College Football -- Back in Action!

[Guynemer]

Texas appears to be in the clear, as does Tulsa (up 77-35 in the 4th!), so BYU was the only undefeated team to go down this week.


Big 12 (3): Texas (vs. Oklahoma State), Texas Tech (at Kansas), Oklahoma State (at Texas)
Big Ten (1): Penn State (at Ohio State)
Conference USA (1): Tulsa (vs. Central Florida)
Mid-American (1): Ball State (vs. Eastern Michigan)
Mountain West (1): Utah (idle)
Southeastern (1): Alabama (at Tennessee)
Western (1): Boise State (at San Jose State)


HUGE week coming up. Lots of top-shelf games, the headliner being Oklahoma State at Texas. Penn State and Texas Tech both face very scary games on the road. Alabama and Boise State both have a pretty good chance of being upset away from home. And I'll believe in the Golden Hurricane just as soon as I hit the lottery. In fact, the only two teams that look assured of having a perfect record after this coming week are idle Utah, and Ball State, taking on the terrible football team from Washtenaw County. No, the other terrible team; Michigan plays Michigan State.

I'll take the Horns over Oklahoma State, Bama to edge out the Vols, Boise State to keep it up, and Ball State in a walk. But everyone else is going down.

[Guynemer]

1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Penn State
4. Oklahoma
5. Utah
6. Southern Cal
7. Florida
8. Oklahoma State
9. Louisiana State
10. Ohio State


No need for much movement in my Top Ten this week; so long, Cougars; hello, Buckeyes.

[SlowwHand]

I don't see how anyone can vote any other team #1 at this point in time.

McCoy tonight, 29 of 32 for 337 yds. Hard to be better.

[Imran Siddiqui]

1) Texas
2) Penn State
3) Oklahoma
4) Alabama
5) Southern Cal
6) Florida
7) Utah
8) Ohio State
9) Texas Tech
10) Oklahoma State

Though would have loved to see Florida play this week. I have a suspicious that THEY and not Alabama are the class of the SEC.

[-Jrabbit]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I don't see how anyone can vote any other team #1 at this point in time.

McCoy tonight, 29 of 32 for 337 yds. Hard to be better.

The BCS and the polls agree with you, Sloww.

[DanS]

[SlowwHand]

Those refs are badasses. You don't mess with them.

[DanS]

Question for UM fans... What do you think of Rodriguez? Are you of the opinion that (1) UM's production is a natural result of a rather drastic change in system, (2) Rodriquez is a lost cause, or (3) something else?

[Lord Avalon]

3a) Loss of all the skill players & many veterans on offense: Chad Henne, Jake Long, Mke Hart, Mario Manningham, & Adrian Arrington all went to the NFL. Mallett and Boren transferred. I think there was an OL who decided not to play.

3b) In addition to the inexperience there were a lot of OL injuries. A starter went out with a season-ending knee injury just before the first game. An OL needs to gel as a unit, and there's been a lot of juggling and changing of positions.

3c) I blame Carr in part for not keeping the recruiting pipeline full and overreliance on starters. Backups didn't get much experience. QB Jason Forcier transferred to Stanford early in 07.

I think Rodriguez is a good coach. I want to see where we are in 2-3 yrs. Although I can't understand if Threet is healthy, why Sheridan got any playing time. He must be awsome in practice.

[DanS]

Regarding 3(c), in the interest of dialog, as I have said previously, last year was a very bad year for UM head-to-head with ND on recruiting, although the year was pretty good for UM considering everything, according to the recruiting services.

This year, UM and ND are going after different types of guys except one notable recruit on which UM won. Going by the recruiting services, this year will be an off-year for UM, which would surprise me if so. Would have expected UM to get a nice shot in the arm from the first full Rodriguez recruiting effort.

[Guynemer]

Threet isn't healthy. His banged up elbow got dinged again during the PSU game, which is why he came out and, God help us all, Sheridan went in.

For the record, I am in complete agreement with Lord Avalon's analysis. I mean, for God's sake, Michigan lost its #1 all-time passer, #1 all-time rusher, the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft, their top two WRs, and the other four starting OL. Anyone who thought this would be a bowl season was kidding themselves.

[Lord Avalon]

I wasn't talking about the last couple games so much as earlier in the season when Sheridan still got a lot of PT.

And if all it takes is 6 wins to be bowl eligible, why wouldn't you think it's possible to get to a bowl? (I mean, before seeing how truly bereft of talent U-M is right now.)

BTW, Guynemer, it should hardly come as a shock that sports fans are often nuts/kidding themselves.

[Guynemer]

Well, before the season, I would've predicted that, right now, Michigan would be... 2-5. With wins over Miami and Toledo, and losses to Utah, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Penn State. So, really, they are right where I thought they'd be, except for the upset over Wisconsin and the giant turd against Toledo.

Considering they'd have to go 4-1 the rest of the way to get to a bowl, really... no chance.

[Lord Avalon]

I guess I should have added "...before the season starts ..." to "why wouldn't you think it's possible to get to a bowl." (Well, maybe not you in particular, Guy.)

Now? Yeah, it'd be a miracle.

BTW, here's hoping the Spartans have an OSU hangover and are in the crash-and-burn portion of their schedule.

[Naked Gents Rut]

I think I've learned enough about American college football in the last 2 months to attempt a Top Ten ranking...

1. USC
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Oklahoma
6. TCU
7. Alabama
8. Iowa
9. Missouri
10. Georgia