2013 Golden Globes Preview and Predictions

The Golden Globes is always one of the more interesting awards ceremonies. Their nominations are crazy at times, thirsting for the star power of actors and directors. Sometimes, they have interesting nominations, but other times we end up with Julia Roberts in Duplicity and Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp in the universally-panned The Tourist. They love international actors as well, perhaps most evident in the fact that Sasha Baron Cohen won for Borat presumably because he is a HFPA member. They are also the only awards that have a comedy split and still do not nominate the Apatow films. Ridiculous. I love it. I will take a shot at the TV nominations (they love movie stars for those categories too, as well as new TV shows), followed by the film categories, along with a lineup for fun of what the HFPA would choose if they really had no structure. Nominations are announced on December 13. Here it goes:

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TV MOVIE

1. Maggie Smith – Downton Abbey

2. Sofia Vergara – Modern Family

3. Julie Bowen – Modern Family

4. Ellen Burstyn – Political Animals

5. Chloe Sevigny – American Horror Story: Asylum

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TV MOVIE

1. Ed Harris – Game Change

2. Aaron Paul – Breaking Bad

3. Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family

4. Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones

5. Tom Berenger – Hatfields and McCoys

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE

1. Julianne Moore – Game Change

2. Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Asylum

3. Nicole Kidman – Hemingway and Gellhorn

4. Queen Latifah – Steel Magnolias

5. Sigourney Weaver – Political Animals

BEST ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE

1. Kevin Costner – Hatfields and McCoys

2. Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock

3. Woody Harrelson – Game Change

4. Bill Paxton – Hatfields and McCoys

5. Clive Owen – Hemingway and Gellhorn

BEST MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

1. Game Change

2. Sherlock

3. American Horror Story: Asylum

4. Political Animals

5. Hatfields and McCoys

BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep

2. Zooey Deschanel – New Girl

3. Lena Dunham – Girls

4. Mindy Kaling – The Mindy Project

5. Kat Dennings – 2 Broke Girls

BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Louis CK – Louie

2. Matthew Perry – Go On

3. Matt LeBlanc – Episodes

4. Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory

5. Charlie Sheen – Anger Management

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Modern Family

2. Girls

3. Louie

4. New Girl

5. Go On

BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. Claire Danes – Homeland

2. Connie Britton – Nashville

3. Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife

4. Kathy Bates – Harry’s Law

5. Michelle Dockery – Downton Abbey

BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. Damian Lewis – Homeland

2. Jon Hamm – Mad Men

3. Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad

4. Kelsey Grammer – Boss

5. Jeff Daniels – The Newsroom

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

1. Homeland

2. Mad Men

3. Downton Abbey

4. The Newsroom

5. Game of Thrones

BEST ANIMATED FILM

1. Brave

2. Rise of the Guardians

3. ParaNorman

4. Frankenweenie

5. Hotel Transylvania

Explanation: These seemed to be the biggest box office hits of the year, along with the hyped Rise of the Guardians. I would love to see Wreck-It Ralph included, but I just do not see awards in the future of the coolest animated film of the year.

BEST FOREIGN FILM

1. The Intouchables

2. Amour

3. Rust and Bone

4. Beyond the Hills

5. A Trip

Explanation: There aren’t any American movies in a foreign language, so that makes this a bit more difficult. The Globes like to nominate the foreign language films that have acting performances nominated in other categories. Yeah…I will stop acting like I know what I am talking about here. Just guesses.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

1. “Skyfall” – Skyfall

2. “Learn Me Right” – Brave

3. “Suddenly” – Les Miserables

4. “Celebrate” – Sparkle

5. “Wide Awake” – Katy Perry: Part of Me

Explanation: This is just a weird category. The songs here are typically different than the Oscars, and they are desperate for stars. The Sparkle cast, Adele, and Katy Perry will take care of that.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

1. The Master

2. Lincoln

3. Anna Karenina

4. Life of Pi

5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Explanation: I haven’t seen three of these, but they seem like locks for having memorable scores. The HFPA has had some interesting nominees for this category recently, such as The Painted Veil, W.E., and Grace is Gone.

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

1. Argo

2. Silver Linings Playbook

3. Django Unchained

4. The Master

5. The Sessions

Explanation: Predicting the screenplay here is just odd. It is the only awards shoe that does not split it up into original and adapted. I will go with the major contenders, but they do throw a wrench in there every once in a while (It’s Complicated, for one).

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

1. Steven Spielberg – Lincoln

2. Ben Affleck – Argo

3. Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained

4. Tom Hooper – Les Miserables

5. David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook

Explanation: Not only are these the main contenders, but three of them are the big names that the Globes love. Spielberg will likely take this, whether his film is winning Best Picture or not. They just do not care as much as the Oscars do. Julian Schnabel won Best Director for a film not nominated for Best Picture back in 2007. The Oscars would never dare do such a thing so radical…

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Ben Affleck – Argo

Dustin Hoffman – Quartet

Peter Jackson – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Christopher Nolan – The Dark Knight Rises

Steven Spielberg – Lincoln

Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

1. Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables

2. Amy Adams – The Master

3. Sally Field – Lincoln

4. Scarlett Johansson – Hitchcock

5. Jacki Weaver – Silver Linings Playbook

Explanation: The Globes love Scarlett. She had four legitimate nominations in four years without an Oscar nomination. This category seems fairly straight-forward, but Weaver is really just a random stab. Helen Hunt could just as easily snag that spot for The Sessions if she is supporting.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Amy Adams – The Master

Jessica Biel – Hitchcock

Marion Cotillard – The Dark Knight Rises

Scarlett Johansson – Hitchcock

Amanda Seyfried – Les Miserables

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

1. Leonardo DiCaprio – Django Unchained

2. Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master

3. Robert De Niro – Silver Linings Playbook

4. Tom Cruise – Rock of Ages

5. Matthew McConaughey – Magic Mike

Explanation: This category seems almost perfect for the HFPA. We have the biggest stars right now. The Globes love their comedies, even in the categories that are not split. McConaughey and Cruise seem completely obvious for inclusions here. So, the following mock list is almost identical...

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Tom Cruise – Rock of Ages

Robert De Niro – Silver Linings Playbook

Leonardo DiCaprio – Django Unchained

Tom Hanks – Cloud Atlas

Matthew McConaughey – Magic Mike

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

2. Meryl Streep – Hope Springs

3. Judi Dench – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

4. Mary Elizabeth Winstead – Smashed

5. Barbara Streisand – The Guilt Trip

Explanation: This would be an interesting group for the GG. All of the nominees would be fairly predictable, but it would diversify the films represented here a bit. A cool surprise inclusion here would likely be Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect. She is probably more likely than Winstead, actually, but I will stick with my five. Maybe Winstead is the way that they could get Aaron Paul to show up if they snub him for Breaking Bad.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Julianne Hough – Rock of Ages

Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

Julia Roberts – Mirror Mirror

Meryl Streep – Hope Springs

Emma Watson – The Perks of Being a Wallflower

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Hugh Jackman – Les Miserables

2. Bill Murray – Hyde Park on Hudson

3. Jack Black – Bernie

4. Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook

5. Channing Tatum – Magic Mike

Explanation: This is always where the crazy stuff happens at the GG, but there was just too much quality work in comedy/musicals this year. This category might not be as ridiculous as a typical year, but who knows? It could look something like this…

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Sasha Baron Cohen – The Dictator

Johnny Depp – Dark Shadows

Colin Farrell – Seven Psychopaths

Will Ferrell – The Campaign

Jonah Hill – 21 Jump Street

Channing Tatum – Magic Mike

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL

1. Les Miserables

2. Silver Linings Playbook

3. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

4. Dark Shadows

5. Magic Mike

Explanation: Usually this category has the biggest box office hits of the year, but recently we got one of the most infamous flops ever, The Tourist. All bets are off now. This is my best guess.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

The Avengers

Dark Shadows

Magic Mike

Rock of Ages

Ted

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. Marion Cotillard – Rust and Bone

2. Helen Mirren – Hitchcock

3. Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games

4. Keira Knightley – Anna Karenina

5. Emmanuelle Riva – Amour

Explanation: This seems to be the category with the most merit at the Golden Globes. This is where the foreign performances will show up, and this is where they have a hard time finding ridiculous nominations to include. This seems like a fairly safe group, and it gives them an excuse to invite The Hunger Games and the tidal wave of buzz that comes with it.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Halle Berry – Cloud Atlas

Anne Hathaway – The Dark Knight Rises

Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games

Blake Lively – Savages

Emma Stone – The Amazing Spider-Man

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln

2. Denzel Washington – Flight

3. Joaquin Phoenix – The Master

4. Brad Pitt – Killing Them Softly

5. Anthony Hopkins – Hitchcock

Explanation: These actors seem like a typical group for the Golden Globes. They do like to nominate the leads of their favorite movies that get ignored by the other awards (Mark Wahlberg in The Fighter, James McAvoy in Atonement, etc.), so Ben Affleck could sneak in there for Argo. Otherwise, this one seems pretty much locked up.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Christian Bale – The Dark Knight Rises

Tom Cruise – Jack Reacher

Matt Damon – Promised Land

Clint Eastwood –Trouble with the Curve

Brad Pitt – Killing Them Softly

Denzel Washington – Flight

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

1. Argo

2. Lincoln

3. Django Unchained

4. The Master

5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Explanation: There is sometimes a random movie that sneaks into this category (Bobby, for example), but there were just too many Globes-friendly movies this year. There are a ton of contenders that got left out (Flight may be a total Globes film and get several nominations), but these seem to be the safest picks, despite not knowing anything about the quality of Django or The Hobbit yet.

The HFPA Dream Lineup:

Argo

The Dark Knight Rises

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hunger Games

Lincoln

So, there you have it. What do you think? Am I missing a big name actor that the HFPA loves? What are the indie flicks that the Golden Globes might love this year? Let me know what you think and post your own in the comments. Look us up on Facebook.

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Week 11 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

We finally have a bit of chaos! Number one Alabama, who was being referred to as the best team in years, went down at home to a freshman quarterback and a pretty mediocre defense. Oregon’s rushing offense was slowed for a half. Kansas State struggled to score with a gimpy Colin Kelin. Notre Dame is still winning ugly. I can’t wait to see how all this plays out over the next three weeks! Football in November…the games we remember (thanks for that College Football Final). Check out the latest updates:

Top 25

Others receiving votes: Kent State, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Utah State, Wisconsin

Dropped from the rankings: Mississippi State (22), Toledo (24)

25. (NR) Boise State (8-2) – This team is only getting better. Don’t count on them losing again this year.

24. (20) Texas (8-2) – The Longhorn offense is getting it together. I still have my doubts, but I just have a bad feeling about them playing K-State. It could ruin one of the coolest runs in recent memory.

23. (23) Rutgers (8-1) – This is probably the most productive defense in all of college football. I can’t wait for them to play Louisville.

22. (25) Washington (6-4) – They continue to break hearts at home. Finally getting their stud sophomore Austin Seferian-Jenkins involved has given the offense the boost it needed.

21. (21) USC (7-3) – They have a couple of the best skill position players in the nation. Too bad they can’t play defense. Oh wait…yeah Marqise Lee might do that too.

20. (19) Oklahoma (7-2) – Their two losses are not the issue. It is how inconsistent the offense is and how bad the defense is at times. An at-large bid for the Sooners is almost assured, but they won’t deserve it.

19. (NR) South Carolina (8-2) – This team showed me something playing without their star and emotional leader. They may be able to snag an at-large bid if they can beat Clemson.

18. (18) Nebraska (8-2) – A couple double digit second half comebacks may seem lucky, but when a team does it 4 times in 6 games in conference, it speaks to something much bigger. This is the best second half team in the nation not located in Eugene. Maybe this is the only team that could hold up against that Quack Attack down the stretch.

17. (17) UCLA (8-2) – They just keep plugging away. If they beat the USC, then I nominate Jim Mora for 2^nd place for Coach of the Year (behind Snyder, of course). The sudden UCLA turnaround has been amazing.

16. (14) Louisiana Tech (9-1) – Struggling with Texas State? Really? How did this team almost beat Texas A&M? Oh yeah. SEC defenses are overrated.

15. (15) Northern Illinois (9-1) – They are now officially the best non-AQ team. I would like to see what they would do to Iowa in a rematch of that fluke opening season loss.

14. (8) Louisville (9-1) – Getting beat at Syracuse is not too embarrassing, but the way the Cardinals got manhandled was shocking. Bridgewater and company will get it together for the stretch run.

13. (11) Florida (9-1) – They just keep getting worse. You should have lost to Louisiana-Lafayette, Gator fans. Maybe that will teach all you SEC teams to schedule a “cakewalk” in the middle of conference games. That’s four in the last two weeks that the SEC has avoided embarrassment.

12. (16) LSU (8-2) – I don’t really understand this team, but they can really run the ball. The two losses aren’t going to do them any favors, but they could make an argument of being the most deserving two-loss team of an at-large bid.

11. (9) Oregon State (7-2) – They are maybe the most balanced and physical team in the Pac. They can beat Oregon. It probably won’t happen, but they can do it if they play their game.

10. (10) Clemson (9-1) – They continue to plug away putting up staggering numbers offensively. An at-large bid is almost assured, but they still have that in-state rivalry game to close the year…

9. (7) Georgia (9-1) – Yeah, I realize they dropped after shutting out a rival team on the road, but they just aren’t balanced enough and have not played a good defensive game against an offense that is worth anything.

8. (13) Texas A&M (8-2) – That win against the Tide was beautiful and satisfying. Manziel is putting up quite the freshman season on the road. No one will want to play this team the rest of the year.

7. (12) Stanford (8-2) – They just continue to win. That game against Oregon State might have been the best game of the weekend. They have a chance to basically clinch the division next week against the top-ranked Ducks.

6. (6) Florida State (9-1) – They escaped with a win on a short week. If they weren’t in the ACC, we might be talking about the top-ranked one-loss team.

5. (1) Alabama (9-1) – They are no longer untouchable. I thought their offense was better than that. Sorry about all the hype, and that was coming from someone who hates the SEC as much as the next guy.

4. (5) Ohio State (10-0) – The bye week will prove to be beneficial for this team, who is certainly looking forward to that inevitable season-ending matchup with their archrival. That game smells like an upset this year. Maybe Wisconsin can catch them off guard next week as well.

3. (4) Notre Dame (10-0) – They continue their winning ways, but it is never pretty. Their freshman QB is maturing each week. They are going to be tough to prepare for in whatever BCS game they get into.

2. (3) Oregon (10-0) – The second half was insane, but the first half was telling. A team with a rush defense can stop this attack. Cal sucks, but they hung in there. Check back with me next week after the Ducks play the best rush defense in America and see if that 40+ point streak is still alive. A small part of me wants them to just win it all this year so Chip Kelly can bolt to the NFL so Oregon can return to where it belongs: the cellar of the Pac and beneath the foot of UW.

1. (2) Kansas State (10-0) – They are clearly deserving of this spot seeing what they have done on the field so far. Every week it is, “We will know more about K-State after this week.” And each week is a dominant win. When is everyone going to just throw out what it looks like and call this team the best?

Heisman Trophy Watch

10. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – He is having a monster year, even against the vaunted Florida State defense. He has almost no shot at getting enough votes, but he has to be getting close to getting this kind of recognition. Next year, he will be a preseason favorite for sure.

9. Matt Barkley, QB, USC – He may not have the wins, but he has the signature moments and career records that define the award sometimes.

8. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – If not for another freshman QB, he might be the story of college football. His maturity and statistics continue to impress anyone who gets to watch him play.

7. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama – His first loss came along with his first two picks of the season. After the Heisman moment last week, he came up short. Only if he has a huge last few weeks and his team gets in line for the BCS title game will he regain his status.

6. Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon – When he got injured, it showed his value to this offense. If he plays the last few games with comparable numbers, then he is a lock for an invite to the ceremony.

5. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He has his signature win, but he is still a freshman. If Adrian Peterson couldn’t win the Heisman he deserved during his first year, then Manziel certainly cannot. Am I the only one who thinks he has a resemblance to Taylor Martinez as a freshman?

4. Marqise Lee, WR, USC – This guy is insane. He may be the best receiver that has ever played at SC, and he is just a sophomore. Look for a third-straight back-to-back Biletnikoff winner next year, after that never happening before in its history.

3. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – Take Miller out of that offense, and I am not sure that the Buckeyes don’t have 2 or 3 losses at this point. His numbers will get him a bunch of votes, since that is basically what this trophy is all about nowadays.

2. Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame – He continues to make plays on defense. He will be invited to New York.

1. Colin Klein, QB, Kansas State – His injuries may hurt his numbers, but it is clear what he means to this team (everything).

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Nebraska (Big Ten) over Notre Dame (At-large)

Orange Bowl – Florida State (ACC) over Rutgers (Big East)

Sugar Bowl – Alabama (SEC) over Clemson (At-large)

Fiesta Bowl – Florida (At-large) over Oklahoma (At-large)

BCS Title Game – Oregon (Pac-12) over Kansas State (Big 12)

What do you think? Give me your rankings in the comments! Look us up on Facebook!

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Skyfall (2012) Review

Directed by

Sam Mendes

Skyfall is one of the most refreshing experiences I have had at the movies in 2012. It is perhaps the first 2012 movie I have seen that is just completely in touch with its tone and what it wanted to accomplish. The Sam Mendes addition to the James Bond franchise is a very key movie for the series, and everything it has to offer clicks. I knew almost nothing about the movie going into the IMAX midnight premiere, and maybe that is the best way to go into a film of such high anticipation. All of the brilliant little details of the story and characters offer wonderful surprises and twists. Everyone seems to still anoint Casino Royale as the class of the modern Bond films, but this movie surpasses its two predecessors in substantial fashion.

I always find it hard to discuss the plotlines of Bond films without giving too much away. Tomorrow Never Diesis the “submarine one” and Die Another Day is the “one with the invisible car. The plot is always what makes the Bond films what they are, and to start discussing the plot would take a large chunk away from the experience I ran into that problem with my Quantum of Solace review, and I didn’t even really realize it until Terry tore my review apart. So, to avoid giving anything away, Skyfall is about the past coming back to haunt the characters. M (Oscar winner Dame Judi Dench) has her largest part in some time, and her back-story is one of the main parts of the film. Bond (Daniel Craig, in his best performance as 007) is on a mission to find a computer drive with the names of British Intelligence agents on it, leading him to the mastermind behind the ordeal Silva (Oscar-winner Javier Bardem). Bond clashes with MI6 and some new faces at the agency after a failed mission in which he is gunned down by fellow agent Eve (Naomie Harris) and believed to be dead. On the surface, the film’s story is a classic for the franchise, but never has the film really explored the dark shadows of the characters’ pasts quite like this one does. John Logan worked with Neal Pervis and Robert Wade, writers of the past two Bond films, to piece together what is the tightest script for a 007 film in many years. It is so interesting, filled with drama, suspense, believable character arcs, and surprises. I am glad that Logan and company signed on for the next two because this is really becoming its own franchise now, almost unrecognizable from the previous 20 films.

The acting in the film is superb. Daniel Craig owns Bond now. His demeanor is flawless, and his character here isn’t quite as rough as the previous films. He is scarred both emotionally and physically, and we are able to see another side of the coolest character ever in film. He still has that classic Bond charm, but it is in a different manner. He doesn’t really have the suave womanizer traits in this film, seeing as there really isn’t the “Bond Girl” this time around. It is much more about the distant past and confronting it. Judi Dench gives her finest M performance as well. Ralph Fiennes is underused, but as the film goes on it becomes more and more apparent why he is in the film. Naomie Harris was a nice addition to the cast. Ben Whisaw’s Q is refreshing and funny. Albert Finney is great. The movie is owned by Javier Bardem, though, who is a sure-fire Best Supporting Actor contender. He creates the most sinister and compelling Bond villain since the Connery Bonds. He is remarkable in this film, almost creating a character nearly as chilling as his Anton Chigurh, but in a different way. He is just one of those actors born to play villains.

What I most appreciated about this film, however, is how it pays homage to the past films in the franchise. The score is could have been from any number of the earliest Bond films. The fight scene choreography was less Bourne this time around and more tactical. The plot twists were subtle, and the character arcs were not forced. It all just felt totally authentic. The best element that the film has is the cinematography by the great Roger Deakins. It is by far the best shot film of the year. The set pieces were so calculated and beautiful. The fight scenes all seemed to be staged in a way that was unforgettable and haunting. The only comparison I can think of with that dynamic was last year’s Drive. The quieter scenes showed Bond returning to the shadows (both figuratively and literally). The opening chase scene was breathtaking, with one shot of him on cruising across rooftops on a motorcycle that looked like a shot out of a ‘60s Bond film. Deakins and Mendes work wonders for the look of the film. There are several shots that will not leave my memory for some time.

So, where does Skyfall stand in the film’s storied franchise? I have not seen 6 of the entries, but I put it just behind the pinnacle of all Bond films (and action films in general for that matter) Goldfinger. The song by Adele is amazing, the best one since Live and Let Die. Everyone still seems to love Casino Royale, and while that was one of the more daring and game-changing Bonds, this one is the film that marks the departure from the previous entries. It pays its homage, but then takes steps to create its own legacy. Sam Mendes is one of the best directors in the world, and I actually put this as his second best film as well (behind Best Picture-winner American Beauty, of course). Skyfalldownright shocked me with how textured and confident it was. There are only a few middle scenes that are not necessarily paced right, which makes its almost two and a half hour running time seem a bit much, but other than that, this is about as good as a Bond film can get. If you think that they have milked everything they can out of that character, think again and go see this movie. Any casual fan of the franchise will find great thrills in it.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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Week 10 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

Week 10 was not too eventful at the top of the rankings, but there were some interesting developments. Oregon’s defense was finally exposed. The Tide got tested. Colin Klein got injured and the team still won fairly big. Notre Dame escaped with an ugly win against Pitt. The SEC’s mid-level teams struggled with average non-AQ teams. Boise lost at home for the 4^th time since 2000. It was a surprising and interesting week. Welcome to college football in November! Oh, and remember that time when Arizona was ranked? Good times.

Top 25

Others receiving votes: Boise State, Nevada, South Carolina, TCU, Texas Tech

Dropped from the rankings: Boise State (10), Texas Tech (19), West Virginia (25)

25. (NR) Washington (5-4) – How many teams can say have multiple top 10 wins? Forget the SEC West. The Pac-12 North is the class of college football.

24. (24) Toledo (8-1) – A bye week finally came for the potent offense, but not too serious of a bye. They play Tuesday night against scrappy Ball State.

23. (23) Rutgers (7-1) – They need to stay focused so that season finale against Louisville means something.

22. (14) Mississippi State (7-2) – They have now has two big losses in a row. But they were to arguably the two toughest matchups in the conference. One more loss and they may completely unravel.

21. (21) USC (6-3) – They performed admirably on offense and dreadfully on defense. Not surprising.

20. (NR) Texas (7-2) – I thought this team was dead, but that win in Lubbock is impressive.

19. (22) Oklahoma (6-2) – Their last four games are among the best offenses in the country. We will see how that defense holds. The bye week could not have come at a better time.

18. (18) Nebraska (7-2) – A nice, ugly, squeaked-out road win is exactly what this team needed. They have no cushion in the division…that is until Michigan loses to the Buckeyes.

17. (NR) UCLA (7-2) – Their win against Nebraska is looking better, but I still cannot completely take them seriously until I figure out that loss to Cal.

16. (11) LSU (7-2) – They showed some fight against Bama, but the whole time it just felt like a fluke. I wouldn’t be surprised if they lose one more before the postseason.

15. (20) Northern Illinois (9-1) – Jordan Lynch and company continue their dominance of the MAC.

14. (17) Louisiana Tech (8-1) – How amazing would a LT-NIU Famous Idaho Potato Bowl be to kick off the bowl season? Forget last year’s Alamo Bowl. These teams could go for 80 apiece!

13. (16) Texas A&M (7-2) – This offense is going to be an interesting match against the Tide, who just finished their first real physical game of the year. Upset alert?

12. (16) Stanford (7-2) – The Cardinal are the real darkhorse in the Pac. Eventually they will be able to close out a game against Oregon. Is it this year? Their defense is stout and not like any the Ducks have faced so far.

11. (8) Florida (8-1) – Struggling against Missouri is not what the Gators needed. Questions about that offense are beginning to arise, as well as their tackling ability on defense.

10. (12) Clemson (8-1) – This team is looking at an at-large bid if they win out.

9. (13) Oregon State (7-1) – They had a really nice win against ASU last night, and they seem to have found their best option at QB. No one wants to play this team.

8. (9) Louisville (9-0) – Teddy Bridgewater is the real deal. This team is going to have quite the showdown with the dominant defense in the conference Rutgers to close the season.

7. (7) Georgia (8-1) – Their defense is still beyond suspect, but take away that horrid first quarter against the Gamecocks, and this team is likely undefeated.

6. (5) Florida State (8-1) – The week off will help them refocus and lock up that ACC Championship Game appearance.

5. (6) Ohio State (10-0) – There is almost no chance they lose this season. So if they were eligible, would they be number 2 in the polls? I kinda think so…

4. (4) Notre Dame (9-0) – They are one win away from an automatic BCS Bowl bid. I hate that rule. Eventually, though, these ugly wins are just going to be wins. Ask 2010 Auburn.

3. (3) Oregon (9-0) – Wow, did you see that “improved” Duck defense?! They aren’t the same Ducks as the past couple years! Oh, wait…

2. (2) Kansas State (9-0) – Even when Klein got injured, they still looked like they were in control, despite only scoring 6 points during that span. The Wildcat defense is stronger than anyone thinks.

1. (1) Alabama (9-0) – They survived a scare and barring a huge upset by Texas A&M in Tuscaloosa, the Tide will roll to the Championship.

Heisman Trophy Watch

This race is shaping up great. The five main candidates are from different conferences. Hopefully, however, the voters will not be biased and vote for the best player, like last year when RG3 even had the majority of SEC-country’s votes. Here is how the obvious top 5 rank right now:

5. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – He is going to lead his team to one of the easiest unbeaten seasons ever. His rushing and passing are both vastly improved from last year. It is scary to think what he could do as a junior and senior under Urban Meyer.

4. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama – He led the game-winning TD drive in a matchup of top 5 teams. Heisman moment, anyone?

3. Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame – He had a quiet game in Notre Dame’s struggle against Pitt. But he is still the best player on the team. How often are all the candidates on unbeaten teams?

2. Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon – He finally showed what his stats look like when he needs more than 15 carries. 300+ rushing yards and 5 TDs. Most of those yards were before contact, so it is probably mostly the O-line, but those numbers are just sick. That is normally enough to get votes. Just ask Monte Ball.

1. Colin Klein, QB, Kansas State – If he is not too seriously injured and has a solid last few games (and goes 12-0), then he should coast to the win.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Nebraska (Big Ten) over Oregon State (At-large)

Orange Bowl – Florida State (ACC) over Rutgers (Big East)

Sugar Bowl – LSU (At-large) over Notre Dame (At-large)

Fiesta Bowl – Kansas State (Big 12) over Clemson (At-large)

BCS Title Game – Alabama (SEC) over Oregon (Pac-12)

What do you think? Give me your rankings in the comments!

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