I really wish USC had to climb the polls like the majority of other teams in college football. They lost at least one easy Pac-10 road game every single year. Everyone knows that it is coming and every week there is a discussion on whether this is the week they are going down. Following that huge win at Ohio State was too much for the Trojans. Fortunately for Pete Caroll's squad, they are still ranked high enough to make a BCS appearance if they finish the rest of the year out strong. Other teams are not so lucky.
BYU and Utah, for example, have most likely had their Cinderella dreams crushed with losses to FSU and Oregon, respectively, this week. The polls are so ridiculous some times- a 2-1 Washington team climbs into the top 25 (after going 0-12 last year). Big time win over USC, but come on. This is not a top 25 team, perhaps not even a top 40 team. You want me to believe that Washington is a better team than unranked Missouri, Georgia Tech, Auburn, UCLA, Notre Dame, or Pittsburgh? I'd take any of those teams straight up at Washington. Polls, polls, polls.
Other random thoughts after week 3:
-Miami looks like it might be on its way back to the BCS if they can continue to protect Jacory Harris and let him make plays. The ACC is a very winnable conference this year, and the Hurricanes have stepped up and shown that they are the favorite through the first three games.
-Will Lane Kiffin EVER shut up? You lost, Lane, take it like a man. I have never been a big fan of the Vols, but I am really starting to despise them thanks to Mr. Kiffin. I would be embarassed to have an immature guy like that as the face of my program.
-The SEC West is going to be a very interesting race this year. Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Auburn and LSU all look capable of competing for the West this year (sorry Miss State). Alabama is definitely the favorite, but with a few breaks, we could see another team rise to the top. Don't be shocked if we see an unusual face in the SEC Title game against Florida this year.
-Texas still has a lot to prove, to me, if not the voters. Sure they started 3-0 and held their top five ranking in the process, but this team hasn't impressed me enough to call them a top five team. But, no one asked me for my vote. I think the Big 12 is another conference where there is no clear cut champion. Parity is rearing its ugly (or wonderful, depending on which side of the fence you stand) face once again in 2009.
-Charlie Weis doesn't have long at Notre Dame. I know I've been mentioning this off and on for a while now, and even though they squeaked out a win against a mediocre Michigan State team, I can't see the Irish winning more than 7 or 8 games this year. That is going to hurt the fan base after Lou Holtz did a horrible job of tempering expectations and picking the Irish to play for the BCS Championship.
-Cincinnati is sneaky good. There is not a ranked opponent on the schedule, which is extremely manageable. If they continue to win they will be in the top five by the end of the year and perhaps in the top two. This team is a major sleeper right now who could sneak into a major BCS bowl.
-Auburn's defense needs to get back to its old form, and in a hurry, if they want to remain undefeated. As the Tigers approach their conference schedule, allowing an average of 22.3 points per game, all against teams who were unranked, will probably not cut it against SEC opponents. The offense continues to impress and has shown that it can win a game on the ground or through the air. But the defense needs to really tighten up if the Tigers want to make a successful run in the SEC in 2009.
It has been a great season so far. We've seen upsets and some amazing games already, and its only week three. Woooooooooooooo!
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