Most of the teams at the top of the rankings performed just as expected, with the exception of Gonzaga, which lost a home game to Illinois that dropped them out of my top 10. Besides the Bulldogs, five other undefeated teams lost this week, dropping the total to 14 nationwide. Five teams dropped from my top 25, creating space for 5 new teams to break in, including 3 that haven't been in my top 25 yet this year. Here are my current top 25 teams, with teams grouped by similar level of performance and AP rank in parentheses.
TW. (LW) Team (Week) Overall (AP)
1. (1) Florida (1-0) 7-0 (5)
2. (4) Syracuse (3-0) 8-0 (4)
3. (2) Indiana (1-0) 9-0 (1)
4. (5) Duke (1-0) 9-0 (2)
5. (NR) Louisville (2-0) 8-1 (6)
6. (7) Ole Miss (0-1) 6-1 (NR)
7. (13) Pittsburgh (2-0) 9-1 (NR)
8. (8) Ohio State (1-0) 6-1 (7)
9. (10) Michigan (2-0) 9-0 (3)
10. (9) Middle Tennessee (2-0) 7-2 (NR)
11. (6) Arizona (2-0) 7-0 (8)
12. (19) Creighton (2-0) 9-1 (16)
13. (14) Cincinnati (2-0) 9-0 (11)
14. (NR) Kansas (1-0) 7-1 (9)
15. (16) Minnesota (2-0) 10-1 (13)
16. (11) VCU (1-0) 6-3 (NR)
17. (NR) Belmont (1-0) 6-2 (NR)
18. (3) Gonzaga (1-1) 9-1 (14)
19. (17) Illinois (2-0) 10-0 (10)
20. (NR) Wyoming (2-0) 10-0 (NR)
21. (22) Wisconsin (1-1) 6-4 (NR)
22. (20) Wichita State (1-0) 9-0 (23)
23. (24) North Carolina (1-0) 7-2 (21)
24. (18) Illinois State (1-1) 6-3 (NR)
25. (NR) Kentucky (2-0) 6-3 (NR)
Dropped Out
(25) UNLV (2-0) 7-1 (20)
(12) Iowa State (2-1) 7-3 (NR)
(23) Oklahoma State (2-0) 7-1 (24)
(15) Baylor (0-1) 5-3 (NR)
(21) Boise State (0-1) 6-2 (NR)
Ranked Teams by Conference
Big 10 - 6
Big East - 4
MVC - 3
SEC - 3
ACC - 2
Big 12 - 1
MWC - 1
WCC - 1
Pac 12 - 1
Sun Belt - 1
Atl 10 - 1
OVC - 1
Louisville jumped clear into the top 5 this week after not being ranked a week ago, and they did it by showing that they were a great team, destroying two straight opponents by at least 40 points, right after winning a game against a very good Illinois State team and nearly beating Duke right before that. They still have both Memphis and Kentucky on the schedule this month, and while neither is as good as usual this year, they should help boost up the Cardinals' strength of schedule until they start conference play in January.
This week Kansas hosted the Colorado Buffaloes, who were supposed to be one of the top teams in the Pac 12, and rather than winning a close game against a strong opponent, the Jayhawks obliterated their foes, taking the game by 36 points. This week they host the Belmont Bruins, who are in a familiar place among my top 25 teams without receiving any votes in the national polls.
Gonzaga dropped nearly out of the rankings this week after losing a home game to Illinois, but they have won enough games against strong opponents to keep them afloat. They've already beaten two teams from the Big 12, and they have three more on the schedule this month. A win at Oklahoma State on New Year's Eve would be just the kind of signature win the Bulldogs need, especially win no other ranked team remaining this season.
Arizona is still undefeated, but they slipped out of the top 10 with a couple of wins over mediocre teams leading into their showdown with Florida on Saturday. Both teams are currently undefeated and leading major conferences, and with home court advantage for the Wildcats, it could be one of the most interesting early season games and one of the most important either plays this season.
Predictions
Longwood at (15) Georgetown - Hoyas by 39
NBA
Detroit at Philadelphia - 76ers by 2
Golden State at Charlotte - Warriors by 7
Atlanta at Miami - Heat by 4
San Antonio at Houston - Spurs by 7
Sacramento at Dallas - Mavericks by 4
Toronto at Portland - Trail Blazers by 4
Prediction Results
NBA: 4-2 (.667) 198-99 overall (.667)
Upsets: 0-1 (.000) 40-30 overall (.571)
College Basketball: 2-1 (.667) 251-54 overall (.823)
Upsets: 0-1 (.000) 16-22 overall (.421)
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