role reversal going on with LSU from last season. Difference being, LSU didn't get a rematch in the SEC title game with a chance to play spoiler last year.
10. Virginia Tech
11. West Virginia
12. Missouri
13. South Carolina
14. Kentucky
15. USC
16. Hawaii
17. Michigan
18. Alabama
19. Texas
20. Cal
21. Penn State
22. UConn
23. Virginia
24. Auburn
25. Rutgers

next - Maryland, Texas A&M