In an interesting development this college football season, every team is playing a game of Jekyll and Hyde. The unbeatable for the first few weeks: Alabama, Oregon, Texas, Nebraska - looked pedestrian this past weekend, and in the case of the Longhorns, who looked downright awful against UCLA, the season is now half over. Expectations in Austin are #1 Big 12 Championship and #2 National Championship. The latter of these is out the window, the former probably will not be achieved either. It shouldn't be expected of a team that lost their heart and soul, but fans in Austin only have the appetite for winning it all - success breeds unrealistic expectations.
Teams that looked terrible in the first few weeks now seem to be better than expected: UCLA, Michigan, Virginia Tech. All won this weekend going away - for UCLA that was a shocker, for Michigan and Va Tech, I was surprised at least considering that in previous weeks they'd had no idea how to put it all together. Perhaps it was just the perfect storm of playing over matched squads and getting a few breaks.
Teams that shouldn't be talked about anymore as quality opponents:
Notre Dame and Georgia. Both are now 1-3 with their lone wins over equally horrendous teams. Michigan State, Michigan and South Carolina rode the waves of these teams in the rankings and should instantly be reconsidered. I don't believe any should be ranked above 20 in anybody's rankings, though I'm prepared for all of them to be, considering a weak field (though the rankings have ignored Nevada to this point...) and the fact that voters tend to change their mind very slowly after they've pushed a team up the rankings early in the year. Without a bad loss, they tend to keep rising.
Teams that should now be considered quality wins:
UCLA. It may seem like I'm leaping all over this bandwagon, and in a sense I am. But I'm not doing so under the impression that UCLA will challenge for a Pac 10 title or rise in the polls. Rather, I'm doing so because UCLA has probably played the toughest schedule in the country thusfar and has emerged 2-2 with two quality wins. Stanford is really good, I think people are starting to realize that now, so while a 35-0 blanking is a bad loss, when it is to Stanford - it isn't quite as bad.
Teams that are still undefeated (and you didn't realize it):
NC State, Indiana, Utah, Kansas State, Missouri
the only ones of these that deserve to sniff the rankings at this point are Utah (in) and Kansas State/NC State (maybe just on the outside looking in).
Stop talking about:
South Carolina, Penn State
Call me when one of these teams beats somebody.
Start talking about:
Nevada, Wisconsin
One is the best team you're not currently following and the other is the quietest top 15 team as they sleepwalked through their non-conference slate and the best chance at Ohio State not going undefeated.
What I'm watching today:
Dallas at Houston. The battle for Texas. On the day after the Longhorns let down the whole state, 0-2 Dallas looks to rebound against stunningly perfect 2-0 Houston. Dallas is better than an 0-3 start, but here I am riding the Texan bandwagon.
Houston 30-27
Philadelphia at Jacksonville. Not the best game in this time slot, but I'm just excited to be watching Michael Vick again, this time as a passer. Ok, just kidding. I'm hoping he takes off running every play. Here's assuming he doesn't need to against a porous Jags d.
Philly 26-9
New York (Jets) at Miami. I'm not riding the Sanchez train, I'm not betting on the Jets. I don't want to support Miami either, but I'd love to see Jets fans play the Sanchez seesaw again (week 1, what a bum, week 2, what a stud, week 3, ?).
Miami 17-16
Boardwalk Empire - Buscemi and Scorcese, what could be better? First episode was a bit of a dull one, but I'm hopeful that's because it was just to set up the characters. Michael Pitt's character may end up being the most interesting.
- Jabari
Nice!
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