September 16, 2007
Non-BCS Hopefuls
It is three weeks into the seasons so let's take an early look at this year's prospective BCS Busters.
In alphabetical order by conference, here are the three undefeated non-BCS teams.
C-USA: Tulsa
While a win against UL-Monroe is not unexpected, a win against BYU is a little more surprising. One thing is certain, with Oklahoma up next week we will see shortly how good this team really is.
MWC: Air Force
Two conference games under their belt and they have defeated two of the MWC preseason top three, in Utah and TCU. They visit the third, BYU, next week and have a chance to earn a decided upper hand in the conference race. The conference might end up coming down to the October 20th match up with Wyoming. With only Army, Navy and Notre Dame as non conference games they may not get much more opportunity to prove themselves.
WAC: Hawaii
With impressive wins over unimpressive teams Hawaii is the only ranked non BCS team, mostly from a preseason buzz. Boise State and Fresno State still will challenge then for the conference title, and the finally with Washington may be their biggest test of the season.
One Loss to a ranked or undefeated opponent:
C-USA:
UCF with a three point loss to #5 Texas UCF had South Florida and some top conference teams to prove the competitiveness with Texas was not a fluke.
Houston gave undefeated Oregon their most competitive game yet this year. Better than Michigan or Fresno State. The October 6th trip to Alabama will be their next test.
MAC:
Ohio's loss to Virginia Tech sets up next week's game at Wyoming. Although Wyoming won't make this list I have them on the bubble.
All of a sudden Kent State's loss to Kentucky is not looking so bad. A good showing at the October 13th game at Ohio State might get them into a BCS Bowl.
Sun Belt (The only 1-A conference with no feed at fanblogs):
Arkansas State's 6 point loss to Texas sets up next week's game at Tennessee as a measuring stick for this Sun Belt hopeful.
(Two mentions of Texas in this article and a mediocre game against TCU might make one suspect maybe Texas isn't as good as some think they are.)
Where are they?
BYU, TCU, Boise State and Fresno State were supposed to be here. These teams have been knocked out by the teams above or the BCS teams they have played or both. Any given Saturday any team might win. Just look at Utah.
Comments:
Bevo Boy said:
posted on September 16, 2007 8:15 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse?
Why does he make Texas sound so bad when they are 3-0? They beat #19 TCU and a solid UCF team on the road (UCF's first on campus home game), when they beat Bama in Tuscaloosa. Prather didn't mention that some of the biggest upsets are SEC teams. Hmm, maybe the SEC isn't as good as everyone thinks.
Don V said:
posted on September 16, 2007 8:37 PM — 97.100.9.74 — link — abuse?
Bevo Boy,
You can't be happy with the team to this point. They look like they're sleepwalking at this moment and playing down to the level of the competition. That doesn't help to sharpen them for their battle against Oklahoma in a few week.s
OU-Ron
posted on September 16, 2007 8:55 PM — 72.198.24.199 — link — abuse?
said:
@3 Don V According to mighty Mack Brown, those close games were just what he needed for his team, hell he was even happy about it, just think if Rice happens to beat them, he should be the happiest coach around.
Go Rice
posted on September 16, 2007 10:21 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue
said:
Even if all three run the table and end the season undefeated, I would still be disappointed to see ANY of them in a BCS bowl. (That's right, Hawaii, I'm talking about you, too!)
The simple truth is... none of these teams would last a month in a BCS conference.
Tomcat said:
posted on September 16, 2007 10:52 PM — 69.148.173.234 — link — abuse?
Don V You're post#3 contains a direct quote for Brent Mushburger-ESPN analyst, he obviously didn't watch the game and I guess you didn't either.You can look at a score or a stat sheet and make assumptions or you can analyize game film or better yet, quote and uninformed bias sports caster.I didn't see anybody sleepwalking during the game and was appauled at hearing that crap during a national broadcast of another game.
What I saw was a team playing hard overcoming adversity and never giving up.I saw a team that had some three turnovers a missed feld goal and extra point conversion on the road against a good team come away with a win. Will this game help team? Two part question, with the media and the polls no.For the team itself as far as players and coaches yes it will most definetly help the team.UCF did a good job of mixing it up offensively and UT's secondary other than one blown coverage and late hit by Beasly was tiping passes left & right and got one interception.
UCF's running game was really good and their front line did a good job of double teaming the big boys up front.Kevin Smith is an outstanding running back and he busted lose some good ones against the Texas D. I was kinda surprized because its usually the other way around for the Horns shutting down the run and getting burnt on the deep ball.
Offensively to me it seemed like the coaching staff was to conservative, dumping off short balls and not really taking the long shots.When they did throw the long ball, three times as my memory serves me two were ruled incomplete and one was caught in the end zone and the receiver was shoved out of bounds while airbourne otherwise it would have been a T.D.
The running attack worked pretty good and Charles averaged 7 yds per run.Charles also had two fumbles on the day one on the UCF 1 or 2 yd line which cost the Horns a T.D. and the other late in the fourth quarter giving the Knights their last possesion which resulted in 8 points for UCF.They executed their no huddle one minute drill perfectly. So yes I was pleased with the teams performance and the way they fought hard never giving up.It was one of those games on the road in the rain were it seemed like the other team was getting all the breaks.The team despite adversity after adversity held together and came away with a win. They can learn alot from this kind of game alot more than if everything went perfect. Will this game help the team to get ready for OU -yes.
Hookem-HornsTomcat said:
posted on September 16, 2007 11:40 PM — 69.148.173.234 — link — abuse?
Mr.Prather Did you watch the Texas vs TCU game?
I'm guessing you didnt because you stated that Texas had a mediocre game against TCU. What I saw was a 21 point victory over a top 25 team hardly what I would consider a mediorce performance.
Half the people in this country were picking TCU to win the game, so after Texas beats them 34-13 its to be considered mediocre.What I saw was a team that came out in the second half that was
p--sed off and played with a exhilarating intesity and determination.They demonstrated a combined team effort and dominated the opponent.
What I witnessed as a fan was exactly what I wanted to see out of a football team,heart, determination, commitment and execution.
21 point= meteocre performance? thanks BenHookem-Horns
Lennie Collins said:
posted on September 17, 2007 12:24 AM — 68.93.134.47 — link — abuse?
I would have to agree with Tomcat on this one! texas had a superb game against TCU. Although it was for 1 half it still was splendid! Too Bad that determination and domination did not carry over to the Central Florida Game. Boy this gone to be a ruff week for you Tomcat. If texas blows Rice out, which they should, you are going to be on here trying to convince us that ut is BACK! If they(ut) struggle to beat Rice you will be trying to convince us that Rice is really underrated and really is a good team. Man it must be lonely out there on that flood control watch!
Tomcat said:
posted on September 17, 2007 5:13 AM — 69.148.173.234 — link — abuse?
Main Topic- BCS busters No Doubt that Tulsa is in that position and after they play OU anythings possible.Hopefully Coach Grahmn and his team can pull off the big upset and if not they will give OU a good game. After beating OU, Tulsa could very well run the table and crash the BCS.
Go Tulsa
Tomcat said:
posted on September 17, 2007 6:49 AM — 69.148.173.234 — link — abuse?
post #9 and #11 were not what I expected.
Now post #13 and #14 are more like it. In fact post # 14 has got me laughing- Thanks man
In post #11 you demonstrated the no win situation for all UT coaches, players and fans, which is what I have aluded to in previuos post.
Looks like another exciting week coming up looking foward to A&M vs Miami
BTW they raised the gates on the Dams Thursday.
Adios Tomcat
posted on September 17, 2007 9:21 AM — 150.176.192.1 — link — abuse? said:
For the record, I retain the right to be as biased as I want to be, so long as I am clear about my bias. Disagree with me as you want, thats fine.
I don't think Texas is as good as the polls say they are. I also think Florida is the best team in the nation this year. I hate that USC starts #1 or #2 in the polls every year.
I must admit I only watch the first half of the TCU Texas Game, and Texas opened up the game in the second half.
One thing this year is demonstrating is that paraty at the division 1 level is much closer than anyone thought.
Lennie Collins said:
posted on September 17, 2007 11:45 AM — 68.93.134.47 — link — abuse?
OU Ron I gots to disargee with you on that comment you made about Tennesse having to beat Arkansas State to prove how lame texas really is. If that game against Central Florida was not proof enough then I don't know what is.
Bo Bo said:
posted on September 17, 2007 8:54 PM — 75.120.236.184 — link — abuse?
Rammer Jammer - Bevo Boy is bound and determined to have Bama play UCF. He has posted that misinformation on more than one board. Guess he never goes back and reads followup comments. However you would think that he could look at the polls and see that Bama is 3-0. He might want to go here and check some facts before posting.
www.rolltide.com
Bevo Boy said:
posted on September 17, 2007 9:41 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse?
Rammer Jammer, I listened to the commentators for the texas vs. ucf game and I believed them. They said that is was earlier this year and I didn't think that they would be wrong. Next time I'll double check it but I haven't quite figured out time travel to go back and fix this mistake so just disregard that part.
Bevo Boy said:
posted on September 22, 2007 11:40 PM — 205.188.116.136 — link — abuse?
Sweet Home Alabama, they showed UCF make the game winning field goal and it was against 'Bama. They said it was earlier this year and since that's wrong but they showed the clip more than once, it must've just been in the recent past.
Tomcat said:
posted on September 23, 2007 12:02 PM — 70.244.249.50 — link — abuse?
Hey Ben Prather- I knew you didnt watch the entire game. I didnt see much of the first half because of the Marathon game between A&M vs Fresno. We listened to the first hour on the radio.I honestly cannot comment on any teams performance if I did not personally watch the game. You do reserve the right to be just as opionionated and bias as you want to be.
Adios Tomcat
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Big Tide said:
posted on September 16, 2007 6:52 PM — 12.208.88.211 — link — abuse?Great point on the Bama vs. Houston game Mr. Prather. Bama has a history of playing flat for Homecoming and Houston will come into Tuscaloosa with nothing to lose and everything to gain.