A few of you have asked if USF could sneak back into the top 25 after a 30-19 win against No. 20 West Virginia, and given that the Bulls had zero votes in last week's rankings, it's unlikely to see USF back in the national polls this week.
That's not to say they don't deserve consideration. I figure at least three teams will drop out of the Associated Press top 25 -- No. 20 West Virginia, No. 21 South Carolina and No. 24 Mississippi, who all lost this week. No. 14 Virginia Tech, taking its third loss to an unranked North Carolina team, could drop out as well.
So who picks up those three or four spots in the rankings? BYU had the next-most votes and was off, so that's a safe bet, and I think California and Wisconsin, both 6-2, should rejoin the rankings. Based on last week's votes, Texas Tech or Clemson would make sense, but both have three losses and just one win against a ranked team.
What two-loss team could sneak in to the last spot in the polls? USF has a strong resume, with two wins against ranked teams and both its losses to top teams -- I project Cincinnati at No. 4 in the new poll and Pittsburgh at No. 13, jumping ahead of a Houston team with defensive issues. West Virginia is 6-2 but lost to USF; Rutgers is 6-2 but hasn't beaten anyone of consequence. Central Michigan is 7-2 but coming off a loss, so they won't pick up ground in the polls.
My guess is that a three-loss Virginia Tech, Texas Tech or Clemson team will make it in at No. 25, though USF should be close enough in vote-points the Bulls could move in during a bye week. Polls should be out shortly, so keep checking back ...
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
The BE is the smallest BCS auto conference. With only one consistent powerhouse team, WV. Each of the other conferences have at least two powerhouse teams. So we are always behind the 8ball on discussions. The fist contract for Auto was when the BE had VT, Miami and BC. ND takes away from BE only in football. But also it seems they are playing more BE teams this year. I wonder why?????
Rankings or not we need to win out to get to a respectable bowl game. We are still not bowl eligible and neither is Rutgers. Makes for a nice game.
Posted by: Bill B. | November 01, 2009 at 02:10 PM
Finally, the D we saw at FSU showed up again. And thank God - someone on the coaching staff has gotten through to the players on those penalties!
I hope they keep this attitude going for RU. I am sick of losing to them and watching Schiano chop wood on the sidelines.
Posted by: KBull | November 01, 2009 at 02:02 PM
We've got to win a few more (and lose no more) to get back into the Top-25.
That aside, I think the pollsters are biased Against the Big East. After attending the game and watching it (DVR) today, even the announcers appeared biased agaist the B.E. in disucssing whether an undefeated Cincy (along with several non-BCS teams) should play for the National Championship over a one-loss Texas, USC, or SEC team. We are a BCS conference. Two Points:
1. The B.E. should NOT be included in that conversation as we are a BCS conference while the others are NOT.
2. If Cincy remains undefeated and there is only one other undeated BCS team, Cincy and that team should play. The B.E. is either IN a BCS conference or Not.
I am a Rabid Bull Fan, but also want to see ALL Big East Teams do well. Cincy is our ONLY chance for a National Championship team (if they remain undefeated). So Go Bearcats.
On another note, re: Musical Running Backs. I think Plancher clearly established himself as the one who can get the job done. Let's use him as our Feature Back.
Posted by: Accountability | November 01, 2009 at 01:56 PM
2 moderates, 3 fluffs, 1 ok win. Not much of a body to work from. If we go unbeaten the rest of the season we shall be in the teens. Beating RU should get us to 23, Louiville will depend on how good of a win. Miami will put us in the teens and beating UConn will keep us there. Any loss and we will finished likely unranked or barely ranked.
Posted by: Bill B. | November 01, 2009 at 01:35 PM
Greg, are you seriously trying to throw logic into the polls? LOL ....
Posted by: Dres | November 01, 2009 at 01:31 PM
We're 6-2, have lost only to high-ranking teams, and have beaten two moderately ranked teams. Our strength of schedule is still low, but improving. I think we should be 20-25, but probably won't because it seems that the voters just drop the teams that lose and raise those that don't, rather than actually thinking about their rankings and teams' whole bodies of work.
Posted by: Ken | November 01, 2009 at 01:02 PM
Coaches poll has us at 26 and WV at 27. Not too bad and if we continue the rankings should show.
One thing that should be noted is we had a good game, good crowd with the bowl excecs there to watch.
Posted by: Bill B. | November 01, 2009 at 12:59 PM