[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Standings 'n' Polls

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

No standings yet, but the first edition of the rankings will have to suffice ...

LW TW SjTop 25
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01 01 FLORIDA – Can cruise on autopilot for a month with easy schedule
02 02 TEXAS – Rest of the Big XII self-destructing around the Horns
03 03 SOUTHERN CAL – Didn’t play well, but came out with big W
04 04 PENN STATE – Sluggish in putting away Syracuse
05 05 LSU – Two wins, but haven’t looked as impressive as rivals …
07 06 ALABAMA – … such as Bama, who got a big win in Atlanta
09 07 BYU – Irish loss opens up room in the BCS for Cougars …
10 08 BOISE STATE – … or the Broncos, who have a clear path …
11 09 UTAH – … or the Utes, who haven’t looked sharp yet, but 2-0
13 10 CALIFORNIA – Have looked great, but will it play on the road?
08 11 OHIO STATE – Outplayed SC, but played it too safe at end
12 12 MISSISSIPPI – Still not a believer until they beat somebody
14 13 OKLAHOMA – Sooners bounced back, but need to beat Texas now
06 14 OKLAHOMA STATE – What happened? Yeesh!
15 15 GEORGIA – Another SEC defensive struggle, eh?
16 16 VIRGINIA TECH – Best coach in the ACC … but it’s still weak
17 17 MIAMI – Best talent in the ACC … but it’s still weak
19 18 GEORGIA TECH – Best team effort in the ACC … but it’s still weak
20 19 TCU – The Mountain West looks darn good this year
NR 20 MICHIGAN – Big win gets big blue back on big stage
21 21 KANSAS – Someone’s gotta win the north, right?
22 22 SOUTH FLORIDA – Does anyone from the Big Least …
23 23 PITTSBURGH - … feel like actually proving they deserve
24 24 CINCINNATI - … a BCS berth this season?
NR 25 UCLA – If only they could play Tennessee every week!

DROPPED OUT: (18) Michigan State, (25) Florida State
ON THE VERGE: Arizona, Houston, North Carolina, Northwestern, Oregon State

LW TW NFC RANKS
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02 01 PHILADELPHIA – Gotta get McNabb back, but looking good
03 02 NEW YORK – D is ready to go … is Eli?
04 03 ATLANTA – Not impressive, but a solid foe
06 04 NEW ORLEANS – Impressive, but not a solid foe
NR 05 GREEN BAY – Nice win at the end, easy road left
NR 06 DALLAS – May be better without PO

DROPPED OUT: (1) Arizona, (5) Chicago (this just in … Cutler sucks!)
ON THE VERGE: Minnesota, San Francisco, Seattle

LW TW AFC RANKS
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01 01 PITTSBURGH – Rugged win over tough foe
03 02 TENNESSEE – Tough opener, but impressive still
02 03 NEW ENGLAND – A virtual loss and extremely fortunate
04 04 SAN DIEGO – Almost lucked out as much as Pats
05 05 BALTIMORE – Where did the D go??? 24 points???
06 06 INDIANAPOLIS – A close win … too close

DROPPED OUT: None
ON THE VERGE: New York

Remember, college picks in by Thursday!
And for those of you in the NFL picks, get 'em in by Sunday!

GO CATS!!!
GEAUX SAINTS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!