View Full Version : Week 9 Thoughts
- Wisconsin almost got punked by Illinois, coming back from 21-3 down to win 31-24. Not exactly a convincing victory for Wisconsin. They need some blow outs to gain some more respect in the polls and this one, if anything, will hurt them. Big showdown with Penn State next week. Better hope P.J. Hill is healthy or PSU may pitch a second straight shutout.
- Indiana demolished Michigan State 46-21 to win the Old Brass Spittoon and now only need one more win to become bowl eligible. If they don't get that sixth win, I bet they're going to feel terrible for losing games at home to 1-AA Southern Illinois and awful Connecticut. The Hoosiers play at Minnesota next week. Back to back lousy performances by the Gophers, nearly losing to 1-AA North Dakota State last week and getting hammered 44-0 by Ohio State this week.
- Nebraska falls to Oklahoma State a week after nearly upsetting Texas. Tough break for Nebraska and basically off sets Missouri's loss to Oklahoma. Looks like the sad sorry state of the Big 12 North will continue for now. Really bad loss for the Huskers, they couldn't afford to drop a game like this.
- And perhaps the biggest upset of the season so far (maybe tied with Arkansas over Auburn), Oregon State knocks off Southern Cal 33-31. It's only USC's 3rd loss since 2003 and puts Cal into control of the Pac-10. Tough road ahead for Southern Cal with Cal, Oregon and Notre Dame all coming up within the next couple of weeks. Looks like the Trojans may be headed to San Diego for the holidays- at best.
- Temple ended the longest losing streak in the nation, beating Bowling Green 28-14. All I can say is, sucks to be a Bowling Green fan right now. Losing to Temple is probably more embarassing than losing to a strong 1-AA team.
da12ken
10-28-2006, 11:20 PM
The Beavers played a hell of a game to upset USC. The Trojans made four costly turnovers. They looked great in the fourth, scoring 21 points and coming within a 2-point conversion of sending the game to OT. Lots of positives from the game, but at the end of the day it's a terrible loss.
One thing seems clear, the Wolverines and Buckeyes seem to be clearly the best two teams in the country.
One thing seems clear, the Wolverines and Buckeyes seem to be clearly the best two teams in the country.
Without a doubt now. Hopefully West Virginia or Louisville gets through unbeaten so we can at least have an undefeated team for the Michigan-Ohio State winner to destroy in the MNC game. If the Ohio State-Michigan winner is the only unbeaten left and it was a close game, I hope they get to play again. Unless it's a blow out (very doubtful), they're by far the two best teams this season.
Dublin Mike
10-29-2006, 12:21 PM
UGA needs to teach the WRs and TEs how to hang onto the ball, especially Massoqui and Milner (Milner has dropped 2 TD passes in 2 other games.) Defense played well enough to win, but the O couldn't get it done. Other than the drops, no protection for Stafford. Fla was on him all day.
buckeyefan78
10-29-2006, 01:27 PM
One thing seems clear, the Wolverines and Buckeyes seem to be clearly the best two teams in the country.
Wolverines and Buckeyes? How about Buckeyes and Wolverines? :P
Actually I still have Michigan as #1. OSU is still having a terrible time at play calling and substitution patterns. Tressel almost got Roy Small killed in that game by his predictable and unnecessary play calling.
Alex...
Why is Wisconsin not allowed to have a close game (with an injury to the Winnebago) while Auburn is allowed to beat Ole Miss by 3? I know you're trying to get pumped up for the game next week but I think we have to criticize all those who struggle with high rankings (like Tenn last week and Auburn this week) if we start playing that game. Plus the perception is that the SEC is great and Wisconsin barely even deserves to play...at least by the national media and rankings.
Other things...
Miami and FSU lost on the same weekend again. Almost got Florida too. I'm getting spoiled. I want all 3 to go down on the same weekend for me. There's always next week.
Georgia finally dropped from the USA Today Top 25...thank God. Thought it would take another 4 losses before I'd see that.
Alex...
Why is Wisconsin not allowed to have a close game (with an injury to the Winnebago) while Auburn is allowed to beat Ole Miss by 3? I know you're trying to get pumped up for the game next week but I think we have to criticize all those who struggle with high rankings (like Tenn last week and Auburn this week) if we start playing that game. Plus the perception is that the SEC is great and Wisconsin barely even deserves to play...at least by the national media and rankings.
Ok then. Auburn played lousy and almost got punked by Ole Miss. But I don't think much of the Tigers. I think they're behind Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas. Tennessee did struggle last week but Illinois ain't Alabama. The Tide offense might not be able to score much but their defense is still very strong.
It's not that Wisconsin deserves not to play but while they're out there playing Illinois, Northwestern and Minnesota, the SEC schools are playing tough games almost every week. The Big Ten just is not as strong in the middle this year as it usually is. Right now it's Ohio State, Michigan and everyone else. Wisconsin had their chance against Michigan and got beaten. Penn State is really the first team since the Michigan game that poses a threat to the Badgers. If Wisconsin beats PSU, they'll have outright possession of third place with a good chance to finish tied for second at the end of the season. I just haven't been impressed with what I've seen from the Badgers so far. So they can shutdown mediocre offenses and run the football on poor defenses? Big deal. Do it against a good team. Florida has beaten Tennessee and LSU. Auburn has beaten LSU and Florida. Tennessee has beaten Cal. Arkansas has beaten Auburn. Wisconsin's best win right now is either Indiana or Purdue. If the Badgers win out, they'll deserve a Top 10 ranking. Until then, it's hard to justify putting them ahead of teams that have big victories. Wake Forest is 7-1 and barely in the Top 25. Boston College is 7-1 too and right around where Wisconsin is and they have 2-3 more impressive victories (Clemson, BYU, Virginia Tech) than Wisconsin.
Penn State is the best defense Wisconsin will face other than Michigan than this season. Good benchmark for both teams since Wisconsin has only played one other good team in #2 Michigan and Penn State has played three elite teams so far. This is really the first game for both teams against an upper middle tier team of the Big Ten.
buckeyefan78
10-29-2006, 02:50 PM
I guess it comes down to this Saturday Alex. Go Badgers...LOL.
I guess it comes down to this Saturday Alex. Go Badgers...LOL.
Indeed it does. Should be a good 'ol Big Ten defensive battle. Go Lions. :thumbup:
buckeyefan78
10-29-2006, 03:03 PM
The only reason I'm cheering on Wisconsin is because a win by them makes the Big Ten look better. I believe the Purdue-PSU and Wisconsin-PSU games were the ones we disagreed on when going over the Big Ten in August. You got the Purdue game but I think UW takes this one in Madison...with a healthy Winnebago of course. IF PSU loses but wins the rest of their games, they will probably be the best 4-loss team in the history of college football.
Translation: I'll definitely put them ahead of the SEC teams...LOL.
The thing about this one is that P.J. Hill is the only playmaker Wisconsin has. Penn State's defense really has no reason to fear the receivers. If the defense can hold him in check like Michigan did, Penn State should have no problem keeping the game close enough that the offense will have a chance to score enough to win.
I really want this one bad. Win out, finish 10-3 with a win on New Year's Day and get in a good position for next year. Penn State has a dream schedule in '07- Notre Dame at home, Iowa at home, Wisconsin at home and Ohio State at home and all with new starting QB's. The only really tough one is going to be at Michigan whether they end up having some juniors leave or not. The Wolverines with Henne, Hart and Branch back are the only thing that will probably keep Penn State from opening up next season as the favorite to win the Big Ten. If Joe is going to win another MNC, it will probably be in '07. 2008's defense will almost be a carbon copy of 2007's except without Connor and maybe King but as we've seen time and again, Penn State usually isn't great with a new starting QB. Hopefully Clark and Devlin see significant time in '07 so at least one of them is prepared better than Morelli was heading into 2006.
Penn State has done an outstanding job recruiting talent on defense. As I said, there will be little to no change between 2007 and 2008.
2007:
DE- Maurice Evans (So.) or Jared Odrick (So.)
DT- Phillip Taylor (So.)
DT- Tom McEowen (rFr.) or Jared Odrick (So.)
DE- Josh Gaines (Jr.)
LB- Dan Connor (Sr.)
LB- Sean Lee (Jr.)
LB- Jerome Hayes (So.)
CB- Justin King (Jr.)
CB- A.J. Wallace (So.)
FS- Tony Davis (Jr.)
H- Anthony Scirrotto (Jr.)
2008:
DE- Maurice Evans (Jr.) or Jared Odrick (So.)
DT- Phillip Taylor (Jr.)
DT- Tom McEowen (So.) or Jared Odrick (Jr.)
DE- Josh Gaines (Sr.)
LB- Sean Lee (Sr.)
LB- Jerome Hayes (Jr.)
LB- Tyrell Sales (Sr.) or Navorro Bowman (So.) or Other Fr. or So.
CB- Justin King (Sr.) or Knowledge Timmons (Jr.)
CB- A.J. Wallace (Jr.)
FS- Tony Davis (Sr.)
H- Anthony Scirrotto (Sr.)
buckeyefan78
10-29-2006, 03:56 PM
I think we've hijacked this thread Alex...but yea...I'm expecting good things from PSU next year.
Florida jumped Tennesse in the Harris and AP polls. The Harris goes into the BCS so that should be interesting when they release it later today.
HibachiDG
10-29-2006, 04:48 PM
Why is Wisconsin not allowed to have a close game (with an injury to the Winnebago) while Auburn is allowed to beat Ole Miss by 3?
Uh, because Auburn has shown something this season with wins over LSU and Florida. Wisconsin has shown themselves to simply be a weak football team. They haven't shown anything impressive at any point of this season. Because of that, you have to hold them to higher scrutiny when they struggle. If Wisconsin were close to Auburn in talent, that would factor in to things as well.
Wisconsin's shown themselves to be a weak team the entire season, so it's not that Wisconsin gets HURT because of the Illinois game, and Auburn probably does get HURT more. It's because Wisconsin is who we thought they were, a weak team playing weak. In short, if Wisconsin showed they were capable of a good game, they'd be allowed to have a close game. But, they clearly haven't shown that they are capable of having a good game and Auburn has.
AmberOSU
10-30-2006, 08:32 AM
Wolverines and Buckeyes? How about Buckeyes and Actually I still have Michigan as #1. OSU is still having a terrible time at play calling and substitution patterns. Tressel almost got Roy Small killed in that game by his predictable and unnecessary play calling.
Wow. Man you're really struggling to come up with reasons why Michigan is better than Ohio State now. Michigan could only muster 17 points AT HOME against Northwestern. Need I remind you that lowly Michigan State dropped 41 on them the week before? I'm fully aware that Manningham is out, but the fact that one wide receiver makes this huge of a difference in their team should speak volumes. If I were a Michigan fan, what happened Saturday would practically feel like a loss, and I would not be feeling great about what's going on with my team right now.
The Beavers played a hell of a game to upset USC. The Trojans made four costly turnovers. They looked great in the fourth, scoring 21 points and coming within a 2-point conversion of sending the game to OT. Lots of positives from the game, but at the end of the day it's a terrible loss.
Pretty much dead on. Can't say it was too surprising considering how iffy USC has looked in recent weeks and winning on the road (even if it is against Oregon State) is anything but a gimme. Playing with fire finally caught up to them and I wouldn't be shocked if they were looking ahead to Oregon, Cal, ND. Either way, the Trojans -- with their current form -- were due for a loss.
buckeyefan78
10-30-2006, 07:04 PM
Wow. Man you're really struggling to come up with reasons why Michigan is better than Ohio State now. Michigan could only muster 17 points AT HOME against Northwestern. Need I remind you that lowly Michigan State dropped 41 on them the week before? I'm fully aware that Manningham is out, but the fact that one wide receiver makes this huge of a difference in their team should speak volumes. If I were a Michigan fan, what happened Saturday would practically feel like a loss, and I would not be feeling great about what's going on with my team right now.
Problem:
First quarter Tressel puts in the 2nd string O line and Smith fumbles the ball cuz he gets his ass squashed. If he gets hurt on that play...season over. If you want to f*** around with those kinda sub patterns...at least wait til the game is in doubt and put in Zwick with the 2nd string O line. Who cares if Justin gets hurt? His mom? Explain this to me please.
Question: Why does Pittman not get the entire first series every game? His young counterparts constantly fumble yet Tressel still subs them in? It happened against Michigan last year plus MSU this year and Minnesota on Saturday.
Question: Why does Tressel run that shotgun,trips-wide formation with a receiver (most of the time Ginn but was Small on Saturday) playing a few yards off the line if the only play run out of that formation is the screen to that receiver playing off the line? So he can get that receiver killed? Sure it worked against BG, but you aren't playing BG every week. Does he not think people watch film?
Michigan is winning with grit, rushing, and a defense FAR superior to OSU. I'm happy with the way OSU is winning...for the most part. They have a far superior team to Michigan so there is always room for improvement. I'd be completely satisfied with the way Michigan is winning though...if I was a Blue fan. They are maximizing their potential. Mentally speaking...that's a huge edge over OSU right now.
In "The Game" those qualities Michigan has will be very beneficial to them. Defense always shows up. Offense can have an off game (see OSU-PSU...plus the standard bad play-calling by Jimmy T.).
Michigan is playing the way it will take to win on November 18th. OSU is playing the way people like...til you get your ass squashed.
IF OSU wins on November 18th, it won't be like any game they've played all year. Michigan won't allow them to do as they please. If Michigan wins on November 18th, it will be like every game they've played all year. That is what concerns me. Not saying OSU doesn't have the talent, ability, and coaching to do it...sure they do. I'm just anxious as we wait to see things get tightened up. Two road games til Michigan. Run the ball, play Pittman consistently, work on your defensive looks, f*** the Heisman and BCS talk, beat Michigan, and win your conference.
Case closed.
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