Top 25 Update

How things appear after today's games, with strengths and weaknesses of each team:

teams that look really good so far

1.) Oregon
strengths: outscored Stanford 49-10 the last three quarters; dominant in 2nd half all season; explosive offense
weaknesses: outscored in the first half by Arizona St.; let Washington St. and Tennessee hang around too long

2.) Boise St.
strengths: beat VaTech; handled Oregon St.
weaknesses: no decisive victories over top teams; weak schedule

3.) TCU
strengths: beat Oregon St.; crushed Baylor; crushed Air Force
weaknesses: were only up 6-0 at halftime vs. Colorado St.


teams that might be really good

4.) Auburn
strengths: beat South Carolina; beat Arkansas; the next Tim Tebow at QB

weaknesses: almost lost to Mississippi St.; almost lost to Kentucky; almost lost to Clemson

5.) Alabama
strengths: crushed Florida; beat Arkansas; dominant running game
weaknesses: lost to S. Carolina; inconsistent passing game; young defense

6.) Michigan St.
strengths: beat Wisconsin; beat Michigan
weaknesses: needed a trick play in OT to beat Notre Dame; barely beat Northwestern

7.) Arizona
strengths: soundly beat Iowa; crushed Washington
weaknesses: lost to Oregon St.

8.) Missouri
strengths: beat Oklahoma
weaknesses: no other victories over top teams

9.) Oklahoma
strengths: destroyed Florida St.; beat Air Force; beat Texas
weaknesses: barely escaped Cincy

10.) Wisconsin
strengths: beat Ohio St.; beat Iowa
weaknesses: struggled far too often against inferior teams

11.) Ohio St.
strengths: handled Miami; dynamic QB
weaknesses: escaped Illinois; no victories over top teams

12.) Stanford
strengths: beat USC; destroyed UCLA; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: outscored 49-10 by Oregon the last three quarters

13.) Utah
strengths: beat Pitt; blew out Iowa St.
weaknesses: only beat Pitt by 3 in OT; have yet to play a top team

14.) Florida State
strengths: beat Miami soundly; blew out 4 of other 6 opponents
weaknesses: blown out by Oklahoma; barely beat BC


teams that might be pretty good

15.) South Carolina
strengths: beat 'bama
weaknesses: lost to Kentucky; struggled to put away Vandy 

16.) Nebraska
strengths: beat Oklahoma St.; destroyed Washington; destroyed Kansas St
weaknesses: lost to Texas; only beat South Dakota St. 17-3

17.) Iowa
strengths: soundly beat Penn St.; beat Michigan; elite defense
weaknesses: soundly beaten by Arizona; no victories over top teams

18.) LSU
strengths: beat Florida; played Auburn close; luckiest coach on Earth
weaknesses: almost blew a huge lead against a depleted UNC team; should've lost to Tennessee at home; almost lost to W. Virginia at home; took a 10-3 lead against Vandy into the 4th quarter; inconsistent offense


teams that haven't proven much of anything

19.) USC
strengths: crushed Cal; almost beat Stanford
weaknesses: lost to Washington; no victories over top teams

20.) Virginia Tech
strengths: almost beat Boise St.; beat NC State
weaknesses: lost to James Madison

21.) Oklahoma St.
strengths: undefeated; high-scoring offense
weaknesses: no impressive victories; almost lost to Texas A&M; gave up 51 points to Nebraska

22.) Arkansas
strengths: almost beat Alabama; strong-armed QB
weaknesses: barely beat Texas A&M; gave up 65 points to Auburn; unimpressive win vs. Ole Miss; interception-prone QB

23.) Miami
strengths: crushed Pitt; crushed UNC
weaknesses: crushed by Florida St.; handled by Ohio St.; interception-prone QB

24.) Mississippi State
strengths: beat Florida
weaknesses: barely beat UAB;

25.) Nevada
strengths: destroyed Cal; prolific offense
weaknesses: struggled to put away BYU; lost to Hawaii


teams with resumes no less impressive


NC State
Pitt
Oregon St.
Baylor