Whoaaa OHHH, Livin' on a Prayer! Bon Jovi reference aside, it was an exciting weekend in college football, and we're right around the halfway point of the regular season. I can barely believe this. It seems like only yesterday that Oregon's LeGarrette Blount began the season with a black eye, on the sport itself and on the face of an opposing Boise State player, with a post-game punch that resulted in his season-long suspension. Despite this, the resurgent Ducks are climbing back up through the rankings, which is one of the more interesting current sub-plots in the 2009 college football season.
But more on that in a few, since as I put together these recaps, I watch the nerve-wracking experience that is Game 3 of the NL Divisional Round playoffs between the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies at what is apparently a balmy, 30-degree Coors Field. I can clearly see the breath coming out of these guys' mouths, and the crowd is decidedly more dressed for perhaps football than baseball. Ah, the magic of October baseball in the Rocky Mountains. How in hell's bells did the World Series get played two years ago between the Rockies and Red Sox without a permanent snow delay in Colorado?
All I know is that it's tied at 4 heading into the sixth inning, and Joe Blanton took over for J.A. Happ, who started but didn't even pitch a full four innings. But then again, neither did Colorado starter Jason Hammels. What this means, I'm not sure, other than the fact that leaving a starting pitcher on the mound in weather this cold is probably somewhat akin to water-boarding. But as this game is being played in Colorado instead of, say, Guantanamo Bay, these teams are obviously doing the whole pitch-by-committee thing. These late east-coast start times need to stop though. Can't we just get the whole country on the same time zone? Is there anybody who would actually dislike this? What are the disadvantages? What, that it would be far less confusing and complicated? Or that jetlag would probably not be as much of a factor when crossing time zones? Who's on board with me about this one? And to think we're worried about topics like health care, and what to do with our troops in Afghanistan. Singular time zone people, this is where it's at.
Rant done, now let's peep what happened in the world of Division I college football this past weekend.
Clearly, this was the game everyone had their eye on this past weekend. All of the Tim Tebow questions were answered resoundingly, and not so much because he put up any kind of eye-popping statistics (he was adequate but not spectacular), but because his leadership and grit were instrumental in actually guiding Florida to this win. Baton Rouge was rocking, and by any standards, it was an extremely hostile environment for a visiting team. Despite this, it never felt as though LSU was actually going to take control in this game. Tebow's skills are considerable, but Florida's defense is the anti-Paris Hilton - meaning very few have made significant progress in attempts at penetration. Looking at the rest of the Gators' schedule, this was most likely their toughest test (unless they fall asleep against one of the lesser foes left in their wake of destruction). Pencil them in for the SEC Championship game.
The Longhorns need to start entertaining themselves in ways other than letting the opposition hang around just to make it interesting. The Buffs led 14-10 at the half in this one, raising some serious questions about whether Mack Brown and company would be dropped from the national title race. But Colt McCoy and the rest of UT came out roaring in the second half and turned this into a rout. As with Florida in the SEC, the Big 12 is UT's stomping ground, as long as they keep remembering to play for four quarters each week, rather than 2-and-a-half.
Thank you, roll Tide. We're headed for a 'Bama vs. Florida showdown in the SEC title game, right? I will say though, the Tide doesn't seem to have that 'blow you out' ability. They win effectively, but they do it by wearing you out and throwing well-placed body blows, rather than lightning-fast flurries of activity. Hey, whatever works. I get the feeling that if Florida and 'Bama played next week, the final score would probably be, like, 6-3.
Well, Boston College seemed like a nice story coming into this one, sporting a 4-1 record and a win over Florida State last weekend. But then we were reminded again why, aside from that early loss to Alabama, the Hokies are one of the most dangerous teams out there. A tough game with No. 19 Georgia Tech looms for this coming Saturday, but after that Va. Tech has nothing but cupcakes left until Bowl time. If everyone else stumbles and they don't, they could be an underrated candidate to be playing for some serious BCS hardware.
No. 9 Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 13
A tense but also largely unexciting Big 10 matchup at the Horseshoe in Columbus. The Buckeyes aren't out of the conversation for the Big 10 Title, for sure, but damn it's hard to pick against Iowa right now. This may be the year of the Hawkeye!
Stop laughing at this score right now. How dare you? The Horned Frogs are not to be taken lightly! Okay seriously, TCU is proving the doubters wrong thus far, but please let me know when they beat a team that's worth mentioning. Let's put it this way, BYU and Utah are the only ranked teams left on the U's schedule. Those are going to be some holy wars. Big picture issue - TCU will be lucky to land in a BCS Bowl, although it's not impossible.
The only reason this is even going down in this space is for documentation purposes. Otherwise, it's completely expected and unworthy of deeper discussion. Miami continues to be better than anyone thought they would this year. Let's see if we can complete an entire college football season without any Hurricane players getting arrested.
Coming from the perspective of a Michigan supporter, this was just painful. Rich Rod benched frosh QB Tate Forcier for another freshman QB late in the game, because things just weren't working out. Also, Iowa is off to its best start since 1985. The Hawkeyes are 6-0 overall, and are No. 11 in the new AP Top 25 poll. No shame in losing to a team that good, but also no fun losing by just two points. QB controversy for the Maize and Blue? Maybe.
I'm telling you, the Ducks are back in effect. It's like the suspension of Blount lit a fire under their collective beak. The Pac 10 will likely be decided when Oregon and USC tangle in a few weeks.
No. 14 Penn State 52, Eastern Illinois 3
Oh, I'm sorry, I was just yawning. Come on PSU, give me a break with some of these non-conference matchups. Akron? Syrcause? Temple? Eastern Illinois? What, was the Orange County (Calif.) Pop Warner All-Star team unavailable this year? Hey JoePa, the grim reaper called. He said just because you're not home doesn't mean he stops trying. Okay, I'm sorry, I'll stop. Hey Penn State, a good football team that DOESN'T play in the Big 10 just called, they said .... ahhh, forget it.
Good old fashioned Big 12 shootout! See just because there's not a number next to your team name doesn't mean you can't play a quality game of football. Nice effort Aggies. At the same time, the Cowboys are a good, but not top tier, Big 12 squad. They still have Texas and Oklahoma left on their schedule. Win one of those two, and that's not too shabby. Win them both, and it will be impossible for the BCS big wigs not to notice.
No. 16 Kansas 41, Iowa State 36
Another Big 12 shootout here. Two different Jayhawks receivers set school records in this one. Whole lotta offense, and whole lack-of defense. Kansas has its moments, but the Big 12 is pretty loaded this year.
Probably the most notable Top 25 upset loss this weekend. But, those SEC dog-fights are just a crapshoot anyway. Despite the nice win, the Razorbacks don't get enough love from the voters to crack the new Top 25 poll.
Umm, yeah, let's just move this along.
Not much to talk about here either. The return of last year's Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford at QB for Oklahoma, and the Sooners rolling over a lower-class conference opponent.
Quality win for the Cornhuskers in the pouring rain Thursday night, at Missouri no less. The Big 12 is one of the more thoroughly entertaining conferences this year. Lot of top-notch football. Nebraska has climbed up to No. 15 in the new Top 25 poll.
No. 22 Georgia Tech 49, Florida State 44
Don't you love defensive struggles? Wait, what? Oh, right. Anyway, Bobby Bowden is kind of on the hot seat due to FSU's lack of, um, success this season and in recent years. The school board of trustees basically wants him to retire after this season. Dad-gummit! I swear to God, he and Paterno are just trying to out-duel each other for most career victories among active coaches. One of them will die on the field before this is settled. Bowden trails JoePa, but only by a few.
No. 25 South Carolina 28, Kentucky 26
Another SEC thriller, but don't expect either of these teams to do anything memorable beyond the context of the 2009 season. Spurrier's Gamecocks can win these close ones more efficiently than other teams, just because of superior coaching if nothing else.
Enjoy ya'll, the Phils and Rockies are tied at 5, it's almost 1:30 in the morning, and tomorrow begins another gloriously fun five-day work week. I shall now have a coronary. Good night!
Penn State's non-conference sked was laughable this year, but at least they begin a home-and-home series with Alabama next year. And Temple actually wasn't as bad as usual. They won nine games and made it to a bowl game for the first time since the era of Saturday Night Fever. And for how much people blow the SEC, you might want to take a gander at Florida's non-conference sked this year.....
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