Garland Gillen is the only Associated Press voter for football in the New Orleans area. His rankings are posted once a week during the regular season with his thoughts on why the teams stand out to him.
1. Alabama
No Mark Ingram, no problem. Trent Richardson rushed for 66 yards, two touchdowns and super-freshman Eddie Lacy had 111 yards and two touchdowns. They will run wild on Penn State this weekend for an easy victory.
2. Ohio State
Terrelle Pryor had a nice start to the Heisman campaign throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Miami visits this weekend and will leave Columbus, Ohio with a loss.
3. Boise State
Let the BCS buster chatter begin. The schedule now becomes cupcake city.
4. Texas
Beat a weak Rice team unconvincingly in Week 1. However, no style points are needed this early in the season.
5. Iowa
Iowa-Iowa State this week – you can throw the records out when these two meet up. I'm kidding. It’s at least more anticipated than an LSU-Tulane game.
6. Texas Christian
You’re ranked in the top 10. Quit playing the “Us Against the World” speech!
7. Florida
Quarterback John Brantley and center Mike Pouncey will no doubt be practicing snaps all week.
8. Nebraska
Beat Western Kentucky this past weekend and gets Idaho this upcoming one. That's some tough scheduling!
9. Oregon
72 points. 72! Ducks could have put up 100. New Mexico is awful.
10. Wisconsin
I keep looking at their schedule and there is no doubt they could bring the Big Ten title to Madison, Wisc.
11. Oklahoma
Team sleepwalked through Utah State victory this past weekend. The Sooners will get worked by Florida State if they pull those shenanigans again.
12. Miami, Fla.
Pull an upset in the Horseshoe and this 'Canes squad can make some serious BCS noise.
13. Georgia Tech
Yellow Jackets should be on upset alert this weekend when they visit Kansas. The Jayhawks lost to FCS opponent North Dakota St.
14. Arkansas
15. LSU
UNC had 13 players missing and still put a scare into the Tigers. Les Miles said 8-10 years from now you won't remember the second half collapse, just that they won. Keep dreaming. I still hear about the Ole Miss debacle weekly.
16. Florida State
Calm down. It was Samford for goodness sakes.
17. Georgia
Best game of the upcoming weekend (vs. South Carolina). Two quality programs with great offensive play.
18. South Carolina
19. Auburn
Upset alert: Will lose at Mississippi State on Thursday night.
20. Virginia Tech
Great comeback. But not good enough. Hokies underachieve on a yearly basis.
21. Penn State
Will get smoked in Tuscaloosa, Ala., this weekend!
22. Utah
The other BCS buster stays alive, but just barely.
23. Michigan
Fire Rich Rod chants die down for at least a week.
24. Southern California
USC-Hawaii played a glorified flag football game. Where's the tackling?
25. Houston
Case Keenum makes this offense a must-watch weekly. 68 points and five touchdown passes by Keenum in Week 1 – not too shabby.
