EXAMINER TOP 25
Oregon, Auburn fight for No. 1
Who’s No. 1? It’s not easy judging between a spectacular Oregon team that has literally sprinted to seven straight wins in a defenseless conference and a well-rounded Auburn squad that has won five of eight games by one-possession margins playing in the nation’s toughest league. Auburn vaulted from No. 5, past Boise St. and TCU, which was inevitable given the Tigers’ more rigorous schedule in the SEC. With its home upset of Oklahoma, Missouri made the biggest move, jumping from No. 18 to No. 9. A better test of the Tigers’ fitness for the top-10 will come Saturday at No. 18 Nebraska.
| Team » Comment » Pvs Rank 1. Oregon (7-0) » Three tough road games remain — USC, Cal, Oregon St. » 1 2. Auburn (8-0) » Little doubt that QB Newton is the Heisman frontrunner » 5 3. Boise State (6-0) » Does Louisiana Tech (3-4) pose threat Tuesday (ESPN2)? » 2 4. TCU (8-0) » Soph. RB Wesley (207 yards) outgained AF by himself » 3 5. Alabama (7-1) » With Auburn on sked, does Bama still control destiny? » 7 6. Michigan St. (8-0) » At NW, D’Antonio did it again with a gutsy fake punt » 9 7. Wisconsin (7-1) » DE J.J. Watt has been a force in Badgers’ last two wins » 10 8. Ohio State (7-1) » No Purdue upset this time, Buckeyes dominant 49-0 » 11 9. Missouri (7-0) » Last team to beat them was Navy, 35-13 in Texas Bowl » 18 10. LSU (7-1) » After bye, chance for Tigers’ redemption in Tuscaloosa » 6 11. Utah (7-0) » Utes’ victims so far have a combined record of 14-39 » 13 12. Oklahoma (6-1) » At Mizzou, Jones came up small in 4th quarter (0 for 7) » 4 13. Florida State (6-1) » FSU’s ACC Atlantic theme song: Del Shannon’s ‘Runaway’ » 12 14. Stanford (6-1) » Last time Cardinal started 6-1 Plunkett was QB (1970) » 15 15. Arkansas (5-2) » QB Mallett was KO’d for the second straight week » 16 16. Arizona (6-1) » Backup Scott (18-22, 233) out-did Locker (17-29, 183) » 17 17. S. Carolina (5-2) » At Vandy, halted a seven-game SEC road losing streak » 21 18. Nebraska (6-1) » Flunked home test vs. Texas, but get another vs. Mizzou » 20 19. Miami (5-2) » Impressive running and passing vs. tough UNC defense » 25 20. Iowa (5-2) » Against the Badgers, Ferentz had a Les Miles moment » 8 21. Oklahoma St. (6-1) » Cowboys can’t lasso Huskers’ Martinez in 51-41 loss » 14 22. Miss. State (6-2) » Ranked for first time since ‘01, ‘Dogs nearly lost to UAB » 23 23. Virginia Tech (6-2) » After bye comes the hard part — GT, at UNC, at Miami » NR 24. USC (5-2) » Detestable Kiffin makes an unfortunate return to Top 25 » NR 25. Baylor (6-2) » Dynamic QB Griffin III is second to none in the Big 12 » NR |
HEATING UP
Missouri; Also » USC, Wisconsin
COOLING DOWN
LSU; Also » Iowa, Oklahoma
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 9 Missouri at No. 18 Nebraska
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel might want to call Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema, because his Tigers will try to accomplish what the Badgers just pulled off — beating the nation’s No. 1 at night and at home, then going on the road for an afternoon game against a ranked conference foe with a vaunted defense. The difference — Wisconsin has slightly more pedigree. But Pinkel is out to change that after clearing a huge barrier, beating OU for the first time in his 10 seasons.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Matt Barkley, USC, QB
Because No. 24 USC is ineligible for the postseason and pollsters have been quick to penalize the Trojans, Barkley has had a quiet season despite stellar numbers. It won’t be so quiet Saturday night, however, when he and the Trojans host No. 1 Oregon. The losses for USC (5-2) have come by a combined three points and Barkley (1,869 yards, 20 touchdowns), a sophomore, ranks No. 6 in the FBS in passing efficiency.
STORYLINES
1. Auburn’s the one » Of the nation’s undefeated teams, Auburn has played the toughest schedule. That was the verdict of the BCS computers, which have vaulted Auburn from No. 4 to No. 1 in the BCS standings after the Tigers’ 24-17 win over LSU. Now will Auburn suffer the same fate as last week’s surprise No. 1, Oklahoma, a 36-27 loser Saturday to Missouri? Major-conference unbeatens Michigan State and Missouri have moved up to No. 5 and No. 6 respectively in the BCS standings and will overtake non-automatic qualifiers Boise State and TCU if they can win road games against ranked teams Saturday.
2. Badgers’ rare double » No NCAA team has a more eye-opening pair of back-to-back wins than Wisconsin’s handling of then-No. 1 Ohio State, 31-18, followed by Saturday’s 31-30 victory at then-No. 8 Iowa. After losing six straight times to ranked Big Ten foes, coach Bret Bielema has overcome the big-game stigma. Saturday, against his alma mater, Bielema paved the way with his bold decision to run a fake punk from his own 26. Punter Brad Nortman’s 17-yard run straight up the middle ignited an 80-yard drive, culminated by Montee Ball’s eight-yard touchdown run with 1:06 left.
3. BCS muddle » With unbeatens from BCS conferences dwindling rapidly, the question now on the horizon: Will a power conference one-loss team jump undefeated non-BSC conference teams in the standings? It happened last year when one-loss Florida was No. 5 in the final (pre-bowl) rankings, one slot ahead of undefeated Boise State. What seems more obvious each week is that there will be no clear-cut championship game this year. The BCS has gotten lucky in the past, but it will be tougher to set up a satisfying consensus title game this year, especially with the anti-BCS factions beating the drum for Boise State, TCU and Utah.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
Dedicating the game to OT Pete DeSouza, who suffered two broken legs in a moped accident, the Terps (5-2) broke a 10-game road losing streak, 24-21 at Boston College as Antwine Perez had two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Maryland (5-2) can become bowl eligible with a win over Wake Forest (2-5).
Up next » vs. Wake Forest, Sat., 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
NAVY
The Midshipmen had their most complete performance this year with a 35-17 domination of Notre Dame as fullback Alexander Teich had 241 yards rushing and receiving, and Navy didn’t commit a turnover or a penalty. The Mids (5-2) play defenseless Duke (1-6) with a chance to become bowl eligible.
Up next » vs. Duke, Sat., 3:30 p.m. (CBSCS)
VIRGINIA TECH
QB Tyrod Taylor threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-7 romp over Duke. After their sixth straight win, the Hokies (6-2, 4-0) get 11 days off before facing stumbling Georgia Tech (5-3, 3-2), which bears little resemblance to the offensive juggernaut that began 2009 with a 10-1 record.
Up next » vs. Georgia Tech, Nov. 4 (ESPN)
VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers have been two different teams this season. When playing non-conference foes, Virginia has had four stellar efforts. But in three ACC games, the Cavaliers have been dominated. Saturday against No. 19 Miami (5-2, 3-1), Virginia (3-4, 0-3) will try to reverse the trend.
Up next » vs. Miami, Sat., noon (ESPN)
GEORGETOWN
After a promising start, the Hoyas have lost four straight. The most recent defeat came at Sacred Heart, 33-20, as Georgetown lost the turnover battle, 3-0. The Hoyas (3-5) still have a chance to notch their first winning season in 11 years as they seek a reversal of fortune at Patriot League foe Fordham (3-5).
Up next » at Fordham, Sat., 1 p.m.
