Top 25 Rankings -- Nov. 12, 2007

Well, it's getting to that time of year where talk about college football needing a playoff cranks up, even though I'm betting the several of the eight teams still in it will take an L between know and the start of bowl season. I've always like college football for the way it is, when a few rivalry games are almost equivalent to championships (see the smile on my face for Wisconin's win over Michigan in this train wreck season.

I put a poll on the sidebar to see how you feel about it.

My ballot this week is definitely different from the AP, USA Today and BCS polls.

I put Oregon on top of LSU because I think LSU lets too many inferior teams hang around. I want to put Ohio State ahead of LSU (setting up what I think would be a match-up of the nation's best offense vs. best defense) but LSU has more quality wins than the Buckeyes.

Oh, that's right. They play in the "weak" Big Ten with 10 of 11 teams bowl eligible.

I am apparently the only one who puts any stock Ohio State. Both other polls have them at #7. I'm still looking for anyone to make a strong arguments about why they should be behind West Virginia.

I have the Big 12 teams at 4-5-6, but I'm not that worried about the order of those three that much because they will all go head-to-head-to-head the next few weeks. You want playoffs, it's about to start in the Big 12.

Not that any of these teams have a margin for error, but I feel like Kansas has the least with no quality wins. And even though they take on a 3-8 Iowa State team at home, this game has all the markings of a trap-door a la Rutgers fiasco vs. Cincy last year.

The Cyclones aren't scared. "They're beatable."

Arizona State and West Virginia are the two other teams with an outside shot at the title game, but both need help, in addition to running the table.

In honor of how ridiculous it was when writers were voting for App. State in the Top 25 earlier this year, I am considering doing so for the Northern Iowa Panthers. They are actually #35 in the Sagarin ratings, and if ISU (who UNI beat) were to top Kansas the Panthers would sail upward.

These were my thoughts about Randy Shannon too. How many people do you think stuck around to the end of the last Orange Bowl game with the Miami Hurricanes going down 48-0 to Virginia? Have a look. Pathetic. This year is shaping up to be worse than 1997.

Team (W-L, last week)
1. Oregon (8-1, 2). Can raise profile in Thursday game against Arizona, who hates them.
2. LSU (9-1, 3). Tops in the nation, but can they win me over. Not before SEC Title game.
3. Ohio State (10-1, 1). It's still Michigan week. And they own Carr.
4. Oklahoma (9-1, 6). No scoreboard watching here, Stoops says. Texas Tech looks to kill giant.
5. Missouri (9-1, 7). Next is reeling Kansas State. Pinkel won't run up score.
6. Kansas (10-0, 8). Dodd says Kansas is #1. I guess Hawaii is #2.
7. Arizona State (9-1, 4). Escaped a banged-up UCLA team.
8. West Virginia (8-1, 5). Louisville came way too close.
9. Georgia (8-2, 10). Have chance to lock up parity-plagued SEC East.
10. USC (8-2, 11). Could still wind up in the Rose Bowl, but hope for more.
11. Virginia Tech (8-2, 13). Miami gives them chance to pound Fla. team for 2nd straight week.
12. Florida (7-3, 17). Having a good season for what they lost.
13. Clemson (8-2, 15). Looking as good as anybody right now.
14. Boston College (8-2, 9). Finally, a Boston team is losing.
15. Auburn (7-4, 12). Look to take advantage of off week.
16. Michigan (8-3,16). Henne and Hart didn't play. Bad coaching or good excuse?
17. Illinois (8-3, 21). About three plays from playing for national championship.
18. Penn State (8-3, 18). Bowl picture murky, but shouldn't look past hot Spartans.
19. Cincinnati (8-2, NR). Hiccup against Pitt really costing them.
20. Virginia (8-2, NR). Embarrassed Miami, who should ask for 2nd last Orange Bowl game.
21. Tennessee (7-3, 22). Tough to beat at home.
22. Texas (9-2, 24). I'm looking for a way to drop them out, like winning via ref.
23. Hawaii (9-0, 25). Came out hot, but wound up with another mediocre, close win.
24. Wisconsin (8-3, NR). Where was that team all year. Will finish 5th in Big Ten w/o help.
25. California (6-4, 19). Should still finish 8-4.