No introduction this week due to a heavy case of depression from watching horrible Oregon Duck football this weekend.
Anyway.............
WHAT THE HELL ARE WE WAITING FOR?
LETTTTTTTTT'S GET READY TO FUMBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLEEEEEEEEEEEE...........
Top 25 Scoreboard:
(A recap of all the action involving the top 25 teams in college football)
(1) Ohio State (4-0): 38 Western Michigan (1-3): 12
Do the Buckeyes get bored playing games like this or are they just not as good as everyone thought they were? I know it's kind of ridiculous to complain about a 26 point victory, but am I the only one who thinks Ohio State is talented enough to beat every team by 50+ points and gets disappointed when they only win by 20? Personally, I think Ohio State kind of plays down to their competition a little and are one of those teams that will absolutely turn it on when they have to (remember last year when they turned it on during their playoff run?). I'm not as worried about this team as some people are. I still think they are the most talented team in the country and will be the ones hoisting the trophy at the end of the year.
(2) Michigan State (4-0): 30 Central Michigan (1-3): 10
(3) Ole Miss (4-0): 27 Vanderbilt (1-3): 16
Leave it up to Ole Miss to look like "world-beaters" against Alabama one week, and then come out and struggle against a Vanderbilt team that isn't very good. I still feel as though Ole Miss is the most talented team in the SEC, but I don't love them as much this week as I did last week. The Rebels still have games against Florida, Memphis, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and LSU to name a few. There's no way these guys are getting through the season unscathed, but if they do....watch out Ohio State. The Rebels could be the team that ends your run.
(4) UCLA (4-0): 56 (15) Arizona (3-1): 30
Raise your hand if you were jumping off the UCLA bandwagon after all the injuries the Bruins have suffered this season (especially the one to Myles Jack)? I got news for you. You probably jumped off a little to early. This is a different UCLA team than the one we've gotten accustomed to over the last few years. Jim Mora has built a team that actually has some depth on it and is filled with talented players. How talented? This beat-up Bruins team just went into Tucson and beat the hell out of a very good Arizona team. I know Utah went in and boat-raced the Ducks in Eugene, but the Bruins going into the desert and smacking the Wildcats around in this fashion was completely unexpected. UCLA was my pick to win the PAC-12 at the beginning of the year and I had one foot hanging out of the bandwagon train thanks to all the injuries these guys have endured. After this victory? That foot I had dangling over the edge of the train is now pulled back in and is resting comfortably on the guy in front of me's head rest. The Bruins looked locked in and loaded and ready to win the PAC-12. The only thing stopping them is themselves.....
Raise your hand if you were jumping off the UCLA bandwagon after all the injuries the Bruins have suffered this season (especially the one to Myles Jack)? I got news for you. You probably jumped off a little to early. This is a different UCLA team than the one we've gotten accustomed to over the last few years. Jim Mora has built a team that actually has some depth on it and is filled with talented players. How talented? This beat-up Bruins team just went into Tucson and beat the hell out of a very good Arizona team. I know Utah went in and boat-raced the Ducks in Eugene, but the Bruins going into the desert and smacking the Wildcats around in this fashion was completely unexpected. UCLA was my pick to win the PAC-12 at the beginning of the year and I had one foot hanging out of the bandwagon train thanks to all the injuries these guys have endured. After this victory? That foot I had dangling over the edge of the train is now pulled back in and is resting comfortably on the guy in front of me's head rest. The Bruins looked locked in and loaded and ready to win the PAC-12. The only thing stopping them is themselves.....
(5) Notre Dame (4-0): 62 UMass (0-3): 27
"Notre Dame has way too many injuries right now to be an effective football team...."
(6) TCU (4-0): 55 Texas Tech (3-1): 52
This was easily the most entertaining game of the week. It went right down to the wire and when I mean the wire, I mean THE WIRE. I don't know where exactly Texas Tech came from and who gave them permission to play such good football, but this is a team that is easily out-playing their coverage. After an upset win over Arkansas, the Red Raiders gave TCU everything they could handle and a little bit more and were just yards away from upsetting a potential playoff team. Even though they lost, Texas Tech looks like a legitimate bowl team right now and if you think you are going to go into Lubbock, Texas and walk over these guys, you're going to be in for a long night. I still have plenty of questions about how good TCU is, even though they ended up with the win here. It's no secret that TCU is a very banged up football team right now and if they keep playing close games like this, they are bound to let one slip through their fingers at some point. I'm officially selling my "TCU is a playoff team" stock. Any takers?
(8) Georgia (4-0): 48 Southern (-): 6
(9) Baylor (3-0): 70 Rice (2-2): 17
Oh look. The Baylor Bears came out and scored 70 points against a team that probably had no business being on the field with them in the first place.....
(12) LSU (3-0): 34 Syracuse (3-1): 24
Did this one scare you LSU fans? It should have. In my opinion, LSU is either the first or second best team in the SEC this year. Every few years, Les Miles and company put together a National Championship caliber team that makes a run at a title. This could be one of those years for LSU. Even though the Syracuse Orange gave them a hell of a fight yesterday, LSU has a player named Leonard Fournette on their team and there are times when he looks like Adrian Peterson going up against Sister Mary's Home for Boys on the football field and it's just not fair. As long as he stays healthy, LSU has a real shot at making the playoffs. Don't worry. I won't say I told you so when it happens.
(13) Oregon (2-2): 20 (16) Utah (4-0): 62
Good lord. What the hell has happened to the Oregon Ducks? We all knew that losing the likes of Marcus Mariota, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, and Troy Hill were going to hurt the Ducks, but did anyone think they would be hurting this bad? This is a team that just looks completely lost right now and that's extremely out of character for one of the most successful programs in college football the past 10 seasons. The QB play is completely atrocious. Vernon Adams was supposed to be the guy who came in and replaced Mariota, but he looks lost running the offense and it's clear that he's either not completely healthy and it's affecting the way he throws the ball, or he's just not that good and there's a reason he was playing at the FBS level. Lockie is clearly not the answer at QB either. There's also a reason he was sitting behind Mariota and got beat out by Adams in just two weeks of training camp. He's not very good.
You know what else isn't very good? Oregon's defense. Say what you want about how the Ducks offense looked, but some of that falls on the shoulders of the defense as well. The secondary is crap and these guys made the very average Travis Wilson look like Aaron Rodgers (and he did it with a bum shoulder as well!) all game. I don't know how Oregon is going to fix their problems at QB and on the defensive side of the ball, but they had better hope the issues get addressed quickly or they could be in for a long season. This team just doesn't look like the Oregon teams of the past and the heat is definitely on Mark Helfrich and Don Pellum.
As for Utah, they look like the #1 team in the Nation right now. These guys are playing incredibly good football right now and I don't know if anyone can beat them. They are an extremely physical football team that will punch you in the mouth, and if you don't punch back, they are going to beat the crap out of you. I don't know how far the Utes can go this year, but as of today....they are a playoff team.
(14) Alabama (3-1): 34 Louisiana-Monroe (1-2): 0
(18) Texas A&M (4-0): 28 Arkansas (1-3): 21
This was another fantastic close game. At the beginning of the season, I had Arkansas 8-4 which means they pretty much have to go undefeated the rest of the way for that to happen. Well, that's not going to happen. What could happen though is, the Razorbacks could very well end up going 1-7 the rest of the way (the schedule is pretty difficult) and the unlikable Brett Bielema could once again find himself at a new school next season (that is, if there's another school who is willing to put up with the guy and his obnoxious mouth). As for Texas A&M, they are one of the best coached teams in the land and that once again showed here. While I still don't think the Aggies are good enough from top-to-bottom to win the SEC and make a run in the playoffs, as long as Kevin Sumlin is the man controlling the puppet strings.....I'm at least going to give them a chance. Oh, have I not expressed how much I LOVE Kevin Sumlin recently? He's one of the best coaches in college football and If I had an NFL team....I'd be calling him up tomorrow. Just saying.
(19) Northwestern (4-0): 24 Ball State (2-2): 19
Northwestern is a good little football team, but they are also an extremely boring football team to watch. They survived by the skin of their teeth this week against a MAC team that isn't very good and kind of left a bad taste in my mouth following this game. What I'm trying to tell you is, be careful with your Northwestern stock. While I wouldn't exactly sell it all just yet, I'm not picking up anymore. Tread lightly.
(20) Missouri (3-1): 13 Kentucky (3-1): 21
I'm an SEC team.
I'm undefeated.
I'm not very good.
I just barely beat a horrible UConn team by 3 points after only scoring 9 points total all game.
I'm probably going to get destroyed when I start playing conference games.
Answer?
I'am.........
"
I'm not always right, but when I'am.....I nail it.
(21) West Virginia (3-0): 45 Maryland (2-2): 6
Can't tell if West Virginia is really good....or if Maryland is just that bad......
(22) BYU (2-2): 0 Michigan (3-1): 31
Not to take anything away from Michigan's impressive win here, but this one was inevitable from the start. BYU is an exhausted football team right now and they looked that way against Michigan this week. In case you haven't been paying attention, here is what BYU's schedule has looked like through the first four weeks....
@ Nebraska
Boise State
@ UCLA
@ Michigan
When you add in the fact that BYU's practices are reportedly really physical (there were tweets sent out this week that BYU players looked absolutely exhausted during practice), then the writing was all over the wall for a Michigan beat down this week. Whenever you face a Jim Harbaugh coached team, you had better be ready to play your ass off or they are going to walk all over you. BYU found that out the hard way this week. Big win for Michigan. Bad loss for a good BYU team. Get some rest boys, you're gonna need it.
(23) Tennessee (2-2): 27 Florida (4-0): 28
I'm officially selling my Tennessee Volunteers stock. As for my Florida Gators stock?
(24) Stanford (3-1): 42 Oregon State (2-2): 24
Good news for Stanford fans. Your team looks they've finally remembered they are one of the most talented teams in the PAC-12 and the offense is now rolling. Maybe that early kickoff against Northwestern back in week one really was the reason the Cardinal looked so bad in that game? I don't know. What I do know is, the rest of the PAC-12 had better shape up, because Stanford has arrived.
As for the Beavers, they are looking much better than I thought they were going to this year. I love the offensive spark that freshman QB Seth Collins provides and he makes the Beavers a "must watch" on that side of the ball, and when's the last time you can say that about an Oregon State offensive player? Beavers might be on to something here as Gary Anderson and company have this program ready to play. Beavers aren't going to be a door mat in the PAC-12 this year like we originally thought.
(25) USC (3-1): 42 Arizona State (2-2): 14
This was easily the most entertaining game of the week. It went right down to the wire and when I mean the wire, I mean THE WIRE. I don't know where exactly Texas Tech came from and who gave them permission to play such good football, but this is a team that is easily out-playing their coverage. After an upset win over Arkansas, the Red Raiders gave TCU everything they could handle and a little bit more and were just yards away from upsetting a potential playoff team. Even though they lost, Texas Tech looks like a legitimate bowl team right now and if you think you are going to go into Lubbock, Texas and walk over these guys, you're going to be in for a long night. I still have plenty of questions about how good TCU is, even though they ended up with the win here. It's no secret that TCU is a very banged up football team right now and if they keep playing close games like this, they are bound to let one slip through their fingers at some point. I'm officially selling my "TCU is a playoff team" stock. Any takers?
(8) Georgia (4-0): 48 Southern (-): 6
(9) Baylor (3-0): 70 Rice (2-2): 17
Oh look. The Baylor Bears came out and scored 70 points against a team that probably had no business being on the field with them in the first place.....
(12) LSU (3-0): 34 Syracuse (3-1): 24
Did this one scare you LSU fans? It should have. In my opinion, LSU is either the first or second best team in the SEC this year. Every few years, Les Miles and company put together a National Championship caliber team that makes a run at a title. This could be one of those years for LSU. Even though the Syracuse Orange gave them a hell of a fight yesterday, LSU has a player named Leonard Fournette on their team and there are times when he looks like Adrian Peterson going up against Sister Mary's Home for Boys on the football field and it's just not fair. As long as he stays healthy, LSU has a real shot at making the playoffs. Don't worry. I won't say I told you so when it happens.
(13) Oregon (2-2): 20 (16) Utah (4-0): 62
Good lord. What the hell has happened to the Oregon Ducks? We all knew that losing the likes of Marcus Mariota, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, and Troy Hill were going to hurt the Ducks, but did anyone think they would be hurting this bad? This is a team that just looks completely lost right now and that's extremely out of character for one of the most successful programs in college football the past 10 seasons. The QB play is completely atrocious. Vernon Adams was supposed to be the guy who came in and replaced Mariota, but he looks lost running the offense and it's clear that he's either not completely healthy and it's affecting the way he throws the ball, or he's just not that good and there's a reason he was playing at the FBS level. Lockie is clearly not the answer at QB either. There's also a reason he was sitting behind Mariota and got beat out by Adams in just two weeks of training camp. He's not very good.
You know what else isn't very good? Oregon's defense. Say what you want about how the Ducks offense looked, but some of that falls on the shoulders of the defense as well. The secondary is crap and these guys made the very average Travis Wilson look like Aaron Rodgers (and he did it with a bum shoulder as well!) all game. I don't know how Oregon is going to fix their problems at QB and on the defensive side of the ball, but they had better hope the issues get addressed quickly or they could be in for a long season. This team just doesn't look like the Oregon teams of the past and the heat is definitely on Mark Helfrich and Don Pellum.
As for Utah, they look like the #1 team in the Nation right now. These guys are playing incredibly good football right now and I don't know if anyone can beat them. They are an extremely physical football team that will punch you in the mouth, and if you don't punch back, they are going to beat the crap out of you. I don't know how far the Utes can go this year, but as of today....they are a playoff team.
(14) Alabama (3-1): 34 Louisiana-Monroe (1-2): 0
(18) Texas A&M (4-0): 28 Arkansas (1-3): 21
This was another fantastic close game. At the beginning of the season, I had Arkansas 8-4 which means they pretty much have to go undefeated the rest of the way for that to happen. Well, that's not going to happen. What could happen though is, the Razorbacks could very well end up going 1-7 the rest of the way (the schedule is pretty difficult) and the unlikable Brett Bielema could once again find himself at a new school next season (that is, if there's another school who is willing to put up with the guy and his obnoxious mouth). As for Texas A&M, they are one of the best coached teams in the land and that once again showed here. While I still don't think the Aggies are good enough from top-to-bottom to win the SEC and make a run in the playoffs, as long as Kevin Sumlin is the man controlling the puppet strings.....I'm at least going to give them a chance. Oh, have I not expressed how much I LOVE Kevin Sumlin recently? He's one of the best coaches in college football and If I had an NFL team....I'd be calling him up tomorrow. Just saying.
(19) Northwestern (4-0): 24 Ball State (2-2): 19
Northwestern is a good little football team, but they are also an extremely boring football team to watch. They survived by the skin of their teeth this week against a MAC team that isn't very good and kind of left a bad taste in my mouth following this game. What I'm trying to tell you is, be careful with your Northwestern stock. While I wouldn't exactly sell it all just yet, I'm not picking up anymore. Tread lightly.
(20) Missouri (3-1): 13 Kentucky (3-1): 21
Remember what I wrote about Missouri last week in this column? In case you don't....
"Let's play a game. It's called "Who am I"?
I'm an SEC team.
I'm undefeated.
I'm not very good.
I just barely beat a horrible UConn team by 3 points after only scoring 9 points total all game.
I'm probably going to get destroyed when I start playing conference games.
Answer?
I'am.........
"I'm not always right, but when I'am.....I nail it.
(21) West Virginia (3-0): 45 Maryland (2-2): 6
Can't tell if West Virginia is really good....or if Maryland is just that bad......
(22) BYU (2-2): 0 Michigan (3-1): 31
Not to take anything away from Michigan's impressive win here, but this one was inevitable from the start. BYU is an exhausted football team right now and they looked that way against Michigan this week. In case you haven't been paying attention, here is what BYU's schedule has looked like through the first four weeks....
@ Nebraska
Boise State
@ UCLA
@ Michigan
When you add in the fact that BYU's practices are reportedly really physical (there were tweets sent out this week that BYU players looked absolutely exhausted during practice), then the writing was all over the wall for a Michigan beat down this week. Whenever you face a Jim Harbaugh coached team, you had better be ready to play your ass off or they are going to walk all over you. BYU found that out the hard way this week. Big win for Michigan. Bad loss for a good BYU team. Get some rest boys, you're gonna need it.
(23) Tennessee (2-2): 27 Florida (4-0): 28
I'm officially selling my Tennessee Volunteers stock. As for my Florida Gators stock?
(24) Stanford (3-1): 42 Oregon State (2-2): 24
Good news for Stanford fans. Your team looks they've finally remembered they are one of the most talented teams in the PAC-12 and the offense is now rolling. Maybe that early kickoff against Northwestern back in week one really was the reason the Cardinal looked so bad in that game? I don't know. What I do know is, the rest of the PAC-12 had better shape up, because Stanford has arrived.
As for the Beavers, they are looking much better than I thought they were going to this year. I love the offensive spark that freshman QB Seth Collins provides and he makes the Beavers a "must watch" on that side of the ball, and when's the last time you can say that about an Oregon State offensive player? Beavers might be on to something here as Gary Anderson and company have this program ready to play. Beavers aren't going to be a door mat in the PAC-12 this year like we originally thought.
(25) USC (3-1): 42 Arizona State (2-2): 14
Last week wasn't a good week for Steve Sarkisian and USC.
This week?
Sark be all like......ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCHINOS!!!!!
Upsets Of The Week
(There are upsets every week in college football. These are the best upsets for this week)
-Utah Utes over Oregon Ducks
Can this really be called an upset? I don't know. Utah played the Oregon Ducks close last season and almost came home with the win. This year they took the Ducks behind the woodshed and absolutely blasted them. Kyle Whittingham and his boys have flown under the PAC-12 radar since entering the conference. Is this finally the year the Utes step up and challenge for a conference title? It sure looks that way to me. I wouldn't want to face these guys again. No sir.
-Michigan Wolverines over BYU Cougars
BYU had looked like one of the best teams in the country leading up to this game. Then they faced a motivated Michigan team that is ultra-motivated under Jim Harbaugh right now. I don't know what kind of gameplan BYU had going into this game against Michigan, but if it was "lay down and let them beat the ever loving shit out of us"....then they executed it perfectly.
-Kentucky Wildcats over Missouri Tigers
Even though I don't think Missouri is very good, this is still an upset. Kentucky rarely gets wins in the SEC and Missouri was a ranked team heading into this weekend. Something tells me that the Wildcats may get a few more wins in the SEC this year though. These guys look much better than they have in previous seasons.
-East Carolina Pirates over Virginia Tech Hokies
I bet you had no idea that the East Carolina pirates have been wildly successful against the ACC in recent years, did you? The Pirates currently have a four-game win streak against the ACC and a two-game win streak over this Virginia Tech team. What am I trying to say exactly?
East Carolina > ACC.
-Kentucky Wildcats over Missouri Tigers
Even though I don't think Missouri is very good, this is still an upset. Kentucky rarely gets wins in the SEC and Missouri was a ranked team heading into this weekend. Something tells me that the Wildcats may get a few more wins in the SEC this year though. These guys look much better than they have in previous seasons.
-East Carolina Pirates over Virginia Tech Hokies
I bet you had no idea that the East Carolina pirates have been wildly successful against the ACC in recent years, did you? The Pirates currently have a four-game win streak against the ACC and a two-game win streak over this Virginia Tech team. What am I trying to say exactly?
East Carolina > ACC.
Heisman Contenders
(Here are my current leaders for the Heisman trophy, in no particular order)
Will Fuller (WR) Notre Dame
Chad Kelly (QB) Ole Miss
Baker Mayfield (QB) Oklahoma
Trevone Boykin (QB) TCU
Nick Chubb (RB) Georgia
Jordan Howard (RB) Indiana
Leonard Fournette (RB) LSU
Ezekiel Elliot (RB) Ohio State
Ezekiel Elliot (RB) Ohio State
Will Fuller (WR) Notre Dame
Chad Kelly (QB) Ole Miss
Baker Mayfield (QB) Oklahoma
Trevone Boykin (QB) TCU
Nick Chubb (RB) Georgia
Jordan Howard (RB) Indiana
Still Undefeated
(These are the teams in college football that are still undefeated...)
LSU Tigers
Ole Miss Rebels
Texas A&M Aggies
Georgia Bulldogs
Florida Gators
Ohio State Buckeyes
Michigan State Spartans
Indiana Hoosiers
Northwestern Wildcats
Iowa Hawkeyes
UCLA Bruins
Utah Utes
California Golden Bears
TCU Horned Frogs
Baylor Bears
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Kansas State Wildcats
West Virginia Mountaineers
Florida State Seminoles
Clemson Tigers
N.C. State Wolfpack
Miami Hurricanes
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Temple Owls
Houston Cougars
Memphis Tigers
Navy Midshipmen
Toledo Rockets
Ole Miss Rebels
Texas A&M Aggies
Georgia Bulldogs
Florida Gators
Ohio State Buckeyes
Michigan State Spartans
Indiana Hoosiers
Northwestern Wildcats
Iowa Hawkeyes
UCLA Bruins
Utah Utes
California Golden Bears
TCU Horned Frogs
Baylor Bears
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Kansas State Wildcats
West Virginia Mountaineers
Florida State Seminoles
Clemson Tigers
N.C. State Wolfpack
Miami Hurricanes
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Temple Owls
Houston Cougars
Memphis Tigers
Navy Midshipmen
Toledo Rockets
Top 25
(Here is my top 25 as it stands right now)
17. Northwestern Wildcats (4-0)
18. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0)
19. Stanford Cardinal (3-1)
20. USC Trojans (3-1)
21. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-0)
22. Michigan Wolverines (3-1)
23. Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-1)
24. Florida Gators (4-0)
25. Memphis Tigers (4-0)
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0)
2. Michigan State Spartans (4-0)
3. Ole Miss Rebels (4-0)
4. UCLA Bruins (4-0)
5. Utah Utes (4-0)
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0)
7. TCU Horned Frogs (4-0)
2. Michigan State Spartans (4-0)
3. Ole Miss Rebels (4-0)
4. UCLA Bruins (4-0)
5. Utah Utes (4-0)
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0)
7. TCU Horned Frogs (4-0)
8. Florida State Seminoles (3-0)
9. Georgia Bulldogs (4-0)
10. Baylor Bears (3-0)
10. Baylor Bears (3-0)
11. Clemson Tigers (3-0)
12. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)
13. LSU Tigers (3-0)
14. Alabama Crimson Tide (3-1)
15. Texas A&M Aggies (4-0)
12. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)
13. LSU Tigers (3-0)
14. Alabama Crimson Tide (3-1)
15. Texas A&M Aggies (4-0)
16. Kansas State Wildcats (3-0)
17. Northwestern Wildcats (4-0)
18. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0)
19. Stanford Cardinal (3-1)
20. USC Trojans (3-1)
21. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-0)
22. Michigan Wolverines (3-1)
23. Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-1)
24. Florida Gators (4-0)
25. Memphis Tigers (4-0)
And that's it for week four! I hope to see everybody back here next week. Same bat time. Same bat channel.
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