BlogPoll Week 8 Ballot

By Luke Zimmermann on October 17, 2010 at 5:10p

Remember how terrific last week was? Well this was the exact opposite. Ohio State served up the ass, Nebraska made their forthcoming Big Ten inclusion look a tiny bit less sexy than it did a week prior, and Michigan aside, no one of any real consequence we wanted to go down did. The SEC looks more likely than ever to still be probable to have a national title contender (very likely if the Auburn/'Bama winner is able to prevail over the pedestrian East in the title game) and Iowa all the sudden has many of us nervous. Lame.

As always, if we made a DERP, don't hesitate to point out where and why.

1 Bye Week. You're pretty much picking straws to determine a #1 as any of the top 4 or 5 are viable candidates. Next up: vs. UCLA/Pistol Rick, Thursday night at 8:00pm. 1
2 The favorites to top the first BCS standings released later this evenings, the Broncos rolled into San Jose and put an absolute beat down on the SJSU Spartans 48-0. QB Kellen Moore continued his dark horse Heisman candidacy going 14/16 for 231 and 2 TDs. Next up: Bye week, then @Louisiana Tech, Tuesday, the 26th, 8:00pm. 1
3 TCU got off to an awfully slow start taking almost 3 quarters before their offense finally got going before finally laying BYU to rest 31-3. Andy Dalton superficially inflated his stats late, finishing 24/36 for 273 yards and 4 TDs. Rest assured, the Horned Frogs some real question marks under center. Next up: Air Force, 8:00pm. 1
4 Perhaps the most style point rich on both side of the ball performance amongst the Top 5, OU played host to a team that put up 52 two weeks prior and promptly shut them out. OU also put up 52 in their own right in a complete beat down of Paul Rhodes' Iowa State Cyclones. OU's clearly in the drivers seat for the final Big XII championship game in the league's history. Next up: @#16 Missouri, 8:00pm. 1
5 Gus Malzahn promptly back handed those in Fayetteville that called for his ouster in years priors laying the wood on Arkansas 65-43. Cam Newton was other worldly going 10/14 140 and a TD while also rushing for 188 yards and 3 TDs. Next up: #8 LSU, 3:30pm. 2
6 Da Utes dominated from the early goings until the final whistle routing Wyoming, 30-6. Jordan Wynn's 3 INTs are a cause for concern going forward but Matt Asiata's 109 rushing yards helped the Utes outgain the Pokes 431-183. Next up: Colorado State, 6:00pm. 2
7 Sparty let Illinois hang around a big longer than perhaps a team of their stature should, but got the job done to the tune of 26-6. Kirk Cousins left a little to desire going just 13/24 fo 201 and a scor eand the running game was non-existant but they did just enough to win convincingly. Next up: Northwestern, 12:00pm. 2
8 Oh, Les. LSU flirted with disaster against McNeese State before finally pulling away and winning 32-10. Survive and advance, no? LSU's entire season should be more clearly defined by this time next week. Next up: @#5 Auburn, 3:30. 2
9 Alabama failed to ever truly break away from the Rebel/Black Bear Alliance, but they did outscored and outlasted Ole Miss, 23-10. Ingram and Richardson combined for just 105 yards and 0 TDs. Could definitely provide a blue print for future opponents going forward. Next up: @Tennessee, 7:00pm. 3
10 Bye week. NExt up: Washington State, 5:00pm. 3

11 Got off to a rocket fueled start against Ohio State and didn't panic when things got tense late. Showed their offensive line is the class of their conference (and probably the league) in exposing another sub standard Ohio State defensive line. Next up: at #15 Iowa, 3:30pm. 6
12 Ohio State got exposed, simple as that. Credit where credit's due: they didn't quit and actually showed fight despite a huge deficit. Maybe the first (and only) time you can say that about a Tressel coached Buckeyes team facing an uphill battle. Will have much to correct if they wish to end the season in a BCS bowl. Next up: Purdue, 12:00pm. 11
13 Were run over all day by a surprising Texas rushing attack and ultimately fell, 20-13. Taylor Martinez will have to get better after Bo Pelini was forced to bench the true frosh facing a 3+ TD deficit and having no faith in his ability to pass them back into the contest. Special teams ultimately kept them in that one. Next up: @#17 Oklahoma State, 3:30pm. 7
14 After losing starting QB Nick Foles for the next 2-3 weeks to injury, backup Matt Scott did just enough going 14/20 for 139 and a pick to keep Arizona in position to win comfortably. They did just that downing the Cougars 24-7. Won't have long to feel sorry for themselves with a suddenly hot UDub team coming to town next week. Next up: Washington, 10:15pm. 1
15 Went into Ann Arbor and did precisely what Michigan could not: play defense. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos had a phenomenal afternoon and Michael Meyer's 30-yard field goal with 2:53 closed the doors on the Wolverines' shot at an upset. Next up: #11 Wisconsin, 3:30. 1
16 Went into College Station and absolutely embarassed the Ags, 30-9. Blaine Gabbert was in rare form going 31/47 for 361 yards and 3 TDs. Will have to get the running game going (just 56 total yards) if they want a shot at the Big XII north. Next up: #5 Oklahoma, 8:00pm. 4
17 Brandon Weeden wasn't quite stellar (24/35 for 356 1 TD but 2 INTs) but Kendall Hunter (25 carries for 130 and a TD) and Joseph Randle (17 for 95 and a score) were electric in helping the Pokes to an easy 34-17 victory in Lubbock. OSU's legitimacys should be tested with Nebraska coming to town next. Next up: #13 Nebraska, 3:30pm. 8
18 Florida State never looked good but did enough to outlast Boston College 24-19. Christian Ponder was wildly inconsistent going 19/31 for 170, 2 TDs, and 3 INTs but they dug deep and found enough to get the W. Next up: Bye week then Thursday night at North Carolina State, 7:30pm. --
19 Arkansas gave up 60finity points to a red hot Auburn offense falling to the Tigers 43-65. Ryan Mallett went down with a concussion but is expected back next week. Next up: Mississippi, 12:30pm. 5
20 A week after downing then #1 Alabama, South Carolina served up a steamy pile of fail in their own right, falling to Kentucky 31-28. The OBC had a late chance to things up but instead played for the win which resulted in a decisive Stephen Garcia INT. Next up: @Vanderbilt, 7:00pm. 9
21 Miami started slow against the Dukies, but came to their senses when it counted, ultimately prevailing 28-13. Jacory Harris was mostly mistake free, going 17/34 for 224 and a TD. Next up: North Carolina, 7:30pm. 2
22 Beat the snot out of Mike London's 'Hoos, 44-10. I get the reaction, but  it's not like Kansas State, Northwestern, or Mississippi State are more deserving. Plus these guys have 2 losses and had chances to win against both LSU and GT. While his behind may still be 'so fired', credit Butch Davis for rallying around the troops amidst losing many of their best players. They'll have every chance to oust the 'Canes in Coral Gables next week. Next up: @#21 Miami, 7:30. --
23 Ran all over Nebraska and ran the clock to keep Nebraska's offense off the field at the end ultimately pulling it out 20-13. The offense looked alive for the first time all year (and why wasn't Garrett Gilbert being run before this one?) Next up: Iowa State, 12:00pm. --
24 Hosted Skip Holtz' South Florida Bulls and did what they needed to prevailing 20-6. Geno Smith was in rhythm going 24/31 for 219 and 2 TDs. Next up: Syracuse, 12:00pm. --
25 HATERS GONNA HATE. VT keeps doing their thing and in many estimates may still be the front runner to take the ACC. Beat the heck out of Wake Forest 52-21. Next up: Duke, 12:00pm. --
Dropouts: Nevada Wolf Pack, Michigan Wolverines, Air Force Falcons, Florida Gators
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