2011 College Football

[jazzcyclist]

Both the AP and the Coaches' preseason polls are out. I predict the winner of the LSU-Oregon game will play either the winner of the Oklahoma-Florida State game or Boise State. Let the debate begin (first-place votes in paratheses).

AP
1 Oklahoma (36)
2 Alabama (17)
3-Oregon (4)
4 LSU (1)
5 Boise State (2)
6 Florida State
7 Stanford
8 Texas A&M
9 Oklahoma State
10 Nebraska

Coaches
1 Oklahoma (42)
2 Alabama (13)
3 Oregon (2)
4 LSU (2)
5 Florida State
6 Stanford
7 Boise State
8 Oklahoma State
9 Texas A&M
10 Wisconsin

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings

[lonewolf]

I am not ready to call the BCS champion but SI is high on Alabama.

[Avante]

Sporting News

1.LSU
2.Oklahoma
3.Alabama
4.Stanford
5.Oregon
6.Boise State
7.Florida State
8.Oklahoma State
9.Nebraska
10.Wisconsin

Fan Poll

1.Alabama
2.Oklahoma
3.LSU
4.Oregon
5.Florida State
6.Nebraska
7.Boise State
8.Stanford
9.South Carolina
10.Wisconsin

ESPN College Football

1.Oklahoma
2.Alabama
3.Oregon
4.LSU
5.Boise State
6.Florida State
7.Nebraska
8.Virginia Tech
9.Texas A&M
10.Notre Dame

Yep...no Stanford...they have them 15th?????????

So if we look at those rankings and those Jazz mentioned, then take the highest ranking each team enjoyed.

Oklahoma...1
LSU...1
Alabama...1
Oregon...3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stanford...4
Boise State...5
Florida State...5
Nebraska...6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Texas A&M...8
Oklahoma State...8
Virginia Tech...8
South Carolina...9
Wisconsin...10
Notre Dame...10

Obviously either Stanford or Oregon will not be in the mix as far as the National title game goes. That can also be said about LSU and Alabama. Then there's Oklahoma vs Florida State on the 17th of Sept. Three of those six top ranked teams will drop out of the hunt.

Boise State will not survive...at Georgia, yawner, Tulsa and Nevada their first 4 weeks undefeated. If they do they still have TCU and San Diego State at their place. I see them a non factor in 2011.

With a couple weeks to go in the regular season...Oklahoma, LSU and Stanford..123.

[Marlow]

Obviously either Stanford or Oregon will not be in the mix as far as the National title game goes. . . . With a couple weeks to go in the regular season...Oklahoma, LSU and Stanford..123.

I can't believe Stanford can catch lightning in a bottle 2 years in a row. We did it in 1971-72, but this year we've lost our head coach and half of all the starters. A Heisman-caliber QB can only do so much. I HOPE we run the table, but I'm not looking to book a trip to a Big Bowl, as I did last year. Plus, Oregon looks unstoppable.

[jazzcyclist]

Boise State will not survive...at Georgia, yawner, Tulsa and Nevada their first 4 weeks undefeated. If they do they still have TCU and San Diego State at their place. I see them a non factor in 2011.

Stanford won't make it, but like Boise State, their whole season depends on having keeping their quarterback healthy. By the way, if I'm not mistaken, when Georgia takes on Boise State, it will be the first time that an SEC team has ever been a home underdog to a WAC team.

[Marlow]

when Georgia takes on Boise State, it will be the first time that an SEC team has ever been a home underdog to a WAC team.

IF they are. It happens more often than one would think that the higher-ranked team is the underdog at a strong home team's stadium.

[Pego]

Obviously either Stanford or Oregon will not be in the mix as far as the National title game goes. . . . With a couple weeks to go in the regular season...Oklahoma, LSU and Stanford..123.

I can't believe Stanford can catch lightning in a bottle 2 years in a row. We did it in 1971-72, but this year we've lost our head coach and half of all the starters. A Heisman-caliber QB can only do so much. I HOPE we run the table, but I'm not looking to book a trip to a Big Bowl, as I did last year. Plus, Oregon looks unstoppable.

He is a starting QB on my fantasy team. He'd better deliver .

[Avante]

Obviously either Stanford or Oregon will not be in the mix as far as the National title game goes. . . . With a couple weeks to go in the regular season...Oklahoma, LSU and Stanford..123.

I can't believe Stanford can catch lightning in a bottle 2 years in a row. We did it in 1971-72, but this year we've lost our head coach and half of all the starters. A Heisman-caliber QB can only do so much. I HOPE we run the table, but I'm not looking to book a trip to a Big Bowl, as I did last year. Plus, Oregon looks unstoppable.

If you look at their schedule, nobody there they won't be favored to beat until they meet Oregon at home in November and they could be favored there. That is the game, right there. Revenge is huge in college football, as we know Oregon waxed them in Eugene. Now at Stanford....

[Marlow]

A Heisman-caliber QB [Luck] can only do so much.
He is a starting QB on my fantasy team. He'd better deliver .

Oh, he'll get the numbers, all right. But, while Stanford's defense was under-ratedly stingy last year, here's betting we get into some high-flyin' shootouts this year.

[Marlow]

Now at Stanford....

Alas, there is no home-field advantage as the stadium (which got down-sized 30,000 seats!!!) rarely sells out. And Stanford fans ain't zackly yer rowdy types!

[Avante]

Now at Stanford....

Alas, there is no home-field advantage as the stadium (which got down-sized 30,000 seats!!!) rarely sells out. And Stanford fans ain't zackly yer rowdy types!

Will Stanford be in Oregon vs their home field advantage......

[Marlow]

Will Stanford be in Oregon vs their home field advantage......

Good point - at least it's at a neutral site!

[jazzcyclist]

I was really surprised at how Boise State manhandled Georgia in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The game was not as close as the score as Georgia got all of their points on big plays. NFL scouts say that three of their defensive linemen will play on Sundays. This from a school that was a junior college less than 50 years ago, only moved up from 1-AA to 1-A in 1998 and how an endowment of $62 million.

[odelltrclan]

Boise State will not survive...at Georgia, yawner, Tulsa and Nevada their first 4 weeks undefeated. If they do they still have TCU and San Diego State at their place. I see them a non factor in 2011.

Stanford won't make it, but like Boise State, their whole season depends on having keeping their quarterback healthy. By the way, if I'm not mistaken, when Georgia takes on Boise State, it will be the first time that an SEC team has ever been a home underdog to a WAC team.

Boise State is in the Mt West Conference now, so no underdog to a WAC school just yet. Though the way Georgia looked, maybe they would be a home underdog to several WAC teams. It would have been interesting to see the Mt West if they still had BYU and Utah along with TCU and Boise State. That would have been a far better conference than the Big Least.

[Avante]

I was really surprised at how Boise State manhandled Georgia in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The game was not as close as the score as Georgia got all of their points on big plays. NFL scouts say that three of their defensive linemen will play on Sundays. This from a school that was a junior college less than 50 years ago, only moved up from 1-AA to 1-A in 1998 and how an endowment of $62 million.

It looked like Georgia was very over rated not to take anything away from BS. That....SEC!!!!..does have some weight.

Keep an eye on Dallas Burroughs a receiver for BS, the next Wes Werker only faster. 10.3 guy as a high schooler.

[jazzcyclist]

Step aside Mike Gundy, you are no longer the king of college football press conferences. Without further ado, I submit David Bennett as your successor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EChnZTJ ... r_embedded

[jazzcyclist]

The folks in Ann Arbor took to night-time football like a fish to water. I guess it makes a difference when you have all day to get lubricated versus just a couple of hours.

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/55/fullj ... 561888.jpg

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/8443 ... nt-classic

[DrJay]

I see we have the "NCAA Rules Violation Bowl" starting in Miami in about 20 minutes.

[cladthin]

I see we have the "NCAA Rules Violation Bowl" starting in Miami in about 20 minutes.

AKA the ineligibowl.

[jazzcyclist]

The three big games this weekend are LSU @ West Virginia, Arkansas @ Alabama and Lonewolf U @ Texas A&M. Any predictions?

[lonewolf]

I'll go with LSU and Arkansas.. unless Lonewolf U figures out how to stop TAMU run it may be a long afternoon.
Hopefully the OSU third quarter swoon at Tulsa was a wake up call and they will stop believing their press clippings.

[jazzcyclist]

The new Big 12 commissioner was on College Gameday this morning, and he said that they are seeking a new member to bring the number of conference teams back to 10, but they require that the team not be from Texas and have a good football program.

[lonewolf]

The new Big 12 commissioner was on College Gameday this morning, and he said that they are seeking a new member to bring the number of conference teams back to 10, but they require that the team not be from Texas and have a good football program.

I don't understand the not from Texas. TCU has good football program and as good all-around sports programs as most Big 12 schools. TCU makes sense geographically and would be a built in natural rivalry with the Baylor Baptists..

[Avante]

Once again it's the mighty SEC ruling college football. Oklahoma would lose to LSU and Alabama. They might lose to Oklahoma State.

The thing that seperates the SEC from everyone else......team speed and depth. Hell yes all backs and receivers can motor it's the big guys in the SEC, they can also motor something unique to that conference, then there are so many of them on an SEC team.

[odelltrclan]

Once again it's the mighty SEC ruling college football. Oklahoma would lose to LSU and Alabama. They might lose to Oklahoma State.

The thing that seperates the SEC from everyone else......team speed and depth. Hell yes all backs and receivers can motor it's the big guys in the SEC, they can also motor something unique to that conference, then there are so many of them on an SEC team.

To me its more specifically the speed and athleticism of the linemen, particularly on the defensive front. The skill positions many conferences are the equals of but when you see the athleticism of the defensive linemen that is where I see the biggest difference. They get pressure on the quarterback constantly and often without having to blitz. That is the best way to stop a passing game and something that is lacking by many teams out in the conference I follow the most - the Pac 12.

[Avante]

Once again it's the mighty SEC ruling college football. Oklahoma would lose to LSU and Alabama. They might lose to Oklahoma State.

The thing that seperates the SEC from everyone else......team speed and depth. Hell yes all backs and receivers can motor it's the big guys in the SEC, they can also motor something unique to that conference, then there are so many of them on an SEC team.

To me its more specifically the speed and athleticism of the linemen, particularly on the defensive front. The skill positions many conferences are the equals of but when you see the athleticism of the defensive linemen that is where I see the biggest difference. They get pressure on the quarterback constantly and often without having to blitz. That is the best way to stop a passing game and something that is lacking by many teams out in the conference I follow the most - the Pac 12.

That's what I mentioned. The ...big guys. No conference has the team speed from top to bottom like the SEC, actually no conference has the speed period but some will try to argue that.

[jazzcyclist]

To me its more specifically the speed and athleticism of the linemen, particularly on the defensive front. The skill positions many conferences are the equals of but when you see the athleticism of the defensive linemen that is where I see the biggest difference. They get pressure on the quarterback constantly and often without having to blitz. That is the best way to stop a passing game and something that is lacking by many teams out in the conference I follow the most - the Pac 12.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Simple logic tells us that there are a lot more very athletic football players who are 5'11"-190 lbs. than 6'5"-290lbs. The SEC seems to have the lion's share of the athletic big men. There are plenty of atheletic small to medium size guys to go around, so that even schools like Boise State and TCU are now sending recievers, running backs and defensive backs to the NFL on a regular basis.

[jazzcyclist]

After three games, Robert Griffin III has more touchdown passes (13) than incompletions (12)! How crazy is that? He also has zero interceptions, and not surprisingly, he leads the nation in passing efficiency with a rating of 236.2.

[26mi235]

The SEC routinely gets the best recruiting classes. In general, the season-ending rankings are highest for the SEC but systematically, as a conference, the rankings end up being below their rankings of their recruiting classes.

These (SEC) schools also have among the biggest coaching budgets and salaries (well, duh) but it makes me wonder. It is sort of like some schools that have good ST scores but given the demographics of the student population the schools 'under-perform' (well, SATs are not a very broad measure, of course). Your production function is how you take your inputs and turn them into outputs, not the quality of the inputs, per se.

If they had an 'amateur' draft for football recruits, I suspect that the SEC would not do quite as well, although getting the best inputs is not the only thing that they can get done.

Schools like TCU and Boise State have done very well with recruiting classes that are well below those of the teams that they beat up on occasionally.


Finally, my Madison locale gives an indication of my preferred team. However, despite some talk about top several, I do not think Wisconsin in on the same level as LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, and maybe several others ahead of them. There are just too many things getting by the defense and the offense has had surprising difficulties against pretty easy competition. More should be apparent next Saturday evening, but I do not seem them 9.5 points better than Nebraska (that is apparently the betting line), who is ranked right behind them.

[jazzcyclist]

The big showdowns this week:

Texas A&M @Arkansas, 11:00 CST on ESPN
Clemson @Virginia Tech. 17:00 CST on ESPN2
Alabama @Florida, 19:00 CST on CBS
Nebraska @Wisconson, 19:00 CST on ABC

Predictions anybody?

[jazzcyclist]

unless Lonewolf U figures out how to stop TAMU run it may be a long afternoon.

I guess you were a little too pessimistic after all.

[Avante]

Last two years Alabama has scored 63 to Florida's 19.

Virginia Tech has played nobody so far this season. Big step up vs Clemson. Can Clemson get up for another big game?

Arkansas has owned Texas A&M as of late. Don't see any dramatic changes.

Wisconsin should beat Nebraska. They have all the advantages.

[odelltrclan]

The big showdowns this week:

Texas A&M @Arkansas, 11:00 CST on ESPN
Clemson @Virginia Tech. 17:00 CST on ESPN2
Alabama @Florida, 19:00 CST on CBS
Nebraska @Wisconson, 19:00 CST on ABC

Predictions anybody?

Texas A&M
Clemson
Alabama
Wisconsin

[lonewolf]

TAMU, Clemson, Alabama, Nebraska

[jazzcyclist]

Do you remember when Marlow colorfully described Will Muschamp as "a doofus hick from the sticks"?

viewtopic.php?p=710272#p710272

Well, in honor of Marlow, here's a youtube classic that the more cosmopolitan among us should find amusing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gp7ckbHsMw