Weekly Thoughts and Predictions

*Which is more surprising, that Detroit Lions home game will be blacked out locally for the first time in seven years because the Lions game is not sold out, or that the people of Detroit have actually gone to see that team play on a regular basis loyally for seven straight seasons? I’m going with #2 on that one.

*The big game this week is once again being hosted in Texas, when Oklahoma State travels south to Austin. But the game that is getting all the hype and attention is Penn State at Ohio State. The hype and coverage of this game is a little surprising to me. Lets take a closer look at both of these teams to see if we can figure out what all the hype is about.

• PENN STATE:
  * Undefeated at 8-0, looking to go to 9-0 for the 10th time under Joe Paterno.
  * Ranked #3 in AP, Coaches and BCS, #4 in T3R
  * Offensive rankings nationally 11th in ypg (482.1), 10th in rushing ypg (234.6) and 7th in points per game (45.38)
  * Defensive rankings nationally 8th in ypg (263.25), 11th in passing ypg (159.4) and 6th in points allowed per game (11.8)
  * 4-0 in Big Ten outscoring opponents 152-54
  * 2-0 on the road, outscoring opponents 75-19
  * 0 games played against ranked teams
  * 2 wins against teams with winning records
  * 15-31 (.326 winning %) record of opponents vs other D1A teams
  * Strength of Schedule according to NCAA stats 100 of 119 D1A teams
• OHIO STATE:
  * One loss, five game winning streak, 7-1 for the season
  * Ranked #9 in BCS, #10 in AP, Coaches and T3R
  * Offensive rankings nationally 92nd in total offense (322.25), 108th passing ypg (140.13)
  * Defensive rankings nationally 10th in passing defense (97.63) and total defense (265.38), 12th in scoring defense (13.38 ppg)
  * 4-0 in Big ten outscoring opponents 115-48
  * 5-0 at home outscoring opponents 147-48
  * 2 games versus ranked opponents with a 1-1 record in those games
  * 3 wins against teams with winning records
  * 28-20 (.583 winning %) record of opponents vs other D1A teams
  * Strength of schedule according to NCAA stats 17 of 119 D1A teams
  

So, what is all the hype about? To me it looks like two overrated teams battling it out for bragging rights in a over rated conference this year. One team has not been challenged at all this year because it schedule is full of more crème puffs then a Crispy Crème. And the other team has a true freshman quarterback that is leading the 92nd best offense in the country.

Based on these numbers you would think that Penn State should have their way with the Buckeyes. The game is played in Columbus however, a place that Penn State has not won at since joining the Big Ten. Here is my prediction on this game: DISAPPOINTMENT! There is no way that this game will live up to all of this unwarranted hype.

One more thing about this game. This matches up the two teams with arguably the dumbest cheers. One school chants the first two letters of their state name and follows it by the last two, "O-H...I-O", thus helping people spell throughout the state I guess. And the other school reminds the each other who "We are...Penn State." Please someone make them stop!!!!

* Just when you thought that Texas Tech might be worthy of some respect in the college football world, head coach Mike Leach goes out and does this. Leach has reached out to Tech student, Matt Williams, who made a 30-yard kick between quarters of the Tech UMASS game Sept.30th and invited him to kick for the team. Let me remind you that Mike Leach is the head coach of the 13th ranked team in the country. Leach, who has watched his kickers miss 4 FG’s and 6 PAT’s, apparently sees something special in this kid. "I've seen that guy try one kick," said Leach. "But the difference between his and the others is that they barely got off the ground. His got up right away." Hey Coach, the kid used a tee! The ball tends to get up a little quicker with those!

* West Virginia seems to have gotten a little swagger back in its step after running up and down the field on the stingy Auburn defense last night. Noel Devine running for over 200 yards and a TD, and Pat White throwing 3 TD’s puts WVU right back atop all the Big East conference race talks. (By “all the Big East Conference race talks,” I mean between my friends and I, because no one nationally talks about the Big East.) The Tigers had been only giving up 13 ppg, so when they jumped out to a 17-3 lead midway through the 2nd quarter it looked like lights out in Morgantown. The Mountaineers offense came to life running for 271 yards. Auburn defense had been giving up a TOTAL of 272 ypg this year, and Devine and Co. ran for 271. Throw in the 174 that Pat White passed for and it was a long flight home for the Tigers.


On to the picks!!!!


THIS WEEKS PICKS:
4-0 last week before I missed my upset pick bye 30 some odd points. So for the week I finished 4-1 putting my season record to 29-11, not to shabby!

Alabama goes to Rocky Top and pushes Phil Fulmer closer to the edge, with a big win.

Oregon wins in Tempe vs Arizona State

Missouri gets back on the winning ways and beats up Colorado in Boulder

In a preview for the ACC Championship game, the Seminoles beat Va. Tech

LSU beats Georgia in what will REALLY be the best game of the day.

Wisconsin gets back on their winning ways and beats Illinois in an ugly battle between two of the most overrated teams this past preseason.

Kansas hands Texas Tech and rookie kicker their first loss of the year, there will be many more by the time the season ends.

Pitt in an ugly, defensive battle defeats Rutgers, pulling away in the 2nd half to win easily.

THE BIG GAME (oozing sarcasm) Ohio State does just enough to beat a stingy Penn State defense at the Horseshoe.

UPSET OF THE WEEK:
The Big East picture begins to get a little clearer as UCONN gets beat for the second week in a row, this time versus Cincinnati.

1st T3R HAS BEEN RELEASED

The first T3R (The Reitmeyer Rant Rankings) have been released for this football season.

With the BCS Rankings comes the 1st T3R of this college football season. These rankings are NOT based on records or how I think each team will finish, it is simply based on who I feel the best teams in college football are AT THIS MOMENT! Let’s get started!

#1 TEXAS LONGHORNS (7-0)

LAST WEEK: 56-31 win vs Missouri
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs #5 Oklahoma State
Texas is through two-thirds of probably the toughest stretch in any teams schedule. Wins vs Oklahoma, and Missouri are now behind them, with Oklahoma State the lone team standing in the way to sweep this 3-game stretch. The nice thing about these games was Texas never left the Lone Star State. If UT wins Saturday, regardless of a end of the season slip-up they should be playing for the National Title in Miami.

#2 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (6-1)

LAST WEEK: 45-31 win vs Kansas
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, @ Kansas State
Yeah, I know, the Sooners have a loss, that loss came to the best team in the nation. Considering Pittsburgh didn’t show the game locally because the decided to go with the exciting Big East Game of the Week of Cincinnati versus Rutgers instead, I would love to see these two teams face off again. Unfortunately they are in the same division of the Big XII, so the only way it could happen is if they play for the National Title. I’m cool with that!

#3 FLORIDA GATORS (5-1)

LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs Kentucky
The Gators got a wake-up calling losing to Ole Miss in the Swamp. They followed that up by dominating the game against LSU and control their own destiny in the SEC East with upcoming games with Georgia and Vanderbilt. The Gators are rolling now though and should handle those two games as well as the other four remaining games with ease.

#4 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (7-0)

LAST WEEK: 46-17 win vs Michigan
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, @ #10 the Ohio State University
I can’t get a read on Penn State. Their offense looks great, and their defense is all over the place, but they have not done it against one half decent team. I know the old saying, you can only beat who is on your schedule, but when you schedule cupcakes like Syracuse, Coastal Carolina, Temple and Oregon State for non-conference games then you have to deal with the criticism. Throw in the fact that the Big Ten is down this year AND the Lions miss two teams that are currently 6-1 due to the Big Ten scheduling rotation, the big question that comes up is, yes you are undefeated, but who have you beaten? Those six D1 teams that Penn State has played this season are a combined 15-31 against other D1 teams, with only Oregon State at 4-3 having a winning record. Three of the Lions final four games are against teams with winning records, two of those on the road. That should help clear up how good these Lions really are.

#5 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (7-0)

LAST WEEK: 34-6 win vs Baylor
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, @ #1 Texas
I became a believer when the Cowboys beat Missouri and shutdown the Chase Daniel Show. Now they can put themselves into the drivers seat with a win in Austin on Saturday. The game plan seems simply to slow down the Cowboys, shutdown WR Dez Bryant, but no one has been able to do it so far this year. Bryant has 45 catches for over 800 yards and 13 total TD’s. Okie State shutdown and Missouri can they now do it again against Colt McCoy and Co.?

#6 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (7-0)

LAST WEEK: 24-20 win vs Ole Miss
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, @ Tennessee
Alabama has done it with smoke and mirrors this season. This team is a lot like Penn State, because I can’t get a true reading on them. For big games they play big. For lesser teams they play down and that will get them eventually when you play in the SEC. They miss Florida and Vandy this year so the only real hurdle on the schedule is at LSU on November 13th they get past them and it is on to the SEC Title game where Florida will be waiting.

#7 SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS (5-1)

LAST WEEK: 69-0 win vs Washington State
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, @ Arizona State
Southern Cal had their annual Pac-10 stumble early on this season, which should allow them to be in perfect position to pounce at a title game chance given. The Trojans scored on their first six possessions and completely shut down the Washington State offense. It was the first time the Cougars were shut out in 280 games, dating back to 1984.

#8 LSU TIGERS (5-1)

LAST WEEK: 24-17 win @ South Carolina
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs #9 Georgia
I can’t get the drubbing that Florida gave the Tigers out of my head, but let’s look at the facts. They are 5-1. Their only loss came on the road to the #3 team in the nation. And, this team is young. They are still growing. Georgia will be a stiff test for the LSU this weekend and it will help me with next weeks rankings.

#9 GEORGIA BULLDOGS (6-1)

LAST WEEK: 24-14 vs Vanderbilt
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, @ #8 LSU
I can’t get the drubbing that Bama gave the UGA out of my head, but let’s look at the facts. They are 6-1. Their only loss came to the #6 team in the nation. Georgia will face a stiff test at LSU this weekend and it will help me with next weeks rankings.

#10 the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES (7-1)

LAST WEEK: 45-7 win @ Michigan State
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs #4 Penn State
The healthy Buckeyes FINALLY played like most expected they would this season on Saturday when they absolutely embarrassed Michigan State. Beanie Wells is healthy and Pryor is learning fast. If that spread option that Michigan ran gave Penn State trouble, wait and see how many points the Buckeyes put on the board. Saturday should be a fun one to watch!

#11 UTAH UTES (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 49-16 win vs Colorado State
NEXT WEEK: OFF

#12 BOISE STATE BRONCOS (6-0)
LAST WEEK: 27-7 win vs Hawaii
NEXT WEEK: Oct 24th, @ San Jose State

#13 TEXAS TECH RED RADIERS (7-0)
LAST WEEK: 43-25 win @ Texas A&M
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, @ Kansas

#14 TCU HORNED FROGS (7-1)
LAST WEEK: 32-7 win vs BYU
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs Wyoming

#15 PITT PANTHERS (5-1)
LAST WEEK: 42-21 win @ Navy
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs Rutgers

#16 MISSOURI TIGERS (5-2)
LAST WEEK: 56-31 loss @ Texas
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs Colorado

#17 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (6-1)
LAST WEEK: 21-17 win @ Clemson
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs Virginia

#18 SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS (6-1)
LAST WEEK: 45-13 win vs Syracuse
NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th @ Louisville

#19 TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE (7-0)
LAST WEEK: 77-35 win vs UTEP
NEXT WEEK: Oct 26th, vs UCF

#20 BALL STATE CARDINALS (7-0)
LAST WEEK: OFF

NEXT WEEK: Oct 25th, vs Easter Michigan