Posted on 11/16/2006 2:36:27 PM PST by MikefromOhio
Weekend Eleven threw the entire BCS mess into an even bigger mess if that is possible. No fewer than 3 one loss teams lost (Texas, Auburn, Cal) while another one (Florida) needed to block 3 kicks to win their game 17-16 against South Carolina. This week is the week that just about everyone in the national media has been waiting for. The greatest rivalry in college football renews and that game finds that Ohio State is #1 and Michigan is #2 for the first time in the 102 game history of this game.
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It doesn’t get any better than this. For the FIRST time ever, an 11-0 Ohio State team will play an 11-0 Michigan team. For the FIRST time ever, the teams are ranked 1 and 2 in every major poll. For the FIRST time ever, the loser of this game will end up in the Rose Bowl. This is the best rivalry in college football, and this one clearly has the best setup of any of those previous 102 games.
Ohio State and Michigan have both played dominant defense and very well on offense. Ohio State has a Heisman candidate in Troy Smith and Michigan has a Heisman candidate in Mike Hart. Ohio State has a coach that has brought a new focus to this rivalry whereas Michigan has the coach who was so dominant in this rivalry that Ohio State was forced to make a change. Does it sound like I’m having issues picking this game? Really I’m not. Every comparison for these teams shows that Ohio State is better on offense while Michigan is better on defense except for scoring defense. In the end, this game will come down to who makes the bigger plays. I think Troy Smith, who has burned Michigan each of the previous two years, will make enough plays to allow Ohio State to win this game.
Western Carolina at (3) Florida (NL)
Florida 53 – Western Carolina 3
(17) Cal at (4) USC (-5.5) ****UPSET WATCH****
USC 38 – Cal 31
(5) Arkansas (-15) at Mississippi St.
Arkansas 39 – Mississippi St. 12
Army at (6) Notre Dame (-28.5)
Army 70 – ND 6
Just kidding….
ND 42 – Army 10
(7) Rutgers (-6.5) at Cincinnati ****UPSET ALERT****
Cincinnati 23 – Rutgers 20
Mississippi at (9) LSU (-27)
LSU 38 – Mississippi 13
South Florida at (10) Louisville (-16.5)
Louisville 44 – South Florida 20
(11) TEXAS BYE
Buffalo at (12) Wisconsin (-38)
Wisconsin 53 – Buffalo 0
Utah St. at (13) Boise State (-37.5)
Boise St. 34 – Utah State 10
(19) Virginia Tech at (14) Wake Forest (PICK) ****UPSET WATCH****
Wake 22 – VT 18
(15) Auburn (-3) at Alabama
Auburn 23 – Alabama 17
(16) Oklahoma (-20.5) at Baylor
Oklahoma 38 – Baylor 14
Duke at (18) Georgia Tech (-26.5) ****UPSET WATCH****
Georgia Tech 21 – Duke 3
(21) Maryland at (20) Boston College (-7)
BC 24 – Maryland 21
(22) Tennessee (-8.5) at Vanderbilt
Tennessee 31 – Vandy 17
New Mexico at (23) BYU (-26.5)
BYU 42 – New Mexico 20
(24) Nebraska BYE
(25) Clemson BYE
New Mexico hasn’t disappointed yet this year. I pick them, they lose. I pick against them, they win. I paper this one doesn’t look like it will be very close. Let’s see how this prediction goes….
BYU 42 – New Mexico 20
Texas A&M BYE
Western Michigan at Florida State (-16)
I never thought I would see the day that Florida State would be ONLY a 16 point favorite against a directional school. Now the good news for FSU fans is that Jeff Bowden has been canned resigned, but the bad news is that he’s still there the rest of this season.
FSU 41 – Western Michigan 12
You've got to be kidding me. As you know, OSU and Mich. came into this game 1 and 2. I defy anyone to say there's a better Conference.
And Troy Smith should be a "shoe" in for the Heisman.
I agree about Troy Smith deserving it. I don't think anyone else comes close.
I predicted he would win the Heisman last year. His play has progressed in heroic fashion.
Did you go to the Joke, I mean Wittenberg? That's my alma mater.
There's a rumor going around that the Heisman is already being shipped to Columbus. Talk about a boring anti-climatic ceremony that will be.
As far as the big 12 being the tougher conference..........so????????? I'm wondering how many teams from the B-12 will finish in the BCS top 10???? Either Oklahoma or Texas(maybe), but not both. That's still 1 less than OSU and UM, if my math is right.
Talking heads = hypocrits!
How many heard this 3 years ago??
"If you dont win your conference you dont deserve to play for the NC"
EXACT same guys today calling for a OSU/Mich NC game..
Its just disgusting how the media trys to play all this.. The SEC should just disband itself because the media is obviously against us.. Its Michigan OR USC.. NO SEC team has been mentioned for the last 3 weeks! Florida doesnt deserve to go because they played a creme puff today?? Oh but ND can make it and play Army, Navy, Stanford?? USC lost to an UNRANKED TEAM! Im glad we lost to Florida because I would be throwing up right now because its not ok for us to play a close game but its heroic for USC to come back and win vs a losing team..
Its all about ABC money
Personally I think it should be the 2 best teams that play, regardless of technicalities like who won the conference. When OU played for the NC they probably weren't 1 of the 2 best teams, but in this case the argument can most certainly be made that Michigan is.
Dont be such a homer. The majority of Big 10 (sic) teams don't have a winning record, only 5 of 11 do. The majority of ACC (7 of 12), Big 12 (9 of 12), Big Least (6 of 8), Pac 10 (6 of 10, 7 of 10 if UCLA holds their lead for the final quarter of their game tonight), and SEC (8 of 12) have winning records. So of all the major conferences, the Big 10 has the fewest teams with a winning record. Not exactly the cornerstone upon which to claim that the Big 10 (sic) is the best conference.
And Troy Smith should be a "shoe" in for the Heisman.
Who said he wasn't?
OSU fans might want to simply enjoy the win and guaranteed shot at the mythical nat'l title instead of going into blowhard mode.
Pleaseeeeeee. Winning your conference is a major factor. I mean look at all these people . Herbie just says Michigan beats Arkansas and Florida no problem. THe other Espn guy said that too. Well thats great. I mkean if they say it it must be true. Sorry Herbie was talking weeks ago if Florida runs the table they deserve it. It seems to me that the top 5 are based on the whims of the announcers.
Last week CBS announcers were saying that LSU was one of the most talented teams in the Country and could play competive with OHIO and MIchigan. Which is it?
Naw, there needs to be some demarcation line of here I think. IF there is a Ohio/Michigan NC then the BCS needs to go boom or conferences did to think about withdrawing.
Somehow I can't imagine tow undefeated teams going to the SEC Championship and the next day they are both announced to go to the NC game
I don't think any Buckeye fan wants a rematch. They would be wise to remember what happened the last time there was a rematch for the NC.
52-20!!!
I guess I'm a "homer"...whatever that means. Im a diehard Buckeye fan. That said, I think that my Buckeyes and Mich. are the two best teams in the country.
OSU fans might want to simply enjoy the win and guaranteed shot at the mythical nat'l title instead of going into blowhard mode.
Don't be so disgruntled. I'm not sure who your team is, but I wish you luck, and hope you get that chip off your shoulder.
The best thing that could happen now is for Florida (or Arkansas) and USC to win out, but Michigan stay #2 in the BCS and end up in a rematch. Best way to create BCS outrage and move closer to a playoff, to have the Pac 10 screwed again, and the SEC once again fall short.
I'm a big Michigan fan (2nd fav team after Texas), but the best team won today. Michigan won the turnover battle 3-0 yet still lost the game, and committed some stupid personal foul penalties, one of which was the play of the game. OSU had the better QB (how about Henne with at least 3 big play bad overthrows, 2 of which were certain touchdowns if the ball was on target) and the better set of receivers/TE's. I don't care if the game was at Columbus, Michigan has only themselves and their mistakes to blame (especially "Chris Webber" Crable.) No excuses, the best team won, and to rematch would simply screw OSU if they were to lose it. Might be different if they had played early in the season, but now it is time to see how OSU stacks up against an out of conference team.
And given how both defenses were shredded, it isn't automatic that these are the 2 best teams in the country. This game brought OSU back down to earth a bit, we now know that no team in college football this year has both an outstanding offense and an outstanding defense. No different than most years. Which just shows once again that this is all a complete joke without a playoff.
Michigan may indeed be the 2nd best team in the country, but they just had their chance, and came up short. Time for someone else to get a shot, especially since we really get too few nonconference matchups of top teams. How many times over the years has the underdog beat the annointed greats in bowl games? No guarantee that Michigan will win the Rose Bowl, even if it is Cal instead of USC. Many decades of history say that a Michigan win isn't a sure thing out there.
OTOH, if OSU and Michigan were to meet again at the end of an 8-team playoff, there would then be zero argument or room for speculation.
Screw the BCS, may it melt down once again.
USC will pass Michigan in the computers tomorrow. Only the human polls can keep the Wolverines at number two.
No kidding I would not want the Razorbacks to have to face an LSU which got beat by Mississippi. That worried me.
They may well be.
The SEC is the best conference overall but does not have the best team in the nation. While I am a Razorback fan and think they are as good as almost anybody I still think Ohio State is the best in the country and #2 could be one of about five teams including UofA and Fla. Auburn was the team the national media was focussed on and when it fell the conference status fell with it.
ND's schedule year in an year out is as tough as any one's. It may play the service academies (as a favor to them) but also routinely plays the best from the rest of the conferences. They could easily beat USC and be in the title game without it being an injustice.
Razorbacks all the way.
See y'all in Atlanta. I remember the last time we met in the title game. Unfortunately for you guys Madre Hill was hurt, which limited UA's chances in that one, I suspect this time will be much closer.
I do not remember a better Arkansas defense or running game at least since Lance Alworth. And Nutt has been brilliant in the games I have been able to see up in Chicago. Outstanding coaching.
I agree that Ohio is the best at this point but to say the least number 2 is a huge question.
THis rematch stuff which I hope fades away this week is what is maddening to me. ITs like the fix is already in.
Well Sweet Tap Dancing Moses look at this
"According to sources late Saturday, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier will likely be named the next head coach at Miami. Spurrier, who won a national championship at Florida, is in his second season with the Gamecocks with a 13-10 overall record, including 6-5 in 2006. The coach is in the second year of a seven-year contract"
http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/111906aak.html
If this happens if this does happen the Visor will be excommunicated from the Gator Nation
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