Week 11 Thoughts

I went 4-6 with my picks this week, the first time all season I've had a losing weekend. My 2007 year-to-date record is now 27-17.


1. Once again, a team in the top 3 falls...
Most people knew Ohio State would lose this season and was only ranked #1 due to a cupcake schedule. However, not many people predicted their inevitable loss would come at the hands of Illinois. The Buckeyes were able to shut down star back Rashard Mendenhall, but that left the field wide open for QB Juice Williams, who ran for several crucial long third down conversions to salt the game away in the fourth quarter. Ohio State's Todd Boeckman, who was starting to receive whispered Heisman notice, threw 3 picks and looked altogether unimpressive. With several weeks left in the season, one has to wonder...will someone in the top 3 lose every week? LSU has a tough test against Darren McFadden and a date with either Georgia, Tennessee, or Florida in the SEC championship--all teams that could beat the Tigers. Oregon is somewhat safer, but given how this season has gone, there's no such thing as upset-safe.

2. Georgia might be the most underrated team in the country
The Bulldogs, despite an unsuccessful "black out" by their fans, turned in another impressive victory on Saturday. They've now handedly beat two of the SEC's best in Florida and Auburn, and could probably present a tougher challenge to LSU than the Gators or Tennessee. The Vols control their own destiny in the SEC East by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker, and both teams have to play upset-minded Kentucky. I think Georgia gets out of Lexington and Tennessee doesn't, giving the ticket to the SEC Championship in Atlanta to Georgia. And don't be surprised if Mr. Everything freshman Knowshon Moreon leads the Bulldogs to victory over LSU, either. Georgia is starting to look scary good; they're the best two loss team in the country (you heard it here first).

3. BCS National Championship prediction...

I'm already excited for LSU-Oregon. It would be a great game, SEC vs. Pac-10, with stars all over the field. Kansas is intriguing, however--Oregon's schedule the rest of the way is softer than a down comforter and Kansas has tough games against Missouri and probably Oklahoma in the Big XII championship. If Kansas can win out, they'll certainly have a case to leapfrog Oregon. However, they've received almost no national media attention and most of the country would rather see LSU vs. Oregon. And seeing as how sports have become almost completely about money, the polls might "somehow" keep Oregon in their #2 spot to boost ratings and financial gains. I personally would be on the Jayhawk bandwagon, though, believing them the true #2--or even #1--team in the nation. They're in arguably the second toughest conference and are undefeated...if a bigger-name school had their record, they'd be ranked #1 in every poll.


Heisman Race
1. Tim Tebow, QB Florida (3,250 total yards, 42 total TD's
2. Dennis Dixon, QB Oregon (2,623 total yards, 28 total TD's)
3. Chase Daniel, QB Missouri (3,306 passing yards, 26 passing TD's)

on the bubble: Todd Reesing, Darren McFadden, Sam Bradford, Colt Brennan

Golden Top 25
1. LSU
2. Kansas
3. Oregon
4. Oklahoma
5. Missouri
6. West Virginia
7. Ohio State
8. Georgia
9. Arizona State
10. Virginia Tech
11. Hawaii
12. Texas
13. Florida
14. USC
15. Virginia
16. Clemson
17. Boise State
18. Boston College
19. Illinois
20. Cincinnati
21. Tennessee
22. Kentucky
23. Wisconsin
24. Michigan
25. Connecticut