AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 30
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Ohio State deserves to be No. 1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We have a month left in the 2007 season and I get the feeling that this is going to be a November to remember. And after what happened in September and October, why wouldn’t it be? Here is this week’s top five:
1. Ohio State (9-0): I know some of you are skeptical of the Buckeyes because of last season’s BCS championship beat down by Florida. But for Ohio State to go into Penn State and dominate (37-17) the way it did was really impressive. The defense is for real and quarterback Todd Boeckman is a lot better than I thought. The Buckeyes still must beat Wisconsin and Illinois at home and have that final test at Michigan on Nov. 17.
2. LSU (7-1): The fact remains that the Tigers have only lost one game to Kentucky in triple overtime on the road. And the loss came the week after a very rugged game with Florida. LSU is starting to get really banged up on defense and they are certainly vulnerable on Saturday when they go to what promises to be a crazy atmosphere at Alabama. But if LSU goes 12-1 and wins the SEC championship, there is going to be a lot of howling if the Tigers don’t get in the big game.
3. Boston College (8-0): The Eagles had a great escape at Virginia Tech and, I predict, will have a tough game this Saturday against Florida State at home. BC still has to go on the road to Maryland (Nov. 10) and Clemson (Nov. 17) and finish with an unpredictable Miami team at home. Then there is the ACC championship game, which could be a rematch with Virginia Tech. This team still has a lot of work to do.
4. Oregon (7-1): I really like watching this team play. Fans forget that in the Ducks’ only loss (to California 31-24) they were in position to tie the game in the final seconds but fumbled. Dennis Dixon knows how to run the spread offense as well as any quarterback in the country. Oregon gets Arizona State (8-0) at home on Saturday and will win. But if Arizona State wins, they deserve to be in this spot.
5. Oklahoma (7-1): Before all is said and done, Oklahoma’s inexplicable (27-24) loss to Colorado on Sept. 29 may be the only thing that stands between the Sooners and a shot at the national championship. Oklahoma has three of its final four games at home (Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State). The lone road game is at Texas Tech (Nov. 17) and anything can happen in Lubbock.
