TaW CBS Blog Poll Week 8

Taw Poll

Rationale

1. TCU

Dominated previously ranked #16 BYU at their place. Their road win at Clemson looks even better. Their defense is playing at an elite level, and they are actually getting some offense to support that great defense. Of all the undefeated teams, TCU was on the only one that looked like a number one team Saturday, dominating on the road against a ranked opponent.

2. Bama

You don't need two blocked FGs to beat a bad Tennessee team at HOME and stay number one. Tenn established a possible blueprint for beating Bama, stuffing the run and making Greg McElroy beat you. Bama looked like OU settling for 4 FGs. And where is Julio Jones other than getting smacked on the Tenn onside kick attempt.

3  UT

UT did their job beating up on a bad Missouri team whose best win is over Illinois. Nice win for UT. Next week is really UT's last chance for a impressive win over a top 25 team. Big 12 is just awful. UT looks like a lock for BCS title game unless OSU beats them.

4. UF

The anointed QB throws two pick sixes? He's only averaging 4 yards a cary? UF's offense doesn't have any of the big play threat it had last year with Harvin. UF struggled with Miss State. A team Houston and Ga Tech already beat in Starkville.

5. Iowa

Beat Sparty at Lansing with a super clutch late game drive. You have to wonder if Iowa has enough offense to win the game at the Horseshoe

6. Cincinnati

USF just got smashed by Pitt so some of the luster is off that win but Cinc has games against WVU and Pitt to regain some momentum

7. Boise

Beat up a bad Hawaii team. I'm not sure that there are any wins left for this team to move up. One loss teams are going to start overtaking them soon.

8. Oregon

Looked very good beating up UDUB in Seattle. Something no one else has really done. USC showdown should decide the Pac 10 (although Zona is a wildcard)

9. USC

Get to stake their claim for best one loss team status when they play Oregon. Barkley is improving and the improved healthy of USC WR core is clearly helping him.

10. LSU

Not a big fan of the Bayou Bengals, but a 28 point win over Auburn is a step in the right direction. They can clearly upset the pre ordained UF v Bama title game with a win over Bama.

11. Penn State

Beat up on a considerably weaker now Michigan team at the Big House. Solid team, but not very explosive. Improving on the OL though.

12. Georgia Tech

Option offense claims another victim. Ga Tech now controls their destiny for an ACC title with Miami's loss.

13. Oklahoma State

Appeared to have found some WRs targets after the suspension of Bryant. Offense and QB play are improving. The real test will be Texas. OSU has found amazing ways to choke massive leads against UT in the last 6 years.

14.  Pittsburgh

Smashed USF and look like a pretty good team with a very good freshman RB. Upcoming games will help this ranking or expose Pittsburgh.

15. Houston

One loss team that still looks good based on beating Oklahoma State and Miss State. A big time win over Tulsa might lead to some discussions whether Houston is better than Boise.

16. West Virginia

WVU seems to have finally realized that they need to ride Noel Devine on offense. He maybe the best home run threat at RB in college football.

17. Virginia Tech

Best two loss team in the nation. Not out of ACC race yet.

18. Arizona

Nice win over UCLA keeps Zona in the Rose Bowl race. Remember Zona has a loss away to Iowa and a complete screw job by Pac 10 refs at Seattle.

19. Miami, FL

Losing to Clemson in OT would be an understandable upset, CJ Spiller being an elite talent. But losing at home is just unacceptable. Miami's dreams of an ACC title are done. Even if Tech loses again, Va Tech is ahead.

20. Utah

Went to Overtime to beat Air Force. Need to beat BYU and TCU to move back up the polls.

21. tOSU

Beat up on Minnesota at home. Pryor did a better job throwing the ball. Still hard to see this very uneven team beating a much more fundamentally sound Iowa team.

22. South Carolina

They have two tough losses. Defense is playing great and offense gives them enough to stay with most teams.

23. Fighting French (Notre Dame)

They keep winning against bad teams and needing late plays to do it. And they keep playing at home. I probably need to move ND up some, but they just keep looking really average. I don't get all the Jimmy Clausen love either.

24. Central Michigan

Yes, Central Michigan. Only one loss to a good Zona team in game one. They have a good BCS win versus Mich State at Lansing.

25. Oklahoma

Defensively dominated a good KU offensive team, and struggling offense finally seemed to at least reduce penalties, turnovers, and put the right remaining personnel on the field. 2 very winnable road games against inconsistent teams (NU-no offense and Tech-no defense) and 2 home games (KSU and ATM) before an end of the season potential spoiler role against OSU in Norman.