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Trap games. They happen when a good team finds itself in way more of a competitive game than should be expected against a lesser opponent. They come before, after, or between big games when a superior team thinks it could rest easy...

2008 College Football Preview: Six Potential Trap Games

by David Wunderlich (Senior Writer)

28

6,165 reads

Preview/Prediction

June 01, 2008


Trap games. They happen when a good team finds itself in way more of a competitive game than should be expected against a lesser opponent. They come before, after, or between big games when a superior team thinks it could rest easy. During them the most common refrain for these teams' fans is, "This can't be happening..."

Everyone hates them because you usually can't see them coming until you're in them. After going through the schedules of the six BCS conferences, I now give you a potential trap game for each league. If you see your team here, beware.

 

ACC

The Game: Virginia Tech at UNC, September 20

Before and After: Georgia Tech before, at Nebraska after

Why It Will Be a Trap Game: While no one expects Georgia Tech to compete for an ACC title this year, Virginia Tech will need all the time it can get to prepare for Paul Johnson's unconventional offense. The Hokies also will probably be looking forward to making a statement against Nebraska, since when they went on the road to a BCS school last year, they were sent home from Baton Rouge with a 48-7 loss. They will want to show they can win big road games out of conference, even if these Huskers aren't as good as last year's champs were.

In the middle of those contests sits UNC, in year two of the Butch Davis era. The Tar Heels were a mostly harmless 4-8 in 2007, and their recruiting and player development have not progressed far enough in to turn them into a conference title contender just yet. Still, UNC lost by just seven in Blacksburg last year, and could very well pull the upset if the Hokies are distracted.

Why It May Not Matter: Virginia Tech has Furman the week before playing Georgia Tech, so the Jackets may not be much of a factor. Plus, UNC has received a lot of preseason love already, so it might be difficult for the Heels to truly sneak up on the Hokies.

 

BIG 12

The Game: Texas vs. Oklahoma State, October 25

Before and After: Missouri before, at Texas Tech after

Why It Will Be a Trap Game: Did you know that Texas' pass defense was ranked 109th in 2007? Did you also know that Texas will be starting two redshirt freshmen at safety in 2008? Both are true, and they could spell trouble when the Cowboys come to town.

Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson finished 12th in the nation in passing efficiency in his sophomore year, and he could be even better as a junior in 2008 without any Bobby Reid-related distractions hanging over the team. OSU only lost to UT by three in Stillwater last year, so we know they can hang with Texas.

With the Longhorns having to deal with a presumed national title contender in Missouri the week before and an absolutely loaded Texas Tech team the week after, they very well could overlook this game and give Oklahoma State a chance to steal one in Austin.

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28 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Chris Torello about 1 year ago

    This is very good stuff. I find that it's never too early to talk College Football. Hopefully these games are exciting to watch. I am a firm believer that the BCS needs to be changed, but i like how these teams can't look beyond one week and think a loss is ok. I makes for exciting football from August 31 til January 8. Great Article, very insightful.

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  2. JJ Stankevitz about 1 year ago

    Great article, David. I had no clue Texas' pass defense was that bad...I wonder how many "BOOM, MOTHER****ER YEAH!" shouts it'll take from Will Muschamp for them to drastically improve. Maybe Missouri does have a chance in that game in Austin...

    I can't wait for the season to start. Less than two months!

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    • David Wunderlich about 1 year ago

      No kidding. I had no idea myself until I ran across it while researching this piece. I personally think Missouri has a great shot at beating Texas, especially since I saw firsthand what excess youth in the secondary can do with the Gators last year.

      Here's another stat to blow your mind: Texas Tech had the 12th ranked pass defense in 2007. Of course that may have something to do with the Red Raiders having the 82nd ranked rush defense, but that's not bad for how pass-happy the conference has become. Also, Tech faced just two pass defenses (OU at #56 and Virginia at #54) ranked better than 91st in the country. Every other one was in the 90s or 100s. Craziness.

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    • JJ Stankevitz about 1 year ago

      Well, when Mizzou played Tech this year, I know the running game was huge for the Tigers. I can't remember the stats off the top of my head, but I think Jimmy Jackson had three TDs and Chase only threw one (with Stryker Sulak accounting for the other TD). It was the same strategy that Arkansas used in the Cotton Bowl: throw all your defense at stopping the pass. That didn't turn out to well for the Hogs...

      Also, while Mizzou's pass defense wasn't great (thanks, Darnell Terrell), they still held Tech to just 10 points. A lot of that probably had to do with the great pass rush the front four got on Graham Harrell, though.

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  3. Jeremy about 1 year ago

    The Troy game will be huge, they have fast players and the past few years have defeated good teams, OK State last year and play big opponents tough.

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  4. Tyler Heun about 1 year ago

    I graduated from the University of Nebraska. I obviously am a HUGE Husker fan. I see Virginia Tech losing to Nebraska when they come here, so I don't know if you can truly call that VA TECH vs UNC game a trap game if they lose two in a row.

    Also, watch out for Texas Tech this year. We all know they can score 50 on anyone. Now they have a defense to hold opponents under 20 a game.

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    • David Wunderlich about 1 year ago

      The VT-UNC game comes the week before the game at Nebraska. It counts as a trap because VT might lose it thanks to looking ahead a week.

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  5. C.D. J about 1 year ago

    You shoot Trap. You fall into a trap. You set a trap, to catch a rat, and if the rat stays in the trap too long
    it gets covered in maggots and really starts to smell sweet. There is a reason Arkansas has no national
    broad cast schedule other than the last game of the season against LSU. The same reason the best state
    recruits go some were other than Fayetteville. Who ever made the decision to fire Nutt is why Hog football smells like a rat thats been in the trap too long. Texas now has the best defensive man in college football and he will straighten out what ever is bent by October 25.

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    • Superman Hog about 1 year ago

      CD. Where have you been living for the last decade? You obviously know nothing about Arkansas football and it's recruiting history. Getting the top recruits to Fayetteville has never been a problem. Keeping them there was something your beloved Nutt couldn't do. As far as national broadcast, noone in the SEC has a set national broadcast. CBS has a national SEC broadcast every week with the teams not being selected until 2 weeks before. In fact Arkansas was on national TV 6 games last season and already has 2 scheduled for 08 with more to come for sure, strictly because of the Petrino interest. Clearly the only rat here is you. Enjoy.

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    • ross johnson about 1 year ago

      You are clueless C.D. Your statements arent factual, and your logic is flawed...Period. You obviously know a "rats-ars" about Arkansas or Arkansas football.

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  6. Alex McVeigh about 1 year ago

    Cool article. Trap games are rarely given attention before they are played, and those are some doozies you have.

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    • David Wunderlich about 1 year ago

      Thanks, Alex. I also like Utah over Michigan as an Upset Special, but it's not really a trap game since it's on opening weekend.

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  7. r b about 1 year ago

    Ohio State and the rest of the Big 10 don't usually play big-time teams until the bowl season, and the conference gets spanked in the bowls every year. USC will dismantle OSU, and hopefully end the stupid notion that any team from the Big 10 has any business in the national championship game.

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    • Ben D'Alessio about 1 year ago

      This comment is ridiculous. The Big Ten has some of the best football in the country with by far the richest tradition. Ohio state has gone to the BCS national championship game 3 out of the last 6 seasons. Michigan is the winningest team in all of sports and Penn state and Wisconsin can play with anyone in the country. They play eachother all during the season and that is what matters. who you play and how you do in your conference.

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  8. Adam Rothlisberger about 1 year ago

    Ohio State was playing Texas 2 years ago as well... but Ben I'm a guy living in Big 10 country.. and the football up here is pretty bad with the exception of Ohio State, Wisconsin Illinois and maybe Michigan State.... tradition is rich but we haven't kept up with the new times of football.. other than Illinois offense everything up here is slow... not saying there aren't fast players but the tempo is slow still... we'll see what Ohio State can do in a few years with Pryor and what Penn State can do when Joe Pa is gone... till then making comments saying the Big 10 is the best football in the country is pretty ridiculous man...

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  9. Tully Turk about 1 year ago

    Ben, come on. Wisconsin was hyped preseason last year too, and look what happened. of Ohio State's three trips to the BCS game, didn't they lose two? Michigan just lost to Appalachain State, a D-2 school. The SEC is where it's at. No other conference has the competition. Florida destroyed OSU 2 years ago, and LSU demolished them last time. Georgia raped Hawaii, and Hawaii was supposed to be good. Florida, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, and Tennessee are all expected to do very well this season, like every season. that's about half the conference. Last season, the SEC had the most teams in bowls, and the best record in bowls, with the exception of the Sun Belt, which was 1-0.

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  10. Ward Sullivan about 1 year ago

    Troy is the type of mid-major team that has the athletes that can hang with Ohio State for four quarters. September 20th in Columbus could end up being very interesting.

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  11. David Wunderlich about 1 year ago

    Can we please not re-fight the Conference Wars for the millionth time? I'd like to hear thoughts on the games if you have any.

    Thanks, Ward.

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  12. David Gresham about 1 year ago

    Maryland at Middle Tennessee should be on the list. We nearly beat Virginia last year.

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  13. Anthony Bennett about 1 year ago

    There's also a sneaky-good Vanderbilt team between Tennessee and Florida for the Dawgs.

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  14. Jay Urban about 1 year ago

    Great idea for the story and good choices with the games you picked. First Rate.

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  15. Keith Frazier about 1 year ago

    I like the odds this year that The Ohio State university will restore respect to the Big Ten, if they can get over the hump of USC, and even if we lose that game in a barn burner, we may still end up in a rematch against Florida for the national championship, and revenge....
    My prediction is that it will be the sam scenario as two years ago when we lost a terrible game to Florida, a perfect 11-o buckeye team pit against an 11-1 Florida team, and I beleive the buckeyes will win, but not in the fashion that they lost two years ago.
    Remember you heard it first right here. Senator Tressel and hi Silver Bullets take out Florida in the National Championship this year.

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  1. Jordan Coleman about 1 year ago

    Another trap game in the SEC could be Kentucky over Georgia. Georgia plays Kentucky right after a tough road game at LSU and neutral site against Florida, then right after UK its a road game at Auburn.

    So its...
    @LSU
    UF(neutral)
    @UK
    @Auburn

    I'm not calling it yet but its a good position for the Cats to be in a trap game.

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