Even after Notre Dame’s goal line stand late in the game (capping off an unthinkable season total of allowing -31 yards rushing in goal-to-go situations), I was still running through scenarios in my head. USC could get a safety and then run the kick back for a TD to tie it. But no, ND sealed it and is in the BCS Championship!!!!! Unbelievable.
Here’s the Autumn Wind’s week 13 Top-5 recap (gotta make it quick – elk hunt prep underway!):
1. You can’t win big games just by kicking FGs. Ask Alabama about how that worked for them last year in the regular season against LSU. Well, when you have the defense that Notre Dame does, and you’re playing against a fool of a coach like Lame Kiffin, you can get away with it. I’m sure there’s people out there still saying that Notre Dame is lucky, their schedule isn’t as tough as originally thought, blah, blah, blah; let’s face it - they’re undefeated for a reason. They just have found ways to win. And I’m not buying that they’ll lose by double digits to the eventual SEC Champion. They’ve shut up the critics all year – they were supposed to lose @ Michigan State, v. Michigan, @ Oklahoma, v. Stanford, @ USC, etc. but their defense just wouldn’t let it happen. Finally, a fun year to be an Irish fan!!!!! And, Notre Dame is the first football team to be ranked #1 in the polls and #1 in graduation success. Good for them.
2. Remember last week when I joked that the winner of the MAAC Championship between Kent State and Northern Illinois should take the Big East’s BCS spot? Well, it’s not looking like a joke. The winner of this game will likely be in top 16 and well ahead in the rankings over the Big East “champion,” so we’ll have a MAAC team in a BCS game, probably the Orange Bowl. Which means the Big East goes to the Sugar Bowl. And let’s not even think about what happens if Georgia Tech upsets Florida State in the ACC Championship. How pissed off are rest of the top 15 going to be, getting passed over in a BCS game by a crappy Big East team and a MAAC Champion? Is it playoff time yet?
3. There’s always something magical about watching ASU come from behind and beat UofSuck, especially in Tucson. Two years ago, ASU blocked a couple kicks late and in O.T to shock the Cats, and this year the Devils poured on 24 in the 4th via two picks and blocked punt. And I really wanted to throat punch the ESPN announcer that kept saying that the UofSuck kid was the leading rusher in the nation. Yeah, we heard you the first twelve times.
4. Oregon took care of business in the Civil War, but without a chance to win the PAC-12, they’re stuck in the same boat that Florida is. You know the Fiesta Bowl is excited to get the Ducks, especially with having been stuck with UConn last year. Many will see the Fiesta Bowl matchup between Oregon and Kansas State as the “what could’ve been” bowl with both teams ranked #1 and #2 just a couple weeks ago.
5. If ND’s defense is where offenses go to die, Alabama is where coaches go to die. Three of Alabama’s opponents this year have already let their coach go, and the season isn’t over yet. If Notre Dame should somehow beat ‘Bama, this may be the Autumn Wind’s finale. It will be hard to top that.
Now on to the Top-10 in the standings:
Top-10:
#1 Notre Dame (12-0) – Remember the wins against Stanford, Oklahoma, and USC. And let’s just forget about needing Pitt to miss a FG to avoid a home loss; or that late FG you needed to beat the Purdue.
#2 Alabama (11-1) – One loss? Doesn’t matter.
#3 Georgia (11-1) – That embarrassing loss @ South Carolina can all be forgotten.
#4 Oregon (11-1) – What could’a been…
#5 Florida (11-1) – You’d be a scary first round matchup in a playoff.
#6 Kansas State (10-1) – Ditto to what I said about Oregon.
#7 LSU (10-2) – Imagine if you played defense in the fourth quarter at home against Alabama?
#8 Stanford (10-2) – What the hell happened in that Washington game earlier?
#9 Texas A&M (10-2) – Johnny Football still has three years of eligibility left?
#10 South Carolina (10-2) – Spurrier spurs Clemson yet again.
Rising Fast:
The MAAC – BCS Busters!!!! I still think that if a non-AQ team is in the Top 16 and has a higher ranking than an AQ conference champion, the non-AQ should just get that spot and not tie up another spot. Yes, Big East, I’m talking to you.
Falling Faster:
Clemson and Florida State – Both got beat downs from their in-state big brothers from the SEC.
Heisman Watch:
Manti Te’o, Notre Dame – Remember how bad Manziel played in the second halves against Florida and LSU? Remember how bad Notre Dame’s offense is, and the reason they’re undefeated and #1 is because of that defense led by Te’o? If I had a vote, and someday I will, Manti is #1.
BCS Title Game Prediction:
Notre Dame v. Alabama – Did you know Bear Bryant was 0-4 against Notre Dame?
Week 14 Big Games:
UCLA @ Stanford – Part II. Same result. Stanford wins 35 to 17 and heads to the Rose Bowl.
Northern Illinois v. Kent State – The MAAC Championship has BCS implications! Who says we need a playoff? Northern Illinois’ resume is better, losing to Iowa by a point; while Kent State got blown out by Kentucky. Northern Illinois 31 Kent State 27.
Texas @ Kansas State – The default Big 12 Championship. If K. State wins, they head to the Fiesta Bowl, if they lose Oklahoma gets the crown (assuming they beat TCU). Is this one sponsored by Dr. Pepper? Kansas State had a week to rest, and Texas had a week to fall apart. K State big – 52 to 24.
Nebraska v. Wisconsin – Another conference title rematch, with Nebraska needing to come from behind at home to win the first one. But, Nebraska’s been on fire since the blowout against Ohio State, and Wisconsin can’t win close games (losing in overtime to Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State; and losing by a FG to Nebraska and Oregon State). Nebraska wins in a close one and heads to the Rose Bowl, 31 to 28.
Week 14 Game of the Week:
Alabama v. Georgia – Imagine that, the winner of the SEC Championship goes to the BCS Championship. Again. This one’s in Georgia’s back yard, but I’ve liked Alabama all year. I was initially leaning towards the upset, but Alabama is just too much of a complete team, and they can turn foes into one dimensional teams when they get going early. And they will here again. Alabama 38 Georgia 24
Until next time…
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