DANGER college football games

DANGER College Games To Watch

DANGER! DANGER!

Every week there are some very important college football games that will end up being the “make or break” games of the season for certain teams. Let’s chew on that for a bit…

Before I continue, first off, a big thumbs up to Toledo. Yeah, I know they lost to Fresno State, but it really takes some guts to go for the win at home against a top 25 team. I say to any fan of Toledo, you made a fan here. But ups to you guys!

Oh, and some have asked about the “Greatest Running Backs EVER” list…I just recently finished it and will start sharing that very soon, stay tuned for that.

Now, what are the danger games for this weekend?

Well, as I write this, there is a game later tonight between #1 ranked USC and Oregon State…

Nope, not a danger game… next…..

But Friday when Uconn goes to Lousiville, THAT can be a danger game.

Beware oh ye of a questionable 4-0 mark….you have yet to really be tested. This is a very important game for the conference that seems as weak as the ACC. Uconn has to make a solid point by proving that it is worthy of a top 25 spot by becoming 5-0 and beating a quality team in Louisville.

It’s quite likely that we’re looking at one of these two teams to make a strong case for that BCS bowl…not the Championship because nobody in the Big East is gonna qualify for that.

These two teams, and South Florida, will decide who will play for the BCS bid, or settle for a lesser bowl. Beware Huskies…

Beware ECU, you are in danger vs. Houston….

Yeah, I know ECU took a hard shot by NC State, and in one poll they are not even in the top 25 anymore, but they are home against Houston, and things SHOULD be fine for them. The problem is that ECU has had a few injuries, and the fizzling sound is that of a swollen ego deflating. One week you’re the darling of the NCAA, next week you’re midcard.

Right now there is only the slimmest chance that ECU could play in a BCS bowl, even if they should win every game from now on. Conference USA just isn’t strong enough to support a good strength of schedule, so ECU will have a hard time the rest of the year. But they still have that target on their heads, and will get every team’s best effort. One more loss will destroy ANY hopes of a BCS. They can’t overlook Houston, who were 8-5 last year.

Beware ECU, one more loss and you’ll be back in pack with the rest of the average teams in the NCAA…

Gird thy loins Florida State….beware!

Last week’s loss to Wake Forest proved that you should have NEVER been ranked in the first place, and shame on you for scheduling two Southern Conference teams to beat on (one being my beloved Cats). Scoring over 100 points gave you a false sense of confidence, and Wake Forest proved that it was only smoke and mirrors. But this game vs. Colorado will determine your success or failure before you even get halfway through.

Should FSU lose this game, it will spell the end of the season. Florida State simply cannot go 0-2 in Division I games and still carry any sense of confidence into the remaining games. Granted the ACC isn’t gonna scare anybody, but with Clemson and Virginia Tech still out there with Wake Forest, it may be a mountain FSU can’t climb if they lose this game vs. Colorado.

You season is on the line…NOW.

Beware West Virginia…your postseason life hangs by fingernails….

Oh how the mighty have fallen, once #8 in the nation, now thrown out of the top 25 with the bum’s rush. I really thought this team was destined for greatness, but after the ECU loss and the loss to Colorado, you now have to wonder if this team is even going to get 6 wins. In less than 2 weeks, they’ve gone from potential National Championship contender to POSSIBLE bowl game.

With no Division I games, WVA needs 6 wins quick, fast and in a hurry. It starts with Marshall. And to be honest, I still think they should win this game, but the key is by how much. They need to stop the Thundering Herd big, winning by at LEAST 3 touchdowns if they are to try to lay claim to any Big East title. With Auburn on the schedule, I cannot give WVA every win. It is quite possible they can win 9 games, and salvage a pretty decent season. But I don’t see them winning every game in the Big East, they have not proven that they can win at all. If they do not beat Marshall by at least 21 points, I think the engine of winning will be gone…and so will a 6 win season.

Danger be unto thee, BOTH Purdue AND Notre Dame…

Notre Dame was exposed for the soft schedule they set before them, and paid for it. So much for Lou Holtz’s prediction of a perfect season. Any sane person could have predicted that. But now Notre Dame has to “man up” in a critical home game. If they lose this game, it may expose the underbelly of this wanna-be BCS team, enough to encourage their next four opponents to step it up. Understand this, regardless of what Notre Dame’s record is, every opponent will see it a great feather to hand them a loss.

A loss to Purdue COULD throw red flags about the true strength of the Irish.

But what of the Boilermakers?

The Big 10 is hard enough as it is just to survive, but Purdue has Penn State, Ohio State and currently undefeated Northwestern back-to-back-to-back. And oh by the way, their next game after that is against currently undefeated Minnesota. The road looks very difficult for Purdue, and to get to the promised land of 6 Division I wins, they MUST beat Notre Dame. Their 3-5 conference record may mean trouble, so the sooner they can get wins, the better. A loss to Notre Dame could spell a disappointing season.

And finally, danger signals to Virginia Tech as they play Nebraska…for BOTH teams.

ECU ripped Vtech’s season apart with that loss in Charlotte, and to be honest, this isn’t the Virginia Tech team of old. It’s not right to see Virginia Tech not ranked, but the entire ACC seems to be on a off year. Granted they did beat Georgia Tech, and believe me that will mean something down the road, but a win here could possibly put them back on track to a top 10 ranking by the end of they year. They don’t play Wake Forest in the regular season, but if Virginia Tech plays in the ACC Championship, it may well be with ONLY one loss…you’re gonna be sick to your stomach when you think of that ECU loss…

But for Nebraska, this is a game they MUST win. Beating Western Michigan, San Jose State and New Mexico State is fine and all, but last year those teams finished 14-21 combined…all losing records. But they count as far as Division I wins, so congrats to setting up a cupcake path to a bowl.

Now EARN it.

Nebraska won only 2 conference games last year, but got their anatomy rearranged by Kansas. The Big 12 is tough, and they’ve got to see Missouri, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Kansas. While these are tough teams, the bottom half of the Big 12 won’t intimate too many teams, so it is possible that Nebraska could be 5-5 before their last 2 games of the year…but I say that assuming that they will lose to Virginia Tech.

So this game vs. the Hokies means a heck of a lot more than they know. Lose this game, and your post season dreams (albeit on several cupcakes) will be in doubt. Win this game, and you stand a good chance of going bowling…

So take caution ye teams of Division I (yeah, I know that’s not what they call it, but I don’t work for any big time media). For some, the entire season hangs in the balance on this weekend’s games. For others, the chance to make a BCS will be decided. Beware ye teams…

Beware….