USC Out of Top-10, Washington Makes Debut In Latest AP Poll

Sports Betting News - September 21st, 2009 - Written by John

USC knew it would be punished for losing to Washington. Sunday afternoon, it found out just how much.

With both teams heading in opposite directions, the Huskies were awarded a spot in the poll at 24, while the Trojans plummeted to no. 12. They became the third team ranked in the top-5 to fall into the second-10 this season after Oklahoma and Oklahoma State did it in the first two weeks. USC has only been outside of the top-10 for six weeks since 2002, spending all of it in 2007 after losing to Stanford.

Florida State also jumped into the polls for the first time since it's opening loss against Miami (FL). The Seminoles dominated against BYU, rushing for 313 yards against the no. 7 team in the land and went from receiving just one vote last week, to being slotted in at 18.

Meanwhile, BYU, who some considered to be a National Championship contender, fell to 19, and are all but out of the BCS picture after losing by 33 at home. It was a huge blow to the Mountain West Conference, which had hopes of crashing the BCS party with three potential powers. Now, two of them are essentially eliminated in the same week after Utah also lost to Oregon and the MWC will depend on no. 15 TCU.

Florida predictably retained the top spot, despite looking sluggish at times against Tennessee. They did lose a vote with the narrow, 23-13, win, which instead went to Alabama. Texas is at no. 2 with two first-place votes, and Alabama received three after pounding North Texas at home. Ole Miss also rose one spot to fourth, and Penn State, who was tied with the Rebels for fifth last week, now closes out the top-5, holding the anchor outright.

California survived a fiesty Minnesota team and jumped to sixth, while LSU and Boise State jumped to no.7 and 8. The biggest jump of the weekend was awarded to Miami (FL), which has put up at least 30 points against both of it's ranked opponents to start the season. Voters are drinking the Kool-Aid, putting them in the no. 9 slot after being 18th last week. Oklahoma drilled Tulsa upon Landry Jones' school-record six touchdown passes and got back in the top-10 with the final spot. They have a bye week before to Miami in a huge game for both teams on October 3rd.

That is, of course, assuming Miami holds serve against Virginia Tech this week. The Hokies are the second ACC school at no. 11 after surviving Nebraska, 16-15, thanks to Tyrod Taylor's season-saving play, buying time in the pocket with his legs before throwing a dart into the end zone for the go-ahead score with a minute left.

After USC, it's Ohio State taking up the 13th spot. Then it's Big East favorite Cincinnati, followed by the Mountain West's final hope for a BCS bid in TCU.

Oklahoma State is 14th, followed by Houston, Florida State, BYU and Kansas.

At 21, it's Georgia, fresh off a huge road win against Arkansas, before North Carolina, Michigan, Washinton and Nebraska close out the poll.

Georgia Tech fell out of the rankings after being blown out by Miami, as did Utah.

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