BlogPoll Ballot Week 9

College football's eighth week is but a stitch in the tapestry of the 2K10 season. Another "#1" (well BCS'ly speaking) bites the dust, another fair sample of absurd upsets, and The Vest taunting us over just how good this team can be. From a polling standpoint, things are starting to align themselves pretty clearly and with but a few exceptions, we have clear groups of zero loss, one loss, two loss, etc. teams. Over the next 5 weeks we should have an even more winnowed/focused idea of who college football's best are. in the interim, here's our thoughts on where things stand. As per usual, feel free to point out how wrong we are.

1		Hosted UCLA for Homecoming and beat the snot out of them in prime time Thursday evening 60-13. LeMichael James had another strong showing rushing for 123 yards and 2 TDs while Remene Alston added 3 TDs of his own rushing. Next up: at #24 USC, 8:00.	--
2		Cam Newton had a nationally televised Heisman candidacy declaration party, rushing for 217 yards, 2 TDs, and looking like a grown a** man version of Denard Robinson. Auburn will still have to get past Alabama if they want to stay this high when December rolls around. Next up: at Ole Miss, 6:00.	3
3		Bye Week. Next up: Louisiana Tech, Tuesday at 7:00.	1
4		Got off to a slow start, but absolutely shutdown what had been the nation's best rushing offense in defeating Air Force 38-7. Air Force finished the afternoon with 184 yards rushing, no 100 yard rusher, and only the 7 points to show for their effort. Next up: at UNLV, 11:00.	1
5		Trailed huge early but showed the resiliency that's part of the reason they're still unbeaten, taking down jNWU 35-27. A crazy, falling catch gave Sparty the go ahead score and a late (spread covering) score helped them put some distance between them and the 'Cats. Next up: #18 Iowa, 3:30.	2
6		The question going into this weekend wasn't whether or not Missouri was solid, but it was whether they had the D to finally move up into that very good-to-great echelon. Capitalizing on a few timely Oklahoma mistakes and not reciprocating by hurting themselves in the same capacity, and we have our answer. Gary Pinkel is free to check out and return all the movies he needs. Next up: #13 Nebrasaka, 3:30.	10
7		Took it to Colorado State all afternoon to the tune of 59-6. Ultimately accumulated 648 yards of total offense in the rout. Jordan Wynn had his best game of the season, completing 23/29 for 321 yards and 3 TDs. Next up: at Air Force.	1
8		Faced some opposition early, but ultimately pulled away in what turned into a fairly one sided affair, beating Tennessee 41-10. Trent Richardson rushed for 119 and a TD while Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram tacked on 88 of his own and 2 scores. Next up: Bye Week, then at #15 LSU, 8:00 that Saturday.	1
9		While the Cardinal is off to their best start in 40 years, they got there after a lackluster effort against Wazzou, winning 38-28. After leading 31-7, Stanford let the Cougars climb back into it while tacking their foot after the gas pedal. Andrew Luck continued to show why he may be the top pick in next year's NFL Draft while running back Stepfan Taylor carried the rock 27 times for 142 yards and 2 TDs. Next up: at Washington, 7:00.	1
10		After benefitting from the apparition that had possessed Les Miles for the last several years taking hold of Kirk Ferentz' body, won as time literally expired 31-30. John Clay was up to his old tricks rushing for 91 yards and 2 TDs. Wisconsin may need some help by virtue of losing at the wrong time should MSU/Wisconsin/Ohio State all finish with 1 loss. Next up: Bye Week then at Purdue the following week.	1

11		Came out like a team possessed and let a weeks worth of frustrations out on a hapless Purdue side 49-0. Terrelle Pryor had a few not exactly choice picks but had a solid effort on the afternoon overall. Still BCS aspirations and a conference championship to play for. Next up: at Minnesota, 8:00.	1
12		Went into Columbia, Missouri, shot themselves in the foot at the least opportune times, and ultimately put themselves in position to become the latest #1 to go down, falling to Missouri 36-27. If not for a touchdown 6:06 to go, this one wouldn't have even been as close as it ultimately was. Next up: Colorado, 9:15.	8
13		Bounced back from their loss to Texas showing nothing resembling a hangover putting up half a century on and beating Oklahoma State 51-41. Taylor Martinez reacquainted himself with the land of tangible offenses throwing for 5 TDs. A de facto Big XII north championship game in the conference's final year with divisions (and a championship game for that matter) is their reward. Next up: Missouri, 3:30.	--
14		No Nick Foles? No problem. Arizona took Washington behind the woodshed absolutely beating the Huskies down 44-14. Relplacement QB Matt Scott completed 18-of-22 passes for 233 yards and 2 TDs in the win. Next up: at UCLA, 3:30.	--
15		Appears that ol Les dislodged the horseshoe that had been stuck up his hind parts as despite a plucky effort, fell to Auburn 24-17. The offense never really got going for the Bayou Bengals as Jordan Jefferson (you know, the part-time quarterback) finished as the team's leading rusher with 74 yards to his name. Next up: Bye Week, then the regression to the mean continues hosting #8 Alabama the following Saturday.	7
16		Bye Week. Next up: Thursday night at North Carolina State, 7:30.	2
17		Fell victim to a revitalized Nebraska offense on far from former Ohio State assistant coach Bill Lewis' proudest day. Kendall Hunter had a nice little afternoon in the losing effort, rushing for 201 yards and 2 TDs. Next up: at Kansas State, 12:00.	--
18		Full disclosure here, our first draft of this, well, draft, excluded the Hawkeyes. But hey, if Kirk Ferentz and Ricky Stanzi can forget how to manage a game in the final seconds, anyone can have a simple brain fart, no? In a matter of minutes, the Hawkeyes went from in the driver seat as perhaps the best positioned team to make the national title game with one loss to needing to win out to even keep Rose Bowl hopes alive. Next up: vs #5 Michigan State, 3:30.	3
19		In a game heavily delayed by lighting interruptions, Arkansas and Ryan Mallett did just enough to get past Ole Miss, 38-24. Keith Davis him himself an afternoon rushing for 176 yards and 3 TDs in win. Next up: Vanderbilt, 7:00.	--
20		Let Vanderbilt hang around for what seemingly felt like forever, but pulled away late to win Saturday evening 21-7. Stephen Garcia actually finished the afternoon with 355 yards and 2 TDs to his name despite the lack of scoring. Next up: Tennessee, 12:21.	--
21		In what was supposed to be a test game for both teams, Miami looked every bit the team many thought they would be going into 2K10 putting the hurt on North Carolina 33-10. 30 unanswered points (including 3 Jacory Harris TDs) ultimately proved too much for Butch Davis' suspension decimated side. Damien Berry added 109 and a score in the effort. Next up: at Virginia, 12:00.	--
22		Virginia Tech continues to lay the hurt on ACC opposition, this time beating down David Cutcliffe's Duke side 44-7. Tyrod Taylor completed 13/17 for 280 and 3 TDs as the Hokies led 27-0 at halftime. Next up: Bye then a Thursday night date with Georgia Tech.	3
23		Bye Week. Next up: #1 Oregon.	--
24		The Baylor Bears appear in the BlogPoll for the first time ever after clinching bowl eligibility in a 47-42 victory over Kansas State. Robert Griffin III completed 26/38 yards for 404 yards 4 TDs and 1 INT while Jay FInley tacked on just 250 rushing yards and 2 TDs (including an 82 yard scamper) in the victory. Next up: at Texas, 7:00.	--
25		Dom Davis kept the Pirates doing their Mike Leach-lite thing beating down Marshall 37-10. Dom Davis kept the Pirates doing their Mike Leach-lite thing beating down Marshall 37-10. Next up: at UCF, 3:30.	--
Dropouts: North Carolina Tar Heels, Texas Longhorns
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