Hotmail
Five thoughts heading into Week 7
Bowl season roundup
 |
Bowl recaps and analysis:
-
EagleBank: Wake 29, Navy 19 | CFN
New Mexico: Colo. St. 40, Fresno St. 35
St. Petersburg: S. Florida 41, Memphis 14
Las Vegas: Arizona 31, BYU 21 | CFN
New Orleans: SMU 30, Troy 27 (OT) | CFN
Poinsettia: TCU 17, Boise St. 16 | CFN
Hawaii: Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21 | CFN
Motor City: FAU 24, Cen. Mich. 21 | CFN
Meineke: W. Virginia 31, UNC 30 | CFN
Champs Sports: Fla. St. 42, Wis. 13 | CFN
Emerald: Cal 24, Miami 17 | CFN
Independence: La. Tech 17, NIU 10 | CFN
Papajohns.com: Rutgers 29, N.C. St. 23
Alamo: Mizzou 30, N'west. 23 (OT) | CFN
Humanitarian: Maryland 42, Nevada 35
Texas: Rice 38, W. Michigan 14
Holiday: Oregon 42, Oklahoma St. 31 | CFN
Armed Forces: Houston 34, Air Force 28
Sun: Oregon St. 3, Pittsburgh 0 | CFN
Music City: Vandy 16, BC 14 | CFN
Insight: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
Chick-fil-A: LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3
Outback: Iowa 31, South Carolina 10 | CFN
Capital One: Georgia 24, MSU 12 | CFN
Gator: Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
Rose: USC 38, Penn St. 24 | Analysis
Orange: Va. Tech 20, Cincinnati 7
Cotton: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
Liberty: Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
Sugar: Utah 31, Alabama 17
International: UConn 38, Buffalo 20
Fiesta: Texas 24, Ohio St. 21 | Analysis
GMAC: Tulsa 45, Ball St. 13
BCS title: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14
Photo gallery:
Shopping:
I'm talking, "Don't leave the couch — except for the occasional bathroom break — for 16 straight hours" excited. I'm talking, "Ignore the kids' soccer game, the cousin's bridal shower, and the melting stock market" excited. I'm talking, "Order a pizza and rent 'Iron Man,' take Friday night easy, and go to bed early so you can be on your A-game Saturday" excited. I'm jumping out of my skin, over here.
We've got the Red River Shootout between Texas and Oklahoma, Minnesota-Illinois in a game no one would have ever expected to matter six weeks ago, unbeaten Texas Tech and Nebraska, Georgia-Tennessee, a very intriguing Notre Dame-UNC matchup, and Arizona State-USC.
And that's all before 4 p.m. ET.
LSU-Florida, Penn State-Wisconsin, and Oklahoma State-Missouri wrap the Saturday up rather nicely.
Here are my five thoughts heading into Week 7:
1. Texas-Oklahoma is getting the bulk of the Big 12 headlines this week, but let's not sleep on that downright enthralling Missouri-Oklahoma State game in Columbia. If the oddsmakers set this one's over/under at 100, I wouldn't blink an eye. But this one has more than just points on the line — it has BCS-title-game implications. Both squads are unbeaten. Both squads look unstoppable.
There's no downplaying how good the Missouri offense has been this year. In their five wins, the Tigers have averaged 53.4 points per game, 569 yards of offense, and have scored at least 42 points in each contest. Chase Daniel's a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman are sure-fire first-team All-Americans.
But here's my Debbie Downer head nod. And I give it with a hand blocking the tomatoes and wet trash being thrown at me by Mizzou fans right now.
The Tigers defense has been mediocre at best. They still have a lot to prove. They're ranked 83rd nationally in yards allowed (377 yards per game), and are 114th in the country against the pass (282 yards per game). Your local high school team could toss for 200 yards on this defense. Hell, the Kansas City Chiefs could toss for 200 yards on this defense.
Even in Sunday's blowout of Nebraska, Mizzou's D gave up 369 yards. Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz, not spectacular by any means, threw for 290 yards and six passes for 20 yards or more. He picked apart that Tigers defense all evening. The Mizzou players celebrated the program's first win in Lincoln in 30 years by dousing coach Gary Pinkel with a Gatorade shower. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus enjoyed no such bath. His unit's pass defense was getting showered on all night.
By comparison, the four other unbeaten teams in the Big 12 — Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and even Texas Tech — are all giving up less total yards per game and passing yards per game this season than Missouri.
Mizzou's D will be put to the test against Zac Robinson, Dez Bryant, and the red-hot Oklahoma State Cowboys. Though you probably haven't heard much about them, OSU's offense has been downright unstoppable this season. Ranked third in the nation in scoring, the Cowboys have scored more than 50 points in four straight games. For all the talk Daniel and Maclin get, Robinson and Bryant are putting on one heck of a show each week, too.
If Maclin's being considered a Heisman candidate, we must insert Bryant into the national conversation, as well. Last Saturday against Texas A&M, the speedy wideout caught five balls for 106 yards and three touchdowns, and ran a "Direct-to-YouTube" punt return back for a score. It was Bryant's second four-touchdown game of the year.
On paper, these two teams are awfully similar. You've just heard a lot more about Missouri. Plenty of offensive fireworks to be had in this one. Plenty at stake, too. And if the Tigers get past the Cowboys? Well, their reward is a trip to Austin next Saturday.
Whoever said this BCS-title thing would be easy?
2. Auburn fans were a bit concerned when the Tigers only beat SEC doormat Mississippi State by a 3-2 score a few weeks back. They were mildly worried when the offense didn't score a touchdown in the final three quarters of an ugly 14-12 victory over Tennessee. After the offense's (non-)performance in the second half at Vanderbilt last weekend, the masses were downright horrified. War Eagle? Try Broken-Winged Pigeon.
But to fire — yes fire — first-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin just six games into the 2008 season?
Well, that's ... I don't know what it is.
To be certain, The Tony Franklin Era may go down as one of the most enigmatic (and short-lived) periods in SEC football lore. A trivia question at Alabama tailgates in Tuscaloosa for years to come, Franklin's name will elicit laughter and fist pumps for Tide fans decades down the road.
To think it's all over and finished in less than 80 days is just further proof of the importance of winning football in SEC country. Win or get out. And don't let the door hit you (and your $3K spread offense seminars) on the way out.
Call it the only positive part of the "Auburn" section on his coaching resume, or simply call it a tease — it wasn't always sputtering offense and turnovers for Franklin and the Tigers. Against Clemson in last year's Chick-Fil-A Bowl, with just eight practices and the very basic elements of his spread offense under their belts, the Auburn offense racked up 423 yards en route to a victory. Quarterback Kodi Burns looked awesome; Franklin looked like a mastermind and the cure to Auburn's recent offensive ills.
Yet, that very offensive scheme — the one that Franklin made thousands of dollars selling to high school programs via his "The Tony Franklin System Seminar" sessions — resulted in nothing but hiccups and horror stories for the Auburn faithful this season.
Through six games, the Auburn offense, ranked 104th nationally, still has not broken the 1,000-yard mark on the season. The pass offense under Franklin — the trademark of any spread offense — averaged a mere 154 yards per contest. Last weekend, the offense gained only 82 yards and six first downs over the final three quarters.
Add all this to the fact that the 14-13 defeat was Auburn's first loss to Vandy since 1955, and that another team in the state — one with a second-year coach with the initials N.S. — is unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the nation, and you can only imagine the tension in Franklin's footsteps this past week.
You could even sense it in an interview he gave with USA Today prior to the Vandy loss. Describing his time at Auburn compared to his previous coaching gig at Troy on Oct. 3, Franklin said, "No matter what the problems were, (Troy players and coaches) knew it was going to work out. Here I have to continue to preach that it's going to work out and since it hasn't, then it's 'When? Pretty soon we hope, right?' "
Unfortunately for Franklin, it wasn't soon enough.
3. If I'm a BYU fan, I'm scratching my head a bit this week. The Cougars entered last weekend's game vs. Utah State as the No. 8 team in the nation, with impressive wins over two Pac-10 opponents — including a 59-0 mauling of a UCLA squad that had beaten Tennessee two weeks earlier. Last Saturday, the Cougars scored 24 points in the first quarter, took care of business, and beat their opponents by 20. It wasn't their best effort of the year by any means, but they looked good enough and the game was never in doubt. So, out come the polls on Monday, and BYU drops a spot to No. 9.
Hmm. Curious, to say the least.
In truth, BYU doesn't need to worry about being No. 8, 9, 10, or 11 in either of the AP or coach's polls. They don't really need to pay attention to either of those polls at all. BYU just needs to worry about being No. 12 or better in the BCS standings come mid-December.
Per the BCS Automatic Qualification and At-Large Eligibility and Selection Procedures, "The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, or the Western Athletic Conference will earn an automatic berth in a BCS Bowl game if such a team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings or such a team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls."
Of course, only one mid-major team shall earn an automatic berth in any given year.
What's all that jargon mean? Well, if BYU wins out the rest of the way — and inherent in winning out would mean a victory at TCU and a win at Utah in the season finale — they should finish in the top 12 of the final BCS standings. Those two road games — the trips to TCU and Utah — should be enough to ensure a top-12 seeding.
But slipping a spot here, slipping a spot there in the AP poll in weeks after 20-point road wins?
Well, it certainly doesn't help.
In short, beat TCU and Utah, and BYU can enjoy some January football.
But, beat New Mexico this week, first. The larger the margin of victory, apparently, the better.
4. The response from last week's hypothetical situation in which I suggested Ohio State still could square off against USC in a BCS championship game this season was tremendous. SEC and Big 12 fans treated the nightmarish scenario like the Apocalypse was here. Pure outrage. Disgust.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State and USC backers out there saw the negative framing of such a situation as insulting, and in many cases, an example of biased, ugly journalism. Many called me names. Sticks and stones were thrown, and if I saw any of these fans on the street — I have a feeling some of my bones would be broken, too.
Wah.
To those folks, I apologize for upsetting you. But I don't take back the tone or type of words I used in describing such a scenario ("unfortunate," "nightmarish," "horrifying") for a second. I speak for pretty much every college football fan outside of the state of Ohio when I say we don't need or care to see Ohio State in another title game. Not this year, at least. After blowout losses against Florida in '07, LSU in '08, and USC earlier this season, we've had our fill. Give us somebody else. Give us a game.
Of course, my pleas may not be resonating. In the three weeks since Ohio State's 35-3 loss to USC, the Buckeyes have already begun their slow rise back to prominence. And I won't lie — they looked damn good at Wisconsin last weekend.
They check into this week's Purdue game ranked No. 12 in the AP poll. Win this one and at No. 23 Michigan State next weekend and they could be knocking on the door of the AP top 10. Take down Penn State the following weekend, and we can be talking top five. Win out the rest of the way, and boom, there they are, in the national title discussion.
For those of us outside of Columbus, it's unfortunate. It's nightmarish. And it's horrifying.
It's also very possible.
5. I spent last Saturday with a few buddies visiting Ole Miss, enjoying all of our maiden voyages to The Grove.
Um, it's safe to say that the trip will now be an annual tradition. What a place. Some highlights:
The lesson? Get to Ole Miss for a game soon. Actually, get there as fast as humanly possible.
GAME YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT TIVO'ING THAT YOU SHOULD: South Carolina at Kentucky, 12:30 p.m. ET: If you like offense, go elsewhere. If you like gritty, in-your-face defense, here's the game you should be watching. Don't be shocked if the over/under in this one is about 15 points. Kentucky's D is downright suffocating and South Carolina's put the clamps on just about everyone they've played this season. Look for this one to be a 10-7 final. Music to a football purist's ears.
MILD-TO-MAJOR UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK: Arizona State couldn't pull off the upset in Berkeley last weekend. My pick this week:
Rutgers over Cincinnati.
PLAYER WHO HAS NO EXCUSE NOT TO GO BONKERS: Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell against the sieve — even with Bo Pelini — that is the Nebraska defense.
Schrager's Three Gripes:
1. Every person to ever visit an office water cooler, who's suddenly now become a political expert and analyst of tactics, strategy, and all things General Petraeus.
2. Baseball's wildcard round being a best of five. The NBA's changed this. The NHL's first round is seven games for a reason. C'mon MLB.
3. When your fantasy football quarterback goes down with an injury in the first minute of a game. Hello, Trent Edwards. Goodbye, any chance of winning that week.
Member Comments
A big 12 bowl sweep? I suppose anything is possible. But remember, Oklahoma lost to WVU and Boise State in their last two bowl games. Both from "inferior" conferences.
RCP569110/11/2008 8:00:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
You and I both know this game is far from "in the bag". I bleed black and gold and I have seen OSU play several times this year; this game is NOT a gimme and if Pinkle doesn't have his players focused.........too awful for this Tiger to think about. Mizzou should win, they are suppose to win, now all they have to do; is do it! See you at the game. GO TIGERS!
getoffmy610/11/2008 7:44:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I hope the MU team thinks this game is in the bag like their fans seem to think.
OSUINTEXAS10/11/2008 5:53:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Schrager: Why on earth would you even mention Auburn or the SEC (SUC) in the same article? Gimme a break, this is the Big 12's year. The Big 10 and the SEC has nothing for us. It's a Big 12 Bowl sweep. Yes i said it.........sweep. By all means, bring on **** BYU.
getoffmy610/10/2008 23:24:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
OSUINTEXAS: Pucker up baby and get ready to KISS! This SHOULD be MU's defensive coming out party. If not......MU's not ready for prime time. I respect OSU and enjoy watching them play as I do Mizzou. I love a high powered offense but Mizzou has to show they are up to the defensive task if they are to play on the BIG stage. Make no mistake, OSU scares me if Mizzou is looking ahead as they have in the past. We'll know soon.
getoffmy610/10/2008 23:14:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
And nebraska fans still have their head up Osbourns rear.
KXPETE62710/10/2008 17:47:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
No need to sell anybody on the fact that MU is good, but there are several good teams in the Big 12 and all one of them can and probably will get beat.
OSUINTEXAS10/10/2008 17:47:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hope BOOGER eater daniel and the tiggers get slammed. There fans think they have the N.C. in the bag. They seem to think they are now a powerhouse with a year and half of good football. After this year they are back to bottom where they belong.
03tuscani10/10/2008 15:51:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Whomp, I can't really disagree with you. Rucker was quite a player. My point was Pettigrew adds an additional dimension to the O State offense that we really haven't seen much of this year, and he's an excelent blocker. Zac only threw 4 passes one game and Pettigrew missed the last 2 due to an ankle injury.
BooneStateAlumn10/10/2008 14:41:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Schrager, try looking deeper into the stats than just Total Yards and Total Points. One must look deeper into the numbers often times to get an accurate representation of college units. This is especially true of defenses that are on teams with ridiculously high power offenses like Missouri. Missouri ranks dead last in the nation in Time of Possession. That means the defense is on the field more than any team in the country, so there are going to be some yards and points scored on them. Taking a look at Yards Per Play is a far more accurate indication of the defense in situations like this, as opposed to Total Yards or Total Points. Missouri is tied for 31st in Yards Per Play on defense this year at 4.8, the same as Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. Missouri has also faced some pretty good offensive teams from Division 1. In Points Per Game Nevada is 20th, Illinois is 23rd, Nebraska is 30th, and Buffalo is 57th. One last point, Illinois scored on an interception return and a meaningless TD on the last play of the game while trailing by 17, Buffalo scored on a kickoff return (the first against Missouri since 1999), and Nebraska scored a meaningless TD on the last play of the game while trailing by 42.
nfrillman10/10/2008 14:41:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
MLB is the only sport where its postseason is more boring than its regular season. I say play best 2 out of 3 at most, and have an extra round.
Cygnus10/10/2008 14:34:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey Pete, you're supposed to get OFF the RU bandwagon. HAHA Replace that upset with CU over KU.
GoBuffsGo10/10/2008 14:23:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Boone State is partially right. What he fails to realize is that Wm Moore will be looking for Pettigrew. Mizzou nation feels slighted. Pettigrew was named first team Big XII last year over Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman. Most would agree that Coffman and Rucker were/are superior to Pettigrew. Many feel that the North vote split between Coffman and Rutger and gave Pettigrew the award. 87's number will look like a target for the defense Saturday. I will be rooting for OSU or BSU if that's what you want to call it any game other than tomorrrow. I think it is good for the Big XII to have some players other than Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska. Damn I wish Pinkel would have let the boys hang 70 on the Cornholers.
Whompdaddy10/10/2008 14:19:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
OFFENSE<br />OSU Total Yds/Gm 530.2<br />MU Total Yds/Gm 568.8<br />OSU Average Pts/Gm 52.6<br />MU Average Pts/Gm 53.4<br /><br />DEFENSE<br />OSU Total Yds/Gm 338.6<br />MU Total Yds/Gm 376.6<br /><br />Should be a very good game!
OSUINTEXAS10/10/2008 14:12:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
If OSU is forced to pass look for big things from #87 Brandon Pettigrew. Hasn't played much do to not needing a passing game / out for injury. He should be back in force against Mizzou. One of the best TEs around. Having him back should improve (if that's possible) the running game as well.
BooneStateAlumn10/10/2008 13:51:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
If you've listened to the OSU games, you know that they have also taken the starters out fairly early. They have not tried to run up the score on anyone. I don't think OSU will be forced to throw the ball, but they'll have fun doing throwing anyway. We are not Nebraska and I'll kiss your butt if OSU is held to 20 or less.
OSUINTEXAS10/10/2008 13:28:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
im not gonna say that we tigers can't lose this game. i simply just dont see it happening. i know a lot of the players and they arent looking ahead. pinkel doesnt let them he drills into their heads everything they can handle about the current weeks opponent. Our defense isnt good on paper simply because they spend at least twice as much time on the field as the offense. the other point is that after the first quarter other teams are forced to throw the ball against us. I dont care who you are if a team threw the ball 80% of the game they are gonna rack up yards on your defense. the fact that our deffense still keeps teams under 20 points is amazing.
shive6710/10/2008 12:39:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I agree that OSU can win this game, but don't think it would really be an upset. OSU's passing game hasn't really been needed that much because the running game is doing so well. Watch for OSU to showcase passing early in the game since everyone is looking for the run. Zac is very good and has many weapons. OSU has nothing to loss and this will be their coming out party.
OSUINTEXAS10/10/2008 12:19:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
As an OSU fan I will admit that Mizzou will probably win this one. Don't underestimate the Pokes offense or their big play ability on special teams though. Zac and Dez are as good as advertized, and the article didn't even mention Kendall Hunter who is averages 7 yds per cary and over 100 yds per game. It should be a fun to watch high scoring game. If OSU can manage a couple stops and get a few turnovers an upset is definitely possible.
BooneStateAlumn10/10/2008 11:55:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
advertisement
