Tuesday, September 20
The Road to Pasadena
The Horns finished off another perfect non conference season. Now if we can only stay perfect the rest of the day. There were three games on Saturday with BCS implications. And the three Florida beasts swept all three. Texas kept pace though with our drubbing of Rice. Here is how the race stands now.
Tier 1—The Favorites
1. USC—drilled a bad Arkansas team late in the afternoon. They stay atop the Top 25 rankings for another week, breaking a Miami record from three years back. Four of their next five are on the road, including at Arizona St. and at Notre Dame. They put up 70 on Arkansas but it won’t be a coast to remain undefeated.
2. Texas—Rice apparently issued a nolo contendre plea during the coin toss. We played anyway and look increasingly better. Just keep taking it one game at a time and we could easily be watching the Horns in the Rose Bowl.
3. LSU—another off week for the Tigers. So far a postponed game, a “home game” in Tempe, and an off week. They get a Tennessee team that couldn’t score on Florida in the second half. If this game is at night, the Vols have no chance.
4. Va Tech—another shutout for Frank Beamer’s club. The Hokies have outscored Duke and Ohio 90-0 in back to back weeks. Those teams are not good (does Virginia Tech ever schedule anyone good?), but shutouts against anyone in college football are impressive. Their first test comes this Saturday as Georgia Tech visits Blacksburg.
5. Louisville—started slow and then started running and gunning. At one point scored 42 unanswered. It is going to take a small miracle for this team not to run the table.
Tier 2—The Contenders
1. Florida—survived their first true test. The Florida / Tennessee winner usually plays for the SEC championship and this year shouldn’t be an exception. The Gators have three more SEC games before going to Baton Rouge. However, they may have lost two starters to injury for the season on Saturday.
2. Georgia—the Bulldogs found their offense against LA Monroe. Tests still await @ Tennessee and @ Ga Tech and Florida in Jacksonville. Don’t know how good this team really is yet.
3. Florida St—beat Boston College in the second half to check off second test of the season. Is FSU good or BC bad? I still question the Seminoles’ offense. The tied their defense with 14 points on Saturday. Should be 9-0 going into Clemson and Florida.
4. Purdue—beat Arizona by only a TD. They remain on the list for a little while longer. The Boilermakers have Notre Dame and Iowa in upcoming weeks. I predict a full blown exposure before November.
Tier 3—Need Help
1. Ohio St—stumbled out of the gate still shocked by the Texas loss. The Buckeyes are too good though: scoring 27 unanswered against San Diego St. They could easily be 9-1 going to Ann Arbor. Look for OSU to jump back into the title hunt as the SEC beats itself up.
2. Michigan—beat up on overmatched Eastern Michigan. Four of the Wolverines next six are on the road. Any loss would slam the door on long shot hopes.
3. Miami—simply refused to die in September. The Canes still don’t look like their championship teams of old. Five of the next six at home. Should be 7-1 when they visit Va Tech on Nov. 5th.
4. Tennessee—lost their ability to score in the Swamp (if they ever had that ability). Now they have to travel to LSU for the Tigers’ first home game of the year. This team could slide faster than the Sooners.
--AW--
Tier 1—The Favorites
1. USC—drilled a bad Arkansas team late in the afternoon. They stay atop the Top 25 rankings for another week, breaking a Miami record from three years back. Four of their next five are on the road, including at Arizona St. and at Notre Dame. They put up 70 on Arkansas but it won’t be a coast to remain undefeated.
2. Texas—Rice apparently issued a nolo contendre plea during the coin toss. We played anyway and look increasingly better. Just keep taking it one game at a time and we could easily be watching the Horns in the Rose Bowl.
3. LSU—another off week for the Tigers. So far a postponed game, a “home game” in Tempe, and an off week. They get a Tennessee team that couldn’t score on Florida in the second half. If this game is at night, the Vols have no chance.
4. Va Tech—another shutout for Frank Beamer’s club. The Hokies have outscored Duke and Ohio 90-0 in back to back weeks. Those teams are not good (does Virginia Tech ever schedule anyone good?), but shutouts against anyone in college football are impressive. Their first test comes this Saturday as Georgia Tech visits Blacksburg.
5. Louisville—started slow and then started running and gunning. At one point scored 42 unanswered. It is going to take a small miracle for this team not to run the table.
Tier 2—The Contenders
1. Florida—survived their first true test. The Florida / Tennessee winner usually plays for the SEC championship and this year shouldn’t be an exception. The Gators have three more SEC games before going to Baton Rouge. However, they may have lost two starters to injury for the season on Saturday.
2. Georgia—the Bulldogs found their offense against LA Monroe. Tests still await @ Tennessee and @ Ga Tech and Florida in Jacksonville. Don’t know how good this team really is yet.
3. Florida St—beat Boston College in the second half to check off second test of the season. Is FSU good or BC bad? I still question the Seminoles’ offense. The tied their defense with 14 points on Saturday. Should be 9-0 going into Clemson and Florida.
4. Purdue—beat Arizona by only a TD. They remain on the list for a little while longer. The Boilermakers have Notre Dame and Iowa in upcoming weeks. I predict a full blown exposure before November.
Tier 3—Need Help
1. Ohio St—stumbled out of the gate still shocked by the Texas loss. The Buckeyes are too good though: scoring 27 unanswered against San Diego St. They could easily be 9-1 going to Ann Arbor. Look for OSU to jump back into the title hunt as the SEC beats itself up.
2. Michigan—beat up on overmatched Eastern Michigan. Four of the Wolverines next six are on the road. Any loss would slam the door on long shot hopes.
3. Miami—simply refused to die in September. The Canes still don’t look like their championship teams of old. Five of the next six at home. Should be 7-1 when they visit Va Tech on Nov. 5th.
4. Tennessee—lost their ability to score in the Swamp (if they ever had that ability). Now they have to travel to LSU for the Tigers’ first home game of the year. This team could slide faster than the Sooners.
--AW--
