Tag: UCLA

Some of my thoughts on College Football’s happenings this past weekend:

1. LSU is the slam dunk #1 team in the country: I don’t think there is anyone who can argue that sentiment as they not only ran the table in the SEC, but they also beat the top teams in the SEC (three times), Pac-12 (Oregon), and the Big East (West Virginia). They did it in such a convincing fashion that few can see any way they lose the National Championship to Alabama. Which brings me to my next point…
2. Alabama should not be playing for the National Championship: Yes they are probably the second best team in the country. Yes they did go 11-1 this year with their only loss being to the aforementioned juggernaut from Baton Rouge. but they failed to do two things. Win their division and/or conference. Oklahoma State is the deserving participant to play against LSU in the Superdome in January. People who scream that Alabama is the clear number one be careful what you say. looking at the top offenses in the country Oklahoma State played three of them and held them to a combined 63 points. And although their only loss came to Iowa State, something should be said for their efforts against the top teams. 
3. Georgia has the potential to be scary good in 2012: I’m allowed to show a little home state love to the Dawgs. After all their defense, which is ranked fourth nationally, held the number one team in the country to ZERO first downs or scores for an entire half. LSU’s offense looked so bad that should missed scoring opportunities by Malcom Mitchell and Tavarres King not been floundered LSU is looking at a switch in quarterbacks, a 21-or-24 to nothing deficit and all of a sudden a run first team is forced to pass their way out of trouble. That being said Georgia is returning a plethora of their defensive stars next year, including Bacarri Rambo, Alec Ogletree, John Jenkins, Jarvis Jones, and Cornelius Washington. On offense Aaron Murray knows what he has to do in the off-season and that is, work on his accuracy. The Sophomore who threw for 32 touchdowns is all upside, and with the potential number one running back in the country set to sign and possibly pick Georgia they’re looking like the sexy pick to return, and possibly win, the SEC.
4. Virginia Tech belongs anywhere but a BCS bowl: By my calculation Virginia Tech lost to Clemson by a combined score of 61-13 in their two meetings this year, didn’t win the ACC title and narrowly escaped the jaws of defeat against East Carolina, Miami, Georgia Tech and UNC. For that they are rewarded the Sugar Bowl? The reason “they travel well” tells me all I need to know about the decision to place them there. The BCS has no idea either. TCU, Boise State, Kansas State, Georgia, and Michigan State all deserved that bid before Virginia Tech. In that order. So the fact we will be seeing “Beamer ball” on New Year’s day doesn’t sit well with a very large portion of the country.
5. Has anyone laid a bigger egg than Houston?: You have to wonder what is going through the mind of sixth-year eligible Case Keenum right now. You’re (12-0) and steam rolling to a BCS bowl and your draft stock is rising with each record breaking yard. Then you have a fall so hard the onle person who could possibly understand is Colt Brennan. BCS glory, conference millions, and personal fortune all had to be weighing on his mind during that 49-28 drubbing at the hands of Southern Mississippi. 
6. **Extra thought** On Pac-12 championship: I’m 99 percent sure that when they drew up this situation they weren’t envisioning the first Pac-12 championship game to be such a mismatch as to render it more of a forgone conclusion than a contest. While UCLA gave it their best shot, Oregon proved too much for the Bruins to handle. Two things are very obvious: UCLA has a long way to go before it can be considered a conference contender again; and LaMichael James might very well be the most exciting player in college football. Period.