ACC Football: Coastal Division Warzone
Of the two divisions of the ACC, the most interesting seems to be the Coastal Division. We talked before about how the ACC had lost a lot of respect last year because none of the 12 teams finished in the top 10. It even sparked some to say that maybe the ACC does not deserve a BCS bid, and should rather give it to Boise State…
Huh? Boise State beat how many quality teams last year?
But this year things look a little different. With early surprises and a handful of teams in the top 25, the ACC looks as competitive as it did last year, but with even more punch.
If you missed the blog I wrote on the Atlantic Division of the ACC, and their rank, check that out. We wanted to take a look at this football conference and see their current rank and file, as of three weeks into the 2009 season. The actual rankings look this way:
General: Miami Hurricanes
Captain: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Lieutenant: North Carolina Tarheels
Sergeant: Virginia Tech Hokies
Corporal: Duke Blue Devils
Buck Private: Virginia Cavaliers
Remember that these are only based after 3 weeks, since 4 of the 6 teams have yet to play a conference or division game. Of course Miami leads the division because not only have they won 2 games, they won two CONFERENCE games. Georgia Tech is second because they won and lost a conference game, one against Miami. The remaining four teams are listed with the Tarheels third because they are 3-0, and Virginia Tech is 2-1 overall. Duke is 1-2 and at dead last is Virginia, at 0-3.
But is this the TRUE rank and file? Let’s take a closer look and see:
Miami: Good times are a plenty in Miami, not only as the state (and the eastern coast) survived hurricane season with no threats in the least, the sports-type Hurricanes are enjoying a very good start. A team that was 7-6 last year has surprised everybody with a 2-0 start, including wins over a ranked Florida State and a ranked Georgia Tech. There is no question that as of this moment, they are doing very well. A HUGE game against Virginia Tech will determine if this will be a solid top 10 squad, or one just passing by. Some question if this is a really for real top ten team, and this weekend will prove many things. Mind you, last year Miami beat VA Tech by 2 points… it could be just as close.
Georgia Tech: This 9-4 team bothers me, in that the style of play that worked last year could quickly be as outdated at bell-bottomed pants and fly-collars. This option style almost cost them the game against Clemson, and surely cost them against Miami. If people figure out this style, it may well be easy to counter, forcing the Yellow Jackets to do what they could not do…pass. We’re just not too confident that the option will work in the BCS conference.
North Carolina: The only 3-0 team in the ACC and one more win from making a solid impact on the top 25. Beating Citadel means nothing, beating Big East foe Connecticut on the road is worthy, and beating ECU is even a little better. Lots of people see the Tarheels as a mid-card team, and not much is going to change it this year, but if UNC can beat Georgia Tech, then they could possibly be the third best team in the division…maybe
Virginia Tech: Hmmm, this team is ranked and plays top ten foe Miami this weekend. Losing to Alabama is their only blemish, but much is expected from this team that was 10-4 last year. An embarrassing loss to ECU, back to back road losses to Boston College and Florida State, and a road loss to Miami means they don’t like leaving home, but a home game vs. Miami might fix all that ails them. IF Virginia Tech beats Miami, it is not out of the realms of possibility for them to run the table…you were warned…
Duke: Ugh…do we have to? Oh well. Four wins last year had some people thinking they can win 8 this year…not sure on who does the math at Duke. However, a good win over Navy at home and a narrow win at Vanderbilt is worth something. If they don’t beat NC Central by at least 30 points, then shame on them…it may well be the best win of the year for them. Live it up now Blue Devils, the post season comes not for thee.
Virginia: This is an embarrassing spot for a once proud football team. Currently the ONLY winless team in the ACC, there may still be hope for Virginia. I mean, they did win one game more than Duke. Mind you, they did beat ECU, UNC and Georgia Tech, so there is still some talent there, but they better manifest it soon, or they will be mopping the halls long after chowtime is done. Such is the fate for Buck Privates.
So having looked at these teams, we think the true order, the true rank and file of the Coastal Division goes like this:
General: Virginia Tech Hokies
Captain: Miami Hurricanes
Lieutenant: North Carolina Tarheels
Sergeant: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Corporal: Virginia Cavaliers
Buck Private: Duke Blue Devils
With several key games this weekend in the ACC, it will be interesting to see top ranked foes Miami and Virginia Tech will fare. With a week off, Virginia needs to find someway to play this game they call football. UNC will see if they can figure out the code to cracking the played out style called Triple Option and Duke plays a so called Gridiron Classic, with nothing classic about it.
We shall see who really runs the ACC…time will tell…..
Friday, September 25, 2009
ACC Football: Atlantic Division Warzone
ACC Football: Atlantic Warzone
(just trying to have a little fun here folks)
Last year the ACC was heavily criticized as being a weak conference, some felt that teams like Boise State were better than any team in either the ACC or Big East…I strongly disagree. While the ACC has had better years, every year has been a war from start to finish…
And before I continue, I don’t wanna hear no self-righteous yap about being sensitive to war terms…I am greatly proud of all our troops, but almost every term used in the sport of football comes from the aggressive terms used in the military…so don’t take it so personal…it’s just a game!
Anyway…..
With the ACC being as competitive as it was last year, we see that all 12 teams dive into the season with hopes of making it to that ACC Championship game, and also that next step to a BCS bowl. But who stands the best chances of getting there? Let’s look at the Atlantic Division of the ACC and see the rank and file of these ACC members:
In alphabetical order, you have Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. But three games into the college football season, the order is a little different.
According to the standings, Clemson actually sits on top because as of this moment, they are the ONLY team in the Atlantic Division with a division win, that being over Boston College, although it is matched with a loss from Georgia Tech. You technically have a three way tie for second because NC State, Wake Forest and Maryland are all 0-0. At the bottom you have a tie because both Boston College and Florida State have a conference loss. So one could put the actual rank and file as such:
General: Clemson Tigers
Captain: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Lieutenant: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Sergeant: Maryland Terrapins
Corporal: Boston College Eagles
Buck Private: Florida State Seminoles
But appearances can be deceiving, can’t they?
Each team will all face one another to truly determine who is the leader, and who will be mopping the floors at the end of the day. Let’s take a closer look at each team and see where they might TRULY end up:
Clemson: A win over Boston College makes them the (temporary) undisputed leader with a division win, which means more than a conference win. Putting Boston College in their place gives the Tigers a leg up on everybody else, but as we noted, this is only temporary. This 7-6 team last year wasn’t much on leading, as they were a highly ranked team at the beginning of last year, only to lose rank in record fashion. They beat 2 of the 5 division foes last year, and it seems that they might be a little better this year. Could Florida State be the only thing standing in their way for Atlantic Division domination?
NC State: The reason why they are listed above Wake Forest and Maryland is because alphabetically they come before Wake Forest, and Maryland is currently 1-2. With cheap wins against less than stellar foes, the jury is still out on this team that went 6-7 last year. Wake Forest was the only divisional foe they beat least year, and it was a home game, winning only by 4. With away games at Wake Forest, Boston College and Florida State, we can’t see the Wolfpack commanding too many troops here.
Wake Forest: This 8-5 team has only lost one game so far this year, but there are still many questions about the lack of scoring that they had last year. Yes they got the ball in the end zone, but averaging about 21 a game makes it too close for comfort. Beating Florida State AND Clemson was great, losing in a shutout to Maryland, then losing to NC State and Boston College makes them average. They need this win over Boston College to validate some authority, else it will be a long season.
Maryland: How many stripes are really on the arm of this team. Lose to Middle Tennessee, beat California. Get shut out by Virginia, then shuts out Wake Forest. If we don’t know what this team is about, it is best to keep them right in the middle of the pack, but at 1-2 they are already behind the ball, and it does not look like they will show us anything to change our mind. Average at best, possibly lower.
Boston College: The loss to Clemson was an odd one, with the weather playing such a significant factor, but a loss is still a loss. Few wonder how legit the team really is, after all, there is no quality wins at the moment. A lot of work to be done for a team that was 9-5 last year. Only Clemson bested them last year out of the division, but BC had 7 games that were within a possession of winning…or losing. It might appear that the glory days of the Eagles might be slipping… and the rank possibly justified.
Florida State: Odd how the tail is actually the head, how a Buck Private is actually the leader of a division. Florida State lost to Miami, but crushed a top 25 foe in BYU on the road to solidify (for now) a top 25 ranking. With 3 division games on the road, this might be a sign. A respectable 9-4 last year, it is still underachieving for the former Commander-In-Chief of the ACC. Those days of absolute rule are long gone, but remember that two of their losses last year came from this very division…and we are still scratching our heads about that Jacksonville State game…
So having looked at the facts, we might change up the rank and file of the ACC to read this way, as it may well look at the end of the year:
General: Florida State Seminoles
Captain: Clemson Tigers
Lieutenant: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Sergeant: Boston College Eagles
Corporal: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Buck Private: Maryland
We shall learn much more after this weekend, with Boston College hosting Wake Forest… time will tell all….
(just trying to have a little fun here folks)
Last year the ACC was heavily criticized as being a weak conference, some felt that teams like Boise State were better than any team in either the ACC or Big East…I strongly disagree. While the ACC has had better years, every year has been a war from start to finish…
And before I continue, I don’t wanna hear no self-righteous yap about being sensitive to war terms…I am greatly proud of all our troops, but almost every term used in the sport of football comes from the aggressive terms used in the military…so don’t take it so personal…it’s just a game!
Anyway…..
With the ACC being as competitive as it was last year, we see that all 12 teams dive into the season with hopes of making it to that ACC Championship game, and also that next step to a BCS bowl. But who stands the best chances of getting there? Let’s look at the Atlantic Division of the ACC and see the rank and file of these ACC members:
In alphabetical order, you have Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. But three games into the college football season, the order is a little different.
According to the standings, Clemson actually sits on top because as of this moment, they are the ONLY team in the Atlantic Division with a division win, that being over Boston College, although it is matched with a loss from Georgia Tech. You technically have a three way tie for second because NC State, Wake Forest and Maryland are all 0-0. At the bottom you have a tie because both Boston College and Florida State have a conference loss. So one could put the actual rank and file as such:
General: Clemson Tigers
Captain: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Lieutenant: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Sergeant: Maryland Terrapins
Corporal: Boston College Eagles
Buck Private: Florida State Seminoles
But appearances can be deceiving, can’t they?
Each team will all face one another to truly determine who is the leader, and who will be mopping the floors at the end of the day. Let’s take a closer look at each team and see where they might TRULY end up:
Clemson: A win over Boston College makes them the (temporary) undisputed leader with a division win, which means more than a conference win. Putting Boston College in their place gives the Tigers a leg up on everybody else, but as we noted, this is only temporary. This 7-6 team last year wasn’t much on leading, as they were a highly ranked team at the beginning of last year, only to lose rank in record fashion. They beat 2 of the 5 division foes last year, and it seems that they might be a little better this year. Could Florida State be the only thing standing in their way for Atlantic Division domination?
NC State: The reason why they are listed above Wake Forest and Maryland is because alphabetically they come before Wake Forest, and Maryland is currently 1-2. With cheap wins against less than stellar foes, the jury is still out on this team that went 6-7 last year. Wake Forest was the only divisional foe they beat least year, and it was a home game, winning only by 4. With away games at Wake Forest, Boston College and Florida State, we can’t see the Wolfpack commanding too many troops here.
Wake Forest: This 8-5 team has only lost one game so far this year, but there are still many questions about the lack of scoring that they had last year. Yes they got the ball in the end zone, but averaging about 21 a game makes it too close for comfort. Beating Florida State AND Clemson was great, losing in a shutout to Maryland, then losing to NC State and Boston College makes them average. They need this win over Boston College to validate some authority, else it will be a long season.
Maryland: How many stripes are really on the arm of this team. Lose to Middle Tennessee, beat California. Get shut out by Virginia, then shuts out Wake Forest. If we don’t know what this team is about, it is best to keep them right in the middle of the pack, but at 1-2 they are already behind the ball, and it does not look like they will show us anything to change our mind. Average at best, possibly lower.
Boston College: The loss to Clemson was an odd one, with the weather playing such a significant factor, but a loss is still a loss. Few wonder how legit the team really is, after all, there is no quality wins at the moment. A lot of work to be done for a team that was 9-5 last year. Only Clemson bested them last year out of the division, but BC had 7 games that were within a possession of winning…or losing. It might appear that the glory days of the Eagles might be slipping… and the rank possibly justified.
Florida State: Odd how the tail is actually the head, how a Buck Private is actually the leader of a division. Florida State lost to Miami, but crushed a top 25 foe in BYU on the road to solidify (for now) a top 25 ranking. With 3 division games on the road, this might be a sign. A respectable 9-4 last year, it is still underachieving for the former Commander-In-Chief of the ACC. Those days of absolute rule are long gone, but remember that two of their losses last year came from this very division…and we are still scratching our heads about that Jacksonville State game…
So having looked at the facts, we might change up the rank and file of the ACC to read this way, as it may well look at the end of the year:
General: Florida State Seminoles
Captain: Clemson Tigers
Lieutenant: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Sergeant: Boston College Eagles
Corporal: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Buck Private: Maryland
We shall learn much more after this weekend, with Boston College hosting Wake Forest… time will tell all….
Iowa vs Penn State 2009
Iowa vs. Penn State
I have nothing against Iowa, I am sure they are a pretty good team, but I have a place in my heart for Joe Paterno.
I say that because years ago I wrote to Penn State for a media guide and I received one from them, to which I was most grateful. I also wrote a letter to Joe Paterno a few years ago and he actually answered it. It takes a nice man to take the time to answer a fan’s mail…not EMAIL, but land mail.
So you better believe I pull for Penn State when I can. But I also know that this game against Iowa is critical, because one loss can possibly knock you out for a shot at the BCS Championship. I have nothing negative to say about Iowa, so there are no hard feelings for them, but having said all that, let’s look at this matchup:
Iowa is one of those mid card teams that can have a banner year at any time. Last year they went 9-4, which in itself is great, but there are head scratchers to the teams they lost to. Losing by one point to Pittsburgh on the road is something you can live with, because Pittsburgh is a pretty good team.
Losing to Northwestern at home 22-17 is kinda iffy, I mean, Northwestern is not a long-time power in the Big 10. Losing to Michigan State 16-13 seems to set the table that this Hawkeye team plays to the competition. Losing to Illinois on the road seemed to clinch that thought.
Some might say the only credible win was against Penn State, winning 24-23 at home…sets the stage for this weekend. And losing an excellent rusher and some receivers makes this Iowa team touchable to the team the barely beat last year.
Penn State last year enjoyed huge success with an 11-2 record. As mentioned before, they lost to Iowa on the road, and lost to Southern Cal 38-24 in their final game of the year. Not bad, when you sprinkle good wins over Oregon State, Ohio State and Michigan State. We know that key elements in the offense are still there, and Penn State seems quite equal on the passing and the rushing…it will be hard to figure them out.
But maybe the biggest problem for the Nittany Lions is the hype the media puts around them. Being ranked in the top 5 now, is it possible for Penn State go to perfect? It would mean besting Iowa, a constant thorn in their side, and beating Ohio State, but it certainly is possible.
Both teams come in 3-0, with Iowa having wins over Northern Iowa by one point (errr?), Iowa State big, and Arizona by 10. Close games at home, great game away. Penn State has 3 of a 4 game home stand, beating Akron, Syracuse and Temple. To be sure, none of these teams will be crashing the gates of the BCS, but Penn State allowed only 6.5 points a game…that spells very tough defense, while averaging 30 points a game.
If there was a top 30, Iowa would not be on one poll, and barely clinging to the other. This tells me that even at 3-0, voters are not that impressed with the Hawkeyes, even though they beat Penn State last year. But with the Nittany Lions home, can the Hawkeyes repeat the performance of last year?
My heart tells me to go with Penn State, but logic says the same thing. I will admit though, I don’t think Penn State has been properly tested yet. I mean, Akron, Syracuse and Temple were 13-23 last year combined. This year they are currently 2-6...ugh.
We’ll learn much more about Penn State and their chances to play in the BCS Championship after this win, one they simply must have. To them, a loss here ruins the season…at the hands of a familiar foe.
But I see Penn State winning this handily, by 10 points, although that may still be too close for comfort. But we shall see…….
I have nothing against Iowa, I am sure they are a pretty good team, but I have a place in my heart for Joe Paterno.
I say that because years ago I wrote to Penn State for a media guide and I received one from them, to which I was most grateful. I also wrote a letter to Joe Paterno a few years ago and he actually answered it. It takes a nice man to take the time to answer a fan’s mail…not EMAIL, but land mail.
So you better believe I pull for Penn State when I can. But I also know that this game against Iowa is critical, because one loss can possibly knock you out for a shot at the BCS Championship. I have nothing negative to say about Iowa, so there are no hard feelings for them, but having said all that, let’s look at this matchup:
Iowa is one of those mid card teams that can have a banner year at any time. Last year they went 9-4, which in itself is great, but there are head scratchers to the teams they lost to. Losing by one point to Pittsburgh on the road is something you can live with, because Pittsburgh is a pretty good team.
Losing to Northwestern at home 22-17 is kinda iffy, I mean, Northwestern is not a long-time power in the Big 10. Losing to Michigan State 16-13 seems to set the table that this Hawkeye team plays to the competition. Losing to Illinois on the road seemed to clinch that thought.
Some might say the only credible win was against Penn State, winning 24-23 at home…sets the stage for this weekend. And losing an excellent rusher and some receivers makes this Iowa team touchable to the team the barely beat last year.
Penn State last year enjoyed huge success with an 11-2 record. As mentioned before, they lost to Iowa on the road, and lost to Southern Cal 38-24 in their final game of the year. Not bad, when you sprinkle good wins over Oregon State, Ohio State and Michigan State. We know that key elements in the offense are still there, and Penn State seems quite equal on the passing and the rushing…it will be hard to figure them out.
But maybe the biggest problem for the Nittany Lions is the hype the media puts around them. Being ranked in the top 5 now, is it possible for Penn State go to perfect? It would mean besting Iowa, a constant thorn in their side, and beating Ohio State, but it certainly is possible.
Both teams come in 3-0, with Iowa having wins over Northern Iowa by one point (errr?), Iowa State big, and Arizona by 10. Close games at home, great game away. Penn State has 3 of a 4 game home stand, beating Akron, Syracuse and Temple. To be sure, none of these teams will be crashing the gates of the BCS, but Penn State allowed only 6.5 points a game…that spells very tough defense, while averaging 30 points a game.
If there was a top 30, Iowa would not be on one poll, and barely clinging to the other. This tells me that even at 3-0, voters are not that impressed with the Hawkeyes, even though they beat Penn State last year. But with the Nittany Lions home, can the Hawkeyes repeat the performance of last year?
My heart tells me to go with Penn State, but logic says the same thing. I will admit though, I don’t think Penn State has been properly tested yet. I mean, Akron, Syracuse and Temple were 13-23 last year combined. This year they are currently 2-6...ugh.
We’ll learn much more about Penn State and their chances to play in the BCS Championship after this win, one they simply must have. To them, a loss here ruins the season…at the hands of a familiar foe.
But I see Penn State winning this handily, by 10 points, although that may still be too close for comfort. But we shall see…….
South Florida vs Florida State 2009
South Florida vs. Florida State
Florida State is currently ranked #18 in the polls, after a thrashing they put on BYU (which surprised me as well as many others). It is possible that the ACC made a statement that they are as competitive as the other conferences by beating a top 25 team handily in their own house?
Now they have to do it again, under much more local confines. The ACC’s Florida State will host South Florida in a big time game for both sides. This is a game that Florida State simply cannot lose, if they are to retain credibility for their top 25 ranking. With teams slipping and sliding every week, the opportunistic team can easily find themselves in the top 10 in a few weeks…case in point, Mississippi.
But to stay there, they must win and not lose to an unranked opponent…case in point, Mississippi.
But the Big East has a point to prove too, and they need South Florida to make that for them. About 27 undefeated teams remain in the FBS, three of them come from this very conference. South Florida has shown signs of brilliance the last few years, only to buckle under the pressure once they were ranked high in the standings.
There is a LOT of credibility on the line here, for the ACC and the Big East…who wins this matchup in the Sunshine State? Let’s look at it:
South Florida is currently 3-0, and not ranked at the moment. Sure, the Bulls have scored about 134 points in three games, which averages to over 40 a game, but who have they beaten? Wofford? Western Kentucky? Charleston Southern?
Again, only 27 teams remain undefeated, and you’re not on the top 25? Very soft schedule folks.
Mind you, this team started out 5-0 last year and was the apple of many eyes, beating teams like Kansas and NC State. But it preceded a 1-4 record once they hit the Big East schedule before beating UCONN, losing to West Virginia and winning the bowl game against Memphis.
I think with a returning good quarterback and an excellent defensive power, this is still a good team, they can win decent games so these are not your mother’s cupcakes, but the last couple of years just seem to show that they are mid-card teams, destined to hover around greatness, but never obtaining it.
But if there is a chance for an upset, it can happen against Florida State.
The Seminoles were 9-4 last year, losing to Wake Forest by 9, Georgia Tech by 3, Boston College by 10 and to Florida by…well that doesn’t matter. Granted they destroyed my beloved Catamounts 69-0, but what did it gain them?
Losing to rival Miami hurt them, but not as bad as the near loss to Jacksonville State. That embarrassing win must have prompted Florida State to re focus, which is what they did against BYU, in a big time win that vaulted them back in the top 25 spotlight.
The Seminoles try to make a living with the passing, which has also burnt them more than once. Last year quarterback Ponder threw for 14 touchdowns…great….but also threw for 13 interceptions…ugh.
The question here is going to be which mindset is Florida State on: the swagger that produced players like Charlie Ward and Deon Sanders, or the team that was so high on itself that it almost lost to Jacksonville State… as they say, half of football is mental.
With Grothe for the Bulls being injured, there may be a feast of blitzes for Florida State, and I think that kinda pressure could get to South Florida. But sometimes playing home makes a team kinda…cocky. I don’t think South Florida can beat Florida State, but I also don’t think they are as intimidated. This could be interesting…
If I had to pick, I might think Florida State will win, but not as big a margin as the BYU game. I give it to the Seminoles by 8 points.
Florida State is currently ranked #18 in the polls, after a thrashing they put on BYU (which surprised me as well as many others). It is possible that the ACC made a statement that they are as competitive as the other conferences by beating a top 25 team handily in their own house?
Now they have to do it again, under much more local confines. The ACC’s Florida State will host South Florida in a big time game for both sides. This is a game that Florida State simply cannot lose, if they are to retain credibility for their top 25 ranking. With teams slipping and sliding every week, the opportunistic team can easily find themselves in the top 10 in a few weeks…case in point, Mississippi.
But to stay there, they must win and not lose to an unranked opponent…case in point, Mississippi.
But the Big East has a point to prove too, and they need South Florida to make that for them. About 27 undefeated teams remain in the FBS, three of them come from this very conference. South Florida has shown signs of brilliance the last few years, only to buckle under the pressure once they were ranked high in the standings.
There is a LOT of credibility on the line here, for the ACC and the Big East…who wins this matchup in the Sunshine State? Let’s look at it:
South Florida is currently 3-0, and not ranked at the moment. Sure, the Bulls have scored about 134 points in three games, which averages to over 40 a game, but who have they beaten? Wofford? Western Kentucky? Charleston Southern?
Again, only 27 teams remain undefeated, and you’re not on the top 25? Very soft schedule folks.
Mind you, this team started out 5-0 last year and was the apple of many eyes, beating teams like Kansas and NC State. But it preceded a 1-4 record once they hit the Big East schedule before beating UCONN, losing to West Virginia and winning the bowl game against Memphis.
I think with a returning good quarterback and an excellent defensive power, this is still a good team, they can win decent games so these are not your mother’s cupcakes, but the last couple of years just seem to show that they are mid-card teams, destined to hover around greatness, but never obtaining it.
But if there is a chance for an upset, it can happen against Florida State.
The Seminoles were 9-4 last year, losing to Wake Forest by 9, Georgia Tech by 3, Boston College by 10 and to Florida by…well that doesn’t matter. Granted they destroyed my beloved Catamounts 69-0, but what did it gain them?
Losing to rival Miami hurt them, but not as bad as the near loss to Jacksonville State. That embarrassing win must have prompted Florida State to re focus, which is what they did against BYU, in a big time win that vaulted them back in the top 25 spotlight.
The Seminoles try to make a living with the passing, which has also burnt them more than once. Last year quarterback Ponder threw for 14 touchdowns…great….but also threw for 13 interceptions…ugh.
The question here is going to be which mindset is Florida State on: the swagger that produced players like Charlie Ward and Deon Sanders, or the team that was so high on itself that it almost lost to Jacksonville State… as they say, half of football is mental.
With Grothe for the Bulls being injured, there may be a feast of blitzes for Florida State, and I think that kinda pressure could get to South Florida. But sometimes playing home makes a team kinda…cocky. I don’t think South Florida can beat Florida State, but I also don’t think they are as intimidated. This could be interesting…
If I had to pick, I might think Florida State will win, but not as big a margin as the BYU game. I give it to the Seminoles by 8 points.
Missouri vs Nevada, 2009
Missouri vs. Nevada 2009
Speedblog
The Big 12 puzzles me, how can a conference that had so many power players be ranked so low this year? Texas Tech wasn’t ranked at the beginning of the year, Oklahoma State isn’t getting a lot of love, Oklahoma lost early and Missouri wasn’t ranked at the beginning of the year.
What’s up with that?
The Big 12 has 4 teams that are, to this point, undefeated, and Missouri is one of those teams. Tonight they play Nevada on a road game that will definitely place them in the top 25 in both polls should they win.
At the moment they are not ranked in one poll, and #21 in another. This is a game they need to win to justify their power…and the Big 12 as well.
You remember Missouri doncha? Went 10-4 last year, losing only to teams with a top 25 number in front of them? A high powered offense that hung 69 points on Nevada last year…oh wait, that’s who they play tonight.
That makes this game a little more interesting.
Nevada comes out of the Western Athletic Conference, and finished last year with a 7-6 record. Their big claim to fame last year was losing to Boise State by 7 points, but is known as a high scoring team…much like Missouri was last year.
The Wolf Pack, not to be confused with NC State, did win 7 games, but one might highly question the strength of those wins. Their six losses came to superior teams, such as Texas Tech, Missouri, Boise State and Maryland, who combined for 187 points…or about 40+ a game…defense could be a problem.
But Nevada also scores well too, the problem is that they have to with a porous defense. Outside of the Grambling win 49-13, most of their other games have been kinda close. Very few wins from Nevada were of quality, possibly showing an average team at best, despite what people tried to say on ESPN about them being a good football team only when Notre Dame played them.
But Missouri has to deal with new weapons on offense, gone are the glory days of Chase Daniel, who was an excellent quarterback. Still there is some offense left on this team, having scored 37 against Illinois. Beating Furman doesn’t really count, and one wonders about that close game against Bowling Green…hmmm.
There is no question that Missouri is favored, as they should be. With no conference games under their belts, it is critical for the Tigers to jump out to a 4-0 start, which will definitely get them ranked on both polls. As long as Nevada does not have a top 25 ranking on them, then Missouri should be fine, but beware Tigers, this Nevada team loves that end zone, although their defense seems to be quite charitable.
I can’t see an upset here, even though Nevada is home and Missouri has a new quarterback, but I’ll give it to Missouri by 13 points.
Speedblog
The Big 12 puzzles me, how can a conference that had so many power players be ranked so low this year? Texas Tech wasn’t ranked at the beginning of the year, Oklahoma State isn’t getting a lot of love, Oklahoma lost early and Missouri wasn’t ranked at the beginning of the year.
What’s up with that?
The Big 12 has 4 teams that are, to this point, undefeated, and Missouri is one of those teams. Tonight they play Nevada on a road game that will definitely place them in the top 25 in both polls should they win.
At the moment they are not ranked in one poll, and #21 in another. This is a game they need to win to justify their power…and the Big 12 as well.
You remember Missouri doncha? Went 10-4 last year, losing only to teams with a top 25 number in front of them? A high powered offense that hung 69 points on Nevada last year…oh wait, that’s who they play tonight.
That makes this game a little more interesting.
Nevada comes out of the Western Athletic Conference, and finished last year with a 7-6 record. Their big claim to fame last year was losing to Boise State by 7 points, but is known as a high scoring team…much like Missouri was last year.
The Wolf Pack, not to be confused with NC State, did win 7 games, but one might highly question the strength of those wins. Their six losses came to superior teams, such as Texas Tech, Missouri, Boise State and Maryland, who combined for 187 points…or about 40+ a game…defense could be a problem.
But Nevada also scores well too, the problem is that they have to with a porous defense. Outside of the Grambling win 49-13, most of their other games have been kinda close. Very few wins from Nevada were of quality, possibly showing an average team at best, despite what people tried to say on ESPN about them being a good football team only when Notre Dame played them.
But Missouri has to deal with new weapons on offense, gone are the glory days of Chase Daniel, who was an excellent quarterback. Still there is some offense left on this team, having scored 37 against Illinois. Beating Furman doesn’t really count, and one wonders about that close game against Bowling Green…hmmm.
There is no question that Missouri is favored, as they should be. With no conference games under their belts, it is critical for the Tigers to jump out to a 4-0 start, which will definitely get them ranked on both polls. As long as Nevada does not have a top 25 ranking on them, then Missouri should be fine, but beware Tigers, this Nevada team loves that end zone, although their defense seems to be quite charitable.
I can’t see an upset here, even though Nevada is home and Missouri has a new quarterback, but I’ll give it to Missouri by 13 points.
Is Michigan worth the top 25 ranking?
Is Michigan worth the ranking?
Speedblog
Ok, so we’re like two or three games into the college football season, and a team that won only three games last year is now in the top 25...care to comment on that?
Such is the case for Michigan. But is it valid?
Michigan is one of those storied programs that was and is one of the greatest football programs in the history of college football. Heck, I like them because a few years ago I wrote to the Athletic Director and he sent me a free media guide…you better believe that I have been a Michigan fan for awhile.
But lately there has been some down time with this team, and personally I am not a fan of their new coach, Rich Rodriguez. To me he seems a bit snobby and tight-necked, and lately his way of football has not been very successful. It’s funny because yesterday on ESPN classic I saw the 15th anniversary of the great Colorado vs. Michigan game, with Kordell Stewart, Ty Law, and a host of great NFL players. You guys remember that last second catch in the end zone, right?
So today I’m looking at Michigan currently ranked #23 on one poll, #22 on another, and I start to think, do they deserve it? Let’s look into that.
It has to start from last year, when Michigan finished a sad-sacked 3-9. Beating only Miami Ohio by 10 points (who would finish 2-10), beating Wisconsin by 2 points (who would finish 7-6) and beating Minnesota by 23 (who also finished 7-6).
They lost to EVERYBODY else.
So at the beginning of the season, you wonder if this team can manage 5 wins, maybe even six to qualify for a bowl. There is a lot of pressure for the great Michigan Wolverines to play in post season you know.
So Michigan pads up the schedule, having not one, not two but FOUR straight home games, beating Western Michigan, Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan. Western Michigan is currently 1-2 and Eastern Michigan is currently 0-3. Granted Notre Dame was ranked, but a lot of football purists felt that the ranking was not as credible as it now appeared.
But in any case, Michigan is 3-0 and looking perfect as they prepare to face Indiana this weekend…another home game. The same team that was 3-9 last year, and is currently 3-0 this year too…
Wow, there must have been some magic, in that old soft schedule they made, for when they placed ….
Wait a minute….that’s something else….
Anyway, Indiana is now 3-0, but no quality wins, as they prepare to play conference foe Michigan, who is also 3-0. That’s not saying too much since almost half the Big 10 is undefeated. But again, does this make Michigan a top 25 team?
I am just not too sold on the idea that you can pad your schedule with a ton of home games and jump out to a quick start and get ranked. I just find it hard to believe that Michigan of last year (3-9) can be one of the top 25 teams in the nation at this point.
Yet the counter here is that they DID beat a top 25 opponent in Notre Dame, even though some hardly felt that Notre Dame was 25 caliber…still it counts. And with so many upsets this year already, somebody HAS to move up. I mean, if Michigan is undefeated, with a top 25 win, then surely it has to count for something.
Consider that there are about 27 undefeated teams in the FBS right now, if Michigan is one of them, and they are, don’t they deserve at least to be somewhere in that mix? I can’t argue that, and again, with a top 25 win, I think their standing is indeed credible.
Now prove that you ARE top 25 by winning more games. They didn’t play Indiana last year, and of the three games they won last year, only Wisconsin is on this year’s schedule. A bunch of home games plays in their favor, but you still have to be good to win games…
Time will tell…
Speedblog
Ok, so we’re like two or three games into the college football season, and a team that won only three games last year is now in the top 25...care to comment on that?
Such is the case for Michigan. But is it valid?
Michigan is one of those storied programs that was and is one of the greatest football programs in the history of college football. Heck, I like them because a few years ago I wrote to the Athletic Director and he sent me a free media guide…you better believe that I have been a Michigan fan for awhile.
But lately there has been some down time with this team, and personally I am not a fan of their new coach, Rich Rodriguez. To me he seems a bit snobby and tight-necked, and lately his way of football has not been very successful. It’s funny because yesterday on ESPN classic I saw the 15th anniversary of the great Colorado vs. Michigan game, with Kordell Stewart, Ty Law, and a host of great NFL players. You guys remember that last second catch in the end zone, right?
So today I’m looking at Michigan currently ranked #23 on one poll, #22 on another, and I start to think, do they deserve it? Let’s look into that.
It has to start from last year, when Michigan finished a sad-sacked 3-9. Beating only Miami Ohio by 10 points (who would finish 2-10), beating Wisconsin by 2 points (who would finish 7-6) and beating Minnesota by 23 (who also finished 7-6).
They lost to EVERYBODY else.
So at the beginning of the season, you wonder if this team can manage 5 wins, maybe even six to qualify for a bowl. There is a lot of pressure for the great Michigan Wolverines to play in post season you know.
So Michigan pads up the schedule, having not one, not two but FOUR straight home games, beating Western Michigan, Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan. Western Michigan is currently 1-2 and Eastern Michigan is currently 0-3. Granted Notre Dame was ranked, but a lot of football purists felt that the ranking was not as credible as it now appeared.
But in any case, Michigan is 3-0 and looking perfect as they prepare to face Indiana this weekend…another home game. The same team that was 3-9 last year, and is currently 3-0 this year too…
Wow, there must have been some magic, in that old soft schedule they made, for when they placed ….
Wait a minute….that’s something else….
Anyway, Indiana is now 3-0, but no quality wins, as they prepare to play conference foe Michigan, who is also 3-0. That’s not saying too much since almost half the Big 10 is undefeated. But again, does this make Michigan a top 25 team?
I am just not too sold on the idea that you can pad your schedule with a ton of home games and jump out to a quick start and get ranked. I just find it hard to believe that Michigan of last year (3-9) can be one of the top 25 teams in the nation at this point.
Yet the counter here is that they DID beat a top 25 opponent in Notre Dame, even though some hardly felt that Notre Dame was 25 caliber…still it counts. And with so many upsets this year already, somebody HAS to move up. I mean, if Michigan is undefeated, with a top 25 win, then surely it has to count for something.
Consider that there are about 27 undefeated teams in the FBS right now, if Michigan is one of them, and they are, don’t they deserve at least to be somewhere in that mix? I can’t argue that, and again, with a top 25 win, I think their standing is indeed credible.
Now prove that you ARE top 25 by winning more games. They didn’t play Indiana last year, and of the three games they won last year, only Wisconsin is on this year’s schedule. A bunch of home games plays in their favor, but you still have to be good to win games…
Time will tell…
NFL Top 10, week 2
ANFL Top 10, after Week 2
There are a lot of questions about this year’s NFL teams, which makes it very interesting. Key injuries, surprise wins, surprise losses make this very interesting, and it’s only after week 2. So how in the world can we possibly make a top 10 after only two games?
Easy! We just force one!
To be honest, this isn’t fair to make a top 10 this early, but just for the sake of argument, I wanted to see if I could create a top 10 of the NFL teams this year. The easy thing to do is to simply assume that every 2-0 squad is immediately credible, but that may not be so much the case. But it’s our starting point as we begin to name the top 10 NFL teams, as of the end of week 2:
Before we begin, we need to first make a list of all the 2-0 teams:
Giants, Vikings, Falcons, Saints, 49ers, Jets, Colts, Ravens and Broncos. That’s the list of 9 teams that are currently undefeated…so it might be assumed that all 9 should be in the top 10, right?
Maybe.
But this also means we must include some 1-1 teams, and right now they number 14, meaning we have to decide the ten best teams out of over 20, as of only the second week of the season.
Ugh.
Well, after doing my math, I came up with my top 10, but before I do, let me start with the team that just missed out on the cut, and why:
MISSED CUT: Minnesota Vikings 2-0
See, technically the Vikings should have made it, since there were in fact 9 undefeated teams, but I looked at all the other teams that were 2-0 and 1-1 and to be honest, I can’t place the Vikings as a top 10 team, not yet. Beating the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions proves nothing, even though the Vikings do score 28 points to the good. But until they beat tougher foes, I can’t put them on the top 10, not yet.
#10 Buffalo Bills (1-1)
This team SHOULD have been 2-0, with that wacky loss to New England, and their win over Tampa Bay has them 12 points more than they give up, not bad for a 1-1 team. We saw that the Bills may just be as good as advertised, but how long before Mouth Almighty, Tongue Everlasting (TO) starts to undermine the team? As long as they are winning he will be quite…but another loss or two, watch out for fireworks.
#9 Chicago Bears (1-1)
To me this might be the best 1-1 team in the NFL, having lost to the Packers but beating the Superbowl Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The question here is all about the quarterback, who plays kinda like a werewolf. You just never know what you’re going to get out of Cutler, and with the defense wounded, this could cause some problems as the season goes on. One would have to think that the Bears will lean heavily on an already limping defense, but they are good enough to get the job done.
#8 Denver Broncos (2-0)
I very nearly wanted to place the Broncos even lower, because their two wins are based off beating the Bengals and Browns…and how much noise did THEY make last year? But I was more impressed with their wins than over 2-0 Minnesota, even though the Broncos scored 26 points more than their opponents, while the Vikings scored 28 points more. But between those two, I gave the nod to the Broncos because well, ANYBODY can beat the Lions…
#7 Indianapolis Colts (2-0)
There is a lot of transition going on with the Colts, and one wonders if they can hold serve in their own division. With wins over the Jaguars and the Dolphins, they Colts look ok, but of all the 2-0 teams in the NFL at this moment, the Colts have the slimmest margin of points over their opponents, with a +6. That’s hard to figure out when you have Peyton Manning, and something they better fix soon or they won’t remain undefeated for long.
#6 San Francisco 49ers (2-0)
I realize this might be a bit premature, but hey, it’s only the second week. I put the 49ers here because they won two division games already, one over the Cardinals, who just came off a Superbowl loss. But many have questioned the strength of the NFC West, and I am one of them. They do manage to score 17 points more than their opponents in total, which kinda splits it to like 8 points a game. I don’t think they’ll get any better IF they sign Michael Crabtree (greedy rascal), but I also don’t see this perfect record going too much longer either. Still, two wins over division foes isn’t bad.
#5 New Orleans Saints (2-0)
Talk about 5 hour energy! My home town is racking up the points, having the highest point differential in the NFL after 2 weeks. The Saints have scored 44 points more than their opponents, which averages to like 22 points MORE per game than the opponent. This is a high maintenance machine, but I placed it at number 5 because well, you did beat the Lions…ho hum….and you also beat a wounded Philadelphia team. That does not mean the Saints are a joke, you can’t score tons of points unless you are good, but we will see when they play tougher competition.
#4 Baltimore Ravens (2-0)
People are still talking about that Ray Lewis hit at the end of the game…wow, what a STOP! And beating the Chargers in their house means the Ravens mean business. Add to this some offensive attacks and you may have a pretty tough team in Baltimore. I placed them here because of the impressive win over the Chargers, but not any higher because one of their wins was against the Chiefs, who wasn’t exactly burning up the charts last year. The Ravens average about 10 points more than their opponents per game, which is pretty impressive since the Ravens aren’t known for their offense.
#3 New York Jets (2-0)
Wow, who woulda thought… well, somebody did. And right after Brett Farve left them too. At 2-0 the Jets are one of the top 5 scoring teams in the NFL. They have 24 points total more than their opponents, which averages to about 12 points per game more than teams they play. With wins over the Texans and the Patriots, all eyes look to the AFC East and this team to make noise. They look for real, but one wonders…beating the Texans isn’t saying too much, and is this a down year for the Pats? If so, are the Jets as good as the record… or just Jesting…..
#2 Atlanta Falcons (2-0)
There is no more mystery about Matt Ryan, and the Falcons have beaten the Dolphins and the Panthers…two teams that were decent last year. There is a lot of promise for the team, and with offensive weapons it is likely to see this team hovering near the playoffs by the end of the season. But is Carolina just that bad this year, and what of the Saints? Can Atlanta best the Buccs twice? Lots of questions, to be answered as the year goes on.
#1 New York Giants (2-0)
So if things go the way I said, then the Jets and Giants meet in the Superbowl, right? Well, that’s way too early. But the Giants are good, and it is always a good sign when you knock down two of your division rivals. Beating the Redskins and the Cowboys are always good signs, but they play hard games. Their +8 point differential over 2 games means they are winning on an average of only 4 points…one possession. They have yet to play the Eagles, and if they are healthy, it could be a fight. Missing a very key receiver could be a problem, one they have to adjust to quickly, but it seems they are doing ok.
So that’s my list of the top 10 teams of the first two weeks, you notice I didn’t add in the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn’t put them in because with a loss to the bears, and a win over the Titans, it wasn’t really saying too much. The Steelers are struggling with offense, and with a key injury on defense, that could be a problem too.
I also didn’t put the Patriots on the list because by many accounts, they OUGHT to be 0-2. They didn’t win that Buffalo game, the Bills GAVE that to them. Yeah, I know a win is a win, but it was not very impressive.
Things will start shaking out as we go on, so surely these rankings are subject to change….tune in as we keep checking on that…
There are a lot of questions about this year’s NFL teams, which makes it very interesting. Key injuries, surprise wins, surprise losses make this very interesting, and it’s only after week 2. So how in the world can we possibly make a top 10 after only two games?
Easy! We just force one!
To be honest, this isn’t fair to make a top 10 this early, but just for the sake of argument, I wanted to see if I could create a top 10 of the NFL teams this year. The easy thing to do is to simply assume that every 2-0 squad is immediately credible, but that may not be so much the case. But it’s our starting point as we begin to name the top 10 NFL teams, as of the end of week 2:
Before we begin, we need to first make a list of all the 2-0 teams:
Giants, Vikings, Falcons, Saints, 49ers, Jets, Colts, Ravens and Broncos. That’s the list of 9 teams that are currently undefeated…so it might be assumed that all 9 should be in the top 10, right?
Maybe.
But this also means we must include some 1-1 teams, and right now they number 14, meaning we have to decide the ten best teams out of over 20, as of only the second week of the season.
Ugh.
Well, after doing my math, I came up with my top 10, but before I do, let me start with the team that just missed out on the cut, and why:
MISSED CUT: Minnesota Vikings 2-0
See, technically the Vikings should have made it, since there were in fact 9 undefeated teams, but I looked at all the other teams that were 2-0 and 1-1 and to be honest, I can’t place the Vikings as a top 10 team, not yet. Beating the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions proves nothing, even though the Vikings do score 28 points to the good. But until they beat tougher foes, I can’t put them on the top 10, not yet.
#10 Buffalo Bills (1-1)
This team SHOULD have been 2-0, with that wacky loss to New England, and their win over Tampa Bay has them 12 points more than they give up, not bad for a 1-1 team. We saw that the Bills may just be as good as advertised, but how long before Mouth Almighty, Tongue Everlasting (TO) starts to undermine the team? As long as they are winning he will be quite…but another loss or two, watch out for fireworks.
#9 Chicago Bears (1-1)
To me this might be the best 1-1 team in the NFL, having lost to the Packers but beating the Superbowl Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The question here is all about the quarterback, who plays kinda like a werewolf. You just never know what you’re going to get out of Cutler, and with the defense wounded, this could cause some problems as the season goes on. One would have to think that the Bears will lean heavily on an already limping defense, but they are good enough to get the job done.
#8 Denver Broncos (2-0)
I very nearly wanted to place the Broncos even lower, because their two wins are based off beating the Bengals and Browns…and how much noise did THEY make last year? But I was more impressed with their wins than over 2-0 Minnesota, even though the Broncos scored 26 points more than their opponents, while the Vikings scored 28 points more. But between those two, I gave the nod to the Broncos because well, ANYBODY can beat the Lions…
#7 Indianapolis Colts (2-0)
There is a lot of transition going on with the Colts, and one wonders if they can hold serve in their own division. With wins over the Jaguars and the Dolphins, they Colts look ok, but of all the 2-0 teams in the NFL at this moment, the Colts have the slimmest margin of points over their opponents, with a +6. That’s hard to figure out when you have Peyton Manning, and something they better fix soon or they won’t remain undefeated for long.
#6 San Francisco 49ers (2-0)
I realize this might be a bit premature, but hey, it’s only the second week. I put the 49ers here because they won two division games already, one over the Cardinals, who just came off a Superbowl loss. But many have questioned the strength of the NFC West, and I am one of them. They do manage to score 17 points more than their opponents in total, which kinda splits it to like 8 points a game. I don’t think they’ll get any better IF they sign Michael Crabtree (greedy rascal), but I also don’t see this perfect record going too much longer either. Still, two wins over division foes isn’t bad.
#5 New Orleans Saints (2-0)
Talk about 5 hour energy! My home town is racking up the points, having the highest point differential in the NFL after 2 weeks. The Saints have scored 44 points more than their opponents, which averages to like 22 points MORE per game than the opponent. This is a high maintenance machine, but I placed it at number 5 because well, you did beat the Lions…ho hum….and you also beat a wounded Philadelphia team. That does not mean the Saints are a joke, you can’t score tons of points unless you are good, but we will see when they play tougher competition.
#4 Baltimore Ravens (2-0)
People are still talking about that Ray Lewis hit at the end of the game…wow, what a STOP! And beating the Chargers in their house means the Ravens mean business. Add to this some offensive attacks and you may have a pretty tough team in Baltimore. I placed them here because of the impressive win over the Chargers, but not any higher because one of their wins was against the Chiefs, who wasn’t exactly burning up the charts last year. The Ravens average about 10 points more than their opponents per game, which is pretty impressive since the Ravens aren’t known for their offense.
#3 New York Jets (2-0)
Wow, who woulda thought… well, somebody did. And right after Brett Farve left them too. At 2-0 the Jets are one of the top 5 scoring teams in the NFL. They have 24 points total more than their opponents, which averages to about 12 points per game more than teams they play. With wins over the Texans and the Patriots, all eyes look to the AFC East and this team to make noise. They look for real, but one wonders…beating the Texans isn’t saying too much, and is this a down year for the Pats? If so, are the Jets as good as the record… or just Jesting…..
#2 Atlanta Falcons (2-0)
There is no more mystery about Matt Ryan, and the Falcons have beaten the Dolphins and the Panthers…two teams that were decent last year. There is a lot of promise for the team, and with offensive weapons it is likely to see this team hovering near the playoffs by the end of the season. But is Carolina just that bad this year, and what of the Saints? Can Atlanta best the Buccs twice? Lots of questions, to be answered as the year goes on.
#1 New York Giants (2-0)
So if things go the way I said, then the Jets and Giants meet in the Superbowl, right? Well, that’s way too early. But the Giants are good, and it is always a good sign when you knock down two of your division rivals. Beating the Redskins and the Cowboys are always good signs, but they play hard games. Their +8 point differential over 2 games means they are winning on an average of only 4 points…one possession. They have yet to play the Eagles, and if they are healthy, it could be a fight. Missing a very key receiver could be a problem, one they have to adjust to quickly, but it seems they are doing ok.
So that’s my list of the top 10 teams of the first two weeks, you notice I didn’t add in the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn’t put them in because with a loss to the bears, and a win over the Titans, it wasn’t really saying too much. The Steelers are struggling with offense, and with a key injury on defense, that could be a problem too.
I also didn’t put the Patriots on the list because by many accounts, they OUGHT to be 0-2. They didn’t win that Buffalo game, the Bills GAVE that to them. Yeah, I know a win is a win, but it was not very impressive.
Things will start shaking out as we go on, so surely these rankings are subject to change….tune in as we keep checking on that…
Mountain West Conference Football
What’s up with the Mountain West Conference?
You know, just a few days ago I was singing the praises of the Mountain West Conference, and I even went so far as to say that they are better than the Big East and ACC because they had (at that time) three ranked teams.
My, how much changes in one week.
With teams like Utah, BYU and TCU, and sprinkle in some Air Force, I really thought this conference was better than the WAC and Boise State. When you have three teams out of your conference on the top 25, and you are not a power conference, that is awesome!
But what happened? I would have bet my last peanut butter and jelly sandwich that BYU was going to rout Florida State, and I CERTAINLY didn’t see a 54-28 smashing in BYU’s own living room.
And Utah losing at home to Oregon helps Boise State feel bigger than the Mountain West, since they beat Oregon at the beginning of the year.
With all the Mountain West teams 3 games in except TCU, only two teams remain that are undefeated: the afore-mentioned TCU and Colorado State, who at the moment is 3-0.
This is odd because this is a very tough conference, and if Colorado State is currently 3-0, with Utah just falling out the top 25, and TCU undefeated, with BYU still on the rankings, this to me is still a very tough conference…ok let’s not bring up that New Mexico is 0-3.
So the question might be, is this conference for real, or are they all pretenders to the BCS Buster Crown? Again, many will swear by Boise State, but I still think the WAC is not as competitive as the Mountain West.
Yes Boise State beat Oregon…at home, but outside of that, few see their schedule as competitive to the end. Look at the schedule of the Mountain West Conference and key games:
Air Force: Played at Minnesota, will play at Navy, home to TCU, away to Utah and Colorado State, and BYU.
BYU: Played away at Oklahoma, home to Florida State and Colorado State and TCU, Air Force and Utah.
Colorado State: Played away at Colorado, away to BYU, home to Utah, away to TCU and home to Air Force
New Mexico: Played away at Texas A&M, home to Air Force, away to Texas Tech and Utah, home to BYU and away to TCU
San Diego State: Away at UCLA and Air Force, home to BYU, away to Colorado State, home to TCU and way to Utah.
TCU: Away at Virginia and Clemson, Air Force and BYU, home to Utah.
UNLV: Home to Oregon State, BYU, Utah, away to TCU and Air Force.
Utah: Away at Oregon, home to Louisville, away to Colorado State, home to Air Force, away to TCU and BYU.
Folks, that is a competitive schedule.
It’s a shame that the old WAC super conference can’t get back together, when they had 16 teams. This would have ended a lot of talk about BCS Busters and stuff like that when you had teams like Boise State, Utah, BYU and TCU all fighting for one crown before stating a case for a BCS Championship. But as it stands, this Mountain West Conference is indeed a tough conference.
Sure, one loss hurts Utah and BYU a ton, in fact it kicked Utah out of one poll. So it might appear that the pride of the conference rests on TCU, or maybe Colorado State, since they need an undefeated team to make a serious charge at the BCS. I am not as confident in the Rams as I am in Horned Frogs, but both are still undefeated at the moment, after Saturday we will know much more about this conference.
I still think that IF a team goes undefeated in the MWC, they deserve serious consideration at a BCS Title IF there are no undefeated teams out of the BCS conferences. I mean, if people talk about Boise State getting that shot, why not TCU or Colorado State, if they go undefeated?
But there is still much to see, many more games to play, time will tell all.
You know, just a few days ago I was singing the praises of the Mountain West Conference, and I even went so far as to say that they are better than the Big East and ACC because they had (at that time) three ranked teams.
My, how much changes in one week.
With teams like Utah, BYU and TCU, and sprinkle in some Air Force, I really thought this conference was better than the WAC and Boise State. When you have three teams out of your conference on the top 25, and you are not a power conference, that is awesome!
But what happened? I would have bet my last peanut butter and jelly sandwich that BYU was going to rout Florida State, and I CERTAINLY didn’t see a 54-28 smashing in BYU’s own living room.
And Utah losing at home to Oregon helps Boise State feel bigger than the Mountain West, since they beat Oregon at the beginning of the year.
With all the Mountain West teams 3 games in except TCU, only two teams remain that are undefeated: the afore-mentioned TCU and Colorado State, who at the moment is 3-0.
This is odd because this is a very tough conference, and if Colorado State is currently 3-0, with Utah just falling out the top 25, and TCU undefeated, with BYU still on the rankings, this to me is still a very tough conference…ok let’s not bring up that New Mexico is 0-3.
So the question might be, is this conference for real, or are they all pretenders to the BCS Buster Crown? Again, many will swear by Boise State, but I still think the WAC is not as competitive as the Mountain West.
Yes Boise State beat Oregon…at home, but outside of that, few see their schedule as competitive to the end. Look at the schedule of the Mountain West Conference and key games:
Air Force: Played at Minnesota, will play at Navy, home to TCU, away to Utah and Colorado State, and BYU.
BYU: Played away at Oklahoma, home to Florida State and Colorado State and TCU, Air Force and Utah.
Colorado State: Played away at Colorado, away to BYU, home to Utah, away to TCU and home to Air Force
New Mexico: Played away at Texas A&M, home to Air Force, away to Texas Tech and Utah, home to BYU and away to TCU
San Diego State: Away at UCLA and Air Force, home to BYU, away to Colorado State, home to TCU and way to Utah.
TCU: Away at Virginia and Clemson, Air Force and BYU, home to Utah.
UNLV: Home to Oregon State, BYU, Utah, away to TCU and Air Force.
Utah: Away at Oregon, home to Louisville, away to Colorado State, home to Air Force, away to TCU and BYU.
Folks, that is a competitive schedule.
It’s a shame that the old WAC super conference can’t get back together, when they had 16 teams. This would have ended a lot of talk about BCS Busters and stuff like that when you had teams like Boise State, Utah, BYU and TCU all fighting for one crown before stating a case for a BCS Championship. But as it stands, this Mountain West Conference is indeed a tough conference.
Sure, one loss hurts Utah and BYU a ton, in fact it kicked Utah out of one poll. So it might appear that the pride of the conference rests on TCU, or maybe Colorado State, since they need an undefeated team to make a serious charge at the BCS. I am not as confident in the Rams as I am in Horned Frogs, but both are still undefeated at the moment, after Saturday we will know much more about this conference.
I still think that IF a team goes undefeated in the MWC, they deserve serious consideration at a BCS Title IF there are no undefeated teams out of the BCS conferences. I mean, if people talk about Boise State getting that shot, why not TCU or Colorado State, if they go undefeated?
But there is still much to see, many more games to play, time will tell all.
The Fate of Southern Cal
The Fate of Southern Cal
Well, looks like USC has lost to another team they should have beaten.
But does this change anything about their chances?
Well….let’s talk about that. USC started out crushing San Jose State 56-3, then barely beat Ohio State 18-15, then loses to Washington 16-13. Seems like a downward spiral for the Trojans.
That’s what happens when you go with a freshman quarterback, and have injuries on the team. Granted the loss to Washington was not based on a freshman quarterback, since he was not playing, but what can’t be missed is that this is not the USC team of old, and apparently away games don’t hold too well for them.
And with games vs. California on the horizon, and a Notre Dame team that now thinks they might be able to take shots at the wounded lion, this could be a problem for USC’s hopes to get to the BCS. So, is it over for a UCS team to make it to the National Championships?
Hard to say.
For us to buy into USC still in the hunt, we first have to remember where they are. They are currently ranked #12 in one poll, and #10 in another. This means they need some help from other teams to fall out, so they can climb back in. As it stands right now, the biggest game left on USC’s schedule is against California, which is coming fast.
So your question would then be, IF USC can hold off Cal, and finish the season, who then are the most likely teams to fall out the top 10, and thus allow USC to slip back in the top 10 and further up the ladder.
There are at this moment FOUR SEC teams ahead of USC, and you just know that won’t last. They have to play each other, and between Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and LSU, there will be “L”s handed out. And the fact that they have a conference championship means they will settle it out once and for all, leaving USC able to slip a few spots up the ladder.
You have to wonder if Miami is for real, being now ranked #9 in one poll. I just can’t buy into that now, especially with two very tough games ahead of them before sinking into the ACC schedule. As much as I would like to think Miami can hang in there, I can’t see it.
The same would hold true for Virginia Tech, as the ACC has brutally beaten each other last year, and I don’t see how that would change this year. I can’t see anybody from the ACC going undefeated, so even one loss will drop them to the point where USC could jump them.
Remember, this is based on USC running the tables, and their chances of getting back at a BCS Championship.
From the Big 12 you have a wounded Oklahoma and #2 Texas. We KNOW they have to play, and it looks like the favorites will be Texas. If so, then Oklahoma, with two losses, is out of any BCS Title game…but if Texas LOSES, what then?
Is Penn State beatable? As good as I think they are, I still don’t think they can run the tables in the Big 10. One loss, maybe two, but I just can’t see them going undefeated. But one loss might not kill their shots at the BCS if other things happen.
And what of Boise State? Their win over Fresno State shows that they are touchable, but with the weak conference they are in, it would be hard to see them losing. Yet when the BCS rankings come out, I wonder if Boise State will be penalized for such a soft schedule. I said in another blog about Boise State, scheduling UC Davis and Miami Ohio isn’t the way to go if you REALLY want to compete for a National Championship, it might cost them when the first BCS polls come out later this season.
So, having said all this, does USC have a legit shot? Yeah, because the season is still young. I mean, if USC can lose…so can anybody else, right. I mean, Florida barely won their game, BYU lost, Utah lost, so we seem to have a pretty competitive season so far…anything is possible.
So Southern Cal is still in the mix….for now.
Well, looks like USC has lost to another team they should have beaten.
But does this change anything about their chances?
Well….let’s talk about that. USC started out crushing San Jose State 56-3, then barely beat Ohio State 18-15, then loses to Washington 16-13. Seems like a downward spiral for the Trojans.
That’s what happens when you go with a freshman quarterback, and have injuries on the team. Granted the loss to Washington was not based on a freshman quarterback, since he was not playing, but what can’t be missed is that this is not the USC team of old, and apparently away games don’t hold too well for them.
And with games vs. California on the horizon, and a Notre Dame team that now thinks they might be able to take shots at the wounded lion, this could be a problem for USC’s hopes to get to the BCS. So, is it over for a UCS team to make it to the National Championships?
Hard to say.
For us to buy into USC still in the hunt, we first have to remember where they are. They are currently ranked #12 in one poll, and #10 in another. This means they need some help from other teams to fall out, so they can climb back in. As it stands right now, the biggest game left on USC’s schedule is against California, which is coming fast.
So your question would then be, IF USC can hold off Cal, and finish the season, who then are the most likely teams to fall out the top 10, and thus allow USC to slip back in the top 10 and further up the ladder.
There are at this moment FOUR SEC teams ahead of USC, and you just know that won’t last. They have to play each other, and between Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and LSU, there will be “L”s handed out. And the fact that they have a conference championship means they will settle it out once and for all, leaving USC able to slip a few spots up the ladder.
You have to wonder if Miami is for real, being now ranked #9 in one poll. I just can’t buy into that now, especially with two very tough games ahead of them before sinking into the ACC schedule. As much as I would like to think Miami can hang in there, I can’t see it.
The same would hold true for Virginia Tech, as the ACC has brutally beaten each other last year, and I don’t see how that would change this year. I can’t see anybody from the ACC going undefeated, so even one loss will drop them to the point where USC could jump them.
Remember, this is based on USC running the tables, and their chances of getting back at a BCS Championship.
From the Big 12 you have a wounded Oklahoma and #2 Texas. We KNOW they have to play, and it looks like the favorites will be Texas. If so, then Oklahoma, with two losses, is out of any BCS Title game…but if Texas LOSES, what then?
Is Penn State beatable? As good as I think they are, I still don’t think they can run the tables in the Big 10. One loss, maybe two, but I just can’t see them going undefeated. But one loss might not kill their shots at the BCS if other things happen.
And what of Boise State? Their win over Fresno State shows that they are touchable, but with the weak conference they are in, it would be hard to see them losing. Yet when the BCS rankings come out, I wonder if Boise State will be penalized for such a soft schedule. I said in another blog about Boise State, scheduling UC Davis and Miami Ohio isn’t the way to go if you REALLY want to compete for a National Championship, it might cost them when the first BCS polls come out later this season.
So, having said all this, does USC have a legit shot? Yeah, because the season is still young. I mean, if USC can lose…so can anybody else, right. I mean, Florida barely won their game, BYU lost, Utah lost, so we seem to have a pretty competitive season so far…anything is possible.
So Southern Cal is still in the mix….for now.
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