And we once again have chaos in the BCS! It seemed that Oregon and Kansas State were in line to coast to Miami, but now they’re both on the outside looking in. And the current #1 and #2 don’t have an easy road either. ND has to go to USC and Alabama has the Iron Bowl and the SEC Championship. Florida may be in the best position of any team, assuming they can beat their fourth Top-10 ranked team of the year, which is a big if, at Florida State this weekend. Oregon needs lots of help – a Notre Dame loss, an Alabama loss to a Georgia team that needs to lose to Georgia Tech before the SEC Championship, a Stanford loss to UCLA; and not to mention an Oregon win against Oregon State and a win against UCLA in the PAC-12 Championship. I’m not sure how to feel that it is basically a four team race at this point: Notre Dame and three SEC teams. Is college football ready for another SEC/SEC match-up? Then again, is the college football world ready for a Big “10” with Maryland and Rutgers?
Here’s the Autumn Wind’s week 12 Top-10 recap:
1. I’ve mentally prepared myself for Notre Dame losing to USC all year. That’s just what happens to the Irish lately. But, they keep winning; they keep improving on offense; and that defense is right up there with Alabama, LSU, and Florida. Plus, Lame Kiffin is a well documented joke of a coach (four PAC-12 loses for the AP preseason #1 team?) and it is looking like Barkley won’t play with the nasty shoulder injury. Also, look at this stat: in their third seasons as coach of the Irish, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine, Lou Holtz, and now Brian Kelly are a combined 61-2-1 in their third seasons with the previous four winning National Championships in their third season. Destiny? Luck of the Irish? About damn time Notre Dame is back? Nope, I tell ya, I’m mentally prepared for the loss on Saturday.
2. LSU needed two late scores to beat Ole’ Miss and if you made it past Les Miles’ odd rant in the post game press conference, you look at the standings and LSU has a chance to still play for the SEC Championship. Sure, it would require A&M beating Missouri (likely) and Auburn beating Alabama (no way in hell).
3. The loss by Kansas State and the poor performance by Collin Klein has really opened up the Heisman race. But, other than Johnny Manziel, no one seems to be stepping out of the shadows (and it’s not like Te’o really ever had a chance). And, since the Heisman folks seem to never allow freshman into their elusive club, it looks like Klein will take the trophy, especially if he has a big game against Texas in a couple weeks.
4. Too bad there wasn’t more on the line in the Oklahoma/West Virginia game (other than in uncle Geno’s football pool). What a wild game: 1440 yards of total offense, 99 total point (should’ve been well over 100 but they both missed a couple 2-point conversions), and Oklahoma escapes Morgantown, and West Virginia still isn’t bowl eligible. They’re giving up more nearly 50/game during their five game skid.
5. I haven’t been able to tell how good Clemson is. Sure, they’ve ripped through that ACC schedule and they did put up 37 @ Florida State earlier in the year (outside of that game FSU is only giving up 10.6/game). I guess we’ll find out this week when they host South Carolina. A win, and a one loss Clemson team, could shake things up in the final standings.
6. I’ll say it again, I’m mentally prepared for Notre Dame to lose to USC, but I did get great admiration watching Kiffin on the sidelines as UCLA took it right to the Trojans and got out of there with a win and the PAC-12 South division. I wonder if Kiffin will be the next Arizona Cardinals coach?
7. Who would’ve thought that Michigan State would need a win against Minnesota this weekend to become bowl eligible? Well, when your seven conference games have been decided by 20 points (that’s less than three a game for the UofSuck math majors out there), that’s gonna happen.
8. Tom Osborne led the Huskers onto the field for their last game of the year, and Dr. Tom’s last game of his career, at Memorial Stadium. After an easy win over the Gophers, Nebraska is likely going to the Big 10 Championship Game and a shot at the Rose Bowl. The loss @ UCLA earlier in the year is looking better and better, but the blow out @ Ohio State still has to make the Husker Nation scream.
9. So Rutgers lost to Kent State and is likely gonna be the Big East representative in the BCS? How ‘bout the MAAC take that seat – I’d rather see Kent State or Northern Illinois in that game.
10. They say baseball is a game of inches. Don’t tell that to the Ducks. After Stanford scored the game tying TD in the final two minutes on a very close in-bounds call in the end zone, Oregon clonked a FG off the upright in O.T., barely missed out on a subsequent Stanford fumble, and watched Stanford squeak the game winning FG just inside the upright. A few inches either way and Oregon is still in business.
Now on to the Top-10 in the standings:
Top-10:
#1 Notre Dame (11-0) – Even though I’m mentally prepared for you to lose to USC, please, please, PLEASE, beat them!!!!
#2 Alabama (10-1) – The Iron Bowl is still a rivalry game, isn’t it?
#3 Georgia (10-1) – Wins over Florida and potentially Alabama in the SEC Championship would make you deserving of a #2 spot. I think.
#4 Oregon (10-1) – Still gotta chance. Need a win in the Civil War, a UCLA win against Stanford, and you’re back in the picture. Chin up, Ducks.
#5 Florida (10-1) – If you don’t win your conference you can’t go to the….wait, how many times has this happened now?
#6 Kansas State (10-1) – Ouch.
#7 LSU (9-2) – Hmmmm, weren’t you sitting with two losses and in 7th place in 2007? Hmmmm…
#8 Stanford (9-2) – That Washington loss really hurts now!! But, you’re still not in the PAC-12 Championship.
#9 Texas A&M (9-2) – Do you think they want those second halves against Florida and LSU back?
#10 Florida State (10-1) – One point loss to some crappy team I can’t even remember (NC State, I think?) That’s the difference between #1 and #10.
Rising Fast:
Notre Dame – 11-0, #1 in the BCS for the first time ever, tied for 1st in the nation in scoring defense (and they’ll return seven starters next year including the beasts Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix, and Prince Shembo), a few great road wins, a few too many scares, and one win away from a championship appearance. Of course, it’s on the road at the Coliseum against long-time rival USC. Gulp.
Falling Faster:
Kansas State and Oregon – Win out, and you’re in!!! Now, you both need lots of help. But, stranger things have happened in the BCS era.
Heisman Watch:
Collin Klein, Kansas State – Klein’s gotta have a huge game against Texas, or I think the Heisman is going to a freshman for the first time ever. Johnny Football, grab your suit.
BCS Title Game Prediction:
Florida v. Alabama – Yes, I’m calling it. Notre Dame loses to USC, Florida beats Florida State, and Alabama wins the SEC and we’re stuck with yet another SEC/SEC match-up. Sharpen your pitch forks and light your torches!
Week 13 Big Games:
Florida @ Florida State – It’s the first time this game has been relevant in over a decade. But it’s not Spurrier and Bowden anymore. These are both smash mouth teams, with FSU leading the country in total defense and Florida is third in the nation in scoring defense. Both teams have an outside chance of back dooring into the National Championship game but they both need a win here. Turnovers, field position, and rushing yards will make the difference in this game, and that often favors the home team. I’ll take Florida State 24 Florida 20.
Oregon @ Oregon State – On paper, Oregon should win this one big. But, it’s the Civil War, and it’s in Corvallis. But, Oregon’s won four straight in the series, and while their National Championship hopes were apparently dashed by Stanford last week, Oregon still has a shot at Miami. Oregon gets back into form. Oregon 54 Oregon State 30.
Stanford @ UCLA – Interesting game here. If Stanford wins, they claim the PAC-12 North and play UCLA again in the PAC-12 Championship. If they lose, and Oregon beats Oregon State, then Oregon plays UCLA in the Championship game. If Stanford loses and Oregon State beats Oregon, then tie breaker rules would go into effect to see who plays UCLA. If you’re UCLA would you rather play Stanford or Oregon in the PAC-12 Championship? Not that I’m suggesting they’d throw a game, but just sayin’… But, Stanford is a couple calls away from being undefeated and has a toughness that UCLA hasn’t seen. Stanford wins, and sets up the rematch, 31 to 24.
South Carolina @ Clemson – Both teams are ranked in the Top-15 in this contest for the first time in 25 years, and South Carolina is looking to win a fourth straight over their instate rival, something that’s only happened once in this series. There’s been a war of words with both coaches dating back to last year’s game, and the players are getting chippy as well. Clemson has a shot at a BCS at large bid with a win, and South Carolina doesn’t have much to play for except for pride. Clemson’s version of Death Valley is a tough place to play, as Clemson has won 13 straight at home. I like Clemson 38 to 27.
Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma – Bedlam. Both teams have a Top-10 offense and chance to make some noise in the Big 12. Oklahoma had owned this series until Oklahoma State blew out the Sooners last year. But that was in Stillwater. This is in Norman, where OSU hasn’t won in over a decade. Oklahoma can still win the Big 12 with a win and a K State loss @ Texas. Oklahoma has too much fire power, and that OSU team from last year is just a shell of itself. Oklahoma 45 Oklahoma State 31.
Week 13 Game of the Week:
Notre Dame @ USC – Remember 1964? Okay, I don’t, but USC knocked off undefeated #1 Notre Dame at the Coliseum. Can they do it again? Barkley’s out, but USC still has two of the top WR in the game. Notre Dame has survived crappy performances against crappy teams, but have managed to show up in the big games. Ask Oregon if they’d rather be lucky than good at this point. But, the luck of the Irish runs out – turnovers and special teams will play a factor in this one. USC 20 Notre Dame 17.
Until next time…
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