College Sports: Who Has The Best 1-2 Punch in College Football & Basketball
This list is not a ranking of the best programs of all-time (that's why Florida isn't on here), but the best 1-2 punch of basketball and football programs as of right now. With that being said, here are the Top 10 schools in the land, according to Mr. Sports Geek (I complied information based on their rankings in the AP and Coaches Poll, along with recent bowl game selections and wins). Enjoy and let's debate.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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#10 - Notre Dame
Thanks to a recent Sun Bowl win (33-17) over the University of Florida, Notre Dame cracks my Top 10. Their basketball program plays in the toughest conference (Big East) and the Fighting Irish rank 14 and 15 respectably in the AP/Coaches Poll. With big wins over fellow ranked Big East-ers, Georgetown and UCONN, Notre Dame could make a splash in the Big East Tournament and in the NCAA Tournament come March. Their Football program is under the helm of new head coach Brian Kelly, who led them to a 8-5 record and a Sun Bowl win in his first year.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
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#9 - Nebraska
The Cornhuskers took a loss to Jake Locker and the unranked Washington Huskies in the Holiday Bowl (19-7), but with a North Division title in the Big 12 and a great start to their basketball season (12-2) they come in as the 9th best football/basketball program in the nation. The basketball program isn't ranked due to an easy schedule to the start of the season. They have #9 Missouri and #3 Kansas coming up to prove they are worthy of Mr. Sports Geek's Top 10. Football wise, they finished on a down note but with a 10-4 record and a bowl appearance, the Cornhuskers are worthy.
Syracuse Orange
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#8 - Syracuse Orange
The Syracuse football program in recent years has been nothing short of a joke. They have certainly turned it around these past two years. The Orange beat Kansas State in the Pinstripe Bowl last week in Yankee Stadium. On the other side of the ball, the Orange basketball program is one of the elite programs in D1 history. Coach Jim Boeheim has his kids ranked 4th in the nation in both polls. With a young group of talented freshman the Orange are expected to go deep in March Madness.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Wisconsin Badgers
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#7 - Wisconsin
With a tough loss to TCU in this years Rose Bowl, Wisconsin comes in at 7th. They finished the season a top the Big Ten with a 11-2 record and 7-1 in conference play. The Badgers basketball program has started their season off nicely with a 12-3 start and a huge conference win over then #14 Minnesota. Wisconsin basketball is led by Senior forward Jon Leuer at 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Come March Leuer and the Badgers are going to break some hearts in the NCAA Tournament.
San Diego State Aztecs
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# 6 - San Diego State
In a shocking Top 10 appearance, but very deserving, the Aztecs are among the best 1-2 punch programs in the nation right now. Their basketball program is rank 6th in the nation (both polls) and their football team is just outside of the rankings at #32 (the received 6 votes in the AP and 3 in the coaches poll). SDSU finished 3rd in the Mountain West (9-4 overall, 5-3 conference) and were offered a spot in the Poinsettia Bowl vs. Navy. There they crushed Navy 35-14. As for the basketball Aztecs, It will be interesting as to how they fair in March Madness behind Sophomore Forward, Kawhi Leonard who is averaging 15.6 points and 9.7 rebounds.
Connecticut Huskies
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# 5 - UCONN
College basketball's player of the year top candidate Kemba Walker is leading the Huskies into the Top 10 in both AP and Coaches Poll. They started the season out unranked and tore it up at the Maui Invitational. Since then it has been a straight shot to #8 (AP) and #9 (Coaches). The best part of UCONN right now isn't their basketball program but their Football program. Five years ago their football offices where in trailers on campus. Now, they are making trips to the Fiesta Bowl and winning the Big East conference just 10 years in D1.
Texas A&M Aggies
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#4 - Texas A&M
The Aggies students must be buzzing with school spirit. Both Men's basketball and football programs are ranked in both AP and Coaches Polls. Their football team finished 2nd in the Big 12 and took their 18th ranked team to the Cotton Bowl to play LSU. On the flip side, the Aggies basketball are out to a 12-1 start and are ranked 16th in the nation. Their lone loss was to Boston College by 2 points. They have beaten two ranked teams (Temple and Washington). They have a tough stretch coming up vs. three ranked Big 12 teams (Missouri, Texas and Kansas State).
Missouri Tigers
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#3 - Missouri
Despite Missouri's football program losing to Iowa in the Insight Bowl (27-24) they come in at #3 thanks in part to their fellow classmates. Tigers basketball rank #9 (AP) and #10 (Coaches) in the nation. Big Ten play has started and the Tigers face a tough challenge. Marcus Denmon is shooting a staggering 50% from beyond the arch while leading the Tigers in scoring (17.2). The football team ended their season ranked #14 in both polls before losing to Iowa. Either way, Missouri is handling themselves in the Big 12 right now in both sports.
Michigan State Spartans
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#2 - Michigan State
Tommy Izzo could have a bad year in Big Ten play, but when it comes to the NCAA Tournament, never under estimate his ball players. Right now they rank #18th (AP) and #19th (Coaches) in the polls. With a recent loss to Penn State they will drop. It won't matter, they will and always will bounce back. Their football program made it into the Top 10 this year (#7) but were man-handled by Alabama in the Capital One Bowl. Yes, they lost, but to a great SEC team. The Spartans are on top of things in East Lansing, MI. Every year, the Big Ten is going to have Michigan State right in the mix of things, this year is different.
Ohio State Buckeyes
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#1 - Ohio State
This one is hard to write about. I am anti Ohio State to say the least, BUT, the Buckeyes are the best of the best (it pains me to admit this). They came in 2nd in the Big Ten (tie breaker BS), which led them to the Sugar Bowl vs. Ryan Mallet and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Terrelle Pryor led the way to a 31-26 win. The football program has Pryor and the basketball program has Freshman-of-the-year and runner up to Player-of-the-Year, Jared Sullinger. He is averaging a double-double (18.1 points and 10.2 rebounds) as a freshman in the Big 10. Let along, Sullinger has led them to the #2 slot in both poll behind Duke.
The Buckeyes round out my Top 1-2 punch in Men's Football and Basketball college programs. I hope you enjoyed and I'm sure you disagree :)
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
