I feel the need to tell you that "Chuck" is the best show on TV this fall.
It's funny, witty and well-written. It has a romance twist (featuring the ultra-hot Yvonne Strahovski) and did I mention it has Yvonne Strahovski? I'm in love with her. Someone find out if she likes charming college football writers that are pretty decent at Guitar Hero. If so, I might have an outside shot.
Anyway, onto business. Can you believe the season is winding down? As tumultuous as it's been, it's flown by.
But things are really coming together now and the polls are increasingly more important. It may not look like how we originally forecast, but that's OK.
Let's take a gander:
25. BYU
I would have rather ranked just 24 teams, but I'll include BYU because I'm nice, and because they're decent.
24. Cincinnati
Ben Mauk had the nicest throw I've seen this year. Rolling to his right, he fired a touchdown pass to Marcus Bennett. The ball was a bullet and perfect spiral. The Bearcats played WVU tough, especially in the second half and don't deserve to fall out of the Top 25 because of that loss.
23. Connecticut
Big game this weekend. Randy Edsall earns coach of the year with a win over West Virginia and the UConn would play in the BCS. That's a tall task, but how do you like them apples?
22. Kentucky
UConn isn't the only team that could mix up the BCS this coming weekend. A win over Tennessee and the SEC East is looking a little different. By the way, Andre Woodson is still a great quarterback.
21. Clemson
I don't understand why Tommy Bowden isn't more patient with the run. Spiller and Davis' combined stats against BC: 23 carries, 62 yards and a touch. OK, so they weren't getting many yards, but it's not like Cullen Harper was lighting it up through the air. When you have weapons like that, they should each get at least 15 carries a game, AT LEAST. Don't abandon the run!
20. Wisconsin
A very sloppy win over a terrible Minnesota team is just the latest example of Wisconsin not playing up to its potential. But I did like the toughness Tyler Donovan showed against the Gophers with his legs. But speaking of Legs, Zach Brown was a manchild: 29 carries, 250 and 2 TDs.
19. Tennessee
Lucky, lucky. They better be sharp against the Wildcats this weekend or their bowl game won't be quite what they have their eyes on at this point.
18. Boise State
Time to look sharp in practice this week. Making me look good is on the line. Do you think Boise likes escaping the winter and heading to Hawaii?
17. Virginia
Anything that Al Groh picked up in the NFL needs to be in the playbook this weekend, and I wouldn't hope for another 1-2 point win over the Hokies. With UVA coming off a bye, they're going to need to come out sharp score early.
16. Illinois
The Big 10 purists cannot like what Illinois is cooking up. Juice Williams is going to burn teams for two more years in that conference with his arm and legs, so those purists better get used to it.
15. Boston College
It's important that Boston College finishes strong against Miami and uses the game to work out any last kinks before making a run at the conference title. And someone warn Matt Ryan, the ACC refs are terrible and it appears some Miami defenders like to headhunt. Just watch the video.
14. Hawaii
Does the run stop here? Or are they going to wake up and hang 500 points on Boise?
13. Florida
Can Florida sneak into the BCS? Well, it's possible and something worth keeping an eye on.
12. Texas
Finish strong. Exact some revenge against Texas A&M and make it to a good bowl game. If all that happens, it's been a decent season for the Longhorns who could finish the year in the Top 10.
11. Southern California
The race to play Ohio State starts on Thursday night. USC is very much in it if they can top Arizona State. It almost wouldn't be right to see USC play in the Rose Bowl. Everyone thought they were done for good...but not so much.
10. Oregon
I see it now: All of Oregon gathering at Brady Leaf's apartment after a big Thanksgiving meal and going nuts as they try and watch USC knock off the Sun Devils. An Arizona State win makes it rather difficult for Oregon to reach the Rose Bowl, assuming the Ducks win out.
9. Oklahoma
Man, what a tough loss. I think Saturday night proved that Sam Bradford is going to be an important part in Oklahoma winning at least 30-36 games the next three seasons. Yeah, you read that correctly.
8. Virginia Tech
Now that the Hokies are using their wide receivers, I will show them much more love. Josh Morgan and Justin Harper are two guys that have waited four years to make plays. Oh, and despite giving up 600 yards to LSU (and about 4000 yards in .002 seconds to BC), Virginia Tech has the No. 5 defense in the country.
7. Ohio State
Chris Wells might win a Heisman while he's in Columbus.
6. Arizona State
Just keeping winning. The conference title is theirs for the taking. Just don't eat too much turkey on Thursday...what's that stuff called in it that makes you sleepy? Tryptophan?
5. Georgia
I'm sticking to my guns about UGA being the hottest team in the country right now. It's too bad they will likely miss on a shot at LSU because that'd be a phenomenal game.
4. West Virginia
All WVU can do is take care of business the next two weeks and hope something goes their way on Dec. 1 in the Big 12. Rich Rodriguez should make Steve Slaton and Pat White carry footballs around campus and let students try and force fumbles ala Omar Epps in 'The Program.'
3. Missouri
There's not much to say because Saturday speaks for itself.
2. Kansas
See No. 3.
1. LSU
The time to not dominate opponents has passed. If history means anything, Arkansas will not be an easy win on Saturday. With the Les Miles to Michigan machine starting up and Darren McFadden having the chance to run his way back into the Heisman race, Saturday isn't a given.
Comments (3)
Tryptophan...Adam, you have nailed it. Now we all know what the ASU coaching staff loads up the pre game meal with. Could there be another logical explanation for the fact that ASU blows off the first quarter every week? I would love to see the bill for the caffiene pills they dissolve in the gatorade bucket to start the second quarter.
I got your point, but don't want your loyal readers to miss it.
You say:
"17. Virginia
Anything that Al Groh picked up in the NFL needs to be in the playbook this weekend, and I wouldn't hope for another 1-2 point win over the Hokies."
UVa doesn't have any 1-2 point wins over the Hokies, and actually has very few wins over VT in the past decade. Most recently, they have 17, 38 (in their house). and 14 point losses.
First, you are absolutely right: "Chuck" is the best show on television right now. (I may change my tune once "24" starts up in January.) My favorite moment is from episode 1 when they are in a Geek Squad car being chased by terrorists. A toked-up teenager says, "Whoa, computer emergency." Fricking hilarious.
Jeremy, I don't think Adam was referring to 1-2 point wins over the Hokies, simply 1-2 point wins this season (of which they have MANY).
Finally, I'm going to be devastated if the Big 12 finds a way to stay out of the national championship after having essentially been 2-3-4 in mid-November.