For the first time in a long time, my Top-9 is unchanged. South Carolina (#10 in my poll last week) was bounced after the loss in the Swamp. In the actual BCS standings, Oregon keeps dropping by winning, and winning big, which makes absolutely no sense. If you’re going to rank teams at the start of the season, they shouldn’t drop at all by starting 7-0. Just another reason why I hate the BCS. But, I still say Oregon gets in if they win out – especially with Oregon playing D2 Colorado this weekend while Alabama has undefeated Mississippi State, Florida has Georgia, Kansas State has Texas Tech, and Notre Dame has Oklahoma. There’s gonna be a big shakeup in the polls come Sunday.
Here’s the Autumn Wind’s week 8 Top-10 recap:
1. The Thursday night game was one of the weirder games I’ve seen (well, then again, a couple fit that bill this weekend). Oregon turns it over on their first possession and Arizona State scores on their first play. Then Oregon scores 43 straight in the next 19 minutes and doesn’t score again. ASU tacks on two TDs late, and had a chance at a 3rd that would’ve made it 43-28. But, Oregon wins in a 43-21 blowout that wasn’t nearly that close, and their reward is another drop in the BCS.
2. Texas A&M and South Carolina both had chances to get back into the SEC race against LSU and Florida, but both suffered too many turnovers, and too many turnovers on the wrong side of the field. Get this: Florida scored 44 points on less than 200 yards of total offense. That’s a point for every four yards of offense. It’s hard to overcome turnovers against quality opponents.
3. If it wasn’t for an overtime win against Louisiana-Monroe, Auburn would be 0-7. Either way, they’re 0-5 in the SEC, and need a win against ranked A&M, Georgia, and Alabama teams to avoid a winless SEC. That sound you hear is Chizik getting run out of town on a pine rail.
4. The Irish finally allowed a TD, well two actually, but still managed to escape with yet another win. Allowing a TD for the first time since the Purdue game is probably the best thing that could happen to that defense. Because, Oklahoma is going to score several TDs this weekend, and it’s going to be very important for the defense to regroup, if they are going to have a chance in Norman.
5. In the West Virginia game, the Heisman hopeful QB threw for 323 yards (on 19/21 passes) and three TDs, also adding four TDs on the ground. And no, I’m not talking about Geno Smith, I’m talking about the new Heisman front runner: Collin Klein. K State keeps rolling, but they have to take care of business this weekend against pesky Texas Tech. Geno, I can probably hook you up with Fiesta Bowl tickets if K State gets there. And, I mean uncle Geno, not Geno Smith.
6. How about Matt Barkley’s line: 19/20 for 298 yards and six TDs. Sure it was against Colorado, but he did break fellow USC QB Matt Leinart’s record of 99 career TD passes in the PAC-12 (Barkley’s now sitting on 102). Let’s see if he can break Leinart’s record for number of underage chicks doing beer bongs in the pool in Scottsdale. Or was it Ahwatukee?
7. Georgia fell behind three times to SEC winless Kentucky (even after a bye week), but managed to escape with a victory to set up a huge SEC East game this weekend against Florida at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
8. Ohio State keeps winning, and nobody keeps caring. Just the way it should be.
9. Sure, it was a triple overtime game, but Seth Doege from Texas Tech did throw seven TDs (3rd time he’s had at least six this year) and Texas Tech needs to be brought into the discussion in the BCS. And Doege needs to be brought into the Heisman discussion, so let’s do that next.
10. Geno’s out of the Heisman picture, Barkley’s back in it, Te’o keeps sticking around as long as the Irish keep winning, but no one has been as impressive and consistent as Collin Klein. Barring a major choke job, it’s his. Unless Doege (who leads the nation in TDs by the way) goes ballistic this weekend in Manhattan that is.
Now on to the Top-10 in the standings:
Top-10:
#1 Alabama (7-0) – Is it just me or do they always win 40-something to 10-something?
#2 Oregon (7-0) – Don’t worry, I got your back.
#3 Florida (7-0) – I keep picking against ‘em and keep losing.
#4 Kansas State (7-0) – Maybe those video gamers who had you winning it all were right?
#5 Notre Dame (7-0) – I don’t even want to think about what will happen if you somehow find a way to beat Oklahoma.
#6 LSU (7-1) – November 3rd awaiteth.
#7 Oklahoma (5-1) – A win over Notre Dame and your back in the picture.
#8 USC (6-1) – That loss to Stanford seems so long ago.
#9 Oregon State (6-0) – Best start in over 100 years.
#10 Georgia (6-1) – You do realize Kentucky sucks?
Rising Fast:
Texas Tech – The best team in Texas?
Falling Faster:
Auburn – Ouch. Looking like a winless season in the SEC just two years removed from winning it all.
Heisman Watch:
Collin Klein, Kansas State – Unless Barkley keeps rolling, or Te’o has five INTs against Oklahoma, I think this one’s pretty much wrapped up.
BCS Title Game Prediction:
Alabama v. Oregon – Nine weeks in and I still haven’t had to change my title game prediction? I’ve usually changed it three or four times by now.
Week 9 Big Games:
Mississippi State @ Alabama – Unbeaten Mississippi State comes to town; and they’re a 24 point underdog, the week before Alabama has to travel to LSU? Yikes. If this wasn’t at home, and if Saban wasn’t the best game day prep coach in the country, this would scream “trap!!!” But, then again, if the Queen had balls, she’d be King. Alabama 45 Mississippi State 20
Florida v. Georgia – SEC East is on the line. I’ve picked against Florida so many times this year, I almost have to stick with that. But, if the last six years has shown us anything, defense wins championships, and Florida’s is right up there with Alabama’s. Plus, Georgia was down three times to Kentucky over the weekend. Gators keep things interesting in the BCS race: 27 to 20
Texas Tech @ Kansas State – Tech had one of the roughest schedules this side of South Carolina or South Bend: @ Iowa State, v. Oklahoma, v. West Virginia, @ TCU, and now @ Kansas State. They managed to win three out of those four, but they did get blown out by Oklahoma, a team that Kansas State handled convincingly. Following a three O.T. emotional thriller @ TCU, and now having to travel to Manhattan won’t be good for the Red Raiders. They’ll start out flat, and need to come from behind, but K State’s defense is too tough. Kansas State 38 Texas Tech 31
Michigan @ Nebraska – Michigan’s first trip to Lincoln in 100 years, and it pits the high powered offense of Nebraska (first in the Big 10 in scoring) against the tough Michigan defense (10th in the country). Nebraska was humiliated in the Big House last year, and the inconsistent play from Michigan’s QB Denard Robinson will decide how this one shakes out. I think the Blackshirt’s get a few big turnovers and eek out enough points to get it done: 24 to 20.
Week 9 Game of the Week:
Notre Dame @ Oklahoma – Everyone’s talking about if Notre Dame’s defense can hold up against Oklahoma’s high powered offense. What no one is talking about is if Notre Dame’s offense can do anything at all against Oklahoma’s underrated defense. Notre Dame has proven they can shut teams down and come from behind by a score to win. But can their offense generate enough points to come from behind if that quick strike Oklahoma offense gets two or three quick scores? I don’t think so. Oklahoma 31 Notre Dame 17
Until next time…
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