Yes, I know, there was a week between the last 2 posts of the rankings.
Things got away from me a bit, damn the real life.
In the meantime, things have changed a lot in the last 2 weeks.
What has changed you ask? Well.
We have a new number 1 after Ohio State choke.......err......lost in Happy Vally. Isn't that the strangest name for an actual place? Seriously, it sounds like it should be the title to either a children's book, a very sad Romance Novel where one of the characters has terminal cancer but the find love despite it, or the worst horror film ever. Wait, those last 2 might be able to be joined. hmmmmm....Maybe I should write that.....
Oh hell, I don't have time to post regularly, I would never get that book done.
Back to football.
3 of the top 10 dropped out, with Tennessee dropping like a stone.
6 teams dropped out of the rankings entirely, including some programs which were expected to be strong: Miami of Florida, Arizona State, Ole Miss, and Arkansas.
Yes, 1/5 of the ranked teams 2 weeks ago, are no longer ranked teams. Boy do we have a big number of mediocre teams this year.
There is still 1 independent team ranked, but it's not Notre Dame,
So, on to the rankings
1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Bama is rolling, pun intended. They have played the last 3 weeks against teams who were ranked at the time, 2 of them on the road. they won by a combined score of 131-54. They are, once again, the most consistently outstanding team.
2. CLEMSON TIGERS
Clemson almost got caught looking past a decent North Carolina State team. By all rights, they should have lost, buuuuuuuuuuuut they didn't so they still get credit for winning. It also helps that the Auburn win is looking better and better. That said, they are not 1b right now.
3. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Penn State? Really?
Come on guys.
4. WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Is this the week that Washington finally gets a test in the Pac 12?
I really need to know if they are as good as they look. They are thumping folks, and they have talent, but the Pac is not the ACC, let alone the Big 10 or SEC. That said, Utah and Washington State are ranked, Cal can score with anyone, USC is likely about to be ranked again behind Sam Darnold. This is the toughest stretch they are going to see. If they can't finish this run, I will gladly drop them like a stone. Well, not too gladly.
5. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
So, Louisville was not happy about people picking at them about the Duke game. They walked in against the Wolfpack team that should have beat Clemson and stepped on their neck.
I think that's only figurative, but as bad as it was, it might have been literal....the neck stepping I mean.
Damn
6. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
This. Is. A. Squad.
For the season, their combined score is 341-70. That's an average of 48.7-10.
Now, it hasn't been murderers row, but Colorado is decent, Penn State beat OSU, Wisconsin is tough, and....well the meat is coming. They should beat the Spartans, but I expect that Sparty will be up for this game, though so will the Wolverines after last year's game. Maryland is getting better-ish, and they finish with Ohio State.
You know, after Michigan and Ohio State,Wisconsin, the Big Ten is kind of meh.
Pausing to appreciate excellence before we worry about the other 'good teams'
Showing posts with label Ohio State Buckeyes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio State Buckeyes. Show all posts
Friday, October 28, 2016
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Week 13 TRS College Football Rankings
What did week 13 leave us with?
The Big 12 has a logjam that is going to come down to the very end of the regular season. On top of the glorious tension that fans are rewarded with from having Baylor, TCU, and Kansas State still in the running, it may offset some of the affect of there being no Big 12 conference title. It is likely that the Big 12 championship will come down to the Wildcats and the Bears in Waco on the 6th.
There wasn't a lot of excitement in the SEC as most of they are in the midst of their late-season round of cupcakes. Arkansas's demolishing of Ole Miss did not have a positive effect for their conference. Arkansas is getting better, but Ole Miss is really not the same team since losing LaQuon Treadwell, and the game, to Auburn. Simply put, they are good, but not great, which damages the reputation of the SEC West this season. That said, it is still the best division in football.
Out west, in the PAC, there is still a battle to see who will face off with Oregon for the conference championship. The thumping that UCLA put on the Trojans in L.A. announced their intentions to contend for the conference title. It is going to be a very interesting weekend as the Bruins face off with the always-dangerous Stanford Cardinal and Sun Devils go to war with the Wildcats out in the desert. If the Bruins win, it is theirs, as they hold the head-to-head against both of the Arizona teams.
As for the top 4, Bama rolled over Western Carolina, Florida State escaped again, and Oregon rolled over Colorado, the Vanderbilt of the PAC-12.
So, here is the latest standings:
1. Oregon Ducks:
The Ducks have not been challenged since getting their starting offensive line healthy again. If they can avoid an upset in the Civil War against Oregon State and beat whoever comes out of the logjam in the PAC-12 south, they will be a shoo-in for the playoff. That however, requires 2 more wins over quality programs.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide:
The Tide will be in the playoff for sure if they win out. However, they have the Iron Bowl and the SEC championship between them and the playoff. It will be interesting to see what would happen if the Tide happens to drop one of these games, giving them 2 losses on the season. Would they jump ahead of all the 1 loss teams, or would they simply give their spot to the Mississippi State team that they beat so soundly a few weeks ago.
3. Florida State Seminoles:
This team is infuriating to watch. They are talented, they are clutch, and they insist on proving the latter each and every week. Mind you, winning a close game against a solid, physical, BC team on a water-logged field is no great shame, but they need to learn how to start a game. Closing is good, but every now and again, they should whoop someone. As for the future, they have a rivalry game for with the Gators coming to town before the ACC championship game. That title game is set against Georgia Tech, which is a scary game for the Noles. Tech run the triple option which has given FSU trouble in the past, and the YellowJackets have the talent to make the most of it. If they lose one of these, they will be missing the playoffs.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes:
People can say what they want about the Buckeyes lettings Indiana hang around, but they have making an impressive run through the Big 10(1). Now, they have the Big Game against their rivals to the north before lining up for the Big 10 championship. The west has an interesting situation with Minnesota facing off with the Badgers, with the winner taking the Division.
The Big 12 has a logjam that is going to come down to the very end of the regular season. On top of the glorious tension that fans are rewarded with from having Baylor, TCU, and Kansas State still in the running, it may offset some of the affect of there being no Big 12 conference title. It is likely that the Big 12 championship will come down to the Wildcats and the Bears in Waco on the 6th.
There wasn't a lot of excitement in the SEC as most of they are in the midst of their late-season round of cupcakes. Arkansas's demolishing of Ole Miss did not have a positive effect for their conference. Arkansas is getting better, but Ole Miss is really not the same team since losing LaQuon Treadwell, and the game, to Auburn. Simply put, they are good, but not great, which damages the reputation of the SEC West this season. That said, it is still the best division in football.
Out west, in the PAC, there is still a battle to see who will face off with Oregon for the conference championship. The thumping that UCLA put on the Trojans in L.A. announced their intentions to contend for the conference title. It is going to be a very interesting weekend as the Bruins face off with the always-dangerous Stanford Cardinal and Sun Devils go to war with the Wildcats out in the desert. If the Bruins win, it is theirs, as they hold the head-to-head against both of the Arizona teams.
As for the top 4, Bama rolled over Western Carolina, Florida State escaped again, and Oregon rolled over Colorado, the Vanderbilt of the PAC-12.
So, here is the latest standings:
1. Oregon Ducks:
The Ducks have not been challenged since getting their starting offensive line healthy again. If they can avoid an upset in the Civil War against Oregon State and beat whoever comes out of the logjam in the PAC-12 south, they will be a shoo-in for the playoff. That however, requires 2 more wins over quality programs.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide:
The Tide will be in the playoff for sure if they win out. However, they have the Iron Bowl and the SEC championship between them and the playoff. It will be interesting to see what would happen if the Tide happens to drop one of these games, giving them 2 losses on the season. Would they jump ahead of all the 1 loss teams, or would they simply give their spot to the Mississippi State team that they beat so soundly a few weeks ago.
3. Florida State Seminoles:
This team is infuriating to watch. They are talented, they are clutch, and they insist on proving the latter each and every week. Mind you, winning a close game against a solid, physical, BC team on a water-logged field is no great shame, but they need to learn how to start a game. Closing is good, but every now and again, they should whoop someone. As for the future, they have a rivalry game for with the Gators coming to town before the ACC championship game. That title game is set against Georgia Tech, which is a scary game for the Noles. Tech run the triple option which has given FSU trouble in the past, and the YellowJackets have the talent to make the most of it. If they lose one of these, they will be missing the playoffs.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes:
People can say what they want about the Buckeyes lettings Indiana hang around, but they have making an impressive run through the Big 10(1). Now, they have the Big Game against their rivals to the north before lining up for the Big 10 championship. The west has an interesting situation with Minnesota facing off with the Badgers, with the winner taking the Division.
Friday, November 1, 2013
TRS Rankings after Week 9
No great surprises at the top this week as the BCS picture took its first step towards sorting itself out.
I say at the top though, because there are always those fun surprises like this. This was a huge win for what looks to be an up-and-coming programs in the Big Ten. They are gathering talent, and are as good as they have been in a decade. Toss in that they are a fairly young team, and we might have a spoiler on the way....maybe.
Missouri's schedule finally caught up to them as South Carolina stole one out from under the Tigers in the western Columbia of the SEC. Maty Mauk didn't play quite as well as he did in his first start, but there is no reason to doubt the talent. Missouri is for real, they just aren't real experienced in the role of the favorite.
The Pac-12 was interesting with Oregon staking a claim at the top, and Oregon State giving Stanford a bit of a scare. The Beavers have come along way since losing to Eastern Washington.
Let's see where that puts us this week.
I say at the top though, because there are always those fun surprises like this. This was a huge win for what looks to be an up-and-coming programs in the Big Ten. They are gathering talent, and are as good as they have been in a decade. Toss in that they are a fairly young team, and we might have a spoiler on the way....maybe.
Missouri's schedule finally caught up to them as South Carolina stole one out from under the Tigers in the western Columbia of the SEC. Maty Mauk didn't play quite as well as he did in his first start, but there is no reason to doubt the talent. Missouri is for real, they just aren't real experienced in the role of the favorite.
The Pac-12 was interesting with Oregon staking a claim at the top, and Oregon State giving Stanford a bit of a scare. The Beavers have come along way since losing to Eastern Washington.
Let's see where that puts us this week.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
TRS College Football Rankings after Week 6
We got a good slate of games this last week. With the conference seasons really firing up, we starting to separate the wheat from the chafe.
What did we learn?
Well, Maryland is not near a complete team.
Northwestern is a legitimate Big 10 contender, or were before they lost a tough one to the Buckeyes.
OU is a different team with Blake Bell at quarterback.
Georgia State's AD is a sadist who scheduled a vicious gauntlet for his young program.
These games did give us a bit of a shuffle in the rankings, so without further ado........
What did we learn?
Well, Maryland is not near a complete team.
Northwestern is a legitimate Big 10 contender, or were before they lost a tough one to the Buckeyes.
OU is a different team with Blake Bell at quarterback.
Georgia State's AD is a sadist who scheduled a vicious gauntlet for his young program.
These games did give us a bit of a shuffle in the rankings, so without further ado........
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
College Football Rankings after Week 10
Well, the season is down to a 4 way game of chicken.
We have 4 top-flight programs who are left on top, fighting to be a shot at the title. The first 2 that blink, play in the Fiesta Bowl, or whichever is the first also-ran bowl this season. These teams are amazing in the contrast they give to each other. We have the efficient team, with monstrous defense that is leading the pack in Bama. We have the efficient team with the opportunistic defense, the do-everything QB, and the elder statesman of a coach in K-State. We have lightning in a bottle that scores so often and fast that they wear out both defenses by the end of the game in Oregon. And, we have the team that is the Baltimore Ravens of the NCAA ranks, with the Notre Dame defense carrying the offense through the schedule.
Each of these has it's own strength and unique identity, but they have 2 things in common.
1. The top 4 BCS ranking that comes with being unbeaten after 10 weeks of football.
2. The immense pressure that comes with being unbeaten after 10 weeks of football.
Noone else is really going to matter for the next month of college football, unless they are playing the role of spoiler to bring clarity to the National Title picture.
I kind of hope they don't, that way we can get started on the process improvement for the new playoff system. Why wait till it actually starts, after all?
On to the rankings!!!
1. Kansas State Wildcats 7.957
I know, I know, how anyone besides the leader of the SEC lead the rankings? Well, that is the beauty of using the numbers produced by the schedule and the score determine the rankings. It does not care what conference you are in, just who you played, and how you fared. KSU is rolling, and their schedule lines up favorably with nearly anyone in the country. If they win out, they should be hard to keep out of the big game.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide 7.933
Bama truly is an all-round team now that AJ McCarron is playing like a blue-chip QB. That said, their defense is not as good as advertised. They actually missed several tackles, which allowed LSU to have one of their better offensive games of the season, especially passing. You can't argue that they overlooked LSU, especially not with the game in Death Valley. So, that begs the question, is Bama susceptible to a more well-rounded team? It's going to have be a loaded team to have a shot, no doubt, but they showed their youth a bit.
3. Oregon Ducks 7.737
For all of those out there who are poking holes in the theory that the Ducks defense is good enough, you are forgetting one thing. No team in the SEC, short of the mediocre Tennessee team, has a passing attack that is anything like what USC trots out there. By the end of the game, both defenses were gassed, but that will not be the case in a slower paced game. Apples and oranges.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7.272
The Irish barely survived a trap game against a Pitt team that, for my money, is the most improved team from the start of the season. Personally, I haven't bought ND as a top 5 team. They have the defense, and their offense can be that good, but it's just not there every week.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes 6.580
Buckeye faithful have to be drooling over the future of this team. Braxton Miller has as good a chance as anyone in the country to win a Heisman before he is done in Columbus.
We have 4 top-flight programs who are left on top, fighting to be a shot at the title. The first 2 that blink, play in the Fiesta Bowl, or whichever is the first also-ran bowl this season. These teams are amazing in the contrast they give to each other. We have the efficient team, with monstrous defense that is leading the pack in Bama. We have the efficient team with the opportunistic defense, the do-everything QB, and the elder statesman of a coach in K-State. We have lightning in a bottle that scores so often and fast that they wear out both defenses by the end of the game in Oregon. And, we have the team that is the Baltimore Ravens of the NCAA ranks, with the Notre Dame defense carrying the offense through the schedule.
Each of these has it's own strength and unique identity, but they have 2 things in common.
1. The top 4 BCS ranking that comes with being unbeaten after 10 weeks of football.
2. The immense pressure that comes with being unbeaten after 10 weeks of football.
Noone else is really going to matter for the next month of college football, unless they are playing the role of spoiler to bring clarity to the National Title picture.
I kind of hope they don't, that way we can get started on the process improvement for the new playoff system. Why wait till it actually starts, after all?
On to the rankings!!!
1. Kansas State Wildcats 7.957
I know, I know, how anyone besides the leader of the SEC lead the rankings? Well, that is the beauty of using the numbers produced by the schedule and the score determine the rankings. It does not care what conference you are in, just who you played, and how you fared. KSU is rolling, and their schedule lines up favorably with nearly anyone in the country. If they win out, they should be hard to keep out of the big game.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide 7.933
Bama truly is an all-round team now that AJ McCarron is playing like a blue-chip QB. That said, their defense is not as good as advertised. They actually missed several tackles, which allowed LSU to have one of their better offensive games of the season, especially passing. You can't argue that they overlooked LSU, especially not with the game in Death Valley. So, that begs the question, is Bama susceptible to a more well-rounded team? It's going to have be a loaded team to have a shot, no doubt, but they showed their youth a bit.
3. Oregon Ducks 7.737
For all of those out there who are poking holes in the theory that the Ducks defense is good enough, you are forgetting one thing. No team in the SEC, short of the mediocre Tennessee team, has a passing attack that is anything like what USC trots out there. By the end of the game, both defenses were gassed, but that will not be the case in a slower paced game. Apples and oranges.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7.272
The Irish barely survived a trap game against a Pitt team that, for my money, is the most improved team from the start of the season. Personally, I haven't bought ND as a top 5 team. They have the defense, and their offense can be that good, but it's just not there every week.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes 6.580
Buckeye faithful have to be drooling over the future of this team. Braxton Miller has as good a chance as anyone in the country to win a Heisman before he is done in Columbus.
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