Click above for teams 1-10
| NCAA Football Power Rankings |
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The typical, midseason slide Gary Pinkel's teams have suffered in the past? Not only did the Tigers prevent it from happening this time, they instead went and destroyed 6-1 Texas Tech, picking off QB Graham Harrell four times and sacking him thrice. That's some pretty good defense.
Last game: Beat Texas Tech, 41-10.
Next game: Saturday vs. Iowa State.
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Gene Menez and I apparently disagree about Andre' Woodson's Heisman candidacy. He sees the guy that struggled against South Carolina. I saw that game, too, but since then I've watched him knock off LSU and shred Florida for 415 yards and five TDs. He's second only to Tebow on my list.
Last game: Lost to Florida, 45-37.
Next game: Saturday vs. Mississippi State.
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16 |
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Virginia Tech and ESPN's Thursday-night crew go together like (fill in cliché here), with the Hokies posting a 13-2 record. The two losses, however, have both come against Boston College, including last year's debacle in Chestnut Hill. And those Eagles weren't the No. 2 team in the country.
Last game: Beat Duke, 43-14.
Next game: Thursday vs. Virginia Tech.
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6 |
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South Carolina's struggling offense couldn't reach the end zone against Vandy, while Tennessee's defense couldn't keep Alabama out of it. Whichever team can better mask its weakness Saturday will remain in the overcrowded hunt for the SEC East title, while the loser will find itself in trouble.
Last game: Lost to Vanderbilt, 17-6.
Next game: Saturday at Tennessee.
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18 |
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Recognize this formula? Lose one early, lose to Oklahoma ... then start beating up on the Big 12's weaklings week after week. First it was Iowa State, then Baylor. Next up on the chopping block? Nebraska (4-4), whose flailing defense is ripe for some sort of record-setting Colt McCoy day.
Last game: Beat Baylor, 31-10.
Next game: Saturday vs. Nebraska.
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19 |
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With the caveat that the opponent was 1-7 Notre Dame, QB Mark Sanchez looked like a seasoned vet in his second start, throwing for four TDs and no interceptions. The $17 million (value of a BCS berth) question floating through Heritage Hall right now: Sanchez or a healing John David Booty?
Last game: Beat Notre Dame, 38-0.
Next game: Saturday at Oregon.
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13 |
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It's tough to penalize a team that came within one second of knocking off my No. 1 team, LSU, on the road, but the Tigers do have three losses now. Auburn's late-minute, 82-yard, go-ahead touchdown drive was fairly amazing considering it had gained just 214 total yards to that point.
Last game: Lost to LSU, 30-24.
Next game: Saturday vs. Ole Miss.
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23 |
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While Illinois is certainly no Oregon, it still seemed clear Saturday night that the Wolverines' defense has improved immeasurably since their early debacles. In particular, LBs Shawn Crable and Chris Graham seemed to be constantly in the backfield, helping hold the Illini to 253 yards.
Last game: Beat Illinois, 27-17.
Next game: Saturday vs. Minnesota.
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Did you see the way Tide QB John Parker Wilson and his receivers picked apart Tennessee's defense last Saturday? Did it seem like the handiwork of a well-prepared team? Crazy as it seems, 'Bama's offensive mastermind is none other than 29-year-old coordinator Major Applewhite.
Last game: Beat Tennessee, 41-17.
Next game: Nov. 3 vs. LSU.
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12 |
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For all the acclaim Jeff Tedford gets for resurrecting the Bears, he's also a study in the dangers of running an offensive-minded program. If your QB gets hurt or has a bad day (as happened the past two weeks), your championship hopes are ruined. This happens to Cal almost every year.
Last game: Lost to UCLA, 30-21.
Next game: Saturday at Arizona State.
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