Week one is in the books, and many exciting games went down. It seemed many teams had lots of trouble with small FBS teams and even FCS teams.
Minnesota went to 3OT with UNLV, Stanford only beat San Jose State by three, #8 Wisconsin beat Northern Iowa by five, Wake Forest escaped by three against Liberty, #4 Oklahoma could only pull away from UTEP in the 4th, and Maryland beat FCS-William & Mary on a late touchdown, 7-6.
My #7 team South Carolina struggled against Vanderbilt on Thursday night. Vandy is a very underrated team, so it being close was not a surprise. But aside from Marcus Lattimore having another monster game, the rest of the Gamecock's squad under-performed
But two very shocking upsets took place as well. The first, was FCS-school Youngstown State beating up Pittsburgh in every single way to cruise to a 31-17 win. An embarrassing moment for Pitt, who had never lost to an FCS school before.
The next was Texas State pounding Houston on the road. Houston, coming off a 13-1 season, was a 34.5-point favorite. Houston did loose QB Case Keenum to the NFL last year, but the offense is still explosive. I had Houston winning out in the regular season. That prediction is done after the first week.
Texas State was playing their first game as an FBS-member. But no one had them winning this one. Yet, they came into Houston, shut down Houston's offense, and left with a 30-13 victory. According to Pregame.com, Texas State is the first school to ever win a game by double digits while being a 30 or more point underdog. While this game has been overlooked by almost everyone, this will be one of the biggest upsets of the season.
The biggest game of the weekend though, was #2 Alabama's blowout of #11 Michigan. The Tide demolished them in all areas. Most people expected an Alabama win, but not to this magnitude. It may be time for Michigan to hit the panic button after how many holes were exposed in that game.
Week 2 Top 25:
1. USC (1-0)
2. Alabama (1-0)
3. Florida State (1-0)
4. Oklahoma (1-0)
5. LSU (1-0)
6. Oregon (1-0)
7. South Carolina (1-0)
8. Arkansas (1-0)
9. Wisconsin (1-0)
10. Georgia (1-0)
11. Michigan State (1-0)
12. Virginia Tech (1-0)
13. Texas (1-0)
14. Clemson 1-0)
15. West Virginia (1-0)
16. Michigan (1-0)
17. Nebraska (1-0)
18. Ohio State (1-0)
19. Oklahoma State (1-0)
20. TCU (0-0)
21. Louisville (1-0)
22. Utah (1-0)
23. North Carolina (1-0)
24. Kansas State (1-0)
25. Auburn (0-1)
Next 5 in: NC State (0-1), Washington (1-0), Notre Dame (1-0), Iowa (1-0), Boise State (0-1)
What to Watch:
Central Florida (1-0) @ #18 Ohio St. (1-0) (12:00pm ET, ESPN2)
UCF is a very talented team the Buckeyes must be careful not to overlook. If Braxton Miller can play like he did last week vs Miami, Ohio State should roll.
Prediction: Ohio St. 37 UCF 20
Air Force (1-0) @ #16 Michigan (0-1) (3:30pm ET, ABC/ESPN2)
Michigan should win, but Air Force is always dangerous and if the Wolverines havn't picked itself up after an embarrassing loss last weekend, the Falcons could pull a shocker.
Prediction: Mich 30 AF 15
Florida (1-0) @ Texas A & M (0-0) (3:30pm ET, ESPN)
Florida looked shaky vs Bowling Green. Jeff Driskel was named starting QB on Monday, but how will he play vs a tougher Aggie squad? Texas A & M plays their first game as an SEC member.
Florida 21 TAMU 14
Washington (1-0) @ #5 LSU (1-0) (7:00pm ET, ESPN)
LSU should win this game, and it can go almost any possible way. Washington is a sleeper team but will need to be at their best to beat LSU. That being said, don't sleep on the Huskies.
Prediction: LSU 48 UW 35
#10 Georgia @ Missouri (7:45pm ET, ESPN2)
Georgia had its fair share of problems last week vs Buffalo, and has been know to drop games early in the season that they should win. They get Missouri on the road this week, and this is looking like a disaster waiting to happen.
Prediction: UGA 34 Mizz 31
Duke @ Stanford (10:30pm ET, Pac-12 Network)
After Stanford almost suffered a major upset last week vs SJSU, they look to show they can win without Andrew Luck and take down Duke. Duke is looking to show they aren't in the cellar of the ACC anymore, and a win vs Stanford can prove that argument.
Prediction: Stan 31 Duke 21
Week 2 Recap
Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts
September 4, 2012
August 27, 2012
Non-BCS Conference Previews
ACC Big East Big 10 Big 12 Pac 12 SEC Bowls and Top 50
Conference USA:
The Conference USA is the best non-BCS conference this year. Southern Miss, Houston, Tulsa, SMU, are very good teams.
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| David Piland, Houston |
Houston's hardest non-conference game is UCLA. They play at SMU and hosts Tulsa - obviously, much easier. While they are not as good as they were last season with Case Keenum, being able to avoid Southern Miss in the regular season is huge. Not to mention avoiding UCF is big too. The Cougars will go undefeated this regular season, but once again, Southern Miss will spoil the Cougar's BCS and perfect season hopes in the CUSA title game. Still, it would not surprise me if Houston wins all of its games and is 13-0 going to a BCS bowl.
The rest of the CUSA is improved this year. SMU and Tulsa are capable of double digit wins. Don't overlook East Carolina either. Central Florida would be a top school in the conference, but scandal around the program, including a bowl ban this year, will hurt their chances. They will stumble like so many teams do in this situation.
UTEP and Marshall are very close to returning to the regular season, while UAB, Memphis, Tulane, and Rice remain in the cellar.
Projected Standings:
East:
1. Southern Mississippi 10-2 (8-0)
2. East Carolina 8-4 (5-3)
3. Marshall 5-7 (4-4)
4. UAB 4-8 (3-5)
5. UCF 4-8 (2-6)
6. Memphis 3-9 (2-6)
West:
1. Houston 12-0 (9-0)
2. Tulsa 9-3 (6-2)
2. SMU 8-4 (6-2)
4. UTEP 4-8 (3-5)
5. Rice 2-10 (1-7)
6. Tulane 1-11 (0-8)
Conference USA Championship: Southern Miss over Houston
Mountain West Conference
The MWC lost TCU, and will loose Boise State after this season. But, they were able to grab Nevada, Fresno State, and Hawaii from the WAC.
Boise State is not what they have been the past few years, but they will still dominate the conference this season. Nevada is back, but still not as good as Boise State. After those two, Fresno State, Air Force, San Diego State, and Wyoming should all be bowl eligable.
Hawaii could make a bowl, but most likely will just miss one. Colorado State, UNLV, and New Mexico will fill out the bottom. Still, if the MWC can get five teams into bowls, they deserve some respect.
Projected Standings:
1. Boise State 10-2 (8-0)
2. Nevada 9-3 (6-2)
T3. Air Force 8-4 (5-3)
T3. Fresno State 7-5 (5-3)
T5. San Diego State 7-5 (4-4)
T5. Wyoming 6-6 (4-4)
7. Hawaii 5-7 (3-5)
T8. UNLV 4-8 (2-6)
T8. Colorado State 2-10 (2-6)
10. New Mexico 3-10 (1-7)
MAC
The MAC is slowly becoming a better conference, and its top teams can make some noise each season. This year, might be the best yet.
Ohio runs a very good offense, and with an improved defense bringing eight starters back, they have a very good chance to finish with double digit wins.
Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Miami (OH), Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Kent State and Toledo figure to make some noise this season, and the MAC could have six, seven, or even eight teams bowl eligible. The conference is that good.
But, just like all MAC seasons, there will be some very bad teams. Those teams will be Buffalo, Akron, Ball State, and newcomer Massachusetts.
Still, it is shaping up that Northern Illinois and Ohio will run the MAC this year with the rest right on their heels.
Projected Standings:
East:
1. Ohio 11-1 (7-1)
2. Miami, Oh 7-5 (6-2)
T3. Bowling Green 6-6 (4-4)
T3. Kent State 5-7 (4-4)
T5. Buffalo 2-10 (1-7)
T5. Akron 2-10 (1-7)
7. Umass 0-12 (0-8)
West:
1. Northern Illinois 10-2 (7-1)
2. Western Michigan 8-4 6-2
T3. Toledo 7-5 (5-3)
T3. Central Michigan 6-6 (5-3)
5. Eastern Michigan 5-7 (4-4)
6. Ball State 3-9 (2-6)
MAC Championship: Ohio over Northern Illinois
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| Tyler Tettleton, Ohio |
Sun Belt
The Sun Belt looks poised for one of its best seasons in conference history. They could have five teams bowl eligible this season, and four of them with at least seven wins.
Florida International has a feisty defense that can compete with most schools in the nation. They are a favorite to win the Sun Belt, but almost anyone could. Troy, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Arkansas State are all in the mix, and all will be in a bowl game this December/January.
Western Kentucky should at least get to six wins, but that might not guarantee a bowl spot this year. The rest of the conference is close to contending too. Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana-Monroe, Florida Atlantic, and North Texas could make some noise and pull some upsets.
Newcomer South Alabama will struggle, but does have some easy non-conference games. They have a very bright future, but just are not there yet.
Projected Standings:
1. Florida International 8-4 (7-1)
T2. Louisiana-Lafayette 8-4 (6-2)
T2. Troy 7-5 (6-2)
4. Arkansas State 7-5 (5-3)
5. Western Kentucky 6-6 (4-4)
6. Louisiana-Monroe 4-8 (4-4)
T7. North Texas 4-8 (3-5)
T7. Florida Atlantic 4-8 (3-5)
9. Middle Tennessee State 4-8 (2-6)
10. South Alabama 2-11 (0-8)
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| Winston Fraser, FIU |
WAC
The WAC took some heavy blows in the conference realignment, and it is looking like they will not sponsor football after this season. For now they are, but they are by far the worst conference in FBS college football.
Louisiana Tech and Utah State will both be in a battle to run away with the conference, and both will have no problem securing a bowl spot.
San Jose State, Idaho, and New Mexico State have a chance at the post season as well. The two new schools, Texas State and Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) will both struggle this year and are not eligible for a bowl game till next year.
It is important to note that UTSA's two projected wins are against NW Oklahoma State and Texas A & M-Commerce, who are part of the NAIA and D. II, respectively.
Projected Standings:
T1. Louisiana Tech 8-4 (5-1)
T1. Utah State 7-5 (5-1)
T3. San Jose State 6-6 (4-2)
T3. Idaho 5-7 (4-2)
5. New Mexico State 4-8 (2-4)
6. Texas State 1-11 (1-5)
7. UTSA 2-10 (0-6)
Independents
There are four FBS Independents schools. The one who will do the best this season is BYU. They are an improved team and are a darkhorse to sneak in and grab a BCS spot. More likely they will wind up in a smaller bowl, but they will win at least eight or nine games.
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| Manti Te'o, Notre Dame |
Notre Dame is more experienced and improved coming in, but they play a brutal schedule that will drop them to 7-5. All it takes is an upset, but this team is not quite good enough to get to double digit wins quite yet.
Navy had a down year last year, but should be back in a bowl this season. Army will take a small step forward this season to get back to a bowl game.
Projected Records:
BYU 9-3
Notre Dame 7-5
Navy 7-5
Army 4-8
December 1, 2011
College Football Week 13 Recap
We now are entering the last week of college football and it is conference championship week. A time for teams to show why they are worthy of a BCS bid. Each conference championship has a lot riding on it.
In the SEC, #1 LSU will take on #14 Georgia. LSU has been the best team all season. There is no question about it. The SEC East is weak this year, especially if Georgia will be representing them in the title game. Don't let Georgia's record (10-2) fool you, the three teams from the SEC West they did not end up playing are the three best in #1 LSU, #2 Alabama, and #5 Arkansas. The only other teams they played that even are even ranked are #6 Boise State and #13 South Carolina, both losses. LSU wins by a huge margin on their way to the title game.
In the Big 10, it is a rematch between #10 Michigan State and #16 Wisconsin. Last time, MSU won on a 54-yard Hail Mary as time expired to win 37-31. The winner this time will go to the Rose bowl, and the loser possibly could get into the Fiesta Bowl to play the loser of Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, or the winner of that game, if Alabama gets into the title game. Either way, it will be a great game and hopefully be down to the wire once again.
In the Pac 12, the North featured arguably the best four teams in the Pac-12 (minus bowl-banned USC), and will send Oregon to take on 6-6 UCLA in the title game. UCLA, the team people said may be the worst team in the Pac 12 in the pre-season, managed to go 6-6, but by no means can compete with Oregon. The Ducks will tromp the Bruins.
The ACC has #9 Virginia Tech which has been on a tear lately, playing #23 Clemson who started undefeated but has dropped two straight games and has fallen mightily - winner will go to Orange Bowl.
The Conference USA will feature undefeated #6 Houston and #22 Southern Miss. Houston is a team all about offense, and has one of the best in the history of the NCAA. But they have played a very easy schedule, and out of all non-BCS teams to go undefeated in the past few years, they may be the least talented one to date. Two teams come to mind if you think of "all offense" teams in BCS conferences this year. Both in the Pac 12, and they are Arizona and Washington State. Both went 4-8 playing average schedules. This would most likely be Houston's fate if they played in a BCS conference, and they will most likely not put up a fight for any team in a BCS bowl. But for this game, Houston will win and cap off a 13-0 season heading into a bowl game.
Top 25
1. LSU 12-0
2. Alabama 11-1
3. Oklahoma State 10-1
4. Stanford 11-1
5. Arkansas 10-2
6. Boise State 10-1
7. Oregon 10-2
8. Houston 12-0
9. Virginia Tech 11-1
10. Michigan State 10-2
11. Oklahoma 9-2
12. USC 10-2
13. South Carolina 10-2
14. Georgia 10-2
15. Kansas State 9-2
16. Wisconsin 10-2
17. Michigan 10-2
18. Baylor 8-3
19. TCU 9-2
20. West Virginia 8-3
21. Nebraska 9-3
22. Southern Miss 10-2
23. Clemson 9-3
24. Ohio 9-3
25. Texas 7-4
Next 5 In: Penn State 9-3, Florida State 8-4, Cincinnati 8-3, Arkansas 9-2, Virginia 8-4
What To Watch:
Conference Championships (* Neutral Site)
*#24 Ohio @ Northern Illinois, Fri, 7:00pm ET, ESPN2, Prediction: OHIO 66 NIU 59
UCLA @ #7 Oregon, Fri, 8:00pm ET, FOX, Prediction: ORE 45 UCLA 7
#22 Southern Miss @ #6 Houston, Sat, 12:00pm ET, ABC, Prediction: HOU 55 USM 40
*#14 Georgia @ #1 LSU, Sat, 4:00pm ET, CBS, Prediction: LSU 37 UGA 14
*#9 Virginia Tech @ #23 Clemson, 8:00pm ET, ESPN, Prediction: VT 38 CLEM 30
*#16 Wisconsin @ #10 Michigan State, 8:00pm ET, FOX, Prediction: WIS 35 MSU 34
Regular Games:
UConn @ Cincinnati, 12:00pm ET, ESPN,
Prediction: CIN 27 UCONN 21
Iowa State @ #15 Kansas State, 12:30pm ET,
Prediction: KSU 20 ISU 10
#25 Texas @ #18 Baylor, 3:30pm ET, ABC,
Prediction: BAY 31 TEX 20
Game Of Week:
#11 Oklahoma @ #3 Oklahoma State, 8:00pm ET, ABC, Prediction: OKL 45 OSU 42
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| LSU QB Jarrett Lee |
In the Big 10, it is a rematch between #10 Michigan State and #16 Wisconsin. Last time, MSU won on a 54-yard Hail Mary as time expired to win 37-31. The winner this time will go to the Rose bowl, and the loser possibly could get into the Fiesta Bowl to play the loser of Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, or the winner of that game, if Alabama gets into the title game. Either way, it will be a great game and hopefully be down to the wire once again.
In the Pac 12, the North featured arguably the best four teams in the Pac-12 (minus bowl-banned USC), and will send Oregon to take on 6-6 UCLA in the title game. UCLA, the team people said may be the worst team in the Pac 12 in the pre-season, managed to go 6-6, but by no means can compete with Oregon. The Ducks will tromp the Bruins.
The ACC has #9 Virginia Tech which has been on a tear lately, playing #23 Clemson who started undefeated but has dropped two straight games and has fallen mightily - winner will go to Orange Bowl.
The Conference USA will feature undefeated #6 Houston and #22 Southern Miss. Houston is a team all about offense, and has one of the best in the history of the NCAA. But they have played a very easy schedule, and out of all non-BCS teams to go undefeated in the past few years, they may be the least talented one to date. Two teams come to mind if you think of "all offense" teams in BCS conferences this year. Both in the Pac 12, and they are Arizona and Washington State. Both went 4-8 playing average schedules. This would most likely be Houston's fate if they played in a BCS conference, and they will most likely not put up a fight for any team in a BCS bowl. But for this game, Houston will win and cap off a 13-0 season heading into a bowl game.
Top 25
1. LSU 12-0
2. Alabama 11-1
3. Oklahoma State 10-1
4. Stanford 11-1
5. Arkansas 10-2
6. Boise State 10-1
7. Oregon 10-2
8. Houston 12-0
9. Virginia Tech 11-1
10. Michigan State 10-2
11. Oklahoma 9-2
12. USC 10-2
13. South Carolina 10-2
14. Georgia 10-2
15. Kansas State 9-2
16. Wisconsin 10-2
17. Michigan 10-2
18. Baylor 8-3
19. TCU 9-2
20. West Virginia 8-3
21. Nebraska 9-3
22. Southern Miss 10-2
23. Clemson 9-3
24. Ohio 9-3
25. Texas 7-4
Next 5 In: Penn State 9-3, Florida State 8-4, Cincinnati 8-3, Arkansas 9-2, Virginia 8-4
What To Watch:
Conference Championships (* Neutral Site)
*#24 Ohio @ Northern Illinois, Fri, 7:00pm ET, ESPN2, Prediction: OHIO 66 NIU 59
UCLA @ #7 Oregon, Fri, 8:00pm ET, FOX, Prediction: ORE 45 UCLA 7
#22 Southern Miss @ #6 Houston, Sat, 12:00pm ET, ABC, Prediction: HOU 55 USM 40
*#14 Georgia @ #1 LSU, Sat, 4:00pm ET, CBS, Prediction: LSU 37 UGA 14
*#9 Virginia Tech @ #23 Clemson, 8:00pm ET, ESPN, Prediction: VT 38 CLEM 30
*#16 Wisconsin @ #10 Michigan State, 8:00pm ET, FOX, Prediction: WIS 35 MSU 34
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| OSU QB Brandon Weeden |
UConn @ Cincinnati, 12:00pm ET, ESPN,
Prediction: CIN 27 UCONN 21
Iowa State @ #15 Kansas State, 12:30pm ET,
Prediction: KSU 20 ISU 10
#25 Texas @ #18 Baylor, 3:30pm ET, ABC,
Prediction: BAY 31 TEX 20
Game Of Week:
#11 Oklahoma @ #3 Oklahoma State, 8:00pm ET, ABC, Prediction: OKL 45 OSU 42
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