Ten Top 10s After Week 13 in College Football
November 23, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Top 10 Teams
1) Alabama—I’ll be as shocked as anyone if they occupy this spot on Dec. 7.
2) Utah—Undefeated and the run away winner of the Holy War
3) Boise—Survived a scare but got it done.
4) Ball State—Will WMU be their undoing?
5) Oklahoma—Just a tough call.
6) Texas—Beat No. 5.
7) Florida—I’m sure their fans won’t like this too much but what am I supposed to do?
Penn State—Looks like they are the odd man out.
9) USC—I like the Defense, if they lose it will be the Offense’s fault.
10) Oregon State—These guys haven’t lost in a long time.
Top 10 Games This Past Week
1) Buffalo 40, Bowling Green 34 —Just when you thought it was over…
2) Oregon State 19, Arizona 17—The Beavers never led until the final gun sounded.
3) Ball State 31, Central Michigan 24—Everything we thought it would be and more.
4) Purdue 62,, Indiana 10—That’s the way to send out your retiring coach.
5) Syracuse 24, Notre Dame 23—What can you even say?
6) Boise 41, Nevada 34—Not really as close as the score.
7) Northern Illinois 42, Kent State 14—Not a great game but we had a hoot in the chat room.
Boston College 24, Wake Forest 21—BC showed guts even with their QB going down.
9) Cincinnati 28, Pittsburgh 21—Congrats to Brian Kelly and the Bearcats on their Big East title.
10) Washington State 16, Washington 13—Eyes glued to the TV watching the worst College Football has to offer.
Top 10 People I Am Thankful For This Year
1) My Wife—A true testament to patience and understanding.
2) The readers, people, and the community of The College Football Place—350,000 unique visitors a month and growing every day, I am truly humbled.
3) Jordan—I hope everyone gets a chance in their life to work with someone who truly gets it.
4) Baby Tate—Not only the most knowledgeable and most informed person at Bleacher Report, also just a class act.
5) Yaro Starak—While he reminds me it was my dream, he helped me realize it.
6) Zander Freund—Unyielding supporter and defender of free speech and freedom of the press; I respect the heck out of that.
7) Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden—College football is better with these guys in it.
Gideon Shalwick—Gave me the confidence to add video to my blog; this is how most people recognize me.
9) The gang I grew up with—We knew at a very young age that football was a special game.
10) The people of Chicago—The best city to live in in the world!
Ten People Who Had A Bad Week
1) Charlie Weis—Not going to be fun in South Bend.
2) Ty Willingham—Not the way you want to go out.
3) Mike Leach—His team had NO answers.
4) Anyone still long the stock market—We touched 7500 on the Dow this week.
5) People who picked against me—I went 13-5 against the spread and 7-2 against the spread on my big picks.
6) Ron Zook—Great recruiter, bad coach.
7) The Miami Hurricanes—Back and on their way back mean two totally different things.
Tim Brewster—Not going to be the Coach of the Year
9) Mark Cuban—I don’t get it, this guy is worth how much?
10) Butch Davis—See “Ron Zook” (No. 6).
Top 10 Heisman Candidates
1) Tim Tebow—Why not?
2) Sam Bradford—The Texas Tech game was like an infomercial about him.
3) Rey Maualuga—I have no problem with it going to a defensive guy.
4) Colt McCoy—The accuracy this year has been unreal.
5) Knowshon Moreno—The best Running Back in the country.
6) Graham Harrell—Will get plenty of votes.
7) Michael Crabtree—Will be splitting votes with Harrell.
Beanie Wells—May be the best player.
9) Trevor Vittatoe—An inside joke, but really he’s no joke; give him another year.
10) Nate Davis—He’s had a heck of a year.
Top 10 Thanksgiving Foods
1) Turkey—It’s all about the bird; the star of the show.
2) Stuffing—Some call it dressing, I call it my second favorite.
3) Mashed Potatoes—Hello!
4) Corn—Anyone getting hungry?
5) Sweet Potatoes—Extra starch?, count me in.
6) Rolls—Hot, crusty, beautiful rolls.
7) Green Beans—Are these just for show?
Gravy—This should be it’s own food group.
9) Cranberries—Not everyone is a fan, I am.
10) Pumpkin Pie—Last but certainly not least.
Ten Favorite Games With Nicknames
1) The Backyard Brawl—Just a great name for a game.
2) Holy War—Sounds like a battle.
3) Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate—So what exactly do they mean?
4) The Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party—The name was better than the game this year.
5) Civil War—War seems to be a good word for a named game.
6) The Game—Sounds like they mean business.
7) Bedlam—Always has been one of my favorites.
The Iron Bowl—Men of steel?
9) The Arch Rivalry—Played in St. Luis of course.
10) The Game—The Big Game was already taken.
Top 10 Trophies for Games
1) The Old Oaken Bucket—I just like saying it.
2) The Little Brown Jug—Another classic.
3) Paul Bunyan’s Axe—Looks very cool when they carry it around.
4) Chief Caddo Trophy—Just lovely at over 7 feet tall.
5) The Wagon Wheel—Anyone ever see When Harry Met Sally?
6) The Old Brass Spittoon—These guys kill each other for it, my wife wouldn’t let me bring it in the house.
7) The Iron Skillet—I saw one of these going for 35 cents at a garage sale recently.
The Beehive Boot—Who wouldn’t want to play for the Boot?
9) The Keg of Nails—Looks just like it sounds.
10) The Peace Pipe—This can get you arrested in 23 states.
Top 10 USA Today Preseason Teams From This Year
1) Georgia—The Dawgs were more bark than bite.
2) USC—May finish near this same spot.
3) Ohio State—Stumbled in the big games.
4) Oklahoma—Pretty close.
5) Florida—I wonder if the Gator fans gave these guys as hard a time as they give me.
6) LSU—Maybe No. 6 in the SEC?
7) Missouri—Never got over the hump.
West Virginia—Tough start and they were doomed.
9) Clemson—What exactly were they thinking?
10) Texas—The Longhorns were underrated for a change.
Ten Games I’m Looking Forward To This Week
1) Oklahoma State at Oklahoma—The Big 12 and another big game.
2) Florida at Florida State—Real Gator fans know this is no gimme.
3) Georgia Tech at Georgia—Should be a good game.
4) West Virginia at Pittsburgh—Panthers won as 29 point digs last year.
5) Oregon at Oregon State—These teams do not like each other.
6) Auburn at Alabama—Looks horrible on paper but you never know.
7) Notre Dame at USC—Anyone else looking forward to watching this?
Houston at Rice—Should be an offensive show.
9) Western Michigan at Ball State—Does Ball State stay perfect?
10) South Carolina at Clemson—The battle for the Palmetto State.
Visit Mitch anytime at The College Football Place.
Games of The Weekend: Every Game Has a Meaning
November 20, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
How would it feel to know that one weekend could change the entire foundation of the college postseason? On one side of the fence, you got the fate of the entire Big XII South resting in the hands of two teams vying for BCS Championship contention. On another side, we got several games with conference championship possibilities on the line.
Sounds like a good weekend? I thought you would. Here’s the rundown.
Miami (FL) vs. Georgia Tech
With the conference championships just a few weeks away, the ACC is looking like a dangerous place to play this season. There are four teams at the top with five other teams battling for the right to contend for the ACC Championship as well. So many stories. So little sidesteps.
For the first time in a long time, Miami is back in the Top 25, and they intend on staying there for as long as possible. But the Canes have a bigger piece of the pie to worry about: The ACC Coastal Division. The Jackets are a half game back on Miami, and already have a victory over Miami’s rival Florida State. How would it feel to know that Ga Tech stunned both Sunshine State powerhouses in their conference?
If they play with the same intensity and fire that saw them stop Florida State on the goal line, they just might be able to do that. And they might even be able to win the Coastal Division crown and play for the ACC Championship. It’s pretty simple for both teams: Win and you have a chance to be in. But they will have to hope that someone else loses as well…
Final Score: Georgia Tech 30, Miami 27
NC State vs. North Carolina
The smashmouth formula of Butch Davis is working for him this season. Not only are his Tar Heels bowl bound once again, but they’re also eyeing a possible appearance in the ACC Championship. At 7-3, they’re in a three way tie with Miami and Georgia Tech for the ACC Coastal Division lead. A win on Saturday will put them in the running for a possible ACC Championship appearance. And with the Jackets and Canes fighting it out this weekend, they might have a chance to do just that.
Standing in their way is a team with nothing left to lose. The Wolfpack are 4-6 this season and have a minimal chance of going bowling this season. But just because they’re not eyeing a postseason berth doesn’t mean they won’t play spoiler to anybody. In all honesty, they might be the ultimate spoiler in the ACC if they beat Davis’s Tar Heels this weekend. But after a shocking loss to Maryland, the Tar Heels are not going down without a fight. And when the smoke clears, they may do enough to “fix” the Wolfpack in Chapel Hill.
Final Score: North Carolina 34, NC State 20
Florida State vs. Maryland
Poor FSU. They had such high hopes for themselves this season. But after losing to Georgia Tech and dropping one last weekend, the Seminoles are in trouble. At this moment, Maryland sits atop the ACC Atlantic Division and will win it outright with a victory this weekend. The Noles need this win for a series of reasons:
The first and foremost is the chance to win the ACC Championship against one of three potential upset giants. The second is the rumor mill will continue to swirl until told otherwise in regards to the future of Bobby Bowden. Now Seminoles Fans will say that he’ll be back next season, but even they have to be skeptical with the actions that have taken place in Tallahassee this season. And the third reason: The Annual Governor’s Cup Game between them and Florida. The Noles need this win not just for their division, but to have enough motivation to defeat the Gators next weekend in Tallahassee.
Final Score: Maryland 20, Florida State 14
Michigan State vs. Penn State
The Big Ten is on the line this weekend as the three major players will be in action this weekend. In The Valley, everything has been Happy…except for that Iowa shocker. But Penn State still has a chance to win the Big Ten Conference with a victory over Michigan State.
The Spartans can play spoiler with a win this weekend over the Lions. PSU is eyeing a Big Ten title and a BCS Bowl appearance. With Ohio State playing a beyond mediocre Michigan team, it’s obvious that depending on these two games, the Big Ten Conference could either have a three-peat offender or a new king to the Big Ten Throne. This game should be good regardless. If you’re looking for an alternative to the ratings crash known as Michigan-Ohio State, look no further than this game in Happy Valley.
Final Score: Penn State 37, Michigan State 24
Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma
And now, from Norman, Oklahoma…IT’S TIME!!!! This is the main event of the evening. This is a battle between two Big XII goliaths for the Big XII South Championship! Introducing the contender on my left, from Lubbock, Texas, The Ultimate Underdogs of the Big XII, The Red Raiders of Texas Tech University!
And their opponents, standing in the corner to my right, the Powerhouses of the Big XII, the Nightmares of Norman. Led by Bob Stoops and Sam Bradford, the Undisputed, defending Big XII Champions, the University of Oklahoma “Boomer” Sooners!
You want a fight? You want a war? You want a slugfest? This is the game that is guaranteed to deliver! With the Big XII South on the line, all Oklahoma has to do is stun the Raiders and stop their dream of the perfect season. For the Raiders, they have to go into Norman, handle the crowd and survive the trip with a win. But a loss, and well…you remember all those fights that everyone has been dishing out over the past three weeks?
Guess what? Someone’s feelings are going to get hurt this weekend. A Tech win guarantees that Texas and Oklahoma are out of the running for the Big XII South. But does that guarantee that neither of them will play for the BCS Championship. In any event, I did say that I smelled an upset on the horizon this weekend…and I think I found it.
Final Score: Oklahoma 37, Texas Tech 34
Honorable Mentions
Ole Miss vs. LSU (A Game of Respect vs. A Chance at Postseason Play)
Pitt vs. Cincinnati (The Big East Championship Awaits The Winner)
Oregon State vs. Arizona (Can The Beavers Smell Roses After This Weekend?)
BYU vs. Utah (Can Someone Smell An Upset Brewing in God’s Country?)
Air Force vs. TCU (Third Place in the Mountain West Awaits the Winner)
Michigan vs. Ohio State (Yawn…Was this trip really necessary?)
Florida vs. Citadel (Treat every game like it’s the BCS Championship, right?)
Best of luck boys.
Top Ten Coach of the Year Candidates in College Football
November 19, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Another year of college football is winding down, and along with it comes one of the more exciting races that no one is talking about—that being coach of the year. For the first time in a while, there’s really no clear-cut favorite this late in the season.
While most prognosticators would be tempted to flood their lists with SEC and Big 12 coaches, there are plenty of others who deserve recognition.
With that being said, here are ten coaches that when discussing coach of the year, each should be mentioned in that same breath—with only one featured from each of the two aforementioned power conferences:
Top Ten Coach of the Year Candidates in College Football
10. Butch Davis – North Carolina (3-3, 7-3)
It was an easy bet that Coach Davis, with his past pro and college experience, would be able to improve the quality of football at Chapel Hill. What wasn’t expected was the way he’s turned things around so quickly—especially after losing talents such as T.J. Yates and Brandon Tate for the majority of the 2008 season.
9. Mark Dantonio – Michigan State (6-1, 9-2)
Before Dantonio arrived at the beginning of last year, Michigan State hadn’t seen a winning season since 2003. After a 7-6 campaign in ’07, Dantonio has responded with nine wins, and with a week to go, the Spartans still have an outside shot at a Rose Bowl berth. That’s something that even Sparty didn’t see coming.
8. Paul Johnson – Georgia Tech (4-3, 7-3)
They said his system wouldn’t work in the ACC. They said it would take years for him to bring in enough recruits to build respectability.
Yet, while not having one of his biggest weapons in Josh Nesbitt during parts of the season, Coach Johnson has managed to keep the Yellow Jackets afloat with solid defense and other offensive weapons.
To top it off, a victory over Miami later this week could land Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game, something no one expected.
7. Brian Kelly – Cincinnati (4-1, 8-2)
West Virginia isn’t sitting on top of the Big East. Neither is South Florida, or Pittsburgh. Nope, it’s the Bearcats, led by Coach Kelly. In his first year, Kelly led Cincinnati to ten wins and a bowl victory. This season, after returning only twelve starters, he’s on top of the Big East, hoping for another double-digit win season—and perhaps a conference title.
6. Brady Hoke – Ball State (6-0, 10-0)
Hoke is the darkhorse in this competition, coaching in the Mid-American conference, which gets little to no national exposure. A program that managed only 15 victories from 2003-2006, Hoke has accumulated 17 wins since the beginning of last season. Hoke’s two biggest tests are still to come with other Mid-American powers Central Michigan and Western Michigan on deck.
5. Tim Brewster – Minnesota (3-4, 7-4)
If not for three consecutive losses, Brewster could easily be at the top of this list. Still, after a dismal 1-11 season last year, the second-year coach not only managed a solid 2008 recruiting class (28th according to scout.com), but also managed at least a half-dozen win turnaround along with a bowl berth to come. Dontcha know that’s one heckuva year, yah?
4. Kyle Whittingham – Utah (7-0, 11-0)
Some coaches get buried in mediocrity after replacing someone that had a great deal of success. When Urban Meyer left Utah (for Florida) after giving the Utes its first perfect season since 1930 (plus the first BCS bowl berth by a mid-major), there were lofty expectations and high hopes for the program—certainly a tall order for Whittingham and his staff.
Still, he’s responded with three winning seasons, and in year four, Utah is undefeated and primed for a potential second BCS berth in five years.
3. Mike Leach – Texas Tech (6-0, 10-0)
Leach and the Red Raiders have always been known to have an explosive offense, but never enough to get over the hump in big games—until this season. Beating Oklahoma at Norman may be enough to push him to the top of this list and push Texas Tech to a national title berth.
2. Joe Paterno – Penn State (6-1, 10-1)
From having to cut two d-linemen, lose another to injury, lose a star linebacker for the year, fend off questions of retirement, avoid questions regarding his health, among other things, Coach Paterno brought Penn State to within one point and one last second field goal from an undefeated record.
With Michigan State approaching, a win can earn the Nittany Lions its first Rose Bowl berth since 1994. It’s been a special year for Paterno—but will it be his last? That question alone could earn some extra votes.
1. Nick Saban – Alabama (7-0, 11-0)
Everyone knew Coach Saban would make the Tide roll again—but this quickly? With the number one recruiting class in 2008 (according to scout.com), it looked like Saban and the boys were about a year or two away, especially with an ’08 schedule that featured road tests against LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, plus a neutral site game against Clemson during week one.
After a 7-6 2007 season, Saban has done a spectacular job with this year’s team, but the road to the national title is getting tougher, with Auburn and Florida still in the way. Either way, don’t expect the Tide to go away anytime soon and if forced to choose a favorite for coach of the year, Saban would have to be the one.
The Top 5 Games of The Weekend
November 7, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
If you thought last weekend’s football action was intense, this weekend promises to leave you gasping for another beer. With that said, and hoping that I don’t lose my mind before the games officially start, here’s the Top Five games that I believe will earn their spots on televisions all across the country.
#5) #22 Georgia Tech vs. #19 North Carolina
Why is this game important? Ask yourself this. When’s the last time North Carolina was mentioned as a good team before basketball season? And when’s the last time Georgia Tech had a chance to clinch a spot in the ACC Championship? Both teams have a chance to make some serious noise in this game, but only one will have the chance to drop the hammer like there’s no tomorrow. In fact, for these two teams, there might not be. Butch Davis wants this game because he feels that his team is revamped and ready to win the big games when they matter.
This is a good way to start.
Final Score: Tar Heels 27, Georgia Tech 23
#4) #12 Ohio State vs. Northwestern
This Buckeyes team isn’t playing for the National Championship. But they’re looking to get more than just a win in this one. Northwestern is playing for the conference as well. The Cats gave Minnesota a shocker at the end of last weekend’s game. Now they’re looking to add Ohio State to the list of shockers this season. A win here gives Northwestern a three way tie for second so to speak in the conference. But a win for the Buckeyes will give them a little hope of winning the Big Ten.
With that said, Ohio State can squeak this one out, but it won’t be easy against a motivated Northwestern team.
Final Score: Buckeyes 17, Wildcats 14
#3) #21 Cal vs. #7 USC
This is a game that is important for more reasons other than control of the Pac-10. Cal is looking to hand USC their second loss and shatter their hopes of sneaking into the BCS Championship. For USC, they know that unless the Top Four teams in the country (Alabama, Texas Tech, Penn State & Florida) lose before the end of the season, they are most likely out of the BCS Title Hunt. But they are so used to winning the conference with ease that having to fight for it is uncharted water for them.
Having said that, I smell a huge upset in SoCal this weekend. My buddy in Berkeley is going to enjoy getting hammered this weekend for all the right reasons.
Final Score: Bears 30, Trojans 20
#2) #8 Oklahoma State vs. #2 Texas Tech
The Raiders are coming off the biggest upset of last weekend. The Cowboys rebounded from that nailbiter they had in Austin. Now they both are looking at possibly winning the Big XII away from powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma. But to do that, one of them must fall in primetime on Saturday night. With arguably the best wide receiver in the country and a potential Heisman upset candidate, Texas Tech will win a close game and improve their resume for the #1 spot in the country heading into their matchup with Oklahoma.
But don’t be surprised if Oklahoma State returns the favor and wins one against the Lone Star State.
Final Score: Red Raiders 39, Cowboys 33
#1) #1 Alabama vs. #15 LSU
Is it possible for Nick Saban to lose this weekend? Is it possible that Les Miles is Saban’s kryptonite? Could LSU bounce back and shock the Crimson Tide in Baton Rouge? Possible, possible & possible. Alabama is looking unbeatable this season, but LSU always steps it up a notch when they play their former coach. LSU knows what is at stake in this game. If Alabama wins this weekend, then it’s most likely that Alabama and Florida will renew an old school rivalry in Atlanta next month. But if LSU loses, they will have made it harder for a member of the SEC to play for the National Championship.
But either way, Saban needs to get the monkey off his back. I would say that this weekend, he can finish what Stafford & Tebow started earlier this season. In fact, he will.
Final Score: Crimson Tide 47, Tigers 21
Honorable Mentions
#4 Florida vs. Vanderbilt (A win guarantees Florida a trip to Atlanta)
#3 Penn State vs. Iowa (A questionable QB could possibly spell doom for Penn State)
Clemson vs. #24 Florida State (Can the Noles bounce back from the upset or fall further into the ground)
Purdue vs. #18 Michigan State (A Spartans win and Lions upset makes things interesting atop the Big Ten)
Cincinnati vs. #20 West Virginia (A win for Cincy gives them a shot at the Big East)