T3R WEEK 5

Sorry for the delay this week, I have been regretting recruiting my son to play quarterback for my team.

#1 TEXAS LONGHORNS (11-0, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: 51-0 win vs Kansas
NEXT GAME: Thursday @ Texas A&M
The Longhorns looked very solid against Kansas and now focus on a heated instate rival, the A&M Aggies. This is always a tough game, and the Aggies have actually won 2 of the past 3. Texas doesn’t need this weeks game to win the Big XII, but they do need to win it if they want to play in the National Title game.

#2 FLORIDA GATORS (11-0, 8-0)
LAST WEEK: 62-3 vs Florida International
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Florida State
When I was growing up this was the best rivalry in football. It was Bowden vs Spurrier and almost always had national title implications for both teams. That has not happened in a long time. Florida has won 5 straight in this rivalry and like Texas needs this win to stay in the National Title hunt.

#3 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (10-0, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: 45-0 vs Tennessee-Chattanooga
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Auburn
The Iron Bowl is a huge game in the state of Alabama. Auburn has a very good offense and could create some problems for the Tide if they can control the tempo of the game. There is nothing Tiger fans would like more than to be able to knock Bama from the National Title game. Of all the top teams playing rivalry games this week, I think this is the best possibility of an upset.

#4 CINCINNATI BEARCATS (10-0, 6-0)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT GAME: Fri vs Illinois
This is a tune-up for the Bearcats before the Big East Championship game in Pittsburgh on December 5th. Although, losing to Illinois would completely dash any outside chances the Bearcats have at playing in the National Title game.

#5 TCU HORNED FROGS (11-0, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: 45-10 win @ Wyoming
NEXT GAME: Sat vs New Mexico
TCU is completely destroying their opponents. The good news is that the Horned Frogs should be able to continue that and get style points by maybe putting up 100 on New Mexico (I’m dead serious that they could do that!). The bad news is that New Mexico is one of, if not THE worst team in D-1 football and even a huge win will hurt the Frogs in the computer rankings.

#6 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (10-1, 7-1)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT GAME: Sat vs Georgia
You have got to love the name of this rivalry game, by far the best and my favorite, Clean Old Fashioned Hate! What better way to describe a rivalry? Every rivalry game wants to say that, but this one actually does.

#7 PITT PANTHERS (9-1, 5-0)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT GAME: Fri @ WVU
The last time Pitt traveled to Morgantown for the Backyard Brawl (also a good rivalry name, although I may be a bit biased) the Panthers pulled of a stunning 13-9 upset that knocked WVU from the national title game (which they probably would have own against Ohio State) and started the downfall of their program (RichRod leaving). This year the Mountaineers get a chance to play spoiler to the Panthers great season.

#8 OREGON DUCKS (9-2, 7-1)
LAST WEEK: 44-41 2OT win @ Arizona
NEXT GAME: Thursday Dec 3rd vs #11 Oregon State
The Ducks won, but really struggled at times against the Wildcats. Regardless, a win is all they needed and after pulling off a great 4th quarter comeback they got the “W” in OT. Now they will play Oregon State in the Civil War for a spot in the Rose Bowl.

#9 the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES (10-2, 7-1)
LAST WEEK: 21-10 win @ Michigan
NEXT GAME: Rose Bowl
Michigan outplayed the Buckeyes in almost every phase of the game, but shot themselves in the foot repeatedly at terrible times in the game and even worse spots on the field. Ohio State forced and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a defensive TD and picked of Michigan at least two other times as the Wolverines were marching down field and in the Red Zone. A win is a win, but The Vest and crew will have to play better than that if they want to snap their BCS losing streak.

#10 BOISE STATE BRONCOS (11-0, 6-0)
LAST WEEK: 52-21 win @ Utah State
NEXT GAME: Fri vs Nevada
UPSET ALERT!!!!!! Nevada is good! The bad thing about this game is that it is being played on the Smurf Turf in Boise. Expect lots of scoring and lots of offense. Nevada leads the nation in rushing with an NCAA record before 3 players rushing for over 1000 in a season. They also have a terrible pass defense, and Boise has one of the top passing attacks in the country. The last time these two teams played in Boise it was a 69-67 final in 4 OT’s.

#11 OREGON STATE (8-3, 6-2)
LAST WEEK: 42-10 win @ Washington State
NEXT GAME: Thursday Dec 3rd @ #8 Oregon
The Beavers are peaking at the right time. With wins against Stanford and Cal under their belts already and winners of 4 straight and 6 of 7 (only loss was a 6 point loss @ USC) they are the hottest team in the Pac-10. It all comes down to one game on December 3rd against the rival Ducks for bragging rights and a trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.

#12 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (9-2, 6-1)
LAST WEEK: 31-28 win vs Colorado
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Oklahoma
This is first time in a long time that the Bedlam game has meant more to the Cowboys than the Sooners, but a win this weekend and the Cowboys could find themselves in the Fiesta Bowl as an at-large team.

#13 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (8-3, 5-3)
LAST WEEK: 34-28 win @ Stanford
NEXT GAME: Sat Dec 5th @ Washington
It was the first time in years since the Big Game actually meant something and both teams entered the game with 7+ wins. Cal dominated play in this one for the last three quarters of the game and have got to be kicking themselves for the way they played in that two week span earlier in the season when they lost to USC and Oregon by a combined 72-6. If that had not happened, Cal would be headed to the Rose Bowl.

#14 CLEMSON TIGERS (8-3, 6-2)
LAST WEEK: 34-21 win vs Virginia
NEXT GAME: Sat @ South Carolina
This has once again become a heated rivalry, which got even hotter last year when both team started swinging fists. Clemson just needs to avoid injuries in any extra curricular activities because they have an ACC title game to play for a spot in the Orange Bowl the following week.

#15 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (10-2, 6-2)
LAST WEEK: 42-14 win @ Michigan State
NEXT GAME: BOWL GAME
Penn State once again beat all the bad to average teams on their schedule and will once again go to a very nice bowl. Penn State is holding out hope for an at-large BCS bowl, which is about 50-50 at this point. Unfortunately for the Lions they won’t being playing one of those bad to average teams in a BCS bowl if they make it.

#16 MISSISSIPPI REBELS (8-3, 4-3)
LAST WEEK: 25-23 win vs LSU
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Mississippi State
This is the place the Rebels expected to be all season, but some early season struggles slowed them down. Now that Ole Miss has their offense playing at a high level and would certainly not be a team I would want to face in a bowl game.

#17 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (8-3, 4-3)
LAST WEEK: 31-13 win @ Boston College
NEXT GAME: Sat @ NC State
The tale of two seasons continues. The Tar Heels have losses to Virginia and Florida State, but wins over Miami, and Virginia Tech and Boston College on the road.

#18 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (8-3, 5-2)
LAST WEEK: 17-3 win vs Kansas State
NEXT GAME: Fri @ Colorado
The Nebraska black shirt defense is back and playing some dominant football. They have the style of physical defense that could give Texas a tough time in the Big XII Title game next week, but first they will have to deal with rival Colorado to close out the regular season.

#19 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (8-3, 5-2)
LAST WEEK: 38-10 win vs NC STATE
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Virginia
The Hokies were a big disappointment this season and still find themselves ranked in the top 20 as the regular season comes to a close. The defense, which was supposed to be a strong point didn’t show up in big games and the offense, which was suspected to struggle, did. Both of the Hokie conference losses were very winnable games and would have turned their season around if they would have won them.

#20 ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (7-4, 3-4)
LAST WEEK: 42-21 win vs Mississippi State
NEXT GAME: Sat @ LSU
Quick who is the best QB in the SEC? Nope, it is not Tim Tebow! It is Ryan Mallet, the former Michigan Wolverine. After a very shaky start Mallet and the Arkansas offense looks very good and will be a force in bowl season.

RANDOM RANTING

NOTRE DAME TO JOIN A CONFERENCE FOR FOOTBALL?

Much has been made over the years about Notre Dame’s affiliation with the Big East conference. In 1995, the conference allowed Notre Dame to join in all sports but football leaving them as an independent. Since that time rumors have swirled that the Big Ten would like to get Notre Dame to be its 12th team (they would probably still go by the Big Ten even with 12 teams considering all they did when Penn State joined was change the design of the logo). There has also been a strong push from Big East fans and schools to force them to join the conference in football, or to get rid of them altogether. Big East fans need to worry no more. After last Saturdays home loss to UCONN, Notre Dame officials have been told by the Big East that they are not welcome into their conference for football in fear it would hurt the conferences national perception. If you recall Temple was kicked out of the Big East in football because they could not compete at a high enough level, which seems to be the case with the Irish as well. Over the past two seasons, Notre Dame is 0-4 versus Big East teams with three of those losses coming in South Bend. Big East teams have been scheduling games recently with the Irish to try to get easy wins to help their win total in efforts to become bowl eligible. Here is a look at Big East teams with Notre Dame on their schedule trying to get easy wins:
Pitt – home and home series every year through 2015
South Florida – plays at Notre Dame in 2011
UCONN – plays 6 times in seven years between 2011 and 2017
Syracuse – plays 4 straight years in a home and home series between 2014 and 2017
Rutgers has also been trying to schedule a game in the 2011 season to be played at Yankee Stadium with the Irish.
All told, this would be 18 wins for the Big East against Notre Dame in the coming years.

Not all is bad for Irish fans though, Temple is currently 7-0 in conference play and in first place in the MAC East, I’m sure if you ask nicely the MAC would find room for you somewhere in the MAC West division.


4th AND 2

I didn’t get to put my two cents worth last week about the bonehead call made by Bill Belichick, so I will do it now, and it is really simple. HE IS NOT A GREAT COACH!

I know this will shock everyone that someone would even have the gull to utter such a phrase, but lets look at things a little closer before we put him on the Mount Rushmore of NFL Coaches. Belichick was blessed with the luck of having Tom Brady fall into his hands as a compensatory pick in the 6th round (drafted #199 overall) in 2000. Tom Brady is without a doubt a fantastic QB. He is top 3 in the NFL now and that might not be high enough. But let’s see what Billy did before this Joe Montana of this generation showed up on his doorstep.

Bill Belichick is currently in his 15th season as an NFL head coach. His career record in regular season play is 145-89. His record in the playoffs is 15-4. His record without Tom Brady as his starting QB is 51-62. Err..what?! Yes, EXACTLY! He has had two winning seasons as a head coach without Tom Brady leading the show. In his 7 years as a head coach with Tom Brady under center he has had winning seasons in all seven, in the 7 without him he has 2. He had an overall record as the Cleveland head coach (how many people forgot he coached in Cleveland?) of 36-44 in five seasons with one winning season before being fired after the 1995 season. It is also not like he had this great insight to make Brady his starting QB, he started him by default after Drew Bledsoe was bleeding internally after a hit in the 2001 season. Brady took a team that was 0-2 and they finished 11-5.

Now, let us look at the Bill Belichick coaching tree. Normally you can tell how good of a coach someone was by the success of his or her understudies. Nine coaches learned under Belichick and went on to become head coaches elsewhere. Here are their coaching numbers:
NFL COACHES:
Romeo Crennel, Cleveland Browns, 2005-08, 24-40
Al Groh, NY Jets, 2000, 9-7
Josh McDaniels, 2009, 6-4
Eric Mangini, NY Jets and Cleveland Browns, 2006-2009, 24-34
Nick Saban, Miami Dolphins, 2005-06, 15-17
Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions, 2009, 2-8
NCAA COACHES:
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, 1999-2009, 80-53
Al Groh, Virginia, 2001-2009, 59-52
Pat Hill, Fresno State, 1997-2009, 92-61
Charlie Weis, Notre Dame, 2005-2009, 35-26
Nick Saban, Michigan State, LSU, Alabama, 112-48-1

Of the NFL coaches not one had a winning record that coached more than a season and only two fo the six are still with their original job and those guys are both new this season. In college, he has done much better. All of these coaches have winning records and are still currently employed (both Al Groh and Charlie Weis are rumored to be fired after this season.)

So, maybe that bonehead 4th and 2 call wasn’t that much of a surprise. Tom Brady executed it, and put the throw on the money, but it just was not enough. Maybe is was just a bad play call by a bad head coach.

KINGS OF KENTUCKY

Can we please stop the National Title talk for the Kentucky Men’s Basketball team?! First of all, what is all this talk based on anyway? The fact that they where .500 in conference play last year and did not make the NCAA tournament? Or maybe it is the way the team played in their tough loss to Notre Dame in the third round of the NIT last year. Or it could be that they return their leading scored, Jodie Meeks who averaged 23.7 ppg, oh wait, he is not on this team!

So what is it that makes this team so improved? Is it the coach? Yes, John Calipari is a fantastic coach and a great recruiter, but he has never won ANYTHING in his coaching career. Is it the fact that they brought in a ton of young talent, yeah that probably does not hurt much either, but let’s be honest, this team needed a buzzer beater to beat Miami OH in the second game of the season. They are 4-0 against bad competition and struggled in three of the four games to put the teams away. That same Miami team lost to Towson by 11, Louisiana Tech by 8 and New Mexico by 25.

I’m sure given a couple of shady recruiting classes, Calipari will have Kentucky playing in Final Fours, but can we all settle down on already saving a spot for them this year in Indianapolis this year?

IF YOU AIN’T RUBBING YOU AIN’T RACING

Okay, I do not watch NASCAR. I am sorry, watching a bunch of men making left turns for 3+ hours just does not do it for me. However, I am aware of what goes on in the sporting world and all week all anyone was talking about was Jimmie Johnson winning his unprecedented 4th straight Cup Championship. All he had to do was finish 25th or better to hold off 50-year old Mark Martin. So here is my question, why did not someone on Mark Martin’s team put Johnson into the wall on the first lap of the race? Is it an unwritten rule in NASCAR that you do not wreck each other? I see guys fighting with each other for that exact reason every Sunday on SportsCenter. Maybe I am a dirty sport. Maybe I do not appreciate the sportsmanship of racing. But maybe these guys just are not as competitive as I would hope they would be. You are talking a championship for your sport being on the line, you don’t think other sports have guys doing whatever it takes to win titles? Come on guys a title is on the line, you should being laying it all on the line too!