T3R - Week 7

Okay, that is it. I am completely done with the video game offense hype that has been going around college football the past few years. I do not mind the scoring, but I want to see it backed up by some defense. I know that everyone loves the Big XII this year, but seriously guys, play some defense, PLEASE! Texas is the only team that ranks in the top 50 in the nation in total defense, and they rank 50th. When it comes to passing defense Colorado leads the way, they allow 215.33 yards per game and rank 73rd in the nation. That is right they rank 73rd of 119 team, but lead the Big XII in pass defense. By the way, USC and TCU both allow less TOTAL yards per game then Colorado does through the air. You will notice in this weeks rankings that I am taking a much closer look to see who plays defense and who just uses the time the defense is on the field as a rest period for the offense.

#1 FLORIDA GATORS (11-1)
LAST WEEK: 45-14 win @ Florida State
NEXT WEEK: Dec 6th vs #3 Alabama in SEC Title Game
Scoring Defense: 4th, 12.25 ppg
Total Defense: 7th, 275.67 ypg
The scary thing about this Florida team is that they are young. They have a total of ZERO starters on defense that are seniors. They showed last week that bad weather conditions would not slow down their offense. And nobody has found anything to slow down their defense. Up next, the fast surface of the Georgia Dome.

#2 TEXAS LONGHORNS (11-1)
LAST WEEK: 49-9 win vs Texas A&M
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETE
Scoring Defense: 21st, 18.58 ppg
Total Defense: 50th, 339.92 ypg
Texas does play a little bit of defense. They lead the nation with 3.67 sacks per game. They also have not allowed one opponent to score 40 or more against them this year. Yes, I realize that not allowing 40 points is not exactly great praise, but against these high-powered Big XII offenses that is pretty good. They have held seven of their 12 opponents to 14 points or less. That is impressive, no matter what conference you play in.

#3 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (12-0)
LAST WEEK: 36-0 win vs Auburn
NEXT WEEK: Dec 6th vs #1 Florida in SEC Title Game
Scoring Defense: 3rd, 11.5 ppg
Total Defense: 3rd, 248.5 ypg
Alabama leads the SEC in Total Defense, Scoring Defense and Rushing Defense. They rank second in Passing Defense. They are going to have to bring that plus more to stop the Gators on Saturday. At stake? A trip to Miami for the National Championship.

#4 SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS (10-1)
LAST WEEK: 38-3 win vs Notre Dame
NEXT WEEK: Dec 6th @ UCLA
Scoring Defense: 1st, 7.82 ppg
Total Defense: 1st, 210.55 ypg
USC has, without question, the best defense in the nation this year. This is probably the best Pete Carroll has had since taking over in LA. They manhandled Notre Dame last week holding them to nine yards in the entire first half and did not allow a first down until the last play of the 3rd quarter. I know that they play in the Pac-10 and those offenses are not as high-powered or dynamic and a lot of schools, but if you watch them you see how easily they are able to do it. I hope and pray that USC takes care of business this week against cross-town rival UCLA, because I cannot wait to see them line-up with Penn State in the Rose Bowl. Two of the best defenses in the nation, and each with a few play makers on offense too. I can’t wait!

#5 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (11-1)
LAST WEEK: 61-41 win @ Oklahoma State
NEXT WEEK: Dec 6th vs Missouri in BIG XII Title Game
Scoring Defense: 60th, 24.83 ppg
Total Defense: 66th, 359.5 ypg
I know that a few weeks ago that I was raving about how much I loved the Sooners offense, and I still do, but please start to play some defense! They are currently in the midst of seven straight games in which they have allowed at least 21 points. And they have allowed 31 in four of those games. Here is what is going to happen. OU will beat Missouri and play Florida or Alabama for the National Title. OU will get stopped a few times on offense and need a few stops on defense. Then what? Their defense can’t stop anyone. Bob Stoops who used to be a defensive guru is now running one of the most pathetic defensive units in the country, and his team is ranked 2nd? Please Bob, have your defense show up this week against Missouri. Win this game 28-20, it would do wonders for your teams reputation.

#6 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (11-1)
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETED
Scoring Defense: 6th, 12.42 ppg
Total Defense: 5th, 263.92 ypg
Penn State lost probably their best defensive player for the season when LB Sean Lee tore his knee during spring football. They then had a huge hole on their defensive line when suspensions and injuries hit the team. They still managed to lead the Big Ten in Rush Defense, Scoring Defense and Total Defense. As I mentioned before, it will be fu to watch them match-up with USC in the Rose Bowl.

#7 UTAH UTES (12-0)
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETED
Scoring Defense: 13th, 17.25 ppg
Total Defense: 18th, 295.92 ypg
Utah will be going to a BCS game once again this year and they did it with a little of everything, not just defense. The defense was what kept them in most games. The Utes did not win all shootouts like years past. They won twice in November when only scoring 13 points, why, the defense. Could be fun to watch them in the Fiesta Bowl with maybe Texas.

#8 BOISE STATE BRONCOS (12-0)
LAST WEEK: 61-0 win vs Fresno State
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETE
Scoring Defense: 4th, 12.25 ppg
Total Defense: 15th, 294.5 ypg
Boise State has kept 10 of their 12 opponents to 16 points or less. Now the Broncos have to hope for some love from the BCS Bowl Committees. By rule, the BCS must take a non-BCS conference team if they are in the top 12 in the BCS rankings. If more than one team meets this requirement the highest ranked is selected. Right now, that is Utah. There have been rumors that Boise State would be the at-large team chosen in either the Fiesta Bowl to meet up with other non-BCS team Utah, or in the Sugar Bowl to meet up with what will probably be the loser of the SEC Title Game on Saturday.

#9 the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES (10-2)
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETED
Scoring Defense: 7th, 13.08 ppg
Total Defense: 9th, 279.25 ypg
The Buckeyes just sit and wait right now. They could and probably will get into a BCS game as an at-large team, but if not, they would then go to Orlando for the Capital One Bowl. This is Ohio State’s worst possible nightmare. First, it would end a string of three straight years of making a BCS bowl. It would also match Ohio State up against the SEC conference for a third straight year, the previous two did not end kindly for the Buckeyes. In all likelihood Ohio State will be playing in the Sugar Bowl against the loser of the SEC Title game, which would once again put Ohio State versus an SEC opponent.

#10 TEXAS TECH RED RADIERS (11-1)
LAST WEEK: 35-28 win vs Baylor
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETE
Scoring Defense: 69th, 26.25 ppg
Total Defense: 71st, 371.58 ypg
As Forrest Gump once said, “That’s all I have to say about that.”

#11 CINCINNATI BEARCATS (10-2)
LAST WEEK: 30-10 win vs Syracuse
NEXT WEEK: Dec 6th @ Hawaii

#12 BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES (9-3)
LAST WEEK: 28-21 win vs Maryland

NEXT WEEK: Dec 6th vs #19 Virginia Tech in ACC Title Game

#13 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (9-3)
LAST WEEK: 45-42 win @ Georgia

REGULAR SEASON COMPLETE:

#14 BALL STATE CARDINALS (12-0)
LAST WEEK: 45-22 win vs Western Michigan
NEXT WEEK: Dec 5th vs Buffalo in MAC Title Game

#15 IOWA HAWKEYES (8-4)
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETED

#16 OREGON DUCKS (9-3)
LAST WEEK: 65-38 win vs Oregon State
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETE

#17 TCU HORNED FROGS (10-2)
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETED

#18 MISSISSIPPI REBELS (8-4)
LAST WEEK: 45-0 win vs Mississippi State

REGULAR SEASON COMPLETE

#19 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (8-4)
LAST WEEK: 17-14 win vs Virginia

NEXT WEEK: Dec 6th vs #12 Boston College in ACC Title Game

#20 PITT PANTHERS (8-3)
LAST WEEK: 19-15 win vs West Virginia

NEXT WEEK: Dec 6th @ UCONN