College Football: Week 9 Top 25 Power Rankings (VIDEO)

A pair of unbeatens fell last weekend and one more is guaranteed to fall on Saturday. Al Dannity analyzes the movers and shakers in our Power Rankings.

1. LSU (8-0, 5-0 SEC, 6-2 ATS)
Finally the Tigers are heading to Tuscaloosa. Two teams enter, one leaves unbeaten.
Last week: Idle.
Next game: Saturday at Alabama.

2. Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC, 6-2 ATS)
There’s a reason the Crimson Tide are home favorites for the latest edition of Game of the Century. Once Thunderstruck starts, the noise in Bryant-Denny Stadium is going to be deafening until the final play.
Last week: Idle.
Next game: Saturday vs. LSU.

3. Oklahoma State (8-0, 5-0 Big 12, 7-1 ATS)
The Cowboys’ defense may give up a lot of yards but they make a lot of turnovers as well. I like them to cover against the Wildcats this Saturday.
Last week: W 59-24 vs. Baylor.
Next game: Saturday vs. Kansas State.

4. Stanford (8-0, 6-0 Pac-12, 8-0 ATS)
Oh ye of little faith. The Cardinal came back from the dead against the Trojans to not only win but to cover as well in a triple-overtime win. Stanford’s record remains perfect in every way.
Last week: W 56-48 at USC.
Next game: Saturday at Oregon State.

5. Boise State (7-0, 2-0 MWC, 4-3 ATS)
No game for the Broncos last week but they move up one spot. It would have been two but for the overtime heroics of the Cardinal.
Last week: Idle.
Next game: Saturday at UNLV.

6. Oregon (7-1, 5-0 Pac-12, 4-4 ATS)
The Cougars gave Oregon a good fight, offering encouraging signs for Stanford in a few weeks.
Last week: W 43-28 vs. Washington State.
Next game: Saturday at Washington.

7. Oklahoma (7-1, 4-1 Big 12, 5-3 ATS)
Yes it is now entirely plausible that the Sooners could survive a home loss to Texas Tech and still make the BCS title game. No, that doesn’t make any sense to me either.
Last week: W 58-17 at Kansas State
Next game: Saturday vs. Texas A&M.

8. Houston (8-0, 4-0 Conf. USA, 6-2 ATS)
The longer the Cougars stay unbeaten the higher they will climb in these rankings. Boise State remaining unbeaten could however ruin any BCS hopes for Case Keenum.
Last week: W 73-34 vs. Rice.
Next game: Saturday at UAB.

9. Nebraska (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten, 3-5 ATS)
How big was that win over Michigan State? Big enough to enter the top 10 in these rankings.
Last week: W 24-3 vs. Michigan State.
Next game: Saturday vs. Northwestern.

10. Clemson (8-1, 5-1 ACC, 7-2 ATS)
That lop-sided defeat against Georgia Tech ended the Tigers’ BCS title hopes. They remain my favorites to win the ACC.
Last week: L 31-17 at Georgia Tech.
Next game: November 12 vs. Wake Forest.

11. Arkansas (7-1, 3-1 SEC, 4-4 ATS)
The only difference between the Hogs and Penn State right now is that Arkansas wins despite a terrible defense and the Nittany Lions do so despite a woeful offense.
Last week: W 31-28 at Vanderbilt.
Next game: Saturday vs. South Carolina.

12. South Carolina (7-1, 5-1 SEC, 4-4 ATS)
Well isn’t that convenient? The Gamecocks face a huge challenge to win without Marcus Lattimore. Time for the Ol’ Ball Coach to work some magic.
Last week: W 14-3 at Tennessee.
Next game: Saturday vs. Arkansas.

13. Penn State (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten, 2-7 ATS)
Another inept performance on offense, another dominating performance on defense.
Last week: W 10-7 vs. Illinois.
Next game: November 12 vs. Nebraska.

14. Virginia Tech (8-1, 4-1 ACC, 2-7 ATS)
The Hokies only have one loss but they look ready for another.
Last week: W 14-10 at Duke.
Next game: November 10 at Georgia Tech.

15. Georgia (6-2, 5-1 SEC, 5-3 ATS)
That ugly win over Florida could yet make the Dawgs the ultimate BCS spoiler. If South Carolina loses again, Georgia will almost certainly win the SEC East. A title game win, albeit an unlikely one, would create havoc in the BCS.
Last week: W 24-20 vs. Florida.
Next game: Saturday vs. New Mexico State.

16. Kansas State (7-1, 4-1 Big 12, 6-2 ATS)
That was an ugly, ugly loss. Another this week against the Cowboys simply must be avoided.
Last week: L 58-17 vs. Oklahoma.
Next game: Saturday vat Oklahoma State.

17. Michigan State (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten, 5-3 ATS)
The defeat to Nebraska didn’t end State’s shot at a trip to the Big Ten title game but they need a lot of help to get there now.
Last week: L 24-3 at Nebraska.
Next game: Saturday vs. Minnesota.

18. Michigan (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten, 6-2 ATS)
One more win for Brady Hoke and he will eclipse RichRod’s best ever season with the Maize and Blue. It will be tough work winning at Iowa on Saturday.
Last week: W 36-14 vs. Purdue.
Next game: Saturday at Iowa.

19. Wisconsin (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten, 5-3 ATS)
A week ago the Badgers still controlled their destiny in the Big Ten. Now they need favors and fast.
Last week: L 33-29 at Ohio State.
Next game: Saturday vs. Purdue.

20. USC (6-2, 4-2 Pac-12, 4-4 ATS)
The Trojans may be 1-1 in the last two weeks but those were two great performances. Even in defeat, they looked strong against Stanford.
Last week: L 56-48 vs. Stanford.
Next game: Friday at Colorado.

21. Southern Mississippi (7-1, 3-1 Conf. USA, 6-2 ATS)
Brett Favre’s alma mater faces a big test this weekend against the Pirates of East Carolina.
Last week: W 31-13 at UTEP.
Next game: Saturday at East Carolina.

22. TCU (6-2, 3-0 MWC, 4-4 ATS)
The Horned Frogs re-enter the Power Rankings after an impressive home win over the Cougars.
Last week: W 38-28 vs. BYU.
Next game: Saturday at Wyoming.

23. Cincinnati (6-1, 2-0 Big East, 5-2 ATS)
Once again Butch Jones is turning a former Brian Kelly team into a conference contender. Big test ahead this weekend.
Last week: Idle.
Next game: Saturday at Pittsburgh.

24. Arkansas State (6-2, 4-0 Sun Belt, 7-1 ATS)
You may not know the names of any of the Red Wolves’ players. Indeed you may not know they’re called the Red Wolves. Just take a look at their record against the spread. That’s all you need to know to like Arkansas State.
Last week: W 37-14 vs. North Texas.
Next game: Saturday at Florida Atlantic.

25. West Virginia (6-2, 2-1 Big East, 4-4 ATS)
This was a tough call but the Mountaineers impressed enough on the road to merit a return to the rankings. It also gives me a solid excuse to include this heart-warming video of Eric LeGrand leading Rutgers onto the field against WVU on Saturday.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4y1pKOXEJg[/youtube]
Last week: W 41-31 at Rutgers.
Next game: Saturday vs. Louisville.

Last five out: Auburn, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M