| DesertSAPPER's Top 10 |
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| This week's big games |
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| All the cool helmet designs are due to the creative talents and abilities of Charles Arey, who manages the helmet project site. His artwork is awesome, and he makes it free to use. Thanks Charles! |
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| POOL RANKINGS |
| 1. 2. 3. |
| Brooks |
| Crain |
| Kozak |
| Weekly W-L-T |
| Total Points |
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| Next week's big games |
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| *Changes in Bold |
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| CHAMPIONS |
| 2000 Kozak 31-24-0 2001 Kozak 36-30.5-24.5 2002 Crain 33.5-29.5-17-4.5 2003 No Champion - 2 Deployed 2004 Crain 51-35-31 |
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| 15 October |
| Florida @ LSU Wisconsin @ Minnesota Colorado @ Texas USC @ Notre Dame Florida St @ Virginia |
| #6 Alabama (5-0) 31 Florida (4-1) 3 After what the Gators have been able to do this season so far, their visit to Tuscaloosa Saturday came as a bit of a surprise. Not only did the Bama D keep Chris Leak under 200 yards through the air and force 2 INTs, but Brodie Croyle looked nearly flawless, going 14/17 for 283 yards and 3 TDs. Can the Tide keep this up? They are fortunate enough to play host to all of the big players in the SEC but Auburn, but they do have to play Tennessee and LSU. An undefeated Crimson Tide could make things really interesting in December. Likely voters won't allow the same thing that happened to their cross-state rivals last year happen to them this year. Next Week: Idle |
| #1 USC (4-0) 38 Arizona State (3-2) 28 USC could have lost this past weekend in Sundevil Stadium, but they didn't. Arizona State relentlessly pursued QB Matt Leinart, one hit allegedly coming late. Leinart complained about the hit in a subsequent press conference, but the fact remains that USC is still Number 1. ASU apparently had some defense to go along with that high-powered offense. The problem was that both teams played better D than they are used to playing. USC may not have "anything to fear" from cellar-dweller Arizona this week in LA, but one must wonder if Defensive guru Mike Stoops can take Leinart out of his game the same way their state rivals did. It may not matter either way if Arizona can't produce when they have the ball. Next Week: v. Arizona (1-3) |
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| #2 Texas (4-0) 51 Missouri (2-2) 20 Missouri matched Texas for one quarter (minus an extra point), but Vince Young proved to be too much for the Tigers in the end. The Longhorns routed Mizzou in the game before they face archrival Oklahoma in Dallas. It could be interesting, as Oklahoma showed some spark of life in their offense, routing K-State 43-21 last weekend in Norman. The Sooner rushing defense is ranked third in the nation. If UT can overcome Oklahoma, they have a relatively straight shot to Pasadena. Next Week: v. Oklahoma (2-2) |
| #3 Va Tech (5-0) 34 West Virginia (4-1) 17 The Hokies staved off a potential season ruiner in Morgantown (anybody remember two years ago?), and Marcus Vick showed his dynamic potential by throwing for three TDs against the Mountaineers. The Thundering Herd are having a down year, so it may be a nice tune up game before the bye week. Next Week: v. Marshall (2-2) |
| #4 Florida State (4-0) 38 Syracuse (1-3) 14 Throwback uniforms may not be enough to bring the 'cuse back. The Orange just does not have the talent yet to compete with the big boys, and the Seminoles proved it. It was not as ugly as it could have been, but it was close. Florida State hosts Wake Forest this week, and may not have another real test until they travel to Clemson near the end of the schedule. This team has a ton of talent, if not the experience, and it may be enough to get them at least into the ACCs first Championship game. Next Week: v. Syracuse (1-2) |
| #5 Georgia (4-0) Idle Next Week: @ #8 Tennessee (3-1) |
| #7 Notre Dame (4-1) 49 Purdue (2-2) 28 This Irish team has offense, which should come as no surprise with the arrival of Charlie Weis, but it must have been a surprise to Joe Tiller, who is used to coming out on top in high-scoring games. The Boilermakers don't have a solid replacement quarterback, but who would have thought Brady Quinn could throw for 440 yards in a game when the season began? Notre Dame is looking more like they can take on USC now, and the bye week and home crowd could be a big help. Next Week: Idle |
| 8 October |
| Oklahoma v. Texas Georgia @ Tennessee Cal @ UCLA Ohio State @ Penn State Texas Tech @ Nebraska |
| #8 Ohio State (3-1) Idle Next Week: @ #9 Penn State (5-0) |
| #9 Penn State (5-0) 44 Minnesota (4-1) 14 Joe Pa is surprising everyone. He landed two big highschool studs and they are starting, and they are turning in some tremendous performances. Derrick Williams (for some he was the number one prep player in the country last year), who has been praised for his receiving skill, scored as a running back twice in this game to put the Lions up big early. Justin King, another prized recruit, had a relatively quiet game after scoring on a 37 yard reception last week against Northwestern. The real story for this Penn State team is that they were able to hold Minnesota star running back Laurence Maroney to his lowest rushing total in a year. Additionally, senior quarterback Michael Robinson and running back Tony Hunt each rushed for over 100 yards in this game. The Nittany Lions will need all of their homefield advantage and a flawless performance this week against the Buckeyes if they hope to keep their Big 10 title hopes alive. Next Week: v. #8 Ohio State |
| #10 Tennessee (3-1) 27 Ole Miss (1-3) 10 The Vols had a bit of a hangover in the second half against the Rebels, but their first half surge was enough to secure a solid victory in Neyland. Riggs was virtually unstoppable enroute to 125 yards on the ground with an early TD. Clausen was not quite as remarkable as he was in the OT win at LSU on Monday, but he performed adequately enough with 18/35 and 205 yards with no turnovers. They may need a little more when they play host to a very good Georgia Bulldogs team this weekend. Next Week: v. #5 Georgia (4-0) |
| Week 6 |
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