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Every year there are a handful or so of college football teams that seem to cause chaos and havoc wherever they go. Just when every armchair quarterback, pundit or prognosticator pegs them as a loser, these teams go out and do something dumb...

College Football: The Top Ten Captains of Chaos

by Lisa Horne (Senior Writer)

52

1112 reads

Rankings/List

August 29, 2008


Every year there are a handful or so of college football teams that seem to cause chaos and havoc wherever they go. Just when every armchair quarterback, pundit or prognosticator pegs them as a loser, these teams go out and do something dumb.

Like winning, for example.

Last year we had a few notable chaos causers: Kentucky, Stanford and Pittsburgh. This year, we've got ten.

Ten lovable losers that somewhere, somehow, and some way, will pull off an upset and send a BCS-team whimpering home with their tails between their legs.

10. Washington.

Yep, this is the year Tyrone Willingham gets his revenge on some un-suspecting elite team. While they are still feeling the ramifications of Rick Neuheisel's questionable work habits, they did win a Rose Bowl less than ten years ago so they know what's at stake.

If Jake Locker somehow remains conscious the entire season, the Huskies could bite someone hard. Pick one of these teams to get a case of rabies: Oregon, BYU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, or Arizona State. Woof.

9. Minnesota.

Sure they went 1-11 last year, but they are on many lists to be the most improved team in the Big Ten. Then again, there's not any direction but "up" to go, is there?

Last year they almost beat #24 Wisconsin, losing 41-34. OK, maybe they kept it close instead of almost winning, but the point is, they scored a lot of points. Who could get caught looking past them this year? Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan or Wisconsin.

8. Colorado

Last year the Buffs shocked Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Nebraska and came close to beating Florida State. Dan Hawkins has this team feeling very confident, and with uber-recruit Darrell Scott in the backfield, they could shock the entire Big XII North.

This party school could really be partying if they upset West Virginia on September 18th. Other potential victims could be Florida State, Texas, Kansas, Mizzou and Nebraska.

7. New Mexico

While no one really knows what a Lobo is (a wolf?), Arizona, Air Force and Colorado State all found themselves on the losing side of their respective games with the Albuquerque gang. The Lobos have gone bowling seven straight years, and they expect to make it eight straight.

New Mexico actually has a formidable schedule this year, and the first three games, TCU, Texas A&M and Arizona, could all be against teams looking past them. Throw in BYU and Utah, and all of a sudden, at least two BCS-buster wanna-be's (Utah and BYU) could be out of the BCS picture faster than you can say "Hasta la Vista."

6. SMU

Former Hawai'i coach June Jones makes his debut with the Mustangs. Last year, the ponies went 1-11, but five of their games were real close. Twice, the ponies had 15 and 28 point leads before losing the game in the fourth quarter.

Still not fully recovered from the NCAA's death penalty from almost twenty years ago, June Jones might just have them doing the Haka dance before each game. But make no mistake, Texas Tech, TCU, Central Florida and Southern Miss better be prepared for some trick-plays, lots of five-receiver sets and 300 passing yards per game.

5. Kansas State

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52 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. BabyTate 10 months ago

    You're right about a lot of this. Time someone said something about these spoilers like Stanford.

    Colorado could be a Bowl team.

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  2. Lisa Horne 10 months ago

    I'm sure a lot of fans hope I am wrong, myself included. Ugh...Stanford. They can't do it two years in a row, can they?

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  3. Saraswathi Siriginia 10 months ago

    Lisa, you are a prolific writer and your output is phenomenal. Great picks, Minnesota is right there :-)

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  4. Ian Peterson 10 months ago

    Like the Huskies pick! I think we are big enough underdogs to get overlooked. Maybe we'll get one over USC after 2 years of losing on the last play, ha!

    I don't think Stanford will be nearly as overlooked as last year, and I doubt they will topple USC again for that reason. But they did play a pretty entertaining game against OSU last night....

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  5. Larry Sigurdson 10 months ago

    Hi Lisa,

    Good observation about the Huskies. Don't think it'll be Oregon that gets surprised by Washington's bigger bite this year. It is a rare day that Mike Bellotti and crew underestimate a coach and a team.

    But some of our good friends in Southern California may be in for some tricks and treats in about a month. Look for the Purple & Gold to do better than in recent years.

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    • Lisa Horne 10 months ago

      Larry-

      True, I don't think it will be a Pac-10 team, although...I seem to remember Washington scaring USC last year!

      I think it will be an ND or Oklahoma. Not saying they will upset them, then again, they just might!

      I like Willingham a lot...one of the classiest coaches I have ever interviewed. He's a nice guy too.

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  6. Jeff Contizano 10 months ago

    I like Colorado, but I feel like they are on the way up as it is. Darrel Scott and Cody Hawkins will be bringing some joy back to the Buffs this season.

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    • Lisa Horne 10 months ago

      Jeff-

      They aren't consistently good though. They are making waves, but not there yet. They have upset some big teams, but then again, they lost to Fla. St, K-State and Iowa St. :(

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  7. Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

    Another good read! unfirtunately one of the very rare occasions I don't agree with some of your assessments:

    Is anyone beating ND an upset?, even Washington.

    New Mexico isn't bad but Arizona (though UNM was getting 9.5)and CSU(umm..lobos -9)were absolutely dreadful the past few years.

    The Gophers stink.

    I would really like to play a futures wager of VTech & WVU over ECU, people are in for a shocker tomorrow as ECU will be hard pressed to cross the 50.

    The over in the Nevada-TTech game is going to be 200. :)

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    • Lisa Horne 10 months ago

      Mitch...

      Arizona has no D and all offense this year....they will like like Hawai'i.

      The Gophers stunk last year for sure....this year they will shock someone.

      Too bas I;m don;t make real bets....Va Tech will not be as good as they were in the past. I like ECU to cover.

      Agreed...the over will be unreal....I'm going to say 54 to 52. It's Tech in a squeaker.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      Well I will be watching that game tomorrow very closely. I am just mystified by the amount of people on ECU both with the points and outright. you know once in a while Beamer gets a Vick or a Kevin Jones but in reality he's been doing it with his guys his way for years, why is this year different?

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  8. Lisa Horne 10 months ago

    He's starting Glennon, who I am not sold on, and his special teams unit lost their two kickers, long snapper and top kick returner and punt returner. Those players are usually the signature of the team.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      I guess we're going to find out soon enough but as I've said Beamer just always seems to get it done and since he coaches the special teams himself they're usually a very strong unit, sometimes over rated but usually just so solid. I'm sure we'll get nauseous just hearing them gush over "Beamer ball".
      I thought Glennon was pretty bad at times as well but who am I to question Frank Beamer? Let's be realistic for a second, quietly yet very easily one of the top programs of the past 10 years maybe even longer than that. He doesn't get the recruits the other guys get, he isn't Alabama, Georgia, LSU, USC, Miami, FSU, Ohio State, etc. but every year he's right up there in the real rankings later in the season with those teams and usually puts a good hurting on some of them.
      Frank Beamer has earned our respect, He has a better record with less than just about anyone out there including Paterno and Bowden of late. He doesn't have a ring but I think it can be argued that what he does and has done with VT is nothing short of remarkable and in some cases a better job of coaching and talent evaluation then some of the guys wearing a ring.
      Like I said, we'll see. I know I've cut his teams short before and it has cost me. these aren't the ones they lose, it's the ones at home that no one in the world picks them to lose.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      PERFECT ANALYSIS....Wow was I wrong...and of course you were right...

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    • Lisa Horne 10 months ago

      But u made a great call on BGSU! TNice! We should do a tandem spread pick!

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      Anytime!

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  9. Colin Flosi 10 months ago

    For the most part, I agree with this, except Nebraska has NO BCS hopes, they may have trouble going better than 6-6. I actually think KSU is a better team than Nebraska.

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  10. Colin Flosi 10 months ago

    And Tech only beats Nevada 54-52? Nevada only scored 52 once in regulation last year, and it was against Nicholls St...
    Texas Tech actually has a passing defense, and I find it absolutely impossible for Tech to give up 52 to a Nevada team that lost 52-10 to Nebraska last year. Sure, Nevada can run the ball pretty well, and Tech has had trouble stopping the run, but they won't be that bad this year. I have Tech winning 56-24.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      Hey Collin, TTech gave it up in bunches last year: 31 to UTEP, 49 to okie st, 41 to mizzou and 59 to Texas, This game has the potential to be at 70 by halftime.

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    • Colin Flosi 10 months ago

      31 to UTEP, who I compare the closest to Nevada offensively, scheme wise. Mizzou & UT > Nevada. Oklahoma St. was the worst, but that was mostly running, not to mention that was the last game before Tech changed defensive coordinators.
      Sure, it can be 70 at haltime, if Tech has a 40 point lead.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      Well i'll be in vegas that weekend so I expect to see you at the window plunking it all down on the under... :)

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    • Colin Flosi 10 months ago

      Haha, I wouldn't bet it on the under, never trust the under regardless of who Tech is playing. I just don't think Nevada goes over 30.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

      I like a good over myself, especially ones that are over by halftime...those are the best.

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    • Colin Flosi 10 months ago

      Those always help reassure myself that the betting is worth it. A good eye can always find a few of those a season, if not a week. Although truthfully, 2003-2005 it was always easy to predict right with Texas Tech games, since then, they have made it a lot tougher, becoming a lot better at picking lines that make you think a bit deeper.

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  11. Colin Flosi 10 months ago

    That is delusional hopes though, the same that A&M has. Anyone outside of Nebraska realizes their shortcomings.

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    • Lisa Horne 10 months ago

      Colin...if someone had told you in the beginning of last season that Kansas would be 11-1 regular season, would you have bought it, or called them delusional? You just never know! :)

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  12. J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago

    Good article, ugly photo (not you, the tree)

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  13. Lisa Horne 10 months ago

    The Stanford Tree rocks!

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  14. Colin Flosi 10 months ago

    Haha, but Nebraska is Nebraska!
    Joe Ganz 2008- 100 TD, 100 INT.

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  15. Robert 10 months ago

    I hope you're wrong on this one Lisa.

    Georgia is 48-18 against Vandy, in a series that dates back to 1893.

    10 of those came between 1893 and 1932. Before 2006, they haven't lost to Vandy since 1994. They've only lost 5 games to Vanderbilt since 1971.

    Hopefully, history will repeat itself, and last year just started another 10-12 year run for the Dawgs.

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  1. Joseph Morgan 10 months ago

    Good article, Lisa! I really like the Vanderbilt pick, Bobby Johnson's a good football coach. Ole Miss will make some noise too, but a lot of people are expecting the Rebels to be pretty good already. Good read!

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    • Lisa Horne 10 months ago

      Joseph-

      They better be good. Coach O did a great job recruiting, even though it didn't translate onto the field. They have Houston Nutt, so hopefully, his experience will right the sinking ship.

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  2. RedRaider Red 10 months ago

    Nice article. Although I hope u're wrong about Nevada (bites nails)!

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  3. Raj Kamruddin 10 months ago

    good article. I think Minnesota can pull of the upset against Illinois this year. Illinois hasnt proved they can put together two solid years in a row.

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  4. Lisa Horne 10 months ago

    Oh that's right...they play next week...that stinks...a bye the first week...it should count as cruel and unusual punishment. No worries if you don't wish USC good luck, they don't need it. ;p

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  5. J.C. Hagan 10 months ago

    "Who could get caught looking past [Minnesota] this year? Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan or Wisconsin."

    I enjoy articles like this, but it's going a little overboard to say Minnesota has any prayer to beat OSU, Illinois, or Wisconsin - all three of these games are played on the road against teams with solid defenses. Minnesota does not have nearly enough talent to pull off an upset in Columbus like Illinois did last year - they'll be lucky to put points on the board.

    I think taking down Michigan and Iowa at home are very good bets - but frankly, I think you picked the worst team in the big ten to "surprise" people. For that honor, I'd go with Northwestern or Indiana.

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  6. Doug Kraus 10 months ago

    Hawkins is going to take CU from spoilers to contenders this year. I will be in the stands to see them beat WVU at home and at Kansas. I also think they'll beat FSU and Nebraska. Texas always have their number.

    Wait a minute... Buckeyes half time is almost over. Back to my PBR and tequila. Then a nap, then off to Red Rocks. Early morning tomorrow to watch IL-MO and AL-Clemson on tivo.

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  7. Lou Vozza 10 months ago

    Nice call on East Carolina

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  8. Michael Shibley 10 months ago

    Nice one Lisa,

    Living in Va Beach, there are a lot of ECU people here (including my sister an ECU grad). One thing I have gathered is that right now they are trying to follow the script of South Florida and try and find a way into a BCS conference, probably the Big East. Only problem is that the Pirates are not that good in basketball and they already have 16 teams in round ball.

    They think they do not get any respect down in Carolina, so they love beating the Tar Heels and the Wolfpack. It has been funny that during the past two seasons, the best football in North Carolina has been played by Wake Forest and ECU!

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