The second Rivalry Week of November yielded some predictable results such as No. 1 Alabama mauling Auburn (see pictured above), while Florida, Texas, and Southern California destroyed Florida State, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame.
Unexpected however, was injury plagued Oregon State becoming unglued at home, under the pressure of a Rose Bowl bid, against Oregon. Likewise, Georgia Tech pounded Georgia into submission between the hedges behind the fearsome Yellow Jacket rushing attack.
Among the most embarrassed was the old ball–coach, Steve Spurrier, who oversaw an inept and limp resistance from his Gamecocks to the Clemson Tigers of rookie interim coach Dabo Swinney.
Mississippi State's headman, Sylvester Croom was so shocked by his team's performance against the hated Ole Miss (doesn't Ole Miss hate everyone?) that the Bulldog Bossman tendered his resignation.
West Virginia lost the Backyard Brawl to Pittsburgh, Missouri bowed to Kansas in The Border War, and LSU was beaten by Arkansas, among other surprising results over Thanksgiving weekend.
Lost in the madness may have been Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer's swan song. His Vols gave the outgoing headmaster a 28–10 romp over Bowl-bound Kentucky. Reports out of Knoxville place former Oakland Raider head coach Lane Kiffin as the new boss of the Orange.
Perhaps the team with the most to lose was the Oklahoma Sooners. Coach Bob Stoops' Sooners wore out the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 61–41, to make their case for the No. 2 position in the BCS poll, thus insuring their placement in the Big 12 title game next week.
THE 11 BEST 11s
RANK THIS WEEK RANK LAST WEEK
1) ALABAMA #1
2) OKLAHOMA #2
3) FLORIDA #3
4) TEXAS #4
5) SOUTHERN CAL #6
6) PENN STATE #5
7) OHIO STATE #7
8) UTAH #8
9) BOISE STATE #9
10) TEXAS TECH #10
11) CINCINNATI N/R
ON THE PORCH: #1–GA TECH, #2–OREGON, #3–PITTSBURGH, #4–MISSISSIPPI
16 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
RedRaider Red 7 months ago
Man.. does the Big 12 south really not have defense? I mean what the hell was that today? Why didn't that defense show up against us in Norman?
61-41... does OU have a stellar offense or they just haven't met a decent defense yet? I'm confused.
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BabyTate 7 months ago
Doesn't look that way does it? Couple of things factor in, one is that the greatest athletes are on offense at TT, OU, Tex, Ok State, Mizzou, and KU. Nebraska is trying to win with their best players on defense. Remember how much trouble they gave you in Lubbock? Another factor is the artificial surfaces at Ok St and Texas Tech (KU and Mizzou in the North) lend themselves to offensive attacks.
Oklahoma tried to play hard today on defense but they just didn't have it. They left it at home last week. Finally, their depth wore down Ok St and they eventually outscored them.
I had thought Texas Tech's defense was strong enough. I realize Oklahoma jumped on them but, a lot of that was because the Red Raider offense couldn't get stabilized and give them the buffer they needed.
The Red Raiders righted their ship in the 2nd half against Baylor. They'll be fine now.
Thanks for the comment RR, always good to hear from you. Hang in there!
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Scott Pusich 7 months ago
Here's my 11, BT:
1. Alabama (prev: 1)
T-2. Oklahoma (prev: T-2)
T-2. Texas (prev: T-2)
T-2. Florida (prev: T-2)
5. Utah (prev: 5)
6. USC (prev: 7)
7. Penn State (prev: 6)
8. Texas Tech (prev: 8)
9. Boise State (prev: 9)
10. Ohio State (prev: 10)
11. Cincinnati (prev: 16)
on the porch: TCU, Ball State, BYU
Note that I use my Top 25 rankings, hence Cincinnati's previous ranking. Missouri, Georgia, and Oklahoma State fell and made room for the Bearcats to run from "out in the yard" to "just inside the door", so Cincy should probably send flowers to Kansas, Georgia Tech, and Oklahoma... NCAA rules permitting, that is... ;-)
If USC wins comfortably next week (likely but never certain), I'll likely bump them up to No. 5 (at least) and drop Utah (or someone else) a spot.
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BabyTate 7 months ago
Thanks Scott, good to know we have a general agreement with the teams if not the order.
I wonder if we could set up the Independence Bowl with Boise State and Ball State since the SEC and BIG 12 may not have enough teams to fill their slots? Unbeaten vs unbeaten!
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12 7 months ago
12 down, 2 to go! Roll Tide!
1. Alabama 12-0
2. Florida 11-1
3. Texas 11-1
4. Oklahoma 11-1
5. USC 10-1
6. Penn State 10-1
7. Texas Tech 11-1
8. Utah 12-0
9. Boise State 12-0
10. Ohio State 9-2
11. TCU 10-2
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BabyTate 7 months ago
12, you've got a good set of rankings there. That Rose Bowl game is going to be dead even.
Appreciate it.
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Nathan Posey 7 months ago
For what it's worth, here's my eleven (11);
1. Alabama (prev: 1)
T-2. Oklahoma (prev: T-2)
T-2. Texas (prev: T-2)
T-2. Florida (prev: T-2)
5. Utah (prev: 5)
6. USC (prev: 7)
7. Penn State (prev: 6)
8. Texas Tech (prev: 8)
9. Boise State (prev: 9)
10. Ball State (prev 15)
11. Cincinnati (prev: 16)
The losses by Georgia,(Thank you GT), OK.S.U and Missou simply should raise those behind them. That's why Ball State is in front of Cincinnati as last weeks poll reflected. In my opinion, as recent bowl years have demonstrated, Ohio State doesn't belong there anyway.
-N8-
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Scott Pusich 7 months ago
Nathan, unless you're actually voting each week (and I don't see previous Top 25s at your profile), please refrain from copying-and-pasting my vote when you post your own rankings. Specifically, you shouldn't have the "previous" there, as I doubt you would have had Ball State as low as No. 15 before this week. I also doubt you have had Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida in a three-way tie for two consecutive polls (again, I don't see any record of your vote).
I'd move Ball State up.... but to 13, not to 10 (hence my reason for having them "on the porch"). Ohio State, regardless of its experience in the past two BCS title games, is still arguably ahead of Ball State. Some people may not have the Buckeyes at No. 10, but that's no reason to dump them below both Cincinnati and Ball State.
I have Cincinnati ahead of the Cardinals in part because of their schedule. Ball State has the edge when looking at common opponents (Miami-OH and Akron), but in terms of overall schedule strength Cincinnati's loss to Oklahoma isn't as damaging as you assume. The loss to Connecticut is, of course; that's why I have the Bearcats at No. 11 and not at No. 7 or 8.
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BabyTate 7 months ago
Nathan that list looks familiar. Appreciate the comment.
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BabyTate 7 months ago
What's all this Utah talk? If they play Florida in the Sugar Bowl the Gators will smear 'em.
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Travis Hedgpeth 7 months ago
Is there even a possibility of Texas playing an SEC team in a bowl? This was my hope from the beginning of the year. Obviously, playing one in the NC game would have been nice, but a BCS bowl against an SEC team would be a lot of fun. Of course, when I say SEC team, I mean Florida or Alabama at this point.
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BabyTate 7 months ago
Travis, it looks like Texas will play Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Thanks for the question and the input.
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
USC won't be ahead of PSU once we crush them in the Rose Bowl. If we didn't choke against Iowa, we would be No. 2 right now. Iowa is better than Ole Miss, so why is UF suddenly better than us. We both lost games that we shouldn't have lost if we played halfway decent, but we did. Yet, UF is basically No. 2 and Penn State isn't even in the Top 5! So unfair. After watching this weekends games, I realized that the Big 12 is severely overrated, and that OU is the only good team in the Big 12, and they were banged up when they lost to Texas, and that the SEC is overrated, Bama is overrated, and UF is the only great team in the SEC. The Big 10 may not be great, but they good go toe for toe with the Big 12 and SEC. The media, however, says that the Big 12 and SEC are amazing and that the Big 10 sucks, so all the idiot fans think that is so. However, it will be another year where the Big 10 goes 6-1 against the SEC, and where the Big 12 chokes, but we still won't be seen as a strong conference. Its just the way it goes, no justification, just idiotic assumptions even after proof is given that proves those assumptions wrong. Oh, well. Even though Penn State is the best in the Nation and was upset, no one will believe it. But people were fine with believing that LSU was the best in the Nation last year, even though they lost twice. Once again, just some dumb people who don't look at facts, and only give BS opinions after proof is given to disprove what they are still saying.
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BabyTate 7 months ago
Issac, Iowa might play Ole Miss if Houston Nutt gets his way. He wants Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl and it looks like Iowa is going to pull some strings and jump over Northwestern.
I'll tell you a Penn St story that will probably make you wonder what was going on back then. The year was 1981, Penn State and Alabama had colossal teams. Penn State was #1 in the country when they went down to Miami to play Bear Bryant disciple Howard Schnellenberger and his Hurricanes, led by ace quarterback Jim Kelly. Miami put #1 Penn State down 17–14.
Later, Alabama, coached by Bear Bryant at the time, went to State College and beat Penn State, 31–16. During the rest of the season Penn State, then an Independent, won the rest of their games going into the season finale at #1 ranked, unbeaten, Pittsburgh. Pitt was coached by another Bear Bryant disciple, Jackie Sherrill. Their star player was the quarterback, Dan Marino.
Pitt jumped on Penn State 14–0 early. But Joe Paterno adjusted his defense, got his own star QB, Todd Blackledge, going downfield. and ran the ball down Pitt's throat. The Nittany Lions cored 48 straight points to win 48–14.
In the final polls, Penn State finished #3 and Pittsburgh #2. Ridiculous! But, the team that won the National Championship that year was Clemson, coached by, you guessed it, another Bear Bryant disciple– Danny Ford.
Two things to take from that story. 1) You see why JoePa has always respected "Paul", as he called Bear Bryant. 2) The Polls have always been crazy.
What a country!
Thanks for the comment Issac.
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
I agree. The polls suck. Also, "Pitt is S***!" That's the chant that my dad said everyone used when we used to play them. We beat them most of the time, and that's why Mark May hates us...and I hate him.
I just want Penn State to be able to prove themselves. I would like them to play Florida, Oklahoma, or Bama, even if it isn't for the Championship, just a post-bowl game. Not for fun, but to see who is the better team. Penn State would win against Oklahoma 7 out of 10 times, against Bama 9 out of 10 times, and against Florida 6 out of 10 times. So I think Penn State would beat any of those teams, it just sucks that we don't even have the chance to prove ourselves.
Also, the polls suck for this reason: Texas Tech jumps us from 7 to 2, then we lose. Then, Texas Tech loses, so they should be 8 and we should be 7...but no, they are 7. This is just bias and unfairness at its highest level. Texas Tech would be ahead of PSU if they lost twice and we lost once because of bias.
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BabyTate 7 months ago
Issac, Penn State is facing a Southern Cal team that people said was one of the greatest teams of all-time when they beat Ohio State 35-3. If Penn St beats Sou Cal in Pasadena the Lions will get plenty of respect. In my view Penn State is currently #6 with So Cal #5, so Penn St, with a Rose Bowl win, should end up #3 or #4.
Thanks !
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