Houston, Michigan Make Debuts in Top-25 Poll

Sports Betting News - September 15th, 2009 - Written by John

The college football landscape is already shaking up after only two weeks. Similar to last season, the no. 3 and no. 5 teams in the first two AP polls have already fallen to non-BCS division teams, putting a few surprise names in the top-ten. The SEC has four teams in the AP top-10 and is tied with the Big 12 for the most teams overall (5).

Florida is still the undisputed favorite, getting 56 of the 60 first-place votes for the second straight week after manhandling Troy, 56-6.

Texas, USC and Alabama remained in their previous positions, rounding out the top four with the only real change, albeit minor, the Trojans stealing away one of Texas' two first-place votes after their dramatic win in Columbus that knocked Ohio State down from eight to 11.

Mississippi's impressive ascent under the control of Heisman candidate, Jevan Snead, has landed the Rebels their highest rank in 39 years despite being off in the second week. They are tied with Penn State at no. 5, the first time Ole Miss has been in the top-5 since 1970.

The top-10 is rounded out by new face BYU, California, LSU and Boise State.

The Broncos are hoping to make a case for a BCS Bowl game (if not a National Title shot) after breezing past Oregon in the opener. Per NCAA rules, Boise State will get an automatic bid to a BCS game if they rise two spots to no. 8.

Oklahoma rose from no. 13 to 12 after a huge rebound win over Idaho State, a week after suffering the upset-of-the-season thus far against BYU. The Sooners blew out Idaho State, 64-0, despite playing without last year's Heisman winner, Sam Bradford, holding the Bengals to minus-22 yards rushing.

Two ACC foes, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, follow at 13 and 14. The pair will get all they can handle to retain those spots when they face explosive Miami (FL) in consecutive weeks.

Oklahoma State, fresh off a stunning loss to Houston at home, fell all the way from fifth to 16, just behind TCU. After that, it's Cincinnati arriving as the Big East's lone ranked team, followed by Utah and Nebraska before Miami (FL) breaks into the rankings at no. 20.

Houston's big win awarded them a spot as the Conference USA's first and only ranked team this year at no. 21. It is the first time since 1991 the Cougars have been in the poll. Then it's Kansas, Georgia and North Carolina before Michigan squeaked in at no. 25.

The Wolverines program-changing win Saturday over Notre Dame gives them the team's first appearance in the top 25 since the end of the 2007 season. They have been the biggest story thus far, crawling from the depths of a 3-9 campaign last year to blowout Western Michigan (whom many tagged in the preseason as a potential upset) before Saturday's win.

The Irish was knocked out of the poll after the 38-34 thriller at the Big House, as was Missouri despite starting 2-0.

Florida State suffered a huge blow after surviving a scare at home against FCS opponent, Jacksonville State. The Seminoles trailed 9-7 with just over a minute left until Ty Jones' one-yard plunge gave them the edge. Voters were not impressed with the encore to their exciting opener against Miami, giving them only one vote, down from 39 last week.

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