TOUGHEST NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULES
When rating team schedules certain things impress me:
- BCS teams that still put together a tough slate even though their conference schedule will be no walk in the park.
- Teams that aren't afraid to travel.
- Non-BCS teams that know that if they want to be taken seriously they need to prove it on the field and schedule any and every challenger.
I found 2 teams that meet that mold and went far beyond most teams when putting together this seasons schedule.
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS
This is the non-BCS team that could show up in a big-time bowl this season if they take care of business on the field. The Bulldogs have put together a schedule that will quiet any skeptics from the big time conferences if they can finish 4-0. The schedule includes 2 trips across the country, 2 top 25 opponents and only 1 home game. The 1st month of the season look like this for Fresno State.
Sept 1 @ Rutgers
Sept 13 vs Wisconsin
Sept 20 @ Toledo
Sept 27 @ UCLA
Toledo is the only gimme of the group here and that may not even be a walkover. You never know how a team will react to playing a noon game after traveling across the country the day before.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Normally a BCS team coming off a 4-9 season would order up more cupcakes then Mark Mangino at a bake sale fund raiser, but that is not the case with the Huskies. Washington loaded up the slate for their 3 non-conference games this season. With 2 teams in the top 20, and 1 looking for a big bounce back season , this schedule won't make that seat any cooler for Huskies head coach, Tyrone Willingam. Here is a look at the Huskies non-conference schedule.
Sept 6 vs BYU
Sept 13 vs Oklahoma
Oct 25 vs Notre Dame
While the Huskies don't travel in these 3 games it is still unlikely they win any. Props for bringing in great teams for your fans to watch, but normally you would like to win at least 1 of them.
TOMORROW:
Teams that get a failing grade with their non-conference schedule
ONLY 26 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE SEASON!!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Coastal Carolina, Oregon St., Temple & Syracuse....I can only guess who makes tomorrow's list but it is probably deserved!
Penn St Steve
True Penn State has a rather weak schedule, but a PAC-10 team and a road trip to a Big East team save them. It is not their fault that both of those BCS teams are no good.
Post a Comment