Bonkers! That's what! It was so bonkers, that even the bonkerist guy in the world was complaining about the bonkeries. But we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we?
You know it's going to be a long one when I'm already getting crazy in the introduction.
So............
ARE YOU READY?????..................
I SAID............
ARE YOU READY??????????............
WELL...................
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 (9-0): 28 Minnesota (4-5): 14
The Buckeyes don't do anything other than win football games.
Meanwhile, all their detractors are still not happy because the Buckeyes didn't beat Minnesota by 50.
You know what I say?
(2) TCU (8-1): 29 (8) Oklahoma State (9-0): 49
I would like to take this time to personally apologize to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. If you read this column last week, you will remember that I called the Oklahoma State Cowboys out. I called them "fool's gold" and said they would eventually get exposed, and that it would happen against a TCU team that would blow them out of the building. Apparently I've been on some serious medication since college football started because I have whiffed on the Pokes. Oklahoma State is a better football team than I thought they were and they are not only a contender for the BIG-12 championship, but they look like a legit playoff contender. I wouldn't have said that last week, but watching what these guys just did to one of the best teams in the country, that's all it takes to change my mind. Let's not totally bury dirt on TCU though. TCU is still a very good football team that has been ravaged by injuries. The Horned Frogs still have a shot to finish the season 11-1 and make the playoffs, it's just a VERY long shot now.
Either way, welcome to the playoff party Oklahoma State. Just move TCU's stuff out of the way and prop up your feet.
(3) Clemson (9-0): 23 (12) Florida State (7-2): 13
This is the year isn't it? It sure looks that way to me.
After years of misery and "Clemsoning" games that cost them a shot at playing with the "Big Boys" of college football come bowl time, Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have figured it out. Clemson doesn't just look like a legitimate college football playoff team, but they look like they could be the best team in college football right now. Deshaun Watson is playing out of his mind and doesn't only have Clemson in place to lock up a #1 seed in the playoffs, but it's looking more and more like he's locking up a spot for himself in New York come Heisman trophy time. Clemson had lost 3 straight to the Seminoles coming into this game and even though Florida State gave them a hell of a fight, the Tigers were obviously the better team this year and it showed on-the-field. I've been hesitant to hitch my "bandwagon bus" to the Clemson Tigers for obvious reasons, but I'm not only attatched now, I'm pretty much driving the thing. Clemson has a real shot at being the team that comes up and punches everyone else in the nose come playoff time. They are an extremely balanced football team with a good head coach and a QB who is playing out of his mind. Sure sounds like the receipe for a National Championship team to me.
You know who's having a good day today? This guy....
After years of misery and "Clemsoning" games that cost them a shot at playing with the "Big Boys" of college football come bowl time, Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have figured it out. Clemson doesn't just look like a legitimate college football playoff team, but they look like they could be the best team in college football right now. Deshaun Watson is playing out of his mind and doesn't only have Clemson in place to lock up a #1 seed in the playoffs, but it's looking more and more like he's locking up a spot for himself in New York come Heisman trophy time. Clemson had lost 3 straight to the Seminoles coming into this game and even though Florida State gave them a hell of a fight, the Tigers were obviously the better team this year and it showed on-the-field. I've been hesitant to hitch my "bandwagon bus" to the Clemson Tigers for obvious reasons, but I'm not only attatched now, I'm pretty much driving the thing. Clemson has a real shot at being the team that comes up and punches everyone else in the nose come playoff time. They are an extremely balanced football team with a good head coach and a QB who is playing out of his mind. Sure sounds like the receipe for a National Championship team to me.
You know who's having a good day today? This guy....
(4) Baylor (8-0): 31 Kansas State (3-5): 24
Man, I can't wait for Baylor to play someone who's actually worth a damn. I just don't know what to make of this team because they haven't played anyone that's a real threat to be a National Champion. Their toughest competition has been a Kansas State team who is on a downward spiral and a shitty Iowa State team that actually took Baylor to the limit. Do I have some serious doubts regarding this team? You bet your ass I do. I've long said that Baylor is a fraud and they will eventually be exposed. That could happen next week against Oklahoma. We are finally reaching the tough part of the schedule for the Bears so we are definitely going to see what they are made of over the next few weeks. I'm personally not sold on them and it wouldn't shock me to see them go 1-3 over the course of their next 4 games.
(5) LSU (7-1): 16 (9) Alabama (8-1): 30
Thanks for coming LSU. You know what's funny about this game? As everyone knows, the College Football Playoff Committee came out this week and released their first official rankings for the playoffs. When they came out, college football fans everywhere went ballistic (as expected....), mainly because of Alabama's ranking. How could the Committee place a 7-1 Alabama team that had lost to Ole Miss at home in the top 4 of the CFP when we still had undefeated teams in the race? Allow me to try and answer that real quick.....
BECAUSE ALABAMA IS BETTER THAN THEM.
Did you see what Alabama just did to a REALLY good LSU team? The Crimson Tide came out and held Heisman Trophy contender Leonard Fournette to just 31 rushing yards on 19 carries! That's insane! The only team that has scored over 23 points on the Tide this year is that same Ole Miss team that beat them back in week 3. Since then, Alabama has been an absolute juggernaut on the defensive side of the ball and these guys shouldn't only have a place at the CFP table, but I wouldn't be mad if you decided to put them at the HEAD OF THE TABLE. Alabama is for real folks. Write them off if you want, but I'm fully expecting Nick Saban and company to hoist another trophy at the end of the year. Few things in life are guaranteed outside of death and paying taxes....but Alabama winning titles is one of them.
(6) Michigan State (8-1): 38 Nebraska (4-6): 39
Thanks for coming Michigan State.
The Spartans playoff hopes are gone. They were a fringe playoff team to begin with and now that they suffered an upset loss to a Nebraska team that's been a dumpster fire this year, you can go ahead and start throwing dirt on MSU's playoff hopes. I saw a lot of people actually predicting this upset. Nebraska head coach Mike Riley is known for being an extremely inconsistent head coach, but if there's one thing he does and does good....it's upset team that were poised for big things. He did it to numerous teams while he was the head coach at Oregon State (just ask USC...) and it looks like that trends going to continue in Nebraska. It's been a nightmare of a first season for Riley, but something tells me Cornhusker fans are breathing a little easier after narrowly defeating one of the highest ranked teams in the sport. There's not a whole lot to be happy about if you're living in Nebraska, so enjoy it while you can.
(7) Iowa (9-0): 35 Indiana (4-5): 27
I've got nothing......
(10) Stanford (8-1): 42 Colorado (4-6): 10
Stanford is hands down the best team in the PAC-12 this season. What exactly does that mean in the long run? Who the hell knows? It's obviously a down year for the conference considering Stanford is the highest ranked team and they are in the double digits, but you're crazy if you don't think Stanford has what it takes to still be a playoff team. They are an evenly balanced, well-coached football team with a senior QB. Everyone that's a hardcore college football fan knows that when you put those ingredients into the pot, you usually come away with a "National Championship contender". That's exactly what the Cardinal are. Stanford has a big game coming up against an Oregon team that's all of a sudden hot. If the Cardinal can get by the Ducks next weekend, they have a huge showdown against Notre Dame and will likely have a big-time match-up in the PAC-12 title game. If they can run that gauntlet unscathed, then there's no reason to believe that Stanford won't sneak into the playoffs. They definitely hold their own fate in their hands.
(11) Utah (8-1): 34 Washington (4-5): 23
Utah is good. Washington is garbage. No surprise here.
(13) Notre Dame (8-1): 42 Pittsburgh (6-3): 30
Notre Dame is one of the best teams in College Football. They have one loss this season which came at the hands of Clemson, who is arguably the BEST team in college football. Not only that, but the Irish only lost to Clemson by two points! TWO POINTS! That's pretty impressive, especially when you look at how difficult Notre Dame's overall schedule is. Once again, the Irish had a tough match-up against an underrated Pittsburgh team, and passed with flying colors. It's evident that I have Notre Dame ranked WAY too low as they are easily one of the best teams in the sport. My bad Notre Dame. My bad. You guys are really good and I'll make sure I make it up to you.....
(14) Memphis (8-1): 20 Navy (7-1): 45
You had one job Memphis.
You had to beat Navy which would have then set up a potential "COLLEGE GAMEDAY" appearance in Houston, Texas next week as the undefeated Memphis Tigers were supposed to take on the undefeated Houston Cougars. NOT ANYMORE THOUGH! Much like every other non-Power 5 conference team that comes up and flirts with a potential playoff spot, the Memphis Tigers slipped and fell on their faces in a home game against Navy. Now, let's not totally put all the blame on Memphis for blowing it. Navy is actually a really good football team that doesn't get near the respect they deserve. They are a really well-balanced team that could end up making some noise as the season winds down. If you look at Navy's schedule, outside of a huge game with Houston on November 27, Navy could run the table and end the season 11-1 with a potential big bowl game as a reward.
WHO SAW THAT ONE COMING?!?!?!
(15) Florida (8-1): 9 Vanderbilt (3-6): 7
This one wasn't a pretty one for Florida (Vandy is pretty good defensively, but are garbage on offense), but they got the job done.
Not everything that Florida does can be this pretty.....
(16) Houston (9-0): 33 Cincinnati (5-4): 30
You see that Memphis? That's called "going out and getting the job done". The Houston Cougars played a tough match-up against the Cincinnati Bearcats this weekend and the game went down to the wire, but Houston did what good football teams do and that's close it out and seal the win. Now, with Memphis losing and Navy already sitting their with one loss, it's Houston's time to capitalize on the situation. Just because the Cougars play in the American Athletic Conference doesn't exactly mean they are disqualified from making a potential playoff appearance. Now, it's true that the Cougars are nowhere near the top of the rankings right now, but they still have big-time games coming up against Memphis, UConn (who are playing decent football right now) and Navy that could definitely vault Tom Herman and company up the rankings before the season ends. That is of course...unless Houston slips up along the way and as the Memphis Tigers are well aware of, that could happen at anytime.
(17) Oklahoma (8-1): 52 Iowa State (3-6): 16
(18) Toledo (7-1): 27 Northern Illinois (6-3): 32
Thanks for coming Toledo. The Toledo Rockets have a problem and it's called "Northern Illinois". I can't remember the last time Toledo beat NIU and once again, they slip up against the Huskies and it likely costs them a big-time bowl game. That's not to say that the Rockets still can't win the conference and go on to a semi-decent bowl game, but what kind of joy do you really get out of winning the MAC?!?!?!
(19) Michigan (7-2): 49 Rutgers (3-6): 16
Rutgers vs. Michigan has Michigan fans like.....
(20) Temple (8-1): 60 SMU (1-8): 40
After a tough match-up against Notre Dame last weekend, the Temple Owls got a little bit of a break this week when the SMU Cowboys rolled into town. There's quite a drastic change of competition when you play the Fighting Irish one week and then a team like SMU the next. Even though Temple didn't come out and brutalize SMU like a top-ranked team should, you have to cut them some slack considering what they went through last weekend. I'm still on the bandwagon and I still expect the Owls to play in a decent bowl game when it's all said and done.
(21) Ole Miss (7-3): 52 Arkansas (5-4): 53
(22) UCLA (7-2): 41 Oregon State (2-7): 0
Who cares? Let's watch something more interesting than UCLA vs. a team that's barely good enough to play in the Sun Belt conference....
(23) Texas A&M (6-3): 10 Auburn (5-4): 26
Texas A&M fans are not having a good weekend. Let's cheer them up....
(24) North Carolina (8-1): 66 Duke (6-3): 31
North Carolina is for real folks. I know it's a popular opinion right now to look at the Tar Heels and see "fool's gold" (as I like to put it...), but these guys are the real deal. Duke is a legit football team and UNC bitch slapped them like they owed them money this weekend. I don't know why more people aren't talking about the Tar Heels, but it's time to start giving them the respect they deserve. I'm not going to hold their week one loss to South Carolina over their head too high. I tend to cut college football teams a little bit more slack when they lose games at the beginning of the year and continue to improve as the season goes on. That's North Carolina. It may have taken UNC some time to find their footing, but they have found it. Are they talented enough to win the ACC? I doubt it. But they are definitely talented enough to put a scare into Clemson and the other teams that think they're just going to cruise to a conference title without even looking their way. UNC is more than a basketball school right now!
(25) Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-2): 31 Missouri (4-5): 13
Mississippi State is a pretty good football team. Missouri is the exact opposite of that. They are a horrendous football team, especially on the offensive side of the ball. This game was never in doubt as the Bulldogs basically cruised their way to a victory....
Upsets Of The Week
(There are upsets every week in college football. These are the best upsets for this week)
-Auburn Tigers over Texas A&M Aggies
This was supposed to be a lost season for Auburn. They were sitting at an even 4-4 heading into this game against ranked Texas A&M and they were supposed to roll over and play dead while the Aggies showed them what a real football team looks like. Apparently Auburn never got that memo though. Auburn not only beat the Aggies, but they put a whooping on them. Does this victory salvage Auburn's season? Not exactly, but with games against Georgia and Alabama still remaining, it definitely helps Auburn inch a little bit closer to being bowl eligible.
-Arkansas Razorbacks over Ole Miss Rebels
Everything I just wrote in relation to the Auburn vs. Texas A&M game, go ahead and place that paragraph here....just change the names of the teams.
-Nebraska Cornhuskers over Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State fans were all but ready to crown themselves "National Champions" after their huge victories over teams like the Oregon Ducks and the Michigan Wolverines. The only thing that Spartans fans forgot is....ANYONE can beat ANYONE on any given week. That's what is amazing about college football. Every week is a "playoff eliminator" and the Spartans just found that out the hard way this weekend with an upset loss to Nebraska. Let's give the Cornhuskers some credit here though. As I mentioned earlier, if there's one thing that Mike Riley does well, it's beat football teams that his team had no business beating and it looks like that trend is going to continue in Lincoln. Thanks for coming Sparty. Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you.
-Oklahoma State Cowboys over TCU Horned Frogs
I already talked about this one at length earlier. If you missed it, scroll back up.
-Navy Midshipmen over Memphis Tigers
I already talked about this one at length earlier. If you missed it, scroll back up.
-Nebraska Cornhuskers over Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State fans were all but ready to crown themselves "National Champions" after their huge victories over teams like the Oregon Ducks and the Michigan Wolverines. The only thing that Spartans fans forgot is....ANYONE can beat ANYONE on any given week. That's what is amazing about college football. Every week is a "playoff eliminator" and the Spartans just found that out the hard way this weekend with an upset loss to Nebraska. Let's give the Cornhuskers some credit here though. As I mentioned earlier, if there's one thing that Mike Riley does well, it's beat football teams that his team had no business beating and it looks like that trend is going to continue in Lincoln. Thanks for coming Sparty. Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you.
-Oklahoma State Cowboys over TCU Horned Frogs
I already talked about this one at length earlier. If you missed it, scroll back up.
-Navy Midshipmen over Memphis Tigers
I already talked about this one at length earlier. If you missed it, scroll back up.
Heisman Contenders
(Here are my current leaders for the Heisman trophy, in no particular order)
Trevone Boykin (QB) TCU
DeShaun Watson (QB) Clemson
Dalvin Cook (RB) Florida State
Derrick Henry (RB) Alabama
Corey Coleman (WR) Baylor
Leonard Fournette (RB) LSU
Ezekiel Elliot (RB) Ohio State
Ezekiel Elliot (RB) Ohio State
Trevone Boykin (QB) TCU
DeShaun Watson (QB) Clemson
Dalvin Cook (RB) Florida State
Derrick Henry (RB) Alabama
Corey Coleman (WR) Baylor
Still Undefeated
(These are the teams in college football that are still undefeated...)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes
Baylor Bears
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Clemson Tigers
Houston Cougars
Iowa Hawkeyes
Baylor Bears
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Clemson Tigers
Houston Cougars
Top 25
(Here is my top 25 as it stands right now)
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0)
2. Clemson Tigers (9-0)
3. Baylor Bears (8-0)
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1)
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0)
7. Iowa Hawkeyes (9-0)
8. Stanford Cardinal (8-1)
9. LSU Tigers (7-1)
10. Utah Utes (8-1)
11. TCU Horned Frogs (8-1)
12. Florida Gators (8-1)
13. Oklahoma Sooners (8-1)
14. Michigan State Spartans (8-1)
15. North Carolina Tar Heels (8-1)
16. Michigan Wolverines (7-2)
17. Florida State Seminoles (7-2)
18. Houston Cougars (9-0)
19. Navy Midshipmen (7-1)
20. Temple Owls (8-1)
21. UCLA Bruins (7-2)
22. Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-2)
23. Memphis Tigers (8-1)
24. Wisconsin Badgers (8-2)
25. Northwestern Wildcats (7-2)
2. Clemson Tigers (9-0)
3. Baylor Bears (8-0)
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1)
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0)
7. Iowa Hawkeyes (9-0)
8. Stanford Cardinal (8-1)
9. LSU Tigers (7-1)
10. Utah Utes (8-1)
11. TCU Horned Frogs (8-1)
12. Florida Gators (8-1)
13. Oklahoma Sooners (8-1)
14. Michigan State Spartans (8-1)
15. North Carolina Tar Heels (8-1)
16. Michigan Wolverines (7-2)
17. Florida State Seminoles (7-2)
18. Houston Cougars (9-0)
19. Navy Midshipmen (7-1)
20. Temple Owls (8-1)
21. UCLA Bruins (7-2)
22. Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-2)
23. Memphis Tigers (8-1)
24. Wisconsin Badgers (8-2)
25. Northwestern Wildcats (7-2)
And that's it for week nine! I hope to see everybody back here next week. Same bat time. Same bat channel.
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