Settle Down
I know my absence last week probably shook all of you to your respective cores, but let's try and pull it together. Sorry to have missed last week, but I was out in the country shooting at large mammals with a high-powered rifle from long distances - tis the season...
Call me crazy, but these Texas Longhorns may have just pulled themselves into championship form. The defense has been dominant all year long, but the offense has really pulled it together these last few weeks. Colt is finally looking like the Colt of last year and I think those young receivers may be finally getting some swagger. And hell, given that the heisman trophy is all about the good story, Colt may have put himself right back into this thing with that broken record of career wins. If he has a couple more games like he had against Kansas, forget about it.
I can't help but to still be weary of this game though. The Aggies are going to want to make this game about the 10 year anniversary of the bonfire tragedy and "winning for them". The Aggies have also played well of late in College Station. I know, I know, they are pretty damn bad and I'm not sure Mike Sherman has in it him to conjure up the passion in his players to play for a bigger cause. Here's the deal - the Aggies haven't seen a defense quite like this one and the fact that the offense is finally clicking and the Aggie defense is ranked, I believe, right around 100 in total defense is no es bueno. Aggies will keep it close early, but they are simply unable to contain these Horns.
Texas - 48
Texas A&M - 27
Keep an eye on these games...
Pitt vs. W. Virginia - If I'm not mistaken, it was Pitt who knocked the Mountaineers out of the national title game a few years back so there's definitely some history here. Pitt is undefeated in conference and still has a BCS game in its sights if they can get through these next two (very tough) games. I'm taking Pitt very close.
Bedlam Series - I'm going to be honest, the fact that this one is in Norman is the only thing keeping me from picking a Cowboy blowout in this one. I think the Sooners have thrown in the towel on this season. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State is playing for state bragging rights and quite possibly an at-large BCS bid. Texas fans, you best be rooting for those Cowboys as well. I'm taking Okie State by 10 points.
USC vs. UCLA - I don't know, I just think Neuheisel has been gunning for this game above all others this year. I'm taking the Bruins here.
Stanford vs. Notre Dame - The Cardinal by two touchdowns. Weiss is gone and I don't see this team accepting any bowl bid that might be offered.
Nevada vs. Boise State - By and far the toughest competition that the Broncos have faced since week one against Oregon. Nevada is a pretty good team. I say BSU pulls it out, but very close.
Iron Bowl - Could. It. Happen? Of the big three teams this weekend, this one has the highest chance for an upset. Auburn started out hot and then had a mini collapse, but have won a couple of games of late. This is a big rivalry game so I don't imagine either team will have difficulty getting up for this, but a win here would absolutely make Auburn's season.
Other Random College Football Notes:
This team can throw 7-9 guys at you without missing a beat. I've watched a little bit of a couple of games this year and I swear when they bring in their subs it's like they're bringing in another set of starters - it's early, but it's quite amazing. What I'm most thrilled with is Dexter Pittman - the senior big man is (FINALLY) looking like a polished post player. He's developed some down-low moves and it brings a tear to my eye.
A couple of young players to really watch (you won't be disappointed) are J'Covan Brown, Jordan Hamilton and Jai Lucas. Lucas is a junior, but he's new to the team via transfer and he's going to bring a great floor presence as point guard.
This team has a ton of athleticism, length and speed and will be able to simply run teams out of the gym on any given night. They've got some good size with Pittman and Gary Johnson, but if you had to find one weakness it's that if Pittman gets into foul trouble (which as you may recall from past years, is not out of the question), they really don't have another true big man to come in and pick up some minutes. This could present some challenges against more physical, tougher teams. BUT, good news is they were able to nut out a good win against a very physical Pitt team last night with Pittman in foul trouble and on the bench - they simply ran them out of the gym.
I'm not going to make any bold predictions this early in a very long season, but barring any major injuries (gulp, we may have lost Varez Ward last night...we'll see), I can see this Texas team being among the elite in the country throughout the year and primed for a deep conference run. There's a run in December with 2 straight games against Michigan State and North Carolina which will be good tests. They also travel to UCONN in the middle of conference play which will also be good. Stay tuned Texas fans, it's going to be a good year.
That's what I got gang - happy Turkey Day and enjoy the games.
Call me crazy, but these Texas Longhorns may have just pulled themselves into championship form. The defense has been dominant all year long, but the offense has really pulled it together these last few weeks. Colt is finally looking like the Colt of last year and I think those young receivers may be finally getting some swagger. And hell, given that the heisman trophy is all about the good story, Colt may have put himself right back into this thing with that broken record of career wins. If he has a couple more games like he had against Kansas, forget about it.
I can't help but to still be weary of this game though. The Aggies are going to want to make this game about the 10 year anniversary of the bonfire tragedy and "winning for them". The Aggies have also played well of late in College Station. I know, I know, they are pretty damn bad and I'm not sure Mike Sherman has in it him to conjure up the passion in his players to play for a bigger cause. Here's the deal - the Aggies haven't seen a defense quite like this one and the fact that the offense is finally clicking and the Aggie defense is ranked, I believe, right around 100 in total defense is no es bueno. Aggies will keep it close early, but they are simply unable to contain these Horns.
Texas - 48
Texas A&M - 27
Keep an eye on these games...
Pitt vs. W. Virginia - If I'm not mistaken, it was Pitt who knocked the Mountaineers out of the national title game a few years back so there's definitely some history here. Pitt is undefeated in conference and still has a BCS game in its sights if they can get through these next two (very tough) games. I'm taking Pitt very close.
Bedlam Series - I'm going to be honest, the fact that this one is in Norman is the only thing keeping me from picking a Cowboy blowout in this one. I think the Sooners have thrown in the towel on this season. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State is playing for state bragging rights and quite possibly an at-large BCS bid. Texas fans, you best be rooting for those Cowboys as well. I'm taking Okie State by 10 points.
USC vs. UCLA - I don't know, I just think Neuheisel has been gunning for this game above all others this year. I'm taking the Bruins here.
Stanford vs. Notre Dame - The Cardinal by two touchdowns. Weiss is gone and I don't see this team accepting any bowl bid that might be offered.
Nevada vs. Boise State - By and far the toughest competition that the Broncos have faced since week one against Oregon. Nevada is a pretty good team. I say BSU pulls it out, but very close.
Iron Bowl - Could. It. Happen? Of the big three teams this weekend, this one has the highest chance for an upset. Auburn started out hot and then had a mini collapse, but have won a couple of games of late. This is a big rivalry game so I don't imagine either team will have difficulty getting up for this, but a win here would absolutely make Auburn's season.
Other Random College Football Notes:
- What in the hell happened to the Sooners against Tech last weekend? I heard that score driving back early Sunday morning and about flipped the truck. Didn't the Sooners just drop the Aggies 65-10? Or something like that? Weird team. Hell, both of them - Tech and OU are just weird teams this year.
- Regarding Les Miles' coaching clinic he put on Saturday - yeah, that sounded about right. Don't be shocked to see Arkansas take out the Tigers this weekend either. It's just not LSU's year.
- Weird, anti-climatic season - both divisions in the Big 12 and SEC were locked up last weekend. Strange dynamic with seemingly more parity (look at all the undefeated teams), but not-so-exciting conference races...unless you're out on the left coast.
- Speaking of, how exciting has the Pac 10 race been the last few weeks. Too bad Stanford couldn't hold on last weekend - would have been great to see OSU vs. Stanford in the Rose Bowl. What is awesome is the fact that the conference title will come down to the big Oregon/Oregon State game this weekend - rivalry games are great, especially when something like conference title is on the line.
- How about Mosali's game against Arizona - 6 total TDs. Wow.
- Yet again, the Big 10 continues to shoot itself in the foot. Ohio State beat Michigan this past Saturday and won't play again until the Rose Bowl. That's well over a month away. That's a crappy schedule there. Maybe that's why they always lose their bowl games.
- Love the story about Clausen getting clocked outside of a bar in South Bend - gotta love Notre Dame football.
- There is no measure to how bad the Big 12 is - I know I've said this a lot before, but sheesh, they are really, REALLY bad.
- One more thing on Weiss - ND is in the exact same spot as they were when he got on campus - right around .500. It's never good for job security when the President and AD start taking chartered flights to Gainesville, Norman and Cincy.
- Oh-no, what a horrid loss by the Bengals to the Raiders. That will deflate the sails just a bit.
- Pretty gutsy story I read about Stafford putting himself back into the game for the final play. I know both teams are crap, but sounded like it was a great game. Hopefully, for both teams, a sign of things to come.
- A win is a win Cowboys fans...a win is a win. Nice warm up Thanksgiving game, but things get very tough after that.
- I heard somewhere that if the season ended today the Jaguars would be in the playoffs? Really?
- Will the Broncos skid ever end? HUGELY bad loss on Sunday - and it had more to do with how they lost....to the Chargers no doubt. They went from a 3-game lead to 1 game down in that division.
- Are you kidding me with Brett Favre's numbers this year? As crazy as it sounds, don't you have to put him in the top 3 for MVP with Manning and Brees? And I hope Childress gave a big chunk of that contract extension to Favre after he signed.
- Yes, I know, VY has had some nice games of late - moving the chains and not making mistakes. That's good, it's real good. Let's not start opening up space in Canton quite yet, but he's making the right plays and saying the right things for a change. And did I see him running the option? Very nice.
- How about the NFL looks at making better helmets? So many damn concussions....
- I can't fathom Rat Shannahan taking the Buffalo job without seeing what else is out there at the end of the season. Dallas, Washington, outside shot of San Diego - all of those are better programs.
- How does Jason Garrett still have a job? 2 touchdowns in two games - both coming late in the fourth quarter.
- And speaking of Cowboys - I'm officially throwing in the towel on Roy Williams (if I haven't told you this yet). He's so completely overrated and a serious prima donna. He pullled this BS at Texas too - not a great teammate, didn't really work as hard - pain in the ass. My favorite was when a pass hit him in the facemask and he was pleading that he lost it in the lights. Nice Roy. How about you mix in a big play every now and again - he's stealing money from Jerry Jones right now.
This team can throw 7-9 guys at you without missing a beat. I've watched a little bit of a couple of games this year and I swear when they bring in their subs it's like they're bringing in another set of starters - it's early, but it's quite amazing. What I'm most thrilled with is Dexter Pittman - the senior big man is (FINALLY) looking like a polished post player. He's developed some down-low moves and it brings a tear to my eye.
A couple of young players to really watch (you won't be disappointed) are J'Covan Brown, Jordan Hamilton and Jai Lucas. Lucas is a junior, but he's new to the team via transfer and he's going to bring a great floor presence as point guard.
This team has a ton of athleticism, length and speed and will be able to simply run teams out of the gym on any given night. They've got some good size with Pittman and Gary Johnson, but if you had to find one weakness it's that if Pittman gets into foul trouble (which as you may recall from past years, is not out of the question), they really don't have another true big man to come in and pick up some minutes. This could present some challenges against more physical, tougher teams. BUT, good news is they were able to nut out a good win against a very physical Pitt team last night with Pittman in foul trouble and on the bench - they simply ran them out of the gym.
I'm not going to make any bold predictions this early in a very long season, but barring any major injuries (gulp, we may have lost Varez Ward last night...we'll see), I can see this Texas team being among the elite in the country throughout the year and primed for a deep conference run. There's a run in December with 2 straight games against Michigan State and North Carolina which will be good tests. They also travel to UCONN in the middle of conference play which will also be good. Stay tuned Texas fans, it's going to be a good year.
That's what I got gang - happy Turkey Day and enjoy the games.
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 11:17 PM
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