Hard to deny that the Big 12 is having an outstanding year. Even SEC fans have to admit there is some big talent in the Big 12 right now.
As of today there are 3 Big 12 South teams in the Top 5. OK and TX both have 1 loss and Texas Tech remains undefeated. TT and OK will play in OK next week in a huge match up. I believe that OK will win that game, but obviously that remains to be seen. If OK does win the game and nobody looses anything else you will have a 3 way tie for 1st place.
So how does the Big 12 decide 3 way ties?
The 1st 4 Tiebreakers all have to deal with overall record (same), divisional record (same) and divisional record against the 4th, 5th and 6th place teams in that division (all three have beat everyone else). Since these will all be the same they will go to the 5th tiebreaker which is.......wait for it......The highest ranked team in the BCS poll. Fabulous! So if OK beats TT that will be a big quality win and throw them into a 3 way tie, my guess is that a win over TT will be enough to get the Sooners past the Longhorns in the BCS computer calculations.
Now, the Big 12 has a title game, OK (assuming my scenario above) will play Missouri for the title. What if MO wins? You will have the Big 12 champ, a #11 team in a better spot than OK, TX and TT. All who should have a better overall record. More than likely MO will not defeat any of the 3 teams from the South, they are not as good. But Chase McDaninel and company are good enough to win on any given day. So as they say, "That's why they play the games!"
Let's say OK, TX or TT go on to beat MO. That team will play for the National Championship more than likley. Let's assume OK. TX may then get a BCS bid but it's not garaunteed, and TT will be hung out to dry and not get any credit, they will be in a crap bowl for nothing.
PLAYOFF, PLAYOFF, PLAYOFF! We need it in college football.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Ducks over the Wildcats 55-45
The Ducks started out on a tear doing exactly what I asked of them, Masoli waswell over 50% completing 16 of 18 for 292 in the 1st half. Wait, who? Masoli? Uh hu. The defense also made a big play early when Patrick Chung returned an interception for a touchdown. The Ducks were up 14-0 in the 1st minute and 30 seconds. The Ducks dominated the 1st half and went into the locker room with a 45-17 lead. Now, apparently someone woke up Masoli, because the 2nd half belonged to the Wildcats. Storming back into the game the Wilcats made it close whe they had 45 to the Ducks 48. The Ducks did prevail and come a little bit closer to their season I'd hoped for.
If they can defeat The Beavers in 2 weeks they will take 2nd place in the Pac-10 and will have only lost to USC, CAL and Boise State. I'd love to have the CAL game back because we through it away, USC and Boise State are both in the Top 10 so those are definately losses I can live with. They have looked pretty ugly all year and if you watch the games it's pretty hard to imagine that the Ducks have the record they do, 8-3. They have a good chance to go in and beat the Beavers in 2 weeks, the Beavs are playing very well but the Ducks should be up for this game.
The Beavers loss to Stanford at the start of the season is turning out to be a big dissapointment for them, like the Ducks that seems to be their only bad blemish. OSU's other losses are to Top 10 teams, Utah and Penn State. If USC can squeak into a championship game or loose a game and the Beavers can get past the Ducks we could quite possible see a rematch with Penn State only this time it will be a more friendly environment. (While I am a die hard Ducks fan I really have never felt the hatred toward the Beavers, I often route for them outside of games with the Ducks!)
If, BIG IF, USC could manage to loose to UCLA or Notre Dame AND the Ducks beat the Beavers we could see a three way tie for 1st place. It's an outside chance but it is there.
If they can defeat The Beavers in 2 weeks they will take 2nd place in the Pac-10 and will have only lost to USC, CAL and Boise State. I'd love to have the CAL game back because we through it away, USC and Boise State are both in the Top 10 so those are definately losses I can live with. They have looked pretty ugly all year and if you watch the games it's pretty hard to imagine that the Ducks have the record they do, 8-3. They have a good chance to go in and beat the Beavers in 2 weeks, the Beavs are playing very well but the Ducks should be up for this game.
The Beavers loss to Stanford at the start of the season is turning out to be a big dissapointment for them, like the Ducks that seems to be their only bad blemish. OSU's other losses are to Top 10 teams, Utah and Penn State. If USC can squeak into a championship game or loose a game and the Beavers can get past the Ducks we could quite possible see a rematch with Penn State only this time it will be a more friendly environment. (While I am a die hard Ducks fan I really have never felt the hatred toward the Beavers, I often route for them outside of games with the Ducks!)
If, BIG IF, USC could manage to loose to UCLA or Notre Dame AND the Ducks beat the Beavers we could see a three way tie for 1st place. It's an outside chance but it is there.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Ducks VS Arizona
The Ducks will play their last home game this weekend as they host the Arizona Wildcats. Both teams have 2 conference losses and 3 losses overall. Oregon has played 1 more game so their overall record is currently a little better with the 1 extra win. Oregon still needs to find their offense, Masoli doesn't look comfortable and while I think Roper lead the team better Masoli brings the QB run threat and that's what the ducks are all about.
Last year the Wildcats handed the Ducks their first loss when SR QB Dennis Dixon went down with injury, with him the hopes of a run at the title went down. The Ducks will look to seek a little revenge for that loss. Brady Leaf had come off the bench last year but we never expected much out of him. Arizona lost to Stanford, who Oregon beat last week, but beat CAL, who Oregon lost to so this should be a close contest. Scoring offense for UA and UO are about the same so this shoudl come down to two things.
1 - Can Oregon find it's offense? the run game needs to be productive and Masoli has to complete more than 50% of his passes, I think he also needs to get a ball completed deep down the field early in this game to keep Arizona honest. He needs to start quick.
2 - The Ducks Defense needs to make a couple of big plays. They have a bend but don't break defense that is capable of creating a lot of turnovers, they will need to create these opportunities and help keep themselves off the field.
I'm still hoping for 1-1 out of these last to games and a solid bowl performance out of my boys. If they can win these last two games they will more than likely get 2nd place. Maybe 3rd depending on what CAL does. If they split they will end up 3rd or 4th and if they loose them both (which they are also capable of doing) they could be in for a 5th place finish.
Let's finish solid boys!
Last year the Wildcats handed the Ducks their first loss when SR QB Dennis Dixon went down with injury, with him the hopes of a run at the title went down. The Ducks will look to seek a little revenge for that loss. Brady Leaf had come off the bench last year but we never expected much out of him. Arizona lost to Stanford, who Oregon beat last week, but beat CAL, who Oregon lost to so this should be a close contest. Scoring offense for UA and UO are about the same so this shoudl come down to two things.
1 - Can Oregon find it's offense? the run game needs to be productive and Masoli has to complete more than 50% of his passes, I think he also needs to get a ball completed deep down the field early in this game to keep Arizona honest. He needs to start quick.
2 - The Ducks Defense needs to make a couple of big plays. They have a bend but don't break defense that is capable of creating a lot of turnovers, they will need to create these opportunities and help keep themselves off the field.
I'm still hoping for 1-1 out of these last to games and a solid bowl performance out of my boys. If they can win these last two games they will more than likely get 2nd place. Maybe 3rd depending on what CAL does. If they split they will end up 3rd or 4th and if they loose them both (which they are also capable of doing) they could be in for a 5th place finish.
Let's finish solid boys!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
BCS
This is shaping up to be another BCS controversy, especially if Penn State goes undefeated and Boise State goes undefeated. PSU will definately get into the championship game if they are undefeated. If Texas Tech and/or Alabama manage to make it as well that will be huge.
Then you have the 1 loss teams. I beleive AL will lose at least 1 game so I think the bes 1 loss teams will be AL, FL, TX, TX Tech, OK and USC. Any of those teams are capable to beating another on any given day.
Penn State will take a top spot and Boise State will probably take another. Hell, Utah may creep in there.
It is going to be a big dissapointment for someone. I think USC, Texas Tech and Alabama are heading for a big let down by the BCS this year.
Barack Obama stated that he would like to see an 8 team tournament for the National Championship. I still think it should be 16, but an 8 would be nice.
Arguments right now for a 16 team VS an 8 team. (assuming you take teams 1-8 or 1-16)
16 would allow for those cinderella teams like Utah, Boise State and TCU a chance. I don't think they have much of a chance but it is a chance.
If you have 8 instead of 16 OK State, OH State and GA will be out. I think they are good enough to win given the right circumstances. LSU is 16th, I think they are good enough. I cannot make a logical argument for anyone outside of the #16 school. I feel I can make a good argument for a couple of the 9-16 schools.
16 Teams = 4 weeks. That is the difference between the last game of the season and the championship game. It just fits. It's like God made December for a college football playoff and we are denying him. (too much? Yeah you're probably right) :)
Who doesn't want a playoff? I hear people argue this point but no one ever says "hey I like the BCS and it's clearly the best system ever, I wish they had it in the pros!" Every year about this time I feel like a great college season gets highjacked by some computer nerds and we all get screwed.
Anyne who's ever played sports at a competative level will tell you....PLAYOFFS ARE DIFFERENT. They game gets a little faster, hits a little harder, passes a little crisper. Need proof? Watch the NCAA tournament, magic happens there every year. Football fans are missing out!
Then you have the 1 loss teams. I beleive AL will lose at least 1 game so I think the bes 1 loss teams will be AL, FL, TX, TX Tech, OK and USC. Any of those teams are capable to beating another on any given day.
Penn State will take a top spot and Boise State will probably take another. Hell, Utah may creep in there.
It is going to be a big dissapointment for someone. I think USC, Texas Tech and Alabama are heading for a big let down by the BCS this year.
Barack Obama stated that he would like to see an 8 team tournament for the National Championship. I still think it should be 16, but an 8 would be nice.
Arguments right now for a 16 team VS an 8 team. (assuming you take teams 1-8 or 1-16)
16 would allow for those cinderella teams like Utah, Boise State and TCU a chance. I don't think they have much of a chance but it is a chance.
If you have 8 instead of 16 OK State, OH State and GA will be out. I think they are good enough to win given the right circumstances. LSU is 16th, I think they are good enough. I cannot make a logical argument for anyone outside of the #16 school. I feel I can make a good argument for a couple of the 9-16 schools.
16 Teams = 4 weeks. That is the difference between the last game of the season and the championship game. It just fits. It's like God made December for a college football playoff and we are denying him. (too much? Yeah you're probably right) :)
Who doesn't want a playoff? I hear people argue this point but no one ever says "hey I like the BCS and it's clearly the best system ever, I wish they had it in the pros!" Every year about this time I feel like a great college season gets highjacked by some computer nerds and we all get screwed.
Anyne who's ever played sports at a competative level will tell you....PLAYOFFS ARE DIFFERENT. They game gets a little faster, hits a little harder, passes a little crisper. Need proof? Watch the NCAA tournament, magic happens there every year. Football fans are missing out!
Ducks at 6-3
It's been a couple weeks. With the baby on the way and all the election stuf going on I've been out of circulation. In the past 2 weeks the Ducks are 1-1. With Stanford this week they wil then face Arizona and Oregon State. They are capable of going 3-0 in those games but with the way they have been playing I'm remaining conservative and hoping for a 2-1. This would be 8-4 overall on the season which is about where I thought they'd be. They have had quite a few ups and downs and the QB position is a rough spot. I guess the good news for me is that 2 of their losses are agains Top 10 teams. Boise State has been playing well and will more than likley end undefeated, good for them. They may end up with OK again in a bowl game. I don't think the out come will be the same as the last time they met. They lost to USC who is trying desperately to get back into BCS title contention, I don't know that thier schedule will support that. A Pac-10 team needs to go undefeated to get into the title game. Tough loss at Cal, the Ducks really should have won that game. Big oops plays in big situations and they shot themselves in the foot over and over. Play like that and you do not desreve to win.
I will be happy with an 8-4 season AND a good bowl performance. All the QB's are young and will get better. I'd rather have a 9-3 AND a good bowl performance for the seniors on defense who have played so well for us these past couple years. In particular Nick Reed and Patrick Chung.
Elsewhere in the league I was happy to see Mizzou lose 2 and get out of the top 10, they are a solid team but I think top 10 is stretching it. They will also lose the Big-12 Championship game to OK, TX or Texas Tech. OK State could get into that game but they still have 2 tough games ahead. Penn State looks like they will go undefeated. Althought I love Joe-Pa I think if this happens they will go the way of OH State and have a less than terrific game against FL, AL, TX, OK or on an outside chance USC. I think Texas Tech is a good team but they were lucky to beat Texas. They won't be so lucky next week when they travel to OK.
I will be happy with an 8-4 season AND a good bowl performance. All the QB's are young and will get better. I'd rather have a 9-3 AND a good bowl performance for the seniors on defense who have played so well for us these past couple years. In particular Nick Reed and Patrick Chung.
Elsewhere in the league I was happy to see Mizzou lose 2 and get out of the top 10, they are a solid team but I think top 10 is stretching it. They will also lose the Big-12 Championship game to OK, TX or Texas Tech. OK State could get into that game but they still have 2 tough games ahead. Penn State looks like they will go undefeated. Althought I love Joe-Pa I think if this happens they will go the way of OH State and have a less than terrific game against FL, AL, TX, OK or on an outside chance USC. I think Texas Tech is a good team but they were lucky to beat Texas. They won't be so lucky next week when they travel to OK.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
OR Defensive Lineman Nick Reed
Nick Reed, OR defensive lineman is an unasuming sight at 6ft 2in and 248lbs. But Reed has been a 3 year starter for the Ducks and now he's been named a Mid-Season all american. He's averaging 1.14 sacks per game and been on the watch list for the Walter Camp, Nagurski and the Lott this year.
Kudos to Nick Reed!
for more info go to Nick Reed
Kudos to Nick Reed!
for more info go to Nick Reed
Ovverrated Teams
OK, this week 2 of my overrated teams lost. If you'll remember back on Septemer 14th I called both BYU and Mizzou overrated. Let's take a look at both these teams a little closer.
BYU - Bck on the 14th of September I said that BYU was about where I thought they should be, by mid October they had moved into the Top 10 which I think was ridiculous. This week, THANKFULLY, they lost to TCU. Last week I said that BYU would crush TCU, I really thought they would. Let's look at TCU's big wins; Southern Methodist 48-7), Stephen F Autsin (67-7) and San Diego State (41-7). I know your thinking "wow, that's a dam good list of college football powerhouses!" But I digress. BYU is a good team with a solid offense and I thought they would go undefeated this season, their only test was going to be against another overrated team, Utah. Now tey have lost and they wil not become a BCS buster unless there is turmoil in the Top 10. My only hope is that they still beat Utah and prevent them from being a BCS buster. That game takes place November 22nd. BYU lost to TCU 32-7. 32-7, that's not a joke. BYU lost to TCU 32-7. Is that the #9 team in the land? NO. Does anyone think that GA, Boise State, LSU, Ohio State or even MO (who I'm about to slam) would loose to TCU? NO!
Texas Tech, kudos to them for being 7-0 at this point in the season. They have 4 hard weeks ahead; KS, TX, OK and OK State. We'll find out about them soon enough. If they come out of the next 4 weeks 2-2 I'll be a believer. 3-1 and I'll be wrong about them. Again, a solid team but not #7, a Top 20? YES.
Mizzou - I think Mizzou is a GOOD team. Not a great one. It's not Mizzou's fault they were overrated, it's the damn sportscasters. A couple weeks ago Kirk Herbstreet said that Mizzou might not ever punt again this season. Unfortunately for the casual fan Kirk said this after Mizzou blew out the likes of SE Methodist, Nevada, Buffalo, Nebraska and Illinois. Now, Illinois was ranked 20th when the season began, but now they are 4 and 3. To me this is a prime example of the ranking system gone wrong. A team blows out their first 5 opponents but really who did they play? Is this their fault? NO! We should not rank teams untill a few games into the season. Mizzou's preseason rank, 6th. 6th? I think not. Mizzou will win their next 5 games and end up in the 10-20 range where they belong, a very strong 2nd tier team, not #6 as they started. As I stated last week, they should end up on top of the 2nd tier college football teams. Chase McDaniel is a good player, hopefully these back to back losses don't go to his head.
Boise State won again, I will point out that they 'should' go undefeated. Fresno State is the only team that should give them any trouble. But let's point out again that they played only 1 Top 25 team, and that was Oregon. Unfortunately,I have to admit, at this point, that Oregon without their number 2 QB was NOT a top 25 team. With Justin Roper the Ducks are a different team, luckily for the Broncos they didn't face the Ducks with Roper. (now you all should know by now I hate admitting any weakness for the Ducks!)
(a little piece of me died when I typed that!)
I thought CAL was going to be on the rise but a 28 point 3rd quarter against the Arizona Wildcats proved me absolutely wrong. They suck! (unfortunately if Roper doesn't come back they will probably beat OR!)
BYU - Bck on the 14th of September I said that BYU was about where I thought they should be, by mid October they had moved into the Top 10 which I think was ridiculous. This week, THANKFULLY, they lost to TCU. Last week I said that BYU would crush TCU, I really thought they would. Let's look at TCU's big wins; Southern Methodist 48-7), Stephen F Autsin (67-7) and San Diego State (41-7). I know your thinking "wow, that's a dam good list of college football powerhouses!" But I digress. BYU is a good team with a solid offense and I thought they would go undefeated this season, their only test was going to be against another overrated team, Utah. Now tey have lost and they wil not become a BCS buster unless there is turmoil in the Top 10. My only hope is that they still beat Utah and prevent them from being a BCS buster. That game takes place November 22nd. BYU lost to TCU 32-7. 32-7, that's not a joke. BYU lost to TCU 32-7. Is that the #9 team in the land? NO. Does anyone think that GA, Boise State, LSU, Ohio State or even MO (who I'm about to slam) would loose to TCU? NO!
Texas Tech, kudos to them for being 7-0 at this point in the season. They have 4 hard weeks ahead; KS, TX, OK and OK State. We'll find out about them soon enough. If they come out of the next 4 weeks 2-2 I'll be a believer. 3-1 and I'll be wrong about them. Again, a solid team but not #7, a Top 20? YES.
Mizzou - I think Mizzou is a GOOD team. Not a great one. It's not Mizzou's fault they were overrated, it's the damn sportscasters. A couple weeks ago Kirk Herbstreet said that Mizzou might not ever punt again this season. Unfortunately for the casual fan Kirk said this after Mizzou blew out the likes of SE Methodist, Nevada, Buffalo, Nebraska and Illinois. Now, Illinois was ranked 20th when the season began, but now they are 4 and 3. To me this is a prime example of the ranking system gone wrong. A team blows out their first 5 opponents but really who did they play? Is this their fault? NO! We should not rank teams untill a few games into the season. Mizzou's preseason rank, 6th. 6th? I think not. Mizzou will win their next 5 games and end up in the 10-20 range where they belong, a very strong 2nd tier team, not #6 as they started. As I stated last week, they should end up on top of the 2nd tier college football teams. Chase McDaniel is a good player, hopefully these back to back losses don't go to his head.
Boise State won again, I will point out that they 'should' go undefeated. Fresno State is the only team that should give them any trouble. But let's point out again that they played only 1 Top 25 team, and that was Oregon. Unfortunately,I have to admit, at this point, that Oregon without their number 2 QB was NOT a top 25 team. With Justin Roper the Ducks are a different team, luckily for the Broncos they didn't face the Ducks with Roper. (now you all should know by now I hate admitting any weakness for the Ducks!)
(a little piece of me died when I typed that!)
I thought CAL was going to be on the rise but a 28 point 3rd quarter against the Arizona Wildcats proved me absolutely wrong. They suck! (unfortunately if Roper doesn't come back they will probably beat OR!)
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