Taw Poll

Rationale

1. Bama

Bama's complete and utter domination of UF was enough to make Tim Tebow cry. If Bama can get QB play like that from McElroy along with their powerful running game, I don't see how UT will be able to knock off the Tide.

2. TCU

I would have preferred to see TCU who has 3 quality wins over BYU, Utah, and Clemson in the title game over Cinci, Boise, or Texas. Barring that, I wish TCU had gotten a shot at UF to validate their status by playing the SEC runner up. Instead, they get Boise, to guarantee no chance of a split title by having two undefeated teams who have beaten UF.

3 Cincinnati

The Bearcats may have the best passing attack in college football this year. Bearcat defense did a good job in the second half getting enough stops to allow the Bearcats to make up a 3 td deficit. Marde Gilyard would easily be on my Heisman ballot. Their game with Florida will be interesting to see if the Bearcats offense can score enough to keep up with UF. Defensively quality is the biggest mismatch. Status of their coach might also impact things greatly.

4. UT

So UT played a good offense in ATM and gave up 39 point, and in playing the two best defenses scored 16 and 13 points. Bama is easily as good as NU/OU on defense, and provides the most balanced offense (best running game by a wide margin) that UT will have faced to date. UT has 1 quality win over a depleted (No Bryant) OSU team, and almost choked away the game against a NU team with perhaps the worst offense in football.

5. Boise

Another year, another undefeated season. Unless Boise can schedule at least 2 quality BCS conference teams a year, Boise has got to get into a better conference.

6. UF

UF's defense was surprisingly ineffective against an aggressive Bama defense, only worse than UF's D was the awful announcing by Danielson and The Vern.

7. Oregon

Big time win over in state rival and very good game.

Best Big Ten team. Defense will get a massive test against a powerful Oregon scheme. At least the Buckeyes could use Pryor to try and simulate the Oregon offense for their defense.

9. Iowa

2nd Best Big Ten team and they get a horrible bowl matchup with the Jackets.

11. Virginia Tech

Interesting matchup with an improving Tenn team in the Chick Fil A bowl.

12. Nebraska

Barely lost to UT. Probably the most unbalanced team in the country in terms of quality between offense and defense.

13. Miami, FL

Put the finishing touches on USF's usual end of the year dive, and the season that saves Randy Shannon's job.

14. Penn State

I'd love to rank this average team lower. But they are 10-2.

15. Oregon State

Played a great game against Oregon in Eugene.

16. LSU

17. BYU

Fantastic matchup with Oregon State. Best pre Xmas bowl game.

18. Utah

Very interesting bowl matchup with wildly inconsistent Cal

20. Oklahoma State

Gets a disappointing trip to the Cotton Bowl for a rematch of the 2004 Cotton Bowl with Mississippi

21. Arizona

Breakthrough year for Stoops Cats. Just an overtime loss away from being in the Rose Bowl.

22. West Virginia

Rallied at the end of the year to get major wins over Pitt and Rutgers.

23. Central Michigan

Best non Big 10 upper Mid West team.

24. Clemson

Played a great game against Ga Tech. Spiller might be the most exciting player in college football.

25. East Carolina