Down to four unbeatens (sorry Louisville and Ohio State, you don’t count), and all four have a legitimate claim to the top-2 spots. Alabama’s claim is week-in-and-week out blowouts in the best conference in football and a high preseason ranking. Oregon’s is a little more difficult, but comes down to this: yeah, we haven’t played anyone yet – but look at the tail end of our schedule; don’t we deserve #2 if we run that table? Kansas State’s is more straightforward: road wins over Oklahoma and West Virginia. And Notre Dame has a say as well: the only team to beat four Top-25 teams so far (including two top-10 teams on the road), and before I get hate mail from the K St fans, let’s look at common opponents: Kansas State v. Miami 52-13, Kansas State @ Oklahoma 24-19; Notre Dame against Miami on a neutral field 41-3 and Notre Dame @ Oklahoma 30-13. Of course, many folks are saying that this justifies the four team playoff, but I’ll tell you this: there’s still a lot of football to play, and I’ll be shocked if these four are undefeated by the time middle December rolls around.
Here’s the Autumn Wind’s week 9 Top-10 recap:
1. If Alabama’s idea of a look-ahead game against an undefeated Mississippi State team is a 38-7 rout, I’m fearful for what they’ll do to Les and company this weekend. Yes, even at Death Valley. A #1 defense, a #1 rated QB, and rated #1 in offensive TD efficiency obviously equal the #1 team in the country.
2. I wish Oregon would quit putting on the breaks. They probably could’ve cracked 100 at least two or three times this season, but instead pull back on the reigns and drop in the standings as a result. Not cool.
3. Kansas State is firing on all cylinders and appears to have the easiest road to 12-0. That would all but secure the Heisman for Klein as well.
4. Can someone explain Washington to me? They’ve beaten two top-10 (at the time) teams in Oregon State and Stanford, and kept it close against USC. Oh, those were all at home – and they only have one home game left: sorry Utah.
5. I watched the USC/UofSuck game with great interest. It turned out to be entirely possibly to hope to find a way that both teams lose. Good pick by Herbstreit to take the Wildcats in the upset, and now the Oregon/USC game this weekend will be on TV #2 behind the Alabama/LSU game.
6. Tennessee is 0-5 in the SEC for the third straight season, but the bigger story out of that game was yet another injury to Marcus Lattimore from South Carolina. South Carolina is probably the best two loss team in the country, but they just won’t be the same without their star RB.
7. In Lincoln, the Blackshirts showed up, and Nebraska took care of Michigan and now have the inside track to the Big 10 title game. Assuming they can win @ Michigan State this weekend. Gulp.
8. Remember that team from Idaho that used to bust the BCS? Boise is quietly 7-1, and should be 8-0 if they actually figure out a way to make a play or two in the opener at Boise State.
9. Time to dust off the time breaker rules in the SEC again. South Carolina beat Georgia who beat Florida who beat South Carolina. Toss in some more potential chaos should LSU beat Alabama this weekend. Hmmmm, maybe there are a couple scenarios where the SEC Champion doesn’t play for the championship. Thankfully, an all-SEC title appears dead in the water with Georgia’s victory over Florida.
10. While Notre Dame’s defense has been fun to watch this year, their offense has been downright offensive at times; but has shown a glimmer in the last couple weeks with a much improved running game. Huge win @ Oklahoma on Saturday night, and once again, Notre Dame’s defense is where opposing offenses go to die. Case in point, check out what their opponents scored the week before they played Notre Dame compared to how they fared against the Irish (in parentheses): Purdue 48 (17), Michigan State 41 (3), Michigan 63 (6), Miami 44 (3), Stanford 54 (13), BYU 24 (14), Oklahoma 52 (13). Manti stays in the Heisman race, for now.
Now on to the Top-10 in the standings:
Top-10:
#1 Alabama (8-0) – Saban is only 3-3 against LSU since he’s been with Alabama.
#2 Oregon (8-0) – Sticking with the Ducks at #2. Don’t let me down!!
#3 Kansas State (8-0) – Will there ever be a letdown?
#4 Notre Dame (8-0) – I can’t decide if I want a loss before the USC game. Not sure I can take the stress of an 11-0 Irish team against a likely three loss USC team at the Coliseum.
#5 Georgia (7-1) – You beat Florida so you have to be ahead of them, right?
#6 LSU (7-1) – I should have you below Florida since you lost to them, but, better to lose early…
#7 Florida (7-1) – …than late.
#8 Florida State (8-1) – Remember us?
#9 South Carolina (7-2) – Much like Arkansas last year, we may not know how good you were based on two loses to incredible teams.
#10 Oregon State (6-1) – Once again, I have you at #10 because I can’t really put anyone else here.
Rising Fast:
Notre Dame – Not only are they 8-0 for the first time in 10 years, but they’ve won eight games in three straight years for the first time since 1991-1993. Just don’t blow any of your next three against Pitt, Boston College, and Wake Forest, please.
Falling Faster:
Oklahoma – Remember when they called him Big Game Bob? Stoops can’t seem to win ‘em anymore. Well, blowouts against Texas don’t count.
Heisman Watch:
Collin Klein, Kansas State – Manti is a better story, but Collin is a better candidate.
BCS Title Game Prediction:
Alabama v. Oregon – Still sticking with it. I want to see the #1 scoring defense versus the #1 scoring offense.
Week 10 Big Games:
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State – You keep waiting for Kansas State to have a letdown, and they just don’t. I keep saying that Saban is the best gameday prep coach in the country, but I may have to revise that: Synder is right up there. What about this week? Oklahoma State comes in with the #1 offense in the country (yards/game, at least), but K St has shown they can move the ball up and down the field as well. Look for this one to be a little bit closer than the W. Virginia or Texas Tech games, but K State rolls again: 48 to 43.
Oregon @ USC – I’ve had this one circled since USC went to Eugene and pulled off the upset last year. Sadly, the Trojans and their #1 AP preseason ranking have been disappointing this year: and I gladly place the blame solely on Lame Kiffen. I love Oregon in this one: 58 to 38
Nebraska @ Michigan State – Michigan State isn’t ranked anymore, but Nebraska needs this one to get a shot at the Big 10 Championship game. Nebraska struggles on the road, but Michigan State can’t score. Outside of Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Indiana, the Spartans biggest point total is 17 (in the opener against Boise). Surely Nebraska can score that much? Let’s take Nebraska 20 to 13.
Week 10 Game of the Week:
Alabama @ LSU – I’ve had this one circled since last year as well. Alabama dominated LSU twice last year (except for some crappy FG kicking in the regular season matchup), and while Death Valley at night is usually very good to LSU, Norman is usually very good to Oklahoma against ranked teams. How’d that work out for them? Alabama is as balanced of a college team I’ve ever seen, not flashy, certainly not the best defense Saban has had, but they don’t turn it over, they score early and often, and then they pin the ears back and get after the QB. LSU has no offense, and Alabama won’t need many FG attempts, which is what screwed them up last year. Alabama 31 LSU 13.
Until next time…
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