Week 8 BlogPoll Ballot — Waiting for the Showdowns

By Philip Rossman-Reich on October 16, 2011

We can see it on the horizon. With the first BCS standings unveiled on Sunday, we see four of the top six teams will play each other this season. Alabama and LSU are on a collision course for their November meeting in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The other big matchup is between the high-powered offenses of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in their yearly Bedlam matchup.

It creates something of a de facto playoff.

ESPN was talking a lot about what to expect in the first BCS throughout their telecasts this weekend. The thing they mentioned most was that the Big 12 actually ranks higher than the SEC right now because of out of conference games. The Big 12 played much more difficult teams in non-conference games.

Considering the Crimson Tide, the Tigers, the Sooners and the Cowboys all play each other, the winner of those two games will get a big boost among the voters. The Cowboys actually are rated pretty highly in the computer rankings. Although nobody is quite sure what Oklahoma State’s closer than expected win at Texas will do.

The first of those showdowns will happen in a few weeks when LSU and Alabama play each other in the first weekend of November. Ironically, both teams have a bye week before the game. That should make it that much more interesting.

This de facto playoff will not leave out Wisconsin, Boise State and the other undefeated teams jockeying for position at the top of the BCS. Those teams will still have a chance to garner wins and impress voters and make the national championship game — and possibly further confuse the BCS. But we like seeing things proven on the field. And this year, we might really get our chance.

As always, my BlogPoll ballot is open for comments and suggestions for changes. The final ballot is due at 8 p.m. ET on Monday. So feel free to comment until then. UPDATED 10/16 5:35 P.M.

Lake The Posts Ballot – Week 8

Rank	Team	Delta
1	LSU Tigers	–
2	Alabama Crimson Tide	–
3	Oklahoma Sooners	–
4	Wisconsin Badgers	1
5	Boise St. Broncos	-1
6	Stanford Cardinal	–
7	Oklahoma St. Cowboys	–
8	Clemson Tigers	–
9	Oregon Ducks	4
10	Arkansas Razorbacks	–
11	Kansas St. Wildcats	1
12	Michigan St. Spartans	8
13	Virginia Tech Hokies	6
14	West Virginia Mountaineers	1
15	Michigan Wolverines	-6
16	Nebraska Cornhuskers	–
17	Houston Cougars	1
18	Illinois Fighting Illini	-7
19	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	-5
20	SMU Mustangs	3
21	Texas A&M Aggies	–
22	Auburn Tigers	–
23	South Carolina Gamecocks	-1
24	Baylor Bears	-7
25	Penn St. Nittany Lions	–
Dropouts: Arizona St. Sun Devils, Washington Huskies, Florida Gators

SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings »

1. LSU
Last Week: W 38-7 over Tennessee; This Week: vs. 23 Auburn (2:30 p.m. CT/CBS)
Buzz: The Tigers had another patient blowout of an inferior SEC team. Then again, there are no superior teams to LSU right now, save for Alabama, maybe. The Tigers have won their seven games by an average margin of 26.7 points per game. The two closest games were 13 points — against No. 12 Oregon and at Mississipi State. The Tigers put in another stifling defensive performance in holding the Volunteers to 239 total yards and forcing the Vols into two turnovers.

2. Alabama
Last Week: W 52-7 over Mississippi; This Week: vs. Tennessee (6:15 p.m. CT/ESPN)
Buzz: Much like the Tigers, the Crimson Tide rolled over an inferior conference opponent with a blowout of the Rebels. Trent Richardson added to his Heisman resume with 183 yard and four touchdowns on 17 carries. Richardson had some breakaway runs and torched Ole Miss’s front seven. Adding more insult to injury, the Rebels scored their only score in the first quarter. Alabama then ran off 52 unanswered points. Ouch.

3. Oklahoma
Last Week: W 47-17 over Kansas; This Week: vs. Texas Tech (7 p.m. CT/ABC)
Buzz: The Sooners did not put on the onslaught many expected against the defensively challenged Jayhawks. Still wins are wins. And somebody is moving into the top two once LSU and Alabama meet in a few weeks. The Sooners should not be looking too far ahead though as the Red Raiders could be a team that causes trouble. Texas Tech nearly scored an upset over Kansas State this past weekend. Even with the trip to Norman, Texas Tech is the kind of team that can defeat Oklahoma. The Sooners have a tendency to give up big plays — James Sims scored the Jayhawks’ first tocuhdown with a 57-yard run. Beware the air raid.

4. Wisconsin
Last Week: W 59-7 over Indiana; This Week: at Michigan State (7 p.m. CT/ESPN)
Buzz: Remember when Wisconsin/Nebraska was supposed to be the Big Ten Championship Game preview? Well, as things stand right now, Wisconsin’s trip to East Lansing could be a preview for what we see in Indianapolis in early December. The Badgers did not quite reach 83 this year against the Hoosiers. But this offense is still very high powered and Russell Wilson will get a chance to make a Heisman stamp if he can solve the Michigan State defense.

5. Boise State
Last Week: W 63-13 over Colorado State; This Week: vs. Air Force (2:30 p.m. CT/Versus)
Buzz: Kellen Moore posted another incredible game with 338 yards and four touchdowns. He did all this by completing 26 of his 30 pass attempts. Just incredible efficiency. Unreal efficiency really. But then you remember it is against Colorado State. Next week’s game should be interesting. As Northwestern saw against Army, the triple option can be difficult to deal with. Boise State is going to be tested in this game. Just how much, is the question.

13. Michigan State
Last Week: W 28-14 over No. 15 Michigan; This Week: vs. No. 4 Wisconsin (7 p.m. CT/ESPN)
Buzz: The Spartans have to be feeling really good about themselves after taking control of the Legends Division with a big victory over the Wolverines. If not for that loss to Notre Dame, Michigan State’s home game against Wisconsin might have some major national championship implications. Remember, it was a loss to Wisconsin that cost Michigan State a trip to the Rose Bowl, that Wisconsin took. Remember Wisconsin gained the Rose Bowl berth with its higher BCS rating even though Michigan State beat Wisconsin head to head (Thanks TOC for setting me straight). So with College GameDay making a rare trip to East Lansing, Mich., the Spartans have a real chance to make a national statement… and perhaps knock the Big Ten out of any national championship discussion.

16. Michigan
Last Week: Lost 28-14 to No. 13 Michigan State; This Week: Bye (10/29 vs. Purdue 11 a.m.)
Buzz: Michigan has some thinking to do during the bye week. Against most teams, it seems Denard Robinson is enough. Against a stout defense like Michigan State’s, Robinson was no where near enough. In fact the constant pressure had him looking confused and out of sync with his receiver. The Spartans may have laid the blue print for defeating the Wolverines. Michigan has to find a way to get a more consistent passing attack (not just jump balls to Roy Roundtree) and Robinson has to be more patient and accurate with his throws. Otherwise, Michigan might face another late season collapse.

17. Nebraska
Last Week: Bye; This Week: at Minnesota (2:30 p.m. CT/ABC)
Buzz: Nebraska was off last week and got the chance to revel in the come-from-behind victory against Ohio State. Of course, the Cornhuskers have to answer the questions that led to the Buckeyes building such a large lead that required that comeback. A trip to Minnesota will introduce Nebraska to some cold weather (this is not the Big 12 in October any more). But the Golden Gophers are not going to provide too much of a challenge. Sorry to say that, Minnesota. 

19. Illinois
Last Week: Lost 17-7 to Ohio State; This Week: at Purdue (11 a.m. CT/ESPN2)
Buzz: I think after Illinois trailed by 18 to Northwestern and needed a miraculous comeback to eke out the win, we knew this day was coming. The Illini were inconsistent enough against Ohio State to fall behind by 17. Then desperately tried to come back. And when you play that way, eventually you are going to pay for it. The Illini finally paid for it as they could not muster enough offense against a suddenly inspired Buckeyes defense and could not stop Dan Herron and the Buckeyes’ running attack. Illinois will be looking to right the ship against an improved Purdue team next week.

25. Penn State
Last Week: Won 23-18 over Purdue; This Week: at Northwestern (6 p.m. CT/BTN)
Buzz: The Nittany Lions still have a ton of questions on offense as Joe Paterno has still elected to go with his revolving door of quarterbacks. This has not helped Penn State get the ball moving down the field. But the defense is one of the best in the conference and remains very very stingy. Defense will keep you in a lot of games that you should not be in. And it will get you in the top 25 occasionally.

Where is Northwestern?: After some requests, we know Northwestern is not ranked right now. At 2-4 and on a four-game losing streak, even joking about NU in the top 25 is comical. So where is Northwestern among the FBS teams? For that I am going to turn to the BCS computer polls. Last week, the computer rankings seemed to consistently hold Northwestern in the high 60s or much much lower. Obviously this is below the 64 70 teams that will make a bowl game (how are there 35 bowl games now?!). After Saturday’s loss, I would suggest NU is in the 70s now. Maybe mid-70s, maybe low-70s. The Wildcats have the talent to be much better than this. But this is what their record says they are. So unfortunate.