SteveDeace
Well-Known Member
2010 College Football Report – Week 9
Weekly Big Ten Crystal Ball
Projecting how things will finish based on what we know so far.
1. Wisconsin (7-1, 11-1)…Rose Bowl
2. Iowa (7-1, 10-2)…BCS at-large
3. Ohio State (6-2, 10-2)…Capitol One Bowl
4. Michigan State (6-2, 10-2)…Outback Bowl
5. Penn State (5-3, 8-4)…Gator Bowl
6. Illinois (5-3, 7-5)…Insight Bowl
7. Purdue (3-5, 5-7)
8. Michigan (2-6, 6-6)…Texas Bowl
9. Northwestern (2-6, 6-6)…Dallas Football Classic
10. Indiana (1-7, 5-7)
11. Minnesota (0-8, 1-11)
BCS Crystal Ball
Projecting how things will finish based on what we know so far.
National Championship Game—Auburn (12-1) vs. Oregon (12-0)
Rose Bowl—Boise State (12-0) vs. Wisconsin (11-1)
Sugar Bowl—Iowa (10-2) vs. Alabama (10-2)
Orange Bowl—Nebraska (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (10-3)
Fiesta Bowl—Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Oklahoma (12-1)
Weekly Top 25
If I had a vote in the AP Poll this would be my ballot based on how good I think the teams are right now.
1. Auburn (9-0)…Top two teams in the country are remarkably similar, but Tigers get the nod for #1 because they’ve played the tougher schedule.
2. Oregon (8-0)…That isn’t a vintage USC team the Ducks dispatched, but the Trojans probably did represent the only obstacle in the way of an undefeated season.
3. Boise State (8-0)…Their dramatic drop in the Sagarin Ratings this week indicates it’s almost impossible for the Broncos to make it the national title game no matter what.
4. TCU (8-0)…Horned Frogs have now surrendered a grand total of only 16 points in their last five games.
5. Alabama (7-1)…Every team the defending national champs faces the rest of the way will be coming off of a bye week.
6. Nebraska (7-1)…Huskers now in total control of the Big 12 North Division race in their final season in the Big 12.
7. Wisconsin (7-1)…Hawkeyes have been kind to Wisconsin for two weeks in a row now, doing Badgers a favor by beating Michigan State.
8. Missouri (7-1)…Faced a first quarter avalanche they couldn’t overcome and lost their final conference game at Lincoln.
9. Oklahoma (7-1)…Sooners once-vaunted strength of schedule the BCS computers loved took a substantial hit this week.
10. Michigan State (8-1)…Any coincidence Spartans unraveled the same week Mark Dantonio took someone fresh from a jail cell back on his squad?
11. Stanford (7-1)…Jim Harbaugh’s squad has replaced USC as the most physical team in the Pac-10 now that Pete Carroll is in the NFL.
12. LSU (7-1)…If you’re Les Miles you probably don’t want to drop to 0-3 against your predecessor Nick Saban.
13. Arizona (7-1)…Off to their best start since the Desert Swarm days and still has its shot at Oregon for its Rose Bowl appearance.
14. Iowa (6-2)…Vented its frustration of unrealized potential on Michigan State and is now back in the Big Ten title hunt.
15. Ohio State (8-1)…When you sit back and look at the Buckeyes’ schedule you come to the conclusion they’ve beaten exactly nobody.
16. Utah (8-0)…Still doubting the strength of schedule, or lack thereof, but Utes get shot to assert themselves when they host TCU this week.
17. South Carolina (6-2)…Second straight week the Gamecocks didn’t turn in the dominant performance the oddsmakers were expecting of them.
18. Arkansas (6-2)…Razorbacks’ final four games are as tough of a closing stretch as any team has this season.
19. Oklahoma State (7-1)…A nice bounce-back win on the road for the Cowboys, who also had an off-the-field distraction to deal with.
20. Virginia Tech (6-2)…Hokies are just taking names in the ACC and haven’t scored fewer than 40 points in a game since September 25th.
21. Mississippi State (7-2)…Great story so far for the Bulldogs, but don’t be surprised if this week’s victory over Kentucky is their last one of the season.
22. Baylor (7-2)…Don’t look now, but it’s the Bears that are currently sitting in first place in the Big 12 South Division after first win in Austin since 1991.
23. N.C. State (6-2)…Huge win over Florida State means unlikely Wolfpack control their own destiny in ACC Atlantic Division.
24. Florida State (6-2)…Although the Wolfpack control their own destiny in division race, the schedule favors the Seminoles down the stretch.
25. Hawaii (7-2)…Warriors have outscored their last two opponents 90-17 and in remain atop the WAC alongside Boise State.
Honorable Mention:
26. Illinois (5-3), 27. Nevada (7-1), 28. Florida (5-3), 29. Maryland (6-2), 30. Florida (5-3).
My Heisman Ballot
Our weekly rankings of the top three contenders for college football’s most coveted award.
1. Cameron Newton, Auburn…At this point it’s his award to lose. He’s so out in front he’s essentially lapped the field.
2. Andrew Luck, Stanford…Has already thrown for more touchdowns than he did all of last season, and there’s almost half of this season to go.
3. LaMichael James, Oregon…Putting up huge numbers despite missing the first game of the season due to suspension.
Cheers & Jeers
Cheers to…Former Michigan assistant coach Brady Hoke, who is now the head coach at San Diego State where he has led the Aztecs to their first bowl appearance since 1998 in just his second season and he’s done it without gimmicks. San Diego State ranks in the top 35 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Jeers to…Mark Dantonio, who used the lame “the team voted” line about putting a convicted criminal fresh from the poke right back on his football team—for the second time in his brief coaching career. The so-called “dean of Big Ten discipline” got caught making a desperate attempt to keep a storybook season alive, which I don’t blame him for on one hand but you can’t do that and play the “zero tolerance” card on the other. The guy’s record when it comes to off-the-field issues with his players is abysmal, and let’s not pretend otherwise. And of course the players are going to vote for leniency, because they’re like most kids who don’t want to be held accountable for their own wrongdoings. That’s why the coach is supposed to be an adult, and send the proper message. Instead, he sent a message that character, integrity, and discipline are secondary to winning at all costs. By the looks of how undisciplined and unraveled his team looked at Kinnick Stadium they got his message loud and clear.
Cheers to…Syracuse Coach Doug Marrone, who is definitely a candidate for national coach of the year now that he has the recently downtrodden Orange back in contention in the Big East Conference. Syracuse is 6-2 thanks largely to a salty and opportunistic defense, which ranks 17th nationally in scoring defense and is only allowing 10.2 points per game in its last five outings.
Jeers to…Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly, who has now found himself embroiled in a controversy that sadly led to the loss of a human life for the second time in his three FBS coaching stops. On top of that this tragedy unfolded in between losses to Navy and Tulsa. Kelly was mysteriously passed over by Iowa State, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Michigan for coaching jobs before getting the gig in South Bend despite his sterling resume and reputation as one of the nation’s top tacticians. Perhaps what’s happened around the Irish program the past 14 days indicates why. At least one nationally syndicated columnist suggested Kelly should be fired this week: http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/notre-dame-must-fire-brian-kelly-over-student-death-102910
Cheers to…Roy Helu, Jr. of Nebraska, who posted the greatest single game rushing performance in Cornhusker history against previously unbeaten Missouri. When you consider all the great tailbacks Nebraska has had throughout the years he earns this week’s Bon Scott Award for Testicular Fortitude for eclipsing them all.
Jeers to…quarterback injuries, of which there were several on Saturday. Dayne Crist at Notre Dame, Kevin Riley at California, Taylor Martinez at Nebraska, and Miami’s Jacory Harris each suffered injuries that forced them to leave their respective games prematurely and their status for this weekend is uncertain.
Big Ones
Previewing the five biggest games of the next week.
TCU at Utah…Two unbeatens, one with a terrific defense and the other an explosive offense, meet for the final time as Mountain West Conference combatants with the chance to impress the pollsters.
Alabama at LSU…Two coaches with national titles at LSU square off under the lights at Tiger Stadium. Think that atmosphere won’t be electric?
Arizona at Stanford…Wildcats need this one if they want their game against Oregon later in the season to determine the Pac-10 title.
Arkansas at South Carolina…Gamecocks still control their own destiny in the SEC East, but they’ve been less than sharp the past two weeks.
Baylor at Oklahoma State…Who would’ve predicted before the season started this would be for first place in the Big 12 South Divison?
Weekly Big Ten Crystal Ball
Projecting how things will finish based on what we know so far.
1. Wisconsin (7-1, 11-1)…Rose Bowl
2. Iowa (7-1, 10-2)…BCS at-large
3. Ohio State (6-2, 10-2)…Capitol One Bowl
4. Michigan State (6-2, 10-2)…Outback Bowl
5. Penn State (5-3, 8-4)…Gator Bowl
6. Illinois (5-3, 7-5)…Insight Bowl
7. Purdue (3-5, 5-7)
8. Michigan (2-6, 6-6)…Texas Bowl
9. Northwestern (2-6, 6-6)…Dallas Football Classic
10. Indiana (1-7, 5-7)
11. Minnesota (0-8, 1-11)
BCS Crystal Ball
Projecting how things will finish based on what we know so far.
National Championship Game—Auburn (12-1) vs. Oregon (12-0)
Rose Bowl—Boise State (12-0) vs. Wisconsin (11-1)
Sugar Bowl—Iowa (10-2) vs. Alabama (10-2)
Orange Bowl—Nebraska (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (10-3)
Fiesta Bowl—Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Oklahoma (12-1)
Weekly Top 25
If I had a vote in the AP Poll this would be my ballot based on how good I think the teams are right now.
1. Auburn (9-0)…Top two teams in the country are remarkably similar, but Tigers get the nod for #1 because they’ve played the tougher schedule.
2. Oregon (8-0)…That isn’t a vintage USC team the Ducks dispatched, but the Trojans probably did represent the only obstacle in the way of an undefeated season.
3. Boise State (8-0)…Their dramatic drop in the Sagarin Ratings this week indicates it’s almost impossible for the Broncos to make it the national title game no matter what.
4. TCU (8-0)…Horned Frogs have now surrendered a grand total of only 16 points in their last five games.
5. Alabama (7-1)…Every team the defending national champs faces the rest of the way will be coming off of a bye week.
6. Nebraska (7-1)…Huskers now in total control of the Big 12 North Division race in their final season in the Big 12.
7. Wisconsin (7-1)…Hawkeyes have been kind to Wisconsin for two weeks in a row now, doing Badgers a favor by beating Michigan State.
8. Missouri (7-1)…Faced a first quarter avalanche they couldn’t overcome and lost their final conference game at Lincoln.
9. Oklahoma (7-1)…Sooners once-vaunted strength of schedule the BCS computers loved took a substantial hit this week.
10. Michigan State (8-1)…Any coincidence Spartans unraveled the same week Mark Dantonio took someone fresh from a jail cell back on his squad?
11. Stanford (7-1)…Jim Harbaugh’s squad has replaced USC as the most physical team in the Pac-10 now that Pete Carroll is in the NFL.
12. LSU (7-1)…If you’re Les Miles you probably don’t want to drop to 0-3 against your predecessor Nick Saban.
13. Arizona (7-1)…Off to their best start since the Desert Swarm days and still has its shot at Oregon for its Rose Bowl appearance.
14. Iowa (6-2)…Vented its frustration of unrealized potential on Michigan State and is now back in the Big Ten title hunt.
15. Ohio State (8-1)…When you sit back and look at the Buckeyes’ schedule you come to the conclusion they’ve beaten exactly nobody.
16. Utah (8-0)…Still doubting the strength of schedule, or lack thereof, but Utes get shot to assert themselves when they host TCU this week.
17. South Carolina (6-2)…Second straight week the Gamecocks didn’t turn in the dominant performance the oddsmakers were expecting of them.
18. Arkansas (6-2)…Razorbacks’ final four games are as tough of a closing stretch as any team has this season.
19. Oklahoma State (7-1)…A nice bounce-back win on the road for the Cowboys, who also had an off-the-field distraction to deal with.
20. Virginia Tech (6-2)…Hokies are just taking names in the ACC and haven’t scored fewer than 40 points in a game since September 25th.
21. Mississippi State (7-2)…Great story so far for the Bulldogs, but don’t be surprised if this week’s victory over Kentucky is their last one of the season.
22. Baylor (7-2)…Don’t look now, but it’s the Bears that are currently sitting in first place in the Big 12 South Division after first win in Austin since 1991.
23. N.C. State (6-2)…Huge win over Florida State means unlikely Wolfpack control their own destiny in ACC Atlantic Division.
24. Florida State (6-2)…Although the Wolfpack control their own destiny in division race, the schedule favors the Seminoles down the stretch.
25. Hawaii (7-2)…Warriors have outscored their last two opponents 90-17 and in remain atop the WAC alongside Boise State.
Honorable Mention:
26. Illinois (5-3), 27. Nevada (7-1), 28. Florida (5-3), 29. Maryland (6-2), 30. Florida (5-3).
My Heisman Ballot
Our weekly rankings of the top three contenders for college football’s most coveted award.
1. Cameron Newton, Auburn…At this point it’s his award to lose. He’s so out in front he’s essentially lapped the field.
2. Andrew Luck, Stanford…Has already thrown for more touchdowns than he did all of last season, and there’s almost half of this season to go.
3. LaMichael James, Oregon…Putting up huge numbers despite missing the first game of the season due to suspension.
Cheers & Jeers
Cheers to…Former Michigan assistant coach Brady Hoke, who is now the head coach at San Diego State where he has led the Aztecs to their first bowl appearance since 1998 in just his second season and he’s done it without gimmicks. San Diego State ranks in the top 35 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Jeers to…Mark Dantonio, who used the lame “the team voted” line about putting a convicted criminal fresh from the poke right back on his football team—for the second time in his brief coaching career. The so-called “dean of Big Ten discipline” got caught making a desperate attempt to keep a storybook season alive, which I don’t blame him for on one hand but you can’t do that and play the “zero tolerance” card on the other. The guy’s record when it comes to off-the-field issues with his players is abysmal, and let’s not pretend otherwise. And of course the players are going to vote for leniency, because they’re like most kids who don’t want to be held accountable for their own wrongdoings. That’s why the coach is supposed to be an adult, and send the proper message. Instead, he sent a message that character, integrity, and discipline are secondary to winning at all costs. By the looks of how undisciplined and unraveled his team looked at Kinnick Stadium they got his message loud and clear.
Cheers to…Syracuse Coach Doug Marrone, who is definitely a candidate for national coach of the year now that he has the recently downtrodden Orange back in contention in the Big East Conference. Syracuse is 6-2 thanks largely to a salty and opportunistic defense, which ranks 17th nationally in scoring defense and is only allowing 10.2 points per game in its last five outings.
Jeers to…Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly, who has now found himself embroiled in a controversy that sadly led to the loss of a human life for the second time in his three FBS coaching stops. On top of that this tragedy unfolded in between losses to Navy and Tulsa. Kelly was mysteriously passed over by Iowa State, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Michigan for coaching jobs before getting the gig in South Bend despite his sterling resume and reputation as one of the nation’s top tacticians. Perhaps what’s happened around the Irish program the past 14 days indicates why. At least one nationally syndicated columnist suggested Kelly should be fired this week: http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/notre-dame-must-fire-brian-kelly-over-student-death-102910
Cheers to…Roy Helu, Jr. of Nebraska, who posted the greatest single game rushing performance in Cornhusker history against previously unbeaten Missouri. When you consider all the great tailbacks Nebraska has had throughout the years he earns this week’s Bon Scott Award for Testicular Fortitude for eclipsing them all.
Jeers to…quarterback injuries, of which there were several on Saturday. Dayne Crist at Notre Dame, Kevin Riley at California, Taylor Martinez at Nebraska, and Miami’s Jacory Harris each suffered injuries that forced them to leave their respective games prematurely and their status for this weekend is uncertain.
Big Ones
Previewing the five biggest games of the next week.
TCU at Utah…Two unbeatens, one with a terrific defense and the other an explosive offense, meet for the final time as Mountain West Conference combatants with the chance to impress the pollsters.
Alabama at LSU…Two coaches with national titles at LSU square off under the lights at Tiger Stadium. Think that atmosphere won’t be electric?
Arizona at Stanford…Wildcats need this one if they want their game against Oregon later in the season to determine the Pac-10 title.
Arkansas at South Carolina…Gamecocks still control their own destiny in the SEC East, but they’ve been less than sharp the past two weeks.
Baylor at Oklahoma State…Who would’ve predicted before the season started this would be for first place in the Big 12 South Divison?
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