Looks like there's a few Mich St fans on this thread. I'm assuming you guys don't want Michigan to beat Bama, but I've got some pretty good sources (from AL) that Eddy Lacy is 50% and Dee Hart can't be trusted to be on the field because he doesn't know the plays and can't pass protect, which leaves Bamas only run option as TJ Yieldon (#1 rb last yr) but true frosh regardless. I've also heard that Bama coaches are extremely concerned about the depth on the d'line right now. Very good chance Michigan wins, very very good chance they cover, if your a betting man take the mayonnaise and blue.
I just saw this, but even if I did see it before I wouldn't have taken your advice. Sorry, but Bama just reloads every year and will be right in the thick of the National Title hunt yet again this year. Combine that with the fact that UM was not only overrated about 10 spots too high, but that they were breaking in some new faces on D and are still playing with a majority of RichRods recruits (which isn't good to see on D) I never really thought UM would give Bama a game. I was thinking somewhere along a 31-14 lines, but Bama did me 10 better.
Now with most of the top 25 done playing (aside from Louisville and VT) here's my top 11 (just to be different) after week 1.
1. Alabama - even though UM should've been closer ranked to 25 than to 1, it was still one of the better tests you'll see a team give itself in OOC play. The D is still stacked and the O can follow the lead of their great O line. They'll likely stay here for a few weeks at worst.
2. USC - While Hawaii isn't anything great, they are my national title favorites and they made quick business of Norm Chows crew.
3. LSU - North Texas isn't anything special, but their talent is right up there with Bama and USC. They're partially living off of preseason hype for now.
4. Oregon - Same as LSU, only more talented on O and less talented on D. They'll probably be in the neighborhood of 60 PPG this year. Hopefully they can stay undefeated until that showdown against USC late in the year.
5. Florida State - Yet another good performance against a scrub, but they have a very manageable schedule and might actually live up to the hype for once.
6. Clemson - This is a team that can derail FSU's national title hopes though. I was thoroughly impressed with their win over Auburn despite no Sammy Watkins. The O shouldn't have much problem scoring and the D will only have to bend and not break for them to be good.
7. South Carolina - Cocky's D was as good as advertised against Vanderbilt, but they will need a little more from Connor Shaw (who did get banged up, so he gets a slight pass) in the bigger games if they wanna make it back to the SEC Championship game.
8. Michigan State - My Spartans take the spot of the Wolverines in the rankings, and I do believe it's justified after taking down a still dangerous-yet-depleted Boise State team. The D wasn't really responsible for any of the points allowed (a pick 6 and two drives that already started well into MSU territory) and LeVeon Bell had a game that brought back memories to the Javon Ringer era. While it's always nice to pick up a win, especially against a team that isn't Little Sisters of the Poor like 1/2 the top 25 seemed to play this weekend. The passing game will get its feet under itself soon (and Maxwell did well in the 2nd half, fwiw) so hopefully they don't ware Bell out by Week 8 like they seemed to do with Ringer when he was the everydown back. It's fine for one week, obviously, but against teams like CMU, EMU, and IU (3 of their next 5 opponents) I'd like to see his touches limited and some reps given to guys who need in-game reps (aka Passing game).
9. Georgia - They didn't do anything wrong, per se, but they did allow Buffalo to score 23 and it was 24-16 going into the 4th. I'm not worried about Georgia's D, but you can't put them ahead of teams that have actually beaten solid teams. They aren't that good. They'll have their shot next week against Mizzou in Missouri's SEC opener to make some noise, though.
10. West Virginia - Yes, they can score points. Yes, Geno Smith is a dark-horse Heisman contender. Still, let's see what they do against a team with a defense like Texas.
11. Texas - Kinda the anti-WVU that they have a talented D but some major questions on O, it seems a bit fitting that they're paired with each other. We won't know much about the Longhorns until the 29th and 6th when they play OSU and WVU back to back. Until then, I'll be a bit cautious with respect to their ranking.
Some notables missing - Oklahoma, Arkansas
Why no OU? Simple - UTEP gave them a fight for pretty much the whole game, and the 24-7 game made the game seem like a bigger blowout than it actually was. UTEP left at least 9 points on the board (3 missed FGs) and Landry Jones doesn't look impressive at all without his favorite target Ryan Broyles off in the NFL. As for Arkansas, it's a combination of not playing a good team and not being too highly on their bandwagon before with John L. Smith at the helm. Trust me, I spent 3ish years watching this guy find new ways to lose games each and every week. While he has much more talent at Arkansas than he ever did at MSU, I have no doubts he'll find a way to screw up a win here or there against a team that they should likely beat (against an Auburn, Miss. St, or A&M most likely).
only time that smiley will ever be acceptable