Shark Championship Standings Week III

New features in the SCS this week, since many of you are bitching about the fact that I'm not explaining why I'm placing teams where they are. I'm going to explain why I place teams where they are. So instead of reviewing the week & then giving you my list, I'll give you my list & then review the week, team by team.

As always, for last weeks SCStandings, click on "Shark Championship Standings Week II" on the right.

1. USC 8-0 (last week: 1)
2. Texas 8-0 (lw: 2)
3. Virginia Tech 8-0 (lw: 3)
4. Alabama 8-0 (lw: 4)
5. LSU 6-1 (lw: 7)
6. UCLA 8-0 (lw: 8)
7. Notre Dame 5-2 (lw: 6)
8. Miami 5-1 (lw: 9)
9. Ohio State 6-2 (lw: 10)
10. Penn State 8-1 (lw: 11)
11. Florida State 7-1 (lw: 12)
12. Florida 5-2 (lw: 15)
13. Georgia 7-1 (lw: 4)
14. Wisconsin 8-1 (lw: 13)
15. Michigan 6-3 (lw: unr)

USC is #1 until they are beaten, that's how we roll at thesharkey.com.

Although Vince Young played great, it was just Oklahoma State, and they didn't really blow them out. Just a matter of time before VaTech passes Texas in the SCS.

VaTech with a good win against a good Boston College team. If they can win out, they'll surely be #2. As for Boston College, the loss drops them out of the Top 15, but just barely.

Alabama with a dominating win over a weak Utah State. You all laughed at me for putting 'Bama ahead of Georgia last week. Who's laughing now?

LSU & UCLA. I'm sure many are questioning the placement of LSU over undefeated UCLA, but it's justified. All UCLA had to do was beat a weak Stanford with semi-ease. It didn't have to be a blowout, but OT wasn't good for them either. They proved poise in coming from behind & pulling it out, but they shouldn't have found themselves in that position in the first place. LSU, on the other hand, dominated North Texas, as they well should have. They find themselves in the midst of an 11 week stretch with 11 games, and are two weeks away from a showdown with Alabama that will decide who gets to play in the SEC Championship. They'll win that game, and will play in the SEC Championship.

Notre Dame had a bye.

Miami, Ohio State, Penn State & Florida State all played good games on Saturday, and with Georgia losing, all were deserving of moving up a spot. Miami avenged last years debacle against UNC. Ohio State & Penn State beat two good Big Ten opponents. They were tough games that shouldn't have been easy wins, but both teams made them look fairly easy, in the end. And Florida State had a nice win against a very tough Maryland opponent, and with only Clemson & NC State left on their ACC schedule, should be able to reach the ACC Championship with ease.

Florida continues to climb in the polls after beating Georgia. Sure, Georgia didn't have their starting QB, but a loss is a loss, and in a rivalry this big, emotion should have been enough to will this team to victory. It wasn't. And with the toughest part of Florida's SEC schedule done with, and Auburn looming for Georgia in two weeks, the Bulldogs had better be careful, or they won't even make the SEC Championship.

Wisconsin falls a spot despite winning this week. The fall has less to do with them and more to do with the fact that they beat Illinois, and not by too much, plus in a head to head matchup, Georgia & Florida would both beat the Badgers.

Michigan makes its SCS debut. Two wins against ranked teams in the last three weeks, coupled with a three game winning streak makes them the surprise pick for the 15th spot. This team is playing inspired football lately, and is very much alive in the ultra-tight Big Ten. Oregon & West Virginia are arguably two better choices for an SCS spot, but with both teams being on byes, they couldn't move into the SCS. Lucky for them, with Michigan on a bye next week, a good win for either team should propel one of them into the Top 15.