NCAA Football Top 25 Nov 19

The week has come and gone and we've lost two of our contenders. My best friend Dock's prediction of a Oklahoma and Oregon National Title game was killed in one weekend, my condolences. I know everyone talks conference strength, but look at it. ACC, Big Ten and SEC only have one team in the top team each. Big 12 and Pac 10 have 2.

1. Kansas Jayhawks (1)-This Saturday is the big game, my number one versus my number two, the winner goes to the Big 12 Title game where they will likely face either Oklahoma or Texas, depending on who can win their game and if OU loses. Either way, Jaba the Mangi has his team undefeated.
2. Missouri Tigers (4)-I bumped them above LSU because they weren't the team that played close with Ole Miss. The Mizz went out, took care of business, and won their game, period. Chase Daniels will be with Spiller as Heisman candidates next season.
3. LSU Tigers (3)-If somehow LSU and Ohio St play for the national title game, I may not watch. It will be played between two teams who in my mind are definitely not the best two teams in the nation.
4. Arizona St Sun Devils (6)-Arizona St, the team everyone has forgotten about in the National Title picture. All they need to do this week is knock off USC and beat arch rival Arizona, no big task...right.
5. Ohio St Buckeyes (7)-They beat Michigan 14-3 in may have been the ugliest Ohio St Michigan game I've ever seen. Neither team looked very good, definitely not national title material.Sadly somehow they could still make it into the game if enough teams lose.
6. West Virginia Mountaineers (8)-They have a bumpy road, but like Ohio St, if they win out they could be playing for the National Title. I don't know what it is this year, but obviously the football gods demand a playoff system.
7. Virginia Tech Hookies (9)-A solid win this week against the Hurricanes. Their big test comes this week against in state rival Virginia. Honestly, I don't know if the Hookies can contain Virginia's defense. Chris Long will eat them alive.
8. Texas Longhorns (10)-After that two week spat of forgetting who they were, the Longhorns have fought hard and have won out. Now they have A&M, knowing that if they win and Oklahoma loses they're in the Big 12 title game. In the past that shoe has been reversed, perhaps Colt McCoy can remember who the hell he is.
9. Georgia Bulldogs (11)-I thought Kentucky was gonna shock the world again, but that Bulldog running back is the real deal. He's doing things that no Georgia running back has done since Hershall Walker, he's that kind of special. Though I don't know if he has any interest bobsledding.
10. USC Trojans (12)-A span of losses could, theoretically, put USC in the title game. It would take Atlas moving the world, but theoretically it could happen. Will it happen, I give it a .00983% chance of happening.
11. Oklahoma Sooners (5)-They lost their starting QB, at the end of the game on their onside kick attempt they may have lost their star running back. Things are not looking pretty in Norman right now as apparently Adrian Peterson has infected his alma mater.
12. Oregon Ducks (2)-They may very well continue to slide down this ranking now that Dennis Dixon is done for the season and Jonathon Stewart won't be 100% either. The Brother of Leaf may be able to get them one more win, but magic 8 ball says all signs point to no.
13. Hawaii Warriors (13)-I still contend, especially in this year's uncanny season, that if Hawaii goes undefeated that they deserve to play in the National Title game. If not, at least put them up against West Virginia to see the biggest offensive showcase since the Navy North Texas game.
14. Boston College Eagles (14)-They did what no one in my Pick Em thought possible, they beat Clemson. They came from behind and shocked us all, but they managed to pull it off. They can get a BCS bowl game with an ACC Title win, not to bad for a first year head coach.
15. Boise St Broncos (15)-Either way it plays out, I won't be surprised to see the WAC Champion in a BCS Bowl Game. Hell, I'd love to see them in there again and watch them beat another big name school. After that perhaps the WAC will get some bloody respect huh?
16. Virginia Cavaliers (17)-They could really boost their rankings, and get them in position to play in a BCS game if they can beat VA Tech and win the ACC Title game. I think the defense is there to do it, the offense just needs to stop making so many mistakes and turnovers.
17. Illinois Fighting Illini (19)-I jumped Illinois over Florida because frankly they've impressed me more these last few weeks. That and I can't stand the Gators and I get a cruel irony that Zook showed them up and showed that even Illinois can beat Ohio St.
18. Florida Gators (18)-So Tim Teabow became the first Division IA quarterback to throw for twenty touchdowns and run for twenty touchdowns. Guess what folks, want to know how to beat Florida? Key on Tim Teabow, and someone hit him. I'm talking Ronnie Lott, Rodney Harrison type of hit.
19. UConn Huskies (23)-A tough fought victory this week, and a big one coming up against West Virginia. I personally would love to see UConn beat West Virginia, all that does is take the Mountaineers out and helps the Longhorns get back into the thick of things.
20. Wisconsin Badgers (24)-They moved up four spots, but that is because of the teams that lost below them. Playing a game that close against a very bad Minnesota team is almost inexcusable. But they won, that's the important.
21. Tennessee Volunteers (22)-They have a big game against Kentucky this week. I don't know, I want to route for Kentucky, but that hasn't helped them win lately. I think I'm gonna go with the Volunteers just knowing my luck this season and hope they lose cause of it.
22. BYU Cougars (N/R)-The BYU Cougars have only lost two games, I have to put them into the top 25. The one two loss team that no one is talking about, and I've seen portions of their games, this team can be deadly at times. I likely expect them to upset some bigger named team in their Bowl Game.
23. Clemson Tigers (16)-You have to finish the game Clemson and not let the Eagles come back if you want to be considered and talked about as one of the big name title contenders. That's been the MO of Clemson for years now, so should we be at all surprised?
24. Texas Tech Red Raiders (N/R)-I'd like to thank the Red Raiders for being the team that finally followed through with my upset prediction. Now if Oklahoma St can follow suit, I can soundly sleep knowing that Texas is in the Big 12 title game.
25. Troy Trojans (N/R)-I thought long and hard about who to put as the number 25 teams. In the end so many teams were of similar records, similar talent, but Troy was a step above. They only have three losses, and have beaten Oklahoma St this season. They managed to put up decent points against SEC foes, so why not. Congrats Troy, you've made the top 25, be proud.

2007 NCAA Bowl Predictions

Wow, this was much harder then I thought possible. The trouble we're gonna face this Bowl Season, and which helps those of us who want a playoff system, is it's gonna cut close to whether or not there will be enough bowl eligible teams available. I don't know what is going to happen if there isn't, but it will be quite interesting.

My favorite match ups are the Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Bowl and Orange Bowls.

BCS Title (BCS 1 and 2)-Oregon and Kansas
Orange Bowl (ACC Champ and BCS at Large)-Clemson and LSU
Fiesta Bowl (Big East Champ and BCS at Large)-West Virginia and Boise St
Sugar Bowl (SEC Champ and BCS@L)-Kentucky and Oklahoma
Rose Bowl (Big10 Champ and BCS@L)-Michigan and Arizona St
Capital One Bowl (Big10 2 SEC 2)-Illinois and Florida
Gator Bowl (Big12 2 and ACC 3)-Texas and Virginia
Cotton Bowl (Big 12 3 and SEC)-Missouri and Georgia
Outback Bowl (Big 10 3 and SEC)-Ohio St and Tennessee
GMAC Bowl (CUSA 2 and MAC)-Tulsa and Central Michigan
International Bowl (BigEast and MAC)-South Florida and Miami(OH)
Chick-fil-A Bowl (ACC 2 and SEC)-Virginia Tech and Auburn
Insight Bowl (Big10 6 and Big12 6)-Iowa and Oklahoma St
Music City Bowl (SEC and ACC 6)-Georgia Tech and Alabama
Sun Bowl (Pac10 3 and BigEast 2)-Oregon St and Cincinnati
Humanitarian Bowl (WAC and ACC 8)-Fresno St and Florida St
*Armed Forces Bowl (Pac10 6 and MWC)-Mississippi St and Air Force
*Independence Bowl (Big12 7 and SEC)-Rutgers/Louisville Loser and South Carolina
Alamo Bowl (Big10 4 and Big12 5)-Wisconsin and Texas Tech
Liberty Bowl (SEC and CUSA)-Arkansas and UCF
Meineke Car Care Bowl (ACC 5 and BigEast 3)-Wake Forest and UConn
Emerald Bowl (Pac10 4 and ACC)-Cal and Maryland
*Texas Bowl (Big12 8 and CUSA)-NC State and Houston
Champs Sports Bowl (ACC 4 and Big10 5)-Boston College and Penn St
Holiday Bowl (Pac10 2 and Big12 4)-USC and Texas A&M
Motor City Bowl (Big10 7 and MAC)-Purdue and Bowling Green
Hawaii Bowl (WAC CUSA)-Hawaii and East Carolina
*Las Vegas Bowl (Pac10 5 and MWC 1)-Nevada and BYU
*New Mexico Bowl (MWC and WAC)-New Mexico and Northwestern
Papajohns.com Bowl (BigEast and CUSA)-Rutgers/Louisville Winner and Southern Miss
*New Orleans Bowl (SunBelt 1 and CUSA)-Troy and Michigan St
Poinsettia Bowl (MWC and Navy)-Utah and Navy

*-denotes bowl that took another team because conference did not have enough bowl eligible teams

NCAA Football Top 25 Nov 05

Well, this was quite the telling weekend wasn't it? Arizona St joined the ranks of the unwashed when their undefeated season was ended in Eugene. Ohio St exploded in the 4th quarter against Wisconsin who didn't have PJ Hill the entire game. LSU struggled against Bama to also win it late. Kansas took out a few decades of frustration on the Cornhuskers in one half alone, it was beautiful to watch.

1. Kansas Jayhawks (2)-I know the argument of Ohio St over Kansas is one of who's played better teams. The problem with this argument is that Ohio St hasn't played that many big teams either. Sure they beat "ranked" teams, but these were teams ranked in the twenties, which can be a cluster fuck. Kansas obliterated Nebraska, hell Notre Dame may have put up a stronger defensive battle.
2. Ohio St Buckeyes (3)-They were losing to a slightly above average Wisconsin team who didn't even have their star running back. I just have not been impressed yet by this football team. The next two weeks will tell me whether they are the real deal or not. Illinois has speed that could be deadly to a Luckeye.
3. Oregon Ducks (4)-If you don't think the team that is playing the best football in America right now isn't the Ducks you haven't been playing attention. I really hope this team doesn't become the Carson Palmer Trojans and get snubbed out of the National Title game.
4. LSU Tigers (6)-Another week and another game where LSU has looked human to me. I don't think they could hang in a game against the Ducks, they can barely hang in there with the Crimson Tide. Hopefully they lose the SEC Title game so it's not even an issue.
5. Missouri Tigers (9)-This Chase Daniels kid is for real. 420 yards and 5 touchdowns through the air and he can run. The Missouri and Kansas game feels like a Championship game, and it is, the winner goes to the Big 12 Championship game where they have to fight off Oklahoma.
6. Oklahoma Sooners (7)-I'm sure many don't agree with me that I put Missouri over Oklahoma, but Chase Daniels is just too damn good to overlook anymore. I've seen that Oklahoma can bleed, and Missouri has seen it too, and they want another shot at them.
7. West Virginia Mountaineers (8)-The top ten team that no one appears to be talking about anymore, I wonder why. Could it be that the Big East isn't as nearly as good as we all let ourselves believe a few weeks ago?
8. Arizona St Sun Devils (1)-Rudy Carpenter wasn't fully healthy and they didn't have their best running back, but championship teams over come that and win, sadly that was not the case for the Sun Devils who still may get to play in the Rose Bowl, which is a nice consolation prize.
9. Texas Longhorns (10)-Quit your bitching now, I don't care how close it got, they still won so they move up when other teams move down. Jaamal Charles is playing like a man possessed, one of these days teams will stop playing prevent against Texas in the fourth quarter.
10. UConn Huskies (14)-They trampled Rutgers this weekend and all of a sudden a team we thought had a good record merely because of schedule is starting to have the appearance of a contender. They lost to Virginia 17-16, so basically they're two points away from being undefeated. That running back of theirs, Donald Brown, is a hell of a football player.
11. Hawaii Warriors (12)-A bye week for the Warriors before they host Fresno St this week. Their first real big challenge for the Warriors in a while, but they always have the home field advantage against the mainland teams, damn flights. Pat Hill will give them the toughest fight this year...until the Boise St game.
12. Boston College Eagles (5)-A huge fall, I know, but they've been winning games by the skim of their teeth these last few weeks. I feel for Matt Ryan though, he's had to play in bad weather every week since I can remember. That's a good thing to remember to those NFL teams that play in bad weather areas.
13. Michigan Wolverines (13)-The under achievers did it again and almost shot themselves in the foot. They dominated the beginning of the game, and then let up. Is it just a Wolverine mentality when you have so much talent you don't have to try your hardest and end up fucking up?
14. Boise St Broncos (16)-They do enough, say beat Hawaii, and enough teams fall, they can end up in a BCS Bowl game again this year, and I can't wait to watch them beat another team. Maybe then writers and voters would start to pay more attention to the West Coast.
15. VA Tech Hokies (15)-Whoever had the audacity to steal those Hokies jersey needs to be bitch slapped for that stupid idea. That doesn't give your school a good image, luckily they saved it by donating jerseys to the Hokies to wear for the game, sadly it didn't turn VA Tech's QB into Reggie Ball.
16. Georgia Bulldogs (18)-I know everyone else has them ranked as high as ten in some places, but you let Troy put thirty points or so on you and you want me to be impressed? Just because you know how to beat Tim Tebow doesn't color me impressed. I don't know if you could beat the lower half of the ACC right now.
17. USC Trojans (19)-This is a young Trojan team that appears to lack the real leadership they had under Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. I don't know what it is, I just don't get the feeling from Booty or Sanchez that I got from those two, then again they were extra special players. Next year will be scary how good that offense will be with some experience.
18. Auburn Tigers (20)-This is a tough team to read as always, but they managed to win this week so they've moved up. I'm not sure what it is, but when I watch their games I'm just not impressed with their gameplay. It just doesn't seem sound to me, the talent is there, but the word sloppy may be appropriate.
19. Florida Gators (21)-Hey, Florida, how can you let Vandy of all teams put up 22 on you? I know you won by 20, but I would run you harder then you've ever been run before for letting VANDY put up 22. Also, beware the first team that really hits Tebow, we'll see what kind of player he is then.
20. Clemson Tigers (22)-This team is looking like it is a year away from being in the top five and contending for the national title. CJ Spiller, dear Christ is this kid fast and elusive. I will go on record now and say he is an early front runner for next year's Heisman, along with Tebow who better not win this year.
21. Virginia Cavaliers (25)-This season the Cavaliers have won five games by two points or less. Either this team has ice water for blood or they are the luckiest thing Al Grohl has had since he lost his virginity all those years ago. For the life of me though, I can't figure out which.
22. Tennessee Volunteers (23)-Nice win there Fulmer, you beat up a no nothing school late in the season to give your team a win to keep them in a big bowl hunt. Now, do us all a favor and stop scheduling sisters of the poor at the attempt to keep your own job.
23. Alabama Crimson Tide (11)-Nick Saban, you tricky bastard, you had LSU on the ropes and you let them get up and knock you out. Worse then that, you were abusing Matt Flynn like he was Jodie Foster in the accused and stopped, why? I understand he was one of your recruits, but it's called tough love there sparky.
24. Arkansas Razorbacks (N/R)-Darren McFadden and Felix Jones did their best this weekend to remind all of us who in the nation has the best running attack. I don't know if McFadden will win it or not (the Heisman) but it may end up being one of the closest contests voting wise in recent memory, this kid is sick.
25. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (17)-I had the I guess you would say pleasure of watching this game on Saturday and I though Wake outplayed Virginia, but let their foot off of their throat way too early and had to rely on their kicking game to win, which is never a good thing. I know some folks (SayHey) will think Florida St should go in this spot, but they didn't beat Wake did they?