Say it with me Longhorn fans... M - I - Z !!! Z - O - U !!!
I know what you're expecting from me this week. Humble pie and awe shucks my Tigers can't even beat lowly Kansas comments, but you can sweep those sentiments right out the door.
Kansas is our biggest rival, period. Records mean very little in that game. Ask them how many times our basketball team has beaten their #1 ranked basketball squad while we were barley above .500.
Sure, I may be the odd man to say I an extremely disappointed with a three-loss season at Mizzou. But give me four losses and I'll be burning Pinkel at the stake.
Well, maybe just the defensive coordinator.
Mizzou has not forgotten last year's Big 12 Championship game and all the hype going into that game. All we had to do was win and go to the National Championship Game. The BCS. Instead we went to the frigging Cotton Bowl and played some #### SEC team.
This is Championship weekend though, folks. This weekend determines who we will see and where. It's either time to celebrate or time to mourn. Of course, I started mourning after the second quarter in the Mizzou/Texas game. But I still think any Sooner fans waiting to see Mizzou roll over like they did in that game are in for a long night Saturday.
Mizzou 45 Oklahoma 42
I know what you are thinking. How can Mizzou keep the Sooners from scoring 60+ points? Easy, we rediscover our running game. Yeah, easy. Call me crazy, but this is one game that Big Game Bob is going to blow. Better now than the BCS Championship Game, right? If you look at the Mizzou Tigers this year, one thing is apparent: they haven't played their best game of the year yet. Hell, they haven't played as well as they did last year at all. Not once. Not good for a team with pretty much the same key players as the year before, which means it comes down to coaching. Can Pinkel earn his dream of spending the rest of his career at Mizzou? The bigger question of course is whether the Tigers can finally beat the Sooners and send Texas to the National Championship while earning a BCS berth themselves.
Alabama 35 Florida 28
Am I the only one in the country that thinks Alabama is the most disrespected undefeated and #1 ranked team ever? Seriously, not one analyst I have heard over the last few weeks expects the Tide to win the SEC, much less the National Championship. An undefeated team that has won more on talent and coahing than luck or chance. Sure Ole Miss is a great squad and caught Florida asleep at the wheel. But Alabama has proven all year that they are for real and they are the real deal. I suspect the bandwagon will have a nice loud roar of Roll Tide Roll come Sunday.
USC 66 UCLA 3
Every week I call a close game from the Trojans and every week they make me look bad. This week, maybe I'll jinx them instead. But I doubt it. These Fighting Neuhzies are that good.
Virginia Tech 19 Boston College 12
These two schizo teams have no identity this year and Beamer's big recruits from the Hampton Roads area in years past have proven big players, but lately the talent pool is a little shallow. Still, I like the Hokies in this odd defensive game in an offensive world.
West Virginia 35 South Florida 17
This game had so much potential at the beginning of the year to determine the Big East Champion. What a disappointing year for the conference, given the weakness of the Pac 10 and SEC this year. I doubt many outside the alumni associations watch this one.
Ball State 31 Buffalo 20
Can they do it? It's been difficult for Ball State to keep the dream alive, but with undefeated Utah and Boise State both up for BCS bids it really doesn't matter in the end.
If you don't know how a #### Kansas team can rise to the occassion and beat a highly ranked Mizzou squad, then you don't know as much about college football as you think you do. The second oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi isn't simply a rivalry, it is a deep-seeded mutual hatred that has cost lives and property.
The Red River Shootout, er Rivalry, has nothing on MU/KU.
Militia units in Missouri called themselves the Fighting Tigers as they defended the border against raids from Jayhawkers from Kansas coming to burn and plunder. That's how this rivalry began.
Despite the sleet, rain, and sometimes heavy snowfall, or maybe because of it all, it was one of the greatest football games I have seen this year.
Count yourself lucky if you made it over to FSN for the last Big 12 game on that network this year.
Although the Bedlam game was pretty good for a while. With that said, I look forward to the Tigers match-up with the Sooners in the Big 12 Title game.
This weekend couldn't have worked out better for those of us that hate the current BCS system. How?
Oklahoma dismantles Texas Tech from start to finish. Penn State wins the Big 10 by pounding a ranked opponent as well. Utah pounds the only remaining challenge on their schedule to remain undefeated. Boise State remains undefeated.
Without a playoff, this year's BCS Champion will NOT have a legitimate claim to be the National Champion.
Unless of course, Alabama runs the table. Ok, stop laughing. But until they lose, they're #1.
So, Alabama survived a game against a mediocre LSU team while Texas Tech ROLLED a solid Top 10 team. Guess who I have ranked #1?
Say it isn't so, for Joe... Iowa? Geez, a lot of folks called that one, but geez. Iowa???? What a horrible team to lose to. Almost as bad, well no... it's ten times worse than losing to Oregon State. At least Oregon State is a halfway decent team. But since Oregon State did beat USC and Utah beat Oregon State, Utah remains ranked higher than the Trojans. Say what you want Wilson, that USC team is not as good as they could be.
Boy how BAD is the SEC this year? The typical, 'oh the SEC in conference competition is tougher than everyone else's' argument just doesn't hold any water this year. The Big 10 is stronger this year, which is sad really. Aside from Florida and Alabama, the rest are OBVIOUSLY mediocre. I would say the SEC is just as strong as the Pac 10 this year.
Sorry, I'll try to keep the laughter down to a minimum.
Well, here's to hoping every other team in the Top 10 loses...
1. Texas Tech
2. Alabama
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma
5. Florida
6. Utah
7. USC
8. Boise State
9. Missouri
10. Ohio State
11. Penn State
12. Oklahoma State
13. Ball State
14. Michigan State
15. North Carolina
16. Florida State
17. Georgia
18. TCU
19. BYU
20. LSU
21. South Carolina
22. Oregon
23. Oregon State
24. Tulsa
25. Nebraska
Oh, and HOW THE HELL IS KERRY COLLINS THE QB AND THE TITANS UNDEFEATED IN MID-NOVEMBER???!!!
I still believe Vince Young is the better QB even if he is crazy.
Last week I spent every day away from the house, which meant no time for blogging or picks. Sorry guys and gals. Monday I took the kids to see Obama speak in Tampa at the Yankees spring training facilities across the street from Ray Jay. The field used to be called Legends Field, but I guess George just felt like naming it after himself.
Tuesday I took the wife to see Rise Against. Awesome.
Wednesday I arrived at the Trop at 2pm and unloaded the kids and set up camp in the parking lot for Game 1 of the World Series. Awesome.
Thursday, more baseball!
Friday, dinner out at Bubba Gump's with my family. Gotta love spot bonus gift cards when you least expect them!
Saturday... what a day! Great games. Though I thought LSU was better than Georgia, but geez was I wrong on that one. Or has Georgia just improved over the course of the season and LSU taken a few steps back???
Well, I didn't get out the shotgun and blow my head off last night. Although, my head sure feels like it today.
I called for Okie State to make some noise in the south, even had some doubts going in to the game. Never though, did I worry. Not even as the 4th quarter began and we were still trailing. Then Chase decided he didn't want the Heisman and threw bonehead interceptions.
Our D-line never showed up, though our secondary did pretty well. Imagine that.
Pinkel was completely out coached inthe second half. Not as badly as in years past, but enough to make me want to kick him in the arse a few times this morning.
I called the Texas win over the Sooners, but I was not as impressed as everyone else. They were slow on offense, but stiff on defense when it came to the run. I still see a Mizzou win this coming weekend, though. Our boys are not going down two weeks in a row.
With that, all I can say is I never in a million year thought I would be ranking a Big 10 school at #1 at ANY point this season. Then again, this is Jo Pa we're talking about.
We may not have any undefeated school in the National Title game this year, though. If my Cowboys lose to the Cards today the suicide watch may be extended pending the outcome of the ALCS.
Well, conference play is in full swing and the games should be GREAT this weekend. The biggest game on the college football menu this weekend of course is the Red River Rivalry.
#1 vs. #5. By the end of the weekend there will no longer be three Big 12 teams in the Top 5, so all you haters will be happy for a couple of weeks anyway.
By Monday, I believe we will have a new #1 in the major polls.
Well, we learned some things this past weekend... or did we? After some matchups I still have questions. Let's discuss....
Is Vandy really for real or is Auburn just that lame? Well, if a backup QB can still lead the team to a win, I feel Vandy is for real. I have had them ranked for weeks now in the Homer Poll, but they are now the highest ranked team out of the SEC East.
Has Mizzou's defense really improved? The Homer in me wants to say yes, but the realist says... a little bit. Sure, they held Nebraska to just 10 points, (the last 7 as time expired was against our bench warmers), but Ganz is a good QB and exposed our secondary as he elluded defenders all day. Another mobile QB with better receivers later in the schedule... oh ####, we play in the Big 12. Still, we made the adjustments and improved as the game progressed. It looks like Pinkel has finally realized what halftime is for.
Is Penn State really a National Title contender? Yes.
Last week I conceded the fact that Mizzou had not played good enough for the #1 ranking I had given them from Week 1 through last week. They won by 21 points and I ranked USC at #1 after watching them dismantle Ohio State.
This week my earlier su####ions about the Pac 10's last great hope at credibility went down in flames. No matter how you slice that game, they were outplayed and dominated for every minute of the contest.
My su####ions about Florida's meeting with Ole Miss were fully realized, as were my barbs pointed at Georgia thus far in the season now justified. Illinois proved they are a good team, but Penn State proved they are truly the best in the Big 10.
The Big 12 had a bad week as Colorado and Nebraska lost to mediocre out of conference foes. Oklahoma shrugged off a Top 25 out of conference foe, launching OU to what I am assuming will be it's first #1 ranking in the AP and Coaches polls.
You can definitely tell Arkansas is missing Felix Jones now that he is with the Dallas Cowboys.
Well, if you saw my poll last week you know that my obvious choice for #1 is....
The University of Missouri football game at Nebraska on Oct. 4th has been chosen for a national cable telecast on ESPN, and will kickoff at 8 p.m. (central). The game will mark Mizzou's second appearance on ESPN already this season, adding to the season-opening 52-42 win over 20th-ranked Illinois on Aug. 30th, that was shown by the network.
If the game isn't where you find the Gameday Crew, I'll be putting my clowny foot up Herby's arse.
The Big 12 is now operating on its 12-day advance notification process for all future weekends, because let's face it, all eye's are on Mizzou and Oklahoma from here on out.
While I am concerned about OU taking on TCU this weekend, Mizzou has a rough schedule from here on out with trips to Lincoln, Austin and dates with an improved Big 12 North. The last thing the Big 12 needs is one of our elite to fall to a team from a lesser conference so the Sooners better be ready. All due respect to Kansas, but that loss to USF is embarrassing. But at this point, no one is invincible in college football anymore.
Which brings me back to the Tiger trip to Lincoln. Despite recent #### whoopings inflicted on the Cornhuskers, all of them occurred in Columbia. In fact, Mizzou has not won in Lincoln in decades.
That fact alone is reason for any gambler to avoid this game like the plague.
Stick to Florida State/Miami that weekend.
Added to the intrigue surrounding this game is an improved Corhusker defense showing signs of swagger under the leadership of first year coach, longtime Husker, Bo Pelini.
This week they get a nice warm up game with the Hokies coming to town. Honestly, I wish Mizzou had the Fighting Beamers coming into town instead of the boys watching the game on the couch.
The Tigers are 4-5 after bye weeks heading into conference play under Gary Pinkel.
The history behind this game is stacked against a Missouri win, but this is a Tiger squad that is re-writing that history since the historic #1 ranking a year ago.
Chase Daniel will be the shortest Heisman winner since Nebraska's Eric Crouch. The first in school history.
The first conference championship since 1969. The Dec. 6th Big 12 Championship Game will likely look like a Mizzou home game at Arrowhead. Coincidentally, it will be the Tigers second straight game at the stadium as they meet Kansas Nov. 29th. It will also be likely that those are the two best games played at the NFL stadium this year. Boy the Chiefs are BAAADD. Sorry, dad.
Sounds like a storybook year in the making for the Missouri Tigers.
The Nebraska game will also be the first time that a captive national audience will get to see Mizzou's defense since the Illinois game. This isn't the same defensive squad rusty from a summer break.
Defensive leader Weatherspoon was recently honored for his career day, as he led Mizzou with a career-high 20 tackles against Buffalo. Among those tackles included three tackles for a loss, including a sack, while also breaking up one pass. Mizzou had a nice defensive tune-up against Buffalo, as it allowed an opponent season-low 286 yards of offense to a Buffalo team that came into the game averaging 427 yards per game.
As the great T.O. likes to say, "Get your popcorn ready!"
There can only be one. This week, it isn't Mizzou.
A hard thing for a homer to ####, but the Tigers just don't look as good as they should heading into conference play. This week, another group of Tigers struggled to win, but in the end looked like a real contender. But there is another SEC team I have ranked higher this week and no, it isn't Georgia.
Here's the poll before the other polls. Gotta run, I have to hit the store for the BBQ I'm having for the Dallas Cowboys/Green Bay Packers game.
I told you so. Ohio State wasn't in my Top 10 last week, so no, they are NO WHERE near my Top 10 this week.
Suck on it Buckeye fans. You guys trashed me all year, now who's right? Who's been right? Thank you, now SHUT UP.
Same for anyone spouting that #### Georgia and Auburn talk. Florida and LSU are still THE teams to beat in the SEC. Until you can beat them, shut up.
This week both USC and Mizzou are tied for 1st. It's my poll, again you are free to make your own. As always, I make my poll before the AP or Coaches polls are released.
Also, (hold your nose) the Big 11 is looking a lot stronger than the Pac 10 as a whole. It may still play out with the Pac 10 still the better of the two, but to the Pac10 fans that keep talking about how dominate your "conference" is... SHUT UP. In fact, the Mountain West looks as strong this week as you pukes do, so hush. I will repeat... one team does not a conference make.
***Also Note: My picks went 8-1 this week. #### Cal was the one.***
You see, it is my first Saturday off in weeks. So I plan on enjoying the full College Gameday broadcast for the first time this season. Enjoying every game available.
Though I already picked some of these games in a previous post, given the relevance I included them with this week's additions. One notable change and admission of preseason expectations changing, I now see Nebraska winning easily against Virginia Tech. (20-4)
While it is early and I may ultimately watch as the Big 12 simply implodes just as every other conference is doing this year, I think the first two weeks have illustrated how dominant the Big 12 North will be the next few years. Sure the SEC is strong, but neither the East or West has as many programs on the rise.
Sure the same rants that SEC haters spout relentlessly with a good measure of Big 12 hate sprinkled in will certainly spill over the comment section, but hey, at least take a look at the facts.
The Fact is that The Big 12, The SEC, and The Pac 10 are the best conferences in the country.
The fact is that those three conferences are the only three deserving of an automatic BCS bid. Right now, the SEC is a little weaker than it has been in a while but the fact is a doormat in the SEC would be considered a decent team in the Big East.
Though the Big 12 has seen a lot of South Champs dominate in recent years, the fact is that the athletic programs of the Big 12 North realized to compete they actually have to spend money. And spend they did.
Missouri alone has built a state of the art athletic complex, new basketball stadium, gave a multi-million dollar facelift to Memorial Stadium and Faurot Field, etc..
Then they raided Texas for recruits and drained other former powerhouse recruiting grounds with promises of starting instead of riding the pine three deep in Austin.
Kansas and Missouri followed the similar plans to that of Kansas State in the late 90's and you can see the fruits of their labor now.
What you see down south is a few once proud programs walking in circles. The same old models being followed year after year and no progress in site.
Sorry Texas A&M, tradition only sells so much. Ask Notre Dame.
While Kansas may be a 9 win team this year, so too may be the Kansas State Wildcats. We'll see if I may be right when they meet Louisville.
Nebraska has a favorable non-conference schedule, with Virginia Tech being the toughest (cough) opponent. The Cornhuskers could also be a 9 win team with wins over VT, Texas Tech, and Kansas although they will likely be the underdog in each game.
Colorado is a tricky call. I'm not sure if the new coach has the boys up to Big 12 standards. They seem a bit Mountain West at times. We'll see how they stack up as they meet West Virginia and Florida State in the next couple of weeks.
Iowa State has neither Oklahoma or Texas on its schedule. Aside from Missouri, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Nebraska they could win 7 or 8 games.
The Big 12 South on the other hand has no hope when looking at Baylor, or Texas A&M. Texas Tech still has no defense, Texas is over rated, but at least Oklahoma is Oklahoma... well, until bowl season arrives.
The surprise of the South could be Oklahoma State, not the Red Raiders.
Looking at the ACC, Big East, and Big 11 I find it hard to see how they claim to be anywhere near the elite quality conferences of the Big 12, SEC, or Pac 10.
Sure I'm holding out hope that the Big 11 is going to have an "up" year with the resurgance of Wisconsin and Penn State.
I know, you hate me now. I said it. You other guys are just fighting for scraps.
But before you throw the rotten tomatoes, do you really think that Wisconsin or Penn State could beat USC. Don't give me that "any given Saturday" ####.
The answer is no. And as we'll see Ohio State won't be able to either.
Do you really think Georgia Tech or Wake Forest are really as good as the 2-0 SEC teams? Hell, Vandy vs. either of them is a toss up.
Do you really think South Florida has a chance at RJ Stadium this Friday? The Big East's best against the 4th best team in the Big 12. Did you even SEE that UCF game last weekend? I did.
That's not to say I won't be at the game Friday. Hey, I can suspend disbelief after tailgating for a few hours.
Of course, I'll be wearing my glorious Mizzou attire for all you KU schmucks. Meet me at the Buccaneers pirate ship for a pint. Gotta love the party deck.
While not the most impressive NFL stadiums, the games are sure fun at the home of the Tampa Bay Bucs. (Where you can still get $10 tickets from the scaplers!)
So far, we have had another year of great surprises. It really makes watching games fun all day. The last three years have been great for college football. Not that the decade as a whole hasn't been just as great.
But that's a whole other post.
Week 3 Homer Poll
1. Missouri
2. USC
3. Florida
4. Oklahoma
5. Georgia
6. LSU
7. Penn State
8. Wisconsin
9. Texas Tech
10. East Carolina
11. Alabama
12. Texas
13. Kansas
14. Oregon
15. Arizona State
16. Ohio State
17. Auburn
18. South Florida
19. Florida State
20. Fresno State
21. Wake Forest
22. Illinois
23. West Virginia
24. Nebraska
25. Vanderbilt
I know you're asking, "Why Vandy?" The answer is simple: BYU doesn't deserve to be ranked over any team that beat an SEC team.
Doing my poll while watching the Jets/Dolphins game I am really wondering if the Packers will be able to forgive themselves come playoff time.
...oh wow! Beautiful touchdown! (6:52 left in the 2nd). The ball was floating in the air.
I have been blogging here for so long, I forgot my old password and had to set up a new blog this year. BOO!
Anyway, my old space was at community.fox sports.com/bl ogs/brianblac k in case you think you've heard the trash talk before... It's the same this year as it was last year... Mizzou is #1!!!!!!! Go Cowboys! Go Rays!
www.myspace.c om/revbrianbl ack
They seem a bit Mountain West at times. We'll see how they stack up as they meet West Virginia and Florida State in the next couple of weeks.
