Washington wide receiver #3 James Johnson breaks down field, Image: Newscom

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi
5. Penn State
6. California
7. LSU
8. Boise State
9. Miami
10. Oklahoma

What’s significant to note is who is not there anymore. And really, that boils down to my favorite team to bash, USC.

Sorry, USC fans. This was supposed to be an easy week for you. The Trojans took on Washington, and after a week at Ohio State’s horseshoe, everyone thought that this would be a relaxing game. Only Matt Berkley couldn’t start, so Aaron Corp took his place. And then Washington actually turned out to be good. Now, Washington already lost to LSU, but they took the moment of the 42-23 win against Idaho from Week Three and used it to beat back USC 16-13. The Trojans had absolutely no passing game, and the Huskies took advantage of that.

It was also a hard week for the MWC. BYU lost at home to Florida State, who is proving not to be a totally terrible team. So MWC fans put their confidence in TCU and Utah instead. TCU pulled through with a thorough beating of Texas State, but Utah was another story. They lost on the road to Oregon, and I couldn’t help but chant “overrated” in my head a bit. They were ranked too high after wins to just Utah State and San Jose State. So now, it’s up to you, TCU.

The week started off with an upset, though, so I guess it was Week Three’s fate to have a bunch of games that pissed people off. Thursday gave us #20 Miami beating #14 Georgia Tech 33 – 17. They’re done. Miami has more than proved that the deserve to be in the top ten. Georgia Tech has more than proved that they deserved to be dropped from the rankings completely. On Friday, Boise State (#10) won against Fresno State 51-34, but don’t be too fooled by the score. Boise State played like crap, both the teams’ defenses sucked, and the game looked like it might go either way for awhile there.

And then there was the Florida – Tennessee game. Coming into this game, my money was on Florida, but I knew that Tennessee wasn’t just going to lie down and take a beating – and they didn’t. The Vols put up a fight, but also knew when they were bested. I think the main problem here was that Kiffin played it safe. Rather than making big plays, which was what they needed for any hope of winning against the Gators, they chose to hold back, focusing more on not doing anything stupid than on taking risks. Florida won 23-13, but it was a good game.

Some other games of interest:

• #13 Virginia Tech beat #18 Nebraska 16-15. VT just has a strong defense, and the game ended up coming down to possession time at the end. Kudos to Nebraska’s kicker, who kept the Cornhuskers in the game.
• Michigan State lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame on Saturday. With a final score of 33 – 30, we’re beginning to see just how disappointing this Fighting Irish team really is. They should have killed MSU.
• In what I like to call “the battle of who sucks less,” Washington State beat SMU 30 – 27 in overtime.

Post from: EveryJoe

College Football Week Three 2009 in Review

I digress. Let’s check out the AP Top 10 this week:

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Alabama
5. Mississippi
6. Penn State (actually, they’re also #5, it was a tie)
7. BYU
8. California
9. LSU
10. Boise State

All of the top ten teams are still undefeated, but that’s not surprising since many of them had super easy games the past two weeks – or no game at all (Mississippi already had their week off).

I have to start at the bottom with Boise State at #10. I predict a win against Fresno State, with a score of roughly 51 – 34. Ok, that game was tonight. So, they remain undefeated – more on that when we review Week Three. Also significant: #20 Miami beat #14 Georgia Tech 33 – 17 on Thursday night. Again, we’ll talk about that more in a few days when I review the entire weekend, but damn. Where did this team come from?

So let’s see. #5 Penn State has a gimme, and #8 California should have too hard of a time at Minnesota. #4 Alabama plays North Texas at home. *shrug* And poor Washington is about to feel the wrath of #3 USC. Even #5 Mississippi is just playing Southeastern Louisiana (who?), and #9 LSU is playing Louisiana-Lafayette. Errr….scratch what I said about people playing real teams.

We aren’t totally without decent match-ups. #1 Florida finally plays someone we’ve heard of at least when they host Tennessee tomorrow afternoon. Can Kiffen and his boys pull off the upset? Highly unlikely, but you never know. Stranger things have happened. I think that it is more likely that Florida will run all over them. We’ll see I guess.

#7 BYU hosts Florida State later that evening. Now, if you would have asked me at the start of the season, I would have said that this would be an interesting game. Florida State has proven, however, that they were highly overrated coming into 2009. I mean, at least they won last week. There for awhile, it looked like they were going to lose to Jacksonville State.

Then there’s #2 Texas, who hosts Texas Tech this week. Texas Tech is 2 – 0, but they’ve played North Dakota and Rice…so they might as well be 0 – 0. What makes this game interesting is that last year, Texas Tech stop the Longhorns at the last second with a Michael Crabtree touchdown. This year, though, they have a brand new quarterback after losing Graham Harrell, and of course, Michael Crabtree is making NFL headlines instead of NCAA headlines. Texas? They still have Colt McCoy. Either Texas Tech is going to prove themselves in this game, or they’ll prove that their first two games really were just against horrible opponents. Texas is out for blood, having been denied the National Championship because of this game last year, so my prediction is that Texas will put them in their place.

McCoy and the Longhorns want a little revenge after last year. Image: Newscom

That covers the top ten, but there are a few other games worth mentioning. #19 Nebraska travels to #13 Virgina Tech, with kick off at 3:30. I think Nebraska has really been a sleeper team so far. Granted, like most programs, their first two weeks were basically not even games, but their offense is pretty strong. I’m looking forward to both teams showing what they got.

I’m also interested to see if Notre Dame bounces back from their loss last week to Michigan. They play one of their rivals, Michigan State, this week. Now, Michigan State isn’t the bottom of the barrel, but they aren’t good by any stretch of the imagination. Ya’ll know as well as I do, though, that college football is all about momentum. Notre Dame was thrown for a real loop last week, so we’ll see if they can spring back.

To be honest, not many games interest me this week. Penn State will be lucky if I roll out of bed in time to watch the kick off, and most of the top ten have easy weeks, once again. I know the major debate in college football is whether or not to have a playoff system, but maybe more important that this is the debate of changing scheduling rules. I mean, when a horrendous team plays a top-ranked team, it just looks bad for both schools.

Post from: EveryJoe

College Football Week Three 2009 Preview

Week One is usually not very exciting, unfortunately. My favorite team, Penn State, plays Akron, so although this game means they’ll likely be able to keep a high rank, it won’t actually be that fun to watch. Actually, I don’t even think the game is being televised… Maybe I’m selling Akron short. *shrug*

Can Kellen Moore take Boise State to a BCS Bowl this year? Image: Newscom

In any case, despite all of the easy non-conference games we’re seeing during Week One, there are some games to watch as well. The season officially starts on Thursday at 7:00 PM EST, when a number of teams kick off, but the real start to the season, in my opinion, is at 10:15 PM EST when #16 Oregon takes on #14 Boise State. The games on ESPN, and you bet I’ll be watching. Boise State has a lot more on the line than Oregon, since it will be harder for them to be bowl eligible as a WAC team than it will for Oregon as a Pac-10 team. It’s also at Boise State, and Kellen Moore is a solid quarterback, so I give them the edge in this game.

Another game to watch? San Jose State at #4 USC, with a kickoff at 3:30 PM EST on Saturday. Now, no one here expects this to be a close game. In fact, if USC doesn’t run all over San Jose State, I think you’ll have to pick my jaw up off of the floor. I want to see the freshman golden boy quarterback play, though. People put so much emphasis on Pete Carroll’s choice to play true freshman Matt Barkley instead of returner Aaron Corp. This game will really test him to see if he can handle the pressure of being the leader of such a popular team. Will Corp get any playing time at all? We’ll see.

The USC game isn’t nationally televised, so I’ll have to keep up with it online…but that’s ok, since my eyes will be glued to the 3:30 PM EST game on ABC: #13 Georgia at #9 Oklahoma State. My heart is with Oklahoma State on this one, but it isn’t going to be an easy game by any means. They’ve lost Matt Stafford, but if Joe Cox, their new quarterback, really steps up, they could be the surprise of the SEC this year. Florida who? This game is going to set the stage for Georgia for the entire season, so I feel like they’ll fight tooth and nail for it, but Oklahoma State isn’t going to just bend over and take it. They have a huge number of returning starters and are also looking to set the stage for a surprising season. Otherwise, they’ll never be competitive in the Big 12.

On a side note, I’ll also be checking in with the 3:40 game, Missouri versus Illinois. The teams aren’t ranked, but I think it will be an even match up and a good game. Big Ten love!

Sam Bradford is back, hoping to lead the Sooners to a National Championship game again. Image: Newscom

At 7:00 PM, another possibly great game hits ESPN – #20 BYU versus #2 Oklahoma. Ok, I may be going against the grain a little here when I say that I think BYU is overrated. I do love that they’re helping to make a name for a non-BCS conference, which pushes the issue of a playoff system. Do they have a good enough offensive line to beat Oklahoma? What about receivers? They may have the defense they need to keep Oklahoma’s numbers down, even though OU has some amazing returners like Sam Bradford, but you can’t win if you don’t put any points on the board. My vote for winner definitely does to Oklahoma. Sorry, BYU, better luck next year.

Just an hour after the BYU-OU game starts, #5 Alabama meets #7 Virginia Tech on the field, the game televised on ABC. This is a tricky game to predict, in my opinion. The Hokies may take the ACC, and Tyrod Taylor is back at quarterback. Is that enough to top Alabama? The Crimson Tide are replacing great offensive players like Andre Smith, and they have a new quarterback, but players like Mark Ingram could make the difference in this game. Like with Georgia, Alabama needs to win this game to set the stage for the season if they’re going to be competitive in the SEC.

It’s going to be a great Week One – better than we’ve seen in quite a few seasons. I’ll also be interested to see how Notre Dame does against Nevada – an easy win for the Fighting Irish, maybe, but I want to see is quarterback Jimmy Clausen can really put up numbers. Also on my radar is Maryland at #12 California, which starts late Saturday night and Miami at #18 Florida State which is on ESPN at 8:00 PM EST on Monday.

Post from: EveryJoe

College Football Week One 2009 Preview

Las Vegas Bowl Result:

Arizona 31, BYU 21

Las Vegas Bowl Summary: This is why I love college football, folks. Going into the game, no one was sure how it would end up, but everyone was certain of one thing: these teams were going to fight. And they were right. Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama, who has been flying under the radar, had an amazing game. The best part? The very last play of the game was a 3-yard flip to Arizona’s Mike Thomas. With that pass, he set the Pac-10 career receptions record. BYU could have made that pass difficult to been offended of a passing play at the last minute…but the were good sports, celebrating in Thomas’ record as much as everyone else. Arizona didn’t play perfectly, and there were definitely some questionable review calls, but overall, what a great bowl.

Overall Records: Arizona 8-5, BYU 10-3

Read more about the Las Vegas Bowl:

• The Las Vegas Bowl from A to Z at The Las Vegas Sun
• The Barker’s Journey: Las Vegas Bowl Trip at The Barker’s Journey
• Arizona Beats Byu In Las Vegas Bowl at beRecruited
• Las Vegas Bowl: Lack of execution stings at the Salt Lake Tribune

Got a link or opinion of the game? Leave a comment below!

Picture via Newscom.

Post from: EveryJoe

The 2008 Las Vegas Bowl

#8 Utah 13, #12 TCU 10

• Utah vs. TCU at Kopp Stop
• Utah-TCU Blackout Cake at A Bountiful Kitchen (ok, not really football…but mmm cake)
• Other coaches give their thoughts on Utah-TCU at Utes Fooball

Wyoming 13, Tennessee 7

• Dougherty’s Diatribe Post Mushroom Cloud at VolNation
• Fulmer, Vols Crying Some More Fulmer, Vols Crying Some More
• Wyoming Topples Tennessee, 13-7 at MWC Football News

#15 BYU 41, San Diego State 12

• BYU Cougars v. San Diego State Aztecs at Helen
• BYU report card vs. San Diego State at Real Football 365

Air Force 38, Colorado State 17

• Air Force defeats Rams, 38-17 at Colorado State Rams News

UNLV 27, New Mexico 20

• UNLV Tops New Mexico, 27-20 at UNLV Football News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 11: Blogging about Mountain West

Air Force 16, Army 7

• How do they get the A’s in there? at The Pinetar Rag
• Army – Air Force Football. Nov. 1, 2008. at Chet Gordon’s Blog
• In-Game Football Blog: Army vs. Air Force at Army Headline News

Wyoming 35, San Diego State 10

• SDSU Football Postgame Notes vs. Wyoming at San Diego State Aztecs News

#20 BYU 45, Colorado State 42

• Highlights & Lowlights: Colorado State at Cougar Crazies
• BYU escapes Hughes with 45-42 victory over Rams at Colorado State Rams News

#13 TCU 44, UNLV 14

• TCU 44, UNLV 14 at The Purple Wimple
• Brutal at Rebel SportsCast

#10 Utah 13, New Mexico 10

• Utah 13, New Mexico 10 at Lurp’s Lounge
• No. 10 Utah Edges New Mexico, 13-10 at MWC Football News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 10: Blogging about Mountain West

Air Force 23, New Mexico 10

• Guys Behind the Guy at Air Force

#21 BYU 42, UNLV 3

• BYU beat UNLV… therefore, what? at From the Frozen Wasteland
• BYU vs UNLV at Scott G. Winterton
• BYU football: UNLV unstoppable – until it counts the most at BYU Cougars

#14 TCU 54, Wyoming 7

• No. 14 TCU 54, Wyoming 7 at Sports Snipe
• TCU Pounds Wyoming, 54-7 at TCU Football News

Colorado State 38, San Diego State 34

• Rams Defeat San Diego State at CSU Football

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 9: Blogging about Mountain West

TCU 32, #9 BYU 7

• BYU gets sacked by TCU at Josh’s Sports Blog
• BYU vs. TCU Game at Matt and Amy Kohler
• TCU ends BYU’s 16-game win streak at The Wenatchee World

#14 Utah 49, Colorado State 16

• Utah 49, Colorado State 16 at Playing fro Pride
• Utah’s offense explodes in victory over Colorado State at Block U
• Utah v. Colorado State Live Blog at The Fan Utah’s Super Sports Network

New Mexico 70, San Diego State 7

• Ferguson Leads Lobos in Rout of San Diego State at New Mexico Football News

Air Force 29, UNLV 28

• Air Force Falls At UNLV, 4-0 at Air Force Falcons News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC 

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 8: Blogging about Mountain West

Air Force against San Diego State

• San Diego State Review at Air Force Academy Sports Blog

#8 BYU against New Mexico

• No. 9 BYU Tops New Mexico at New Mexico Lobos News
• BYU Cougars: Post-game report card vs. New Mexico Lobos at BYU Cougars Football News

Colorado State against TCU

• TCU Tops Colorado State, 13-7 at TCU Football News

#14 Utah against Wyoming

• Utes\\\\\\\’ offense stop and go at Utes Football
• Cougars remain at No. 8 in coaches\\\\\\\’ poll at BYU Cougars

(UNLV did not play)

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 7: Blogging about Mountain West

You can read about it here. And here. And here (linked removed, since I accidentally linked to idiots, see comments) and here and here and here and a million other places. Frankly, I’m just sick of creating links.

The call sucked. Washington Quarterback Jake Locker, in the last play of the game, scored a tying touchdown, and through the ball in the air as he jumped with his teammates. It wasn’t an “in your face” gesture. He probably wasn’t even aware he had thrown the ball instead of “placed” it on the ground. Everyone, from the lowly blogger to the guys on Sport Center agree that the rule is stupid and the officials were wrong.

When they kicked for the extra point, it was blocked, and they ultimately lost the game.

In case you missed it, here are the game highlights:

Guess what?

IT DOESN’T MATTER.

This call didn’t lose the game. Had the kicker been just short or had they tried a two-point conversion and fell short, you could site the 15-yard penalty as the reason the game was ultimately lost.

The game was lost, though, because the kick was BLOCKED. That would have happened had they not had the 15 extra yards. It didn’t matter, so forums filled with angry comments and ESPN reader mail, and all of that other bullshit…it doesn’t matter! They would have lost anyway.

So stop bitching about it.

That is all.

Post from: EveryJoe

The BYU Bad Call – It Didn’t Lose the Game