Again I mention the importance of teams that want to win their bowl games versus teams that really do not care. Last year Alabama was a perffect example of a team that could care less about their game, while Oklahoma wa out to prove something. Arizona State lost to Stanford in the pac 12 title game and was demoted to play Texas Tech. Tech cruised in that game. Duke is in the same boat this season.
I agree Russ.I get tired of hearing the Bama excuses for losing that game. OU was a very hot team at the end of last season, and everything was clicking for them on offense. The truth is, there is no way in all certainty to know if a team really wants to be there or not. People can make educated guesses about it. But unless you are actually on the football team or a fly on the wall in the locker room, you don't know for sure how a team feels going into a bowl game. I learned this a long time ago. While I agree that screwy things happen in bowls, mainly because of stupid coaching decisions (Mike Leach last year for one), when I go back and look at my numbers with these games, probably 80% of them fall in line with the numbers. Much like what happened with these big games in the last week of the regular season. They all pretty much went by the numbers, but it was the touts and the media that made more of them that what was actually there.
GS: Remember Riley at Oregon St blowing the lead against Texas. What in the hell does Nebraska see in him, whatever. Alabama this year will be motivated but Saban's control freak mentality could cost them too. If he does not turn Kiffin lose look out. He still has the old school mentality and still likes to take all the credit. One thing is for sure, Ohio St will be up also. The schools with interim coaches are the biggest mystery to me.
Ha, I remember that OSU/Texas game. You have to give Riley credit for one thing. Just getting that program to a bowl. Oregon is the Iowa State of the Pac-12. Hard to say how he does at Nebraska. Pelini didn't exactly set the bar high for him. Sometimes new surroundings can be good, so who knows. As for Bama, I thought it was pretty hilarious when Saban was all up in Kiffin's stuff after they threw a pass for a TD down in the red zone. Lawd have mercy! The way Auburn moved it up and down the field on them that day, he should have been in his DC's face. If he thought Auburn was a headache just wait until they play Oregon with one week to prepare. That is if the Ducks get past FSU. Ohio State will be an interesting game, because I doubt Meyer will come out and do what all of the talking heads think he's going to do. They'll have some surprises for Bama, so Saban better be creative. I know if I was a HC I wouldn't feel very comfortable being a DD favorite over Meyer under any circumstances.
GS: Meyer has a lot of momentum going for him right now and apparently a lot of depth also (especially at QB). Meyer has been there and done that as has Saban, I see no coaching advantages or disadvantages either way. It will boil down to preparation. All Florida St has to do is peak at the right time. I like all 4 teams but game tempo, turnovers, and referees are all factors. Last year Alabama turned the ball over 5 times, who could have predicted that. I do think that whoever wins the Alabama/Ohio St game could go all the way.
With all the accolades that are being poured on to Urban Meyer predicated on his success rate on the field, it wouldn't surprise
me if he becomes the next "Pop Warner" or "Amos Stagg" of modern-day football. It will be interesting to see how Nick Saban (Alabama) prepares for the oncoming show-down against Ohio State. One thing I am certain of, the Tide will not get sucker-punched like the Badgers did.
me if he becomes the next "Pop Warner" or "Amos Stagg" of modern-day football. It will be interesting to see how Nick Saban (Alabama) prepares for the oncoming show-down against Ohio State. One thing I am certain of, the Tide will not get sucker-punched like the Badgers did.
Meyer simply does not have the defense to compete with Alabama. Remember, we are still talking the Big 10. The onoy reason why Ohio State is in the playoffs is because the Big 12 does NOT play a CC game, and Baylor's HC, Art Briles, is not exactly loved by Committee members. I have nothing on this game, and probably will keep it that way, so I would love to see Ohio State pull an upset here, but I doubt it. An Ohio State upset just makes it easier for Oregon to win it all. They are my only betting interest in the Playoffs, and that was because I took them at 7/1 to win it all.
Stoops biggest problem is going to the 3-4 defense without having any prior knowledge of how to run it since he or Bob never have. From what I've been hearing about that defense, you really need to have specialty assistants in place who know and have run that defense before, or it can bite you in the ass like it has Stoops. Many don't realize that you have to have a completely different kind of defensive player to make that defense run. And you also have to recruit those kinds of players for that scheme. OU doesn't have the right players in place to run it. Striker is a good example of it. They've put him in a secondary role to what he was before. Now he's more responsible for runners breaking through the first line than being any kind of pass rusher. And Striker isn't that great of an open field tackler. He's much better at getting through a small space quickly and getting to the QB. I can go on down the line. The secondary has also looked lost at times in this scheme with blown assignments and playing too far off the ball (like vs Baylor). If Stoops was smart he would get rid of Kish and bring in some defensive coaches who really know how this scheme works, or else it's going to be more of the same next year.
I agree that Florida State is capable of defeating Oregon, but in reality, I do not believe that it will happen. Oregon is by far, the best team Florida State has played, and the 'Knoles have been less than impressive this season, though they have not lost. You cannot write them off, but IMO, if Oregon comes out to play, they win.
Oregon might be viewed as the "Cinderella" team....the only school West of the Mississippi River going against those big, bad Boys from the South and a team being coached by a former Gator.....Will the Ducks get the calls that can go either-way. Other then the fans of the aforementioned "big, bad-boy" schools, will America be cheering for Oregon ?
