2008 College Football In-Season Thread!

[RDF]

Here's my recap of what I was able to see--and yes I'm absolutely disgusted that I didn't get opportunity to watch Texas-Oklahoma State because I got the "pleasure" of Michigan-MSU.

1. Great win for Texas--in a great game. That is real football-unlike the garbage I saw in Manhattan, KS today. If you just look at scoreboard-Oklahoma's win would be impressive. If you saw any part of that game--it was disgusting and OU will be lucky to not lose 3 Big XII South games with a Venables defense. What a clown. 42 pts in First Quarter. Nearly 700-800 yards in First Half--nobody tackling or attempting to tackle, and OU was up by 13 pts at a time in half and being outgained 10.9 to 10.1 PER PLAY.

2. Penn St keeps winning and in today's CFB--you get credit for that. Great. If I have to see the Big 10 ruin another BCS Title game--which I've not watched the past 2 years due to Big 10 presence, I'll puke.

3. Ohio State has 9 pts TOTAL in games against USC and Penn State. This team shouldn't be ranked. Look who they have beaten and look at who they've lost to. Is this team really a good team?

4. If Terrelle Pryor split time with other kid--OSU wins this game by 10-14. Since Pryor has the passing ability of Uncle Rico from Napolean Dynamite at this time-they lost.

5. Here's another lesson for those who actually partake in the MYTH of "Beamer Ball". Virginia Tech has 3 losses on season. 1 on a blocked punt--East Carolina. 1 on a Punt Return for TD--BC--and today--against FSU--a roughing the punter call costs them game. Can the National Media please stop with this nonsense?

6. Miami beat Wake Forest in an ACC conference that currently has Maryland and FSU atop one division and UVA atop the other. Wake Forest passing game made PSU-Ohio State look like a Big XII game.

7. Steve Sarkisian is to USC what Brent Venables is to Oklahoma's defense. The Trojans OC is a moron. USC wins by a TD in a game they should've/could've won by 3-4 TD's if they just kept things simple. Instead-he's throwing at wrong time, running at wrong time, has no feel for what is working and proves he's a complete moron.

8. UGA-UF and Texas Tech/Texas are games to watch next weekend. Great games--and Texas proving they could grind out a win today was most impressive to me. This Big XII crap is for the birds where every QB is able to hit WR's who aren't covered or the pass rush/defense is non existent. I thank Horns and Oklahoma State for a great game today that featured tough/hardnosed football and good offense.

9. Missouri acting like tough guys against Colorado--give me a break. You are a FRAUD and have one shot left to prove you are not--win the BIG XII TITLE GAME. I think there is a better chance they get 10 pts then winning that game.

10. Duke beats Vandy 10-7. Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Auburn, Kentucky are absolute GARBAGE this season. LSU has given up 103 pts in two games against UF and UGA. Ole Miss fights but is very marginal. Alabama, Florida, and UGA are only 3 teams worth mentioning in SEC and 1 of them will be eliminated from BCS discussion next weekend. Don't fall for SEC hype this year-this league is just as average as every other league.

Minnesota-Purdue and WF-Miami was the worst duo of offensive football on television at same time I've seen in a long time. That was painfully inept football from WF passing game, Miami running game, Purdue's entire offense, and Minnesota needed help to get 17 pts.

Oklahoma and KSU set back defense 100 years.

Seeing Spencer Tillman and Tim Brando talk of being "impressed" by Oklahoma today was an embarrassment. Tillman saying that USC didn't belong in '04 National Title game was one of the biggest disgraces I've heard--that is same USC team who beat his former school 55-19 in Orange Bowl while undefeated Auburn was left out. A year after his Sooners left #1 in both poll USC team in Rose Bowl after losing by 35 in Big XII Title game to KSU and losing to LSU in '03. Tillman needs to SHUT UP!!! He mentioned this in response to Brando asking why USC is ranked so high in BCS. Disgraceful response and not bringing up those FACTS is why I am taking him to task.

[GIGAFAN99]

Agree completely on the SEC. Usually a great conference but as bad as every other conference that's not the Big 12. Check that, I meant to say Big 12 South.

I expect to see Alabama playing a good team each week with a chance to lose. Then I see their next opponent and think "When are they playing someone good?" Oh yeah, they already played Georgia. So until they play, uh, Georgia again I guess, they should cruise.

[HoyaFanNY]

i know RDF will probably flip out, but i honestly think texas tech wins saturday. texas will be playing their 4th straight game against a ranked team. i just have a feeling this is the week texas plays a sub par game and texas tech feeds off the emotion of playing #1 at home at night. i really liked the way TT played defensively saturday. they pressured reesing all game. TT beats texas and then they will lose against OKST and oklahoma.

forcier and beaver can't get to ann arbor soon enough

[kghoya]

i like how there has been some complaining about the fake punt that nd ran when they were up 24-0 in the 3rd

heres an idea...maybe washington should consider competing for 60 minutes

[HeartAttackHoya]

This is the most important game in Texas Tech history. As a Horns fan, this game has worried me since the schedule came out. That being said, this Texas team has shown alot of discipline, heart and ability to stick with the gampe plan. I expect it to be a tight game but think Texas pulls it out at the end.

Either way, I will be beyond upset if Penn St. makes it into the championship game over a 1 loss SEC or Big XII team.

[RDF]

Oct 27, 2008 11:09:35 GMT -5 HeartAttackHoya said:

This is the most important game in Texas Tech history. As a Horns fan, this game has worried me since the schedule came out. That being said, this Texas team has shown alot of discipline, heart and ability to stick with the gampe plan. I expect it to be a tight game but think Texas pulls it out at the end.

Either way, I will be beyond upset if Penn St. makes it into the championship game over a 1 loss SEC or Big XII team.

If Penn State goes undefeated--they deserve to be in the game. Now we all know the Big 10 is dreadful right now--but I'm not sold on the Big XII being "great". We'll see how it stands after the Bowl games--but is it really a case of "great Big XII QB's" or is it the dreadful defense you see on a weekly basis? I've seen 1 defense I think is good--Texas--and their mistakes are primarily due to inexperienced, young talent. Oklahoma SUCKS on defense. Oklahoma State might have second best defense and Texas Tech is dreadful. I think Texas wins by 3 TD's in Lubbock due to a Leach choke job and fact McCoy should throw for close to 600 yards and maybe 8 TD's, unless Texas decides to give their RB's some scores.

Kansas offense is trash--made to look better by Oklahoma's awful defense--so don't get too caught up in the "defense" Tech showed.

These teams are championship game worthy--Texas, Bama, PSU, USC, and Florida. Place them in any order you like. I think if all of these teams played on a neutral site--the best game would be USC vs Florida--but I think it's going to be Texas vs Penn State.

Until the system is changed--don't expect to see the best 2 teams play it out for a champioship. You'll get very few years of Texas-USC matchups from '05--and more of what we've seen which is a media overhyped team facing a truly deserving team and getting pummeled. When the Big 10 allows their teams to ignore 2 conference opponents due to the fact they have 11 teams, it's a joke. I understand you want at least 3 non conference games--but you can play 9 conference opponents and drop the scum teams they schedule--i.e. take a look at the "mighty" Gophers non conference schedule which got them to 4-0 start.

[hifigator]

There's not too much to argue about here. I think Penn St. will go undefeated and will get to the Championship game. I could see them losing at Iowa, but I think it will help the Nittany Lions a lot to have this week off, between Ohio St. and Iowa. As for the Ohio St. game, it just sucks that it came down to a crucial fumble. Obviously, we will never know for sure, but if Pryor doesn't fumble, then I think the Buckeyes win the game. Ohio St. was controlling field position and had a 10-6 lead beginning to get late in the game, with the ball out near midfield. If they don't turn it over, then the likely worst case is that they punt Penn St back to their end of the field, and I really don't think they would have won the game. But alas ...


RDF, I got the "priviledge" of watching that Spartan-Wolverine matchup as well. Why would I want to be bothered watching the "boring" Texas-Oklahoma St. game? Sheesh ...

I too am going to pick the Red Raiders to win their game. If I am right, then hopefully Tech can stumble against Oklahoma down the road, giving everyone in the Big 12 at least one loss.

Kudos to those of you that picked Arizona to upset the Trojans. They didn't quite get it done, but they covered the 16 quite easily, and really should have had a good shot at overtime.
Late in the game, Zona appeared to convert a 3rd down, but the spot was "just short." I'm serious: I don't think I have ever seen a closer spot that didn't make it. The ref was literally holding the chain by the very last link. Of course Arizona went for it on 4th down, but the effort was pathetic. The QB just tried to fall forward. But with no push and with no springs in his legs to try to go over the top, he didn't even come close.

Lastly, as I said last week, I don't think that John Parker Wilson gets the credit he deserves. He is a very good, smart, efficient winning quarterback. Sometimes winning is overshadowed by statistics. For the record, I do think Bama will be undefeated going into Atlanta.

Enough for now. ...

[hifigator]

Sorry, that was supposed to say "6-3 lead." It ended up 10-6 after the Lions scored the TD to take the lead.

[Boz]

Speaking as a Michigan fan, even I have to agree. Why the Michigan-Michigan State game was on instead of Texas-OSU is a complete mystery and a complete failure on the part of ESPN.

Thanks for nothin', worldwide leader.


On a somewhat related note, has anyone heard from doseofreality lately? I'm a little worried about him with how this abomination of a season is going up in Ann Arbor.

[kghoya]

Oct 27, 2008 13:10:18 GMT -5 Boz said:

Speaking as a Michigan fan, even I have to agree. Why the Michigan-Michigan State game was on instead of Texas-OSU is a complete mystery and a complete failure on the part of ESPN.

Thanks for nothin', worldwide leader.


On a somewhat related note, has anyone heard from doseofreality lately? I'm a little worried about him with how this abomination of a season is going up in Ann Arbor.

i think hes been posting on some alternative message board with van

[SFHoya99]

It sucks that it came down to a fumble? Silly me, I thought fumbling, you know, was part of the game.

Man, it sucks when football games come down to actual plays.

[hifigator]

Oct 27, 2008 14:08:11 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

It sucks that it came down to a fumble? Silly me, I thought fumbling, you know, was part of the game.

Man, it sucks when football games come down to actual plays.

I wasn't making excuses at all, so maybe that came out wrong. My point was that it was a very close to the vest defensive battle. As someone pulling for Ohio St., it sucked that Penn St won, especially since they didn't look like a clearly better team. It also sucks that it came down to a fumble by a true freshman quarterback. But either way, I'm not making any excuses and yes, fumbles are a part of the game.

[kghoya]

looks like there is a coaching position to fill in the pac 10

man...i never saw that coming

good luck cleaning up that mess

[hifigator]

KG, no link posted, but I presume you are talking about Washington. I just heard that Ty Willingham has announced that he will step down at the end of the season, for those who didn't see.

[FormerHoya]

He announced that he will step down, but when he was asked if he resigned his answer was a shockingly clear (for him) "No."

[FewFAC]

Texas-OSU was on FSN, so it was actually watchable. Unfortunately, it wasn't actually watchable. I'm a big disbeliever in the Big XII, and that game did nothing to convince me otherwise. Penn State probably wouldn't beat either of those teams, because their offense sucks, but their defense would keep them within 10. USC might make McCoy reconsider continuing to play QB.

[hoyarooter]

Oct 27, 2008 13:10:18 GMT -5 Boz said:

Speaking as a Michigan fan, even I have to agree. Why the Michigan-Michigan State game was on instead of Texas-OSU is a complete mystery and a complete failure on the part of ESPN.

Thanks for nothin', worldwide leader.


On a somewhat related note, has anyone heard from doseofreality lately? I'm a little worried about him with how this abomination of a season is going up in Ann Arbor.

If Angus is still around, shoot him a pm. He and dose are friends.

[AustinHoya03]

I can't really comment on Texas-Oklahoma State, because I was attending a wedding (in Austin, no less) at kickoff and my DVR failed me this weekend. From what I am hearing from other sources, Texas played well, but the Cowboys are a bad matchup for the Longhorns.

Re: Texas @ Texas Tech, I will be in the stands wearing burnt orange. If the Raiders win, hopefully I won't get poked in the eye with a goalpost.

Here's 2007's UT-TTU box score. What's different this season?

a) The game's in Lubbock
b) Tech's offensive line is healthy/better
c) Texas Tech has no kicker.

Notably, Ruffin McNeill, who allegedly has the Tech defense playing better ball, is not new -- he was named D-coordinator 3 weeks before last year's Texas game in Austin, where Texas dropped 59. Also not new: Texas' winning streak against Mike Leach. The man RDF calls Pirate Boy has defeated Mack Brown's Longhorns once, when the Raiders squeaked by Texas in Lubbock in 2002. That's an overall record of 1-7, folks. The last "biggest game in Texas Tech history" was in Austin in 2005. Gameday was there, too. Final score: No. 10 Raiders 17, No. 2 'Horns 52.[/b]

Seems to me a lot of well-meaning people are picking a trendy upset based on last week's bludgeoning of KU in Lawrence. But don't ignore the close games Tech has played in 2008 -- Nevada, Nebraska, and TAMU. Heck, Tech only led Eastern Washington by nine at the close of the 1st quarter in Lubbock.
And don't ignore Tech's crap schedule, which also included SMU and UMass.

I'm still scared of this game, and I'm not going to pick the 'Horns by 3 TDs like RDF, but I think a lot of y'all are ignoring Tech's results on the field this season and in past seasons if y'all are seriously picking this upset.
___________________________________________________

Oct 27, 2008 14:08:11 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

It sucks that it came down to a fumble? Silly me, I thought fumbling, you know, was part of the game.

Man, it sucks when football games come down to actual plays.

Snap. I have been waiting for PSU fans to come back to this thread and talk some noise. Let's see if I can encourage more of this behavior. I love the swooshes on the Nittany Lions uniforms, and Penn State will lose its first game on the same date its fake rival retains the Land Grant Trophy.

[RDF]

Texas and Oklahoma State was on ABC or ESPN on ABC--it wasn't on FSN. That garbage was Oklahoma and Kansas State, Texas A&M and Iowa State, or Colorado and Missouri. Nebraska and Baylor were on Versus--but I forget that channel exists.

[SFHoya99]

I can't lay claim to being a real Penn State fan anymore -- I'm definitely fairweather now, and have been ever since I moved from PA and the San Diego pro teams took my interest. I watch the games when they are good and root for them, but both my college teams -- USC is the other -- don't have the same effect on my happiness that the Padres, Chargers or Hoyas do. They win, nice. They lose, that sucks but whatever.

I'm worried as heck about the Michigan State game. But luckily for PSU it is at home -- and Beaver Stadium is a big advantage. I don't think PSU is that good, but I don't really care. Paterno has been screwed out of so many chances at a National Title -- he's had five undefeated seasons and a sixth going into a bowl game, and only twice has he gotten the chance to really play for the National Title (back to back years, lost to Oklahoma and beat Miami). That Miami game is still my favorite football game EVER. Total classic given the subplots, how big of an upset it was, etc. (I doubt RDF feels the same).

Anyway, I digress. The '94 team still sticks in my craw in terms of the polls and the chance to play. So I'd like Joe Pa to have another shot.