[tdarko]

tdarko's top 10 from what he has seen:

1. USC- (3-0) Defeated a tough Arkansas team (Just upset Alabama) on the road badly and then beat a very good Nebraska team ranked #19. They haven't had an easy schedule so far yet they have looked in control every step of the way, their talent is unmatched and we heard stories in the past that their 2nd and 3rd string teams could beat up on most teams in the country...well I believe it. This team has more weapons than anyone else that takes the field against them.

2. Auburn- (4-0) Has looked impressive in every game. 3 blowouts in some games that should have been blow-outs and of couse the huge win in the "best of the (SEC) west" game against LSU. Their defense is stingy as hell, maybe the best--well the toughest for sure in the country.

3. OSU- (4-0) Smith and Ginn are going to be a headache for all opponents the whole year as expected but once again their defense has been outstanding--especially in the big Penn State win with two defensive touchdowns. I don't view the Texas win as big as most do, hell if you look back at the actual game thread I not only predicted how the game went but I damn near predicted the score. It wasn't tough to realize they were going to win this game...Texas snuck away with a win last year with the most talented player on the field, you take him away and add a freshman QB and voila! Either way, OSU is [censored]' good.

4. Florida- (4-0) Leak is not only playing great but finally playing well late and winning close games, such as the Tennessee win. This is a team that I didn't realize how athletic it was until I watched the Tennessee game but damn, one word describes these guys...speed. This is a very dangerous team, especially if Leak has figured out how to win close games--this will be the key later in the season, IMO.

5. LSU- (3-1) 4 yards from being 4-0. They have blown out 3 teams that aren't on their level and lost to 7-3 to Auburn in one of the best games of the year. It is tough to tell what their offense is actually going to do, they have put up 45+ against unranked and non-conference teams and put up a FG against Auburn but Auburn is stingy. So it will be interesting, their defense is always damn good but it will have to be great every game to get a BCS bid.

6. Louisville- (4-0) Even with the back-up in they are explosive. They looked up and down against K-State but Cantwell is only going to improve on is average day. They have W. Virginia and Rutgers to worry about--of course they can lose to anyone but for arguments sake those are their big games and Cantwell will have had 5 starts under his belt by the time W. Virginia comes into town. I think they are the better of the two Big East monsters.

7. Michigan- (4-0) Not much to say. The ND win was convincing and the win against Wisconsin was good as well b/c they are always pesky, and have an upset in them every year. They are winning big games and Henne hasn't really found his groove yet, not that he has played bad he just hasn't really exploded...he is 6th in his conference in passing. This is a team that I underrated myself, but I am a believer now! Plus having Manningham and Breaston to throw to must be nice.

8. Georgia- (4-0) They have QB problems there is no denying this but that defense is sweet. They didn't allow a touchdown for what seemed like an eternity. Their schedule is backloaded which is good for them b/c they are going to need to figure out their offensive problems. They will lose to Auburn and Florida at the tail end of the season, bummer.

9. West Virginia- (4-0) To me they have underachieved so far, they haven't been convincing. The team I saw last year was powerful, fast, explosive and scary and this team is playing E. Carolina close. Sure they have ran the score up a couple times this year but Slaton seems to be the only guy that has been a killer. Though White is just getting better and better, that guy is going to be a force. I should like this team a lot more but watching the E. Carolina game turned me off just a little bit...they are still immensly talented.

10. VT- (4-0) Haven't really played anyone but have looked in sync so far on both sides of the ball. Glennon looks fantastic so far. But this week they play GA Tech so we can see if they are for real, this is their first test.

I agree with you on the SEC love, I have always been a big fan even though you get flamed around here for defending this conference. I still put Georgia at #8 even with the scare last week, that young QB is only going to get better. VT has been rolling but they haven't really played anyone, we shall see if they are overrated this week against GA Tech. The big difference is that I wouldn't even put Texas in the top 11-12 and this will be evident October 7th.

EDIT for Holeplug