College Game of the Week: (#9) LSU at (#4) Florida
In honor of the 2006 College Football Season, Bullz-Eye.com will preview an up-and-coming game of the week, each week, for the entire length of the NCAA season.
Each week a game will be highlighted and broken down by each teams strengths and weaknesses vs. its opponent. Plus, no preview would be complete without a forecasted score – you’ll find a prediction on the game at Bullz-Eye.com as well.
There are three games on this weekend in college football that have two ranked teams battling head to head. No offense to the other two games, but LSU heading to Gainesville to take on the Gators is the by far the best contest of the weekend.
On tap this week: (#9) LSU at (#4) Florida.
Thanks for the SEC recognition in your power rankings! One quick note on that article…you should apply the same logic that dropped West Virginia in your rankings to USC as well. Being that they play one (1) Top 15 opponent all year and compete in a weak conference, it’s no wonder they make it to the National Title game every year. I would be shocked if either West Virginia or USC didn’t run the table this year based purely on their incredibly weak strength of schedules!
Back to SEC ball, Florida vs. LSU is going to be an incredible game. It will be interesting to see if either offense can produce a solid running game. I’m still waiting for UF to bring in Tebow at tailback and create a dual-threat type of backfield. Wouldn’t that be something? For LSU, this game is a must-win to stay in SEC Championship contention. For Florida, this is just one of many tests they will face over the next four weeks. I challenge any team to take on four (4) Top 10 opponents and try to run the table…they deserve respect just for the attempt. Oh wait, didn’t Auburn do that in ‘04 and still got shunned from the BCS title game for an inferior computer generated matchup? Here’s to Tubberville speaking his mind this week. It’s about time that the NCAA looks beyond the dollars and makes and concertive effort to improve the system. Until then, we will continue to see USC in the title game every year (even without Reggie and Leinart).
Life just isn’t fair…especially in the SEC. OK, I’ll wipe my tears.
John,
Not a problem about the mention in the PR – you were right…
Weird that you just mentioned Tuberville’s comments, because I just posted something about it…I think what he said was great too.
As far as USC, I agree, but they still produce great teams and great athletes virtually every year and I still think they are well coached and would probably beat some SEC teams if given the chance. I don’t like (and I just wrote about this) how they can sneak into National Championship contention without playing anybody every year, compared to what SEC schools have to go through just to get there – I’ll give you that.
I’ll tell you what – I’ll put them on a short leash like I did Auburn, deal?
Great comments,
-Anthony-
Looking like Wynn will play, as well as Harvin. Will be interesting to see Tebow’s role this week. LSU needs to win out and hope Auburn loses twice, which could happen. If the Gators manage to score more than seven points against LSU, which I think you can count on, Auburn begins to look a tad overrated. Of course, the Gators will only have to wait a week to find out.
Homecoming in the Swamp could be the x-factor that takes LSU down, their QB is unlikely to finish the day with only one interception. A lot of quarterbacks are going to look good against Mississippi State, Florida’s defense should be a lot more Auburn-like.
I think I know whom Larry is rooting for this weekend…
I think Russell will surprise you by his play Larry and I don’t know how effective Wynn is going to be if he does see the field. LSU is tough enough to run against with two healthy legs…
As far as Tim Tebow goes, I’d expect Urban Meyer to throw three to four wide receiver sets at LSU and try to get Tebow on the field anyway he can. The kid is a fantastic athlete with a great arm and obviously Meyer likes his running ability too. So, maybe Meyer can create some match up problems against LSU – he’ll have to playing that defense.
As far as homecoming goes, you’re absolutely right Larry – it can be a factor. But Michigan State just had a homecoming game against Illinois and they laid an egg.
You just don’t lose to Illinois EVER – never the less in East Lansing and on homecoming!
Enjoy the game Saturday guys – thanks for the comments.
-Anthony-
Anthony,
Don’t get me wrong, USC is definetly full of talent and great coaches. They are contenders just about every year and I’m sure they could beat SEC and Big 10 contenders (if they would ever “man up” and put some on their schedule). However, they don’t and only schedule one big game per season (on average) and you really can’t blame them? It’s a win/win scenario. They play it safe assuring easier roads to title matches. This can be used as a recruiting tool for players who know they will have a legitimate shot at a title at least once in their career.
Less test = less risk = more title shots = better recruits = more championships = MORE $$$$$!
Compare this to SEC, Big 10, etc. These teams have multiple tests per season i.e. Florida facing (4) Top 10 opponents. They eventually pick each other off and maybe one team will escape unblemished every 4 years (if you have Cadillac and Ronnie Brown in your backfield to run over the entire conference).
My arguement is that a playoff system would at least force these teams from less competetive conferences to at least play a couple key games to determine their fate instead of it just being handed to them on a silver platter. As we all know, in college football it’s usually one and done.
SEC John,
I don’t think we disagree on the need for a playoff system in college football to benefit teams like LSU, Auburn, Florida, etc. We’re right on the same page my man…
As far as a team like USC playing one team a year and being ranked as high as they are – I will say this:
Anybody who knows me knows that I can’t stand when teams rely on a cupcake schedule every year and are deemed “the best in college football.” In fact, I hammer Nebraska for that very reason in almost all of my college wrap-ups.
However, I learned a big lesson this season when Notre Dame played Michigan. I really thought that there was no way the Wolverines were going into South Bend and knocking off the Irish…I mean, look who U of M played – Vanderbilt and Central Michigan! Notre Dame had the edge; they played tougher competition (Ga Tech and Penn State) and therefore were the better team.
Opps.
I’m going to try and not make that mistake again, because hey, good teams are good teams. I really believe that USC is a better team right now than Auburn and LSU (regardless of who the Trojans have played). Maybe I’ll get proven wrong some day – although I doubt it because none of these schools are likely to face off unless they make it to the National Championship (which is your biggest compliant). Another thing I don’t want to do is hold anything against the athletes. They prepare and play for whoever is on their schedule – it’s the USC big wigs who schedule the cupcake teams for cash (like you have mentioned) – I still think USC is a great football team and I’d give them a 60-40 advantage over Auburn/LSU right now.
HERE’S TO A PLAYOFF SYSTEM SO WE WOULDN’T EVEN HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS!
-Anthony-
I also think a playoff system is needed. Look at the last six years – wouldn’t it have been nice if we played at least one more game to which the Champion was clearly the Champion ?
I don’t think there is anyway for college football to do a ” March Madness ” like college hoops – but wouldn’t it be nice to do something closely related to bring the best team to the top clearly ?