Ah yes, my favorite time of year.
The brisk morning air brings your sense to their utmost clarity as you take in the myriad of colors and the scent of baked holiday goodness. Fall and the holiday season are officially here, which means 2 things are right around the corner for all of us College Football fans.
1. BCS madness
2. Bowl Season, which really is my favorite season of the year.
Which reminds me, I need to share what I am thankful for.
I am thankful for the glory that is digital television and the DVR. Thanks to these 2 wonderful inventions, I can watch every. single. bowl. game. And with any luck, my marriage will survive it once again.
But we have to get through this muddy mess that this season has turned into, so what happened in week 12? Well.....
1. #2 went down. This is another example of how hard it is to survive in the top conferences. These teams know you, inside and out, and they are going to sell out.
That said, this game brought something to light for me. 3 games ago, Coach Paul Rhodes took the redshirt off of his freshman QB Jarett Barnett. Since the young man from Garland Texas took over, the Cyclones are 3-0 having outscored their opponents 91-48. This young man is a real, dual-threat, talent and Iowa State is going to have a whole different outlook going into next year.
2. Brady Hoke is really starting to get something going in Michigan and the revitalization of their defense is no small part of it. Michigan is 9-2 going into their game with Ohio State which they should be a prohibitive favorite in, coming off a dismantling of a good Nebraska Cornhusker team. Taking 3 fumbles away from the Huskers is no small feat and the balance that they have with Fitzgerald Toussaint at running back has changed the entire dynamic of their offense. They are not elite, but they are very good and will elite soon. Kids want to play at Michigan, and they are going to want to play on that defense. Look out Big 10.
3. Florida State missed another kick to lose a game. I feel bad for Dustin Hopkins. He has been clutch throughout his career and 42 yards is no chip shot, but you have to make that kick if you are going to play for the Noles. Kicker is one position where there is no room left for forgiveness. That said, this one is on Jimbo Fisher. His offense was more talented up and down than the Virginia defense. He needs to turn his horses loose and attack. Playing this conservative style of ball just plays into the hands of teams who aren't quite as athletic. Nothing against the Cavs, this is their best team in years, and they are trending up with a very good young coach. But they just can't run with the Noles stride for stride, so why wouldn't the Noles turn it into a horse race?
4. So did Oregon. Lane Kiffin can coach, like it or not.
5. Georgia has saved their season, as they just keep finding ways to win. That said, they are toast in the SEC Championship. I don't even care who comes out of the west. That said, I am going to be rooting for them. I mean hell, if we are going to blow things up, let's blow them all the way up.
6. Clemson took a nap. There is no way they should have lost to NC State, let alone got blown out. there is no shame in giving up some points to NC State, but the Wolfpack hadn't stopped anyone all year, this was just a poor performance by the Tigers.
7. I am not sure which of these should be the question:
1. What happened to the OU defense?
or
2. Are the offenses in the Big 12 this damned good?
Oddly, I think we will see the answer to this in the SEC. Arkansas is a similar offense to the ones that are trotted out in the Big 12. If they can go down to the Bayou and put some points up on LSU, we ill have some idea as to whether a pass-heavy attack like these can stand up to the onslaught of the Honey Badger and his mates. One thing is for sure, the Big 12 has some parity this year too.
8. Texas still can't beat Kansas State. They couldn't beat them when they were bad, and they can't beat them when they are good. Course, this year it made more sense than with the Horns were making a habit of losing to Ron Prince. That said, Texas has to feel good about where their defense was in this game.
9. I know Stanford won this one, but in my mind, they just proved that they are not worthy of a BCS birth regardless of what happens. Cal is not a good team. I know, this is a "rivalry" game, and there is passion here, and it's a win. But, if you want to be in the title conversation, you have to put teams like Cal down. HARD. Stanford squeaked by.
10. UCLA blew out Colorado. YAWN....I know, who cares right? Well, that win put them in the PAC-12 championship game. Seriously, take a look. They are second in the south behind the Trojans, who aren't eligible for the title game, and noone else can catch them. UCLA, who has been outscored on the season 198-255 is going to play for a shot in a BCS bowl game. Really? Really? yeah, that's kind of ridiculous huh.
So, on to this weeks rankings.
1. LSU Tigers (11-0) SEC
2. Houston Cougars (12-0) C-USA
3. Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1) SEC
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1) Big-12
5. Alabama Crimson Tide(10-1) SEC
6. Virginia Tech Hokies (10-1) ACC
7. USC Trojans (9-2) Pac-12
8. Stanford Cardinal (10-1) Pac-12
9. Boise State Broncos (9-1) MWC
10. Oregon Ducks (9-2) Pac-12
11. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2) SEC
12. South Carolina Gamecocks (9-2) SEC
13. Clemson Tigers (9-2) ACC
14. Kansas State Wildcats (9-2) Big-12
15. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2) Big 10
16. Michigan State Spartans (9-2) Big 10
17. Oklahoma Sooners (8-2) Big-12
18. Wisconsin Badgers (9-2) Big 10
19. Michigan Wolverines (9-2) Big 10
20. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (9-2) C-USA
21. TCU Horned Frogs (10-2) MWC
22. Virginia Cavaliers (9-2) ACC
23. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-3) Independent
24. Rutgers Scarlett Knights (8-3) Big East
25. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-3) Big East
26. Arkansas State Red Wolves (9-2) Sun Belt
27. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-3) Big 10
28. Tulsa Golden Hurrican (8-3) C-USA
29. Auburn Tigers (7-4) SEC
30. Baylor Bears (7-3) Big-12
Conference Count
SEC: 6
C-USA: 3
Big-12: 4
ACC: 3
Pac-12: 2
MWC: 2
Big 10: 5
Independent: 1
Big East: 2
Sun Belt: 1
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