2010 College Football Power Rankings: Week 4

Our first power rankings of the season.

1. Alabama
They deserve this spot until somebody knocks them off.  Big test this weekend @ Arkansas.  We'll see if they deserve this spot.

2. Ohio St.
Terrelle Pryor looks like a new man.  He has virtually been unstoppable and the defense has been unflappable.

3. Oregon
Best offense in the country.  This is a team that's being a little overlooked when it comes to the BCS National Title picture.

4. Boise St.
Another big test for them this weekend vs. Oregon State.  A win here and they will have a decent argument for a national title game berth.

5. Nebraska
This team looks that much better than last season.  The defense is still very stout and new QB Taylor Martinez has sparked the offense.

6. TCU
Defense looks good despite losing some big names.  Andy Dalton has the offense picking up where they left off in 2009.

7. Florida
Things looked a little bleak early but the offense is starting to click.  Now to stay healthy and keep their guys out of trouble.

8. Oklahoma
Schizophrenic team that can look dominant at times, other times far from that.

9. Texas
Defense still fairly good.  Gilbert looks to be continuing to improve.

10. Arkansas
I've said all along that this team was a big sleeper.  Ryan Mallet just may be the best QB in the country too.  They always seem to play number 1 teams tough.  Look out Bama.

11. Wisconsin
Looked a little iffy vs. Arizona St.  When running game is on they are tough.  We'll see how good they really are soon.

12. South Carolina
Is this the year Spurrier finishes top 2 in the SEC West?  Garcia has been solid at QB and the defense looks good as ever.

13. LSU
LSU is young and has speed.  They should continue to improve.

14. Arizona
Big win over Iowa puts them in this spot.

15. Iowa
Tough road loss to Zona.  They're still a very good team if they can overcome some injuries.

Not far from the pack:
Stanford, Miami, Michigan, Auburn, Utah

2010 College Football Preview: Pac-10

So at this point it's not exactly a preview but we'd still like to keep going with our predictions. I've got the Pac-10, Big XII and Big East so should have the other two up later this week, establishing at least a little credibility without the benefit of three weeks of scores to look at.

1. Oregon - Granted, one could look at the score of 72-0 over New Mexico and make a pretty strong case for their ability to challenge for the Pac-10 title. LaMichael James's return only strengthens a team that could contend for the national title if their offense clicks like it has been, even without Jeremiah Masoli.

2. Stanford - losing Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart hurt, but QB Andrew Luck will be a first-round draft pick and has one of the better WR committees in the Pac-10.

3. USC - talent-wise USC is as good as ever, but their defense is young. Sophomore QB Matt Barkley should live up to the hype this year and into the next two seasons, if he stays in college football.

4. Oregon State - RB Jazquizz Rodgers is an early favorite for the Heisman, and if he can come on like he did late last season they could end up higher than 4th.

5. Arizona - They face a tough challenge in week three vs. Iowa. It should tell us a lot about where this team is at and if they could contend for a BCS bowl.

6. Arizona St. - they came on last season but still have some work to do, a tough matchup at #11 Wisconsin could be painful if they can't stop the run.

7. Washington - At this point, if Jake Locker can't live up to all the hype this team is in for a long season, playing three top 25 Pac-10 teams on the road.

8 . Washington State - A lack of playmakers doesn't give WSU much of a dynamic offense.

9 . California - Losing Jahvid Best gave them too much to make up

10. UCLA - A bad loss to Kansas State doesn't bode well for a down year at UCLA.

College Football 2008 Conference Preview: Pac 10

It's our turn to break-down the Pac 10.

Predicted Order of Finish:
1. USC
When was the last time USC was not the favorite to win the Pac 10? For the first time it seems like the Trojans will have a more dominant defense than offense. 11 starters return in all, 7 on defense on and 4 on offense. QB John David Booty is gone and now it is Mark Sanchez's turn to take over. The stable of running backs is still very deep and they have 6 capable backs who can play at any time; Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight are the two leading candidates there. Sanchez should have a superb group of wide-outs to throw to in Vidal Hazelton, Patrick Turner, and Arkansas transfer Damian Williams. Expect this group to be much improved from last season. The defense is arguably the best in the nation. The LB corps is loaded with Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing. The defensive line will be excellent with Everson Griffen leading the way. The secondary returns all 4 starters and it will be hard to pass on this bunch.

2. Arizona St.
ASU will once again have a lot of pressure on them to perform from the loyal fan base and program. This year could be their year as they return a solid offense. QB Rudy Carpenter is a great player but he needs his line to protect him, as they gave up 55 sacks last season; but they've been working hard with their OL all of spring and summer. The RB core is nice with some beefy runners and the WRs will be stellar with Mike Jones (Who?) and Chris McGaha back. The defense looks to be improved with many starters in-tact on this side of the ball as well. This side of the ball returns 7 starters.

3. Oregon
5th year senior Justin Roper looks to be the QB to take the helms of Dennis Dixon after throwing for 4 TD in last seasons Sun Bowl. 12 starters are back in all including 5 on the offensive side. If Roper can put up some consistent numbers that come somewhat close to what Dixon put up, the Ducks could be a big threat in the Pac 10. Jermiah Johnson is an underrated RB and could be one of the best backs in the conference. They have some capable pass-catchers but they need someone to step up as a clear No. 1. The O-Line should be a strong suit. The defense should be pretty good with a solid LB corps and one of the best secondaries in the nation.

4. Oregon St.
The Beavers return 10 starters but there's no reason to believe they cannot finish in the top 4 of the league. QB Lyle Moevao was 4-0 as a starter last season and should excel as a full-time starter this season. The Beavers have always relied on a premier RB but this year there are some unknowns, look for Ryan McCants to carry the load. The WR Department has amazing depth and the O-Line has some promising bigs'. The defense should be the bread and butter of the team. The D-Line returns some key contributors who put a lot of pressure on opposing QBs. Looks for some transfers to step up as well. The LB group could experience some growing pains trying to replace all 3 starters. The secondary is loaded as all 4 starters have combined for 98 starts among them.

5. California
Cal looked like a Rose Bowl and even a BCS Championship contender in the first half of 2007. But in the 2nd half they struggled mightily and QB Nate Longshore looked very inconsistent. Longshore is back and wants to continue the success he had back in 2006. The offense seems pretty stagnant as no starting position players return. The offensive line is inexperienced but has some depth to spare. The defense will be a little more experienced than the offense. The LB department is solid with all 3 starters back plus some quality back-ups. The D-Line was mediocre last season and needs to pick up the slack, but the secondary has plenty of talent, which includes safeties Bernard Hicks and Marcus Ezeff.

6. UCLA
The Bruins have some QB problems as of right now. Patrick Cowan suffered a season-ending ACL injury back in spring practice and now Ben Olsen broke his right foot earlier this month. SDSU transfer Kevin Craft is expected to get the nod for the season opener vs. Tennessee in two weeks. There is no clear set RB right now as both leading candidates are coming off knee injuries. Marcus Everett returns for a fifth season at WR, there should be a mix of experienced receivers and freshmen getting playing time. They have one of the best DT tandems in the nation in Brigham Harwell and Brian Price.

7. Arizona
QB Willie Tuitama is one of the best QBs in the conference and may be one of the most under-appreciated in the country. This could be a do or die season for head coach Mike Stoops as he looks for his first winning season and bowl trip at Zona. Nic Grigsby is a capable RB and 6 WR return which should give them tremendous depth. The season will highly depend on the defense as they look to break-in 7 new starters.

8. Washington
The Huskies should benefit quite a bit from a tough schedule last season and they should again with another tough one this season. QB Jake Locker could be a Heisman candidate someday. Brandon Johnson looks to break-in at RB with his speed. No returning wide-outs return which will be a problem. The offensive line should help with 3 full-time starters back and some quality back-ups. The defense is very suspect with a very inexperienced front and secondary.

9. Stanford
The Card can build off an historic upset over USC last season. The program may be on the uprising after that huge win when it comes to the fan base and recruiting. QB Tavita Prichard is back after his stunning TD throw to trounce the Trojans. The backfield is pretty thin but if Anthony Kimble stays healthy, he'll be the main man. The WR core is inexperienced and needs Richard Sherman to step up. They are lucky to have an experienced O-Line back. The defense has some bright spots but they need some play makers to step up to help the veterans. Look for the Line backing corps to head the defense.

10. Washington St.
2008 will be a transition year for the team. They are breaking in a new spread option offense with a new QB. That QB looks to be 5th year senior Gary Rogers. The backfield has some capable backs with returning starter Dwight Tardy and a solid back-up in Chris Ivory. All-American candidate Brandon Gibson is back at WR. 4 starters do return on the O-Line, but the new offense will provide some bumps for them. The defense looks to improve after having one of the worst in the Pac 10 last season. The D-Line and secondary need some play makers to step up.

Offensive Player of the Year:
Rudy Carpenter, QB- Arizona St.

Defensive Player of the Year:
Rey Maualuga, LB- USC

Freshman of the Year:

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB- Oregon St.

Coach of the Year:
Dennis Erickson- Arizona St.

Top 3 Games:
Arizona St. at USC- Oct. 11

Oregon at Oregon St.- Nov. 29

USC at UCLA- Dec. 6

Not the "BS" Standings this week

As I look at the current BCS Standings this week, I can't really disagree. It seems pretty accurate to me.

Here's the current standings Top Ten for this past week:
1. LSU
2. Oregon
3. Kansas
4. Oklahoma
5. Missouri
6. West Virginia
7. Ohio St.
8. Arizona St.
9. Georgia
10. Virginia Tech

In my eyes, LSU is the best team in the country, they are the most talented and have gone through their tough schedule nearly unblemished, with just one loss coming at a good Kentucky team.

As for Oregon they've played great as well and to me, are the 2nd best team in the land. The Ducks have had some pretty good wins as well in the 2nd best conference in the country (Pac 10) over USC, at Washington, and Arizona St. Their lone loss came against Cal and lost by about a foot.

As for Kansas, they are where they belong. I am not ready to put them in the top two, first of all when you play Central Michigan, SE Louisiana, Toledo, Florida International, and Baylor you're not going to get much props from me. Go out and schedule some formidable opponents. If Kansas beats Missouri and OU in the Big XII Title game, then I will give them the respect they deserve.

To me the rest of the standings seem pretty fair, except one minor change I would fix is switch around Missouri and West Virginia. Other then that it seems pretty fair and accurate. But with the way the season has gone, we may finish the year with a split national champion again and nobody wants that. There's going to be disaster again at the end of this season with the BCS and everybody knows it; which is another reason College Football needs a minor playoff and another reason why the BCS is still B.S.

(Want to talk some NCAA Football or the BCS? Well join us at the new Sports Flow Site and sign up for the Forum!)

TSF College Football Power Poll

1. Ohio St.- PR- 3
OSU is no doubt the best team in the country right now. Their offense has been putting up plenty of points and their defense may just be the best in the land. Tough test this week where they travel to Happy Valley.

2. LSU- PR- 1
Yes, they did lose, but it was to a good Kentucky team away from home. They keep getting it done in the end and making the plays. The defense is still one of the best in the nation but they've given up some big plays and a fair amount of points lately. Another tough game for LSU as they play at Alabama in two weeks.

3. Oregon- PR- 9
I wish they would stop with the ugly uniforms. Their latest one looked even worse then any ever on black and white T.V. even. The Ducks are riding the arm of Dennis Dixon and the legs of Jonathan Stewart and it's paying off. I can't wait for their match up this weekend with USC.

4. Boston College- PR- 5
BC hasn't played anyone of significant importance and we shall find out how good this team really is when they face Virginia Tech on Thursday.

5. West Virginia- PR- 8
WVA's Offense and Defense has really picked it up since the loss to USF. This team can still make a run at a national title; must win this week at Rutgers.

6. Oklahoma- PR- 6
OU did struggle last week vs. Iowa St., but their win vs. Missouri was very impressive.

7. Arizona St.- PR- 16
Arizona St. has been sneaking up on everyone and they are a legit threat to win the Pac 10. Their offense can no doubt put up points.

8. Virginia Tech- PR- 12
V-Tech is finally looking like we once all imagined. An impressive win vs. BC this week would jump them up even more.

9. South Florida- PR- 4
Tough loss to Rutgers last Thursday. Rutgers usually plays well at home so I won't punish them Bulls too much.

10. Florida- PR- 13
Definitely the best two loss team. Tim Tebow has been just amazing so far putting up some great numbers. They have a few injury problems with Tebow and true freshman safety Major Wright, but they should be able to go vs. Georgia this week.

11. USC- PR- 10
12. Missouri- PR- 11
13. Kansas- PR- 20
14. Kentucky- PR- 17
15. Virginia- PR- NR
16. Hawaii- PR- 15
17. South Carolina- PR- 7
18. Georgia- PR- NR
19. Texas- PR- NR
20. Michigan- PR- NR

More Rankings: Stiles Points

College Football Weekend Preview

I'm ready for some College Football. Last week I went a horrible 3-4.

West Virginia at South Florida
This is one of the Big East games of the year. South Florida is on a roll after big wins against Auburn and North Carolina. West Virginia's Defense needs to step up and prove they can contend for a National Title against a pretty good South Florida Offense, lead by QB Matt Grothe. I expect this to be a great game, but WVA's Offense should not have too much trouble moving the ball and scoring.

The Pick: West Virginia

USC at Washington
Washington should be a good test for USC, especially with the game being played in Seattle. USC has been very impressive and I believe they are the most balanced team in the country. This could be a good game, but the Huskies must be able to put up points if they want any part of the Trojans.

The Pick: USC

Auburn at Florida
The Gators look to get revenge after their collapse last season at Auburn; but again I guess it wasn't that big of a deal anyways. (National Champs). Tim Tebow has been amazing thus far and should put up more impressive numbers on the Tigers' D. This is a must win for both teams since both have 3 other big conference road games later on in the season.

The Pick: Florida

Michigan St. at Wisconsin
Michigan t. has looked somewhat good this season and Wisconsin has looked pretty mediocre so far. I wouldn't be surprised if Michigan St. pulled off the upset here (Complete Sports thinks so), Wisconsin has been God-awful and I am very surprised they haven't lost yet. But good thing the game is at Camp Randall.

The Pick: Wisconsin

Alabama at Florida St.
This is a very interesting match up. Two good coaches and historic programs will face off for the first time in nearly 33 years. Bama struggled early and late last week vs. Georgia and FSU hasn't had an impressive win yet.

The Pick: Alabama

Upset of the Week
Georgia Tech over Clemson

I know Georgia Tech has struggled lately, but Clemson hasn't really had an impressive win yet. Their offense has been pretty productive and I really love their rushing attack. But I think Tashard Choice and Jonathan Dwyer should be able to do some spectacular things against the Tigers' D.

D-1AA (FCS) Game of the Week
Delaware St. at Hampton
Big MEAC game here as the winner will have an inside shot at the conference title and an FCS Playoff berth. Hampton QB T.J. Mitchell has been solid this season with 773 yards passing and 9 TD.

The Pick: Hampton

Game of the Week
California at Oregon
Two high-powered Pac 10 Offense's will battle it out this Saturday in a key conference showdown. This is basically an elimination game as the winner will likely battle with USC and UCLA for the 1, 2, and 3 spots. Both QB's have put up some gaudy numbers and I expect it to be a slugfest in Eugene.

The Pick: California

Elite 8 Breakdown

Well here's my Elite 8 Breakdown. I'm hoping to do a little better than my recent Sweet 16 picks. I didn't do so well there. But, here's some analysis on Saturday's and Sunday's Elite 8 games.

South Region
Ohio St. vs Memphis
These two team's match up well. Both have fairly deep benches. Joey Dorsey will be able to handle Greg Oden down low. Dorsey is stronger and a little more physical, he can hold his own against Oden. Ohio St. has been struggling early in games, and Memphis has good defense and good enough shooting too stay ahead. But watch out for Ohio St.'s guards, Mike Conley can take over a game whenever he needs to. But watch for the Tigers to bring in 6th man, Jeremy Hunt to D him up all night long. The Tigers are fairly deep and that will help them stay in this game. Also, Memphis's guard play will be key in this game as well; they have the size advantage over OSU's and can pressure them all night long. Look for Memphis to play a lot of zone in this game, forcing the Buckeyes to win from the outside and keep Dorsey out of foul trouble.

The Pick: Memphis- I believe this team is better than the 05-06 team. The Tigers will be able to accomplish something they couldn't last year, that's get to the Final Four.

West Region
Kansas vs UCLA
I am definitely looking forward to this game. Both of these teams are athletic and well-balanced all around. UCLA may have the slight advantage with their experience. The guard match ups will be great to watch with Afflalo, Collison, Shipp, and Roll vs. Rush, Chalmers, Robinson, and Collins. You really can't give an edge to any of them. But down low is where Kansas has a great advantage with Julian Wright, Sasha Kaun, and Darrell Arthur. UCLA has struggled against teams who are just flat out bigger. Kansas must protect the ball and make free throws in the end. Should be the best of all the Elite 8 games to watch.

The Pick: UCLA- It's hard to pick against KU. But I gotta go with the experience here. UCLA showed some poise against Pitt in making some big shots, especially free throws down the stretch. I truly believe that will be the difference.

Midwest Region
Florida vs Oregon
This is a very intriguing matchup. Oregon will struggle tremendously here against a more talented, experienced, better overall Gator team. Oregon, I believe, is a two man show with Aaron Brooks and Tajuan Porter. Teams like that will not get you far. Florida's guards should be able to pressure them all night long and get them to turn it over. Plus, you have to like Florida's height advantage.

The Pick: Florida (How can you not pick against them in this one?) East Region
UNC vs GeorgetownUNC is tough and has a lot of firepower. They can top Georgetown with their deep bench. But, the Hoyas are just too big inside for Hansbrough and their guards are big and physical and will out match UNC's young guards. Plus the experience will factor in. You gotta think UNC will fall when they play an experienced team from another power conference.

The Pick: Georgetown- I really like this team right now. The guards compliment the posts very well and Jeff Green is just a stud.