Thoughts:
1) The BCS just doesn't work. Every year, it's so close to a major implosion, and every year, it barely escapes -- to something that still isn't legitimate;
2) Texas isn't very good, and Alabama will win the MNC easily;
3) I think the BCS will be wise to match Boise and TCU in a bowl game, and if they can, send Cincinnati to the Sugar Bowl to play Florida. That will leave the BCS "champ" and a non-BCS school as the only undefeated teams left at the end of the bowl season -- thus adding pseudo-legitimacy to the BCS process;
4) For all the hype about Florida this year, it amazes me how pathetic they played yesterday. I will echo the sentiment that I think Urban Meyer is going to Notre Dame; he's not much different than Saban, in that he needs a new challenge regularly to stay engaged.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (13-0): Pretty dominant from the get-go yesterday. They're easily playing like they belong in the title game.
2. TCU (12-0): I don't know what else a non-BCS school can do to get into the title game. One of these years, only non-BCS schools are going to end up undefeated at the end of the regular season (four years in a row now a "small school" has run the regular season table, only to be shut out of the title game), and the BCS will have to put them in the title game.
3. Boise State (13-0): I think they play the best defense of the undefeated teams left here. They held Oregon to eight points, even if it was way back in September.
4. Cincinnati (12-0): Can Cincinnati play defense? No. They can score on anyone, though.
5. Texas (13-0): Rarely have seen a less impressive performance by a team playing as a title game entrant in the BCS era. Nebraska's offense is terrible, and Texas could barely beat them. Very ugly, even if it "won".
6. Florida (12-1): With at least six losses in only three years as a starting QB, can we just stop all the "Tebow is the best ever" talk? I don't know how it got started. The guy is a gamer, yes. For the most part, he's steady and stable. But he's not a spectacular player at all; he's a grind-it-out guy. Boring. Steady, but boring.
7. Oregon (10-2): Their defense isn't very good, or else it just looks bad because of all the good teams in the Pac-10. But I think they'll win the Rose Bowl.
8. Georgia Tech (11-2): Good recovery game. Again, if there was a playoff, it'd be great to see the Yellow Jackets in it. No one would want to draw them in the first round.
9. Ohio State (10-2): The Rose Bowl will represent a big pivotal point in Terrelle Pryor's career. Either he shows up and launches a Vince Young-like finish to his career at tOSU, or he fizzles and becomes Ron Pawlus. It'll be interesting to watch.
10. Iowa (10-2): I hope they get the at-large BCS bid. They deserve it over Penn State, for a variety of reasons: H2H, the injury that cost them a lot more, etc. Plus, they'll travel just fine.
11. BYU (10-2): So other than Alabama's win over Florida, TCU holds the second-best win of the season for undefeated teams in my estimation. And it would look even better if BYU hadn't laid that egg against a mediocre FSU team.
12. Penn State (10-2): Paterno RUTS on Bowden.
13. Central Michigan (11-2): I bet they beat the ACC team they'll play in the GMAC Bowl.
14. Virginia Tech (9-3): Another consistently solid, if unspectacular, season for Beamer Ball.
15. LSU (9-3): Amazing this team could go 9-3, when it just isn't that good. If Bama out up 32 points on Florida, why could LSU manage only three?
16. Miami-FL (9-3): A good season for The U, hopefully on their way back up.
17. West Virginia (9-3): Maybe Bill Stewart can coach.
18. Pittsburgh (9-3): What a letdown for the Panthers, losing these last two games by thin margins. A better coach might have won those games.
19. Oklahoma State (9-3): Still puzzled over how they got shutout by Oklahoma.
20. Wisconsin (9-3): Very quietly successful season for the Badgers.
21. Utah (9-3): They might get to beat USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.
22. Houston (10-3): Lame loss to end their regular season.
23. Troy (9-3): This makes Florida's win over them look ... good?
24. Temple (9-3): This makes Penn State's over them look ... good?
25. Arizona (8-4): It was either the Wildcats or Middle Tennessee State.
Also considered: Middle Tennessee State, USC.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: November 29, 2009
Thoughts:
1) Well, here we are, with six unbeatens, and probably we'll have at least four this time next week. And the BCS is arbitrarily going to tell us which two teams get to play for their title? Yeah ... whatever! When 86% of fans want a 16-team playoff, and we end up with this shit? The BCS is a crock, and it means nothing;
2) Rivalry games are really fun. But it's lame when top teams don't have true rivals. I mean, who is TCU's rival? Who is Florida's rival? Watching Texas and Alabama play their rivalry games against teams they've been playing for YEARS really makes a fan appreciate those games even more. Heck, even USC-UCLA was entertaining slop;
3) The ACC had a bad day, didn't it?;
4) Two games I'm looking most forward to watching next week: The Civil War and the SEC championship.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (12-0): Second year in a row the Tide have gone through the regular season without a loss. Impressive. And what a gritty win ... Auburn pulled out the stops and jumped out 14-0 early, and Alabama calmly (?) played their way into the lead by the end of the game. Impressive times two.
2. Texas (12-0): The game against A&M is always tough, and Colt McCoy showed why he's going to win the Hypesman. And he evened his record against the Aggies, too -- never let THAT be underestimated in the emotional exploration of college sports. No superstar could stand a losing record against her/his supreme rival.
3. Florida (12-0): Florida State just isn't a rivalry game for Florida. Is Georgia? Maybe, but if so, they ought to play it later in the season -- not in October. So I really don't see the Gators as having a true rivalry game. Yeah, I only went to law school there, so maybe I don't know, but still ... considering the football program is still relatively a "new" thing in Gainesville, they really may never develop a true rivalry with any school that has tradition, angst and late-season POWER.
4. TCU (12-0): Saw somewhere this is TCU's first undefeated regular season since 1938. If memory serves, I took that McMNC away from TCU and gave it to an SEC team. But I digress -- TCU doesn't have a rival any more. In the old SWC, would it have been ... Rice? Where the hell *is* TCU, anyway?
5. Cincinnati (11-0): I think the Bengals ... er, I mean, the Bearcats ... may be vulnerable against an angry Pitt team this week. And, they just can't play defense, can they? They remind me of those Chase Daniel-Mizzou teams of the past few years, except they've played an easier schedule.
6. Boise State (12-0): Interesting how they held Oregon to eight points, but they gave up a boatload to a few other teams. All the more reason to NOT play early games in the season against good teams? I understand the concept of some warm-up games against non-BCS schools. I really do. In fact, I think every BCS school should go slumming to play two non-BCS schools in their first two games, to work the kinks out and get the junk juking. But each BCS school should be required, as well, to play two BCS opponents in OOC games in order to be bowl eligible. What does this have to do with Boise State? Nothing, except I bet they lose their bowl game because their defense isn't very good. Then again, they did beat Oklahoma without a defense in the Fiesta Bowl a few years ago, right? Anything can happen with these guys, and they're more fun to watch than ... the SEC, the Big Ten, the Big East and the ACC. There, I said it. Truth hurts. Only the Pac-10 and the Big XII play more entertaining games on a regular basis than Boise State.
7. Oregon (9-2): Speaking of the Pac-10, if the Ducks don't beat the Beavers in the Civil War, they will pretty much cement themselves as perennial underachievers in my book. It seems like every year, the Ducks have a pretty good team -- but they've rarely really done anything with that. Oh yeah, sure, they won the Fiesta Bowl back in 2001 or whenever, but even that was a consolation prize for getting snubbed out of the title game. They lost the Rose Bowl to Penn State in 1994, and they've never been back, right? Despite having all these really good teams, they've never been back to the Rose Bowl since? Yeah, they've done the Holiday-Sun-Las Vegas bowls tour a few times, but never back to Pasadena. If they blow this opp? I'll never give them the benefit of the doubt again.
8. Georgia Tech (10-2): Talk about a veruca ... laying a golden egg for Thanksgiving isn't pretty. The ACC title game should be a fun one to watch. Says here which ever team loses the ACC title game also loses their bowl game. What a way to end a season!
9. Ohio State (10-2): One advantage for the Big Ten's early season conclusion is that their teams can sit back and watch other teams fold under the pressure.
10. Iowa (10-2): See above.
11. Pittsburgh (9-2): That's the Dave Wannstedt we know, we love and we've come accustomed to expecting.
12. BYU (10-2): Seriously, how did they lose to Florida State?
13. Penn State (10-2): I am going to assume Iowa gets the second Big Ten BCS bid over Penn State, because of their H2H win and their significantly better resume. Still Penn State should have fun in the Capital One Bowl against LSU. Anyone can beat Les Miles in a chess match.
14. Houston (10-2): I love Rice. And I love rice. And that? Was uncool, Houston.
15. Central Michigan (10-2): Poor guys will win the MAC title game and get a trip to Detroit for their reward.
16. USC (8-3): Okay, I know it was just UCLA, but the Trojans defense finally stepped up to win a game for the first time since USC knocked off the Buckeyes way back when. But Pete Carroll is going to regret throwing the hot sauce on this rivalry. This was my first USC-UCLA game (I went last night), and it was better than I thought it would be. I look forward to more as I unexpectedly settle in Los Angeles for the long haul.
17. Virginia Tech (9-3): Did they play yesterday? I was blinded by some hideous pants on the TV screen.
18. Miami-FL (9-3): I think maybe Miami could be a better rivalry game for Florida.
19. LSU (9-3): There's a long drop between SEC teams here.
20. Oregon State (8-3): It'll be interesting to see how the Beavers play Friday night.
21. California (8-3): Another perennial Pac-10 underachiever.
22. West Virginia (8-3): Doesn't take away the sting of 2007, but I bet it helps.
23. Oklahoma State (9-3): That had to hurt.
24. Nebraska (9-3): I think they're capable of beating Texas. Will they? Who knows? If they did, would it open up the door for TCU in the "title" game? That might be worth it.
25. Wisconsin (8-3): Outback Bowl?
Also considered: Utah
1) Well, here we are, with six unbeatens, and probably we'll have at least four this time next week. And the BCS is arbitrarily going to tell us which two teams get to play for their title? Yeah ... whatever! When 86% of fans want a 16-team playoff, and we end up with this shit? The BCS is a crock, and it means nothing;
2) Rivalry games are really fun. But it's lame when top teams don't have true rivals. I mean, who is TCU's rival? Who is Florida's rival? Watching Texas and Alabama play their rivalry games against teams they've been playing for YEARS really makes a fan appreciate those games even more. Heck, even USC-UCLA was entertaining slop;
3) The ACC had a bad day, didn't it?;
4) Two games I'm looking most forward to watching next week: The Civil War and the SEC championship.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (12-0): Second year in a row the Tide have gone through the regular season without a loss. Impressive. And what a gritty win ... Auburn pulled out the stops and jumped out 14-0 early, and Alabama calmly (?) played their way into the lead by the end of the game. Impressive times two.
2. Texas (12-0): The game against A&M is always tough, and Colt McCoy showed why he's going to win the Hypesman. And he evened his record against the Aggies, too -- never let THAT be underestimated in the emotional exploration of college sports. No superstar could stand a losing record against her/his supreme rival.
3. Florida (12-0): Florida State just isn't a rivalry game for Florida. Is Georgia? Maybe, but if so, they ought to play it later in the season -- not in October. So I really don't see the Gators as having a true rivalry game. Yeah, I only went to law school there, so maybe I don't know, but still ... considering the football program is still relatively a "new" thing in Gainesville, they really may never develop a true rivalry with any school that has tradition, angst and late-season POWER.
4. TCU (12-0): Saw somewhere this is TCU's first undefeated regular season since 1938. If memory serves, I took that McMNC away from TCU and gave it to an SEC team. But I digress -- TCU doesn't have a rival any more. In the old SWC, would it have been ... Rice? Where the hell *is* TCU, anyway?
5. Cincinnati (11-0): I think the Bengals ... er, I mean, the Bearcats ... may be vulnerable against an angry Pitt team this week. And, they just can't play defense, can they? They remind me of those Chase Daniel-Mizzou teams of the past few years, except they've played an easier schedule.
6. Boise State (12-0): Interesting how they held Oregon to eight points, but they gave up a boatload to a few other teams. All the more reason to NOT play early games in the season against good teams? I understand the concept of some warm-up games against non-BCS schools. I really do. In fact, I think every BCS school should go slumming to play two non-BCS schools in their first two games, to work the kinks out and get the junk juking. But each BCS school should be required, as well, to play two BCS opponents in OOC games in order to be bowl eligible. What does this have to do with Boise State? Nothing, except I bet they lose their bowl game because their defense isn't very good. Then again, they did beat Oklahoma without a defense in the Fiesta Bowl a few years ago, right? Anything can happen with these guys, and they're more fun to watch than ... the SEC, the Big Ten, the Big East and the ACC. There, I said it. Truth hurts. Only the Pac-10 and the Big XII play more entertaining games on a regular basis than Boise State.
7. Oregon (9-2): Speaking of the Pac-10, if the Ducks don't beat the Beavers in the Civil War, they will pretty much cement themselves as perennial underachievers in my book. It seems like every year, the Ducks have a pretty good team -- but they've rarely really done anything with that. Oh yeah, sure, they won the Fiesta Bowl back in 2001 or whenever, but even that was a consolation prize for getting snubbed out of the title game. They lost the Rose Bowl to Penn State in 1994, and they've never been back, right? Despite having all these really good teams, they've never been back to the Rose Bowl since? Yeah, they've done the Holiday-Sun-Las Vegas bowls tour a few times, but never back to Pasadena. If they blow this opp? I'll never give them the benefit of the doubt again.
8. Georgia Tech (10-2): Talk about a veruca ... laying a golden egg for Thanksgiving isn't pretty. The ACC title game should be a fun one to watch. Says here which ever team loses the ACC title game also loses their bowl game. What a way to end a season!
9. Ohio State (10-2): One advantage for the Big Ten's early season conclusion is that their teams can sit back and watch other teams fold under the pressure.
10. Iowa (10-2): See above.
11. Pittsburgh (9-2): That's the Dave Wannstedt we know, we love and we've come accustomed to expecting.
12. BYU (10-2): Seriously, how did they lose to Florida State?
13. Penn State (10-2): I am going to assume Iowa gets the second Big Ten BCS bid over Penn State, because of their H2H win and their significantly better resume. Still Penn State should have fun in the Capital One Bowl against LSU. Anyone can beat Les Miles in a chess match.
14. Houston (10-2): I love Rice. And I love rice. And that? Was uncool, Houston.
15. Central Michigan (10-2): Poor guys will win the MAC title game and get a trip to Detroit for their reward.
16. USC (8-3): Okay, I know it was just UCLA, but the Trojans defense finally stepped up to win a game for the first time since USC knocked off the Buckeyes way back when. But Pete Carroll is going to regret throwing the hot sauce on this rivalry. This was my first USC-UCLA game (I went last night), and it was better than I thought it would be. I look forward to more as I unexpectedly settle in Los Angeles for the long haul.
17. Virginia Tech (9-3): Did they play yesterday? I was blinded by some hideous pants on the TV screen.
18. Miami-FL (9-3): I think maybe Miami could be a better rivalry game for Florida.
19. LSU (9-3): There's a long drop between SEC teams here.
20. Oregon State (8-3): It'll be interesting to see how the Beavers play Friday night.
21. California (8-3): Another perennial Pac-10 underachiever.
22. West Virginia (8-3): Doesn't take away the sting of 2007, but I bet it helps.
23. Oklahoma State (9-3): That had to hurt.
24. Nebraska (9-3): I think they're capable of beating Texas. Will they? Who knows? If they did, would it open up the door for TCU in the "title" game? That might be worth it.
25. Wisconsin (8-3): Outback Bowl?
Also considered: Utah
Sunday, November 22, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: November 22, 2009
Thoughts:
1. Great Pac-10 games yesterday in Tucson and Palo Alto. And sneaking in, under the radar again, is Oregon State. There are six pretty good teams in the Pac-10, and I just don't think any other conference can make that same claim;
2. What to do with LSU? Wow, that was a terrible game. And Mississippi, too. Both teams had major blunders that should/could have cost them the game. Terrible football, dumb players and poor coaches;
3. I expected more out of Ohio State, which leads me to believe they'll probably get beaten in the Rose Bowl, but you never know;
4. Still hoping for five unbeatens this year, although Cincy and Boise have tough games still ahead of them. Anything to de-legitimize the BCS "title" game!
Rankings:
1. Alabama (11-0): Took care of business. Ingram seems to be gaining steam in the Hypesman race. Must be Auburn, of course. As we saw yesterday, all bets are off in major rivalry games.
2. Florida (11-0): Took care of business. Tebow is Tebow. I will maintain any good defense will shut down Florida's offense. So I guess my reputation will be on the line in the SEC title game. Worst case scenario for the SEC: Auburn beats Alabama, and then Alabama beats Florida. Or FSU beats Florida, and then Florida beats Alabama. I would watch the officiating in these two games very closely next weekend.
3. Texas (11-0): You know, they feel they were robbed last year (and correctly so). I have a feeling this team isn't going to stop until they win the "title". Then again, Mack Brown's their coach, so they can only go so far riding that dead horse.
4. TCU (11-0): I wondered why it was tied 10-10, but then I blinked and it was 45-10. Much more like it.
5. Cincinnati (10-0): With all the Brian Kelly-to-Somewhere Else rumors, I wonder if the coach will let his ego get the best of his team's chances to stay undefeated. Seriously.
6. Boise State (11-0): I hope their QB gets an invite to New York for the Hypesman ceremony. Good story about him in SI or TSN, I forget which now, this past week.
7. Georgia Tech (10-1): Looks like they'll face Clemson in the ACC title game, in a rematch. All the more reason to get rid of conference title games in football. Just play a round-robin and be done with it.
8. Pittsburgh (9-1): They have their two toughest games left to play.
9. Oregon (9-2): Gritty win in the desert. When Arizona was 6-2, I warned you they might not win another game. Oregon's win got me halfway there. A lot of good RBs in the Pac-10, you know?
10. Iowa (10-2): This will always be the year of "what if?" for the Hawkeyes. If Stanzi stayed healthy, they might have run the table. Injuries suck, but they happen. Depth is key.
11. Ohio State (10-2): A H2H paradox here, but oh well. My system just isn't impressed with the Buckeyes' lackluster offensive efforts. I mean, everyone else puts up 40+ on the Wolverines, so why not you, Terrelle?
12. Oklahoma State (9-2): They seem to be fine without Dez Bryant. Maybe Gundy can coach.
13. Penn State (10-2): Evidently, JoePa has the most 10-win seasons in FBS history. Well, duh! He's been coaching the longest; he better have the most.
14. BYU (9-2): Good game ahead against Utah for state bragging rights. Most people won't notice the game. Too bad.
15. Utah (9-2): Say Utah loses to BYU. They'll finish 9-3 in a rebuilding year. Nice.
16. Houston (9-2): This is where the "weaker" two-loss teams start, which is fitting, because a 16-team championship tourney would only take one of them (either the Cougs or the Chips).
17. Central Michigan (9-2): I love reading pro scouts diminish LeFeouver's skill set, but the kid's a gamer. I love watching him on TV.
18. Temple (9-2): Probably the worst 9-2 team ever. Seriously.
19. Virginia Tech (8-3): I've forgotten all about them.
20. USC (7-3): They finish with UCLA and Arizona at home. After a bye week, I suspect they'll be ready. And if they finish 2nd in the Pac-10 (assuming the Ducks eat beaver next week), which bowl do they go to? The Holiday Bowl. Weird.
21. Miami-FL (8-3): Yeah, the ACC has some good depth, too.
22. California (8-3): But the Pac-10 is better.
23. Oregon State (8-3): I am SURE that ass-whooping they suffered last year at home to Oregon is still resonating. Can they return the favor?
24. Clemson (8-3): ACC depth.
25. LSU (8-3): Someone has to be 25th. Why not Les Miles?
Also receiving consideration: North Carolina, West Virginia
1. Great Pac-10 games yesterday in Tucson and Palo Alto. And sneaking in, under the radar again, is Oregon State. There are six pretty good teams in the Pac-10, and I just don't think any other conference can make that same claim;
2. What to do with LSU? Wow, that was a terrible game. And Mississippi, too. Both teams had major blunders that should/could have cost them the game. Terrible football, dumb players and poor coaches;
3. I expected more out of Ohio State, which leads me to believe they'll probably get beaten in the Rose Bowl, but you never know;
4. Still hoping for five unbeatens this year, although Cincy and Boise have tough games still ahead of them. Anything to de-legitimize the BCS "title" game!
Rankings:
1. Alabama (11-0): Took care of business. Ingram seems to be gaining steam in the Hypesman race. Must be Auburn, of course. As we saw yesterday, all bets are off in major rivalry games.
2. Florida (11-0): Took care of business. Tebow is Tebow. I will maintain any good defense will shut down Florida's offense. So I guess my reputation will be on the line in the SEC title game. Worst case scenario for the SEC: Auburn beats Alabama, and then Alabama beats Florida. Or FSU beats Florida, and then Florida beats Alabama. I would watch the officiating in these two games very closely next weekend.
3. Texas (11-0): You know, they feel they were robbed last year (and correctly so). I have a feeling this team isn't going to stop until they win the "title". Then again, Mack Brown's their coach, so they can only go so far riding that dead horse.
4. TCU (11-0): I wondered why it was tied 10-10, but then I blinked and it was 45-10. Much more like it.
5. Cincinnati (10-0): With all the Brian Kelly-to-Somewhere Else rumors, I wonder if the coach will let his ego get the best of his team's chances to stay undefeated. Seriously.
6. Boise State (11-0): I hope their QB gets an invite to New York for the Hypesman ceremony. Good story about him in SI or TSN, I forget which now, this past week.
7. Georgia Tech (10-1): Looks like they'll face Clemson in the ACC title game, in a rematch. All the more reason to get rid of conference title games in football. Just play a round-robin and be done with it.
8. Pittsburgh (9-1): They have their two toughest games left to play.
9. Oregon (9-2): Gritty win in the desert. When Arizona was 6-2, I warned you they might not win another game. Oregon's win got me halfway there. A lot of good RBs in the Pac-10, you know?
10. Iowa (10-2): This will always be the year of "what if?" for the Hawkeyes. If Stanzi stayed healthy, they might have run the table. Injuries suck, but they happen. Depth is key.
11. Ohio State (10-2): A H2H paradox here, but oh well. My system just isn't impressed with the Buckeyes' lackluster offensive efforts. I mean, everyone else puts up 40+ on the Wolverines, so why not you, Terrelle?
12. Oklahoma State (9-2): They seem to be fine without Dez Bryant. Maybe Gundy can coach.
13. Penn State (10-2): Evidently, JoePa has the most 10-win seasons in FBS history. Well, duh! He's been coaching the longest; he better have the most.
14. BYU (9-2): Good game ahead against Utah for state bragging rights. Most people won't notice the game. Too bad.
15. Utah (9-2): Say Utah loses to BYU. They'll finish 9-3 in a rebuilding year. Nice.
16. Houston (9-2): This is where the "weaker" two-loss teams start, which is fitting, because a 16-team championship tourney would only take one of them (either the Cougs or the Chips).
17. Central Michigan (9-2): I love reading pro scouts diminish LeFeouver's skill set, but the kid's a gamer. I love watching him on TV.
18. Temple (9-2): Probably the worst 9-2 team ever. Seriously.
19. Virginia Tech (8-3): I've forgotten all about them.
20. USC (7-3): They finish with UCLA and Arizona at home. After a bye week, I suspect they'll be ready. And if they finish 2nd in the Pac-10 (assuming the Ducks eat beaver next week), which bowl do they go to? The Holiday Bowl. Weird.
21. Miami-FL (8-3): Yeah, the ACC has some good depth, too.
22. California (8-3): But the Pac-10 is better.
23. Oregon State (8-3): I am SURE that ass-whooping they suffered last year at home to Oregon is still resonating. Can they return the favor?
24. Clemson (8-3): ACC depth.
25. LSU (8-3): Someone has to be 25th. Why not Les Miles?
Also receiving consideration: North Carolina, West Virginia
Sunday, November 15, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: November 15, 2009
Thoughts:
1. Florida wins ugly, and Tebow should NOT be a Hypesman candidate;
2. I would really like to see TCU get a shot at the BCS title game. That's a good team;
3. How tough is the Pac-10? I have six teams from that conference in my Top 30;
4. Five straight Big Ten titles for Ohio State, yet this will be their first Rose Bowl since January 1, 1997. Weird;
5. Bye, Charlie.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (10-0): Read somewhere this is the 17th time (!) the Tide have started a season 10-0. That's pretty amazing.
2. Florida (10-0): Look, the bottom line is that they keep winning, even if it ain't purty.
3. TCU (10-0): Maybe the Big XII should add the Horned Frogs.
4. Texas (10-0): Winning like they should, considering they're not playing anyone good (right now).
5. Cincinnati (10-0): That was a closer one than it should have been.
6. Boise State (10-0): So no SEC team will schedule them, eh?
7. Georgia Tech (10-1): Great piece in Sports Illustrated last week about the offense.
8. Pittsburgh (9-1): That Big East showdown should be fun.
9. Oregon (8-2): Still in the driver's seat for the Rose Bowl. That would be a fun game.
10. Iowa (9-2): I know they just lost an H2H against the Buckeyes, but on the road in overtime with a backup QB (and a freshman, at that) means it's fine with me.
11. Ohio State (9-2): They got it done, but it wasn't very impressive.
12. Penn State (9-2): Hoping for a Wolverine upset?
13. Wisconsin (8-2): The Big Ten does have some good teams.
14. Oklahoma State (8-2): Beating Texas Tech is always nice.
15. Utah (8-2): Ouch.
16. BYU (8-2): Whatever.
17. LSU (8-2): Unimpressive.
18. Houston (8-2): Whoops.
19. Central Michigan (8-2): Better than Temple.
20. Rutgers (7-2): Quietly having a good season.
21. Temple (8-2): Horrible schedule.
22. Virginia Tech (7-3): Always fiesty.
23. USC (7-3): Defense has issues.
24. Miami-FL (7-3): Slowly torching a formerly great season.
25. Stanford (7-3): Again, a H2H anomaly, but what can I do about it? Considering the next few teams below, the Cardinal are fine here for now.
Also considered: Arizona, Oregon State, California, Clemson, Boston College
1. Florida wins ugly, and Tebow should NOT be a Hypesman candidate;
2. I would really like to see TCU get a shot at the BCS title game. That's a good team;
3. How tough is the Pac-10? I have six teams from that conference in my Top 30;
4. Five straight Big Ten titles for Ohio State, yet this will be their first Rose Bowl since January 1, 1997. Weird;
5. Bye, Charlie.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (10-0): Read somewhere this is the 17th time (!) the Tide have started a season 10-0. That's pretty amazing.
2. Florida (10-0): Look, the bottom line is that they keep winning, even if it ain't purty.
3. TCU (10-0): Maybe the Big XII should add the Horned Frogs.
4. Texas (10-0): Winning like they should, considering they're not playing anyone good (right now).
5. Cincinnati (10-0): That was a closer one than it should have been.
6. Boise State (10-0): So no SEC team will schedule them, eh?
7. Georgia Tech (10-1): Great piece in Sports Illustrated last week about the offense.
8. Pittsburgh (9-1): That Big East showdown should be fun.
9. Oregon (8-2): Still in the driver's seat for the Rose Bowl. That would be a fun game.
10. Iowa (9-2): I know they just lost an H2H against the Buckeyes, but on the road in overtime with a backup QB (and a freshman, at that) means it's fine with me.
11. Ohio State (9-2): They got it done, but it wasn't very impressive.
12. Penn State (9-2): Hoping for a Wolverine upset?
13. Wisconsin (8-2): The Big Ten does have some good teams.
14. Oklahoma State (8-2): Beating Texas Tech is always nice.
15. Utah (8-2): Ouch.
16. BYU (8-2): Whatever.
17. LSU (8-2): Unimpressive.
18. Houston (8-2): Whoops.
19. Central Michigan (8-2): Better than Temple.
20. Rutgers (7-2): Quietly having a good season.
21. Temple (8-2): Horrible schedule.
22. Virginia Tech (7-3): Always fiesty.
23. USC (7-3): Defense has issues.
24. Miami-FL (7-3): Slowly torching a formerly great season.
25. Stanford (7-3): Again, a H2H anomaly, but what can I do about it? Considering the next few teams below, the Cardinal are fine here for now.
Also considered: Arizona, Oregon State, California, Clemson, Boston College
Sunday, November 8, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: November 8, 2009
Thoughts:
1) Stanford doesn't suck. This had "trap" written all over it, and the Ducks proved they're not-ready-for-prime-time. Maybe this is why the Pac-10 gets no national love, but in reality, they just beat each other up;
2) I was at the Florida-Vandy game with some old law school pals yesterday. It amazes me how one-dimensional Florida's offense really is, and I do think a team with a decent defense can beat them. And no, LSU doesn't have a decent defense;
3) Michigan and Notre Dame have both fallen off the silly pedestal people put them on after Week 2. Neither can play defense, neither has a good head coach, and both will be very disappointed all offseason;
4) TCU really should be the No. 4 team in the next BCS standings, period. THAT's a defense, folks.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (9-0): Kind of funny how the SEC title game is already decided with three more regular season games to play. What happened to the "depth" of the SEC? Seriously, this conference is a joke this year, built upon the fraudulent OOC scheduling I've exposed in my previous McMNC posts. Both Florida and the Tide struggled to put away a mediocre LSU team. Whichever team emerges from the SEC title game is going to lose their bowl game, if not both of them. Mark it down.
2. Florida (9-0): It's sad when everyone in the stands knows Tebow is going to hog the goal-line carries, and Vandy still can't stop you. I mean, put 11 guys in the box and see what Touchdown Jesus Deux does. Please give me Danny Wuerffel any day of the week over TJD.
3. TCU (9-0): Their SOS is almost as good as Florida's, and they have a chance to rise higher. They obviously have a BIG hurdle to clear next week at home against Utah, but I suspect they'll be focused and ready to do this. They could have had a big trap game this week, and they didn't even blink on the road.
4. Texas (9-0): I think Texas and TCU are the two best teams in the country right now, even if my system says differently. The 'Horns are hurt by their SOS, which isn't going to get any better in the last three regular season games -- or in the Big XII title game. Right now, it looks like Nebraska or Kansas State in the Big XII North.
5. Cincinnati (9-0): A couple of garbage-time TDs made their win over UConn look closer than it was, but still. They have three interesting games coming up, and if they run the table, it will be impressive.
6. Boise State (9-0): More than anything, Boise never looks consistent to me. They can play very well in bursts, but not over 60 minutes. They can get away with that in the WAC, but never in the BCS.
7. Georgia Tech (9-1): Another example of why we need a playoff. Having to play Tech on short rest would be a great matchup in a tournament, like playing Syracuse in the basketball tourney.
8. Iowa (9-1): I suspect they'll lose in Columbus next week, especially now that Ohio State is in the driver's seat for the Rose Bowl. Too bad; this was a good story, but it wasn't meant to be.
9. Pittsburgh (8-1): If Cincy and Pitt meet in that final game with a combined 21-1 record, that's going to be the equivalent of a playoff (or so some will say). And if Cincy emerges unscathed, they are deserving of a BCS title game slot.
10. Houston (8-1): Eventually, the BCS will find itself (if it's allowed to exist beyond this year) with nine or ten perfect teams in one season. And it will have no ability to argue its usual shit. Houston came close to making that possibility more of a reality this year than ever before, but I also don't think they're very good.
11. Utah (8-1): Again, the mark of a great coach is leaving an imprint on the program when you leave it. Look at what Meyer did here; look at what Saban did at LSU. Look at ... oh, I don't know. Either way, I expect Utah will finish 10-2, which is a helluva follow-up to 13-0.
12. Oregon (7-2): My system actually has the Trojans slightly ahead of the Ducks, but common sense made me flip them. And that, my friends, is how you blow your dream season ... twice.
13. USC (7-2): Having a bit of an identity crisis right now, I think. A mediocre win in their final road game of the year, and they have two tough games sandwiching a rivalry game left. Could they lose all three? Sure. Will they? I doubt it. But Stanford, UCLA and Arizona to close out the season is no picnic.
14. Arizona (6-2): Funny how Washington beat two of the best three teams in the Pac-10. Talk about conference strength. But this may be the peak for the 'Cats, as they close at California, host Oregon, visit ASU and close in Los Angeles against the Trojans. Yikes, that's a not-fun gauntlet of death.
15. Miami-FL (7-2): It's too bad the Gators don't play the 'Canes this year. Instead, Florida takes on FIU, and Miami takes on USF. Lame.
16. Ohio State (8-2): Impressive. Or maybe Penn State just sucks. I'm more inclined to believe the latter now. They control the Big Ten, I think. BFD.
17. Wisconsin (7-2): I don't trust this team, but the numbers are more reliable than my instincts, so whatever. They got payback on Sparty for last year, and I think they'll get payback on Rich-Rod for last year, too.
18. BYU (7-2): Pass.
19. West Virginia (7-2): Run.
20. Oklahoma State (7-2): Hide?
21. Penn State (8-2): I really can't decide between Penn State and LSU for the top of the bottom five this week. They were separated by two slots in the AP poll before losing this weekend. Penn State's best win is over Temple (see below?), and LSU's best win is over Auburn (don't see below, because they ain't even listed with their three losses). Maybe this would be a good bowl matchup.
22. LSU (7-2): For all the Les Miles Adoration in Ann Arbor, why do they really want him? His LSU teams have always been overrated, his game tactics are suspect, and the 2007 BCS "title" was a bought-and-paid-for joke. I wouldn't want Rich-Rod, either, but I also wouldn't want Miles running my program.
23. South Florida (6-2): They're better than FIU.
24. Central Michigan (7-2): Sneak.
25. Troy (7-2): Makes Florida's SOS look a lot better than it is, eh?
Also considered: Temple, Rutgers
1) Stanford doesn't suck. This had "trap" written all over it, and the Ducks proved they're not-ready-for-prime-time. Maybe this is why the Pac-10 gets no national love, but in reality, they just beat each other up;
2) I was at the Florida-Vandy game with some old law school pals yesterday. It amazes me how one-dimensional Florida's offense really is, and I do think a team with a decent defense can beat them. And no, LSU doesn't have a decent defense;
3) Michigan and Notre Dame have both fallen off the silly pedestal people put them on after Week 2. Neither can play defense, neither has a good head coach, and both will be very disappointed all offseason;
4) TCU really should be the No. 4 team in the next BCS standings, period. THAT's a defense, folks.
Rankings:
1. Alabama (9-0): Kind of funny how the SEC title game is already decided with three more regular season games to play. What happened to the "depth" of the SEC? Seriously, this conference is a joke this year, built upon the fraudulent OOC scheduling I've exposed in my previous McMNC posts. Both Florida and the Tide struggled to put away a mediocre LSU team. Whichever team emerges from the SEC title game is going to lose their bowl game, if not both of them. Mark it down.
2. Florida (9-0): It's sad when everyone in the stands knows Tebow is going to hog the goal-line carries, and Vandy still can't stop you. I mean, put 11 guys in the box and see what Touchdown Jesus Deux does. Please give me Danny Wuerffel any day of the week over TJD.
3. TCU (9-0): Their SOS is almost as good as Florida's, and they have a chance to rise higher. They obviously have a BIG hurdle to clear next week at home against Utah, but I suspect they'll be focused and ready to do this. They could have had a big trap game this week, and they didn't even blink on the road.
4. Texas (9-0): I think Texas and TCU are the two best teams in the country right now, even if my system says differently. The 'Horns are hurt by their SOS, which isn't going to get any better in the last three regular season games -- or in the Big XII title game. Right now, it looks like Nebraska or Kansas State in the Big XII North.
5. Cincinnati (9-0): A couple of garbage-time TDs made their win over UConn look closer than it was, but still. They have three interesting games coming up, and if they run the table, it will be impressive.
6. Boise State (9-0): More than anything, Boise never looks consistent to me. They can play very well in bursts, but not over 60 minutes. They can get away with that in the WAC, but never in the BCS.
7. Georgia Tech (9-1): Another example of why we need a playoff. Having to play Tech on short rest would be a great matchup in a tournament, like playing Syracuse in the basketball tourney.
8. Iowa (9-1): I suspect they'll lose in Columbus next week, especially now that Ohio State is in the driver's seat for the Rose Bowl. Too bad; this was a good story, but it wasn't meant to be.
9. Pittsburgh (8-1): If Cincy and Pitt meet in that final game with a combined 21-1 record, that's going to be the equivalent of a playoff (or so some will say). And if Cincy emerges unscathed, they are deserving of a BCS title game slot.
10. Houston (8-1): Eventually, the BCS will find itself (if it's allowed to exist beyond this year) with nine or ten perfect teams in one season. And it will have no ability to argue its usual shit. Houston came close to making that possibility more of a reality this year than ever before, but I also don't think they're very good.
11. Utah (8-1): Again, the mark of a great coach is leaving an imprint on the program when you leave it. Look at what Meyer did here; look at what Saban did at LSU. Look at ... oh, I don't know. Either way, I expect Utah will finish 10-2, which is a helluva follow-up to 13-0.
12. Oregon (7-2): My system actually has the Trojans slightly ahead of the Ducks, but common sense made me flip them. And that, my friends, is how you blow your dream season ... twice.
13. USC (7-2): Having a bit of an identity crisis right now, I think. A mediocre win in their final road game of the year, and they have two tough games sandwiching a rivalry game left. Could they lose all three? Sure. Will they? I doubt it. But Stanford, UCLA and Arizona to close out the season is no picnic.
14. Arizona (6-2): Funny how Washington beat two of the best three teams in the Pac-10. Talk about conference strength. But this may be the peak for the 'Cats, as they close at California, host Oregon, visit ASU and close in Los Angeles against the Trojans. Yikes, that's a not-fun gauntlet of death.
15. Miami-FL (7-2): It's too bad the Gators don't play the 'Canes this year. Instead, Florida takes on FIU, and Miami takes on USF. Lame.
16. Ohio State (8-2): Impressive. Or maybe Penn State just sucks. I'm more inclined to believe the latter now. They control the Big Ten, I think. BFD.
17. Wisconsin (7-2): I don't trust this team, but the numbers are more reliable than my instincts, so whatever. They got payback on Sparty for last year, and I think they'll get payback on Rich-Rod for last year, too.
18. BYU (7-2): Pass.
19. West Virginia (7-2): Run.
20. Oklahoma State (7-2): Hide?
21. Penn State (8-2): I really can't decide between Penn State and LSU for the top of the bottom five this week. They were separated by two slots in the AP poll before losing this weekend. Penn State's best win is over Temple (see below?), and LSU's best win is over Auburn (don't see below, because they ain't even listed with their three losses). Maybe this would be a good bowl matchup.
22. LSU (7-2): For all the Les Miles Adoration in Ann Arbor, why do they really want him? His LSU teams have always been overrated, his game tactics are suspect, and the 2007 BCS "title" was a bought-and-paid-for joke. I wouldn't want Rich-Rod, either, but I also wouldn't want Miles running my program.
23. South Florida (6-2): They're better than FIU.
24. Central Michigan (7-2): Sneak.
25. Troy (7-2): Makes Florida's SOS look a lot better than it is, eh?
Also considered: Temple, Rutgers
Sunday, November 1, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: November 1, 2009
Thoughts:
1) Nice job, Oregon;
2) Nice job, Florida;
3) Nice job, Illinois;
4) Nice job, Texas.
Rankings:
1. Iowa (9-0): Their SOS edge is slipping on the other teams, but it should rebound as the remaining three teams on their schedule are all over .500 right now. I can't see the Hawkeyes losing to Northwestern or Minnesota, but a trip to Columbus awaits them, of course.
2. Florida (8-0): Georgia still sucks, but at least the Gators finally rolled a team like they should. Still, any team with a decent defense will beat Florida. Is that asking so much, Texas?
3. Alabama (8-0): If both Florida and Alabama make it to the SEC title game undefeated, will there be as much hype as there was for Michigan-Ohio State in 2006? Of course!
4. Texas (8-0): Maybe they've finally woken up.
5. TCU (8-0): They have a good defense.
6. Cincinnati (8-0): Their backup QB throws the ball very weirdly. If I were them, I'd want my starter back in there ASAP.
7. Boise State (8-0): Their SOS keeps slipping, of course. I assume the computers have the Broncos way behind TCU in that category. When they get shut out of the BCS, it's going to be more legislative-threat time for the BCS.
8. Oregon (7-1): One of the great things about college basketball is the "hot team" everyone fears come tournament time. Yeah, they had some issues earlier, but they just won their conference tourney, and they're smokin'. That's why the BCS sucks. It's not about the best team winning anymore. It used to be, but ... I don't think any team would want to play Oregon in a bowl game.
9. Georgia Tech (8-1): Same here, although having a month to prepare for their offense really helps.
10. LSU (7-1): Exhibit A, for why the SEC is overrated.
11. Utah (7-1): Exhibit A, for why the non-BCS schools are underrated.
12. Pittsburgh (7-1): Remember when Utah and Pitt played in the Fiesta Bowl? It'd be a good rematch now.
13. Penn State (8-1): They've really played a weak schedule for a Big Ten team so far.
14. Houston (7-1): This team isn't this good, but as long as they keep winning ...
15. USC (6-2): Is the King dead? Probably not. I don't think any team in the country would go 4-0 on the road against Cal, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon. That's what you get for scheduling too well. Perhaps the Trojans should adopt a new philosophy for the BCS.
16. Arizona (5-2): I don't expect this to last. They still have to play Cal, Oregon, ASU, and USC. They may not even get to seven wins.
17. Miami-FL (6-2): The Year of Living Dangerously.
18. California (6-2): Nothing wrong with being Third Banana if Oregon and USC are the top fruits.
19. Notre Dame (6-2): They won't get to nine wins.
20. Wisconsin (6-2): Home shutouts in conference play are always impressive.
21. BYU (6-2): The MWC has as many teams in my Top 21 as the Big Ten, the SEC and the Pac-10.
22. West Virginia (6-2): Doh!
23. Oklahoma State (6-2): Sinking.
24. Ohio State (7-2): At least they've played a tougher schedule than Penn State. Plus, because they know they can still win the Rose Bowl trip with a win over Iowa, they will be dangerous until then.
25. Troy (6-2): Whatever.
Also receiving consideration this week: Idaho, South Florida, Central Michigan, Temple, Rutgers
1) Nice job, Oregon;
2) Nice job, Florida;
3) Nice job, Illinois;
4) Nice job, Texas.
Rankings:
1. Iowa (9-0): Their SOS edge is slipping on the other teams, but it should rebound as the remaining three teams on their schedule are all over .500 right now. I can't see the Hawkeyes losing to Northwestern or Minnesota, but a trip to Columbus awaits them, of course.
2. Florida (8-0): Georgia still sucks, but at least the Gators finally rolled a team like they should. Still, any team with a decent defense will beat Florida. Is that asking so much, Texas?
3. Alabama (8-0): If both Florida and Alabama make it to the SEC title game undefeated, will there be as much hype as there was for Michigan-Ohio State in 2006? Of course!
4. Texas (8-0): Maybe they've finally woken up.
5. TCU (8-0): They have a good defense.
6. Cincinnati (8-0): Their backup QB throws the ball very weirdly. If I were them, I'd want my starter back in there ASAP.
7. Boise State (8-0): Their SOS keeps slipping, of course. I assume the computers have the Broncos way behind TCU in that category. When they get shut out of the BCS, it's going to be more legislative-threat time for the BCS.
8. Oregon (7-1): One of the great things about college basketball is the "hot team" everyone fears come tournament time. Yeah, they had some issues earlier, but they just won their conference tourney, and they're smokin'. That's why the BCS sucks. It's not about the best team winning anymore. It used to be, but ... I don't think any team would want to play Oregon in a bowl game.
9. Georgia Tech (8-1): Same here, although having a month to prepare for their offense really helps.
10. LSU (7-1): Exhibit A, for why the SEC is overrated.
11. Utah (7-1): Exhibit A, for why the non-BCS schools are underrated.
12. Pittsburgh (7-1): Remember when Utah and Pitt played in the Fiesta Bowl? It'd be a good rematch now.
13. Penn State (8-1): They've really played a weak schedule for a Big Ten team so far.
14. Houston (7-1): This team isn't this good, but as long as they keep winning ...
15. USC (6-2): Is the King dead? Probably not. I don't think any team in the country would go 4-0 on the road against Cal, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon. That's what you get for scheduling too well. Perhaps the Trojans should adopt a new philosophy for the BCS.
16. Arizona (5-2): I don't expect this to last. They still have to play Cal, Oregon, ASU, and USC. They may not even get to seven wins.
17. Miami-FL (6-2): The Year of Living Dangerously.
18. California (6-2): Nothing wrong with being Third Banana if Oregon and USC are the top fruits.
19. Notre Dame (6-2): They won't get to nine wins.
20. Wisconsin (6-2): Home shutouts in conference play are always impressive.
21. BYU (6-2): The MWC has as many teams in my Top 21 as the Big Ten, the SEC and the Pac-10.
22. West Virginia (6-2): Doh!
23. Oklahoma State (6-2): Sinking.
24. Ohio State (7-2): At least they've played a tougher schedule than Penn State. Plus, because they know they can still win the Rose Bowl trip with a win over Iowa, they will be dangerous until then.
25. Troy (6-2): Whatever.
Also receiving consideration this week: Idaho, South Florida, Central Michigan, Temple, Rutgers
Sunday, October 25, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: October 25, 2009
Thoughts:
1) Best undefeated team effort on Saturday was ... surprise ... Texas. Maybe they realized they're underwhelming;
2) Iowa and Alabama really got lucky. But luck is the result of design, so ... kudos to them;
3) Pittsburgh looks pretty good; they're going to give Cincy a run in the Big Least. Watch;
4) Notre Dame is dancing some fine lines in 2009.
Rankings:
1. Iowa (8-0): Can't argue with the results, and the team is resilient. But ... they have the strongest SOS of any team that's undefeated, using my system. And it's not close, actually. Michigan State is better than its 4-4 record suggests, for example.
2. Alabama (8-0): What do the Hawkeyes and the Tide have in common? Great special teams play that has kept them undefeated in 2009. Maybe they're destined to meet in the MNC game.
3. Florida (7-0): Underwhelming, again. They look like 'Bama last year.
4. TCU (7-0): Seriously, that defense can beat any team in the country. Hope they get a MNC game shot.
5. Texas (7-0): Finally, an impressive win, of sorts.
6. Boise State (7-0): I haven't perused the BCS monopoly rules close enough, but if TCU makes the title game, can Boise State still get another BCS bowl bid?
7. Cincinnati (7-0): Just saw one highlight from their game, and the QB literally slung the ball toward the end zone. And it was a TD. I am not sold.
8. Oregon (6-1): If they win the Pac-10, their coach gets my COTY vote.
9. Georgia Tech (7-1): Steamrolling.
10. USC (6-1): Hey Pete, if you get up by 20 against the Ducks next week, make sure your defense doesn't fold late, okay?
11. LSU (6-1): Whatever.
12. Utah (6-1): You have to think this is one of the best programs in the FBS right now. Seriously. If I'm an undersized kid with a lot of heart living out West, I go to Salt Lake City and get a good education while playing for a perennial Top 20 program. Great coaching.
13. Pittsburgh (7-1): That freshman RB is pretty good.
14. West Virginia (6-1): Not sure why Noel Devine doesn't have more big games, but then again, he is playing in a Big East outpost. I mean, he's third in the nation in rushing. I haven't even noticed.
15. Penn State (7-1): Bet THAT felt good. But the Nits still haven't beaten a good team all season.
16. Houston (6-1): Whatever.
17. Oklahoma State (6-1): With such a poor SOS, you wonder how good this team really is.
18. Central Michigan (7-1): They'll think twice before scheduling another trip out West. This team could also be undefeated with a little better planning. Wow.
19. Virginia Tech (5-2): Great schedule, and they suffer for it.
20. Arizona (5-2): About time, Mike.
21. Miami-FL (5-2): That was a blown opp. Remember the ol' Orange Bowl days, where NO ONE came into the 'Canes' backyard and won? Yeah, I do, too.
22. Notre Dame (5-2): So close to being 7-0, and so close to being 1-6. Charlie, you're living lucky. Still think they're going to lose to Pitt and Stanford.
23. California (5-2): Whatever. I'm moving to California soon (San Jose, actually).
24. Wisconsin (5-2): These last few teams mean nothing to me.
25. South Carolina (6-2): I still have a soft spot for the Ol' Ball Coach, though.
Others considered but dismissed for weak-ass scheduling: Ohio State, BYU, Mississippi, Idaho, Navy, Troy, Kansas, South Florida, Temple, Rutgers
1) Best undefeated team effort on Saturday was ... surprise ... Texas. Maybe they realized they're underwhelming;
2) Iowa and Alabama really got lucky. But luck is the result of design, so ... kudos to them;
3) Pittsburgh looks pretty good; they're going to give Cincy a run in the Big Least. Watch;
4) Notre Dame is dancing some fine lines in 2009.
Rankings:
1. Iowa (8-0): Can't argue with the results, and the team is resilient. But ... they have the strongest SOS of any team that's undefeated, using my system. And it's not close, actually. Michigan State is better than its 4-4 record suggests, for example.
2. Alabama (8-0): What do the Hawkeyes and the Tide have in common? Great special teams play that has kept them undefeated in 2009. Maybe they're destined to meet in the MNC game.
3. Florida (7-0): Underwhelming, again. They look like 'Bama last year.
4. TCU (7-0): Seriously, that defense can beat any team in the country. Hope they get a MNC game shot.
5. Texas (7-0): Finally, an impressive win, of sorts.
6. Boise State (7-0): I haven't perused the BCS monopoly rules close enough, but if TCU makes the title game, can Boise State still get another BCS bowl bid?
7. Cincinnati (7-0): Just saw one highlight from their game, and the QB literally slung the ball toward the end zone. And it was a TD. I am not sold.
8. Oregon (6-1): If they win the Pac-10, their coach gets my COTY vote.
9. Georgia Tech (7-1): Steamrolling.
10. USC (6-1): Hey Pete, if you get up by 20 against the Ducks next week, make sure your defense doesn't fold late, okay?
11. LSU (6-1): Whatever.
12. Utah (6-1): You have to think this is one of the best programs in the FBS right now. Seriously. If I'm an undersized kid with a lot of heart living out West, I go to Salt Lake City and get a good education while playing for a perennial Top 20 program. Great coaching.
13. Pittsburgh (7-1): That freshman RB is pretty good.
14. West Virginia (6-1): Not sure why Noel Devine doesn't have more big games, but then again, he is playing in a Big East outpost. I mean, he's third in the nation in rushing. I haven't even noticed.
15. Penn State (7-1): Bet THAT felt good. But the Nits still haven't beaten a good team all season.
16. Houston (6-1): Whatever.
17. Oklahoma State (6-1): With such a poor SOS, you wonder how good this team really is.
18. Central Michigan (7-1): They'll think twice before scheduling another trip out West. This team could also be undefeated with a little better planning. Wow.
19. Virginia Tech (5-2): Great schedule, and they suffer for it.
20. Arizona (5-2): About time, Mike.
21. Miami-FL (5-2): That was a blown opp. Remember the ol' Orange Bowl days, where NO ONE came into the 'Canes' backyard and won? Yeah, I do, too.
22. Notre Dame (5-2): So close to being 7-0, and so close to being 1-6. Charlie, you're living lucky. Still think they're going to lose to Pitt and Stanford.
23. California (5-2): Whatever. I'm moving to California soon (San Jose, actually).
24. Wisconsin (5-2): These last few teams mean nothing to me.
25. South Carolina (6-2): I still have a soft spot for the Ol' Ball Coach, though.
Others considered but dismissed for weak-ass scheduling: Ohio State, BYU, Mississippi, Idaho, Navy, Troy, Kansas, South Florida, Temple, Rutgers
Sunday, October 18, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: October 18, 2009
Thoughts:
1) Going to echo a lot of the "overrated" comments on RSFC from Saturday. Not a lot of really impressive teams out there right now. All the more reason for a playoff, because when the BC$/E$PN combo chooses their best TV matchup and argues its the "title" game, 95% of college football fans are getting jobbed. How anyone can argue this system "works" just defies common sense and logic;
2) I found the USC-ND game to be quite interesting. The Trojans never should have been in that position at the end, and the "home" timekeeper difference between this game and the ND-Michigan game was clearly apparent. Notre Dame didn't get that last second in Ann Arbor, but they got it at home -- same kind of play, etc. Another reason why college football just can't be taken seriously;
3) Texas could have won their game by three touchdowns if they had a decent coach. Hasn't this always been the story with Mack Brown? Great recruits, underperformance on the field. If this team makes the "title" game, no way in hell they win it. The Longhorns just aren't that good;
4) At this point in the season, I really do think Alabama is head and shoulders above everyone else. My rankings don't reflect that below, but I can't tweak my system in the middle of the season, either. So be it.
Rankings:
1. Iowa (7-0): Not sure what to say here. Winning ugly? But with 11 straight wins, you can't argue with the results, can you? It seems they start slow and finish strong, so we'll see.
2. Alabama (7-0): See above comments. Mark Ingram is pretty good, too.
3. Boise State (6-0): Any road win against a good team is valuable, but the Broncos don't seem to be blowing teams out like they should. Even against Oregon, they could have won that game 45-7, but they shot themselves in the foot repeatedly. I don't think we've seen the best of this team yet.
4. Florida (6-0): Dodged a bullet. I've always maintained that a good K is worth his weight in gold to a college football team.
5. TCU (6-0): Plugging along under the radar.
6. Texas (6-0): See above. Ugly.
7. Cincinnati (6-0): I feel they should be higher, but the numbers don't say so.
8. Georgia Tech (6-1): They've played a pretty good schedule so far, the best one of the one-loss teams.
9. USC (5-1): They've played four games on the road so far, so they have a second-half edge here. But look at their road wins: @ Ohio State, @ California and @ Notre Dame. Can any team in the country boast better quality road wins? Nope, mostly because most teams are too cowardly to schedule tough road games.
10. Oregon (5-1): Yeah, the Pac-10 and the SEC should have an annual OOC competition. I'd love to see Oregon play Florida and USC play Alabama. Fun times.
11. Miami-FL (5-1): I know they beat Georgia Tech, but my system doesn't do H2H very effectively. Sorry.
12. LSU (5-1): Still an enigma to me.
13. Utah (5-1): If the superconference is the direction to go for the Pac-10, then it's BYU and Utah.
14. Idaho (6-1): Impressive SOS and results, although I must confess I don't think I've seen a down of one of their games this year. Must make sure to watch them this next game.
15. Pittsburgh (6-1): Perhaps Cincy's only remaining roadbloack.
16. BYU (6-1): Losing to 2-4 FSU so badly really killed their credibility.
17. Houston (5-1): Seriously, UTEP?
18. West Virginia (5-1): Can it last?
19. Penn State (6-1): Considering they lost to the only good team they played, I have no idea what to make of Penn State. But did anyone see that clip of Paterno at the press conference before the Minnesota game? That was funny.
20. Oklahoma State (5-1): At least the Cougars are still "good" on paper, making their one loss half-credible.
21. Central Michigan (6-1): Again, maybe the only good team they played they lost to, but the State of Michigan champs look good.
22. Kansas (5-1): No way they should have helped Dan Hawkins out there. Bad loss, considering what's to come on their schedule in the next month.
23. South Florida (5-1): You just can't lose a home game when you're undefeated, even if the opponent is undefeated, too. I mean, why else does home-field advantage matter? This team teases almost every year. Getting stale.
24. Virginia Tech (5-2): I thought they were a bit too high for the one-loss crowd, because they never seem to be able to play consistent ball all season long. Not that many can, mind you, but ...
25. Arizona (4-2): They've played a Top 10 schedule according to my numbers.
Also considered this week: Notre Dame, California
1) Going to echo a lot of the "overrated" comments on RSFC from Saturday. Not a lot of really impressive teams out there right now. All the more reason for a playoff, because when the BC$/E$PN combo chooses their best TV matchup and argues its the "title" game, 95% of college football fans are getting jobbed. How anyone can argue this system "works" just defies common sense and logic;
2) I found the USC-ND game to be quite interesting. The Trojans never should have been in that position at the end, and the "home" timekeeper difference between this game and the ND-Michigan game was clearly apparent. Notre Dame didn't get that last second in Ann Arbor, but they got it at home -- same kind of play, etc. Another reason why college football just can't be taken seriously;
3) Texas could have won their game by three touchdowns if they had a decent coach. Hasn't this always been the story with Mack Brown? Great recruits, underperformance on the field. If this team makes the "title" game, no way in hell they win it. The Longhorns just aren't that good;
4) At this point in the season, I really do think Alabama is head and shoulders above everyone else. My rankings don't reflect that below, but I can't tweak my system in the middle of the season, either. So be it.
Rankings:
1. Iowa (7-0): Not sure what to say here. Winning ugly? But with 11 straight wins, you can't argue with the results, can you? It seems they start slow and finish strong, so we'll see.
2. Alabama (7-0): See above comments. Mark Ingram is pretty good, too.
3. Boise State (6-0): Any road win against a good team is valuable, but the Broncos don't seem to be blowing teams out like they should. Even against Oregon, they could have won that game 45-7, but they shot themselves in the foot repeatedly. I don't think we've seen the best of this team yet.
4. Florida (6-0): Dodged a bullet. I've always maintained that a good K is worth his weight in gold to a college football team.
5. TCU (6-0): Plugging along under the radar.
6. Texas (6-0): See above. Ugly.
7. Cincinnati (6-0): I feel they should be higher, but the numbers don't say so.
8. Georgia Tech (6-1): They've played a pretty good schedule so far, the best one of the one-loss teams.
9. USC (5-1): They've played four games on the road so far, so they have a second-half edge here. But look at their road wins: @ Ohio State, @ California and @ Notre Dame. Can any team in the country boast better quality road wins? Nope, mostly because most teams are too cowardly to schedule tough road games.
10. Oregon (5-1): Yeah, the Pac-10 and the SEC should have an annual OOC competition. I'd love to see Oregon play Florida and USC play Alabama. Fun times.
11. Miami-FL (5-1): I know they beat Georgia Tech, but my system doesn't do H2H very effectively. Sorry.
12. LSU (5-1): Still an enigma to me.
13. Utah (5-1): If the superconference is the direction to go for the Pac-10, then it's BYU and Utah.
14. Idaho (6-1): Impressive SOS and results, although I must confess I don't think I've seen a down of one of their games this year. Must make sure to watch them this next game.
15. Pittsburgh (6-1): Perhaps Cincy's only remaining roadbloack.
16. BYU (6-1): Losing to 2-4 FSU so badly really killed their credibility.
17. Houston (5-1): Seriously, UTEP?
18. West Virginia (5-1): Can it last?
19. Penn State (6-1): Considering they lost to the only good team they played, I have no idea what to make of Penn State. But did anyone see that clip of Paterno at the press conference before the Minnesota game? That was funny.
20. Oklahoma State (5-1): At least the Cougars are still "good" on paper, making their one loss half-credible.
21. Central Michigan (6-1): Again, maybe the only good team they played they lost to, but the State of Michigan champs look good.
22. Kansas (5-1): No way they should have helped Dan Hawkins out there. Bad loss, considering what's to come on their schedule in the next month.
23. South Florida (5-1): You just can't lose a home game when you're undefeated, even if the opponent is undefeated, too. I mean, why else does home-field advantage matter? This team teases almost every year. Getting stale.
24. Virginia Tech (5-2): I thought they were a bit too high for the one-loss crowd, because they never seem to be able to play consistent ball all season long. Not that many can, mind you, but ...
25. Arizona (4-2): They've played a Top 10 schedule according to my numbers.
Also considered this week: Notre Dame, California
Sunday, October 11, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: October 11, 2009
Thoughts:
1) Florida was underwhelming, and I still think Alabama will beat them when the time comes -- just the opposite of last year. But it's cool to see a big rivalry develop between the two schools (again?).
2) Tate Forcier's star is falling, because you don't talk back to the coach, right? Just goes to show you, also, how important home-field advantage is in college football. Michigan is golden at home, and they're blue on the road.
3) Tony Romo is terrible. Oh wait, this is a college football poll. Sorry.
4) I have a feeling Texas is going to lose to Oklahoma next weekend. Just a hunch.
Rankings:
1) Alabama (6-0): Ole Miss sucks, and they were overrated like most SEC teams are year-in, year-out. With anyone ever learn? But Bama did what they needed to: win big on the road against a weaker team.
2) Iowa (6-0): Considering all the turnovers Michigan had, Iowa should have won their game by more than two points. Settling for FGs instead of TDs will hurt any team, obviously.
3) Florida (6-0): The ten-point margins against their "real" opponents aren't cutting it for me. And the rest of their schedule is weak (only one ranked team left in regular season?). So they're not #1 in my book; sorry.
4) Boise State (5-0): They'd be undefeated against Florida's schedule, too.
5) TCU (5-0): I like the 4-2-5 to stop the spread. Defenses will start adjusting soon.
6) Texas (5-0): As noted above, I have a hunch Oklahoma will beat them. Save Vince Young, Mack Brown has a history of undercoaching his talent.
7) Cincinnati (5-0): Nothing interesting to say this week about this team.
8) Kansas (5-0): Hope they've enjoyed the ride, because their gauntlet approaches.
9) South Florida (5-0): Nothing interesting to say this week about this team, either.
10) Virginia Tech (5-1): Why does this team have so many problems with its openers? No wonder the SEC keeps scheduling them early. Going back to their Sugar Bowl loss to Auburn in January 2005, it seems like the SEC owns the Hokies.
11) Miami-FL (4-1): Why are they playing Florida A&M?
12) USC (4-1): That freak lifting injury to Johnson still is bothering me. Ouch.
13) Oregon (5-1): Impressive road win at UCLA. Ugly, but impressive.
14) Georgia Tech (5-1): Have I mentioned I love the option, still? Yes, you need speed and discipline on defense to stop it, but not many teams have that. I love the option.
15) LSU (5-1): Color me unimpressed.
16) Notre Dame (4-1): They might beat USC. Nah.
17) Wisconsin (5-1): Well, their defense played well enough to win.
18) Ohio State (5-1): I'm ignoring H2H here, for now.
19) Nebraska (4-1): Weird win the other night, but it's a win.
20) Utah (4-1): Nothing interesting to say this week about this team, either.
21) Auburn (5-1): It was nice while it lasted.
22) Idaho (5-1): Random.
23) South Carolina (5-1): When does the annual second-half demise begin?
24) BYU (5-1): Nothing interesting to say this week about this team, either.
25) Missouri (4-1): Choke?
Others: Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Houston, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Central Michigan, Tulsa
1) Florida was underwhelming, and I still think Alabama will beat them when the time comes -- just the opposite of last year. But it's cool to see a big rivalry develop between the two schools (again?).
2) Tate Forcier's star is falling, because you don't talk back to the coach, right? Just goes to show you, also, how important home-field advantage is in college football. Michigan is golden at home, and they're blue on the road.
3) Tony Romo is terrible. Oh wait, this is a college football poll. Sorry.
4) I have a feeling Texas is going to lose to Oklahoma next weekend. Just a hunch.
Rankings:
1) Alabama (6-0): Ole Miss sucks, and they were overrated like most SEC teams are year-in, year-out. With anyone ever learn? But Bama did what they needed to: win big on the road against a weaker team.
2) Iowa (6-0): Considering all the turnovers Michigan had, Iowa should have won their game by more than two points. Settling for FGs instead of TDs will hurt any team, obviously.
3) Florida (6-0): The ten-point margins against their "real" opponents aren't cutting it for me. And the rest of their schedule is weak (only one ranked team left in regular season?). So they're not #1 in my book; sorry.
4) Boise State (5-0): They'd be undefeated against Florida's schedule, too.
5) TCU (5-0): I like the 4-2-5 to stop the spread. Defenses will start adjusting soon.
6) Texas (5-0): As noted above, I have a hunch Oklahoma will beat them. Save Vince Young, Mack Brown has a history of undercoaching his talent.
7) Cincinnati (5-0): Nothing interesting to say this week about this team.
8) Kansas (5-0): Hope they've enjoyed the ride, because their gauntlet approaches.
9) South Florida (5-0): Nothing interesting to say this week about this team, either.
10) Virginia Tech (5-1): Why does this team have so many problems with its openers? No wonder the SEC keeps scheduling them early. Going back to their Sugar Bowl loss to Auburn in January 2005, it seems like the SEC owns the Hokies.
11) Miami-FL (4-1): Why are they playing Florida A&M?
12) USC (4-1): That freak lifting injury to Johnson still is bothering me. Ouch.
13) Oregon (5-1): Impressive road win at UCLA. Ugly, but impressive.
14) Georgia Tech (5-1): Have I mentioned I love the option, still? Yes, you need speed and discipline on defense to stop it, but not many teams have that. I love the option.
15) LSU (5-1): Color me unimpressed.
16) Notre Dame (4-1): They might beat USC. Nah.
17) Wisconsin (5-1): Well, their defense played well enough to win.
18) Ohio State (5-1): I'm ignoring H2H here, for now.
19) Nebraska (4-1): Weird win the other night, but it's a win.
20) Utah (4-1): Nothing interesting to say this week about this team, either.
21) Auburn (5-1): It was nice while it lasted.
22) Idaho (5-1): Random.
23) South Carolina (5-1): When does the annual second-half demise begin?
24) BYU (5-1): Nothing interesting to say this week about this team, either.
25) Missouri (4-1): Choke?
Others: Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Houston, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Central Michigan, Tulsa
Monday, October 5, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: October 4, 2009
Thoughts:
1) I saw the post with the “13 Contenders Left” headline: four teams are in the SEC, three teams are in the Big XII, two teams are in the Big Ten, two teams are in the Big East, and two teams are in non-BCS conferences. The ACC and Pac-10 don’t have any undefeated teams left, yet they may be the deepest conferences in the country;
2) After reading all the negative press on LSU and Auburn, good for both of them to win on the road;
3) Michigan wasn’t so fortunate;
4) I am curious to see if the Boise State-Cincinnati title game can truly happen. The four SEC teams are bound to beat each other up, and I can’t see any other team but Texas going undefeated. A Cincy-UT title game would be interesting, but I am doing what I shouldn’t do. So without further adieu …
Rankings:
1. LSU (5-0): Georgia may have been screwed by that excessive celebration penalty, but LSU still had to win the game. And they did. By my system (which remains a carefully guarded legal secret), the Tigers have played the best schedule of any of the undefeated teams remaining. I don’t think that can be debated.
2. Iowa (5-0): Not sure how you go from beating Penn State on the road by double digits to the squeaker stinker the Hawkeyes gave us on Saturday, but if it’s a letdown game and you still win, that’s all that matters.
3. Alabama (5-0): There’s a drop-off from the SOS of LSU and Iowa to ‘Bama. The Crimson Tide needs to start proving itself again, but I like what Saban is doing here.
4. Auburn (5-0): Isn’t this the start they were supposed to have last year? This feels like 2004 for Auburn, after they crashed burned in 2003 with all the preseason expectations.
5. Wisconsin (5-0): Can we call it winning ugly? After awhile, it just may be what it is: winning.
6. Boise State (5-0): The problem here is the schedule strength, which will continue to drop the Broncos in my rankings. The positive is that the other teams will probably all lose, which will raise the Broncos in my rankings.
7. Texas (4-0): If they lose to Oklahoma, they’re never going to live it down.
8. TCU (4-0): I feel like almost every year in the last handful, we hear how TCU can run the table. And they never do. Gary Patterson is the only coach in school history to record five 10-win seasons, though.
9. Florida (4-0): The gauntlet begins.
10. Cincinnati (5-0): Well, they survived the Sports Illustrated exposure.
11. Missouri (4-0): I bet if someone told us three Big XII teams would be undefeated heading into mid-October, few would have assumed two of those teams would be in the North division.
12. Kansas (4-0): I wonder if Todd Reesing will have a pro career. He kind of reminds me of Tony Romo sometimes, both good and bad.
13. South Florida (5-0): We’ve seen this story before, right?
14. Miami-FL (3-1): Well, THAT was impressive.
15. Virginia Tech (4-1): The only reason Miami is higher than VaTech is the SOS, since I have Miami-FL with the second-highest SOS overall in the country. The Hokies are at No. 14, by the way.
16. USC (4-1): Considering the Trojans still have to play Oregon and Stanford and UCLA and Oregon State and Arizona and Arizona State and Notre Dame, I don’t know how anyone thinks their schedule is easy.
17. Georgia Tech (4-1): The ACC has some very good teams.
18. Oregon (4-1): So does the Pac-10. And they all play each other every year. How cool is THAT for the fans?
19. Arizona (3-1): There’s a reason Pac-10 SOS is strong, and it’s teams like this.
20. Ohio State (4-1): So can a one-loss Ohio State team make the title game? Is it time to start asking that question yet?
21. Notre Dame (4-1): First, clearly UW is on the way back, although they’ll need another QB like Jake. Second, the Irish aren’t this good, and like the Wolverines, I think they’re on glass stilts.
22. UCLA (3-1): Speaking of glass stilts …
23. Stanford (4-1): Another head-to-head anomaly here, but that will work itself out. Can I get betting odds on Harbaugh taking the Michigan job by 2011?
24. BYU (4-1): They lost to three-loss FSU at home by 30 points or whatever. They will carry that one to their celestial kingdoms for all eternity.
25. Utah (3-1): Pretty good program they have going here. Has the Pac-10 noticed?
Also considered briefly: West Virginia, South Carolina, Penn State, Idaho, Middle Tennessee, Michigan, Nebraska, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Houston
1) I saw the post with the “13 Contenders Left” headline: four teams are in the SEC, three teams are in the Big XII, two teams are in the Big Ten, two teams are in the Big East, and two teams are in non-BCS conferences. The ACC and Pac-10 don’t have any undefeated teams left, yet they may be the deepest conferences in the country;
2) After reading all the negative press on LSU and Auburn, good for both of them to win on the road;
3) Michigan wasn’t so fortunate;
4) I am curious to see if the Boise State-Cincinnati title game can truly happen. The four SEC teams are bound to beat each other up, and I can’t see any other team but Texas going undefeated. A Cincy-UT title game would be interesting, but I am doing what I shouldn’t do. So without further adieu …
Rankings:
1. LSU (5-0): Georgia may have been screwed by that excessive celebration penalty, but LSU still had to win the game. And they did. By my system (which remains a carefully guarded legal secret), the Tigers have played the best schedule of any of the undefeated teams remaining. I don’t think that can be debated.
2. Iowa (5-0): Not sure how you go from beating Penn State on the road by double digits to the squeaker stinker the Hawkeyes gave us on Saturday, but if it’s a letdown game and you still win, that’s all that matters.
3. Alabama (5-0): There’s a drop-off from the SOS of LSU and Iowa to ‘Bama. The Crimson Tide needs to start proving itself again, but I like what Saban is doing here.
4. Auburn (5-0): Isn’t this the start they were supposed to have last year? This feels like 2004 for Auburn, after they crashed burned in 2003 with all the preseason expectations.
5. Wisconsin (5-0): Can we call it winning ugly? After awhile, it just may be what it is: winning.
6. Boise State (5-0): The problem here is the schedule strength, which will continue to drop the Broncos in my rankings. The positive is that the other teams will probably all lose, which will raise the Broncos in my rankings.
7. Texas (4-0): If they lose to Oklahoma, they’re never going to live it down.
8. TCU (4-0): I feel like almost every year in the last handful, we hear how TCU can run the table. And they never do. Gary Patterson is the only coach in school history to record five 10-win seasons, though.
9. Florida (4-0): The gauntlet begins.
10. Cincinnati (5-0): Well, they survived the Sports Illustrated exposure.
11. Missouri (4-0): I bet if someone told us three Big XII teams would be undefeated heading into mid-October, few would have assumed two of those teams would be in the North division.
12. Kansas (4-0): I wonder if Todd Reesing will have a pro career. He kind of reminds me of Tony Romo sometimes, both good and bad.
13. South Florida (5-0): We’ve seen this story before, right?
14. Miami-FL (3-1): Well, THAT was impressive.
15. Virginia Tech (4-1): The only reason Miami is higher than VaTech is the SOS, since I have Miami-FL with the second-highest SOS overall in the country. The Hokies are at No. 14, by the way.
16. USC (4-1): Considering the Trojans still have to play Oregon and Stanford and UCLA and Oregon State and Arizona and Arizona State and Notre Dame, I don’t know how anyone thinks their schedule is easy.
17. Georgia Tech (4-1): The ACC has some very good teams.
18. Oregon (4-1): So does the Pac-10. And they all play each other every year. How cool is THAT for the fans?
19. Arizona (3-1): There’s a reason Pac-10 SOS is strong, and it’s teams like this.
20. Ohio State (4-1): So can a one-loss Ohio State team make the title game? Is it time to start asking that question yet?
21. Notre Dame (4-1): First, clearly UW is on the way back, although they’ll need another QB like Jake. Second, the Irish aren’t this good, and like the Wolverines, I think they’re on glass stilts.
22. UCLA (3-1): Speaking of glass stilts …
23. Stanford (4-1): Another head-to-head anomaly here, but that will work itself out. Can I get betting odds on Harbaugh taking the Michigan job by 2011?
24. BYU (4-1): They lost to three-loss FSU at home by 30 points or whatever. They will carry that one to their celestial kingdoms for all eternity.
25. Utah (3-1): Pretty good program they have going here. Has the Pac-10 noticed?
Also considered briefly: West Virginia, South Carolina, Penn State, Idaho, Middle Tennessee, Michigan, Nebraska, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Houston
Sunday, September 27, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: September 27, 2009
Thoughts:
1) A lot of upsets. But I bet at least one of the teams that lost this week will end up in the “title” game;
2) I hope Tebow is okay, but I’m also surprised this hasn’t happened before (or more often);
3) Florida State? Fuck off;
4) Forget Stanford; Cal sucks.
Rankings:
1. Iowa (4-0): No other undefeated team has played as good a schedule so far as the Hawkeyes. I figured Penn State would beat them, simply because the loss last year cost the Nittany Lions a shot at the title game (although it clearly shouldn’t have, since Iowa was a much better team than Mississippi, etc.). Impressive win for Kirk Ferentz and Co.
2. Boise State (4-0): That win over Oregon looks pretty good right about now, doesn’t it?
3. TCU (3-0): I find it interesting Boise and TCU have SOS ratings in the Top 3 of the undefeated teams right now. Because that’s how the non-BCS schools have to do it.
4. LSU (4-0): Easily the best team right now in the SEC, simply because they’ve played the best schedule in 2009. Bet they wished Washington could have kept winning, though.
5. UCLA (3-0): Still on top of Los Angeles, for a little while longer.
6. Alabama (4-0): Since they played Virginia Tech, the rest of their schedule has sucked.
7. Houston (3-0): Stayin’ alive.
8. Cincinnati (4-0): Maybe a Big East team can run the table. I’d like to see if that would happen – and then wait for the BCS to tell us that a one-loss SEC team deserves the title game more. Bring on the chaos!
9. Wisconsin (4-0): Sort of an enigma to me. Keep an eye on this team.
10. Missouri (4-0): With their personnel losses, this surprises me.
11. Florida (4-0): Still waiting for them to play a decent team.
12. Texas (4-0): Ditto, although since they did beat Texas Tech, it says a lot about their other three games that their SOS is still lower than Florida’s at this point.
13. Michigan (4-0): This team is a few corrected officials’ calls from being 2-2.
14. Auburn (4-0): Four SEC teams still undefeated. Rumble!
15. South Florida (4-0): Impressive win without their QB. Off-topic: does Bobby B. have a clue about his team right now?
16. Kansas (4-0): I think I said it before, but it’s looking like 2007 all over again in Lawrence.
17. Texas A&M (3-0): Thank you, soft schedule.
18. Miami-FL (2-1): Egg laid. But their SOS is still No. 1 overall in my book.
19. Oregon (3-1): Impressive coaching job to get this team focused enough.
20. Virginia Tech (3-1): I realize the H2H issue with this ranking, but my H2H factor doesn’t kick in until October. So apologies in advance, Hokie fans.
21. Georgia (3-1): Rebounding nicely. Of course, Georgia always plays best when the pressure is off them. Which means they’ll be beat Florida.
22. Georgia Tech (3-1): Long-term, I wonder how long the option can last in a BCS conference.
23. BYU (3-1): Must be dumbfounded by the USF-FSU score.
24. Arizona (3-1): Three Pac-10 teams in my Top 25; stop the presses!
25. South Carolina (3-1): Impressive upset, Spurrier. I’ve always liked you much more than I could ever like Urban Meyer.
Also considered: California, Notre Dame, North Carolina, USC, Minnesota, Ohio State, Utah
1) A lot of upsets. But I bet at least one of the teams that lost this week will end up in the “title” game;
2) I hope Tebow is okay, but I’m also surprised this hasn’t happened before (or more often);
3) Florida State? Fuck off;
4) Forget Stanford; Cal sucks.
Rankings:
1. Iowa (4-0): No other undefeated team has played as good a schedule so far as the Hawkeyes. I figured Penn State would beat them, simply because the loss last year cost the Nittany Lions a shot at the title game (although it clearly shouldn’t have, since Iowa was a much better team than Mississippi, etc.). Impressive win for Kirk Ferentz and Co.
2. Boise State (4-0): That win over Oregon looks pretty good right about now, doesn’t it?
3. TCU (3-0): I find it interesting Boise and TCU have SOS ratings in the Top 3 of the undefeated teams right now. Because that’s how the non-BCS schools have to do it.
4. LSU (4-0): Easily the best team right now in the SEC, simply because they’ve played the best schedule in 2009. Bet they wished Washington could have kept winning, though.
5. UCLA (3-0): Still on top of Los Angeles, for a little while longer.
6. Alabama (4-0): Since they played Virginia Tech, the rest of their schedule has sucked.
7. Houston (3-0): Stayin’ alive.
8. Cincinnati (4-0): Maybe a Big East team can run the table. I’d like to see if that would happen – and then wait for the BCS to tell us that a one-loss SEC team deserves the title game more. Bring on the chaos!
9. Wisconsin (4-0): Sort of an enigma to me. Keep an eye on this team.
10. Missouri (4-0): With their personnel losses, this surprises me.
11. Florida (4-0): Still waiting for them to play a decent team.
12. Texas (4-0): Ditto, although since they did beat Texas Tech, it says a lot about their other three games that their SOS is still lower than Florida’s at this point.
13. Michigan (4-0): This team is a few corrected officials’ calls from being 2-2.
14. Auburn (4-0): Four SEC teams still undefeated. Rumble!
15. South Florida (4-0): Impressive win without their QB. Off-topic: does Bobby B. have a clue about his team right now?
16. Kansas (4-0): I think I said it before, but it’s looking like 2007 all over again in Lawrence.
17. Texas A&M (3-0): Thank you, soft schedule.
18. Miami-FL (2-1): Egg laid. But their SOS is still No. 1 overall in my book.
19. Oregon (3-1): Impressive coaching job to get this team focused enough.
20. Virginia Tech (3-1): I realize the H2H issue with this ranking, but my H2H factor doesn’t kick in until October. So apologies in advance, Hokie fans.
21. Georgia (3-1): Rebounding nicely. Of course, Georgia always plays best when the pressure is off them. Which means they’ll be beat Florida.
22. Georgia Tech (3-1): Long-term, I wonder how long the option can last in a BCS conference.
23. BYU (3-1): Must be dumbfounded by the USF-FSU score.
24. Arizona (3-1): Three Pac-10 teams in my Top 25; stop the presses!
25. South Carolina (3-1): Impressive upset, Spurrier. I’ve always liked you much more than I could ever like Urban Meyer.
Also considered: California, Notre Dame, North Carolina, USC, Minnesota, Ohio State, Utah
Sunday, September 20, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: September 20, 2009
Thoughts:
1) I was not surprised about the USC game, as it had "trap" written all over it -- especially with a "backup" QB. But still, the Trojans only play to their potential in their bowl game in most years, so the "Cali" 'tude snags them again;
2) More surprising was BYU, especially at home, but maybe they believed their own hype. Serves them right in September;
3) The nation's longest winning streak is now Florida's, I think. But their SOS so far is pathetic;
4) This will be the last week that only undefeated teams make my Top 25, as there just aren't that many undefeated teams left.
Rankings:
1. Miami-FL -- Why? Because they're the only team which has really beaten two good FBS teams so far. In fact, Sagarin has their SOS as the top in the country at this point.
2. Iowa -- Yes, this surprises me, too, but this is what my system spit out. First, Northern Iowa is a pretty good team, even for an FCS squad. Again, to wit, Sagarin has them at #33 overall. That's better than a lot of FBS schools right now.
3. North Carolina -- Since so many schools have played weak schedules, these are just the undefeated teams with the best schedules so far. So be it.
4. Boise State -- I wonder if they breathed a sigh of relief when BYU lost. After all, if both Boise and BYU ran the table, the BCS would never put them both into BCS games, right? Now, Boise has the non-BCS spotlight all to itself.
5. LSU -- Their SOS shot up with Washington's upset of USC. The best of the SEC bunch so far.
6. Wisconsin -- Yes, Fresno State actually helps their SOS.
7. Cincinnati -- This isn't even basketball season.
8. Auburn -- This season might turn out to be their best since 2004.
9. Alabama -- The best SEC team I've seen on TV this year, so far.
10. California -- Not sure what they were doing tied in the fourth quarter against Minnesota, but it was a road game, so whatever.
11. UCLA -- Who owns Los Angeles now?
12. Texas -- I was expecting a more dominant win over Tech, but oh well.
13. Missouri -- Flying under the radar so far.
14. Pittsburgh -- Maybe the Big East isn't so bad this year.
15. Michigan -- They played with their food a bit too long this week.
16. Houston -- The Oklahoma State win will keep them high in SOS for awhile.
17. Kentucky -- Weak SEC sisters often stay high early.
18. TCU -- Now the MWC's only shot at a BCS bowl.
19. Indiana -- Yes, their SOS is higher than Florida's right now.
20. Florida -- For all the Gators' greatness, I expected a bigger win over Rocky Top, especially at home.
21. Penn State -- Did they even schedule any good teams this year? Besides, you know they'll lose to Michigan.
22. Southern Mississippi -- The pickings are getting slim.
23. Kansas -- This could be 2007 all over again for the Big XII Norte.
24. Texas A&M -- Don't think this will last long.
25. South Florida -- Big East!
Others: Mississippi, Arizona State
1) I was not surprised about the USC game, as it had "trap" written all over it -- especially with a "backup" QB. But still, the Trojans only play to their potential in their bowl game in most years, so the "Cali" 'tude snags them again;
2) More surprising was BYU, especially at home, but maybe they believed their own hype. Serves them right in September;
3) The nation's longest winning streak is now Florida's, I think. But their SOS so far is pathetic;
4) This will be the last week that only undefeated teams make my Top 25, as there just aren't that many undefeated teams left.
Rankings:
1. Miami-FL -- Why? Because they're the only team which has really beaten two good FBS teams so far. In fact, Sagarin has their SOS as the top in the country at this point.
2. Iowa -- Yes, this surprises me, too, but this is what my system spit out. First, Northern Iowa is a pretty good team, even for an FCS squad. Again, to wit, Sagarin has them at #33 overall. That's better than a lot of FBS schools right now.
3. North Carolina -- Since so many schools have played weak schedules, these are just the undefeated teams with the best schedules so far. So be it.
4. Boise State -- I wonder if they breathed a sigh of relief when BYU lost. After all, if both Boise and BYU ran the table, the BCS would never put them both into BCS games, right? Now, Boise has the non-BCS spotlight all to itself.
5. LSU -- Their SOS shot up with Washington's upset of USC. The best of the SEC bunch so far.
6. Wisconsin -- Yes, Fresno State actually helps their SOS.
7. Cincinnati -- This isn't even basketball season.
8. Auburn -- This season might turn out to be their best since 2004.
9. Alabama -- The best SEC team I've seen on TV this year, so far.
10. California -- Not sure what they were doing tied in the fourth quarter against Minnesota, but it was a road game, so whatever.
11. UCLA -- Who owns Los Angeles now?
12. Texas -- I was expecting a more dominant win over Tech, but oh well.
13. Missouri -- Flying under the radar so far.
14. Pittsburgh -- Maybe the Big East isn't so bad this year.
15. Michigan -- They played with their food a bit too long this week.
16. Houston -- The Oklahoma State win will keep them high in SOS for awhile.
17. Kentucky -- Weak SEC sisters often stay high early.
18. TCU -- Now the MWC's only shot at a BCS bowl.
19. Indiana -- Yes, their SOS is higher than Florida's right now.
20. Florida -- For all the Gators' greatness, I expected a bigger win over Rocky Top, especially at home.
21. Penn State -- Did they even schedule any good teams this year? Besides, you know they'll lose to Michigan.
22. Southern Mississippi -- The pickings are getting slim.
23. Kansas -- This could be 2007 all over again for the Big XII Norte.
24. Texas A&M -- Don't think this will last long.
25. South Florida -- Big East!
Others: Mississippi, Arizona State
Sunday, September 13, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: September 13, 2009
Thoughts:
1) Surprised that UCLA beat Tennessee in Knoxville. Was talking to a friend on Saturday about Monte Kiffin, and I said that I felt he’d be the kind of guy to really build a scheme to smother Tebow when the time came. But if he and his son can’t even beat the bRuins …;
2) Impressed with USC’s defense, considering the personnel losses and the ridiculous field position Ohio State had for so much of that game. I think the Trojans have solved the mobile QB problem that cost them the 2005 AP title;
3) The freshmen QBs impressed me, too. Interesting to think that Forcier wasn’t on USC’s radar, because of his skill set, and that Barkley wouldn’t have been on Michigan’s radar, etc. Be fun to see them play against each other someday in a Rose Bowl, perhaps, but Michigan’s defense leaves a lot to be desired;
4) I have no idea why voters reward Florida for scheduling so poorly. The Gators should be traveling to take on real programs, and I don’t buy the crap about FSU and Miami, since Florida easily has the upper hand on those teams right now. Scheduling them and claiming SOS is laughable; with at least half the SEC a borderline joke this season, Florida still is getting sucked off by the media.
Rankings:
1. USC (2-0): Easily the best victory any team can claim this year, as BYU beat a depleted OU team on the road. The Trojans took the best tOSU had to offer, and they still won playing a true freshman on the road (see Michigan below). That was an ugly game, but the Trojans found a win to win it, SEC-style even.
2. BYU (2-0): Assuming they roll FSU in Provo this next week, the Coogs also get TCU and Utah at home later. It was refreshing to see ESPN TV guys pimping BYU’s title game chances if they run the table. Finally, some common sense prevails.
3. Alabama (2-0): Little Nicky might have the horses this year to win the SEC. I really am liking this team a lot already this season. And that’s a little unsettling for me.
4. LSU (2-0): Yeah, the SEC isn’t all that great from top to bottom, but at least LSU has some cojones.
5. Boise State (12-0): I know it’s very early to ponder this, but say both BYU and Boise State go undefeated, and no BCS team finishes undefeated. Does Boise State-BYU sell any tickets for an alleged “title” game? I mean, I’d go, and you know both these teams travel well, but … wow. Talk about anarchy in the U.S.
6. UCLA (2-0): Do I think they’re this good? No, but they did win a big game (for them) in a very hostile environment. That gives them some love this week.
7. Minnesota (2-0): The Golden Gophs as the Big Ten’s best team right now? Maybe, based on actual results this season and this season only.
8. Wisconsin (2-0): No, they’re not this good, but again, it’s early, and Fresno State is better than a lot of the cream puffs other teams have played at home.
9. Michigan (2-0): I really enjoy watching Tate Forcier play QB. Kid’s got moxie. But Rich-Rod, your eally need to get BOTH Forcier and Denard on the field at the SAME TIME. You can’t leave Denard rotting on the bench, and rotating QBs killed a lot of Forcier’s rhythm Saturday, almost to the point it could have cost you the game (oh but wait, you were coaching against Charlie Weis – my mistakes, for he’s even dumber than you are!). Figure it out quick, and you’ll have the best offense in the Big Ten.
10. Missouri (2-0): Maybe that win over Illinois is more impressive than we thought.
11. Georgia Tech (2-0): I really like watching the triple option. It’s cool.
12. North Carolina (2-0): Going on the road and winning like THAT is pretty funny. But at least they had the balls to schedule a road game against a BCS team.
13. California (2-0): Jahvid Best is averaging more than 10 yards a carry, I think. He’s going to New York in December, and he might just take the cake away from the QB parade. Pure talent.
14. Utah (2-0): They just keep winning, don’t they?
15. Houston (2-0): Okay, so Okie State was obviously overrated. And I can’t get forget Andre Ware or the Klingler Boys. But, hey, that was a nice win.
16. Iowa (2-0): Maybe I like Kirk Ferentz too much.
17. Arizona (2-0): That win over Central Michigan looks more impressive now.
18. Penn State (2-0): Two lackluster wins, but wins nonetheless – and one over a BCS team, albeit one with Greg Paulus half-running the show.
19. Oregon State (2-0): I bet USC is happy they don’t have to go to Corvallis this year. But come on, if they can win in Columbus …
20. Texas (2-0): When I was growing up, we used to drive to Laramie a lot just for kicks. Really.
21. South Florida (2-0): For some reason, I really want to see them do well. Still not sure why.
22. Auburn (2-0): Tony Franklin, eat your heart out.
23. West Virginia (2-0): Wouldn’t it be great to see them play Michigan in a bowl game?
24. Nebraska (2-0): I hate it when a favorite shirt starts fraying around the edges and you can’t wear it anymore. The girl I lost my virginity with went to Nebraska. And that’s all I have to say about that.
25. Tulsa (2-0): For some reason, Sagarin has their SOS higher than Florida’s so far. Amusing but sad.
Also considered but mostly rejected for pathetic early scheduling: Baylor, Miami-FL, TCU, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas A&M, Florida, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Arizona State, Boston College, Kansas
1) Surprised that UCLA beat Tennessee in Knoxville. Was talking to a friend on Saturday about Monte Kiffin, and I said that I felt he’d be the kind of guy to really build a scheme to smother Tebow when the time came. But if he and his son can’t even beat the bRuins …;
2) Impressed with USC’s defense, considering the personnel losses and the ridiculous field position Ohio State had for so much of that game. I think the Trojans have solved the mobile QB problem that cost them the 2005 AP title;
3) The freshmen QBs impressed me, too. Interesting to think that Forcier wasn’t on USC’s radar, because of his skill set, and that Barkley wouldn’t have been on Michigan’s radar, etc. Be fun to see them play against each other someday in a Rose Bowl, perhaps, but Michigan’s defense leaves a lot to be desired;
4) I have no idea why voters reward Florida for scheduling so poorly. The Gators should be traveling to take on real programs, and I don’t buy the crap about FSU and Miami, since Florida easily has the upper hand on those teams right now. Scheduling them and claiming SOS is laughable; with at least half the SEC a borderline joke this season, Florida still is getting sucked off by the media.
Rankings:
1. USC (2-0): Easily the best victory any team can claim this year, as BYU beat a depleted OU team on the road. The Trojans took the best tOSU had to offer, and they still won playing a true freshman on the road (see Michigan below). That was an ugly game, but the Trojans found a win to win it, SEC-style even.
2. BYU (2-0): Assuming they roll FSU in Provo this next week, the Coogs also get TCU and Utah at home later. It was refreshing to see ESPN TV guys pimping BYU’s title game chances if they run the table. Finally, some common sense prevails.
3. Alabama (2-0): Little Nicky might have the horses this year to win the SEC. I really am liking this team a lot already this season. And that’s a little unsettling for me.
4. LSU (2-0): Yeah, the SEC isn’t all that great from top to bottom, but at least LSU has some cojones.
5. Boise State (12-0): I know it’s very early to ponder this, but say both BYU and Boise State go undefeated, and no BCS team finishes undefeated. Does Boise State-BYU sell any tickets for an alleged “title” game? I mean, I’d go, and you know both these teams travel well, but … wow. Talk about anarchy in the U.S.
6. UCLA (2-0): Do I think they’re this good? No, but they did win a big game (for them) in a very hostile environment. That gives them some love this week.
7. Minnesota (2-0): The Golden Gophs as the Big Ten’s best team right now? Maybe, based on actual results this season and this season only.
8. Wisconsin (2-0): No, they’re not this good, but again, it’s early, and Fresno State is better than a lot of the cream puffs other teams have played at home.
9. Michigan (2-0): I really enjoy watching Tate Forcier play QB. Kid’s got moxie. But Rich-Rod, your eally need to get BOTH Forcier and Denard on the field at the SAME TIME. You can’t leave Denard rotting on the bench, and rotating QBs killed a lot of Forcier’s rhythm Saturday, almost to the point it could have cost you the game (oh but wait, you were coaching against Charlie Weis – my mistakes, for he’s even dumber than you are!). Figure it out quick, and you’ll have the best offense in the Big Ten.
10. Missouri (2-0): Maybe that win over Illinois is more impressive than we thought.
11. Georgia Tech (2-0): I really like watching the triple option. It’s cool.
12. North Carolina (2-0): Going on the road and winning like THAT is pretty funny. But at least they had the balls to schedule a road game against a BCS team.
13. California (2-0): Jahvid Best is averaging more than 10 yards a carry, I think. He’s going to New York in December, and he might just take the cake away from the QB parade. Pure talent.
14. Utah (2-0): They just keep winning, don’t they?
15. Houston (2-0): Okay, so Okie State was obviously overrated. And I can’t get forget Andre Ware or the Klingler Boys. But, hey, that was a nice win.
16. Iowa (2-0): Maybe I like Kirk Ferentz too much.
17. Arizona (2-0): That win over Central Michigan looks more impressive now.
18. Penn State (2-0): Two lackluster wins, but wins nonetheless – and one over a BCS team, albeit one with Greg Paulus half-running the show.
19. Oregon State (2-0): I bet USC is happy they don’t have to go to Corvallis this year. But come on, if they can win in Columbus …
20. Texas (2-0): When I was growing up, we used to drive to Laramie a lot just for kicks. Really.
21. South Florida (2-0): For some reason, I really want to see them do well. Still not sure why.
22. Auburn (2-0): Tony Franklin, eat your heart out.
23. West Virginia (2-0): Wouldn’t it be great to see them play Michigan in a bowl game?
24. Nebraska (2-0): I hate it when a favorite shirt starts fraying around the edges and you can’t wear it anymore. The girl I lost my virginity with went to Nebraska. And that’s all I have to say about that.
25. Tulsa (2-0): For some reason, Sagarin has their SOS higher than Florida’s so far. Amusing but sad.
Also considered but mostly rejected for pathetic early scheduling: Baylor, Miami-FL, TCU, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas A&M, Florida, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Arizona State, Boston College, Kansas
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: September 8, 2009
Thoughts:
1) These are the most meaningless rankings of the year;
2) There's not a lot to go on, since many teams scheduled weaklings and didn't play "full" games;
3) Some teams were obviously rewarded for playing better opponents during this first weekend of the season;
4) Oklahoma was overrated last year, as pointed out here repeatedly. I feel somewhat smug seeing them go down early this year.
Rankings:
1. USC: They threw in a true freshman QB against Dick Tomey, and they rolled. The Trojans may be the best second-quarter team in the country, year-after-year. They seem to feel out their opponents in the first quarter before basically stepping on the turbo in the second quarter. By halftime, you're often cooked and done. Just ask Penn State.
2. Texas: They must now guard against complacency, knowing Oklahoma already lost more than just a game.
3. California: The running back looked good, as did the QB. I was wondering if the RB would be overrated and the QB could do it. Questions answered.
4. Florida: Not sure they should be this high after playing Charleston, but whatever.
5. Alabama: This team looked better on Saturday than they looked at any point in 2008 to me. I think they could make a serious run for the SEC title.
6. Boise State: Did Oregon suck or was Boise that good? Hard to tell and probably a bit of both.
7. LSU: Yes, the SEC is a solid conference. The SEC West is going to be nasty this year.
8. Ohio State: Bullet dodged, and you're never in good shape after playing the triple option. I wonder how the defensive line feels right now. Ouch.
9. Missouri: I expected Illinois to be better, but maybe Missouri is really good?
10. Oklahoma State: Perhaps they should be higher than Florida for beating a real team, but ...
11. BYU: It's easier to beat a team when their Heisman QB gets hurt and has to leave the game.
12. Penn State: The Big Ten isn't that bad.
13. Cincinnati: I thought Rutgers would be better, but maybe Cincy is just this good.
14. Nebraska: You know, the Big XII North may have a strong season this year.
15. Boston College: Their consistency will continue in 2009, despite the coaching change.
16. Miami-FL: I didn't the game was that great, and FSU lost it more than Miami won it.
17. Clemson: They have an interesting defensive challenge this week, no?
18. Utah: Nation's longest winning streak reaches 15 games. Have to respect that.
19. Tennessee: Yes, I believe in the Kiffins.
20. South Carolina: Ugly game of the week was also the first game of the season. See Miami-FL note above.
21. Texas Tech: The offense keeps on rolling. Crabtree Harrell who?
22. Auburn: I wonder if there is a more infuriating team to its fans in the country.
23. Oregon State: Fear the Beav.
24. Notre Dame: Sure, it was just Nevada, but the defense looked good, too. I suspect whichever team wins next week (Notre Dame vs. Michigan) will be overrated, though.
25. South Florida: Might be a Big East sleeper, but we'll see how they handle success this time around.
Others: Michigan, Mississippi, West Virginia, Arizona, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Michigan State
1) These are the most meaningless rankings of the year;
2) There's not a lot to go on, since many teams scheduled weaklings and didn't play "full" games;
3) Some teams were obviously rewarded for playing better opponents during this first weekend of the season;
4) Oklahoma was overrated last year, as pointed out here repeatedly. I feel somewhat smug seeing them go down early this year.
Rankings:
1. USC: They threw in a true freshman QB against Dick Tomey, and they rolled. The Trojans may be the best second-quarter team in the country, year-after-year. They seem to feel out their opponents in the first quarter before basically stepping on the turbo in the second quarter. By halftime, you're often cooked and done. Just ask Penn State.
2. Texas: They must now guard against complacency, knowing Oklahoma already lost more than just a game.
3. California: The running back looked good, as did the QB. I was wondering if the RB would be overrated and the QB could do it. Questions answered.
4. Florida: Not sure they should be this high after playing Charleston, but whatever.
5. Alabama: This team looked better on Saturday than they looked at any point in 2008 to me. I think they could make a serious run for the SEC title.
6. Boise State: Did Oregon suck or was Boise that good? Hard to tell and probably a bit of both.
7. LSU: Yes, the SEC is a solid conference. The SEC West is going to be nasty this year.
8. Ohio State: Bullet dodged, and you're never in good shape after playing the triple option. I wonder how the defensive line feels right now. Ouch.
9. Missouri: I expected Illinois to be better, but maybe Missouri is really good?
10. Oklahoma State: Perhaps they should be higher than Florida for beating a real team, but ...
11. BYU: It's easier to beat a team when their Heisman QB gets hurt and has to leave the game.
12. Penn State: The Big Ten isn't that bad.
13. Cincinnati: I thought Rutgers would be better, but maybe Cincy is just this good.
14. Nebraska: You know, the Big XII North may have a strong season this year.
15. Boston College: Their consistency will continue in 2009, despite the coaching change.
16. Miami-FL: I didn't the game was that great, and FSU lost it more than Miami won it.
17. Clemson: They have an interesting defensive challenge this week, no?
18. Utah: Nation's longest winning streak reaches 15 games. Have to respect that.
19. Tennessee: Yes, I believe in the Kiffins.
20. South Carolina: Ugly game of the week was also the first game of the season. See Miami-FL note above.
21. Texas Tech: The offense keeps on rolling. Crabtree Harrell who?
22. Auburn: I wonder if there is a more infuriating team to its fans in the country.
23. Oregon State: Fear the Beav.
24. Notre Dame: Sure, it was just Nevada, but the defense looked good, too. I suspect whichever team wins next week (Notre Dame vs. Michigan) will be overrated, though.
25. South Florida: Might be a Big East sleeper, but we'll see how they handle success this time around.
Others: Michigan, Mississippi, West Virginia, Arizona, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Michigan State
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
On haitus until Fall 2009
In the meantime, check out my off-season exploration of who I would have selected as the Heisman Trophy winner in college football over the last 70+ years:
http://mchypesmantrophy.blogspot.com/
Starting on June 1, I will re-award every Heisman Trophy from 1935 to 2008.
http://mchypesmantrophy.blogspot.com/
Starting on June 1, I will re-award every Heisman Trophy from 1935 to 2008.
Friday, January 9, 2009
McMisanthrope's Top 25: January 9, 2009
Thoughts:
1. There's not a lot to say here. The bowl games are key factors in determining where to place teams in the final rankings.
2. I am not trying to claim MY rankings are absolute. That's the BCS's job, and it's amazing how many stupid people they are in the world who eat it up.
3. There's not much separating the top four teams.
4. I'm glad this season is over. Maybe by next season, President Obama will have eliminated the BCS.
Rankings:
1. Utah (13-0): They never lost. They scheduled big boys, and they beat the big boys. They played a big boy in the bowl game, and they beat the big boy in a bowl game in the big boy's own backyard. Nothing else to say.
2. Texas (12-1): I'm paraphrasing this line, but the Longhorns also beat the Sooners by ten points on a neutral field. And their only loss was on the road to a 12-2 team, which trumps Florida's HOME loss to a four-loss team. It's a shame how the Longhorns were f**ked by the BCS this year, but maybe it's payback for 2004. I believe in karma.
3. USC (12-1): You've heard it before, and I'll repeat it again, because it's worth reading again. This is the team of the decade, with seven straight BCS bowls and seasons with 11+ wins. The Pac-10 is traditionally ignored by the national media, who seems to think USC has a higher threshold than everyone else. But a loss in Week 3 ending USC's season? It did, although Florida lost in the same way on the same weekend to a lesser team at home. No common sense there at all. USC had, BY FAR, the most dominating bowl performance, beating an 11-1 BCS conference champion to the tune of 31-7 at halftime. No one, including Utah, would beat this team in a January bowl game. It's just silly how the media finds a new reason every year to ignore the Trojans. But history will demonstrate the dominance of this program to be on par with 1950s Oklahoma: the two best dynasties in modern college football history. Just for the record, the only reason USC is behind Texas is because the Longhorns had a "better" loss. Otherwise, these two teams were pretty even in my analysis.
4. Florida (13-1): They lost to a 9-4 team at home. Nothing else to say. Easily the worst loss of any of the top-four teams. They also scheduled The Citadel, easily the worst OOC choice of any of the top-four. They didn't dominate any good teams this year, needing to come from behind to beat Alabama and needing to break a fourth-quarter tie against Oklahoma. They were media darlings, nothing more. Sorry, but I'm not drinking the SEC Kool-Aid. Florida is another BCS "champ" with an asterisk and a hollow claim: in 11 years, we only have four legitimate champs (FSU in 1999, tOSU in 2002, USC in 2004, Texas in 2005). The rest are all controversial and somewhat meaningless. Oh, did I mention that Florida only had three wins over 10-win teams? And five wins against seven-win teams? That schedule isn't all it was cracked up to be.
5. Boise State (12-1): They sure missed a lot of opportunities in their bowl game to win and add more fuel to the debate. But losing by a point to TCU brings no shame.
6. TCU (11-2): They had the best bowl win of the season, since no other school can claim they beat an undefeated team in their bowl game, can they?
7. Oklahoma (12-2): I've never understood why teams try to power they way through on fourth-and-short. Spread the formation and run that way; you have a better chance that way. Regardless, Stoops got what he deserved. He's classless.
8. Alabama (12-2): Sad finish to an otherwise impressive season. Sure, they were never really as good as that 12-0 record suggested, and we all knew Florida would beat them. But they gave Florida a bigger fight than we expected.
9. Penn State (11-2): Like most teams in January playing USC, they got their asses handed to them. This is why the SEC won't play USC in January. But the Nits were one point from playing in the title game. So close, yet so far away.
10. Texas Tech (11-2): Worst bowl loss of any of the Top 10 teams, for sure. But like Kansas State playing in the 1998 Alamo Bowl, do you think the Red Raiders even cared? Their season ended the minute Bob Stoops ran up the score on them.
11. Ball State (12-2): Well, they sure laid eggs at the end, didn't they? Their season mirrors Alabama's somewhat.
12. Oregon (10-3): The Pac-10 is weak, right? It's funny how the "experts" can revise their Big XII appraisals in order to suck off Florida, but they won't revise their Pac-10 appraisals to suck off USC. The Pac-10 was the best conference in bowl season, period. Little good it did USC, since everyone wrote off the Trojans in September. The arbitrary and selective deductions made by "experts" to promote the BCS just reeks. Why do people believe it?
13. Georgia (10-3): Weird how this team was everyone's "darling" after their finish last year. They struggled to win their bowl game, too, pulling it out late in the fourth quarter against a really overrated Michigan State team. This team never could win when it mattered, could they? NFL buyers of Matthew Stafford, beware.
14. Ohio State (10-3): No shame in losing their bowl game. They played better as the season went on, and if it wasn't for USC, maybe they'd have run the table again. They probably will for the next three years, so be prepared.
15t. Tulsa (11-3): Nice finish to their season, RUTSing it up on Ball State.
15t. Rice (10-3): Quietest ten-win season ever? Perhaps.
17. Cincinnati (11-3): Nice season for a team no one would have expected to win the Big East.
18. BYU (10-3): The Cougars are not as bad as their bowl loss indicates, but that was a bad effort.
19. Oregon State (9-4): Bowl wins of the 3-0 variety are never pretty, but good teams find a way to win no matter what the circumstances. Consider they played their last three games without their best player, and maybe this team wins the Rose Bowl. Two years in a row a team from Oregon gets snake-bit by injuries.
20. California (9-4): Yeah, the Pac-10 sucks, right? Whatever.
21. Florida State (9-4): Plastered a bad Big Ten team in their bowl game. Ho hum.
22. Virginia Tech (10-4): Quietly, they've become the class of the ACC.
23. Missouri (10-4): Quietly good season, in light of all the love sent to the Big XII South.
24. Iowa (9-4): If there had been a big tournament for the football title, like there is in basketball, who would have wanted to draw Iowa in the first round? Didn't think so.
25. West Virginia (9-4): This is a nod to Pat White. College football will miss you. You're better than Tebow, that's for sure.
Teams also receiving consideration: Mississippi, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Western Michigan
1. There's not a lot to say here. The bowl games are key factors in determining where to place teams in the final rankings.
2. I am not trying to claim MY rankings are absolute. That's the BCS's job, and it's amazing how many stupid people they are in the world who eat it up.
3. There's not much separating the top four teams.
4. I'm glad this season is over. Maybe by next season, President Obama will have eliminated the BCS.
Rankings:
1. Utah (13-0): They never lost. They scheduled big boys, and they beat the big boys. They played a big boy in the bowl game, and they beat the big boy in a bowl game in the big boy's own backyard. Nothing else to say.
2. Texas (12-1): I'm paraphrasing this line, but the Longhorns also beat the Sooners by ten points on a neutral field. And their only loss was on the road to a 12-2 team, which trumps Florida's HOME loss to a four-loss team. It's a shame how the Longhorns were f**ked by the BCS this year, but maybe it's payback for 2004. I believe in karma.
3. USC (12-1): You've heard it before, and I'll repeat it again, because it's worth reading again. This is the team of the decade, with seven straight BCS bowls and seasons with 11+ wins. The Pac-10 is traditionally ignored by the national media, who seems to think USC has a higher threshold than everyone else. But a loss in Week 3 ending USC's season? It did, although Florida lost in the same way on the same weekend to a lesser team at home. No common sense there at all. USC had, BY FAR, the most dominating bowl performance, beating an 11-1 BCS conference champion to the tune of 31-7 at halftime. No one, including Utah, would beat this team in a January bowl game. It's just silly how the media finds a new reason every year to ignore the Trojans. But history will demonstrate the dominance of this program to be on par with 1950s Oklahoma: the two best dynasties in modern college football history. Just for the record, the only reason USC is behind Texas is because the Longhorns had a "better" loss. Otherwise, these two teams were pretty even in my analysis.
4. Florida (13-1): They lost to a 9-4 team at home. Nothing else to say. Easily the worst loss of any of the top-four teams. They also scheduled The Citadel, easily the worst OOC choice of any of the top-four. They didn't dominate any good teams this year, needing to come from behind to beat Alabama and needing to break a fourth-quarter tie against Oklahoma. They were media darlings, nothing more. Sorry, but I'm not drinking the SEC Kool-Aid. Florida is another BCS "champ" with an asterisk and a hollow claim: in 11 years, we only have four legitimate champs (FSU in 1999, tOSU in 2002, USC in 2004, Texas in 2005). The rest are all controversial and somewhat meaningless. Oh, did I mention that Florida only had three wins over 10-win teams? And five wins against seven-win teams? That schedule isn't all it was cracked up to be.
5. Boise State (12-1): They sure missed a lot of opportunities in their bowl game to win and add more fuel to the debate. But losing by a point to TCU brings no shame.
6. TCU (11-2): They had the best bowl win of the season, since no other school can claim they beat an undefeated team in their bowl game, can they?
7. Oklahoma (12-2): I've never understood why teams try to power they way through on fourth-and-short. Spread the formation and run that way; you have a better chance that way. Regardless, Stoops got what he deserved. He's classless.
8. Alabama (12-2): Sad finish to an otherwise impressive season. Sure, they were never really as good as that 12-0 record suggested, and we all knew Florida would beat them. But they gave Florida a bigger fight than we expected.
9. Penn State (11-2): Like most teams in January playing USC, they got their asses handed to them. This is why the SEC won't play USC in January. But the Nits were one point from playing in the title game. So close, yet so far away.
10. Texas Tech (11-2): Worst bowl loss of any of the Top 10 teams, for sure. But like Kansas State playing in the 1998 Alamo Bowl, do you think the Red Raiders even cared? Their season ended the minute Bob Stoops ran up the score on them.
11. Ball State (12-2): Well, they sure laid eggs at the end, didn't they? Their season mirrors Alabama's somewhat.
12. Oregon (10-3): The Pac-10 is weak, right? It's funny how the "experts" can revise their Big XII appraisals in order to suck off Florida, but they won't revise their Pac-10 appraisals to suck off USC. The Pac-10 was the best conference in bowl season, period. Little good it did USC, since everyone wrote off the Trojans in September. The arbitrary and selective deductions made by "experts" to promote the BCS just reeks. Why do people believe it?
13. Georgia (10-3): Weird how this team was everyone's "darling" after their finish last year. They struggled to win their bowl game, too, pulling it out late in the fourth quarter against a really overrated Michigan State team. This team never could win when it mattered, could they? NFL buyers of Matthew Stafford, beware.
14. Ohio State (10-3): No shame in losing their bowl game. They played better as the season went on, and if it wasn't for USC, maybe they'd have run the table again. They probably will for the next three years, so be prepared.
15t. Tulsa (11-3): Nice finish to their season, RUTSing it up on Ball State.
15t. Rice (10-3): Quietest ten-win season ever? Perhaps.
17. Cincinnati (11-3): Nice season for a team no one would have expected to win the Big East.
18. BYU (10-3): The Cougars are not as bad as their bowl loss indicates, but that was a bad effort.
19. Oregon State (9-4): Bowl wins of the 3-0 variety are never pretty, but good teams find a way to win no matter what the circumstances. Consider they played their last three games without their best player, and maybe this team wins the Rose Bowl. Two years in a row a team from Oregon gets snake-bit by injuries.
20. California (9-4): Yeah, the Pac-10 sucks, right? Whatever.
21. Florida State (9-4): Plastered a bad Big Ten team in their bowl game. Ho hum.
22. Virginia Tech (10-4): Quietly, they've become the class of the ACC.
23. Missouri (10-4): Quietly good season, in light of all the love sent to the Big XII South.
24. Iowa (9-4): If there had been a big tournament for the football title, like there is in basketball, who would have wanted to draw Iowa in the first round? Didn't think so.
25. West Virginia (9-4): This is a nod to Pat White. College football will miss you. You're better than Tebow, that's for sure.
Teams also receiving consideration: Mississippi, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Western Michigan
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