Super Day Off

We took off yesterday to watch our favorite QB get a much-deserved Super Bowl win. Peyton is a true student and master of the game.

So Duke lost to Florida State? We certainly didn't predict that one. We may be wrong, but we think this is the first time in the famed Duke-Carolina game (coming up Wednesday night) that both teams are coming off a loss. This may be one of the best showdowns between these two stellar programs. More on it tomorrow. Right now, let's see how the Coaches' poll looks this week.

1. Florida: they still need to prove to us that they are #1 in the country. Yes, they are top 10, and maybe even top-6; but #1? No way.

2. UCLA: the Bruins have danced around the top-5, but they are NOT--repeat, NOT--#2 in the country.

3. Ohio State: about right. They have finally gelled with Oden in the line-up, and should make a strong run for the remainder of the regular season.

4. Wisconsin: it befuddles us that a team that won 17 straight and then lost at then-#25 Indiana would not still be considered either second or third in the country. Wait until the Big Dance as they will step on a lot of toes on their way to the Final Four.

5. UNC: falls 2 points after losing to a pumped-up NC State team. This is a fairly accurate ranking. Their game Wednesday night at Duke will be one for the ages.

6. Pitt: climbs another point. What is it about this team that everyone thinks is so great? The Big East is average at best. Pitt can't share the ball worth crap. AND, they haven't beaten a top-25 team all year. Are we missing something here???

7. Texas A&M: up a point. This Aggies team is first in the competitive Big 12 and should be a top-5 team.

8. Kansas: falls 2. The Jayhawks are at least better than Pitt. Again Big 12>Big East.

9. Butler: up 2. Please stop pushing this team higher in the rankings. They are largely unproven and play in a conference that sucks. There are better teams that should be ranked in this spot.

10. Memphis: jumps up 2. They are for real, but they will will skate through a mediocre Conference-USA so it will be hard to judge them appropriately until the rubber meets the road in March.

11. Nevada: up 2. The Wolf Pack is very good, but they have not played a top-25 team all season. Their dancing ability will be thoroughly tested in March. We like Nevada, but #11?--uh, no.

12. Marquette: up from 15. If anyone from the Big East deserves to be in the top-10 it is this team. They are rolling.

13. Air Force: up 3. Question: how do you lose to an unranked team and the next week jump up 3 in the rankings? Very eerie. It kind of scares us.

14. Washington State: up from 17. Solid win at Zona, but this team is streaky. And, they have a tough regular season schedule ahead, so we should be able to tell in a couple of weeks just what they are made of.

15. Oregon: down from 9. Wow. Have lost 3 of their last 4. Let's keep an eye on them to see where they are headed. They do everything fairly well except win consistently. Perhaps they have not peaked yet.

16. Duke: down from 10. Have lost 2 in a row, but only by a total of 3 points. We're betting they will be VERY ready for Wednesday's game with UNC. The Heels better know what they are getting into, as Coach Cry will do everything within his power to beat Carolina. Of course, if Duke does lose, he can just blame the officials or the fans or the Chancellor or Iraq or Global Warming. Oh, BTW, when your point guard is averaging as many assists as your center then you are not a good team.

17. OK State: down 3. Lost 2 of last 4, and one of those losses was to a dismal Colorado team. Let's see how they do in the next couple of weeks. We like the talent on this team, but can they play together?

18. Kentucky: up 6?? The Wildcats have lost 2 of their last 4 and are up SIX in the rankings??? What the hell??

19. Alabama: up 1. OK, Bama is 4-4 in their last 8 games, and they BARELY beat unranked LSU and unranked South Carolina this week. The Coaches' poll seems to have some weird fetish for the SEC.

20. Southern Illinois: not ranked last week. Huh? The only currently-ranked team that the Salukis (help us with this mascot please) was Indiana way back in the season, and they lost. Their other losses have come at the hands of power teams such as Evansville (READ: sarcasm). There are SO many other mid-major teams out there who are better than this team.

21. Southern California: not ranked last week. It's about damn time.

22. Notre Dame: down 3. Lost 3 of their last 6. What are they doing ranked?

23. Georgetown: not ranked last week. If anyone from the Big East deserves to be sitting in the top-25 it is the Hoyas.

24. Indiana: slides up 1. Lost to Iowa this past week, but their win over Wisconsin earned them a bump in the rankings. Someone will have to explain all of this to us one day. There has to be a formula or something, right? It can't be as random as it seems.

25. Texas: down 2. This week will put them out of the rankings, maybe for good.

Tonight's games:

7. Texas A&M: host #25 Texas. Aggies up by 5 at the half.

Tuesday's games:

3. Ohio State: host Michigan. Michigan has not beaten a top-25 team all season, and they cannot rebound or score, so this should be an easy ride for the Buckeyes.

13. Air Force: at San Diego State. The Aztecs only lost to Air Force by 5 AT Air Force so this should be a good match-up. SDSU can rebound and score (unlike Michigan) so look for the upset here. We think Air Force will lose by 10-15 points.

Enjoy the silence.