We’re only two weeks into the season and we’ve already seen some controversy in the polls. Georgia who started the season as the number one team in the land, dropped after USC destroyed Virginia on the road. UGA fans want their beloved Dawgs to be #1, but does it really matter? At this point in the season, not one bit. The Bulldogs are in a good position. They are right behind Southern Cal and can hold that spot if they can get through the rest of their brutal schedule. Going into the bowl season, you don’t have to be #1. Being second works just as well. But first, UGA needs to get through a schedule that includes #7 LSU, #4 Florida, and #9 Auburn. Oh and none of those games are at home. Don’t worry about where you’re ranked right now Dawgs. Worry about getting through arguably the toughest schedule in the nation.
Now if you aren’t #1 or #2, you are allowed some concern. Your priority is always winning games, but you may also need luck on your side to jump the guys ahead of you. UF took its first step this weekend, moving up one spot to fourth after a 23-point win over Miami. Ohio State helped the Gators by looking less than impressive against Ohio. Think the O-H-I-O cheer annoys Bobcat fans? After all, they are Ohio. Then again I hate all cheers that require spelling. O-H-I-O. I-O-W-A. And of course, F-L-O-R-I-D-A S-T-A-T-E.
Having trouble spotting the power conferences? The Big 12 and SEC have 10 of the top 13 ranked teams in the AP Poll. I’m still skeptical about some of those teams, but even this early in the season there are some telling signs. The Big 12 has 10 teams that haven’t lost yet, while the SEC has eight. Tennessee is the only school in either conference without a win, but to be fair they’re one of only two schools to only have played one game. The ACC only has only four undefeated teams – two of which have played once. The Big East can only claim two. The Big Ten Plus One does have eight, but outside of Ohio State, Wisconsin, and possibly Penn State are any of those others expected to do big things the rest of the year? And finally, the Pac-10 has six.
East Carolina made a big jump from unranked to #14 and #18 after playing a great game against West Virginia. After looking lucky at times against Virginia Tech, the Pirates appeared to be the real deal against the Mountaineers. I find it hard to route for them because of their connection to the aforementioned Holtz, but they have beaten some supposedly good teams. Before we all go out and buy purple gear, let’s see how VT and WVU look the rest of the season. These are both teams that tend to give at least one absolutely awful performance a year. In 2006, Virginia Tech only managed a field goal against Boston College and West Virginia’s defense couldn’t stop Louisville. And in 2007, the Hokies were in decent shape until falling flat against BC again, while the Mountaineers blew their chance at a place in the national championship game by losing 13-9 to unranked Pittsburgh. Just look at what VT did against Furman this week. 24-7 and only 68 yards passing. I’m not trying to take anything away from ECU, but VT and WVU never seem quite as good as people make them out to be. They have both taken advantage of weak schedules over the past few years to get them a little more respect than they might deserve. Still, beating two straight ranked opponents is a big feat for a school from a smaller conference and with a favorable schedule from here on out, the Pirates could be a top 10 team when all is said and done.
I’ll go ahead and applaud Steve Spurrier for his career accomplishments now since he might not be around much longer. After losing – AGAIN – to Vanderbilt, the Ol’ Ball Coach has to be thinking he will never be able to get South Carolina over the hump and to the top of the SEC East. Vandy isn’t a bad program and never really has been. Their record may state otherwise, but in another conference this would be a perennial bowl team. They play tough and get some good wins from time to time. But, if the Gamecocks want to be a realistic competitor in the SEC, Vanderbilt is one of the teams they should beat no question. They can’t be expected to compete for the conference title if they are losing to the cellar dwellers. In his fourth year, Spurrier has only won 56% of his games with South Carolina. He has the advantage in that he would never be fired, but his will to win and inability to do so with this program make me believe he’ll be calling it quits soon.
Maybe Missouri can score 52 points every game. After allowing 42 against Illinois in week one, it looked like the Tigers would have to put up an average somewhere around 50 to win games. But in week two, although they scored 52 for the second straight game, the only allowed 3. Of course their opponent was Southeast Missouri State, so I’m not sure we learned much about the Tigers from the game. Chase Daniel did look great and unless he self-destructs – which is entirely possibly if the last two games he played last season are any indication – he should be on the short list of Heisman candidates for most of the year.
It couldn’t have been fun to be UTEP or Marshall this past weekend. Texas-El Paso led Texas 6-0 early before the Longhorns went on a 42-7 run. And Marshall was up 14-0 in the second quarter before Wisconsin scored 51 unanswered. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 so they can’t be considered sleepers, but no one is really talking about either of them. Texas has a very difficult schedule – facing four teams currently ranked in the top 13 – but they could be looking at a BCS bowl bid if they can go even 2-2 in those games. Wisconsin’s big test comes when they face Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State in back-to-back-to-back weeks.
After watching Todd Reesing throw for 412 yards and 3 touchdowns against Louisiana Tech, the Bulls number one priority when facing Kansas this week should be playing good pass defense. USF has only allowed 188 yards passing combined in the first two games, but it’s safe to say Reesing should exceed that total. This will be a good test for the Bulls and it’s very important they put in a good showing against the Jayhawks. The Bulls don’t have a very impressive schedule outside of Kansas and West Virginia, so they need to take advantage of every opportunity they have in those games.
The Fighting Zooks are putting up a lot of points, but are they going to be able to stop anyone from scoring? Led by Juice Williams, Illinois can score with the best of them, but they may have to put up 45 or more to stand a chance against Penn State, Wisconsin, or Ohio State. Finishing 9-3 might not be good enough to Illinois back to a BCS bowl this year, but if they win 8-9 games each season, Ron Zook can expect to be around for a while. Whatever keeps him far away from the Gators is fine by me.
Since winning 10 games in 2001, Syracuse has gone 4-8, 6-6, 6-6, 1-10, 4-8, and 2-10. This season, the Orange are already 0-2 and most recently lost to Akron. For a program with such a strong history, the fall over the past few years have been disgraceful.
There’s a good chance Arkansas might not be eligible for a bowl game once the regular season comes to an end. Bobby Petrino’s squad was barely able to get by Western Illinois in week one, needing two fourth quarter touchdowns to earn the win. And in week two, they needed two late scores again to beat Louisiana-(Fill in City Name). Even though the Razorbacks are 2-0 now, they could be 2-4 in about a month. Their next four games are against #8 Texas, #11 Alabama, #4 Florida, and #9 Auburn. Good luck Bobby. You may soon be wishing you had given the NFL a little more of a chance. Like South Carolina, Arkansas can make some noise from time to time, but they can’t compete consistently in the SEC.
There are three games on the slate this weekend featuring ranked opponents going head-to-head, but the biggest one is of course Ohio State at USC. Some people – Lou Holtz included – believe the Buckeyes will use the narrow win over Ohio as motivation and give the Trojans a run for their money. I’m not one of them. Ohio State has not fared well when going up against opponents will great speed (i.e. Florida and LSU) and Southern Cal has speed all over the field. Oh, and the Trojans have only lost one game at home over the last six years. The Buckeyes might head into the game with their heads held high, but they won’t be leaving that way.
Yes the call against Washington’s Jake Locker probably shouldn’t have been made. But don’t blame the referees. Blame the rules. According to the rules, the refs made the right call. Still, they probably could’ve used a little restraint and allowed Locker to celebrate what was clearly a huge moment without throwing a flag. Then again, they are doing their jobs by calling the game according to the rules. Maybe the rule needs to be changed though. Locker wasn’t taunting BYU. He was celebrating a great play.
Torn ACL watch: Penn State defensive lineman Jerome Hayes – Hayes made his first career start this past weekend. He tore the ACL in his opposite knee last season.
Football on the Web: Check out www.orangeandbluehue.com (as much as I’d love to give you a direct link, the Blogger gods are doing everything in their power to stop me from being able to do so) – one of the best Gators’ blogs around. I’m still searching for a decent Bulls’ site.