College Football

The 2011 College Football season is under way, and the front-runners already look in fine form.  Every year I rank all 120 FBS football schools in my own ranking system.  There isn't some formula like the BCS and there is only a slight bias toward the SEC (let's face it, the last 5 champions are from the SEC and they consistently get the best recruits, it's hard not to be biased).  Having said that, I try to rank them on the basis of who would win on a neutral field.  Heading into this weekend, I present my top 5.

5.  Stanford - Stanford has the most professional ready quarterback in all of college football in Andrew Luck.  His size, arm strength, and brain make him the unanimous number 1 selection by all draft analysts.  Stanford has had an easy schedule so far, but they have handled it just as easily.  And, with their schedule slated to pick up soon, don't expect them to slow down any.

4.  Oklahoma - Most polls have the Sooners ranked number 1, but in my opinion, they have yet to prove themselves.  Like Stanford, Oklahoma have played some patsies for opponents, which has hurt them in my rankings.  That isn't to say they won't surpass the top 3 by the end.  With tough games against Oklahoma State and Texas A&M in conference, look for Landry Jones to take advantage of that opportunity to lead Oklahoma to potential glory.

3.  Alabama - Alabama played an easy first game, but their schedule challenged them when it sent them to Penn State.  This, in my opinion launched them ahead of Oklahoma.  Even more impressive is how easily they handled the Nittany Lions. They physically dominated them on both sides of the ball, in a way that only SEC teams can do it.  Look for Alabama to be a contender, but playing in the brutal SEC West isn't going to help their chances.

2.  Boise State - The Broncos are the perennial BCS buster darlings.  Year after year and through coach after coach, the Broncos have been able to consistently crash the "big school" party called the BCS.  Yes they play in a weaker conference.  Yes week in and week out they play weaker competition.  Does this make them any worse a team?  Boise State also had an impressive early season win over Georgia IN ATLANTA!  That is no small task.  Look for them to remain high as long as they keep winning games.

1.  LSU - They challenged themselves the first week, right out of the shoot, with a neutral site game against the defending National runner-ups Oregon.  They manhandled Oregon, and launched themselves to number 1 in my rankings.  Despite missing their starting quarterback (possibly for the year) because of legal troubles, it hasn't slowed Mike the Tiger down.  LSU will face a vicious schedule playing Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Arkansas.  LSU will be in the title game if they go undefeated, but even if they don't they still might have a shot based on their strength of schedule.

Tonight:  #1 LSU vs. #20 Mississippi State - The bulldogs will be looking for a win at home against a big team.  After losing on the road to Auburn last week by failing to come up with one yard on the final play, the Bulldogs will be hungry for blood.  LSU had an easy game last week and should be well rested and ready to play.  Starkville will be raging tonight, but look for the upset minded Bulldogs to lose to a potential team of destiny in a nail-biter.  LSU 34  Mississippi State 31

Fun Fact:  Just discovered baseball's fastest man ever Cool Papa Bell is from Starkville, MS.  May be a sign of a Bulldog victory.  What are the odds!

Долгосрочной службы Лев Троцкий!