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Alright.  Enough of the season has passed that we have decided to give our top 25’s.  I’ll post up Senor Burns version first and then I will put mine up with a sentence reasoning for each one.

My list is fluid week to week and I do not weigh a perfect record (I want you great at the end of the year) as heavy as I do eyeball test (how fast and strong you are) and what Vegas would say, does anyone really think Vegas would favor Iowa or Boise over USC?

Top 25 according to Travis

1. Alabama (8-0)
2. Texas (7-0)
3. Florida (7-0)
4. Iowa (8-0)
5. Boise St. (7-0)
6. Cincinnati (7-0)
7. TCU (7-0)
8. USC (6-1)
9. Oregon (6-1)
10. Georgia Tech (7-1)
11. LSU (6-1)
12. Virginia Tech (5-2)
13. Penn St. (7-1)
14. Pittsburgh (7-1)
15. Utah (6-1)
16. Houston (6-1)
17. Oklahoma St. (6-1)
18. West Virginia (6-1)
19. Miami (5-2)
20. Arizona (5-2)
21. South Carolina (6-2)
22. Ohio St. (6-2)
23. Central Michigan (7-1)
24. Notre Dame (5-2)
25. Mississippi (5-2)

Chip’s list:

1. Alabama (Look better than Florida at the moment)

2. Texas (Have started playing better as of late and look better than Florida)

3. Florida (Here by default, Tebow misses Harvin)

4. USC (Their one loss was on the road to former coaches without Barkley, Mays and their #2 receiver, Vegas would favor SC against Florda on a neutral field)

5. Iowa (I’m giving them credit for their record, but Vegas would have them as dogs to some teams below them on a neutral field)

6. Boise State (Well coached, weak conference and beat an Oregon school who had not hit their offensive stride)

7. TCU (Impressed me by waxing BYU)

8.  Cincinnati ( Here due to record and Good win over Oregon State)

9. Oregon (Can jump higher with a good showing against USC, might be playing best ball in country at moment)

10. Georgia Tech (triple option win over VT)

11. Virginia Tech (Close game loss against GT)

12.  LSU (Solid team)

13. Penn St (The favorite team for anyone with an AARP card)

14. Oklahoma State (I doubt they would let Houston pull that off again)

15. Utah (could switch with Pitt)

16. Pitt (See above)

17. Houston (respect for win over OSU but I think it was a fluke, YOU LOST TO UTEP, we will see how OSU fairs against Texas)

18. Miami (Harris will only get better)

19. Arizona (Had Foles started all year I don’t think Iowa wins that game and the offense runs better against UW…………but he didn’t)

20. South Carolina (Lost to Georgia)

21. West Virginia (Could be 20)

22. Ohio State (Pryor always makes them dangerous, now if he was just set free like Mike Vick. P.S. Please beat Iowa and save us from another Big 10 pasting in a title game)

23. Notre Dame (Close losses)

24. Kansas (Their QB is too good to leave them off)

25. Mississippi (Two losses to teams that are just better than them)

So I’m typing this as I watch the Nadal vs. Monfils quarter final in the US Open.  Good close to a great sports weekend.

I love college football, the start of it is always one of my favorite times of the year.  Multiple fan bases have high hopes (most highly unrealistic) but at least it keeps everyone talking.

My thoughts from this weeks college football opening weekend:

The Big East is boring and I will refuse to talk about them until they become relavent.

The ACC should be embarrassed.  Seriously you lost twice at home to FCS teams?  Your automatic BCS bid should be given to the Mountain West and then you and the Big East can have a pillow fight over who gets the last bid.

Big 10: You guys still look slow.   Navy………seriously…….is this 1926 or something?  My cell phone says no which means if you want to be taken seriously as a conference your top teams should kill Navy.  If said top team lays an egg (hey it happens every once and awhile) then your other teams need to pick up the slack and at least embarrass any school with a direction in front of their name (cough cough Iowa).

Pac 10:  Respectable.  Washington played LSU tough so the Sarkisian era looks like it could be promising.  More will be known next week after USC travels to OSU.  The Buckeye faithful better hope OSU was just overlooking the Midshipmen or they will be in for a very long day against USC.  Oregon losing to BSU is not a disgrace especially since the game was played on the smurf turf.  Blount’s punch however was a disgrace and I do not want to hear anyone say that the Boise player instigated it by talking smack.  Blount talked smack in print before the game and I’m sure both players talked smack the entire game to each other.  Blount couldnt take it that Boise definitely had the last word and socked a guy as he was getting yelled at by his coach for not being classy.  Then to make matters worse he flexes while running away, he must have just finished reading Chapter 1 of  “How to fight like a thug” by Carmelo Anthony.  Followed by punching his own player and then the really foolish move of taking his helmet off before he attempts to go all Ron Ron on the Boise State faithful.

SEC:  Yawn, good job beating up on who you should and kudos to Georgia for playing outside of the south against a national power in a non conference game.  Glad those on the message boards now claim Georgia is not a REAL SEC team.  Surprise surprise.

What I’ll watch these next few days:

US Open Tennis- Possible Nadal vs Federer rematch and Ouidin are the two  stories I care about.

NFL football – Season kicks off Thursday as does the fantasy football season, the BendErOverLikeBigBen’s are looking to get me a repeat as league champ!

Yes, we know there are 120 FBS schools, but realistically you can cut that down to 66 since only a BCS conference and Notre Dame will play for a title.  Let’s go ahead and eliminate the Big East and Notre Dame since neither will run the table, which is what it will take for either to make it.  The leaves five BCS conferences.  It would be easy to say take the top 2 from each league but do you see two ACC teams making a BCS bowl?  Didn’t think so; let’s take a look at the 10:

 

1. Florida

Skinny: Usually when you win a title and bring back your Heisman Trophy quarterback and all 11 starters on defense, experts think highly of you.  This team is just loaded and possess anywhere from 20-30 NFL players.

Why They Will: This is clearly the best team in the country.  Even if this team loses a game it will get the benefit of the doubt more than other and won’t fall far in the polls (think Florida State, Charlie Ward and 1993).  Also it’s a rebuilding year in the SEC East, so they’re guaranteed nine wins.  Plus no Ole Miss or Alabama.

Why They Won’t: They lose a game and two teams go undefeated?  Tim Tebow decides to have sex, likes it, no longer has any aggression on the field and they lose four games?  I don’t see how this team does not end up in Pasadena.

Odds: 1-2

 

2. Texas

Skinny: Ok, enough with the BCS tie breaker.  I’ve had to hear UT fan whine about this non-stop (especially in my household) all offseason.  Let’s state some facts: 1. You lost at Texas Tech, 2. Your non-conference schedule did not match OU’s, 3. If you think the BCS is unjust, then give up your 2005 Rose Bowl trophy and send it to Berkeley.

Why They Will: This is probably Mack Brown’s best defense.  It might be Colt McCoy’s turn to win the Heisman.  The schedule is very favorable and they’ve gotten over the Oklahoma block by winning 3 of the last 4 meetings.

Why the Won’t: Does anyone see a scenario similar to last year?  Beat OU then lose at Oklahoma St., then watch OU beat OSU in Norman in the final game of the year.  Very possible, in fact, highly probable.  Then Texas will have to sweat out their stellar non-conference win at Wyoming up against OU’s win over BYU and OSU’s win over Georgia… Good Luck.

Odds: 2.5-1

 

3. Oklahoma

Skinny: Sam Bradford came back and most of the skilled positions are intact.  There is some rebuilding on both lines, but that doesn’t matter at OU with one 5-star replacing another.

Why They Will: They were expected to beat Texas, blew a lead, and snuck in the back door to the title game.  This time they get some revenge against the Horns.  An opportunity for a rematch against Florida outside of the state Florida is a good motivator.

Why They Won’t: They don’t beat Texas and with a road schedule that includes visits to Nebraska and Kansas, an additional upset looms.

Odds: 3-1

 

4. USC

Skinny: USC must replace its starting quarterback and eight starters on defense.  There hasn’t been this much uncertainty under Pete Carroll since 2004.  That year USC had some guy named Matt Leinart replace Carson Palmer and proceeded to win the National Title.  Oh joy.

Why They Will: USC continues to reload with the most NFL talent laden roster in college football.  Aaron Corp or true freshmen Matt Barkley will replace Mark Sanchez and the team won’t miss a beat.  A heavy road schedule will boost them in the computers.

Why They Won’t: An early test at Ohio St. is too tough for the new QB.  Additional road games at Oregon and California early in the season could result in potential losses.  A conference loss continues to kill USC in the computers as the Pac 10 round robin schedule does them in again.

Odds: 5-1

 

5. Virginia Tech

Skinny: Plain and simple, the season opener in Atlanta against Alabama is an elimination game for both teams.  The ACC does not have the credibility and a one-loss team will not be ranked ahead of a one-loss SEC or Big 12 team in the computers.

Why They Will: This is finally Tyrod Taylor’s team.  He’s the leader, the man, the quarterback.  After beating Alabama, a non-conference home game against Nebraska could give VT the SOS boost.  The ACC schedule is very manageable with a back-to-back stretch at Georgia Tech and home versus North Carolina to decide the coastal division.

Why They Won’t: They lose to Alabama.  They can run the table after that and finish 12-1, but could you honestly see VT being ranked ahead of the previous four teams mentioned with one-loss?

Odds: 8-1

 

6. California

Skinny: On paper, I don’t think Cal is the sixth best team in the country.  However, these rankings are unknown until about Week 6.  That said I give them the sixth best odds.

Why They Will: Watch some Jahvid Best highlights and decide for yourself.  The biggest game-changer in college football.  He’s always one-step away from an 80-yard run.  The QB issues should be over as Kevin Riley is finally the guy.  The non-conference schedule is manageable and USC comes to Berkeley as well as Oregon State and thorn-in-the side Arizona.  Winning at Oregon to start Pac 10 play could be a booster.

Why They Won’t: Ever since losing at USC in 2005 in a game they outplayed the Trojans and subsequently being snubbed from the Rose Bowl, Cal hasn’t taken the next step as challenger to the Trojans.  There have been upsets (at Arizona in 06) and meltdowns (all of 07) and the inability to beat USC.  If this has been the pattern why would it change?  Plus a road game to start Pac 10 play in Eugene could be a deflator.

Odds: 10-1

 

7. Penn State

Skinny: After Ohio State’s two poor showings in the previous title games, the polls made it perfectly clear to the Big 10 last year: Go Undefeated or Go Home.  Penn St. fell victim to that.  After losing at Iowa by 1 on a game-ending FG, Penn St. fell to 8^th in the BCS standings and didn’t get a sniff of a title shot.  They didn’t lose at home (Florida) or on a neutral field (Oklahoma) but were nowhere to be found in the discussion.  After being pasted by USC in the Rose Bowl, the polls got it right and the Big 10 kept its slower reputation intact.

Why They Will: Darryl Clark is the best player in the Big 10.  Any elite team with a senior quarterback has a shot.  In addition, the schedule should be banned.  8 home games, 4 road games.  Yes, 4.  Ohio State and Iowa travel to Happy Valley.

Why They Won’t: Despite Clark being back, unfortunately for him, he loses his top 3 receivers.  If Penn State slips it’s done.  Don’t be surprised if that final game of the year at Michigan State derails a potential undefeated season.

Odds: 12-1

 

8. Ohio State

Skinny: Terrell Pryor might become the most electric player in college football as the season progresses. Similar to Virginia Tech, when USC visits the Horseshoe in Week 2 it’s an elimination game for the Buckeyes.  Go undefeated or go home.

Why They Will: After being embarrassed by USC last year, this time OSU gets them at home and it’s USC with the quarterback issues.  Survive and advance.  Then it’s cruise control until a visit to the White Out for the Big 10 title against Penn St.

Why They Won’t: The Trojans crush their spirits and manhood once again and all that’s left to play for is another opportunity to get their spirits and manhood crushed again by SC in the Rose Bowl.  Seems to be a theme.

Odds: 15-1

 

9. Oklahoma State

Skinny: If you got on the Texas Tech bandwagon last year, this is your team this year.  They’re strikingly similar.  They have a numbers crushing dual-threat QB (Zack Robinson), the best WR in college football (Dez Bryant) and a 1500-yard back (Kendall Hunter).  This is a team that can score 40-50 a game.  Remember this team finished the regular season only with losses to the big three in the South.

Why They Will: They get a rebuilding Georgia team at home to start the season.  They avoid Kansas and Nebraska with the north schedule.  They should be 7-0 when the Horns come for a visit on Halloween which will be a prime-time affair on ABC.  Sound familiar?  They could be 11-0 when they head to Norman for the final game of the year.  Again, sound familiar?

Why They Won’t: As we learned with Tech last year, undefeated is probably the only way to eclipse the two big ones in the south.  Fair or not, it’s the world we live in.  The one thing that could catapult them above the two is if Georgia is a 9-10 win team.  Then that SOS looks that much better.

Odds: 20-1

 

10. SEC West Winner

Skinny: For you SEC honks, I’m not a hater.  I’m well aware that you have five teams ranked in the preseason top 13.  Just remember these are odds to win it all.  Can any of these teams get past each other?  Then can they get past Florida?  Ole Miss, LSU, and Alabama are the candidates.

Why They Will: Ole Miss beat Florida in the Swamp last year.  They possess the best QB prospect in Jevan Snead and they avoid Florida in the regular season and get Alabama and LSU at home.  LSU gets Florida at home and the winner of that game the last three years has gone on to win it all.  But can they beat them twice?  In addition, they have to go to Oxford and Tuscaloosa.  Alabama has the elimination game against Virginia Tech but there’s no Florida on the schedule, plus LSU at home.  Get out of that gauntlet with one-loss and the rolls could be reversed for the SEC Championship game against an undefeated Florida.

Why They Won’t: Again, who is going to beat Florida?  Also, with the “depth” of the conference can any of these teams avoid an upset?

Odds: 35-1

1. Will anybody dethrone USC?

Travis: USC has either won or shared the title the last seven years.  I don’t see much changing this year.  This team will have to replace QB Mark Sanchez and 8 starters on defense; making USC the most vulnerable they’ve been since 2004.  All that happened that year was some guy named Matt Leinart replaced Carson Palmer and won a national championship.  I would say the questions at QB linger, but when a pedigree of Palmer to Leinart to Booty to Sanchez is the track record, whether it’s Aaron Corp or Matt Barkley, the smooth transition should continue.  If there is a team that can do it, I see Cal being that team.  They get the Trojans at home and in early October before USC is usually flying high.  If Cal can win the previous week at Oregon, that game suddenly has national title implications.  I like Cal to beat the Trojans, but Cal’s Achilles heel has been consistency.  They’ve had upsets (06 at Arizona) and meltdowns (07 altogether) that have prevented them from taking the next step.  I see Cal slipping up in conference play somewhere.  I guess until I see otherwise, I’ll put USC back in the Rose Bowl.

Chip:  The USC QB situation is overblown in my opinion, as is their replacing 8 starters on defense.  The Persain army couldn’t replace Immortals as quick as Carroll replaces 4 and 5 star recruits. This makes their  QB “problem” about as much of a problem as deciding whether or not to go out with Jessica Alba or Vanessa Hudgens.  Can one really go wrong?  The guy has 3 Gatorade players of the year at QB, 2 will be on the bench (Corp, Mustain), and I seriously think I could step in behind that offensive line and with the skill position talent that they have and lead them to a 7-2 conference record.  Having typed that however, I still think this just may be Cal’s year especially since they get the Trojans at home.  But in typical Cal fashion I still think they drop one on the road (of course this is Cal so who knows maybe they drop 3) and I’m guessing that happens up in Autzen.   I pick Cal and USC to both go 8-1 in the Pac 10 with Cal beating USC and Oregon beating Cal. Thus Cal gets sent to the Rose and USC heads to the Fiesta as obviously any Pac 10 team with one loss is not going to make a National title game even if every other conference champ has a loss.

2. Any hope in the state of Washington?

Travis: Are you kidding?  Not this season.  Both teams will be bad.  Maybe Jake Locker can spark an upset but he’ll be learning a pro style offense and since he’s a below average passer, he’ll struggle a little bit.  Both Steve Sarkisian and Paul Wulff have long rebuilding processes.  Sarkisian has hit the recruiting trail hard but I wouldn’t expect anything until his third season.  Both programs are starting from ground zero.  Buy your tickets for Crapple Cup II.

Chip: Yeah right, I have a larger chance of landing a three way with Eliza Dushku and Minka Kelly than either of these teams do of having a winning record.  At least the Huskies give you the intrigue of getting to see Locker who is an amazing athlete.  I’d rather sit down and watch Saw XXXV on a Trans Atlantic flight with a screaming infant behind me than watch the Cougars play.

3. Who could surprise and who could fall?

Travis: It seems every year the pre-season pundits under sell one team short and over sell another, last year being ASU and OSU.  I was shocked that UA was picked eighth in the media poll.  There are quarterback questions but that offense is never about the QB, it’s about the system.  It’s why Texas Tech and BYU have been able to pick people off an assembly line.  The Cats have playmakers and depth at every skilled position.  As for a team that could fall, I’m not sold on the hype Oregon is getting.  They lost 60% of their o-line, their starting RB (although Blount is a beast), top two WRs, 3 starters on the d-line (including Nick Reed), half their secondary, and their Head Coach.  They have talent, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this team fell out of the top half of the conference.

Chip:  As for who could surprise, well…………if you go by Arizona getting picked to finish 8^th I would have to say they will be the surprise team.  With their loaded skill player depth, knock out defense and in my opinion an underrated line I just do not see them finishing 8^th.  The only reason some are picking them there is QB uncertainty but neither Scott nor Foles are slouches.  As for who could fall I agree with Travis that Oregon has the best shot.  I still have them picked third as they have a favorable schedule Pac 10 wise as in they get USC and Cal at home.  I am not as worried about their replacing the starting RB, the WR’s as I think Chip Kelly will keep things rolling.  Their secondary got a boost when Harris was declared eligible but with their Defensive and Offensive line exodus they would definitely be the team I pick to keep an eye on to fall.

4. Are there any coaches on the hot seat?

Travis: For the first time in awhile, I don’t see any coach really on the hot seat.  I guess Mike Stoops could be again if the Wildcats fall flat but considering the athletic department just extended him five years and replaced their basketball coach, they’re not going to want to eat that contract.  It’s amazing to think six schools (ASU, Oregon, UCLA, Stanford, UW, WSU) all have Head Coaches with less than three years of tenure.

Chip:  Stoops, simply because Arizona fans can be some of the dumbest I have ever met.  Yes I am talking to you Keystone Light pounding, push and then jump back so my boys can “hold” me back, suit over T-shirt wearing, I’ve won 5 straight National Titles in NCAA “insert year here” so why can’t we have a QB who goes 37-43 with 7 TD’s “Brah”.  I have never seen a guy take more flak while building a program.  Seriously, in 2002 Arizona was the worst program in a BCS conference.  Since Stoops has taken over UA’s speed and talent have increased dramatically.  The school now has DEPTH, but I’m sure if the Wildcats finish 7-5 even with a new QB some fans will grumble that they didn’t fair better.  None of the other schools have coaches with enough tenure (see Travis’ list) to catch much flack and I highly doubt Riley, Carroll or Tedford will wind up on the hot seat with the jobs they do year in and year out.

5. Besides any matchup with USC, what Pac 10 non-conference games interest you?

Travis: The opener with the Ducks going to the smurf turf for Thursday night ESPN affair to start the season is a great one.  That place will be nuts for the biggest game ever in the state of Idaho and Boise State’s BCS hopes hinge on that game.  Also, week 3 non-conference tilts.  Remember last year it was week 3 the conference looked inferior to the Mountain West and took a beating nationally.  Arizona and Cal head to Big 10 territory to play Iowa and Minnesota while Arizona State has a rematch between the Hedges in Athens.  Cal should handle Minnesota but they were flat when they went to Maryland last year for a 9am kickoff, the same scenario they face this year, in the Gopher’s brand new stadium.  That’s the definition of a trap game.  Will Arizona have a QB and will they be ready for its first road test?  UA should be faster and more athletic than Iowa, but are they ready to win on the road?  ASU will catch a rebuilding Georgia early, but still any cross country flight to SEC territory is no easy task.

Chip:  How can Boise St vs. Oregon not be number 1?  ESPN, prime time, smurf turf, two top 20 teams, you can not beat that.  Arizona at Iowa catches my eye.  If UA gets decent QB play from whomever starts I think they take that game as they have superior team speed.  ASU vs. Georgia does not interest me because I think even a rebuilding Georgia will wax ASU in Athens as the cross country flight and Georgia size and speed will be too much for the Devils.