2008 NFL Week 12 Picks and Podcast: Live Thursday at 8PM ET | Week 11

College Football

What a Spectacular Separation Saturday!

By thebigcali, Section College
Posted on Tue Sep 19 2006 at 9:53 PM EST Printer Friendly Page
More on: college football (all tags)

What a day of college football. I am nearly speechless. Separation Saturday lived up to its billing and then some... and then some! There were upsets, unexpected blowouts, nailbiters and of course, another week that draws us closer to understanding who is the best team in the nation!

Oregon's touchdown-onside kick-touchdown-blocked field goal has to be one of the most amazing upset comebacks that college football has ever seen. Michigan absolutely trounced Notre Dame on the road and essentially saved Lloyd Carr's job in the process. Clemson beat an obviously overrated Florida State team that relies far too much on their defense. Louisville nearly blanked Miami and Auburn held on to a slim lead for most of the game against LSU. Not to mention, TCU extended their winning streak to 13 games. Could you really ask for more?

Watching the end of the Oregon-Oklahoma game was like a dream and to anyone who missed it, you missed quite a finale. If you know anyone who recorded this game, pop some popcorn and watch a great game. Clemson's RB James Davis scored with seconds left and put the Tigers ahead to win the game. Florida squeaked out of Tennessee with a 1 point victory. USC quieted Nebraska over the top approach in the days leading up the game. Nebraska was demanding attention and speaking of being recognized again as an elite program. Let me say the obvious, they failed miserably.

What can be made of all this? I don't think it's all too obvious since we're only a few weeks into the season but, there are no truly elite teams this year. Sure, Ohio State won by 30 points but they struggled early against Cincinnati. Notre Dame was overrated by the hype machine and their reputation. Auburn looks for real but QB Brandon Cox can't seem to stay consistent and scoring seven points against a good team like LSU just isn't enough. West Virginia is benefiting from a cupcake schedule. USC is still good but their unreliable running game will come to haunt them as they will have to improve. LSU has a great defense but clearly can't put points on the board. Florida also seems very balanced, but I've just never been sold on Chris Leak to pull through in big games. When Florida plays the better teams in the SEC, there's just no telling how they will do. Louisville also has great balance but with QB Brian Brohm out at least one month and RB Michael Bush out for the year, there's just no telling how they will do over the long haul or if Brohm will even be effective upon his return. Georgia also seems to have a pretty good defense but with the SEC being so good, they're bound to get burned eventually. Michigan on the other hand seems to be feistier than ever and could prove themselves to be a top 5 team after a very poor showing last season.

There were three huge upsets this past Saturday and I'd expect this to be a trend all throughout the season. With no clear-cut consistently dominant team, the top 15 could be a revolving door. If you're expecting another BCS disaster like in years past, don't expect it. The two teams who will end up number one and two will be the undoubted top shelf teams that they are expected to be.

Here's how I see the top 15:

  1. Ohio State
  2. Auburn
  3. USC
  4. West Virginia
  5. Florida
  6. Michigan
  7. Georgia
  8. LSU
  9. Texas
  10. Louisville
  11. Virginia Tech
  12. Notre Dame
  13. Oregon
  14. Florida State
  15. Iowa

Story writing contest

Log in or create an account to vote for this story!
< 32 New Reasons to Watch the NFL In 2006 | NFL Overtime Needs Fixing >
Display: Sort:
What a Spectacular Separation Saturday! | 5 comments (5 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
wouldn't it be nice (#1)
by cernig on Mon Sep 18 2006 at 7:53 PM EST
if penn state beat ohio state saturday... then maybe by the time oct 14 rolls around and psu then defeats scUM at the beav! im such a big dreamer.

i meant to add (#2)
by cernig on Mon Sep 18 2006 at 7:54 PM EST
by the time oct 14 rolls around, scUM is also #1! defeat two #1's in one year.

[ Parent ]
FSU (#3)
by Jackson Govatos on Mon Sep 18 2006 at 8:10 PM EST
You called them "obviously overrated," then you ranked them at #14. What gives?

Gotta keep it realistic (#4)
by thebigcali on Tue Sep 19 2006 at 10:07 PM EST
Can't drop them to like.. what? 20?

The real polls don't work that way, neither does the one in my head. They clearly weren't a #9 team. and its not like they got blown out.

[ Parent ]

A couple of comments.... (#5)
by Mtner77 on Sat Sep 23 2006 at 2:44 PM EST
...."Watching the end of the Oregon-Oklahoma game was like a dream"....

Yes it was.... A very bad dream!

First let me say that I am a Pac-10 guy.  I live in Pac-10 country and have very little love for Oklahoma.  But that game was a disgrace!  To call it a "dream", like it was something special that Oregon did is laughable.  The worst calls of the year (blatant! wrong calls!) directly gave Oregon their win.  They should never should have got the ball back after their onside kick.  The replay clearly showed Oregon touching the ball before it went ten yards.  The two replay officials (who both live in the state of Oregon, BTW) say there was indisputable evidence that Oklahoma touched it first??? That's laughable.  Even Dan Foutts up in the booth, an Oregon alum, was screaming ripoff!  Then Oregon gets a gift pass interference call on a tipped ball??  All of the Oregon-Oklahoma officials (including the replay officials) were suspended by the Pac-10 for one game.  Several college coaches have been quoted as saying that they felt that this was too soft and that it should of been one year.  I personally would have favored a lifetime ban for such out and out cheating.  To even call this even a good game is a joke.

The only other comment I have is that any Saturday is special if Notre Dame looses!  Hopefully, they can continue their loosing ways again this week against Michigan St.

What a Spectacular Separation Saturday! | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
Display: Sort:


Login

Create an account

User ID:
Passwd:

Forgot your password?

Related Links