1. Alabama: They're like an NFL team out there. They do what they need to do to get the W, nothing more nothing less.
2. LSU: Their defense is about as good as Alabama. If their new QB is even marginally better than Jordan Jefferson they could go far.
3. USC: Maybe it was the east coast trip or the storm, but I wasn't impressed with USC's defense. But with Marquis Lee and Robert Woods, Matt Barkley could bomb away on anyone.
4. Florida State: I was tempted to go with Oregon here but FSU is closer talent-wise on the offense/defense line to the top 3 than Oregon.
5. Oregon: Offense good, defense so-so. Still need to prove they can compete with the elite.
6. Oklahoma: Inconsistent, but still the best team in the Big 12, for now.
7. West Virginia: Off to a good start, but the Big 12 is big step up from the Big East. I've never been a believer in Geno Smith.
8. Michigan State: If you can run the ball and play defense, you'll be competitive in every game and you're less likely to be upset. A pick-six from the backup QB away from a road shutout.
9. Ohio State: They're on probation, but Urban Meyer has Braxton Miller looking like Cam Newton.
10. Clemson: Speed Kills. Until you run out of gas in the second half and let Ball State score in every quarter. Then you're just another mediocre ACC team.
11. Georgia: As long as South Carolina is not fully healthy, Georgia is the class of the SEC East (doesn't hurt not to play Arkansas/LSU/Bama either.
12. South Carolina: Connor Shaw is hurt but this isn't his team, its Marcus Lattimore and Jadaveon Clowney's team.
13. Kansas State: Bill Snyder has K-State back, and without the crappy nonconf. sos this time.
14. Va. Tech: I have no read on this team until they play a I-A team that doesn't run the option.
15. Michigan: Denard Robinson reminds me of Darren Sproles. Unfortunately for him, Darren Sproles isn't a QB, either.
16. Texas: David Ash makes Landry Jones look good. Good thing Texas can run the football.
17. TCU: Still haven't played a real team. Considering Kansas is their next game, they still won't have until Week 4.
18. Florida: What a blah team. Still good enough to give TAMU their "Welcome to the SEC" moment.
19. Louisville: Pretty good QB for a basketball school in a basketball conference. If Will Muschamp doesn't work out at Florida, Charlie Strong would probably replace him there.
20. Notre Dame: Maybe it was the travel to and from Ireland that did it, but they didn't look very good vs. Purdue. That kind of performance could get them run out of East Lansing next week.
21. UCLA: Nice QB play, but 636 yards of total offense you'd expect more than 36 pts. All you have to do to beat Nebraska is blitz Taylor Martinez.
22. Stanford: Handled Duke, but Duke's only win was vs. an FIU team that needed OT to beat Akron(!), so Duke is probably worse than San Jose State.
23. Tennessee: Is Tennessee finally recovering? They could steal a game or two in the SEC (just not from Bama.)
24. Arizona State: The AP has Arizona here, but Dickrod can't coach defense, and his gimmick offense is more likely to be exposed.
25. Ohio: Win @ Marshall next week and they could go undefeated.
BYU, Baylor, and Northwestern are on the waiting list.
2. LSU: Their defense is about as good as Alabama. If their new QB is even marginally better than Jordan Jefferson they could go far.
3. USC: Maybe it was the east coast trip or the storm, but I wasn't impressed with USC's defense. But with Marquis Lee and Robert Woods, Matt Barkley could bomb away on anyone.
4. Florida State: I was tempted to go with Oregon here but FSU is closer talent-wise on the offense/defense line to the top 3 than Oregon.
5. Oregon: Offense good, defense so-so. Still need to prove they can compete with the elite.
6. Oklahoma: Inconsistent, but still the best team in the Big 12, for now.
7. West Virginia: Off to a good start, but the Big 12 is big step up from the Big East. I've never been a believer in Geno Smith.
8. Michigan State: If you can run the ball and play defense, you'll be competitive in every game and you're less likely to be upset. A pick-six from the backup QB away from a road shutout.
9. Ohio State: They're on probation, but Urban Meyer has Braxton Miller looking like Cam Newton.
10. Clemson: Speed Kills. Until you run out of gas in the second half and let Ball State score in every quarter. Then you're just another mediocre ACC team.
11. Georgia: As long as South Carolina is not fully healthy, Georgia is the class of the SEC East (doesn't hurt not to play Arkansas/LSU/Bama either.
12. South Carolina: Connor Shaw is hurt but this isn't his team, its Marcus Lattimore and Jadaveon Clowney's team.
13. Kansas State: Bill Snyder has K-State back, and without the crappy nonconf. sos this time.
14. Va. Tech: I have no read on this team until they play a I-A team that doesn't run the option.
15. Michigan: Denard Robinson reminds me of Darren Sproles. Unfortunately for him, Darren Sproles isn't a QB, either.
16. Texas: David Ash makes Landry Jones look good. Good thing Texas can run the football.
17. TCU: Still haven't played a real team. Considering Kansas is their next game, they still won't have until Week 4.
18. Florida: What a blah team. Still good enough to give TAMU their "Welcome to the SEC" moment.
19. Louisville: Pretty good QB for a basketball school in a basketball conference. If Will Muschamp doesn't work out at Florida, Charlie Strong would probably replace him there.
20. Notre Dame: Maybe it was the travel to and from Ireland that did it, but they didn't look very good vs. Purdue. That kind of performance could get them run out of East Lansing next week.
21. UCLA: Nice QB play, but 636 yards of total offense you'd expect more than 36 pts. All you have to do to beat Nebraska is blitz Taylor Martinez.
22. Stanford: Handled Duke, but Duke's only win was vs. an FIU team that needed OT to beat Akron(!), so Duke is probably worse than San Jose State.
23. Tennessee: Is Tennessee finally recovering? They could steal a game or two in the SEC (just not from Bama.)
24. Arizona State: The AP has Arizona here, but Dickrod can't coach defense, and his gimmick offense is more likely to be exposed.
25. Ohio: Win @ Marshall next week and they could go undefeated.
BYU, Baylor, and Northwestern are on the waiting list.