Turner gives Buckeyes bracket boost

20 01 2010

IMPORTANT: This is based on games played through Jan. 19.  If the tournament started Jan. 20, this is what my bracket would look like.

Last four in:  Arizona State, Old Dominion, Texas A&M, Maryland
First four out:  Virginia Tech, Marquette, Oklahoma State, San Diego State

Kentucky remains #1 overall.  They are now the last remaining unbeaten team in division 1.

Texas is still a one seed despite the loss to Kansas State.  The Longhorns have a better strength of schedule than Kansas, as well as a more legitimate loss.

Despite Kansas State’s win over Texas, the schedule, as well as the loss to unranked Missouri, are not impressive enough to push them into a #2 spot yet.

Purdue takes another dip after the Northwestern loss, though they rebounded nicely with a tough win at Illinois.

Georgia Tech jumps to a #5 seed.  The Yellow Jackets now have wins over Duke, North Carolina and Clemson in the ACC.  Also making big jumps this week were Ohio State and Vanderbilt.

Now in as conference champions are Campbell and Western Kentucky, replacing East Tennessee State and Denver.

Major conference breakdown:

ACC:  7
Big 12:  6
Big East:  6
SEC: 5
Big Ten:  4
Pac 10:  2

See the complete bracket here


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Categories : Sports

Bowl committees get it right this year

2 01 2010

Every year there is talk about college football needing a playoff.  When those talks simmer, the negative nancies want to pick apart the individual bowl selection committees for picking the wrong teams to play in their games.  This year, the naysayers, myself included, had some quibbles with certain picks.  But once again, the committees proved me and other doubters wrong.  I’ll break it down:

The most obvious disagreement had to be the Gator Bowl committee, which bypassed Clemson, Boston College and Miami to take Florida State.  The ‘Noles must have heard me say they didn’t deserve to play in the game, because they manhandled a better West Virginia team in Bobby Bowden’s last game.

In the Big Ten, The Outback Bowl passed up Wisconsin for Northwestern, and the ‘Cats took heavily favored Auburn to overtime in the most exciting bowl game of the season so far before falling in a game they should have won twice.

In the Big 12, the Sun Bowl passed on Missouri, who had a better overall record, for Oklahoma.  The Sooners went to El Paso and knocked off Stanford.  The Insight Bowl also passed on the Tigers, for a team two games worse, and the Iowa State Cyclones beat Minnesota.  Missouri, in the last place Big 12 bowl game, lost by 22.

In the Pac 10, the Emerald Bowl took heat for inviting USC over Oregon State even though the Beavers were a game better in conference.  USC won.  Oregon State got smacked by BYU.

Based on how well the bowls have done so far, TCU/Boise State, the last remaining controversial pairing, should be a thriller.


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Categories : Sports

Picking all 34 bowl games

19 12 2009

Bowl season gets underway Saturday with the first of 34 bowl games.  Damn, that’s 68 bowl bids.  I guess when a team loads up on FCS and Sun Belt teams in the nonconference, being bowl eligible doesn’t mean much.  But here we are anyway, and I’ll attempt to pick all 34, though I will likely only watch about half of them.

New Mexico Bowl – Fresno State vs Wyoming
Fresno finished strong with a dramatic overtime win over Illinois in Champaign.  A loaded schedule included losses to Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Boise State, but that should have them ready.  Props for Dave Christensen for getting Wyoming back to a bowl in his first season.
Pick:  Fresno State

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl – Central Florida vs Rutgers
When Rutgers lost by 32 at home to Cincinnati in week one, things weren’t looking good.  But the Scarlet Knights pulled it together and finished 8-4 in a surprisingly competitive Big East.  However, Central Florida basically has a home game here, and containing Tim Brown’s big play ability will be key.  Rutgers’ D ranks 99th.
Pick:  Central Florida

New Orleans Bowl – Southern Mississippi vs Middle Tennessee State
Sub Belt runner-up Middle Tennessee’s lone conference loss was to Troy, and 9-3 should be considered a success.  Al logic says pick the Blue Raiders, but I’m going against my logic on this.  Southern Mississippi had some heartbreaking losses against good teams, which will ultimately have them prepared for this game.
Pick:  Southern Mississippi

Las Vegas Bowl – Oregon State vs BYU
The Beavers were just a few plays away from playing Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.  Instead, they settle for Vegas and a great matchup with BYU.  The Beavers played five teams in the top 25, while the Cougars played just two.  Max Hall should have fun with the Beaver defense, but Oregon State will win a high-scoring game.
Pick:  Oregon State

Poinsettia Bowl – Utah vs California
Jahvid Best should be ready for this game, but how well he will do coming back from the concussion is unknown.  The Golden Bears, ranked as high as #6 earlier this year, fell after back to back blowout losses mid-season.  Utah’s defense is #20 in the country, while Cal ranks at #70.
Pick:  Utah

Sheraton Bowl – Nevada vs SMU
SMU will snap its 25 year bowl drought when it takes the field in Honolulu on Christmas Eve to play Nevada.  The Wolfpack got hot at the end of the season, winning eight of their final nine after an 0-3 start.  SMU will be happy to be here.  Nevada isn’t leaving without a win.
Pick:  Nevada

Little Caesars Bowl – Marshall vs Ohio
One of only two bowls north of the Mason Dixon line takes place in Detroit between two virtually equal teams.  Marshall is 6-6 but has played a tougher schedule.  Ohio is 9-4 after a MAC Championship loss to Central Michigan.  Ohio did play Tennessee and UConn tough.
Pick:  Ohio

Meineke Car Care Bowl – Pittsburgh vs North Carolina
Like Oregon State, Pittsburgh has to be crushed knowing that an Orange Bowl date with Georgia Tech was probably one or two plays away.  After a heartbreaking loss to Cincinnati, the Panthers settle for a “neutral” site game in Charlotte with the Heels.  Carolina’s defense will keep it close, but the ‘Heels just can’t score.
Pick:  Pittsburgh

Emerald Bowl – Boston College vs USC
I’m really entertained to see what the line on this game will turn out to be.  Right now it’s USC -9, and I’ll take the Trojans to cover.  Boston College has a terrible offense, and USC’s defense can be good despite some poor games.  This is a weird bowl to see USC playing in, and you know they are peeved about it.  Watch out BC.
Pick:  USC

Music City Bowl – Kentucky vs Clemson
Clemson, suffering from the Pitt/Oregon State virus, will have to watch their team take on a -not-as-good-as-their-record Kentucky team.  I’ve thought the ‘Cats were overrated all year, and Clemson has a chance to prove me right.  Kentucky’s rush D is ranked #100.  C.J. Spiller will have a field day.
Pick:  Clemson

Independence Bowl – Texas A&M vs Georgia
The interesting matchup here is Georgia’s fairly good defense against Texas A&M’s explosive offense.  The Aggies lit up Texas’ third ranked D and can do it again when they play the Bulldogs.  But the Aggie defense is awful, and Georgia should have its chances to score as well.
Pick:  Georgia

EagleBank Bowl – UCLA vs Temple
Games like this are the toughest to pick.  UCLA is 6-6, but with the #11 schedule in the nation.  Temple is 9-3, but had the sixth easiest schedule.  UCLA’s offense is ranked #88.  Temple’s is #89.  UCLA’s defense is #39, Temple’s is #37.  I’ll take the Bruins because of the schedule.
Pick:  UCLA

Champs Sports Bowl – Miami vs Wisconsin
Another game with no distinct advantage is a good one which features two 9-3 teams.  Wisconsin’s loss to Northwestern cost them their shot at a New Year’s Day bowl game despite a better overall record than the Wildcats.  Jacory Harris will make enough plays to push the ‘Canes to victory in their home state.
Pick:  Miami

Humanitarian Bowl – Bowling Green vs Idaho
Idaho fans were on a roller coaster early this season with the team’s 6-1 start.  But that vanished after the Vandals lost four of their final five, and they limp into Boise, where they lost on the same field by 38.  This time, Tyler Sheehan and Bowling Green are the opponents.  Limiting Sheehan’s big plays will be key for Idaho.
Pick:  Idaho

Holiday Bowl – Arizona vs Nebraska
Geographically, Arizona has the edge, but Husker fans will travel to watch their near Big 12 champions play.  Both defenses are really good, which is why I think 17 points may be enough.  The difference is that Arizona can score, and has, against good teams.  The Huskers haven’t shown consistent offense all season.
Pick:  Arizona

Armed Forces Bowl – Houston vs Air Force
The Armed Forces have their team, the Falcons, in this game.  Awaiting the Falcons is the #1 offense in the nation – the Houston Cougars.  Case Keenum and James Cleveland will be faced with its toughest task of the season with the Falcons’ #10 defense.  It’s Keenum’s chance to prove he deserved an invite to New York.
Pick:  Houston

Sun Bowl – Oklahoma vs Stanford
How about this high-profile matchup?  Last year, the final score of the Sun Bowl was 3-0.  This year Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart and the Cardinal will need more than that to beat the Sooners.  Gerhart will look to add to his nation-best 26 touchdowns against the seventh ranked Sooner rush defense.
Pick:  Stanford

Texas Bowl – Navy vs Missouri
Missouri became the first team in college football history to scout its bowl opponent in a live game, as the Army/Navy game took place after the bowl selection process.  It’s Navy’s fourth ranked rush attack vs Missouri’s #12 rush defense.  Navy’s only chance is if they can find a way to pass.
Pick:  Missouri

Insight Bowl – Minnesota vs Iowa State
The Insight Bowl took the Cyclones, who are bowling for the first time since 2001.  That decision makes for a good game.  Neither team’s offense or defense is any good, but the Gophers at least have a respectable defense.  Iowa State can’t stop anyone.
Pick:  Minnesota

Chick-fil-A Bowl – Virginia Tech vs Tennessee
Here’s a game that I don’t think will be close.  Virginia Tech has an outstanding defense, and Tennessee doesn’t do much to move the ball.  The Vols defense may keep it respectable for a while, but eventually Virginia Tech, who was ranked as high as number four even after the ‘Bama loss, will pull away.
Pick:  Virginia Tech

Outback Bowl – Northwestern vs Auburn
Would you believe me if I told you Auburn has played seven top 30 teams?  That’s right, seven.  The Tigers won three of those games, but it’s more about the fact that they played those games that has them prepared for this New Year’s Day dandy.  Northwestern played well at the end of the year and won’t go down without a fight.
Pick:  Auburn

Capital One Bowl – Penn State vs LSU
The best bowl game of the season is in Orlando.  LSU played Florida and Alabama tough, but Penn State will be a monstrous challenge as well.  The Lions’ D is eighth best in the country, and LSU has the twelfth worst offense in the nation.  It’s going to be tough for the Tigers to score.
Pick:  Penn State

Gator Bowl – West Virginia vs Florida State
How ironic is it that Bobby Bowden’s last game is against the team he used to coach?  As fun as the Bowden storyline should be, the Seminoles have no business being in this game.  Other ACC schools (Clemson, Miami) have to be peeved about the ‘Noles getting the Gator bid.
Pick:  West Virginia

International Bowl – South Florida vs Northern Illinois
Sophomore quarterback Chandler Harnish has been very efficient for Northern Illinois, but they haven’t played a team nearly as good as South Florida since a week one loss to Wisconsin.  The Bulls played tough in a good Big East conference.  The only bowl not played in the U.S. should be a fun one.
Pick:  South Florida

Papajohns.com Bowl – South Carolina vs Connecticut
Middle-of-the-pack teams clash in the only bowl named for a pizza.  UConn lost all five games by four points or fewer, which is quite unbelievable when you think about it.  A few bounces going the other way could make this team 12-0.  Four of South Carolina’s five losses came by double digits.
Pick:  Connecticut

Cotton Bowl – Oklahoma State vs Mississippi
Both of these teams started the season in the top 10 and had national championship aspirations.  Jevan Snead was supposed to win the Heisman and go #1.  Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter and Dez Bryant were supposed to combine to form the best offense in the country.  This is a game of disappointment.
Pick:  Mississippi

Liberty Bowl – Arkansas vs East Carolina
The Pirates were awfully impressive in capturing their second straight Conference USA championship by knocking off Houston.  Their reward is a date with Arkansas.  Ryan Mallett had a heck of a year that went unnoticed because the Hogs lost five games.
Pick:  Arkansas

Alamo Bowl – Michigan State vs Texas Tech
Everyone knew this would be a down year for Texas Tech following the losses of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, but 8-4 is surprisingly respectable for the Red Raiders.  First year starter Taylor Potts threw for more than 3,000 yards, and he’ll have another big game against the Spartans.
Pick:  Texas Tech

GMAC Bowl – Central Michigan vs Troy
Central Michigan’s turnaround led to a MAC championship.  Now Butch Jones is bolting for Cincinnati to fill the void left by Brian Kelly.  Coach or no coach, the Chippewas should have no trouble moving the ball at will against Troy.  Troy has the offense to keep it close, so look for a high-scoring game.
Pick:  Central Michigan

Rose Bowl – Ohio State vs Oregon
Jeremiah Masoli and the Ducks could have folded after losing to Boise State to open the season.  Instead, the Ducks won 10 of 11, dethroned USC to win the Pac 10, and earned a Rose Bowl berth.  Ohio State is on the other end, making this the best BCS game on this year’s slate.
Pick:  Oregon

Sugar Bowl – Cincinnati vs Florida
Tim Tebow lost the game he wanted to win more than anything.  Now he plays his last college game against a team without a coach.  Cincinnati has scored a lot of points on a lot of people, but they haven’t faced a defense like Florida’s.  Tebow won’t let the Gators lose this one.
Pick:  Florida

Fiesta Bowl – Boise State vs TCU
We can talk all we want about the fact that these are two non-BCS teams playing each other, or about them both being undefeated, or about them playing in the national championship game.  But the matchup is what it is, and it should be entertaining.  TCU won last year, and they’ll repeat this year.
Pick:  TCU

Orange Bowl – Iowa vs Georgia Tech
The Hawkeyes were an overtime loss away from winning the Big Ten, but they’ll take their first BCS bowl game since the era began.  Awaiting Iowa and its #11 defense is Georgia Tech’s second ranked rush offense, led by Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt.
Pick:  Georgia Tech

BCS National Championship – Alabama vs Texas
Which Texas team will show up?  The Horns that blew out Okie State in Stillwater?  It better be.  The team that “beat” Nebraska?  Stay home.  We know the Tide and Heisman winner Mark Ingram will be there.  Both teams have good enough defenses to keep from getting blown out.  Bottom line: roll Tide.
Pick:  Alabama


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Categories : Sports

Dear BCS – your system is just fine

23 11 2009

Guest columnist Kyle Goeke

Non BCS conferences are here to stay.  Over the past five years, it has become apparent that these conferences want two things: to be recognized with the big boys and (more importantly) to be paid like the big boys.  A berth in a BCS bowl game is worth $18 million to each conference that gets a bid (which gets split evenly to the schools).  That’s right…in 2007, the terrible 1-11 Idaho Vandals received about $2 million because their conference brethren Hawaii got a BCS bid.  So no wonder these non-BCS conferences want their piece of the pie.

Every decision these commissioners and college presidents make is about money.  Why do you think college football hasn’t switched to a playoff format?  Because they’ll make more money pushing a “win or go home” regular season.  Think about it: a 32 team playoff would include Temple, a 16 team playoff would have three-loss Virginia Tech, and an eight team playoff has two loss LSU.  Some people out there even want a four team (Plus One) playoff.  A four team playoff makes sense…only, who are you going to leave out?  Boise State? Cincinnati?  TCU?  Those three teams can all make the case for the fourth spot.  A four team playoff would create just as much chaos as the system that’s in place now.

Anyways…I hate to ramble.  I’m new to this blog thing.  Here is my suggestion: keep the system the way it is.  It has worked thus far (with the exception of the 2004 Auburn Tigers).  Also, these non BCS schools keep complaining that their team is the best, and yet they can’t play for a title.  I asked Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel about this dilemma a few weeks ago at Tiger Talk (Buffalo Wild Wings 40 cent boneless Monday’s!!!).  He has actually experienced this situation from both perspectives.  He was the head coach at Toledo in 2000 when they failed to make a bowl appearance after a 10-1 regular season (Chester Taylor destroyed the MAC that year).  Pinkel believes that it takes a lot of emotion and preparation to beat a top ranked conference foe.  It takes even more to beat that top ranked team and then come out the next week ready for the next tough team.  Could Boise St. beat Florida?  I think so.  Could Boise St. beat Florida and then come out the next week ready to take on Alabama?  No way.  Kentucky had a two game stretch like that earlier in the season.  Boise St. beat Oregon at home in the first game of the season.  That is literally all they have to show for this season (other than nail biters with Tulsa and Louisiana Tech).  TCU has had a tougher schedule.  It’s not their fault that Clemson lost to Maryland or that Virginia is god-awful.  But Texas State?  Get that game off your schedule if you want to be taken seriously.  They have beaten BYU and Utah badly…but they have not had a two game stretch of good teams yet.

To my suggestion: the winner of the WAC and the MWC should meet during Championship weekend.  The winner of this game should get an automatic bid to a BCS bowl so they can get in on the $$$ action.  Enough of Boise St./Hawaii fans and TCU/Utah fans angry that their team doesn’t get a chance.  Let the winner of that game have a chance at the BCS title game…if they are in the top two of course.  This way they can make the claim that they’ve actually played someone.  I’m sure I went way too long with this blog.  Thanks for reading.


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Categories : Sports

UConn, Duke set for showdown

22 11 2009

Want some excitement in college basketball this week?

Too bad.

Only one non-tournament game features ranked teams, and it’s Minnesota  Butler.  Yuck.

Duke is on a path to play UConn for the NIT Tip Off title in the Garden Friday night.  Two days before that, Arizona State and LSU will put up respective tests before falling in the semis.

None of e games were on the staff’s schedule, because we didn’t know what the results would be.


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Categories : Sports

NCAA hoops picks from the staff – 11/7

8 11 2009

College basketball season tips off Monday, and I’ve brought along a few staffers to help me make picks this season.  On Monday, North Carolina opens its title defense against Florida International.  On Friday, most teams tip off, including #1 Kansas against Hofstra.  We will be making picks every week, and the weekly winner (if it’s not me), will be able to write a guest blog post of his or her choice.

Basketball picks


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Categories : Sports

College football rankings – Oct. 26

26 10 2009

Longhorn fans, hate me all you want.  Your team is now #4 in the most prestigious rankings in the country.  This despite a 34 point blowout road win.  Gator fans, hate me all you want.  Your team is still #2, despite Alabama’s near collapse against the Vols.  Bronco fans, hate me now.  Your team is #6, despite a blowout win on the island.  Yes, my rankings may make your head scratch and your forehead wrinkle.  But there’s justification here.  Boise State hasn’t played anybody, prompting Iowa to jump them.  Alabama has still played better teams than Florida.  And I’ll explain the Texas setback in a blog post tomorrow, for it is the one that could mean the most come Dec. 6.

1)  Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0) – I picked the Vols to win, and they probably should have.  But they didn’t.  Alabama’s defense was stiff enough in another quality win.  They get a bye week to prepare for LSU’s trip to Tuscaloosa.

2)  Florida Gators (7-0) – Something is off with the offense.  Playing a relatively weak SEC schedule, they have broken 30 just once in five conference games.  Red zone offense has been a problem.  In 35 trips, they have only 16 touchdowns.

3)  Iowa Hawkeyes (8-0) – The Hawkeyes are 8-0 for the first time ever after beating a hot Michigan State team in East Lansing.  It’s not pretty, but this team finds ways to win.  The offense, ranked #87 in the country, needs to play better.

4)  Texas Longhorns (7-0) – Colt McCoy is closing in on the all time FBS wins record after an impressive 41-7 win against Missouri.  It’s Texas’ first well-played game in the conference, and it comes just in time.  They go to Stillwater next.

5)  Cincinnati Bearcats (7-0) – Can we still say Cincinnati is flying under the radar?  They are blowing teams out while making their best case for a title shot.  After Syracuse, things get tough with games against UConn, West Virginia and Pitt.

6)  Boise State Broncos (7-0) – If the Broncos want any prayer of playing for a national championship, they’ll need four teams ahead of them on this list to lose.  They are winning by similar margins against much worse teams – simple as that.

7)  LSU Tigers (6-1) – LSU came off the bye week by throttling Auburn.  Their only loss is Florida, and they’ve allowed 20+ points just twice.  They go to Alabama in two weeks and can still control their own destiny to a conference championship.

8)  Oregon Ducks (6-1) – The Ducks continue to roll.  Jeremiah Masoli came back this week to throw for 157 yards and a touchdown, and added two rushing touchdowns too.  If they beat USC Saturday, The Trojans will miss a BCS game.

9)  Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1) – Hammering Michigan by 25 in the Big House will get you back on track.  Penn State’s defense is the reason they are beating teams up.  They are #3 in the nation, allowing just 240 yards per game.

10)  TCU Horned Frogs (7-0) – The Horned Frogs’ four biggest wins have come on the road.  After blowing out BYU in Provo, TCU should finish 12-0.  Will the BCS take both them and an undefeated Boise State team?

11)  Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-1) – The Texas A&M win looks better after A&M blew out Texas Tech in Lubbock, but otherwise it hasn’t been much of a schedule for the Cowboys.  A win this week puts them in control of the south.

12)  USC Trojans (6-1) - Maybe my expectations are too high for this team, but I just don’t think one possession wins are good enough against the Pac 10.  Matt Barkley’s two interceptions are concerning, as is the defense all of a sudden.

13)  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-1) – Virginia was the only remaining unbeaten in the ACC until Georgia Tech crushed them.  With the Miami loss, the Yellow Jackets are now in line to win the Coastal if they can beat Wake and Duke.

14)  Houston Cougars (6-1) – It’s time to start seriously considering Case Keenum for Heisman.  He leads the nation in total offense, completions per game, passing yards per game and is second in touchdown passes.

15)  Pittsburgh Panthers (7-1) – A solid win over South Florida topped with a lot of one loss teams going down bumps Pitt up to 15.  They now enter a stretch in which they play just two games in 33 days.  The showdown with Cincy is Dec. 5.

16)  Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2) – The Hokies still have that bitter taste in their mouths from the Georgia Tech loss, but can still win the ACC with some help.  Ryan Williams averages six yards per carry and has 10 touchdowns already.

17)  Miami Hurricanes (5-2) – The ‘Canes just couldn’t shake Clemson, and eventually lost the game in overtime.  An uncharacteristic defense gave up 410 yards, and Jacory Harris threw three interceptions for Miami.

18)  Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2) – Terrelle Pryor needed a huge game after the Purdue meltdown, and he delivered.  Pryor went 13-25 for 239 yards and two touchdowns.  He also ran for 104 yards and a score in the win over Minnesota.

19)  West Virginia Mountaineers (6-1) - The Mountaineers are quietly playing well since the Auburn loss and are undefeated in the Big East.  They still have Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Rutgers, but first is a trip to South Florida.

20)  Utah Utes (6-1) – Here’s a team that has lost to the only good team it has played, yet sits at #19 at 6-1.  Utah is doing all the right things to win, as they showed in overtime against Air Force.  They still go to Provo and Fort Worth.

21)  South Carolina Gamecocks (6-2) – Steve Spurrier is eking out wins, but he’ll tell you that against the SEC, winning is all that matters.  They outgained Vanderbilt by 158 yards and were turnover-free, yet needed a late TD to hold on.

22)  BYU Cougars (6-2) – I don’t think anyone saw that coming.  BYU failed to show up against TCU, leaving them all but out of the Mountain West championship hunt.  Five TCU players scored in a game that was over after the first quarter.

23)  Wisconsin Badgers (5-2) – Despite not having won since Oct. 3, the Badgers are back in the rankings after a few two loss teams fell this week.  For Wisconsin, 10-2 is a legitimate possibility, although this season, who knows?

24) Kansas Jayhawks (5-2) – Two weeks ago they looked like they could challenge for a BCS game.  Now they’re thinking bowl eligibility and maybe a north title after OU blows them out.  Kansas fans should be looking toward basketball.

25)  Central Michigan (7-1) – Why not?  Butch Jones has the Chippewas at 7-1 going into the showdown at Boston College.  They have a win at Michigan State and played Arizona tough in the desert.  They’ve also won seven in a row.


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Categories : Sports

College football rankings – Oct. 19

19 10 2009

Same $***, different week.

That’s about all I can say after finding out that the coaches inexcusably ranked Florida #1 despite a dreadful performance in Gainesville against inferior Arkansas.  They must not know about Alabama, the team with the number one defense in America.  The team that has held four of its past five opponents to 7 points or fewer.  The team with road wins against Kentucky and Ole Miss, a neutral site victory against Virginia Tech, and wins against South Carolina, and that same Arkansas team by 28.  Florida’s only good win has been LSU, and they could still lose three more times.  Point is, it should be the AP guys who have BCS influence.  They got it right.  Again.  The coaches aren’t paying attention.  Good thing I am.  On to the rankings…

1)  Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0) – It was foolish of me not to have them #1 last week, but they left no doubt with a dominating 20-6 win over South Carolina.  All of a sudden, Florida can’t score on Arkansas.  How will they score on Alabama?

2)  Florida Gators (6-0) – Gator fans are sending personalized thank you cards to Alex Tejada after he single-handedly kept Florida unbeaten Saturday.  The Razorbacks had plenty of chances, but couldn’t close.  The Hogs recorded six sacks.

3)  Texas Longhorns (6-0) – Here’s another team I’m not sure about.  In a down year for the Big 12, Texas has sleepwalked through its first three games.  Outgained by OU 311-269, the ‘Horns need to figure out what’s wrong with “O” before OSU.

4)  Cincinnati Bearcats (6-0) - The Bearcats were very impressive in a 34-17 win in Tampa.  Ask West Virginia or Kansas about playing in South Florida during the week.  It’s not easy.  A bigger issue for Cincinnti is the health of QB Tony Pike.

5)  Boise State Broncos (6-0) – Boise State has played two pretty bad games in a row, and the BCS is laughing.  They won’t have to feel obligated to put the Broncos in the discussion if they keep winning by seven points with this schedule.

6)  Iowa Hawkeyes (7-0) – I’m sold.  I had this team pegged for three losses by now, but they just keep winning ugly.  They held Wisconsin to 230 yards of offense, controlled the clock and scored 20 unanswered points after falling behind 10-0.

7)  Miami Hurricanes (5-1) – The ‘Canes enjoyed their second breather in a row, cruising to a 27-7 win at Central Florida.  They should have a third cupcake this week with Clemson, but have to go to Wake, UNC and South Florida this year.

8)  LSU Tigers (5-1) – The Tigers enjoyed the week off in preparation for Auburn.  They’ve already beaten three BCS conference schools on the road – all by one possession – and still go to Ole Miss and Alabama this season.  Trouble.

9)  USC Trojans (5-1) – What is the love affair with USC?  Fourth?  Really?  Remember, this is the same team that lost to Washington, a team that is 3-4 now.  I will give them credit for road wins against Ohio State, California and Notre Dame.

10)  Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-1) – The loss by Oklahoma leaves Oklahoma State and Texas as the only two unbeaten teams in Big 12 play.  Assuming both take care of business this weekend, it should make for an epic showdown in Stillwater.

11)  Oregon Ducks (5-1) – The Ducks get two weeks to prepare for their trip up north to face Washington.  If they win, then comes a chance at virtually eliminating USC from Rose Bowl contention.  My my, if it wasn’t for that Boise State game…

12)  Penn State Nittany Lions (6-1) – The Iowa loss looks more legit every week.  So does this team’s defense, holding opponents to 7 or fewer in five of seven games.  They still need to win out and get some help if they want to smell roses.

13)  TCU Horned Frogs (6-0) – After taking a few weeks off, TCU finally showed up against Colorado State.  They outgained CSU 499-182 in the 38 point blowout.  The game of the week this week is a Mountain West game as TCU heads to Provo.

14)  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-1) - The Jackets put three SEC schools on the schedule this year and finish with 11 straight against BCS conference teams.  The huge win over Virginia Tech put them back in discussion for a BCS bowl.

15)  BYU Cougars (6-1) – Oklahoma and Florida State have been down, so the schedule hasn’t been as impressive as the Cougars would have hoped.  Still, the TCU game Saturday should put them in the national spotlight again.

16)  Houston Cougars (6-1) – It’s hard to believe that a one-loss Conference USA team could be ranked this high just halfway through the season.  But they’ve earned it after playing three BCS conference teams and winning them all.

17)  Kansas Jayhawks (5-1) – Right behind the number one offense in America is number two.  Reesing, Brizcoe and Meier did their part against Colorado, but the defense played really bad again.  It’s a Big 12 loss KU couldn’t afford to have.

18)  Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2) – Um, run defense?  Virginia Tech forgot to bring theirs to Atlanta, giving up 309 yards on the ground to Georgia Tech.  The Hokies’ schedule gets easier as they chase another ACC crown.  UNC is next.

19)  Pittsburgh Panthers (6-1) – Dion Lewis is going to be a Heisman candidate before his college career is over.  The freshman ran for 180 yards and two touchdowns in Pitt’s win at Rutgers.  He is up to third in the nation in rushing.

20)  Ohio State Buckeyes (5-2) – Purdue was just 1-5 on the year before pulling off the Ohio State upset, leaving Illinois has the only Big 12 winless team.  For the Buckeyes, winning out still gives them the conference title and a Rose Bowl berth.

21)  Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-2) – Since losing back to back road games in their home state, the Red Raiders have outscored opponents 142-52.  In their first game out of the state, new QB Steven Sheffield ripped the ‘Huskers for three TDs.

22)  Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-2) – Nebraska got absolutely embarrassed by Texas Tech at home, and failed to take advantage of a Kansas loss in the process.  The normally stout defense allowed 31 points after allowing just 40 all year.

23)  West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1) – After the Auburn loss, it didn’t look like the Mountaineers were going to be very good.  But they’ve managed a 5-1 start thanks to Noel Divine’s 6.4 yards per carry.  Nothing but Big East games remain.

24)  Utah Utes (5-1) - I’m still not convinced that this team can play with anyone in the top 25, but they’ve won the games they’re supposed to win.  They have road games against TCU and BYU two of the final three weeks of the season.

25)  South Florida Bulls (5-1) – The Bulls couldn’t get anything going, specifically in the second half, against Cincinnati.  They’ll have plenty of chances to jump right back in the mix with West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Miami still to come.


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Categories : Sports

College football rankings – Oct. 12

12 10 2009

By this point in the season, every team except two have played a bad game.  I’ve had those two teams ranked 1-2 all season.  The AP finally woke up from a five week coma and put Alabama at #2.  It’s a shame that the Tide and Gators can’t play for the national championship because after those two, there is a distinct dropoff in college football.  Penn State, USC, Texas, Cincinnati and Virginia Tech are the top teams in the other five big conferences, but none of them can touch the top two.  Not right now anyway.  So if you want your true national championship game, tune in Dec. 5 when the Gators and Crimson Tide meet at the Georgia Dome.  But just for giggles, and because I do it every week, I’ll rank 23 other teams too.

1)  Florida Gators (5-0) – The predictable Gators didn’t have Tim Tebow at his best Saturday, but that’s why you have a #1 ranked defense, right?  Florida’s “D” gets an “A” in Baton Rouge.  The game in Columbia Nov. 14 could mean a lot.

2)  Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0) – I read an article on CBS Sports saying ‘Bama should be #1.  I wouldn’t be able to argue that after the ‘Tide truck Ole Miss in Oxford.  They forced four Jevan Snead picks and rushed for 200+ yards.

3)  Texas Longhorns (5-0) – The defense and special teams outscored the offense in a lackluster home win over a terrible Colorado team.  The ‘Horns had just 46 rushing yards on 25 carries.  Play like that again and OU will win Saturday.

4)  Boise State Broncos (5-0) – They are getting no love from the voters, but they are one of the most talented teams in America.  Kellen Moore is second in the nation in pass efficiency and has 13 TDs.  They travel to Tulsa on Wednesday.

5)  Cincinnati Bearcats (5-0) – Tony Pike has completed 66 percent of his passes and is throwing for nearly 300 yards per game.  Their top two rushers are both averaging better than five yards per carry.  My point?  This offense is good.

6)  Virginia Tech Hokies (5-1) – If Alabama ends up being this team’s only loss, then they have a national championship claim.  Since then, they are 5-0 and rolling.  Boston College had no chance as Virginia Tech rolled to a 34-0 halftime lead.

7)  Miami Hurricanes (4-1) – The ‘Canes get the edge over LSU because of wins over Oklahoma and Georgia Tech although the FSU win doesn’t look impressive anymore.  This week was their first breather as they bounced Florida A&M.

8)  LSU Tigers (5-1) – The Tigers couldn’t get anything going against that stout Florida defense, but took advantage of Tebow playing too soon to keep themselves in it.  They can earn a rematch by winning out, including a win in Tuscaloosa.

9)  USC Trojans (4-1) – USC is one of six Pac 10 teams with one loss, and Oregon is undefeated.  Pete Carroll isn’t used to seeing it this bunched up, which should make for an interesting finish.  First up though is a tough trip to South Bend.

10)  Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) – The Bucks jump KU after an impressive victory over an improved Wisconsin team.  The defense and special teams combined for 21 of the 31 points, but Terrelle Pryor went just 5-13 with 87 yards, a TD and a pick.

11)  Kansas Jayhawks (5-0) – It certainly wasn’t pretty against lowly Iowa State.  Kerry Meier caught 16 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns to help bail out the Jayhawk D, which allowed 512 yards to the Cyclones.  Colorado is next.

12)  Iowa Hawkeyes (6-0) – Give the Hawkeyes credit.  After all, they spoiled my perfect upset prediction streak.  They also beat a very good Michigan team.  Their three remaining away games are Wisconsin, Michigan State and Ohio State.

13)  Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1) – The Georgia win doesn’t look impressive anymore, the Rice game was closer than expected, and now OSU nearly loses at Texas A&M.  The banged up Cowboys still have Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

14)  Oregon Ducks (5-1) – Oregon got it done against UCLA Saturday thanks to a kickoff return and an interception return.  It seems the theme of the week was offenses getting outscored by their defenses and special teams.

15)  Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1) – After a stagnant first three quarters, the ‘Husker offense exploded for 27 points in the fourth.  The defense is #13 in the country and has allowed just four touchdowns.  A 4-0 Big 12 start looks likely.

16)  Penn State Nittany Lions (5-1) – The Lions finished their joke of a nonconference schedule by beating FCS team Eastern Illinois by 49.  Next week they play their sixth home game of the season already, against Minnesota.

17)  TCU Horned Frogs (5-0) – I grow less impressed with this team every week.  Last week it was a four point win at Clemson.  This week it’s a three point win at Air Force.  I will give them credit for three road wins though.

18)  BYU Cougars (5-1) – Harvey Unga was at it again Saturday, scoring three more touchdowns and rushing for 149 yards.  Unga has rushed for 494 yards and eight touchdowns on the year, averaging 6.8 yards per carry.  Heisman?

19)  Oklahoma Sooners (3-2) – Sam Bradford returned Saturday against Baylor, and Bob Stoops didn’t hesitate to unleash the Heisman winner.  He threw 49 passes, completing 27, for 389 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

20)  Houston Cougars (4-1) – After the Cougars lost to UTEP, the AP and coaches took them out of the rankings.  I left them in, and now they are back in both major polls after beating their third BCS conference team of the year.

21)  South Florida Bulls (5-0) - Both the Bulls and Bearcats have had 12 days to prepare for the Thursday showdown in Tampa.  After Cincinnati, South Florida’s schedule stays tough, as they get Pittsburgh and West Virginia.

22)  Auburn Tigers (5-1) – Despite getting crushed by Arkansas, the Tigers have wins over Mississippi State, West Virginia and Tennessee.  Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb both average more than six yards per carry and have combined for 1000.

23)  Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1) – They may not be great teams, but the Irish have played four BCS conference teams already this year, and have won three.  They got a bye at a good time – they’re about to play a great BCS team.

24)  South Carolina Gamecocks (5-1) – Georgia game aside, South Carolina is finally winning all the close ones.  They’re the only other team with a prayer to win the SEC East, but first they’ll have to go to Alabama and win on Saturday.

25)  Pittsburgh Panthers (5-1) – The Pitt team today is not the same Pitt team we saw in the first three games.  Dion Lewis has slowed down, and the defense is giving up too many points.  The Big East is wide open, and Rutgers is next.


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Categories : Uncategorized

College football rankings – Sept. 28

28 09 2009

In a weekend full of upsets, who made out the best?  That’s easy, it’s Boise State.  The Broncos are now one Texas slip away from controlling their own destiny to Pasadena, and I don’t mean for the Rose Bowl.  The Broncos are #5 in the county (higher than that in the poll that matters), and they are guaranteed to pass two of the three SEC teams ahead of them as long as they keep winning.  LSU has Georgia and Florida next.  ‘Bama is losing to Florida in the SEC championship if not sooner.  Texas still has the Red River Shootout, a trip to Stillwater and Kansas twice.  The Broncos could turn into the biggest Sooner fans in the country come Oct. 17.  Meanwhile, Chris Peterson is making everyone on the team write personalized thank you letters to the Penn State offense for leaving Happy Valley after the first play.  On to the rankings…

1)  Florida Gators (4-0) – What’s bigger, #4, 5 and 6 all losing in one weekend, or Tim Tebow getting hurt?  I’ll go with the first one.  Florida doesn’t need Tebow to run the table, although the bye week comes at a perfect time.

2)  Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) – Saban’s boys look good.  Arkansas put up 41 on Georgia, then did squat against the Tide.  Greg McElroy had three more touchdown passes.  The Virginia Tech win looks huge now.

3)  Texas Longhorns (4-0) – For the first time this season, the ‘Horns put together two good halves of football.  Two really good halves.  The defense gave up just 53 yards and zero points.  No BCS nonconference opponents could hurt them.

4)  Boise State Broncos (4-0) – How good does that win over Oregon look now?  The Broncos have steamrolled everyone since then, and have put themselves in legitimate title contention.  Could this be the year a non-BCS school goes?

5)  Cincinnati Bearcats (4-0) – They aren’t the same ‘Cats we saw put up 115 points the first two weeks, but Cincinnati is winning, and winning against legit opponents.  Fresno is no joke, and they won at Rutgers and at Oregon State.

6)  Oklahoma Sooners (2-1) – I said I wouldn’t move any teams with bye weeks up or down the first four weeks.  Otherwise OU would be #5.  No word on whether Bradford will go against Miami, but it won’t matter.  OU will roll either way.

7)  Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1) – I picked Virginia Tech to beat Miami, but not by 24.  Defensively, the Hokies held Miami to 209 yards, while offensively, they ran it down Miami’s throats.  The rain played right into Va Tech’s style.

8)  Houston Cougars (3-0) – The Cougars have done it again.  For the second time in as many games, Houston knocked off a legitimate Big 12 opponent.  The offense racked up 579 yards against Texas Tech, and Case Keenum threw for 435.

9)  LSU Tigers (4-0) – This team is disgusting.  Another opponent blunder keeps LSU undefeated, but for how long.  They beat Mississippi State by four, Washington by eight and Vanderbilt by 14.  Georgia and Florida are next.

10)  California Golden Bears (3-1) – The Bears were absolutely embarrassed by Oregon.  They were outgained 524-207 in total offense, and Jahvid Best had 16 carries for just 55 yards.  Impressive early season wins keeps them in the top 10.

11)  USC Trojans (3-1) – Matt Barkley’s first game back was pretty good.  He went 13 for 22 for 247 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.  But after a 20-0 first quarter, they didn’t do anything against a bad Wazzu team.

12)  Kansas Jayhawks (4-0) – The offense is really good and can score on anyone.  Southern Mississippi is a good team and played tough, but KU had enough to end SMU’s eight game win streak – the second longest in the nation.

13)  Ohio State Buckeyes (3-1) – The Buckeyes haven’t given up points since USC’s winning drive on Sept. 12.  The defense forced three Juice Williams interceptions Saturday in the shutout.  Final score against Penn State: 4-2.

14)  Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-1) – Their only loss was to a good Houston team, and they have a nice win over Georgia, but fans were expecting more from Zac Robinson.  He has just 791 yards and six touchdowns through four games.

15)  Georgia Bulldogs (3-1) – The ‘Dogs have had one of the toughest schedules in the country, and it doesn’t get any easier with LSU in town Saturday.  They’ve played four BCS schools already, and have seven more on the schedule.

16)  Iowa Hawkeyes (4-0) – I’ve been saying Iowa is overrated all year, but after the performance at Penn State, I may have to shut up.  If not for that one point win over Northern Iowa, they may be in my top 10.  They go to the Shoe Nov. 14.

17)  TCU Horned Frogs (3-0) – TCU stayed undefeated – barely – at Clemson this week.  That’s two wins at ACC schools.  The defense looked good again despite not recording a sack for the first time in 27 games.  Things get easier until BYU.

18)  Oregon Ducks (3-1) – The Ducks strung together a very impressive nonconference schedule with Boise State, Purdue and Utah.  Smacking Cal by 39 is a huge boost.  Jeremiah Masoli might be off the hook for now.

19)  Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1) – They are still the favorites to win the Big 10, but a national title is dim after a double digit home loss to Iowa.  The team went to sleep after scoring on the first play, had a punt blocked and gave up a safety.

20)  Miami Hurricanes (2-1) – The rain really hampered Miami’s ability to do anything offensively.  They are not a running team and became predictable when the rain started falling.  It doesn’t get any easier with the Sooners next week.

21)  BYU Cougars (3-1) – Harvey Unga had three rushing touchdowns from inside the five as BYU got back to business in a win over Colorado State.  The Cougars can still sneak into the BCS picture with some help and an 8-0 finish.

22)  Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1) – This is a scary team, especially defensively.  That Virginia Tech team that put up 31 in the rain against Miami needed a miracle to down the Huskers.  They get a bye week before Big 12 play begins.

23)  Mississippi Rebels (2-1) – I’m not sure what all the fuss about Jevan Snead is.  He has completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes and has just six touchdowns against three unranked teams.  Alabama and LSU are both at home.

24)  Auburn Tigers (4-0) – Gene Chizik has Auburn playing well, though they havent left home yet.  They go to Tennessee and Arkansas thev next two weeks, and after that we’ll have a better idea of how good they are.

25)  Michigan Wolverines (4-0) – Rich Rodriguez has this team off to a 4-0 start – they were just 3-9 last year.  However, an embarrassing near-loss to Indiana should have Michigan fans worried.  The Wolverines travel to East Lansing next.


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Categories : Sports

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