SteveDeace
Well-Known Member
College Football Report – Week 9
If I had a Vote in the AP Top 25
Based on how good I think the teams are right now.
1. Florida (8-0)…Gators had their best performance of the season thus far against arch-rival Georgia.
2. Alabama (8-0)…Toughest test between now and the SEC Championship when Nick Saban’s former team comes to Tuscaloosa this week.
3. Texas (8-0)…Looks like smooth sailing from here for the Longhorns.
4. Iowa (9-0)…A 28-point outburst in the fourth quarter overcame what was potentially the most disappointing loss of the Kirk Ferentz era.
5. TCU (8-0)…Horned Frogs are surrendering fewer than nine points per game the past six games.
6. Boise State (8-0)…That opening non-conference win of the season looks a lot better right now, doesn’t it?
7. Oregon (7-1)…Playing as well as anyone in the country right now, out-scoring its October opponents 205-58.
8. Cincinnati (8-0)…It’s plug-and-play quarterbacks again for Brian Kelly, who is an absolute witch.
9. Georgia Tech (8-1)…I’m still trying to figure out how Paul Johnson has transitioned from a pro-style offense to his triple-option attack quicker than Rich Rodriguez has been able to do it at Michigan.
10. Penn State (8-1)…Nittany Lions are probably wishing they could get to replay that home loss to the Hawkeyes.
11. LSU (7-1)…Folks in Iowa City, Fort Worth, Cincinnati, and Boise will be rooting for the Tigers to play spoiler this weekend.
12. Houston (7-1)…Almost 1400 yards of total offense and 100 points were racked up by both teams in its 50-43 win over Southern Mississippi.
13. USC (6-2)…That “mighty†Trojan defense has given up 83 points in its last three games, and likely given up its streak of Pac-10 titles as a result.
14. Miami (6-2)…May have salvaged their season with a stirring second half comeback at Wake Forest.
15. Pittsburgh (7-1)…Nobody’s talking about the fact the Panthers also controls their own destiny in the Big East.
16. Utah (7-1)…They’ll get the chance to prove if they belong here when they play TCU in two weeks.
17. BYU (6-2)…Still profiting off that opening win versus Oklahoma, but the statue of limitations is about to run out on that one.
18. Oklahoma (5-3)…Got much more of a challenge from Kansas State than anyone expected they would.
19. Ohio State (7-2)…Buckeyes still controls their own destiny in the Big Ten if they win out, but they have a tough schedule down the stretch.
20. Oklahoma State (6-2)…Yet again the Cowboys prove they’re not ready for primetime and can’t take the next step as a program.
21. Notre Dame (6-2)…Even if the Irish win out, can they still climb high enough in the polls to nab a BCS berth?
22. Arizona (5-2)…Wildcats are the only Pac-10 team never to play in the Rose Bowl, but they’re in the thick of the run for the roses right now.
23. California (6-2)…Bears still have a chance to win out and reach the rare, for their program, 10-win threshold.
24. Wisconsin (6-2)…Badgers will be favored in every game the rest of the way, and could end up with a nice Florida bowl game in January.
25. South Florida (6-2)…B.J. Daniels is making everyone forget about how important Matt Groethe was to the Bulls.
Honorable Mention:
26. Rutgers (6-2), 27. Texas Tech (6-3), 28. South Carolina (6-3), 29. Auburn (6-3), 30. Virginia Tech (5-3).
Week 3 Cheers & Jeers
CHEERS TO TEMPLE…When was the last time the Owls were bowl-eligible before Michigan was, let alone before November? Try like never, but Temple won its sixth straight and is likely headed to its first bowl game since Jimmy Carter was president.
JEERS TO UCLA…Rich Rodriguez isn’t the only big-name, second-year coach struggling. The Bruins are now 0-5 in the Pac-10 and Rick Neuheisel’s team hasn’t scored more than 26 points in a game since the opening week.
CHEERS TO RICKY STANZI…How often does a quarterback throw four interceptions in a quarter, and then come back to throw for touchdowns on his next two passes to bring his team back?
JEERS TO JEVAN SNEAD…Some thought the Ole Miss quarterback was the top NFL prospect at his position behind reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford heading into the season. However, his passer rating is now 25 points below what it was last season, and he’s already thrown 13 interceptions this season when that was the total he threw all of last year.
CHEERS TO JONATHAN CROMPTON…After September it looked like he might be the worst starting quarterback for a BCS conference squad. But in his last four games the Tennessee signal-caller has an outstanding 9-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
JEERS TO N.C. STATE…With lots of starters and the best quarterback returning in the ACC, the Wolfpack were a chic sleeper pick in the preseason. But they’re still winless in conference play heading into November.
Big Ten & Major Bowl Projections
Based on how I currently think the season will finish.
BCS National Championship: Texas (13-0) vs. Alabama (13-0)
Sugar Bowl: Pittsburgh (11-1) vs. Florida (12-1)
Rose Bowl: Oregon (10-2) vs. Iowa (11-1)
Fiesta Bowl: TCU (12-0) vs. Penn State (11-1)
Orange Bowl: USC (10-2) vs. Georgia Tech (12-1)
Capitol One Bowl: Ohio State (9-3) vs. Mississippi (8-4)
Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma (9-3) vs. LSU (9-3)
Gator Bowl: Miami (10-2) vs. Notre Dame (8-4)
Outback Bowl: Wisconsin (10-2) vs. Tennessee (7-5)
Champs Sports: Virginia Tech (9-3) vs. Minnesota (7-5)
Alamo Bowl: Michigan (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)
Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. California (9-3)
Insight Bowl: Kansas State (7-6) vs. Michigan State (6-6)
Motor City Bowl: Northwestern (6-6) vs. Central Michigan (11-2)
One Man’s Heisman Ballot
If I had to vote for the Heisman Trophy today.
MARK INGRAM…No Alabama player has ever won the award, but he leads the nation in rushing attempts of 20 yards or more.
JIMMY CLAUSEN…Second-ranked passer in the country, but quarterbacks with more than two losses usually don’t win the award.
TIM TEBOW…Played his best game of the season statistically, and is still the quarterback of the nation’s top-ranked team.
Big Ones
A look at next week’s five biggest matchups.
LSU at ALABAMA…Can Nick Saban’s former team spoil his current team’s season?
OHIO STATE at PENN STATE…Terrelle Pryor makes his first trip back home to Pennsylvania with the Rose Bowl on the line.
OREGON at STANFORD…Are the Ducks on letdown alert against the improving Cardinal?
KANSAS at KANSAS STATE…A loser leave town match in the Big 12 North.
OKLAHOMA at NEBRASKA…Remember when this was as big of a game nationally as Michigan-Ohio State?
Next week college football nation will be discussing…Either whether or not the sport’s winningest program could be making another coaching change, or the glut of undefeated teams still remaining.
If I had a Vote in the AP Top 25
Based on how good I think the teams are right now.
1. Florida (8-0)…Gators had their best performance of the season thus far against arch-rival Georgia.
2. Alabama (8-0)…Toughest test between now and the SEC Championship when Nick Saban’s former team comes to Tuscaloosa this week.
3. Texas (8-0)…Looks like smooth sailing from here for the Longhorns.
4. Iowa (9-0)…A 28-point outburst in the fourth quarter overcame what was potentially the most disappointing loss of the Kirk Ferentz era.
5. TCU (8-0)…Horned Frogs are surrendering fewer than nine points per game the past six games.
6. Boise State (8-0)…That opening non-conference win of the season looks a lot better right now, doesn’t it?
7. Oregon (7-1)…Playing as well as anyone in the country right now, out-scoring its October opponents 205-58.
8. Cincinnati (8-0)…It’s plug-and-play quarterbacks again for Brian Kelly, who is an absolute witch.
9. Georgia Tech (8-1)…I’m still trying to figure out how Paul Johnson has transitioned from a pro-style offense to his triple-option attack quicker than Rich Rodriguez has been able to do it at Michigan.
10. Penn State (8-1)…Nittany Lions are probably wishing they could get to replay that home loss to the Hawkeyes.
11. LSU (7-1)…Folks in Iowa City, Fort Worth, Cincinnati, and Boise will be rooting for the Tigers to play spoiler this weekend.
12. Houston (7-1)…Almost 1400 yards of total offense and 100 points were racked up by both teams in its 50-43 win over Southern Mississippi.
13. USC (6-2)…That “mighty†Trojan defense has given up 83 points in its last three games, and likely given up its streak of Pac-10 titles as a result.
14. Miami (6-2)…May have salvaged their season with a stirring second half comeback at Wake Forest.
15. Pittsburgh (7-1)…Nobody’s talking about the fact the Panthers also controls their own destiny in the Big East.
16. Utah (7-1)…They’ll get the chance to prove if they belong here when they play TCU in two weeks.
17. BYU (6-2)…Still profiting off that opening win versus Oklahoma, but the statue of limitations is about to run out on that one.
18. Oklahoma (5-3)…Got much more of a challenge from Kansas State than anyone expected they would.
19. Ohio State (7-2)…Buckeyes still controls their own destiny in the Big Ten if they win out, but they have a tough schedule down the stretch.
20. Oklahoma State (6-2)…Yet again the Cowboys prove they’re not ready for primetime and can’t take the next step as a program.
21. Notre Dame (6-2)…Even if the Irish win out, can they still climb high enough in the polls to nab a BCS berth?
22. Arizona (5-2)…Wildcats are the only Pac-10 team never to play in the Rose Bowl, but they’re in the thick of the run for the roses right now.
23. California (6-2)…Bears still have a chance to win out and reach the rare, for their program, 10-win threshold.
24. Wisconsin (6-2)…Badgers will be favored in every game the rest of the way, and could end up with a nice Florida bowl game in January.
25. South Florida (6-2)…B.J. Daniels is making everyone forget about how important Matt Groethe was to the Bulls.
Honorable Mention:
26. Rutgers (6-2), 27. Texas Tech (6-3), 28. South Carolina (6-3), 29. Auburn (6-3), 30. Virginia Tech (5-3).
Week 3 Cheers & Jeers
CHEERS TO TEMPLE…When was the last time the Owls were bowl-eligible before Michigan was, let alone before November? Try like never, but Temple won its sixth straight and is likely headed to its first bowl game since Jimmy Carter was president.
JEERS TO UCLA…Rich Rodriguez isn’t the only big-name, second-year coach struggling. The Bruins are now 0-5 in the Pac-10 and Rick Neuheisel’s team hasn’t scored more than 26 points in a game since the opening week.
CHEERS TO RICKY STANZI…How often does a quarterback throw four interceptions in a quarter, and then come back to throw for touchdowns on his next two passes to bring his team back?
JEERS TO JEVAN SNEAD…Some thought the Ole Miss quarterback was the top NFL prospect at his position behind reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford heading into the season. However, his passer rating is now 25 points below what it was last season, and he’s already thrown 13 interceptions this season when that was the total he threw all of last year.
CHEERS TO JONATHAN CROMPTON…After September it looked like he might be the worst starting quarterback for a BCS conference squad. But in his last four games the Tennessee signal-caller has an outstanding 9-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
JEERS TO N.C. STATE…With lots of starters and the best quarterback returning in the ACC, the Wolfpack were a chic sleeper pick in the preseason. But they’re still winless in conference play heading into November.
Big Ten & Major Bowl Projections
Based on how I currently think the season will finish.
BCS National Championship: Texas (13-0) vs. Alabama (13-0)
Sugar Bowl: Pittsburgh (11-1) vs. Florida (12-1)
Rose Bowl: Oregon (10-2) vs. Iowa (11-1)
Fiesta Bowl: TCU (12-0) vs. Penn State (11-1)
Orange Bowl: USC (10-2) vs. Georgia Tech (12-1)
Capitol One Bowl: Ohio State (9-3) vs. Mississippi (8-4)
Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma (9-3) vs. LSU (9-3)
Gator Bowl: Miami (10-2) vs. Notre Dame (8-4)
Outback Bowl: Wisconsin (10-2) vs. Tennessee (7-5)
Champs Sports: Virginia Tech (9-3) vs. Minnesota (7-5)
Alamo Bowl: Michigan (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)
Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. California (9-3)
Insight Bowl: Kansas State (7-6) vs. Michigan State (6-6)
Motor City Bowl: Northwestern (6-6) vs. Central Michigan (11-2)
One Man’s Heisman Ballot
If I had to vote for the Heisman Trophy today.
MARK INGRAM…No Alabama player has ever won the award, but he leads the nation in rushing attempts of 20 yards or more.
JIMMY CLAUSEN…Second-ranked passer in the country, but quarterbacks with more than two losses usually don’t win the award.
TIM TEBOW…Played his best game of the season statistically, and is still the quarterback of the nation’s top-ranked team.
Big Ones
A look at next week’s five biggest matchups.
LSU at ALABAMA…Can Nick Saban’s former team spoil his current team’s season?
OHIO STATE at PENN STATE…Terrelle Pryor makes his first trip back home to Pennsylvania with the Rose Bowl on the line.
OREGON at STANFORD…Are the Ducks on letdown alert against the improving Cardinal?
KANSAS at KANSAS STATE…A loser leave town match in the Big 12 North.
OKLAHOMA at NEBRASKA…Remember when this was as big of a game nationally as Michigan-Ohio State?
Next week college football nation will be discussing…Either whether or not the sport’s winningest program could be making another coaching change, or the glut of undefeated teams still remaining.
