Saturday, September 25, 2010

My Top Ten- Week 5

1. Ohio State (4-0, @ Illinois)
2. Alabama (4-0, vs Florida)
3. Oregon (4-0, vs Stanford)
4. Boise State (3-0, @ New Mexico State)
5. Oklahoma (4-0, vs Texas in Dallas)
6. TCU (4-0, @ Colorado State)
7. Florida (4-0, @ Alabama)
8. Nebraska (4-0, Bye Week)
9. Wisconsin (4-0, @ Michigan State)
10. Stanford (4-0, @ Oregon)

Outside Looking In...
Utah (4-0)
Auburn (4-0)
Arizona (4-0)
LSU (4-0)
Iowa (3-1)

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Eastern Michigan Preview....

I refuse to break down this match up.

The Eagles haven't won a game since 2008, and OSU will shut them out on their way to a big victory over Eastern Michigan.

It will get ugly -- and boring -- early.

Prediction:

Ohio State- 52
E. Michigan- 0

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown 4

#1 Alabama (3-0) @ #10/11 Arkansas (3-0) -
I gotta tell you that I must've lit a spark under the Crimson Tide by having the Buckeyes ranked ahead of them from day one. I'm assuming that the average household reads this blog, especially every football player in America, so Bama must have seen that they were only ranked #2 to begin the year. They have looked very, very impressive so far en route to a 3-0 start. Their first road game is this weekend when they travel to Fayetteville to take on Heisman candidate QB Ryan Mallett and the red-hot Arkansas offense. I think this will be a game where Arkansas gets off to a great start only to see the Tide climb their way out of an early deficit to reclaim the lead. Then... here comes the UPSET. I like Mallett to lead another game winning drive against an SEC team to beat the Crimson Tide and send everyone into Razorback pandemonium (don't worry, they are no better than a 9-10 win team... but they are good enough to beat Alabama on a rainy day I think).

Alabama- 24
Arkansas- 27

#24/NR Oregon State (1-1) @ #3 Boise State (2-0) -
I'm going for broke here... you can't tell me that Oregon State doesn't have the talent to beat a top flight non-BCS school. They almost did, and quite frankly should have beaten TCU to begin the year. I am a big believer in what OSU can bring to the table, and I am picking the ill-guided upset this weekend. Sounds like a lot of upsets, but anything can happen.

Oregon State- 31
Boise State- 28

#21/22 West Virginia (3-0) @ #12/15 LSU (3-0) -
A Big East team visiting an SEC team sounds like manslaughter, but the Mountaineers have enough pieces to make sure that this thing doesn't get ugly. I like LSU's defense to save the day and ultimately give the Tigers the victory, but never count out the pesky big play combo of RB Noel Devine and WR Jock Sanders. West Virginia keeps is very close heading into the fourth quarter before two LSU touchdowns seal the deal.

West Virginia- 20
Louisiana St.- 34

Big Ten Rundown-

A very boring week of Big Ten football... the fun begins in October.

Eastern Michigan @ Ohio State- TBA
Austin Peay @ #10/11 Wisconsin- ...Badgers win.
Ball State @ #18 Iowa- ... Hawkeyes rebound and win.
Bowling Green @ #21/22 Michigan- Blue wins by more than 5.
Temple @ #20/23 Penn State- A close game; edge to PSU.
Northern Colorado @ #23/25 Michigan State- Sparty wins for their coach.
Central Michigan @ Northwestern- Close 1st half with 'Cats winning.
Akron @ Indiana- The Hoosiers light up the scoreboard.
Toledo @ Purdue- UPSET! I think Purdue will lose to Toledo on Saturday.
Northern Illinois @ Minnesota- The Gophers prevail.

My Top Ten- Week 4

1. Ohio State (3-0, vs Eastern Michigan)
2. Alabama (3-0, @ Arkansas)
3. Oregon (3-0, @ Arizona State)
4. Oklahoma (3-0, @ Cincinnati)
5. Texas (3-0, vs UCLA)
6. TCU (3-0, @ SMU)
7. Nebraska (3-0, vs South Dakota State)
8. Boise State (2-0, vs Oregon State)
9. Florida (3-0, vs Kentucky)
10. Wisconsin (3-0, vs Austin Peay)

Outside Looking In...

South Carolina (3-0)
Arkansas (3-0)
Utah (3-0)

Top two teams = impressive again. Not much of an argument there.

Oregon remains my third ranked team due to how explosive and dominant they have looked so far this season. They have also beaten teams like New Mexico and Portland State, so they have an opportunity to drop far once they play an angry Arizona State team on the road and then Stanford on October 2nd.

Oklahoma struggled against a lesser opponent for the second time this season, but how can you ignore the beat down of Florida State? They stay put for now.

Texas and TCU did what they had to do to stay put. TCU needs to take care of any opponent that is ranked lower than them (which is every team the rest of the season), while Texas proved it can win a tougher conference game on the road with a relatively younger team. Oklahoma vs Texas is in two weeks...

Nebraska is a good team, and we all need to get used to that fact. It has been awhile since the Cornhuskers were a legit BCS contender, but alas that is the truth of the matter. After playing South Dakota State and a bye week (might as well be two bye weeks), they have another road test against an upstart Kansas State team.

Boise State has a chance to move up in the polls -- maybe -- when they take on Oregon State Saturday in Idaho. Once they play OSU, they have no more viable opponents on their schedule. Even if they beat the Beavers, I would have to have a gun pointed to my head to even remotely condone the Boise State Broncos playing for a national championship. Sorry, it just doesn't make sense. They have a nice program, but they don't deserve a chance when they play Utah State and New Mexico State every year. Doesn't cut it with me.

Florida just doesn't look too good. Urban Meyer had QB Brantley take more snaps under center instead of the shotgun to prevent snap issues, yet the aforementioned mistakes still happened. Other than Demps, the "fastest player in college football" (I put that in quotes because I really haven't seen everyone run, so I have no idea if he really is or not...everyone seems to think so though), the offense has been pretty bad. They are a top ten team by plain unadulterated reputation at this point, but that will probably change once they play Alabama in two weeks.

Wisconsin is just along for the ride after Iowa lost last night to Arizona on the road. The Badgers won on a blocked extra point in the fourth quarter, so they have faced some adversity this season. They had to come back to beat UNLV on the road for a kickoff that was at 9:30 PM Madison time, then they barely beat Arizona State yesterday. What does this all mean? Well, they have found ways to win for one thing. Also, we don't know their true mettle yet against a big time opponent, although we know that they can prevail against sluggish starts against lesser teams. If they can go on the road in two weeks and beat Michigan State and enter the Ohio State game on October 16th undefeated, then that may be one of the games of the year in college football's young season.

Memo to Arkansas: if you beat Alabama, welcome to the top ten.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Game 3- #2 Ohio State (2-0) vs. Ohio Bobcats (1-1)

Where: Ohio Stadium
When: Noon EST
TV: Big Ten Network

Are we missing something here? First, in what usually a less-than-stellar opening game under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes committed murder in the Shoe on a Thursday night. Then the greatest miracle of them all happened: OSU outplayed their opponent in a big time game AND came out with a victory (an ass kicking is more like it). Again I ask: am I missing something? Aren't the undefeated Bucks in need of a game that shakes the foundations of the fan base and make every fan question Tressel's play calling and if Pryor really is a quarterback or not? This might be that game if history shows us anything.

The Ohio University Bobcats = a huge thorn in the side of the Buckeyes. In both 1999 and 2008, the last two meetings between the two in-state schools, OSU had to come back in order to beat OU in games that were sloppy, boring and quite frankly just terrible games to witness. OU features a senior QB in Boo Jackson that had quite a game against the Buckeyes in 2008 as a sophomore, yet has struggled as the full time starter this season. Boo has thrown four interceptions compared to only one touchdown, so don't expect fireworks from him on Saturday.
What can be expected is a team full of players that didn't get any offers to play for the Buckeyes to play aggressive, sound football for at least one half. I expect the Bobcats to keep this one close for awhile before the overall talent of the OSU roster takes over the game.

Pryor will have a nice day, but the running game will steal the show as both Boom Herron and Brandon Saine break off big plays and each score a touchdown. The defense will suffocate Mr. Boo and pressure him until he breaks to give Ohio State their third dominating win of the season. Some notable things to mention: OSU will NOT give up a special teams touchdown OR a big play, and I think this game will prove for the third week in a row that the Ohio State Buckeyes have the best defense in college football. Just my opinion.

Prediction:

Ohio State- 34
Ohio U- 7

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown 3

#9/10 Iowa (2-0) @ #18/24 Arizona (2-0) -
Well... here is your game of the week. It is arguably the most watered down week of the year in college football, but regardless we press on and appreciate being able to sit around and watch something other than baseball all day. This is a classic big time offense vs. big time defense match-up, and usually the defense prevails. That would go in favor of the Hawkeyes, and I am confident that they should be able to sneak away from Tucson with a win. QB Nick Foles will keep Zona in the game throughout, which opens the door for an upset. I'm going with the top ten Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa- 23
Arizona- 21

#8 Nebraska (2-0) @ Washington (1-1) -
Everyone on ESPN keeps saying how amazing and great Jake Locker is and how he could be the #1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. I'm sorry ahead of time for speaking out of place because I am far from having an eye for pro talent but I just don't see it. I am not the biggest Locker fan that you will meet this year, so you can see where I am going with this. If he represents Washington's only chance of winning this game, then it is safe to say that the Huskers will take the game. Too much defense and just enough offense out of Bo Pelini's confident bunch should do the trick.

Nebraska- 27
Washington- 20

Notre Dame (1-1) @ Michigan State (2-0) -
The hot pick in this game is to go with the Irish, who are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the other Team Up North. Good news for ND: Denard Robinson is playing in Ann Arbor this week, so they won't be torn up by a mobile quarterback. Other than that, I do not see many advantages for Notre Dame this week. MSU needs a win like this to continue the ego boost that coach Dantonio has been trying to instill since he took the job, and I think that he gets a victory here. Greg Jones and the rest of the Spartan defense will hold whoever is at QB for the Irish at bay en route to a close victory at home.

Notre Dame- 26
Mich State- 28

NOTE: This is a TERRIBLE week of big time games. Then again, mediocre football is better than having no football at all.

Big Ten Rundown-

#2 Ohio State vs Ohio- TBA
#9/10 Iowa @ Arizona- See Above
#11 Wisconsin (2-0) vs Arizona State- The Badgers won't let former Michigan QB beat them.
#20/22 Michigan (2-0) vs UMass- Denard will pad his one-man show stats then rest his feet.
#20/22 Penn State (1-1) vs Kent State- PSU should rebound for sure after an SEC beat down.
Michigan State (2-0) vs Notre Dame- See Above
Northwestern (2-0) @ Rice- Trap game for the 'Cats, but the Big Ten prevails vs. CUSA.
Purdue (1-1) vs Ball State- Look, Purdue isn't very good...but they still beat the Cardinals.
Illinois (1-1) vs Northern Illinois- I am very close to picking N. Illinois, but I just can't do it.
Indiana (1-0) @ Western Kentucky- The Hoosiers will rack up the points in this one.
Minnesota (1-1) vs #18/NR USC- As unimpressive as the Trojans have been, they should kill the lowly Gophers who almost certainly will finish last in the conference.

My Top Ten- Week 3

1. Ohio State (2-0, vs Ohio U.)
2. Alabama (2-0, @ Duke)
3. Oregon (2-0, vs Portland State)
4. Oklahoma (2-0, vs Air Force)
5. Texas (2-0, @ Texas Tech)
6. TCU (2-0, vs Baylor)
7. Boise State (1-0, @ Wyoming)
8. Iowa (2-0, @ Arizona)
9. Florida (2-0, @ Tennessee)
10. Nebraska (2-0, @ Washington)

Outside Looking In...

Wisconsin (2-0)
South Carolina (2-0)
LSU (2-0)

Two nice wins for Ohio State and Alabama cement the best teams in college football at the top of my polls. OSU essentially won 36-10, so lets assume that one was a laugher disguised as an interesting game. Bama handled PSU as they should have and looked pretty good doing it. They are an offensive machine for sure.

Oregon and Oklahoma... wow. I know that Oregon had to come back in order to blow out Tennessee but it was on the road and it looks like the Ducks are a team that will be in the national championship conversation throughout the year. Oh, and in the event that you haven't noticed it appears that Oklahoma is legit. I am leaning more and more toward the Sooners each day in their match up with Texas that is only a few weeks away.

TCU deserves to be ranked where they are, but what do we make of Boise State now? Their "huge" win in week one now seems irrelevant considering the Virginia Tech Hokies are now 0-2 following a loss to FCS team James Madison. Boise State's strength of schedule takes a massive hit, which voters will need to keep in mind come November and December.

Iowa, Florida and Nebraska are all in the same position to me. Iowa has looked good, but hasn't played anyone of note. Florida has looked extremely flaky yet we all know how talented and fast they are. Finally, there is Nebraska who I picked to be a dark horse national title contender at the beginning of the season. If the Huskers win on the road at Washington I should be able to give them a boost in the polls... depending on how the teams ahead of them fare.

A team that is still absent from my radar? The Michigan Wolverines. That defense may be slightly improved but it is FAR from good. Denard Robinson is the real deal working in Rich Rod's offense that helps athletes like DR thrive, but seriously listen to me when I say that you cannot jump on the bandwagon just yet. Wait until they get to their Big Ten schedule, because if you recall they started off 4-0, then 5-2 last year only to fall to a bowl-less 5-7 year with only one conference win. Ouch. Be patient with your emotions about this team until they've beaten a truly good team. The real test for this team: three straight weeks in October playing Michigan State, Iowa and then Penn State on the road. Let's talk about the Wolverines then, because we all know that they will be at least 4-1 and probably 5-0 before that stretch begins and the nation will be enamored with Robinson and the Wolverines.