NCAA Power Rankings Week 7

Gator’s Take a Chunk Out of LSU and ‘Bama Says, “Don’t Forget About Us”

As often as things change, they sometimes stay the same as the Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide are once again at the Top of my NCAA Power Rankings and the SEC is once again the best conference in college football.

In 2008 the Gators and Tide rolled into the SEC Championship Game to play for the right to beat down Oklahoma in the BCS Championship.  The same thing could happen this year as Florida looks to be well on their way to the SEC Championship after dismantling LSU and ‘Bama looks to be on their way as well after throttling the Ole Miss Rebels.

Let’s take a look at this week’s NCAA Power Rankings.

1. Florida – - Either the Gators won ATS, if you bet in the BetOnline online sportsbook at -7, or lost ATS if you got them at -11.  Either way, beating LSU 13 to 3 in Death Valley is impressive.

2. Alabama – - Few NCAA betting fans saw this one coming.  ‘Bama was favored on the road, but they destroyed the spread by winning 22 to 3 and earned the second spot on my power rankings.

3. Texas – - Texas outscored Colorado 28 to nothing in the second half of their game yesterday to record a 38 to 14 victory, but the Longhorns were 33 ½ point favorites and once again failed to cover a spread.

4. Boise State – - Yes, they ad a bye and usually it’s not good practice to move a team up on a bye, but these guys are super good.  I  mean, they’ve covered every spread they’ve face so far in 2009 and the only team that’s gotten close to them, Oregon, is proving to be one of the best teams in the Pac 10.

5. Virginia Tech – - The Hokies covered a 13 ½ points spread by 20 ½ points by thumping Boston College 48 to 14.  Moving on up has to be the saying in Blacksburg this week.

6. Cincinnati – - I have much respect for the Bearcats who, like Boise State, move up even though they had a bye.  I just feel it’s important to reward teams that haven’t stubbed their toe yet.

7. Ohio State – - I’m not going to get crazy on Ohio State yet, but they are two minute drill away from being undefeated.  Another large spread -14 ½ and another cover, as the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin 31 to 13 at home on Saturday.

8. TCU – - They had some troubles against Air Force on Saturday when failing to cover a 10 point spread and only beating the Falcons 20 to 17, but they are undefeated and their defense is pretty stout.

9. LSU – - Good try Tigers, but the loss to Florida might have been the beginning of the end.  You’ve got ‘Bama coming up pretty soon.

10. Iowa – - Another ugly victory for Iowa, but they keep winning.  This time as 8 point favorites, they were tooth and nail against Michigan, beating the Wolverines 30 to 28.

11. USC – - The Trojans got the week off to prepare for Jimmy Clausen and Notre Dame.  That will be ugly game for the Irish.

12. Miami – - There was no line on the Hurricanes game versus Florida A&M.  It doesn’t matter because Miami beat Florida A&M 48 to 16.

13. Kansas – - They rock, chalked and jayhawked their way to 48 to 36 victory over Iowa State, but they needed 14 points in the 4th quarter to do it.  Kansas didn’t get close to covering the 19 ½ point spread.

14. Nebraska – - How impressive was that?  On the road as 3 ½ point favorites against Missouri, Nebraska put up 27 4th quarter points to not only destroy the college football betting spread but to beat the Tigers 27 to 12.

15. South Florida – - South Florida had the weak off but will face the 8th ranked Bearcats this Thursday for what could be all of the marbles in the Big East.

16. Oregon – - As 3 point favorites in L.A. against UCLA, Oregon wasn’t supposed to beat up on the Bruins, but that’s what they did.  Beating UCLA 24 to 10 was impressive.

17. BYU – - The Cougars decided to do what they do best, run up the score, when putting 59 on UNLV and covering a 16 ½ points spread 59 to 21.

18. Penn State – - It’s hard for me to move up a team that beats another team 52 to 3 when Vegas doesn’t even provide NCAA football odds.  So, I’m keeping the Nittany Lions where they were last week.

19. South Carolina – - The Gamecocks were all out to beat Kentucky 28 to 26 and because of that, there’s reason to move them down.  There’s no shame in not covering a spread against a good team, but SC was favored by 9 over the Wildcats.  Luckily for them, I think the SEC Conference is awesome.

20. Georgia Tech – - Tech was all out to beat Florida State on the road, 49 to 44, but how could NCAA gamblers not be impressed?  3 point underdogs winning on the road is always a reason to raise a team in my power rankings.

21. Oklahoma – - Sam Bradford returned under center and the Sooners beat up Baylor 33 to 7, but the wagering line was 27 ½ meaning the Oklahoma didn’t cover the spread.

22. Oklahoma State – - The Cowboys have been up and down all year.  On Saturday against Texas A&M they were even by pushing a 5 point spread when winning 36 to 31.

23. Houston – - Houston was a 2 ½ point underdog on the road against a pesky SEC team, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and won 31 to 24 to get themselves back into the Top 25.

24. Pittsburgh – - Yes the Panthers were favored by 6 ½ points at home against Connecticut and they only beat the Huskies by 3 points, 24 to 1, but they put up 11 points in the 4th quarter to do it showing tons of heart.

25. Notre Dame – - I’m ranking them because nobody else deserves this spot and they only have 1 loss straight-up this year, but they play USC next week so they won’t be on this list for long.