Week 7 Top 10

Week 7 saw some big teams go down and a shuffling in the Top 10.  If we get a season even half as crazy as 2007, it's going to be an entertaining next few weeks.

1. Boise State - Kellen Moore and Co. continue to put up impressive numbers, continue to play sound football on both sides of the ball and since regular pollsters and computers seem to like looking at the history and pedigree of the teams they vote for, I will too (they beat Oregon last year and they took out Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in 2007).  Yes, I see the flawed logic in that argument, but you should also see the flawed logic of looking at what a team did one year, five years or 20 years ago when you're supposed to be ranking them based on this year.
2. Oregon - They had a bye week and drop a slot.  I get the feeling the Ducks aren't real pleased with being ranked #1 in both polls, pounding everyone they play and yet get leapfrogged in the BCS by an Oklahoma team that struggled with Utah State (huh...a WAC team that Boise will probably beat by 30+), Air Force (hmmm...a MWC team that TCU and Utah will beat by double-digits) and Cincinnati (a Big East team.  A conference that probably half of college football fans think shouldn't even have an automatic BCS berth).  Oregon gets to be the showcase game on Thursday night, hosting UCLA (with a starting QB who is questionable at this point...and even when he's playing he's somewhat questionable).  Think they'll want to show those coaches and media members who don't have time to watch all the games on Saturday who might be the real #1?  Oregon by four touchdowns.
3. Auburn - The Tigers look like they might be for real.  They are finishing games and winning the fourth quarter.  Big one this weekend hosting LSU.  With Les Miles roaming the LSU sideline, this is a must watch game.
4. TCU - Horned Frogs again a little slow putting a bad team (BYU) away, but the defense again holds an offense under 200 yards (147 for the Cougars) and the final score is a 28-point victory.  When the offense finally starts to click, the games are going to get really ugly.
5. Michigan State - After the big rivalry game win against Michigan, they took out Illinois.  A slow start, but dominated the second half.
6. Utah - Another easy win for the Utes and they keep rolling towards that showdown with TCU for the Mountain West title.
7. LSU - McNeese State?  This is why people on the west coast think the SEC isn't as good as they think they are.  Don't give me the line about "the SEC is a grind every week with tough team after tough team.  They deserve a breather."  The SEC may not have the complete bottom feeders that some of the other conferences have (Vandy excluded) but there is a whole lot of mediocrity there (hello, SEC East).  And how about traveling outside of a 300 mile radius once in awhile.  McNeese State needs to be down 35 by the half.  282 yards of total offense, at home.
8. Oklahoma - I'm not buying the Sooners.  The BCS might say they're the top team in the country, but they don't pass the eyeball test.  Too many close wins against supposedly inferior talent (if Utah State and Air Force are garbage for Boise State and TCU, they're garbage for Oklahoma as well).  Take out Missouri this Saturday night and we'll see.  I like the Tigers with the upset (Stoops and the Sooners don't do well out of the state of Oklahoma).
9. Oklahoma State - This might be the best team in Oklahoma.  They are hanging points on everyone and if they can play just a little bit of defense, they might win the Big-12.  Let's see if they can stay in the Top 10 after the showdown with Nebraska this weekend.
10. Vacant

On the outside looking in:

• Alabama - A somewhat lackluster effort against Mississippi, especially coming off the loss to South Carolina.
• Missouri - You get your chance this week against Oklahoma.  Win that one and the Tigers might be in the Top 5.
• Wisconsin - The Badgers did a number on the Buckeyes.  Can they follow it up with a win against the last tough team on their schedule.  Take a look at that Murder's Row the Badgers play and tell yourself that that schedule is so much tougher than Boise State or TCU's.
• Stanford - The USC win looks a little more impressive after the way the Trojans absolutely rolled Cal.  This week's win against Washington State isn't going to move them up much, but they're within striking distance of the Top 10.
• Arizona - If QB Nick Foles is out for an extended period of time, that's going to make it extremely tough for the Wildcats to beat Stanford and Oregon in the coming weeks.

Football Season Has Begun

Thoughts on the first full Saturday of the 2010 season...

Florida has a total of 13 yards in offense in the first half and 235 yards for the game and 13 first downs in their lackluster win.  You weren't playing Miami you were playing Miami, Ohio, in your own stadium.  Ugly, ugly win for the Gators in their first game without TimTebow.

And, since according to the Big Six BCS conferences and the talking heads on TV (Craig James, in particular), since Boise State and TCU shouldn't get any credit for destroying the competition they play in their conferences, shouldn't #4 Florida take a huge hit in their ranking with how terrible they played against inferior competition.  Oh, you might drop them to #7?  Hypocrites.  Should drop them out of the Top 20, if you truly believe the mid-major conferences are that bad.

Florida State looked impressive in their first game under Jimbo Fisher.  Granted, it was against Samford, but remember, the 'Noles almost lost to Jacksonville State last year, so that's a big improvement.

Penn State's freshman QB Robert Bolden had a nice debut against Youngstown State, but I'm nervous about what's going to happen when Big-10 play starts (yeah, I know they play Alabama next week...I'm blocking that out right now and hoping he survives the game).

Texas and Mack Brown...I don't want to hear you bitching and moaning at the end of the year if you don't go to a BCS game.  You struggled with Rice; see comments about Florida above.  If you get credit for beating them, so does everyone else, and when they beat them in a much more convincing fashion than you did, they also get more credit.

Impressive showing by Oregon today and the football team was very good as well, even if it was against New Mexico.  They did what they were supposed to against do an inferior team.  Credit also to Iowa, Georgia, Air Force and Cal for doing what you're expected to do against lesser competition.

Once again, UCLA settling for field goals instead of touchdowns and costing them a game.

Way to go, Ole Miss.  Blowing a 31-10 first half lead to lose to Jacksonville State in double overtime.  The SEC is really, really good...at the top, they're better than everyone.  The middle and the bottom are just like every other conference.  Ole Miss probably was worried about how tough their SEC schedule is and weren't focused for today's game.

Those tight purple shorts and white boots are a great look for the TCU Showgirls.

Amazing one-handed grab by Alabama's Julio Jones for a touchdown in their rout of San Jose State.

The late afternoon games have had more teams doing what they're supposed to, but Kansas losing to North Dakota State 6-3 (you managed only a field goal?!?!) and Oklahoma struggling to beat Utah State by a touchdown isn't good.  I thought Oklahoma had a chance of being a contender for the national title this year. After this game, I may have to rethink that.

Nice win for TCU, especially considering they played an opponent with a pulse.  And North Carolina's 24-30 victory against LSU has to have Les Miles wondering if his team will underachieve just enough for him to get the Michigan job.  And speaking of the Wolverines, a very complete victory for them over UConn.  Hopefully they can do the same to Notre Dame next week.

The midfield logo for East Carolina is one of the best in the country.  They should get rid of the boring ECU on the their helmets and use that logo instead or even just the skull and crossbones.

Wow, wow, wow!  Unbelievable finish to the Tulsa vs ECU game.  Golden Hurricanes and Pirates trading blows in the second half and ECU wins on a final play jump ball for the touchdown, 51-49.  A combined 47 fourth quarter points.

Great finish to the opening weekend with the Boise State vs. Virginia Tech game.  Broncos came out firing in the first quarter and give credit to the Hokies for fighting back.  Boise is a very good team and they were able to drive down the field at the end to win the game.  Can't wait until next weekend...Miami vs. Ohio State, Notre Dame vs. Michigan, Florida State vs Oklahoma, Penn State vs. Alabama...Love this time of year!