1. Oregon Ducks - Contender
I love my Utah Utes through and through, but if Utah isn't considered for the national championship(which they won't be) than this is the team I want to win it all. Let's face it, Oregon has been blowing people out and they've made it look easy. Sporting the best uniforms in the country and having rid themselves of the off the field issues that remind us of the Utah State Prison, Chip Kelly has his boys flying around. Everybody talks about LeMichael James but Darren Thomas might be the best kept secret in the country. Nobody talks about Thomas because James steals the show. Kind of like on Friends where everybody talks about Jennifer Aniston but Courtney Cox is clearly the more attractive women and deserves at least half the credit. All Thomas has done is throw for more than 1,500 yards with 17 TD's and 5 INT's. Why is no one talking about him? You better start talking about him because the Ducks are for real.
2. Boise State Broncos - Contender
This will be the toughest paragraph I will have to write in my entire life besides maybe my living will. People that know me know that I can't stand Boise St but I do give credit where credit is due. Now with that being said, Oregon State & Virginia Tech are respectable opponents but we've yet to see Boise State face a real test. Kellen Moore is probably the most complete quarterback in the country and his offense shows no weaknesses. I'm curious to see how Boise State matches up with an opponent that has speed on both sides of the ball. There isn't a team in the country Boise St couldn't play with but should they be considered for the national championship? Probably not, but if they were to go, they'd definitely compete. On completing this paragraph, I've successfully tasted alcohol, who knew Jack and Coke was so good.
3. Auburn - Contender
Someone tell me where the hell Cam Newton came from? Oh wait, he was recruited by Urban Meyer at Florida but didn't play because of some guy named Tim Tebow. Urban Meyer might be the best recruiter we've ever seen. Cam Newton is now the #1 front runner for the Heisman Trophy and he deserves every accolade he gets this year. I watched him single handily win games against LSU and Arkansas. I promise you he's that good. He reminds me of when I was in 4th grade and we had to play against the 6th graders in football at recess. This 6th grader would just mow over people, except me of course. I assure you I bet my lunch card at recess that the kid couldn't mow me over, and I assure you I doubled up on my chocolate milks every day. Auburn is having it's best season since 2004 when they were screwed out of the national championship. And it's all thanks to one Mr. Cam Newton. I'm smelling the Ducks vs the Tigers in the national title game as long as Newton stays healthy or some crazy Alabama fan doesn't Tonya Harding him.
4. TCU - Pretender
Watching TCU this year, I haven't been all that impressed with Andy Dalton. Jordan Wynn from Utah is beating him in passing efficiency and is on track to be Mountain West Conference Offensive player of the year. I'll tell you who does scare me is Ed Wesley and Jeremy Kerley. Kerley is the best kick returner in the country besides Shaky Smithson and Wesley is the best back nobody has ever heard of. Gary Patterson though knows how to get the most out of his teams every single year, one of the most underrated coaches in the country. TCU unfortunately showed it's true colors against Boise State last year in the Fiesta Bowl and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I've got them losing to Utah on November 6th but know they can play with anyone in the country.
5. Michigan State - Pretender
What a story out of East Lansing. Their coach has a heart attack after beating Notre Dame on a fake field goal and then keeps his team rolling through the Big Ten. The only problem is the Big Ten just isn't that good this year. Ohio State wasn't who we thought they were (cue Dennis Green) and Wisconsin I'm still not sold on. If there is one team on this list that I'd love to see have a Cinderella season, it would be Michigan State. Let's be honest, they've been pretty lucky this year. A fake punt to beat Northwestern and a fake field goal to beat Notre Dame. They need more production out of Kirk Cousins and not rely on the running game so much. Let's just be happy that there is one Michigan program that does things the right way. You hear that Rich Rod? Ya, I went there.
6. Alabama - Contender
Remember when Alabama lost to South Carolina? Well here they come and they aren't slowing down anytime soon. They are a contender up until they play Auburn and then I think Cam Newton takes care of them. Whoever wins the Alabama vs Auburn game will be playing in the national championship. Mark Ingram is healthy and he's running like Rand Sargent towards an Apple product, which in terms means like a bad out of hell. And of course there is Nick Saban, who even though is an a-hole, is one of the best coaches in the country (Note: Kylie Minogue just came on my playlist - I've missed her.) Alabama will always bring two things to the table when you play them : 1. One hell of a running game. 2. A defense that will pop you in the mouth. Don't be surprised if they are in the SEC title game or national title game.
7. Missouri - Pretender
I was surprised Missouri beat Oklahoma last night but I'm still not sold on them. Oklahoma did not look like a top 5 team last night and most of that credit deserves to be given to Missouri. If Missouri goes into Nebraska and beats the Huskers than you can mark them down as contenders. Right now, I have Nebraska beating them but not by much. Blaine Gabbertz is a stud and their defense might be more underrated than Clubber Lang in Rocky 3. I'd like to see Missouri attack down field more, they have the athletes to do it, and they have the quarterback to do it. They still have tough tests left with Nebraska and Oklahoma State on the slate. If they win those than you can book them a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
8. Utah - Pretender (for now)
Utah can't possibly be good right? Hell they haven't played anyone, the best test they had was at Viewmont High. So no good correct? WRONG! Utah is good and here is a few reasons why. They are ffffffaaaaaaasssssssssstttttttt and this is probably the best offense they've had since 2004 if not better than 2004. QB Jordan Wynn has another year under his belt and knows the offense in and out. Their defense was supposed to be bad this year and rebuilding but they've just managed to be in the top 10 in total defense. Their kick returner Shaky Smithson is the best in the country when he's not fumbling the ball around like a drunk at a party fumbling his 40. Kyle Whittingham loves the fact that nobody is talking about his team, he likes sneaking up on people. We will find out how good Utah is when they travel to Air Force and when TCU visits Salt Lake City on November 6th.
9. Wisconsin - Pretender
Solid wins against Ohio State and a great win on the road against Iowa but to me they don't have the horses yet. Scott Tolzien is a great quarterback but he isn't a quarterback that will go out and win you games. If Wisconsin can't run the football they are in serious trouble. Without the running game there is not play action and without play action you have a one dimensional football team. Their only loss came on the road against Michigan State and it doesn't seem they really have any tough tests left this season. Mark my words, if they go to the Rose Bowl this year, they will get blown out, I assure you.
10. Ohio State - Pretender
Ohio State was exposed badly against Wisconsin but then all of a sudden come out against Purdue and just punched them in the mouth. The jury is still out on Terrell Pryor, is he accurate enough to be a great quarterback? We know he can run the ball like crazy but has yet to show he can be an efficient pocket passer. Question marks on the defense have to be a concern, they were absolutely shredded by Wisconsin's running game. One thing we do know is that Senator and Coach Jim Tressel always has teams that rebound and find themselves in a BCS bowl. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ohio State playing in the Rose Bowl or Fiesta Bowl.
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