I don't think anything really surprised me this weekend...maybe the close USC-Arizona game and the USF loss. Other than that everything went about as expected.
A few notes:
Our Challenge: Wow...we're all within four points of each other. It's getting tight and those who've been at the bottom end are moving up (and vice-versa) thanks to USF and Kansas dropping out and FSU moving in.
The BCS: Though I'm not a fan of the system, so far so good this season (but there's a lot of football left to play).
Penn State: I have always liked Coach Pa and he's had some great teams. But does the Big 10 belong, once again, in the spotlight? My feelings on another possible Big 10 national championship fiasco are related well here.
UGA: Maybe the dawgs won because LSU was not using their 12th man, the LSU ref that they used in last weeks win over South Carolina (click to watch replay). And now the long-awaited re-match with Florida after last year's "stomp"...Meyer has issued a gag order to his players and they're playing the whole thing down even though his recently released book states that it "will be a big deal."
BYU: Got the win but soemthing is not clicking right...something yet to be diagnosed (and hopefully corrected soon).
Alabama: Zero 1st place votes this week...hmmmm.
Auburn: Ouch...they must be cursed or Tommy Tub just isn't living right.
Utah: The last two weeks there has been one 1st place vote for Utah in the Harris poll. This week, the Utes' bye week, they get no vote. Who was that mysterious voter?
And last but not least: I was lightly reprimanded a few days ago for not mentioning more about the Utah Utes last week given their undefeatedness and currently being highest ranked non-BSC team, so here you go: "Go Utes, go Utes, win 'em all! Except for the one that matters most of all!"
24 October 2008
16 October 2008
Week 8 2008: Here we go...
Yea...BCS bashing begins. For myriad details of the BCS rules and eligibility click here.
Let's see where we're at:
We're down to nine undefeated teams, 1/3 from the Big 12 South. The Big 12 also accounts for 1/4 of ranked teams. USC is the only ranked team from the PAC-10. The ACC's highest ranked team is at #21; the Big East at #14. Neither conference has a BCS top-15.
Texas: Wow. Pull off the next two games and just hand them the trophy. Bama: Whew...that was close. Penn State: We're starting to believe...just pull off the OSU game. USC: Stop showing off...you still lost to an un-ranked team. TCU: They look for real. Missouri and Kansas: The only 2-loss teams in the rankings. Tulsa: The lowest ranked undefeated team at #22.
BYU? Ouch...for me it was Alabama-Georgia all over again. Did BYU have an off-night, was TCU really that good or was BYU over-rated? Four turnovers, 23 total rushing yards, one scoring drive that took over 7-minutes, six sacks, no TD passes, streak snapped (and handed to Utah...double-ouch), etc. There were a lot of questions about just how potent BYU really was going into the game and I think those questions were answered (just not the answer we were all hoping for).
But wait...USC is ranked #6, lost to a team that doesn't even show in the rankings, was shut out the first half of that game, is in a cupcake conference that is currently 33-35 with five losses to MWC teams (the MWC is 39-27). Why are they ranked so high? Oh yea...they're USC...everyone's little darling. OK, OK...one might say they've earned it over the years and BYU hasn't. USC has beaten big teams...BYU has not beaten a ranked team since 1999. But are rankings based on the past few years or the past few games?
Let's see where we're at:
We're down to nine undefeated teams, 1/3 from the Big 12 South. The Big 12 also accounts for 1/4 of ranked teams. USC is the only ranked team from the PAC-10. The ACC's highest ranked team is at #21; the Big East at #14. Neither conference has a BCS top-15.
Texas: Wow. Pull off the next two games and just hand them the trophy. Bama: Whew...that was close. Penn State: We're starting to believe...just pull off the OSU game. USC: Stop showing off...you still lost to an un-ranked team. TCU: They look for real. Missouri and Kansas: The only 2-loss teams in the rankings. Tulsa: The lowest ranked undefeated team at #22.
BYU? Ouch...for me it was Alabama-Georgia all over again. Did BYU have an off-night, was TCU really that good or was BYU over-rated? Four turnovers, 23 total rushing yards, one scoring drive that took over 7-minutes, six sacks, no TD passes, streak snapped (and handed to Utah...double-ouch), etc. There were a lot of questions about just how potent BYU really was going into the game and I think those questions were answered (just not the answer we were all hoping for).
But wait...USC is ranked #6, lost to a team that doesn't even show in the rankings, was shut out the first half of that game, is in a cupcake conference that is currently 33-35 with five losses to MWC teams (the MWC is 39-27). Why are they ranked so high? Oh yea...they're USC...everyone's little darling. OK, OK...one might say they've earned it over the years and BYU hasn't. USC has beaten big teams...BYU has not beaten a ranked team since 1999. But are rankings based on the past few years or the past few games?
12 October 2008
Week 7 2008: Let's Talk 1-loss Teams
Wow what a weekend! Nothing less than what we expected with the Big 12 starting conference play and two SEC powerhouses meeting up. And the next few weeks will be interesting with Texas' next three games against ranked opponents in the top 11.
Three weeks ago there were 18 undefeated teams...we're down to 10. Alabama, PSU and OK State are showing some serious, unexpected life while Michigan State and Florida are showing a resurgence and some pre-season picks like ASU, Tennessee, West Va, Auburn, Michigan and recently heralded East Carolina have become unmentionables.
Texas and Florida were the most impressive on Saturday with defining, dominating wins. Texas jumped 4 spots and Florida 6. Texas...yea, they deserved it with their 10-point win over the #1 team. Florida's win over #3 LSU was flawless and impressive, but I must take issue with ranking them in the top 5 when they lost to an unranked team. USC at #6, also has a loss to an unranked. (The aforementioned unranked teams currently don't even show in the "others receiving votes"). The next 1-loss team with a loss to an unranked (Va Tech)...comes in at #17.
Yea, yea, yada, yada, yada...I can hear it now: "But they beat LSU" or "They shut out ASU" or the worst, "They were early-season losses". Teams should be ranked for their season performance, not just last Saturday's. Sure, give Florida and USC credit for turning in dominating performances...but why they are not dinged for underestimating an opponent is beyond me. (The five other 1-loss teams in the top 15 all lost to ranked opponents).
If Florida and USC gain ground with losses to unranked teams why shouldn't BYU, Utah, BSU and even Ball State gain some ground for winning all their games even though they are against unranked teams? Are you going to tell me that it's because the PAC-10 is a tougher conference? Yea...right up there with the ACC and Big East.
Give credit where credit is due...winning week in and week out regardless of the strength of the opponent or time of the season.
Three weeks ago there were 18 undefeated teams...we're down to 10. Alabama, PSU and OK State are showing some serious, unexpected life while Michigan State and Florida are showing a resurgence and some pre-season picks like ASU, Tennessee, West Va, Auburn, Michigan and recently heralded East Carolina have become unmentionables.
Texas and Florida were the most impressive on Saturday with defining, dominating wins. Texas jumped 4 spots and Florida 6. Texas...yea, they deserved it with their 10-point win over the #1 team. Florida's win over #3 LSU was flawless and impressive, but I must take issue with ranking them in the top 5 when they lost to an unranked team. USC at #6, also has a loss to an unranked. (The aforementioned unranked teams currently don't even show in the "others receiving votes"). The next 1-loss team with a loss to an unranked (Va Tech)...comes in at #17.
Yea, yea, yada, yada, yada...I can hear it now: "But they beat LSU" or "They shut out ASU" or the worst, "They were early-season losses". Teams should be ranked for their season performance, not just last Saturday's. Sure, give Florida and USC credit for turning in dominating performances...but why they are not dinged for underestimating an opponent is beyond me. (The five other 1-loss teams in the top 15 all lost to ranked opponents).
If Florida and USC gain ground with losses to unranked teams why shouldn't BYU, Utah, BSU and even Ball State gain some ground for winning all their games even though they are against unranked teams? Are you going to tell me that it's because the PAC-10 is a tougher conference? Yea...right up there with the ACC and Big East.
Give credit where credit is due...winning week in and week out regardless of the strength of the opponent or time of the season.
05 October 2008
Week 6 2008: Stability?
We normally have 5-10 ahead of the AP and USA polls...not this week. Only Dave is above the AP poll (although 13 of us are ahead of the USA poll). Jeff comes into the top 3 for the first time this year by 1/10of a point.
Only minor shifts in the top 10 this week and with the exception of the Vandy win over Auburn and Alabama sneaking by UK, there was not much this past Saturday that was unexpected. Last week there were 18 undefeated teams...we're down to 15 now. Some stability finally? Not likely...
Definitely not likely with next Saturday: Penn and Wisconsin, Missouri and OK State, Oklahoma and Texas, LSU and Florida. Yea...we'll see some shake up in the top 10 next week.
The 10-20 range was shook up this week: Wisconsin, Fresno and Oregon dropped out of the top 25, Auburn dropped from the top 20. Four new teams moved into the top 25 and Illinois is trying to sneak back in.
Only minor shifts in the top 10 this week and with the exception of the Vandy win over Auburn and Alabama sneaking by UK, there was not much this past Saturday that was unexpected. Last week there were 18 undefeated teams...we're down to 15 now. Some stability finally? Not likely...
Definitely not likely with next Saturday: Penn and Wisconsin, Missouri and OK State, Oklahoma and Texas, LSU and Florida. Yea...we'll see some shake up in the top 10 next week.
The 10-20 range was shook up this week: Wisconsin, Fresno and Oregon dropped out of the top 25, Auburn dropped from the top 20. Four new teams moved into the top 25 and Illinois is trying to sneak back in.
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