The Les Miles Syndrome: Debunking Preseason Myths and Predictions
Mark Twain once said, "The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so."
That couldn't be more true when it comes to predicting sports. The beginning of the college football season marked a time when all experts and prognosticators did there best to dust off the crystal balls and tell us what was going to happen.
So far in the middle of the season, we have learned many things and answered and debunked several of the preseason predictions surrounding college football.
Is Les Miles' job safe? Will Alabama repeat as champs? Can Boise State bust the BCS Glass Ceiling?
The answers to these and more follow, as we reveal what is and what isn't so.
Les Miles' Luck Will Run Out
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It seems odd that just two and a half years removed from a National Title that Les Miles would be on the hot seat.
Then again, he does coach in the SEC. The embattled coach of the LSU Tigers has drastically underachieved since winning a title with "Nick Saban's recruits."
There is very little patience in Baton Rouge for anything less than winning and well, Les has been winning less and less.
However, this year despite an unbelievable chain of events, bonehead calls, time mismanagement, and just plain poor play, Miles' Tigers are undefeated.
While their undefeated status is about as solid as the Kansas City Chiefs were prior to last Sunday, it has been enough to at least for the time being, keep the pressure off.
That is, until they lose, and it probably is only a matter of time, which is another sore subject for Tiger fans.
Stephen Garcia and Steve Spurrier Can't Win The Big One At South Carolina
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No one had ever doubted the Old Ball Coach's ability, but since being at South Carolina and following a failed attempt with the Washington Redskins, Steve Spurrier's clout had started to fade.
There wasn't much confidence in his newest quarterback, Stephen Garcia, who had proven rather underwhelming and inconsistent.
But guess what happens when you give him some weapons to go to and Spurrier some puzzle pieces to play with? You get a home victory against the No. 1 team in the country. Quite possibility, it was the biggest at South Carolina in a very long time.
It certainly was the biggest for Garcia, who is showing this year he isn't all that bad. And the Ball Coach has a few tricks up his sleeve, too.
No Tebow, No Problem For Flordia
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In Urban the Gators trust, but the more the season progresses it looks like in Tebow they need.
Granted, Tebow isn't the only talent that Florida lost, but it is clear he was the glue that held the Gators together, at least midway through this season.
Tebow's replacement, John Brantley, hasn't gotten the Florida offense off the ground, and early, they couldn't even keep the ball off the ground.
The Gators certainly haven't looked like a Top 10 team even when they win, and the recent pummeling they received from Alabama is evidence that they have taken a step, if not two backwards, both nationally and in the SEC.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The "U" Is Back
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Magic 8 Balls across the nation were coming up "seems likely" when asked about the return of Miami to prominence in college football.
At the midway point, Miami looks a lot like the same Miami that has existed since 2004. They beat up on the little guys, but can't win the big games.
The Canes have had two really big games. The first against Ohio State was a flop and the second against ACC and in-state rival Florida State was even worse.
Randy Shannon's job security is dropping faster than the barometric pressure at the center of a hurricane and depending on how the second half of the season goes, Miami's recovery plan is likely to include discussions about a new head coach.
Brian Kelly Will Lead Notre Dame to a Nine- Or 10-Win Season
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A new coach, a new attitude, and even a Montana sighting hasn't been enough for Notre Dame to live up to some of its preseason expectations.
The Irish just haven't delivered and appear to be falling into a similar pattern-- play in a lot of close losses, beat weaker teams, and lose decisively to superior teams.
Kelly is no doubt a better fit than Charlie Weis, but it may have been foolish for anyone, including ever-optimistic Lou Holtz, to think such a drastically different system would meet with immediate success.
Notre Dame under Kelly may eventually wake up the echoes, but it isn't going to be this season.
Sorry, Lou.
Oregon Is in Trouble Without Jeremiah Masoli
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As far as the Ducks are concerned Jeremiah was a bullfrog and even though he may have been a good friend and quarterback, they don't need him.
The Ducks have been one of the most dominant offenses in the country despite featuring a sophomore at quarterback. Oregon leads the nation in points scored and features the electric running attack of LaMichael James.
They also feature a pretty good defense that is allowing less than 20 points per game. They've clearly distanced themselves in the PAC 10 with their come-from-behind blowout of Stanford.
The Ducks also managed to leapfrog Boise State for the No. 3 spot and now sit at No. 2 behind Ohio State. So how is Ole Miss doing this year anyway?
Lane Kiffin Gets The Band Back Together and USC Is Back on Top
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When Lane Kiffin took over at USC for his old friend Pete Carroll, Kiffin did his best to surround himself with all his friends and family.
That including his dad and other coaches who use to or recently had coached with Carroll before he left town faster than well Kiffin leaving Tennessee.
Things aren't completely dire yet in LA for Kiffin, but wait three years when those 30 lost scholarships from the NCAA sanctions start to pile up. There is still talent at SC, but what will Kiffin do when it is gone?
Right now, he isn't winning with it, and there are more questions than answers. Maybe that kid from Delaware who committed to Kiffin as an eighth-grader might want to reconsider.
North Carolina Will Challenge The ACC and The World
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This very well may have come true if it wasn't for those darn NCAA violations.
It all started when former Tar Heel and All-American candidate Marvin Austin tweeted about what a great time he had in Florida.
Big mistake and it has snow balled into the worst scandal in the history of the North Carolina football program and brought into question the job security of coach Butch Davis.
While Davis is putting on his best Sgt. Shultz routine, the school is deciding if Davis' lack of knowledge and institutional control makes him the perfect fall guy.
This will teach a very valuable lesson for those who continue to predict good things from the Tar Heels football team.
Boise State or TCU Will Break Through The BCS Glass Ceiling
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While there is still some outside hope of Boise State breaking through in 2010, TCU's hopes are all but gone.
The beloved Broncos' chances were also given a rude awakening when Oregon jumped the in the polls following Week 4.
Boise has done everything it can do. The toughest part of the schedule is past them. While they still have a respectable showdown with Nevada waiting in the wings, their best chance is for someone ahead of them to lose.
TCU needs to win out and have about three schools ahead of them lose. Alabama helped both schools with its loss but ultimately short of a meltdown from the schools ahead of them midnight, has struck for Cinderella at midseason.
Repeats All Around For Alabama and Mark Ingram
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Picking Alabama to win a second championship in as many years was deemed safer than investing in the stock market.
That was until last Saturday when the Tide rolled into Columbia, S.C., and promptly got rolled.
Ingram had a lot of ground to make up to repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner having missed two games, but was running strong and putting up Heisman-esque numbers.
All that came crashing down when the Gamecocks defense stifled the Bama running game, and its chances of a repeat for them and Ingram were all but gone.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
