The Sports Headquarters

Well there’s only one week remaining in the CFB season. Next time you hear from us we’ll be giving you our Final Top 15 and some BCS Bowls preview. So be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, there’s still a week to be graded here. Its turning to December which means Championship Week in College Football. Heading into the biggest games of the year, we here at The Sports Headquarters are here to tell you where the teams stand in regards to their chances of BCS glory. And we do this because we have a grasp not on the BCS Top 15, nor the coaches or AP, but the ACTUAL Top 15. We didn’t name it the Superior Systems Rankings because it sounded catchy. We were brutally honest with you up front. This is the legit Top 15. Doubters beware…

You may not agree with us, you may not understand us, but you damn sure will be entertained…..this is the SSR Rankings for the Week of 11/29:

1. Auburn Tigers- 30 points (Bryan: 1st, K.M: 1st) Last Week- 2nd

Bryan: Im a man of my word. Frankly, you probably had a strong case to be #1 before this week given the resume, but I leaned more towards my eye test than my resume criteria. Im not going to be blunt, that is the greatest comeback I’ve ever seen in College Football (pro sports aren’t comparable). Maybe not point-wise. Maybe not in terms of team to team talent. But in terms of shock factor. I’ve never been so stunned in my life in a CFB game. To compare it to a boxing analogy, Alabama didn’t just punch Auburn in the mouth. They kicked them in the stomach, gouged their eyes out, and then ripped their manhood off them. Auburn was down for a 9 count, hanging onto a rope. One more jab and they were done. And then it began. Alabama just let you off the ropes with all their turnovers in the red zone and defensive mistakes. The biggest play to me was the Ingram fumble. That drive had 28-0 written all over it. But like any good team, excuse me GREAT team, Auburn fought back. I could feel it at half. Only up 24-7, I said “they should be up a lot more, looks like the Clemson and Georgia games.” But I still didn’t believe it would happen. We’re talking about Alabama. Nick Saban team. In BRYANT-DENNY! The resume’ is complete. Wins over LSU, Arkansas, Alabama, Miss St., South Carolina. Nobody can match that resume’. This team just has a magical feel to it. Like they can’t lose. The number of bullets they’ve dodged all year, its like they are destined to win the title. Cam Newton sowed up the Heisman. The race ended this past weekend with that comeback. I don’t care if LeMichael James goes for 800 yards and 7 TD’s on Saturday. Cam Newton is the Heisman winner and more than likely got his team into the title game. A ridiculous win that still has me shaking my head. I picked Bama, and once Bama went right down and scored, forced a 3 and out, and hit Julio Jones for a 14-0 lead (and as I told you in the Sexy Six, if they wanted to Julio Jones could have had 250 yards), I said “This game’s over.” And I firmly believed it. As great as Newton and the O was in the 2nd half, how about some love to the D? Myself and everyone around the country knew how poorly they had played all year and I would have bet my house Bama would score more than 3 2nd half points. Their D won them that game.

Trending: None. Im going to say something I didn’t think I’d say: WIN OR LOSE, AUBURN SHOULD PLAY FOR THE TITLE. I don’t care if they lose the championship game. They’ve already beaten South Carolina. They’ve beaten ALL the top SEC teams. Its clear as day at this point, Auburn is the best team in the SEC regardless of what happens Saturday. I love TCU, but they have had nowhere near the challenge Auburn has had. In fact Auburn’s won about 5 games that are better than any win TCU owns. Official SEC champs or not, Auburn has won the best conference in America in my eyes and it would be a shame if they were punished for losing what amounts to an extra game. If they hadn’t played South Carolina, thats one thing. But when your unbeaten and have beaten the team your playing in the conference title game, then its an exhibition in my eyes. They will be a Top 2 team in my eyes regardless of what happens next weekend.

K.M: After an improbable win (given the first half) over arch-rival Alabama, Auburn is the best team in the nation. Not in talent. Not in excellence. But in resume. You can find teams that have better players. You can find teams that execute better, make better coaching decisions, play better defense, have more explosive offenses. But you cannot find a resume HALF as good as Auburn’s. That is the underlying reason they are #1. They’ve earned it on the record. Nobody can talk smack to Auburn. No team has done what they have done. It’s honestly just that simple. I have no clue how this team is undefeated. Frankly some of the greatest teams of the last 5-7 years would have lost a game on Auburn’s schedule, teams that I would lay 13 points with on the field vs. this Auburn team. But this Auburn team is undefeated on that schedule. You can hate on the SEC all you want, it’s murderers row. It’s the AL East, NFC East of years ago, and the NBA Southwest all rolled into one. They’re indeed that damn good. And Auburn played every one in the SEC worth playing, and they rocked them all. Unbelievable achievement. You are #1, Auburn. I bow to your amazing achievement so far this year.

Trending: Hmmmm…..all Auburn does is prove me wrong, but damn if I don’t think this team loses the SEC title game. Am I hater? Probably. But holy crap, what a beartrap this SEC title game is. Auburn is coming off an amazing, emotional, improbable win. They just became #1. They have their eyes on the national title game. And only a 3 SEC loss South Carolina team that they have already beat stands in their way. How can Auburn take this team seriously? How does Auburn have a good week of practice? Believe me, South Carollina is in all likelihood going to break out the A game for Auburn. South Carolina may never play for the SEC title in my lifetime. Granted I’m a smoker, but still, this is not a team that wins the SEC East. This is once in a lifetime for the South Carolina program. They will be ready…I think they’ll do it. If Auburn proves me wrong again, so be it.

2. Oregon Ducks- 28 points (K.M: 2nd, Bryan: 2nd) Last Week- 1st

K.M: I don’t like what I see out of the Ducks lately. They don’t look as dominant. The bruising offense that used to take over games late now seems more lucky, the wins just don’t seem as dominant. Since the Cal kickoff, this team has been in a funk. I still think this is the best football team in the land, just with a resume so inferior to Auburn’s that Oregon should have NO complains about being #2, but it’s not as clear to me as it used to be. I want to see Oregon crush the Beavers and make me a believer again. I need a reaffirmation of faith, faith I never had in them going undefeated, I admit, but the faith that their offense is so superior it can win games vs. anyone. Oregon needs to punch Oregon State in the mouth. Hard. For me.

Trending: Top 2. They arn’t losing, the game they lost was the Cal game, and they won it. Does that make sense? I don’t care.

Bryan: Nothing you did this week to drop in my books Oregon. All about Auburn. Frankly, though I still consider you the best team in the land, when a team wins as impressively as they did and their resume’ stacks up as favorably as theirs does to yours, then it begins to overwhelm my eye test. Nothing more you could really have done to Arizona. Once that game in Alabama went final, you were sliding to #2 at least, lower if you lost. Another Oregon Duck-like win. Start slow, hang around, and then dominate the 2nd half. Im not sure how many more times you can get away with that, specifically if you play Auburn in the title game. 9 years out of 10 LeMichael James would be a strong Heisman-winner candidate but not the way Newton’s played this year. Some people were foolish enough to suggest you would lose on Senior night against a medicore Arizona team who I regrettably was high on earlier in the year. Resume’ still isn’t great. OOC wasn’t very challenging, though a 3 TD win over Stanford right now looks great. In my opinion with Stanford and TCU being the only two teams who could probably pass you, I almost am tempted to put you guys in my Top 2 next week win or lose as well. But Im not sure I would do that. You might not have the resume’ to overtake an unbeaten TCU in my book. Wisconsin maybe goes over you in my ballot with a loss too. Just take care of business this weekend and you’ll play for the title.

Trending: None. They should and will handle Oregon St. with ease. Chip Kelly won’t let you guys blow it at this point. You guys are too good and Oregon St. is limping to the finish line. Worst case you go to the Rose, but lets be serious, even as prestigious as the Rose Bowl is, that would be one devastating consolation prize at this point. Make me proud and win so I can pick you to win the title. One last request too, any chance I can catch you guys in those yellow jerseys again? Love those….

T-3. Wisconsin Badgers- 25 points (Bryan: 4th, K.M: 3rd) Last Week- 6th

Bryan: Did what I expected you to do to a Northwesten team without its starting QB and who can’t stop the run. And that is hang big points. Albeit more than I expected. Since when do Big Ten teams put up 83 and 70 points in a 3-week stretch. And on their “down-week” they dropped 48. Where did this come from? Anyways, good resume’. Strong win over Ohio St., good win over Iowa. Understandable loss. This is probably the best team over the last month. They’ve been dominant and some teams are probably grateful as hell that there isn’t a playoff. This team would be hell to play right now. Came out with the highest ranking in the BCS of the Big Ten teams this week. Which is the right thing, and I don’t care about who has past opponents playing this weekend. Wisconsin should be the highest-rated Big Ten team next Sunday as well. This team belongs in the Rose Bowl. Frankly, I think MSU is getting hosed, owning a win over one of the two teams they’re tied with while Ohio St. didn’t beat either, but thats for later. Wisconsin-TCU is the matchup I want as I said, and Im pretty sure we’re going to get it. Should be one hell of a game. Behind Stanford in the BCS, even if Oregon or Auburn slips up, I can’t see them hopping two teams to get to the title. Barring last minute mind changes (which with them, TCU, and Stanford off, I can’t see why there would be) Wisconsin is going to the Rose Bowl.

Trending: None. They won’t be passed or pass anyone in my ballot. Your season is over. Enjoy your BCS bowl. Nobody can catch you.

K.M: If I was NCAA Football God, and Auburn lost, and they came to my doorstep and said “NCAA Football God, who do you feel is the second best team in the land right now?”, I would say Wisconsin. Because I am not going to excuse a Auburn loss when the national title is so close to them. If Auburn was playing LSU or Arkansas in the SEC title game, then sure, I’d probably excuse it. But I will not write off a loss to South Carolina. And Stanford? Hell no. No huge win. TCU? I’ve had them 3 for a long while now. But honestly, their wins are about as good as Stanford. Wisconsin has the big wins. Wisconsin has the monster offense. Wisconsin looks like a team that deserves to play in the national title game right now. TCU and Stanford and a possible 1 loss Auburn are excellent teams. But if Auburn was to fall, I give Wisconsin the edge. Wisconsin figured something out, this isn’t about amatuer athletics and sportsmanship and all that other hooey that the NCAA says. This is competation. And Wisconsin is competing all over fools right now. Domination. I love it. I really do. You want me to like you, beat someone by like 50 points. That is how it’s done. Play, score, win.

Trending: For me, a chance for up. For reals, the Rose Bowl.

T-3. TCU Horny Frogs- 25 points (K.M: 4th, Bryan: 3rd) Last Week- 3rd

K.M: What can I say, TCU? You are a team I have the utmost respect for. You look great on the field. You beat all comers. Sadly for you, all comers sucked. You are like the guy who manages 12 McDonalds, and dominates as McDonalds manager, and then thinks you can apply for a 5 star restaurant manager job. Tough for you, you don’t have the proof you can handle it. “BUT I DOMINATED AT MCDONALDS!”, you say, and I say, well, go dominate at TGI Fridays for a while. That’s why I’m so glad that TCU joined the Big East. Hell will all this non-AQ raging against the machine. If you are a non-AQ stud, become a stud in a big 6 conference. Don’t try to change the BCS from the outside, go get in a BCS conference. It’s EASY. Everyone is changing conferences. The BCS are the rules we play by. The Big 6 conferences get all the advantages. So go join one you moron small schools! Otherwise I won’t cry for you when you aren’t allowed to play for all the marbles, because you are the tools that refuse to play the game. TCU’s president and AD deserve a HUGE raise for getting into the Big East. They did the smart thing, and stopped trying to change the rules, instead playing by them and going to a place where they can earn title shots. I’m not saying the Big East is a better conference. It’s terrible. But it gives you a automatic spot in the BCS and a chance to play for the national title. It’s just fact. Thank you, TCU. I wish you well in the Big East.

Trending: Unlikely to make my final top 2

Bryan: I love this team. I honestly do. I really wish they could get a BCS CG spot if one of the top two fell, but I can’t agree with it. I certainly think they go before Stanford whose #4 in the BCS. Stanford has no great wins either. Wisconsin was one real good win over Ohio St. and one decent win over Iowa. But I don’t think its overwhelming enough to push them past an unbeaten TCU in my eyes. TCU is a damn good team. I hope they get Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl which is all but guaranteed if they don’t play for the title. I don’t want to see them get some game against a team whose not up for it. Wisconsin will be jacked up for the Rose Bowl. So will TCU. We’ll get to see first-hand how TCU stacks up against a heavyweight. You all know my thoughts on Wisconsin. You beat Wisconsin right now TCU and you are a lock for my #2 at the end of the year. And you get the credit Boise has been getting as a major player. Winning huge over New Mexico obviously does nothing for you with me. They’re 1-11 now. As I’ve said 100 times, I don’t hold the SDST close win against you. SDST is a good team. Problem is all your big wins fell off. Baylor, Oregon St., Utah. 3 games at the start of the year were promising wins turned out to be very below average wins. None of them are recognized as big now as they were when it happened, which is what happens when you have to schedule AQ teams at the start of the year. You didn’t get the benefit that Boise did of having an AQ team run their conference. Your wins were to teams who fell apart. Mountain West still isn’t a terrible conference but its not the PAC-10, Big Ten, Big 12, and not even close to the SEC, so as much as I love you guys, I have to lobby for others. Like I said, if Oregon goes down, Im putting you guys in. If Auburn loses, I have to stick with an Auburn-Oregon title.

Trending: None. Where would they go? Nobody behind them is playing and adding any great wins. Your only moving up 1 spot at most in my final poll. Your pretty much finishing my last ballot next week here. Great season. Should be the Rose Bowl or NCG.

5. Ohio St. Buckeyes- 21 points (Bryan: 5th, K.M: 6th) Last Week- 7th

Bryan: Well they were 7th last week, and two of my Top 5 go down so they move up. Nobody behind them catches them. A drubbing of Michigan as I expected. My beef with this team as I said is they didn’t beat either of the teams they tied for the Big Ten title with, and in fact lost to a Wisconsin team that Michigan State beat. I realize Ohio St. is probably better and would probably beat Michigan State. And hell, Im guilty of what I rip others for, but even with my ranking of Ohio St. over Michigan St., if it were up to me, I’d still give the 2nd Big Ten BCS bid to MSU. Let Ohio St. play in the Capital One Bowl against LSU. I mean hell their OOC schedule looks terrible now given Miami crashed and burned and just fired their coach. And in conference, they lost to the only other team with a winning conference record that they played. It will be interesting to see next year if Terrell Pryor comes back for his senior year if this team can finally get over the hump with him and make the NCG. Its looking like they will be going to the Sugar or Fiesta where they would likely play Arkansas or the Big 12 winner. In either case, a very good game.

Trending: None. Like Wisconsin, nobody will pass them this weekend or drop below them. Oregon’s going no lower than 3 in my book. Auburn no lower than 2. Congrats on a great season Ohio St. See you in about 5 weeks.

K.M.: OSU is going to a BCS game. OSU has no wins over ranked teams. OSU’s resume sucks. OSU and Michigan State should have to play this week as a BCS qualifier game. That would be awesome. Instead OSU gets the tiebreaker over MSU for no good reason. That’s stupid. Wisconsin is the Big 10 champ, and Wisconsin is the Big 10′s best team, I believe both of those without question. But MSU has a right to say they are #2 and prove it on the field. Clearly, I think OSU would win that game. Part of the reason OSU has no wins over ranked teams is because OSU only played one ranked team, in their building, and lost. Asking OSU to win in Madtown is asking a lot. But still, I like them over MSU on the eyeball test. But it’s stupid we have to debate this. A BCS qualifying game would be awesome as hell. Someone should invent this out of nowhere. Like, yesterday.

Trending: Nowhere!

6. Arkansas Razorbacks- 20 points (K.M: 5th, Bryan: 7th) Last Week- 12th

K.M: Great home win for Arkansas over a good LSU team. Here is the deal with spot #5 for me. If you asked me right now who is more deserving of a BCS bid, Arkansas or Ohio State, I’m taking the Razorbacks. It’s mighty close. Arkansas has the second loss, but they have wins I like WAY more. And on a neutral field, they are about equal. I’ll give the nod to Arkansas on the resume test. This team earned a BCS bowl game all the way, they got the talent, the wins, and the product on the field. They are very fun to watch play and showed that they are only getting better with a surprising ground performance vs. a staunch LSU defense last week. They are playing, in my world, like a top 5 team. So I’ll put them there.

Trending: Staying right here.

Bryan: Hey, did I tell you I would take care of you if you beat LSU? Not only did you make me look good in the Sexy Six (though I regretably didn’t take you guys against the spread, just SU), but you did it convincingly. Great performance to solidify the 2nd spot out of the brutal SEC West. All of it without Greg Childs as well which was even a bigger mark for you in my mind, moreso than the last few games he’s been out. The passing game moved the ball well against LSU as I expected and I was very impressed with Knile Davis who kept the LSU D on edge all game. Like I’ve said a few weeks now, not to be repetitive, but both of your losses are understandable and you have a decent OOC win over Texas A&M, though its not as good as it would be now with Tannehill at QB. Razorbacks fans are becoming huge Auburn fans this weekend as an Auburn win likely means the Sugar Bowl for Arkansas. A loss means South Carolina and Auburn get the two BCS spots from the SEC and Arkansas plays likely the Capital One Bowl. A tremendous season for the Razorbacks and like Ohio St., depending on what Mallet does this offseason, if he returns, they become a serious threat to win the SEC next year. Kid can chuck it right now like few others.

Trending: Probably staying put. SLIGHT chance I bump you over Stanford depending on how I feel next week, but Im pretty set on my rankings for teams that aren’t playing. It would take some eye test review for me to change my mind at this point.

7. Stanford Cardinal- 19 points (Bryan: 6th, K.M: 7th) Last Week- 8th

Bryan: I am slowly becoming more impressed by this team the more I see them. Their offense is as efficient and perfectly run as any team in College Football. Andrew Luck probably takes Kellen Moore’s spot in the Heisman ceremony now that Boise lost. The one thing that bothers me about the BCS having them over Wisconsin is they don’t own a great win. Their toughest game they lost by 3 TD’s to Oregon, though I think everyone agrees if they lined up tomorrow it would be a much closer game. But after that, what is there? Not much. OOC they played nobody. Notre Dame has looked better towards the end of the year, but still isn’t a very good football team. In the PAC-10 you beatdown Arizona who lost basically to any team with NFL talent they played. You beat a USC team who lost to Washington and got smoked by Oregon St. You beatdown an Oregon St. team at home without their best receiver. Stanford legitimately has NO GOOD WINS. NOT ONE. What is it that the coaches see that I’m missing? because the basis of this ranking is heavily weighting the eye test. Because the resume’ doesn’t stack up to most teams in my SSR Top 15. They are very TCU-like. I couldn’t put them in the title game. I hear people saying “if Oregon or Auburn loses, could Stanford at #4 jump TCU and play for the title?” Two problems I have with that. 1) If Oregon loses and them and Oregon have 1-loss, are you really going to put them over an Oregon team who beat them by 3 scores and otherwise both teams have pretty much the same resume. 2) If Auburn loses, are you going to put them over an Auburn team with a much better resume’ to play a rematch of a game we already saw that turned into a blowout? In both cases, I think thats clearly no. TCU will go to the title before Stanford. Im almost sure of that.

Trending: See Wisconsin and Ohio St.

K.M.: Stanford lost to #2 Oregon. Stanford beat Arizona, who is somehow ranked. And that’s it. They also got a game out of USC, who just lost to ND, and Arizona State, who gives people games, I give them that, but still are not very good. The more I think about this team, they belong around 7th. Beat a ranked team, or at least try to play a good OOC game like OSU did with Miami. In the end, with a full resume done, they are who I thought they were. I had them 8 last week, 2 teams above them lost, Arkansas showed me something, they end up 7. Just how it goes. BCS worthy? Sure. But not the 4th best team in the land by ANY stretch. The BCS is very wrong on this one.

Trending: Nowhere!

8. Michigan State Spartans- 16 points (K.M: 8th, Bryan: 8th) Last Week- 11th

K.M: Michigan State has a huge win over my 3rd best team, Wisconsin. Michigan State got their doors blown off at Iowa City against an Iowa team that we all overranked this year. MSU also had a few close calls vs. bad teams. I think OSU is better. That’s all there is to this. On a side note, Bryan killed me on this team with last week’s rankings. He had them 10. I had them 12. Clearly, he was right-er (I did have Arkansas ahead of them, though, which we both agree on now, so I get a close loss here). That makes me 0 for 15 this year predicting anything about MSU, and him 1 for 15 I guess. But congrats to him for nailing it and losing the MSU goose egg that I still carry. This team frustrated us all year long, and in a small way that makes me ok with them not going to a BCS bowl, because I have a new found hate for them (oddly, I hate their basketball program too, although at least that’s a super quality team I give mad credit to every year and know is awesome).

Trending: Nowhere!

Bryan: Realistically is this team better than LSU? Probably not. But MSU is like Johnny in Math class who gets a 99 on every test but Sally Jones gets 100′s and all the golden stars. So Im throwing Johnny a star. The Spartans have had a terrific season. Its really cruel that they can have one of their best seasons in program history, lose only one game, finish the year in the Top 10 of the BCS and yet they won’t go to a BCS Bowl. Any why is that? Because they don’t travel well. And they’re not as prestigious as Ohio St. And because some coaches don’t vote them as highly. I understand all this, I really do. Bowls are about money, and well, Ohio St. = more $ than Michigan State. But MSU deserves a damn BCS Bowl! They own the best win of any of the 3 Big Ten teams over Wisconsin. Wisconsin has a good win over Ohio St. Ohio St……well I already told you, they didn’t beat anyone impressive. Their marquee wins have 5 losses (Iowa, Miami). And one of those schools just fired their coach. Spartans may not have been dominant all year, in fact they struggled down the stretch against some not so talented football teams, but Im not here to be picky about one of the few one loss teams in the country. The Big Ten might not be the SEC, but its also not the Big East. So props to Michigan State for your season and its too bad you won’t reap the full benefits.

Trending: None. Staying put next week.

9. LSU Tigers- 14 points (Bryan: 9th, K.M: 9th) Last Week- 5th

Bryan: How far can I really drop this team? Not that far. They’re still to me an elite CFB team and if anything, its more a credit to them that they finish 3rd in the SEC West which sounds ridiculous but just how tough is that division? The Mad Hatter didn’t have the tricks this weekend and that TD on the last play of the first half was a complete backbreaker. If this team just had a better QB situation, they might be unbeaten. Defense is still among the nation’s best and they can run the ball. Just can’t throw the ball which is what I banked on when I picked Arkansas straight up in last week’s Sexy Six. The Bama win continues to lose steam with their implosion this year. Would take this team on a neutral field against 90% of the nation and thats why they are as high as they are. Capital One Bowl maybe for them against Michigan State? Has to be frustrating losing what was all but a guaranteed Sugar Bowl spot if Auburn wins this weekend.

Trending: None. Noticing a trend? If you don’t play this weekend your probably staying put unless teams in the conference title games win.

K.M: Tough loss for LSU, who were outplayed in all areas by the Razorbacks in Arkansas. But still, this is a very good team with 2 excusable losses and some solid wins. I hope they get the Cotton Bowl.

Trending: Nowhere!

T-10. Virginia Tech Hokies- 11 points (K.M: 11th, Bryan: 10th) Last Week- 13th

K.M: You still lost to James Madison. That is sorry. But you have won 10 straight. ANOTHER 10 WIN SEASON FOR FRANK BEAMER OMG HE IS THE BEST! God I hate this stupid program. I never should have went to college. Thankfully for me, this is going to be an excellent weekend. Because here is a dirty little secret. Florida State OWNS the Hokies. Always has. VT hasn’t beat the Seminoles outside Blacksburg since 1974, during which time the Hokies are 1-13 vs. the ‘Noles. I think FSU was still an all-girls school then. Which it would be wise for Tech to start rescheduling, considering James Madison proved to be too tough a foe this year. But me and my hate digress. FSU always beats VT in the big game. I fully expect that to continue.

Trending: Straight to hell.

Bryan: Pass 3 of the 4 teams that lost in front of them. Nothing major about this weekend’s win. Everyone knew they would beat up on Virginia who is one of the bottom-feeders in the ACC. ACC is not exactly Murderer’s Row this year but only three other major conferences (PAC-10, SEC, MWC) had their champ go unbeaten in the league so that has to count for something. Coastal at the start of the year I thought was the tougher division but by season’s end I might say it was the Atlantic. Could be in the national championship race if they had beat Boise in Week 1. Has to sting a bit now looking back. My colleague hates his alma mater but I have to be fair. They may not beat everyone behind them, but the resume’ gives them a slight nod over some 2-loss teams. Not all. Looking forward to see them against Florida State in the ACC Championship Game. FSU has had their number for a while. We’ll see if VT can buck that trend.

Trending: Up a spot or two if they win. Good chance they’ll be out or at the very bottom of my SSR if they lose.

T-10. Oklahoma Sooners- 11 points (Bryan: 11th, K.M: 10th) Last Week- N/R (17th)

Bryan: This is the Oklahoma team that I had ranked #1 at one point of the season. Finally they’ve got it together on the road down the stretch here which bodes well for them heading into this weekend’s Big 12 title game. Landry Jones and the offense have been prolific for a few weeks now, though Oklahoma St. and Baylor aren’t just poor-man’s Nebraskas but more like bankrupt-man’s. Defenses are atrocious. Oklahoma looked for a while like they were going to do their usual big game flop when they let OKST back in it late but rebounded. Resume’ still isn’t tremendous but its respectable enough. Yes, A&M did beat them and I do have Oklahoma again, but thats what happens when one team gets credit for the division title and the other doesn’t. I don’t make the rules, I just bend them. Im feeling good about this team right now which is always a sign to bet against them. Good win this weekend in the Bedlam Series Oklahoma.

Trending: Up. I have them beating Nebraska. I’m very confident about that. Which puts them in the Fiesta against probably the Big East champ which should be a snoozefest but hey, when you’ve had the BCS history Oklahoma has had in recent years, you don’t get picky about the quality of your opponent.

K.M: Ok, Oklahoma. You win this round. Won at Okie State in a shootout, earned a Big 12 title game where you are going to get all the calls like it’s a WWE match with a crooked referee who fast counts Nebraska’s shoulders to the mat and screws them (and I’m good with that when it happens, by the way), and earned a spot in the BCS. You, in the end, probably are the best team in the sorry Big 12. Your coach is a choke artist, your talent is overrated, but nobody else can compare to what you accomplished. I give you credit for a pretty good schedule overall, daring to take a few non-conference tests, and you win the Big 12 One Ranked Team Of The Week Award!

Trending: If the lose to Nebraska, straight out. If they win, nowhere!

12. Nevada Wolfpack- 8 points (K.M: 12th, Bryan: 12th) Last Week- N/R (16th)

K.M: Hey, nice win last week, Wolfpack. Big underdog win in OT where they manned up and took the game in the 4th. Sure, they got lucky, but that was an impressive comeback from a team that easily could have gave up. I give them respect. 11-1 is a fine season, deserving of praise. How does #12 sound?

Trending: Level.

Bryan: Good win Friday night. And Im very grateful which is why Im putting you here. I don’t think your better than Alabama, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Nebraska, hell even Boise. You should have lost that game. How you can give up that deep pass at that point in the game is the difference between your league and any credible league. Hail Mary’s happen. Long tipped passes happen. But not people just flat out running by you on the last play when the ONLY way you can lose is to give up a huge pass. I have no idea where you guys are going to a bowl. You guys did look good I will say that. Not 12th best in the country-good. But better than I gave you credit for. Still I can’t give you a ton of love for the oppositions kicker having a Nate Kaeding moment. So Im going to stop now.

Trending: None or down. If South Carolina or Nebraska win this weekend, they’ll probably jump you. The polls can tell me your one loss to Hawaii was to a Top 25 team. I don’t have to believe it.

13. South Carolina Gamecocks- 6 points (Bryan: 13th, K.M: 13th) Last Week- 15th

Bryan: Seen enough of you guys this year. Offensive talent on the team is very good. Marcus Lattimore probably cost me a CFB Fantasy title with his subpar game vs. my Clemson Tigers. Still, as much as it pained me to watch it, I saw the beating coming. Our offense sucks. Like LSU, the Bama win was huge at the time but is losing steam. Has Alabama beat anyone good this year? You have an enormous opportunity this weekend to knock off Auburn in a rematch. You had them on the ropes before, so no reason you guys shouldn’t be confident. BCS Bowl on the line. Not a ton left to say other than goodluck and I certainly wouldn’t object to seeing more BCS chaos this weekend.

Trending: Up to around 10 if you knock off Auburn. Out if you lose. Its that simple. I don’t keep 4 loss teams in my ballot.

K.M: Read the Auburn write up for my thoughts on the SEC title game. Meanwhile, I still like this team. Garcia, Lattimore, Jeffery. That’s all they really got, but that is a nice trio when Garcia is on. Garcia’s insane mobility should cause Auburn’s D some problems. When I say insane mobility, I literally mean he shuffles around like a mentally unstable person in the pocket. It’s a joy to watch. Like a car crash involving people you hate. I’ll shut up now.

Trending: Down, or else they are going to make my nowhere’s be a lie and jump a couple teams.

T-14. Florida State Seminoles- 2 points (K.M: 14th, Bryan: N/R) Last Week- N/R (20th)

K.M: Why are two ACC teams ranked? Because I refuse to rank more then one big 12 team, that’s why! FSU is a talented team, though. No denying it. And I’m glad for it. BEHOLD YOUR FUTURE ACC CHAMPIONS!

Trending: Up!

T-14. Boise St. Broncos- 2 points (Bryan: 14th, K.M: N/R) Last Week- 4th

Bryan: Just a moment…..Hahahahahaha…….Ok. Im sorry. Im not going to be as harsh as my colleague and boot you guys. I’ve seen you guys a few times. You certainly are a good team who for ONE game can play with probably anyone in the country, but lets put to rest this talk they could win the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, PAC-10, hell even the ACC. I didn’t buy it then and I don’t buy it now. There’s legitimately two legit opponents in your league this year and you couldn’t even beat both. How’s Kyle Brotzman feeling right now? Hell, hope there’s not a Columbian Soccer player moment from this. But seriously, those two kicks sent Boise from an outside shot at the title game to some meaningless bowl against some piss-poor BCS school. Has to sting. REAL BAD. Nonetheless, in my mind this team is still a Top 15 team in the land. I just can’t give you much love with that schedule if you slip up. Same with Nevada. They’ve reached their ceiling. Most teams with 1-loss that had beat the #4 team in CFB would be in my Top 5. But not WAC schools. Your slate isn’t tough enough.

Trending: Potentially out if Nebraska wins and Florida State wins, depending on how I feel about the losers of those games when they’re done. But yea, your credibility has been shot Boise.

Next 5:

Texas A&M
Alabama
Nebraska
Oklahoma St.
Mizzou

And now, a little speech from the Miami Hurricanes fan on his beloved program….

K.M: Hell with the next 5. The season is all but over. Instead, enjoy my predictions for the Miami Hurricanes based on what coach they hire.

If Gruden shows up in Miami:

2011: Miami wins the ACC
2012: Miami wins the national title
2013: Miami wins the national title while setting a new scoring record
2014: Miami (under a new coach) wins the national title with the greatest cast of talent ever assembled in college football
2015: The start of another near decade of irrelevance in Miami

If Mike Leach shows up in Miami:

2011: Miami wins 1 game as Jacory Harris sets an NCAA record with 71 interceptions.
2012: Miami wins 7 games under a freshman QB that nobody has ever heard of, who throws 50 TD’s and 50 interceptions
2013: Miami wins the first of 4 national titles over 6 years, as the ACC is unable to stop such a dynamic passing attack that features the athletes Miami can offer
2019: Miami gets the death penalty for electrocuting a kid in a tool shed for breaking his arm, then Miami becomes a rogue pirate college, and randomly attacks other teams during games like a WWE bad guy stable making a run-in on the main event.

If Miami hires anyone else:

2011-2016: Miami sucks. Still.

Thank you for your time.