Good win for Boise State.
The College Football Thread
- Thread starter Commander Vaughn
- Start date
I was impressed with Boise St.'s performance overall. They played solid defense, relatively mistake free offense and Moore settled down to play a good workmanlike game. Even when it seemed TCU was on the way back, BSU didn't panic. And they went to the "trick play" bag again to pull it out. That fake punt pass play was a thing of beauty and a ballsy call to make, considering how deep they were in their own territory.
I think BSU probably ends up #3. Their biggest problem is that they play in the WAC, regarded overall as a very weak conference. That's not BSU's fault, but it is reality.
Where they end up ranked also depends greatly upon how Thursday night plays out. If Alabama wins, regardless of how, I don't see how the Tide can be anything less than #1. If Texas wins (which I think unlikely), it depends somewhat on how THEY win. If it's a dominating performance, I give Texas #1 and probably Bama #2 or 3. If Texas wins a close, ugly game filled with turnovers.... I actually might give BSU #2 and still give Texas #1. Again, BSU's Achilles heel is that weak conference. Their strength is that dominating win over Oregon and solid win over TCU.
I think BSU probably ends up #3. Their biggest problem is that they play in the WAC, regarded overall as a very weak conference. That's not BSU's fault, but it is reality.
Where they end up ranked also depends greatly upon how Thursday night plays out. If Alabama wins, regardless of how, I don't see how the Tide can be anything less than #1. If Texas wins (which I think unlikely), it depends somewhat on how THEY win. If it's a dominating performance, I give Texas #1 and probably Bama #2 or 3. If Texas wins a close, ugly game filled with turnovers.... I actually might give BSU #2 and still give Texas #1. Again, BSU's Achilles heel is that weak conference. Their strength is that dominating win over Oregon and solid win over TCU.
Why can't Boise State apply to join the PAC 10?
I've gotta believe that joining the PAC 10 has crossed the minds of Boise State at least once or twice. They'll never have a chance to play for a national title if they stay where they are, and it would benefit the PAC 10 as well.
Something I heard on The Herd at lunchtime and confirmed by SI's Stewart Mandel, Boise St. returns every starter but one next year. I have got to believe that they will start out ranked in the Top 5. With their schedule, they have at least a decent shot at playing in the national championship game.
Who's their pre-conference schedule?
Sat, Sep 11 Toledo
Sat, Sep 18 @ Wyoming
Sat, Sep 25 Oregon State
Sat, Oct 02 Virginia Tech
The only road game is to Wyoming, which is not that far away. Those are all four VERY winnable games. Toledo is the weakest of them, but the rest are programs that did well this year. Ergo, BSU gets early publicity and good potential boosts.
Sat, Sep 18 @ Wyoming
Sat, Sep 25 Oregon State
Sat, Oct 02 Virginia Tech
The only road game is to Wyoming, which is not that far away. Those are all four VERY winnable games. Toledo is the weakest of them, but the rest are programs that did well this year. Ergo, BSU gets early publicity and good potential boosts.
They might have a shot. Better win them all, though. Ultimately, their conference allows no leeway if they want a shot at a number one spot. Thanks for the info.
Complete agreement with you, Dorian. I guess I'm somewhat taken in by this being the best chance yet for a non-qualifier team to make it to the title game. But yeah... being in the WAC means they have no margin for error. lose one game and no chance to the title. Unlike the teasm from the big conferences, where you can make it if you lose early or are one of several teams that lose late.
Accourding to my daughter, the one problem that Bosie State has is no baseball team. It isn't all about football. Other than that they should be pretty high up as a school that would be attractive to Pac 10.
Brit
Iowa is making Georgia Tech look pretty bad.
I must admit to being stunned at TCU's fall. That certainly wasn't the team I saw look like the nation's best for most of the year.
Then, again, Boise State also made Oregon look inept. Too bad their only quality wins were those two, Fresno State and Nevada. It's not nearly enough to justify getting the number one ranking in the AP poll (or mine) over the Alabama-Texas winner—which I'm virtually certain will be 'Bama.
Then, again, I was virtually certain TCU would handle the Broncos.
Iowa can only wonder what might have been had they not lost their QB in a critical moment.
Now the question is this: Is ranking the Hawkeyes above Ohio State in the final poll justified? Their losses, to Northwestern and OSU themselves, rate as slightly higher quality than the Bucks' to Purdue and USC. In addition, I believe they battled to the very end in the Horseshoe without their starting QB.
On body of work, which should trump head-to-head, do they edge out Ohio State as the Big Ten's best?
Then, again, Boise State also made Oregon look inept. Too bad their only quality wins were those two, Fresno State and Nevada. It's not nearly enough to justify getting the number one ranking in the AP poll (or mine) over the Alabama-Texas winner—which I'm virtually certain will be 'Bama.
Then, again, I was virtually certain TCU would handle the Broncos.
Iowa can only wonder what might have been had they not lost their QB in a critical moment.
Now the question is this: Is ranking the Hawkeyes above Ohio State in the final poll justified? Their losses, to Northwestern and OSU themselves, rate as slightly higher quality than the Bucks' to Purdue and USC. In addition, I believe they battled to the very end in the Horseshoe without their starting QB.
On body of work, which should trump head-to-head, do they edge out Ohio State as the Big Ten's best?
No, not by any reasonable rationale.
1.) Ohio State beat Iowa head-to-head, which cannot be trumped by body-of-work if the teams involved have identical records and such a high number of common opponents.
2.) Ohio State performed better against those common opponents than did Iowa
3.) Ohio State had one conference loss, while Iowa had two.
4.) Ohio State's one conference loss was to a team Iowa didn't play.
5.) Ohio State's other loss was a close one to a team ranked far more highly than Iowa's other loss or any other team Iowa played.
Case closed. Ohio State is the best team in the Big Ten. Again
1.) Ohio State beat Iowa head-to-head, which cannot be trumped by body-of-work if the teams involved have identical records and such a high number of common opponents.
2.) Ohio State performed better against those common opponents than did Iowa
3.) Ohio State had one conference loss, while Iowa had two.
4.) Ohio State's one conference loss was to a team Iowa didn't play.
5.) Ohio State's other loss was a close one to a team ranked far more highly than Iowa's other loss or any other team Iowa played.
Case closed. Ohio State is the best team in the Big Ten. Again
Last edited:
Sorry, but ... can't give you this one. We both know Iowa woulda pimp-slapped Purdue.
Case closed. Ohio State is the best team in the Big Ten. Again
I was essentially convinced to go with OSU already, but ...
... let's say you talked me into it: Ohio State over Iowa—though I think Stanzi's presence might well have changed that.
Can't base your ratings on "woulda shoulda coulda," though.
How're the Bucks lookin' for next year, Neroon?
Last edited:
Aren't you talking to the guy who said a 10-point Texas win over Oklahoma wasn't convincing last year? OSU won by less, and at home!
Again? They weren't the best last year. Or 2005.Case closed. Ohio State is the best team in the Big Ten. Again
Probably... but only probably. Iowa had no business losing to Northwestern or having such a tough time with Northern Iowa and Arkansas St, so a victory over Purdue would not be a given.Sorry, but ... can't give you this one. We both know Iowa woulda pimp-slapped Purdue.
Maybe, after all Vandenberg shouldn't have done as well as he did, although he was a highly touted recruit. Even so, bringing back Stanzi means you have to have a completely healthy Pryor ... which more than likely cancels out Stanzi... who made an awful lot of mistakes to go with those gems.
Very good. Most everyone is back on both sides of the ball, but there are some key hits. Worthington and Coleman graduate and Thaddeus Gibson is the lone defensive underclassman declaring for the draft. They lose a key OL but there are great underclassmen to fill in. It will be interesting. I expect a top 10 pre-season ranking... though I abhor pre-season polls.
Saying "best or tied for best" is too awkward.Again? They weren't the best last year. Or 2005.
With all due respect to Penn St, Iowa and others ... when you've done that for 5 straight years and no other team has come close to that stretch, it's a fair statement to make that OSU was the best over that time.
Troy has been successfully whuped! Nice overtime game.
Troy was JSU's rival for a long time....
Troy was JSU's rival for a long time....
