Das Poll

Champ is a busy, busy man. He creates life. No, really, he does. As such, he has had little time for a foolish college football blog, and an even more foolish poll that counts for nothing other than the fact that we have fun writing it. It's not even included in the fancy-pants CBS BlogPoll, as we cruelly found out while posting bail for trying to pay for things with Schrutebucks. The guys down at County liked our American Eagle cologne; we have no regrets.

As such, you get my poll and my poll only, in all its inaccurate and hastily written glory. I mean, what the hell do you do with the Utah teams? Why did Texas Tech jump so dramatically when they were pushed to the brink by Nebraska? Yeah, we're scared too. Here's the poll, along with half-cocked rationalizations:

1) Bama
2) TEX
3) PSU
4) Florida
5) Georgia

Bama moves up to number 1 mostly because I'm a firm believer of "you can't drop if you haven't played." Alabama still has a stronger resume than Texas, despite the glitzy "newness" of Texas's marquee victory. The glitz, however, does get them to number 2, and I think that if Bama comes out weak at any point, they're ripe to get jumped as long as Texas puts that whattaburger-sized whipping on the remainder of their schedule. Penn State is rewarded for the whipping they imparted on Wisconsin, but frankly I think it's becoming clear that Wisconsin just isn't very good. If Florida continues romping and stomping through their competition - which is much stiffer than PSU's remaining competition - they may get jumped. Georgia being at number 5 is going to be short lived, IMO.

6) Oklahoma
7) USC
8) LSU
9) BYU
10) Texas Tech

Oklahoma lost, sure, but they're still a football team that I believe can beat everyone lower than them on this ranking. I just couldn't put them any lower than 6. USC moves up due to BYU and Mizzour's relatively weak performances - strenght of opponent in BYU's case, and a flat out loss by Mizzou. LSU is in the same boat as Oklahoma. Despite the loss, I don't see them losing to anyone ranked lower than they are. Texas Tech was pushed to the brink by the Huskers, but they debut in my top 10 largely because I've had them under-ranked for the majority of the season. They're good - and if they beat some of the Big Boys of the BXII, they should be mentioned for the title race.

11) Ohio State
12) Mizzou
13) Utah
14) OK State
15) Wake

Ohio State is on life support, in my opinion. Pryor has played very well as a freshman, but the fact remains that he is still a freshman, and is playing behind a line that some would call suspect. I call them bad. Mizzou may have been exposed this weekend. I'll admit, I was drinking the kool-aid on them, but really, I don't think OK state is that good - I just think Mizzou was grossly overrated. Utah stays pat - just waiting for their matchup against BYU. OK state, despite what I said about Mizzou, still took care of business, and they make their debut right ahead of Wake, who played terrible football for 3 quarters and still managed to beat Clemson.

16) Boise State
17) Michigan State
18) Virginia Tech
19) Ball State
20) Vandy

I don't know what to do with Boise. They keep moving up because of attrition ahead of them, and frankly, we don't have enough info on them because they haven't played very many "real" opponents. I still can't figure out why nobody just stacks the line against Michigan State and forces Hoyer to throw it, but hey, there they are at 17. Virginia Tech, Ball State, and Vandy are all "still ranked but not that great" type teams, which leads us to the bottom 5.

21) UNC
22) Kansas
23) South Florida
24) TCU
25) Tulsa

Wheeeeee! The only team on this list that I think could win against a team ranked in the top 20 is UNC. There, I said it.

TGULP: Week 5

Here goes, again, Beauford's picks first then mine:

1. Oklahoma..... Bama
2. Bama..... Oklahoma
3. Mizzou..... Mizzou
4. LSU...... LSU
5. PSU....... Texas

B2: Heavy is the crown, or some shit like that. Regardless, Oklahoma gets to wear it for now, but as invincible as they've looked, I think their time is coming. All Alabama has done is beat 2 highly ranked opponents (at the time, at least) on the road. That's good enough for the 2 spot, especially given the rest of the top-dog SEC implosion. Upon hearing that Georgia would be donning all-black for the game, the Alabama S&C coach quipped "they'll be going to a mother-fu4%@ funeral." Indeed, good sir, indeed. Mizzou continues to impress, and should have no problem mowing down the B12 North. LSU gets the bump from sheer top-dog attrition. Penn State - having just won their first game against a real football team - finds themselves in the drivers seat for the Big Ten, and in the top 5 nationally. With the Big Ten as apparently weak as it is, Penn State could make some noise nationally before this thing is over - as scary as that prospect is.

Champ: This marks the first time this year B2 and I have not had the same team at the top of the poll. Alabama's resume is unmatched in the country right now, sorry Oklahoma, but you're second fiddle to the Tahhhhde right now. This is an enormous jump for the Tide in my side of the poll, but like I said, nobody else has done what they have thus far this year. I am not jumping Penn State over Texas, which will all be moot if Penn State manages to run through the coming weeks unscathed... or until the Texas/Oklahoma fake rivalry game comes around (real rivalries go to each others' campuses by the by). Mizzou not playing Oklahoma during the regular season is a shame at this point.

6. Texas.... Penn State
7. BYU..... BYU
8. Ohio State.... Utah
9. Georgia..... Texas Tech
10. USF..... USF

B2: Texas impressed me this weekend with a solid defensive performance and accurate QB play. Really, Texas and Penn State should be 5a and 5b at this point, but I'm a Big Ten guy, and as such, Texas takes a back seat. If they can beat Oklahoma, you'll see them probably vault into the mix for that coveted 2 spot. BYU is rollin' against nobody, but hey, that's what BCS "busters" do. And that brings us to Ohio State and USC, which is, like, Arg!?!?. I know USC beat Ohio State. I also know that USC then proceeded to lose to an Oregon State team that is marginal at best, and bad at worst. As I said in a previous post, I think that Georgia and Ohio State have the most impressive losses to date, and they are ranked thusly. For explaination as to how Ohio State is ranked higher than USC, I offer this, which is unweildy and probably illogical: In my mind, OSU loss against highly ranked team > USC's loss against a nobody, despite the fact that the loss came against...USC. Yeah, put that in your pipe and smoke it. USF moves up via attrition.

Champ: Now it gets fun... BYU, Utah, Texas Tech, and USF all step into MIGHTY big shoes this week thanks to some serious carnage in the upper echelon of the ranks. USF is slowly managing to catch my attention... begrudgingly. I'm not showing any preference to a one loss team over these unbeatens just because of their names at this point. I don't think a Top 10 team gets to lose to a nobdoy (AHEM... USC) and stay in the Top 10. BYU and Utah are a pain because they don't play anyone except each other, but one cinderella punching doll isn't too terrible come BCS season (right Hawai'i?). I concur with what B2 is going to say about TT in the next group.

11. Texas Tech.... Georgia
12. USC.... USC
13. Florida.... Ohio State
14. Auburn.... Florida
15. Utah... Virginia Tech

B2: Texas Tech has finally put up enough points to get noticed, I suppose, although I still think they're going to get whalloped by the two B12 frontrunners. USC and Florida are mirror images of each other - still in the hunt after 1 loss, but needing some help. Auburn is in the same boat, having spent the week in unranked purgatory. I think the three 1 loss SEC teams plus USC are all still pretty good, and will each fight for a spot in the top 5 after this all shakes out. Utah is largely moot until they play BYU, at which point the winner will more than likely get to be the BCS beat-down team de jour.

Champ: Georgia stays in front of USC based upon my opinion of what each team has done so far. USC lost to Oregon State.... Oregon State has been TERRIBLE this year. Quick sidenote, had that loss been by another top ranked team not named "USC" you would've seen a much bigger drop by the MSM. I cannot put OSU in front of USC after what the Trojans did to the Buckeyes, I just can't. Va Tech moves up after another tough road win.

16. Boise..... Vandy
17. Vandy..... Northwestern
18. Michigan State..... Michigan State
19. Wisconsin...... Wisconsin
20. Virginia Tech..... Auburn

B2: Boise and Vandy are both on the clock. I'm not sold on either of them, but so far they deserve the right to be here. Michigan State may actually be the 2nd best team in the Big Ten. As long as Ringer gets his 150+ yards, that team is tough to beat. Seeing as I was never sold on Wisconsin, they should probably be even lower than this. For as poorly as Michigan played in the first half, Wisconsin proved that they could play poorererer. Michigan still isn't a good football team (although they're closing in on resembling a team that knows that they are indeed playing football). Virginia Tech won at Nebraska, and time will tell how impressive that was, if at all.

Champ: Vandy gets some recognition. Michigan State will be exposed when they encounter a defense, Jevon Ringer will not be running 40+ times for 200 yards against the defenses of Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State, go ahead and mark it down now. Completely disagree with the "Wisconsin playing poorerer" comment. It is literally impossible to play poorer than the following: 5 turnovers, 20 total yards, -7 yards passing, one first down. Read that again. Michigan came out and flat outplayed Wisconsin in the second half to the tune of 27-6. Not turning the football over five times and actually, you know, picking up yards with scoring drives of 80 yards, 85 yards, and 77 yards will do that. Wisconsin drops, but they were beaten, they didn't give it away.

21. Wake..... Boise
22. Oregon.... Fresno State
23. Northwestern.... Oregon
24. UCONN.... Wake
25. Ball State.... Ball State

B2: Does anyone care about these teams? Probably not. Wake is still in the driver's seat to win the ACC, FWIW. Oregon? Northwestern? Uconn? Ball State (yes, that's right, I've got Ball State ranked). Who cares? Not me.

Champ: I'm quickly realizing that ranking 25 teams is really pointless. Once you get to 20 you've covered all you need to cover. Thusly, no breakdown here and no defense of my picks as they simply don't matter.

TGULP Week 5:

1. TIE: Oklahoma and Alabama (3)
3. Mizzou (6)
4. LSU (8)
5. TIE: Texas and Penn State (11)
7. BYU (14)
8. TIE: Texas Tech and USF (20)
10. TIE: Georgia and Ohio State (21)
12. Utah (23)
13. USC (24)
14. Florida (27)
15. Vandy (33)
16. Auburn (34)
17. Va Tech (35)
18. Michigan State (36)
19. Boise (37)
20. Wisconsin (38)
21. Northwestern (40)
22. TIE: Oregon and Wake (45)
24. ***Fresno State (48)
25. TIE: Ball State and ***UCONN (50)

Due to various ties, there are 26 teams tanked. Wheee.

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)
--------
Colorado (50) and Kansas (51) sit just outside looking in.

TGULP Week 3

Woo-hoo, alright, here's the actual combined TGULP poll with thoughts from B2 and Champ combined, this should streamline the whole poll thing a tad:

1. USC (2)
2. Oklahoma (4)
3. Georgia (7)
4. Florida (8)
5. Mizzou (9)

B2: USC is obviously the best team in the country given the body of work and overall "wow look at those guys" factor. Oklahoma is murdering people as well, and since I had them at 3 before, they get the bump. Florida was idle, and was ripe to be passed by Georgia, but Georgia looked really vulnerable against the other USC, and that USC is not particularly good. Mizzou jumps Penn State, if only because I can't have an already overrated by me (but slowly proving me right) Penn State team in the top 5.

Champ: Only points that B2 and I disagree on here are where Mizzou and Florida shake out... Missourah has whipped the ever-loving hell out of everyone* this year, and as such I have them ranked higher than Florida who has not looked nearly as good. I continue to be VERY skeptical of Georgia, and am otherworldly confident that USC would beat Georgia by at least three TDs. USC looked very good, but beware the over-inflated-opinion-making that will no doubt pollute our airwaves for the next two weeks. USC is darn good, but they aren't unbeatable.

* by everyone I mean two tackling dummies and Illinois...

6. LSU (13)
7. Penn State (15)
8. Texas (16)
9. BYU (21)
10. Wisconsin (22)

B2: Ohio State drops, but not precipitously (in my poll, at least). They will still win the Big Ten (probably), and will still play in another BCS bowl. Also, I just think that they beat every team below them here. Beyond the top 5, this year's teams don't really impress me much. I think Ohio State is still probably the 5th best team in the country, if only because everyone else isn't really that good either. Plus they play Penn State, so that'll get sorted out. LSU and Texas were idle, USF beat Kansas, which for me is a big "whatever" but they were still hovering in the top-25, so I suppose they get a bump into the top-10, despite the fact that I think they'll lose one or two games before it's all said and done.

Champ: You may note that Ohio State falls outside the TGULP Top 10 thanks to my disagreement here, it's really pretty simple right now: I am not going to give OSU the "well they lost on the road to a great team without Wells" parachute treatment for their fall in the polls. They got thoroughly blown out in a game I simply did not expect them to, and as such, they get to sit behind Penn State and Wisconsin in the Big 10 until proven otherwise. I dropped the Buckeyes to 14th in my poll. They can still climb back up, but that was a woefully bad performance... again (insert Mike Valenti here!). You'll see no mention of USF yet, thanks to the fact that I am much more down on them than B2. Then there's Penn State who, as was mentioned in our season preview of them, still has yet to play a highschool-quality football team... this will certainly get better next week when they play, errr Temple. Penn State hasn't done anything wrong, but they also have all the classic makings of paper-tiger syndrome, I still won't be convinced until they play someone who's actually competent at the sport of football.

11. Ohio State (22)
12. East Carolina (26)
13. Wake Forest (26)
14. Alabama (27)
15. South Florida (29)

B2: BYU is the big winner here because they ruined UCLA's entire season. Seriously, there is no coming back from that one - BYU destroyed UCLA's very soul. Bama gets the 12 seed, and yes, I forgot to rank them last week. Wake was idle, but whatever, I think they can beat ECU and Wisky because ECU was exposed as much as a victorious team can be by a seriously inferior opponent, and Wisky just doesn't impress me until they can prove life in the passing game. Wisky, however, gets a bump for beating a ranked team on the road - still a check in the win column despite another lackluster (in my mind) performance (and yes, I watched it.)

Champ: Wisconsin looked decidedly "uh... I have them where in my poll? Oh... hmmmm" but they won, on the road, against a ranked squad and thanks to the way we have this set up, they will sort themselves out as we move along. BYU gets a bump, and there is South Florida for everyone to look at and go... ok. Alabama has some upward potential here, I'll keep a closer eye on them as we move forward.

16. Utah (30)
17. Auburn (33)
18. Oregon (35)
19. Texas Tech (35)
20. Vanderbilt (43)

B2: Auburn is a big loser here because, like, wow that sucked. Texas Tech remains a team that I haven't watched, know nothing about except for Crabtree, and am generally ambivilent towards. I suppose that's what the 17 ranking is, really. Utah...ugh...I still think (and hope) they can contend for the MW title, but BYU looked really impressive. Oregon won against a Purdue team that is either much better than anticipated, or Oregon isn't really that good. If Oregon continues to win, I think you'll see Purdue sneak into the top 25 with what looks to be an "impressive loss." If Oregon turns out to stink, well, that'll shakeout too. Clemson gets back in the rankings, but really only because I couldn't think of anyone else who has impressed me, and Bama looks more and more to be a legit contender.

Champ: Auburn and Mississippi State sure put on a showcase of SEC football for the world to gouge their eyes out to... good GOD. Auburn technically should spend a week outside of the polls for that showing, but we're both too kind to do that. I just don't care about Texas Tech, sue me, I have them here because they win, but they impress me in no way whatsoever. Oregon struggled mightily against Purdue, but did come back from down 17 on the road to win. I've probably over-estimated them a bit, but that will sort out.

21. Illinois (43)
22. Florida State (46)
23. ***Clemson (46)
24. ***West Virginia (47)
25. ***Virginia Tech (49)
Just outside: ***Fresno State (50), ***Kansas (51), ***Arizona State (51)

B2: Ok, so West Virginia was punished sufficiently for their ECU gaffe, and are now back in the rankings, but only just. Illinois, I still think, is no better than a 7 win football team, but judging on performance thus far, they deserve a ranking. I really like this Vandy team - I think they would be about 3rd or 4th if they played in the Big Ten. Florida State is 2-0, and Arizona State lost, but whatever, they're still better than anyone outside the top-25, I think.

Champ: I did not place West Virginia back into the poll, not after that showing against ECU, they will have to serve some time in purgatory for that one. I completely agree with B2 on Illinois, they are not impressive, but at this point, neither is anyone else in this section of the poll. I also really like Vandy, I like them even more than B2, they've played nothing but solid football so far. I kept Kansas in the Top 25 at 25th because... dude what a sucky way to lose a football game... on the road no less, they played well and did not look like the potential fluke that I think both of us thought they might be in the back of our heads.

So there you go, week 3!

Also: quick props to Kirk Herbstreit for staying very objective and not allowing the slaughtering of his alma mater on the field (again) affect his commentary of the game. I really like Herbie in the booth and thought that he did a fantastic job in very dire circumstances where many of us would've incurred untold fines from the FCC and probably broken an item or two.

Logic Poll Week 2

Here goes...

1. Ohio State (2)
2. USC (4)
3. Oklahoma (6)
4. Georgia (9)
5. Florida (10)
6. Mizzou (12)
7. LSU (15)
8. Texas (17)
8. Penn State (17)
10. Auburn (19)
11. East Carolina (25)
12. Wisconsin (26)
13. BYU (28)
14. Wake Forest (29)
15. Utah (30)
16. South Florida (32)
17. Kansas (33)
18. Texas Tech (37)
19. Arizona State (38)
19. Oregon (38)
21. Cal (40)
22. ***Alabama (43)
23. Fresno State (45)
24. ***Vanderbilt (50)
24. UCLA (50)
24. ***West Virginia (50)


Notes, greivances:
- It is possible that B2 forgot Alabama in his poll this week... I nearly forgot Kansas... it happens.
- West Virginia gets a big ol heaping plate of crow topped with HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA courtesy from anyone who falls on the Michigan side of the fence. Karma can be one hell of a cruel bitch sometimes, but hey, Coach Stew is a nice guy! Like B2 and I said long ago... so was Bobby Williams. All you WVA fans who were complete asshats for the past 8 months, I hope for 10 more weeks of humilating no touchdown beatings for you and your team.
- Penn State at 6 BB? Penn State has put up top 10 numbers these first two weeks... call me when it occurs against a quality football team. I know, I know, it sure sounds as though I've got it out for the Nittany Lions, but I will put it in writing that Penn State will vault up my rankings if they manage to keep this show going against a solid football team (read, I will care if they do this in mid-October), until then, I remain skeptical. Penn State's coaching staff is still a huge hindrance to them, and until they show they can take their game on the road, I'm waiting patiently before hoppin' on the train.
- East Carolina, they've beaten two ranked football teams, one on the road... they get to leap into the Top 25.

The Two Guys Using Logic Poll - Week 2

Ta-daaaaa!

1. Ohio State (2)
2. USC (4)
3. Oklahoma (6)
4. Georgia (9)
5. Florida (10)
6. Mizzou (11)
7. LSU (17)
8. West Virginia (18)
9. Texas (19)
10. Auburn (22)
10. Penn State (22)
12. BYU (25)
13. Wisconsin (27)
14. South Florida (28)
15. Utah (29)
16. Wake Forest (30)
17. Texas Tech (35)
18. Alabama (38)
19. Kansas***(39)
19. Arizona State (39)
21. Oregon (40)
21. Cal (40)
23. Va Tech (47)
24. Fresno State*** (49)
24. UCLA (49)
24. Clemson*** (49)
----
Just on the outside? CMU*** (50)

And now, as always, the airing of grievances, which this week all fall into the "minor" category:

- Penn State at 10... so Joe Pa ran up the score on the Coast Guard... er... Coastal Carolina, yeeeha. I'm keeping them in the mid-teens in my poll until they play someone with a pulse.

- Champ voices disagreement with B2 for the second consecutive week regarding the Bulls who reside in the Southern region of Florida. Again, I think there's a number of teams out there that would beat USF right now, and that number is larger than nine.

- B2 was kinder to Clemson than I was... they were trounced in every conceivable way, which equates to a big ol' C-YA for the time being.

Thoughts, questions, concerns?

The Two Guys Using Logic Poll…

Brought to you by Beauford and Champ. No, we’re not in any particular poll guild or league that will combine our individual thoughts into some larger consortium and produce a super-poll that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Rather, it’s just us… which is fine. Here’s how it’ll work. Each week B-squared and I will each come up with our version of the Logic Poll and compare. We will then tally up each team’s rank in each of our polls and add it together… lowest cumulative total is ranked highest, and we go on down the line. If two teams happen to tie at the end of the season, B2 and I will retreat to our bat-cave and determine which team is deserving of a higher rank through a complex process of coin-flips and arguments filled with hyperbole.

If there is a large disagreement in rank for a particular team between our two submissions… like, I don’t know… say Penn State for example, you know just for example’s sake and all. Anyways, if there’s a discrepancy then we will attempt to give you, the reader, some kind of justification for why we think that team is much better/worse than the other seems to. I know you can feel the excitement building can’t you?

Yes, I can barely contain myself; I haven’t been this excited since Tim Dwight learned how to catch punts and we decided to put feathery things on our jerseys...




My goodness, it's Hayden Fry! Welcome! That was quite a look coach…

Your damn right it was, pink locker-room, feathers, mandatory dresses for Saturday morning walk-throughs, by God whatever it took to win… Now get back to your poll.


Alright.

Wait... just how do you handle if one team is unranked in one half of your poll but ranked in the other?



Good question coach. Unranked gets a total 26 added for the unranked value (arbitrary as hell) and a big asterisk in front of their name so that we make sure to consider that the following week. Hopefully, the number of asterisks diminishes as time goes on... naturally, however, towards the bottom of the Top 25 there's going to be some.


Fair enough, we settled disputes for starting roles by having players pillow-fight in the visiting locker-room, but your idea could work too. Continue on.


Alrighty. So here’s the official preseason Logic Poll brought to you by Beauford and Champ (ties stand for now because, frankly, it'll all work out as we get on down the road):

1. University of Ohio State (2)
2. Oklahoma (5)
2. USC (5)
4. Georgia (8)
5. Florida (11)
5. Missouri (11)
7. Clemson (14)
8. West Virginia (18)
9. LSU (20)
10. Texas (22)
11. Va Tech (24)
12. Penn State (26)
12. Auburn (26)
14. BYU (31)
15. Wisconsin (33)
15. South Florida (33)
17. Tennessee (34)
18. Texas Tech (37)
18. Utah (37)
20. ** Arizona State (39)
21. Wake Forest (40)
22. ** Kansas (41)
23. Michigan (45)
23. Oregon (45)
25. ** Cal (47)
------- Others Receiving Consideration-------
- Central Michigan (49)
- Michigan State (51)

So there you have it! Preseason fillibustering at its best. Now for the airing of grievances:

A. Penn State... Beauford says they're a top ten team because they'll likely finish second in the Big 10... Champ politely disagrees and thinks that extreme caution should be exercised on highly ranking any team with Jay Paterno involved, especially when it has a "new" offense, no experience at quarterback, and no real offensive playmakers to speak of... oh and their defense continues to break extremities and such. Penn State ends up 12th in the preseason poll, which is still six spots too high. Of course if they get past the Beavers of Oregon State, they play nobody until a buzz-saw of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State all in a row.

B. West Virginia - Blue-light special here... both Beauford and I think that WVU could be in for a significant case of Bobby Williams Fever here in a month or two. We rank them up in the Top 10 thanks to another paint-peeling performance in a bowl game, but let's just say that we doubt Bill Stewart's ability just a tad... particularly now that nearly the entire staff is gone, gone, gone.

C. South Florida... Beauford has them in the top 10... they end up 15th in our preseason poll largely due to my placing them near the bottom of the Top 25. I happen to think there are more than only 8 or 9 teams out there that would beat South Florida, perhaps they'll prove me wrong.

D. Arizona State... I had them in the top 15 because they're a decent football team in a crappy conference. We'll see what happens.