I apologize for not giving my typical preview for week 12, as I was quite busy. However, this was to be a very pivotal week with regard to positioning for the final week of the season, and possibly have ramifications for conference titles.
Ohio State took care of business to gain a trip to (at least) the Rose Bowl, while Oregon lost its Heisman QB to a torn ACL, and its title hopes at the same time. Instead of a National Championship, they could be going to the Rose Bowl against Ohio State instead, well… maybe.
Both Kansas and Hawaii took care of business staying undefeated setting up their show downs with Missouri and Boise State respectively. BSU-Hawaii will be for the WAC title, while KU-Mizzou will be for a trip to the Big-12 Championship.
And this week recorded the 10th and 11th time that a top 5 team was beaten by an unranked team this year, with both Oregon and Oklahoma going down to Arizona and Texas Tech respectively.
So with these games under our belt, we move into the Thanksgiving week looking at the following top 25 for me:
1. LSU (10-1). Defeated Ole Miss 41-24. Next Game: Friday 11/23 home v. Arkansas.
The Tigers weren’t exactly at their best, and the score was a little lopsided due to late turnovers by Ole Miss in the last 3 minutes. LSU’s All-American DL Glenn Dorsey seems to be hurt, the extent of which is unknown, so watch this story develop. The Tigers have their berth in the SEC title game pocketed, and await either Georgia or Tennessee. LSU must win the SEC to get to New Orleans for the National Championship.
2. Kansas (11-0). Defeated Iowa State 45-7. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 v Missouri in KC.
A neutral site, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City will host the Big 12 North title game between KU and Missouri. The winner of which will go to the Big-12 Championship. Under story here is QB Todd Reesing’s ankle injury. He played most of the game v ISU and was very effective, but he’ll need to be tip-top to keep up with an explosive Mizzou offense. Watch this.
3. Missouri (10-1) Defeated Kansas St. 49-32. Next game: Saturday 11/24 vs. Kansas at KC.
Missouri has so many offensive weapons that its really easy to see their game versus Kansas being high scoring. Troubling for both KU and Mizzou, is that both teams seem to have defenses that are prone to lapses. This week Mizzou’s defense got lit up for 32 points. That kind of effort against the Jayhawks will result in bad news for the Tiger fans.
4. West Virginia (9-1). Defeated Cincinnati 28-23. Next game: Saturday 11/24 vs UConn at home.
The Mountaineers certainly looked every bit the Big East Champion for 3 quarters of the game, but slipped up in the 4th and had to hold off a Bearcat rally. WVU now gets UConn at home to try to put away the Big East for good. However, they must finish up against Pitt, so still lots of football left here. WVU will be watching LSU’s fate over the next few weeks. If LSU falls, WVU could have a National Title hope. But they’d need lots of help along the way.
5. Ohio State (11-1). Defeated Michigan 14-3. Next Game: None.
Good news, bad news for OSU. Good news is they outright win the Big 10, and clinch at least a bid to the Rose Bowl. Bad news is that they play no more games, so they stay put pretty much no matter what happens. OSU has an extreme outside shot for a chance at the National Title, only if LSU and West Virginia lose. This year, thats not totally out of the question. But likely the Buckeyes to to Pasadena to meet Oregon, USC or Arizona State.
6. Arizona State (9-1). Did not play this week. Next Game: Thursday 11/22 vs USC at home.
The Sun Devils have a chance to gain a trip to the Rose Bown by winning out against USC and Arizona. Everyone else needs for them to lose. Its doutful ASU can hope for anything better.
7. Virginia Tech (9-2). Defeated Miami 44-14. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 at Virginia.
The Hokies get my nod over Georgia this week as they manhandle Miami to set up the showdown next week with the Cavaliers for the ACC Coastal title and a trip to the ACC Championship against probably Boston College. This will be a rematch of an earlier game that BC won 14-10.
8. Georgia (9-2). Defeated Kentucky 24-13. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 at Georgia Tech.
The Bulldogs have made a miraculous recovery from a disastrous start, but the damage was done in week 6 when they lost to Tennessee 35-14. Unfortunately, Georgia has completed SEC play and the game against Georgia Tech means nearly nothing. The Dawgs have to hope that Kentucky can beat Tennessee to allow them a trip to the SEC Championship against LSU.
9. Oklahoma (9-2). Lost to Texas Tech 34-27. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 vs Okla St at Home.
The Sooners title hopes vanished when Sam Bradford went down in the first quarter with a concussion. Tech scored at will, but still had to hold off a strong Sooner finish. OU made too many errors and couldnt make key plays in the 4th quarter. However, a BCS bown is still well within sight with a victory over state rival Oklahoma State and then winning the Big-12 Championship over either Kansas or Missouri.
10. Florida (8-3). Defeated FAU 59-20. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 vs Florida State at home.
The Gators cant get to the SEC championship, so they may have to settle for a tier 2 bowl because BCS rules wont allow another SEC team the BCS even if they do well against the Seminoles. Tim Tebow probably has locked up the Heisman, as he because the first QB in NCAA history to run for 20 TDs and throw for 20 TDs in a single season.
11. Hawaii (10-0). Defeated Nevada 28-26. Next Game: Friday 11/23 vs Boise State at home.
The Warriors join Kansas as the only other undefeated team with a come from behind victory over Nevada, where the Warrior kicker had to kick a 45 yard field goal twice, because the jerk Nevada coach called two time outs on the game winning kick. What a jackass. Serves him right tho. We might add that this victory was entirely (save 2 plays) without Heisman candidate QBColt Brennan who was still recovering from a concussion. Matt Graunke steered the team almost without missing a beat. Hawaii gets Boise State at home next Friday for the WAC championship and perhaps a BCS at large bid.
12. USC (8-2). Did not play. Next Game: Thursday 11/22 at Arizona State.
The Trojans have been resurgent after the return of John David Booty, but will need to summon an extra measure of defense against the Sun Devils. USC would like nothing better than to win against them, and follow it with a victory over UCLA which would give them a 7-2 record. Even doing this, however, won’t get them to the Rose Bowl unless Oregon falls to either UCLA or Oregon State, a real possibility without Dennis Dixon.
13. Boise State (10-1). Defeated Idaho 58-14. Next Game: Friday 11/23 at Hawaii.
As previously mentioned the Broncos next game will be for the WAC Championship and probably a BCS at large bid. BSU certainly has the firepower, to keep up with the Warriors but lack the defense to shut Hawaii down, so this game could last 5 hours and have an over/under of 90.
14. Illinois (9-3). Defeated Northwestern 41-23. Next Game: None.
2007 must be considered to be a tremendously successful year for Ron Zook’s team. Illinois went 9-3, knocked Ohio State out of the National Championship (likely), and finished tied for second with Michigan in the Big Ten (technically they finished 3rd since they lost to UM). This surely gets Illinois to a top tier bowl such as the Outback or Capital one, depending on a few things. Congrats!
15. Boston College (9-2). Defeated Clemson 20-17. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 v Miami at home.
After two straight losses that dropped BC from #2 to 15, BC got back on track winning a tough game to clinch the ACC Atlantic crown and a trip to the ACC Championship versus the winner of the Virginia Tech-Virginia game. If BC wins the conference, they automatically get a BCS Bowl game, which might be deserved if they CAN win out.
16. Texas (9-2). Did not play, Next Game: Friday 11/23 at Texas A&M.
The Longhorns have been an enigma all year winning games they didnt deserve to win. Yet they find themselves only a little luck away from possibly stealing the Big-12 South if Oklahoma comes up short against Oklahoma State next week. However when you travel to Kyle Field to play the Aggies throw away the standings, cuz this gets personal. The Longhorns should prevail but you never know. In any case they’ll likely grab a decent Bowl game.
17. Virginia (9-2). Did not play. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 vs Va Tech at home.
The Cavaliers might not have grabbed alot of love from people this year, but that could all change drastically if they can win out against the Hokies, which would put them in the ACC Championship against Boston College. Winning there would get them a BCS Bowl birth. Perhaps then people would take notice?
18. Tennessee (8-3). Defeated Vanderbilt 25-24. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 at Kentucky.
The SEC East all comes down to this game next week. If the Vols win, they have an SEC Championship date against #1 LSU. If not, they get a second level bowl game. The Vol defense will have its hands full!
19. UConn (9-2) Defeated Syracuse 30-8. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 at West Virginia.
Another simple scenario. If UConn wins against WVU, they win the Big East and an automatic BCS bowl bid. If not, they’ll probably be bowling elsewhere. In any case, the Huskies must consider this year a major success. Kudos!
20. Wisconsin (9-3). Defeated Minnesota 41-34. Next Game: None.
While the Badgers end up tied for 3rd in the Big 10, they probably can look back and wonder what might have been. But for the loss of P.J. Hill, would they be 9-3? But this is a high character club finishing strong with wins aginst Michigan and Minnesota. They’ll be bowling as the Big-10 # 4 seed which should get them to the Alamo or Champs Sports Bowl.
21. Cincinnati (8-3). Lost to West Virginia 28-23. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 at Syracuse.
The Bearcats have nothing to be ashamed of this year. They almost came back and beat WVU, and did beat Rutgers, South Florida and UConn. A win at Syracuse next week should get them a nice bowl game such as the International, Sun or PapaJohns Bowl.
22. Clemson (8-3). Lost to Boston College 20-17. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 at So Carolina.
The Tigers just couldn’t hold on versus BC which cost them dearly in a bid for a BCS bowl. Clemson will need desperately to beat So Carolina in order to rise on the bowl ladder.
23. South Florida (8-3). Defeated Louisville 55-17. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 at Pitt.
The Bulls are another team that can look back and just ponder what might have been. Sitll this is a good, storng club and should get a respectable bowl game such as the PapaJohns or Meineke Car Care Bowl.
24. BYU (9-2). Defeated Wyoming 35-10. Next Game: Saturday 11/24 v Utah at home.
BYU has quietly rolled to a very respectful 9-2 with a possibility of going 11-2. With a win of the Mountain West (going undefeated in conference play), they could be considered for an at large BCS bid, but its likely the committee would go WAC before MWAC. Still BYU should get a bid to at least the Pioneer Bowl.
25.Air Force (9-3). Defeated San Diego State 55-23. Next Game: None.
The Falcolns probably wish they could have that close loss to New Mexico 34-31 erased, so that their season might have been more palatable. Its likely they get the nod to go to the Armed Forces Bowl which would be a good accomplishment for them.
Dropped Out: Penn State, Michigan
Most Impressive This Week: LSU, Kansas, Missouri, Florida
Least Impressive This Week: Oregon, Oklahoma, Penn State,
Have a great week, and a Happy Thanksgiving!
