COLLEGE FOOTBALL

[strike wolf]

I just found this article about the Wyoming Texas game on September 12.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2472 ... s-altitude
With the 27-21 win over Weber today, I think the 12th may prove to be intresting this year.

I think Texas knows they cant overlook anybody and will be prepared to beat the Wyoming Cowboys no matter the crowd support and OC there.

And as far as BYU beating Oklahoma.. That game went down to the wire and most likely wouldn't have been close had Bradford not got hurt.. The Sooner Offense was non existent with that Freshman QB. So I wouldn't get too high on BYU or the mountain division just yet.

Well, Ole Miss was beaten.
In 2004, the year in which the Cowboys would win the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, the Cowboys hosted the Ole Miss Rebels. The Rebels, in their first season without quarterback Eli Manning, would lose a heartbreaker 37-32.
And then look at the Ohio vs Wyoming and vs Ohio State parts. That was only 1 year ago. We may lose, but I don't think Texas will have an easy time about it at all if the Cowboys can fix up a few things that showed against Weber State.

In 2004, Ole Miss was in the lower half of the SEC. It was only last year that Ole Miss started to showcase themselves as one of the best teams.

[oVo]

Wyoming may beat the spread on their home field --which is 34 points-- but that's about it.

AP Rankings after Week 1
Mississippi & Penn State both jump Ohio State without beating a meaningful opponent
1 ) Florida
2 ) Texas
3 ) Southern California
4 ) Alabama
5 ) Oklahoma State
6 ) Mississippi
7 ) Penn State
8 ) Ohio State
9 ) Brigham Young
10) California
13) Oklahoma
14) Virginia Tech
21) Georgia
NLR - Oregon, Florida State and Iowa

[AndyDufresne]

I'm always a fan of Mid-Majors doing well, or schools new to the big scene like Cincinnati. I generally like to see a big shape up. That's the most enjoyable part of College Football.


--Andy

[strike wolf]

Wyoming may beat the spread on their home field --which is 34 points-- but that's about it.

AP Rankings after Week 1
Mississippi & Penn State both jump Ohio State without beating a meaningful opponent
1 ) Florida
2 ) Texas
3 ) Southern California
4 ) Alabama
5 ) Oklahoma State
6 ) Mississippi
7 ) Penn State
8 ) Ohio State
9 ) Brigham Young
10) California
13) Oklahoma
14) Virginia Tech
21) Georgia
NLR - Oregon, Florida State and Iowa

I knew OSU would get knocked down a couple. I didn't think that Oklahoma State had really done enough to put themselves in the top 5 though (a rank that will probably slip away as the season goes on.

[strike wolf]

In a way I kind of want to rank Alabama #3 after they were the only one of the top 3 to play a ranked team, a team that was in fact ranked #7 but neither USC or Texas did anything in their games to justify moving anyone ahead of them. next saturday should be interesting as pending on the result of the USC-OSU game we could have our second top 5 loss (don't think losing to #8 counts as an upset unless you just get trampled by them) and see Alabama move up to #3, OK State potentially #4 (all depending on if these teams aren't over taken by Ohio State after what would be a big win) and Ohio State #5, leading to an all SEC-Big 12 top 4 with Ole Miss just around the corner at #6. This is of course assuming that none of those other teams that are in the top 6 rihgt now lose because if that happens and USC loses we'd be in for a major shake up that could even land BYU just outside of the top 5 teams in the nation.

[Optimus Prime]

I'm an avid BYU fan, so I suppose my opinion is biased to some degree, but anyone saying that OU was automatically going to win that game if Sam Bradford didn't get hurt is being a smidgen naive in my opinion. OU was not able to sustain any sort of offensive presence in the first half while he was actually in the game, their only touchdown coming on a short field due to a BYU turnover. To say OU wins that game with him playing is a bit of a stretch. If you watched that entire game then you know that BYU's defense came to play and Max Hall gutted out that massive drive to take the lead like he had never done before.

Now, I think he would have changed their gameplan a little bit on that last drive and yes, he would have given them a better chance at the win, but give credit where credit is due. BYU stopped that OU team fair and square, especially on that epic goal line stand where OU had five chances to get it into the end zone from within the two yard line and were stopped cold.

It's always interesting to see the headlines after a game like this one. Not a single one was "BYU upsets OU" but rather they were "Bradford hurt, OU loses," which is unfair in my opinion. He is an important part of that team, but his injury was not the reason OU lost that ball game.

BYU had twice as many turnovers, had the same "new" offensive line and lost star players both to graduation and injury just like OU did, but BYU came to play and were a much more disciplined and prepared team across the board. I think BYU's #9 ranking might be a bit presumptuous, I think somewhere at about #11 or #12 would have been a little more accurate in my mind, but I'll take it, I'm a fan after all.

[oVo]

I take nothing away from BYU, they have fielded excellent football teams in the past and this years' incarnation is no different. Had last year's Heisman Trophy winner not been knocked out of the game THE UPSET headline WOULD HAVE BEEN HUGE. Sam Bradford managed a paltry 14 of 16 passing for 96 yards and a single TD while he lasted against the Brigham Young defense. There's no guarantee that the outcome would have been any different had he remained available to play the entire game. But I tend to think that the Sooners are a different team with him on the field.

But of course that is all a moot point because BYU won the game! They have three more big chances to showcase their team as the season continues and are the highest ranked of three Mountain West teams
currently in the AP Top 20.

Only a few ranked teams will actually be challenged by their games this week...
#3 USC at #8 OSU
#18 Notre Dame at Michigan
Bowling Green at #25 Missouri
BG knocked off #25 Pittsburgh last year to start the season, can they do it again?
Ha ha! not likely at all.
The SEC matchups
Vanderbilt at #11 LSU
South Carolina at #21 Georgia

[AndyDufresne]

#19 North Carolina vs Conn might be an interesting game, of those you haven't listed above.

Iowa vs Iowa State is always a big rivalry game.

#16 TCU is also up for play this week---albeit against a pretty bad Virgina team. But I expect them to continue to move up in the Polls.

East Carolina vs West Virgina will be an interesting bell-weather for WVU in the Big East.


--Andy

[oVo]

Yeah, I was mostly just looking at the AP Top 25 and their lack of big match ups.
Clemson at #15 Georgia Tech
#19 North Carolina at Connecticut
#24 Kansas at University Texas at El Paso

There are few with potential...
Iowa at Iowa State
East Carolina at West Virginia
UCLA at Tennessee
Mississippi State at Auburn
Ohio University at North Texas State as the Mean Green attempt to start a win streak for their second year coach.
Illinois State at Illinois
Rice at Texas Tech
Western Illinois at Northern Illinois
Tulsa at New Mexico
Purdue at Oregon

[AndyDufresne]

Idaho @ Washington -- Washington has been lousy---though played decent in their opener against ranked LSU. But if they manage to Idaho, the program will continue to drop and drop.


--Andy

[Optimus Prime]

Idaho @ Washington -- Washington has been lousy---though played decent in their opener against ranked LSU. But if they manage to Idaho, the program will continue to drop and drop.


--Andy

I don't think Washington will lose that game. They are a much better team than they were last year, just got unlucky to play an SEC opponent first. They are far more competitive this year than last year when they just looked lost all the time.

[strike wolf]

I'm an avid BYU fan, so I suppose my opinion is biased to some degree, but anyone saying that OU was automatically going to win that game if Sam Bradford didn't get hurt is being a smidgen naive in my opinion. OU was not able to sustain any sort of offensive presence in the first half while he was actually in the game, their only touchdown coming on a short field due to a BYU turnover. To say OU wins that game with him playing is a bit of a stretch. If you watched that entire game then you know that BYU's defense came to play and Max Hall gutted out that massive drive to take the lead like he had never done before.

Now, I think he would have changed their gameplan a little bit on that last drive and yes, he would have given them a better chance at the win, but give credit where credit is due. BYU stopped that OU team fair and square, especially on that epic goal line stand where OU had five chances to get it into the end zone from within the two yard line and were stopped cold.

It's always interesting to see the headlines after a game like this one. Not a single one was "BYU upsets OU" but rather they were "Bradford hurt, OU loses," which is unfair in my opinion. He is an important part of that team, but his injury was not the reason OU lost that ball game.

BYU had twice as many turnovers, had the same "new" offensive line and lost star players both to graduation and injury just like OU did, but BYU came to play and were a much more disciplined and prepared team across the board. I think BYU's #9 ranking might be a bit presumptuous, I think somewhere at about #11 or #12 would have been a little more accurate in my mind, but I'll take it, I'm a fan after all.

I only saw bits and pieces of the game and I think it was going to be a close game either way. I am tempted to agree with your opinion.

On the Oklahoma bid, I don't know how much Bradford being out for a minimum of two weeks will affect them but I don't think they can win against with their offensive line the way it is and especially with Gresham out for the season. I say you can go ahead and write Oklahoma out of any National Title hopes. However depending on how the rest of the Big 12 does, they still have a good chance at making a BCS bowl game.

[strike wolf]

I take nothing away from BYU, they have fielded excellent football teams in the past and this years' incarnation is no different. Had last year's Heisman Trophy winner not been knocked out of the game THE UPSET headline WOULD HAVE BEEN HUGE. Sam Bradford managed a paltry 14 of 16 passing for 96 yards and a single TD while he lasted against the Brigham Young defense. There's no guarantee that the outcome would have been any different had he remained available to play the entire game. But I tend to think that the Sooners are a different team with him on the field.

But of course that is all a moot point because BYU won the game! They have three more big chances to showcase their team as the season continues and are the highest ranked of three Mountain West teams
currently in the AP Top 20.

Only a few ranked teams will actually be challenged by their games this week...
#3 USC at #8 OSU
#18 Notre Dame at Michigan
Bowling Green at #25 Missouri
BG knocked off #25 Pittsburgh last year to start the season, can they do it again?
Ha ha! not likely at all.
The SEC matchups
Vanderbilt at #11 LSU
South Carolina at #21 Georgia

I'd say the best chances of an upset next weak are Missouri-Bowling Green and Notre Dame-Michigan. As far as the SEC, I donot see Vanderbilt beating LSU but I do think they will make it a close game. SC always gives Georgia nightmares no matter how good Georgia is or how bad SC is. I expect that to be another close game. However after last week's loss, I think Joe Cox and the Dawgs will be looking for a bit of redmention for a lackluster performance.

[strike wolf]

Yeah, I was mostly just looking at the AP Top 25 and their lack of big match ups.
Clemson at #15 Georgia Tech
#19 North Carolina at Connecticut
#24 Kansas at University Texas at El Paso

There are few with potential...
Iowa at Iowa State
East Carolina at West Virginia
UCLA at Tennessee
Mississippi State at Auburn
Ohio University at North Texas State as the Mean Green attempt to start a win streak for their second year coach.
Illinois State at Illinois
Rice at Texas Tech
Western Illinois at Northern Illinois
Tulsa at New Mexico
Purdue at Oregon

Clemson at #15 Georgia Tech I'm gonna predict the upset here, Clemson beats GT by 6
#19 North Carolina at Connecticut North Carolina by 10.

UCLA at Tennessee I'm gonna give the Vols a slight advantage.
Mississippi State at Auburn Auburn by 5
Rice at Texas Tech Texas tech by 13

All other games I don't care enough to comment.

[king sam]

I didnt mean to come across that BYU didnt play a hell of a game, cause i give them their due. That goal line stance was phenomenal. But I think you gotta also take into account that Bradford wasnt there. The headlines shouldnt have read Bradford hurt, Sooners lose, it shoulda been BYU upsets Big 12 powerhouse. But the media spins it the way they do.

I give BYU credit, but I do think the jump in ranking was a lil much. I dont see Oklahoma being 1st or 2nd in the conference this year. Its Texas's division to lose, with a good but rocky Oklahoma State team right behind them. I knew that O line would make Bradfords numbers drop dramatically this year, but I didnt expect him straining his shoulder half way through the opening game. Guess you can take him out of the Heisman race.

[AndyDufresne]

I give BYU credit, but I do think the jump in ranking was a lil much. I dont see Oklahoma being 1st or 2nd in the conference this year. Its Texas's division to lose, with a good but rocky Oklahoma State team right behind them. I knew that O line would make Bradfords numbers drop dramatically this year, but I didnt expect him straining his shoulder half way through the opening game. Guess you can take him out of the Heisman race.

If anything, the jump high into the rankings is probably well over due, and deserved.


--Andy

[72o]

Clemson at #15 Georgia Tech I'm gonna predict the upset here, Clemson beats GT by 6

Woot! I hope you're right. Game time fast approaching...

[strike wolf]

Clemson at #15 Georgia Tech I'm gonna predict the upset here, Clemson beats GT by 6

Woot! I hope you're right. Game time fast approaching...

I hope I am right. I'd like to see GT lose all their games.

[72o]

Then I assume you're a dawgs fan..?

[strike wolf]

Then I assume you're a dawgs fan..?

Hope it wasn't too obvious.

[72o]

Well I want you guys to win this weekend, obviously. Shouldn't be too hard.

[strike wolf]

I think we will. In recent years SC has always kept it close and won one now and then but I think Georgia will win if for no other reason, they're the better team.

[oVo]

Wouldn't it be sweeter if the Rambling Wreck won all their games
only to suffer a Bulldog beatdown to finish out the year?

[strike wolf]

Wouldn't it be sweeter if the Rambling Wreck won all their games
only to suffer a Bulldog beatdown to finish out the year?

yeah but that would mean that they would win their half of the ACC and even get a BCS bid if they win the ACC Championship. I don't want them to be in that situation. besides after that embarassment last year the win will be sweet no matter what.

[strike wolf]

Turned the Tech game off after the 1st quarteer.