BlogPoll Ballot Week 5

73 points. Wait, there were other games played nationally this past weekend? I kid; college football's fourth week failed to disappoint as Alabama-Arkansas laid claim to potential game of the season, Oregon outlasted Arizona State in a shootout, and both Boise State and TCU continued on their marches to possible MNC and BCS berths respectively. So how do all these teams shake out? As per usual, we try to pretend we have some sort of hyper analytical powers (the kind of powers that come with DirecTV/Time Warner's College GamePlan package and multiple TV setups, undoubtedly) and make sense of everything out there. If we made any obvious blunders, let us know so we can fix this puppy before the ballot turns into a pumpkin.

1		Needed a late rally to get past #14 Arkansas 24-20; was helped greatly by the debonair ways of Ryan Mallett and "the family arm." Mark Ingram was back to his Heisman ways exploding for 157 yards and 2 TDs while Trent Richardson added on 85 rushing yards of his own. Next up: #9 Florida, 8:00.	--
2		The most evil game in Jim Tressel's tenure as Buckeye's head coach. The Buckeyes exploded for 645 yards and 73 points in a 73-20 victory. The Silver Bullets hardly played up to their usual brilliance and undoubtedly provided much for Heacock and the staff to work on in the week leading up to the conference opener. Next up: at Illinois, 12:00.	--
3		Got caught in a shootout visiting Tempe and Arizona State; ultimately prevailed 42-31. LaMichael James had 28 carries for 114 yards and a TD, but the Ducks defense did give up 597 yards. Will have to get the defense right in a hurry with their biggest challenge of the season coming to town next weekend. Next up: Stanford, 8:00.	--
4		Conventional wisdom dictated that the Oregon State Beavers would be Boise's final true obstacle in the quest for perfection. Reality wasn't far removed but the Broncos found a way to out pace the other other OSU when it counted most, ultimately winning 37-24. Heisman candidate Kellen Moore was 19/27 for 288 yards and 3 TDs on the evening. Next up: at New Mexico State, 8:00.	--
5		TCU looked on their heals for nearly 3 quarters before pulling away and prevailing over June Jones' SMU Mustangs, 41-24. QB Andy Dalton struggled for the second time in three weeks throwing two picks, but two Wayman James touchdowns and a decisive defensive score helped TCU make the score look more wide open than perhaps it actually was. Next up: at Colorado State, 2:00.	--
6		The Tree came, saw, and absolutely beat the living snot out of Notre Dame 37-14. Andrew Luck wasn't his normal brilliant self, but halfback Stepfan Taylor chipped in 108 yards rushing and FB/LB Owen Marecic scored from each side of the ball in the win. The de facto Pac-10 championship may come next weekend as the Cardinal travel north to Eugene. Next up: at #3 Oregon, 8:00.	3
7		Another week, another bizarrely close Oklahoma victory. This time the Sooners outlasted Cincinnati (on the shoulders of their best performance in the young season) 31-29. Landy Jones completed 36/51 for 370, 2 TDs, and a pick and after falling behind 24-9, the Bearcats continually kept clawing their way back into making the contest closer than perhaps it should've been. Though they didn't suffer the fate of their next week opposition, the Sooners still clearly have much to work on. Next up: #19. Texas @ the Cotton Bowl, 3:30.	--
8		Perhaps the bye week couldn't come soon enough for Big Red. The "T-Magic" ran out for Taylor Martinez as the true frosh quarterback completed just 6/14 passes for 140 yards, 1 TD, and a pair of interceptions. He added 75 yards on the ground on 13 rushes but was ultimately benched late in the 4th quarter as Nebraska struggled to put away FCS South Dakota State 17-3. Next up: Bye Week.	2
9		Florida finally put together their first relatively impressive performance of 2K10 taking Kentucky to task to the tune of 48 14. Backup QB Trey Burton looked like a baby Tebow scoring a University of Florida record 6 TDs in the victory. Florida will have to see if their offensive anemia's been cured with the defending national champs up next. Next up: at #1 Alabama, 8:00.	1
10		Auburn got into South Carolina starter Stephen Garcia's head and Cam Newton completed 16/21 passes for 158 yards and 2 TDs while also adding 176 on the ground and 3 TDs essentially single handedly topping the Gamecocks, 35-27. The Tigers get a bit of a breather next weekend with a Fun Belt opponent looming on the horizon. Next up: Louisiana-Monroe, 12:00.	5

11		Arizona scored late to take down Cal 10-9. 'Zona QB Nick Foles found Juron Criner on a 3 yard fling to clinch this one and keep Arizona in the Pac-10 championship mix. After taking down Iowa and the Golden Bears in successive weekends, the Wildcats will get an extra week to prepare to go on the road to Corvalis to take on the Beavers. Next up: Bye Week.	2
12		Bucky Badger scored a school record 70 points as Wisconsin pounded Austin Peay 70-3. James White carried the ball 11 times for 145 yards and 4 TDs before everything was said and done and the Badgers got their last tune up before heading into Big Ten play. Next up: at #21 Michigan State.	2
13		Miami brushed off the cobwebs of a week layoff following their moral victory at Ohio Stadium and absolutely waxed what appears to be a truly woeful Pitt team 31-3 on Thursday night. Jacory Harris threw for 248 yards and 2 TDs but had the interception bug bite him two more times in the victory. Next up: at #23 Clemson, 12:00.	3
14		Arkansas' Ryan Mallett couldn't stop completing passes to Alabama in the tail end of their high profile clash with #1 Alabama and ultimately fell victim to the Crimson Tide 20-24. Arkansas' offense should be more than good enough to keep them in the SEC West race for the remainder of the season, but questions will linger defensively after getting shredded by 'Bama's talented rushing attack. Next up: Bye Week.	3
15		After seemingly putting together the best team of his time at South Carolina, the Ol' Ball Coach was up to his old tricks late, benching started Stephen Garcia in the waining moments of Saturday evening's 27-35 loss to Auburn. Much like Arkansas, the Gamecocks will get to spend an extra week rediscovering themselves before they play host to #1 Alabama and try their luck against the defending national champs. Next up: Bye Week.	3
16		The Hawkeyes avoided the MACtastrophy that afflicted conference hated rival Purdue (lulz) blowing the doors off Ball State 45-0. Despite the loss of tailback Jewel Hampton for the season, Iowa (behind the leadership of patriot/freedom fighter Ricky Stanzi) kept the hurt on the Cardinals all afternoon en route to the easy win. They won't be able to rest on their laurels for long with a huge showdown with Penn State next weekend. Up next: Penn State, 8:05.	1
17		Much like Florida, USC finally appeared to come into their own beating down hapless Wazzou 50-16. Matt Barkley completed 16/25 passes for 290 yards and 3 TDs (though he did struggle somewhat with touch, throwing two picks before everything was said and done). SC will have a chance to avenge last season's upset loss in Seattle with Steve Sarkisian's Dawgs coming to town next week. Next up: Washington, 8:00.	2
18		Utah looked like one of the big dogs in absolutely smothering have not San Jose State 56-3 in Salt Lake City Saturday. Sophomore QB Jordan Wynn completed 14 of 18 attempts for 124 yards and 2 TDs in the effort. The Utes final season in the Mountain West may not be as challenging as some past efforts if their play on both sides of the ball carries into league play. Next up: Bye Week.	--
19		Texas finally laid an egg defensively to go along with what's been a season long offensive issue. Blame will abound to offensive coordinator Greg Davis, though Will Muschamp deserves just as much heat for the embarrassing 34-12 to UCLA. Pistol Rick and company opened up a pandora's box of self doubt with a one game season essentially looming next week for the 'Horns. Next up, #7 Oklahoma @ Dallas, 3:30.	11
20		If you'd been frozen cryogenically for the last year and woke up during the second half of Saturday's affair with Bowling Green, you'd likely think nothing had changed and that Tate Forcier had been cruising as Michigan's QB since this point in time last year. None the less, filling in for an injured Denard Robinson, Forcier looked like the Mr. September monicker he earned a year prior in helping lead Michigan to a cozy 65-21 victory. Robinson and Forcier (who was also injured in the contest) are expected to be fine going forward; no word on the status of the lobotomized defense. Next up: at Indiana, 3:30.	--
21		Despite head coach Mark Dantonio's absence as he recovered from a heart attack, Kirk Cousins and company stepped up and stepped up big as Sparty horsewhipped undermanned Northern Colorado 45-7. They won't have much time to dwell on their success with a crucial matchup with Wisconsin a week away. Next up: #11 Wisconsin, 3:30.	--
22		LSU outlasted West Virginia in a bizarre sloppy fashion that saw former SEC arm punt conference champion Jarrett Lee close things out as the Bayou Bengals took the redneck war 20-14. Despite an undefeated record on the season, LSU is unquestionably one of the more shaky bets out there game in-game out. Next up: Tennessee, 3:30.	1
23		Bye Week. Next up: #13 Miami, 12:00.	1
24		Nevada rolled into Provo and waged a Holy War of their own absolutely dominating the Cougars 27-13. The 'Pack pistol whipped BYU all afternoon as Colin Kaepernick completed 16/25 for 196 yards, a TD, and an INT while also rushing for 82 yards and a TD. Next up: at UNLV, 10:00.	1
25		Following the Wolfpack are... The Wolfpack. NC State made their claim for Top 25'dom with a resounding 45-28 victory over Georgia Tech moving their regular season mark to 4-0 on the year. Russell Wilson and co. threw for 368 yards and will need another big performance with Virginia Tech, fresh off a redemption shutout over Boston College, on the docket next. Next up: Virginia Tech, 3:30.	--
Dropouts: West Virginia Mountaineers
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