12 AROUND THE NATION
Games to watch Keep an eye on these matchups
UTAH VS. OREGON 0
The Utes are riding the nation's longest winning streak while Oregon is trying to recover after losing its starting running back to a suspension. This game should be a shootout, and Utah should win it.
CALIFORNIA VS. MINESOTA
The Golden Bears should simply be too much for Minnesota to handle. Jahvid Best is averaging 10 yards per carry and the Golden Gophers' defense probably won't have an answer.
FLORIDA STATE VS. BYU
This could be a tricky game for the Cougars. It is at home, but they have already played their biggest game of the regular season against Oklahoma. BYU will have to keep its focus against a tough Florida State team that is hungry for an upset.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CINCINNATI VS.
OREGON STATE
Cinicnnti blasted Southeast Missouri State 70-3 last weekend at home. This road game will be a lot tougher. Jacquizz Rodgers and the Beavers' offense will present a stiff challenge to the Bearcats.
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, center, looks for a receiver as he is pressured by the Troy defense during the first half of the Gators' 66-16 win. The Tebors and the Gators are preparing for a showdown with SCE rival Tennessee tomorrow.
TENNESSEE VS. FLORIDA Volunteers try to pull off upset of top-ranked Gators
It will be interesting to see how Urban Meyer handles the situation surrounding Lane Kiffn's guarantee to beat Florida. Safety Eric Berry leads a stout Tennessee defense that could pose some problems to the potent Florida offense, but Tebow and the Gators will eventually explode to put
the game out of reach. Tebow accounted for five touchdowns in last week's demolition of Troy and the Gators scored 49 points in the first half. Don't expect Meyer and the Florida coaching staff to play the reserves early in this game. Count on a big win from the nation's best team.
AP TOP 25
Team (First-place votes) Record Total Votes Prev. Rank
1. Florida (56) 2-0 1491 1
2. Texas (1) 2-0 1404 2
3. U.SC (1) 2-0 1396 3
4. Alabama (2) 2-0 1328 4
5. Mississippi 1-0 1145 6
6. Penn State 2-0 1145 7
7. Brigham Young 2-0 1122 9
8. California 2-0 1058 10
9. LSU 2-0 951 11
10. Boise State 2-0 945 12
11. Ohio State 1-1 840 8
12. Oklahoma 1-1 835 13
13. Virginia Tech 1-1 749 14
14. Georgia Tech 2-0 683 15
15. TCU 1-0 609 16
16. Oklahoma State 1-1 445 5
17. Cincinnati 2-0 407 23
18. Utah 2-0 405 17
19. Nebraska 2-0 365 22
20. Miami (FL) 1-0 364 20
21. Houston 2-0 341 NR
22. Kansas 2-0 271 24
23. Georgia 1-1 260 21
24. North Carolina 2-0 250 19
25. Michigan 2-0 169 NR
Dropped from rankings: Notre Dame 18.
Missouri 25
Others receiving votes: Missouri 93, Pittsburgh 87, Oregon State 64, Texas Tech 54, UCLA 44, Notre Dame 40, West Virginia 30, Auburn 26, Iowa 23, Boston College 19, Baylor 15, Clemson 10, Oregon 5, Arizona 4, Arkansas 3, Colorado State 2, Florida State 1, Minnesota 1, South Florida 1
The Wave's Top 25 Wave editor Scott Toland ranks the nation's best teams
1. Florida — Tebow and the Gators are in mid-season form heading into this week's game against Tennessee.
6. Boise State — This might be too high of a ranking, but the Broncos shouldn't lose during the regular season.
2. Texas — The Longhorns started slow before picking up a 41-10 victory against Wyoming.
3. USC — Freshman QB Matt Barkley delivered on his team's final drive to pull out a win at Ohio State.
7. Penn State — The Nittany Lions got the job done with a workmanlike 28-7 victory against Syracuse.
8. Mississippi — The Rebels
4. Alabama — Nick Saban's Crimson Tide looked skilled in a home victory against Florida International.
4. Alabama — Nick Saban's
11. Oklahoma — The Sooners took out their frustration on hapless idaho State in a 64-0 victory in Norman.
8. Mississippi — The Rebels should have no problem with Southeastern Louisiana this week.
5. California — The Golden Bears could be this year's sleeper. They torched Eastern Washington 59-7 last week.
9. BYU — The Cougars
12. Virginia Tech — The Hokies bounced back from last week's loss with a 52-10 win against Marshall at home.
9. BTO — The Lougars followed up their upset of Oklahoma with a 54-3 thrashing of Tulane.
16. TCU — The Horned Frogs turned in another solid performance during a 30-14 victory at Virginia.
10. Ohio State — The Buckeyes lost at home against USC, but they gained a lot of respect in the process.
13. LSU — The Tigers did not dominate, but they took care of business with a 23-9 home victory against Vanderbilt.
14. Oklahoma State — The
Cowboys couldn't recover from a 24-7 halftime deficit against Houston.
21. Miami — The Hurricanes will face a tough test this week when Georgia Tech comes to town.
17. Georgia Tech — it wasn't easy, but the Yellow Jackets pulled out a 30-27 victory against Clemson.
15. Utah — Sixteen and counting. The Utes still own the nation's longest winning streak after last week's win.
18. Georgia — The Bulldogs answered a challenge from South Carolina and held on for their first conference win.
22. Michigan — An upset of Notre Dame in the Big House moves the Wolverines into the top 25.
19. Kansas — The Jayhawks
19. Kansas — the Jaywalks looked sold against UTEP. Kansas should not be challenged it faces Oklahoma.
23. North Carolina — The Tar Heels didn't score until the fourth quarter, but they still won at Connecticut.
20. Nebraska — Big Red's
24. Cincinnati-A 70-3
victory earns the Bearcats some respect and a place in the top 25.
20. Nebraska — Big Red's defense was dominant in a 38-9 victory against Arkansas State in Lincoln, Neb.
25. Missouri — It was ugly, but the Tigers held on to defeat Bowling Green in Columbia, Mo.
THE WAVE SEPTEMBER 18,2009
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN