Guess the pollsters saw something we didn’t …
The University of South Carolina remained ranked among the nation’s Top 25 teams this week despite a 20-6 loss to Alabama – slipping one spot (from No. 22 to No. 23) in both the Associated Press and the USA Today-Coaches’ polls.
South Carolina’s defense certainly played like a Top 25 team during Saturday’s game in Tuscaloosa (well, at least until the Tide’s final drive), but the last time we checked the rankings were supposed to be based on more than defense.
Clearly, the Gamecocks do not have a Top 25 offensive unit – as indicated by the measly one yard they picked up during the first quarter against Alabama.
Also, Carolina can’t throw the fade pass. Like, at all. Head coach Steve Spurrier dialed up the same fade pass call six times against the Tide – and was 0-for-6.
Seriously, somebody call Erik Kimrey and Jermale Kelly … or find USC a running game, for crying out loud.
Anyway, the Gamecocks are one of just five teams with two or more losses to remain ranked in the Top 25, joining the likes of Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Texas Tech. That’s good news, because it means for at least one more week South Carolina’s scores and highlights will be featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
Meanwhile, head coach Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide surged ahead of Florida in the Associated Press poll on the strength of its win over Carolina, while the Gators slipped to No. 2 after narrowly defeating unranked Arkansas. Florida, however, remained atop the USA Today-Coaches poll as well as the year’s first rankings to be released by the Bowl Championship Series – a.k.a. the hated computer logarithm that annually spits out what is alleged to be a national championship game.
Alabama was ranked No. 2 in both the USA Today-Coaches and BCS rankings.
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (Oct. 18)
1. Alabama (39) 7-0
2. Florida (20) 6-0
3. Texas 6-0
4. USC 5-1
5. Cincinnati 6-0
6. Boise State 6-0
7. Iowa 7-0
8. Miami (FL) 5-1
9. LSU 5-1
10. TCU 6-0
11. Georgia Tech 6-1
12. Oregon 5-1
13. Penn State 6-1
14. Oklahoma State 5-1
15. Virginia Tech 5-2
16. Brigham Young 6-1
17. Houston 5-1
18. Ohio State 5-2
19. Utah 5-1
20. Pittsburgh 6-1
21. Texas Tech 5-2
22. West Virginia 5-1
23. South Carolina 5-2
24. Kansas 5-1
25. Oklahoma 3-3
Dropped from rankings: Nebraska 15, South Florida 21, Notre Dame 25
Others receiving votes: Notre Dame 61, Mississippi 59, South Florida 57, Nebraska 52, Michigan 41, Central Michigan 39, Arizona 25, California 9, Arkansas 8, Oregon State 5, Missouri 4, Navy 4, Wisconsin 4, Idaho 4, Auburn 3, Boston College 3.
USA TODAY-COACHES TOP 25 (Oct. 18)
1. Florida (49) 6-0
2. Alabama (9) 7-0
3. Texas (1) 6-0
4. USC 5-1
5. Boise State 6-0
6. Cincinnati 6-0
7. TCU 6-0
8. Iowa 7-0
9. Miami (FL) 5-1
10. LSU 5-1
11. Penn State 6-1
12. Oklahoma State 5-1
13. Georgia Tech 6-1
14. Oregon 5-1
15. Virginia Tech 5-2
16. Brigham Young 6-1
17. Ohio State 5-2
17. Houston 5-1
19. Pittsburgh 6-1
20. Utah 5-1
21. Kansas 5-1
22. West Virginia 5-1
23. South Carolina 5-2
24. Texas Tech 5-2
25. Mississippi 4-2
Dropped from rankings: Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 18, South Florida 21, Missouri 24, Notre Dame 25
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 113, South Florida 104, Nebraska 84, Central Michigan 34, Notre Dame 31, Boston College 26, Wisconsin 26, Arkansas 19, Michigan 13, Georgia 12, Missouri 11, Oregon State 10, Idaho 8, Auburn 8, California 7, Arizona 7, Michigan State 5, North Carolina 1, Rutgers 1.
BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RANKINGS (Oct 18)
1. Florida 6-0
2. Alabama 7-0
3. Texas 6-0
4. Boise State 6-0
5. Cincinnati 6-0
6. Iowa 7-0
7. USC 5-1
8. TCU 6-0
9. LSU 5-1
10. Miami (FL) 5-1
11. Oregon 5-1
12. Georgia Tech 6-1
13. Penn State 6-1
14. Virginia Tech 5-2
15. Oklahoma State 5-1
16. Brigham Young 6-1
17. Houston 5-1
18. Utah 5-1
19. Ohio State 5-2
20. Pittsburgh 6-1
21. Wisconsin 5-2
22. Arizona 4-2
23. West Virginia 5-1
24. South Carolina 5-2
25. Kansas 5-1
By CNSYD October 19, 2009 at 8:30 am
Voters in the polls are in two groups. The AP is sports writers who have their preseason favorities and they also favor the teams in their area. The last thing they are going to do is say they are wrong. So they tend to let early picks hang around even after those picks lose. See Ole Miss. The Coaches Poll is misnamed. It is really the SID poll as most coaches don’t fill it out. Now the job of a SID is to, (1) boost the team you work for, (2) build up your opponents so when you beat them it appears to be a bigger accomplishment and (3) build up the reputation of the conference that you are in. Thus BSU, Cincy, etc. are just burrs under the saddle to the “power” conferences and have little hope of the championship game.
By EM October 19, 2009 at 9:11 am
re Alabama/Carolina Game.
Is it possible that the interception thrown by Garcia was a mistake caused by seeing a Crimson/Garnet colored jersey with Barnes #4 on it?
….we are now calling mistakes at our house, red 4′s.
And did Brian Maddox play in the game Saturday?
By Joseph Reynolds October 19, 2009 at 10:56 am
I swear man..
with fans like you…….
By fitsnews October 19, 2009 at 11:58 am
Joseph,
We swear man …
with a team like this …
-FITS
By OnNoNotAgain October 19, 2009 at 4:58 pm
You probably didn’t hear it. But I did.
In the background, “That’s another ‘BamAAAAAA”
First down.
Everybody does it. It is not an indication of being wimps.
By EM October 19, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Hey I love the Gamecocks…35 years of love…My Father graduated from Roll Tide Alabama. I was raised watching Bear, Broadway Joe etc. He taught me football by watching Alabama….then I decided to go to Carolina…he pulls for us when we aren’t playing Bama. My brother is a Georgia Graduate…imagine my life at Thanksgiving and Christmas….