Alabama sails while Eastern Michigan University tows the anchor.
It’s been smooth sailing for No. 1 Alabama this year, while things in Ypsilanti continue to be under construction.
For example, in week four Alabama knocked off Arkansas 35-7. That same Arkansas team defeated EMU 63-27 on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide will have a tough task on their hands this week, as LSU will try to remove Alabama as the king of the mountain in the Southeastern Conference. Also, watch out for a Big Ten showdown when Penn State and Ohio State square off.
And then there’s the bottom. The four winless teams (EMU, Rice, New Mexico, Western Kentucky) play teams with at least a .500 record this week, so their chances of improving look slim. However, a matchup in the Western Athletic Conference between No. 106 Utah State and No. 110 Hawaii has the potential for worst game of the week.
Now it’s time for the good, the bad and the ugly, the bottom and top 10.
Top 10
1.) Alabama (8-0, 51.8 Average Win Percentage, 0 Average Loss Percentage) took a week off to prepare for the Bayou Bengals. A win this week guarantees a top spot next week. Next opponent: LSU (12)
2.) Iowa (9-0, 54.8, 0) continues to defy critics and remains undefeated after a 42-24 victory against Indiana. Next opponent: Northwestern (63)
3.) Florida (8-0, 61.9, 0) poked its way to a 41-17 victory over Georgia and can now relax barring a disaster this week. Next opponent: Vanderbilt (111)
4.) Texas (8-0, 62.9, 0) made sure it won convincingly over Oklahoma State to impress pollsters, but it wasn’t enough to move up in this poll. Next opponent: Central Florida (50)
5.) TCU (8-0, 71, 0) shut out UNLV last week and should continue to beat up Mountain West foes before Utah comes to town next week. Next opponent: San Diego State (88)
6.) Cincinnati (8-0, 73.9, 0) has people in Ohio talking about whether or not the Bearcats could beat the Buckeyes. This has OSU fans fuming and me smiling. Next opponent: Connecticut (70)
7.) Boise State (8-0, 79.5, 0) is a little late with its style points after a 45-7 win over San Jose State and couldn’t make a BCS bowl game even if it goes undefeated. Next opponent: Louisiana Tech (90)
8.) Georgia Tech (8-1, 63.5, 1) has the best fight song in the country (look it up), and its offense isn’t too shabby either. Next opponent: Wake Forrest (77)
9.) Penn State (8-1, 80, 12) needs a win this week and two Iowa losses and the Big Ten will be in hand, easier said than done. Next opponent: Ohio State (15)
10.) Oregon (7-1, 42.7, 14) is my favorite team this season because it dashed USC’s title hopes with a 47-20 win and make Boise State’s BCS bid look more convincing. Next opponent: Stanford (39)
Bottom 10
111.) Vanderbilt (2-7, 118.5, 51.4) has wins against Rice (0-8) and FCS Western Carolina but remains winless in the SEC and, it doesn’t look like that’ll change this week. Next opponent: Florida (3)
112.) San Jose State (1-6, 121, 37.7) can only play spoiler as any chance of making a bowl game has pretty much squashed. It can end a five-game win streak this week. Next opponent: Nevada (44)
113.) Washington State (1-7, 13, 44.3) would like to forget the Alamo, as the Cougars lost in San Antonio to Notre Dame, 40-14. Next opponent: Arizona (29)
114.) Akron (1-7, 121, 57.6) foreshadowed what Northern Illinois might do to EMU this week as the Huskies ran to a 27-10 win over the Zips. Perhaps a rival will revive Akron. Next opponent: Kent State (60)
115.) Miami (Ohio) (1-8, 75, 56.3) became the newest FBS team to earn its first win, a 31-24 victory over Toledo. The RedHawks also have a chance to end a win streak while starting one of their own. Next opponent: Temple (26)
116.) Ball State (1-8, 119, 76.3) tried to make it two in a row, but Ohio pulled it out 20-17 in Muncie, Ind. Can’t lose this week, though. Next opponent: Bye
117.) Rice (0-8, 0, 70.1) must have felt strange not losing last week and will try to feel at home in Dallas this week. Next opponent: SMU (68)
118.) New Mexico (0-8, 0, 78.6) almost found a win last week, but it blew away as the Lobos dropped a 23-20 contest to San Diego State. Next opponent: Utah (14)
119.) Western Kentucky (0-8, 0, 81.9), how can you be so bad? The Hilltoppers scored 49 and lost. It’s because they gave up 68 to North Texas, which had one win going into last week. Next opponent: Troy (23)
120.) EMU (0-8, 0, 84.4) gets a pass for last week’s loss to Arkansas, but coach Ron English has a short week to prepare for a team that loves to run the ball. Next opponent: Northern Illinois (53)
Mid-American Conference
17.) Central Michigan (7-2, 92.3, 52)
26.) Temple (6-2, 80.5, 77.5)
36.) Ohio (6-3, 95.3, 79.3)
53.) NIU (5-3, 99.4, 64)
60.) Kent State (5-4, 91.4, 78)
80.) Western Michigan (4-5, 94, 55.8)
81.) Toledo (4-5, 99.5, 77.4)
92.) Bowling Green (3-5, 92.3, 39)
94.) Buffalo (3-5, 103.7, 78.4)
114.) Akron (1-7, 121, 57.6)
115.) Miami, OH (1-8, 75, 56.3)
116.) Ball State (1-9, 119, 76.3)
120.) EMU (0-8, 0, 84.4)
