Tag: Oklahoma Sooners (Page 17 of 18)

      Week 5 College Football Primer

      September 24, 2008 /

      Time to check out the big games, top matchups and potential upsets as college football heads into Week 5.

      Top 25 Action:
      Nick SabanNo. 8 Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC) at No. 3 Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC), Saturday 7:45 PM ET ESPN
      In their 27-10 win over Arizona State last week, the Bulldogs were able to physically dominate ASU in the trenches, but questions still remain about their inexperienced offensive line. After having trouble with South Carolina’s front four two weeks ago, UGA head coach Mark Richt made some changes that at the very least, worked in the win over ASU. But the Bulldogs’ offensive line will get another stiff test this week against a physical defensive front of Alabama. Tide head coach Nick Saban has his team believing they can win and their 328-92 rushing dominance in a win at Arkansas last week was nothing short of impressive. Last year ‘Bama gave Georgia everything they could handle before finally losing 26-23 in overtime in Tuscaloosa. So it should be another great SEC battle “between the hedges” this Saturday. Georgia is currently a 6.5-point favorite.

      No. 24 TCU (4-0, 1-0 MWC) at No. 2 Oklahoma (3-0, 2-0 home), Saturday 7:00 PM ET
      The Sooners wrap up their non-conference schedule by hosting an undefeated TCU team that ranks 13th in the nation in points scored. Of course, Oklahoma is the top ranked program in that category, so lets not get ahead ourselves in predicting an upset. The Sooners have outscored opponents 164-42 and are second in the nation with a 40.7 average margin of victory. OU head coach Bob Stoops has been around the block more than enough to know his team can’t relax before conference play. Oklahoma is an 18.5-point home favorite.

      No. 22 Illinois (2-1, 0-1 away) at No. 12 Penn State (4-0, 3-0 home)
      Entering the season, Ohio State and Wisconsin were considered the class of the Big Ten. While that might still be the case, the conference produces an underrated matchup this Saturday in Happy Valley when the Nittany Lions host the Illini. So far this season, PSU has one of the best offenses in the nation, ranking sixth in total yards, 31st in passing yards, eighth in rushing yards and third in points scored. But the last time the Lions squared off against Illinois, they turned the ball over three times inside the Illini’ 30-yard line in a surprising 27-20 loss in Champaign. Film of that game will almost certainly be shown to PSU players leading up to Saturday’s game. Illinois is currently a 15-point road dog.

      Upset Watch:
      Chris ToddTennessee at No. 15 Auburn Saturday 3:30 PM ET CBS
      Considering they were crushed 30-6 by Florida last Saturday, not too many people will give the Vols a chance this weekend against the Tigers, who are coming off a narrow loss to No. 6 LSU. But Tennessee played better against the Gators than the final score indicated. The UT defense surrendered only 16 first downs and 243 yards against the high-powered Florida offense. That bodes well this week when they take on an Auburn offense that has only managed 17 points in their first eight quarters against SEC opponents and is largely still a work in progress. Oddsmakers have established Auburn as a 6.5-point favorite.

      Other notable games:
      No. 1 USC at Oregon State, Thursday 9:00 PM ET ESPN
      Remember the last time USC traveled to Corvallis? The Trojans certainly do.

      Mississippi State at No. 5 LSU Saturday 7:30 PM ESPN2
      The Tigers are coming off a huge win last week in Auburn. Will they have a letdown against unranked Mississippi State?

      Arkansas at No. 7 Texas Saturday 3:30 PM ET ABC
      Bobby Petrino’s bunch were hammered last week at home against Alabama. Petrino can probably count on similar results this week in Austin.

      College Football

      College Football Rankings Week 4: Top 5 stays the same

      September 22, 2008 /

      Jarrett LeeThe latest AP college football rankings and USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll have been released, with the top 5 teams all staying put.

      USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll Top 10:

      1. USC
      2.Oklahoma
      3. Georgia
      4. Florida
      5. Missouri
      6. LSU
      7. Texas
      8. Wisconsin
      9. Texas Tech
      10. Alabama

      Four programs dropped out of the top 25, including East Carolina (No. 17), West Virginia (No. 22), Arizona State (No. 24) and Florida State (No. 25), folloing their losses last week.

      It’s nice to see Vanderbilt has finally cracked the top 25, coming in at No. 25. After ECU was beat by NC State last Saturday, maybe Vandy will now become the new Cinderella story this season.

      College Football

      Chase Daniel takes lead in Heisman race?

      September 16, 2008 /

      Gene Menez of SI.com breaks down the Heisman race as college football enters Week 4 of the season.

      Chase Daniel1. Chase Daniel, Missouri, QB, Sr.
      Last week: 23-of-28 passing, 405 yards, 4 TDs; 1 rush, 12 yards in a 69-17 victory over Nevada.
      Season: 65-of-90 passing, 973 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT; 10 rushes, 58 yards.
      Heisman-o-meter: Daniel has been a regular on this list for three years, but he has never been No. 1 — until now. The Tigers’ triggerman has been mind-boggingly productive in his first three games as the Missouri offense has rolled. (In the last two he has played just four quarters total and has seven touchdowns against six incompletions.) How he plays in the Tigers’ tough October stretch (at Nebraska, Oklahoma State, at Texas, Colorado) will go a long way in determining if he stays at No. 1.
      Up next: Saturday vs. Buffalo.

      2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB, Soph.
      Last week: 18-of-21 passing, 304 yards, 5 TDs; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TD in a 55-14 victory at Washington.
      Season: 64-of-81 passing, 882 yards, 12 TDs, 2 INTs; 4 rushes, 4 yards, 1 TD.
      Heisman-o-meter: In other Big 12 news, the Sooners have the conference’s — and country’s — No. 2 candidate for the stiff-armed statuette. Bradford plays so smoothly when he’s rolling out of the pocket and hitting receivers on the run, and he has Oklahoma’s offense humming. The task of separating Daniel and Bradford (Does Daniel benefit from having better receivers? Does Bradford have a better offensive line, running game and defense to get him the ball?) could go into early December when the Big 12 title game is played.
      Up next: Sept. 27 vs. TCU.

      3. Tim Tebow, Florida, QB, Jr.
      Last week: Idle.
      Season: 30-of-49 passing, 393 yards, 3 TDs; 22 rushes, 92 yards.
      Heisman-o-meter: As Daniel, Bradford and others have made early-season cases for the Heisman, the incumbent has yet to be the Tebow we know. For Saturday’s game at Tennessee, it will be interesting to see if the Gators’ rushing attack has improved since the Miami contest and who’s doing the heavy lifting. None of Florida’s tailbacks were effective against the Hurricanes, forcing the running load onto Tebow’s legs, which could prove great for a Heisman repeat but not so good for the Gators’ long term goals.
      Up next: Saturday at Tennessee.

      Daniel has been the best quarterback of this young season and his play at the end of the opener against Illinois was fantastic. But even though the Illini proved to be a tougher opponent than many thought, Daniel’s first true test comes next week when the Tigers travel to Nebraska and take on an improved Huskers program.

      Unfortunately college football fans have to wait two more weeks before Bradford faces his first real test. After TCU this week and at Baylor next Saturday, Oklahoma hosts Texas and Kansas in back-to-back weeks. Bradford might have the chance to win or lose the Heisman in those weeks.

      College Football

      Week 3 College Football Primer

      September 10, 2008 /

      Time to check out the big games, top matchups and potential upsets as college football heads into Week 3.

      Mark SanchezTop 25 Action:
      No. 5 Ohio State (2-0) at No. 1 USC (1-0), Saturday 8:00 PM ET ABC
      OSU head coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday that Heisman candidate Beanie Wells will play Saturday in Southern Cal. The Buckeyes are going to need all the offensive firepower they can get against one of the best front sevens in the nation. USC quarterback Mark Sanchez shredded Virginia for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1, but OSU’s defense is loaded with experienced talent. This is one of the most anticipated college football games of the year and should be a tight contest, although oddsmakers have made the Trojans 10.5-point favorites. (Check out our offical Ohio State-USC smack talk thread as well.)

      No. 13 Kansas (2-0) at No. 19 South Florida (2-0), Friday 8:00 PM ET ESPN2
      This is a tremendous matchup to kick off the Week 3 schedule as Kansas and its high-powered offense take on South Florida, which has the No. 1 ranked defense in college football. In their two wins, the Jayhawks averaged over 450 yards a game, but they go up against a Bulls’ defense Friday night that has only allowed an average of 161.5 yards per game. Oddsmakers have listed South Florida as a 3-point home favorite.

      No. 10 Wisconsin (2-0) at No. 21 Fresno State (1-0), 10:30 PM ET ESPN2
      Marshall rolled out to a 14-0 lead on the Badgers last week before Wisconsin eventually settled down and hammered the Thundering Heard 51-14 to improve to 2-0 on the year. Fresno State dismantled Rutgers 24-7 in New Jersey in Week 1 and should be well rested coming off a bye last week. One thing to keep an eye on is the health status of Wisconsin TE Travis Beckum, who missed the Badgers’ first two games this year with a bad hamstring. Beckum is highly regarded as one of the top tight end prospect in college football and is expected to play this weekend.

      Chris SmelleyNo. 2 Georgia (2-0) at South Carolina (1-1), Saturday 3:30 PM ET CBS
      Before being upset by Vanderbilt last week, the Game Cocks were supposed to be Georgia’s first real test of the 2008 season. One has to assume that South Carolina is going to come out fired up after being bounced from the top 25 following their loss to the Commodores. The Bulldogs absolutely hammered Central Michigan last week, but can’t take anything for granted this Saturday playing a pissed off Steve Spurrier squad. SC is a 7.5-point home underdog.

      Upset Watch:
      UCLA (1-0) at No. 18 BYU (2-0)
      Washington gave BYU all it could handle in Week 2 before the Cougars eventually eked out a 28-27 win. And the last time we saw the Bruins, they were upsetting Tennessee in the first week of the season. While this wouldn’t be a huge upset, it would be the second time in two chances that UCLA knocks off a ranked opponent. And with Fresno State, Oregon, California, ASU and USC on their schedule, the Bruins will have plenty of opportunities to make some noise and possibly become one of the best surprises of the season. BYU is currently an 8-point favorite.

      Other notable games:
      No. 14 East Carolina at Tulane – Saturday, 3:00 PM ET
      No. 3 Oklahoma at Washington – Saturday, 7:45 PM ET
      Arkansas at No. 8 Texas – Saturday, 3:30 PM ET

      College Football

      USC leapfrogs over Georgia, Ohio State in latest AP college football polls

      September 2, 2008 /

      USC TrojansIn yet another example of how ridiculous college football polls are early in the season, the latest AP rankings have established USC as the top rated team in the nation. The previously No. 1 ranked Georgia is now No. 2, while Ohio State moves from No. 2 to No. 3.

      The Top 5:

      1. USC
      2. Georgia
      3. Ohio State
      4. Oklahoma
      5. Florida

      For the rest of the AP Top 25 poll, click here.

      So what, because Georgia only beat Georgia Southern 45-21, USC is now the better team because they crushed Virginia 52-7? And Ohio State’s 43-0 romp over Youngstown State wasn’t enough for them to keep the top spot?

      At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the AP needs to hold off on doing these polls until after every team has played at least four games. Because there’s no way the AP can suggest that USC is a better team this week than they were last week just because they beat a better opponent than Georgia did. (And I say that regardless of whether or not the Trojans really are better than the Bulldogs.)

      College Football

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