Nebraska 27 Missouri 12
Looks like we learned a lot about these two teams, perhaps not through literal fire, but through a LOT of rain.
I questioned the validity of Nebraska’s wins, but a 3-1 record is in fact hard to ignore to at least consider on the top 25. Still, the Cornhuskers beating half of the Sun Belt Conference does not exactly show a true power of a BCS conference.
Yet I also wondered why a 4-0 team in Missouri was barely on the top 25, it just seemed to me that their schedule at the time was more impressive than Nebraska, and they won all their games. I had figured that the Tigers, at home, should win by a field goal.
And then the rains came.
I am pretty sure I saw somebody just off screen of the game building an ark…looked like it anyway.
The game, in retrospect, can be asked, “Did Nebraska win, or did Missouri lose?” I can certainly understand the difficulties of playing in a downpour, that kinda game would have been difficult for ANY person or team to manage. But Missouri missed numerous chances to put points on the board, and as many chances to score a touchdown rather than a field goal.
Another thing we seem to be learning is that when a team relies heavily on one quarterback over several years, there is usually a big drop off when they have to put in a new starter. Remember that Chase Daniels was a very good quarterback last year, and now in the NFL, but because he was that good, there was very little room for a back up to take snaps. People think this does not play into the quality of the team, but I submit to you, it has a major impact. One that clearly showed last night.
The first quarter I think was an adjustment to the inclement weather, one that you have to allow for any team playing in that kinda weather. With a wet football, the key to the game seemed to be in keeping a firm grasp of it. Something Missouri failed to do not once, not twice but three times. Whereas Nebraska wasn’t making any real headway, Missouri kept fumbling the ball, taking them out of good drives.
The second quarter was no different, as the Tigers continued to give the ball away, but the Cornhuskers could not capitalize off of it. Give credit where it is due, the Tigers defense held on as best they could. But to give credit to one side assumes you must give it to the other, right? Although I do in fact give such credit, I think for a team to have FIVE turnovers in inclement weather seems to fall more on the team not handling the ball as well. Mind you, Nebraska also had a couple of turnovers too.
Missouri scored with a whisper of a moment left in the half, although it had to be reviewed. It just seemed that if the Tigers got that touchdown, then they were “right back on track”. After all, Nebraska could not get anything going, so in a torrential downpour, one touchdown could easily win the game, right?
Right?
So the third quarter comes along and Nebraska gives up the ball, for the third time. But the Tigers fail to convert a field goal, and all of a sudden things are looking a little harder for them. Was it me, or did it seem like their quarterback was having a miserable day in the rain? Passes blocked, almost intercepted here or there. Odd, because at the top of the broadcast they talked about how he had not thrown one interception this year…which is a great stat, but one you know won’t last.
Nebraska just could not get any real drives going, but at the same time Missouri was botching their opportunities. Late in the third they managed to get a field goal, and with the score being 12-0, surely this was simply a matter of eating up the clock, right?
Right?
I mean, you’re up 12-0 with 2 minutes left in the third quarter, in the rain, why NOT just run the ball?
Yet by the end of the third quarter, Nebraska manages to score, cutting the lead in half. You’d assume a 12-0 score in the rain is like a beat down, but a touchdown changes everything.
And so the 4th quarter comes, and we are still asking, WHY are we throwing the ball? EAT the clock! But Missouri is still going with the game plan, and throwing the ball…
Interception, which leads to a Nebraska touchdown.
Well that’s ok, Missouri is known for scoring, so surely they can get it back. So the Tigers continue with the plan, keep throwing and…
Interception, which leads to a Nebraska touchdown.
Now Missouri is in serious trouble. Now we see that this team struggled the entire game with the passing, and now it has come to a head. They simply are not effective in the rain, with a new starter this year. This isn’t Chase Daniels, and they are not the team of last year. It showed as they were ineffective in moving the ball, giving up the ball on downs twice, one of which lead to yet another Nebraska touchdown, because they were smart enough to run the ball and eat clock.
Final score, Nebraska 27, Missouri 12.
So what stands out in this game? If you saw the special teams, you noticed that Nebraska had a hard time dealing with the punts, but the Tigers never took advantage of it. I also wondered why a team would do so much passing in the rain, especially when you were controlling the game? I know it’s hindsight, but it certainly didn’t seem logical.
The stats for this game are pretty similar; Missouri had the ball about 30 seconds longer than Nebraska…odd, isn’t it? And although there were officially 5 turnovers in the game, Missouri’s two interceptions really cost them. Yeah, Nebraska lost the ball twice, but Missouri never took advantage of it.
I mean, everything else was pretty similar. Total yards, Nebraska 263, Missouri 225. Rushing Yards 105 to 91, Nebraska favoring. Passing yards, 158 to 134, Nebraska favoring. You look at the stats and figure that my 3 point prediction should have been on the money, but if you watched the game, you see that Missouri did not play a very good game offensively. It was almost as if their quarterback just felt absolutely miserable in the rain. But blame goes all the way around too, not just the QB.
So at 4-1, Missouri falls off the top 25, while Nebraska moves forward, with probably the best win they have had in 2 years. Is this the Nebraska team of old, or are both teams slightly overated…time will tell.
Showing posts with label Big 12 Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big 12 Football. Show all posts
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
#21 Nebraska vs #24 Missouri
Nebraska vs. Missouri
This initially sounds like a pretty good game between two good Big 12 teams, but when you look at the rankings, it is odd that Nebraska is ranked #21, while Missouri is barely on the top 25 at #24. What’s up with that?
And for that matter, how important is this game?
Well I’ll be watching, you can bet your remote on that!
So, who has the advantage? If you have read some of my blogs, you know I like to start back a year, and then add on what has transpired so far this year, so let’s step into the Way-Back Machine (patent pending) and look at these two teams a year ago:
Nebraska is one of those teams who in the past were too smart for their own good, and had to reap the benefits of what they sown. Remember a few years ago they felt that their coach, who gave them NINE wins that year, was not good enough, so they got rid of him, expecting another coach to step in. But as it turned out, that coach didn’t want the job, and it made Nebraska look like idiots for getting rid of a very good coach for…nobody.
There’s that Nebraska education for ya.
But they eventually DID get a coach, but things just haven’t been the same. But maybe things are back on the upswing. The Cornhuskers finished 9-4 last year, and might be knocking on the door as the next squad of Big 12 power teams. They started the season last year 3-0, scoring tons of points in wins over Western Michigan, San Jose State and New Mexico State.
The problem came when the played a real team in Virginia Tech, and lost 35-30. It continued when they lost to Missouri at home 52-17. That old strategy of stringing up a bunch of home games doesn’t always work.
The losing carried over when Nebraska went on the road and lost to Texas Tech 35-7 before winning their first road game at Iowa State. They would beat Baylor at home before losing to Oklahoma on the road to get the record to 5-4, but would win their last 4 games over Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado and Clemson, all pretty convincingly at that.
Missouri had one of those magical years, where everybody was talking about the powerful Big 12, and Missouri was one of them. A 10-4 record, this team jumped to a 5-0 start, knocking off Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Nevada, Buffalo and Nebraska. But the big game vs. Oklahoma State was their stumbling block, as they got their first loss of they year.
They took the second loss to Texas before rebounding against Colorado, Baylor and Kansas State. The Tigers would win one more game, at home vs. Iowa State, before losing two games to Kansas and Oklahoma, before pulling off a close win vs. Northwestern in a bowl game.
Fast forward to this year, 2009.
Nebraska, at 3-1 comes in ranked #21, but has only beaten Florida Atlantic (49-3), Arkansas State (38-9) and Louisiana-Lafayette (55-0)…what?
THIS is why they are #21???
They lost to Virginia Tech 16-15, but why is this team ranked with these wins? This is much how it went last year, scheduling multiple cupcakes at home to bolster a record. Geez, Notre Dame is whining about why their 4-1 record does not put them on the top 25, their schedule is at least a LITTLE better than this.
Why don’t you go ahead and schedule all the OTHER teams in the Sun Belt? Combined, the 3 teams Nebraska beat are currently 3-9. Hardly a top 25 team.
Yet if they beat Missouri, then a 4-1 record would be hard to deny to the top 25.
Missouri is currently 4-0, and have wins over Illinois, Bowling Green, Nevada and Furman. I’ll be honest, this is a better list than Nebraska’s. I don’t quite get why they are ranked lower than Nebraska, but this is one of those arguments that will be settled on the field in a short time from now.
Both teams are coming with new quarterbacks, at least from last year, but Mizz comes in as the 10th ranked passing team in the nation…they like to air it out. Where is Nebraska? Around number 33, which makes a difference of about 60 yards passing per game. But therein is a difference….Missouri has 4 more touchdowns by passing than Nebraska.
But the rushing game is different, Nebraska has 10 rushing touchdowns, but Missouri has only 4. This is a team known for rushing, but times apparently have changed. Is this change good for Nebraska? Well, they lost to Missouri last year in their house, now they are playing on the road. Two of the 4 games they lost last year were on the road, against quality opponents. If you consider Missouri a quality foe, and at 4-0 why don’t you, then this could be a loss to Nebraska.
But if Missouri has lost their luster after Chase Daniel left, then this could be every bit as close as it may seem. But I gotta favor the home team this time, by 3 points. Tigers over the Cornhuskers.
This initially sounds like a pretty good game between two good Big 12 teams, but when you look at the rankings, it is odd that Nebraska is ranked #21, while Missouri is barely on the top 25 at #24. What’s up with that?
And for that matter, how important is this game?
Well I’ll be watching, you can bet your remote on that!
So, who has the advantage? If you have read some of my blogs, you know I like to start back a year, and then add on what has transpired so far this year, so let’s step into the Way-Back Machine (patent pending) and look at these two teams a year ago:
Nebraska is one of those teams who in the past were too smart for their own good, and had to reap the benefits of what they sown. Remember a few years ago they felt that their coach, who gave them NINE wins that year, was not good enough, so they got rid of him, expecting another coach to step in. But as it turned out, that coach didn’t want the job, and it made Nebraska look like idiots for getting rid of a very good coach for…nobody.
There’s that Nebraska education for ya.
But they eventually DID get a coach, but things just haven’t been the same. But maybe things are back on the upswing. The Cornhuskers finished 9-4 last year, and might be knocking on the door as the next squad of Big 12 power teams. They started the season last year 3-0, scoring tons of points in wins over Western Michigan, San Jose State and New Mexico State.
The problem came when the played a real team in Virginia Tech, and lost 35-30. It continued when they lost to Missouri at home 52-17. That old strategy of stringing up a bunch of home games doesn’t always work.
The losing carried over when Nebraska went on the road and lost to Texas Tech 35-7 before winning their first road game at Iowa State. They would beat Baylor at home before losing to Oklahoma on the road to get the record to 5-4, but would win their last 4 games over Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado and Clemson, all pretty convincingly at that.
Missouri had one of those magical years, where everybody was talking about the powerful Big 12, and Missouri was one of them. A 10-4 record, this team jumped to a 5-0 start, knocking off Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Nevada, Buffalo and Nebraska. But the big game vs. Oklahoma State was their stumbling block, as they got their first loss of they year.
They took the second loss to Texas before rebounding against Colorado, Baylor and Kansas State. The Tigers would win one more game, at home vs. Iowa State, before losing two games to Kansas and Oklahoma, before pulling off a close win vs. Northwestern in a bowl game.
Fast forward to this year, 2009.
Nebraska, at 3-1 comes in ranked #21, but has only beaten Florida Atlantic (49-3), Arkansas State (38-9) and Louisiana-Lafayette (55-0)…what?
THIS is why they are #21???
They lost to Virginia Tech 16-15, but why is this team ranked with these wins? This is much how it went last year, scheduling multiple cupcakes at home to bolster a record. Geez, Notre Dame is whining about why their 4-1 record does not put them on the top 25, their schedule is at least a LITTLE better than this.
Why don’t you go ahead and schedule all the OTHER teams in the Sun Belt? Combined, the 3 teams Nebraska beat are currently 3-9. Hardly a top 25 team.
Yet if they beat Missouri, then a 4-1 record would be hard to deny to the top 25.
Missouri is currently 4-0, and have wins over Illinois, Bowling Green, Nevada and Furman. I’ll be honest, this is a better list than Nebraska’s. I don’t quite get why they are ranked lower than Nebraska, but this is one of those arguments that will be settled on the field in a short time from now.
Both teams are coming with new quarterbacks, at least from last year, but Mizz comes in as the 10th ranked passing team in the nation…they like to air it out. Where is Nebraska? Around number 33, which makes a difference of about 60 yards passing per game. But therein is a difference….Missouri has 4 more touchdowns by passing than Nebraska.
But the rushing game is different, Nebraska has 10 rushing touchdowns, but Missouri has only 4. This is a team known for rushing, but times apparently have changed. Is this change good for Nebraska? Well, they lost to Missouri last year in their house, now they are playing on the road. Two of the 4 games they lost last year were on the road, against quality opponents. If you consider Missouri a quality foe, and at 4-0 why don’t you, then this could be a loss to Nebraska.
But if Missouri has lost their luster after Chase Daniel left, then this could be every bit as close as it may seem. But I gotta favor the home team this time, by 3 points. Tigers over the Cornhuskers.
Friday, September 25, 2009
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.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Top Football Conferences
The top Football Conferences
After the first couple of weeks of the college football season, I’d like to argue which conferences are the best, and why. I wanted to make the argument because no matter what people think, the strength of the conference has a major impact on whether their champion makes a BCS Championship or not. You can’t go undefeated out of a weaker conference and expect to play in the title game.
I love “Pardon the Interruption” it is one of my favorite shows, but I don’t agree with Michael Wilbon’s opinion that if a team goes undefeated, they ought to get a shot at a National Title. He believes that a team like Boise State ought to have a shot if they go undefeated…I don’t quite agree.
If you reward a team out of a weak conference a BCS Championship, then what stops independent teams like Notre Dame from taking out USC on the schedule and substituting Duke, or removing Boston College for Miami (OH)? The quality of opponents must play a factor because it substantiates greatness of a team.
So what I want to do is rank the conferences in order, from best to… well, not so great. Let’s start:
#1 Conference in College Football: SEC A+
If you have the defending National Champs still ranked at #1, AND a team like Alabama at #4, and Mississippi in the top ten, you have a strong conference. Toss in teams like LSU and Georgia and you have a pretty tough conference. Last year there was a great argument of who was the best conference; the SEC or Big 12, and personally I thought that from top to bottom, the Big 12 was ever so slightly better, but you could not go wrong either way. This year, I put SEC on top, but not by such a large margin.
#2 Conference in College Football: Big 12 A
Personally, if Oklahoma had beaten BYU, I would have made the Big 12 the top conference by a slight margin. But with the injury, I had to put them here, by a close margin. You still have Texas as the #2 team in the nation, Oklahoma is still in the mix, and you have teams like Oklahoma State and Kansas still in the mix. What happened to Texas Tech? Missouri is still on the radar, so you have half the conference making noise, and oh by the way Nebraska is in the top 20 too.
#3 Conference in College Football: Pac-10 B-
I had to think long on this one, because I wonder how strong this conference really is. I mean, one of their teams loses to Boise State at the beginning of the season, and eyes start to roll around when it comes to the true strength of the Pac-10. Sure, USC is good, but with a freshman quarterback, how soon before they lose a game…or even two? But they are the #3 team in the nation, with California in the top 10...but after that, what is there? Oregon State is on one poll, and UCLA got a few votes, but many wonder if this conference can give USC a run. If USC wasn’t in the top 3, I would not have put this conference here.
#4 Conference in College Football: Big 10: B-
It didn’t help that Ohio State lost to USC…it didn’t help that Michigan State lost to Central Michigan, and Michigan beating Notre Dame didn’t really count for so much. But Penn State is in the top 5 and Ohio State is still in the top 25. Iowa just might be able to make some noise in the conference, but we have to wait and see on that. The Big 10 has been getting pushed around lately, and need some key wins to validate their strength, they may have to rely on Penn State to get it done, since Ohio State seems to slip whenever the chips are on the table.
#5 Conference in College Football: Mountain West Conference C+
When you have a “lesser” conference with not one, not two but THREE teams in the top 25, you have to pay attention. This is one of those examples where if any team out of the Mountain West goes undefeated, they ought to have a legit shot at the BCS Championship. When you consider that BYU is in the top 10, TCU is in the top 15 and Utah is just outside the top 15, this is a strong conference. And with decent teams like Air Force and Colorado State, this is a very competitive conference. I say again, if either Utah, BYU or TCU goes undefeated, somebody ought to put them in the BCS Championship. Add on that BYU beat Oklahoma and has Florida State on the schedule, TCU beat Virginia (so what) and plays Clemson, and Utah having Oregon and Louisville, these are hard schedules for a team not considered to be with the “big boys”. This is a good conference, one that could produce an undefeated team.
#6 Conference in College Football: ACC C-
Last year I can argue that top to bottom this conference was one of the most competitive. Only two teams failed to win 6 games, that being Virginia and Duke, and the Cavaliers missed it by one game. But this year I questioned why Virginia Tech was so high in the rankings. They are good, but not THAT good. Florida State could not hold on to it’s ranking after the first game, and there were some VERY poorly played games by Florida State and Maryland.
Lots of people felt that the ACC ought not be considered in the BCS, and rather let teams like Boise State or…ugh…Notre Dame, take their spot in the BCS bowls. I can see their point, but this is still a very tough conference, and I doubt a team like Boise State can run through it like they do their conference. Team for team, this is a very tough conference, but in comparison to the others, they do look kinda…bland. Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech and UNC are on the top 25...but for how long?
#7 Conference in College Football: Big East C-
At the beginning of the year, NOBODY from the Big East was on the list. How insulting is that when 6 out of the 8 teams won at least EIGHT games? Cincinnati went 11-3 and got no love at the beginning of the year…how insulting is that?
Right now Cincinnati is on the bottom half of the top 25, but no other team is on the list. If Pittsburgh wins another game, they can likely climb into the list, but the entire conference looks very weak, in comparison to the other BCS conferences, and even the Mountain West Conference. I gotta tell ya, if the Big East can’t start pulling somebody out as a power team, they will continued to be laughed at as one of the weakest conferences in college football.
With other conferences like the WAC, Sun Belt, Mid-American and Conference USA, there can be arguments made for a few of those as well. We all like the underdog, and Boise State is certainly one of those, but their conference just isn’t strong enough to be in the top 7. That does not take away from the Broncos wins, but when you look at the body of work in conference match ups, it does count against you.
So as of the second week, these are my top 7 conferences in college football… which are clearly subject to change week by week.
After the first couple of weeks of the college football season, I’d like to argue which conferences are the best, and why. I wanted to make the argument because no matter what people think, the strength of the conference has a major impact on whether their champion makes a BCS Championship or not. You can’t go undefeated out of a weaker conference and expect to play in the title game.
I love “Pardon the Interruption” it is one of my favorite shows, but I don’t agree with Michael Wilbon’s opinion that if a team goes undefeated, they ought to get a shot at a National Title. He believes that a team like Boise State ought to have a shot if they go undefeated…I don’t quite agree.
If you reward a team out of a weak conference a BCS Championship, then what stops independent teams like Notre Dame from taking out USC on the schedule and substituting Duke, or removing Boston College for Miami (OH)? The quality of opponents must play a factor because it substantiates greatness of a team.
So what I want to do is rank the conferences in order, from best to… well, not so great. Let’s start:
#1 Conference in College Football: SEC A+
If you have the defending National Champs still ranked at #1, AND a team like Alabama at #4, and Mississippi in the top ten, you have a strong conference. Toss in teams like LSU and Georgia and you have a pretty tough conference. Last year there was a great argument of who was the best conference; the SEC or Big 12, and personally I thought that from top to bottom, the Big 12 was ever so slightly better, but you could not go wrong either way. This year, I put SEC on top, but not by such a large margin.
#2 Conference in College Football: Big 12 A
Personally, if Oklahoma had beaten BYU, I would have made the Big 12 the top conference by a slight margin. But with the injury, I had to put them here, by a close margin. You still have Texas as the #2 team in the nation, Oklahoma is still in the mix, and you have teams like Oklahoma State and Kansas still in the mix. What happened to Texas Tech? Missouri is still on the radar, so you have half the conference making noise, and oh by the way Nebraska is in the top 20 too.
#3 Conference in College Football: Pac-10 B-
I had to think long on this one, because I wonder how strong this conference really is. I mean, one of their teams loses to Boise State at the beginning of the season, and eyes start to roll around when it comes to the true strength of the Pac-10. Sure, USC is good, but with a freshman quarterback, how soon before they lose a game…or even two? But they are the #3 team in the nation, with California in the top 10...but after that, what is there? Oregon State is on one poll, and UCLA got a few votes, but many wonder if this conference can give USC a run. If USC wasn’t in the top 3, I would not have put this conference here.
#4 Conference in College Football: Big 10: B-
It didn’t help that Ohio State lost to USC…it didn’t help that Michigan State lost to Central Michigan, and Michigan beating Notre Dame didn’t really count for so much. But Penn State is in the top 5 and Ohio State is still in the top 25. Iowa just might be able to make some noise in the conference, but we have to wait and see on that. The Big 10 has been getting pushed around lately, and need some key wins to validate their strength, they may have to rely on Penn State to get it done, since Ohio State seems to slip whenever the chips are on the table.
#5 Conference in College Football: Mountain West Conference C+
When you have a “lesser” conference with not one, not two but THREE teams in the top 25, you have to pay attention. This is one of those examples where if any team out of the Mountain West goes undefeated, they ought to have a legit shot at the BCS Championship. When you consider that BYU is in the top 10, TCU is in the top 15 and Utah is just outside the top 15, this is a strong conference. And with decent teams like Air Force and Colorado State, this is a very competitive conference. I say again, if either Utah, BYU or TCU goes undefeated, somebody ought to put them in the BCS Championship. Add on that BYU beat Oklahoma and has Florida State on the schedule, TCU beat Virginia (so what) and plays Clemson, and Utah having Oregon and Louisville, these are hard schedules for a team not considered to be with the “big boys”. This is a good conference, one that could produce an undefeated team.
#6 Conference in College Football: ACC C-
Last year I can argue that top to bottom this conference was one of the most competitive. Only two teams failed to win 6 games, that being Virginia and Duke, and the Cavaliers missed it by one game. But this year I questioned why Virginia Tech was so high in the rankings. They are good, but not THAT good. Florida State could not hold on to it’s ranking after the first game, and there were some VERY poorly played games by Florida State and Maryland.
Lots of people felt that the ACC ought not be considered in the BCS, and rather let teams like Boise State or…ugh…Notre Dame, take their spot in the BCS bowls. I can see their point, but this is still a very tough conference, and I doubt a team like Boise State can run through it like they do their conference. Team for team, this is a very tough conference, but in comparison to the others, they do look kinda…bland. Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech and UNC are on the top 25...but for how long?
#7 Conference in College Football: Big East C-
At the beginning of the year, NOBODY from the Big East was on the list. How insulting is that when 6 out of the 8 teams won at least EIGHT games? Cincinnati went 11-3 and got no love at the beginning of the year…how insulting is that?
Right now Cincinnati is on the bottom half of the top 25, but no other team is on the list. If Pittsburgh wins another game, they can likely climb into the list, but the entire conference looks very weak, in comparison to the other BCS conferences, and even the Mountain West Conference. I gotta tell ya, if the Big East can’t start pulling somebody out as a power team, they will continued to be laughed at as one of the weakest conferences in college football.
With other conferences like the WAC, Sun Belt, Mid-American and Conference USA, there can be arguments made for a few of those as well. We all like the underdog, and Boise State is certainly one of those, but their conference just isn’t strong enough to be in the top 7. That does not take away from the Broncos wins, but when you look at the body of work in conference match ups, it does count against you.
So as of the second week, these are my top 7 conferences in college football… which are clearly subject to change week by week.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Colorado Football...too many Hawkins?
Colorado Football…too many Hawkins?
I used to be a Colorado Football fan years ago, back when they had Cordell Stewart and had some stuff going on, but last night watching Colorado get spanked by Toledo 54-38 had me thinking on something that bothered me a few years ago when they hired coach Dan Hawkins.
This was a brilliant coach when he was with Boise State, and the reason why they enjoy the success they had today. It was clearly based on his work and how he put them on the map…but folks, I gotta tell you, something just doesn’t smell so right about how he got the job in Colorado.
He was quoted as saying he would never leave Boise State…but then took a big money contract to go to Colorado in late 2005. Some will remember that he didn’t quite get off on the right foot when we opened his mouth and criticized a parent on the playing time of her son. He was quoted as saying, “It’s Division I football! It’s the Big 12! It ain’t intramurals!”
I’m going to bring that quote right back at him in a moment.
I am not going to argue Dan Hawkins’ ability to coach, he has proven himself, but what I AM going to argue is that maybe with him taking this job, he had a second motive…to promote his son over everybody else.
Cody Hawkins, the quarterback of Colorado, is of course, Dan Hawkins’ son. The performance the entire team had last night against Toledo was terrible. Toledo was 3-9 last year folks…how can a Big 12 team lose to a 3-9 MAC team?
One of the reasons was the quarterback. Cody Hawkins threw 64 passes, only completing 30 of them…that is NOT good. He threw for an average of 5.6 years per completion…that is NOT good. He threw three interceptions…that is NEVER good.
And yet, Coach Hawkins left his son in the game almost until the end of the game, knowing there was no way they could win. In fact, he almost paid for that when his son got hit with a helmet-to helmet shot that he may still be having headaches over today.
Why would a coach leave his starter in on a loss cause? Isn’t this the time to get the second string in and get some reps. Not if the quarterback is your son.
Colorado is now 0-2, and hasn’t even touched their Big 12 schedule yet. They have to play Wyoming and West Virginia before seeing Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. And with Colorado finishing 5-7 last year, this is not looking good.
Cody Hawkins is a junior, and is the starter. He has been on the time since 2007, one year after Dan Hawkins got the job…and has been the feature piece of the Buffaloes since…anybody see any connection there?
In 2007 they were 6-7...that was the year their former starter, Bernard Jackson, was “moved” to other positions to make room for Cody Hawkins…the coach’s son….
Hmmm.
In 2006, which was Dan Hawkins’ first year as coach at Colorado, they were 2-10. And get this…the year BEFORE Hawkins got there…they were 7-6. Uncanny.
All this leaves me to wonder what the real agenda of Dan Hawkins might have been. I have no problem putting family first, but when it seems to show such favortism, then the objective seems to be less than honorable.
Is it just me, or was this move by Dan Hawkins designed just so he could coach his son in a strong conference as a starting quarterback? Again, big props to a father who is willing to do everything he can to help his son…but I can just as easily take away those props when his objective is higher than the university that hired him to WIN. It seems to be a disrespect to all those players on the field if the coach’s son is getting all the attention, and the only real push out of the team. It seems disrespectful to the alumni and fans that this man seems to be putting everybody off to the side just so he can coach his son in a strong Division I school.
It just gives the appearance that he took the job so he can coach his son up to hopefully play in the NFL, forsaking everybody else.
The records seem to prove this. Since Hawkins has been there, his record is currently 13-26. Since his son has been their quarterback, they have been 11-16. You tell me how hard it would be to recruit a good quarterback when you KNOW that you would be competing against the coach’s son….
And to me it I think Colorado probably already knows this, and it would be bad press if the Buffs fired a head coach with his son still on the team…that’s not “family oriented”. If there is any truth to that, then they might have cursed themselves to at least one more season, since Cody Hawkins is a junior.
Folks, I can see this kinda favortism happening in high school, it happens all the time. Good players on high school football teams getting moved aside for some rich parent’s son who don’t know the difference between a football and a slice of pizza, but this should not happen in Division I football…and certainly not in a BCS conference like the Big 12.
I can partly admire a father trying to help his son, but I just don’t agree that this is the stage to do it, not with a major college football program as a platform. I just don’t agree with Dan Hawkins playing his son as the starting quarterback, and we have seen the results of this effort. It leads one to believe that he is willing to sacrifice team and school just to make his son look good…and the stats don’t really help him. And as long as he continues to do that, the Colorado Buffaloes will never find the winning days they had the year before they hired him.
Coach Dan Hawkins said it himself…”It’s Division I football! It’s the Big 12! It ain’t the intramurals!” I agree.
So start treating it like Division I football, start treating it like the Big 12 and give Colorado the respect they PAID you to do.
I used to be a Colorado Football fan years ago, back when they had Cordell Stewart and had some stuff going on, but last night watching Colorado get spanked by Toledo 54-38 had me thinking on something that bothered me a few years ago when they hired coach Dan Hawkins.
This was a brilliant coach when he was with Boise State, and the reason why they enjoy the success they had today. It was clearly based on his work and how he put them on the map…but folks, I gotta tell you, something just doesn’t smell so right about how he got the job in Colorado.
He was quoted as saying he would never leave Boise State…but then took a big money contract to go to Colorado in late 2005. Some will remember that he didn’t quite get off on the right foot when we opened his mouth and criticized a parent on the playing time of her son. He was quoted as saying, “It’s Division I football! It’s the Big 12! It ain’t intramurals!”
I’m going to bring that quote right back at him in a moment.
I am not going to argue Dan Hawkins’ ability to coach, he has proven himself, but what I AM going to argue is that maybe with him taking this job, he had a second motive…to promote his son over everybody else.
Cody Hawkins, the quarterback of Colorado, is of course, Dan Hawkins’ son. The performance the entire team had last night against Toledo was terrible. Toledo was 3-9 last year folks…how can a Big 12 team lose to a 3-9 MAC team?
One of the reasons was the quarterback. Cody Hawkins threw 64 passes, only completing 30 of them…that is NOT good. He threw for an average of 5.6 years per completion…that is NOT good. He threw three interceptions…that is NEVER good.
And yet, Coach Hawkins left his son in the game almost until the end of the game, knowing there was no way they could win. In fact, he almost paid for that when his son got hit with a helmet-to helmet shot that he may still be having headaches over today.
Why would a coach leave his starter in on a loss cause? Isn’t this the time to get the second string in and get some reps. Not if the quarterback is your son.
Colorado is now 0-2, and hasn’t even touched their Big 12 schedule yet. They have to play Wyoming and West Virginia before seeing Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. And with Colorado finishing 5-7 last year, this is not looking good.
Cody Hawkins is a junior, and is the starter. He has been on the time since 2007, one year after Dan Hawkins got the job…and has been the feature piece of the Buffaloes since…anybody see any connection there?
In 2007 they were 6-7...that was the year their former starter, Bernard Jackson, was “moved” to other positions to make room for Cody Hawkins…the coach’s son….
Hmmm.
In 2006, which was Dan Hawkins’ first year as coach at Colorado, they were 2-10. And get this…the year BEFORE Hawkins got there…they were 7-6. Uncanny.
All this leaves me to wonder what the real agenda of Dan Hawkins might have been. I have no problem putting family first, but when it seems to show such favortism, then the objective seems to be less than honorable.
Is it just me, or was this move by Dan Hawkins designed just so he could coach his son in a strong conference as a starting quarterback? Again, big props to a father who is willing to do everything he can to help his son…but I can just as easily take away those props when his objective is higher than the university that hired him to WIN. It seems to be a disrespect to all those players on the field if the coach’s son is getting all the attention, and the only real push out of the team. It seems disrespectful to the alumni and fans that this man seems to be putting everybody off to the side just so he can coach his son in a strong Division I school.
It just gives the appearance that he took the job so he can coach his son up to hopefully play in the NFL, forsaking everybody else.
The records seem to prove this. Since Hawkins has been there, his record is currently 13-26. Since his son has been their quarterback, they have been 11-16. You tell me how hard it would be to recruit a good quarterback when you KNOW that you would be competing against the coach’s son….
And to me it I think Colorado probably already knows this, and it would be bad press if the Buffs fired a head coach with his son still on the team…that’s not “family oriented”. If there is any truth to that, then they might have cursed themselves to at least one more season, since Cody Hawkins is a junior.
Folks, I can see this kinda favortism happening in high school, it happens all the time. Good players on high school football teams getting moved aside for some rich parent’s son who don’t know the difference between a football and a slice of pizza, but this should not happen in Division I football…and certainly not in a BCS conference like the Big 12.
I can partly admire a father trying to help his son, but I just don’t agree that this is the stage to do it, not with a major college football program as a platform. I just don’t agree with Dan Hawkins playing his son as the starting quarterback, and we have seen the results of this effort. It leads one to believe that he is willing to sacrifice team and school just to make his son look good…and the stats don’t really help him. And as long as he continues to do that, the Colorado Buffaloes will never find the winning days they had the year before they hired him.
Coach Dan Hawkins said it himself…”It’s Division I football! It’s the Big 12! It ain’t the intramurals!” I agree.
So start treating it like Division I football, start treating it like the Big 12 and give Colorado the respect they PAID you to do.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Can Oklahoma and VA Tech still make it to BCS?
Can Oklahoma and Virginia Tech Still Get to BCS?
Quick answer…absolutely…
But a more detailed description is necessary.
Folks, to be very blunt, NO team in ANY BCS power conference is eliminated from the BCS in the FIRST game of the season…NONE.
Folks, even DUKE still has a shot at the BCS after the first week.
There is just too much left in the season, and remind me again how many games these teams play? Last I counted, it was more than one, so there is always a chance.
But after we say the logical, we have to get more specific. Yes, Oklahoma losing to BYU hurts them, and yes Virginia Tech losing to Alabama hurts them, but they are not out of the BCS picture. But if you asked me which team has the better chance of still getting there, my money is on Oklahoma.
As a guy that lives in the middle of ACC territory, I had a raised eyebrow to how Virginia Tech was in the top 10. The ACC didn’t scare too many teams last year so I wondered how they got ranked so high. The Hokies are good, but I wasn’t sure they were top 10 good.
But Oklahoma has a top ranked quarterback, who by the way just won the Heisman, although last night he got injured. I am convinced they would have won if Sam Bradford had been healthy, but it might be likely that he might miss a game or two. And I gotta tell ya, that offensive line looked kinda porous.
But if I had to give you a percentage of the chances of either getting to the BCS Championship, I’d say 75% chance for Oklahoma, and maybe 40% for Virginia Tech. The reason why they have a chance at all is because they are in power conferences, and will be playing other quality opponents. Teams like Boise State have already played their one big game…the power conferences play MANY big games.
Add on to this that both Hokies and Sooners have a conference in which there is a championship game…meaning if they make it there, they will likely play one more ranked opponent. It would be a strong shot in the arm for either to win and make a case for the BCS Championship.
But we know that for that to happen, many teams must lose. Now we know there won’t be 25 undefeated teams in the nation, but for either team to make a case, all they need is for one or no teams to go undefeated. IF that happens, then you have to look at the schedule of both teams, to see IF they can run the tables and get back in the picture.
Let’s look at both teams and see, starting with the Oklahoma Sooners:
Their next couple of games include Idaho State and Tulsa…if Sam Bradford is injured (and he is) then maybe the next couple of weeks will give him time to rehab, as Oklahoma would clearly be favored over the next two games. They then travel to Miami to play the Hurricanes before starting the conference schedule, which starts out with Baylor, but has Texas immediately after that, then Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska before finishing the last three against Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.
Folks… that is a tough schedule. IF Oklahoma can run the tables, and I understand it is a BIG if, then they would play in the Big 12 Championship. Should they win that, they would have every right to claim a stake in the BCS Championship IF, there are less than two undefeated power teams in the nation.
A lot of things has to happen but by no means are the Sooners out after the first game of the season.
But it gets a little more complicated for the Virginia Tech Hokies:
After losing to Alabama, the Hokies play Marshall, the travel to Nebraska before starting their conference season against Miami. They then play Duke, Boston College and Georgia Tech by mid season. After the next game against UNC, they play ECU (who beat them last year) before closing the season against Maryland, NC State and Virginia. If they best the conference, then they will be in the ACC Championship game.
But of the two teams, who has the tougher schedule? It would seem that Oklahoma would, and if so, then their wins would be more impressive than those of VA Tech. Now this applies IF both teams run the tables. If both teams end the season with only 1 loss, which would look more impressive to the voters?
Mind you, many critics spat on the ACC for being a weak conference last year, although I think they were equally balanced almost from top to bottom. Still, this makes it harder for Virginia Tech to make the BCS Championship. Oklahoma may well get a “pardon” from the voters since Sam Bradford was injured, but they will still fall hard from the #3 spot they had.
But remember, this is only week one….there is far, far too much more football to play, so both teams are still in the mix, even at 0-1. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.
Quick answer…absolutely…
But a more detailed description is necessary.
Folks, to be very blunt, NO team in ANY BCS power conference is eliminated from the BCS in the FIRST game of the season…NONE.
Folks, even DUKE still has a shot at the BCS after the first week.
There is just too much left in the season, and remind me again how many games these teams play? Last I counted, it was more than one, so there is always a chance.
But after we say the logical, we have to get more specific. Yes, Oklahoma losing to BYU hurts them, and yes Virginia Tech losing to Alabama hurts them, but they are not out of the BCS picture. But if you asked me which team has the better chance of still getting there, my money is on Oklahoma.
As a guy that lives in the middle of ACC territory, I had a raised eyebrow to how Virginia Tech was in the top 10. The ACC didn’t scare too many teams last year so I wondered how they got ranked so high. The Hokies are good, but I wasn’t sure they were top 10 good.
But Oklahoma has a top ranked quarterback, who by the way just won the Heisman, although last night he got injured. I am convinced they would have won if Sam Bradford had been healthy, but it might be likely that he might miss a game or two. And I gotta tell ya, that offensive line looked kinda porous.
But if I had to give you a percentage of the chances of either getting to the BCS Championship, I’d say 75% chance for Oklahoma, and maybe 40% for Virginia Tech. The reason why they have a chance at all is because they are in power conferences, and will be playing other quality opponents. Teams like Boise State have already played their one big game…the power conferences play MANY big games.
Add on to this that both Hokies and Sooners have a conference in which there is a championship game…meaning if they make it there, they will likely play one more ranked opponent. It would be a strong shot in the arm for either to win and make a case for the BCS Championship.
But we know that for that to happen, many teams must lose. Now we know there won’t be 25 undefeated teams in the nation, but for either team to make a case, all they need is for one or no teams to go undefeated. IF that happens, then you have to look at the schedule of both teams, to see IF they can run the tables and get back in the picture.
Let’s look at both teams and see, starting with the Oklahoma Sooners:
Their next couple of games include Idaho State and Tulsa…if Sam Bradford is injured (and he is) then maybe the next couple of weeks will give him time to rehab, as Oklahoma would clearly be favored over the next two games. They then travel to Miami to play the Hurricanes before starting the conference schedule, which starts out with Baylor, but has Texas immediately after that, then Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska before finishing the last three against Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.
Folks… that is a tough schedule. IF Oklahoma can run the tables, and I understand it is a BIG if, then they would play in the Big 12 Championship. Should they win that, they would have every right to claim a stake in the BCS Championship IF, there are less than two undefeated power teams in the nation.
A lot of things has to happen but by no means are the Sooners out after the first game of the season.
But it gets a little more complicated for the Virginia Tech Hokies:
After losing to Alabama, the Hokies play Marshall, the travel to Nebraska before starting their conference season against Miami. They then play Duke, Boston College and Georgia Tech by mid season. After the next game against UNC, they play ECU (who beat them last year) before closing the season against Maryland, NC State and Virginia. If they best the conference, then they will be in the ACC Championship game.
But of the two teams, who has the tougher schedule? It would seem that Oklahoma would, and if so, then their wins would be more impressive than those of VA Tech. Now this applies IF both teams run the tables. If both teams end the season with only 1 loss, which would look more impressive to the voters?
Mind you, many critics spat on the ACC for being a weak conference last year, although I think they were equally balanced almost from top to bottom. Still, this makes it harder for Virginia Tech to make the BCS Championship. Oklahoma may well get a “pardon” from the voters since Sam Bradford was injured, but they will still fall hard from the #3 spot they had.
But remember, this is only week one….there is far, far too much more football to play, so both teams are still in the mix, even at 0-1. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
2009 College Football is HERE!
2009 College Football Begins!
Shall we dance?
Tonight as I blog this out (although it is actually 1:18 in the afternoon), college football begins. I have not written in awhile, but with the excitement of the upcoming college games, and the season, there may well be much to talk about. Right now every team has a chance to make it to the National Championships…but we know that more than half the teams are already eliminated.
The fun will see how this story unfolds, the debates, arguments and the success stories of the upcoming college season. Believe me, I am ready to jump in this, I love writing about football.
I had actually been gone so long I forgot where my blogs were, and had to hunt them down and remember what I had posted. I hope as the season rolls on, there will be much to speak about, and already there are stories that are controversial…take Michigan.
I would like to get into that a little more, but at this moment I just need to knock some rust off the keys as I prepare for the season. Another topic is Notre Dame, and how they could possibly got a top 25 ranking…based off WHAT?
Oh yeah, this will be a nice year to yap about….
Anyway, look forward to more posts as the season goes on, not just college football, but the NFL and other stories as we go along. Before I start to sink my teeth into this season, I hope you remember that what I talk about is in the context of sports, knowing that we can’t all agree on any one thing…except that college football fans love college football, and NFL fans love NFL. I am both. We certainly won’t agree on the teams we like and dislike, but I hope you remember that it is just a game…heh heh.
(he said, KNOWING his Raiders are in SERIOUS trouble this year…)
Anyway, look for some more blogs as we go along…let’s all enjoy the ride!
Shall we dance?
Tonight as I blog this out (although it is actually 1:18 in the afternoon), college football begins. I have not written in awhile, but with the excitement of the upcoming college games, and the season, there may well be much to talk about. Right now every team has a chance to make it to the National Championships…but we know that more than half the teams are already eliminated.
The fun will see how this story unfolds, the debates, arguments and the success stories of the upcoming college season. Believe me, I am ready to jump in this, I love writing about football.
I had actually been gone so long I forgot where my blogs were, and had to hunt them down and remember what I had posted. I hope as the season rolls on, there will be much to speak about, and already there are stories that are controversial…take Michigan.
I would like to get into that a little more, but at this moment I just need to knock some rust off the keys as I prepare for the season. Another topic is Notre Dame, and how they could possibly got a top 25 ranking…based off WHAT?
Oh yeah, this will be a nice year to yap about….
Anyway, look forward to more posts as the season goes on, not just college football, but the NFL and other stories as we go along. Before I start to sink my teeth into this season, I hope you remember that what I talk about is in the context of sports, knowing that we can’t all agree on any one thing…except that college football fans love college football, and NFL fans love NFL. I am both. We certainly won’t agree on the teams we like and dislike, but I hope you remember that it is just a game…heh heh.
(he said, KNOWING his Raiders are in SERIOUS trouble this year…)
Anyway, look for some more blogs as we go along…let’s all enjoy the ride!
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Big 12 Football MESS
The Big 12 MESS
In a year where people are whining about playoffs in college football, we all have answers… I mean, we all think we are gurus on sports, thus the world of sports blogging.
But we have a mess with the National Championship, and it is all in thanks to the Big 12. I say that not in a bad way, because believe me, they have been the most compelling conference to watch this year. Several very good teams made this a heck of a ride this season, but alas it has brought problems.
Right now, the argument is whether Oklahoma or Texas should represent the Big 12 in the National Championship vs. the likely winner of Alabama vs. Florida. The problem here is that the #1 team in Alabama comes from the SEC West, while Florida, currently #4, comes from the SEC East.
That sounds fine, because you have the best of two sides fighting it out for all the marbles. But the Big 12 is different.
Missouri is the best team in the Big 12 North, and is guaranteed a spot in the Big 12 Championship. But the Big 12 South has a three way tie…Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Two teams will be left out and denied a chance at the National Title.
And so the BCS polls have decided that Oklahoma is SLIGHTLY better, even though Texas beat them. But if Texas had been seen as the favorite, then Texas Tech could have argued, since they beat the Longhorns.
In either case, Missouri gets a spot that they really don’t deserve.
“How can you say that!”
Because the Big 12 Championship is supposed to pit the two BEST TEAMS of the conference…not the best on both sides. This is where the arguments of finding the best teams ought to begin… in house.
Don’t start whining about the NCAA having to have playoffs until ALL the BCS conferences establish a CHAMPION out of their own conference. The system is flawed because the conferences are flawed. The Big 12 should have some plan to fix such a problem, so that it does not create chaos with this kinda situation.
So how do you solve it? The answer is a little simpler than the current situation. It is actually one I heard on one of the ESPN games. One of the guys was arguing that conference championships ought to be with the two best teams of the conference, NOT the best team on this division vs. the best team of the other division. In fact, the MAC is a perfect example. You have Ball State, Central Michigan and Western Michigan on one side against who?
Buffalo at 7-5? How then is THAT a real Championship?
The same applies with the Big 12. These conferences need to change the championship to put in the two best teams in the conference…regardless of which division they are in. This would then help clear the confusion about who is greater in the conference and may help clear the air about the best teams in the nation.
Now, if we applied that to the Big 12, how would that shape out. Let’s see.
If you argued the contenders to play in the Big 12 Championship, you must include Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Missouri. Nobody’s gonna argue whether anybody else really has a real shot at that championship game. So, let’s examine each of these 5 teams and see which two teams are really the best, and thus SHOULD play in the Big 12 Championship.
What is Oklahoma State’s resume? A 9-3 team in a powerhouse division, losing to Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. This alone puts them out of the running, but get this…they BEAT Missouri. So right now, I would rank Oklahoma State number 4 of these five, having Missouri being on the bottom.
What then is Missouri’s resume? They are 9-3 too, losing to Oklahoma State and Texas. They didn’t play Oklahoma, but lost to Kansas. This to me makes Missouri the 5th best team in the Big 12, and thus should have NEVER been in the Big 12 Championship. If you are going to have a Championship, then pit the best teams of the conference. This creates a false sense of superiority, because nobody is gonna tell me that Missouri is as good as Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma OR Oklahoma State. They didn’t beat these guys.
So then, what is the resume of Texas Tech, who seems to be on the outside looking in? At 11-1, we know their only loss was a beating to Oklahoma 65-21. They beat Texas at home by 6 and beat Oklahoma State at home 56-20. They lose bad to Oklahoma 65-21 and seemed troubled in beating Baylor 35-28.
This to me secures Texas Tech to at LEAST the third spot. They played 4 ranked teams back to back, winning three but were taken to OT by Nebraska. This shows me this team is good, very good, but not invincible.
Now let’s look at Texas. Similar record at 11-1, but beat Oklahoma on neutral ground by 10. Like Texas Tech, they played 4 ranked foes back to back, beating Missouri big, beating ranked Oklahoma State by 4 and then losing away to Texas Tech.
I rank Texas slightly higher because they crushed the opponents that were not worthy and fought well against those that were ranked. That Texas Tech game was one on the last play, so even though you count that as a loss, it was not a blow out. Nobody blew out Texas, and weaker teams had no chance against them. Even Baylor, a team Texas Tech beat by only 7 points, was crushed by over 20 points. Even though Texas Tech beat Texas, I don’t have a problem ranking Texas slightly higher than the Red Raiders.
This means that unless Oklahoma has a better season than Texas Tech, the Sooners and Longhorns should have met again in the Big 12 Championships. Now, we know they won’t but let’s see where Oklahoma fits in.
Again, same record, 11-1. But Oklahoma has played FIVE ranked teams, or have you forgotten about TCU? They beat TCU 35-10. And no, they did not play 4 ranked teams back to back, but they beat Kansas when they were ranked, and then went and beat both #2 Texas Tech AND #12 Oklahoma State by hanging over sixty….SIXTY on both teams. That folks is dominance.
This team has been a FORCE in every game they played. And they lost only to Texas, but I say that if you erase the losses from Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech, the most dominant team has to be Oklahoma. Now I say this as a Mack Brown fan, since he used to coach UNC, but I see Oklahoma as the better of the two teams, and clearly better than Texas Tech.
But it proves that the two best teams ARE in fact Texas and Oklahoma. If I had to rank the teams in the Big 12 (as conferences SHOULD do) then Oklahoma is first, then Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Missouri and then Nebraska. But what this should mean is that the Big 12 Championship SHOULD have the two best teams in the conference, which should be Texas and Oklahoma, not one or the other.
The failure of this conference to truly produce a champion screws up the National Championship, one the NCAA really needs to look at…or at least the Big 12. To me, I think every conference should strive to have a conference championship and pit the two best teams, not the best team of each division. By doing this, you are taking matters in your own hands of who your best team is, and have a strong push for that team in a National Title.
Now, I also think the Pac-10 ought to consider absorbing 2 more teams, and the Big 10 snatching up one more, and the Big East finding some teams too. Each BCS conference ought to have a conference champion, one that leaves no doubt. Regardless of how the Big 12 ends up, there will be questions that will not be answered.
Anyway, something to think on….
In a year where people are whining about playoffs in college football, we all have answers… I mean, we all think we are gurus on sports, thus the world of sports blogging.
But we have a mess with the National Championship, and it is all in thanks to the Big 12. I say that not in a bad way, because believe me, they have been the most compelling conference to watch this year. Several very good teams made this a heck of a ride this season, but alas it has brought problems.
Right now, the argument is whether Oklahoma or Texas should represent the Big 12 in the National Championship vs. the likely winner of Alabama vs. Florida. The problem here is that the #1 team in Alabama comes from the SEC West, while Florida, currently #4, comes from the SEC East.
That sounds fine, because you have the best of two sides fighting it out for all the marbles. But the Big 12 is different.
Missouri is the best team in the Big 12 North, and is guaranteed a spot in the Big 12 Championship. But the Big 12 South has a three way tie…Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Two teams will be left out and denied a chance at the National Title.
And so the BCS polls have decided that Oklahoma is SLIGHTLY better, even though Texas beat them. But if Texas had been seen as the favorite, then Texas Tech could have argued, since they beat the Longhorns.
In either case, Missouri gets a spot that they really don’t deserve.
“How can you say that!”
Because the Big 12 Championship is supposed to pit the two BEST TEAMS of the conference…not the best on both sides. This is where the arguments of finding the best teams ought to begin… in house.
Don’t start whining about the NCAA having to have playoffs until ALL the BCS conferences establish a CHAMPION out of their own conference. The system is flawed because the conferences are flawed. The Big 12 should have some plan to fix such a problem, so that it does not create chaos with this kinda situation.
So how do you solve it? The answer is a little simpler than the current situation. It is actually one I heard on one of the ESPN games. One of the guys was arguing that conference championships ought to be with the two best teams of the conference, NOT the best team on this division vs. the best team of the other division. In fact, the MAC is a perfect example. You have Ball State, Central Michigan and Western Michigan on one side against who?
Buffalo at 7-5? How then is THAT a real Championship?
The same applies with the Big 12. These conferences need to change the championship to put in the two best teams in the conference…regardless of which division they are in. This would then help clear the confusion about who is greater in the conference and may help clear the air about the best teams in the nation.
Now, if we applied that to the Big 12, how would that shape out. Let’s see.
If you argued the contenders to play in the Big 12 Championship, you must include Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Missouri. Nobody’s gonna argue whether anybody else really has a real shot at that championship game. So, let’s examine each of these 5 teams and see which two teams are really the best, and thus SHOULD play in the Big 12 Championship.
What is Oklahoma State’s resume? A 9-3 team in a powerhouse division, losing to Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. This alone puts them out of the running, but get this…they BEAT Missouri. So right now, I would rank Oklahoma State number 4 of these five, having Missouri being on the bottom.
What then is Missouri’s resume? They are 9-3 too, losing to Oklahoma State and Texas. They didn’t play Oklahoma, but lost to Kansas. This to me makes Missouri the 5th best team in the Big 12, and thus should have NEVER been in the Big 12 Championship. If you are going to have a Championship, then pit the best teams of the conference. This creates a false sense of superiority, because nobody is gonna tell me that Missouri is as good as Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma OR Oklahoma State. They didn’t beat these guys.
So then, what is the resume of Texas Tech, who seems to be on the outside looking in? At 11-1, we know their only loss was a beating to Oklahoma 65-21. They beat Texas at home by 6 and beat Oklahoma State at home 56-20. They lose bad to Oklahoma 65-21 and seemed troubled in beating Baylor 35-28.
This to me secures Texas Tech to at LEAST the third spot. They played 4 ranked teams back to back, winning three but were taken to OT by Nebraska. This shows me this team is good, very good, but not invincible.
Now let’s look at Texas. Similar record at 11-1, but beat Oklahoma on neutral ground by 10. Like Texas Tech, they played 4 ranked foes back to back, beating Missouri big, beating ranked Oklahoma State by 4 and then losing away to Texas Tech.
I rank Texas slightly higher because they crushed the opponents that were not worthy and fought well against those that were ranked. That Texas Tech game was one on the last play, so even though you count that as a loss, it was not a blow out. Nobody blew out Texas, and weaker teams had no chance against them. Even Baylor, a team Texas Tech beat by only 7 points, was crushed by over 20 points. Even though Texas Tech beat Texas, I don’t have a problem ranking Texas slightly higher than the Red Raiders.
This means that unless Oklahoma has a better season than Texas Tech, the Sooners and Longhorns should have met again in the Big 12 Championships. Now, we know they won’t but let’s see where Oklahoma fits in.
Again, same record, 11-1. But Oklahoma has played FIVE ranked teams, or have you forgotten about TCU? They beat TCU 35-10. And no, they did not play 4 ranked teams back to back, but they beat Kansas when they were ranked, and then went and beat both #2 Texas Tech AND #12 Oklahoma State by hanging over sixty….SIXTY on both teams. That folks is dominance.
This team has been a FORCE in every game they played. And they lost only to Texas, but I say that if you erase the losses from Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech, the most dominant team has to be Oklahoma. Now I say this as a Mack Brown fan, since he used to coach UNC, but I see Oklahoma as the better of the two teams, and clearly better than Texas Tech.
But it proves that the two best teams ARE in fact Texas and Oklahoma. If I had to rank the teams in the Big 12 (as conferences SHOULD do) then Oklahoma is first, then Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Missouri and then Nebraska. But what this should mean is that the Big 12 Championship SHOULD have the two best teams in the conference, which should be Texas and Oklahoma, not one or the other.
The failure of this conference to truly produce a champion screws up the National Championship, one the NCAA really needs to look at…or at least the Big 12. To me, I think every conference should strive to have a conference championship and pit the two best teams, not the best team of each division. By doing this, you are taking matters in your own hands of who your best team is, and have a strong push for that team in a National Title.
Now, I also think the Pac-10 ought to consider absorbing 2 more teams, and the Big 10 snatching up one more, and the Big East finding some teams too. Each BCS conference ought to have a conference champion, one that leaves no doubt. Regardless of how the Big 12 ends up, there will be questions that will not be answered.
Anyway, something to think on….
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
SEC is BETTER than Big 12
SEC is BETTER than Big 12!
Part 2
If you are reading this from Blogster or Wordpress, this is the second part of the argument. I realize some Big 12 fans are reading this with blood in their eyes, but this is the flip side of the argument. On my other blog on Blogspot.com, I make the identical argument that the Big 12 is better than the SEC…you might wanna check that out.
I have both sides posted on blogspot because that is my main site for my blogs, so if you want to read the reverse of this argument, check that one out.
This is based on the temporary argument of whether the Big 12 Conference is better than the SEC. Currently right now, the number 1 team in the nation is Texas, in virtually every poll from here to Neptune. The #2 team is Alabama, on as many planets. Earlier this football season there were as many as 6 or 7 SEC teams ranked in the top 25 at the same time, sparking the idea that the SEC is by far the best in the nation. But lately, many of the Big 12 teams are on the top 25, and most of the Heisman candidates are from this conference, creating the debate that the Big 12 is better.
So which is it?
Let’s argue this from the end that the SEC is better.
First off when it comes to the Heisman, remind me who won last year? And which Conference he came from? And WHO has won the last TWO BCS Championships and three of the last 5?
SEC!
But even this year there is proof of the SEC’s greatness over the Big 12. The SEC has 4 very qualified teams that could easily end up in the National Championship. Everybody knows about Alabama being #2, but the SEC also has Florida at #5, Georgia at #9 and LSU at #11. Any of these teams can be in the BCS Championship at season’s end.
The SEC has 53 wins in the conference at this very moment, and 30 losses. Of those 30 losses, at least 23 came from teams that are either currently ranked, or have been ranked. This is proof of the quality of SEC football, from top to bottom. And the SEC has defeated at least 13 teams that were ranked or had been ranked during the course of the season…almost twice as many as the Big 12!
Take a look at the losses and how it proves that the SEC is a very strong conference. Georgia’s only loss came to currently #2 Alabama. Vanderbilt lost recently to ranked Georgia. All three of South Carolina’s losses came to ranked teams. Kentucky’s two losses came to Alabama and South Carolina, who was ranked earlier this year. Even in a tough season, Tennessee lost 3 of their 4 games to Florida, Auburn and Georgia. We know LSU lost to Florida, and Auburn lost to LSU and Vanderbilt, both being ranked. Arkansas lost 4 games this year so far, but look at who they lost to: then #9 Auburn, then #7 Texas and then ranked #12 Florida, all in a stretch of 3 straight games! They lost to Kentucky as well, which was ranked for a moment.
Why even the Mississippi teams faced tough competition! Mississippi is 3-4, but lost to Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Alabama. Don’t tell me that isn’t a tough schedule. And Mississippi State…well, they can’t all be steaks, but the did lose to Auburn and LSU.
Need more proof of SEC’s greatness?
Even though Texas is #2 overall in rushing defense, the SEC has FIVE teams in the top 20 and in scoring defense. You’re just not getting a lot of points in THIS conference.
Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are in the top 20 in turnover margin, NONE of the Big 12 are in this category. And even though Oklahoma is #2 in red zone scoring, the SEC has two teams in the top 5 (Florida, Vanderbilt).
Florida is the best team in turnovers lost in both SEC and Big 12 and Two SEC teams are in the top 20 in turnovers gained (Kentucky and Vanderbilt). And when it comes to interceptions, Florida is the best with only 1.
If the Big 12 likes to throw the ball, prepare to have it taken away by the SEC. There are FIVE SEC teams in the top 30 in interceptions…only 1 team in the Big 12 (Texas Tech).
So when it comes down to it, the SEC is the tougher conference, and if placed head to head, the SEC’s defense and ability to get the ball will make the difference. The Big 12 might score 10,000 points against their opponents, but when you play the SEC, you’ll be lucky to get 10 points.
How then can anyone say the Big 12 is better, when it’s the SEC that is supreme?
(oh well, there goes my Big 12 donations…)
(Note: This is two part of a two-part discussion where I am intentionally playing devil’s advocate. I am a fan of both so this is not intended to discourage any fans of either conference. It’s all in fun)
Part 2
If you are reading this from Blogster or Wordpress, this is the second part of the argument. I realize some Big 12 fans are reading this with blood in their eyes, but this is the flip side of the argument. On my other blog on Blogspot.com, I make the identical argument that the Big 12 is better than the SEC…you might wanna check that out.
I have both sides posted on blogspot because that is my main site for my blogs, so if you want to read the reverse of this argument, check that one out.
This is based on the temporary argument of whether the Big 12 Conference is better than the SEC. Currently right now, the number 1 team in the nation is Texas, in virtually every poll from here to Neptune. The #2 team is Alabama, on as many planets. Earlier this football season there were as many as 6 or 7 SEC teams ranked in the top 25 at the same time, sparking the idea that the SEC is by far the best in the nation. But lately, many of the Big 12 teams are on the top 25, and most of the Heisman candidates are from this conference, creating the debate that the Big 12 is better.
So which is it?
Let’s argue this from the end that the SEC is better.
First off when it comes to the Heisman, remind me who won last year? And which Conference he came from? And WHO has won the last TWO BCS Championships and three of the last 5?
SEC!
But even this year there is proof of the SEC’s greatness over the Big 12. The SEC has 4 very qualified teams that could easily end up in the National Championship. Everybody knows about Alabama being #2, but the SEC also has Florida at #5, Georgia at #9 and LSU at #11. Any of these teams can be in the BCS Championship at season’s end.
The SEC has 53 wins in the conference at this very moment, and 30 losses. Of those 30 losses, at least 23 came from teams that are either currently ranked, or have been ranked. This is proof of the quality of SEC football, from top to bottom. And the SEC has defeated at least 13 teams that were ranked or had been ranked during the course of the season…almost twice as many as the Big 12!
Take a look at the losses and how it proves that the SEC is a very strong conference. Georgia’s only loss came to currently #2 Alabama. Vanderbilt lost recently to ranked Georgia. All three of South Carolina’s losses came to ranked teams. Kentucky’s two losses came to Alabama and South Carolina, who was ranked earlier this year. Even in a tough season, Tennessee lost 3 of their 4 games to Florida, Auburn and Georgia. We know LSU lost to Florida, and Auburn lost to LSU and Vanderbilt, both being ranked. Arkansas lost 4 games this year so far, but look at who they lost to: then #9 Auburn, then #7 Texas and then ranked #12 Florida, all in a stretch of 3 straight games! They lost to Kentucky as well, which was ranked for a moment.
Why even the Mississippi teams faced tough competition! Mississippi is 3-4, but lost to Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Alabama. Don’t tell me that isn’t a tough schedule. And Mississippi State…well, they can’t all be steaks, but the did lose to Auburn and LSU.
Need more proof of SEC’s greatness?
Even though Texas is #2 overall in rushing defense, the SEC has FIVE teams in the top 20 and in scoring defense. You’re just not getting a lot of points in THIS conference.
Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are in the top 20 in turnover margin, NONE of the Big 12 are in this category. And even though Oklahoma is #2 in red zone scoring, the SEC has two teams in the top 5 (Florida, Vanderbilt).
Florida is the best team in turnovers lost in both SEC and Big 12 and Two SEC teams are in the top 20 in turnovers gained (Kentucky and Vanderbilt). And when it comes to interceptions, Florida is the best with only 1.
If the Big 12 likes to throw the ball, prepare to have it taken away by the SEC. There are FIVE SEC teams in the top 30 in interceptions…only 1 team in the Big 12 (Texas Tech).
So when it comes down to it, the SEC is the tougher conference, and if placed head to head, the SEC’s defense and ability to get the ball will make the difference. The Big 12 might score 10,000 points against their opponents, but when you play the SEC, you’ll be lucky to get 10 points.
How then can anyone say the Big 12 is better, when it’s the SEC that is supreme?
(oh well, there goes my Big 12 donations…)
(Note: This is two part of a two-part discussion where I am intentionally playing devil’s advocate. I am a fan of both so this is not intended to discourage any fans of either conference. It’s all in fun)
Big 12 is better than SEC!
Big 12 is BETTER than SEC!
Now, if you are reading this on Blogspot, then you will see both sides of this, because I will flip this argument over on the next blog. Some of you may have come over from Blogster and Wordpress because I will share the flip side on all three of my blogs, but it should be in interesting debate.
This is based on the temporary argument of whether the Big 12 Conference is better than the SEC. Currently right now, the number 1 team in the nation is Texas, in virtually every poll from here to Neptune. The #2 team is Alabama, on as many planets. Earlier this football season there were as many as 6 or 7 SEC teams ranked in the top 25 at the same time, sparking the idea that the SEC is by far the best in the nation. But lately, many of the Big 12 teams are on the top 25, and most of the Heisman candidates are from this conference, creating the debate that the Big 12 is better.
So which is it?
I’m splitting this in two parts, this being the first, and on this blog, I am gonna argue why the Big 12 is the best. So pardon the bias for the next few minutes.
The Big 12 Conference is THE best football conference in the country, better than SEC simply because the #1 team is Texas. If representation is a key part of greatness, then you cannot deny that the best team comes from the best conference.
Second case, there are currently 9 teams left in the Division I that have yet to lose… THREE of those come from the Big 12. The BCS recognizes SIX teams from the Big 12 on the top 25: Texas #1, Oklahoma #4, Oklahoma State #6, and Texas Tech #8 round out the top 10.
And the conference is still tough, of the 12 teams, only 3 currently have a losing record. The Big 12 has 56 wins and 28 losses…a very tough record to beat.
But examine this further and see the greatness of the Big 12. Of those 28 losses, at least 15 of those came from ranked teams. This shows that the Big 12 plays very competitive football, and whether from conference or out of conference, it usually takes a top 25 team to take them down.
For example, Kansas is 5-2, but those two losses came from then #19 South Florida and #4 Oklahoma. Missouri is also 5-2, but their last two games were against top ranked Oklahoma State and Texas, both being losses. Nebraska has three losses, but look who they lost to: Missouri and Texas Tech, both ranked, and Virginia Tech, who was ranked earlier (and likely again before the season is over).
Need more proof?
Colorado lost 3 games, two to ranked foes Texas and Kansas, but also lost to Florida State, which just made the top 25 recently. Everybody knows about Oklahoma losing to Texas, but did you know that even with Baylor’s record, they have played a very tough schedule? They lost to Wake Forest, which was ranked for several weeks, lost to Uconn, who was ranked, and lost to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Folks that is a very TOUGH schedule.
Of Texas A&M’s 5 losses, one was to Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. I think Miami was ranked for a week. Kansas State had a loss to Texas Tech and I think Louisville was ranked earlier this year…not quite sure. And Iowa State…well, they can’t all be steaks….
If you took all 28 losses and factored out the ranked teams and teams that have been ranked this year, that would make up about 20 of those losses. This is a very strong case for the Big 12 being the best conference in the nation…bar none.
Need more proof?
If it comes to scoring, there are 6 Big 12 teams that score better than Alabama, the SEC’s best team. Seven teams in the Big 12 have higher yards per game average than the SEC’s best team, that being Georgia. If it’s gonna be a shootout, then the Big 12 has this covered.
Even on defense there is credibility. Two of the top 5 teams in sacks come from the Big 12, being Oklahoma and Texas. In lost fumbles, Oklahoma is the best with 0 lost fumbles, so they don’t make many mistakes, and the Big 12 protects the quarterback better than the SEC, with 4 of the top 20 teams of fewest sacks allowed.
Even in the redzone the Big 12 is better, with Oklahoma being second best in the nation. Why, even head to head, the Big 12 is better this year. Earlier this year, Texas crushed Arkansas 52-10.
How then can anyone say the SEC is better, when it’s the Big 12 that is supreme?
(oh well, there goes my SEC donations…)
(Note: This is one part of a two-part discussion where I am intentionally playing devil’s advocate. I am a fan of both so this is not intended to discourage any fans of either conference. It’s all in fun)
Now, if you are reading this on Blogspot, then you will see both sides of this, because I will flip this argument over on the next blog. Some of you may have come over from Blogster and Wordpress because I will share the flip side on all three of my blogs, but it should be in interesting debate.
This is based on the temporary argument of whether the Big 12 Conference is better than the SEC. Currently right now, the number 1 team in the nation is Texas, in virtually every poll from here to Neptune. The #2 team is Alabama, on as many planets. Earlier this football season there were as many as 6 or 7 SEC teams ranked in the top 25 at the same time, sparking the idea that the SEC is by far the best in the nation. But lately, many of the Big 12 teams are on the top 25, and most of the Heisman candidates are from this conference, creating the debate that the Big 12 is better.
So which is it?
I’m splitting this in two parts, this being the first, and on this blog, I am gonna argue why the Big 12 is the best. So pardon the bias for the next few minutes.
The Big 12 Conference is THE best football conference in the country, better than SEC simply because the #1 team is Texas. If representation is a key part of greatness, then you cannot deny that the best team comes from the best conference.
Second case, there are currently 9 teams left in the Division I that have yet to lose… THREE of those come from the Big 12. The BCS recognizes SIX teams from the Big 12 on the top 25: Texas #1, Oklahoma #4, Oklahoma State #6, and Texas Tech #8 round out the top 10.
And the conference is still tough, of the 12 teams, only 3 currently have a losing record. The Big 12 has 56 wins and 28 losses…a very tough record to beat.
But examine this further and see the greatness of the Big 12. Of those 28 losses, at least 15 of those came from ranked teams. This shows that the Big 12 plays very competitive football, and whether from conference or out of conference, it usually takes a top 25 team to take them down.
For example, Kansas is 5-2, but those two losses came from then #19 South Florida and #4 Oklahoma. Missouri is also 5-2, but their last two games were against top ranked Oklahoma State and Texas, both being losses. Nebraska has three losses, but look who they lost to: Missouri and Texas Tech, both ranked, and Virginia Tech, who was ranked earlier (and likely again before the season is over).
Need more proof?
Colorado lost 3 games, two to ranked foes Texas and Kansas, but also lost to Florida State, which just made the top 25 recently. Everybody knows about Oklahoma losing to Texas, but did you know that even with Baylor’s record, they have played a very tough schedule? They lost to Wake Forest, which was ranked for several weeks, lost to Uconn, who was ranked, and lost to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Folks that is a very TOUGH schedule.
Of Texas A&M’s 5 losses, one was to Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. I think Miami was ranked for a week. Kansas State had a loss to Texas Tech and I think Louisville was ranked earlier this year…not quite sure. And Iowa State…well, they can’t all be steaks….
If you took all 28 losses and factored out the ranked teams and teams that have been ranked this year, that would make up about 20 of those losses. This is a very strong case for the Big 12 being the best conference in the nation…bar none.
Need more proof?
If it comes to scoring, there are 6 Big 12 teams that score better than Alabama, the SEC’s best team. Seven teams in the Big 12 have higher yards per game average than the SEC’s best team, that being Georgia. If it’s gonna be a shootout, then the Big 12 has this covered.
Even on defense there is credibility. Two of the top 5 teams in sacks come from the Big 12, being Oklahoma and Texas. In lost fumbles, Oklahoma is the best with 0 lost fumbles, so they don’t make many mistakes, and the Big 12 protects the quarterback better than the SEC, with 4 of the top 20 teams of fewest sacks allowed.
Even in the redzone the Big 12 is better, with Oklahoma being second best in the nation. Why, even head to head, the Big 12 is better this year. Earlier this year, Texas crushed Arkansas 52-10.
How then can anyone say the SEC is better, when it’s the Big 12 that is supreme?
(oh well, there goes my SEC donations…)
(Note: This is one part of a two-part discussion where I am intentionally playing devil’s advocate. I am a fan of both so this is not intended to discourage any fans of either conference. It’s all in fun)
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