Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Pittsburgh's Golden Boy
The Rant would like to congratulate the lone bright spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Nate McLouth, for winning his first Gold Glove Award. He is the first Pirate to win a Gold Glove since SS Jay Bell won it in 1993.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
TROUBLE TRACKER
Football player vs Girlfriend
This is a scene we see way to often and this time it shows up on the Rants Trouble Tracker.
Backup DB Jacques Rickerson for the Florida Gators basically tried to killed his girlfriend according to this article on ESPN.com. The Florida football team has acted quickly and kicked Rickerson off the team.
Here is an updated standings of this football season:
The "U" - 7
The State Penn - 4
Indiana - 4
Tennessee - 2
Michigan - 2
Mississippi State - 1
Florida - 1
Conference rankings look like this:
BIG TEN - 3 schools (27% of the conference schools)
SEC - 3 Schools (25%)
ACC - 1 school (8%)
This is a scene we see way to often and this time it shows up on the Rants Trouble Tracker.
Backup DB Jacques Rickerson for the Florida Gators basically tried to killed his girlfriend according to this article on ESPN.com. The Florida football team has acted quickly and kicked Rickerson off the team.
Here is an updated standings of this football season:
The "U" - 7
The State Penn - 4
Indiana - 4
Tennessee - 2
Michigan - 2
Mississippi State - 1
Florida - 1
Conference rankings look like this:
BIG TEN - 3 schools (27% of the conference schools)
SEC - 3 Schools (25%)
ACC - 1 school (8%)
T3R Week 3
Controversy is all over the college football world and it is only the beginning. This is just the 1st week in November, wait until the first week in December. However this is one place you will not have controversy. Right here I give it to you straight. I don’t rate teams based on wins and losses. I rate teams based on their play on the field. You want to know who will play for the national Championship, go ask some computers to spit out numbers for you, but if you want to know who SHOULD play for the National Title I’m your guy. So we move on to T3R, WEEK #3:
#1 FLORIDA GATORS (7-1)
LAST WEEK: 49-10 win, vs Georgia
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Vanderbilt
Let’s get the argument out of the way now. How do I put a 1-loss team ahead of the 3 major conference undefeated teams? Well, have you seen Florida play since they lost that one game? The gators have played four games. All in the SEC (which is down this year, but still clearly the 2nd best league in the nation) and have outscored their opponents 201-43. Oh yeah, and two of those games were against top 10 teams. Florida is one of only 3 teams (Penn State and USC the others) to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive points per game. This team is very dangerous and is the one team really standing in the way of Alabama, assuming they both win out and play for the SEC Title.
#2 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (9-0)
LAST WEEK: 35-0 win vs Arkansas State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ LSU
We know that these two teams won’t finish the year ranked 1-2 because they hopefully (if both win out) will be playing each other in Atlanta in the SEC Title game. I also realize that the Tide played Arkansas State, everyone plays cupcakes. I don’t like it but everyone plays them. SEC teams schedule them better then most by putting them into the middle of the conference schedule to get a breather from the week in and week out slugfest that is the SEC. They used ASU as a tune up for an absolutely HUGE game against LSU. Yes, I know that LSU is not the same LSU from the past few years, but it is the same LSU that Nick Saban left. And this is his first time back. That, mixed with Death Valley, could be just the right recipe for an upset.
#3 TEXAS TECH RED RADIERS (9-0)
LAST WEEK: 39-33 win vs Texas
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs #8 Oklahoma State
Wow, Tech REALLY has a defense! Tech held the high powered Colt McCoy and the Longhorns offense to 21 yards and 3 points for the first 28:23 of the game, and took a 22-6 lead into halftime. Just as they have in the past Texas battled out of an early hole and took the lead against Tech, but this time the Red Raiders didn’t give in. Heisman front-runner Graham Harrell marched his team down field and connected with Michael Crabtree for game-winning touchdown with just 1 tick left on the clock.
Now they have to do it all over again. It is easy to get fired up when the #1 team comes to your house for a big game, but can they come with the same moxie this week when they have the target on their back?
#4 TEXAS LONGHORNS (8-1)
LAST WEEK: 39-33 loss @ Texas Tech
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Baylor
Wow, what a run. Beating then #1 Oklahoma, then beating #11 Missouri, then undefeated Oklahoma State. Four in a row was just too much to ask for I guess. Does anyone else feel terrible for Baylor this week? The Horns will either have no mercy against the Bears or will completely look past them after that brutal stretch and leave themselves vulnerable. Should be interesting to keep an eye on and see how they rebound.
#5 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (8-1)
LAST WEEK: 62-28 win vs Nebraska
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Texas A&M
55 in the first half last week, 35 in the first quarter this week including 28 in the first 5:33, okay we know the Sooners can score (2nd in the nation in scoring offense 49.78 ppg) but can they defend when they have to? That has to be a big concern for Bob Stoops and Co. Over the last four games, all conference games, the Sooners have allowed 139 points. There are 15 teams in the country that haven’t given up 139 points all season. They better sure that up with Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and possibly Missouri (Big XII Title game) still up ahead.
#6 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Iowa
Penn State loses out this week because with all the excitement of Florida and Texas Tech having big wins the Lions were enjoying a much deserved off week. But as the old saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. The Lions still hold their fate in their own hands, if they run the table (which they certainly should be able to do) they play for the National Championship. If they stumble over the last three games they don’t. Everyone is looking ahead to the Michigan State game and the battle for the valued Land Grant Trophy, but Iowa is a perfect stumbling block for the Lions. It is a road game, against a not great, but certainly not bad team that controls the ball and clock. How do you slow down a high-powered offense like Penn State has? Keep them off the field. Iowa tends to win the time of possession battle and boasts Shonn Greene, the nations 3rd leading rusher. Penn State should win this, but Iowa won’t roll over ease for them.
#7 SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS (7-1)
LAST WEEK: 56-0 win vs Washington
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs #20 California
Bar none the best defense in the nation. USC has outscored its opponents 214-20 in the five games since getting upset by Oregon State pitching shutouts in three of those games. The Trojans rank #1 in points allowed, points allowed per game, total yards allowed, and passing yards allowed. They slack off a bit when it comes to stopping the run; they are only the 5th best team in the nation in that category. By no means do I think they deserve a chance of getting back into the National Title chase, but numbers like that don’t lie, that defense is great! The offense, it is coming together but still has lots of work to do.
#8 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (8-1)
LAST WEEK: 59-14 win vs Iowa State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ #3 Texas Tech
Oklahoma State is a strange one for me because they put up points just like all the other teams in the Big XII, but their offensive production consists of basically 3 players. QB Zac Robinson is 2nd in the nation in passing efficiency while throwing 20 TD’s and just 5 INT’s. His main target on most of those touchdowns is WR Dez Bryant who is 2nd in the nation in receiving yards per game and leads the nation with 17 TD’s. The guy who keeps this offense balanced is RB Kendall Hunter. He is the nations 4th leading rusher. Seems like it would be easy to shut down 1 WR and 1 RB, apparently it is tougher then it seems. All this with a very average defense that seems to make big plays at just the right time to keep them in games.
#9 UTAH UTES (9-0)
LAST WEEK: 13-10 win @ New Mexico
NEXT WEEK: Nov 6th vs #10 TCU
Utah doesn’t do anything special. They do nothing great, but they do EVERYTHING well. Utah is in the nations top half of every one of the NCAA listed statistics, but only in the top 10 of two of them. The one key thing they have done and continue to do is win football games. They face their toughest test over the last three games of the year starting with this Thursday against TCU. A win against TCU puts them in the drivers seat to getting their second BCS bowl bid with only archrival BYU standing in their way. The Utes however do get both at home, in what has become a very big home field advantage for them.
#10 TCU HORNED FROGS (9-1)
LAST WEEK: 44-14 win @ UNLV
NEXT WEEK: Nov 6th @ #9 Utah
TCU has one loss is still in the talks about a BCS bowl, that is very impressive coming from a mid-major conference team. The Horned Frogs only set back this year was to Oklahoma in Norman. They have rolled through the rest of the competition and it has all started with the defense. TCU has allowed no more then 14 points in a game this year in their 9 wins. The Frogs have already beaten half of the other big two from the Mountain West when the easily handled BYU 32-7 in mid-October. This week is the end all for TCU win at Utah and you are all but in a BCS bowl. Lose and well, you get pretty much any other bowl.
#11 MISSOURI TIGERS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 31-28 win @ Baylor
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Kansas State
#12 BOISE STATE BRONCOS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 49-0 win @ New Mexico State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Utah State
#13 GEORGIA BULLDOGS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 49-10 loss vs Florida
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Kentucky
#14 the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES (7-2)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Northwestern
#15 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (8-2)
LAST WEEK: 25-24 win vs Wisconsin
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Purdue
#16 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (6-2)
LAST WEEK: 35-13 win @ Connecticut
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Cincinnati
#17 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 31-28 win vs Florida State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ #18 North Carolina
#18 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (6-2)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs #17 Georgia Tech
#19 BALL STATE CARDINALS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: OFFNEXT WEEK: Nov 5th vs Northern Illinois
#20 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 26-16 win vs Oregon
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ #7 Southern Cal
#1 FLORIDA GATORS (7-1)LAST WEEK: 49-10 win, vs Georgia
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Vanderbilt
Let’s get the argument out of the way now. How do I put a 1-loss team ahead of the 3 major conference undefeated teams? Well, have you seen Florida play since they lost that one game? The gators have played four games. All in the SEC (which is down this year, but still clearly the 2nd best league in the nation) and have outscored their opponents 201-43. Oh yeah, and two of those games were against top 10 teams. Florida is one of only 3 teams (Penn State and USC the others) to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive points per game. This team is very dangerous and is the one team really standing in the way of Alabama, assuming they both win out and play for the SEC Title.
#2 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (9-0)LAST WEEK: 35-0 win vs Arkansas State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ LSU
We know that these two teams won’t finish the year ranked 1-2 because they hopefully (if both win out) will be playing each other in Atlanta in the SEC Title game. I also realize that the Tide played Arkansas State, everyone plays cupcakes. I don’t like it but everyone plays them. SEC teams schedule them better then most by putting them into the middle of the conference schedule to get a breather from the week in and week out slugfest that is the SEC. They used ASU as a tune up for an absolutely HUGE game against LSU. Yes, I know that LSU is not the same LSU from the past few years, but it is the same LSU that Nick Saban left. And this is his first time back. That, mixed with Death Valley, could be just the right recipe for an upset.
#3 TEXAS TECH RED RADIERS (9-0)LAST WEEK: 39-33 win vs Texas
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs #8 Oklahoma State
Wow, Tech REALLY has a defense! Tech held the high powered Colt McCoy and the Longhorns offense to 21 yards and 3 points for the first 28:23 of the game, and took a 22-6 lead into halftime. Just as they have in the past Texas battled out of an early hole and took the lead against Tech, but this time the Red Raiders didn’t give in. Heisman front-runner Graham Harrell marched his team down field and connected with Michael Crabtree for game-winning touchdown with just 1 tick left on the clock.
Now they have to do it all over again. It is easy to get fired up when the #1 team comes to your house for a big game, but can they come with the same moxie this week when they have the target on their back?
#4 TEXAS LONGHORNS (8-1)LAST WEEK: 39-33 loss @ Texas Tech
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Baylor
Wow, what a run. Beating then #1 Oklahoma, then beating #11 Missouri, then undefeated Oklahoma State. Four in a row was just too much to ask for I guess. Does anyone else feel terrible for Baylor this week? The Horns will either have no mercy against the Bears or will completely look past them after that brutal stretch and leave themselves vulnerable. Should be interesting to keep an eye on and see how they rebound.
#5 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (8-1)LAST WEEK: 62-28 win vs Nebraska
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Texas A&M
55 in the first half last week, 35 in the first quarter this week including 28 in the first 5:33, okay we know the Sooners can score (2nd in the nation in scoring offense 49.78 ppg) but can they defend when they have to? That has to be a big concern for Bob Stoops and Co. Over the last four games, all conference games, the Sooners have allowed 139 points. There are 15 teams in the country that haven’t given up 139 points all season. They better sure that up with Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and possibly Missouri (Big XII Title game) still up ahead.
#6 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (8-0)LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Iowa
Penn State loses out this week because with all the excitement of Florida and Texas Tech having big wins the Lions were enjoying a much deserved off week. But as the old saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. The Lions still hold their fate in their own hands, if they run the table (which they certainly should be able to do) they play for the National Championship. If they stumble over the last three games they don’t. Everyone is looking ahead to the Michigan State game and the battle for the valued Land Grant Trophy, but Iowa is a perfect stumbling block for the Lions. It is a road game, against a not great, but certainly not bad team that controls the ball and clock. How do you slow down a high-powered offense like Penn State has? Keep them off the field. Iowa tends to win the time of possession battle and boasts Shonn Greene, the nations 3rd leading rusher. Penn State should win this, but Iowa won’t roll over ease for them.
#7 SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS (7-1)LAST WEEK: 56-0 win vs Washington
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs #20 California
Bar none the best defense in the nation. USC has outscored its opponents 214-20 in the five games since getting upset by Oregon State pitching shutouts in three of those games. The Trojans rank #1 in points allowed, points allowed per game, total yards allowed, and passing yards allowed. They slack off a bit when it comes to stopping the run; they are only the 5th best team in the nation in that category. By no means do I think they deserve a chance of getting back into the National Title chase, but numbers like that don’t lie, that defense is great! The offense, it is coming together but still has lots of work to do.
#8 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (8-1)LAST WEEK: 59-14 win vs Iowa State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ #3 Texas Tech
Oklahoma State is a strange one for me because they put up points just like all the other teams in the Big XII, but their offensive production consists of basically 3 players. QB Zac Robinson is 2nd in the nation in passing efficiency while throwing 20 TD’s and just 5 INT’s. His main target on most of those touchdowns is WR Dez Bryant who is 2nd in the nation in receiving yards per game and leads the nation with 17 TD’s. The guy who keeps this offense balanced is RB Kendall Hunter. He is the nations 4th leading rusher. Seems like it would be easy to shut down 1 WR and 1 RB, apparently it is tougher then it seems. All this with a very average defense that seems to make big plays at just the right time to keep them in games.
#9 UTAH UTES (9-0)LAST WEEK: 13-10 win @ New Mexico
NEXT WEEK: Nov 6th vs #10 TCU
Utah doesn’t do anything special. They do nothing great, but they do EVERYTHING well. Utah is in the nations top half of every one of the NCAA listed statistics, but only in the top 10 of two of them. The one key thing they have done and continue to do is win football games. They face their toughest test over the last three games of the year starting with this Thursday against TCU. A win against TCU puts them in the drivers seat to getting their second BCS bowl bid with only archrival BYU standing in their way. The Utes however do get both at home, in what has become a very big home field advantage for them.
#10 TCU HORNED FROGS (9-1)LAST WEEK: 44-14 win @ UNLV
NEXT WEEK: Nov 6th @ #9 Utah
TCU has one loss is still in the talks about a BCS bowl, that is very impressive coming from a mid-major conference team. The Horned Frogs only set back this year was to Oklahoma in Norman. They have rolled through the rest of the competition and it has all started with the defense. TCU has allowed no more then 14 points in a game this year in their 9 wins. The Frogs have already beaten half of the other big two from the Mountain West when the easily handled BYU 32-7 in mid-October. This week is the end all for TCU win at Utah and you are all but in a BCS bowl. Lose and well, you get pretty much any other bowl.
#11 MISSOURI TIGERS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 31-28 win @ Baylor
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Kansas State
#12 BOISE STATE BRONCOS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 49-0 win @ New Mexico State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Utah State
#13 GEORGIA BULLDOGS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 49-10 loss vs Florida
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Kentucky
#14 the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES (7-2)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ Northwestern
#15 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (8-2)
LAST WEEK: 25-24 win vs Wisconsin
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Purdue
#16 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (6-2)
LAST WEEK: 35-13 win @ Connecticut
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs Cincinnati
#17 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 31-28 win vs Florida State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ #18 North Carolina
#18 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (6-2)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th vs #17 Georgia Tech
#19 BALL STATE CARDINALS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: OFFNEXT WEEK: Nov 5th vs Northern Illinois
#20 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 26-16 win vs Oregon
NEXT WEEK: Nov 8th @ #7 Southern Cal
Friday, October 31, 2008
Weekly Thoughts and Predictions
This is the extremely corny and hokey HALLOWEEN edition of The Rant.
So, let’s discuss the TRICKS and TREATS so far this college football season.
TRICK: Pitt losing to Bowling Green after tricking everyone into believing in them and ranking them in the preseason top 25.
TREAT: How Pitt responded by winning 5 in a row after that opening game loss.
TRICK: Once again tricking the fan base and people nation-wide that Pitt was a legit team by getting embarrassed by Rutgers.
TREAT: The success of the little guys this season; Tulsa (8-0), Utah (8-0), TCU (8-1), BYU (7-1), Ball State (8-0), Boise State (7-0).
TRICK: The disappointment some of the big names with high expectation have been so far; Clemson (3-4), Illinois and Wisconsin (4-4), Michigan (2-6), Arizona State (2-5), Auburn (4-4) and Tennessee (3-5).
TREAT: Watching Ohio State show their true colors early in the year getting blasted by USC.
TRICK: The Vanderbilt Commodores, snuck up to #13 and had everyone believing, then lost 3 straight, 2 of which were to the likes of Mississippi State and a home loss to Duke.
TREAT: Continuing to watch the demise of WVU football since the 13-9 game. Give your 70+ year old head coach an extension then watch him lose in back to back games against East Carolina and Colorado.
TRICK: What Penn State is doing to EVERYONE that believes that they are any different from Ohio State the past 2 seasons. The Big Ten has this BCS loop hole figured out. Go undefeated beating only cupcakes in the non-conference they roll through an over-rated by somehow highly regarded Big Ten schedule and POOF, you are getting embarrassed in a National Title game.
TREAT: OU vs Texas, OK St vs Missouri, Texas Tech defense…heck the entire Big XII. Boy have they been fun to watch.
Here’s to another fun and exciting final 6 weeks of the regular season and bowl season!
On to the picks!!!!!
THIS WEEKS PICKS:
Last week I pretty much sucked! I went with my heart too much and not with my brain. 5-5 last week for what was clearly my worst week of the season. For the year I am 34-16. Another pretty big week this week so let’s get started!
Michigan State at home over Wisconsin
Oklahoma real big on rival Nebraska
I have no idea why, but I am once again taking Pitt, thinking that last week was just what Pitt does (lose easy home games) and this week is also what they do (win tough road games nobody expects them to win).
THE GAME FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE WORLDS LARGEST OUTDOOR COCKTAIL PARTY
I like Tebow and Co. Florida will make a big time statement with this win, showing why I have them ranked #2 in my T3R’s.
BATTLE FOR #1 in TEXAS
Texas Longhorns continue their incredible run and defeat the Red Raiders in a great football game.
That is all, enjoy your college football this weekend!!!!!
So, let’s discuss the TRICKS and TREATS so far this college football season.
TRICK: Pitt losing to Bowling Green after tricking everyone into believing in them and ranking them in the preseason top 25.
TREAT: How Pitt responded by winning 5 in a row after that opening game loss.
TRICK: Once again tricking the fan base and people nation-wide that Pitt was a legit team by getting embarrassed by Rutgers.
TREAT: The success of the little guys this season; Tulsa (8-0), Utah (8-0), TCU (8-1), BYU (7-1), Ball State (8-0), Boise State (7-0).
TRICK: The disappointment some of the big names with high expectation have been so far; Clemson (3-4), Illinois and Wisconsin (4-4), Michigan (2-6), Arizona State (2-5), Auburn (4-4) and Tennessee (3-5).
TREAT: Watching Ohio State show their true colors early in the year getting blasted by USC.
TRICK: The Vanderbilt Commodores, snuck up to #13 and had everyone believing, then lost 3 straight, 2 of which were to the likes of Mississippi State and a home loss to Duke.
TREAT: Continuing to watch the demise of WVU football since the 13-9 game. Give your 70+ year old head coach an extension then watch him lose in back to back games against East Carolina and Colorado.
TRICK: What Penn State is doing to EVERYONE that believes that they are any different from Ohio State the past 2 seasons. The Big Ten has this BCS loop hole figured out. Go undefeated beating only cupcakes in the non-conference they roll through an over-rated by somehow highly regarded Big Ten schedule and POOF, you are getting embarrassed in a National Title game.
TREAT: OU vs Texas, OK St vs Missouri, Texas Tech defense…heck the entire Big XII. Boy have they been fun to watch.
Here’s to another fun and exciting final 6 weeks of the regular season and bowl season!
On to the picks!!!!!
THIS WEEKS PICKS:
Last week I pretty much sucked! I went with my heart too much and not with my brain. 5-5 last week for what was clearly my worst week of the season. For the year I am 34-16. Another pretty big week this week so let’s get started!
Michigan State at home over Wisconsin
Oklahoma real big on rival Nebraska
I have no idea why, but I am once again taking Pitt, thinking that last week was just what Pitt does (lose easy home games) and this week is also what they do (win tough road games nobody expects them to win).
THE GAME FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE WORLDS LARGEST OUTDOOR COCKTAIL PARTY
I like Tebow and Co. Florida will make a big time statement with this win, showing why I have them ranked #2 in my T3R’s.
BATTLE FOR #1 in TEXAS
Texas Longhorns continue their incredible run and defeat the Red Raiders in a great football game.
That is all, enjoy your college football this weekend!!!!!
My Apologies to my loyal readers
It was pointed out that I had promised during day 1 of my college football preview to not talk about NFL ever again on this blog, and my last post was clearly about a new NFL coach. I apologize for my actions and hope that you can forgive me.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
My New Favorite NFL Coach
About 20 months ago the Steelers were looking for a new head football coach and plenty of names were being thrown around. One that I liked the sound of because of his fiery style of play when he was a player was Mike Singletary. I don't think that he even got an interview from the Rooney's before they hired Mike Tomlin. So far, I have no complaints about Tomlin, but how much fun would have been to get to cover Singletary?
In one weeks time since taking over as interim head coach for the San Fran 49ers he has made a bold statement. Such bold statements that he is either digging his own grave or working on nixing that "interim" tag before his title. In his first game he benched the teams former 6th overall pick, TE Vernon Davis then completely belittled him to the media.
Now there are reports that Singletary apparently dropped his pants during his halftime speech to the team while talking about what an embarrassment they are. All this in like 5 days on the job.
I like Coach Tomlin, but given the choice of sitting through one Mike's press conference or the others, Singletary wins every time.
In one weeks time since taking over as interim head coach for the San Fran 49ers he has made a bold statement. Such bold statements that he is either digging his own grave or working on nixing that "interim" tag before his title. In his first game he benched the teams former 6th overall pick, TE Vernon Davis then completely belittled him to the media.
Now there are reports that Singletary apparently dropped his pants during his halftime speech to the team while talking about what an embarrassment they are. All this in like 5 days on the job.
I like Coach Tomlin, but given the choice of sitting through one Mike's press conference or the others, Singletary wins every time.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
T2R WEEK 2
T3R, week #2. 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 (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 28-24 win vs Oklahoma State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st, @ #6 Texas Tech
A sluggish win maybe, but still a win against another top 10 team. One more on the slate this weekend and a Big XII title game is all that is keeping Texas from playing for their 2nd National Title in four years.
#2 FLORIDA GATORS (6-1)
LAST WEEK: 63-5 win vs Kentucky
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st, vs #5 Georgia
The offense is finally clicking and the defense just keeps getting better and better. The Gators are a missed extra point away from being undefeated right now and are currently playing as well as anyone in the country. Next up is a big revenge game in the World Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Georgia’s excessive celebration penalty last year on the way to their 42-30 win has to still be in the minds of Gator players.
#3 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (7-1)
LAST WEEK: 58-35 win @ Kansas State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs Nebraska
OU put up 55 points last week, IN THE FIRST HALF! This offense is as good as any in the country, however the defense is what I am starting to question. K-State is not exactly a powerhouse, and they put up 28 in the first half. OU has the offense to beat anyone, but the defense needs to improve if they want a chance to move up in the last 6 weeks of the season.
#4 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 29-9 win @ Tennessee
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs Arkansas State
I said last week I couldn’t get a good read on Alabama and they seemed to play down to their opponents, this week they responded. Bama absolutely dominated the Vols in every facet of the game. Yes, Tennessee is down this year but this is the type of team that Alabama let stick around with them all year. Not Saturday, they put them down and kept them down.
#5 GEORGIA BULLDOGS (7-1)
LAST WEEK: 52-38 win @ LSU
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs #2 Florida
Putting up 50+ in Death Valley will get anyone’s attention. That is what UGA needed. This is the preseason SEC favorite, finally playing at the level most expected to them to play all season. If they can keep it up this weekend and beat Florida they will be in the drivers seat for a re-match game with Alabama in the SEC title game.
#6 TEXAS TECH RED RADIERS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 63-21 win @ Kansas
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs #1 Texas
Wow, Tech has a defense! We all knew that Mike Leach and Co. could score points, but the way the defense took over the game @ KU last week is what caught my attention. The Red Raiders forced five turnovers and held Todd Reesing and the Jayhawks passing game to 154 yards including picking off three of his first four pass attempts in the 2nd half. Next up for the Red Raiders defense, Colt McCoy.
#7 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 13-6 win @ the Ohio State University
NEXT WEEK: OFF
I said last week that watching the Lions play against Ohio State would help me get a feel for both teams. So what did I learn watching this game? I learned that the last thing in the world I want to see in Miami the first week of January is Penn State on the field. This is Ohio State the past two seasons re-incarnated. Texas, Florida, OU, Texas Tech, Alabama and maybe Georgia would beat Penn State by two TD’s easily. Penn State is a very good football team. They have dominated play in most of their games and beat everyone on their schedule, but then again so has Ball State. As I said Penn State is very good, but they are not great, not elite and certainly not deserving of playing in the National Championship.
#8 SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS (6-1)
LAST WEEK: 17-10 win @ Arizona
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs Washington
Pete Carroll seems to struggle every year with the Mike Stoops defense in Arizona. This year was no different. The 17 points USC was held to was their lowest output in one full calendar year. Here is my thing with both Penn State and USC, they are not elite this year. The Big Ten and Pac-10 are so far behind the SEC and Big XII this year and those teams would finish 3rd or 4th, at best in those conferences. That being said, again both teams have taken care of business and deserve a BCS bowl game, just not the National Title.
#9 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (7-1)
LAST WEEK: 28-24 loss @ Texas
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st, vs Iowa State
You go to Austin and hang with the best team in football, there is no way you drop out of the top 10. The Cowboys moved the ball 50 yards in the last :33 to get into UT territory and have a chance to win the game on the last play. That OU-Okie State game should be a fun one this year!
#10 MISSOURI TIGERS (6-2)
LAST WEEK: 58-0 win vs Colorado
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ Baylor
With everyone else losing and my refusal to rank non-BCS teams in the top 10, Missouri became a pretty easy pick to round out the rankings this week. Heck, when you have two loses and they are against Texas and Oklahoma State, it is tough penalize you.
#11 UTAH UTES (8-0)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ New Mexico
#12 TCU HORNED FROGS (8-1)
LAST WEEK: 54-7 win vs Wyoming
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ UNLV
#13 BOISE STATE BRONCOS (7-0)
LAST WEEK: 33-16 win @ San Jose State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ New Mexico State
#14 the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 13-6 loss vs Penn State
NEXT WEEK: OFF
#15 TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 49-19 win vs UCF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ Arkansas
#16 BALL STATE CARDINALS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 38-16 win vs Eastern MichiganNEXT WEEK: OFF
#17 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (6-2)
LAST WEEK: 45-24 win vs Boston College
NEXT WEEK: OFF
#18 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 35-21 win @ Michigan
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs Wisconsin
#19 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (6-1)
LAST WEEK: 30-20 win vs Virginia Tech
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ Georgia Tech
#20 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (5-2)
LAST WEEK: 34-17 win vs Auburn
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ Cincinnati
#1 TEXAS LONGHORNS (8-0)LAST WEEK: 28-24 win vs Oklahoma State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st, @ #6 Texas Tech
A sluggish win maybe, but still a win against another top 10 team. One more on the slate this weekend and a Big XII title game is all that is keeping Texas from playing for their 2nd National Title in four years.
#2 FLORIDA GATORS (6-1)LAST WEEK: 63-5 win vs Kentucky
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st, vs #5 Georgia
The offense is finally clicking and the defense just keeps getting better and better. The Gators are a missed extra point away from being undefeated right now and are currently playing as well as anyone in the country. Next up is a big revenge game in the World Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Georgia’s excessive celebration penalty last year on the way to their 42-30 win has to still be in the minds of Gator players.
#3 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (7-1)LAST WEEK: 58-35 win @ Kansas State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs Nebraska
OU put up 55 points last week, IN THE FIRST HALF! This offense is as good as any in the country, however the defense is what I am starting to question. K-State is not exactly a powerhouse, and they put up 28 in the first half. OU has the offense to beat anyone, but the defense needs to improve if they want a chance to move up in the last 6 weeks of the season.
#4 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (8-0)LAST WEEK: 29-9 win @ Tennessee
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs Arkansas State
I said last week I couldn’t get a good read on Alabama and they seemed to play down to their opponents, this week they responded. Bama absolutely dominated the Vols in every facet of the game. Yes, Tennessee is down this year but this is the type of team that Alabama let stick around with them all year. Not Saturday, they put them down and kept them down.
#5 GEORGIA BULLDOGS (7-1)LAST WEEK: 52-38 win @ LSU
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs #2 Florida
Putting up 50+ in Death Valley will get anyone’s attention. That is what UGA needed. This is the preseason SEC favorite, finally playing at the level most expected to them to play all season. If they can keep it up this weekend and beat Florida they will be in the drivers seat for a re-match game with Alabama in the SEC title game.
#6 TEXAS TECH RED RADIERS (8-0)LAST WEEK: 63-21 win @ Kansas
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs #1 Texas
Wow, Tech has a defense! We all knew that Mike Leach and Co. could score points, but the way the defense took over the game @ KU last week is what caught my attention. The Red Raiders forced five turnovers and held Todd Reesing and the Jayhawks passing game to 154 yards including picking off three of his first four pass attempts in the 2nd half. Next up for the Red Raiders defense, Colt McCoy.
#7 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (8-0)LAST WEEK: 13-6 win @ the Ohio State University
NEXT WEEK: OFF
I said last week that watching the Lions play against Ohio State would help me get a feel for both teams. So what did I learn watching this game? I learned that the last thing in the world I want to see in Miami the first week of January is Penn State on the field. This is Ohio State the past two seasons re-incarnated. Texas, Florida, OU, Texas Tech, Alabama and maybe Georgia would beat Penn State by two TD’s easily. Penn State is a very good football team. They have dominated play in most of their games and beat everyone on their schedule, but then again so has Ball State. As I said Penn State is very good, but they are not great, not elite and certainly not deserving of playing in the National Championship.
#8 SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS (6-1)LAST WEEK: 17-10 win @ Arizona
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs Washington
Pete Carroll seems to struggle every year with the Mike Stoops defense in Arizona. This year was no different. The 17 points USC was held to was their lowest output in one full calendar year. Here is my thing with both Penn State and USC, they are not elite this year. The Big Ten and Pac-10 are so far behind the SEC and Big XII this year and those teams would finish 3rd or 4th, at best in those conferences. That being said, again both teams have taken care of business and deserve a BCS bowl game, just not the National Title.
#9 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (7-1)LAST WEEK: 28-24 loss @ Texas
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st, vs Iowa State
You go to Austin and hang with the best team in football, there is no way you drop out of the top 10. The Cowboys moved the ball 50 yards in the last :33 to get into UT territory and have a chance to win the game on the last play. That OU-Okie State game should be a fun one this year!
#10 MISSOURI TIGERS (6-2)LAST WEEK: 58-0 win vs Colorado
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ Baylor
With everyone else losing and my refusal to rank non-BCS teams in the top 10, Missouri became a pretty easy pick to round out the rankings this week. Heck, when you have two loses and they are against Texas and Oklahoma State, it is tough penalize you.
#11 UTAH UTES (8-0)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ New Mexico
#12 TCU HORNED FROGS (8-1)
LAST WEEK: 54-7 win vs Wyoming
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ UNLV
#13 BOISE STATE BRONCOS (7-0)
LAST WEEK: 33-16 win @ San Jose State
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ New Mexico State
#14 the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 13-6 loss vs Penn State
NEXT WEEK: OFF
#15 TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 49-19 win vs UCF
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ Arkansas
#16 BALL STATE CARDINALS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: 38-16 win vs Eastern MichiganNEXT WEEK: OFF
#17 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (6-2)
LAST WEEK: 45-24 win vs Boston College
NEXT WEEK: OFF
#18 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (7-2)
LAST WEEK: 35-21 win @ Michigan
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st vs Wisconsin
#19 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (6-1)
LAST WEEK: 30-20 win vs Virginia Tech
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ Georgia Tech
#20 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (5-2)
LAST WEEK: 34-17 win vs Auburn
NEXT WEEK: Nov 1st @ Cincinnati
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