The Predictor Top 25: 2/05/07

As always, there’s some shaking up to do in the Top 25. UCLA and UNC continue to flip flop at the top and the bottom half of the list always seems to be in turmoil. We’ll try to sort everything out as usual.

1. UCLA (20-2), LW-2: Took care of business at home against Oregon, then really took care of business against Oregon State (by a score of 82-35)
2. North Carolina (20-3), LW-1: There’s really no other way to say it. That loss to NC State was terrible.
3. Florida (21-2), LW-3: The Gators continue to fool around with less talented teams. They were down double-digits on their home court to Vandy. They’re lucky the SEC isn’t very good right now.
4. Texas A&M (19-3), LW-5: The best win of the week came from the Aggies as they went to Lawrence and took care of Kansas. However, they are right back at it today when they host Texas. Who came up with that schedule?
5. Wisconsin (22-2): LW-4: They continue to be Top 10 frauds, as the loss to Indiana proved last week. But there is no one else to put here.
6. Ohio State (20-3): LW-6: The Buckeyes had one of their better weeks so far as they blew out Purdue and Michigan State. Can’t jump Wisconsin because they already lost to them.
7. Kansas (19-4): LW-7: Because of the massive amount of losing done by the teams behind them, I can’t punish the Jayhawks for losing a double-digit lead at home. In their defense, it was to the number 4 team in this poll.
8. Marquette (20-4), LW-10: In a week full of upsets, the Eagles had the good fortune of only playing one game last week. And it was against Providence. Their move up to eighth is only temporary I’m afraid.
9. Oregon (19-4), LW-8: Be kind to your feathered friends. A two game road swing through Southern California resulted in two predictable losses. Still, 19-4 in the Pac-10 is nothing to sneeze about.
10. Pittsburgh (20-3), LW-11: Like Marquette, Pittsburgh benefits from playing only one easy game this week while other teams fall all around them. Despite the better record, the Panthers will be hard pressed to jump Marquette, because of a home loss to the Eagles.
11. Nevada (21-2), LW-13: Yes, I noticed the near loss at home to Hawaii. The Wolf Pack caught a few breaks. They still won two games this week, which is more than I can say about a lot of other teams.
12. Washington State (19-4), LW-14: Vintage WSU was back this week. And by vintage I mean the WSU that can’t score. 48 points in a win? 12 points scored in a half? Luckily they were playing Herb Sendek. 48 points isn’t going to beat any other Pac-10 team
13. Air Force (20-3), LW-15: Stopped their habit of bad losses by pounding Wyoming by more than 40. This will be an interesting week for the Falcons as they visit San Diego State and New Mexico’s infamous Pit.
14. Memphis (19-3), LW-16: Will anyone in Conference USA challenge these guys? UTEP? UAB? Anybody??? A trip to Spokane and Gonzaga will tell us more about Tigers in two weeks
15. Kentucky (17-5), LW-20: Very quietly, Kentucky continues to rack up road wins in the SEC. Another solid one this past week at Arkansas.
16. Oklahoma State (18-4), LW-9: A loss to Colorado? What’s that about? As bad as UNC’s loss to NC State was, OSU’s loss to the Buffs was even worse.
17. Southern California (18-6), LW-19: Looked very good last week against the Oregon schools and managed to hold on to both games.
18. Boston College (16-6), LW-NR: Time to start giving props to BC. I thought they would implode after losing Sean Williams. Jared Dudley has stepped up his play and led the Eagles to the top of the ACC
19. Virginia (15-6), LW-NR: Right behind them are the Virginia Cavaliers. A must win against Duke, to prove they belonged, followed by a whipping of Miami to show that they weren’t going to drop a let down game gets them into the Top 25.
20. Butler (22-2), LW-21: Hey, at least they’re moving up. I’m just not impressed by any team from the Horizon League
21. Alabama (17-5): LW-25: With two wins against LSU and South Carolina, the Tide stopped their slide. For the time being.
22. Kansas State (17-6), LW-NR: What’s a Top 25 without Bob Huggins? Kansas State is finally showing signs of life and is climbing high in the rough Big XII. A signature win over Texas helps them get in here.
23. Texas (16-6), LW-17: Despite the close loss to KSU, Texas (and by Texas I mean Kevin Durant) had a solid win over Texas Tech.
24. West Virginia (18-4), LW-NR: I know they haven’t been playing all that well, and they probably won’t be here next week. But 18-4 in a power conference is still pretty good.
25. Florida State (17-6), LW-NR: The thumping delivered to Maryland was almost as impressive as the win at Cameron and the Dookies, who are conspicuously absent from the Top 25 this week.

Next 10: Indiana, Southern Illinois, Duke, Arizona, VCU, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, Clemson, Akron