Sunday, November 09, 2008

Sunday 11/09 (Very) Quickie

I am baffled as to how any college football poll voter could not rank Texas Tech at No. 1.

If there was any confusion whether Texas Tech's win over Texas was some kind of fluke, the Red Raiders just demolished an Oklahoma State team that was not only ranked in the Top 10 of the BCS, but that nearly beat Texas in Austin. TT out-performed Texas on offense AND defense.

That said, after their bye next week, TT faces their toughest game of the season -- at Norman. We'll see if the transitive property holds up: If Texas beat Oklahoma and Texas Tech beat Texas, then Texas Tech should be able to beat Oklahoma. If not, the Big 12 has its own BCS-style controversy. (Let me get out in front of it: For the BCS to base second-order conference division tie-breakers on BCS rankings is LUDICROUS and begging for problems.)

Actually, for me the real question is Who's No. 2? I'm not sure it's Alabama. Yes, a win in Baton Rouge is impressive, but if you've watched LSU over the past few weeks, they're just not that great of a team (corrected: wow, are they missing a good QB...every other piece is solid).

But if they played right now -- or, say, in 4 weeks -- do you really think Alabama would beat Florida? Do you really think Alabama could beat Texas or Oklahoma? (I'm actually more convinced than ever that the Big 12 defenses contribute extensively to making the offenses look great -- I love Texas Tech's offense, but Oklahoma State's defense isn't exactly stout.)

Meanwhile, you see below my insta-reaction to Penn State losing. Hey, why isn't "JoePa gets to go to the Rose Bowl!" considered a perfectly fine consolation to missing out on the national-title game? And if Penn State really considers themselves one of the Top 2 teams in the country (or, at least, they did up until Saturday night), then they should be able to beat USC in the Rose Bowl, right? (Um, it is probably worth pointing out that USC doesn't even control its own destiny for the Pac-10 championship; that would be Oregon State.)

Speaking of USC, who else was unimpressed with the "style" in which they beat Cal, at home no less. I was actually impressed with USC's defense, but what happened to the high-powered offense?

I'm working on my Top 25 ballot now, but here's how I'm looking at the Top 10 right now:

1. Texas Tech
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Alabama
5. Oklahoma
6. USC
7. Utah
8. Boise St
9. Penn St
10. Ohio St

There is a lot of football left to play, but it looks like we're heading toward a national title game that pits an unbeaten or 1-loss champ of the Big 12 against an unbeaten or 1-loss champ of the SEC. I don't think anyone will argue with that outcome, at least this season.

-- D.S.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Shanoff, you're nuts. I dont care how big of a homer Florida fan you are, you cannot rank florida over bama. On top of that, you cant rank them in front of oklahoma. If OU lost at home to Colorado ( the big 12 equivalent to ole miss), you would have them somewhere around 14th.

Bama has a tough road game that they win and they're punished.

Florida loses to a pathetic team over a month ago and all is forgotten???

Bullshit.

A.P. Boynton said...

Max, you see he avoids treating Florida the same way he treats USC. The SEC is down this year but Florida losing to Ole Miss is no big deal? USC lost to a Oregon State team that would destroy Ole Miss and then went on to destroy everyone else so far (aside from Cal), yet Florida is soooo great. I sure hope Florida state punks Florida.

Brett said...

Agree completely with Max. He put it perfectly. Do not make up a poll with your heart Dan. Make it up with your mind.