Who Needs a Blog Poll Top 25: Week Six and Alabama has Surrendered One TD to Non-Aggies.

POP QUIZ: I've gone 18-8 in the previous two seasons. I am off to a hot start against a powder puff schedule where I score elebenty billion points. I won't play a decent team until November. Ergo, I am alleged to be a national title contender. Who am I?

SPOILER: Nearly every Big Twelve team for the past decade.

This year's iteration of the October National Champion is, of course, the darling Baylor Baptist Bears; they of the incredibly fleet skill players and unknown defensive ability. Of course, you could substitute 2012's October wunderkind, the West Virginia Mountaineers here. Or 2011's poppets, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. 2009 Texas. 2008 Texas Tech. 2008 Oklahoma. I think you get the picture: Let's ease off the brakes until some of these dudes actually play someone worth two Confederate dollars. I am pretty confident though that the Big 12 always ends in tears and Baylor will finish with at least two losses.

That said, this week has had some shakeups.* What a weird, weird week with too many near-misses. Every year the SEC has one of these weeks, so all-in-all it was a very good Saturday for an Alabama Homecoming massacre game.

O, Hai! Missouri Tigers - This team can play defense-ish and does not fear the road. A healthy James Franklin is a damned good James Franklin. Also, those wins at Indiana and versus Toledo look better each week (especially against a certain Crimson team's horriputridawful out of conference schedule).  Michigan State Spartans - How can you not love a team with a streaky, hot-cold QB, an occasional running game, and a nasty defense that goes out of its way to finish plays in a chippy fashion. This is 2005 Alabama writ B1G. Northwestern Wildcats - On paper not an impressive team. But, you cannot overlook heart, Venric or the fact that Ohio State simply just wore them down as the game went on through superior talent. This squad may win 8-9 games in a down-ish Big Ten. North Dakota State: UNI was the #4 ranked FCS team, and it was a struggle for the Bison -as Top 10 games should be. Still, I don't think anyone wants to see this team pop up on the schedule. For a certainty, the Bison could beat the bottom of most power conferences, and I like their chances against the middle as well.  Give Craig Bohl 85 scholarship players and magic would happen.

Be Gone! Arizona State - Easily the most schizophrenic team in America. The defensive line, particularly, is streaky as a hobo window-wash. Sometimes you get Graham'd, and sometimes Graham has family in your city and yours has always been his dream job.  Ole Miss - In case I didn't make myself clear last week: I despise this offense; the offensive line is dirty but soft; and, I truly think Hugh Freeze is the worst in-game coach in the SEC....maybe the worst I've seen since Ron Zook. The effort against Auburn was absolutely disgusting, no matter the window-dressing final score. NBD, just Aggie this week. Oklahoma State - Outgained by EMAW, under 100 yards rushing, and -worse- made a moribund Wildcat offense seem competent. Upon reflection, I can't think of a single reason this team should be ranked. If CLANGA and the Pokes met this week, instead of Week One, I'd take Moo by two touchdowns. Maryland -Thanks for enabling one of the most obnoxious fan bases on the planet and giving Famous Jameis 4 Heisman wings. I have never seen an allegedly ranked team play so disinterested, or a back seven look so confused on every play. The Terps could go 11-1 and all that will be remembered is this game. Awful, awful, awful. #goacc.

Social Promotion: Florida State - Hard to ignore that beating. Jameis is pretty good at this whole football thing. I still think the ‘Noles have some losing in front of them, notably Miami and Clemson loom large, as do Will Muschamp's defensive terror reptiles.  Oklahoma - OU is not winning with offense this year, rather with a stifling defense, solid ground game and just enough passing to be dangerous. I'm okay with that. The Red River Rout on Saturday should put the final nail in Mack's coffin.  Texas A&M - Quick: Throw in three bad defenses and three great offenses: Aggies, Dawgs, Tigers. Who you got? In this circular firing squad of WACtion, give me the best offense with the best player. With all the injuries to Georgia, and the worst LSU defense I have seen in a decade, advantage Aggies. Washington - Still have very few good wins, but long on potential. I like their odds against Oregon this week at home: They can play keep away in the passing game, run the ball and occasionally "defense."  Fresno State - In a year where offense is the norm, why not? Carr is going to get straight paid in April of '14. Fresno is going to blow through the rest of the MWC and finally do that which they long threatened, but never achieved, under Pat Hill: Be an actual BCS buster. Virginia Tech - I don't know whether to eye-roll or laugh-cry at the offense which gained under 350 yards against an awful UNC defense (and less than 50 rushing). But, a 10-point win for the Hokies translates to a three-touchdown win for most teams. I still believe that while VT is not the best coached defense in America (nod, Florida), the Hokies are the best all-around. Ball control offense and forcing three turnovers helps. Clemson - All I will say is that October 19, 2013 v. FSU cannot get here soon enough. Also, mad props to Syracuse's DC for the skinned-knee whining about Clemson adding to a half-time lead, on the road, in a conference game. Along side Alabama's win at Aggie, the UGA game is the best victory anyone else has in the country. This team tastefully blows you out.

Held Back: Miami - Just when I praise the killer instinct and quick starts, Miami gets to the conference schedule and starts slow / has trouble putting away the Beeeees. The UF win earns the ‘Canes cache, but I'm not sure they beat anyone in front of them. The Miami-FSU game is going to be all the hate and a MNC elimination game. Oregon - Ducks, can we talk? I've seen your safeties play; I've seen your bend-don't-break defense; and, I've seen teams have success powering the ball at you. These are not good things to have against good teams. I am officially putting you on notice this week in Seattle. LSU - Defensive woes go deeper than youngsters playing. The 4^th quarter score-padding does not disguise that CLANGA had its way for half a game, and I just don't think the Tigers can win a shootout against Johnny Football. This week's UF game is going to be really interesting to see how far the offense has progressed. UGA - This was the Vol's Super Bowl. The Dawgs were still hungover from LSU. At least that's what you have to hope for, otherwise the Mizzou game this week is going to be a lot closer than you'd like. Injuries are derailing what was the country's most balanced offense. South Carolina - Clowney is the most frightening titty baby in America. OBC needs to put this chapter behind him and let the ‘Cocks move on. Shaw played great, the defense had its usual lapses against Kentucky. Too many distractions and still too few weapons for a serious run at the East. Louisville - People are still way too high on the Florida game last season. It's a new year and this team has not, and will not, beat a single squad of note when all is said and done, nor do I think they could. Pedestrian wins against Kentucky and winless Temple. Yawn. At this point, NDSU has a better win...in the FCS.

Last Out: UCF Knights - Same as last week, still hovering near top-25. Let Memphis take a lead...in football, then hit the switch with quickness. Auburn - Pretty good team, as we thought they'd be. 7-8 wins was the ceiling, and that seems about right. As usual, has gone 2-0 against a weak OOC slate and 2-0 against the state of Mississippi. Line play and Tre Mason are the heart of this team, irrespective of Nick Marshall doing scramble things against Ole Miss. Wisconsin -I'm stubborn on this one. I still think this a Top-25 team finding its way. They best get there quickly with Northwestern coming to town. Nebraska - Quietly 4-1. Smacked Illinois around with no hesitation. Should blow through October before a rough back-loaded November slate (NW, at Mich, MSU, at PSU, Iowa). Texas Tech - The Raiders are 5-0; this is not a drill. Playing pretty decent defense and the offense is clicking, although still a work in progress. Like Nebraska, we won't know the ceiling on this team until the late schedule kicks in: at OU, Ok. State, KSU, Baylor, at Texas.

* I reevaluate every poll position each week based on eyeballing as many games as possible, results and careful study, head to head, and power ranking. Tiebreakers will almost always go to a team with a defense, better wins and stronger line play. I will dock the crap out of teams with bad coaching, butt-like line play and running out of the shotgun on the goal line.  #SEC #SEC #SEC