NCAA: Up to this point in the season…

Here is my top 10 through this point in the NCAA football season.

1. Florida State 2. Clemson 3. Virginia Tech 4. Nebraska 5. Washington 6. Ohio State 7. South Carolina 8. Florida 9. Auburn 10. (TIE) USC and Kansas State

All I can say is wait until November 4, 2000 when Clemson travels to play Florida State; this could in many eyes be the National Championship. Whoever wins this game will be playing for the National Championship. Clemson is a bit younger, but has a better running game. Each has a great defense and both have great coaches. Virginia Tech may be the opponent of the winner of the Clemson/Florida State game for the National Championship. With Michael Vick as your QB an undefeated season is always possible! Nebraska may be the weakest team in the top 5, but it has tradition. Their defense is not too strong and they should have lost to Notre Dame. They will NOT finish the season undefeated. Washington will remain in the top 5 all season if they can beat Oregon this weekend and if they can beat UCLA on November 11, 2000. If they do remain undefeated then they may be playing for the National Championship instead of Virginia Tech on the basis of a tougher schedule? Many forgot about Ohio State with all the Wisconsin and Michigan hype, but the Buckeyes look like they are for real. At least until November 18, 2000 when the Wolverines travel to Ohio State for what will be a tough loss disrupting a potential perfect season for the Buckeyes. With the loss, Ohio State will be beaten out by Michigan for the Rose Bowl bid. Is South Carolina for real? All I can say is watch them play, Lou Holtz has done a tremendous job turning the program around. If they continue to roll like they have been, look for the Clemson game on November 18, 2000 to be the game of the year. Clemson will be coming off of a bye week and the prior week a HUGE victory over Florida State with the hopes of playing for the National Championship then will have to host yet another undefeated team in South Carolina and yes, the winner WILL go and play for the National Championship at the Orange Bowl. Florida as always has the offense, but this season its defense looks weak. The Gators will end the season with 2 losses. Auburn looks good and if they can get by Florida on October 14, 2000 then look for them to cruise to be undefeated going into its November 18, 2000 match-up against archrival Alabama @ Alabama. Who knows with a little luck they also could go undefeated. USC has the luxury of NOT playing Washington this season. This will allow for the Trojans to be undefeated going into its game @ UCLA on November 18, 2000 and even if they do get past the Bruins they will fold the following week against Notre Dame. Best case for the Trojans, they finish the season with one loss. USC should represent the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl this season because Washington may be playing in the Orange Bowl for the National Championship. My sleeper for the Rose Bowl is Arizona State. Kansas State will defeat Nebraska on November 11, 2000, and will finish the season undefeated however they will NOT be invited to the Orange Bowl to play for the National Championship because their record is weaker than the other undefeated teams. This season will put the BCS to the test and many fans will NOT be happy with it. I predict that after the bowl games more than one team will finish the season undefeated, but ONLY the winner of the Orange Bowl will be National Champion – I will tell you who in a few weeks!