What We Learned From Week 11 In College Football

Sunday, November 09, 2008

There are things to be gleaned from the telecasts, and if they are not available to you (in the case of OK State-Texas Tech, eff you very much, ESPN), then box scores can say a lot.

  • Texas Tech is disgustingly efficient. Seven straight possessions, seven straight touchdowns -- six of them thrown by Graham Harrell, three to Michael Crabtree, one rushing to Shannon Woods. If you would like to make a case that they should leapfrog Alabama, I'm not going to disagree with you. Oklahoma State looked utterly discombobulated and unable to counter the Pirate Academy's wideouts one-on-one.
  • Now we have to ask whether Oklahoma can do it, and ripping up a lousy Texas A&M team doesn't tell us much. The November 22nd showdown with Tech is in Norman, an obvious advantage, and the offensive-defensive split is comparable to the Red Raiders. You could go either way and have a solid argument.
  • The reason Alabama will still be ahead in the BCS come tomorrow and in the other polls outside of name recognition is because they have tackled their tough games on the road. They weren't expected to beat Clemson in Atlanta and they did so. They destroyed Georgia in Athens and they squeezed by LSU in Death Valley thanks to exploiting Jarrett Lee's severe deficiencies into four interceptions, two to Rashad Johnson and another resulting in a pick six. The SEC championship is now officially Alabama and Florida, and it's anybody's guess.
  • Iowa has done the college football world a service by running Shonn Greene into the ground against Penn State, because it worked. Taking the reins off Greene and letting QB Ricky Stanzi only throw when he really had to got them touchdowns and close enough for the winning field goal, and the defense in Iowa City made it clear that a strong defense can fluster Penn State for a second straight week on the road.
  • Florida is the team that should scare you and everybody else you know right now. South Carolina and several other teams would like do-overs against Vanderbilt after seeing what transpired in Nashville. Two blocked punts, a pick, and 28 points in the first 18 minutes will make it ugly, and 42-14 is ugly. Tim Tebow, golden boy, was responsible for 250+ all purpose yards and 5 touchdowns (2 rushing, 3 passing.)
  • I suppose the Volunteers' anger at the way coach Phil Fulmer was ousted and turned into a lame duck did not translate into better play -- not that this has really ever happened. But losing to Wyoming 13-7 is a new level of losing for a proud program gone really bad, really quickly.
  • The Big 12 North now quietly, very quietly, belongs to Missouri -- not only after demolishing Kansas State so badly that Chase Daniel was able to make way for his back-up, Chase Patton (add TE Chase Coffman and we have to ask if everyone on the damn roster is named Chase, at least those not named Jeremy Maclin) and Kansas got upended by a Nebraska team that went after Todd Reeesing early and often. Reesing ate turf with the ball five times.
  • West Virginia comes back and ties it against Cincinnati in Morgantown, despite an awful day rushing from the Pat White/Noel Devine tandem, and then screws itself via an unnecessary penalty on defense in overtime and then Tony Pike throwing to Kazeem Alli to end the game 26-23.
  • God likes Boston College more if they're going to win six straight against Notre Dame, especially when it's 17-0. There is something awful about Jimmy Clausen throwing four picks and players making mental errors in a dull as dust game that will make Irish fans rightfully want to claw their eyes out and questino the offenisve genius of their coach again.
  • Cal vs. USC never used to be this bad. But the Trojans won 17-3 in a penalty-laden comedy of errors on both sides. Jeff Tedford's team has already had its collapse early against Maryland; this is just the detritus afteward. The Trojan offense is loaded with talent but doe not have the mentality to put it all toegther; it does not help that Joe McKnight appears ot fancy himself Reggie Bush, and the real deal never had that severe a case of fumbleitis while in college. Yet this team is still hoping for a BCS bid and maybe a spot in the championship game.
  • That's not happening, though, until Oregon State loses, and UCLA got completely Jacquizz'd last nght by RB Jacquizz Rodgers, who set a freshman Pac-10 rushing record and nailed down another 100+ yard rushing game, racking up 144 on the ground.

Posted by Signal to Noise at 4:34 AM

13 Comments:

TT has to jump over Bama to #1, otherwise those who run the BCS must be smoking some super-potent crack.

Also TT-OU is on 11/22.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 10:03:00 AM  

Texas Tech/Oklahoma isn't next week.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 10:47:00 AM  

It's in Norman in 2 weeks. I don't trust OU's defense at all. Tech has a great shot. However, call me crazy, but then I can see Missouri beating tech at the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 11:38:00 AM  

So, if Tech beats OU, but loses to Mizzou then it will be Fla/Ala winner vs. Texas (a team that didn't even win their conference) in the NC game.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 12:08:00 PM  

And, as I predicted, the bloom has fallen off the UVA rose. They had a nice 5 week run; now it's time to focus on '09.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 12:42:00 PM  

Sorry about the date mistake. Fixing.

Signal to Noise said...
Nov 9, 2008, 12:45:00 PM  

College Gameday will be in Tallahassee next week, but will be from the Florida A&M campus instead of Florida State.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 2:14:00 PM  

So, if Tech beats OU, but loses to Mizzou then it will be Fla/Ala winner vs. Texas (a team that didn't even win their conference) in the NC game.

how about a team that didn't win its own division! wow

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 4:28:00 PM  

"how about a team that didn't win its own division! wow"

2002 Rose Bowl: Nebraska went to the National title despite losing the division to Colorado. They also lost to Colorado by 26 points and where ranked 4th in both the AP and Coaches poll.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 4:40:00 PM  

It is by no means a pick'em in the SECCG. UF will lay the wood to Bama. Ever since the 4th quarter against Arkansas UF has been the best team in the nation.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 5:28:00 PM  

I am tired of hearing about USC in national title chase and am glad you brought up the point they have to hope Oregon State loses. The way the Beavers are playing I don't see them losing and no way that means a team that didn't win their conference (USC) can play in the title game period.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2008, 8:12:00 PM  

USC could win out, not win the Pac-10, but any of the BCS bowl games will choose them at-large because of how well they and their alumnus travel

questionmark said...
Nov 9, 2008, 10:47:00 PM  

Oregon St. will lose at Arizona in two weeks.

USC has the best defense in the country, and it's not even close. Don't be fooled because they prefer to run the ball and play an ugly style of football. That's what's best if your defense is the strength of your team. Shorten the game, minimize your risk of turnovers, and let your defense win.

Unknown said...
Nov 9, 2008, 11:31:00 PM  

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