Dirt Poll - Week 2

Before the season started, I previewed the first ever Dirt Preseason Poll. So I figured, why not continue it throughout the season. After each weeks slate of games, I’ll update my rankings – add teams who are deserving, and drop teams out who lost. So sit back; and check back every Monday to see the movers and shakers in the Dirt Top 25 poll.

            I’ll include their rank, where they were ranked in my poll the week before, their AP ranking and their record. Enjoy:

Rank	The Dirt Poll	Record	LW	AP
1	LSU	1-0 (0-0)	3	2
2	Alabama	1-0 (0-0)	1	3
3	Oklahoma	1-0 (0-0)	4	1
4	Stanford	1-0 (0-0)	5	6
5	Wisconsin	1-0 (0-0)	6	8
6	South Carolina	1-0 (0-0)	7	12
7	Florida State	1-0 (0-0)	8	5
8	Texas A+M	1-0 (0-0)	9	7
9	Boise State	1-0 (0-0)	14	4
10	Oregon	0-1 (0-0)	3	13
11	Virginia Tech	1-0 (0-0)	10	11
12	Nebraska	1-0 (0-0)	11	10
13	Arkansas	1-0 (0-0)	12	14
14	Oklahoma State	1-0 (0-0)	13	9
15	Mississippi State	1-0 (0-0)	16	16
16	West Virginia	1-0 (0-0)	15	19
17	Arizona State	1-0 (0-0)	20	NA
18	Texas	1-0 (0-0)	25	24
19	Florida	1-0 (0-0)	22	18
20	Baylor	1-0 (0-0)	NA	20
21	USC	1-0 (0-0)	18	NA
22	Michigan	1-0 (0-0)	NA	NA
23	Ohio State	1-0 (0-0)	NA	15
24	Michigan State	1-0 (0-0)	21	17
25	Maryland	1-0 (1-0)	NA	NA

·         Notes:

o   Dropped out – #17 Notre Dame – loss to South Florida; #23 Utah – weak showing Vs Montana State; #24 Auburn – narrowly beat Utah State; #19 Georgia – lost to Boise State

o   Moved in – #21 Baylor – defeated TCU; #22 Michigan – defeated Western Michigan; #23 Ohio State – defeated Akron ; #25 Maryland – defeated Miami 

BCS Bowl Game Predictions

You’ve seen my conference picks for each of the major BCS conferences – so naturally it’s time for some BCS bowl game picks. Using my 6 automatic bids from each conference; I’ll add my at large bids – and pick the teams that will make each BCS game, as well as the winner (besides for the BCS National Championship). Here’s how the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and BCS Championship game will turn out. So enjoy, agree, disagree – and read em’ and weep:

·         Automatic Bids:

o   ACC: Florida State 11-2 (8-1)

o   Big 12: Texas A+M 10-2 (8-1)

o   Big East: West Virginia 10-2 (6-1)

o   Big 10: Wisconsin 12-1 (8-1)

o   Pac 12: Oregon 13-0 (10-0)

o   SEC: Alabama 12-1 (8-1)

·         At-Large possibilities:

o   Virginia Tech 11-2 (7-2)

o   Oklahoma 9-3 (7-2)

o   Nebraska 10-3 (6-3)

o   Stanford 10-2 (7-2)

o   South Carolina 10-3 (6-3)

o   Boise State 11-1 (8-0)

The BCS Games:

·         Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)

o   Wisconsin (Big 10 Champion) Vs Stanford (At-Large)

§  Winner: Wisconsin

·         Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana)

o   South Carolina (At-Large) Vs Virginia Tech (At-Large)

§  Winner: South Carolina

·         Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona)

o   Texas A+M (Big 12 Champion) Vs West Virginia (Big East Champion)

§  Winner: Texas A+M

·         Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida)

o   Florida State (ACC Champion) Vs Nebraska (At-Large)

§  Winner: Nebraska

·         BCS National Championship Game (New Orleans, Louisiana)

o   Oregon (Pac 12 Champion) Vs Alabama (SEC Champion)

§  Winner: ?

Conference By Conference Preview: South Eastern Conference (SEC)

With less than a week to go now before the college football season kicks off, it’s time for The Dirt to make some predictions. Beginning with conference standings and conference winners, I’ll take a look at all six BCS conferences (ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC). Last but not least, the SEC:

SEC

·         Preseason Top 25 Teams

AP Poll                                                            Dirt Poll

2. Alabama                                                      1. Alabama

4. LSU                                                             3. LSU

12. South Carolina                                           7. South Carolina

15. Arkansas                                                   12. Arkansas

19. Georgia                                               16. Mississippi State                          

20. Mississippi State                                       19. Georgia    

22. Florida                                                       22. Florida

23. Auburn                                                       24. Auburn

·         Predicted  Finish

East                                                                       West

1.      South Carolina 10-2 (6-2)                               1. Alabama 11-1 (7-1)

2.      Georgia 9-3 (5-3)                                            2. LSU 8-4 (5-3)

3.      Florida 8-4 (5-3)                                              3. Arkansas 8-4 (5-3)

4.      Tennessee 6-6 (2-6)                                         4. Mississippi State 7-5 (3-5)

5.      Vanderbilt 5-7 (1-7)                                        5. Auburn 6-6 (2-6)

6.      Kentucky 5-7 (2-6)                                         6. Ole Miss 5-7 (1-7)

·         Bowl Teams: (9)

o   Alabama

o   South Carolina

o   LSU

o   Georgia

o   Arkansas

o   Florida

o   Mississippi State

o   Auburn

o   Tennessee

·         SEC  Championship Game:

§  Alabama over South Carolina

·         SEC Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide

·         Key Games:

o   9/3: #4 LSU Vs #3 Oregon

o   9/3: #19 Georgia Vs #5 Boise State

o   9/24: #2 Alabama Vs #15 Arkansas

o   9/10: #19 Georgia Vs #12 South Carolina

o   10/1: #22 Florida Vs #2 Alabama

o   11/5: #2 Alabama Vs #4 LSU

o   10/1: #15 Arkansas Vs #8 Texas A+M

o   10/29: #19 Georgia Vs #22 Florida

o   11/12: #12 South Carolina Vs #22 Florida

o   11/5: #15 Arkansas Vs #12 South Carolina

o   11/25: #4 LSU Vs #15 Arkansas

o   11/26: #23 Auburn Vs #2 Alabama

·         SEC Summary:

Six straight BCS national championships, 3 out of the 4 last Heisman trophy winners, rabid fans, and 100,000+ seat stadiums; what else can be said about the SEC? Cam Newton and Auburn came out of nowhere last year to take the SEC crown; and eventually beat Oregon for the national title. However, the ‘War Eagle’? Tigers will struggle to defend their title. Their instate rival Alabama seems to be the preseason SEC favorite, but we all know how tough it is to run the table through the SEC conference slate.

With 8 teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll (Auburn, Mississippi State and Georgia are more than questionable picks though) the SEC has more ranked teams than any other conference; to start. After Alabama; LSU, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi State, Florida and Auburn are their other ranked teams. Wisdom seems to believe Alabama is the favorite in the West, with South Carolina the favorite in the East, and I agree.

Two teams have huge preseason games that could shape their season, both at ‘neutral’ sites. LSU squares off against Oregon in Dallas; while Georgia takes on Boise State in Atlanta – a win for either team could catapult them to a big year.

After Alabama and South Carolina; the SEC should send 7 other teams to bowl games. Though Tennessee and Auburn will be right on the cusp, but if Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Ole Miss can pull off some upsets they could easily reach 6 wins.

Auburn will be interesting to watch this season. Many believe they were a 7 game winner at best last year without superman Cam Newton running the offense; and they could struggle to get to 6 wins and make a bowl game this year. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

LSU will have to rebound after their quarterback Jordan Jefferson used his foot at a bar, not his arm on the field; to make headlines. And if he doesn’t make it back in time for their SEC slate – they could have down season.

I’m picking Alabama to win the West and South Carolina to repeat in the East; with Alabama winning the conference title game. If the Crimson Tide can manage their tough schedule with only one regular season loss, combined with a SEC title game victory – look out for them to return to the BCS National Championship Game.

Conference By Conference Preview: Pac 12

With less than a week to go now before the college football season kicks off, it’s time for The Dirt to make some predictions. Beginning with conference standings and conference winners, I’ll take a look at all six BCS conferences (ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC). Next up, the Pac 12:

Pac 12

·         Preseason Top 25 Teams

AP Poll                                                            Dirt Poll

3. Oregon                                                        2. Oregon

7. Stanford                                                      5. Stanford

25. USC                                                          18. USC

                                                                        20. Arizona State

                                                                        23. Utah

·         Predicted Finish

North                                                                     South

1.      Oregon 12-0 (9-0)                                           1. Arizona State 9-3 (6-3)

2.      Stanford 10-2 (7-2)                                         2. USC 8-4 (5-4)

3.      Washington 7-5 (5-4)                                      3. Utah 7-5 (4-5)

4.      Oregon State 6-6 (4-5)                                    4. Arizona 6-6 (4-5)

5.      California 6-6 (4-6)                                         5. UCLA 5-7 (3-6)

6.      Washington State 5-7 (2-7)                             6. Colorado 2-11 (0-10)

·         Bowl Teams: (9)

o   Oregon

o   Arizona State

o   Stanford

o   USC

o   Washington

o   Utah

o   Oregon State

o   Arizona

o   California

·         Pac 12 Championship Game:

§  Oregon over Arizona State

·         Pac 12 Champion: Oregon Ducks

·         Key Games:

o   9/3: #4 LSU Vs #3 Oregon

o   9/10: #11 Wisconsin Vs Oregon State

o   9/8: #9 Oklahoma State Vs Arizona

o   9/9: Arizona State Vs #21 Missouri

o   10/29: #25 USC Vs #7 Stanford

o   10/29: #3 Oregon Vs Washington

o   11/26: #7 Stanford Vs #16 Notre Dame

o   10/22: #16 Notre Dame Vs #25 USC

o   11/19: #3 Oregon Vs #25 USC

o   10/15: #3 Oregon Vs Arizona State

o   9/24: Arizona State Vs #25 USC

o   11/12: #7 Stanford Vs #3 Oregon

·         Pac 12 Summary:

The Pac 12 continues to improve year in year out; and last season sent a team to the National Title game for the first time since USC in 2005. Oregon was mired in offseason issues all winter and spring; the Willie Lyles relationship and Cliff Harris driving like Jeff Gordon, but the Ducks return a ton of talent. Heisman finalist and Doak Walker award winner LaMiachael James is back to run the ball, and Darron Thomas is back behind center. Then there’s Stanford, who has a guy named Andrew Luck; you probably haven’t heard about him…

The conference added Utah and Colorado in the offseason to get to 12 teams; and this season will debut the inaugural Pac 12 Championship game which the better team will host. Oregon and Stanford will vie for the North title; while Arizona State seems to be the front runner in the South thanks to USC’s post season ban.

With Arizona’s Nick Foles; USC’s Matt Barkley; Utah’s Jordan Wynn; Oregon State’s Ryan Katz; Oregon’s Darron Thomas; and of course, Stanford’s Andrew Luck – the Pac 12 should be renamed the ‘Conference of the quarterback.’ The rest of the talent isn’t too bad, either.

Oregon and Stanford are the givens at the top, but the middle of the Pac (excuse the pun), should be pretty darn good itself. Washington continues to improve, but the loss of Jake Locker will be a big one. Utah should have a solid inaugural season, but will have to face a real opponent every week for the first time. Arizona will be solid again in the wild Mike Stoops and should return to post season play. Oregon State experienced a minor setback last year; but you can usually pencil them in for 7 or 8 wins. California was the closest to defeating Oregon last year; and they have a good shot at getting back to a bowl game. UCLA and Washington State will bring up the rear, but neither is an easy win. Though, Colorado could struggle to succeed; with no guaranteed conference win on their schedule.

In all, the Pac 12 could send 9 teams to a bowl game. Oregon State and California will be right on the edge; but UCLA could easily make it to 6 wins. The conference will come down to an October matchup in Palo Alto between Oregon and Stanford, and to the victor goes the spoils; as they should win the conference. I expect Oregon and Arizona State to face off in the conference title game; and there’s no way the Sun Devils win that one at Autzen.

If Oregon can get by LSU and Stanford, a return to the national title seems inevitable. Kirk Herbsteit picked the Ducks to make it back (and win this time) and so am I. Though, we will know a lot more about Ducks season in a little over 24 hours after their showdown in Dallas.

The Pac 12 can’t claim to be the best conference in the country until they knock off the SEC in a title game; or simply win a title game for that matter. However, the argument can be made they’re a very, very close second (as in, a last second field goal away from a BCS champion last year). So Pac 12 fans, gear up – it’s going to be a wild and fun ride this season.