1) LSU (12-0, 8-0, +31)
2) Alabama (11-1, 7-1, +18)
3) Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1, +13)
4) Stanford (11-1, 8-1, +13)
5) Oregon (10-2, 8-1, +13)
6) Arkansas (10-2, 6-2, +12)
7) Houston (12-0, 8-0, +12)
8) Michigan State (10-2, 7-1, +10)
9) Virginia Tech (11-1, 7-1, +8)
10) Boise State (10-1, 5-1, +8)
11) Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2, +8)
12) Kansas State (9-2, 6-2, +9)
13) USC (10-2, 7-2, +8)
14) Wisconsin (10-2, 6-2, +6)
15) South Carolina (10-2, 6-2, +4)
16) Georgia (10-2, 7-1, +5)
17) Michigan (10-2, 6-2, +3)
18) Baylor (8-3, 5-3, +5)
19) TCU (9-2, 7-0, +3)
20) Nebraska (9-3, 5-3, +4)
21) Penn State (9-3, 6-2, +1)
22) Southern Miss (10-2, 6-2, -1)
23) Clemson (9-3, 6-2, -3)
24) West Virginia (8-3, 4-2, -5)
25) Texas (7-4, 4-4, -3)
Georgia Tech (8-4, 5-3, -6)
Notre Dame (8-4, 0-0, -6)
Northern Illinois (9-3, 7-1, -6)
Brigham Young (8-3, 0-0, -7)
Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2, -10)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
State of the Pac-12
Honestly, as we near the end of the season, the Pac-12 looks more or less the same as it did at the beginning: Two or three elite teams at the top, followed by a mass of mediocre teams logjammed in the middle, and then a handful of stragglers bringing up the rear.
The Good:
1) Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1) - I know that, technically, the Ducks ought to be behind Stanford, based on record, and USC, based on head-to-head record, but I would still pick the Ducks as the best team in the Pac-12. They also have the clearest path to the Rose Bowl, needing home wins against Oregon State and UCLA.
2) Stanford Cardinal (10-1, 8-1) - Can the Cardinal obtain an at-large bid to the BCS? They'll need a win tomorrow against Notre Dame, and end in the Top 4 in the final BCS standings, where they are currently 6th. Stanford has to fight against their inability to draw a large crowd at road games - i.e., in last year's Orange Bowl - and their weak schedule. Honestly, their best non-conference win is against Duke. At football.
3) USC Trojans (9-2, 6-2) - Will USC be back next year, when their bowl ban is lifted, but they will still have scholarship limitations? I will admit to being impressed by their showing this year, not just because they beat the Ducks but also because of their triple overtime loss to Stanford, and because of their outstanding consistency following their shaky 19-17 win over Minnesota to open the season. Having said that, how bitter sweet must it be for them to watch UCLA take their spot in the Pac-12 Championship?
The Middling:
4) Washington Huskies (6-5, 4-4) - I kept expecting Washington to make a move this year in the Pac-12. Both QBs Keith Price and Nick Montana have looked good this year, and both should be back next year. However, they're going into tomorrow's Apple Cup on a three game losing streak, and will need a win to preserve a winning season.
5) California Golden Bears (6-5, 3-5) - Here are Cal's records going back the past five years: 2006 (9-3) 2007 (6-6) 2008 (8-4) 2009 (8-4) 2010 (5-7). The Golden Bears never have been able to cross that threshold to an actual national power; and now, after a second consecutive year with at least five losses, they seem as far away from that goal as ever. What I am saying is that, in order to be considered an elite conference, the Pac-12 needs another elite program, and that program is supposed to be Cal.
6) Arizona State Sun Devils (6-5, 4-4) - But this year, at least, the Sun Devils were supposed to be that fourth elite team. Look at their schedule, and you can find at least three winnable games that they lost. (I would say at Illinois, at UCLA, and vs Arizona.) Arizona State lost those three games by a grand total of 8 points. How different would not only the conference, but the national, landscape be, if ASU were 9-2 and going back to Eugene for a rematch? Biggest disappointment of the year.
7) Utah Utes (7-5, 4-5) - Despite losing their first three Pac-12 games, Utah has served themselves very well in their first year in a BCS conference, recording wins against Oregon State, Arizona, UCLA, and Washington State. They also may have the most impressive non-conference schedule of any Pac-12 team thus year, notching wins against BYU and Pittsburgh. They flopped when they needed a win the most, however, giving UCLA the division win with their loss to 3-10 Colorado, as well as laying an egg at home against Arizona State in a 35-14 loss that ended up going a long way in deciding the division. Here's betting that Utah will be a force in the South Division for a while to come, though.
8) UCLA Bruins (6-5, 5-3) - I have already documented the travesty that has allowed the 6-5 Bruins to reach the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game. However, that's not the Bruins fault, who have actually improved considerably over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, they may be being set up for failure this year; if they lose to USC tomorrow, and then lose to Oregon/Stanford in the championship game, they will actually not qualify for a bowl game. Rose Bowl or bust, eh?
The Bad:
The Good:
1) Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1) - I know that, technically, the Ducks ought to be behind Stanford, based on record, and USC, based on head-to-head record, but I would still pick the Ducks as the best team in the Pac-12. They also have the clearest path to the Rose Bowl, needing home wins against Oregon State and UCLA.
2) Stanford Cardinal (10-1, 8-1) - Can the Cardinal obtain an at-large bid to the BCS? They'll need a win tomorrow against Notre Dame, and end in the Top 4 in the final BCS standings, where they are currently 6th. Stanford has to fight against their inability to draw a large crowd at road games - i.e., in last year's Orange Bowl - and their weak schedule. Honestly, their best non-conference win is against Duke. At football.
3) USC Trojans (9-2, 6-2) - Will USC be back next year, when their bowl ban is lifted, but they will still have scholarship limitations? I will admit to being impressed by their showing this year, not just because they beat the Ducks but also because of their triple overtime loss to Stanford, and because of their outstanding consistency following their shaky 19-17 win over Minnesota to open the season. Having said that, how bitter sweet must it be for them to watch UCLA take their spot in the Pac-12 Championship?
The Middling:
4) Washington Huskies (6-5, 4-4) - I kept expecting Washington to make a move this year in the Pac-12. Both QBs Keith Price and Nick Montana have looked good this year, and both should be back next year. However, they're going into tomorrow's Apple Cup on a three game losing streak, and will need a win to preserve a winning season.
5) California Golden Bears (6-5, 3-5) - Here are Cal's records going back the past five years: 2006 (9-3) 2007 (6-6) 2008 (8-4) 2009 (8-4) 2010 (5-7). The Golden Bears never have been able to cross that threshold to an actual national power; and now, after a second consecutive year with at least five losses, they seem as far away from that goal as ever. What I am saying is that, in order to be considered an elite conference, the Pac-12 needs another elite program, and that program is supposed to be Cal.
6) Arizona State Sun Devils (6-5, 4-4) - But this year, at least, the Sun Devils were supposed to be that fourth elite team. Look at their schedule, and you can find at least three winnable games that they lost. (I would say at Illinois, at UCLA, and vs Arizona.) Arizona State lost those three games by a grand total of 8 points. How different would not only the conference, but the national, landscape be, if ASU were 9-2 and going back to Eugene for a rematch? Biggest disappointment of the year.
7) Utah Utes (7-5, 4-5) - Despite losing their first three Pac-12 games, Utah has served themselves very well in their first year in a BCS conference, recording wins against Oregon State, Arizona, UCLA, and Washington State. They also may have the most impressive non-conference schedule of any Pac-12 team thus year, notching wins against BYU and Pittsburgh. They flopped when they needed a win the most, however, giving UCLA the division win with their loss to 3-10 Colorado, as well as laying an egg at home against Arizona State in a 35-14 loss that ended up going a long way in deciding the division. Here's betting that Utah will be a force in the South Division for a while to come, though.
8) UCLA Bruins (6-5, 5-3) - I have already documented the travesty that has allowed the 6-5 Bruins to reach the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game. However, that's not the Bruins fault, who have actually improved considerably over the last couple of years. Unfortunately, they may be being set up for failure this year; if they lose to USC tomorrow, and then lose to Oregon/Stanford in the championship game, they will actually not qualify for a bowl game. Rose Bowl or bust, eh?
The Bad:
Friday Night Lights
Colorado 17, Utah 14: This is one of those toilet bowl games, those cringe-inducing, bile rising games in which you find yourself shouting at the television, "Doesn't anyone want to bleeping win this game??" This one had it all: Turnovers. Penalties. Turnovers getting negated by penalties. Utah's kicker going 0 for 3 on field goals, including hitting the right upright with what would have been the tying score on Utah's last play of the game. But what makes it all worse is that this now guarantees that UCLA - 6-5 UCLA - will represent the South Division in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship game. UCLA, who lost to Texas 49-20, now gets a winner-take-all for the Rose Bowl.
LSU 41, Arkansas 17: @aaroninauburn had by far the best take on the Tigers today on Twitter: "LSU's ability to eat the other team's soul is unparalleled in my memory." That is exactly what they did against the Razorbacks, falling behind 14-0 before buckling down, Badgering up, and putting the clamps on the Arkansas offense. After the Razorbacks drove 73 yards and kicked a field goal in their first drive of the third quarter, they gained a grand total of 27 yards (with two turnovers) for the rest of the game. Also, add this to the highlight reel:
Now, let's talk implications.
The SEC Championship is set: AP #1 LSU against #13 Georgia. Even if the Bulldogs pull off the upset, I think that LSU's spot in the NC game has been secured. With their resume, a one-loss LSU team would still be heads and shoulders above the rest of the crowd. Our attentions now turn to tomorrow's Iron Bowl. Should #2 Alabama beat Auburn, then (barring a mass mutiny among the voters) the NC game would be set between Alabama and LSU. But if - and it's a BIG if - Auburn should pull off the upset, then that re-opens the door for Oklahoma State, who would surely jump ahead of the rest of the crowd with a win over Oklahoma. Behind the Cowboys would stand Virginia Tech and Stanford, but both of those teams would have a tough argument, given their paper-thin schedules.
And, sadly, thanks to sanctions, scheduling, tie-breaker rules, and an absolute dearth of talent, the UCLA Bruins will play for the Pac-12 Championship. As I've said before, the Ducks will be their opponents should Oregon beat Oregon State tomorrow. Otherwise the Bruins will play Stanford. And even though they will be a bajillion-point underdogs against either of those teams, remember, it's just one game. And anything can happen.
LSU 41, Arkansas 17: @aaroninauburn had by far the best take on the Tigers today on Twitter: "LSU's ability to eat the other team's soul is unparalleled in my memory." That is exactly what they did against the Razorbacks, falling behind 14-0 before buckling down, Badgering up, and putting the clamps on the Arkansas offense. After the Razorbacks drove 73 yards and kicked a field goal in their first drive of the third quarter, they gained a grand total of 27 yards (with two turnovers) for the rest of the game. Also, add this to the highlight reel:
Now, let's talk implications.
The SEC Championship is set: AP #1 LSU against #13 Georgia. Even if the Bulldogs pull off the upset, I think that LSU's spot in the NC game has been secured. With their resume, a one-loss LSU team would still be heads and shoulders above the rest of the crowd. Our attentions now turn to tomorrow's Iron Bowl. Should #2 Alabama beat Auburn, then (barring a mass mutiny among the voters) the NC game would be set between Alabama and LSU. But if - and it's a BIG if - Auburn should pull off the upset, then that re-opens the door for Oklahoma State, who would surely jump ahead of the rest of the crowd with a win over Oklahoma. Behind the Cowboys would stand Virginia Tech and Stanford, but both of those teams would have a tough argument, given their paper-thin schedules.
And, sadly, thanks to sanctions, scheduling, tie-breaker rules, and an absolute dearth of talent, the UCLA Bruins will play for the Pac-12 Championship. As I've said before, the Ducks will be their opponents should Oregon beat Oregon State tomorrow. Otherwise the Bruins will play Stanford. And even though they will be a bajillion-point underdogs against either of those teams, remember, it's just one game. And anything can happen.
My Top 25
LSU (12-0, 8-0, +31) - It may too late to get him back in the Heisman race, but Tyrann Mathieu secured LSU's BCS championship aspirations on Friday against Arkansas. The Razorbacks came out fighting, and led 14-7 in the second quarter, when Mathieu returned a punt 92 yards to tie the game. On Arkansas' next possession, Honey Badger caused a fumble that was recovered by LSU. Arkansas would score a grand total of 3 points the rest of the game. I'm willing to say that, even if they get upset by Georgia in the SEC Championship game, LSU's spot in the national championship is secured. Their schedule has just been so brutal, with wins over current BCS No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Arkansas, No. 10 Oregon, and No. 24 Auburn, with No. 13 Georgia still on the horizon. They would still be the best 1-loss team in the nation.
Alabama (11-1, 7-1, +18) - At one point in the Alabama-Auburn game, the Tigers had 14 points, but only 44 yards. They scored their only two touchdowns on 1) a recovered A.J. McCarron fumble in the endzone, and 2) a kickoff return to start the third quarter. For those of you keeping track at home, that means that Auburn's offense got outscored by their defense AND their special teams. I hate to admit it, but I'm convinced: LSU-Alabama rematch for the BCS National Championship game.
Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1, +13) - In my opinion, Oklahoma State is the only team who has an argument that they should be in the NC game instead of Alabama. If they beat Oklahoma, then they'll end the season with wins over BCS Nos. 9, 11, 18, and 25. But, as Mark May said, if the Cowboys were to meet the Tide on a neutral field, they would be two touchdown underdogs. So here's the question: Should the BCS-NC be a game of #1 vs. #2 regardless of conference, or should it be treated as a Bowl Game, matching the top teams from two different conferences? I don't know. But it'll be interesting if, if the Cowboys beat the Sooners, you see an exodus of voters abandon Alabama and endorse Oklahoma State instead. (Like the 1968 Democratic Convention?)
Stanford (11-1, 8-1, +13) -
Oregon (10-2, 8-1, +13) -
Arkansas (10-2, 6-2, +12)
Houston (12-0, 8-0, +12) - Congratulations to the Cougars for winning the Conference USA West Division with their 48-16 win over Tulsa. They will play Southern Miss for the conference championship, in a possible matchup of two top 25 teams with a possible BCS bowl invitation on the line for Houston.
Michigan State (10-2, 7-1, +10) - The Spartans have their first ever back-to-back 10 win seasons, and can get to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1988 with a win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship. Unfortunately, because of the realities of college football politics and the need to sell tickets, if the Spartans lose to Wisconsin, they'll probably drop out of the BCS altogether, their spot taken by hated rivals Michigan - who they beat 28-14 in October. It would be the second consecutive BCS snub for MSU, who played in the Capital One Bowl despite being co-Big Ten Champions with Wisconsin (Rose Bowl) and Ohio State (Sugar).
Virginia Tech (11-1, 7-1, +8)
Boise State (10-1, 5-1, +8)
Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2, +8)
Kansas State (9-2, 6-2, +9)
USC (10-2, 7-2, +8)
Wisconsin (10-2, 6-2, +6)
Georgia (10-2, 7-1, +5)
South Carolina (10-2, 6-2, +4)
Michigan (10-2, 6-2, +3) - It wasn't pretty at the end, with the Wolverines having a potentially game sealing touchdown taken away after a review, and then a holding/personal foul penalty taking away another. But, in the end, they beat Ohio State 40-34, their first win in the rivalry since 2003. The Wolverines could also secure an at-large BCS bid, either the Fiesta or Sugar Bowl, which would be their first since the 2007 Rose Bowl.
Baylor (8-3, 5-3, +5)
TCU (9-2, 7-0, +3)
Nebraska (9-3, 5-3, +4) - The Cornhuskers ended their regular season with a convincing 20-7 home win over Iowa, with the Hawkeyes' only touchdown coming in garbage time. The win probably will not be enough to elevate Nebraska to BCS bowl as an at-large team, but they should get a chance to play against the SEC on Jan. 2 in the Outback Bowl or the Capital One Bowl.
Penn State (9-3, 6-2, +1)
Southern Miss (10-2, 6-2, -1)
Clemson (9-3, 6-2, -3)
West Virginia (8-3, 4-2, -5)
Texas (7-4, 4-4, -3)
Georgia Tech (8-4, 5-3, -6)
Notre Dame (8-4, 0-0, -6)
Northern Illinois (9-3, 7-1, -6)
Brigham Young (8-3, 0-0, -7)
Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2, -10)
Alabama (11-1, 7-1, +18) - At one point in the Alabama-Auburn game, the Tigers had 14 points, but only 44 yards. They scored their only two touchdowns on 1) a recovered A.J. McCarron fumble in the endzone, and 2) a kickoff return to start the third quarter. For those of you keeping track at home, that means that Auburn's offense got outscored by their defense AND their special teams. I hate to admit it, but I'm convinced: LSU-Alabama rematch for the BCS National Championship game.
Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1, +13) - In my opinion, Oklahoma State is the only team who has an argument that they should be in the NC game instead of Alabama. If they beat Oklahoma, then they'll end the season with wins over BCS Nos. 9, 11, 18, and 25. But, as Mark May said, if the Cowboys were to meet the Tide on a neutral field, they would be two touchdown underdogs. So here's the question: Should the BCS-NC be a game of #1 vs. #2 regardless of conference, or should it be treated as a Bowl Game, matching the top teams from two different conferences? I don't know. But it'll be interesting if, if the Cowboys beat the Sooners, you see an exodus of voters abandon Alabama and endorse Oklahoma State instead. (Like the 1968 Democratic Convention?)
Stanford (11-1, 8-1, +13) -
Oregon (10-2, 8-1, +13) -
Arkansas (10-2, 6-2, +12)
Houston (12-0, 8-0, +12) - Congratulations to the Cougars for winning the Conference USA West Division with their 48-16 win over Tulsa. They will play Southern Miss for the conference championship, in a possible matchup of two top 25 teams with a possible BCS bowl invitation on the line for Houston.
Michigan State (10-2, 7-1, +10) - The Spartans have their first ever back-to-back 10 win seasons, and can get to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1988 with a win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship. Unfortunately, because of the realities of college football politics and the need to sell tickets, if the Spartans lose to Wisconsin, they'll probably drop out of the BCS altogether, their spot taken by hated rivals Michigan - who they beat 28-14 in October. It would be the second consecutive BCS snub for MSU, who played in the Capital One Bowl despite being co-Big Ten Champions with Wisconsin (Rose Bowl) and Ohio State (Sugar).
Virginia Tech (11-1, 7-1, +8)
Boise State (10-1, 5-1, +8)
Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2, +8)
Kansas State (9-2, 6-2, +9)
USC (10-2, 7-2, +8)
Wisconsin (10-2, 6-2, +6)
Georgia (10-2, 7-1, +5)
South Carolina (10-2, 6-2, +4)
Michigan (10-2, 6-2, +3) - It wasn't pretty at the end, with the Wolverines having a potentially game sealing touchdown taken away after a review, and then a holding/personal foul penalty taking away another. But, in the end, they beat Ohio State 40-34, their first win in the rivalry since 2003. The Wolverines could also secure an at-large BCS bid, either the Fiesta or Sugar Bowl, which would be their first since the 2007 Rose Bowl.
Baylor (8-3, 5-3, +5)
TCU (9-2, 7-0, +3)
Nebraska (9-3, 5-3, +4) - The Cornhuskers ended their regular season with a convincing 20-7 home win over Iowa, with the Hawkeyes' only touchdown coming in garbage time. The win probably will not be enough to elevate Nebraska to BCS bowl as an at-large team, but they should get a chance to play against the SEC on Jan. 2 in the Outback Bowl or the Capital One Bowl.
Penn State (9-3, 6-2, +1)
Southern Miss (10-2, 6-2, -1)
Clemson (9-3, 6-2, -3)
West Virginia (8-3, 4-2, -5)
Texas (7-4, 4-4, -3)
Georgia Tech (8-4, 5-3, -6)
Notre Dame (8-4, 0-0, -6)
Northern Illinois (9-3, 7-1, -6)
Brigham Young (8-3, 0-0, -7)
Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2, -10)
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Power Rankings
1) LSU Tigers (11-0, 7-0) - Les Miles has the Tigers on the verge of their third national championship in eight years, an impressive feat for any program. LSU's only previous championship came in 1958. The Tigers did not begin the season ranked, but reached No. 1 on Oct. 25, after a 10-7 win over Florida. LSU finished the season 11-0, and went on to defeat #12 Clemson 7-0 in the Sugar Bowl to claim both the AP and Coach's championships.
2) Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1, 6-1) - Should the Iron Bowl be considered the best rivalry in college football? I think so, if you add the caveat "today" to the end. This year will mark the third consecutive year in which the game will carry BCS implications, and the last two years the winner of the game has actually gone on to win the national championship. However, this period still probably doesn't compare to the "glory days" of the Iron Bowl, from 1981-1986, when the game was decided on the last play four times.
3) Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1, 6-1)
4) Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1, 7-1)
5) Stanford Cardinal (10-1, 8-1) - The Notre Dame Fighting Irish played in their first ever bowl game on January 1, 1925, in the 11th Rose Bowl against the Stanford Indians. Stanford was 7-0-1, and coached by Glenn "Pop" Warner, and the Irish were 9-0, coached by Knute Rockne, and featured the "Four Horsemen" running backs. Legend goes that it was during Rockne's trip to Pasadena that his wife dined with the wife of USC's athletic director Gwynn Wilson, and the two women got to talking about how much lovelier Southern California was in the winter than South Bend, and thus was born the annual tradition of the Notre Dame-USC rivalry. The game itself was dominated by Stanford, but three turnovers led to 21 Irish points, and Notre Dame pulled away for the win, 27-10. Stanford would not have to wait long, though, winning their first ever Rose Bowl 7-6 over Pittsburgh three years later.
6) Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1) - Saturday will mark the third consecutive season in which the Oregon-Oregon State Civil War Game will decide some kind of championship, conference or division. In honor of this, and in the general spirit of Thanksgiving, we should all take a moment to remember the 1983 Civil War Game. On a cold and rainy day in Eugene in November, the Ducks and the Beavers played to the last 0-0 tie in NCAA history, a game in which the teams combined for eleven fumbles, five interceptions, and four missed field goals.
7) Houston Cougars (11-0, 7-0)
8) Boise State Broncos (9-1, 4-1) - It was this weekend last year that Boise State's BCS hopes went down in a 34-31 overtime loss to the Nevada Wolfpack. Boise State's rivalry with Nevada goes back to 1971, when the Broncos were in the Big Sky conference and Nevada was an independent. Unfortunately, this rivalry may be in jeopardy in the future, as the Broncos consider a move to the Big East while the WAC and the Mountain West continue to struggle for survival.
9) Michigan State Spartans (9-2, 6-1)
10) Kansas State Wildcats (9-2, 6-2)
11) Virginia Tech Hokies (10-1, 7-1)
12) Oklahoma Sooners (8-2, 5-2) - There may be no program more decorated or celebrated than Oklahoma, who has the most weeks at No. 1 in the AP poll, the 8th most wins of any program in college football, and has appeared in 44 bowl games. Oklahoma football, in fact, is 12 years older than the state of Oklahoma. The second coach for the Oklahoma Sooners was Vernon Parrington, an English professor and Pulitzer Prize winner who brought superior tactics with him from Harvard that led the Sooners to a 9-2-1 record from 1897 to 1900. My favorite quote from Coach Parrington? After being chased out of Oklahoma to U of W for his liberalism:
13) USC Trojans (9-2, 6-2)
14) Wisconsin Badgers (9-2, 5-2) - The Badgers are two wins away from earning their second consecutive trip to the Rose Bowl, a feat that they last accomplished during the 1998-1999 seasons, under coach Barry Alvarez. Wisconsin is 3-4 all time in the Rose Bowl, with their last win coming after the 1999 season, a 17-9 win over Stanford. That game featured Heisman Trophy winning running back Ron Dayne, who rushed for over 200 yards in the game, including a 64-yard run on a scoring drive in the third quarter that gave Wisconsin the lead for good.
15) Georgia Bulldogs (9-2, 7-1) - Saturday will be either the 104th or 106th game between Georgia and Georgia Tech, depending on who you ask. Their first match was on November 4, 1893, a 28-6 win for visiting Tech. According to historian Bill Cromartie:
17) TCU Horned Frogs (9-2, 7-0) - TCU won its first of two national championships after the 1935 season. The Frogs finished the season 11-1, their only loss 20-14 to undefeated Southern Methodist. They ended the season ranked fourth, and played #1 LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Rain had fallen in New Orleans for three days before New Year's, and the game turned into a mud-filled slugfest in the rain. Neither team gained more than 200 yards, and there were a combined seven turnovers. The Frogs' defense were the stars of the game, three times stopping the Tigers in the Red Zone, forcing them to come away with 0 points. TCU would win the game 3-2. With #2 SMU losing to Stanford 7-0 in the Rose Bowl, TCU claimed a championship by ending first in the now defunct Williamson Rankings.
18) Michigan Wolverines (9-2, 5-2)
19) South Carolina Gamecocks (9-2, 6-2) - The Battle of the Palmetto State dates back to 1896, a 12-6 victory for South Carolina over Clemson. However, the rivalry between the Gamecocks and the Tigers has been about more than just football. Clemson was founded in 1889 to provide a higher education option for the sons of poor farmers who could not get into South Carolina, which, along with banning women and African Americans after Reconstruction ended in 1877, had a student body that was overwhelmingly the sons of Confederate officers. South Carolina would continue to be the university of the state's privileged until after World War Two. Under pressure to accept veterans regardless of class or race, South Carolina opened its doors to a broad population, whereas Clemson began to be the more restrictive of the two schools; the first African American student to enroll at Clemson was in 1963.
20) Clemson Tigers (9-2, 6-2) - John Heisman coached Clemson from 1900-1903, amassing a 19-3-2 record, two conference championships, and gave the team their name (either after Heisman's previous employer, Auburn, or the current national champions, Princeton). However, he was never able to claim a national championship. Clemson's only national championship came in 1981, after an 11-0 record and 22-15 win over #4 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.
21) Baylor Bears (7-3, 4-3)
22) Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-3, 4-3) - During the Great Depression, part of the WPA - that great endeavor by Washington D.C. to get Americans back to work - was the federal writers project, which compiled invaluable local histories, oral histories, and ethnographies from all 48 American states. Regarding Nebraska football, the FWP recorded:
24) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-3, 5-3) - Georgia Tech still holds the record for most dominant victory in college football history, a 222-0 win over Cumberland College in 1916. The story goes that, before the season, Cumberland College had officially ended their football program, and asked Georgia Tech to cancel their previously scheduled game. However, John Heisman, Georgia Tech's coach, refused Cumberland's request. Heisman was out for revenge for the baseball team's 22-0 loss to Cumberland the spring before, in which (according to Heisman) Cumberland had used professional players. The game went on as scheduled, with Cumberland fielding a team of student volunteers. Georgia Tech scored 16 touchdowns in the game (also a record) and never got a first down, as they scored from scrimmage on almost every snap.
25) Auburn Tigers (7-4, 4-2) - Despite beginning their rivalry in 1893, the Alabama Crimson Tide never played in Jordan-Hare Stadium, or in the town of Auburn, Alabama, until December 2, 1989. It was on this day that the No. 11 Tigers hosted the No. 2 Tide, with the SEC Championship on the line. Auburn jumped out to a 27-10 lead, and managed to hold on for the win, 30-20. Alabama would proceed from this game to lose to #2 Miami in the Sugar Bowl, while Auburn would defeat #21 Ohio State in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
2) Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1, 6-1) - Should the Iron Bowl be considered the best rivalry in college football? I think so, if you add the caveat "today" to the end. This year will mark the third consecutive year in which the game will carry BCS implications, and the last two years the winner of the game has actually gone on to win the national championship. However, this period still probably doesn't compare to the "glory days" of the Iron Bowl, from 1981-1986, when the game was decided on the last play four times.
3) Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1, 6-1)
4) Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1, 7-1)
5) Stanford Cardinal (10-1, 8-1) - The Notre Dame Fighting Irish played in their first ever bowl game on January 1, 1925, in the 11th Rose Bowl against the Stanford Indians. Stanford was 7-0-1, and coached by Glenn "Pop" Warner, and the Irish were 9-0, coached by Knute Rockne, and featured the "Four Horsemen" running backs. Legend goes that it was during Rockne's trip to Pasadena that his wife dined with the wife of USC's athletic director Gwynn Wilson, and the two women got to talking about how much lovelier Southern California was in the winter than South Bend, and thus was born the annual tradition of the Notre Dame-USC rivalry. The game itself was dominated by Stanford, but three turnovers led to 21 Irish points, and Notre Dame pulled away for the win, 27-10. Stanford would not have to wait long, though, winning their first ever Rose Bowl 7-6 over Pittsburgh three years later.
6) Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1) - Saturday will mark the third consecutive season in which the Oregon-Oregon State Civil War Game will decide some kind of championship, conference or division. In honor of this, and in the general spirit of Thanksgiving, we should all take a moment to remember the 1983 Civil War Game. On a cold and rainy day in Eugene in November, the Ducks and the Beavers played to the last 0-0 tie in NCAA history, a game in which the teams combined for eleven fumbles, five interceptions, and four missed field goals.
7) Houston Cougars (11-0, 7-0)
8) Boise State Broncos (9-1, 4-1) - It was this weekend last year that Boise State's BCS hopes went down in a 34-31 overtime loss to the Nevada Wolfpack. Boise State's rivalry with Nevada goes back to 1971, when the Broncos were in the Big Sky conference and Nevada was an independent. Unfortunately, this rivalry may be in jeopardy in the future, as the Broncos consider a move to the Big East while the WAC and the Mountain West continue to struggle for survival.
9) Michigan State Spartans (9-2, 6-1)
10) Kansas State Wildcats (9-2, 6-2)
11) Virginia Tech Hokies (10-1, 7-1)
12) Oklahoma Sooners (8-2, 5-2) - There may be no program more decorated or celebrated than Oklahoma, who has the most weeks at No. 1 in the AP poll, the 8th most wins of any program in college football, and has appeared in 44 bowl games. Oklahoma football, in fact, is 12 years older than the state of Oklahoma. The second coach for the Oklahoma Sooners was Vernon Parrington, an English professor and Pulitzer Prize winner who brought superior tactics with him from Harvard that led the Sooners to a 9-2-1 record from 1897 to 1900. My favorite quote from Coach Parrington? After being chased out of Oklahoma to U of W for his liberalism:
With every passing year my radicalism draws fresh nourishment from large knowledge of the evils of private capitalism. Hatred of that selfish system is become the chief passion of my life. The change from Oklahoma to Washington marks the shift with me from the older cultural interpretation of life to the later economic.
13) USC Trojans (9-2, 6-2)
14) Wisconsin Badgers (9-2, 5-2) - The Badgers are two wins away from earning their second consecutive trip to the Rose Bowl, a feat that they last accomplished during the 1998-1999 seasons, under coach Barry Alvarez. Wisconsin is 3-4 all time in the Rose Bowl, with their last win coming after the 1999 season, a 17-9 win over Stanford. That game featured Heisman Trophy winning running back Ron Dayne, who rushed for over 200 yards in the game, including a 64-yard run on a scoring drive in the third quarter that gave Wisconsin the lead for good.
15) Georgia Bulldogs (9-2, 7-1) - Saturday will be either the 104th or 106th game between Georgia and Georgia Tech, depending on who you ask. Their first match was on November 4, 1893, a 28-6 win for visiting Tech. According to historian Bill Cromartie:
At one time early in the last half of the game, a stone was hurled at one of the Tech players, striking him a cruel blow in the head... At another time, one of the Athenians drew a knife and threatened one of the Techs' better players... The Techs were also poked and gouged with canes on plays toward the boundary lines... Some of the crowd had the privilege of the gridiron equally with the players.16) Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-1)
17) TCU Horned Frogs (9-2, 7-0) - TCU won its first of two national championships after the 1935 season. The Frogs finished the season 11-1, their only loss 20-14 to undefeated Southern Methodist. They ended the season ranked fourth, and played #1 LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Rain had fallen in New Orleans for three days before New Year's, and the game turned into a mud-filled slugfest in the rain. Neither team gained more than 200 yards, and there were a combined seven turnovers. The Frogs' defense were the stars of the game, three times stopping the Tigers in the Red Zone, forcing them to come away with 0 points. TCU would win the game 3-2. With #2 SMU losing to Stanford 7-0 in the Rose Bowl, TCU claimed a championship by ending first in the now defunct Williamson Rankings.
18) Michigan Wolverines (9-2, 5-2)
19) South Carolina Gamecocks (9-2, 6-2) - The Battle of the Palmetto State dates back to 1896, a 12-6 victory for South Carolina over Clemson. However, the rivalry between the Gamecocks and the Tigers has been about more than just football. Clemson was founded in 1889 to provide a higher education option for the sons of poor farmers who could not get into South Carolina, which, along with banning women and African Americans after Reconstruction ended in 1877, had a student body that was overwhelmingly the sons of Confederate officers. South Carolina would continue to be the university of the state's privileged until after World War Two. Under pressure to accept veterans regardless of class or race, South Carolina opened its doors to a broad population, whereas Clemson began to be the more restrictive of the two schools; the first African American student to enroll at Clemson was in 1963.
20) Clemson Tigers (9-2, 6-2) - John Heisman coached Clemson from 1900-1903, amassing a 19-3-2 record, two conference championships, and gave the team their name (either after Heisman's previous employer, Auburn, or the current national champions, Princeton). However, he was never able to claim a national championship. Clemson's only national championship came in 1981, after an 11-0 record and 22-15 win over #4 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.
21) Baylor Bears (7-3, 4-3)
22) Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-3, 4-3) - During the Great Depression, part of the WPA - that great endeavor by Washington D.C. to get Americans back to work - was the federal writers project, which compiled invaluable local histories, oral histories, and ethnographies from all 48 American states. Regarding Nebraska football, the FWP recorded:
Football in Nebraska is more than a diversion for college students. A State university game is an event talked about and eagerly followed by rural and urban fans. If the day of a football game is not too cold or rainy, the streets of Lincoln are sure to be jammed with people and cars, brightened with pennants and chrysanthemums. The highways are crowded for miles around. Broadcasts of games are picked up in almost every store and gas station from Omaha to the western border; farmers sometimes neglect their cornhusking in the afternoon to hear the game over the radio.23) Southern Miss Golden Eagles (9-2, 5-2)
24) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-3, 5-3) - Georgia Tech still holds the record for most dominant victory in college football history, a 222-0 win over Cumberland College in 1916. The story goes that, before the season, Cumberland College had officially ended their football program, and asked Georgia Tech to cancel their previously scheduled game. However, John Heisman, Georgia Tech's coach, refused Cumberland's request. Heisman was out for revenge for the baseball team's 22-0 loss to Cumberland the spring before, in which (according to Heisman) Cumberland had used professional players. The game went on as scheduled, with Cumberland fielding a team of student volunteers. Georgia Tech scored 16 touchdowns in the game (also a record) and never got a first down, as they scored from scrimmage on almost every snap.
25) Auburn Tigers (7-4, 4-2) - Despite beginning their rivalry in 1893, the Alabama Crimson Tide never played in Jordan-Hare Stadium, or in the town of Auburn, Alabama, until December 2, 1989. It was on this day that the No. 11 Tigers hosted the No. 2 Tide, with the SEC Championship on the line. Auburn jumped out to a 27-10 lead, and managed to hold on for the win, 30-20. Alabama would proceed from this game to lose to #2 Miami in the Sugar Bowl, while Auburn would defeat #21 Ohio State in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Damn the Computers!
This is nonsense.
Last week, the six BCS computers ranked Oregon: 5, 3, 5, 7, 4, 4. (Avg: 4.67)
The same computers ranked Oklahoma: 4, 5, 3, 4, 6, 5. (Avg: 4.5)
Then Oregon lost to 9-2 USC 38-35, and Oklahoma lost to 7-3 Baylor 45-38.
This week, the computers have Oregon: 15, 6, 12, 13, 9, 10. (Avg: 10.83)
The same computers have Oklahoma: 6, 8, 4, 6, 6, 6. (Avg: 6.0)
What? In what world does this make sense? Why on Earth is Oregon dropped six spots by the computers for a loss to USC, but Oklahoma is only dropped 2 for a loss to Baylor?????
Actually, I know the answer. It's because the computers love the Big 12. That's because the Big 12 went 27-3 in non conference play this season. (The Pac-12 has gone 21-12.) Five of the computers still have Oklahoma State #2, and five of them also have Kansas State ranked ahead of Oregon. It would be interesting to see if the computers actually ending up vetoing an all SEC Championship by putting Oklahoma State ahead of everyone else.
Fine. But Oregon's losses are to LSU and USC. Oklahoma's are to Texas Tech and Baylor. Oregon's best win is against Stanford, Oklahoma's is against Kansas State. And one computer has Oklahoma 6th and Oregon 15th.
Last week, the six BCS computers ranked Oregon: 5, 3, 5, 7, 4, 4. (Avg: 4.67)
The same computers ranked Oklahoma: 4, 5, 3, 4, 6, 5. (Avg: 4.5)
Then Oregon lost to 9-2 USC 38-35, and Oklahoma lost to 7-3 Baylor 45-38.
This week, the computers have Oregon: 15, 6, 12, 13, 9, 10. (Avg: 10.83)
The same computers have Oklahoma: 6, 8, 4, 6, 6, 6. (Avg: 6.0)
What? In what world does this make sense? Why on Earth is Oregon dropped six spots by the computers for a loss to USC, but Oklahoma is only dropped 2 for a loss to Baylor?????
Actually, I know the answer. It's because the computers love the Big 12. That's because the Big 12 went 27-3 in non conference play this season. (The Pac-12 has gone 21-12.) Five of the computers still have Oklahoma State #2, and five of them also have Kansas State ranked ahead of Oregon. It would be interesting to see if the computers actually ending up vetoing an all SEC Championship by putting Oklahoma State ahead of everyone else.
Fine. But Oregon's losses are to LSU and USC. Oklahoma's are to Texas Tech and Baylor. Oregon's best win is against Stanford, Oklahoma's is against Kansas State. And one computer has Oklahoma 6th and Oregon 15th.
Bowl Predictions
BCS Bowl Games
BCS National Championship- #1 LSU (13-0) vs. #2 Alabama (11-1)
Rose - #5 Oregon (11-2) vs. #10 Wisconsin (11-2)
Fiesta - #3 Oklahoma State (11-1) vs. #4 Stanford (11-1)
Sugar - #7 Boise State (11-1) vs. #8 Houston (13-0)
Orange - #18 Clemson (10-3) vs. #20 West Virginia (9-3)
Tier One
Cotton - #6 Arkansas (10-2) vs. #13 Oklahoma (9-3)
Capital One - #9 South Carolina (10-2) vs. #12 Michigan (10-2)
Outback - #18 Georgia (10-3) vs. #15 Nebraska (9-3)
Gator - #19 Penn State (9-3) vs. #25 Auburn (7-5)
Chick-fil-A - #17 Virginia Tech (11-2) vs. Florida (7-5)
Alamo - #11 Kansas State (10-2) vs. Utah (8-5)
Champs Sports - #22 Notre Dame (8-4) vs. Florida State (7-5)
Insight - #16 Michigan State (10-3) vs. #21 Baylor (8-4)
Holiday - Texas (7-5) vs. Washington (7-5)
Sun - Georgia Tech (8-4) vs. Arizona State (7-5)
Tier Two
Meineke Car Care - Iowa (7-5) vs. Missouri (7-5)
Belk - #23 Rutgers (9-3) vs. Virginia (8-4)
Music City - Wake Forest (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (6-6)
Pinstripe - Cincinnati (8-4) vs. Texas A&M (6-6)
Liberty - #24 Southern Miss (10-3) vs. Louisville (6-6)
TicketCity - Tulsa (8-4) vs. Ohio State (6-6)
Las Vegas - #14 TCU (10-2) vs. California (6-6)
Independence - Wyoming (8-4) vs. North Carolina (7-5)
St. Petersburg - SMU (7-5) vs. Pittsburgh (6-6)
Tier Three
Poinsettia - Louisiana Tech (8-4) vs. San Diego State (8-4)
Hawaii - Nevada (8-4) vs. East Carolina (6-6)
Famous Idaho Potato - Air Force (7-5) vs. Utah State (6-6)
New Orleans - Arkansas State (10-2) vs. Illinois (7-5)
Little Caesar's Pizza - Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Northwestern (6-6)
Military - North Carolina State (7-5) vs. Iowa State (6-6)
Armed Forces - Brigham Young (9-3) vs. Ohio (9-4)
Kraft Fight Hunger - Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4) vs. UCLA (6-6)
BBVA Compass - Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Tennessee (6-6)
GoDaddy.com - Toledo (8-4) vs. FIU (8-4)
All BCS Rankings and records are projected.
BCS National Championship- #1 LSU (13-0) vs. #2 Alabama (11-1)
Rose - #5 Oregon (11-2) vs. #10 Wisconsin (11-2)
Fiesta - #3 Oklahoma State (11-1) vs. #4 Stanford (11-1)
Sugar - #7 Boise State (11-1) vs. #8 Houston (13-0)
Orange - #18 Clemson (10-3) vs. #20 West Virginia (9-3)
Tier One
Cotton - #6 Arkansas (10-2) vs. #13 Oklahoma (9-3)
Capital One - #9 South Carolina (10-2) vs. #12 Michigan (10-2)
Outback - #18 Georgia (10-3) vs. #15 Nebraska (9-3)
Gator - #19 Penn State (9-3) vs. #25 Auburn (7-5)
Chick-fil-A - #17 Virginia Tech (11-2) vs. Florida (7-5)
Alamo - #11 Kansas State (10-2) vs. Utah (8-5)
Champs Sports - #22 Notre Dame (8-4) vs. Florida State (7-5)
Insight - #16 Michigan State (10-3) vs. #21 Baylor (8-4)
Holiday - Texas (7-5) vs. Washington (7-5)
Sun - Georgia Tech (8-4) vs. Arizona State (7-5)
Tier Two
Meineke Car Care - Iowa (7-5) vs. Missouri (7-5)
Belk - #23 Rutgers (9-3) vs. Virginia (8-4)
Music City - Wake Forest (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (6-6)
Pinstripe - Cincinnati (8-4) vs. Texas A&M (6-6)
Liberty - #24 Southern Miss (10-3) vs. Louisville (6-6)
TicketCity - Tulsa (8-4) vs. Ohio State (6-6)
Las Vegas - #14 TCU (10-2) vs. California (6-6)
Independence - Wyoming (8-4) vs. North Carolina (7-5)
St. Petersburg - SMU (7-5) vs. Pittsburgh (6-6)
Tier Three
Poinsettia - Louisiana Tech (8-4) vs. San Diego State (8-4)
Hawaii - Nevada (8-4) vs. East Carolina (6-6)
Famous Idaho Potato - Air Force (7-5) vs. Utah State (6-6)
New Orleans - Arkansas State (10-2) vs. Illinois (7-5)
Little Caesar's Pizza - Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Northwestern (6-6)
Military - North Carolina State (7-5) vs. Iowa State (6-6)
Armed Forces - Brigham Young (9-3) vs. Ohio (9-4)
Kraft Fight Hunger - Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4) vs. UCLA (6-6)
BBVA Compass - Western Kentucky (7-5) vs. Tennessee (6-6)
GoDaddy.com - Toledo (8-4) vs. FIU (8-4)
All BCS Rankings and records are projected.
Update on Conference Championships
Pac-12: Well, they've done it. By blowing a 10-point 4th quarter lead at home to 2-8 Arizona in the Territorial Cup, the Arizona State Sun Devils - who were once #18 in the country and 5-1 - have successfully eliminated themselves from contention in the Pac-12 South. (They've lost three in a row to UCLA, Washington State, and Arizona!) It's now down to two teams. Utah is in if they can win at home against 2-9 Colorado and if UCLA loses at USC. So what I'm saying is that the Bruins are going to the Pac-12 Championship.
Update: I guess I'm wrong. ASU can still win the division with a win against Cal and a UCLA loss to USC and a Utah win against Colorado, creating a 3-way tie that the Sun Devils would win. That's too bad. Of course, that'd be better than all three teams losing, which would send 6-6 UCLA to the conference championship.
The one silver lining on Oregon's 38-35 loss to USC is that it means it all comes down the Civil War. Ducks win, they go to the Pac-12 Championship as the North Division champs and are one win away from the Rose Bowl. Beavers win, and Stanford is in. And the Ducks get the Alamo Bowl.
SEC: Georgia, who, you'll remember, lost to Boise State 35-21, is in as the East Division champs.
#1 LSU still needs to beat Arkansas on Friday to win the West Division. If they lose, they can still get in if Alabama beats Auburn, and the Tide end ahead of Arkansas in the BCS rankings. (Likely, not assured.) If Arkansas beats LSU and Auburn beats Alabama, then Arkansas wins the division. If Arkansas beats LSU and Alabama beats Auburn and LSU falls behind both teams in the BCS rankings, then Alabama wins the division. Basically, if you like Chaos, root for Arkansas. If you like Order, root for LSU.
Big Ten: Michigan State is in, and will play the winner of Wisconsin-Penn State. Wasn't that easy?
ACC: Who cares? Clemson will play the winner of Virginia Tech-Virginia. They beat Virginia Tech 23-3 on October 1st, but haven't played Virginia.
Big 12: If Iowa State beats Oklahoma next weekend, Oklahoma State wins the conference. If Oklahoma wins, then it will be a winner take all between the Sooners and the Cowboys on December 3rd.
Big East: Oh, right. This is still a BCS conference... sigh.....
There are currently five teams with two conference losses in the Big East. Louisville (6-5) currently holds the tie breakers against West Virginia and Rutgers. Pittsburgh (5-5) holds the tiebreaker over Louisville. Cincinnati (7-3) holds tiebreakers over Louisville and Pittsburgh. Rutgers (8-3) holds tie breakers over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. West Virginia (7-3) holds tie breakers over Rutgers and Cincinnati.
One of these teams will be going to the Orange Bowl.
Update: I guess I'm wrong. ASU can still win the division with a win against Cal and a UCLA loss to USC and a Utah win against Colorado, creating a 3-way tie that the Sun Devils would win. That's too bad. Of course, that'd be better than all three teams losing, which would send 6-6 UCLA to the conference championship.
The one silver lining on Oregon's 38-35 loss to USC is that it means it all comes down the Civil War. Ducks win, they go to the Pac-12 Championship as the North Division champs and are one win away from the Rose Bowl. Beavers win, and Stanford is in. And the Ducks get the Alamo Bowl.
SEC: Georgia, who, you'll remember, lost to Boise State 35-21, is in as the East Division champs.
#1 LSU still needs to beat Arkansas on Friday to win the West Division. If they lose, they can still get in if Alabama beats Auburn, and the Tide end ahead of Arkansas in the BCS rankings. (Likely, not assured.) If Arkansas beats LSU and Auburn beats Alabama, then Arkansas wins the division. If Arkansas beats LSU and Alabama beats Auburn and LSU falls behind both teams in the BCS rankings, then Alabama wins the division. Basically, if you like Chaos, root for Arkansas. If you like Order, root for LSU.
Big Ten: Michigan State is in, and will play the winner of Wisconsin-Penn State. Wasn't that easy?
ACC: Who cares? Clemson will play the winner of Virginia Tech-Virginia. They beat Virginia Tech 23-3 on October 1st, but haven't played Virginia.
Big 12: If Iowa State beats Oklahoma next weekend, Oklahoma State wins the conference. If Oklahoma wins, then it will be a winner take all between the Sooners and the Cowboys on December 3rd.
Big East: Oh, right. This is still a BCS conference... sigh.....
There are currently five teams with two conference losses in the Big East. Louisville (6-5) currently holds the tie breakers against West Virginia and Rutgers. Pittsburgh (5-5) holds the tiebreaker over Louisville. Cincinnati (7-3) holds tiebreakers over Louisville and Pittsburgh. Rutgers (8-3) holds tie breakers over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. West Virginia (7-3) holds tie breakers over Rutgers and Cincinnati.
One of these teams will be going to the Orange Bowl.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
My Top 25
Fine! You can have your all-SEC championship! We didn't want to come any way! Poopheads!
1) LSU (11-0, 7-0, +25)
2) Alabama (10-1, 6-1, +16)
3) Arkansas (10-1, 6-1, +13)
4) Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1, +13)
5) Stanford (10-1, 8-1, +12)
6) Oregon (9-2, 7-1, +12)
7) Houston (11-0, 7-0, +11)
8) Boise State (9-1, 4-1, +7)
9) Michigan State (9-2, 6-1, +9)
10) Kansas State (9-2, 6-2, +9)
11) Virginia Tech (10-1, 7-1, +7)
12) Oklahoma (8-2, 5-2, +7)
13) USC (9-2, 6-2, +7)
14) Wisconsin (9-2, 5-2, +3)
15) Georgia (9-2, 7-1, +3)
16) Penn State (9-2, 6-1, +4)
17) TCU (9-2, 7-0, +3)
18) Michigan (9-2, 5-2, +2)
19) South Carolina (9-2, 6-2, +1)
20)Clemson (9-2, 6-2, +1)
21) Baylor (7-3, 4-3, +4)
22) Nebraska (8-3, 4-3, +3)
23) Southern Miss (9-2, 5-2, -2)
24) Georgia Tech (8-3, 5-3, -3)
25) Auburn (7-4, 4-2, -4)
Notre Dame (8-3, 0-0, -5)
West Virginia (7-3, 3-2, -6)
Rutgers (8-3, 4-2, -7)
Brigham Young (8-3, 0-0, -7)
Virginia (8-3, 5-2, -9)
Northern Illinois (8-3, 6-1, -7)
Iowa (7-4, 4-3, -13)
Utah (7-4, 4-4, -15)
1) LSU (11-0, 7-0, +25)
2) Alabama (10-1, 6-1, +16)
3) Arkansas (10-1, 6-1, +13)
4) Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1, +13)
5) Stanford (10-1, 8-1, +12)
6) Oregon (9-2, 7-1, +12)
7) Houston (11-0, 7-0, +11)
8) Boise State (9-1, 4-1, +7)
9) Michigan State (9-2, 6-1, +9)
10) Kansas State (9-2, 6-2, +9)
11) Virginia Tech (10-1, 7-1, +7)
12) Oklahoma (8-2, 5-2, +7)
13) USC (9-2, 6-2, +7)
14) Wisconsin (9-2, 5-2, +3)
15) Georgia (9-2, 7-1, +3)
16) Penn State (9-2, 6-1, +4)
17) TCU (9-2, 7-0, +3)
18) Michigan (9-2, 5-2, +2)
19) South Carolina (9-2, 6-2, +1)
20)Clemson (9-2, 6-2, +1)
21) Baylor (7-3, 4-3, +4)
22) Nebraska (8-3, 4-3, +3)
23) Southern Miss (9-2, 5-2, -2)
24) Georgia Tech (8-3, 5-3, -3)
25) Auburn (7-4, 4-2, -4)
Notre Dame (8-3, 0-0, -5)
West Virginia (7-3, 3-2, -6)
Rutgers (8-3, 4-2, -7)
Brigham Young (8-3, 0-0, -7)
Virginia (8-3, 5-2, -9)
Northern Illinois (8-3, 6-1, -7)
Iowa (7-4, 4-3, -13)
Utah (7-4, 4-4, -15)
Friday, November 18, 2011
Who Will Be In The Pac-12 Championship?
Unfortunately, someone has to represent the Pac-12 South Division in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship game. USC (8-2) is banned, so that means that one of three incredibly mediocre teams will be in the game: 5-5 UCLA, 6-4 Arizona State, or 6-4 Utah. If the game were tomorrow, 5-5 UCLA - who hasn't even qualified for a bowl game yet! - would get a one-game playoff for the Rose Bowl.
But who will it be? Here are the remainder of their schedules:
UCLA: vs. Colorado (2-9), @ USC (8-2)
Arizona State: vs. Arizona (2-8), vs. California (6-4)
Utah: @ Washington State (4-6), vs. Colorado (2-9)*
*Colorado plays 13 games this year because they had a road game at Hawaii.
Utah beat UCLA. UCLA beat Arizona State. Arizona State beat Utah.
UCLA needs:
1) To win out OR
2) To win once AND have Utah lose once AND have Arizona State lose once OR
3) To lose twice AND have Arizona State lose once AND have Utah lose twice
Arizona State needs:
1) To win out AND have UCLA lose once OR
2) To win once AND have UCLA lose twice
Utah needs:
1) To win out AND have UCLA lose once AND Arizona State lose twice.
If Utah wins twice and Arizona State and UCLA both win once, then there's a three way tie. The next tie breaker would be games played within the division, which Arizona State would win.
UCLA: 2-3
Arizona State: 4-1 or 3-2
Utah: 3-2
Hopefully either Utah or Arizona State will win out and be a respectable 8-4. But the odds are that a 6-6 UCLA will be in that championship game.
But who will it be? Here are the remainder of their schedules:
UCLA: vs. Colorado (2-9), @ USC (8-2)
Arizona State: vs. Arizona (2-8), vs. California (6-4)
Utah: @ Washington State (4-6), vs. Colorado (2-9)*
*Colorado plays 13 games this year because they had a road game at Hawaii.
Utah beat UCLA. UCLA beat Arizona State. Arizona State beat Utah.
UCLA needs:
1) To win out OR
2) To win once AND have Utah lose once AND have Arizona State lose once OR
3) To lose twice AND have Arizona State lose once AND have Utah lose twice
Arizona State needs:
1) To win out AND have UCLA lose once OR
2) To win once AND have UCLA lose twice
Utah needs:
1) To win out AND have UCLA lose once AND Arizona State lose twice.
If Utah wins twice and Arizona State and UCLA both win once, then there's a three way tie. The next tie breaker would be games played within the division, which Arizona State would win.
UCLA: 2-3
Arizona State: 4-1 or 3-2
Utah: 3-2
Hopefully either Utah or Arizona State will win out and be a respectable 8-4. But the odds are that a 6-6 UCLA will be in that championship game.
Ducks vs. Tide
I was hoping that we could get some idea of which one-loss team would be more deserving of a rematch in national championship, but I failed. It turns out that the Ducks and the Tide have almost exactly the same schedules, based on rankings and standings. The difference that tips the scales to Alabama's favor is their single FCS opponent is 9-1 Georgia Southern, whereas Oregon's was 1-9 Missouri State.
Some other interesting comparisons:
Oregon plays one more conference opponent than Alabama. So which is a more valuable win: Oregon's over Pac-12 Colorado (2-9) or Alabama's over MAC Kent State (4-6)?
Who do you pick: #8 Stanford or #6 Arkansas? #18 USC or #21 Penn State? #1 LSU by 13 in Dallas, or #1 LSU by 3 in OT in Tuscaloosa? Personally, I think the Ducks have had a tougher road when comparing the three ranked teams they have played. But that's my bias.
I believe that the SEC is a tougher conference than the Pac-12. But Alabama has had it pretty easy, getting to avoid playing #13 Georgia and #14 South Carolina. (Along with 4-6 Kentucky) Oregon, meanwhile, avoids 5-5 UCLA and 6-4 Utah, but could end up playing either of them in the Pac-12 championship. Unfortunately.
Oregon:
@ #1 LSU (10-0)
vs. Nevada (6-3)
vs. Missouri State (1-9)
@ Arizona (2-8)
vs. California (6-4)
vs. Arizona State (6-4)
@ Colorado (2-9)
vs. Washington State (4-6)
@ Washington (6-4)
@ #8 Stanford (9-1)
vs. #18 USC (8-2)
vs. Oregon State (2-8)
Opponent Record 62-58
- Missouri State
61-49
Alabama
vs. Kent State (4-6)
@ #21 Penn State (8-2)
vs. North Texas (4-6)
vs. #6 Arkansas (9-1)
@ Florida (5-5)
vs. Vanderbilt (5-5)
@ Mississippi (2-8)
vs. Tennessee (4-6)
vs. #1 LSU (10-0)
@ Mississippi State (5-5)
vs. Georgia Southern (9-1)
@ Auburn (6-4)
Opponent Record 71-51
- Georgia Southern
62-50
Oregon Alabama
@ #1 LSU (10-0) vs. #1 LSU (10-0)
@ #8 Stanford (9-1) vs. #6 Arkansas (9-1)
vs. #18 USC (8-2) @ #21 Penn State (8-2)
vs. Missouri State (1-9) vs. Georgia Southern (9-1)
vs. Nevada (6-3) vs. North Texas (4-6)
vs. Arizona State (6-4) @ Auburn (6-4)
@ Washington (6-4) @ Florida (5-5)
vs. California (6-4) vs. Vanderbilt (5-5)
vs. Washington State (4-6) @ Mississippi State (5-5)
@ Arizona (2-8) vs. Tennessee (4-6)
vs. Oregon State (2-8) @ Mississippi (2-8)
@ Colorado (2-9) vs. Kent State (4-6)
Some other interesting comparisons:
Oregon plays one more conference opponent than Alabama. So which is a more valuable win: Oregon's over Pac-12 Colorado (2-9) or Alabama's over MAC Kent State (4-6)?
Who do you pick: #8 Stanford or #6 Arkansas? #18 USC or #21 Penn State? #1 LSU by 13 in Dallas, or #1 LSU by 3 in OT in Tuscaloosa? Personally, I think the Ducks have had a tougher road when comparing the three ranked teams they have played. But that's my bias.
I believe that the SEC is a tougher conference than the Pac-12. But Alabama has had it pretty easy, getting to avoid playing #13 Georgia and #14 South Carolina. (Along with 4-6 Kentucky) Oregon, meanwhile, avoids 5-5 UCLA and 6-4 Utah, but could end up playing either of them in the Pac-12 championship. Unfortunately.
Oregon:
@ #1 LSU (10-0)
vs. Nevada (6-3)
vs. Missouri State (1-9)
@ Arizona (2-8)
vs. California (6-4)
vs. Arizona State (6-4)
@ Colorado (2-9)
vs. Washington State (4-6)
@ Washington (6-4)
@ #8 Stanford (9-1)
vs. #18 USC (8-2)
vs. Oregon State (2-8)
Opponent Record 62-58
- Missouri State
61-49
Alabama
vs. Kent State (4-6)
@ #21 Penn State (8-2)
vs. North Texas (4-6)
vs. #6 Arkansas (9-1)
@ Florida (5-5)
vs. Vanderbilt (5-5)
@ Mississippi (2-8)
vs. Tennessee (4-6)
vs. #1 LSU (10-0)
@ Mississippi State (5-5)
vs. Georgia Southern (9-1)
@ Auburn (6-4)
Opponent Record 71-51
- Georgia Southern
62-50
Oregon Alabama
@ #1 LSU (10-0) vs. #1 LSU (10-0)
@ #8 Stanford (9-1) vs. #6 Arkansas (9-1)
vs. #18 USC (8-2) @ #21 Penn State (8-2)
vs. Missouri State (1-9) vs. Georgia Southern (9-1)
vs. Nevada (6-3) vs. North Texas (4-6)
vs. Arizona State (6-4) @ Auburn (6-4)
@ Washington (6-4) @ Florida (5-5)
vs. California (6-4) vs. Vanderbilt (5-5)
vs. Washington State (4-6) @ Mississippi State (5-5)
@ Arizona (2-8) vs. Tennessee (4-6)
vs. Oregon State (2-8) @ Mississippi (2-8)
@ Colorado (2-9) vs. Kent State (4-6)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Power Rankings
1) LSU Tigers (10-0, 6-0) - With Boise State and Stanford losing last night, the calls are growing louder for a BCS Championship rematch: Either LSU-Alabama or LSU-Oregon. I'm opposed to this, but we're fast running out of other options. The most likely is to revert to the idea that the winner of Oklahoma-Oklahoma State gets the other spot in the championship game, but if the Sooners win out, then we get the unpalatable notion of having a team that lost to 5-5 Texas Tech in the NC game.
2) Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-0, 7-0) - Hopefully, OK-State will end the season undefeated, and save us the trouble of picking from a host of one-loss teams to play LSU. When I turned on the TV yesterday morning, the Cowboys were already up on Texas Tech - that 5-5 team that beat Oklahoma - 42-0... in the second quarter. They went on to win 66-6, with Brandon Weeden going 31 for 37 for 423 yards and 5 TDs. At what point are the Cowboys considered the favorites against Oklahoma?
3) Oregon Ducks (9-1, 7-0) - I've gotten most of my predictions wrong this season (See: Boise State will play for a championship, or Alabama will beat LSU.) But I'm glad that I went against the tide and picked my Ducks to win this game. Stanford's defense had shown weaknesses against USC, Washington, and Oregon State, and last night Oregon was able to take advantage, averaging 5.0 yards per rush and LaMichael James run for 146 yards and 3 touchdowns. The real difference, though, was Oregon's
2) Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-0, 7-0) - Hopefully, OK-State will end the season undefeated, and save us the trouble of picking from a host of one-loss teams to play LSU. When I turned on the TV yesterday morning, the Cowboys were already up on Texas Tech - that 5-5 team that beat Oklahoma - 42-0... in the second quarter. They went on to win 66-6, with Brandon Weeden going 31 for 37 for 423 yards and 5 TDs. At what point are the Cowboys considered the favorites against Oklahoma?
3) Oregon Ducks (9-1, 7-0) - I've gotten most of my predictions wrong this season (See: Boise State will play for a championship, or Alabama will beat LSU.) But I'm glad that I went against the tide and picked my Ducks to win this game. Stanford's defense had shown weaknesses against USC, Washington, and Oregon State, and last night Oregon was able to take advantage, averaging 5.0 yards per rush and LaMichael James run for 146 yards and 3 touchdowns. The real difference, though, was Oregon's
Saturday, November 12, 2011
My Top 25
1) LSU (10-0, 6-0, +24)
2) Oklahoma State (10-0, 7-0, +19)
3) Oregon (9-1, 7-0, +16)
4) Alabama (9-1, 6-1, +15)
5 ) Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1, +13)
6) Arkansas (9-1, 5-1, +12)
7) Stanford ( 9-1, 7-1, +11)
8 ) Houston (10-0, 6-0, +10)
9) Clemson (9-1, 6-1, +7)
10) Boise State (8-1, 3-1, +6)
11) Michigan State (8-2, 5-1, +8)
12) Virginia Tech (9-1, 6-1, +6)
13) Southern Miss ( 9-1, 5-1, +4)
14) Nebraska (8-2, 4-2, +8)
15) Kansas State (8-2, 5-2, +7)
16) Wisconsin (8-2, 4-2, +2)
17) Georgia (8-2, 6-1, +2)
18) Penn State (8-2, 5-1, +3)
19 ) TCU (8-2, 6-0, +2)
20) USC (8-2, 5-2, +1)
21) South Carolina (8-2, 6-2, 0)
22) West Virginia (7-2, 3-1, 0)
23) Michigan (8-2, 4-2, -2)
24) Cincinnati (7-2, 3-1, -5)
25) Texas (6-3, 3-3, -1)
West Virginia (7-3, 3-2, -3)
Georgia Tech (7-3, 4-3, -4)
Notre Dame (7-3, 0-0, -6)
Florida State (7-3, 4-2, -6)
Virginia (7-3, 5-2, -8)
Brigham Young (7-3, 0-0, -8)
2) Oklahoma State (10-0, 7-0, +19)
3) Oregon (9-1, 7-0, +16)
4) Alabama (9-1, 6-1, +15)
5 ) Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1, +13)
6) Arkansas (9-1, 5-1, +12)
7) Stanford ( 9-1, 7-1, +11)
8 ) Houston (10-0, 6-0, +10)
9) Clemson (9-1, 6-1, +7)
10) Boise State (8-1, 3-1, +6)
11) Michigan State (8-2, 5-1, +8)
12) Virginia Tech (9-1, 6-1, +6)
13) Southern Miss ( 9-1, 5-1, +4)
14) Nebraska (8-2, 4-2, +8)
15) Kansas State (8-2, 5-2, +7)
16) Wisconsin (8-2, 4-2, +2)
17) Georgia (8-2, 6-1, +2)
18) Penn State (8-2, 5-1, +3)
19 ) TCU (8-2, 6-0, +2)
20) USC (8-2, 5-2, +1)
21) South Carolina (8-2, 6-2, 0)
22) West Virginia (7-2, 3-1, 0)
23) Michigan (8-2, 4-2, -2)
24) Cincinnati (7-2, 3-1, -5)
25) Texas (6-3, 3-3, -1)
West Virginia (7-3, 3-2, -3)
Georgia Tech (7-3, 4-3, -4)
Notre Dame (7-3, 0-0, -6)
Florida State (7-3, 4-2, -6)
Virginia (7-3, 5-2, -8)
Brigham Young (7-3, 0-0, -8)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Power Rankings 11/05
1) LSU Tigers (9-0, 6-0) - Well, I underestimated LSU's defense. I'm sorry. I owe them an apology, especially defensive back Eric Reid, whose interception inside the red zone probably prevented what would have been the only touchdown of the game. The Tigers get a bye week next week against Western Kentucky before taking a trip to Mississippi. Trap game? Not likely. Last Week: #1. Next Game: vs. Western Kentucky
2) Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0, 6-0) Last Week: #3. Next Game: at Texas Tech
3) Stanford Cardinal (9-0, 7-0) - Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. The Pac-12 game of the week is next week, when Stanford hosts Oregon. Both teams have had trouble defending the run lately, and the could portend a final combined score closer to 100 than to 50. Stanford has a little secret weapon named Andrew Luck, though, and his 26-to-5 TD-to-INT ratio on the year. Oregon's Darron Thomas isn't much worse though, with a ratio of 19-to-5. I guess I'm saying that I think turnovers might be the difference in this game. Last Week: #4. Next Game: vs. #7 Oregon.
4) Boise State Broncos (8-0, 3-0) - I'm always the first one to get to the BSU party, and the last one to leave. Both the AP and the Coaches have one-loss Alabama ahead of the Broncos, but not me. This is Boise State's year, I'm telling you; Oklahoma's gonna beat OSU, and Stanford will lose to the Ducks. Then the voters will have only LSU and Boise State left, at the end of the day. Or, we could just have Boise State beat Alabama 31-10 in the Sugar Bowl. I'm cool with that, too. Last Week: #5. Next Game: vs. #23 TCU
5) Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1) - This is becoming my theme for the season: In order to be happy, says Aristotle, man must also be lucky. Alabama went 2 for 6 on field goals in their 9-6 overtime loss to LSU, and only one of those kicks was blocked. The Tide have two more tough road games ahead of them, at Mississippi State and at Auburn. They will now need a lot of help to get to the SEC championship game. Last Week: #2 Next Game: at Mississippi State
6) Oklahoma Sooners (8-1, 5-1) - The Sooners looked pretty scary/good taking apart Texas A&M 41-25, especially in forcing Aggies QB Ryan Tannehill into completing "only" 32 passes in 63 attempts and throwing 3 interceptions. Oklahoma will miss another Ryan, WR Ryan Broyles, who tore his ACL in his left knee. Oklahoma finishes the season at Baylor, home against Iowa State, and then at Oklahoma State for Bedlam. Last Week: #7 Next Game: at Baylor
7) Oregon Ducks (8-1, 6-0) - Maybe for the first time this year, I felt like the Ducks were playing to their full potential in the third quarter against Washington. Their hurry-up offense, their bend-don't-break defense, their fashion sense; all of it seemed to be working for them. Most importantly, their running backs all seemed at full strength, and that should give the Ducks some confidence going in to Palo Alto next week. Last Week: #8 Next Game: at #3 Stanford
8) Arkansas Razorbacks (8-1, 4-1) - After two sloppy wins, the Razorbacks looked good in their 44-28 win against South Carolina. They are also LSU's last obstacle, as they visit Baton Rouge on Nov. 25th for their season finale. Believe it or not, Arkansas can still win the SEC West if they win out, and maybe get some help from the voters. Now wouldn't that just spoil everyone's prefabricated narratives? Last Week: #9 Next Game: vs. Tennessee
9) Houston Cougars (9-0, 5-0) - Sorry, Cougars. After a month of stubbornly keeping them high in my rankings, I can no longer justify keeping them above the top bevy of 1-loss teams. I decided this after realizing that Louisiana-Lafayette is 8-2, and who in their right mind would have them in the top 25? I'm keeping Boise State high because I honestly believe that they could beat Oklahoma or Stanford or Alabama. But could a team like Houston hang with a team like Oregon? No. Last Week: #6 Next Game: at Tulane
10) Penn State Nittany Lions (8-1, 5-0) - OK, I am now selling on Penn State. Please read this column from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The sports that we love can inspire us and fill us with joy. But they also make people lots of money, and therefore people are willing to commit the worst of sins for the sake of sports. Last Week: #13 Next Game: vs. #20 Nebraska
11) Clemson Tigers (8-1, 5-1) Last Week: #11 Next Game: vs. Wake Forest
12) Michigan State Spartans (7-2, 4-1) - This needs some explaining. Michigan State gets such a big boost not for beating lowly Minnesota but because: a) Nebraska's loss breaks their tie in the "Legends" division, b) Wisconsin won, and Michigan State has to stay ahead of them, and c) there needs to be some space between Clemson and Virginia Tech, because Clemson beat VT 23-3. Still, this is probably too high for the 2-loss Spartans. Last Week: #19 Next Game: at Iowa
13) Virginia Tech Hokies (8-1, 5-1) - I'm not quite sure what to do here. Virginia Tech has only one loss, but that was a 23-3 drubbing at home at the hands of Clemson. Also, VT's best win so far is probably against Wake Forest. All in all, the Hokies play what I think is one of the easiest schedules in college football; they played 0 games against non-conference opponents from a BCS conference, and play a grand total of 2 games against AP Top 25 teams. (No. 9 Clemson, and No. 20 Georgia Tech, next week.) And yet this team could very easily be going to the Orange Bowl. Again. Last Week: #14 Next Game: at Georgia Tech
14) Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1, 3-0) - My father-in-law went to med school at Cincinnati, and they just beat Pitt, where his father went to med school, 26-23. He sometimes calls me after he watches the Ducks play, and makes fun of their uniforms, or their propensity for getting arrested going 180 miles per hour down I-5. The point is, someone is going to win the Big East, and that someone will get to go to a BCS bowl. Maybe it will be Cincinnati. Last Week: #18 Next Game: vs. West Virginia
15) Southern Miss Golden Eagles (8-1, 4-1) Last Week: #16 Next Game: vs. UCF
16) Kansas State Wildcats (7-2, 4-2) - That game almost broke my heart. A week after getting their butt's kicked by Oklahoma, the Fighting Snyders come out and play like champions against OK-State, losing 52-45 on three consecutive incomplete passes into the end zone. All is not lost in Manhattan, but here is another sad cruelty about college football: Two weeks ago, the Wildcats were entertaining national championship aspirations. Today, they're hoping that they get an invitation to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Last Week: #12 Next Game: vs. Texas A&M
17) Texas Longhorns (6-2, 3-2) Last Week: #20 Next Game: at Missouri
18) Wisconsin Badgers (7-2, 3-2) - Poor Wisconsin, poor Wisconsin. The Badgers are two plays away from being in line to play for the national championship. As it stands, however, they'll have a tough time even making it to the Big Ten Championship. To do so, they need to win out (against Minnesota, Illinois, and Penn State), and have Penn State lose at least one other game (to either Nebraska or Ohio State), and have Ohio State lose at least once more (to Purdue, Penn State, or Michigan). Is there any way for both Penn State and Ohio State to lose when they play each other Nov. 19? That would be good for the Badgers. Last Week: #21 Next Game: at Minnesota
19) Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-1) - South Carolina's loss is Georgia's win, who are now alone in first place in the SEC East. And what happens when the Bulldogs pull off the upset-of-the-century against LSU in the SEC Championship game? Or even when Les Miles needs one of his patented "acts of God" to escape with a 28-27 win? Against a team that lost to Boise State in Atlanta by two touchdowns? Are you still going to want your LSU-Alabama rematch then? (Yeah, you probably will... ) Last Week: #23 Next Game: vs. #25 Auburn
20) Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2, 3-2) - Sorry, Nebraska fans, but I love that the Cornhuskers lost at home to Northwestern, 28-25. That game had all that I love in a college football game: Underdog coming up big on the road, back-up quarterback leading his team down the stretch, hilarious pictures of despondent home team fans. Onside kicks. An added bonus is the fact that this game has thrown the Big Ten into total chaos, and has more or less ended Nebraska's BCS chances. (Not entirely, though. Something tells me that there's still a lot of chaos to be had.) Last Week: #10 Next Game: at #10 Penn State
21) USC Trojans (7-2, 4-2) - Remember when Colorado use to have a football team? They're 1-9 this year, with losses including: 42-17 to USC, 48-14 to Arizona State, 45-2 to Oregon, 48-7 to Stanford, 52-24 to Washington. Sometimes consistency is not a good thing. Still plenty of time for the Buffaloes to ruin UCLA's or Utah's seasons, though! Matt Barkley's stat line against Colorado: 25 for 39, 318 yards, 6 TDs. Last Week: #25 Next Game: vs. Washington
22) South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2, 5-2) - I think that it has become painfully clear that the most damaging injury in college football has been Marcus Lattimore's torn knee ligament. Without him, South Carolina becomes a one-dimensional team on offense. It's also telling that an Arkansas team that only scored 14 points against Alabama hung 44 on South Carolina. There is still an achievement gap there. Last Week: #15 Next Game: vs. Florida
23) TCU Horned Frogs (7-2, 5-0) - Welcome back from the desert, Horned Frogs! And you're just in time for your showdown against Boise State! I'm not entirely crazy with this pick, as TCU sits just outside of the AP top 25 with 52 voter points. And look at their schedule: Their two losses are 50-48 to Baylor and 40-33 to SMU. And they have wins against Air Force, Brigham Young, and a pretty good Wyoming team. Their schedule has seven bowl eligible teams on it. But make no doubt about it - this is not last year's Rose Bowl squad. Case in point: Wyoming's 353 total yards. Also, Wyoming has a back-up quarterback named Colby Kirkegaard. That's cool. Last Week: NR Next Game: at #4 Boise State
24) Michigan Wolverines (7-2, 3-2) - Here's a nightmare scenario for you: Michigan beats Illinois (next week) and upsets Nebraska (on the 19th). Ohio State wins at Purdue and at home against Penn State. Penn State loses to Nebraska and Ohio State before rebounding to beat Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Michigan State tanks, losing at Iowa and at Northwestern. The Buckeyes then go into Ann Arbor on November 26th, with a winner-take-all trip to the Big Ten championship game on the line. Improbable? Yes. Impossible? No. Last Week: #17 Next Game: at Illinois
25) Auburn Tigers (6-3, 4-2) - Last Week: NR Next Game: at #19 Georgia
2) Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0, 6-0) Last Week: #3. Next Game: at Texas Tech
3) Stanford Cardinal (9-0, 7-0) - Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. The Pac-12 game of the week is next week, when Stanford hosts Oregon. Both teams have had trouble defending the run lately, and the could portend a final combined score closer to 100 than to 50. Stanford has a little secret weapon named Andrew Luck, though, and his 26-to-5 TD-to-INT ratio on the year. Oregon's Darron Thomas isn't much worse though, with a ratio of 19-to-5. I guess I'm saying that I think turnovers might be the difference in this game. Last Week: #4. Next Game: vs. #7 Oregon.
4) Boise State Broncos (8-0, 3-0) - I'm always the first one to get to the BSU party, and the last one to leave. Both the AP and the Coaches have one-loss Alabama ahead of the Broncos, but not me. This is Boise State's year, I'm telling you; Oklahoma's gonna beat OSU, and Stanford will lose to the Ducks. Then the voters will have only LSU and Boise State left, at the end of the day. Or, we could just have Boise State beat Alabama 31-10 in the Sugar Bowl. I'm cool with that, too. Last Week: #5. Next Game: vs. #23 TCU
5) Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1) - This is becoming my theme for the season: In order to be happy, says Aristotle, man must also be lucky. Alabama went 2 for 6 on field goals in their 9-6 overtime loss to LSU, and only one of those kicks was blocked. The Tide have two more tough road games ahead of them, at Mississippi State and at Auburn. They will now need a lot of help to get to the SEC championship game. Last Week: #2 Next Game: at Mississippi State
6) Oklahoma Sooners (8-1, 5-1) - The Sooners looked pretty scary/good taking apart Texas A&M 41-25, especially in forcing Aggies QB Ryan Tannehill into completing "only" 32 passes in 63 attempts and throwing 3 interceptions. Oklahoma will miss another Ryan, WR Ryan Broyles, who tore his ACL in his left knee. Oklahoma finishes the season at Baylor, home against Iowa State, and then at Oklahoma State for Bedlam. Last Week: #7 Next Game: at Baylor
7) Oregon Ducks (8-1, 6-0) - Maybe for the first time this year, I felt like the Ducks were playing to their full potential in the third quarter against Washington. Their hurry-up offense, their bend-don't-break defense, their fashion sense; all of it seemed to be working for them. Most importantly, their running backs all seemed at full strength, and that should give the Ducks some confidence going in to Palo Alto next week. Last Week: #8 Next Game: at #3 Stanford
8) Arkansas Razorbacks (8-1, 4-1) - After two sloppy wins, the Razorbacks looked good in their 44-28 win against South Carolina. They are also LSU's last obstacle, as they visit Baton Rouge on Nov. 25th for their season finale. Believe it or not, Arkansas can still win the SEC West if they win out, and maybe get some help from the voters. Now wouldn't that just spoil everyone's prefabricated narratives? Last Week: #9 Next Game: vs. Tennessee
9) Houston Cougars (9-0, 5-0) - Sorry, Cougars. After a month of stubbornly keeping them high in my rankings, I can no longer justify keeping them above the top bevy of 1-loss teams. I decided this after realizing that Louisiana-Lafayette is 8-2, and who in their right mind would have them in the top 25? I'm keeping Boise State high because I honestly believe that they could beat Oklahoma or Stanford or Alabama. But could a team like Houston hang with a team like Oregon? No. Last Week: #6 Next Game: at Tulane
10) Penn State Nittany Lions (8-1, 5-0) - OK, I am now selling on Penn State. Please read this column from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The sports that we love can inspire us and fill us with joy. But they also make people lots of money, and therefore people are willing to commit the worst of sins for the sake of sports. Last Week: #13 Next Game: vs. #20 Nebraska
11) Clemson Tigers (8-1, 5-1) Last Week: #11 Next Game: vs. Wake Forest
12) Michigan State Spartans (7-2, 4-1) - This needs some explaining. Michigan State gets such a big boost not for beating lowly Minnesota but because: a) Nebraska's loss breaks their tie in the "Legends" division, b) Wisconsin won, and Michigan State has to stay ahead of them, and c) there needs to be some space between Clemson and Virginia Tech, because Clemson beat VT 23-3. Still, this is probably too high for the 2-loss Spartans. Last Week: #19 Next Game: at Iowa
13) Virginia Tech Hokies (8-1, 5-1) - I'm not quite sure what to do here. Virginia Tech has only one loss, but that was a 23-3 drubbing at home at the hands of Clemson. Also, VT's best win so far is probably against Wake Forest. All in all, the Hokies play what I think is one of the easiest schedules in college football; they played 0 games against non-conference opponents from a BCS conference, and play a grand total of 2 games against AP Top 25 teams. (No. 9 Clemson, and No. 20 Georgia Tech, next week.) And yet this team could very easily be going to the Orange Bowl. Again. Last Week: #14 Next Game: at Georgia Tech
14) Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1, 3-0) - My father-in-law went to med school at Cincinnati, and they just beat Pitt, where his father went to med school, 26-23. He sometimes calls me after he watches the Ducks play, and makes fun of their uniforms, or their propensity for getting arrested going 180 miles per hour down I-5. The point is, someone is going to win the Big East, and that someone will get to go to a BCS bowl. Maybe it will be Cincinnati. Last Week: #18 Next Game: vs. West Virginia
15) Southern Miss Golden Eagles (8-1, 4-1) Last Week: #16 Next Game: vs. UCF
16) Kansas State Wildcats (7-2, 4-2) - That game almost broke my heart. A week after getting their butt's kicked by Oklahoma, the Fighting Snyders come out and play like champions against OK-State, losing 52-45 on three consecutive incomplete passes into the end zone. All is not lost in Manhattan, but here is another sad cruelty about college football: Two weeks ago, the Wildcats were entertaining national championship aspirations. Today, they're hoping that they get an invitation to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Last Week: #12 Next Game: vs. Texas A&M
17) Texas Longhorns (6-2, 3-2) Last Week: #20 Next Game: at Missouri
18) Wisconsin Badgers (7-2, 3-2) - Poor Wisconsin, poor Wisconsin. The Badgers are two plays away from being in line to play for the national championship. As it stands, however, they'll have a tough time even making it to the Big Ten Championship. To do so, they need to win out (against Minnesota, Illinois, and Penn State), and have Penn State lose at least one other game (to either Nebraska or Ohio State), and have Ohio State lose at least once more (to Purdue, Penn State, or Michigan). Is there any way for both Penn State and Ohio State to lose when they play each other Nov. 19? That would be good for the Badgers. Last Week: #21 Next Game: at Minnesota
19) Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-1) - South Carolina's loss is Georgia's win, who are now alone in first place in the SEC East. And what happens when the Bulldogs pull off the upset-of-the-century against LSU in the SEC Championship game? Or even when Les Miles needs one of his patented "acts of God" to escape with a 28-27 win? Against a team that lost to Boise State in Atlanta by two touchdowns? Are you still going to want your LSU-Alabama rematch then? (Yeah, you probably will... ) Last Week: #23 Next Game: vs. #25 Auburn
20) Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2, 3-2) - Sorry, Nebraska fans, but I love that the Cornhuskers lost at home to Northwestern, 28-25. That game had all that I love in a college football game: Underdog coming up big on the road, back-up quarterback leading his team down the stretch, hilarious pictures of despondent home team fans. Onside kicks. An added bonus is the fact that this game has thrown the Big Ten into total chaos, and has more or less ended Nebraska's BCS chances. (Not entirely, though. Something tells me that there's still a lot of chaos to be had.) Last Week: #10 Next Game: at #10 Penn State
21) USC Trojans (7-2, 4-2) - Remember when Colorado use to have a football team? They're 1-9 this year, with losses including: 42-17 to USC, 48-14 to Arizona State, 45-2 to Oregon, 48-7 to Stanford, 52-24 to Washington. Sometimes consistency is not a good thing. Still plenty of time for the Buffaloes to ruin UCLA's or Utah's seasons, though! Matt Barkley's stat line against Colorado: 25 for 39, 318 yards, 6 TDs. Last Week: #25 Next Game: vs. Washington
22) South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2, 5-2) - I think that it has become painfully clear that the most damaging injury in college football has been Marcus Lattimore's torn knee ligament. Without him, South Carolina becomes a one-dimensional team on offense. It's also telling that an Arkansas team that only scored 14 points against Alabama hung 44 on South Carolina. There is still an achievement gap there. Last Week: #15 Next Game: vs. Florida
23) TCU Horned Frogs (7-2, 5-0) - Welcome back from the desert, Horned Frogs! And you're just in time for your showdown against Boise State! I'm not entirely crazy with this pick, as TCU sits just outside of the AP top 25 with 52 voter points. And look at their schedule: Their two losses are 50-48 to Baylor and 40-33 to SMU. And they have wins against Air Force, Brigham Young, and a pretty good Wyoming team. Their schedule has seven bowl eligible teams on it. But make no doubt about it - this is not last year's Rose Bowl squad. Case in point: Wyoming's 353 total yards. Also, Wyoming has a back-up quarterback named Colby Kirkegaard. That's cool. Last Week: NR Next Game: at #4 Boise State
24) Michigan Wolverines (7-2, 3-2) - Here's a nightmare scenario for you: Michigan beats Illinois (next week) and upsets Nebraska (on the 19th). Ohio State wins at Purdue and at home against Penn State. Penn State loses to Nebraska and Ohio State before rebounding to beat Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Michigan State tanks, losing at Iowa and at Northwestern. The Buckeyes then go into Ann Arbor on November 26th, with a winner-take-all trip to the Big Ten championship game on the line. Improbable? Yes. Impossible? No. Last Week: #17 Next Game: at Illinois
25) Auburn Tigers (6-3, 4-2) - Last Week: NR Next Game: at #19 Georgia
Bowl Predictions - Nov. 6
BCS Bowl Games
BCS National Championship - LSU vs. Boise State
Rose - Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Fiesta - Oklahoma vs. Stanford
Sugar - Alabama vs. Cincinnati
Orange - Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
Tier One and Two Bowls
Cotton - Arkansas vs. Texas
Capital One - Georgia vs. Nebraska
Outback - South Carolina vs. Michigan State
Gator - Ohio State vs. Auburn
Chick-fil-A - Clemson vs. Florida
Alamo - Arizona State vs. Texas A&M
Champs Sports - Notre Dame vs. Florida State
Insight - Kansas State vs. Penn State
Holiday - Washington vs. Baylor
Sun - UCLA vs. Miami
Tier Three Bowls
Meineke Car Care - Missouri vs. Michigan
Belk - Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia
Music City - Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest
Pinstripe - Texas Tech vs. Rutgers
Liberty - Houston vs. Syracuse
TicketCity - Southern Miss vs. Iowa
Las Vegas - California vs. TCU
Independence - North Carolina vs. Air Force
St. Petersburg - SMU vs. Louisville
Tier Four Bowls
Poinsettia - Nevada vs. Wyoming
Hawaii - Hawaii vs. Tulsa
Famous Idaho Potato - Louisiana Tech vs. San Diego State
New Orleans - Marshall vs. Louisiana Lafayette
Little Caesar's Pizza - Illinois vs. Ohio
Military - Virginia vs. Navy*
Armed Forces - Brigham Young vs. UCF
Kraft Fight Hunger - Utah vs. Army**
BBVA Compass - Connecticut vs. Tennessee***
GoDaddy.com - Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois
*If Navy doesn't have enough wins to qualify, their replacement will come from C-USA. Probably East Carolina.
** If Army doesn't have enough wins to qualify, I think their replacement will come from either the ACC or the WAC. So let's say.... Fresno State?
*** It'll be tough for either of these teams to become bowl eligible this year. BBVA Compass's fall back conferences are the Sun Belt and the ACC. So let's say they'll pick the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and their weird orange blob of a mascot.
BCS National Championship - LSU vs. Boise State
Rose - Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Fiesta - Oklahoma vs. Stanford
Sugar - Alabama vs. Cincinnati
Orange - Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
Tier One and Two Bowls
Cotton - Arkansas vs. Texas
Capital One - Georgia vs. Nebraska
Outback - South Carolina vs. Michigan State
Gator - Ohio State vs. Auburn
Chick-fil-A - Clemson vs. Florida
Alamo - Arizona State vs. Texas A&M
Champs Sports - Notre Dame vs. Florida State
Insight - Kansas State vs. Penn State
Holiday - Washington vs. Baylor
Sun - UCLA vs. Miami
Tier Three Bowls
Meineke Car Care - Missouri vs. Michigan
Belk - Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia
Music City - Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest
Pinstripe - Texas Tech vs. Rutgers
Liberty - Houston vs. Syracuse
TicketCity - Southern Miss vs. Iowa
Las Vegas - California vs. TCU
Independence - North Carolina vs. Air Force
St. Petersburg - SMU vs. Louisville
Tier Four Bowls
Poinsettia - Nevada vs. Wyoming
Hawaii - Hawaii vs. Tulsa
Famous Idaho Potato - Louisiana Tech vs. San Diego State
New Orleans - Marshall vs. Louisiana Lafayette
Little Caesar's Pizza - Illinois vs. Ohio
Military - Virginia vs. Navy*
Armed Forces - Brigham Young vs. UCF
Kraft Fight Hunger - Utah vs. Army**
BBVA Compass - Connecticut vs. Tennessee***
GoDaddy.com - Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois
*If Navy doesn't have enough wins to qualify, their replacement will come from C-USA. Probably East Carolina.
** If Army doesn't have enough wins to qualify, I think their replacement will come from either the ACC or the WAC. So let's say.... Fresno State?
*** It'll be tough for either of these teams to become bowl eligible this year. BBVA Compass's fall back conferences are the Sun Belt and the ACC. So let's say they'll pick the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and their weird orange blob of a mascot.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
My Top 25
1) LSU (9-0, 6-0, +23)
2) Oklahoma State (9-0, 6-0, +18)
3) Stanford (9-0, 7-0, +13)
4) Boise State (8-0, 3-0, +10)
5) Alabama (8-1, 5-1, +14)
6) Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1, +13)
7) Oregon (8-1, 6-0, +10)
8) Arkansas (8-1, 4-1, +11)
9) Houston (9-0, 5-0, +9)
10) Penn State (8-1, 5-0, +7)
11) Clemson (8-1, 5-1, +6)
12) Michigan State (7-2, 4-1, +7)
13) Virginia Tech (8-1, 5-1, +5)
14) Cincinnati (7-1, 3-0, +1)
15) Southern Miss (8-1, 4-1, +3)
16) Kansas State (7-2, 4-2, +6)
17) Texas (6-2, 3-2, +5)
18) Wisconsin (7-2, 3-2, +1)
19) Georgia (7-2, 5-1, 0)
20) Nebraska (7-2, 3-2, +3)
21) USC (7-2, 4-2, 0)
22) South Carolina (7-2, 5-2, -1)
23) TCU (7-2, 5-0, -4)
24) Michigan (7-2, 3-2, -5)
25) Auburn (6-3, 4-2, -1)
Washington (6-3, 4-2, -1)
Ohio State (6-3, 3-2, -6)
Arizona State (6-3, 4-2, -7)
West Virginia (6-3, 2-2, -7)
Illinois (6-3, 2-3, -7)
Florida State (6-3, 3-2, -7)
Notre Dame (6-3, 0-0, -7)
Iowa (6-3, 3-2, -9)
Virgina (6-3, 4-2, -9)
2) Oklahoma State (9-0, 6-0, +18)
3) Stanford (9-0, 7-0, +13)
4) Boise State (8-0, 3-0, +10)
5) Alabama (8-1, 5-1, +14)
6) Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1, +13)
7) Oregon (8-1, 6-0, +10)
8) Arkansas (8-1, 4-1, +11)
9) Houston (9-0, 5-0, +9)
10) Penn State (8-1, 5-0, +7)
11) Clemson (8-1, 5-1, +6)
12) Michigan State (7-2, 4-1, +7)
13) Virginia Tech (8-1, 5-1, +5)
14) Cincinnati (7-1, 3-0, +1)
15) Southern Miss (8-1, 4-1, +3)
16) Kansas State (7-2, 4-2, +6)
17) Texas (6-2, 3-2, +5)
18) Wisconsin (7-2, 3-2, +1)
19) Georgia (7-2, 5-1, 0)
20) Nebraska (7-2, 3-2, +3)
21) USC (7-2, 4-2, 0)
22) South Carolina (7-2, 5-2, -1)
23) TCU (7-2, 5-0, -4)
24) Michigan (7-2, 3-2, -5)
25) Auburn (6-3, 4-2, -1)
Washington (6-3, 4-2, -1)
Ohio State (6-3, 3-2, -6)
Arizona State (6-3, 4-2, -7)
West Virginia (6-3, 2-2, -7)
Illinois (6-3, 2-3, -7)
Florida State (6-3, 3-2, -7)
Notre Dame (6-3, 0-0, -7)
Iowa (6-3, 3-2, -9)
Virgina (6-3, 4-2, -9)
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