Three of the top six went down this weekend with each losing to an unranked team. 4th ranked Ole Miss was defeated by South Carolina, 5th ranked Penn State was beaten by Iowa for the seventh time in six games and 6th ranked California was destroyed by Oregon 42-3.

While many were very surprised by these outcomes, I don’t think any of these upsets should have shocked anyone. Ole Miss was overhyped from the get-go. They had a pretty good team last season, but still lost four games, but they did win two huge games in 2008. They were the only team to defeat Florida (and did it in Gainesville) and also defeated a former #1 – Texas Tech, in the Cotton Bowl. After the season, Ole Miss lost their two best players in the first round of the NFL Draft – DT Peria Jerry (24th overall to Atlanta) and OT Michael Oher (23rd overall to Baltimore). You can’t lose your best player on both your offensive and defense line and expect there not to be a drop-off. Add Greg Hardy, Ole Miss’ star defensive end, who has been banged up since Ole Miss’ week one win over Memphis and you’ve got yourself some trouble.

In fact, I, along with many others, picked South Carolina to win the game. The Gamecocks defeated a pretty good NC State team in Raleigh and suffered their only loss in the closing seconds against Georgia. The Gamecocks had a chance to win the game but a 4th down pass inside the Georgia 10-yard line fell incomplete.

Penn State’s loss is a little more surprising to me, but it probably should not have been. Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes have now beaten Penn State seven of the last eight times they have played them. Penn State has posted very good records since 2005, but they don’t have a whole lot of impressive victories. They were blown out in the Rose Bowl by USC last season after finishing the regular season 11-1 and winning the Big 10 Championship. I’m not sure that Penn State has the talent to be an actual National Championship contender. I don’t think they have the athletes at all positions to run with teams like Florida, Texas and Southern Cal and they have proven that over the last few seasons. Although they are having much more success than Florida State, I think Penn State is in a similar situation – both teams are being held back from reaching the truly elite level by their Hall-Of-Fame Head Coaches – the reason those teams became elite programs in the first place.

California’s blowout loss to Oregon came out of nowhere. Just last week, I said that I would cast my Heisman vote for Jahvid Best and although I did say that I didn’t trust California as a team outside of Best, there’s no way I expected Oregon, with a struggling Quarterback, to blow to Bears out of the water. Coming into the contest against Cal, Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli was just 29-64 with 379 yards, 0 TDs and 2 INTs, including a 4-16 performance in a win over Utah a week ago. Against Cal, Masoli was 21-25 for 253 yards with 3 TDs and 0 INTs.

I’m not totally surprised that the Ducks won, especially since the game was played in Autzen Stadium, but the score is just unbelievable. Jahvid Best had just 55 yards on 16 carries, essentially taking him out of the Heisman Race.

So What Does This Say About Boise State?

Oregon has defeated Purdue and two former unbeaten, ranked teams- Utah and California. The Ducks have bounced back from the season-opening loss and the loss of their star Running Back. They have looked very good lately and worked their way back into the top 25, so what does all of this say about Boise State?

The Broncos dominated the Ducks in a week one win. They defeated Oregon 19-8 and held the Ducks to just 152 yards compared to the 524 yards that Oregon gained on California.

Last week, Boise State played an overmatched Bowling Green team and absolutely dominated, winning 49-14. Games like this tell us nothing, which is why you have to admire teams like BYU and TCU who are in a situation that is very similar to Boise State’s, but schedule much tougher competition. BYU has already played Oklahoma and Florida State, while TCU just went into South Carolina and came out with a win over Clemson.

There really isn’t anything standing in between Boise and an undefeated season and there hasn’t been since their week one win. Because of the schedule the Broncos play, we will never really know how good they are until the season ends, which is unfortunate for college football fans across the country. It’s also unfortunate for the Broncos because it gives them to chance to make a BCS National Championship game.

Florida State and Miami Back? Guess Not.

After a classic week one matchup between the ‘Canes and the ‘Noles, which was decided on a last second dropped pass by FSU giving Miami a one-point win, it looked like both teams may be “back.” I was skeptical after a week and FSU gave me even more reason to be skeptical after they had to score with less than a minute left to avoid losing at home to Jacksonville State.

Then, a week later, Miami dominated Georgia Tech 33-17 and Florida State absolutely destroyed 7th ranked BYU, rolling up over 500 yards of offense in a 54-28 win. Things were once again looking pretty in the sunshine state, but it didn’t last.

Florida State had one of their worst performances in years Saturday as they were defeated by the South Florida Bulls 17-7 in Tallahassee. Miami proved that they aren’t quite ready to be back on the national radar and that their fast climb in the rankings was a bit premature.

Both teams had their QBs struggle somewhat after both had looked like All Americans through the first three games. FSU QB Christian Ponder wasn’t too bad, going 25-37 for 269 yards, but he had a costly fumble that set up a USF FG that essentially ended the game. Ponder is completing 66.2% of his passes, had 4 TDs and just one INT so I still think a QB is one thing that the FSU coaching staff has finally found.

Jacory Harris looked nearly invincible in his first two starts, but then he ran into a very good defense that was the first team able to get pressure on the sophomore signal-caller. The Hokies held him to just nine completions on 25 attempts. He had an interception and a fumble. There will still be some growing pains because Harris is very young, but Miami has also found their QB.

Miami’s defense has been shaky, giving up 34, 17, and 31 points, but it is obvious that the team is on the right track.

Florida State, on the other hand, I’m not so sure about. There are a lot of problems with the Seminoles.They need a fresh start and that all starts with letting their Offensive Coordinator and Head Coach in Waiting actually become the Head Coach. Bobby Bowden is a legend. He built a terrible team into a program that had the most impressive 14 year run in the history of college football and as much as I respect Coach Bowden; it’s time for him to let it go. The ‘Noles need a young, charismatic Head Coach like Jimbo Fisher.

Even if Bowden doesn’t leave after the season, it is likely that Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews will, which is probably a good thing for FSU. Andrews and the whole defensive staff need an overhaul. FSU hasn’t had a typical dominating defense in quite some time and currently ranked 115th against the pass. They have no pass rush and their secondary has been awful. At times, their defense looks lost. If Fisher soon becomes the Head coach and is able to put together his own staff, the ‘Noles can potentially get back to where they want to be. Fisher has not proven himself to be the right man for the job yet, but he has showed some positive signs. No one will really know what Fisher can do until he has complete control of the team and is able to make his own decisions about his own coaching staff.

And if that’s not the case, there’s always Brian Kelly…

Performance of the Week

Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon After being criticized for his disastrous start to the season, the Junior Quarterback silenced his critics. Masoli threw just four incompletions, going 21-25 for 253 with three touchdowns on Saturday. Oregon destroyed 6th ranked Cal 42-3 and Masoli was largely responsible.

“On offense the sky’s the limit for us,” Masoli said with confidence. “We’re the only ones who can hurt us. These last couple of weeks we’ve been in a funk, but today we moved past that.”

The Heisman Favorite

Last week, I hopped on the Jahvid Best bandwagon but after his 16-carry, 55-yard performance in a 42-3 loss to Oregon, Best has pretty much lost any hope to take home the hardware. It looks like the two frontrunners remain the same – the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, Florida QB Tim Tebow and Texas QB, Colt McCoy.

Tebow may have had the flu but he looked like his normal self against Kentucky after a less than average performance against Tennessee. He was 5-10 for just 44 yards and a TD but had 16 carries for 123 yards and 2 TDs before he left the game late in the third quarter after suffering a concussion with a 31-7 lead. Tebow continues to put up pedestrian passing numbers but he continues to run well, rarely turns the ball over and keeps leading his team to victory.

The big question about Tebow this week is why he was in the game in the third quarter with a 24-point lead. A case could be made that the Florida Coach Urban Meyer should have had Tebow out because he was sick. Under normal circumstances, there’s no Head Coach in the country that would have their starting QB out with a 24 point lead in only the third quarter. Hits are put of football and with how often Tebow runs the ball and takes hit, this was bound to happen. It seems like he is fine and will be good to go in the highly anticipated showdown with LSU on October 10.

Colt McCoy has been pretty good as well but could be playing much better. McCoy was 28-35 for 286 yards with 3 TDs in a 64-7 win over Utep on Saturday. He is now 103-145 with 1,145 yards and 9 TDs. He also has rushed for a TD. These are Heisman-like numbers on a top team, but his interception numbers are worrying me. He has thrown at least one interception in each game this season and has five total for the season. Although Tebow is just 44-68 for 643 yards and 6 TDs, his rushing (271 yards, 5 TDs) and his ability to make good decisions (just one interception on an incredible catch by Eric Berry) keeps him atop the list for now. McCoy will have plenty of chances to move back ahead of Tebow and I won’t be surprised if he does.

Last week, I mentioned Jacory Harris as a potential dark horse, but he played himself right out of that (see above).

Houston QB Case Keenum may no longer be a dark horse contender because he has now lead his team to wins over two Big 12 teams – Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. Keenum is 93-134 for 1,160 yards with 8 TDs and 2 INTs. He also has three rushing TDs, giving him more total yards then either Tebow or McCoy and more total TDs then both. He has also thrown just two interceptions and his last touchdown Saturday was a four yard run with :49 left and his team trailing by five.

Cincinnati QB Tony Pike is 93-132 for 1223 yards and 11 TDs with just two interceptions. He also has two rushing TDs . He had lead his team to road wins at Big East rival Rutgers and at Oregon State.

Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen played his worst game of the season against Purdue Saturday. He threw his first interception in that game and threw for just 171 yards after passing for 300 or more yards in each of his first three games, but Clausen still hit Kyle Rudolph for the game winning TD with :25 leading Notre Dame to their second straight come from behind win. Clausen is 77-117 with1,122 yards with 10 TDs and one interception.

My Top 15

The more I see out of teams, the more teams I will rank, eventually giving an entire Top 25.

1. Florida
2. Alabama
3. Texas
4. LSU
5. Boise State
6. Virginia Tech
7. Cincinnati
8. Houston
9. Oklahoma
10. USC
11. Ohio State
12. TCU
13. Iowa
14. Oregon
15. Oklahoma State

Game of the Week

LSU @ Georgia

The Line: Georgia -3

In week one, the Dogs looked like they were going to have a lot of trouble on offense after 24-10 loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater but since then the Dogs have lit up the scoreboard. They scored 41 points against a South Carolina defense that held QB Russell Wilson and NC State to just three points Jevon Snead and Ole Miss to just 10 points. They also scored 52 points at Arkansas before struggling to win 20-17 at home against Arizona State. The Dogs held the Sun Devils to just 204 yards and had 334 yards themselves but had they had three turnovers, including two Joe Cox interceptions that kept the Sun Devils in the game. Luckily for the Dogs, they bounced back and got themselves in position to win the game on a last second field goal. If they make those kind of mistakes against the Tigers, they won’t be so lucky.

LSU also struggled last weekend. Mississippi State had first and goal at the 2 with less than two minutes to play and LSU stopped the Bulldogs all four times, leaving Starkville with a 30-26 victory. LSU didn’t look good at all. The Bulldogs had over 100 more total yards than the Tigers, but committed four turnovers while LSU did not turn the ball over. The Tigers managed just 30 yards rushing – that’s not going to cut it.

If this game becomes another shootout, I think it will favor the Dogs considering they have already beat two pretty good teams in that style of a game. However, I think LSU got a wake-up call last week and will not allow that to happen.

I like LSU in this game. I don’t think that they will be looking ahead to the Florida game and I think their defense is going to force Joe Cox and the Georgia offense into mistakes because of LSU’s ability to shut down the Georgia running game. LSU’s talented WRs should be able to take advantage of these mistakes. Plus, the Tigers have already gone into one hostile environment (Washington) and come out with a victory.

Upset Alert

I was going to take Michigan State over Michigan but then I saw that the Spartans are actually a two-point favorite.

I’m going to put Georgia Tech on upset alert. The Jackets must travel to Starkville to take on Mississippi State. I’m not going to pick the Bulldogs to win the game but their near upset of LSU should give them some confidence against a Tech team that may be looking ahead to their next two games – a game in Tallahassee with the Seminoles and matchup at home against Virginia Tech in two weeks that could put Georgia Tech right back in the mix for an ACC title.

Other Potential Upsets:

UCLA @ Stanford – 5.5

Stanford is coming off a huge win over Washington, but the Bruins have played well. They are 3-0 and have two non-conference BCS wins (@Tennessee, Kansas State).

NC State @ Wake Forest – 2.5 I expect this one to happen. NC State has the more talented team.

USC – 5 @ Cal

Cal is coming off a terrible performance against Oregon by any team going on the road with a freshman Quarterback and a lot of inexperience has the potential to struggle.

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger. Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)

I’m pretty sure that throughout his USC career the one thing Sanchez did have more than anything was confidence. In the Rose Bowl against USC it showed as his precision passes and pinpoint accuracy helped his NFL stock sky rocket into a potential top ten player.

When he announced he was leaving Southern California, even at the dislike of his head coach Pete Carroll, he sat at the podium with tons of confidence. Carroll told Sanchez he was making a mistake and that NFL teams needed more time to evaluate him before he went pro.

His young quarterback smiled and claimed he was ready.

Now I think Sanchez is hearing Carroll’s thoughts over and over as nightmares of a Aaron Rodgers type drop through the first round spirals through his head. On Monday he declined on the chance to go to New York for the draft. I have a feeling that his decision has a lot to do with his fear of falling out of the top ten and having to wait in the green room for hours while waiting to be selected.

He has publicly stated through his brother that he has elected to spend the day with friends and family. This may be the complete truth, but I know that if I was in Sanchez’s shoes I’d be worried about taking a free fall.

Nine players are going to New York, including Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman. Most mock drafts have Freeman going in round two, which makes his invite a little surprising. Brian Cushing, Brian Orakpo, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Curry, Jason Smith, Michael Oher, Eugene Monroe, and Michael Crabtree all are also going.

The main questions dealing with the NFL Draft at this moment are these:

• Will the Lions take Matthew Stafford #1 overall?
• If the Lions don’t take Stafford what happens to Stafford & Sanchez?
• In what order will Michael Crabtree & Jeremy Maclin go?
• Where will X-factor Andre Smith end up?

Here’s my best guess:

1. Detroit Lions: QB Matthew Stafford (Georgia)
The Lions need their franchise quarterback and Stafford (on paper at least) appears to be the guy that fit that profile. Aaron Curry is another option here, but in the past the Lions seem to always go for the flashy, best player on the board type player and they usually get burned.

2. St. Louis Rams: OT Jason Smith (Baylor)
Last year the Rams got Chris Long, the defensive end from Virginia, instead of Jake Long to fortify their offensive line. Now they can get their offensive tackle as well. Smith has passed both Eugene Monroe, Michael Oher, and the other offensive tackles on most draft boards.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest)
How many times does the team with the third pick get the best player in the draft? Not very often. The Chiefs could also take Crabtree but this might be too good to pass up. Curry is going to be very good for years to come.

4. Seattle Seahawks: WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)
This pick scares me because it makes too much sense to be true. Why wouldn’t the Seahawks get arguably the best player in the draft (aside from injuries) and their go to receiver?

5. Cleveland Browns: LB/DE Brian Orakpo (Texas)
This one also looks to make sense.  Everyone thinks Orakpo should go to the Browns. The Texas defensive end would certainly give the Browns a pass rush, something that was completely missing in 2008.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Eugene Monroe (Virginia)
The Bengals would be ecstatic if this scenario played out. Without having to move up at all they could get arguably the best offensive lineman in this entire draft. Monroe would solidify an offensive line needing a lot of help.

7. Oakland Raiders: WR Jeremy Maclin (Missouri)
Do I think Maclin is this good? No, I really don’t but we all know how Al Davis is. Maclin would be an all around playmaker for the Raiders and his selection would give Oakland a young QB, young RB, and a young WR all drafted in the last three years.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: DT B. J. Raji (Boston College)
We’ve all heard about Raji’s drug test (which he didn’t fail) and his up and down draft stock. Some believe he can go as high as #4 to Seattle, while others seem him going towards the bottom of the top ten.

9. Green Bay Packers: DE Everett Brown (Florida State)
This is the first really hard position to choose in the mock draft. Brown is one of the most athletic players in this draft out of Florida State and he gets the nod over Maybin and Tyson Jackson.

10. San Francisco 49ers: QB Mark Sanchez (USC)
This looks like the landing spot for Sanchez unless a team jumps ahead of the 49ers. Sanchez isn’t as experienced as most teams like their franchise quarterback to be but at this point San Francisco has to take a chance.

11. Buffalo Bills: DE Aaron Maybin (Penn State)
All these defensive ends are really a toss up. In my estimation Maybin is the third best available behind both Orakpo and Brown.

12. Denver Broncos: DE Tyson Jackson (LSU)
Jackson has been harassing SEC quarterbacks for years and now he moves onto the NFL. The Broncos (like the Browns) can use any defensive help they can get. Adding Jackson would help by getting some pressure on the opposing quarterback, something Denver has lacked recently.

13. Washington Redskins: DE Robert Ayers (Tennessee)
Defensive ends and offensive tackles are always the most picked players in the first round of the NFL Draft. I still don’t know if I’ve ever seen five defensive ends go this fast in a draft. Washington has multiple options here but in my opinion they elect to take Ayers, who is flying up draft boards quicker than any other player.

14. New Orleans Saints: LB Brian Cushing (USC)
Cushing has actually passed his teammate Ray Mauluaga on most draft boards (rated off overall, not position since OLB & MLBs are completely different positions). Cushing seems to ALWAYS be in the right place at the right time. He tracks the football like a wild animal.

15. Houston Texans: CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State)
Secondary help in the AFC South? Imagine that. There’s probably a good chance this pick has a lot to do with Peyton Manning. Jenkins is the top corner in this draft and has the tools to become a shutdown cornerback in the NFL. That’s exactly what Houston needs.

16. San Diego Chargers: OT Andre Smith (Alabama)
A couple of weeks ago I never would’ve thought Smith could fall this far in the draft. He might not, but at this point he’s the biggest question mark in the draft. San Diego elects to go best available and takes Smith who has all of the talent in the world for an offensive lineman.

17. New York Jets: RB Knowshon Moreno (Georgia)
Moreno is a very versatile running back that can cut on a dime and has an explosive step once he gets into the open field. The Jets already have a running back that can make plays, Leon Washington, but they are lacking a guy who can make big plays every down.

18. Denver Broncos: LB Ray Maualuga (USC)
During college football season I could’ve seen Maualuga going in the top five of the NFL Draft. The teams at the top do not need a middle linebacker and it has affected his draft stock. Even with that there’s no doubt this would be a steal at #18 overall.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Josh Freeman (Kansas State)
I don’t think Freeman is worth a first round pick but the NFL is a copycat league. The Buccaneers need a quarterback and Freeman is the last one available until much later rounds. Tampa Bay takes Freeman here and begins a rebuilding project.

20. Detroit Lions: OT Michael Oher (Mississippi)
There was a point in time where Oher was the top rated draft prospect in this entire draft. Now the Lions could get him at #20 overall. If you are the Lions right here you’ve got to consider what could happen if you don’t take Stafford #1 overall. Is there any way you could get Curry and then trade up for Sanchez? It’s just something to think about. For now I think Detroit gets a big lineman to protect their franchise quarterback, Stafford.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Chris Wells (Ohio State)
This is just a gut feeling. If you’re Philadelphia you’ve got a great running back in Brian Westbrook that makes more plays in the passing game (due to Andy Reid’s play calling) than in the running game. Wells would give Philadelphia a third down back and a great goaline back at least. If he developed into more (like he should) it would be a fantastic pick.

22. Minnesota Vikings: WR Derrius Heyward Bey (Maryland)
Everyone keeps leaving out Heyward Bey when they discuss this year’s best receivers. He’s extremely talent and will be a great NFL wide receiver. The Vikings should take him over Percy Harvin (who I love) so it’s hard for me to say that.

23. New England Patriots: LB Clay Matthews (USC)
How about three USC linebackers going in the top 23 picks in this draft? Is it just me or does Matthews seem like the kind of guy New England always drafts? He’s going to play well and be in the right place at the right time to make plays more times than naught.

24. Atlanta Falcons: TE Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma State)
Pettigrew is the only tight end worth a first round pick in this years draft. He’s a dynamic playmaker and would give Matt Ryan another receiver to throw the ball to.

25. Miami Dolphins: WR Percy Harvin (Florida)
Once again this pick just makes too much sense to me. Miami loves running the “Wildcat” offense and Harvin is the ultimate wildcat. Plus you can give Harvin, who played football in the same state, and add Miami fans in the process.

26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina)
It seems like Nick’s crazy catch against West Virginia has helped launch him into the first round. There’s no doubt that he can be a very effective wide receiver and Baltimore would be getting great value here. A year after taking Joe Flacco they could add a potential star receiver for him to throw to.

27. Indianapolis Colts: DT Peria Jerry (Mississippi)
It seems like most of us mock draft ‘experts’ agree that this pick will either be Jerry or Evander Hood from Missouri. Jerry would help seal up the middle of the defensive line and plug up a big hole for Indy.

28. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Eben Britton (Arizona)
Britton would be a steal this last in round one and it seems that Philadelphia loves taking lineman in the first round of the draft. After taking Wells earlier it would only make sense (based off of the Eagles past drafts) for them to go back to the line with their second pick.

29. New York Giants: LB James Laurinaitis (Ohio State)
This is another best player available pick. Laurinaitis’ stock has fallen this offseason but he’s what Mel Kiper Jr. would call a “football player”. Basically that means he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win, including sacrificing his body.

30. Tennessee Titans: CB Vontae Davis (Illinois)
A couple of months ago Davis looked like a potential top 15 pick. Now he’s just hoping to be taken at the end of round one. Davis is another corner that has the chance to be a shutdown defensive back in the NFL. The Titans don’t have many holes and adding someone to your secondary is never a bad choice.

31. Arizona Cardinals: RB LeSean McCoy (Pittsburgh)
I’ve had Arizona taking a running back since last offseason. The Cardinals need someone to help open up the passing game. If they could they’d throw it every down, but as we know the passing game starts with the running game.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: C Alex Mack (California)
Another pick that makes too much sense. He’s already visited with Pittsburgh and this is really the only glaring hole for the defending world champions.

QB | RB | WR | TE | T | G/C | DT | DE | LB | CB | S | K | P

Rank	Team	POSITION	Player
1		OT	Andre Smith
2		OT	Eugene Monroe
3		OT	Jason Smith
4		OT	Eben Britton
5		OT	Michael Oher

:Let’s break down what I think would happen at the top of the draft if the draft was today:

This feature will get easier and easier to do each week, and I will go farther in depth as the season progresses. Right now this is just early thoughts.

1. Detroit Lions (0-14): The debate is truly on for the Lions. Do they take one of the big offensive lineman at the top of the draft or do they take a QB? Maybe even another need position can be addressed.  Andre Smith looks like the most sure pick at the top of the draft, and he would help bolster an offensive line that hasn’t been able to get the running game going all season.  They could also take Oher, in my opinion the better pass blocker of the two offensive tackles. Then comes the fan favorite choice….picking a quarterback. Most NFL scouts think that Matthew Stafford is more NFL ready than Sam Bradford, but Bradford has been more accurate and has the most upside. If I had the #1 pick and couldn’t win a game along with having to deal with an unhappy fanbase I’d take the best player available. In this case he’s also the safest bet and that’s Andre Smith.

The Pick: Andre Smith (OT, Alabama)

2. St. Louis Rams (2-12): The Rams have tons of problems but they have a quarterback and a running back that they can trust in the future. They also have young receivers, including Donny Avery to help their offense grow in the future. Last season they took Chris Long, so this around it’s only fitting that they take a offensive tackle. With Andre Smith gone it makes the choice a lot simpler for the Rams. Michael Oher has to be the pick here for now.

The Pick: Michael Oher (Ole Miss)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-12): Now the debate continues for the Chiefs between Stafford and Bradford. Last time we had Kansas City taking Matthew Stafford (as I have all along). Since then Sam Bradford has led Oklahoma to the national championship game and has won the Heisman Trophy. Stafford’s Georgia Bulldogs have faded down the stretch and ended up in the Capital One Bowl instead of a BCS game after being ranked preseason #1. Stafford has the stronger arm but doesn’t read defenses as well as Bradford appears to. Stafford is the safer choice. I also think Stafford is the more likely to leave while Bradford is more likely to return.

More is coming up soon on numbers 4-10! And also very soon is a new NFL mock draft!

1. Detroit Lions (0-8): Lions fans weren’t very happy with my last mock draft when I had Ray Mauluaga going #2 overall to the Kitty Cats. The needs in Detroit are endless, that’s the problem. Is Dan Orlovsky the answer at quarterback or is Drew Stanton the answer? The problem is that Orlovsky has already been replaced by shoo-in Daunte Culpepper (even though he is injured as well) and Stanton hasn’t even been given a shot. So do the Lions go quarterback in the first round? Maybe even running back? The best choice is probably just to solidify their offensive line by drafting an offensive tackle, but which one? Michael Oher or Andre Smith? The more and more video I watch, the more I like Andre Smith from Alabama.

The Pick: Andre Smith (OT, Alabama)

2. Cincinnati Bengals (1-7): And as Bengal fan watching the 2009 NFL Draft you’d be pretty upset right now. The Bengals want Andre Smith. He would help their running game (finally a running game in Cincinnati) and help protect Carson Palmer. The Bengals two star wide receivers might actually be able to make plays if Palmer has time to throw. But don’t fear Bengals fans, because there are two great offensive tackles in this draft. Michael Oher wouldn’t been a top ten pick in last year’s NFL Draft, and now he’s finally leaving Mississippi. He could even almost be called a “steal” at #2 overall, if that’s even possible.

The Pick: Michael Oher (OT, Mississippi)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7): Everyone has the Chiefs taking a quarterback in the first round. It’s hard to determine right now if Herm Edwards thinks Brodie Croyle the QB of the future for the Chiefs, but it’s looking more and more likely that he isn’t. Tyler Thigpen hasn’t played well either and we’ve seen Damon Huard try to play quarterback the entire time he’s been in this league. Just to sum it up nicely, he’s failed. Matthew Stafford from Georgia would be a nice choice here, but he does need to tone his skills quite a bit.

The Pick: Matthew Stafford (QB, Georgia)

Is it one of the big offensive lineman like Michael Oher or Andre Smith? Both will likely be top 5 picks.

Is it my personal favorite, Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech?

Or is it the sexy pick, Matthew Stafford the quarterback from Georgia? A lot of NFL scouts like him.

No matter what your opinion is vote below and spread the word. Let the fans voice be heard.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

1) The order is done by the current NFL standings. This probably would not be the exact order if the draft took place today (coin flips & playoffs would have to be complete) but it’s a pretty good estimation of what it would look like. The next mock draft will have the updated NFL standings and updated draft order.

2) I do these weekly but only here at NFLmocks.com so make sure you check back often for updates.

3) Make sure you leave comments below but to remember it is only early November. Right now it is hard to tell what each teams needs.

Without further adu, here’s the latest NFL Mock Draft:

#	Team		Pick	Thoughts
1		St. Louis Rams	OT Michael Oher Ole Miss	Easily the best player in the entire draft class, Oher will be a great selection for any team.
2		Detroit Lions	LB Ray Mauluaga USC	The best pure player in the draft this year. The Lions would absolutely love to have him.
3		Cincinnati Bengals	OT Andre Smith Alabama	Andre Smith has been a force since he went to Tuscaloosa, and he will be great in the NFL also.
4		Houston Texans	CB Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State	Jenkins would be the shut down corner Houston needs. Playing Peyton Manning twice a year is tough.
5		Oakland Raiders	LB James Laurinaitis Ohio State	Al Davis likes defense and he takes the Ohio State star here, hoping he can anchor a struggling team.
6		Kansas City Chiefs	QB Matthew Stafford* Georgia	Everyone knows the Chiefs need a quarterback, why not the young Georgia signal caller?
7		Cleveland Browns	DE Michael Johnson Georgia Tech	Johnson would be a great pass rusher in the AFC North, with Big Ben and Caron Palmer in their prime.
8		Seattle Seahawks	WR Derrius Heyward Bey Maryland	Heyward Bey has actually passed Michael Crabtree (for now) as the top receiver in this class.
9		San Francisco 49ers	DE Tyson Jackson LSU Senior	Jackson would help a 49ers defensivee line that needs some help up front.
10		Philadelphia Eagles	OT Eugene Monroe Virginia	Monroe is quickly becoming one of the top prospects in this draft. He would be a steal right here.
11		New Orleans Saints	DE Brian Orakpo Texas	Here’s another guy flying up the draft sheets right now. Orakpo would be a top 20 pick right now.
12		Minnesota Vikings	QB Mark Sanchez USC	What Sanchez this high? Call this a hunch. I’ve seen the guy play and I think he will be a NFL QB.
13		Green Bay Packers	CB Vontae Davis* Illinois	Davis is easily the top cornerback prospect int he draft. Green Bay would love to draft him at #13.
14		San Diego Chargers	WR Michael Crabtree* Texas Tech	As you all know by now I love this guy. I think Crabtree is a can’t miss prospect.
15		Jacksonville Jaguars	S William Moore Missouri	Moore would help sure up the secondary. He’s a great playmaker and would add scary speed to the D.
16		Indianapolis Colts	LB Brian Cushing USC	The Colts have got to find a way to stop the run, and Cushing would definitely help in that area.
17		Miami Dolphins	DE George Selvie South Florida	Selvie is everywhere on draft boards but he’d be a great replacement for Jason Taylor.
18		Baltimore Ravens	CB Darius Butler Connecticut	The Ravens really need help on offense but with no wide receivers available here they help their great D.
19		Atlanta Falcons	CB Alphonso Smith Wake Forest	Want to know how good of a cornerback Smith is? He likely saved the game for WF against Clemson.
20		Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DT Terrence Cody* Alabama	Cody has risen up draft boards faster than anybody. He’s huge and would be a great first day starter.
21		Arizona Cardinals	RB Javon Ringer Michigan State	Ringer is the hard nosed runner than Arizona has lacked for years. I’d love this selection.
22		New York Jets	LB Aaron Curry Wake Forest	Curry would be the aggressive playmaker that the Jets lack on defense.
23		Philadelphia Eagles (Via trade with Carolina)	DT Terrence Taylor Michigan	The Eagles like taking lineman in the first two rounds, and Taylor is a big force on the D line.
24		Buffalo Bills	S Taylor Mays* USC	Mays is my favorite safety in this entire draft because of his size.
25		Denver Broncos	S Patrick Chung Oregon	Chung is one of the top rated safeties in this entire draft. He will go middle first to late second.
26		Dallas Cowboys	WR Jeremy Maclin* Missouri	Maclin would be a speedster (sort of like DeSean Jackson) and would make TO even more open.
27		Pittsburgh Steelers	CB Mike Mickens Cincinnati	Mickens can shut down big receivers and would be a great late round pick.
28		Chicago Bears	OT Ciron Black LSU	The one thing this draft has is a lot of great offensive tackles. Black is one of them.
29		Washington Redskins	DE Greg Hardy Ole Miss	Now that Hardy is back the Ole Miss front line is dominant again. He’d be a great replacement for Taylor.
30		New England Patriots	CB Victor Harris Virginia Tech	For some reason the Patriots secondary/defense isn’t playing well this year. Harris would add athleticism.
31		New York Giants	LB Darry Beckwith LSU	The Giants would really like to sure up their D-line, but this is a best available pick.
32		Tennessee Titans	WR Brandon Lafell LSU	Last time I had Brian Robiskie going in this spot, but I think the Titans really need a big playmaker, and Lafell fits that mold better.

1.OT Michael Oher (Ole Miss): He’s the most physically demanding player in college football. If I had to start a team with any player in college football right now I’d choose Oher.

2. OT Andre Smith (Alabama): A lot of experts–hello ESPN.com’s Todd McShay–believe that Smith is the best player available. Living in Alabama, I see quite a bit of him. He’s what makes the Crimson Tide’s running game tick.

3. WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech): Everyone knows by now that I think he’s the one and only can’t miss prospect in this draft. Breaking news, he just scored again on Kansas.

4. LB Ray Mauluaga (USC): He’s easily the best linebacker available in this entire draft. Mauluaga can make big players and stop the run, while also defending the pass. I love watching him play.

5. LB James Lauriniatis (Ohio State): He was the best linebacker prospect in the preseason but Mauluaga appears to have surpassed him. When the two teams met on the same field it was Mauluaga that outshined Lauriniatis.

6. CB Michael Jenkins (Ohio State): Jenkins appears to be one of the only shutdown corners available in the draft. He should go top ten overall in April, because so many teams need secondary help.

7. DE Michael Johnson (Georgia Tech): His skills are still raw but he’s extremely talented. If he gets in the right system he can become a dominant pass rusher in the NFL.

8. QB Matthew Stafford (Georgia): He’s got a strong arm but he needs to work on his accuracy. If he keeps improving then a lot of teams will want to take him to be their QB of the future.

9. DE George Selvie (South Florida): Either you like Selvie and think he can be an NFL player or you don’t. I’ve read a lot of stuff from people that are high on him and I’ve read stuff from a lot of people that aren’t.

10. CB Vontae Davis (Illinois): Davis is the second shut down corner on this list. I like his chances of being a top 15 pick in April’s draft. Depending on who you talk to he may even be the best corner available.

1) The order is done by the current NFL standings. This probably would not be the exact order if the draft took place today (coin flips & playoffs would have to be complete) but it’s a pretty good estimation of what it would look like.

2) I do these weekly but only here at NFLmocks.com so make sure you check back often for updates.

3) Make sure you leave comments below but to remember it is only early October. Right now it is hard to tell what each teams needs.

Early Trends:

Where Are The Quarterbacks? I have two quarterbacks going in this mock draft, thanks to the hunch I have about Mark Sanchez. Even Matthew Stafford is not a sure first round pick at this point. The 2009 NFL Draft could be a sad draft day for teams needing a quarterback for the future (Kansas City).

Offensive Tackle Heavy: Every team seems to love offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft. Both Michael Oher and Andre Smith look like for sure top ten picks.

Where’s Tebow: As a Florida fan I had a tough time doing it but I removed Tebow, Percy Harvin, and even linebacker Brandon Spikes from the first round of this draft. All three could easily go in round one but at this point I don’t see it for any of them. Spikes has been fantastic and will still probably go in round one but I just didn’t find a spot for him this time around.

Without further adu, here’s the latest NFL Mock Draft:

#	Team		Pick	Thoughts
1		St. Louis Rams	OT Michael Oher Ole Miss	Easily the best player in the entire draft class, Oher will be a great selection for any team.
2		Detroit Lions	LB Ray Mauluaga USC	The best pure player in the draft this year. The Lions would absolutely love to have him.
3		Cincinnati Bengals	OT Andre Smith Alabama	Andre Smith has been a force since he went to Tuscaloosa, and he will be great in the NFL also.
4		Houston Texans	CB Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State	Jenkins would be the shut down corner Houston needs. Playing Peyton Manning twice a year is tough.
5		Oakland Raiders	LB James Laurinaitis Ohio State	Al Davis likes defense and he takes the Ohio State star here, hoping he can anchor a struggling team.
6		Kansas City Chiefs	QB Matthew Stafford* Georgia	Everyone knows the Chiefs need a quarterback, why not the young Georgia signal caller?
7		Cleveland Browns	DE Michael Johnson Georgia Tech	Johnson would be a great pass rusher in the AFC North, with Big Ben and Caron Palmer in their prime.
8		Seattle Seahawks	WR Derrius Heyward Bey Maryland	Heyward Bey has actually passed Michael Crabtree (for now) as the top receiver in this class.
9		San Francisco 49ers	DE Tyson Jackson LSU Senior	Jackson would help a 49ers defensivee line that needs some help up front.
10		Philadelphia Eagles	OT Eugene Monroe Virginia	Monroe is quickly becoming one of the top prospects in this draft. He would be a steal right here.
11		New Orleans Saints	DE Brian Orakpo Texas	Here’s another guy flying up the draft sheets right now. Orakpo would be a top 20 pick right now.
12		Minnesota Vikings	QB Mark Sanchez USC	What Sanchez this high? Call this a hunch. I’ve seen the guy play and I think he will be a NFL QB.
13		Green Bay Packers	CB Vontae Davis* Illinois	Davis is easily the top cornerback prospect int he draft. Green Bay would love to draft him at #13.
14		San Diego Chargers	WR Michael Crabtree* Texas Tech	As you all know by now I love this guy. I think Crabtree is a can’t miss prospect.
15		Jacksonville Jaguars	S William Moore Missouri	Moore would help sure up the secondary. He’s a great playmaker and would add scary speed to the D.
16		Indianapolis Colts	LB Brian Cushing USC	The Colts have got to find a way to stop the run, and Cushing would definitely help in that area.
17		Miami Dolphins	DE George Selvie South Florida	Selvie is everywhere on draft boards but he’d be a great replacement for Jason Taylor.
18		Baltimore Ravens	CB Darius Butler Connecticut	The Ravens really need help on offense but with no wide receivers available here they help their great D.
19		Atlanta Falcons	CB Alphonso Smith Wake Forest	Want to know how good of a cornerback Smith is? He likely saved the game for WF against Clemson.
20		Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DT Terrence Cody* Alabama	Cody has risen up draft boards faster than anybody. He’s huge and would be a great first day starter.
21		Arizona Cardinals	RB Javon Ringer Michigan State	Ringer is the hard nosed runner than Arizona has lacked for years. I’d love this selection.
22		New York Jets	LB Aaron Curry Wake Forest	Curry would be the aggressive playmaker that the Jets lack on defense.
23		Philadelphia Eagles (Via trade with Carolina)	DT Terrence Taylor Michigan	The Eagles like taking lineman in the first two rounds, and Taylor is a big force on the D line.
24		Buffalo Bills	S Taylor Mays* USC	Mays is my favorite safety in this entire draft because of his size.
25		Denver Broncos	S Patrick Chung Oregon	Chung is one of the top rated safeties in this entire draft. He will go middle first to late second.
26		Dallas Cowboys	WR Jeremy Maclin* Missouri	Maclin would be a speedster (sort of like DeSean Jackson) and would make TO even more open.
27		Pittsburgh Steelers	CB Mike Mickens Cincinnati	Mickens can shut down big receivers and would be a great late round pick.
28		Chicago Bears	OT Ciron Black LSU	The one thing this draft has is a lot of great offensive tackles. Black is one of them.
29		Washington Redskins	DE Greg Hardy Ole Miss	Now that Hardy is back the Ole Miss front line is dominant again. He’d be a great replacement for Taylor.
30		New England Patriots	CB Victor Harris Virginia Tech	For some reason the Patriots secondary/defense isn’t playing well this year. Harris would add athleticism.
31		New York Giants	LB Darry Beckwith LSU	The Giants would really like to sure up their D-line, but this is a best available pick.
32		Tennessee Titans	WR Brian Robiskie Ohio State	The Titans need a young receiver and Robiskie sort of fits the Titans mold.