Yea...it's late. Usually I have a wrap long before now. I was laid off in mid-December and one would think I would have plenty of time to write the finale. But my focus has been elsewhere the last little while (and still is). Nonetheless, here is a quick wrap to a very memorable season.
MY PRE-SEASON TOP 10 PICKS
Back in August I picked how I thought teams would fare...picking only the Top 10. Here is a commentary on that in this format:
My Pre-Season Pick, My Pre-Season Reason
Actual Final Ranking, Commentary
#1. USC (Barkley and the PSU RB will be near unstoppable)
NR - Boy was I (and many others) way, way off. USC will not recover quickly from a season that ended with locker-room fighting after the bowl game; a poor report card for coaches who could not organize the talent.
#2. Oklahoma (the best out of the Big 12)
#15 - Again, way off. I thought they'd fare better.
#3. Alabama (I just don't think they can repeat)
#1 - Not far off and kudos to the Tide for repeating. They are still deep and talented and will shine in 2013 but I will have to go ahead and say a three-peat is a long, long shot.
#4. Oregon (they will look good until they get to USC)
#2 - The Ducks just let one get away. Without that one loss they would have rolled over ND, too.
#5. Wisconsin (the best of the Big 10)
NR - Another case for a talent-laden team with poor coaching.
#6. LSU (they will be good...but not like last year)
#12 - More struggles than I expected. The loss to Florida was very unexpected.
#7. West Virginia (hmmm...not really sure about this one)
NR - Yea...that was a long shot I took...and missed.
#8. Nebraska (hmmm...this one either)
#23 - Another long shot but they fared better than WVa.
#9. Florida State (maybe...they can actually get back to looking prime this year)
#10 - Hey...my closest one! The bowl let-down made this team look over-rated during the season.
#10. Georgia (their cupcake schedule may make them look good but will hurt them in the end)
#4 - Maybe they did have a cupcake schedule but they played it right and the conference championship game against 'Bama was lot more entertaining than the BCS Championship game.
I am already thinking about next year for my favorite teams: BYU and UGA...and what might be. BYU could have had a much better year with better coaching of the talent they had. Unfortunately, they will be losing some of that talent. And UGA had the talent and the coaching but were just a little south of making it all come together a the right times. Maybe 2013 will look better for both.
MY PRE-SEASON TOP 10 PICKS
Back in August I picked how I thought teams would fare...picking only the Top 10. Here is a commentary on that in this format:
My Pre-Season Pick, My Pre-Season Reason
Actual Final Ranking, Commentary
#1. USC (Barkley and the PSU RB will be near unstoppable)
NR - Boy was I (and many others) way, way off. USC will not recover quickly from a season that ended with locker-room fighting after the bowl game; a poor report card for coaches who could not organize the talent.
#2. Oklahoma (the best out of the Big 12)
#15 - Again, way off. I thought they'd fare better.
#3. Alabama (I just don't think they can repeat)
#1 - Not far off and kudos to the Tide for repeating. They are still deep and talented and will shine in 2013 but I will have to go ahead and say a three-peat is a long, long shot.
#4. Oregon (they will look good until they get to USC)
#2 - The Ducks just let one get away. Without that one loss they would have rolled over ND, too.
#5. Wisconsin (the best of the Big 10)
NR - Another case for a talent-laden team with poor coaching.
#6. LSU (they will be good...but not like last year)
#12 - More struggles than I expected. The loss to Florida was very unexpected.
#7. West Virginia (hmmm...not really sure about this one)
NR - Yea...that was a long shot I took...and missed.
#8. Nebraska (hmmm...this one either)
#23 - Another long shot but they fared better than WVa.
#9. Florida State (maybe...they can actually get back to looking prime this year)
#10 - Hey...my closest one! The bowl let-down made this team look over-rated during the season.
#10. Georgia (their cupcake schedule may make them look good but will hurt them in the end)
#4 - Maybe they did have a cupcake schedule but they played it right and the conference championship game against 'Bama was lot more entertaining than the BCS Championship game.
I am already thinking about next year for my favorite teams: BYU and UGA...and what might be. BYU could have had a much better year with better coaching of the talent they had. Unfortunately, they will be losing some of that talent. And UGA had the talent and the coaching but were just a little south of making it all come together a the right times. Maybe 2013 will look better for both.