AUBURN OFF THE HOOK, CAM TOO & WITH 13 UNBEATEN CFB TEAMS, HOW MANY CAN SURVIVE TILL THE END?
The NCAA has concluded all their investigations into the Auburn football program & their recruiting of Cam Newton. Close the book, it's over, no skeletons in the closet, no payoffs, nothing unsightly or illegal. Good, it's refreshing in a year with scandals from coast to coast, the Auburn Tigers are in the clear, their BCS Championship intact. Contrary to the belief of some readers, I do not thrive on bad news, ugly rumors or a lengthy police blotter. I have a dream this kind of behavior will be less & less a part of the college football scene. Call me crazy, but I'm constantly hoping for more personal accountability, integrity & honesty not only in college sports but in our personal lives. That's why the Auburn outcome makes me both happy & hopeful we'll see more verdicts like this & less like the carnage created at Miami, Ohio State & USC.
Nebraska was dealt a terrible blow when defensive lineman Jared Crick suffered a torn pectoral muscle. It will require surgery & he will be lost for the remainder of the season. Crick was a 2-time All-Big-12 selection & had 33 starts for the Cornhuskers. The 6' 6" 285-pound Crick was a shoe-in top-20 pick in next April's NFL Draft. If he can participate in the scouting combine, he could maintain his status as a top-20 prospect.
Atlanta will be without their top pick this season, wide receiver Julio Jones, because of a hamstring pull. Not known if it will keep him from playing next week. Tampa will miss starting running back LeGarrette Blunt this week after sustaining a strained knee last Sunday in San Francisco.
Look for Seattle linebacker Aaron Curry to be traded to the Oakland Raiders by this afternoon. The compensation for Curry is the only holdup in the deal. The Raiders have offered a 7th round pick in 2012 & a conditional pick in 2013. Curry was the 4th overall pick in the 2009 draft, one pick after the Chiefs selected Tyson Jackson. He was benched two weeks ago because of disappointing production.
How big a deal is Tim Tebow's elevation to starting quarterback? If he doesn't lead his team to 4-5 wins(very doubtful) then his team will be drafting his replacement come April. Kyle Orton is already good as gone after being benched in the 2nd half last week, in the last year of his contract, it's see ya Kyle. Brady Quinn hasn't shown anything in Cleveland or Denver, that's why the Broncos went to Tebow to see if they have anyone who could become an actual NFL starter at the toughest position to play.
As of today, we have 13 undefeated teams in college football. The season is closing in on the halfway point for everybody & 13 is an unusually high number of teams with a perfect record this late in the season. With no playoff system in place, could we see another very-deserving, undefeated team(s) be left out in the proverbial BCS cold? Absolutely, it will happen IMO & here's how:
#1 LSU 6-0
The Bayou Bengals play their "Game of the Year" November 5th at #2 Alabama. I believe the winner of this game will not only finish unbeaten, win the SEC Championship game & receive a bid to play in the BCS title game. Their only other possible stumbling block could be in their regular season final in Baton Rouge versus Arkansas. If the Tigers finish 11-1, losing only to Bama, they should get an at-large BCS bid instead of the SEC Championship game runner-up.
#2 Alabama 6-0
November 5th vs. LSU & the annual Iron Bowl, November 26th versus Auburn. Two tough-as-they-get SEC games, but ones I expect the Tide to win. I like Alabama to be half of the BCS title matchup.
#3 Oklahoma 5-0
The annual "Bedlam" game, December 3rd, at #6 Oklahoma State. Other games to watch; at Kansas State & at Baylor. The preseason voters had it right, this is the best team in the country IMO. But can they escape Stillwater with the Big-12 crown enabling them to play for the national championship? Cowboy coach Mike Gundy has never beaten OU's Bob Stoops in 6 tries, but this could be the year.
#4 Wisconsin 5-0
This is the first team that could be unbeaten & left outside looking in, two games of medium risk, at Michigan State 10/22 & at Illinois 11/26. Rose Bowl isn't a bad consolation, but it gets the Badgers no closer to the National Championship. They need two of the top-3 teams to lose if they're to have a shot.
#5 Boise State 5-0
Also a strong candidate for an undefeated record & no shot at the BCS title game. A home game against 4-2 TCU is Boise's only realistic shot at a loss this season. If the Broncos register 7 more blowout wins, they'll get an at-large BCS bid again, but zero chance for anything better.
#6 Oklahoma State 5-0
Besides their "Bedlam" showdown with OU, road trips to Texas, Texas Tech & Mizzou probably won't provide the loss that would derail the Cowboys before they face the Sooners. Here's a possible scenario; Oklahoma State beats OU but doesn't vault over Wisconsin, who gets into the title game for the first time.
#7 Stanford 5-0
With the best quarterback prospect in maybe a decade, Andrew Luck could lead his Stanford team into the BCS title game. But only if they can navigate a tough upcoming schedule; at USC 10/29, Oregon 11/12 & "The Big Game" between bitter rivals Stanford & Cal, 11/19. They will also need a lot of help to be ranked high enough to get the bid they want so badly. I think they'll find themselves paired up with Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl cause I see them beating Oregon.
#8 Clemson 6-0
Easily the surprise team of 2011, the unbeaten Tigers have two ultra-tough road tests, at #12 Georgia Tech 10/29 & at #15 South Carolina 11/26. Win 'em all & they'll be the ACC automatic qualifier for a BCS Bowl. Right now, Clemson is my Orange Bowl pick.
#11 Michigan 6-0
They don't have Wisconsin on the schedule this season which could help them run the table, but this Saturday's trip to in-state rival Michigan State will be a tough test. A trip to #16 Illinois on 11/12 plus a homer against Nebraska on 11/19 could also cause trouble. Even if they were to run the table, they'd still have to beat Wisconsin in the 1st BIG TEN title game, which I don't see. But 9 or 10 wins in Brady Hoke's 1st season would have to be considered a rousing success.
#12 Georgia Tech 6-0
The Yellowjackets are an offensive juggernaut like no other team in the land(except Houston) averaging over 360-yards on the ground & about 25-yards per completion thru the air. They could find themselves in a BCS Bowl as the ACC automatic bid. Three difficult games remain, but all on their home turf, Clemson on 10/29, Virginia Tech on 11/10 & Georgia on 11/26. Having no ranked teams on their schedule so far, it's hard to measure just how good Tech really is.
#16 Illinois 6-0
I don't see a chance in hell the Illini remain undefeated. With trips to Ohio State & Penn State plus home games with Michigan & Wisconsin, see what I mean? They'll be hard pressed to win 10-games, 9 is more like it.
#17 Kansas State 5-0
This team of over-achievers coached by one of the best gameplanners in all of college football, Bill Snyder, won't make it much further. With a trip to Texas Tech on the 29th followed by another road game at Oklahoma State should do it. Plus they have home games with A&M & Texas remaining. Best story in the Big-12 if the Cats get to 10 wins.
#25 Houston 6-0
Could very easily go unbeaten with a tough home game with SMU & a road trip to Tulsa, I think Kevin Sumlin's Cougars could finish 12-0 & not get an at-large bid to a BCS Bowl. The nation's number one offense can keep Houston in every game & because of it, they go undefeated in a conference that plays very, very little defense.
Nebraska was dealt a terrible blow when defensive lineman Jared Crick suffered a torn pectoral muscle. It will require surgery & he will be lost for the remainder of the season. Crick was a 2-time All-Big-12 selection & had 33 starts for the Cornhuskers. The 6' 6" 285-pound Crick was a shoe-in top-20 pick in next April's NFL Draft. If he can participate in the scouting combine, he could maintain his status as a top-20 prospect.
Atlanta will be without their top pick this season, wide receiver Julio Jones, because of a hamstring pull. Not known if it will keep him from playing next week. Tampa will miss starting running back LeGarrette Blunt this week after sustaining a strained knee last Sunday in San Francisco.
Look for Seattle linebacker Aaron Curry to be traded to the Oakland Raiders by this afternoon. The compensation for Curry is the only holdup in the deal. The Raiders have offered a 7th round pick in 2012 & a conditional pick in 2013. Curry was the 4th overall pick in the 2009 draft, one pick after the Chiefs selected Tyson Jackson. He was benched two weeks ago because of disappointing production.
How big a deal is Tim Tebow's elevation to starting quarterback? If he doesn't lead his team to 4-5 wins(very doubtful) then his team will be drafting his replacement come April. Kyle Orton is already good as gone after being benched in the 2nd half last week, in the last year of his contract, it's see ya Kyle. Brady Quinn hasn't shown anything in Cleveland or Denver, that's why the Broncos went to Tebow to see if they have anyone who could become an actual NFL starter at the toughest position to play.
As of today, we have 13 undefeated teams in college football. The season is closing in on the halfway point for everybody & 13 is an unusually high number of teams with a perfect record this late in the season. With no playoff system in place, could we see another very-deserving, undefeated team(s) be left out in the proverbial BCS cold? Absolutely, it will happen IMO & here's how:
#1 LSU 6-0
The Bayou Bengals play their "Game of the Year" November 5th at #2 Alabama. I believe the winner of this game will not only finish unbeaten, win the SEC Championship game & receive a bid to play in the BCS title game. Their only other possible stumbling block could be in their regular season final in Baton Rouge versus Arkansas. If the Tigers finish 11-1, losing only to Bama, they should get an at-large BCS bid instead of the SEC Championship game runner-up.
#2 Alabama 6-0
November 5th vs. LSU & the annual Iron Bowl, November 26th versus Auburn. Two tough-as-they-get SEC games, but ones I expect the Tide to win. I like Alabama to be half of the BCS title matchup.
#3 Oklahoma 5-0
The annual "Bedlam" game, December 3rd, at #6 Oklahoma State. Other games to watch; at Kansas State & at Baylor. The preseason voters had it right, this is the best team in the country IMO. But can they escape Stillwater with the Big-12 crown enabling them to play for the national championship? Cowboy coach Mike Gundy has never beaten OU's Bob Stoops in 6 tries, but this could be the year.
#4 Wisconsin 5-0
This is the first team that could be unbeaten & left outside looking in, two games of medium risk, at Michigan State 10/22 & at Illinois 11/26. Rose Bowl isn't a bad consolation, but it gets the Badgers no closer to the National Championship. They need two of the top-3 teams to lose if they're to have a shot.
#5 Boise State 5-0
Also a strong candidate for an undefeated record & no shot at the BCS title game. A home game against 4-2 TCU is Boise's only realistic shot at a loss this season. If the Broncos register 7 more blowout wins, they'll get an at-large BCS bid again, but zero chance for anything better.
#6 Oklahoma State 5-0
Besides their "Bedlam" showdown with OU, road trips to Texas, Texas Tech & Mizzou probably won't provide the loss that would derail the Cowboys before they face the Sooners. Here's a possible scenario; Oklahoma State beats OU but doesn't vault over Wisconsin, who gets into the title game for the first time.
#7 Stanford 5-0
With the best quarterback prospect in maybe a decade, Andrew Luck could lead his Stanford team into the BCS title game. But only if they can navigate a tough upcoming schedule; at USC 10/29, Oregon 11/12 & "The Big Game" between bitter rivals Stanford & Cal, 11/19. They will also need a lot of help to be ranked high enough to get the bid they want so badly. I think they'll find themselves paired up with Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl cause I see them beating Oregon.
#8 Clemson 6-0
Easily the surprise team of 2011, the unbeaten Tigers have two ultra-tough road tests, at #12 Georgia Tech 10/29 & at #15 South Carolina 11/26. Win 'em all & they'll be the ACC automatic qualifier for a BCS Bowl. Right now, Clemson is my Orange Bowl pick.
#11 Michigan 6-0
They don't have Wisconsin on the schedule this season which could help them run the table, but this Saturday's trip to in-state rival Michigan State will be a tough test. A trip to #16 Illinois on 11/12 plus a homer against Nebraska on 11/19 could also cause trouble. Even if they were to run the table, they'd still have to beat Wisconsin in the 1st BIG TEN title game, which I don't see. But 9 or 10 wins in Brady Hoke's 1st season would have to be considered a rousing success.
#12 Georgia Tech 6-0
The Yellowjackets are an offensive juggernaut like no other team in the land(except Houston) averaging over 360-yards on the ground & about 25-yards per completion thru the air. They could find themselves in a BCS Bowl as the ACC automatic bid. Three difficult games remain, but all on their home turf, Clemson on 10/29, Virginia Tech on 11/10 & Georgia on 11/26. Having no ranked teams on their schedule so far, it's hard to measure just how good Tech really is.
#16 Illinois 6-0
I don't see a chance in hell the Illini remain undefeated. With trips to Ohio State & Penn State plus home games with Michigan & Wisconsin, see what I mean? They'll be hard pressed to win 10-games, 9 is more like it.
#17 Kansas State 5-0
This team of over-achievers coached by one of the best gameplanners in all of college football, Bill Snyder, won't make it much further. With a trip to Texas Tech on the 29th followed by another road game at Oklahoma State should do it. Plus they have home games with A&M & Texas remaining. Best story in the Big-12 if the Cats get to 10 wins.
#25 Houston 6-0
Could very easily go unbeaten with a tough home game with SMU & a road trip to Tulsa, I think Kevin Sumlin's Cougars could finish 12-0 & not get an at-large bid to a BCS Bowl. The nation's number one offense can keep Houston in every game & because of it, they go undefeated in a conference that plays very, very little defense.
Your analysis of the undefeated teams in college football was informative, insightful & intelligent. Hey, 3 I's, must be great!
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