For all the noise about unbeaten's falling last weekend, there weren't a lot of surprises.
Texas over Baylor was a minor surprise, but winning on the road in conference is a tough thing to do.
To me, the biggest upset was South Carolina over Tennessee. Something is not right in Knoxville. They are an immature team, and the cracks might be showing with Jalen Hurd announcing his transfer. When I have had the opportunity to watch the Volunteers over the last 2 years, it was clear that Hurd was the heart and soul of that team. For all the talk about their Rocket Scientist at Quarterback,they were at their best with Hurd was rolling and generating emotion.
What this week did give us was a bit more clarity. The teams who looked to be second tier, but who had managed to not lose a game yet, well...they lost a game. We no longer have to worry about if they were going to muddy the waters.
Oh, the BCS Rankings came out.
I know that we lost the SEC, but the Aggies? Really?
I have nothing against the Aggies, but I wouldn't put them in the top 5. The scary bit there is that they are in and their only game they won't be strongly favored in left is LSU. If you don't think they should be in, you might be pretty upset here in a few weeks. LSU to close will be tough, but otherwise their only risk is Ole Miss, who has been reeling.
On to the rankings.
1. WASHINGTON HUSKIES
This is a situation where the point differential is really coming into play. Washington has not played the caliber of schedule that the other top teams have played, but they have drilled so many teams.
They got a good test playing a salty Ute team this week and got a nice win. I don't expect them to stay this high as the other top contenders continue through their respective meat grinders, but Washington can play folks. Don't think they can't.
2. CLEMSON TIGERS
Clemson may have gotten a little help from the Zebras, at least if you listen to Jimbo. Whether or not you buy into that being a big play in the game depends on how much credit you give to big Mo.
This is college football, and we tend to give Momentum a lot of credit, and it was a brutal call at a time that FSU was looking to pile on. BUT, they did score on the drive.
I am a fan of the Noles. I have been my whole life, and I have not hidden that fact. My 2 cents.....that O-Line is a HUGE.GLARING.WEAKNESS. They couldn't hold their water at the end of the game, and they could not pass block against Clemson's dynamic D-Linemen.
All the debate means nothing though. What does matter? Clemson won again, and they won against a quality squad.
3. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Alabama fell a bit because they had a bye.
It's not slight to them. If they win out, they will be #1, which is where most of the believe they should be. Handle your business and and we will see you in the playoffs.
4. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes look to have a bit of a hangover. They are as talented as anybody in the country.
They need to get healthy on their O-Line, but they are loaded, and they need to get their swagger back. If you are the Buckeyes, and you want to win the title, you have to beat on teams like Northwestern. You can't just win. You have to BEAT them.
They have some tough games left.
Nebraska just lost their first game and has their sites set on the Big 10 title game.
Michigan State is a team that they cannot overlook. They did that last year and it cost them.
And then is the big game. Michigan-Ohio State should be a elimination game for the playoffs.
5. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Louisville was not dominant against Virginia.
They are holding on by the skin of their teeth, and they need to realize that they still have a lot to play for. If they don't step it up, they could easily drop 2 of their last 4.
Showing posts with label Rankings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rankings. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
2016 TRS Football Rankings - Week 6
And now we start to see the gold begin to be sifted from the rocks.
The pretenders are being exposed, the luck is running out, and mental toughness is being exposed.
1. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
'The' Buckeyes played a solid Indiana team who was coming in on a high after beating Michigan State. I think it says enough that it seemed close for an Ohio State game because they only won by 20.
Urban Meyer has these Buckeyes ready to play every week. They come out hungry and with an edge. If he can sustain that with these young kids, they have a great shot.
2. WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Washington just made a big announcement. Oregon and Stanford are no longer the class of the PAC.
Admittedly, Oregon is down, but to beat them by 49 points? Damn.
Jake Browning has been tremendously accurate and they put lot of speed on the field. That's a good combination for an offense. To be honest, their point differential is what has them just a hair ahead of of Clemson, but they sure look like the real deal.
3. CLEMSON TIGERS
Clemson did to BC exactly what a top 5 team should do to this year's BC team.
This game was over before we got to the second quarter. No great kudos for beating a team that you should beat, but this could have been a let down game following up an emotional win over Louisville.
4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Bama was ready for a challenge. Unfortunately, the Hogs were not the team to give them one.
This game was not as close as it looks on the scoreboard and that's with the Tide Rolling (haha) by 19. They have the toughest stretch of their season coming up though, so we get to see if this is a good team, or the favorite for the title.
5. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Sorry Rutgers.
The pretenders are being exposed, the luck is running out, and mental toughness is being exposed.
1. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
'The' Buckeyes played a solid Indiana team who was coming in on a high after beating Michigan State. I think it says enough that it seemed close for an Ohio State game because they only won by 20.
Urban Meyer has these Buckeyes ready to play every week. They come out hungry and with an edge. If he can sustain that with these young kids, they have a great shot.
2. WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Washington just made a big announcement. Oregon and Stanford are no longer the class of the PAC.
Admittedly, Oregon is down, but to beat them by 49 points? Damn.
Jake Browning has been tremendously accurate and they put lot of speed on the field. That's a good combination for an offense. To be honest, their point differential is what has them just a hair ahead of of Clemson, but they sure look like the real deal.
3. CLEMSON TIGERS
Clemson did to BC exactly what a top 5 team should do to this year's BC team.
This game was over before we got to the second quarter. No great kudos for beating a team that you should beat, but this could have been a let down game following up an emotional win over Louisville.
4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Bama was ready for a challenge. Unfortunately, the Hogs were not the team to give them one.
This game was not as close as it looks on the scoreboard and that's with the Tide Rolling (haha) by 19. They have the toughest stretch of their season coming up though, so we get to see if this is a good team, or the favorite for the title.
5. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Sorry Rutgers.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
2016 TRS Football Rankings - Week 5
I have the feeling that my rankings might raise the ire of some folks, so I would like to start with a disclaimer/statement.
The TRS rankings are not a projection. They are an assessment of what has been done to this point.
If you are rooting for a team (cough cough Bama) who hasn't hit the meat of their schedule yet, please try not to get too excited. If you run the table, it will be reflected.
1. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes had the week off, with a pretty solid Indiana team up next. I don't give Indiana more than a puncher's chance in this one, and it is going to have to be a heck of a punch.
Oh hell, who am I kidding.
2. CLEMSON TIGERS
What a game!!!!
Clemson is not a perfect team, but they do have some heart. They have a couple of should-wins before FSU, which may or may not be a test. You know, depending on if FSU has found a defense by then.
3. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Louisville showed that they have guts to get back up after being punched in the mouth. Going into Death Valley and falling behind is pretty common. Coming back and bringing the game down to the end shows real guts.
I am not big on moral victories, but this loss doesn't do knock them down much.
4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Bama's next 4 include 3 in the rankings plus LSU who looked like a new team in their first game under coach Oeax. Oh yeah, and 3 of those are on the road. IF they run the table, they will likely jump to #1. If they do it convincingly, there will be no doubt.
Can they do it? Let's make the popcorn and find out.
5. HOUSTON COUGARS
Houston is too good for their conference. They are going to have to fight for respect till their showdown with Louisville on November 17th. If they want to keep themselves in contention for the playoff, they not only have to run the table, they have to blow everyone out.
To this point, that doesn't look like it is going to be a challenge. The hard part will be not having a letdown.
The TRS rankings are not a projection. They are an assessment of what has been done to this point.
If you are rooting for a team (cough cough Bama) who hasn't hit the meat of their schedule yet, please try not to get too excited. If you run the table, it will be reflected.
1. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes had the week off, with a pretty solid Indiana team up next. I don't give Indiana more than a puncher's chance in this one, and it is going to have to be a heck of a punch.
Oh hell, who am I kidding.
2. CLEMSON TIGERS
What a game!!!!
Clemson is not a perfect team, but they do have some heart. They have a couple of should-wins before FSU, which may or may not be a test. You know, depending on if FSU has found a defense by then.
3. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Louisville showed that they have guts to get back up after being punched in the mouth. Going into Death Valley and falling behind is pretty common. Coming back and bringing the game down to the end shows real guts.
I am not big on moral victories, but this loss doesn't do knock them down much.
4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Bama's next 4 include 3 in the rankings plus LSU who looked like a new team in their first game under coach Oeax. Oh yeah, and 3 of those are on the road. IF they run the table, they will likely jump to #1. If they do it convincingly, there will be no doubt.
Can they do it? Let's make the popcorn and find out.
5. HOUSTON COUGARS
Houston is too good for their conference. They are going to have to fight for respect till their showdown with Louisville on November 17th. If they want to keep themselves in contention for the playoff, they not only have to run the table, they have to blow everyone out.
To this point, that doesn't look like it is going to be a challenge. The hard part will be not having a letdown.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
2016 TRS Football Rankings - Week 4
Preseason rankings are GARBAGE. Like most piles of garbage, you may be able to find a useful bit or 2, but it's still a pile of garbage.
So, I waited to weigh in till I had some data.
What have we learned?
Well, Bama is who we thought they were.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Week 14 TRS College Football Rankings
We are nearing the end of the road as the regular season is set to wrap up in some leagues, while others prep for conference title games.
The picture is getting clearer, but there is still a lot in flux.
1. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks blew out their in-state rivals, which is just what the doctor ordered in their quest to keep the top spot. This team has now won 7 in a row with 3 ranked teams among those opponents since being upset by an Arizona team that has managed to win the PAC-12 south.
Now we get the rematch, and if Oregon wants to play in the tourney, they need to win that game.
2. Florida State Seminoles
The Noles had another tight one, narrowly escaping an upset bid from a spirited Gator team which was playing its last game under 'Boom'. The margin wasn't great, though Florida State stayed in the lead after scoring their second touchdown halfway through the second quarter. One interesting note. Watching the game, the only player who seemed to not be ready to go, was Jameis. It was his 3 early picks that gave the Gators hope, thought the Noles defense played very well holding them to 9 points after those picks, and then answered with Terrence Smith's 94 yd pick-6.
Now, Georgia Tech is on deck for the Noles in the ACC title game. This is a scary game for the Noles. Not only is Georgia Tech a very good team, coming off a win over a good Georgia team, but they run a scheme on offense which has given FSU trouble in the past. I expect a lot of points in this game.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide played in one of the most exciting games of the weekend, but that's not really a great thing when you are trying to stay in the top 4. That said, a win in the Iron Bowl is a win in one of the biggest rivalries in college football, and they got it. The concern here is that they gave up 456 yards passing (to Nick Marshall!!!) and 44 points to Auburn. Bama is supposed to be about defense. The numbers look good with Blake Sims throwing for over 300, Amari Cooper closing with over 200 yards receiving, and T.J. Yeldon rushing for 127, but Sim threw 3 picks and only one player other than Cooper caught more than 1 ball.
Now comes the SEC title game and Mizzou, in which Bama will be a heavy favorite. They need to handle business in this game.
4. Wisconsin Badgers
This probably looks odd as the Badgers have 2 losses to Ohio State's 1. These two teams are separated by a hair, and right now the Badgers get the nod for a slightly tougher SoS.
They are coming off a win over a up-and-coming Minnesota team, and get to settle it on the field with Ohio State in the Big 11/10 title game. It will be interesting to see what the Buckeyes can put on the field with their #3 QB taking snaps.
The picture is getting clearer, but there is still a lot in flux.
1. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks blew out their in-state rivals, which is just what the doctor ordered in their quest to keep the top spot. This team has now won 7 in a row with 3 ranked teams among those opponents since being upset by an Arizona team that has managed to win the PAC-12 south.
Now we get the rematch, and if Oregon wants to play in the tourney, they need to win that game.
2. Florida State Seminoles
The Noles had another tight one, narrowly escaping an upset bid from a spirited Gator team which was playing its last game under 'Boom'. The margin wasn't great, though Florida State stayed in the lead after scoring their second touchdown halfway through the second quarter. One interesting note. Watching the game, the only player who seemed to not be ready to go, was Jameis. It was his 3 early picks that gave the Gators hope, thought the Noles defense played very well holding them to 9 points after those picks, and then answered with Terrence Smith's 94 yd pick-6.
Now, Georgia Tech is on deck for the Noles in the ACC title game. This is a scary game for the Noles. Not only is Georgia Tech a very good team, coming off a win over a good Georgia team, but they run a scheme on offense which has given FSU trouble in the past. I expect a lot of points in this game.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide played in one of the most exciting games of the weekend, but that's not really a great thing when you are trying to stay in the top 4. That said, a win in the Iron Bowl is a win in one of the biggest rivalries in college football, and they got it. The concern here is that they gave up 456 yards passing (to Nick Marshall!!!) and 44 points to Auburn. Bama is supposed to be about defense. The numbers look good with Blake Sims throwing for over 300, Amari Cooper closing with over 200 yards receiving, and T.J. Yeldon rushing for 127, but Sim threw 3 picks and only one player other than Cooper caught more than 1 ball.
Now comes the SEC title game and Mizzou, in which Bama will be a heavy favorite. They need to handle business in this game.
4. Wisconsin Badgers
This probably looks odd as the Badgers have 2 losses to Ohio State's 1. These two teams are separated by a hair, and right now the Badgers get the nod for a slightly tougher SoS.
They are coming off a win over a up-and-coming Minnesota team, and get to settle it on the field with Ohio State in the Big 11/10 title game. It will be interesting to see what the Buckeyes can put on the field with their #3 QB taking snaps.
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.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Week 12 TRS College Football Rankings
Well, what did week 12 teach us?
Well, Alabama is still good, and Mississippi State was over-rated, but good. In my opinion, it looks like the SEC is proving itself to be a bastion of Parity this year. It is full of many very good teams, without an excellent team to run away.
That is pretty much the description for any team rankings that you can find.
Florida slept through the first quarter again, but game back to beat an up-and-coming Miami team. I am sure, by now, that sounds familiar. That leaves them as the only unbeaten outside of West Virginia.
Oregon is rolling, TCU survived a trap game against a Kansas team that seems to have found new life....but Kansas?
Oh, and Ohio State suddenly has life again in the national picture. They are looking awfully damned good right now. But, not quite good enough to get them back in my top 4 yet.
One interesting thought though. What is LSU holds on to beat Alabama, then turns around and loses to Arkansas while Bama knocks off the Bulldogs. Where does that leave the SEC?The only team they would have left with 1 loss would be the just beaten Bulldogs. There is no way that you could put the Bulldogs in the playoffs in front of Bama, but can a team with 2 losses make with so many good 1 loss teams? Damn, that would have been fun.
1. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks had a fine showing against Bye Week, whose porous defense was not match for Mariota and the rest of the Ducks. They have the weak-sister Colorado Buffaloes this week with the Civil War in 2 weeks before a spot in the Pac-12 championship.
2. Florida State Seminoles
The Noles started slow again, spotting the young Miami Hurricanes a 16 point lead to start the game, before getting a break on Karlos Williams' tip touchdown reception. That seemed to wake them up and then their scholarships took over.
This team is so damned talented, that they should be the missing dominant team that everyone is looking for. They need to mature and come out aggressive to start game from here on. Boston College is a tough, physical, team that will shorten the game. They are up next, and they would love to spoil the party.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
That was a big win for the Tide, which was nowhere near as close as the 5 point spread would indicate. Bama is loaded, as usual, and look like the class of the SEC.
That the upside.
The downside? They are playing Western Carolina this week. Seriously......Western Carolina of the Southern Conference. These patsy games this late in the season is shameful.
4. TCU Horned Frogs
The Frogs did their best FSU imitation, though they started the comeback a little late.
That said, a conference road win, is a conference road win. However, they had better play a little better against a hot Texas team when they go to Austin this week or their Cinderella dreams will be over.
Well, Alabama is still good, and Mississippi State was over-rated, but good. In my opinion, it looks like the SEC is proving itself to be a bastion of Parity this year. It is full of many very good teams, without an excellent team to run away.
That is pretty much the description for any team rankings that you can find.
Florida slept through the first quarter again, but game back to beat an up-and-coming Miami team. I am sure, by now, that sounds familiar. That leaves them as the only unbeaten outside of West Virginia.
Oregon is rolling, TCU survived a trap game against a Kansas team that seems to have found new life....but Kansas?
Oh, and Ohio State suddenly has life again in the national picture. They are looking awfully damned good right now. But, not quite good enough to get them back in my top 4 yet.
One interesting thought though. What is LSU holds on to beat Alabama, then turns around and loses to Arkansas while Bama knocks off the Bulldogs. Where does that leave the SEC?The only team they would have left with 1 loss would be the just beaten Bulldogs. There is no way that you could put the Bulldogs in the playoffs in front of Bama, but can a team with 2 losses make with so many good 1 loss teams? Damn, that would have been fun.
1. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks had a fine showing against Bye Week, whose porous defense was not match for Mariota and the rest of the Ducks. They have the weak-sister Colorado Buffaloes this week with the Civil War in 2 weeks before a spot in the Pac-12 championship.
2. Florida State Seminoles
The Noles started slow again, spotting the young Miami Hurricanes a 16 point lead to start the game, before getting a break on Karlos Williams' tip touchdown reception. That seemed to wake them up and then their scholarships took over.
This team is so damned talented, that they should be the missing dominant team that everyone is looking for. They need to mature and come out aggressive to start game from here on. Boston College is a tough, physical, team that will shorten the game. They are up next, and they would love to spoil the party.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
That was a big win for the Tide, which was nowhere near as close as the 5 point spread would indicate. Bama is loaded, as usual, and look like the class of the SEC.
That the upside.
The downside? They are playing Western Carolina this week. Seriously......Western Carolina of the Southern Conference. These patsy games this late in the season is shameful.
4. TCU Horned Frogs
The Frogs did their best FSU imitation, though they started the comeback a little late.
That said, a conference road win, is a conference road win. However, they had better play a little better against a hot Texas team when they go to Austin this week or their Cinderella dreams will be over.
Friday, November 15, 2013
TRS College Football Rankings after week 11
We get excited every year when get a couple months in and we have a handful of unbeaten teams.
What is going to happen when all these teams are unbeaten at the end of the year? Who is going to get the short end of the stick? What we forget is that there are still conference games and conference championship games to play.
Outside of Florida State, who really has one game on paper that would appear to present and chance of a challenge, the other top teams still have some meat left on their schedule.
Speaking of meat on the schedule, Stanford beefy front lines once again proved to be the kryptonite for Oregon's lightning attack, leaving the Ducks BCS dreams again in shambles.
Alabama passed their rivalry game test against LSU with flying colors, pulling away after a tight first half, giving them a solid resume win which the nation was starting to clamor for.
Right now, the Noles and Tide look to be squared off, if they can hold on through their conference schedules. Everyone else is hoping for a slip up by the top 2.
What is going to happen when all these teams are unbeaten at the end of the year? Who is going to get the short end of the stick? What we forget is that there are still conference games and conference championship games to play.
Outside of Florida State, who really has one game on paper that would appear to present and chance of a challenge, the other top teams still have some meat left on their schedule.
Speaking of meat on the schedule, Stanford beefy front lines once again proved to be the kryptonite for Oregon's lightning attack, leaving the Ducks BCS dreams again in shambles.
Alabama passed their rivalry game test against LSU with flying colors, pulling away after a tight first half, giving them a solid resume win which the nation was starting to clamor for.
Right now, the Noles and Tide look to be squared off, if they can hold on through their conference schedules. Everyone else is hoping for a slip up by the top 2.
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.
Monday, October 21, 2013
TRS College Football Rankings after Week 8
And I repeat, WOW, what a weekend of football.
We are square in the middle of the conference football season. What does that mean? Well, it means we are past most of the non-conference games. Past the Clemson/Georgia games sadly, thankfully past the BCS team beating the crap out of Georgia State....I hope.
What else does it mean? It means it's time for the sharks to turn upon themselves. They have to play teams that they didn't pick. Teams at their level, teams that know their schemes, teams that are hell bent on ruining Christmas...or rather making sure they are home to enjoy it with their family.
So, let us count that ways that this week was awesome in college football.
1. Louisville goes down.
2. South Carolina falls in Knoxville.
3. Mizzou stomps the Gators.
4. Auburn takes down Johnny Football and the Aggies.
5. The Magnolia bowl goes to the Rebels...could this be a rivalry again?
6. Oregon gives up 557 yards passing.....and wins by 20+.
7. #5 goes into #3 and the Noles beat the !@$@!#$ out of Clemson.
Oh, and the first release of this, the final, year's BCS rankings were released....with 3 different conference represented in the top 3.
We are square in the middle of the conference football season. What does that mean? Well, it means we are past most of the non-conference games. Past the Clemson/Georgia games sadly, thankfully past the BCS team beating the crap out of Georgia State....I hope.
What else does it mean? It means it's time for the sharks to turn upon themselves. They have to play teams that they didn't pick. Teams at their level, teams that know their schemes, teams that are hell bent on ruining Christmas...or rather making sure they are home to enjoy it with their family.
So, let us count that ways that this week was awesome in college football.
1. Louisville goes down.
2. South Carolina falls in Knoxville.
3. Mizzou stomps the Gators.
4. Auburn takes down Johnny Football and the Aggies.
5. The Magnolia bowl goes to the Rebels...could this be a rivalry again?
6. Oregon gives up 557 yards passing.....and wins by 20+.
7. #5 goes into #3 and the Noles beat the !@$@!#$ out of Clemson.
Oh, and the first release of this, the final, year's BCS rankings were released....with 3 different conference represented in the top 3.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
TRS College Football Rankings after Week 7
WOW, what a weekend of football.
Every year has a weekend or two like this, where there cream rises...or injuries take their toll, as the case may be.
Let's take a quick look at what happened.
Missouri announced their intent to be a serious member of the SEC with a road win in Athens. Say what you want about the injuries, Missouri didn't squeak that game out, they beat the Dawgs, limping as they were. A good team should be a team on it's third-string running back by double digits. Missouri was a good team, now we get to see how big a loss James Franklin is going to be.
As bad as Texas looked early in the season, their new found commitment to running downhill and an aggressive defense has them looking pretty good. Don't get me wrong, they are not a top 10 team week to week, but they are more talented than nearly any other team in the country, and these schemes are letting them play rather thank think. They will be in the top 20 by the end if they play like this, and they will deserve it.
We found out that as good as Arkansas played to stay close to the Aggies last week, they still have some work to do.
I think we got a realistic measure for how good the Baylor Bears really are. When squared off against a well-coached defense that takes away those mistake plays that Baylor turns into 80 yard touchdowns, they are still good, but not great. That said, 35 points on a Bill Snyder defense is a find showing, and they have the talent to beat you a couple times a game even when you are doing things the right way.
The PAC-12 is Oregon and everyone else at this point. Stanford and UCLA both have a puncher's chance against them, but this race is theirs to lose.
Every year has a weekend or two like this, where there cream rises...or injuries take their toll, as the case may be.
Let's take a quick look at what happened.
Missouri announced their intent to be a serious member of the SEC with a road win in Athens. Say what you want about the injuries, Missouri didn't squeak that game out, they beat the Dawgs, limping as they were. A good team should be a team on it's third-string running back by double digits. Missouri was a good team, now we get to see how big a loss James Franklin is going to be.
As bad as Texas looked early in the season, their new found commitment to running downhill and an aggressive defense has them looking pretty good. Don't get me wrong, they are not a top 10 team week to week, but they are more talented than nearly any other team in the country, and these schemes are letting them play rather thank think. They will be in the top 20 by the end if they play like this, and they will deserve it.
We found out that as good as Arkansas played to stay close to the Aggies last week, they still have some work to do.
I think we got a realistic measure for how good the Baylor Bears really are. When squared off against a well-coached defense that takes away those mistake plays that Baylor turns into 80 yard touchdowns, they are still good, but not great. That said, 35 points on a Bill Snyder defense is a find showing, and they have the talent to beat you a couple times a game even when you are doing things the right way.
The PAC-12 is Oregon and everyone else at this point. Stanford and UCLA both have a puncher's chance against them, but this race is theirs to lose.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
NCAA Football TRS Top 25 after week 5
My apologies, I intended to get the initial TRS rankings for the season out before week 5's games, but didn't get it done in time.
So, I have updated the rankings, and they are looking pretty well trued up. That's expected, and exactly the reason that I don't publish until we get a month into the season.
For those of you who are not familiar with the concept I built my ranking system on, here is an overview of the facets I focus on, in order of importance.
1. Who did you play?
2. Did you win?
3. What was your margin?
I judge teams on what they have accomplished to that point, not on any expectation. The more data we get, the closer to the final answer we get. So, with no further ado, here are the TRS rankings following week 5 of the College Football Season.
So, I have updated the rankings, and they are looking pretty well trued up. That's expected, and exactly the reason that I don't publish until we get a month into the season.
For those of you who are not familiar with the concept I built my ranking system on, here is an overview of the facets I focus on, in order of importance.
1. Who did you play?
2. Did you win?
3. What was your margin?
I judge teams on what they have accomplished to that point, not on any expectation. The more data we get, the closer to the final answer we get. So, with no further ado, here are the TRS rankings following week 5 of the College Football Season.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
College Football Rankings after Week 13
Well, that's that....nearly.
The conference games are done, the pancakes are cooked, and the rivalries are stoked. It's time for the conference championship games, and the final shakeout to see who lands where in the bowl picture.
What have we learned?
Well, Notre Dame is good, and lucky enough, to have gotten a shot at the title...deserved or not.
The other representative will be out of the SEC, and if it's not Georgia, they aren't going to be in the BCS.
Overall, the SEC is still the best at the top, but the Pac-12 and Big-12 are closer than people thought. On the flip side, the Big 12 is much better top to bottom than either of the other schools.
In my ranking system, looking at those 3 conferences, the top and bottom look like this.
TOP 10 TEAMS
BIG-12: 2
PAC-12: 2
SEC: 6
BOTTOM 10 TEAMS
BIG-12: 1
PAC-12: 4
SEC: 5
As you can see, the SEC is a league of the haves, and the have-nots this year. The BIG-12 is solid from the top to bottom, with the exception of the Kansas Jayhawks of course. The Pac-12 is somewhere in between the two, but is improved and looks to continue on their upswing. On to MY rankings. I make the point to capitalize because no one else in the country is likely to agree with them.
The conference games are done, the pancakes are cooked, and the rivalries are stoked. It's time for the conference championship games, and the final shakeout to see who lands where in the bowl picture.
What have we learned?
Well, Notre Dame is good, and lucky enough, to have gotten a shot at the title...deserved or not.
The other representative will be out of the SEC, and if it's not Georgia, they aren't going to be in the BCS.
Overall, the SEC is still the best at the top, but the Pac-12 and Big-12 are closer than people thought. On the flip side, the Big 12 is much better top to bottom than either of the other schools.
In my ranking system, looking at those 3 conferences, the top and bottom look like this.
TOP 10 TEAMS
BIG-12: 2
PAC-12: 2
SEC: 6
BOTTOM 10 TEAMS
BIG-12: 1
PAC-12: 4
SEC: 5
As you can see, the SEC is a league of the haves, and the have-nots this year. The BIG-12 is solid from the top to bottom, with the exception of the Kansas Jayhawks of course. The Pac-12 is somewhere in between the two, but is improved and looks to continue on their upswing. On to MY rankings. I make the point to capitalize because no one else in the country is likely to agree with them.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
College Football Rankings after Week 11
Johnny Football and the G*@ D@#$ Texas Aggies introduce themselves to the SEC like any proper interloper should...by taking the King's head off. Myself, and a few others had voice concerns about the lack of SoS for Bama and the chinks that had been exposed in their armor. To be honest, it did take a very good team, led by a special player to knock them off, and then just barely...but it happened. Bama is not the best team in the country, but they are still a damned good team. And.....they are not going to lose a ton between this year and next like they did in the last draft. They are going to back on top next year, and deservedly so, but for now we have a very interesting argument between 3 teams from outside the SEC as well as the question of how much will that one more high quality win help either Bama or Georgia from the SEC title game.
One thing is for sure, with each of the leading teams having at least one game remaining against a ranked team and Oregon playing 3 more, it's far from over.
Here are this week's rankings.
1. Kansas State Wildcats 8.940
This weeks win against a solid TCU ball club was probably the best performance by a Wildcat defense in this iteration of the Miracle in Manhattan. They held a TCU team that scored just shy of 34 points a game for season to 10 measly, garbage-time, points. TCU had 154 yards through 3 quarters before the Cats took their foot off the gas in the 4th to preserve their starters. Now, KSU needs the Horned Frogs to make some noise the last 2 weeks against Texas and OU. The Cats have a defense-weak Baylor team and the mercurial Texas Longhorns left to play. Baylor is no great concern, but the Texas has the talent to give them a puncher's chance...if they can avoid the mistakes that have plagued them all year, especially against the run. Both are favorable matchups for Snyder's boys.
2. Oregon Ducks 8.663
As impressive as the scoreboard looked after the Ducks were done with Cal, the Bears may have given the blueprint for defenses to slow down the Ducks. They played a zone shell, like you would play against a passing team, which allowed their secondary to help against the run more successfully than normal. This allowed them to slow the Ducks down for more than a half. It is important to note that the Bears were able to run the ball with the ENTIRE STARTING D-LINE for the Ducks being injured and out of the game. This will not be the case for other opponents. They were able to force the Ducks to throw the ball though, which is more than anyone else had been able to do, and if a better team is able to do it, they might give themselves a shot.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide 8.508
The Tide was given a lot of credit for last season, and it appears that they are much like last years team. They are good enough to win with time to prepare, but if they don't have the time to scheme, they are beatable. Say what you want about the talent on the roster, Nick Saban and his coaching staff are the Tide's greatest strength. They had back to back games against tough team and had to focus on LSU or the second wouldn't matter. That didn't give them time to successfully prepare and recover in time for the Aggies. They are going to need to blow out everyone left with their next 2 teams being poorly regarded in Western Carolina and Auburn. If they don't win those by a combined 70 and beat Georgia by 2 TD's there should be no way they play their way back into the conversation for the title game.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7.590
I know, Fighting Irish fans are going to be pissed about Bama still being in front of them, but I don't buy the SoS that is assigned to the Irish schedule. Their Big Ten wins are over-rated and were largely unimpressive. But, if they run the table in an impressive manner, they could easily catch and pass the Tide. Wake Forest is better than Auburn or Western Carolina, and that end game against USC is their chance to make a statement. If they can beat them convincingly, to separate themselves from Oregon by use of the common opponent theory, they should get their shot.
5. Texas A and M Aggies 7.416 Gig'Em Johnny Football!!! Welcome to the SEC indeed. The Aggies played a hell of a game, and I can't wait to see how this sets them up to wreak havoc on the recruiting roads. They just put themselves up front as the most exciting football program in the state of Texas, and that is huge. Oh, they also got themselves set up for a very nice bowl game, with what should end as a 10 win season set up. 6. Florida State Seminoles 7.135
First thing first, credit is due to the Virginia Tech Hokies. They played their best game of the season against a superior FSU team. They caused turnovers and pushed the Noles into playing a rather poor game. But, in the end, EJ Manuel had too much nerve and too many weapons to let his team take a second conference loss. This is still a very balanced team. They have talent and playmakers all over the field, and have dealt with injuries that would have crippled most teams without, seemingly, missing a beat.
Game breaking running back - out with a knee
All-American D-End - out
All-Conference CB and All-American Returner - kicked off the team for violations
They are still a top 11 offense and top overall defense in yardage, while being 4th overall in points both ways. If they hold court against the Gators in 2 weeks, which will be very difficult, the ACC is going to get some respect that it has not gotten nationally.
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.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
College football rankings after week 9
One more week of clarification, separating the big boys from the also-rans..and so on and son on.
What did we see this week, well we saw a whole bunch of unbeaten teams fall by the wayside. Though, not all of them were a surprise, no one outside of Mississippi really expected the Bulldogs to hang with the Tide….and they didn’t.
What else? Well, we saw Kansas State and Notre Dame step up in big ways and have statement games against teams that were widely expected to be a challenge for the favorites.
Notre Dame’s win against OU was the best game the Irish have played all year, and probably the best opponent they have played as well…certainly the most explosive offense. The execution of their offense was what stood out for me. We knew their D was ready for primetime, but they schemed well and attacked the weaknesses of the OU defense.
The pundits were excited to see how the 2 teams that beat upon West Virginia in back to weeks would stack up against each other when Kansas State hosted the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Well, it was close at halftime, and then Bill Snyder showed why he is considered to be one of the best coaches in the history of college football as the Wildcats adjust and throttled the Red Raiders. In the end, it was just another blow out win, but this time it was over the #15 AP team. That’s big.
The SEC East had some news too. Georgia looked like the team they were expected to be knocking off a Gator team that had been the bully on the block to this point with a stifling defensive effort. That, paired with the injury to Marcus Lattimore puts Georgia in the driver seat for another trip to Atlanta. They better count their blessings and run with it because they lucked out..again, with their schedule.
Oh, and if you werent’ sure, Duke is not for real yet.
On to the rankings
1. Alabama Crimson Tide 7.029 The Crimson Tide needed a quality win, and they got one. You can say what you want about the schedule Mississippi State had played, they were and SEC team that was 7-0. They were easily the best team that Bama had played to this point, but it was more of the same. The defense shut down Mississippi State, and the offense was efficient and effective. Next up? A trip to LSU. Queue the press frenzy. Oh, and someone put the paramedics on standby for Mettenburger because the Tide defense is likely to kill that boy. 2. Kansas State Wildcats 6.953
This ranking is going to piss off the Irish faithful, but KSU has been dominating teams all year long. That said, the Cats have a much rougher road than the Irish do. Oklahoma State this week is down a bit this year, but they are still a ranked team and have one of the more explosive offensive schemes in the country. TCU and Baylor have a punchers chance and who knows what Texas will be in a month. I don't look for Snyder, Brown, and Klein to let them lose focus, but they had better not.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6.775
This game, as impressive as it was, was the first good team that the Irish beat handily this season. They need to blow out Pitt, BC, and Wake Forest before end the season with USC. Flat out, they need to put some points up and they need to but a beating on USC too if they want to deserve a shot at the title.
4. Oregon Ducks 6.720 Speaking of upset fan bases, the Ducks fans are going to be irate when they see this one. You have to give the Ducks one thing, they are doing what they can, and controlling what they can control, but when your conference brings in a team as bad as Colorado. You blow them out and move on, and the Ducks did. If the Ducks run their last 4, they could easily leapfrog the Cats and the Irish. In fact....let's stop and project that. Project scores for the top 5 currently if they win out K-State: 10.243 Bama: 10.000 Notre Dame: 9.648 Ducks: 9.810 Noles: 9.956 Yup, that's right. If each of these teams do what they are expected to do, and beat teams in the fashion that they have been beating them, Kansas State would be sitting #1 at the end of the season. Now, that does not account for the conference championship games. If we count those games, Bama and Oregon will both pass the Cats from having one more win and raising their total and average strength of schedule. The question is, if we are deciding between 2 teams, can we count the conference championships? Something tells me we will have call to talk about that soon enough.
5. Florida State Seminoles 6.564
The Seminole faithful have to be sick as they watch this team roll, thinking back to how a conservative game plan cost them their shot at a national title berth. That is not to say that they would necessarily leapfrog one of the higher rated teams, nor are they necessarily favored to go unbeaten with the Gators on the schedule. That said, damn this lead is loaded with talent. They are now missing their best Defensive End and Starting Running Back and you would have no idea by watching. That said, this last week was just Duke, whether it was the best Blue Devil team in a decade or not. The Hokies are up next, and and they tend to play FSU tough.
What did we see this week, well we saw a whole bunch of unbeaten teams fall by the wayside. Though, not all of them were a surprise, no one outside of Mississippi really expected the Bulldogs to hang with the Tide….and they didn’t.
What else? Well, we saw Kansas State and Notre Dame step up in big ways and have statement games against teams that were widely expected to be a challenge for the favorites.
Notre Dame’s win against OU was the best game the Irish have played all year, and probably the best opponent they have played as well…certainly the most explosive offense. The execution of their offense was what stood out for me. We knew their D was ready for primetime, but they schemed well and attacked the weaknesses of the OU defense.
The pundits were excited to see how the 2 teams that beat upon West Virginia in back to weeks would stack up against each other when Kansas State hosted the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Well, it was close at halftime, and then Bill Snyder showed why he is considered to be one of the best coaches in the history of college football as the Wildcats adjust and throttled the Red Raiders. In the end, it was just another blow out win, but this time it was over the #15 AP team. That’s big.
The SEC East had some news too. Georgia looked like the team they were expected to be knocking off a Gator team that had been the bully on the block to this point with a stifling defensive effort. That, paired with the injury to Marcus Lattimore puts Georgia in the driver seat for another trip to Atlanta. They better count their blessings and run with it because they lucked out..again, with their schedule.
Oh, and if you werent’ sure, Duke is not for real yet.
On to the rankings
1. Alabama Crimson Tide 7.029 The Crimson Tide needed a quality win, and they got one. You can say what you want about the schedule Mississippi State had played, they were and SEC team that was 7-0. They were easily the best team that Bama had played to this point, but it was more of the same. The defense shut down Mississippi State, and the offense was efficient and effective. Next up? A trip to LSU. Queue the press frenzy. Oh, and someone put the paramedics on standby for Mettenburger because the Tide defense is likely to kill that boy. 2. Kansas State Wildcats 6.953
This ranking is going to piss off the Irish faithful, but KSU has been dominating teams all year long. That said, the Cats have a much rougher road than the Irish do. Oklahoma State this week is down a bit this year, but they are still a ranked team and have one of the more explosive offensive schemes in the country. TCU and Baylor have a punchers chance and who knows what Texas will be in a month. I don't look for Snyder, Brown, and Klein to let them lose focus, but they had better not.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6.775
This game, as impressive as it was, was the first good team that the Irish beat handily this season. They need to blow out Pitt, BC, and Wake Forest before end the season with USC. Flat out, they need to put some points up and they need to but a beating on USC too if they want to deserve a shot at the title.
4. Oregon Ducks 6.720 Speaking of upset fan bases, the Ducks fans are going to be irate when they see this one. You have to give the Ducks one thing, they are doing what they can, and controlling what they can control, but when your conference brings in a team as bad as Colorado. You blow them out and move on, and the Ducks did. If the Ducks run their last 4, they could easily leapfrog the Cats and the Irish. In fact....let's stop and project that. Project scores for the top 5 currently if they win out K-State: 10.243 Bama: 10.000 Notre Dame: 9.648 Ducks: 9.810 Noles: 9.956 Yup, that's right. If each of these teams do what they are expected to do, and beat teams in the fashion that they have been beating them, Kansas State would be sitting #1 at the end of the season. Now, that does not account for the conference championship games. If we count those games, Bama and Oregon will both pass the Cats from having one more win and raising their total and average strength of schedule. The question is, if we are deciding between 2 teams, can we count the conference championships? Something tells me we will have call to talk about that soon enough.
5. Florida State Seminoles 6.564
The Seminole faithful have to be sick as they watch this team roll, thinking back to how a conservative game plan cost them their shot at a national title berth. That is not to say that they would necessarily leapfrog one of the higher rated teams, nor are they necessarily favored to go unbeaten with the Gators on the schedule. That said, damn this lead is loaded with talent. They are now missing their best Defensive End and Starting Running Back and you would have no idea by watching. That said, this last week was just Duke, whether it was the best Blue Devil team in a decade or not. The Hokies are up next, and and they tend to play FSU tough.
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