Week 13 - 2007

So goes the season, so goes our contest. Scott moves from worst to first in this unpredictable season (thanks to Tennessee pulling off a 4OT win). Scott has been on the bottom for three weeks straight...then, bam, it's like he pulls off a 4th and 18 from his own 12 yard line with 1-1/2 minutes to go to take the lead! Never say die! But, Tennessee plays LSU Saturday in the SEC Championship game.



Funny how the SEC Championship game is not represented by the highest ranked SEC team (UGA at #4). The Big 12 Championship is represented by the two highest ranked Big 12 teams. And here's a thought: If LSU loses to Tennessee, and Missouri loses to Oklahoma, and West VA falls victim to Pittsburgh (reference the curse of the #2 ranking below), will OSU and UGA play for the BCS title? UGA is a 2-loss team and I've never seen a 2-loss team play for the title.



And after Friday's performance against BSU, why is Hawaii only ranked #11? And why did previously un-beaten Kansas fall from #2 to #7 when the loss was to now #1 Missouri? That's a big drop for losing to Missouri. Is it all timing? Early season losses always play well into the final rank of a team and it could cause even more BCS frustration.

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Two For Nothing (Brett Edgerton, ESPN.com)
One is the loneliest number? Please. Three Dog Night, it's time you met the 2007 college football season. It's a place where the No. 2 is about as lonely and depressing as it gets.

Since the start of October, the No. 2 team in the AP poll is a mind-boggling 2-6, with the two wins coming against Louisiana Tech and in a miracle rally at Virginia Tech. Kansas is the only one of those snakebitten No. 2 teams whose loss wasn't stunning. The five others all lost to unranked teams (three of them at home). And for a few of them, it didn't end there. South Florida, BC and Oregon all went on to lose their next game, while Cal has fallen off the face of the earth with a 1-5 collapse.

AP No. 2 since Oct. 1
Date, No. 2 Team, Result Nov. 24, Kansas L, vs. No. 4 Missouri
Nov. 15, Oregon L, at Arizona
Nov. 10, LSU W, vs. La. Tech
Nov. 3, Boston College L, vs. Florida St.
Oct. 25, Boston College W, vs. No. 8 Va. Tech
Oct. 18, South Florida L, at Rutgers
Oct. 13, Cal L, vs. Oregon St.
Oct. 6, USC L, vs. Stanford

Week 12 - 2007

First and second place (Robert and Blaine) are within 1 point of each other (51.0 to 51.7) while everyone else is within 2 points (44.1 to 46.2). This is the first time Robert has seen 1st place since mid-season 2004. Jeff comes in at 3rd place ending his season-long drought from a 1st, 2nd or 3rd ranking (everyone else has had at least one).

If BSU pulls off a win in the islands Friday night then we will likely see Lance and Shaun move into 1st and 2nd place. Or, if Tennessee wins this week (they have beat Kentucky 22 straight games) and then pulls one off on LSU, then those with Tennessee in their top 15 will be at the top.

BYU finally gained some respect as they head into rivalry week. BYU is the only newcomer to the top 25 in since Wake Forest and BSU moved in 3 weeks ago. Auburn and Texas Tech move in as the only 4-loss teams in the top 25.

Week 11 - 2007

Thanks to Illinois the NCAAF controversy-ites can back off on the OSU being #1 issue and move on to why there are three 1-loss teams ahead of Kansas. Illinois may have saved OSU from another championship bowl embarrassment. OSU's loss to Illinois makes the 9th time this season a top-5 team has lost to an un-ranked team.

The highest 2-loss team is Georgia (#8); the highest 3-loss is Florida (#14); there are six 3-loss teams in the top 25. Hawaii has yet to break into the BCS top 15 (but they are tied with Clemson at #16). BYU is ranked #27 in both polls and #29 in the BCS.

Our top three remain the same as last week (Blaine, Robert, Shaun). Boise state moved into the top 15 in the AP and USA Today putting Lance in Shaun in prime position to take over if Boise State can crack the BCS top 15 (currently at #18). If Tennessee wins out then Jen, Scott and Jason will move way up as well.

Week 10 - 2007

Blaine and Robert still hold the top two spots (with the same scores) and Shaun nudged in ahead of Lance for the #3 spot. But, a win and 3-spot jump by #18 Auburn this Saturday over #10 Georgia could change everything since 5 players have Auburn in their top 15.

So are we looking at another Big 10 / SEC championship game? Will OSU hold on to go undefeated only to be embarrassed again? Or, will #13 Michigan (unbelievable) upend OSU in the season finale? Can LSU get back to the early season dominance or will their luck run out against a revitalized Arkansas team or in the SEC Championship game against UGA / UT / UF? We may see Kansas and Oregon battle for the championship.

ps: In regards to the one comment left on last week's blog, see the subsequent response.