I don’t know how I feel about this, I love the Big East.
If they handle business correctly, the Big East might be in a good situation here. Any big non-BCS school could find a home in the Big East. This is their chance to grab some more TCU-like schools. It’s an overall easy schedule, and if you win, it’s an automatic bid to a BCS game. As last year proved, you don’t have to be an amazing team to win the Big East. It’s the perfect situation. One that TCU took full advantage of, in my opinion. I have a feeling that The Big East will target more Texas schools.
“Even though you love Boise, I am kinda suprised to see the WAC so high. Besides Boise and Nevada, what excites you about the WAC enough to put it ahead of the Big 12 or MWC?”
I have to give the WAC some credit. I really like watching: Fresno State, Nevada, Hawaii, and Boise State. I would pick them over anyone in the Big 12 at least. Sorry, I just don’t find the Big 12 entertaining at all. I like watching TCU and Air Force, but outside of them, the MWC doesn’t catch my attention. Utah vs. Pittsburgh was pretty good though.
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At 5-4, Pittsburgh can and most likely will make it to a BCS bowl game. And get this, they can still lose another game, possibly even two more and still win the Big East. They haven’t beaten a ranked team all year and they don’t have another ranked team left on their schedule. The only two ranked teams they have played are: #15 Utah (lost 27-24 in OT) and Miami (lost 31-3). Now, I give them credit here. They stepped up and played some tough out of conference teams. But what makes me mad is their in conference play. I don’t know how many different ways to express that the system is broken. Did they not even consider the possibility that a 7-5, maybe even a 6-6 team would win a conference?
Yet, they are the frontrunners to win the Big East and go to a BCS game. If they lose tonight, they will be 5-4. #4 Boise State isn’t even in the BCS bowl picture just yet. Boise fan or not, you have to see that this is messed up. If this isn’t a sign that the system is broken, then I don’t know what is.
Upset #1: Arkansas over Alabama
Arkansas is very underestimated; even being ranked #17. They finished the season ranked ninth in Points For (36). Mallet is back for his final year and he has some talented receivers to throw to. It almost seems like fate on how it’s put on the schedule: At Arkansas the week before Florida. It’s happened before where teams start to look ahead and fall short in the weeks before it. Their key to victory: score points.
Upset #2: Washington over Nebraska
I am simply not convinced that Nebraska is as good this year as they finished last year. Their statistics are just terrible. And Washington has something they don’t have: a charismatic QB, and Suh isn’t there to toss him around. Their key to victory: Establish the passing game.
Upset #3: Utah over Pittsburgh; Utah over TCU
That’s right. I think Utah is extremely talented. They finished last year with losing only to TCU an BYU in the conference. But this year, I think they do have a good chance to take down both of these top ranked schools. Keys to victory(ies): let the defense control the pace of the game; stop Pitt’s rushing attack; stop TCU’s passing game.
Upset #4: Colorado over Georgia
This wouldn’t be a high caliber upset compared to the others, but Georgia should still be a big favorite in this game. However, Georgia has a lot of questions to answer. They have been on a decline since being ranked #1 only a few seasons ago, and though Colorado has been having some rough years, they have potential. Their key to victory: stopping WR: A.J. Green.
I chose the University of South Florida to win the Big East earlier in the summer, and I still think that can happen. Skip Holtz is now their head coach, and he had a tremendous impact on East Carolina while he was there. The biggest games on their schedule are: #4 Florida (non-conference), @ #25 West Virginia, and vs. #15 Pittsburgh. They also end the season against Connecticut who has the potential to upset some teams in this conference. All in all, it might be too soon to predict that USF will have this much success, but I’m sure within three years they can be the caliber team they were two seasons ago when they peaked at #2 in the polls (I’m still not sure how on Earth that happened).
Who do you guys (and girls) think is underrated going into the season this year? One team I think is going to do some damage is South Florida. Skip Holtz is their coach now and I think he will lead them to a victory over some of the big schools on their schedule, like Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Who else out there is going unnoticed?
This is Simply Football, and these
are my thoughts about college football.
