My AP ballot

Posted Sep 13, 2009 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Sep 13, 2009 at 01:34 PM

Here is my Associated Press ballot for this week with my ranking last week in parenthesis. Also, below is this week’s AP rankings.

1. Florida (1)
When hired, Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin said he’d be “singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year. It will be a blast.” Gators ready to blast off vs. Vols Saturday.

2. Texas (2)
Longhorns seek revenge Saturday against Texas Tech after last year’s 39-33 loss to Red Raiders ultimately cost UT shot at Big 12 title game and BCS title game.

3. USC (3)
Trojans are remarkable 14-2 in last 16 games against Top 10 ranked teams.
Now if they can only avoid that one annual upset as prohibitive favorites (Oregon State, 2008; Stanford, 2007).

4. Alabama (4)
QB Greg McElroy sets school record with 14 consecutive completions as Crimson Tide pulls away from Florida International.

5. Penn State (6)
Hide the women and children. Penn State hosts Temple Saturday, having defeated the Owls 123-3 in the past three seasons.

6. Ole Miss (5)
Rebels get warm-up contest with Southeastern Louisiana Saturday before visiting South Carolina a week from Thursday.

7. BYU (8)
So much for an Oklahoma hangover or Bourbon Street hangover as BYU blasts Tulane 54-3. Now, Florida State pays a visit to Cougar Town Saturday.

8. California (9)
Golden Bears visit Minnesota Saturday hoping to avoid the fate of last two visits east of Rocky Mountains: 2008 loss at Minnesota and 2006 loss at Tennessee.

9. LSU (12)
Saturday Night Fever: LSU’s win against Vanderbilt was Tigers’ 31st consecutive Saturday night home victory.

10. Ohio State (10)
Buckeyes loss to USC was sixth straight against Top Five ranked teams. Good news is they won’t see another this year until possibly Nov. 7 against Penn State.

11. Oklahoma (11)
Sooners get well by seal-clubbing Idaho State. Oklahoma goes for school record setting 26th consecutive home victory Saturday against Tulsa.

12. Nebraska (13)
Zac Lee’s career-high 340 yards passing and four TDs lifted the Cornhuskers past Arkansas State, setting up Saturday’s Top 25 battle with …

13. Virginia Tech (14)
The Hokies enter Nebraska showdown coming off a 605-yard offensive day, including 444 yards rushing, in rout of Marshall.

14. TCU (15)
After putting the shackles on Virginia’s offense (actually who doesn’t?), TCU hosts Texas State Saturday before facing another ACC club (Clemson) on Sept. 26.

15. Cincinnati (16)
Fastest cheetah in the world was clocked recently at the Cincinnati Zoo running 100 meters in six seconds. That also was about how long each of the Bearcats’ TD drives was in 70-3 romp of Southeast Missouri.

16. Boise State (17)
Broncos may get tested Friday at Fresno State, but look to be on cruise control until visiting Tulsa on Oct. 14.

17. Georgia Tech (18)
Yellow Jackets again showcased in Thursday night national TV spotlight at Miami. Winner should be Virginia Tech’s biggest challenge in ACC Coastal.

18. Houston (NR)
QB Case Keenum and Cougars get a week off to enjoy upset of Okie State before tangling with another Big 12 school when they host Texas Tech on Sept. 26.

19. Pittsburgh (19)
RB Dion Lewis’ second consecutive 100-yard game (190 yards, two TDs vs. Buffalo) is bringing back memories of another spectacular Pitt freshman named Tony Dorsett.

20. Miami (20)
Thursday night begins a stretch of three consecutive games against ranked opponents: Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and Oklahoma.

21. Oklahoma State (7)
How ‘bout them Cowboys? Ugh. Sports Illustrated cover jinx, matador defense dooms Pokes in wild loss to Houston

22. Michigan (NR)
Is Coach Rich Rodriguez repeating his patented second-year turnaround in Ann Arbor that he did as coach at West Virginia?

23. UCLA (23)
Off Tennessee win, Bruins host Kansas State and are looking for first 3-0 start since 2005 team went 10-2.

24. Georgia (22)
Bulldogs needed goal-line stand in final seconds against South Carolina to avoid their first 0-2 start since 1996.

25. North Carolina (24)
This week’s winner of the Bill Gramatica “How Not To Celebrate Award” goes to UNC TE Zack Pianalto, who suffered a foot injury after landing on his foot awkwardly while celebrating a TD catch.

Teams that are close to making my Top 25 (in alphabetical order): Kansas, Missouri, Oregon State, Utah.

See you later (teams that fell out of my Top 25 this week): Notre Dame, Florida State

This week’s AP Poll rankings
1 Florida (56) 2-0 1491
2 Texas (1) 2-0 1404
3 USC (1) 2-0 1396
4 Alabama (2) 2-0 1328
5 Mississippi 1-0 1145
5 Penn State 2-0 1145
7 Brigham Young 2-0 1122
8 California 2-0 1058
9 LSU 2-0 951
10 Boise State 2-0 945
11 Ohio State 1-1 840
12 Oklahoma 1-1 835
13 Virginia Tech 1-1 749
14 Georgia Tech 2-0 683
15 TCU 1-0 609
16 Oklahoma State 1-1 445
17 Cincinnati 2-0 407
18 Utah 2-0 405
19 Nebraska 2-0 365
20 Miami (FL) 1-0 364
21 Houston 2-0 341
22 Kansas 2-0 271
23 Georgia 1-1 260
24 North Carolina 2-0 250
25 Michigan 2-0 169
Dropped from rankings: Notre Dame 18, Missouri 25
Others receiving votes: Missouri 93, Pittsburgh 87, Oregon State 64, Texas Tech 54, UCLA 44, Notre Dame 40, West Virginia 30, Auburn 26, Iowa 23, Boston College 19, Baylor 15, Clemson 10, Oregon 5, Arizona 4, Arkansas 3, Colorado State 2, Florida State 1, Minnesota 1, South Florida 1