TGULP Week 4

Ok, we're going to try a slightly different format here... it'll be a bit longer, but it will also make our comments more sensible. Now you'll get to see how each of our polls break down and then there will be the one complete poll at the end of the post. Work with us people, it's an evolving whirling complex of transient thought that we're trying to latch on to here.

On to the polls! Beauford's will come first, mine will follow... hope that's not too confusing.

1) USC.......... USC
2) Oklahoma............ Oklahoma
3) FL................ Georgia
4) GA............. Mizzou
5) LSU............ Florida

B2: Top 2 are consistent - it's going to take a USC loss for Oklahoma to jump them, IMO. Florida continues to get the nod over Georgia as a result of their conference road win. Yes, I know that Georgia went on the road as well, but increasingly it's appearing that Arizona State just isn't very good. LSU gets the big jump to number 5 here for their victory over highly ranked Auburn; praise be to the hat and the enormous testicles for brains that it hides.

Champ: Florida's road "win" came against a hapless Tennessee team, so no bonus points for them from this guy. Georgia went across the country and beat a better-than-Tennessee-team, so they don't drop. Mizzou hasn't really played anybody but they're running up the score even more than JoePa from the pressbox, they've looked really good, so I'm keepin' em up there. LSU beat an Auburn team that beat MSU by the tally of 3-2... yeee gads, big win sure, but there's plenty of time for LSU to move up the polls so they can sit patiently.

6) Mizzou........ LSU
7) Penn State......... Texas
8) Tex........ Wisconsin
9) OSU.......... Penn State
10) BYU......... Alabama

B2: Mizzou falls to 6 because LSU had to go somewhere. It's unfortunate, but based on talent speculation and resume, they're just not as strong as those first 5 teams. Penn State won another one running away; this time against the Philidelphia Football Academy for the Deaf, Dumb, and Stupid. They're one impressive win against a ranked team from being in the mix for the top 5, but until that happens they won't crack it. I also bumped Texas above Ohio State because OSU is in full out "we're going to try the freshman at QB because we don't have anybody else" mode. That may be good enough to win the Big Ten, but it won't be good enough to compete with anyone resembling a contender from the SEC, Pac-10, or Big 12. Texas is a contender. BYU is one more impressive victory or OSU stumble from vaulting them. Heck, they probably should have jumped them this week, but I'm willing to go with the Pryor expiriment for the time being.

Champ: Penn State's cupcake feast-gorge-fest-march through the non-conference season has everyone screaming "OMG" in Happy Valley, but last I checked, JoePa and JayPa still coach on that football team. I don't care how many points they run up on Coastal Carolina, Oregon State, Syracuse, and Temple. I will remain skeptical of them until they take this show on the road to Madison and/or Columbus, or until, you know, they play a team with an offense. B2 is kinder to OSU than I, they simply look unmotivated, uninspired, and without a team leader. They have the talent to play with anyone in the country if you ask me, but they're just adrift in unforgiving sea right now. An uninspired performance was almost a lock against Troy, but as I said, the longer that Wells sits on the sideline, the more and more this team looks lost. Early-week-chance-to-look-foolish: watch out for Minnesota.

11) BAMA......... BYU
12) Wake......... Utah
13) USF......... Wake
14) Wisky....... Ohio State
15) Texas Tech........... Texas Tech

B2: I think Bama's time here is limited. They've got a rough conference schedule upcoming, and frankly, I think they're at least 1 year from running with the big dogs of the SEC. Conversely, I love this Wake Forest team (a little homerism, maybe). They force TONS of turnovers, play solid if not spectacular defense, and have an offense capable of scoring. I know they didn't put it in the endzone against FSU, but anytime you can go get a win against the Garnet and Gold at their place, you can hold your head high. I think we all need to get used to the notion of USF being a top-15 team, for the time being. I don't see anyone challenging them in the Big East. I do think that USF will get stomped if they play a contender from a major conference, but hey, 4-0 is 4-0. Wisconsin, who was idle, and Texas Tech round out the top 15. Texas Tech put a ton of points on the board, and probably deserve to be ranked higher than they are - it's just that I still don't know anything about that team.

Champ: I too know next to nothing about Texas Tech... this would concern me more if that meant something, but it doesn't. BYU looks impressive, but one must quickly utter: "against absolutely no one" after that sentence as mandated by BCS law. I agree with B2 on the Wake love, they are a good football team. I mean, quick, name three offensive starters... I can't! But if you watch them play, they do all those "little things" that win football games. USF at 13 is just too rich for my blood.

16) Utah......... Vandy
17) Clemson........... South Florida
18) Illinois............ Va Tech
19) Boise State.............. Boise State
20) Vandy............... Illinois

B2: Utah holds steady on their way to a battle with BYU for the Mountain West, and probably BCS bowl berth. Clemson is back in relatively good graces after dropping that first one to Bama, and we'll find out a lot more about them when they play Wake in mid-October. If they win there, we'll know that Clemson deserves to be ranked. If they lose, they go right back to the "others receiving votes" waiting room. Illinois...eh...their only loss is to a top 5-ish Mizzou team on the road. I'm waiting to see what they do in conference before moving them too far up. Boise State cracks the poll after impressively dismantling ranked Oregon, and Vandy is 4-0, and currently sits atop the SEC.

Champ: Agree with all of the above minus Clemson. Va Tech's win against UNC was bigger than you'll see them get credit for, they're winning ugly, but that's a tough football team. Illinois remains in the Top 20 for the exact reason B2 stated.

21) Michigan State....... Auburn
22) Virginia Tech........ Fresno State
23) Northwestern........ Northwestern
24) Colorado......... Michigan State
25) Fresno State............. Kansas

B2: As long as Javon Ringer keeps pounding the ball, Michigan State is a dangerous team. Virginia Tech gets back in the poll after being sufficiently punished for their early season gaffe. Northwestern is a new-comer to the poll, and there are several reasons why. First, I like that offense they've got with Bacher at the helm, and second, they just beat a very good MAC team who took Ohio State to the brink of disaster (Ohio). Northwestern has been from the beginning of the season my darkhorse to contend for the Big Ten, and they're off to a great start. Colorado in another new-comer after knocking off ranked West Virginia (insert picture of Coach Stew flustered here). Fresno State rounds out the top-25 because I think they can beat all the teams I have in my waiting room.

Champ: I love B2's spirit in dropping Auburn entirely, I nearly did the same, but I couldn't quite do it, so they find themselves in purgatory at #21. This means they will beat Florida and then promptly loose to a team with Chattanooga or Lafayette in their name. Northwestern makes an appearance because they just ran their non-conference slate for the first time in 46 years... that gets you a ranking in my book. Michigan State is decidedly meh with one exception, that one exception won't be enough to get them by in the Big 10, Hoyer is going to have to pick it up at some point. Colorado was the one team I left standing in the cold at 26 because I think Kansas will whip Colorado, but otherwise, well done Buffs! Yay Karma!!!

Ok, so the TGULP:
1. USC (2)
2. Oklahoma (4)
3. Georgia (7)
4. Florida (8)
5. Mizzou (10)
6. LSU (11)
7. Texas (15)
8. Penn State (16)
9. Alabama (21)
9. BYU (21)
11. Wisconsin (22)
12. Ohio State (23)
13. Wake (25)
14. Utah (28)
15. USF (30)
15. Texas Tech (30)
17. Vandy (36)
18. Boise State (38)
18. Illinois (38)
20. Va Tech (40)
21. Clemson*** (43)
22. Michigan State (45)
23. Northwestern (46)
24. Auburn*** (47)
24. Fresno State (47)
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Colorado (50) and Kansas (51) sit just outside looking in.