H
HuskerNKingwood
Guest
Some good games, some real duds, and some really horrible coaching this week. Here's this week's rundown:
Hot list:
Alabama - I wondered how Alabama would play this week considering they had to go on the road and the Pigs had two weeks to get ready. Doubts erased and potential test passed with flying colors, thanks in part to old-fashioned Alabama football, 328 yards rushing. I don't think Bama is as good as their #9 rank, but that's a very impressive win yesterday.
Utah - Good win on the road to a potential BCS buster. On the road, against a previously undefeated AFA team which had just taken out Houston the previous week, and they came back after halftime and survived. Well done, Utah.
Virginia Tech - You know, it's weird. I have these guys in my hot and in my not sections. I have them in my hot section because that's a good road win, and any road win they get this year is a hard-earned win. But they're also in my not section and you'll see why later.
Florida - Check out these impressive defensive numbers. Florida has now allowed 19 points in 3 games, and 2 of those games were against an athlete-rich Miami squad, and an SEC game on the road. If Florida keeps playing that well defensively, then I maintain that they (not Georgia) are the team to beat in the SEC.
Miami - Understand this, guys. I don't think Randy Shannon is cut out to be a head football coach and I think Miami's team this year sucks. But that's a nice win for them, even on the road against one of the Big 12's weaker teams. They could have named their score in this one - it was 41-10 at one point.
Javon Ringer - Other than this guy, Michigan State's team this year is mediocre. But he is going to be one to watch. Already, Ringer has approximately 700 yards, and 11 touchdowns, including two more yesterday.
North Carolina State - Honestly, I don't know if North Carolina State really is that good this year, especially when they only beat William and Mary 34-24. But for now, they can savor a win over an instate rival and remember that they spoiled ECU's perfect dreams.
LSU - Well, I think they can pretty much walk to Atlanta now. The SEC West was pretty much won last night. Don't know what it is about LSU, but they just seem to have that magic associated with them. Auburn has now felt it 3 of the last 4 years, with those 3 losses coming by an average of approximately 5 points. Now, all LSU needs to be concerned with is whoever comes out on top in the fracas between UF and UGA (which at this point IMO is UF).
Also, the Jarrett Lee kid showed he could play in a pressure packed environs this week.
Colt McCoy - Being where I am, I'm sure some of you know these stats, but they're still worth mentioning. Check these out.
After 3 games, Colt McCoy is 63 for 81, has thrown for over 800 yards with 11 TDs and one INT. But maybe the most impressive thing is the quarterback efficiency rating. He is second in the Big 12 in that category (only behind Sam Bradford) and THIRD in the NCAA behind Bradford and the quarterback at Tulsa.
And considering that all 12 of the Big 12's QBs are in the top 40 in pass efficiency rating, that makes Colt all the more impressive.
Boise State - Could we have ANOTHER year of Boise State in the BCS?
It's now possible after this big BSU win in the Autzen Zoo. Agree, Oregon has QB problems (hell, they played their third string QB or something like that this week). BSU's schedule is now very doable - their only two semi-tough games are at the end. Nevada on the road, and Fresno at home.
UNLV - Close shave, but is now 3-1. They now have a legit shot at 7 wins - the best chance for four more would be Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado State and San Diego State.
And then there's - the not list:
Ohio State - Said the exact same thing last week. Buckeye fans, in the words of Carl Lewis, "Uh Oh!"
Three straight games now that Ohio State has struggled. Had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Ohio, got smashed at USC, and this week Troy was in the game down only four in the fourth quarter. This looks eerily similar to the way our season went downhill last year.
I'm not saying Ohio State is going to end up 5-7 like we did last year. There's still too much talent on Ohio State for that to happen, and the Big 10 is too weak. But I could easily see them losing 3 in conference and ending up 8-4 by the time the year is done.
Mississippi State - Exactly one touchdown in the last two weeks, and that touchdown came after Georgia Tech had built a 38-0 lead yesterday. I'd guess the momentum Sly Croom had built in Starkville is probably gone right about now.
UCLA - Yeah, I'd guess that after getting beat 90-10 in your last two games - plus the fact that Tennessee received its own annual beatdown from Florida - that the goodwill UCLA built up with that opening win is probably out the window for them too. And that was an Arizona team who had just lost to New Mexico.
Virginia Tech - The good news for Hokie fans, as mentioned earlier in this report, was that they got out of Chapel Hill with a W yesterday. But on the flipside, Tyrod Taylor hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter. And even though the Huskers aren't a great team this year, I don't believe Sean Glennon is good enough to carry the Hokies to the win in Lincoln this week.
Bill Stewart - If anyone saw the game Thursday night, you know what I'm about to talk about. Bill Stewart's clock management - or lack thereof.
No timeouts called, Coach? You had em to spare! You only needed a field goal to win the game, and you and your players (who didn't get out of bounds when they needed to in the first place) botched that clock management horribly.
Tommy Tuberville - Bad Clock Managing, Part 2.
On the last drive where Auburn had the lead (the drive before LSU's go ahead drive). Auburn ran it on first down, THREW an incompletion on second down (WTF...why was he even throwing it in the first place?) and then ran it on third and punted. You know the rest - LSU goes in for the winner.
Bad clock management, Tommy T. Did it cost you the game? Maybe, maybe not. But it certainly looked bad on TV.
The Wake Forest - Florida State game - WTF, guys?
No touchdowns, all field goals? When you have Riley Skinner out there for Wake and some good receivers on FSU, there HAS to be at least one touchdown in the game. Come on guys, I understand neither team is as good as someone in the SEC or Big 12, but put it in the damn end zone at least once!
Arkansas - How do you put up over 300 yards of offense and still lose by 5 TDs in a conference game?
By throwing 4 INTs and having two of them returned for touchdowns, that's how. Arkansas is bad this year, really bad.
South Florida - Only 17 points, against a winless team?
I like Grothe, I like Leavitt and I like their team. But they have to do better than that.
Within the Big 12
Hot:
Baylor - Yeah, I know they lost. But for them to go toe-to-toe with UCONN, have the lead in the fourth and barely lose tells me that Baylor is not an easy win anymore. Can they beat A&M this year? Yeah, I think so.
Colorado - Hate to do it, but no way you can't give them ups for their win either. What really impressed me about Colorado is that Hawkins seems to be doing a good job of recruiting speed players to Boulder. Yeah, WVU outquicked the Buffs on a few occasions, and that will happen. But most other times, CU was pretty equal speed-wise. I think they jump over Kansas to the top 3 in the North.
Not:
Kansas State - Same year, same team. To put this in perspective, ladies and gents, they just 38 points scored on them by a team which was held to two points by KENTUCKY.
They may well pull an upset over an unsuspecting victim (i.e. us potentially) but for the most part they suck again this year.
Texas A&M - After watching this group yesterday, I can honestly say they're going to be lucky to win five games this year. Breakdowns, breakdowns everywhere. Guys wide open in the endzone, questionable clock management, etc.
Bad team in a very good league.
National top 5:
1. USC - 12 days to get ready for Corvallis, which has given USC problems in their last two trips there.
2. OU - Two weeks for them also, to get ready for a much better opponent (TCU). Although the game is in Norman.
3. Florida - Urban Meyer owns Tennessee, pretty much like the OBC did. 4-0 against the Vols, by a cumulative score of 126-46.
4. Mizzou - Jacked around with Turner Gill's crew for a while, before finally putting it away. Mizzou could have named its score in this one.
5. LSU - Turns out, the Lee kid can play some ball.
Big 12 top 5:
1. OU
2. MU
3. Texas - Now gets ready for a tough four game stretch - ARK, @ Colorado, OU in Dallas, and Mizzou at home.
4. Texas Tech - Well, at least they didn't let UMass hang around like they did with Eastern Washington.
5. Colorado - I want to put my boys here, but the Buffs have the more impressive win right now so they go here. Second in the North will be decided in Lincoln on T+1.
That's all for this week, guys.
Hot list:
Alabama - I wondered how Alabama would play this week considering they had to go on the road and the Pigs had two weeks to get ready. Doubts erased and potential test passed with flying colors, thanks in part to old-fashioned Alabama football, 328 yards rushing. I don't think Bama is as good as their #9 rank, but that's a very impressive win yesterday.
Utah - Good win on the road to a potential BCS buster. On the road, against a previously undefeated AFA team which had just taken out Houston the previous week, and they came back after halftime and survived. Well done, Utah.
Virginia Tech - You know, it's weird. I have these guys in my hot and in my not sections. I have them in my hot section because that's a good road win, and any road win they get this year is a hard-earned win. But they're also in my not section and you'll see why later.
Florida - Check out these impressive defensive numbers. Florida has now allowed 19 points in 3 games, and 2 of those games were against an athlete-rich Miami squad, and an SEC game on the road. If Florida keeps playing that well defensively, then I maintain that they (not Georgia) are the team to beat in the SEC.
Miami - Understand this, guys. I don't think Randy Shannon is cut out to be a head football coach and I think Miami's team this year sucks. But that's a nice win for them, even on the road against one of the Big 12's weaker teams. They could have named their score in this one - it was 41-10 at one point.
Javon Ringer - Other than this guy, Michigan State's team this year is mediocre. But he is going to be one to watch. Already, Ringer has approximately 700 yards, and 11 touchdowns, including two more yesterday.
North Carolina State - Honestly, I don't know if North Carolina State really is that good this year, especially when they only beat William and Mary 34-24. But for now, they can savor a win over an instate rival and remember that they spoiled ECU's perfect dreams.
LSU - Well, I think they can pretty much walk to Atlanta now. The SEC West was pretty much won last night. Don't know what it is about LSU, but they just seem to have that magic associated with them. Auburn has now felt it 3 of the last 4 years, with those 3 losses coming by an average of approximately 5 points. Now, all LSU needs to be concerned with is whoever comes out on top in the fracas between UF and UGA (which at this point IMO is UF).
Also, the Jarrett Lee kid showed he could play in a pressure packed environs this week.
Colt McCoy - Being where I am, I'm sure some of you know these stats, but they're still worth mentioning. Check these out.
After 3 games, Colt McCoy is 63 for 81, has thrown for over 800 yards with 11 TDs and one INT. But maybe the most impressive thing is the quarterback efficiency rating. He is second in the Big 12 in that category (only behind Sam Bradford) and THIRD in the NCAA behind Bradford and the quarterback at Tulsa.
And considering that all 12 of the Big 12's QBs are in the top 40 in pass efficiency rating, that makes Colt all the more impressive.
Boise State - Could we have ANOTHER year of Boise State in the BCS?
It's now possible after this big BSU win in the Autzen Zoo. Agree, Oregon has QB problems (hell, they played their third string QB or something like that this week). BSU's schedule is now very doable - their only two semi-tough games are at the end. Nevada on the road, and Fresno at home.
UNLV - Close shave, but is now 3-1. They now have a legit shot at 7 wins - the best chance for four more would be Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado State and San Diego State.
And then there's - the not list:
Ohio State - Said the exact same thing last week. Buckeye fans, in the words of Carl Lewis, "Uh Oh!"
Three straight games now that Ohio State has struggled. Had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Ohio, got smashed at USC, and this week Troy was in the game down only four in the fourth quarter. This looks eerily similar to the way our season went downhill last year.
I'm not saying Ohio State is going to end up 5-7 like we did last year. There's still too much talent on Ohio State for that to happen, and the Big 10 is too weak. But I could easily see them losing 3 in conference and ending up 8-4 by the time the year is done.
Mississippi State - Exactly one touchdown in the last two weeks, and that touchdown came after Georgia Tech had built a 38-0 lead yesterday. I'd guess the momentum Sly Croom had built in Starkville is probably gone right about now.
UCLA - Yeah, I'd guess that after getting beat 90-10 in your last two games - plus the fact that Tennessee received its own annual beatdown from Florida - that the goodwill UCLA built up with that opening win is probably out the window for them too. And that was an Arizona team who had just lost to New Mexico.
Virginia Tech - The good news for Hokie fans, as mentioned earlier in this report, was that they got out of Chapel Hill with a W yesterday. But on the flipside, Tyrod Taylor hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter. And even though the Huskers aren't a great team this year, I don't believe Sean Glennon is good enough to carry the Hokies to the win in Lincoln this week.
Bill Stewart - If anyone saw the game Thursday night, you know what I'm about to talk about. Bill Stewart's clock management - or lack thereof.
No timeouts called, Coach? You had em to spare! You only needed a field goal to win the game, and you and your players (who didn't get out of bounds when they needed to in the first place) botched that clock management horribly.
Tommy Tuberville - Bad Clock Managing, Part 2.
On the last drive where Auburn had the lead (the drive before LSU's go ahead drive). Auburn ran it on first down, THREW an incompletion on second down (WTF...why was he even throwing it in the first place?) and then ran it on third and punted. You know the rest - LSU goes in for the winner.
Bad clock management, Tommy T. Did it cost you the game? Maybe, maybe not. But it certainly looked bad on TV.
The Wake Forest - Florida State game - WTF, guys?
No touchdowns, all field goals? When you have Riley Skinner out there for Wake and some good receivers on FSU, there HAS to be at least one touchdown in the game. Come on guys, I understand neither team is as good as someone in the SEC or Big 12, but put it in the damn end zone at least once!
Arkansas - How do you put up over 300 yards of offense and still lose by 5 TDs in a conference game?
By throwing 4 INTs and having two of them returned for touchdowns, that's how. Arkansas is bad this year, really bad.
South Florida - Only 17 points, against a winless team?
I like Grothe, I like Leavitt and I like their team. But they have to do better than that.
Within the Big 12
Hot:
Baylor - Yeah, I know they lost. But for them to go toe-to-toe with UCONN, have the lead in the fourth and barely lose tells me that Baylor is not an easy win anymore. Can they beat A&M this year? Yeah, I think so.
Colorado - Hate to do it, but no way you can't give them ups for their win either. What really impressed me about Colorado is that Hawkins seems to be doing a good job of recruiting speed players to Boulder. Yeah, WVU outquicked the Buffs on a few occasions, and that will happen. But most other times, CU was pretty equal speed-wise. I think they jump over Kansas to the top 3 in the North.
Not:
Kansas State - Same year, same team. To put this in perspective, ladies and gents, they just 38 points scored on them by a team which was held to two points by KENTUCKY.
They may well pull an upset over an unsuspecting victim (i.e. us potentially) but for the most part they suck again this year.
Texas A&M - After watching this group yesterday, I can honestly say they're going to be lucky to win five games this year. Breakdowns, breakdowns everywhere. Guys wide open in the endzone, questionable clock management, etc.
Bad team in a very good league.
National top 5:
1. USC - 12 days to get ready for Corvallis, which has given USC problems in their last two trips there.
2. OU - Two weeks for them also, to get ready for a much better opponent (TCU). Although the game is in Norman.
3. Florida - Urban Meyer owns Tennessee, pretty much like the OBC did. 4-0 against the Vols, by a cumulative score of 126-46.
4. Mizzou - Jacked around with Turner Gill's crew for a while, before finally putting it away. Mizzou could have named its score in this one.
5. LSU - Turns out, the Lee kid can play some ball.
Big 12 top 5:
1. OU
2. MU
3. Texas - Now gets ready for a tough four game stretch - ARK, @ Colorado, OU in Dallas, and Mizzou at home.
4. Texas Tech - Well, at least they didn't let UMass hang around like they did with Eastern Washington.
5. Colorado - I want to put my boys here, but the Buffs have the more impressive win right now so they go here. Second in the North will be decided in Lincoln on T+1.
That's all for this week, guys.
