Week 3 - Top 10

Week 3 and there is some movement in the top 10 due to some impressive performances and some clunkers this past weekend. 

1. Alabama (3-0) - It didn't take long for Heisman winner Mark Ingram to get into rhythm with the Crimson Tide's offense, going over 100 yards in the first quarter against Duke.  Big showdown in Fayetteville next week against the unbeaten Arkansas Razorbacks.
2. Ohio State (3-0) - It's always about the defense at Ohio State, but the offense behind Terrelle Pryor is efficiently putting teams away early.
3. Oregon (3-0) - There was a chance they were going to drop a bit this week, with a potential let-up game in Portland State.  Nope...69-0 by the third quarter.  That Duck mascot is getting a workout doing those push-ups after each score.  I'm taking him in the Capitol One Mascot Challenge.



TCU Cheerleaders

4. TCU (3-0) - Systematically destroyed Baylor this weekend, scoring touchdowns the first five times they had the ball.
5. Boise State (3-0) - The two week layoff didn't seem to have any impact on the Broncos as they blasted Wyoming.
6. Stanford (3-0) - I almost expect to see police tape around Stanford Stadium after the assassination that the Cardinal carried out against Wake Forest on Saturday night.  One-upping TCU by scoring touchdowns on their first eight drives, they don't seem to be missing Toby Gerhart at all so far.
7. Nebraska (3-0) - A great win on the road for the 'Huskers and they are starting to get that swagger that they had in the 90's.
8. LSU (3-0) - I believe that Coach Les Miles will pull a mental gaffe somewhere down the road, but for now, the defense (other than the sloppy second half against North Carolina in the opener) is doing the job. 
9. South Carolina (3-0) - Probably a case of a letdown after the big win over Georgia, but they drop a couple places as it took them too long to put away Furman. 
10. Vacant - A number of teams who haven't distinguished themselves to be in the top 10 at this point of the season, and each has a bit of ugliness.

On the outside looking in:

• Oklahoma - Falls out of the top 10 this week.  They have struggled way too much with Utah State and Air Force, especially for playing their first three games at home.
• Florida - New week, same story. Another double-digit win but still with the struggles in the first half, leading a down Tennessee team only 7-3 at halftime.
• Texas - A very sloppy game by the Longhorns and a Mike Leach-led Texas Tech probably takes advantage and beats them.
• Wisconsin - Still waiting for them to put that game together that says they are going to challenge Ohio State for the Big-10 title.
• Utah - Did what was expected and blew out New Mexico

And a bad Saturday for the state of North Carolina.  Alabama went to Duke and beat them 62-13.  East Carolina had a 27-21 third quarter lead on Virginia Tech and then gave up 28 unanswered points to lose 49-27. And North Carolina, still missing thirteen players due to an NCAA investigation, lost to Georgia Tech, 30-24.  With the way the ACC is playing this year, the Tar Heels are going to look back on this season and wonder what could have been. At least North Carolina State beat Cincinnati on Thursday night.