True to typical BCS form (as of late) Texas Tech laid a huge egg against Oklahoma and tumbled out of the BCS race. For the moment. Analysts are already putting together scenarios in which the now 7th ranked Red Raiders can return to title game contention.
How big of a disaster would that be? Think about it. Let's say Oklahoma State knocks off Oklahoma next week. That would propel Texas Tech to the Big 12 Championship game, where they would face a Missouri team that has already been manhandled by Red Raider-victim Texas. Texas Tech would likely pass both Texas and Oklahoma with a Big 12 title on its resume, and presumably Utah and the loser of Alabama-Florida as well. For those keeping track at home, that would push them from #7 to #3. Would voters leapfrog Texas Tech over a somewhat uninspiring (and currently 5th ranked) USC team? Hard to say, but I can just imagine the complaints if a team that recently lost by 40+ points ended up in the title game.
In other news, we are inching dangerously close to another yawn-inducing Rose Bowl. Now that Penn State has locked up a Rose Bowl berth, no one seems to be mentioning the fact that current Pac-10 leader Oregon State has already played Penn State. And they certainly aren't mentioning the fact that the first matchup ended before it even started, with Penn State claiming a 45-14 victory. While I would love to see USC miss a BCS bowl, I'd much rather see them play Penn State that have to suffer a week-one rematch. Expect the Rose Bowl brass to be secretly rooting for Oregon to take down Oregon State this weekend.
The ACC continues to prove that is a worthless conference. Odds are overwhelming that the conference champion will have at least four losses, unless Boston College can salvage what's left of the ACC's dignity by winning out. Only three teams have less than four losses, and all three sit at three losses. Boston College of course is one of them, and the other two are Florida State and Georgia Tech. The latter two teams each have tough out of conference rivalry games (against Florida and Georgia, respectively) remaining, so I would not count on either of them pulling out a win.
Utah, Boise State, and Ball State all won to remain undefeated, but odds are that only one of them will receive a BCS invitation. Given that Utah has already wrapped up its season and has a hefty BCS ranking advantage over their two 'mid-major' rivals, it looks like tough cookies for Boise State and Ball State.
In another blow for Tennessee, albeit an indirect one, Wyoming fired its coach this week. What does it say about Tennessee's program that a win over Tennessee would not be enough to save the job of a coach at Wyoming (Wyoming!)? Five years ago, this would have been talked about for weeks, but now it's just another disappointing event in a looong season.
The Cincinnati Bearcats are poised to claim a Big East automatic BCS berth after downing Pitt. Only a win over lowly Syracuse stands in the way of a potential Orange Bowl appearance. Great job by that team, and totally unexpected this season: The Big East media picked Cincinnati to finish fifth in the conference. Expect to hear head coach Brian Kelley's name thrown around alot this offseason in connection with various big-time openings.
Finally, a word on Alabama. Yes, they are undefeated, but I can't help feeling they will fall short before they even reach the SEC championship game. According to most statistical rankings, Alabama has the weakest schedule of any top 25 team, excluding the non-BCS schools. Other than the big win over Georgia (in which they only played well for the first half) Alabama really hasn't put together a dominant performance. Three of their SEC wins have come by less than a touchdown, and those were against mid-tier teams like LSU, Ole Miss and Kentucky. Alabama clearly has talent, but I think they have benefited from a slightly easier schedule than the rest of their SEC counterparts. The Iron Bowl will be a big mental challenge this weekend. Although Auburn is not as talented as they have been in the past, emotions always run high in the Iron Bowl and I expect a tough game. Also, Alabama hasn't beaten Auburn since 2001, so this game certainly isn't a given for 'Bama.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Maybe Obama isn't the Anti-Christ after all...
You have to give Obama credit. Politicians have long attacked unpopular ideas in order to build their support. What better way to bring the country together after a divisive election than by attacking the wildly unpopular BCS? Even though the idea of the (future) most powerful man in the world stooping down to meddle in the world of college athletics is a little absurd, it is definitely a smart play.
The common man may not understand the reasons for the mortgage crisis (which is probably why we have the crisis in the first place), whether or not the domestic auto manufacturers are worth saving, or how to simultaneously reduce the federal deficit and lower taxes, but he does know one thing: the BCS sucks.
College football is the only major team sport that does not have an inclusive post-season tournament, and as long as the networks continue to sign decade-long deals with BCS bigwigs, we’ll never see any change. Whether the future President himself could force the BCS power-brokers to institute a playoff is debatable, but he will certainly earn himself a few more favorable opinions by at least pretending to try to do something about it.
I have supported a playoff system in the past, but one of the problems is that while everyone seems to want a playoff, no one can agree on the structure. At the moment, an eight team playoff seems to be the most popular, but some are arguing for a four or sixteen team playoff. Four teams is clearly not enough to have a true playoff, and sixteen would dilute the value of the regular season. For example, Oklahoma and USC are ranked fifth and sixth in the BCS, but most people would concede that those two teams are just as deserving as number three Texas. Well, at least USC is, since Texas already beat Oklahoma. As far as having sixteen teams, just consider that Michigan State and TCU are ranked 15th and 16th, respectively. While both are solid teams, most would agree that including three teams each from the Big Ten (also: Penn State, Ohio State) and MWC (also: Utah, BYU) is a little excessive.
Location also seems to be a concern. Where would these playoff games be held? Would the fans be able to travel with such short notice? It doesn’t seem to be an issue in other sports, but for some reason it keeps coming up in this debate. The NFL and NCAA Final Four fans seem to manage with the uncertainty, and I don’t see why it would be a problem for a college football playoff. As long as a clear bracket was established, fans would know in advance where their team might end up.
Other concerns such as “hurting student athletes” by extending the season are ludicrous. All other divisions of college football have a playoff, and most of those schools have more of an emphasis on academics than the college football factories.
Perhaps the BCS proponents’ strongest argument is the most basic one: it’s all about money. Since the inception of the BCS, college football has never been more popular. Television networks are falling over themselves trying to secure the rights to televise games. More and more schools are expanding their stadiums and adding luxury suites. College football is bringing in more money than ever. With a playoff, would people still tune in to the regular season?
First of all, I don’t believe that an eight team playoff would be all that dilutive to the regular season. Winning a conference title is still a major accomplishment, and fans will continue to tune in to see those games. Most big-time programs have several heated rivalries, and with the small number of games per year, each individual game carries huge importance. One argument against a playoff system is that fans will lose interest in these late-season games (such as Penn State losing to Iowa) because they will lack the drama of an elimination-type game. However, I could argue that the BCS makes virtually every game meaningless. Once your team loses, it is basically eliminated from contention. What reason do you have to watch the games of other teams after your team loses?
Of course, that is not true. Michigan and Tennessee still have packed houses for their games despite horrific seasons. Fans will continue to watch games like Penn State-Iowa because they love college football and the game has a significant factor in deciding the conference championship.
The biggest reason for a playoff goes beyond money (and the millions a playoff would generate) because college football (and sports in general) is about more than that. Players play to win. This isn’t gymnastics. Style points shouldn’t matter. Decide the outcome on the field. How can you tell a 12-0 Utah or Ball State “congrats on winning all your games, now enjoy the Humanitarian Bowl”? Don’t they deserve a chance to play for it all? How do you tell an 11-1 USC that their 11-1 isn’t as good as Florida or Oklahoma’s?
At some point you have to look past all the fluff to see the truth, and truth is that college football needs a playoff.
The common man may not understand the reasons for the mortgage crisis (which is probably why we have the crisis in the first place), whether or not the domestic auto manufacturers are worth saving, or how to simultaneously reduce the federal deficit and lower taxes, but he does know one thing: the BCS sucks.
College football is the only major team sport that does not have an inclusive post-season tournament, and as long as the networks continue to sign decade-long deals with BCS bigwigs, we’ll never see any change. Whether the future President himself could force the BCS power-brokers to institute a playoff is debatable, but he will certainly earn himself a few more favorable opinions by at least pretending to try to do something about it.
I have supported a playoff system in the past, but one of the problems is that while everyone seems to want a playoff, no one can agree on the structure. At the moment, an eight team playoff seems to be the most popular, but some are arguing for a four or sixteen team playoff. Four teams is clearly not enough to have a true playoff, and sixteen would dilute the value of the regular season. For example, Oklahoma and USC are ranked fifth and sixth in the BCS, but most people would concede that those two teams are just as deserving as number three Texas. Well, at least USC is, since Texas already beat Oklahoma. As far as having sixteen teams, just consider that Michigan State and TCU are ranked 15th and 16th, respectively. While both are solid teams, most would agree that including three teams each from the Big Ten (also: Penn State, Ohio State) and MWC (also: Utah, BYU) is a little excessive.
Location also seems to be a concern. Where would these playoff games be held? Would the fans be able to travel with such short notice? It doesn’t seem to be an issue in other sports, but for some reason it keeps coming up in this debate. The NFL and NCAA Final Four fans seem to manage with the uncertainty, and I don’t see why it would be a problem for a college football playoff. As long as a clear bracket was established, fans would know in advance where their team might end up.
Other concerns such as “hurting student athletes” by extending the season are ludicrous. All other divisions of college football have a playoff, and most of those schools have more of an emphasis on academics than the college football factories.
Perhaps the BCS proponents’ strongest argument is the most basic one: it’s all about money. Since the inception of the BCS, college football has never been more popular. Television networks are falling over themselves trying to secure the rights to televise games. More and more schools are expanding their stadiums and adding luxury suites. College football is bringing in more money than ever. With a playoff, would people still tune in to the regular season?
First of all, I don’t believe that an eight team playoff would be all that dilutive to the regular season. Winning a conference title is still a major accomplishment, and fans will continue to tune in to see those games. Most big-time programs have several heated rivalries, and with the small number of games per year, each individual game carries huge importance. One argument against a playoff system is that fans will lose interest in these late-season games (such as Penn State losing to Iowa) because they will lack the drama of an elimination-type game. However, I could argue that the BCS makes virtually every game meaningless. Once your team loses, it is basically eliminated from contention. What reason do you have to watch the games of other teams after your team loses?
Of course, that is not true. Michigan and Tennessee still have packed houses for their games despite horrific seasons. Fans will continue to watch games like Penn State-Iowa because they love college football and the game has a significant factor in deciding the conference championship.
The biggest reason for a playoff goes beyond money (and the millions a playoff would generate) because college football (and sports in general) is about more than that. Players play to win. This isn’t gymnastics. Style points shouldn’t matter. Decide the outcome on the field. How can you tell a 12-0 Utah or Ball State “congrats on winning all your games, now enjoy the Humanitarian Bowl”? Don’t they deserve a chance to play for it all? How do you tell an 11-1 USC that their 11-1 isn’t as good as Florida or Oklahoma’s?
At some point you have to look past all the fluff to see the truth, and truth is that college football needs a playoff.
Friday, November 7, 2008
11/8 Weekend Preview
This week’s college football schedule has already produced a few noteworthy results. Ball State continues to roll, with Northern Illinois their latest victim. The have allowed less than 10 points per game in their last four wins while averaging nearly 35 points on offense. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Ball State’s two toughest games are still yet to come, with Central Michigan and Western Michigan (both 7-2) looming at the end of the season. Even if the Cardinals run the table (including the MAC Championship game) it’s hard to envision them ending up anywhere other than the Motor City Bowl.
In ACC conference play, Virginia Tech ‘upset’ Maryland (even though the Hokies were favored and playing at home) which confirmed that Maryland simply does not belong in the upper tier of the ACC. Then again, who can really separate the ACC into tiers? The only team that clearly has no chance of winning the conference is NC State, sitting in the cellar with a 0-4 conference record. Even Duke (1-3) has only one more conference loss than Coastal division leader Georgia Tech (4-2). In fact, every team except for NC State has either two or three conference losses. If I had to pick a favorite, I might go with North Carolina. They host Georgia Tech this weekend, and finish up with Maryland, NC State and Duke.
BCS haters all over the country were tuned in to Utah-TCU last night (well, those who have CBS College Sports Network…huh?), where the two Mountain West teams had a hard-fought, low-scoring game that ended in a 13-10 win for the Utes. TCU was favored by 3 points, despite Utah’s undefeated record and home field advantage. However, they were undone by two late missed field goals and a gut-wrenching, game-winning Utah touchdown drive in the final minute. Utah now has three relatively solid wins (Oregon State, Air Force, TCU) but even a win over 8-1 BYU probably won’t be enough evidence for a solid title game argument. However, a BCS bowl berth is certainly a possibility. Utah only needs to finish in the BCS top 12 (they are currently ranked 8th) so if Utah wins out, they will certainly receive a BCS bowl bid.
As far as the weekend games, I would not be surprised to be see all three of the top ranked teams lose. #1 Alabama is heading to Death Valley to play LSU, and while LSU has struggled against top opponents (Florida, Georgia) this game will have a completely different feel due the emotion of Nick Saban returning to LSU. The general consensus among LSU fans is that they appreciate what he did for the school, but they have no respect for him. This game will definitely be tougher than it appears on paper for the Tide.
#2 Texas Tech hosts Oklahoma State, and the big question will be whether they can keep the momentum going after the huge Texas win. The Red Raiders are only three point favorites, so Vegas isn’t expecting them to run away with it. Oklahoma State has a strong running game and could surprise Texas Tech. #3 Penn State is on the road this week, and they will face Iowa. Clearly Iowa isn’t as much of a challenge as the two previous teams’ opponents, but Iowa may be a tad underrated. They have a great running back, and all four of their losses have come by a touchdown or less.
As I mentioned before, the winner of North Carolina-Georgia Tech will have the inside track to the Coastal division championship, and North Carolina has to be happy that they will have home field advantage. Virginia and Wake Forest also face off in what could be an elimination game. Even though they are in different divisions, both teams cannot afford another loss at this point in the season.
Tennessee and Auburn will have the opportunity to get a win, although for their offenses nothing is easy at this point. Tennessee hosts Wyoming, while Auburn welcomes Tennessee-Martin. If either one of those teams loses, expect immediate rioting.
In ACC conference play, Virginia Tech ‘upset’ Maryland (even though the Hokies were favored and playing at home) which confirmed that Maryland simply does not belong in the upper tier of the ACC. Then again, who can really separate the ACC into tiers? The only team that clearly has no chance of winning the conference is NC State, sitting in the cellar with a 0-4 conference record. Even Duke (1-3) has only one more conference loss than Coastal division leader Georgia Tech (4-2). In fact, every team except for NC State has either two or three conference losses. If I had to pick a favorite, I might go with North Carolina. They host Georgia Tech this weekend, and finish up with Maryland, NC State and Duke.
BCS haters all over the country were tuned in to Utah-TCU last night (well, those who have CBS College Sports Network…huh?), where the two Mountain West teams had a hard-fought, low-scoring game that ended in a 13-10 win for the Utes. TCU was favored by 3 points, despite Utah’s undefeated record and home field advantage. However, they were undone by two late missed field goals and a gut-wrenching, game-winning Utah touchdown drive in the final minute. Utah now has three relatively solid wins (Oregon State, Air Force, TCU) but even a win over 8-1 BYU probably won’t be enough evidence for a solid title game argument. However, a BCS bowl berth is certainly a possibility. Utah only needs to finish in the BCS top 12 (they are currently ranked 8th) so if Utah wins out, they will certainly receive a BCS bowl bid.
As far as the weekend games, I would not be surprised to be see all three of the top ranked teams lose. #1 Alabama is heading to Death Valley to play LSU, and while LSU has struggled against top opponents (Florida, Georgia) this game will have a completely different feel due the emotion of Nick Saban returning to LSU. The general consensus among LSU fans is that they appreciate what he did for the school, but they have no respect for him. This game will definitely be tougher than it appears on paper for the Tide.
#2 Texas Tech hosts Oklahoma State, and the big question will be whether they can keep the momentum going after the huge Texas win. The Red Raiders are only three point favorites, so Vegas isn’t expecting them to run away with it. Oklahoma State has a strong running game and could surprise Texas Tech. #3 Penn State is on the road this week, and they will face Iowa. Clearly Iowa isn’t as much of a challenge as the two previous teams’ opponents, but Iowa may be a tad underrated. They have a great running back, and all four of their losses have come by a touchdown or less.
As I mentioned before, the winner of North Carolina-Georgia Tech will have the inside track to the Coastal division championship, and North Carolina has to be happy that they will have home field advantage. Virginia and Wake Forest also face off in what could be an elimination game. Even though they are in different divisions, both teams cannot afford another loss at this point in the season.
Tennessee and Auburn will have the opportunity to get a win, although for their offenses nothing is easy at this point. Tennessee hosts Wyoming, while Auburn welcomes Tennessee-Martin. If either one of those teams loses, expect immediate rioting.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Thanks for the Memories
So it's official - Phillip Fulmer is out as coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. I can't say that I didn't expect this would happen, but what is surprising is how I feel about it.After the Alabama game, I was ready to join the throngs calling for Fulmer's head. Tennessee had once again failed to defeat a hated rival, and the Vols were pretty much trounced in the process. And unfortunately, it wasn't anything new. The Vols' failures against their "Big Three" rivals (Georgia, Florida, Alabama) is well documented. They have managed only three victories against the trio in their last twelve attempts.
The team's early season offensive woes can be partially attributed to Jonathan Crompton, who disappointed many Vols fans that expected him to come in and pick up where Erik Ainge left off, but he certainly doesn't deserve all of the blame. The offensive line has also been a huge disappointment, which left Tennessee's talented group of running backs unable to break free. Even special teams has dipped this year, with last year's freshman sensation kicker Daniel Lincoln taking huge steps backward this year. He is barely converting 50% of field goal tries after connecting on 75% of his tries last year.
The defense has been one of the lone bright spots this season. Safety Eric Berry leads the nation in interceptions and the defense is currently ranked 11th in the nation in yards allowed per game. Sure, part of that ranking might be that the opposition is constantly getting the ball in good field position, but it's still a notable achievement. When watching the Vols play, you can tell that the defense is talented and never gives up, even when the offense is sputtering.
In any case, after watching Tennessee fall to Alabama again, I was ready to write Fulmer off. However, after watching this past week's game against South Carolina I started to realize that a coach can only take his team so far. Players have to execute, and the bottom line all season (at least for the offense) has been a failure to execute. Fulmer didn't throw that ill-advised interception that was returned for a touchdown. He didn't fumble at his own 4 yard line (which led to another SC touchdown) or continually drop passes, miss blocks, or make stupid penalties. Sure, coaching should improve players' performances and reduce stupid mistakes, but again, there is only so much he can do.
One of Phillip Fulmer's best attributes over the years has been his recruiting. Three of his last seven classes have been ranked in the top 4 (according to rivals.com) with two others in the top twenty. Even amidst all the controversy this season, Tennessee's 2009 recruiting class is currently rated sixth in the nation. How many of those recruits will Tennessee lose when Fulmer leaves? Verbal commit Jarvis Giles, rated the number two all-purpose back in the country and from Florida no less, has already expressed concern over Fulmer's departure.
I'm sure that everyone recalls Penn State's dark days just a few years ago. During the five year 2000-2004 stretch, Penn State only made ONE bowl game, which they lost. Penn State endured two consecutive 9th place Big Ten finishes (with three total conference wins in that span) before rebounding to an 11-1 2005 season, complete with a BCS bowl win. As I'm sure you are aware, this year Penn State has a fairly clear path to a 12-0 season and a possible appearance in the National Championship game. JoePa heard the cries for his head, but the university stuck by him in those tough times and now he is showing the country that he and his team still have it.
College football is a cyclical game, and in a sport where stars and benchwarmers alike come and go in a few short seasons, continuity has to be worth something. One merely has to look at the messes in Auburn and Clemson to see that constantly changing the coaching staff doesn't always generate instant success.
For every Alabama Saban-like turnaround, how many Bill Callahan (Nebraska) disasters do you have? Jim Tressel was able to take Ohio State to the next level after his predecessor John Cooper couldn't seem to beat Michigan, but when Michigan tried the same thing after Lloyd Carr... Well, just look at the mess they have with Rich Rodriguez.
It's easy to pile on Phillip Fulmer right now, but I think fans and neutral observers alike can agree that Fulmer gave everything he had to Tennessee and deserved more on his way out. Many people will remember the outpouring of support that Fulmer received from famous Tennessee alums (including Peyton Manning) last season when his job security appeared to be on the ropes, but it became a moot issue when the Vols rallied to appear in the SEC Championship. By all accounts, he has the same support among his current players.
The SEC has grown exponentially over the last few years in talent (both players and coaches) and, fair or not, Fulmer often appeared to be a lumbering dinosaur against the likes of Urban Meyer and Mark Richt. However, I shudder at the thought of an Auburn-like spread disaster at Tennessee, and I can only hope the school's leadership has a solid plan for who they want to bring in to take over the reins. As a life-long Vol fan, I can barely remember the pre-Fulmer era, and it will certainly take awhile to get used to seeing someone else roaming those sidelines.
Administrative Announcement
I’ve made a slight format change to the site. I will continue to use this space to write about college football (and basketball to some degree) but my talents on professional sports have been pried away to the esteemed OneGameOut.
Please check them out for my musings on the NFL, NBA, MLB, soccer, racing, hockey, and various other shenanigans and random observations.
That way this site can remain true to its original intent – writing about how great the SEC is!
Please check them out for my musings on the NFL, NBA, MLB, soccer, racing, hockey, and various other shenanigans and random observations.
That way this site can remain true to its original intent – writing about how great the SEC is!
Friday, October 31, 2008
College Football Weekend Preview
In an announcement that is sure to crush and disappoint many of you, my weekly college football rankings are suspended for this week, due to a complete lack of teams worthy of filling out the full list.
Seriously, who belongs in the top 25? I can only count about 16 teams that clearly deserve that distinction. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Texas from the Big 12; Alabama, Georgia, and Florida from the SEC, Penn State and Ohio State from the Big Ten, USC from the Pac 10, and undefeated Utah, Boise State, Tulsa and Ball State. Throw in once-beaten TCU and that gets you a grand total of 15 teams. I think LSU, Missouri and Michigan State could have compelling arguments, but beyond that, I’m at a loss.
The Big East and ACC are tripping over themselves as they rush out of the Top 25. Last week, Boston College, Florida State and Georgia Tech appeared in the top 25, with Virginia Tech just outside the rankings. Three of those teams lost last week, so now all of a sudden North Carolina and Maryland are the flavors of the week. And this is despite Maryland’s early season loss to Middle Tennessee State, who is 1-6 in games not against Maryland. Florida State appears to have the best resume out of the ACC with wins over Miami and Virginia Tech, but the 12-3 home loss to Wake Forest is hard to ignore. Virginia currently leads the ACC Coastal division, but they are carrying THREE blowout losses, including one to Duke!
The Big East is even worse. South Florida and Pitt were the Big East top 25 representatives, but both managed to lose last weekend. Voters appear poised to send West Virginia (currently ranked 26th) into the top 25, despite the fact they have yet to beat a team that currently has a winning record. Well, unless you count CAA conference member Villanova.
Another team that has no business in the top 25 is Minnesota (AP #20). Sure, Minnesota is 7-1, but they haven’t beat single team with a winning record. Hell, they gave up 23 points at home to Montana State. Montana State couldn’t even manage 20 in losses to Weber State and Eastern Washington. I guess someone has to be in the top 25, but I’m protesting until teams start to prove themselves.
This weekend has a few exciting games, but the overall slate isn’t too appealing. Georgia-Florida has generated the most headlines, especially in the wake of last year’s ‘controversial’ touchdown celebration/field-rushing. The winner of this game should take the SEC East and will probably be favorites to win the SEC. Alabama will be the SEC West representatives, but I feel that they may have peaked and may be a tad over-rated. The only other noteworthy matchup is Texas-Texas Tech. Both teams are undefeated, so the winner will have a huge edge in the Big 12 South race. If Texas wins, they will have defeated their three principal South rivals (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech) and will effectively have a two game lead with only three left to play.
In news that few people will care about, Tennessee will be fighting for their bowl lives as they take on Steve Spurrier and South Carolina. A win would still give Tennessee a chance to finish with a winning record and a bowl game, as they only have Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Kentucky left on the schedule after this week.
Two other similar matchups are happening in the SEC this weekend. Auburn and Ole Miss square off, both with 4-4 records. The winner will keep bowl hopes alive, the loser will likely be done for the year. Kentucky and Mississippi State play under the same circumstances. Kentucky is 5-3, while Mississippi State is 3-5, but both have a 1-3 SEC record. If Kentucky can pull out a win, they conceivably could win eight games this year, with Vanderbilt and Tennessee still on the schedule. Yes, that was painful for me to admit. I’m going to go get a beer…
Seriously, who belongs in the top 25? I can only count about 16 teams that clearly deserve that distinction. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Texas from the Big 12; Alabama, Georgia, and Florida from the SEC, Penn State and Ohio State from the Big Ten, USC from the Pac 10, and undefeated Utah, Boise State, Tulsa and Ball State. Throw in once-beaten TCU and that gets you a grand total of 15 teams. I think LSU, Missouri and Michigan State could have compelling arguments, but beyond that, I’m at a loss.
The Big East and ACC are tripping over themselves as they rush out of the Top 25. Last week, Boston College, Florida State and Georgia Tech appeared in the top 25, with Virginia Tech just outside the rankings. Three of those teams lost last week, so now all of a sudden North Carolina and Maryland are the flavors of the week. And this is despite Maryland’s early season loss to Middle Tennessee State, who is 1-6 in games not against Maryland. Florida State appears to have the best resume out of the ACC with wins over Miami and Virginia Tech, but the 12-3 home loss to Wake Forest is hard to ignore. Virginia currently leads the ACC Coastal division, but they are carrying THREE blowout losses, including one to Duke!
The Big East is even worse. South Florida and Pitt were the Big East top 25 representatives, but both managed to lose last weekend. Voters appear poised to send West Virginia (currently ranked 26th) into the top 25, despite the fact they have yet to beat a team that currently has a winning record. Well, unless you count CAA conference member Villanova.
Another team that has no business in the top 25 is Minnesota (AP #20). Sure, Minnesota is 7-1, but they haven’t beat single team with a winning record. Hell, they gave up 23 points at home to Montana State. Montana State couldn’t even manage 20 in losses to Weber State and Eastern Washington. I guess someone has to be in the top 25, but I’m protesting until teams start to prove themselves.
This weekend has a few exciting games, but the overall slate isn’t too appealing. Georgia-Florida has generated the most headlines, especially in the wake of last year’s ‘controversial’ touchdown celebration/field-rushing. The winner of this game should take the SEC East and will probably be favorites to win the SEC. Alabama will be the SEC West representatives, but I feel that they may have peaked and may be a tad over-rated. The only other noteworthy matchup is Texas-Texas Tech. Both teams are undefeated, so the winner will have a huge edge in the Big 12 South race. If Texas wins, they will have defeated their three principal South rivals (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech) and will effectively have a two game lead with only three left to play.
In news that few people will care about, Tennessee will be fighting for their bowl lives as they take on Steve Spurrier and South Carolina. A win would still give Tennessee a chance to finish with a winning record and a bowl game, as they only have Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Kentucky left on the schedule after this week.
Two other similar matchups are happening in the SEC this weekend. Auburn and Ole Miss square off, both with 4-4 records. The winner will keep bowl hopes alive, the loser will likely be done for the year. Kentucky and Mississippi State play under the same circumstances. Kentucky is 5-3, while Mississippi State is 3-5, but both have a 1-3 SEC record. If Kentucky can pull out a win, they conceivably could win eight games this year, with Vanderbilt and Tennessee still on the schedule. Yes, that was painful for me to admit. I’m going to go get a beer…
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
College Football Rankings - 10/22
1. Texas (AP #1) – Texas can claim two wins over big-time opponents (Oklahoma, Missouri) that are bigger than any other pair of wins in the country. Outside of those two shootouts, Texas has not allowed more than 14 points in a game, while racking up at least 38 points in every game.
2. Alabama AP #2) – Alabama seems to lose focus in the second half. They have allowed their last three opponents to crawl back into games after staking big first half leads. Tennessee will give them everything they have in another huge rivalry game.
3. Penn State (AP #3) – The good: Penn State has scored 38 points or more in every contest except one (20-6 win over Purdue) and allowed more than 17 points only once (38-24 win over Illinois). The bad: Penn State’s best wins are over Oregon State and Illinois. Their last three Big Ten opponents have a combined one conference win. Penn State may not be ready for a slugfest with Ohio State this weekend.
4. Florida (AP #5) – Still dangerous with Tebow at the helm. The Gators will have to be careful not to overlook Kentucky, with Georgia looming around the corner.
5. USC (AP #6) – Everyone seems to have forgotten the OSU demolition derby in the wake of USC’s Oregon State loss. Without a single true ‘test’ remaining, USC could sneak into the BCS title game amidst the SEC and Big 12 cannibalization.
6. Oklahoma (AP #4) – Maybe I was wrong about TCU being a ‘cake’ win. However, the defense is still a concern for Oklahoma.
7. Georgia (AP #9) – Georgia is still lacking that marquee win, but will have an excellent opportunity to get one when they travel to Baton Rouge this weekend to face LSU.
8. Ohio State (AP #10) – Is Ohio State this good, or was Michigan State that bad? The Spartans may have lied down a little at the end of that game, but the scoreline is impressive nonetheless. While I don’t expect Ohio State to make it all the way back to the BCS title game, a win over Penn State this weekend could ensure them a Rose Bowl berth.
9. Oklahoma State (AP #7) – Oklahoma State’s party could be over. Texas is coming to town, and if history is any indication, it won’t be pretty. Other than their win over Missouri, Oklahoma State has yet to face a reputable team.
10. LSU (AP #11) – The Tigers gutted out a tough road win at South Carolina after enduring a beatdown at the hands of the Gators. As mentioned above, this weekend is key game, as Georgia comes to Death Valley.
11. Utah (AP #12) – To be honest, I struggled with finding a team qualified for this ranking. Utah seems to have the best resume, with a couple of decent wins (Oregon State, Air Force) and no losses. Utah still has to play TCU and BYU, so if they win those games, Utah will be hard to ignore.
12. Missouri (AP #16) – Sure, they got crushed by Texas, but how many of these teams further down this list could hang with the Longhorns? I may be acting overly generous here, but until Texas Tech beats Missouri, I won’t rank Missouri behind them.
13. Texas Tech (AP #8) – When your best win is in overtime against Nebraska, it’s going to take awhile for me to warm up to you. Like I mentioned last week, four straight games against ranked teams will give the Red Raiders all the chances the need to make a statement.
14. Boise State (AP #13) – Boise State is clinging to that Oregon win, because it’s the only thing that will keep them afloat in the rankings for the rest of the season. A single loss will probably see them fall out of the top 25.
15. Pitt (AP #17) – A dark horse of sorts since losing their opener to Bowling Green, Pitt has slowly crept back into the thick of the race. Their early season win over Iowa is looking a little better, and even last week’s win over Navy is better than several teams ahead of them can claim.
16. Vanderbilt (AP #28)– Hanging with a top five or ten team shouldn’t plummet a team in the rankings, so I’ll leave Vanderbilt in roughly the same spot after they lost to Georgia last week.
17. Tulsa (AP #22) – Any team that scores 77 points has to be considered dangerous. Tulsa only has one game left against a team with a winning record (Houston) so I don’t expect Tulsa to improve its position.
18. Michigan State (AP #29) – Why the polls have Michigan State out of the ranking but Northwestern in the top 25 is beyond me, especially when you consider that Michigan State already beat Northwestern. Handily.
19. Georgia Tech (AP #21) – Georgia Tech may be taking steps to prove itself as the ACC front-runner. However, their remaining schedule is pretty brutal, as all five opponents have winning records.
20. TCU (AP #15) – TCU surprised everyone by crushing BYU. They have allowed more than seven points in only two games (Oklahoma loss, 31-14 win over Stanford). The competition, however, has been less than stiff.
21. Boston College (AP #23) – It could be a virtual tossup between GT, BC, and VT. Boston College beat Virginia Tech, but lost to Georgia Tech. Naturally, Virginia Tech beat Georgia Tech.
22. Virginia Tech (AP #27) – See above, but throw in a disappointing loss to East Carolina.
23. South Florida (AP #14) - Overrated in my book. A close early season win over Kansas is all that’s keeping them in the rankings.
24. Ball State (AP #20) – They do have a win over Navy, and at 7-0 they deserve a little bit of recognition. Their last two games (Central Michigan, Western Michigan) will be their hardest.
25. Kansas (AP #19) – Because there’s no one else, except maybe for Florida State.
Dropped out:
BYU – Some impressive scorelines, but against absolutely no competition. The demolition by TCU left no reason for them to be in the Top 25
Cal – Lost at Arizona (who lost to Stanford and New Mexico earlier this year) 42-27.
Oregon – Idle last week, but the OT win over a now-slumping Purdue didn’t seem reason enough to ignore the blowout loss to USC and close loss to Boise State.
North Carolina – Already on thin ice as it was, OT loss to Virginia shoved them out.
2. Alabama AP #2) – Alabama seems to lose focus in the second half. They have allowed their last three opponents to crawl back into games after staking big first half leads. Tennessee will give them everything they have in another huge rivalry game.
3. Penn State (AP #3) – The good: Penn State has scored 38 points or more in every contest except one (20-6 win over Purdue) and allowed more than 17 points only once (38-24 win over Illinois). The bad: Penn State’s best wins are over Oregon State and Illinois. Their last three Big Ten opponents have a combined one conference win. Penn State may not be ready for a slugfest with Ohio State this weekend.
4. Florida (AP #5) – Still dangerous with Tebow at the helm. The Gators will have to be careful not to overlook Kentucky, with Georgia looming around the corner.
5. USC (AP #6) – Everyone seems to have forgotten the OSU demolition derby in the wake of USC’s Oregon State loss. Without a single true ‘test’ remaining, USC could sneak into the BCS title game amidst the SEC and Big 12 cannibalization.
6. Oklahoma (AP #4) – Maybe I was wrong about TCU being a ‘cake’ win. However, the defense is still a concern for Oklahoma.
7. Georgia (AP #9) – Georgia is still lacking that marquee win, but will have an excellent opportunity to get one when they travel to Baton Rouge this weekend to face LSU.
8. Ohio State (AP #10) – Is Ohio State this good, or was Michigan State that bad? The Spartans may have lied down a little at the end of that game, but the scoreline is impressive nonetheless. While I don’t expect Ohio State to make it all the way back to the BCS title game, a win over Penn State this weekend could ensure them a Rose Bowl berth.
9. Oklahoma State (AP #7) – Oklahoma State’s party could be over. Texas is coming to town, and if history is any indication, it won’t be pretty. Other than their win over Missouri, Oklahoma State has yet to face a reputable team.
10. LSU (AP #11) – The Tigers gutted out a tough road win at South Carolina after enduring a beatdown at the hands of the Gators. As mentioned above, this weekend is key game, as Georgia comes to Death Valley.
11. Utah (AP #12) – To be honest, I struggled with finding a team qualified for this ranking. Utah seems to have the best resume, with a couple of decent wins (Oregon State, Air Force) and no losses. Utah still has to play TCU and BYU, so if they win those games, Utah will be hard to ignore.
12. Missouri (AP #16) – Sure, they got crushed by Texas, but how many of these teams further down this list could hang with the Longhorns? I may be acting overly generous here, but until Texas Tech beats Missouri, I won’t rank Missouri behind them.
13. Texas Tech (AP #8) – When your best win is in overtime against Nebraska, it’s going to take awhile for me to warm up to you. Like I mentioned last week, four straight games against ranked teams will give the Red Raiders all the chances the need to make a statement.
14. Boise State (AP #13) – Boise State is clinging to that Oregon win, because it’s the only thing that will keep them afloat in the rankings for the rest of the season. A single loss will probably see them fall out of the top 25.
15. Pitt (AP #17) – A dark horse of sorts since losing their opener to Bowling Green, Pitt has slowly crept back into the thick of the race. Their early season win over Iowa is looking a little better, and even last week’s win over Navy is better than several teams ahead of them can claim.
16. Vanderbilt (AP #28)– Hanging with a top five or ten team shouldn’t plummet a team in the rankings, so I’ll leave Vanderbilt in roughly the same spot after they lost to Georgia last week.
17. Tulsa (AP #22) – Any team that scores 77 points has to be considered dangerous. Tulsa only has one game left against a team with a winning record (Houston) so I don’t expect Tulsa to improve its position.
18. Michigan State (AP #29) – Why the polls have Michigan State out of the ranking but Northwestern in the top 25 is beyond me, especially when you consider that Michigan State already beat Northwestern. Handily.
19. Georgia Tech (AP #21) – Georgia Tech may be taking steps to prove itself as the ACC front-runner. However, their remaining schedule is pretty brutal, as all five opponents have winning records.
20. TCU (AP #15) – TCU surprised everyone by crushing BYU. They have allowed more than seven points in only two games (Oklahoma loss, 31-14 win over Stanford). The competition, however, has been less than stiff.
21. Boston College (AP #23) – It could be a virtual tossup between GT, BC, and VT. Boston College beat Virginia Tech, but lost to Georgia Tech. Naturally, Virginia Tech beat Georgia Tech.
22. Virginia Tech (AP #27) – See above, but throw in a disappointing loss to East Carolina.
23. South Florida (AP #14) - Overrated in my book. A close early season win over Kansas is all that’s keeping them in the rankings.
24. Ball State (AP #20) – They do have a win over Navy, and at 7-0 they deserve a little bit of recognition. Their last two games (Central Michigan, Western Michigan) will be their hardest.
25. Kansas (AP #19) – Because there’s no one else, except maybe for Florida State.
Dropped out:
BYU – Some impressive scorelines, but against absolutely no competition. The demolition by TCU left no reason for them to be in the Top 25
Cal – Lost at Arizona (who lost to Stanford and New Mexico earlier this year) 42-27.
Oregon – Idle last week, but the OT win over a now-slumping Purdue didn’t seem reason enough to ignore the blowout loss to USC and close loss to Boise State.
North Carolina – Already on thin ice as it was, OT loss to Virginia shoved them out.
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