THE VODKA POWER 10

[EvilVodka]

The 8/31 edition

Here's my highly biased Top 10 going into the rest of the weekend:

1. Florida - kings till they're dethroned, as it should be every year
2. LSU - lets face it, they've always been better than USC :D
3. Texas - not bad
4. USC - they might get kicked out next week for scheduling Idaho
5. Rutgers - a brutal dominating juggernaut
6. Virginia Tech - hokie hokie hokie hi! blah blah, VPI!
7. West Virginia - damn good bunch of inbreds
8. Cal - they're going to beat down the Vols
9. Auburn - not bad for a second rate Alabama squad
10. TCU - they'll beat your ass!
http://www.sportalicious.com/images/tcuou.jpg

Louisville gets kicked out for playing Murray State

[Blue Hen]

Is this going to be weekly entertainment to look forward to ?

[Coach 3]

..it seems like that top 10 where you inexplicably have TCU over the likes of Michigan and wisconsin is due indeed to the Power of Vodka...

[GatorGrad]

Why did you change your logo from FSU to LSU?

[EvilVodka]

Why did you change your logo from FSU to LSU?

I'm an LSU alum...but I was an FSU fan for years before I even remotely knew about LSU, I grew up with FSU, so its hard not to still pull for them...last night's game got me pumped up about LSU though, hence the new avatar...if it seems wishy-washy, think of it like this...I fell in love with this girl, but had to move away and ended up marrying someone else...I still love that girl, but right now the wife is lookin hot :D

[EvilVodka]

..it seems like that top 10 where you inexplicably have TCU over the likes of Michigan and wisconsin is due indeed to the Power of Vodka...

How do you know TCU couldn't beat these schools? Going with Michigan and Wisconsin over TCU is strictly name-brand bias...the last two games for the wolverines, we saw Michigan's brick-wall defense getting mauled

[GatorGrad]

Gotcha...over time, LSU will be your team. Your alma matter is a big deal. It's a part of you. It's your identity. Time to move on, forget about the old girlfriend (FSU), and commit to your wife (LSU!)

[Bucs90]

Damn good point Vodka. In a game with TCU vs Michigan, honestly, I don't know who I would pick right now. Once again last year, Michigan displayed the Big Tens overhyped name-brand as once again showed the Big Tens huge weakness in defending team speed. If a game against a Big Ten team stays stable, with running game and special teams playing big roles, and ball control becoming a factor, sure, Big Ten football is pretty good. But as Michigan and Ohio State showed us last year, if a Big Ten team gets into a game that evolves into an informal track meet, it's probably going to get ugly quick.

Yeah, I'll never forget the "Game of the Centruy" hype with #1 OSU and #2 Michigan. Then both teams got their doors blown off by teams with some speed. But, as long as the media continues to pick the polls, thats what we are gonna get.

[EvilVodka]

..it seems like that top 10 where you inexplicably have TCU over the likes of Michigan and wisconsin is due indeed to the Power of Vodka...

I'd definately take TCU over Michigan now

Hell, I might take Mt. Union over Michigan

[jeff4bucks]

I'd definately take TCU over Michigan now

Hell, I might take Mt. Union over Michigan

NICE ;)

[Nabber]

Of course, no one foresaw ASU > Mich, but Auburn sucks dead goats, and UGA definitely belongs in your Top 10. Texas, huh? Sucks. VA Tech? struggling over ECU?

Get it together, Man.

[AJBuckeye]

Before you rag on Big 10 Speed... They had a 2 - 1 record vs the SEC in bowl games last year and they have a 13 - 11 record vs the SEC in bowl games since the BCS era began.

[EvilVodka]

The coaches poll sucks and the AP poll sucks...if you want the truth about who the best teams in the country are at this given moment in time, precisely the end of week 1, then here is your true top 10, but if you miss the hype, the glamour, the bling, and the glitz of pop college football image, head over to sportsmedia.overinflatedhypemachine

Here is the true top 10:

1. Florida - kings till they're dethroned
2. LSU - holding at #2
3. Oklahoma - I know it was only North Texas, but OU looks scary this year
4. Georgia - they squashed a decent team in Oklahoma State
5. Cal - Cal looks really explosive this year
6. Auburn - survived a great opponent
7. Penn St. - the Morelli era is officially underway
8. UCLA - nice win for opening on the road against a conference opponent
9. Wisconsin - starting where they left off last year
10. Appalachian State - they get the honorary #10 spot for beating Michigan's ass!
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/7179096_36_2.jpg

you won't see this kind of change and turnover in other polls...you'll still see USC and Texas ranked really high, and Louisville propped up high for scoring 73 points on Murray State...I wonder if Michigan will even be kicked out of the top 25

[Hubbs]

That's about 10 spots off in reality.

[Blue Hen]

Auburn survived a "great" opponent ? Interesting. We'll see. K-State hosts San Jose St.

[EvilVodka]

That's about 10 spots off in reality.

Florida had some games where they didn't look that impressive last year, and they won the National Championship...

Remember, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...if Auburn survives South Florida, than they're already a lot more battle tested than most teams in the country...

[sc69er]

The coaches poll sucks and the AP poll sucks...if you want the truth about who the best teams in the country are at this given moment in time, precisely the end of week 1, then here is your true top 10, but if you miss the hype, the glamour, the bling, and the glitz of pop college football image, head over to sportsmedia.overinflatedhypemachine

Here is the true top 10:

1. Florida - kings till they're dethroned
2. LSU - holding at #2
3. Oklahoma - I know it was only North Texas, but OU looks scary this year
4. Georgia - they squashed a decent team in Oklahoma State
5. Cal - Cal looks really explosive this year
6. Auburn - survived a great opponent
7. Penn St. - the Morelli era is officially underway
8. UCLA - nice win for opening on the road against a conference opponent
9. Wisconsin - starting where they left off last year
10. Appalachian State - they get the honorary #10 spot for beating Michigan's ass!
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/7179096_36_2.jpg

you won't see this kind of change and turnover in other polls...you'll still see USC and Texas ranked really high, and Louisville propped up high for scoring 73 points on Murray State...I wonder if Michigan will even be kicked out of the top 25

Four SEC teams in the top-10 including the #1 and #2 teams????

Oklahoma puts 70+on a highs school team, their starting RB scores 5TDs--they keep him in that long???Stoops doing his thing.

Cal squeeks past a Tennessee team that is 14-10 the last 2 years and will lose 5-6 this year and they are#5 toughest???

Georga beats a low tier BXII team that is 11-13 the last 2 years and squeeked past a miserable Alabama team in a bowl last year to get to 7-6 and this is decent team???

Auburn beats a Kst team that was 7-6 last year and lost to a Big East team in a bowl--this is a great opponent???? Just because they played Auburn tough doesn't make them great, Auburn is overwhelmingly mediocre!

UCLA gives up 16 pts to they worst team in the PX and they are tough? Lets see how they do against a good BYU team which was a last second FG and an overtime FG loss at BC last year from being 13-0.

Wisconsin plays the next to last team in the PX and give up 21 pts in the first half as WSU plays the Badgers even for most of the first half--Wisky will lose to Michigan.

Santa Clause leaves ASU a gift at the big house, it won't happen again.

BTW if USC makes it to the MNC and some poor SEC team also makes it think Arkansas the last 2 years or Oklahoma in the 2005 Orange bowl--it will be that bad, Carroll doesn't like SEC blowhards

[EvilVodka]

Four SEC teams in the top-10 including the #1 and #2 teams????

Oklahoma puts 70+on a highs school team, their starting RB scores 5TDs--they keep him in that long???Stoops doing his thing.

Cal squeeks past a Tennessee team that is 14-10 the last 2 years and will lose 5-6 this year and they are#5 toughest???

Georga beats a low tier BXII team that is 11-13 the last 2 years and squeeked past a miserable Alabama team in a bowl last year to get to 7-6 and this is decent team???

Auburn beats a Kst team that was 7-6 last year and lost to a Big East team in a bowl--this is a great opponent???? Just because they played Auburn tough doesn't make them great, Auburn is overwhelmingly mediocre!

UCLA gives up 16 pts to they worst team in the PX and they are tough? Lets see how they do against a good BYU team which was a last second FG and an overtime FG loss at BC last year from being 13-0.

Wisconsin plays the next to last team in the PX and give up 21 pts in the first half as WSU plays the Badgers even for most of the first half--Wisky will lose to Michigan.

Santa Clause leaves ASU a gift at the big house, it won't happen again.

BTW if USC makes it to the MNC and some poor SEC team also makes it think Arkansas the last 2 years or Oklahoma in the 2005 Orange bowl--it will be that bad, Carroll doesn't like SEC blowhards

I see alot of "last year", "last 2 years"

IMO, all previous seasons mean squat to what is going on right now, post week 1 in 2007

But if you want to make a case for USC instead of blasting other teams, I'll gladly hear it :D

[sc69er]

I see alot of "last year", "last 2 years"

IMO, all previous seasons mean squat to what is going on right now, post week 1 in 2007

But if you want to make a case for USC instead of blasting other teams, I'll gladly hear it :D

just questioning the logic of listing them as top-10 powerhouses. As for the last year results, on average 75% of this years players were on the team last year--guys that are mediocre as Jr's are usually mediocre as Sr's. Same logic for 2 years ago.
As for USC we need to wait and see how they do against real opposition with a real game plan. My position now is they will be very good--12-1 or 11-2 this year. If they are good and lucky they will be 13-0. Coming out of last year as PX champs with 37 of the 2 deep returning leads some to conclude they are the most diserving of #1 ranking going into this season. You can make a better case for them than you can for Fla.

[EvilVodka]

As for USC we need to wait and see how they do against real opposition with a real game plan.

Absolutely, which is why they're not in my top 10...at least not yet

I'm weighting my top 10 ratings heavily on results, and not on perception...if the season ended right now, I would be viewing all these results as resumes, and my ratings are a reflection of that...

The exceptions are #1, which I've given to Florida because IMO the defending champ should have the opportunity to defend their crown, and #10, which I give to a team I think deserves a week in the spotlight

USC kind of sleeped walked to a win over Idaho IMO...not necessarily a bad thing, but less impressive than alot of other wins out there

[EvilVodka]

Just for kicks, here's the Sagarin rankings after week 1:

1. LSU
2. USC
3. Georgia Tech
4. Cal
5. Ohio State
6. Oklahoma
7. Florida
8. Wisconsin
9. Georgia
10. West Virginia

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc07.htm

[sc69er]

Just for kicks, here's the Sagarin rankings after week 1:

1. LSU
2. USC
3. Georgia Tech
4. Cal
5. Ohio State
6. Oklahoma
7. Florida
8. Wisconsin
9. Georgia
10. West Virginia

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc07.htm

last years results convolved with the first game of this year which most rational people use. My projection is that only USC, LSU ,Oklahoma, Ohio st, and West Va will be in the final top-10.

[copycat]

I'm Nucking Futs and a homer, but #3? I want what he's smoking.

[EvilVodka]

A couple more opinionated polls for kicks:

Kirk Herbstreit's top 5:

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Florida
4. West Virginia
5. Oklahoma

Stewart Mandell's top 10 in his "power" rankings:

1. USC
2. LSU
3. West Virginia
4. Florida
5. Wisconsin
6. Louisville
7. Oklahoma
8. Georgia
9. Texas
10. Virginia Tech

[EvilVodka]

1. Florida - kings till they're dethroned
2. LSU - holding at #2 after mauling Virginia Tech
3. Oklahoma - truly one of the elite this season
4. Cal - survived a Mountain West scare
5. Penn St. - the best team in the Big 10
6. UCLA - also survived a Mountain West scare in BYU
7. Texas - officially busted a possible BCS buster
8. Boston College - racking up ACC wins with Matt Ryan at the helm
9. Georgia Tech - looking pretty good this year
10. Washington - Tyrone Willingham has truly gotten this program turned around
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/wash/sports/m-footbl/auto_widephoto/1349770.jpeg

USC, West Virginia, and Louisville aren't rated...USC has only played barely-IA Idaho, West Virginia struggled with a team that Miami blew out, and Louisville struggled with Middle Tennessee State

[copycat]

#8 vs #9 in Atlanta this week... should be fun.

[Bucs90]

EvilVodka, you have 3 Pac-10 teams rated OVER Southern Cal? Not knocking you, just suprised. I think the Trojans are overhyped also, but they are damn good, and don't think Washington is gonna beat 'em. Cal and UCLA maybe, obviously since UCLA last team that did. But, we'll see.

Georgia Tech could win the ACC by default. They're solid, but not top 10, just IMO.

[Blue Hen]

Good mention of BC !

[EvilVodka]

1. Florida - kings till they're dethroned
2. LSU - only allowed 7 points all season
3. USC - running game ran right through infamous blackshirts
4. Oklahoma - looking good, but haven't yet traveled on the road, hence losing ground to USC
5. Cal - rolling along
6. Boston College - already 3-0 in the ACC, they're not getting enough respect
7. Texas - beating some tough mid-majors
8. Ohio State - slowly moving up...the D is looking good
9. Penn State - looking good, but win over Notre Dame looking less impressive day by day...they need to play someone
10. Troy - Its time Troy got some respect...they played Florida and Arkansas tough, and absolutely dominated Oklahoma State at home
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/17/179243.jpg

[Blue Hen]

how about throwing out VT and replacing 'em with Appy State or somebody ?

..must be the VT 'sympathy' factor...right ?