Seven weeks in and the first BCS rankings are out with six SEC teams in the Top-12. I wonder if any of those experts who said the SEC wouldn’t win the Championship this year, let alone may not even have a team in the Top-2 want to change their mind? As I said in the preview, I don’t see a way the winner of the SEC Championship game doesn’t get into the Top 2. So who gets the other spot? Assuming Oregon runs the table; they will. But, if there’s not an undefeated team left, it will get ugly. We know Florida State is out no matter what, as is West Virginia, in my opinion. USC, Oklahoma, LSU, and South Carolina can all creep back into it; but they have to take care of business first – easier for USC than for Oklahoma and the SEC teams. And, I’ll say it now – we could wind up with SEC v. SEC again (assuming Oregon, Notre Dame, and Kansas State all lose somewhere along the way – which is very likely). Look at the schedule – let’s assume Alabama takes care of business the next four weeks (@ Tennessee, v. Miss St, @ LSU, v. A&M) and then they coast into the last two games of the regular season (v. Western Carolina and v. Auburn) and finish 12-0. Let’s say they lose the SEC Championship to an undefeated or one loss Florida, South Carolina, or Georgia. Does a 12-1 Alabama finish below #2 to a one loss Oregon, Notre Dame, or Kansas State? Probably not. Uh oh.
Here’s the Autumn Wind’s week 7 Top-10 recap:
1. Let’s get this out of the way early: yes, Taylor was down; or at least that’s what was called on the field and in the booth. Forward momentum was stopped; and when he did change directions and roll over, his left elbow was down before he stretched the ball across the goal line. Notre Dame’s defense still hasn’t given up a rushing TD all year, and their offense is giving up more overall TD’s than Manti Te’o and company. It’s fun to watch. Their offense on the other hand? Not so much. Notre Dame should beat BYU this weekend, but unless Rees can wake up the offense (they can’t keep running Golson out there, especially with that concussion), the game @ Oklahoma in two weeks is going to be ugly.
2. Which conference other than the SEC is the only conference with three remaining undefeated teams? The Big East. I didn’t see that coming; then again, between Rutgers, Louisville, and Cincinnati, their quality win is over four loss Arkansas.
3. And so it begins – the annual SEC “let’s beat up on ourselves and see who’s left standing.” First, LSU loses in the Swamp to Florida; then South Carolina falls to LSU in Death Valley, and I think there’s a good chance that South Carolina takes out Florida and Texas A&M takes out LSU this weekend. Alabama’s schedule is looking better and better…
4. Do you think West Virginia got caught peeking ahead to Kansas State? A classic trap game gobbles up another victim! But, Geno still has a lock on the Heisman, as the only other person to gain ground in the race is Manti T’eo, but I don’t see how a LB wins the Heisman.
5. Someone, please someone, beat Ohio State. Michigan, I’m looking at you! I can’t stand to see cheaters undefeated.
6. Kansas State is climbing up the polls fast. They’ve played two good teams, both on the road (Oklahoma and Iowa State), and won them both; and they go to Morgantown this weekend. That’s what championship caliber teams do: win tough, close games on the road. Are you listening Spurrier?
7. I forgot that the Red River shootout was an early game (9:00am on the Left Coast). By the time I tuned in, it was 36-2, Oklahoma. Way to show up to a rivalry game, Texas.
8. The concern with Oregon State was that, yeah, they’ve a solid defense, but their offense can’t score enough. And, they were going on the road with a back-up QB to play a BYU team that was giving up less than 9/game and hadn’t given up more than 300 yards in twelve straight. 450 yards and 35 points later, and the Beavers are showing they deserve that Top-10 ranking and a favorable remaining schedule with both Arizona State and Oregon at home.
9. It’s clear the only thing that can slow down Alabama is an act of God. Literally. Lightning delayed the game at Missouri, and gave the Tigers a chance to dust themselves off after Alabama raced off to a 28-0 lead. Welcome to the SEC, Missouri. Battle of the Bottom of the SEC West this weekend: 0-4 Missouri v. 0-4 Kentucky.
10. Texas A&M and Louisiana Tech combined for 116 points and about 1300 yards. The 57 given up by the Wrecking Crew were two scores more than they gave up in their first four games combined. And, those 57 points came in the final 29 minutes as they were pitching a shutout for the first quarter and a half. Will A&M’s defense be able to regroup when LSU comes to town this weekend? Because I can tell you this – LSU’s defense is just a teeny bit better than Louisiana Tech’s.
Now on to the Top-10 in the standings:
Top-10:
#1 Alabama (6-0) – The computer’s don’t like you, but I do.
#2 Oregon (7-0) – Just win out, and it doesn’t matter.
#3 Florida (6-0) – Ye Ole’ Ball Coach coming back to town this weekend!
#4 Kansas State (6-0) – Throwback team. Love it.
#5 Notre Dame (6-0) – I wonder why Kelly hates Rees so much? All he does is come in for Golson and win games.
#6 LSU (6-1) – Watch out for your trip to College Station!!!!
#7 Oklahoma (4-1) – Brutal 2nd half schedule: Notre Dame, @ Iowa State, @ West Virginia, @ TCU.
#8 USC (5-1) – Bet you’re glad to have both Oregon and Notre Dame @ the Coliseum.
#9 Oregon State (5-0) – Check out the schedule…the Nicholls State game was rescheduled to December 1, and the PAC-12 Championship is November 30. You may want to reschedule that again. Just sayin’.
#10 South Carolina (6-1) – Gotta chance to get back into things @ the Swamp.
Rising Fast:
Florida – The win @ A&M is looking more and more impressive.
Falling Faster:
Tennessee – 0-3 in the SEC, and make it 0-4 after Alabama visits.
Heisman Watch:
Geno Smith, West Virginia – Nine of the last 10 Heisman winners have been QBs. Geno stepped down a notch this weekend, but he still hasn’t thrown an inception – and no one (other than Te’o) really stepped up. It’s still Geno’s trophy, for now.
BCS Title Game Prediction:
Alabama v. Oregon – Eight weeks in and I haven’t had to change my title game prediction? I’ve usually changed it three or four times by now.
Week 8 Big Games:
Oregon @ Arizona State – It’ll be about 95 degrees in the desert on Thursday night; not that the Ducks have had any problems with that – winning four straight in Tempe, and seven straight overall against the Devils, winning by an average of three TDs. I was smelling an upset here for awhile, but I don’t see that happening anymore. But, ASU will make a game of this and won’t get blown out like they have the last seven. Oregon 47 Arizona State 38
Kansas State @ West Virginia – We know West Virginia can score (7th in the nation), but they were living dangerously with that defense (112th in the nation). Kansas State is the exact type of team that gives the Mountaineers trouble: physical, aggressive, and with a power running game. Kansas State in the driver’s seat in the Big12 after this one: K State 30 West Virginia 27
Alabama @ Tennessee – 3rd weekend in October….blah, blah, blah. Just putting this in for Greg so I don’t get hate mail for a month about not having this as a big game. Alabama 31 Tennessee 10
LSU @ Texas A&M – For LSU, sandwiched in between the South Carolina game and the Alabama game is this roaddie to A&M. They haven’t seen an offense like this yet this year, and they haven’t played in the wildness that is College Station. I’m calling the upset. A&M 27 LSU 20
Texas Tech @ TCU – Texas Tech is the better team, but they’re on the road following an emotional win against West Virginia. Tech has lost four straight following victories against ranked foes, and that won’t change here. TCU is TCU – gritty defense, disciplined, and back to classic Gary Patterson football. TCU 31 Texas Tech 27
Week 6 Game of the Week:
South Carolina @ Florida – This is about as even of a match-up as you can see – both teams rely heavily on the ground game and stingy defenses. But the intangible is with Spurrier coming back to the Swamp to take on his old team. Look for South Carolina to open up the offense a little bit, and look for South Carolina’s Lattimore to outrush Florida’s Gillislee. Regardless, points will be at a premium in this game – kicking FGs ain’t gonna cut it. Another upset in the SEC: South Carolina 20 Florida 13.
Until next time…
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