Week 8 preview

Week 8 has already started off with a bang with BYU getting beat by TCU on Thursday night. Saturday could be called statement week by many. There are 4 games involving two top 25 teams and many others that are very important to the national landscape. 2008 has turned almost as wild as 2007 up to this point. The only two things we haven't had are a FCS team shocking the world and Stanford knocking off a top 5 team. The latter can still happen as a better Stanford team than last year gets USC at home later on this year. Although an FCS team hasn't shocked the world this season, the place where the world was shocked, Ann Arbor, MI, was shocked this past weekend by a bad Toledo team. Wisconsin does play Cal Poly at the end of the season and the Mustangs did start off the season by beating San Diego State. The Badgers are a little bit better than the Aztecs, but watch out!!!


Look at that! I got caught looking ahead............on to the week 8 preview.


Game of the week: Missouri at Texas- Texas is now the #1 team in all the land. Missouri could've been #2, but someone forgot to tell Oklahoma State that they were supposed to lose last week. Win this and Missouri could be right back in the national title hunt. Lose this and they may be hurting when it comes to the Big 12 North. Expect it to be a close one but Texas wins.

Kansas at Oklahoma- Wait a minute! Kansas is having to play a decent opponent from the Big 12 South?? They are having to actually prove themselves to be able to make it to the BCS? Why would Kansas want to do this to themselves?? Wait, it's the rotation of the schedule. They actually have to beat someone this year!! Whoa!! I don't see it. OU in a laugher.

Vanderbilt at Georgia- last time Vanderbilt went into Georgia, they won! Last year in Nashville, Vandy should've won if not for a late fumble. No fumbles or INTs this week and Vandy wins. New QB Mackenzi Adams will fumble and will throw at least one INT and Georgia wins a close one. Georgia still alive in the SEC East, Vandy not although this would be a bigger win than the Auburn win two weeks ago.

Ohio State at Michigan State- Ohio State feels as if they are back in the BCS title hunt. Michigan State feels as if they are getting no respect. This would not be as major as Nick Saban's upsets over Ohio State in the 1990s but it would be awfully close. Jim Tressel will not let it happen. Ohio State does what it is supposed to do, even in East Lansing and beats Michigan State.

Ole Miss at Alabama and Michigan at Penn State- two games very similar in stature. Neither road team is expected to do much against the home teams. Both home teams have done nothing but dominate this season. Both road teams historically have played well if not beaten the home teams, especially in Michigan's case. Expect both home favorites to win closer than the experts think.

Week 7 Bowl Projections

I will admit. I cheated. This is being done after BYU lost on Thursday night. Here goes!!


BCS Title: Penn State (National #1) vs. Florida (National #2)
Rose: USC (Pac-10 champ) vs. Ohio State (at-large)
Sugar: Alabama (at-large) vs. Oklahoma (at-large)
Fiesta: Texas (Big 12 champ) vs. Boise State (at-large)
Orange: Virginia Tech (ACC champ) vs. West Virginia (Big East champ)

GMAC: East Carolina (C-USA #2) vs. Ball State (WAC)
International: Cincinnati (Big East) vs. Central Michigan (MAC #4/5)
Cotton: Texas Tech (Big 12 #2) vs. LSU (SEC)
Liberty: Tulsa (C-USA champ) vs. Kentucky (SEC #6)
Capital One: Michigan State (Big Ten #2) vs. Georgia (SEC #2)
Gator: Florida State (ACC #2) vs. Notre Dame (Big East/Big 12/ND)
Outback: Minnesota (Big Ten #3) vs. South Carolina (SEC)
Insight: Northwestern (Big Ten #6) vs. Colorado (Big 12 #6)
Chick-fil-A: North Carolina (ACC #2) vs. Mississippi (SEC)
Music City: Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. Vanderbilt (SEC #5)
Sun: California (Big 12 #3) vs. Kansas (Big 12/Big East/ND)
Armed Forces: Air Force (MW) vs. Rice (C-USA)
Humanitarian: Clemson (ACC #8) vs. Fresno State (WAC)
Holiday: Missouri (Big 12 #3) vs. Oregon (Pac-10 #2)
Alamo: Iowa (Big 10 #4/5) vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12 #4/5)
Independence: Nebraska (Big 12 #7) vs. Florida International (SEC #8/Sun Belt)
Papa John's: Louisville (Big East) vs. Troy (SEC/Sun Belt)
Texas: Kansas State (Big 12) vs. Houston (C-USA)
Car Care: Miami (FL) (ACC #6) vs. South Florida (Big East)
Emerald: Oregon State (Pac-10 #5) vs. Boston College (ACC #7)
Champs Sports: Wake Forest (ACC #4) vs. Wisconsin (Big Ten #4/5)
Motor City: Western Michigan (MAC) vs. Connecticut (Big Ten #7/at-large)
Hawaii: Stanford (Pac-10/C-USA) at Hawaii (WAC)
New Orleans: Arkansas State (Sun Belt champ) vs. Memphis (C-USA)
St. Pete: Pittsburgh (Big East) vs. Southern Miss (C-USA)
Las Vegas: BYU (MW #1) vs. Arizona State (Pac-10 #4)
Congressional: Navy (Army/Navy) vs. Buffalo (ACC/at-large)
New Mexico: TCU (MW) vs. New Mexico State (WAC)
Poinsettia: Utah (MW) vs. Northern Illinois (Pac-10/at-large)

Teams that finish .500 with nowhere to go: Temple, Bowling Green, San Jose State, and Louisiana Tech

Week 7 Recap

This week saw 3 of the top 5 go down and #5 become the new #1 despite another top 5 not losing. Texas earned their way to the #1 spot in sort-of a boxing type deal where as the team that beat #1 became #1 no matter whom was ahead of them. Alabama sat down in front of a TV this week and saw Oklahoma, Missouri, and conference rival LSU all go down but received little respect in the coaches poll. AP saw Alabama come 15 points away from being in that #1 spot. Also a barrage of coaching changes saw Auburn lose to Arkansas after firing the OC and Tommy Bowden quitting after underachieving again. Two of the top players on the team responded like that was the best thing for the program. Unlike Terry, I feel like Tommy gets back into coaching someplace because the man can coach, just not at Clemson where he is expected to win a national title with talent that would finish 7th in the SEC or Big 12.


There are plenty of other big winners this week as well as losers!!!

USC found their way back into the Top 5 this week after beating Arizona State. Who has USC beaten??? Texas Tech arguing has beaten the same caliber teams without a loss and sits at #7, Oklahoma State just beat the #2 team in the country in some polls at their place and they are undefeated. How are they #8??? How is BYU #9 and Utah not even in the top 10???? Remember, Utah beat the team that beat USC and are undefeated! Other undefeateds include Boise State, Ball State, and Tulsa which all keep on keepin' on!!!

Many other one loss teams made their case this week as well. Florida destroys top 4 team LSU as they vault to #4 and #5 in some polls. Georgia's only loss this year is to the #2 team in America yet sit at #10 with USC and Florida losing to .500 teams and in the Top 5.

Kansas remains alive beating a Colorado team that many thought would actually compete.
Ohio State is moving their way back up as well beating Purdue.


Michigan State gets a chance to prove they are for real this week as they beat an undefeated Northwestern team in Evanston. Next up: Ohio State.

North Carolina does not give the voters a chance to allow Notre Dame back in the rankings. With the loss to UNC, Notre Dame might end their season in 2008 rather than Jan. 1, 2009.

Finally, probably the most impressive in week 7 that still went unnoticed was Penn State destroying an overrated Wisconsin team, but still finds themselves undefeated and #3.

Week 7 preview

Many teams are already halfway through the regular season. All schools have a ways to go. Some, like Auburn, are still looking for their identity while teams like Oklahoma and Missouri just keep on rolling. This week there are plenty of big matchups to choose from.





1) Texas vs Oklahoma -Red River shootout is the game of the year so far this season. The winner of this should have the inside track to the Big 12 and possible national title. Does Texas jump to #1 if they blow out Oklahoma? I have a feeling we will not be able to find out.

2) LSU at Florida - the last two national champions. Unfortunately, they have to play each other instead of Ohio State this week. What was Florida thinking in losing to Ole Miss?? This could've been a much bigger matchup. It'll still be a big one.

3) Oklahoma State at Missouri- both teams need to play well in the big game. Both teams need defenses to step up since both offenses are potent. Will it be the Zac Attack or will the Pokes be chasing Chase all night???

4) Penn State at Wisconsin- here we go again. Wisconsin overrated, losing to one team they shouldn't lose to, and not beating any of the big boys. Could this change this week??

5) Notre Dame at North Carolina- the first time ever that ND is having to earn their ranking. Will they be able to in Chapel Hill???



Other games could be the talk of the weekend, including Texas Tech-Nebraska, Arkansas-Auburn, and Vanderbilt-Mississippi State. Yet another Big weekend to attempt to solve the 2008 puzzle.

Bowl projections after week 6

BCS Title Game Oklahoma (National #1) vs. LSU(National #2)
Orange Virginia Tech (ACC Champ) vs. West Virginia (Big East Champ)
Fiesta Texas (at-large) vs. BYU (at-large)
Sugar Alabama (at large) vs. Penn State (at-large)
Rose USC (Pac-10 Champ) vs. Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
GMAC East Carolina (C-USA #2) vs. Ball State (MAC)
International Cincinnati (Big East 4/5) vs. Central Michigan (MAC)
Cotton Missouri (Big 12 #2) vs. Kentucky (SEC)
Liberty Tulsa (C-USA champ) vs. Mississippi (SEC #6)
Capital One Illinois (Big Ten #2) vs. Georgia (SEC #2)
Gator Florida State (ACC #3) vs. Notre Dame (Big East #2/Big 12 #4/ND)
Outback Florida (SEC) vs. Michigan State (Big Ten #3)
Insight Nebraska (Big 12 #6) vs. Purdue (Big Ten #6)
Chick-fil-A North Carolina (ACC#2) vs. Vanderbilt (SEC)
Music City Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. Auburn (SEC #5)
Sun Kansas (Big 12#5/BE #2/ND) vs. California (Pac-10 #3)
Armed Forces Air Force (Mountain West) vs. Rice (C-USA)
Humanitarian Boston College (ACC #8) vs. Boise State (WAC)
Holiday Texas Tech (Big 12 #3) vs. Oregon (Pac-10 #2)
Alamo Northwestern (Big Ten #4) vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12#4/5)
Independence Kansas State (Big 12 #7) vs. South Carolina (SEC #8)
Papa John's Pittsburgh (Big East) vs. Troy (Sun Belt, no SEC team available)
Texas Colorado (Big 12) vs. Houston (C-USA)
Meineke Car Care Clemson (ACC #6) vs. South Florida (Big East)
Emerald Miami-FL (ACC #7) vs. Oregon State (Pac-10 #5)
Champs Sports Wake Forest (ACC #4) vs. Michigan (Big Ten #5)
Motor City Minnesota (Big Ten #7) vs. Western Michigan (MAC)
Hawaii Arizona State (Pac-10) vs. Nevada (WAC)
New Orleans Arkansas State (Sun Belt #1) vs. Southern Miss (C-USA)
St. Petersburg Central Florida (C-USA) vs. Louisville (Big East)
Las Vegas Utah (Mountain West #1) vs. Arizona (Pac-10 #4)
Congressional Navy vs. Middle Tennessee (Sun Belt, no ACC team available)
New Mexico TCU (Mountain West) vs. Fresno State (WAC)
Poinsettia UNLV (Mountain West) vs. Connecticut (at-large, no Pac-10 avail)

Week 6 recap

The shocker of the week for week 6 in my humble opinion was not Vanderbilt over Auburn or Hawaii over Fresno State. It is the fact that Notre Dame is 4-1 and NO WHERE close to the top 25! Has the media finally quit drinking the Blue and Gold koolaid?? Where's Beano Cook when the Irish need him?? Where's Lou Holtz? That's right. Lou is now a doctor. I would not even send my worst enemy to Holtz for a check-up. Here is the week 6 recap.

Oklahoma continues to dominate by stomping on the Baylor Bears and continuing to prove why they are #1. Alabama held off a mad rush by Kentucky to remain #2 in the AP Poll. #2 in the Coaches goes to Missouri who destroyed Nebraska for their first win in Lincoln in 30+ years and they should continue to play with consistency like they have all year, especially on offense.

Upset alert: Colorado over Texas!! I fell for that too, but Mack Brown and company did not and Texas won 38-14 to stay in the top 5.

The game of the week was a classic as Auburn went into Vandy Stadium and came out with a loss by 1 point, a missed extra point. Vanderbilt is starting to believe that they can win. Will they be able to keep it up???

Fresno State and South Florida founds ways to lose to unranked opponents at home. Kansas came mighty close to losing to an unraked on the road.

The Hawaii team that went to Fresno Saturday night was not the Colt Brennan-June Jones Hawaii team. Who is their coach and their quarterback now? Despite not many people knowing that, Hawaii found a way to make the national news for something besides blowout losses to Top 10 teams.

South Florida wasn't supposed to lose to Pittsburgh, especially with Pittsburgh losing to Bowling Green first game. Pitt has turned it around and have started to look like a Big East contender and could shock someone if they were to make it to a BCS game.

Kansas was down to Iowa State in Ames 20-0 at halftime and came back and won 35-33. This would've been Gene Chizik's first signature win had the Cyclones held on.

Texas Tech routs Kansas State. I was a Texas Tech doubter, not anymore.

Second year in a row, Miami-Florida State was a battle of two non-top 25 teams with FSU holding off a late Miami rally to win 41-39. Week 7 preview coming up soon.

Week 6 preview

Could we have the week of the upsets Part Two. Last week, the numer 1,3, and 4 teams went down. This week should weed out some other wannabees while solidifying other teams for national prominence. There is more than 5 matchups this week that are important to the national scene.


1) Missouri at Nebraska- Missouri has done a good job winning at Columbia in recent history, but have not won in Lincoln since the mid-60's. If they want to consider themselves a national title contender, they need to do something they haven't done in 40 years. Expect Missouri to finally break the curse and possibly move up in the polls.

2) Auburn at Vanderbilt- How do you put the Gameday game at #2?? Very simple. As people in Nashville would say, it just ain't as important. Auburn is still looking for an offensive identity while Vanderbilt will be looking to get to 5 wins, one away from bowl eligibility.

3) Oregon at USC- another battle of two top 25 teams. USC is hoping not to lose two in a row this season like they did last season. 2nd game of the two in a row last season-at Oregon. Oregon will be down to their 4th string QB but the Ducks could still pull off the upset. Don't expect it. USC wins by a touchdown.

4) Ohio State at Wisconsin- both teams were thought to be going into this game undefeated. Neither are. Wisconsin will be ready to hurt someone after last week's collapse. Expect another blowout to go against the Buckeyes.

5) Texas at Colorado- Colorado has played spoiler twice in 3 years already in this situation. Oklahoma goes up to Boulder last season, loss. West Virginia goes up to Boulder earlier this season, loss. Texas goes up to Boulder Saturday.....................we'll see.

Other important matchups for the national scene are: Penn State at Purdue, Stanford at Notre Dame, Kentucky at Alabama, Texas Tech at Kansas State, UConn at North Carolina, and Texas A&M at Oklahoma State. What a great weekend for some football. I fully expect to be talking more upsets on Sunday.