The Sports Rumors

My College Football Rankings

There are a few things that I want to set straight for the record before you check out the rankings listed below…

-The matter of LSU jumping USC in the rankings, even though USC won: I have heard a lot of whining from people, especially Skip Bayless, about how that’s “wrong”. He even went as far as to say that the USC win was more impressive than the LSU win. Bayless talked about how the team showed a lot by winning a close game on the road in a tough environment.

…….Okay I just took a deep breath so that I don’t lose it.

First of all, in regards to the “You shouldn’t be jumped in the rankings unless you lose” argument, that is ridiculous. What do you think happens almost EVERY week in the college polls? Team 16 jumps Team 15 because they had a more impressive win. Team 22 jumps Team 20 because they beat a better opponent. This isn’t the NFL! This is a beauty contest. You are judged by who you beat, and by how much you beat them by. We’re not talking about the New England Patriots of a few years back who won all their games by a few points. In college, you are supposed to beat the ranked teams, and you are supposed to annihilate the unranked teams, especially if you’re ranked first in the nation. LSU has defeated tougher opponents than USC has. Simple as that. LSU has defeated #9 Virginia Tech and #12 South Carolina. USC has defeated #14 Nebraska, and teams like Idaho.

The second point that was made was that USC showed they can win in different circumstances and overcome adversity. No. False. Are you trying to tell me that Virginia Tech should have gotten kudos in week one for “overcoming adversity” and beating ECU by a measly 10 points??? Because that’s the same concept. Adversity is when you’re down 24-14 to Florida or someone legitimate, and then you come back and win. Adversity is not defeating Washington when you have the fastest college players on earth and the cream of the crop talent. Beating Washington by three is called sneaking away with a win after a terrible performance, which a number one team shouldn’t have had in the first place.

LSU has the better resume thus far, and in college football, your resume is all that matters. So give me a break. This shouldn’t even be a topic of conversation.

-The next thing I wanted to clear up is a topic that will get me many emails and angry phone calls from friends, but I don’t care because I speak the truth. Scroll down and look at where Virginia Tech is ranked in my poll. Now look where I have Hawaii ranked. That’s right. Ahead of the Hokies. Before you pick up the phone to dial my number, hear me out. Hawaii is averaging over 50 points a game. Let that sink in. They are averaging over 50 points a game now through 5 games.

You: Yeah, I know they are but look who they’ve played.

My response to you is this; who the hell has Virginia Tech played and beaten? Eastern Carolina? University of Ohio? William and Mary? North Carolina? These are the teams Tech has beaten and not convincingly either. So you can shut it about Hawaii’s lack of competition because VaTech’s isn’t that top notch either. Oh wait, they played LSU. Oh.. what’s that? That’s right, they got waxed… and then waxed again.

Now I know Virginia Tech’s defense is solid, but let’s not fool ourselves. It’s not at all as strong as it was last year (even though it should be with that talent). They are giving up way too many yards in the air and if it weren’t for a fumble by the bozo runningback of North Carolina at the Tech 7 yard line, they would have possibly scored 17 points on the Hokies. Now I’ll give Tech credit and say that they wouldn’t let Hawaii drop 50 on them; but they wouldn’t hold them below 24 either. Tech’s defense has given up way too many yards in the air for their standards and Hawaii is the best passing team in the nation, bar none. So say Tech gives up 24 to Hawaii. Are you REALLY that confident that the stagnant and lifeless offense of the Hokies can match 24? They couldn’t do it against UNC last week and I’m sure you thought they’d score at least 30 on them.

Fact of the matter is this. Hawaii has played better, overall, than Virginia Tech has. When the Hokies show some life, starting this week at Clemson, I’ll be the first to bring my Alum-bias into it and jump teams ahead of them. But what’s fair is fair and what’s right is right, so please… spare me the “you’re a fake fan” nonsense just because I’m not delusional. I call it how I see it and Virginia Tech is not a very good football team right now.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, feel free to leave me comments with your thoughts and viewpoints.  Enjoy the rankings.