A collection of thoughts on the college football day that was. I really should have started this earlier, considering it's Monday. Gotta work on that next week...
#1 Oklahoma-49, Baylor-17
Oklahoma's a dang fine football team. Who, like many dang fine football teams, haven't played anyone of merit. I'm sorry, but beating Washington by 41 is about as easy as beating St. Mary's School for the Blind by 41. Except you don't feel quite as bad when you're done.
Next week's OU/Texas game will tell us a whole lot more about the Sooners. I'd say something about Baylor but, well, it's Baylor.
#2 Alabama-17, Kentucky-14
All I really get out of watching Alabama play is a kick out of hearing all 3 of John Parker Wilson's names. 3 name QBs bug the snot out of me. It's irritating! I mean, come on, pick a name! Nothing's wrong with John, nothing's wrong with Parker. Heck, nothing's wrong with Wilson! Just choose a name.
I suppose you'd like something resembling analysis. All I can really offer you is this: Kentucky didn't look that great, and this game's final is a heck of alot closer than the game really was. The only major mark against Alabama was the lack of offensive oomph. Though they did rush well. Here's something for you to chew on: the Tide had 282 yards rushing, the Wildcats had 35...
#4 Missouri-52, Nebraska-17
Sweet Georgia peach, Chase Daniel is amazing. I mean, seriously. The man (kid? How does one classify him?) went 18-for-23, had 253 yards, and tossed 3 TD's. In Lincoln! Admittedly, Nebraska is an extraordinarily underwhelming school, but Mizzou has an offense that looks dang near unstoppable. Again, the lack of major league competition provides us with little to work with, but that will change once they go to Texas in 2 weeks. (No offense to Oklahoma State, who the Tigers play next week. It's just that the Cowboy's claim to fame is a really angry coach with a newspaper, not any major victories in, y'know, football.)
As for Nebraska...the Huskers aren't gonna be winning any titles anytime soon. They're looking better this year, but the Days of Osborne Revival are still a few years into the future.
#5 Texas-38, Colorado-14
I'll be honest, I didn't watch this game. There's a commercial for QVC Christmas shopping on right now. It's October. This angers me. Oh, and Texas hasn't played anyone either. The OU/Texas game will be a really good barometer of how good the Big 12 really is. And Colorado isn't overly good. OK, moving on.
#6 Penn State-20, Purdue-6
Penn State's looked like a high-powered, high-class, unstoppable college football team in the Big 10 this year. Sounds a whole lot like the Ohio State team in 2006 and 2007. Call me in January before you crown JoePa king of anything more than Happy Valley. As for Purdue...did you know they were once a relevant football team? It's true! Fun trivia here on CFR.
#7 Texas Tech-58, Kansas State-28
Watching Texas Tech play football is unnerving. They are amazingly good at throwing the football. And the second they meet a team with a halfway decent secondary, they will look very, very bad. Because they have not played anyone (Do I sound like a broken record yet?). As a matter of fact, none of the ranked Big 12 teams have played anyone. I agree with the analysts that the Big 12 is one of the 2 power conferences, but this anemic nonconference schedule won't shut up naysayers until they actually beat someone. KSU's just bad. OK, let's move on.
#8 BYU-34, Utah State-14
Until the Cougars play Utah or get upset, you're getting the following review of all BYU games, regardless of outcome/score: "Utah is a boring state." You will also get this review for Utah games. There is no debating this decision.
#9 USC-44, #24 Oregon-10
Angry Trojans team playing at home against an Oregon squad that lacks a defense. Yeah, this one wasn't gonna be pretty. USC still has quite a bit to prove. They looked bad against Oregon State, and they need help to be relevant in the national title picture again. Fortunately for USC (unfortunately for those of us who HATE them), in the screwed up world that is college football, a loss in September is far better than a loss in November. Another loss in the PA(theti)C-10 will sink them. As for Oregon...lots of work to do on defense if they want to be considered contenders for anything in the near (or far) future.
#12 Florida-38, Arkansas-7
The Gators beat Arkansas. So has everyone else who's decent. The Razorbacks' wins consist of an ugly win over an FCS school, and a 1 point win over Louisiana-Monroe. Florida did bounce back well from the upset they suffered last week. One mark of a good team is how well they recover from an upset. Florida passed that test this week. Next week's LSU game is gonna be a big one.
#13 Auburn-13,#19 Vanderbilt-14
The cult of the spread offense has led to some bad decisions in recent years. One of the best examples happens to be Auburn. Auburn wasn't great last year, but they did know how to score. This new offense is taking time that the Tigers don't have this season. The 3-2 game is easy to point out, but there's also the sad victory over a pathetic Tennessee team last week. Auburn's got some issues, and they will not be making a major impact this season in the SEC. End of story.
Congrats, meanwhile, to Vanderbilt. They should still be undefeated when they play Georgia in a showdown 2 weeks from now that'll determine whether the 'Dores are contenders or pretenders.
#14 Ohio State-20, #18 Wisconsin-17
Thrillingly close game involving 2 ranked teams? There's not much I can say that'll add to this one. Especially since I'm writing this on Monday. Let me just say that both of these teams are probably ranked too high, but I appreciate a good football game, and the Badgers and Buckeyes did not disappoint.
(Missed this one on Thursday) #15 Utah-31, Oregon State 28
Utah is a boring state.
#16 Kansas-35, Iowa State-33
The Iowa State Cyclones are a horrible football team. They just are. Have been for a considerable period of time. They throw out a few upsets every now and again, but they're just not good on a regular basis. Kansas is not the 16th best team in the country. Losing to South Florida is bad, almost losing to Iowa State is worse. This Kansas squad has 4 of the teams currently in the top 10 remaining on its schedule. Good luck, Jayhawks, you're gonna need it.
#17 Boise State-38, Louisiana Tech-3
Does it make me a horrible blogger/sports fan that I simply do not care about this game? I mean, Boise State pulled off an upset for the ages in the '07 Fiesta Bowl. But the hideous blue turf (yes, it is hideous.) in a state famous for potatoes...Sorry, just doesn't do anything for me. The Fresno State game, however, will receive coverage on this blog. Until then, just expect the Boise State space to be filled with random musings like this one.
#20 Virginia Tech-27, Western Kentucky-13
The Hokies have emerged as favorites in the less-than-stellar ACC. Still, there's a lot of work to be done if Tech wants to avoid a second-straight BCS appearance and loss. Step one is improving the awful offense. Step two is learning to get up for games like this. Step 3 is now replacing an injured running back. I'm not sure what step four is, but if another step is added to this team's list of problems, you might want to pick someone else as the ACC champ in your office pool.
#21 Oklahoma State-56, Texas A&M-28
Another high scoring Big 12 game. In a conference packed with good schools, Texas A&M is lagging behind. The season opening loss to Arkansas State was bad. Getting doubled up on by a team that's probably the 4th best in the division doesn't bode well either. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have some work to do on defense, especially if they want to contain a guy named Chase Daniel next week.
#22 Fresno State-29, Hawaii-32 (OT)
Well, the talk of being a BCS hopeful in Fresno is gone. Now the time has come to spoil Boise State's party. It's about all the Bulldogs have left in the way of hope. Good job of not giving up by Hawai'i, who might just upset the Broncos before the Bulldogs get their shot
#24 UConn-12, UNC-38
UConn should not have been ranked. I'm sorry UNC fans, but you beat the second (or third) best team in a conference that's pretty dadgum bad. In defense of the Tar Heels, however, awesome job by Butch Davis and the rest of the Light Blue Crew on getting the job done this year. One (close) loss to Virginia Tech, coupled with an easy schedule should land the Heels in a bowl for the first time since 2004. They're already ranked, for crying out loud!
Everyone else: Looks like Duke remembered they were Duke this weekend...West Virginia beat Rutgers by 7, proving that Rutgers is worse than WVU, but the Mountaineers aren't the best team in the Big East anymore...I can't see a Kent State score without getting "Ohio" by CSNY stuck in my head. Is that bad?...UVa crushed Maryland, so congrats to the Cavs, but what the heck must Maryland have done wrong?...Ball State undefeated. Wow...Louisiana-Lafayette beat Louisiana-Monroe in the "Who's the worst team in the state? Bowl"...Florida International has won 2 straight games over D-I opponents. That's actually pretty cool...
And that's your Saturday in Review. See you next week!
#1 Oklahoma-49, Baylor-17
Oklahoma's a dang fine football team. Who, like many dang fine football teams, haven't played anyone of merit. I'm sorry, but beating Washington by 41 is about as easy as beating St. Mary's School for the Blind by 41. Except you don't feel quite as bad when you're done.
Next week's OU/Texas game will tell us a whole lot more about the Sooners. I'd say something about Baylor but, well, it's Baylor.
#2 Alabama-17, Kentucky-14
All I really get out of watching Alabama play is a kick out of hearing all 3 of John Parker Wilson's names. 3 name QBs bug the snot out of me. It's irritating! I mean, come on, pick a name! Nothing's wrong with John, nothing's wrong with Parker. Heck, nothing's wrong with Wilson! Just choose a name.
I suppose you'd like something resembling analysis. All I can really offer you is this: Kentucky didn't look that great, and this game's final is a heck of alot closer than the game really was. The only major mark against Alabama was the lack of offensive oomph. Though they did rush well. Here's something for you to chew on: the Tide had 282 yards rushing, the Wildcats had 35...
#4 Missouri-52, Nebraska-17
Sweet Georgia peach, Chase Daniel is amazing. I mean, seriously. The man (kid? How does one classify him?) went 18-for-23, had 253 yards, and tossed 3 TD's. In Lincoln! Admittedly, Nebraska is an extraordinarily underwhelming school, but Mizzou has an offense that looks dang near unstoppable. Again, the lack of major league competition provides us with little to work with, but that will change once they go to Texas in 2 weeks. (No offense to Oklahoma State, who the Tigers play next week. It's just that the Cowboy's claim to fame is a really angry coach with a newspaper, not any major victories in, y'know, football.)
As for Nebraska...the Huskers aren't gonna be winning any titles anytime soon. They're looking better this year, but the Days of Osborne Revival are still a few years into the future.
#5 Texas-38, Colorado-14
I'll be honest, I didn't watch this game. There's a commercial for QVC Christmas shopping on right now. It's October. This angers me. Oh, and Texas hasn't played anyone either. The OU/Texas game will be a really good barometer of how good the Big 12 really is. And Colorado isn't overly good. OK, moving on.
#6 Penn State-20, Purdue-6
Penn State's looked like a high-powered, high-class, unstoppable college football team in the Big 10 this year. Sounds a whole lot like the Ohio State team in 2006 and 2007. Call me in January before you crown JoePa king of anything more than Happy Valley. As for Purdue...did you know they were once a relevant football team? It's true! Fun trivia here on CFR.
#7 Texas Tech-58, Kansas State-28
Watching Texas Tech play football is unnerving. They are amazingly good at throwing the football. And the second they meet a team with a halfway decent secondary, they will look very, very bad. Because they have not played anyone (Do I sound like a broken record yet?). As a matter of fact, none of the ranked Big 12 teams have played anyone. I agree with the analysts that the Big 12 is one of the 2 power conferences, but this anemic nonconference schedule won't shut up naysayers until they actually beat someone. KSU's just bad. OK, let's move on.
#8 BYU-34, Utah State-14
Until the Cougars play Utah or get upset, you're getting the following review of all BYU games, regardless of outcome/score: "Utah is a boring state." You will also get this review for Utah games. There is no debating this decision.
#9 USC-44, #24 Oregon-10
Angry Trojans team playing at home against an Oregon squad that lacks a defense. Yeah, this one wasn't gonna be pretty. USC still has quite a bit to prove. They looked bad against Oregon State, and they need help to be relevant in the national title picture again. Fortunately for USC (unfortunately for those of us who HATE them), in the screwed up world that is college football, a loss in September is far better than a loss in November. Another loss in the PA(theti)C-10 will sink them. As for Oregon...lots of work to do on defense if they want to be considered contenders for anything in the near (or far) future.
#12 Florida-38, Arkansas-7
The Gators beat Arkansas. So has everyone else who's decent. The Razorbacks' wins consist of an ugly win over an FCS school, and a 1 point win over Louisiana-Monroe. Florida did bounce back well from the upset they suffered last week. One mark of a good team is how well they recover from an upset. Florida passed that test this week. Next week's LSU game is gonna be a big one.
#13 Auburn-13,#19 Vanderbilt-14
The cult of the spread offense has led to some bad decisions in recent years. One of the best examples happens to be Auburn. Auburn wasn't great last year, but they did know how to score. This new offense is taking time that the Tigers don't have this season. The 3-2 game is easy to point out, but there's also the sad victory over a pathetic Tennessee team last week. Auburn's got some issues, and they will not be making a major impact this season in the SEC. End of story.
Congrats, meanwhile, to Vanderbilt. They should still be undefeated when they play Georgia in a showdown 2 weeks from now that'll determine whether the 'Dores are contenders or pretenders.
#14 Ohio State-20, #18 Wisconsin-17
Thrillingly close game involving 2 ranked teams? There's not much I can say that'll add to this one. Especially since I'm writing this on Monday. Let me just say that both of these teams are probably ranked too high, but I appreciate a good football game, and the Badgers and Buckeyes did not disappoint.
(Missed this one on Thursday) #15 Utah-31, Oregon State 28
Utah is a boring state.
#16 Kansas-35, Iowa State-33
The Iowa State Cyclones are a horrible football team. They just are. Have been for a considerable period of time. They throw out a few upsets every now and again, but they're just not good on a regular basis. Kansas is not the 16th best team in the country. Losing to South Florida is bad, almost losing to Iowa State is worse. This Kansas squad has 4 of the teams currently in the top 10 remaining on its schedule. Good luck, Jayhawks, you're gonna need it.
#17 Boise State-38, Louisiana Tech-3
Does it make me a horrible blogger/sports fan that I simply do not care about this game? I mean, Boise State pulled off an upset for the ages in the '07 Fiesta Bowl. But the hideous blue turf (yes, it is hideous.) in a state famous for potatoes...Sorry, just doesn't do anything for me. The Fresno State game, however, will receive coverage on this blog. Until then, just expect the Boise State space to be filled with random musings like this one.
#20 Virginia Tech-27, Western Kentucky-13
The Hokies have emerged as favorites in the less-than-stellar ACC. Still, there's a lot of work to be done if Tech wants to avoid a second-straight BCS appearance and loss. Step one is improving the awful offense. Step two is learning to get up for games like this. Step 3 is now replacing an injured running back. I'm not sure what step four is, but if another step is added to this team's list of problems, you might want to pick someone else as the ACC champ in your office pool.
#21 Oklahoma State-56, Texas A&M-28
Another high scoring Big 12 game. In a conference packed with good schools, Texas A&M is lagging behind. The season opening loss to Arkansas State was bad. Getting doubled up on by a team that's probably the 4th best in the division doesn't bode well either. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have some work to do on defense, especially if they want to contain a guy named Chase Daniel next week.
#22 Fresno State-29, Hawaii-32 (OT)
Well, the talk of being a BCS hopeful in Fresno is gone. Now the time has come to spoil Boise State's party. It's about all the Bulldogs have left in the way of hope. Good job of not giving up by Hawai'i, who might just upset the Broncos before the Bulldogs get their shot
#24 UConn-12, UNC-38
UConn should not have been ranked. I'm sorry UNC fans, but you beat the second (or third) best team in a conference that's pretty dadgum bad. In defense of the Tar Heels, however, awesome job by Butch Davis and the rest of the Light Blue Crew on getting the job done this year. One (close) loss to Virginia Tech, coupled with an easy schedule should land the Heels in a bowl for the first time since 2004. They're already ranked, for crying out loud!
Everyone else: Looks like Duke remembered they were Duke this weekend...West Virginia beat Rutgers by 7, proving that Rutgers is worse than WVU, but the Mountaineers aren't the best team in the Big East anymore...I can't see a Kent State score without getting "Ohio" by CSNY stuck in my head. Is that bad?...UVa crushed Maryland, so congrats to the Cavs, but what the heck must Maryland have done wrong?...Ball State undefeated. Wow...Louisiana-Lafayette beat Louisiana-Monroe in the "Who's the worst team in the state? Bowl"...Florida International has won 2 straight games over D-I opponents. That's actually pretty cool...
And that's your Saturday in Review. See you next week!
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