Standings
1) Schweinfurth 40-18 (4-9 upset)
2) Hoying 39-19 (1-10 upset)
3) Draper 38-20 (3-10 upset)
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Auburn Tigers
Draper: Huge implications in the Iron Bowl. I hear every talking about the first top 5 matchup in this 'storied' rivalry...while surprising, this doesn't do wonders for the argument of 'best' rivalry. Give Auburn credit for a phenomenal turnaround under Gus Malzahn, but they have one win of note (TAMU). The miracle at Jordan-Hare crushed my pick chances, but reinforces my belief in a strong Bama win. Saban's squad seems to shine in the spotlight games and limp through the layups. YJ Yeldon will run all over the Tiger defense and the Tide will pressure Nick Marshall into enough mistakes to keep the train rolling. Cam Newton ain't walkin through that door. Sorry Bucks. Bama: 27--AU: 13
Hoying: Earn your title, Tide. The debate isn't settled as to whether Ohio State or Florida State has the tougher overall path to 13-0 this season, but neither faces the murderer's row Alabama has to deal with this week and (possibly) the next. Back in September, we picked Auburn-LSU as an afterthought, the token fourth game. None of us could have foreseen that tilt providing Auburn's only loss to date. What a difference not having Gene Chizik makes. The Auburn offense has roared to life behind dual-threat QB Nick Marshall, but he's developed as more of a runner than a passer as the season has progressed. The Tide defense has been slowly choking opponents all season long, only cracking against...the other dual-threat QB they faced. Nick Marshall isn't Johnny Manziel, but with the friendly Jordan-Hare crowd behind him, he'll do just enough to pull off the upset. Bama: 27--AU: 28
Schweinfurth: It's weird but the numbers are actually against Alabama winning this game. If I remember correctly, Nick Saban has never beaten a 10 win Auburn team. Well coming into this game, Auburn is 10-1. Alabama has problems with mobile quarterbacks and Auburn seems to have found Cam Newton lite in Nick Marshall. I know all of this is stacked against 'Bama and my heart says that Auburn will do Ohio State (and the rest of the college football world) a favor and roll the Tide. My brain says Bama is better. Bama: 24--AU: 21
Seeberg: Disclaimer:
I want Auburn to win this game with every fiber of my being. Florida State’s schedule is too soft the rest
of the way, so an Alabama slip is virtually OSU’s only chance to get into the
BCS title game. That aside, this is not
a good match-up for Auburn. Auburn runs
the ball, ‘Bama stops the run; classic strength against strength. ‘Bama’s weaker on pass D, but not
tip-the-ball-straight-to-a-WR-on-4th-and-18 weak. If Auburn can force an early turnover or two
and get a lead, they may be able to shorten the game and keep it
interesting. In the end, however, ‘Bama
will score touchdowns and limit Auburn to a couple of field goals, allowing the
Tide to, regrettably, pull away late. Bama: 35--AU: 20
Clemson Tigers @ South Carolina Gamecocks
Draper: Can the Tigers keep the streak of vanquishing SEC foes going? Clemson has had 2 games of note--squeaking out a win against a fully-healthy UGA and getting run off the field vs. the Noles. The Gamecocks haven't lived up to expectations but that will happen when your best player can easily be taken out of the game via double-team/scheme. Connor Shaw vs. Tajh Boyd...who fails less. I don't think the Cocks have enough on offense to keep up. I'm hoping that Clemson keeps it going with standout wide receiver Sammy Watkins because it hurts the SEC (and ESPN narrative) and helps the Noles. Huge game in an underrated rivalry for Dabo and the Tigers. Clem: 38--SoCar: 24
Hoying: Is there a more overrated team in the country than Clemson? The opening win over Georgia was nice, although it hasn't matured well. Other than that, the schedule has left something to be desired. Nothing like a win over Missouri over UCF stands out on Clemson's schedule. South Carolina's been winning ugly, but they've been winning. Now that Connor Shaw is back behind center for Cocky, the Tigers will have more of a problem stopping a balanced South Carolina attack. Tajh will be terrific, but Clemson will fall short. Clem: 27--SoCar: 31
Schweinfurth: South Carolina has slowly creeped up this rankings after a sluggish start to the season. Clemson has held on to a sure BCS berth behind Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd. I honestly believe that the SEC is severely over valued this year (especially the east). With that said, I expect a big day out of Boyd and more useless talk about Jadavion Clowney. Clem: 45--SoCar: 35
Seeberg: It’s official, the world is ending: The cheapest Clemson/South Carolina tickets
are going for more than twice as much as the cheapest OSU/TTUN tickets on a
ticket brokerage site. Find your bomb
shelters now. Clemson has quietly snuck
back near the top five, primarily because they’ve been beating a lot of
nobodies since getting waxed by FSU.
Also amazingly, South Carolina’s vaunted defense is actually allowing
more points per game than OSU. “But the
SEC is SO tough they can’t help it!”- every SEC fan. Yeah, that 28-spot that SEC-bottom feeder
Kentucky scored on them really makes me trust the Gamecock defense. If UK can score 28 at South Carolina, Clemson
will score more, and it will be enough to win.
Clem: 41--SoCar: 31
Texas A&M Aggies @ Missouri Tigers
Draper: Johnny Football...my how the mighty has fallen. What a face plant on Saturday in a huge moment. Mizzou has it on the table for this Big 12...er...SEC showdown. The Tigers are a team that simply takes care of their business without fanfare. The Aggies will score with a return of Johnny Manziel 'greatness' but the A&M defense is a total sieve. Maty Mauk/James Franklin (whoever is the starter) will keep step for step with TAMU. The difference is the Tiger defense which will get one stop and take the shootout on the way to the SEC Championship. TAMU: 38--Mizzou: 41
Hoying: If not for James Franklin's injury against Georgia, this game may have decided the all-SEC QB in a stacked conference. Thankfully, Franklin and Manziel will still get the chance to go head-to-head, but the game is going to suuuuuuck. Remember LSU's dismantling of A&M a week ago? Use that as a starting point, add a better opposing quarterback and a much better defense, and you get a Missouri beatdown. Don't expect the Tigers to blink at home with an SEC East title within their grasp. TAMU: 17--Mizzou: 48
Schweinfurth: My goodness did the Aggies look horrible last week. Les Miles must keep some sort of Johnny Football kryptonite in his pocket for those games. James Franklin kept the Tigers chugging on all cylinders last week and that offense has been a nightmare for the mighty SEC defenses. I definitely expect this game to devolve into an old fashioned Big 12 shootout. TAMU: 38--Mizzou: 42
Seeberg: At the start of the season, a lot of people
probably assumed this game would have SEC West title implications. SEC East?
Not so much. James Franklin is
back for Mizzou (taking over for Kenton-bred backup Maty Mauk) and that’s bad
news for an A&M defense that gives up over 30 a game. Incidentally, does anyone remember that
A&M and Mizzou joined the conference just two years ago and everybody
thought they would be cannon fodder?
Perhaps the SEC isn’t the gauntlet we all perceive it to be. In any event, onto the title game for
Mizzou. TAMU: 27--Mizzou: 42
UCLA Bruins @ USC Trojans
Draper: This one is for Coach O. A win here would make it really hard to let him go. The Trojans have been playing really good football lately and no one is noticing. Beating Stanford (but were they playing Stanford football?) was huge when the Cardinal had everything on the line. The Bruins, on the other hand, have limped down the stretch. I'll go with the hot hand and the Trojans re-institute the football monopoly in LA. UCLA: 20--USC: 24
Hoying: Don't call it a comeback, but USC has recovered nicely from the cancer that plagued their program for three and a half seasons. The Trojans are on a roll, winners of their last 5, which included a nice home win over a very good Stanford team. UCLA is no slouch, either, but they haven't impressed down the stretch, scraping by Arizona and Washington and falling to Arizona State. This game will come down to which quarterback can have success. Both Brett Hundley and Cody Kessler are superb slingers, but Hundley has to face a tough Trojan D, while Kessler will have a little more room for error. Fight on. UCLA: 20--USC: 27
Schweinfurth: I really know nothing about these two teams other than Lane Kiffin was a terrible coach and Ogeron has that team going good again. Other than Keith Price, I know nothing about UCLA. USC is at home? Good enough for me. UCLA: 17--USC: 21
Seeberg: This is likely Ed Orgeron’s last game as USC’s
head coach, which is a shame, given how well he has revived the life-support
squad he inherited from Lane Kiffin. He
seems to have galvanized a pretty talented team, and they should send him out
with a win against their in-city rivals.
The Bruins go as Brett Hundley goes, and USC’s defense will give him
fits. UCLA: 16--USC: 27
Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Stanford Cardinal
Draper: This is a ranked matchup but.... Notre Dame has been taking care of business lately, but Stanford was recently given a shot in the arm thanks to the choke job by the Ducks. This isn't a conference game, but now that they have the Rose Bowl back on the horizon, I expect a focused team on the Farm vs. a historical contender. The Cardinal defense should make Tommy Rees's life a living hell while the running game churns up a solid win over a ranked team. If they play 'Stanford football', do they jump OSU? ND: 13--Stan: 31
Hoying: Let's play the road and home game. Notre Dame on the road: 2-2, beating terrible terrible Purdue and Air Force, and losing at bleh Michigan and bleeeeh Pitt. Stanford at home: 6-0, beating Arizona State, Washington, UCLA, and Oregon. Uh-oh. ND: 17--Stan: 27
Schweinfurth: Again, two teams I have paid next to no attention to. Stanford's better, I do know that much. ND: 10--Stan: 19
Seeberg: #25 Notre Dame at #8 Stan…wait, Notre Dame is
ranked again? Granted, they do have a W
over Michigan State and another one over Arizona State, but this team is just
not that good. Stanford is likely pretty
angry after USC took away their PAC-12 (it’s still difficult to refrain from
calling it the PAC-10) title hopes, as well as their slim hopes to squeeze into
the national championship. Further, the
Cardinal does not want a repeat of last year’s OT loss which is why this game
will not be nearly close enough for that to be an issue for the dancing
tree. Stan: 31--ND: 10
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ That School Up North
Draper: Ah....The Game is here. Tough to get excited with the struggles in Ann Arbor, but there will be no lack of motivation. Urban has the boys locked onto TSUN with laser focus. Michigan is in a tailspin, but will certainly put up a fight...it won't be enough. Gardner will be on the ground courtesy of Bosa, Spence, and Co. while Shazier cleans up. The OSU secondary will give up too much (as we've come to expect), but the offense should have a field day. Expect 300+ on the ground as the passing game is being left by the wayside. Herman will try to get Braxton going with the passing game, but it won't work until he starts utilizing some quick slants and screens. The deep ball is there but Braxton has been hesitant to throw vertically--preferring to trust his feet. Hopefully, he can develop the confidence over the next 3 games/year. Bucks roll. OSU: 51--TSUN: 31
Hoying: There's always a quickening of the heart when I see the Scarlet and Gray take the field against the Maize and Blue. Unfortunately, that won't happen this year (stupid all-white uniforms) but The Game is a HUGE deal nonetheless. No matter how hapless the Wolverines are, this is always the most important game of the season. Fortunately, the Buckeyes seem to get this, and there's no chance of a look-ahead to that other northern team. As Tony Gerdeman at TheOzone pointed out, the team that wins the rushing battle has won the last 12 iterations of the rivalry. Does anyone see Devin Gardner, Derrick Green, and Fitzgerald Toussaint outperforming Braxton Miller, Carlos Hyde, and Dontre Wilson? Really? OSU: 45--TSUN: 13
Schweinfurth: We have finally arrived at The Game. For some reason I have been having flashbacks to the 90's. Visions of Desmond's Heisman pose and Tim Biakabatuka have been haunting my dreams all week. So much failure, that decade. Then I look at the sideline and see Urban Meyer, who ownes (pwns?) in rivalry games. The man takes these games personally and it shows in the way his teams play. It also helps that the Silver Bullets' defensive line is full of studs versus an offensive line that operates as a sieve. In a way I feel for Gardner (but not really). At least he will have some friends in the backfield. And by friends I mean Noah Spence and Joey Bosa charging with bad intentions. On offense Ohio State has this Braxton Miller guy along with the wrecking ball that is El Guapo. Ohio State hasn't won by more than 11 points at that POS stadium since 1962. Throw that one out the window and bring on the Spartans!!!
OSU: 60--TSUN: 14 (with negative rushing yards)
Seeberg: OK OSU fans, if you were born after about 1991,
you may not understand this, but Buckeye faithful tend to get nervous around
this time of year, particularly when we have the objectively superior
team. Our dominant 90s squads routinely
underperformed against TSUN, and it ultimately got Cooper fired. In a 4-year span we had a Heisman winner in
Eddie George and TWO first overall draft picks in Big Daddy Dan Wilkinson and
Orlando Pace. In that span from 1993-96,
OSU went just 1-3 against TSUN. Tressel
changed all of that with his stellar 9-1 record; that one blemish? Ten years ago, at the big house, and I was in
attendance. I am going up to Ann Arbor
for the second time ever this weekend, so I sincerely hope it wasn’t my fault a
decade ago. As for the game itself? A LOT of things have to go wrong for Ohio
State to lose (turnovers, injuries, a cameo by Batman at QB for TSUN). A few of them will go wrong, but not enough
of them to stop the Buckeye train. Onto
MSU unblemished. OSU: 38--TSUN: 17
Upset Special
Draper: Pittsburgh over Miami (FL)
Hoying: Washington State over Washington
Schweinfurth: Oregon State over Oregon
Seeberg: Arizona over Arizona State
(Heads up: Carolina is favored over Duke)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Top 25 rankings, Heisman Ballots, and BCS Projections
Rankings, as always, are based on what teams have done so far, not how we believe they'll finish.
Draper Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Auburn
5. Missouri
6. Clemson
7. Michigan State
8. Oklahoma State
9. South Carolina
10. Baylor
11. Stanford
12. Wisconsin
13. Arizona State
14. UCF
15. LSU
16. Fresno State
17. Northern Illinois
18. Oregon
19. Louisville
20. Oklahoma
21. USC
22. Duke
23. UCLA
24. Cincinnati
25. Texas A&M
Draper Heisman Ballot (This is over barring charges being filed--gap between 1 and 2 is huge)
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Andre Williams (RB--BC)--Can't ignore the numbers and everyone else shooting themselves in foot
3. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
(Next up: Carlos Hyde (RB--OSU))
Draper BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Michigan State
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Fresno State
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Stanford
BCS National Championship: Alabama vs. Florida State
Hoying Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma State
5. Auburn
6. South Carolina
7. Stanford
8. Arizona State
9. Baylor
10. UCF
11. Clemson
12. Missouri
13. Michigan State
14. Wisconsin
15. Oklahoma
16. Northern Illinois
17. Notre Dame
18. LSU
19. USC
20. Oregon
21. Fresno State
22. UCLA
23. Louisville
24. Texas
25. Duke
Hoying Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Jordan Lynch (QB--NIU)
3. Ryan Shazier (LB--OSU)
Hoying BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Alabama vs. Clemson
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. Northern Illinois
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Michigan State
BCS National Championship: Florida State vs. Ohio State
Schweinfurth Top 10
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Auburn
5. Missouri
6.Oklahoma State
7. Baylor
8. Clemson
9. Michigan State
10. Oregon
Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Jamies Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Andre Williams (RB--BC)
Schweinfurth BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Wisconsin
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. Fresno State
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. UCF
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Stanford
BCS National Championship: Florida State vs.Alabama
Draper Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Auburn
5. Missouri
6. Clemson
7. Michigan State
8. Oklahoma State
9. South Carolina
10. Baylor
11. Stanford
12. Wisconsin
13. Arizona State
14. UCF
15. LSU
16. Fresno State
17. Northern Illinois
18. Oregon
19. Louisville
20. Oklahoma
21. USC
22. Duke
23. UCLA
24. Cincinnati
25. Texas A&M
Draper Heisman Ballot (This is over barring charges being filed--gap between 1 and 2 is huge)
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Andre Williams (RB--BC)--Can't ignore the numbers and everyone else shooting themselves in foot
3. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
(Next up: Carlos Hyde (RB--OSU))
Draper BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Michigan State
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Fresno State
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Stanford
BCS National Championship: Alabama vs. Florida State
Hoying Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma State
5. Auburn
6. South Carolina
7. Stanford
8. Arizona State
9. Baylor
10. UCF
11. Clemson
12. Missouri
13. Michigan State
14. Wisconsin
15. Oklahoma
16. Northern Illinois
17. Notre Dame
18. LSU
19. USC
20. Oregon
21. Fresno State
22. UCLA
23. Louisville
24. Texas
25. Duke
Hoying Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Jordan Lynch (QB--NIU)
3. Ryan Shazier (LB--OSU)
Hoying BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Alabama vs. Clemson
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. Northern Illinois
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Michigan State
BCS National Championship: Florida State vs. Ohio State
Schweinfurth Top 10
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Auburn
5. Missouri
6.Oklahoma State
7. Baylor
8. Clemson
9. Michigan State
10. Oregon
Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Jamies Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Andre Williams (RB--BC)
Schweinfurth BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Wisconsin
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. Fresno State
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. UCF
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Stanford
BCS National Championship: Florida State vs.Alabama
Monday, November 25, 2013
Grading the Bucks--Week 13: Indiana
Offense: B+
42 points is nice, but the Hoosier defense is atrocious. This should have been much, MUCH worse. I know the weather sucked, but Braxton's passes have been poor of late. In general, I've not been thrilled with Miller's play, especially the propensity to fumble. This HAS to improve (I'm shocked it's not a higher point of focus). Hyde was a normal beast and became the first Urban Meyer running back to cross the 1000 yard barrier...in 8 games. Ride the horse, but the passing game needs to be a threat, especially against the Spartans. Dantonio would have no qualms stacking the box against us.
Defense: B+
The defense held a better than people know IU offense to 14 which is no easy task. However, it was the way they gave it up that concerns me. When the team was focused, they played quite well, but the second half showed me a team that had checked out. Yeah, the game was over, but you play until the clock reads 0:00. Shoutout to Ryan Shazier and his monster performance--he was excellent and deserves his latest accolade of Butkus finalist. I'm still concerned with the DBs playing such soft coverage but I don't see that hurting us until the bowl game.
Special Teams: A
All I really remember was a blocked punt by Roby (which I saw coming at the snap). Other than that, no missed kicks or good returns. Woo special teams!
Coaching: C
OK, Urban. The game was over early in the second half. WHY IN THE WORLD IS YOUR STAR QUARTERBACK IN A SNOWY GAME? People in Columbus need to get it through their skulls that style points don't matter. If OSU wins out, they'll play in the Rose Bowl or Championship Game if Bama/FSU falter. That's it. That's the story. Also, there was no reason to 'get that trick play on film'. Braxton and Kenny on the field together is nice, but why not spring it on TSUN? The surprise factor is better than the 'prep for it' factor. Oh yeah, Braxton had a wide open TE and chose to somersault into the endzone and land on his head....woof. I get not wanting to handle his QB with kid gloves, but those plays/decisions were just detrimental to the team.
Overall: B+
Another game, another blowout win. Onto That School Up North. The season has officially started now GO BUCKS! BEAT BLUE!
42 points is nice, but the Hoosier defense is atrocious. This should have been much, MUCH worse. I know the weather sucked, but Braxton's passes have been poor of late. In general, I've not been thrilled with Miller's play, especially the propensity to fumble. This HAS to improve (I'm shocked it's not a higher point of focus). Hyde was a normal beast and became the first Urban Meyer running back to cross the 1000 yard barrier...in 8 games. Ride the horse, but the passing game needs to be a threat, especially against the Spartans. Dantonio would have no qualms stacking the box against us.
Defense: B+
The defense held a better than people know IU offense to 14 which is no easy task. However, it was the way they gave it up that concerns me. When the team was focused, they played quite well, but the second half showed me a team that had checked out. Yeah, the game was over, but you play until the clock reads 0:00. Shoutout to Ryan Shazier and his monster performance--he was excellent and deserves his latest accolade of Butkus finalist. I'm still concerned with the DBs playing such soft coverage but I don't see that hurting us until the bowl game.
Special Teams: A
All I really remember was a blocked punt by Roby (which I saw coming at the snap). Other than that, no missed kicks or good returns. Woo special teams!
Coaching: C
OK, Urban. The game was over early in the second half. WHY IN THE WORLD IS YOUR STAR QUARTERBACK IN A SNOWY GAME? People in Columbus need to get it through their skulls that style points don't matter. If OSU wins out, they'll play in the Rose Bowl or Championship Game if Bama/FSU falter. That's it. That's the story. Also, there was no reason to 'get that trick play on film'. Braxton and Kenny on the field together is nice, but why not spring it on TSUN? The surprise factor is better than the 'prep for it' factor. Oh yeah, Braxton had a wide open TE and chose to somersault into the endzone and land on his head....woof. I get not wanting to handle his QB with kid gloves, but those plays/decisions were just detrimental to the team.
Overall: B+
Another game, another blowout win. Onto That School Up North. The season has officially started now GO BUCKS! BEAT BLUE!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Week 13--A few good ones before the big rivalries
Standings
1) Schweinfurth 36-16 (4-8 upset)
2) Hoying 34-18 (1-11 upset)
3) Draper 33-19 (3-9 upset) --KNOCK IT DOWN GEORGIA!!! That's what I get for going on a limb
Baylor Bears @ Oklahoma State Sooners
Draper: Ok Baylor, you passed the first test vs. Oklahoma, but the Pokes might be the better option from the Sooner State this year. Oklahoma State isn't a world beater (see WVU), but fans in Stillwater can get a little rowdy (my Uncle Chip can heckle with the best of them). Imagine if you will, that the Cowboys don't gag a cheap game in Morgantown...this is a top 5 matchup with OkState favored! The Pokes have an explosive ground game and fairly good defense. Baylor has been murdering everyone, but their defense leaves much to be desired. I think the magic of T. Boone ends the 'threat' to the Buckeyes and Baylor drops their first of the year in a shootout. BU: 42--OSU: 45
Hoying: Can Baylor handle success? Fresh off a huge win over Oklahoma, the Bears looked lost in the early goings against a mediocre Texas Tech team, but they quickly regrouped and came away with a convincing victory. A lack of focus against the Cowboys will not so easily be forgiven. The Bears don't have much road experience, and they looked quite vulnerable against a middling Kansas State team in Manhattan. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State is riding high amidst a terrific November highlighted by a dismantling of Texas. Baylor is favored by about 10, but that's garbage, and the editor who let it come out is garbage. The dream season in Waco comes to an end and ESPN never gets to find out if Ohio State would've been jumped. BU: 34--OSU: 38
Schweinfurth: Can the Baylor Bears handle success and a very tough schedule to end the season. In all honesty, Baylor is the best team in the Big 12 but still must out score teams to win, which hasn't been a problem. Oklahoma State is one team that can score with the Bears and not break a sweat. This will be high scoring to the finish and the Baylor schedule finally catches up to them. BU: 49--OSU: 52
Texas A&M Aggies @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: Which of these teams is less disappointing? Both dropped a game vs. Bama (A&M was closer but it was at home). LSU has the worst loss (Ole Miss) but the best win (Auburn). The game is in Death Valley and the Tigers have proven to get a stop once in a while. Manziel has put up fantastic numbers, but the A&M defense is the difference...they're terrible. Johnny Football will have a nice game that will have ESPiN talking Heisman (even though Jameis has it locked barring disaster), but Mettenburger will carve up the atrocious Aggie defense. Another high scoring game in the 'defense-oriented' SEC. TAMU: 31--LSU: 38
Hoying: If you want to beat Johnny, you have to stop Johnny. Alabama and Auburn didn't stop him much, but they were able to do just enough to slow him down while their high-powered offenses shredded a terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE A&M defense. Zach BobaFettenburger and the LSU offense have the explosive power to stay competitive with Johnny Hancock, but the standard LSU brick wall D isn't there this year. Mr. Heisman stays in contention to join the exclusive Archie Griffin club if Famous Jameis follows a long proud line of FSU QB's kicked off the roster. TAMU: 45--LSU: 38
Schweinfurth: Has anyone actually noticed that LSU is a 3 loss team. Don't forget that the Aggies' defense isn't very good. Mettenberger and Manziel should put up some good numbers for that reason. The big difference in this game will be Les Miles. Because he's dumb. I expect him to make a stupid decision at some point in this game that will give the Aggies good field position. TAMU: 35--LSU: 30
Wisconsin Badgers @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
Draper: The fact that this game is up here is a tribute to the amazing season the Gophers have put together. Wisconsin has looked very good, but has no wins of note (yes...ASU, but I see an L by their name). Beating Minnesota might be the biggest win for the Badgers this year...oh what a world. Minnesota keeps winning with no particular standout player/unit. They play sound football under OC Claeys (which is a tribute to Coach Kill), but I don't think they can stop the Badger rushing attack. Melvin Gordon, James White, and AbbyDooby keep the ax and eliminate the Gophers from Legends contention (although this is the best year for Minn in a long time). Wisc: 34--Minn: 24
Hoying: Did you see what Wisconsin did to Indiana? Yes, yes, I know, it's Indiana, but the Badgers took a team averaging 40 points a game and held them to 3. Not even Ohio State does that in the B1G. Minnesota is a fun success story, but the Badgers have been crushing their (mostly terrible) competition after 2 tough losses to good teams. The Gophers will fight to keep it close, but Wisconsin is clearly the better team. Wisc: 28--Minn: 20
Schweinfurth: The Gophers have 8 wins? Who saw that one coming? With that said, I do believe Minnesota is starting to turn a corner. However, they are just starting to turn that corner. Wisconsin is just ground and pound juggernaut. Wisconsin just flat pounds teams with that massive (fat) offensive line followed by the quickness of White and Gordon. Abredarous will do enough to keep the Minnesota defense honest and Wisconsin pounds out 400 yards on the ground again. Hoist that Ax Badgers. Wisc: 35--Minn: 17
Arizona State Sun Devils @ UCLA Bruins
Draper: Hundley and Company have had a very nice season in LA with no bad losses...but no good wins either (Nebraska...please). The Sun Devils dropped one in South Bend but have the 'win' over Wisconsin. These teams are fairly even but I like the team with the better QB which has to be UCLA. The game being in Pasadena doesn't hurt either. I'll be honest, I know very little/nothing about ASU, but this will make the Pac 12 South a lot of fun. ASU: 30--UCLA: 34
Hoying: Get ready for some points on the scoreboard, folks. Both teams feature terrific QB play, and neither team's defense is quite good enough to slow the other down. Pac-12 refs will be officiating this one, so any outcome is possible, but I have a hunch that the Sun Devil offense will be slightly more prolific. Arizona State takes the Pac-12 South and prepares to face Oregon. ASU: 38--UCLA: 31
Schweinfurth: I know this game should be an entertaining one (is Gus Johnson calling this game?). Outside of that, I really know very little about each team. I do know that Hundley is a very good QB and ASU was gifted a win this year. I'll take the Bruins. ASU: 38--UCLA: 42
Missouri Tigers @ Ole Miss Rebels
Draper: Ole Miss and Dr. Bo Wallace have the feather in their cap for beating LSU, but they are wildly inconsistent. The Tigers, on the other hand, have been a model of consistency (other than the second half vs. South Carolina). No one knows how they keep winning, but they do, even with Maty Mauk. I think the train keeps rolling in Oxford with the Tigers quietly winning with good defense and consistent game-managing offense. OleMiss: 17--Mizzou: 31
Hoying: Remember when Missouri QB James Franklin went down in that huge win over Georgia? Since then, the Tigers have inexplicably gotten better, just a botched chip shot field goal away from likely still being undefeated. But now the West comes calling, leading off with red-hot Mississippi. The Rebs have a nice win over LSU but have feasted on a steady diet of crap since then. Missouri is a lot more similar to the Alabama, Auburn, and A&M that conquered Ole Miss than the Idaho, Arkansas, and Troy that have padded the Rebels' record. Y'all are Tiger bait. OleMiss: 24--Mizzou: 41
Schweinfurth: Missouri holds it's SEC title game fate in their black and gold hands. Whether or not James Franklin plays nor not doesn't matter too much. Maty Mauk picked up right where Franklin left off and didn't miss a beat. Yes, Ole' Miss has some very good defensive players but that can't stop this Tiger offense. Mizzou keeps rolling to the showdown with 'Bama in the SEC championship game.
OleMiss: 20--Mizzou: 38
Indiana Hoosiers @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: I was somewhat nervous about this game a few weeks ago. The IU offense is no joke and the OSU secondary...well, it is a joke, but the Hoosiers have cooled off fast. The other benefit is that IU has no defense at all. The Buckeye offense with Miller and Hyde should steamroll the Hoosiers. Indiana will score (too much), but it won't be close on Senior Day to matching the Scarlet and Gray (can't say that against Michigan :( ). Buckeyes finish the home season in style with some Smooth Jazz. Kenny Guiton will score at least one TD in this game--take it to the bank. IU: 34--OSU: 65
Hoying: It's Senior Day at Ohio State and what a welcome these Seniors deserve. After having their terrific freshman season wiped out and gutting through a tough sophomore campaign, these Men of the Scarlet and Gray haven't lost a game since. A win in Ohio Stadium over In iana would push the Buckeye winning streak to 23 games, a school record. Will it happen? Almost undoubtedly. In iana can score (except against Wisconsin) but there's something missing...oh yes. They left the D out of In iana this season. This game could look like the Cal game, or it might end up looking like Penn State if the Hoosiers make too many mistakes early. Buckeyes get a nice tune-up for 2 games against teams up north. IU: 20--OSU: 59
Schweinfurth: So, did everyone see what Wisconsin did against the Hoosier D last week? How about what Braxton and El Guapo against Illinois. Yea, we could totally see 600 yards of offense ON THE GROUND. The way Hyde is running right now would make you think he is one of the best running backs in the nation, and he is. I fully expect him to blow past the 1,000 yard mark early in this one to provide Urban his first 1,000 yard back and on senior day no less. Braxton is going to have his way through the air as well(last week was a blip on the radar). Indiana can move the ball, and I fully expect them to do so (stupid Air Raid offense). Yet again, the Bucks jump out to a big lead early and don't look back (especially after last week and last year). Expect some smooth jazz at some point in the first half (maybe even the start?). IU: 21--OSU: 70
Upset Special
Draper: Chatt over Bama (not really)--I don't know....Toledo over NIU
Hoying: Kansas State over Oklahoma
Schweinfurth: Rutgers over UCF
1) Schweinfurth 36-16 (4-8 upset)
2) Hoying 34-18 (1-11 upset)
3) Draper 33-19 (3-9 upset) --KNOCK IT DOWN GEORGIA!!! That's what I get for going on a limb
Baylor Bears @ Oklahoma State Sooners
Draper: Ok Baylor, you passed the first test vs. Oklahoma, but the Pokes might be the better option from the Sooner State this year. Oklahoma State isn't a world beater (see WVU), but fans in Stillwater can get a little rowdy (my Uncle Chip can heckle with the best of them). Imagine if you will, that the Cowboys don't gag a cheap game in Morgantown...this is a top 5 matchup with OkState favored! The Pokes have an explosive ground game and fairly good defense. Baylor has been murdering everyone, but their defense leaves much to be desired. I think the magic of T. Boone ends the 'threat' to the Buckeyes and Baylor drops their first of the year in a shootout. BU: 42--OSU: 45
Hoying: Can Baylor handle success? Fresh off a huge win over Oklahoma, the Bears looked lost in the early goings against a mediocre Texas Tech team, but they quickly regrouped and came away with a convincing victory. A lack of focus against the Cowboys will not so easily be forgiven. The Bears don't have much road experience, and they looked quite vulnerable against a middling Kansas State team in Manhattan. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State is riding high amidst a terrific November highlighted by a dismantling of Texas. Baylor is favored by about 10, but that's garbage, and the editor who let it come out is garbage. The dream season in Waco comes to an end and ESPN never gets to find out if Ohio State would've been jumped. BU: 34--OSU: 38
Schweinfurth: Can the Baylor Bears handle success and a very tough schedule to end the season. In all honesty, Baylor is the best team in the Big 12 but still must out score teams to win, which hasn't been a problem. Oklahoma State is one team that can score with the Bears and not break a sweat. This will be high scoring to the finish and the Baylor schedule finally catches up to them. BU: 49--OSU: 52
Texas A&M Aggies @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: Which of these teams is less disappointing? Both dropped a game vs. Bama (A&M was closer but it was at home). LSU has the worst loss (Ole Miss) but the best win (Auburn). The game is in Death Valley and the Tigers have proven to get a stop once in a while. Manziel has put up fantastic numbers, but the A&M defense is the difference...they're terrible. Johnny Football will have a nice game that will have ESPiN talking Heisman (even though Jameis has it locked barring disaster), but Mettenburger will carve up the atrocious Aggie defense. Another high scoring game in the 'defense-oriented' SEC. TAMU: 31--LSU: 38
Hoying: If you want to beat Johnny, you have to stop Johnny. Alabama and Auburn didn't stop him much, but they were able to do just enough to slow him down while their high-powered offenses shredded a terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE A&M defense. Zach BobaFettenburger and the LSU offense have the explosive power to stay competitive with Johnny Hancock, but the standard LSU brick wall D isn't there this year. Mr. Heisman stays in contention to join the exclusive Archie Griffin club if Famous Jameis follows a long proud line of FSU QB's kicked off the roster. TAMU: 45--LSU: 38
Schweinfurth: Has anyone actually noticed that LSU is a 3 loss team. Don't forget that the Aggies' defense isn't very good. Mettenberger and Manziel should put up some good numbers for that reason. The big difference in this game will be Les Miles. Because he's dumb. I expect him to make a stupid decision at some point in this game that will give the Aggies good field position. TAMU: 35--LSU: 30
Wisconsin Badgers @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
Draper: The fact that this game is up here is a tribute to the amazing season the Gophers have put together. Wisconsin has looked very good, but has no wins of note (yes...ASU, but I see an L by their name). Beating Minnesota might be the biggest win for the Badgers this year...oh what a world. Minnesota keeps winning with no particular standout player/unit. They play sound football under OC Claeys (which is a tribute to Coach Kill), but I don't think they can stop the Badger rushing attack. Melvin Gordon, James White, and AbbyDooby keep the ax and eliminate the Gophers from Legends contention (although this is the best year for Minn in a long time). Wisc: 34--Minn: 24
Hoying: Did you see what Wisconsin did to Indiana? Yes, yes, I know, it's Indiana, but the Badgers took a team averaging 40 points a game and held them to 3. Not even Ohio State does that in the B1G. Minnesota is a fun success story, but the Badgers have been crushing their (mostly terrible) competition after 2 tough losses to good teams. The Gophers will fight to keep it close, but Wisconsin is clearly the better team. Wisc: 28--Minn: 20
Schweinfurth: The Gophers have 8 wins? Who saw that one coming? With that said, I do believe Minnesota is starting to turn a corner. However, they are just starting to turn that corner. Wisconsin is just ground and pound juggernaut. Wisconsin just flat pounds teams with that massive (fat) offensive line followed by the quickness of White and Gordon. Abredarous will do enough to keep the Minnesota defense honest and Wisconsin pounds out 400 yards on the ground again. Hoist that Ax Badgers. Wisc: 35--Minn: 17
Arizona State Sun Devils @ UCLA Bruins
Draper: Hundley and Company have had a very nice season in LA with no bad losses...but no good wins either (Nebraska...please). The Sun Devils dropped one in South Bend but have the 'win' over Wisconsin. These teams are fairly even but I like the team with the better QB which has to be UCLA. The game being in Pasadena doesn't hurt either. I'll be honest, I know very little/nothing about ASU, but this will make the Pac 12 South a lot of fun. ASU: 30--UCLA: 34
Hoying: Get ready for some points on the scoreboard, folks. Both teams feature terrific QB play, and neither team's defense is quite good enough to slow the other down. Pac-12 refs will be officiating this one, so any outcome is possible, but I have a hunch that the Sun Devil offense will be slightly more prolific. Arizona State takes the Pac-12 South and prepares to face Oregon. ASU: 38--UCLA: 31
Schweinfurth: I know this game should be an entertaining one (is Gus Johnson calling this game?). Outside of that, I really know very little about each team. I do know that Hundley is a very good QB and ASU was gifted a win this year. I'll take the Bruins. ASU: 38--UCLA: 42
Missouri Tigers @ Ole Miss Rebels
Draper: Ole Miss and Dr. Bo Wallace have the feather in their cap for beating LSU, but they are wildly inconsistent. The Tigers, on the other hand, have been a model of consistency (other than the second half vs. South Carolina). No one knows how they keep winning, but they do, even with Maty Mauk. I think the train keeps rolling in Oxford with the Tigers quietly winning with good defense and consistent game-managing offense. OleMiss: 17--Mizzou: 31
Hoying: Remember when Missouri QB James Franklin went down in that huge win over Georgia? Since then, the Tigers have inexplicably gotten better, just a botched chip shot field goal away from likely still being undefeated. But now the West comes calling, leading off with red-hot Mississippi. The Rebs have a nice win over LSU but have feasted on a steady diet of crap since then. Missouri is a lot more similar to the Alabama, Auburn, and A&M that conquered Ole Miss than the Idaho, Arkansas, and Troy that have padded the Rebels' record. Y'all are Tiger bait. OleMiss: 24--Mizzou: 41
Schweinfurth: Missouri holds it's SEC title game fate in their black and gold hands. Whether or not James Franklin plays nor not doesn't matter too much. Maty Mauk picked up right where Franklin left off and didn't miss a beat. Yes, Ole' Miss has some very good defensive players but that can't stop this Tiger offense. Mizzou keeps rolling to the showdown with 'Bama in the SEC championship game.
OleMiss: 20--Mizzou: 38
Indiana Hoosiers @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: I was somewhat nervous about this game a few weeks ago. The IU offense is no joke and the OSU secondary...well, it is a joke, but the Hoosiers have cooled off fast. The other benefit is that IU has no defense at all. The Buckeye offense with Miller and Hyde should steamroll the Hoosiers. Indiana will score (too much), but it won't be close on Senior Day to matching the Scarlet and Gray (can't say that against Michigan :( ). Buckeyes finish the home season in style with some Smooth Jazz. Kenny Guiton will score at least one TD in this game--take it to the bank. IU: 34--OSU: 65
Hoying: It's Senior Day at Ohio State and what a welcome these Seniors deserve. After having their terrific freshman season wiped out and gutting through a tough sophomore campaign, these Men of the Scarlet and Gray haven't lost a game since. A win in Ohio Stadium over In iana would push the Buckeye winning streak to 23 games, a school record. Will it happen? Almost undoubtedly. In iana can score (except against Wisconsin) but there's something missing...oh yes. They left the D out of In iana this season. This game could look like the Cal game, or it might end up looking like Penn State if the Hoosiers make too many mistakes early. Buckeyes get a nice tune-up for 2 games against teams up north. IU: 20--OSU: 59
Schweinfurth: So, did everyone see what Wisconsin did against the Hoosier D last week? How about what Braxton and El Guapo against Illinois. Yea, we could totally see 600 yards of offense ON THE GROUND. The way Hyde is running right now would make you think he is one of the best running backs in the nation, and he is. I fully expect him to blow past the 1,000 yard mark early in this one to provide Urban his first 1,000 yard back and on senior day no less. Braxton is going to have his way through the air as well(last week was a blip on the radar). Indiana can move the ball, and I fully expect them to do so (stupid Air Raid offense). Yet again, the Bucks jump out to a big lead early and don't look back (especially after last week and last year). Expect some smooth jazz at some point in the first half (maybe even the start?). IU: 21--OSU: 70
Upset Special
Draper: Chatt over Bama (not really)--I don't know....Toledo over NIU
Hoying: Kansas State over Oklahoma
Schweinfurth: Rutgers over UCF
Top 25 Rankings, Heisman Ballots, and updated BCS projections
Rankings, as always, are based on what teams have done so far, not how we believe they'll finish.
Draper Top 25
1. Alabama
1A. Florida State
3. Ohio State
3A. Baylor
5. Auburn
6. Clemson
7. Missouri
8. Oregon
9. Michigan State
10. Oklahoma State
11. Stanford
12. South Carolina
13. UCF
14. Arizona State
15. Wisconsin
16. Fresno State
17. Northern Illinois
18. UCLA
19. Louisville
20. Texas A&M
21. LSU
22. Oklahoma
23. Minnesota
24. USC
25. Duke
Draper Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Bryce Petty (QB--Baylor)
Draper BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Michigan State
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Fresno State
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oregon
BCS National Championship: Alabama vs. Florida State
Hoying Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Baylor
4. Ohio State
5. Auburn
6. Stanford
7. Oregon
8. South Carolina
9. Arizona State
10. UCF
11. Texas A&M
12. Clemson
13. Oklahoma
14. Missouri
15. Michigan State
16. Wisconsin
17. UCLA
18. Oklahoma State
19. Northern Illinois
20. Louisville
21. Fresno State
22. Notre Dame
23. Mississippi
24. USC
25. Duke
Hoying Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Bryce Petty (QB--Baylor)
Hoying BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Alabama vs. Clemson
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. Northern Illinois
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Michigan State
BCS National Championship: Florida State vs. Ohio State
Schweinfurth Top 25
Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Carlos Hyde (RB--OSU)
Schweinfurth BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Stanford
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. Fresno State
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State
BCS National Championship: Florida State vs. Alabama
Draper Top 25
1. Alabama
1A. Florida State
3. Ohio State
3A. Baylor
5. Auburn
6. Clemson
7. Missouri
8. Oregon
9. Michigan State
10. Oklahoma State
11. Stanford
12. South Carolina
13. UCF
14. Arizona State
15. Wisconsin
16. Fresno State
17. Northern Illinois
18. UCLA
19. Louisville
20. Texas A&M
21. LSU
22. Oklahoma
23. Minnesota
24. USC
25. Duke
Draper Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Bryce Petty (QB--Baylor)
Draper BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Michigan State
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Fresno State
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oregon
BCS National Championship: Alabama vs. Florida State
Hoying Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Baylor
4. Ohio State
5. Auburn
6. Stanford
7. Oregon
8. South Carolina
9. Arizona State
10. UCF
11. Texas A&M
12. Clemson
13. Oklahoma
14. Missouri
15. Michigan State
16. Wisconsin
17. UCLA
18. Oklahoma State
19. Northern Illinois
20. Louisville
21. Fresno State
22. Notre Dame
23. Mississippi
24. USC
25. Duke
Hoying Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Bryce Petty (QB--Baylor)
Hoying BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Alabama vs. Clemson
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. Northern Illinois
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Michigan State
BCS National Championship: Florida State vs. Ohio State
Schweinfurth Top 25
2 1. Florida State
3 2.
Alabama
4 3.
Ohio State
5 4.
Baylor
6 5.
Clemson
7 6.
Stanford
7 7. Oregon
7 7. Oregon
8 8. Missouri
1 9. Auburn
1 10. Fresno
State
1 11. UCLA
1 12. Wisconsin
1 13. Oklahoma
State
1 14. Michigan
State
1 15. South
Carolina
16. LSU
16. LSU
1 17. Texas
A&M
2 18. Georgia
19. Oklahoma
19. Oklahoma
2 20. UCF
2 21. Louisville
2 22. Northern
Illinois
2 23. Arizona
State
2 24. Minnesota
25. USC
25. USC
Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Carlos Hyde (RB--OSU)
Schweinfurth BCS Projections
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Stanford
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. Fresno State
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State
BCS National Championship: Florida State vs. Alabama
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Grading the Bucks--Week 12: Illinois
Offense: A-
Not too much to be concerned about here. Hyde is an absolute beast and would definitely be in the thick of the Heisman race if he hadn't had the off the field issue. I think his best quality is that he seems to run harder as the game goes on. You could notice a slight difference with no Jack Mewhort, but the drop wasn't significant (he will be good to get back). The O-line is still wearing teams down physically which is good to see. Miller is running fabulously, but his passes have not been as sharp as they should be. Yes, it was windy, but he was missing too many looks.
Defense: C-/D+
And now Buckeye Nation is reminded that this defense isn't very good. They did score a TD but giving up 35 is unacceptable to any opponent let alone hapless Illinois. Scheelhouse has had flashes, but he shouldn't have looked competent against the Buckeye defense. Roby has simply not been the same player and the loss of Christian Bryant (I can't believe I'm saying this) is a problem. The secondary can not cover which will most likely be exploited in a bowl game vs. a talented opponent. IU will score, but not enough; UM sucks; MSU offense sucks; but a Oregon or FSU...yikes. Noah Spence and Joey Bosa have been phenomenal rushing around the ends but can our line win a 'blue collar' game vs. Bama. I'm not sure. This unit is what it is--mediocre. Not the Bullets of old. I like what I've seen from Shazier, Bose, and Spence--that's about it.
Special Teams: D-
This was a horrendous special teams game. I'm keeping them out of F land because Cameron Johnston was punting very well, but the breakdown on the punt coverage was just plain awful. Maybe our coverage unit has been spoiled since Johnston has only allowed 2 returns coming into the day. Can't forget the missed PAT as well. This unit played the worst they've played all year. I think it was probably due to a lack of mental focus, but that is no excuse.
Coaching: C-
Offensively, I'm still flabbergasted at the number of designed runs called by Tom Herman for Braxton. Miller is made of glass...perhaps we should utilize his special talents more sparingly to avoid another needles injury. The playcalling was OK other than that, but I still say FEED THE BEAST in short yardage situations. Carlos needs more carries--he's averaging an eyepopping 7.9 yards a carry. I was surprised to see he had 24 carries last week, but they were mostly in the second half. If he can take the beating (I think he can since the line blocks so well), stop these finesse pass plays on 3rd and short. Go for the bowling ball. Defensively, the bigger problem is the players than the coaches, but that being said, the coaches need to utilize the players they have and 'coach them up'. I'd like to see some more creative blitzes to rush the QB because our secondary gets picked apart is the QB has too much time.
Overall: B-
As opposed to what ESPiN would like you to think, the Bucks were never in any danger of losing this game, but they didn't play near to their capabilities. Great teams bring it every week, and we're not there. The defense absolutely needs to improve to compete at the highest level. The good news going forward is that the offense is getting better and can hide some defensive flaws. The bad news is we'll have to stop a high-powered offense in the bowl game at some point. Time to get better.
Not too much to be concerned about here. Hyde is an absolute beast and would definitely be in the thick of the Heisman race if he hadn't had the off the field issue. I think his best quality is that he seems to run harder as the game goes on. You could notice a slight difference with no Jack Mewhort, but the drop wasn't significant (he will be good to get back). The O-line is still wearing teams down physically which is good to see. Miller is running fabulously, but his passes have not been as sharp as they should be. Yes, it was windy, but he was missing too many looks.
Defense: C-/D+
And now Buckeye Nation is reminded that this defense isn't very good. They did score a TD but giving up 35 is unacceptable to any opponent let alone hapless Illinois. Scheelhouse has had flashes, but he shouldn't have looked competent against the Buckeye defense. Roby has simply not been the same player and the loss of Christian Bryant (I can't believe I'm saying this) is a problem. The secondary can not cover which will most likely be exploited in a bowl game vs. a talented opponent. IU will score, but not enough; UM sucks; MSU offense sucks; but a Oregon or FSU...yikes. Noah Spence and Joey Bosa have been phenomenal rushing around the ends but can our line win a 'blue collar' game vs. Bama. I'm not sure. This unit is what it is--mediocre. Not the Bullets of old. I like what I've seen from Shazier, Bose, and Spence--that's about it.
Special Teams: D-
This was a horrendous special teams game. I'm keeping them out of F land because Cameron Johnston was punting very well, but the breakdown on the punt coverage was just plain awful. Maybe our coverage unit has been spoiled since Johnston has only allowed 2 returns coming into the day. Can't forget the missed PAT as well. This unit played the worst they've played all year. I think it was probably due to a lack of mental focus, but that is no excuse.
Coaching: C-
Offensively, I'm still flabbergasted at the number of designed runs called by Tom Herman for Braxton. Miller is made of glass...perhaps we should utilize his special talents more sparingly to avoid another needles injury. The playcalling was OK other than that, but I still say FEED THE BEAST in short yardage situations. Carlos needs more carries--he's averaging an eyepopping 7.9 yards a carry. I was surprised to see he had 24 carries last week, but they were mostly in the second half. If he can take the beating (I think he can since the line blocks so well), stop these finesse pass plays on 3rd and short. Go for the bowling ball. Defensively, the bigger problem is the players than the coaches, but that being said, the coaches need to utilize the players they have and 'coach them up'. I'd like to see some more creative blitzes to rush the QB because our secondary gets picked apart is the QB has too much time.
Overall: B-
As opposed to what ESPiN would like you to think, the Bucks were never in any danger of losing this game, but they didn't play near to their capabilities. Great teams bring it every week, and we're not there. The defense absolutely needs to improve to compete at the highest level. The good news going forward is that the offense is getting better and can hide some defensive flaws. The bad news is we'll have to stop a high-powered offense in the bowl game at some point. Time to get better.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Week 12 - Another week of 'eh...'
Standings
1) Schweinfurth 32-15 (4-7 upset)
2) Draper 31-16 (2-9 upset)
2) Hoying 31-16 (1-10 upset)
Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Texas Longhorns
Draper: Pokes vs. Horns. Is Texas morphing into the team they were supposed to be? Can they overcome the curse of GERG Robinson? Mike Gundy is a man, but can the Pokes take on a 'real' (maybe) team? This is the toughest game of the week to pick as these teams are pretty even in their mediocrity. OSU has beat up on the Little Sisters of the Poor and UT has taken down a strong Sooner squad. I'm going with the home team and the resurgence of the Mack Brown led Longhorns. Darrell K Royal stadium is the difference. OSU: 30--UT: 34
Hoying: So...much...orange...This game always makes me think of Texas's monster comeback against the Pokes during the Vince Young era, when he made a pump fake about 15 yards past the line of scrimmage and the linebacker jumped like he was Patrick Ewing trying to block Scottie Pippen in NBA Jam. Ah, memories. After an ugly, ugly start, the Longhorns are finally starting to live up to the preseason hype, rattling off 6 wins to start conference play. Oklahoma State has also been rolling merrily along after an ugly loss to West Virginia. The problem inherent in assessing these two teams is the same problem that plagues all Big 12 matchups: the good teams played all the crappy teams first, so it's hard to get a feel for how good the conference leaders really are. I see Oklahoma State as a slightly better version of Texas Tech: inflated record due to crappy opponents. Texas is battle-tested and ready for a fight. The Big 12 race shrinks to Texas vs. Baylor after a Longhorn victory. OSU: 27--UT: 30
Schweinfurth: Texas just isn't the Texas of old. I really don't think much of these two teams to be honest. While I do believe the Longhorns are still playing for Mac Brown's job, I just don't think Texas can score with the Cowboys. This will be entertaining but I'll take the other OSU. OSU: 42--UT: 38
Georgia Bulldogs @ Auburn Tigers
Draper: I'm gonna do it. I don't know why, but I have a feeling. UGA's defense is awful, but is Auburn ready for the pressure to mount? UGA is almost back to full strength and has been playing well over the last few weeks. I think Auburn is starting to look to the Iron Bowl but forgetting that Murray, Gurley, and Co. can score. The Bulldogs would be well advised to slow the game down and force Auburn into a knock-down drag-em-out fight. Auburn took down A&M but UGA (even though it's terrible) has a better D than the Aggies. Johnny Football lost with flash; can Gurley win with a blue-collar mentality? UGA: 30--Aub: 27
Hoying: Old man football's broken hip hasn't quite recovered enough to handle the hottest team in the SEC (yes, yes, other than Bama). I'm not sure Georgia would even win this game at full strength. In the year of the quarterback, Auburn has taken the SEC by storm with a punishing rushing attack, putting up at least 35 points against their last 5 opponents. In four of those matchups, the Tigers reached 45 (way to break the streak, Bert). That's bad news for a suspect Dawg defense. It doesn't matter what happens on the other side of the ball. Georgia simply can't stop Auburn or hope to keep up. Old and busted...new hotness. UGA: 24--Aub: 38
Schweinfurth: This is a game of the walking dead versus a very hot (possibly good) team. Let's face it, Georgia isn't the same team they were before that Tennessee game. Auburn has had a rejuvenation under Gus Mahlzon and I do believe in what he is building offensively. Georgia wasn't good on defense before the injuries and that continues into this week. Georgia keeps it close for a while but Auburn continues to roll towards the Iron Bowl. UGA:28--Aub: 40
Michigan State Spartans @ Nebraska Cornhuskers
Draper: Leaders on the line for real. A Spartan win essentially seals the Green and White's trip to Indy. The defense is for real, but the offense is showing signs of life. Don't get too excited; the Walrus still reigns, but Nebraska is not the answer to stop Sparty. Nebraska may have beaten UM (ha) but MSU is much better. Look for a suffocating Sparty YES win. MSU: 27--Neb: 10
Hoying: The B1G Leaders division race was over after the first game, with Ohio State grinding out a win over Wisconsin (shocker) to make for one of the most boring division races of the BCS era. The Legends, however, has just begun to clear up, and it seems that the winner of this matchup will be facing the Buckeyes in Indianapolis. Who has the edge? Both teams made Michigan's offense look pathetic, incompetent, lost, uninterested, weak, hopeless, and bad. But so did Akron. And UConn. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini salvaged his team's season from Bo Pelini land with a ridiculous Hail Mary reception against Northwestern, while Michigan State has been quietly mopping the floor with their B1G opponents (except the freaking Boilermakers for some reason). Normally, Lincoln has a magic force field around it that protects the Huskers from losing, but UCLA shattered it and Minnesota devoured the remains. You don't need to be a good QB to score on this Blackskirt defense. MSU: 24--Neb: 10
Schweinfurth: Question: What does Michigan State do really well at on defense? Answer: Stop the run. What does Nebraska do best on offense? Run the ball. It is really that simple. I know Michigan State's offense isn't great but it is effective enough (Spartyball?). This will be close only because of the Spartan offense is that bad. Sparty wins and sets up an OSU/MSU B1G Championship Game. MSU: 17--Neb: 9
Stanford Cardinal @ USC Trojans
Draper: Stanford is living large after taking down the Ducks, but the Trojans are quietly winning without any talk. Ed Orgeron is trying (desperately) to hang on while he can. The Trojans will jump out to an early lead as Stanford is really built to beat a small team like Oregon. When Stanford realizes they're in trouble, their will be just enough time to come back and squeak out the win over the horrible QB play in LA. Trojans fight, but Cardinal escape with their eyes locked on a potential Pac12 title. Stan: 27--USC: 24
Hoying: Seeing this matchup always puts a smile on my face as I'm transported back to that monumental upset in 2007. That was also the year that Michigan lost to Appalachian State (hot hot hot), but the Stanford-USC upset was arguably even bigger and easily the worst of Carroll's career. Since then, USC has beaten Stanford exactly once, in 2008, and the Trojans are in the midst of their first-ever 4 game losing skid to the Tree. Looks like a lock for 5 in a row, right? Not so fast. USC might be the most underrated and overlooked team in the country. Only the really puzzling loss to a not-as-bad-as-usual Washington State team sticks out on an otherwise decent resume. The defense has been great (outside of the Arizona State game) and interim (or is he?) coach Ed Orgeron seems to have the team believing they can live up to the recruiting hoopla. Stanford will still win; they're an excellent team on both sides of the ball and their backup center has The Shining (or something like that). But don't be surprised to see the Trojans put up quite a fight and catch some experts off-guard. Stan: 20--USC: 17
Schweinfurth: Stanford is fresh off the big win at Oregon and has had an extra few days to prepare for the Trojans. The Trojans, while looking better under a competent coach, are still bad. Stanford wins. Stan: 28--USC: 21
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Illinois Fighting Illini
Draper: OSU almost always has trouble scoring in Champaign. Even if this is the case, the Illini have shown an aversion to scoring in Champaign as well. That being said, the ground game will take center stage as the Bucks steamroll a horribly overmatched foe. Nathan Scheelhouse has never lived up to the hype and this will be no different. 3 Buckeyes rush for 100 yards (let's go Miller, Hyde, and...Elliot I guess) and Illibuck retains a home in Columbus. OSU: 45--Ill: 13
Hoying: Whoo boy, another nail-biter. The Buckeyes don't traditionally score a lot of points in Champaign (under 30 every game since 1998) but they don't traditionally have Urban Meyer as their coach, either. This Illini defense is legendarily bad (think Purdue) and the Buckeyes have had two whole weeks to prepare...for Michigan, but they probably spent a day getting ready for Illinois, too. They should've watched game film of Indiana instead. Bucks win the Donatello trophy and keep rolling toward 13-0. OSU: 52--Ill: 10
Schweinfurth: Look, Illinois is bad. I mean "haven't won a game in the B1G since 2011" bad. Yes, their passing offense has shown signs of life but 600+ yards against a meh defense and 2 (!) touchdowns is just sad. If the wind is a factor Hyde and Miller run for 200 apiece. Even if the wind is a factor, Braxton still throws for 250. Buck keep on rolling.
OSU:63--Ill: 17
Upset Special
Draper: Duke over Miami (FL)
Hoying: Texas Tech over Baylor
Schweinfurth: Houston over Louisville
1) Schweinfurth 32-15 (4-7 upset)
2) Draper 31-16 (2-9 upset)
2) Hoying 31-16 (1-10 upset)
Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Texas Longhorns
Draper: Pokes vs. Horns. Is Texas morphing into the team they were supposed to be? Can they overcome the curse of GERG Robinson? Mike Gundy is a man, but can the Pokes take on a 'real' (maybe) team? This is the toughest game of the week to pick as these teams are pretty even in their mediocrity. OSU has beat up on the Little Sisters of the Poor and UT has taken down a strong Sooner squad. I'm going with the home team and the resurgence of the Mack Brown led Longhorns. Darrell K Royal stadium is the difference. OSU: 30--UT: 34
Hoying: So...much...orange...This game always makes me think of Texas's monster comeback against the Pokes during the Vince Young era, when he made a pump fake about 15 yards past the line of scrimmage and the linebacker jumped like he was Patrick Ewing trying to block Scottie Pippen in NBA Jam. Ah, memories. After an ugly, ugly start, the Longhorns are finally starting to live up to the preseason hype, rattling off 6 wins to start conference play. Oklahoma State has also been rolling merrily along after an ugly loss to West Virginia. The problem inherent in assessing these two teams is the same problem that plagues all Big 12 matchups: the good teams played all the crappy teams first, so it's hard to get a feel for how good the conference leaders really are. I see Oklahoma State as a slightly better version of Texas Tech: inflated record due to crappy opponents. Texas is battle-tested and ready for a fight. The Big 12 race shrinks to Texas vs. Baylor after a Longhorn victory. OSU: 27--UT: 30
Schweinfurth: Texas just isn't the Texas of old. I really don't think much of these two teams to be honest. While I do believe the Longhorns are still playing for Mac Brown's job, I just don't think Texas can score with the Cowboys. This will be entertaining but I'll take the other OSU. OSU: 42--UT: 38
Georgia Bulldogs @ Auburn Tigers
Draper: I'm gonna do it. I don't know why, but I have a feeling. UGA's defense is awful, but is Auburn ready for the pressure to mount? UGA is almost back to full strength and has been playing well over the last few weeks. I think Auburn is starting to look to the Iron Bowl but forgetting that Murray, Gurley, and Co. can score. The Bulldogs would be well advised to slow the game down and force Auburn into a knock-down drag-em-out fight. Auburn took down A&M but UGA (even though it's terrible) has a better D than the Aggies. Johnny Football lost with flash; can Gurley win with a blue-collar mentality? UGA: 30--Aub: 27
Hoying: Old man football's broken hip hasn't quite recovered enough to handle the hottest team in the SEC (yes, yes, other than Bama). I'm not sure Georgia would even win this game at full strength. In the year of the quarterback, Auburn has taken the SEC by storm with a punishing rushing attack, putting up at least 35 points against their last 5 opponents. In four of those matchups, the Tigers reached 45 (way to break the streak, Bert). That's bad news for a suspect Dawg defense. It doesn't matter what happens on the other side of the ball. Georgia simply can't stop Auburn or hope to keep up. Old and busted...new hotness. UGA: 24--Aub: 38
Schweinfurth: This is a game of the walking dead versus a very hot (possibly good) team. Let's face it, Georgia isn't the same team they were before that Tennessee game. Auburn has had a rejuvenation under Gus Mahlzon and I do believe in what he is building offensively. Georgia wasn't good on defense before the injuries and that continues into this week. Georgia keeps it close for a while but Auburn continues to roll towards the Iron Bowl. UGA:28--Aub: 40
Michigan State Spartans @ Nebraska Cornhuskers
Draper: Leaders on the line for real. A Spartan win essentially seals the Green and White's trip to Indy. The defense is for real, but the offense is showing signs of life. Don't get too excited; the Walrus still reigns, but Nebraska is not the answer to stop Sparty. Nebraska may have beaten UM (ha) but MSU is much better. Look for a suffocating Sparty YES win. MSU: 27--Neb: 10
Hoying: The B1G Leaders division race was over after the first game, with Ohio State grinding out a win over Wisconsin (shocker) to make for one of the most boring division races of the BCS era. The Legends, however, has just begun to clear up, and it seems that the winner of this matchup will be facing the Buckeyes in Indianapolis. Who has the edge? Both teams made Michigan's offense look pathetic, incompetent, lost, uninterested, weak, hopeless, and bad. But so did Akron. And UConn. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini salvaged his team's season from Bo Pelini land with a ridiculous Hail Mary reception against Northwestern, while Michigan State has been quietly mopping the floor with their B1G opponents (except the freaking Boilermakers for some reason). Normally, Lincoln has a magic force field around it that protects the Huskers from losing, but UCLA shattered it and Minnesota devoured the remains. You don't need to be a good QB to score on this Blackskirt defense. MSU: 24--Neb: 10
Schweinfurth: Question: What does Michigan State do really well at on defense? Answer: Stop the run. What does Nebraska do best on offense? Run the ball. It is really that simple. I know Michigan State's offense isn't great but it is effective enough (Spartyball?). This will be close only because of the Spartan offense is that bad. Sparty wins and sets up an OSU/MSU B1G Championship Game. MSU: 17--Neb: 9
Stanford Cardinal @ USC Trojans
Draper: Stanford is living large after taking down the Ducks, but the Trojans are quietly winning without any talk. Ed Orgeron is trying (desperately) to hang on while he can. The Trojans will jump out to an early lead as Stanford is really built to beat a small team like Oregon. When Stanford realizes they're in trouble, their will be just enough time to come back and squeak out the win over the horrible QB play in LA. Trojans fight, but Cardinal escape with their eyes locked on a potential Pac12 title. Stan: 27--USC: 24
Hoying: Seeing this matchup always puts a smile on my face as I'm transported back to that monumental upset in 2007. That was also the year that Michigan lost to Appalachian State (hot hot hot), but the Stanford-USC upset was arguably even bigger and easily the worst of Carroll's career. Since then, USC has beaten Stanford exactly once, in 2008, and the Trojans are in the midst of their first-ever 4 game losing skid to the Tree. Looks like a lock for 5 in a row, right? Not so fast. USC might be the most underrated and overlooked team in the country. Only the really puzzling loss to a not-as-bad-as-usual Washington State team sticks out on an otherwise decent resume. The defense has been great (outside of the Arizona State game) and interim (or is he?) coach Ed Orgeron seems to have the team believing they can live up to the recruiting hoopla. Stanford will still win; they're an excellent team on both sides of the ball and their backup center has The Shining (or something like that). But don't be surprised to see the Trojans put up quite a fight and catch some experts off-guard. Stan: 20--USC: 17
Schweinfurth: Stanford is fresh off the big win at Oregon and has had an extra few days to prepare for the Trojans. The Trojans, while looking better under a competent coach, are still bad. Stanford wins. Stan: 28--USC: 21
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Illinois Fighting Illini
Draper: OSU almost always has trouble scoring in Champaign. Even if this is the case, the Illini have shown an aversion to scoring in Champaign as well. That being said, the ground game will take center stage as the Bucks steamroll a horribly overmatched foe. Nathan Scheelhouse has never lived up to the hype and this will be no different. 3 Buckeyes rush for 100 yards (let's go Miller, Hyde, and...Elliot I guess) and Illibuck retains a home in Columbus. OSU: 45--Ill: 13
Hoying: Whoo boy, another nail-biter. The Buckeyes don't traditionally score a lot of points in Champaign (under 30 every game since 1998) but they don't traditionally have Urban Meyer as their coach, either. This Illini defense is legendarily bad (think Purdue) and the Buckeyes have had two whole weeks to prepare...for Michigan, but they probably spent a day getting ready for Illinois, too. They should've watched game film of Indiana instead. Bucks win the Donatello trophy and keep rolling toward 13-0. OSU: 52--Ill: 10
Schweinfurth: Look, Illinois is bad. I mean "haven't won a game in the B1G since 2011" bad. Yes, their passing offense has shown signs of life but 600+ yards against a meh defense and 2 (!) touchdowns is just sad. If the wind is a factor Hyde and Miller run for 200 apiece. Even if the wind is a factor, Braxton still throws for 250. Buck keep on rolling.
OSU:63--Ill: 17
Upset Special
Draper: Duke over Miami (FL)
Hoying: Texas Tech over Baylor
Schweinfurth: Houston over Louisville
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Top 25 and Heisman Ballots - After Week 11
Rankings, as always, are based on what teams have done so far, not how we believe they'll finish.
Draper Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Baylor
5. Stanford
6. Auburn
7. Clemson
8. Oregon
9. Missouri
10. South Carolina
11. Oklahoma State
12. Michigan State
13. UCF
14. Arizona State
15. Wisconsin
16. Fresno State17. Northern Illinois
18. UCLA
19. Louisville
20. Texas A&M
21. Texas
22. Oklahoma
23. LSU
24. Virginia Tech
25. Minnesota
Draper Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Bryce Petty (QB--Baylor)
Hoying Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Baylor
5. Stanford
6. Auburn
7. South Carolina
8. Arizona State
9. Oregon
10. UCLA
11. UCF
12. Oklahoma
13. Clemson
14. Missouri
15. Michigan State
16. Texas
17. Oklahoma State
18. Fresno State
19. Northern Illinois
20. Notre Dame
21. Texas A&M
22. Mississippi
23. Wisconsin
24. Virginia Tech
25. Georgia
Hoying Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Marcus Mariota (QB--Ore)
[4. Bryce Petty (QB--Baylor)]
Schweinfurth Top 25
Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Marcus Mariota (QB--Ore)
Draper Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Baylor
5. Stanford
6. Auburn
7. Clemson
8. Oregon
9. Missouri
10. South Carolina
11. Oklahoma State
12. Michigan State
13. UCF
14. Arizona State
15. Wisconsin
16. Fresno State17. Northern Illinois
18. UCLA
19. Louisville
20. Texas A&M
21. Texas
22. Oklahoma
23. LSU
24. Virginia Tech
25. Minnesota
Draper Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Bryce Petty (QB--Baylor)
Hoying Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Florida State
3. Ohio State
4. Baylor
5. Stanford
6. Auburn
7. South Carolina
8. Arizona State
9. Oregon
10. UCLA
11. UCF
12. Oklahoma
13. Clemson
14. Missouri
15. Michigan State
16. Texas
17. Oklahoma State
18. Fresno State
19. Northern Illinois
20. Notre Dame
21. Texas A&M
22. Mississippi
23. Wisconsin
24. Virginia Tech
25. Georgia
Hoying Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Marcus Mariota (QB--Ore)
[4. Bryce Petty (QB--Baylor)]
Schweinfurth Top 25
2 1. Florida State
3 2.
Alabama
4 3.
Ohio State
5 4.
Baylor
6 5.
Clemson
7 6.
Stanford
7 7. Oregon
7 7. Oregon
8 8.
Missouri
1 9. Auburn
1 10. Fresno
State
1 11. UCLA
1 12. Wisconsin
13. Oklahoma
13. Oklahoma
1 14. Oklahoma
State
1 15. Michigan
State
1 16. South
Carolina
17. LSU
17. LSU
1 18. Texas
A&M
2 19. Georgia
20. Miami (FL)
20. Miami (FL)
2 21. UCF
2 22. Louisville
2 23. Northern
Illinois
2 24. Arizona
State
2 25. Minnesota
Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Jameis Winston (QB--FSU)
2. Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU)
3. Marcus Mariota (QB--Ore)
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Why Stanford over OSU is stupid and 'the bet'
Ok everyone. Let's take a deep breath. We saw Stanford dominate Oregon for 50 minutes (and almost gag away a 26 point lead in 10 minutes...) and everyone in the media wants to jump them over OSU and Baylor. In fact, a friend of mine (let's call him G. Pyle to protect his identity) texted me that he'd 'bet his testicles' that Stanford would jump OSU in the BCS this week because 'the media hates us'. This may not be absolute nonsense as shown by Jesse Palmer's incessant need to "not discount the Utah loss...but they didn't play Stanford football!', but the thought of Stanford jumping is ludicrous.
Why? Let's take an objective view.
OSU is an undefeated team in a BCS conference. Yes, the B1G is down, but the facts speak for themselves. Also, the Buckeyes were ranked preseason number two. As stated in a recent College Football News column, this is the first time a team who started number two dropped to four without losing. Why, you ask, doesn't this permit Stanford to jump the Bucks? Let's compare resumes.
Stanford wins (in order of significance--subjective): Oregon, UCLA, ASU, Washington, Oregon State, WSU, Army, SJSU
OSU wins (in order of significance--subjective): Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern, Buffalo, Penn State, SDSU, Cal, Purdue, FAMU
Oregon vs. Wisconsin--What has Oregon done this year? The win over UCLA was nice, but other than that, the stupid 'eye test' is what helps the Ducks. Wisconsin should be 8-1 but the dumb Pac 12 refs messed it up. Either way, edge: Stanford (but it's closer than you think).
UCLA vs. Iowa--UCLA seems to be falling after a hot start, but their best win is over failing Nebraska (win % of teams UCLA beat=0.379--25-41) . They've lost their only 2 'tough' games. Iowa is 6-4 but the losses are to teams with a combined 3 losses (and one of those losses is the disputed Wisc. ASU game). Granted, Iowa's wins were against bad teams as well -- except Minn--but are these teams that different? Edge: Stanford
NW vs. Wash--I skipped to Washington because these teams match so well. Both NW and Wash were ranked 16 and 15 respectively when OSU and Stanford beat them and 'ended' their seasons. NW hasn't won since (losing on a Hail Mary--but all losses came to teams with winning records) and Washington followed the loss to Stanford with blowout losses to Oregon and ASU before beating Pac 12 bottom feeders. I still believe NW is a decent team, but the loss in their biggest home game EVER killed their hopes. I say this is a push
ASU vs. Buffalo--Take the jersey names away. ASU's has 'wins' over Wisc (disputed) and USC--causing Kiffin's canning. Buffalo has 2 losses...to undefeated teams. Yeah, their wins don't wow anyone, but they're trouncing every in their path (except Stony Brook). Neither has really proven anything, but the 'win' over Wisc is better than Buffalo's impressive record. Slight Edge: Stanford
OregState vs. Penn State: PSU's losses came to 2 BCS front runners and another division contender. Oregon State lost to Eastern Washington....yeah. Both teams have equivalent 'bad' wins, but the loss to EWU kills the Beaver's argument. Slight Edge: OSU
The rest--The other teams don't matter. Push
OK. So it appears that Stanford has the clear edge in win quality over OSU when all is said and done. Now to add in the last component: Losses
Stanford (key losses)--Utah
OSU (key losses)--none found
Herein lies the rub. Stanford lost to Utah. People may 'forget' it now and try to ignore it, but those that matter, cannot. This blemish ends all argument. Yes, they have (slightly) better wins, but it just doesn't come close to outweighing a bad loss (or any loss). I don't care if they weren't 'playing Stanford football' that day. They lost. It counts. Are they better than OSU? Maybe, but that's not the issue. The goal of the BCS should be (and more or less, is) who is the most deserving? The best team in ANY playoff scenario doesn't always win...and the BCS is a two-team playoff. Any playoff scenario should try to match the top deserving teams--of which, Stanford is not.
On any given Saturday, anyone of the following: Bama, FSU, OSU, Baylor, Stanford, Clemson, Oregon, and Auburn), could be the best team in the country, but it doesn't matter. Two get a shot and Stanford, Clemson, Oregon, and Auburn have already blown their chance to be considered at this time. If the argument devolves to choosing among 1 loss teams, then the conversation changes.
Note: What about Northern Illinois and Fresno State? Yes, they are undefeated, but this is the 'Boise State' scenario. When you have no wins of any note (and yes, wins over Wisconsin--Bucks, Oregon--Stanford, UCLA--Oregon, Clemson--FSU, LSU--Bama, UGA--Clemson, Oklahoma--Baylor are 'wins of note'), this disqualifies you from an 'undefeated argument'. If, however, there was only 1 undefeated team (or none) from power conferences, NIU and Fresno State must be discussed (probably won't win, but deserve to be in the conversation).
Right now: it's FSU and Bama. Their resumes clearly beat all other contenders. If one loses, there will be an argument between OSU and Baylor. If another spot opens...get ready for a wild ride--exactly what is expected and what makes college football so fun. Let the system work itself out, but don't let one game overwhelm the body of work from a season.
That being said, anyone that wants to collect on the 'bet' with Mr. Pyle is welcome to have at it.
Why? Let's take an objective view.
OSU is an undefeated team in a BCS conference. Yes, the B1G is down, but the facts speak for themselves. Also, the Buckeyes were ranked preseason number two. As stated in a recent College Football News column, this is the first time a team who started number two dropped to four without losing. Why, you ask, doesn't this permit Stanford to jump the Bucks? Let's compare resumes.
Stanford wins (in order of significance--subjective): Oregon, UCLA, ASU, Washington, Oregon State, WSU, Army, SJSU
OSU wins (in order of significance--subjective): Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern, Buffalo, Penn State, SDSU, Cal, Purdue, FAMU
Oregon vs. Wisconsin--What has Oregon done this year? The win over UCLA was nice, but other than that, the stupid 'eye test' is what helps the Ducks. Wisconsin should be 8-1 but the dumb Pac 12 refs messed it up. Either way, edge: Stanford (but it's closer than you think).
UCLA vs. Iowa--UCLA seems to be falling after a hot start, but their best win is over failing Nebraska (win % of teams UCLA beat=0.379--25-41) . They've lost their only 2 'tough' games. Iowa is 6-4 but the losses are to teams with a combined 3 losses (and one of those losses is the disputed Wisc. ASU game). Granted, Iowa's wins were against bad teams as well -- except Minn--but are these teams that different? Edge: Stanford
NW vs. Wash--I skipped to Washington because these teams match so well. Both NW and Wash were ranked 16 and 15 respectively when OSU and Stanford beat them and 'ended' their seasons. NW hasn't won since (losing on a Hail Mary--but all losses came to teams with winning records) and Washington followed the loss to Stanford with blowout losses to Oregon and ASU before beating Pac 12 bottom feeders. I still believe NW is a decent team, but the loss in their biggest home game EVER killed their hopes. I say this is a push
ASU vs. Buffalo--Take the jersey names away. ASU's has 'wins' over Wisc (disputed) and USC--causing Kiffin's canning. Buffalo has 2 losses...to undefeated teams. Yeah, their wins don't wow anyone, but they're trouncing every in their path (except Stony Brook). Neither has really proven anything, but the 'win' over Wisc is better than Buffalo's impressive record. Slight Edge: Stanford
OregState vs. Penn State: PSU's losses came to 2 BCS front runners and another division contender. Oregon State lost to Eastern Washington....yeah. Both teams have equivalent 'bad' wins, but the loss to EWU kills the Beaver's argument. Slight Edge: OSU
The rest--The other teams don't matter. Push
OK. So it appears that Stanford has the clear edge in win quality over OSU when all is said and done. Now to add in the last component: Losses
Stanford (key losses)--Utah
OSU (key losses)--none found
Herein lies the rub. Stanford lost to Utah. People may 'forget' it now and try to ignore it, but those that matter, cannot. This blemish ends all argument. Yes, they have (slightly) better wins, but it just doesn't come close to outweighing a bad loss (or any loss). I don't care if they weren't 'playing Stanford football' that day. They lost. It counts. Are they better than OSU? Maybe, but that's not the issue. The goal of the BCS should be (and more or less, is) who is the most deserving? The best team in ANY playoff scenario doesn't always win...and the BCS is a two-team playoff. Any playoff scenario should try to match the top deserving teams--of which, Stanford is not.
On any given Saturday, anyone of the following: Bama, FSU, OSU, Baylor, Stanford, Clemson, Oregon, and Auburn), could be the best team in the country, but it doesn't matter. Two get a shot and Stanford, Clemson, Oregon, and Auburn have already blown their chance to be considered at this time. If the argument devolves to choosing among 1 loss teams, then the conversation changes.
Note: What about Northern Illinois and Fresno State? Yes, they are undefeated, but this is the 'Boise State' scenario. When you have no wins of any note (and yes, wins over Wisconsin--Bucks, Oregon--Stanford, UCLA--Oregon, Clemson--FSU, LSU--Bama, UGA--Clemson, Oklahoma--Baylor are 'wins of note'), this disqualifies you from an 'undefeated argument'. If, however, there was only 1 undefeated team (or none) from power conferences, NIU and Fresno State must be discussed (probably won't win, but deserve to be in the conversation).
Right now: it's FSU and Bama. Their resumes clearly beat all other contenders. If one loses, there will be an argument between OSU and Baylor. If another spot opens...get ready for a wild ride--exactly what is expected and what makes college football so fun. Let the system work itself out, but don't let one game overwhelm the body of work from a season.
That being said, anyone that wants to collect on the 'bet' with Mr. Pyle is welcome to have at it.
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