Friday, October 17, 2008

Top Ten - Week 8

The big games for my Longhorns keep coming. After an impressive win over O-Who, Bevo welcomes Missouri to Austin this. My thoughts? Missouri is a bit overrated, haven not beaten a big game opponent in their recent surge into the upper echelon of the media's view of them. Last year they were manhandled by the Sooners twice, and beat an overmatched Arkansas team in the Cotton Bowl (another slight on the SEC, I know). Chase Daniel showed his true colors, throwing temper tantrums on the sidelines and displaying his "grit" as his team came up short at home to Oklahoma State. Texas should win, easier than you think - 45-28.

1.Texas - the reward for the OU win.
2. Penn State - a win at Wisconsin is impressive, especially when you manhandle opponents the way JoePa has done this year.
3. Alabama - the win over Clemson seems ho-hum these days. The slip up against Kentucky seems odd. Are these guys really that good? (Is ANYONE really that good?)
4. Oklahoma State - a huge win at Missouri. This team is dangerous.
5. Texas Tech - It wasn't pretty, but the Raiders pulled out the win and remained undefeated. Hence, the higher ranking.
6. Oklahoma - A dream of mine? The BCS somehow gets 1 loss OU vs. undefeated Texas in Miami. With enough losses by the rest, it COULD happen.
7. Georgia - If you lose, it might as well be to a the #3 team.
8. Florida - I still think these guys will faceplant, but the demolition of LSU was impressive.
9. USC - you know what is gross? The AP has USC above 2 undefeated teams. THEY LOST TO OREGON STATE!!!!!! Staying in the top 25 should be plenty, but putting them above teams without a loss in a legit conference is naussiating.
10. Ohio State - until the Penn State showdown next weekend, we can't be sure who is the team to beat. God help us, if the Buckeyes win, punch their ticket to Miami. Let's just hope it's no rematch vs. USC.

The polls are a joke. The media bias towards Obama pales compared to the sports media bias towards USC.

One more time - all together now - USC LOST TO OREGON STATE...

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

4 of 6 so far

On Sept 05, I listed 6 teams who would falter this season. Thus far, I've nailed 4 of them...who says I'm not that football smart? Now why can't I turn those picks into some profit?....

See the proof here.

http://www.sportswithandy.com/2008/09/weekend-picks.html

College Top Ten

1. Oklahoma - The best team in the country's best conference? Until somoene slows the train down (please say it will be Texas...), the Sooners are the team to beat.
2. Alabam - The best team in the country's 2nd best conference. Unlike Missouri and Texas, LSU has faced some stiffer competition this season.
3. Missouri - As the season has progressed, the Tigers early season win against Illinois looks a bit more impressive. Also, they leapfrog Texas as the Longhorns opponents seem to weaken.
4. Texas - The Horns are yet untested, but they haven't looked this good since 2005, when they were led by a junior, fleet of foot Texas grown QB...
5. LSU - The true tests for LSU come up this week. The win against Auburn looks weaker in what is shaping up to be an overrated SEC.
6. BYU - Undefeated and rolling. Until someone knocks them off, this is the BCS buster.
7. Penn State - Up until the last few weeks, PSU wasn't impressive to me. The spread HD seems a complete package, reminding many of the high scoring 2005 Orange Bowl squad. Still, I give Ohio State the edge in the battle for the Big. This Saturday's matchup with Wisconsin may be tougher than critics think.
8. Texas Tech - Becuause of Ohio State and USC's mishaps, Mike Leach finds himself in the top 10.
9 & 10. USC and Ohio State - Just wait: when the end of year arrives, these two will again be in talk for the BCS title game berth...dammit.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Cowboys review

Here in Dallas, we've all heard the excuses and the coachspeak from players of the Dallas Cowboys regarding last week's inexplicable hohum showing against Cincinatti last week. Following the Boys play over the last few weeks, it's clear to me this team is far from a legitimate Super Bowl contending team.

It starts with the defense. Two weeks ago, when the game mattered the most, the highly rated Dallas D couldn't get Washington off the field in the 4th quarter, allowing the Redskins to drive the field and salt the game away with a late field goal and touchdown to give them a 2 possession lead. On numerous 3rd downs, the D looked out of place and step behind. And the improvements most expected weren't there come this past Sunday against the winless Bengals. Up 17-0, Dallas's defense slacked up, allowing Cinci to crawl back into the game, and making it a nail biter until Tony Romo (despite his own horrible performace) threw a miracle tip TD pass to Patrick Crayton. Championship caliber defenses clamp down with 17 point until their opponents can no longer breath, allowing a large lead to become an insurmountable one before letting of the pressure.

Whether it's coaching, players, or scheme, the problem better be fixed. As it is now, we can't expect more from the Boys until we can rely on a talented defense to hold up big leads or make big stops when Dallas needs them. The Cowboys won't win every game by the grace of Romo and the offense.

I told you so...

Vanderbilt 14 - 13 over Auburn? And people STILL argue that the SEC is the best and toughest conference in the country? A little bit of sanity, PLEASE! Sure, it was a great win for the Commodores program this past weekend, but....THIS.....IS....VANDERBILT. As a top 20 team, there is no way a supposed powerhouse SEC program like Auburn should ever lose to a bottom dweller like Vanderbilt.

This is no indication that top to bottom the conference is improving. This is an indication that the top teams in the country's supposed top league are falling (see - Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee) while recent doormats have emerged as favorites (Alabama, Vanderbilt). And mediatypes argue this is an indication of the conference's strength?

A last point - the Florida Gator-Slayers at Ole Miss got beat by South Carolina...ouch.

Expect an LSU victory of double digits as Urban Meyer continues to be exposed (6-4 in his last 10 conference games) as Florida's "savior" coach. Give it 2 years, and they'll be clamoring for Ron Zook's return.