Posted on 01/01/2007 9:55:59 PM PST by misterrob
"A highly regarded opponent that had 6 other teams in front of it.'
Whom they thoroughly thrashed on the one biggest stages in college football in prime time. It's the last game that counts the most. Tennessee's (8-1-2)1986 Sugar Bowl 35-7 pasting of #2 Miami, Fla was enough to propel them to the #3 spot over teams with better records. Dominance impresses pollsters more than exciting wins. USC will be no lower ranked than #3 or #4 in the final poll. They will be next years pre-season #1. OSU-FLA winner will be #1 and #2. If LSU kills Notre Dame they will be #3, if they just win #4.BSU should get #5 and they deserve it.
Thrashed? They won in OT by 1 point. That doesn't make them the best no matter how you spin it. It just means they're one of the top guys and they deserved to be ranked in the top 10 at least. Now if they thrashed OU and humiliated them then it would be appropriate to say they deserved the title game.
True, the ACC isn't a crap conference for some sports. However, Bowden used to claim that they were in the football-weak ACC because their basketball team was so successful. (The ACC does have good basketball teams...)
At the time Miami was still in the Big East, IIRC.
Clemson? The early 80's are long gone...
Who are you talking about? USC did the thrashing of Michigan. Why don't you read and pay attention before you post. I said BSU should be no greater than #5 because they upset the Big 12 champ.
Thanks!
Sorry for any confusion caused.
I still think the first gal has that Ann Margret thing going. :-)
Chrissy's cute as a button too!
No, USC didn't "choke" against Oregon State and UCLA, it's just a product of having to play competitive teams week in and week out. Despite all the criticism it takes, the Pac-10 is one of, if not the most difficult conference to go through undefeated. Even the mid-level to lower-level teams can throw the ball and put up 30+ points on anyone in the country on a given day. You come out flat, you're down by 21 and you lose. You come out flat in the Big Ten, you're down by ten and you can come back. Plus, on balance, there is more innovative coaching out west, as even the non-Pac teams like Boise State, BYU, Utah, Fresno State and many others illustrate year after year. These are dangerous teams to play and it's easy to pick up a loss to these types of teams.
By the way, Mike Hart's comment in the LA Times this morning, "USC is a lot better than Ohio State, at least on defense." Probably slanted because he's never beaten Ohio State, but then again, he's never beaten USC either.
Again, USC's non-conference games:
Arkansas: 50-14
Nebraska: 28-10
Notre Dame: 44-24
Michigan: 32-18
In a 'rebuilding year'. You throw Cal, Oregon State, UCLA and Oregon and even Arizona State and Washington State into that schedule, and the path you guys took to the title game was not even close in competitiveness. I don't begrudge Ohio State being in the title game because I genuinely believe they are a legit team. But in any given year, there are probably 5-8 legit teams and for many, the schedule keeps them out.
Sorry, it's easy to lose track with all the pronouns being thrown around.
The SEC and the Big Ten prove that a conference can be good in both sports.
dittos to EV's post.
UF is going to be even better next year as well, it's just that I suspect USC will be a lot better next year. I think it will be USC and UF playing for the title next year. So even though we're really not as good this year, we've got a better shot at winning the championship this year than next. It's scary to think how good next years USC team is going to be. Imagine if they had this year's defense with last year's offense. That's what they are going to be.
i guess we both know it's 0-2. But you know, ARKANSAS ONLY LOST TO WISCONSIN BY 3 POINTS. BY BIG 10/MICHIGAN RULES, THAT MEANS IT WAS JUST RIGHT AT A TIE AND THEY SHOULD BOTH PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
I guess the bcs politics kept LSU from playing Wisconsin which would have been a better game, LSU I think ranked 6 and Arkansas ranked 12, go figure.....
hmmmmm none of those four won their bowl games, but i guess they did get to bowl games.
Imagine what they would be like this year if juniors:
Reggie Bush AA RB
Lendale White AA RB
Fred Matua All Pac-10 OG
Winston Justice AA OT
Darnell Bing AA SS
had stayed? They would have beaten everyone on their schedule by 20 points or more, undefeated, ranked #1 and a prohibitive 14 point favorite to win the NC over Ohio State.
They have tons of talent for next year that was redshirted plus the most awesome recruiting class of players coming in Pete Carroll has ever had. They are going to be positively frightening on both sides of the ball. It's ironic how the MVP's Jarrett WR and Cushing DE both are from NJ. They get the best from everywhere in the country.
"None of those four won their bowl games..."
Arkansas was in the SEC final, Nebraska was in the Big 12 final, both lost their bowl games by three points to teams ranked ahead of them. Michigan lost to USC, so not sure what that does for you. And Notre Dame 'hasn't won their bowl game'? Maybe because they haven't played yet, they play tomorrow. What's your point?
That's the one potential problem with USC, and it's what elite college basketball programs like North Carolina found out. If you get the best of the best, you are facing a higher turnover because those players end up going to the pros sooner. Every year you have to retool, and get new players to get on the same page, and it can be hit or miss proposition.
Florida won the basketball championship, because Billy Donovan realized that it's better to bring in kids who may not be blue chippers, who will leave for the NBA in their sophomore year, but bring in steady players who will be there for four years.
Miami was in the Big East for years. They bailed on the Big East in part for the money opportunities from a conference championship but also to reduce travel and for basketball I was told.
Miami consistantly was dominating the first round of the NFL up until last year. Coker was not getting the job done recruiting wise or with his coaching and was fired a year too late. They will be back.
50½-110o
;->
I think Shalala also deserves a lot of the blame. Miami's facilities are among the worst in college football.
no point really, like i said they did make it to bowl games. only half the teams that do win. I do wish they would go play offs. UF played tons of bowl teams too..... FSU, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, seems like i am missing one....Alabama i think....9 games....
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