Top 25 College Football New Rankings

By The Lion

1. Oregon – The first round of the College Football playoffs ended this weekend and while the results weren’t as crazy as I thought they’d be, we did get a lot of clarity shaking out from it all.  Oregon played Arizona tough, but you just felt like Arizona was in an uphill battle all game and eventually they were going to run out of gas.  That’s exactly what happened when Oregon started running away with it in the second half.  The Ducks are 11-0 with an extremely disappointing Oregon State next week.  Barring some sort of freakish set back, like an injury to their QB early in the game, the Ducks should destroy in-state Rival OSU and punch their ticket to the National Championship next weekend.

2. Wisconsin – A lot of people thought that Auburn should be here after taking out Alabama, and while I can’t argue with that logic, I still think Wisconsin deserves to be here.  Auburn made up some serious headway and if they take out South Carolina, lock up the SEC, and finish a perfect 13-0 undefeated season, they’ll likely jump a Wisconsin ball club that is now done with an 11-1 record, so don’t feel too sorry for them.  Getting back to the Badgers, these guys are one of the hottest teams in football, as well, and if Auburn or Oregon should fall, the Badgers and not TCU or Stanford should get a National Title shot.  These guys have one loss, to an 11-1 football team, have a top 10 opponent victory under their belt, and are utterly destroying everyone they’re playing down the stretch.  The Badgers hung 70+ on another team and have now scored about 200 points in their last three games, all versus Big Ten teams.  I’m not sure that’s ever been done in the history of the Conference.  They are averaging about 65 points per game during this period and I’m not sure there is a team in the nation that can stop or contain their rush game.  With the win over Northwestern, the Badgers secured a share of the Big Ten Title and a BCS berth, likely to the Rose Bowl.

3. Auburn – The Tigers are back to #3 from #5 with a huge win over Alabama.  I thought this one was going to get away early when they fell behind 21-0, but Cam “the massive scumbag (allegedly)” Newton, who is unquestionably the best College Football player in the nation, proved why, leading Auburn back in the face of insurmountable odds against one of the best Defenses in the SEC and the country.  Another huge story in this game was the utter collapse of the Alabama OL, which prevented the Offense from sustaining drives and keeping Newton on the sideline, but Newton gets the pub, the win, and the Tigers head into this one as a huge favorite for the SEC Championship.  I expect them to win, to jump an idle Wisconsin in our poll, and lock up a National Title berth with Oregon (which could be stripped from them anyway should Newton turn out to be the scumbag many are alleging him to be, which again, are simply allegations at this point.  Innocent until proven guilty and all that, but it doesn’t look good when the FBI is getting involved.)

4. Ohio State – The Buckeyes are hold steady at #4 after a commanding smashing that they delivered yet again to a hapless Wolverine ball club.  You have to believe this spells the end to Dickrod’s career at Michigan.  OSU fans would be saddened by his departure, especially since his replacement could be Jim Harbaugh, who appears to be one helluva Coach.  Either way, Michigan is a shell of it’s former self and feels like they’ve remained that way for some time.  With the lack of talent (outside of Denard Robinson) on that roster, it feels like they could be that way for awhile.  For OSU, a National Championship spot is pretty much impossible, but this win secured a 90% winning percentage for Tressel over Michigan, gave the Bucks an 11 win season, won a piece of the Conference Title, and all but secured a BCS berth as an at-large team.

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College Football Top 25 Update

By The Lion

This week, we were treated to some pretty bad football from the top tier teams, and the ramifications for such horrible play are going to be reflected in this poll.
 
1. Boise State – While everyone else was tap dancing around their competition this week, Boise went in and smashed Idaho just like they should.  While Idaho is not a very good team, which was noted, Boise did what they were supposed to against sub par competition while other teams at the top of this poll were jacking around playing down to the level of competition, almost like they were taking their poll ranking for granted.  For that, Boise should be rewarded.  When Oregon gets it together and doesn’t almost get beat by the likes of a .500 Cal program, maybe we’ll discuss them jumping Boise.  For now, the Broncos ascend to the top of the mountain.
 
2. Oregon – As mentioned before, Oregon needed a false start by a Kicker, which is something I’ve never seen before, to erase a chip shot FG off the board that would’ve won the game.  The next play, he misfired from five yards farther out and Oregon hung on.  Ultimately, the Offense didn’t show up, scoring just 7 points all game, which they basically erased by turning the ball over with a fumble that was run back for a TD.  Special teams decided this one and Oregon really deserved to lose.  The bottom line is that good teams find ways to win these kind of games, even if finding a way means rubbing a genie bottle on the sideline.  With Boise rolling and Oregon nearly choking, the penalty is a drop to #2 in the polls.
 
3. Wisconsin – Let the controversy begin.  The Badgers exploded this week, smashing Indiana and scoring a record setting 83 points against the Hoosiers in one of the largest Big Ten blowouts I’ve ever seen.  For a team known for pounding the ball down your throat, this win was impressive at a whole new level.  To think that Wisconsin, who only lost to a one loss Michigan State team, could be passed on a National Title shot for a team like TCU is a joke to me.  Especially after TCU’s performance this week.  Wisconsin is heating up down the stretch and if they can survive an upset bid by, I would have no trouble putting these guys in the top 2 or 3 in the nation at season’s end.
 
4. LSU – The controversy continues.  TCU and Auburn both drop, not only past Wisconsin, but also past LSU.  LSU played a second rate opponent, but they dispatched them in impressive fashion, winning with a 51 point victory that was also a dominating shutout.  LSU is another team that has really heated up down the stretch.  The unfortunate thing for them is that Auburn was able to beat them and holds a two game lead in the West, meaning Auburn is going to the SEC Title game to take on South Carolina.  For LSU, regardless of this top 5 ranking, if they can finish unblemished from here on out, they should easily lock up the other BCS slot from the SEC, probably replacing Auburn in the Sugar Bowl should Auburn win out.

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College Football Top 25 Update

By The Lion

1. Oregon – I thought long and hard about moving Boise State and TCU ahead of Oregon.  They both beat teams ranked in my poll.  The problem is that both Hawaii and Utah haven’t really beaten anyone of note this season.  They’ve kind of defaulted into their positions, which means the wins by Boise and TCU could’ve just been blowouts putting pretenders in their place.  Oregon, on the other hand, is rolling PAC-10 teams week in and week out.  If they have a rough half, they blow the doors off in the second half or vice versa.  Oregon is the best team in the nation right now.  They are too explosive for anyone left on their schedule and barring a shocker, they will play for the National Title.
 
2. Boise State – Boise and TCU had to get some love for their wins, but jumping Auburn and Oregon was a bit too much, so we just left it at jumping Auburn…for now.  Boise smashed Hawaii into oblivion and left no doubt who the better team was on the field.  While games like this are all Boise has left to showcase to voters, with a little luck it’ll be enough.
 
3. TCU – The Frogs also get to jump Auburn this week.  A blowout smashing over a Utah team I had ranked #11 going into that game was pretty impressive.  They dismantled the Utes in every facet of the game.  The only issue with this win is that Utah may not have been who we thought they were with squeaker wins over bad Pittsburgh and Air Force teams this season.

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College Football Top 25 Updated Rankings

By The Lion

1. Oregon – The Ducks solidified themselves atop the polls this week and at this point, you can’t really argue that anyone can compete with these guys.  You can run with them for 2 to 3 quarters, but in the end, that last quarter of two, they’re going to blow the doors off the place with that high tempo, fast paced, exhausting Offensive firepower.  I’m not sure that Arizona or Oregon State can take these guys down without a miracle happening, so right now, Oregon looks like the first team that could actually hold this #1 ranking for an extended period of time.

2. Auburn – The Tigers hop right over the Boise State Broncos in this poll, and they should.  9-0 in the SEC with a big win on the road against Ole Miss where they hung 50+ points again says a lot.  If there’s cause for concern, it would be the 3-5 Rebels putting up 31 of their own points.  That’s something that Auburn is going to have to lock down in the long run.  Either way, their level of competition has simply been better than Boise’s.

3. Boise State – Why shouldn’t Boise drop a bit?  Louisiana Tech is garbage and Boise gave up 20 points to them.  Granted, the Broncos wound up rolling by 29 points, but still.  That and some bye weeks for highly ranked teams are the primary reason that Boise didn’t risk getting jumped by another team.

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Deusche Bag David Fleming Thinks Jay Cutler Is Jeff George’s Clone

By Slams76

Dave Fleming is a deusche bag…and he proves it more than ever with his column last week claiming Bears QB Jay Cutler to Jeff George of yester year. A vast majority of the comparisons are a stretch to join together and in some cases not related at all. Basically what you have is two Quarterbacks who are from the state of Indiana with strong arms and don’t like giving interviews after losses… As a matter of fact, we could also include Rex Grossman, Ron Powlus, Jim Everett and Curtis Painter…

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College Football Top 25 Rankings Update

By The Lion

1. Boise State – Perhaps the biggest short term benefactor of this week’s crazy shakeup are the Boise State Broncos.  These guys dispatched another nobody this week, but because of losses to #1 and #3 in our poll, as well as a solid, but unspectacular win from #4 TCU and a bye week from #5 Oregon, nobody had the chops to jump them.  The result is Boise sitting atop the polls for the very first time and the third such change at #1 in as many weeks.  The Broncos shouldn’t get too comfortable because their schedule is garbage from here on out, especially with Nevada dropping a game they had no business losing this week.  We could see a new #1 again for the 4th straight week.

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Weekend Steam: Week 7 Picks

By Roger S. Kenny

OK, we are treading water this week… had our first losing weekend and followed it up with a stupid baseball bet… now it’s time to dial it up and see what shakes loose…

Boston College @ Florida State (-22 / 45.5)… Boston college has next to no offense, Uncle Dave is back at QB for the Eagles, but that isn’t going to change their terrible offensive line and running game. Memo to draft experts, someone show me where/why/how Costanzo is a first round pick. He will have his hands full with a fast and aggressive front seven for the Noles who I think will have a big day. I’m expecting a thirty point win by the ‘Noles as they make this a statement game.
Teaser: FSU -16 / Over 39.5 @ 200

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College Football Top 25 Update

By The Lion

1. Ohio State – The Buckeyes have finally found their way to #1 in the polls.  Alabama’s schedule was simply too difficult for any team to work through without a blemish.  Don’t be surprised if they drop another one.  As for the Buckeyes, the Miami win is suspect now that the Hurricanes were destroyed, and with Michigan and Penn State looking questionable at best, the remaining meat on Ohio State’s schedule consists of Wisconsin this weekend and Iowa toward the end of the season.  Because of that, the Bucks should be heavy favorites to ride it out.  There will be close calls along the way with some teams that OSU should destroy on paper and the Buckeyes have been banged up with injuries over the last couple weeks.  We’ll see if those injuries take their toll.

2. Boise State – The Broncos of Boise State really lack a tough competitor on the schedule from here on out, so they are the most likely team in College Football to run the table.  That, however, does not ensure a birth in the Title game.  With Va Tech and Oregon State each with a pair of losses already, and those two teams being the ones in which Boise was going to hang its hat from a strength of schedule standpoint, they’ve got problems long term.  30-50 point blowouts will have to come week in and week out without fail.  Simply winning will not be enough for the big stage.  Boise will not jump one loss major Conference teams and that will be their long term problem.  Blame the BCS, Boise fans.  The system is flawed, but it is also designed to keep you out of the game and it will likely not fail in that regard unless there are no one loss teams left to jump you.

3. Nebraska – These guys are simply outstanding. They had a hiccup two weeks ago with a narrow victory in a game they should have dominated, but every team will have those this season.  The goal is to make sure you win those games and then tweak what needs tweaking.  The Huskers have one of the most explosive QB’s in the country, but I’d like to see them get tested by a Defense that can match them athletically.  So far, the schedule has not allowed for that.  It will, starting this week, when Nebraska takes on preseason top 10 ranked Texas ball club, followed by two more games vs. ranked opponents in Oklahoma State and Missouri.  Run that gauntlet and the path to the Conference Title game and a date with Oklahoma could be their final hurdle.

4. TCU – The Horned Frogs did what they had to do last week with a blowout win over Wyoming by 45 points, but unfortunately for them, as will be the case all season, they will need that and a whole bunch of luck to work their way into the BCS Title game picture.  Like Boise, their best hope is either for across the board two loss teams, plus an upset of Boise, plus an undefeated season.  It seems the more likely course is maintain a top 5 ranking and hope to God that someone sees the merits in an undefeated TCU going to one of their BCS Bowl game venues.  The only way to do that is to just keep winning and hope everyone else just keeps losing.

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Notre Dame Football: At the Half Way

By Slams76

Well, we have seen a year go by since the fire Charlie cries were at their zenith… So let’s take a candid look at where we are, where we’re headed and what the future may hold for the irish…

First off the hiring of Brian Kelly was not a one year decision…interim is not found anywhere near his job title or description. The plan is for him to be the long term answer as the coach we have been searching for…However we have to ask ourselves…Is he the guy ??

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Weekend Steam: Week 6 Recap

By Roger S. Kenny

Well… Life as we know it is about to change. I had my first losing weekend and while we are still over $1,200 positive for the season (a 25% return in 6 weeks) someone decided to take their loses out on my face. He probably didn’t have the stomach to chase the over in last night’s game, and he probably gave up with only 9 points scored in the first half… But I never felt better about a game all weekend than I did about last night’s over, I just wish I had more ammo to throw at it…

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