The Furls Power 15

1. Ohio State (No Movement):  The Buckeyes looked very “blah” in a performance that was as sloppy as the weather.  Fortunately for them, it appears as though Penn State has slumped back into mediocrity, so they could’ve probably won with their second string.
   
2. Michigan (No Movement):  Michigan’s defense looked tough against Wisconsin.  If Bucky the Badger cannot run on them, then I don’t expect to see many other teams do so this year.  Henne and Hart are getting all the props, but that rush defense is allowing an ABSURD 18.5 yards per game.
   
3. USC (No Movement):  Just like Michigan, the offensive skill positions get all the hype, but it is the defense that is the real star of this team.  I cannot believe it, they are actually playing defense in Los Angeles (in any sport).
   
4. Auburn (No Movement):  Well, they beat Buffalo, that is an awful lot like kicking a puppy.  They weren't dominant, but prevailed in South Carolina last night against a 'Cocks team that is tough at home.
   
5. Florida (No Movement):  They beat Kentucky (by a lot) just like they were supposed to.  They did not look great doing it and this game was close a lot longer than I thought it should have been.  Do I have them overrated or is this a let down from the Tennessee game?  Only time will tell, but I am getting a bit uneasy about them at #5.
   
6. Oklahoma (No Movement):  They beat the hell out of a directional Tennessee school.  What is it with the Big 12 and scheduling their weak non conference opponents?  Do they have to have a direction in their name like North Texas, Middle Tennessee, Southwest Louisiana State?  Adrian Peterson is still the best back in the NCAA and he showed it against a small high school from Tennesssee.  Next up, The Red River Shootout with Mack Cooper and the Longhorns.
   
7. West Virginia (No Movement):  A less than stellar performance by Steve Slaton and company against another “directional” school.  I am wondering if I have the Mountaineers ranked to high at #7.  No worries Mountaineer fans, it isn’t like they have to play anyone good this year until their bowl game.  I wish I could put them #2 on this list, so that when the national championship game comes I can say, “I had the #1 and #2 since September.”  Unfortunately for the NCAA, WVU is not the #2 team in the country (or a top 5); they just play one on T.V.
   
8. Tennessee (No Movement):  They beat Marshall.  Congratulations to Volunteers on joining Kansas State in that elite fraternity.
   
9. Oregon (No Movement):  Still quacking rather loudly at #9 heading into a stretch run with ASU then Cal.
   
10. Clemson (Up 2):  These guys are the primary benefactors of BC’s and ASU’s demise, jumping from 12 to 10.  Enjoy the huge victory against the ‘Heels, I am pretty sure that turn about will be fair play in hoops. 
    
11. Texas (up 4): Mack Cooper’s boys get a chance to ride high for a couple of weeks, until their inevitable demise in the Red River Shootout, jumping from 15 to 11.  This is not a product of how well they have played, but more of a statement of how poorly a bunch of other teams looked.  
    
12. California (New to the Poll):  They looked very convincing in their pounding of ASU, but I am still not completely sold.  Either the Pac 10 is very weak or the SEC is exceptionally strong, it is hard to say at this point.
    
13. LSU (New to the Poll):  I hate having this many SEC teams in my poll, but I just think this is the conference by which all others should be measured this year.  I would normally agree that this is a tough conference, generally the best in the nation, but I am rapidly beginning to believe that this year the conference is head and shoulders above the rest of the nation.
    
14. Nebraska (New to the Poll):  Their only loss is against the #3 team on my poll, USC, and they did not totally embarrass themselves in the process.  I think they should run away with the Big 12 North, then they are just a minor upset away from a BCS birth.
    
15. Georgia (Down 1):  I was not sold on the Bulldogs last week and their performance against the hapless Colorado Buffalos, yes the same team that lost to the D1AA Montana State team, does not really make me feel any better.  I do not necessarily think that a team must always win pretty, but that one was just too ugly to ignore.

BC:  Laid an egg last week against a HORRIBLE NCSU team.

ASU:  I had them highly overrated apparently, even Cal was able to beat them handily.

MSU:  Let the mid season breakdown begin.

ND:  I am still unimpressed.  That comeback was more an MSU meltdown than a ND rally.

Iowa:  Drew Tate is good, but he needs someone to throw to.

VaTech:  They just are not good.

Louisville:  They can join my pool when they beat a decent team.

Miami:  The day they fire Larry Coker they will join this list.  The ultimate addition by subtraction!

TCU:  Congratulations on beating Texas Tech, I think this is one of those teams that journalists and coaches rank highly because it is nice at the end of the year to point and say, “Look, I said they would be good, they had 10 wins!” (against Junior High teams but who is keeping track).