Games I watched (some of) (*):
(12) Missouri 21-30 (2) Georgia
I was reasonably impressed with Missouri, a bad 4th quarter interception really gave this away for them but they played hard and were in it til (almost) the end. This was the best game that Georgia has played this season: they were tested on both sides and they came up with the plays they needed more often than not. This is not a game that UGA as paying much attention to and Missouri is better than you think, I thought this would be a good match and I was right. Sneaky good W for Georgia, not a bad L for Missouri (though they had their chances to steal this).
(5) Washington 52-42 (20) Southern Cal
I caught most of the 4th quarter, still good back and forth action, I was afraid the Trojans would score a late TD and cover the spread but it came to naught. I'm definitely a believer in Caleb Williams (not necessarily for a second Heisman but definitely for #1 pick in the draft) but, man, I was really impressed with Washington's QB Penix: big kid, moves well, he's a lefty but throws a good ball, made the big plays when necessary--I like this kid, too! I hadn't seen UW yet this year and I was pretty impressed and since they've already beaten Oregon (who is dominating lately), I'd say they can stamp their ticket for whatever the playoff looks like this year.
(23) Kansas State 30-33 (OT) (7) Texas
Texas kinda domiated the 1st half, then more or less disappeared in the 2nd. Once Kansas State got rolling, they were the better team on both sides and why they went for it on 4th down in OT instead of just kicking the FG, I don't understand. Dude, your team was better than Texas, just keep the game going and you'll pull it out! Any time I see a coach do something that stupid, I automatically assume he's auditioning for the Chargers job, so don't be surprised if Kansas State's coach is on the sidelines in LA next year. Wildcats blew a perfectly winnable game, the Longhorns got lucky.
(14) Louisiana State 28-42 (8) Alabama
Fun game, pretty even match until the refs let Alabama violently assault LSU's QB: helmet to helmet is 1 15-yad penalty and driving him into the turf is a 2nd 15-yard penalty, how does this lineman not get tossed out of the game? That's two red cards in one play and he received zero. WTF? I thought we were protecting QB's now! The next day this happened....so are we protecting QB's or what? How do "rules" work again? Look, Alabama'a QB Millroe has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 4-6 weeks or so and the Tide are kinda dangerous again. They matched LSU for a while but once they Tide found their form they were the better team (especially when the refs let them openly pummel the other team).
Top 25
Handled their business
(1) Ohio State, (2) Georgia, (3) Michigan, (4) Florida State, (5) Washington, (6) Oregon, (8) Alabama, (11) Penn State, (13) Louisville, (16) Oregon State, (17) Tennessee, (18) Utah, (21) Kansas, (22) Oklahoma State
Won but did not impress
(7) Texas
Admit it, Longhorns: you got lucky. The other team had you beat on your own home field and their idiot coach coached K-State right out of a win in Austin. Texas is a nice team but not sure they're top tier--pretty confident they would not beat Alabama in a rematch this weekend.
(10) Mississippi
Perhaps I'm being overly critical, a W against a quality conference foe is not something scoff at, but I wanted a decisive victory for Ol' Miss and they didn't deliver. If they're truly a top 10 squad, then show the world that you can handle yourself when facing a so-so opponent. The Rebels got the late victory, can't really complain and yet....I feel like complaining.
(24) Tulane
What is you with you, Tulane? Are you a top 25 team? Doesn't that suggest you should score more than 13 points at winless East Carolina? Why is Tulane on my scoreboard?
Bad beat
(12) Missouri
UGA is better but the Tigers gave them a game. Unfortunate late turnover doomed them but they were very much in this game in the 4th quarter and that's a serious accomplishment.
(14) Louisiana State
I think Alabama was better and would've won anyway, but the refs standing by and watching as your QB gets carted off is a tough way to go. LSU is such a strong program that people watch this team and think they suck (I wish my team sucked like this).
(20) Southern Cal
Game effort but we know what USC is: good offense, terrible defense. I like that QB and those WR's, but that D is *shudder*.
(23) Kansas State
Sorry, guys, your coach is an idiot. He thought he' go for it on 4th down instead of just kicking the FG and keeping the game going. You were better than Texas and everyone but your coach knew that if the game just kept going, you would invariably get the win. Oh well, maybe next time you'll have a better coach.
Not so good
(9) Oklahoma
Let's be honest: the Sooner have been shaky all year long. They got a nice W at Texas but they've hardly been dominant at anything in any way. They really aren't a top 10 team and the Cowboys just showed that to be true but giving them a good dose of reality.
(15) Notre Dame
You should've beat Clemson. That's just all there is to it. Clemson was laying in wait for you all season long and you fell for it instead of just handling your business. You know how much you should've beaten Clemson? Beating Clemson wouldn't even have done anything for you...that's how beatable Clemson is this year and you didn't beat them.
(19) UCLA
Gotta win on the road if you want to be a big dog. UCLA is not a big dog.
(25) Air Force
WTF, Air Force? Who are you and why are you taking up space in my top 25? You got smoked at home by an Army team that isn't any good at all. Very disappointing.
My Own Top 12 (probably should've started this earlier but here it is for now):
(1) Georgia (the 2-time defending champs, just now starting to play their best football)
(2) Ohio State (they beat Notre Dame and Penn State and even though I haven't been wowed by the Buckeyes yet this season, they're playing winning football and the Michigan game is all that matters)
(3) Washington (I think the Huskies are underappreciated; they've already beaten Oregon and USC, stomped Michigan State and Boise State, avoided the Arizona State trap, if they beat Utah, what else do you need them to do?)
(4) Florida State (not overly impressed with their resume so far, but they keep winning and that's good)
(5) Oregon (convincing wins over Colorado and Utah, a tough L @ Washington, feel like they won't fall for USC, Arizona State or Oregon State, this team is firmly in the top 10, I got them top 5).
(6) Michigan (they haven't played anybody at all; beat Penn State and Ohio State and they'll cement themselves in the top 3 but until then, why are they so highly ranked? They haven't played anyone at all after 10 weeks!)
(7) Alabama (beating Tennessee and LSU in the last two weeks (I think they'll whip Kentucky this week) has turned their so-so season around, the QB play is getting there, the D is punishing, the Tide is coming--UGA needs to be wary)
(8) Penn State (played well against Ohio State, got their chance at Michigan this week, the Nittany Lions are a good team in a tough neighborhood but they still need to produce a signature victory to gt some real playoff love)
(9) Texas (didn't Texas beat Alabama, you say? Yeah but that was Week 2, if they played in Week 11, I think the Tide would stomp the Longhorns; I've been skeptical of UT all season and my skepticism is only growing; they've still got a good record so I'll keep them at #9 but I don't see them getting higher than that)
(10-12) Utah, Mississippi, Tennessee (there's a drop at #10 but Utah still has greatness in their grasp @ Washington, whereas I feel like Ole Miss gets pummeled by Alabama and Tennessee gets pummeled by UGA, these three are still alive even if I'm dubious of their chances but I can't get into Louisville or Oregon State--not sure either of them are better than Missouri and actually I still have a lot of respect for LSU and Arizona, a coupla 3-Loss teams that play harder than some of the more successful sides)
Next week's intriguing matches:
(2) Michigan @ (9) Penn State (winner of this game finally has a good W on their resume)
(8) Alabama @ Kentucky (I think Alabama will show that their recent offensive prowess is for real and will lay a smackdown on an okay UK team)
(13) Utah @ (5) Washington (one last gasp for Utah or another feather in the cap for UW?)
(14) Tennessee @ (16) Missouri (good conference grudge match between two pretty good teams)
(10) Mississippi @ (1) Georgia (UGA is only now beginning to play real football, can the Rebels catch them off guard? I doubt it but its possible)
Michigan State @ (3) Ohio State (I've seen the Spartans sneak attack the Buckeyes so many times...it can't possibly happen this year, can it? (I'd say no, but I've said that before)
Southern Cal @ (6) Oregon (I think Oregon will tool the Trojans but it is USC's last chance to put an impressive win on their resume)
(*) For some reason I watched way more of Dortmund 0-4 Bayern Munich than was necessary. Bayern's counterattack just choked out anything Dortmund could push forward over and over and over. Embarrassing L for Dortmund.
No comments:
Post a Comment