Jamie Sabau/Getty ImagesThis is when it begins poll-wisethat pointwhen an objective observer starts scratching his or her head and wondering if poll voters watch any football over the weekends at all.I have no problem with Alabama being number one in the polls. Ohio State likewise has played well enough to be placed at number two.Now both of these teams finished well last year but beyond feeding the beauty contest that are the preseason polls, I personally do not think that last year should account for very much at this point and beyond with regard to rankingsthis year.So Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
beyond those two teams, I believe there are arguments for and against the placement of the rest of the ranked teams in the polls.I mean, I have to wonder why my Wolverines did not drop or completely fall out of the top 25 with their performance last week; just as I would have trouble placing West Virginia at 22 considering that their victories were not statements of power.Marshall pounded by Ohio State was barely beaten by the Mountaineers and the following week the Thundering Herd was beaten worse by Bowling Green.What have TCU, Boise State, or Wisconsin done this year on the field to justify where they are now in the polls?What is in the minds of voters when they fill out their ballots always puzzles me and makes me wonder:- Why do teams rarely suffer major poll position shifts when they play poorly against lesser opposition?- Is a team that remains undefeated better than one that has been beaten by a very good team?- Why do voters not seem to consider strength of schedule?- Why is running up the score considered style points and rewarded these days and not bad sportsmanship and frowned upon by "the experts?"- How is it that lower ranked opponents are favored over someone the pollsters think is superior?Last week I went 26-2, only missing on my picks of Houston and Iowa. My rout call was correct but then everyone knew that Oregon was going to rout its FCS opponent and I was correct in two (2) of the three (3) potential upset calls; Auburn held its own closely against Clemson, the Spartans pulled out a close victory at home, but to their credit LSU did much better than I thought they would against Miss St.I know many will point to the fact that I routinely pick the favorites but the idea is to pick who you think will win and that is the definition of a favorite, generally.HighlightsThis week marks the end of the non-conference slate for a majority of the FBS schools.The SEC is already in beat each other up phase of their season with two games between ranked opponents this week, starting the clearing of the field for eventual post-season placement.Everything shown so far this season signals to me that this Saturday will not be a fond memory in the future for the Mallet led Razorbacks. Alabama will run right, left, and over Arkansas even on a wet field to at least a ten point victory and if Arkansas sells out on the run Alabama will just make them pay through the air. Arkansas will lose and fall back into the twenties in the polls where they should have always been this year.Boise State plays its last Big Six opponent on the schedule so it will go for gaudy numbers in hopes that no one notices who the remaining opponents are on the schedule. Boise State is a good team but I guess Im one of those biased people that think that Boise Staterecent success would not have been possible had it been running the gauntlet of the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, or Pac 10 over the last few years. Ditto for TCU.Game(s) of the Week[1] Alabama at [10] Arkansas- From what I have seen, Arkansas tendency to have its offense go asleep for periods Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
during the game will be the undoing of the Razorbacks. If Arkansas fired on all cylinders for four quarters, they might make a game of it but I still think they would lose.Christian Petersen/Getty Images[3] Boise St. vs. [24] Oregon State- I hope that the beavers rise up and win this game. I do not think they will but it would be my preferred outcome.[15] LSU vs. [22] W. Virginia- Two ranked opponents going at it. I personally feel both these teams are ranked higher than they should be in the polls but that aside, LSU at home at nightwill be more than the Mountaineers can overcome.Potential Upsets[12] South Carolina at [17] Auburn- The lower ranked opponent is favored in the game according to the odds makers; so is it an upset if it #17 beats #12? I know poll voters and odds makers are completely different people with different purposes but you would think there would be more similarity between their views on a game. Im old fashion and when I look at it, I see the Tigersuperior on both lines and so based on that I think Auburn wins.Whether it is an upset is still open to debate.Minnesota vs. N. Illinois- The Gophers played not to lose badly last week and it kept the score closer. I do not think, while Coach Brewster is a good recruiter, that he is a very aggressive coach. I think that being the case Northern Illinois will take the win this week.Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesPotential Routs[4] TCU at SMU- TCU will go for style points (run up the score) to try and garner more poll points in case Boise State stumbles.[6] Nebraska vs. S. Dakota St.- South Dakota State beat the Gophers not too long ago but Nebraska will only stop scoring when it chooses to.[11] Wisconsin vs. Austin Peay- The Badgers should crush Austin Peay but I thought that already a couple of times this year with regards to opponents on Wisconsinschedule.Odds and Ends- Spotting the ball: It seems to me that the placement of the ball after each play is getting less and less accurate in relation to how I see the play's ending.I am not sure my perception is correct, but with instant replay coming from every angle imaginable, it seems to me that many times the final placement of the ball is not as accurate as it used to be.Are officials too reliant on the replays on other issues, making them less observant? Is the game too fast pace for them to get good views?I do not even know if it is an issue but so far this year, when the ball is spotted, I would swear that more time than in the past, the ball is not where the play ended.Results:Week 1 31-5 [86.1%]Week 2 28-3 [90.3%]Week 3 26-2 [92.9%]Week 4 XX-XSeason85-10 [89.5%]Thursday 23 September[19] Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh- The Hurricanes have had too long to dwell on their last trip north not to use their speed to beat Pittsburgh.Friday 24 September[4] TCU at SMU- TCU will crush SMUSaturday 25 September[1] Alabama at [10] Arkansas- The Tide is too complete an offense to be stopped by Arkansas and Arkansas is too one dimensional on offense. Alabama will blitz as it wants, making it a bad day to be Ryan Mallet.[2] OhioReebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
St. vs. E. Michigan- EMU is just bad and OSU will probably get reps for most of the team this week.[3] Boise St. vs. [24] Oregon State- Oregon State will keep this game closer than in the past but I do not think they will pull off a win.[5] Oregon at Arizona St.- Oregon is the class of the Pac-10 this year and they will come out on top in this game.[6] Nebraska vs. S. Dakota St.- Nebraska will score as many points as it wishes.[7] Texas vs. UCLA- Houston lost two strings of QBs last weekon the way to losing to the Bruins. TheLonghorns are at full strength, which means no winning streak for UCLA.[8] Oklahoma at Cincinnati- The Bearcats will losenothing else needs to be said.[9] Florida vs. Kentucky-In the swamp, Kentucky will lose but this win will not mean theGators have solved their problems.[11] Wisconsin vs. Austin Peay- Wisconsin will win but are they getting the preparations to make them do well when the big 10 schedule opens next week.[12] South Carolina at [17] Auburn- Auburn is better on both lines, South Carolina may keep it uncomfortably close for Tiger fans but Auburn will win.[13] Utah vs. San Jose St.- The Utes win.[14] Arizona vs. California-Nevada exposed California last week, so the game should be an Arizona win.[15] LSU vs. [22] W. Virginia- TheMountaineers will not like the night life in Baton Rouge.[16] Stanford at Notre Dame- Notre Dame's back is against the wall butStanford should still win.[18] Iowa vs. Ball St.- Ball State will pay for what Arizona didlast week.[20] USC at Washington St.- Washington Stateis giving up Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
40 points a game and only scoring 20.[21] Michigan vs. Bowling Green- Michigan will win and probably big but are they ready for the Big Ten?[23] Penn St. vs. Temple- Temple is better but not going to win this game.[25] Michigan St. vs. N. Colorado- MSU willwin this week even with thedistractions.Northwestern vs. C. Michigan- Northwestern can handle the best the MAC has to offer.Purdue vs. Toledo- The Rockets will not threaten a depleted Boilermakers roster.Indiana vs. Akron- Indiana wins putting up great numbersMinnesota vs. N. Illinois- Minnesota will let Northern Illinois beat them by not playing aggressive.Maryland vs. Florida Intl- Maryland youth can beat FIU.
没有评论:
发表评论