What an impactful first month of games. Georgia led the way with clashes against Clemson, South Carolina, and LSU in what were all top 10 battles as they emerged 2-1 from that and 3-1 overall. While Alabama had their own top 10 battle and other top 25 clash as they stand atop the rankings at 4-0. Equally impressive have been Oregon, Louisville, and Florida State in essentially routing each of their opponents while Clemson, Stanford, and Ohio State are without a loss as well and in the mix. And while they might have a loss like Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M can easily rebound by navigating their remaining games which will be conference heavy. In a couple ranked battles, Wisconsin and Notre Dame suffered defeats and fall from the top 25 opening the door for Arizona State to return after their beatdown of USC and Fresno State to debut with their 5-0 start.
With Week 6 coming up, here are this week's power rankings:
1)(1) Alabama (vs Georgia State)- They should have little trouble this week and might be able to get reps for their backups in the second half.
2)(2) Oregon (at Colorado)- They have an offense that puts pretty much every team to shame and it's hard to see them not running through most of their schedule at this point.
3)(3) Ohio State (at Northwestern)- They got past one tough conference opponent and draw another as they continue to stay undefeated under Urban Meyer.
4)(4) Clemson (at Syracuse)- They should find plenty of opportunities this week to continue to make their case for a national title opportunity.
5)(5) Stanford (vs Washington)- They looked really good this past week and will need to be sharp early to set the tone in their favor against a very strong conference foe.
6)(7) Georgia (at Tennessee)- They have survived the toughest part of their schedule and need to take care of business against teams like Tennessee.
7)(6) Louisville (at Temple)- They should continue their dominance against a team with little to nothing on either side of the ball to combat against them.
8)(8) Florida State (vs Maryland)- They have cruised to wins at this point and will get a tougher challenge in the rising Terrapins this week.
9)(10) Texas A&M (BYE)- They get a chance to rest this week but don't seem to need much of a break with their offense hitting on all cylinders.
10)(9) LSU (at Mississippi State)- They look to rebound from their first loss and should have little trouble doing so.
11)(12) South Carolina (vs Kentucky)- The short term future of their starting quarterback is in doubt but they could ride their running game this week if needed.
12)(13) UCLA (at Utah)- They get a national spotlight this week to show the type of team they are and how they could potentially matchup well with either Oregon or Stanford for a conference title.
13)(14) Oklahoma (vs TCU)- They are starting to separate themselves in the Big 12 and likely should continue that trend.
14)(15) Northwestern (vs Ohio State)- They have slowly been rising throughout the year and now get their chance to show they are for real with the Buckeyes coming to town.
15)(16) Miami (FL) (vs Georgia Tech)- They look to be building steam and are looking like a legit threat in the ACC again.
16)(18) Washington (at Stanford)- They have continued to impress each week and now get a major opportunity in a key conference game. They will need to be sharp on both sides as Stanford can make this ugly or simply wear you down.
17)(17) Michigan (vs Minnesota)- They had two close calls and Minnesota is likely not going to have the same letdown as Akron or UConn so they must be careful and have a strong first half.
18)(19) Florida (vs Arkansas)- They did enough with a less than healthy offense and should be leery of an Arkansas team that has had two close losses and will not go easily.
19)(20) Baylor (vs West Virginia)- They won a major shootout last year against West Virginia and have been deadly on offense this year so it might be more one sided despite the Mountaineers' big win last week.
20)(11) Oklahoma State (vs Kansas State)- They certainly did not see West Virginia coming last week and should come in much more prepared for this one.
21)(24) Nebraska (vs Illinois)- They should not overlook the Illini as they continue to look to show they are a team to reckon with after their UCLA beatdown.
22)(25) Texas Tech (at Kansas)- They return to action in a conference game that looks favorable for them to strengthen both sides of the ball before tough conference games down the road.
23)(NR) Arizona State (vs Notre Dame)-They sure looked very strong and dominant against USC and get a team looking to rebound in a neutral site game.
24) (NR) Fresno State (at Idaho)- They have looked very good on offense and should continue that trend this week.
25)(22) Mississippi (at Auburn)- They might have gotten ahead of themselves against Alabama and were shown they still have some strides to go before they are a top team and shouldn't overlook a better Auburn squad this year.
NEXT 5
1) Wisconsin (BYE)- They have suffered two close defeats and now must regroup to get back on track in conference with a loaded competition this year.
2) Notre Dame (vs Arizona State)- They were put in an early hole and despite another tough effort in the second half, they couldn't avoid the loss. If they do that again this week, Arizona State showed what they can do with momentum this past week with a big win.
3) Michigan State (at Iowa)- They get an Iowa team that has looked much better this year and this sets up for a good matchup of even teams.
4) Northern Illinois (at Kent State)- They look on pace to be as good as last year but should not overlook this road game as Kent State went down to the wire in 2012 for the right to go to a BCS game.
5) Virginia Tech (vs North Carolina)- They are not overly dominant but wear you down and should have little trouble this week.
This past week provided multiple top 25 matchups and possibly the best slate of the season. There will a couple big time conference clashes this week and movement should continue again as the top teams begin to take shape after a month.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
NFL Week 4 Preview
Week 3 provided a few down to the wire games and a few shockers. It also saw teams like Denver and Seattle continue their dominance and Miami and Kansas City continue their surge. of great action to follow opening weekend as 10 games were decided by a touchdown or less. Chicago, New Orleans, and New England also enter Week 4 at 3-0 and have been winning in different ways based on their talent and strengths. The four games I highlighted to watch last week had a mix of drama and excitement. The Eagles kept things close throughout the game against the Chiefs but Kansas City was able to continue their solid mix of solid defense with timely offense and a few big plays to hold off Philadelphia with a late score to seal the deal. The Bengals-Packers game had a little of everything. Cincinnati jumped out to a 14-0 lead before giving up 30 straight points and then Green Bay would give up 20 points. Both QBs made multiple bad plays and it was the Packers that made a costly late turnover and fell short on a major 4th down all in one play that decided the game. The Texans were looking to make a statement in a potential playoff preview when they visited the Ravens with former Baltimore S Ed Reed making his first start against his former team. Recently retired MLB Ray Lewis was on the sideline for the game and he may have provided enough inspiration as Baltimore woke up in the second half and was doing most of their scoring on defense and special teams to pull away. Finally, Falcons' QB Matt Ryan showed his ice cold personality late in a tight game with a big touchdown to take the lead but Dolphins' QB Ryan Tannehill provided his own magic with a floating throw to secure the late win and keep the Miami unbeaten.
As the focus now turns to Week 4, there are 6 teams are still seeking their first win while 7 others hope to stay unbeaten. There will be one matchup of two unbeatens and one matchup of two teams without wins so something will change there.With my picks, I did not see some upsets coming this past week and went 10-6 to move to 36-12.
Here are this week's top 4 and the rest.
TOP 4
Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans: Both are looking to prove something this week. The Seahawks want to show they can be just as dominant on the road as they are at home while the Texans are looking to show they can defeat a top team and make their own case for their potential championship aspirations. Both teams will likely look to get their running games going early to set a strong tone on the line of scrimmage. QB Matt Schaub is hoping to find enough holes in a very good defense and needs to be careful because his turnovers has been costly like last week. The Texans have enough talent to pull off this at home, but Schaub will have a big mistake that opens the door for Seattle and they edge out a close one. PICK: SEAHAWKS
Philadelphia Eagles at Denver Broncos: While this might turn into a route, both teams feature explosive offenses and lots of points between the two would not be out of the question. QB Peyton Manning should be able to exploit the Philadelphia defense and slowly continue his epic season. Denver has not shown to be a locked down defense so like the first few games under Chip Kelly, the Philadelphia offense will make some big plays down the field but it won't be enough. PICK: BRONCOS
New England Patriots at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday Night): The Patriots have looked nothing like a 3-0 team while the Falcons are one of the biggest surprises this year at 1-2. On that premise, it would seem this is a must win for Atlanta and they should be able to use their superior talent to power past even the greatness of QB Tom Brady. However, the Falcons' have been a bit wounded in the early part of the year especially with star WR Roddy White. The Falcons do enough through most of the game, but somehow Brady works some magic late as the Patriots' defense keeps it close. In a late shocker, the Patriots escape undefeated and leave the Falcons in bad shape after 4 games. PICK: PATRIOTS
Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints (Monday Night): The Miami Dolphins had a good offseason with acquisitions on both sides of the ball and that combined with QB Ryan Tannehill taking some steps forward have allowed them to start 3-0. The Saints started 0-4 last year but now with their head coach back their explosive offense has returned. The biggest difference has been a tighter defensive effort by New Orleans. They will be able to potentially create an additional opportunity for QB Drew Brees and the offense. Miami keeps it close during the first half, but New Orleans' has a bit more punch and will get a couple big scores before Miami closes the gap slightly late. PICK: SAINTS
THE REST
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams (Thursday Night): The Rams' offense did not very good at all this past week. The 49ers are 1-2 and desperately need this win. Look for San Francisco to throw a little bit of everything at St. Louis. Rams' keep it close through one quarter but the 49ers start to find ways to pull away as this could become a route if their offense gets clicking. PICK: 49ers
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars: There is probably not too much to say here. The Colts should be able to move the ball pretty much at will as the Jaguars has struggled in all phases. A couple touchdowns by Indianapolis might be more than enough. PICK: COLTS
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Minnesota Vikings in London: The NFL games in London have not exactly been Super Bowl caliber contests. This one features two 0-3 teams so it could be close but also sloppy. HB Adrian Peterson should be able to find some holes and the Vikings will likely have a couple opportunities for turnovers with a struggling offensive line that causes QB Ben Roethlisberger to take occasional risky plays. It is hard to see the Steelers dropping to 0-4 though. They have not been great but have been gritty. They can certainly follow the formula of the Browns by getting the ball to TE Heath Miller while finding their two speedy receivers for a couple big plays. Close throughout with a big defensive stop by Pittsburgh to seal it. PICK: STEELERS
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills: The Ravens' offense is still struggling to obtain a necessary balance and put points up the way they were capable of during their playoff run last year. QB EJ Manuel for the Bills and their offense have been slowly improving while trying to limit mistakes. LB Kiko Alonso for the Bills might be an x-factor and could tip the game in Buffalo's favor if they can keep it close. However, like last week; Baltimore's defense will step up to help their offense who should be able to do enough to survive a tougher than probably expected road test. PICK: RAVENS
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns: Can the Browns move to 3-2 and potentially sole possession of first in the AFC North? The Bengals have more on both sides but since its a divisional game against state rivals this one will be close. If Cleveland can force a could turnovers and use TE Cameron Jordan the way they have the last two weeks, they have a shot to win. In the end like last week against Green Bay, the defense does enough and QB Andy Dalton combines with WR AJ Green for a couple of key scores. PICK: BENGALS
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: The Bears have looked very good especially on defense this year while the Lions have shown an expanded approach on offense with the acquisition of HB Reggie Bush who has looked about as good as ever. The big matchups to watch will be the QB-WR duos as they will essentially be trying to outduel each other. The Lions' front four might be a bit underrated and will be able to put some pressure on the Bears' offense. That pressure could force a couple turnovers by QB Jay Cutler and those might set the tone and pace. The Bears should be able to get possibly one themselves. The Lions do just enough to hold off the Bears in a shootout. PICK: LIONS
New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs: The Giants and QB Eli Manning look nothing like the team that has been able to win 2 Super Bowl in recent years. Based on what we've seen, Kansas City has the ability to force a couple turnovers and put a lot of pressure on Manning. That combo will be enough for the Chiefs to follow their balanced attack script with both sides of the ball contributing solid play. PICK: CHIEFS
Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Mike Glennon will be able to provide a spark for the Buccaneers this week and the Cardinals are not exactly a juggernaut. Not a lot of points in this one as a defensive struggles with a couple turnovers for each squad set up a winning drive late in the 4th. The Cardinals are the ones with the ball and pull off the nailbiting win on the road to continue Tampa Bay's woes. PICK: CARDINALS
New York Jets at Tennessee Titans: Both teams have seen some better than expected play from their quarterbacks while each has a stout defense. Thus, it will be crucial for each quarterback to protect the ball. QB Jake Looker has been able to stretch the field and the Jets' corners will be tested led CB Antonio Cromartie who has stepped up in Darrelle Revis' absence. QB Geno Smith makes a couple big mistakes that allow Tennessee to pull ahead in the second half and win a reasonably close one. PICK: TITANS
Washington Redskins at Oakland Raiders: The Redskins are looking to get their first win as the offense continues to look a little better each week. It won't be an easy one though this week as Oakland's new look defense as played grittier than expected but there is uncertainty behind center as QB Terrell Pryor likely won't play. Without that dynamic play of Pryor, the Redskins should be able to score enough and hold off Oakland despite poor defensive play by Washington this year. PICK: REDSKINS
Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers: With the rest of the NFC East struggling, Dallas can put an early stranglehold on the division with a win. QB Phillip Rivers has been looking a lot like the player that got his team to a couple championship games. With that in mind, this one could be a duel between him and QB Tony Romo as they each have solid tight ends and a couple wide outs who can move the ball. A late turnover by Rivers will allow Romo the opening to get a game sealing drive together that allows Dallas to escape a 40-35 type of game. PICK: COWBOYS
Green Bay and Carolina have the week off and would love to use this week to prepare enough to even their records next week at 2-2 when they return. The Dolphins have a great chance to show what type of team they might be this year with a big road test. At least one unbeaten team will fall, how will the rest fair? How many scores can QB Peyton Manning put up this week? Can the Giants, Redskins, and Steelers right their ships? Three others hope to get their first win as well. There are some potential shootouts and lots of offense as top teams continue to work to separate themselves early in the season.
As the focus now turns to Week 4, there are 6 teams are still seeking their first win while 7 others hope to stay unbeaten. There will be one matchup of two unbeatens and one matchup of two teams without wins so something will change there.With my picks, I did not see some upsets coming this past week and went 10-6 to move to 36-12.
Here are this week's top 4 and the rest.
TOP 4
Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans: Both are looking to prove something this week. The Seahawks want to show they can be just as dominant on the road as they are at home while the Texans are looking to show they can defeat a top team and make their own case for their potential championship aspirations. Both teams will likely look to get their running games going early to set a strong tone on the line of scrimmage. QB Matt Schaub is hoping to find enough holes in a very good defense and needs to be careful because his turnovers has been costly like last week. The Texans have enough talent to pull off this at home, but Schaub will have a big mistake that opens the door for Seattle and they edge out a close one. PICK: SEAHAWKS
Philadelphia Eagles at Denver Broncos: While this might turn into a route, both teams feature explosive offenses and lots of points between the two would not be out of the question. QB Peyton Manning should be able to exploit the Philadelphia defense and slowly continue his epic season. Denver has not shown to be a locked down defense so like the first few games under Chip Kelly, the Philadelphia offense will make some big plays down the field but it won't be enough. PICK: BRONCOS
New England Patriots at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday Night): The Patriots have looked nothing like a 3-0 team while the Falcons are one of the biggest surprises this year at 1-2. On that premise, it would seem this is a must win for Atlanta and they should be able to use their superior talent to power past even the greatness of QB Tom Brady. However, the Falcons' have been a bit wounded in the early part of the year especially with star WR Roddy White. The Falcons do enough through most of the game, but somehow Brady works some magic late as the Patriots' defense keeps it close. In a late shocker, the Patriots escape undefeated and leave the Falcons in bad shape after 4 games. PICK: PATRIOTS
Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints (Monday Night): The Miami Dolphins had a good offseason with acquisitions on both sides of the ball and that combined with QB Ryan Tannehill taking some steps forward have allowed them to start 3-0. The Saints started 0-4 last year but now with their head coach back their explosive offense has returned. The biggest difference has been a tighter defensive effort by New Orleans. They will be able to potentially create an additional opportunity for QB Drew Brees and the offense. Miami keeps it close during the first half, but New Orleans' has a bit more punch and will get a couple big scores before Miami closes the gap slightly late. PICK: SAINTS
THE REST
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams (Thursday Night): The Rams' offense did not very good at all this past week. The 49ers are 1-2 and desperately need this win. Look for San Francisco to throw a little bit of everything at St. Louis. Rams' keep it close through one quarter but the 49ers start to find ways to pull away as this could become a route if their offense gets clicking. PICK: 49ers
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars: There is probably not too much to say here. The Colts should be able to move the ball pretty much at will as the Jaguars has struggled in all phases. A couple touchdowns by Indianapolis might be more than enough. PICK: COLTS
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Minnesota Vikings in London: The NFL games in London have not exactly been Super Bowl caliber contests. This one features two 0-3 teams so it could be close but also sloppy. HB Adrian Peterson should be able to find some holes and the Vikings will likely have a couple opportunities for turnovers with a struggling offensive line that causes QB Ben Roethlisberger to take occasional risky plays. It is hard to see the Steelers dropping to 0-4 though. They have not been great but have been gritty. They can certainly follow the formula of the Browns by getting the ball to TE Heath Miller while finding their two speedy receivers for a couple big plays. Close throughout with a big defensive stop by Pittsburgh to seal it. PICK: STEELERS
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills: The Ravens' offense is still struggling to obtain a necessary balance and put points up the way they were capable of during their playoff run last year. QB EJ Manuel for the Bills and their offense have been slowly improving while trying to limit mistakes. LB Kiko Alonso for the Bills might be an x-factor and could tip the game in Buffalo's favor if they can keep it close. However, like last week; Baltimore's defense will step up to help their offense who should be able to do enough to survive a tougher than probably expected road test. PICK: RAVENS
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns: Can the Browns move to 3-2 and potentially sole possession of first in the AFC North? The Bengals have more on both sides but since its a divisional game against state rivals this one will be close. If Cleveland can force a could turnovers and use TE Cameron Jordan the way they have the last two weeks, they have a shot to win. In the end like last week against Green Bay, the defense does enough and QB Andy Dalton combines with WR AJ Green for a couple of key scores. PICK: BENGALS
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: The Bears have looked very good especially on defense this year while the Lions have shown an expanded approach on offense with the acquisition of HB Reggie Bush who has looked about as good as ever. The big matchups to watch will be the QB-WR duos as they will essentially be trying to outduel each other. The Lions' front four might be a bit underrated and will be able to put some pressure on the Bears' offense. That pressure could force a couple turnovers by QB Jay Cutler and those might set the tone and pace. The Bears should be able to get possibly one themselves. The Lions do just enough to hold off the Bears in a shootout. PICK: LIONS
New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs: The Giants and QB Eli Manning look nothing like the team that has been able to win 2 Super Bowl in recent years. Based on what we've seen, Kansas City has the ability to force a couple turnovers and put a lot of pressure on Manning. That combo will be enough for the Chiefs to follow their balanced attack script with both sides of the ball contributing solid play. PICK: CHIEFS
Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Mike Glennon will be able to provide a spark for the Buccaneers this week and the Cardinals are not exactly a juggernaut. Not a lot of points in this one as a defensive struggles with a couple turnovers for each squad set up a winning drive late in the 4th. The Cardinals are the ones with the ball and pull off the nailbiting win on the road to continue Tampa Bay's woes. PICK: CARDINALS
New York Jets at Tennessee Titans: Both teams have seen some better than expected play from their quarterbacks while each has a stout defense. Thus, it will be crucial for each quarterback to protect the ball. QB Jake Looker has been able to stretch the field and the Jets' corners will be tested led CB Antonio Cromartie who has stepped up in Darrelle Revis' absence. QB Geno Smith makes a couple big mistakes that allow Tennessee to pull ahead in the second half and win a reasonably close one. PICK: TITANS
Washington Redskins at Oakland Raiders: The Redskins are looking to get their first win as the offense continues to look a little better each week. It won't be an easy one though this week as Oakland's new look defense as played grittier than expected but there is uncertainty behind center as QB Terrell Pryor likely won't play. Without that dynamic play of Pryor, the Redskins should be able to score enough and hold off Oakland despite poor defensive play by Washington this year. PICK: REDSKINS
Dallas Cowboys at San Diego Chargers: With the rest of the NFC East struggling, Dallas can put an early stranglehold on the division with a win. QB Phillip Rivers has been looking a lot like the player that got his team to a couple championship games. With that in mind, this one could be a duel between him and QB Tony Romo as they each have solid tight ends and a couple wide outs who can move the ball. A late turnover by Rivers will allow Romo the opening to get a game sealing drive together that allows Dallas to escape a 40-35 type of game. PICK: COWBOYS
Green Bay and Carolina have the week off and would love to use this week to prepare enough to even their records next week at 2-2 when they return. The Dolphins have a great chance to show what type of team they might be this year with a big road test. At least one unbeaten team will fall, how will the rest fair? How many scores can QB Peyton Manning put up this week? Can the Giants, Redskins, and Steelers right their ships? Three others hope to get their first win as well. There are some potential shootouts and lots of offense as top teams continue to work to separate themselves early in the season.
College Football Week 5 Preview
Week 4 was a great weekend for any ranked team as they had little to no trouble in their games as three teams won by 70 or more points. Heisman candidates were able to showcase themselves and it left an empty feeling. Now, the heat gets turned back up with possibly the deepest slate of games this season. Two SEC conference games, a Big 10 game between the two teams who have dominated it the last several years, and a rematch game.
Looking back at the games highlighted, Clemson got a serious scare on the road and a potential questionable call in their favor kept them undefeated and on track for a possible title game appearance. Both Wisconsin and Texas A&M rebounded nicely and Texas got some of their problems addressed at the minimum with a crucial conference game. Finally, Michigan needed some magic and luck late in the game for the second straight week to defeat a much weaker opponent. They will have a bye this week to hopefully address what areas they need to focus on before their conference schedule picks up.
In my top 5 for Week 4, I went 5-0 bringing my record to 17-3 on the year. It was another solid game between Boise State and Fresno State as the Bulldogs led by QB Derek Carr snapped a lengthy losing streak to the Broncos and improved to 5-0. A favorable schedule sits in front of them and if they can run the table, they have a shot to follow the footsteps of Northern Illinois last year and go to a BCS game. Auburn had been showing much improvement this year out to an 3-0 start but ran into a much better team in LSU who now is 4-0 with a trip to Georgia ahead. The LSU offense has shown multiple aspects that could cause problems for some of the top teams they will confront to scheme against and gives them a shot to stay in the title picture until the end. In an SEC East clash, Florida again proved to be too much for Tennessee as another fairly close one was won by the Gators. Unfortunately, they did lose their starting quarterback in the win and will pose questions going forward on how their offense will look.
While it might not have been pretty again, Notre Dame will take another win as they bested Michigan State to even their record against teams for the state of Michigan. They will need to much sharper against Oklahoma this week as the Fighting Irish cannot keep playing these close games cause they might end up on the wrong end against better teams. Finally, Stanford looked dominant as ever as they dissected Arizona State throughout the game. The Sun Devils did fight hard until the end but Stanford plays a style on both sides that creates for an interesting matchup down the road when they see Oregon. Arizona State can quickly rebound this week against a USC team that is searching for a more consistent offense.
Now comes this week's games to spotlight and the weekly top 5.
Games to highlight in Week 5:
South Carolina at UCF: UCF is out to a great start and coming off a very nice victory against Penn State. Now they get South Carolina coming to town and can make an even bigger statement beating a top 12 team. South Carolina knows they much keep pace with Georgia and win an extra game to jump them so this game is just as important for the Gamecocks.
Arizona at #18 Washington: Each week it has been an opportunity to see just how good Washington is. Each poses a harder challenge and now they get a tough minded Arizona team. Can they continue to impress on the field and make their own case in a tough upper division of the Pac-12.
California at #2 Oregon: Oregon has been mowing down opponents so far this year but California has been able to slow down the Ducks' offense a couple times in the recent seasons. It will be tough to keep them below though and should be another chance for Oregon to make their case to be the best team.
USC at Arizona State: Arizona State is coming off a tough conference loss while USC is coming off a big win but still has questions to answer. Two teams with something prove and both teams needing the win.
Top 5 Games of Week 5 (17-3):
5) Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech (Thursday night): Georgia Tech has a dynamic option-oriented offense while Virginia Tech has consistently for a while been able to use tough defense to slow down most teams. It will be close but enough Hokie defensive effort will keep the score low enough for the offense to outscore the Yellow Jackets in a good Thursday conference clash. PICK: VIRGINIA TECH
4) #22 Mississippi at #1 Alabama: Last year, Alabama was shocked by an upstart Texas A&M team but still found their way into the title game pictured. This year, they survived the rematch with a win and now get another SEC upstart coming to Tuscaloosa. Mississippi has played well on both sides of the ball and come in confident after a big win in Austin. The biggest thing they will need to do is avoid mistakes and play well on defense and special team. That might seem fairly generic but when playing the Crimson Tide you cannot turn the ball over and allow them to get in open field cause they can tear off lots of yards. The Rebels will keep it close through the first half but the skill of Alabama will start to pull away with a couple of big scores in the second half. PICK: ALABAMA
3) #14 Oklahoma at #21 Notre Dame: There are probably few coaches as successful as Oklahoma Bob Stoops when it comes to rematch games. The Sooners lost a close one last year to Notre Dame at home and now get a chance for revenge on the road. The Fighting Irish has not looked overly impressive in most of their games and has survived a couple close calls. They will need to play smart and try to enter the half up to give them confidence entering the second half. If they fall behind early, it might become too tough to overcome. The game will be a lot like the Notre Dame-Michigan game with lots of scoring and the Fighting Irish trying to come back and falling short. Oklahoma does enough especially on defense to set up a win. PICK: OKLAHOMA
2) #23 Wisconsin at #3 Ohio State: Wisconsin or Ohio State has held at least a share of the Big Ten title the last few years. Thus, this game has major implications for the Big Ten title. Wisconsin has a similar ground and pound approach with two emerging running backs while Ohio State presents a dual threat at QB in not only the fact that they have two strong starters to choose from but their dynamic play keeps defenses on watch. I would not be surprised if this becomes a back and forth defensive battle after a couple of early scores and then a couple late drives to determine the game. With that in mind, it tightens up before Ohio State gets a couple late scores and seals the game. PICK: OHIO STATE
1) #9 LSU at #7 Georgia: Georgia draw their third top 10 opponent of the season and this might be the toughest one yet. LSU has traditionally been a more defensive low scoring type of team but their offense has opened up in different ways this season and Georgia brings a lot of skill and talent on their offense as well. With that in mind, it could be a lot like Georgia's earlier game with Clemson. The two quarterbacks will exchange scores along with a couple by their dynamic running backs behind them. Much like against Clemson, Georgia will need a late drive to win. Unlike on the road against Clemson, they will convert a big play that sets up the winning score and they escape a tough first month of the season with a big SEC win. PICK: GEORGIA
After a quiet week of college football with one top 25 matchup, this week provides a top 10 game and a few really good games. It would not be a surprise if at least one team fell out of the top 25 and the title hopes of a couple others take a hit. Should be an exciting weekend highlighted by LSU going to Georgia.
Looking back at the games highlighted, Clemson got a serious scare on the road and a potential questionable call in their favor kept them undefeated and on track for a possible title game appearance. Both Wisconsin and Texas A&M rebounded nicely and Texas got some of their problems addressed at the minimum with a crucial conference game. Finally, Michigan needed some magic and luck late in the game for the second straight week to defeat a much weaker opponent. They will have a bye this week to hopefully address what areas they need to focus on before their conference schedule picks up.
In my top 5 for Week 4, I went 5-0 bringing my record to 17-3 on the year. It was another solid game between Boise State and Fresno State as the Bulldogs led by QB Derek Carr snapped a lengthy losing streak to the Broncos and improved to 5-0. A favorable schedule sits in front of them and if they can run the table, they have a shot to follow the footsteps of Northern Illinois last year and go to a BCS game. Auburn had been showing much improvement this year out to an 3-0 start but ran into a much better team in LSU who now is 4-0 with a trip to Georgia ahead. The LSU offense has shown multiple aspects that could cause problems for some of the top teams they will confront to scheme against and gives them a shot to stay in the title picture until the end. In an SEC East clash, Florida again proved to be too much for Tennessee as another fairly close one was won by the Gators. Unfortunately, they did lose their starting quarterback in the win and will pose questions going forward on how their offense will look.
While it might not have been pretty again, Notre Dame will take another win as they bested Michigan State to even their record against teams for the state of Michigan. They will need to much sharper against Oklahoma this week as the Fighting Irish cannot keep playing these close games cause they might end up on the wrong end against better teams. Finally, Stanford looked dominant as ever as they dissected Arizona State throughout the game. The Sun Devils did fight hard until the end but Stanford plays a style on both sides that creates for an interesting matchup down the road when they see Oregon. Arizona State can quickly rebound this week against a USC team that is searching for a more consistent offense.
Now comes this week's games to spotlight and the weekly top 5.
Games to highlight in Week 5:
South Carolina at UCF: UCF is out to a great start and coming off a very nice victory against Penn State. Now they get South Carolina coming to town and can make an even bigger statement beating a top 12 team. South Carolina knows they much keep pace with Georgia and win an extra game to jump them so this game is just as important for the Gamecocks.
Arizona at #18 Washington: Each week it has been an opportunity to see just how good Washington is. Each poses a harder challenge and now they get a tough minded Arizona team. Can they continue to impress on the field and make their own case in a tough upper division of the Pac-12.
California at #2 Oregon: Oregon has been mowing down opponents so far this year but California has been able to slow down the Ducks' offense a couple times in the recent seasons. It will be tough to keep them below though and should be another chance for Oregon to make their case to be the best team.
USC at Arizona State: Arizona State is coming off a tough conference loss while USC is coming off a big win but still has questions to answer. Two teams with something prove and both teams needing the win.
Top 5 Games of Week 5 (17-3):
5) Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech (Thursday night): Georgia Tech has a dynamic option-oriented offense while Virginia Tech has consistently for a while been able to use tough defense to slow down most teams. It will be close but enough Hokie defensive effort will keep the score low enough for the offense to outscore the Yellow Jackets in a good Thursday conference clash. PICK: VIRGINIA TECH
4) #22 Mississippi at #1 Alabama: Last year, Alabama was shocked by an upstart Texas A&M team but still found their way into the title game pictured. This year, they survived the rematch with a win and now get another SEC upstart coming to Tuscaloosa. Mississippi has played well on both sides of the ball and come in confident after a big win in Austin. The biggest thing they will need to do is avoid mistakes and play well on defense and special team. That might seem fairly generic but when playing the Crimson Tide you cannot turn the ball over and allow them to get in open field cause they can tear off lots of yards. The Rebels will keep it close through the first half but the skill of Alabama will start to pull away with a couple of big scores in the second half. PICK: ALABAMA
3) #14 Oklahoma at #21 Notre Dame: There are probably few coaches as successful as Oklahoma Bob Stoops when it comes to rematch games. The Sooners lost a close one last year to Notre Dame at home and now get a chance for revenge on the road. The Fighting Irish has not looked overly impressive in most of their games and has survived a couple close calls. They will need to play smart and try to enter the half up to give them confidence entering the second half. If they fall behind early, it might become too tough to overcome. The game will be a lot like the Notre Dame-Michigan game with lots of scoring and the Fighting Irish trying to come back and falling short. Oklahoma does enough especially on defense to set up a win. PICK: OKLAHOMA
2) #23 Wisconsin at #3 Ohio State: Wisconsin or Ohio State has held at least a share of the Big Ten title the last few years. Thus, this game has major implications for the Big Ten title. Wisconsin has a similar ground and pound approach with two emerging running backs while Ohio State presents a dual threat at QB in not only the fact that they have two strong starters to choose from but their dynamic play keeps defenses on watch. I would not be surprised if this becomes a back and forth defensive battle after a couple of early scores and then a couple late drives to determine the game. With that in mind, it tightens up before Ohio State gets a couple late scores and seals the game. PICK: OHIO STATE
1) #9 LSU at #7 Georgia: Georgia draw their third top 10 opponent of the season and this might be the toughest one yet. LSU has traditionally been a more defensive low scoring type of team but their offense has opened up in different ways this season and Georgia brings a lot of skill and talent on their offense as well. With that in mind, it could be a lot like Georgia's earlier game with Clemson. The two quarterbacks will exchange scores along with a couple by their dynamic running backs behind them. Much like against Clemson, Georgia will need a late drive to win. Unlike on the road against Clemson, they will convert a big play that sets up the winning score and they escape a tough first month of the season with a big SEC win. PICK: GEORGIA
After a quiet week of college football with one top 25 matchup, this week provides a top 10 game and a few really good games. It would not be a surprise if at least one team fell out of the top 25 and the title hopes of a couple others take a hit. Should be an exciting weekend highlighted by LSU going to Georgia.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
NFL Week 4 Power Rankings
After 3 weeks of action, there are a few predictable outcomes and many more surprises. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks look as good as advertised and for that reason they are the top two teams again this week. While the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins are a bit of a shocker for the top 10 as they are 3-0 as well. At the same time; favorites like the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons all find themselves at 1-2 and looking to reevaluate where they can improve. More so then those three teams are the 0-3 starts by the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Redskins. They have looked lost quite often after three games and must quickly figure out how to tweak their problems as they all find themselves in the bottom 10. They make up half of the six teams at 0-3 while the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears join the Broncos, Seahawks, Chiefs, and Dolphins as unbeaten teams. This week, the Dolphins visit the Saints in a battle of unbeatens.
With all that said, time to get ready for another week and here are Week 4's power rankings:
1)(1) Broncos- QB Peyton Manning looks like he is the early favorite for MVP and could reclaim his touchdown record as this team looks like it could be playing in February and potentially challenge the 1972 Miami Dolphins if they continue to play this way.
2)(2) Seahawks- It seemed like they were in cruise control this past week and still scored over 40 points and get a solid road test going to Houston to face a playoff caliber team.
3)(7) Patriots- They have not really played the three toughest games so far and have not always looked sharp. They get a playoff caliber team in Atlanta this week that needs a win and QB Tom Brady will likely need to work magic again.
4)(8) Saints- After a couple games of looking kind of sluggish at times, they finally broke out and will need to be prepared to do the same at home against a rising Miami team.
5)(9) Bears-They have had to battle to win each game but in the 4th quarter this team is showing their mettle and might need to prepare for another game like that against a divisional foe this week.
6)(13) Dolphins- There are few teams who have done more this early to prove they are for real after a couple down years, it would be them. Can they pull off what would be viewed as a third straight upset?
7)(11) Bengals-They definitely earned their last victory against Green Bay and should not overlook Cleveland in what should be a winnable game for them as they look to prove they are a true contender.
8)(12) Chiefs-Head coach Andy Reid and QB Alex Smith has led to them to one more win then a year ago and its only been three games. They certainly look like a team that can do enough on both sides and might continue the Giants' early bad fortunes.
9)(14) Colts- They had a strong running dual attack going with HB Trent Richardson adding nicely into the offense as they took many by surprise with how easy they handled the 49ers and might just win the AFC South.
10)(10) Ravens- They still have to get themselves in a better offensive groove but have rebounded fairly nicely after an opening night blowout.
11)(3) 49ers-They enter Week 4 needing to get themselves back on track and it starts with their QB Colin Kaepernick being that dynamic threat he has been known to be.
12)(4) Falcons- They have loss two close games and will need to take down New England to avoid an 1-3 start while New Orleans could be 4-0 after four games.
13)(5) Packers-They rallied back after an early hole only to make a couple miscues including a costly fumble that was returned. They enter a bye week to figure out what they need to do to quickly recover.
14)(15) Cowboys- They are starting to look like a default NFC East division leader as the other three teams in their division deal with question marks.
15)(6) Texans-They got lucky at times the first two weeks and then felt apart on special teams and offense to open the door for Baltimore and now must prepare for a very good Seattle team.
16)(23) Titans- They got a lucky bounce late in the game to move to 2-1 but they are showing they are a team to not take lightly with growing playmakers on both sides of the ball.
17)(21) Lions-They ended a streak going back to the 1930s of losing road games against Washington and needed a touchdown called back to survive a late surge and now get a chance to show where they stand in their division.
18)(28) Jets-They have not exactly resembled a 2-1 team but have not really played the best teams yet and their defense is to thank for keeping them afloat.
19)(16) Chargers-They need to acquire a killer instinct in order to put teams away as they have allowed each team to come back against them and losing two of them.
20)(18) Eagles-Their offense is definitely moving the chains but their defense needs to do more to provide more offensive chances.
21)(17) Rams-They looked like a team growing on their 7-9 record last year to only take a big step back offensively this past week and will have a short week to quickly fix things.
22)(27) Panthers-They certainly finished some of the work they started the first two weeks as they dominated the Giants on the defensive end and that opened multiple opportunities for the offense and QB Cam Newton to shine.
23)(22) Cardinals-They took a small step back this week but you can see potential in some of the young players and a re-energized WR Larry Fitzgerald providing a consistent threat.
24)(26) Bills- They had some chances this past week to win and move them to 2-1 but the youth of the team will cause some struggles throughout the year.
25)(31) Browns- Many wrote them off after a big trade of their starting running back, but they rallied together and might be able to surprise some teams who take them lightly.
26)(20) Redskins- While most of the attention has been on QB Robert Griffin III, their defense needs to do more to give Griffin the chance to make plays without a hole to comeback from.
27)(24) Vikings-Their passing game needs a jolt and QB Matt Cassel might not provide that as HB Adrian Peterson is seeing more and more defenders coming his way and thus leaving them limited.
28)(25) Steelers-They continue to battle but injuries and departures keep them on the losing end of each game so far but a trip to London against Minnesota might provide their breakthrough and get them thinking positive.
29)(19) Giants-They turned it over multiple times the first couple games and then the offensive line couldn't provide QB Eli Manning any time to do anything as they looked like a team in turmoil early on with the road not getting any easier.
30)(29) Raiders-You have to give them credit for fighting the whole game on Monday and not folding it in early as Denver was cruising to victory and that attitude could help at points this season.
31)(30) Buccaneers- They bring in the backup quarterback this week and it will hard to tell how much that will matter as a young team is trying to make more consistent plays on both sides.
32)(32) Jaguars-They might seriously challenge the Lions' 2008 season when they went 0-16 as they struggle to even register first downs.
While the games last week didn't look like a deep slate, more than half were settled by a touchdown or less and there has been consistent surprises each week and that might continue this week with Miami going to New Orleans. Six teams hope to get their first win while seven others including Miami and New Orleans hope to stay unbeaten. 3 weeks in, Denver and Seattle look like the teams to beat in each conference.
With all that said, time to get ready for another week and here are Week 4's power rankings:
1)(1) Broncos- QB Peyton Manning looks like he is the early favorite for MVP and could reclaim his touchdown record as this team looks like it could be playing in February and potentially challenge the 1972 Miami Dolphins if they continue to play this way.
2)(2) Seahawks- It seemed like they were in cruise control this past week and still scored over 40 points and get a solid road test going to Houston to face a playoff caliber team.
3)(7) Patriots- They have not really played the three toughest games so far and have not always looked sharp. They get a playoff caliber team in Atlanta this week that needs a win and QB Tom Brady will likely need to work magic again.
4)(8) Saints- After a couple games of looking kind of sluggish at times, they finally broke out and will need to be prepared to do the same at home against a rising Miami team.
5)(9) Bears-They have had to battle to win each game but in the 4th quarter this team is showing their mettle and might need to prepare for another game like that against a divisional foe this week.
6)(13) Dolphins- There are few teams who have done more this early to prove they are for real after a couple down years, it would be them. Can they pull off what would be viewed as a third straight upset?
7)(11) Bengals-They definitely earned their last victory against Green Bay and should not overlook Cleveland in what should be a winnable game for them as they look to prove they are a true contender.
8)(12) Chiefs-Head coach Andy Reid and QB Alex Smith has led to them to one more win then a year ago and its only been three games. They certainly look like a team that can do enough on both sides and might continue the Giants' early bad fortunes.
9)(14) Colts- They had a strong running dual attack going with HB Trent Richardson adding nicely into the offense as they took many by surprise with how easy they handled the 49ers and might just win the AFC South.
10)(10) Ravens- They still have to get themselves in a better offensive groove but have rebounded fairly nicely after an opening night blowout.
11)(3) 49ers-They enter Week 4 needing to get themselves back on track and it starts with their QB Colin Kaepernick being that dynamic threat he has been known to be.
12)(4) Falcons- They have loss two close games and will need to take down New England to avoid an 1-3 start while New Orleans could be 4-0 after four games.
13)(5) Packers-They rallied back after an early hole only to make a couple miscues including a costly fumble that was returned. They enter a bye week to figure out what they need to do to quickly recover.
14)(15) Cowboys- They are starting to look like a default NFC East division leader as the other three teams in their division deal with question marks.
15)(6) Texans-They got lucky at times the first two weeks and then felt apart on special teams and offense to open the door for Baltimore and now must prepare for a very good Seattle team.
16)(23) Titans- They got a lucky bounce late in the game to move to 2-1 but they are showing they are a team to not take lightly with growing playmakers on both sides of the ball.
17)(21) Lions-They ended a streak going back to the 1930s of losing road games against Washington and needed a touchdown called back to survive a late surge and now get a chance to show where they stand in their division.
18)(28) Jets-They have not exactly resembled a 2-1 team but have not really played the best teams yet and their defense is to thank for keeping them afloat.
19)(16) Chargers-They need to acquire a killer instinct in order to put teams away as they have allowed each team to come back against them and losing two of them.
20)(18) Eagles-Their offense is definitely moving the chains but their defense needs to do more to provide more offensive chances.
21)(17) Rams-They looked like a team growing on their 7-9 record last year to only take a big step back offensively this past week and will have a short week to quickly fix things.
22)(27) Panthers-They certainly finished some of the work they started the first two weeks as they dominated the Giants on the defensive end and that opened multiple opportunities for the offense and QB Cam Newton to shine.
23)(22) Cardinals-They took a small step back this week but you can see potential in some of the young players and a re-energized WR Larry Fitzgerald providing a consistent threat.
24)(26) Bills- They had some chances this past week to win and move them to 2-1 but the youth of the team will cause some struggles throughout the year.
25)(31) Browns- Many wrote them off after a big trade of their starting running back, but they rallied together and might be able to surprise some teams who take them lightly.
26)(20) Redskins- While most of the attention has been on QB Robert Griffin III, their defense needs to do more to give Griffin the chance to make plays without a hole to comeback from.
27)(24) Vikings-Their passing game needs a jolt and QB Matt Cassel might not provide that as HB Adrian Peterson is seeing more and more defenders coming his way and thus leaving them limited.
28)(25) Steelers-They continue to battle but injuries and departures keep them on the losing end of each game so far but a trip to London against Minnesota might provide their breakthrough and get them thinking positive.
29)(19) Giants-They turned it over multiple times the first couple games and then the offensive line couldn't provide QB Eli Manning any time to do anything as they looked like a team in turmoil early on with the road not getting any easier.
30)(29) Raiders-You have to give them credit for fighting the whole game on Monday and not folding it in early as Denver was cruising to victory and that attitude could help at points this season.
31)(30) Buccaneers- They bring in the backup quarterback this week and it will hard to tell how much that will matter as a young team is trying to make more consistent plays on both sides.
32)(32) Jaguars-They might seriously challenge the Lions' 2008 season when they went 0-16 as they struggle to even register first downs.
While the games last week didn't look like a deep slate, more than half were settled by a touchdown or less and there has been consistent surprises each week and that might continue this week with Miami going to New Orleans. Six teams hope to get their first win while seven others including Miami and New Orleans hope to stay unbeaten. 3 weeks in, Denver and Seattle look like the teams to beat in each conference.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
College Football Week 5 Power Rankings
The season nears towards the end of the first month of action and with limited conference action, not much as really changed. Alabama has looked very good and Oregon is still a points slot machine even without head coach Chip Kelly. The SEC still looks dominant as ever with Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, and South Carolina along with Alabama give the conference 5 of the top 12 teams in the country. Last weekend had only one top 25 matchup, thus the rankings look very much the same as last week. However, this week there is a deep slate of top games and expect some movement next week highlighted by either Georgia or LSU after their top 10 clash. Arizona State is the only team to drop out of the top 25 and they are replaced by Texas Tech.
With Week 5 coming up, here are this week's power rankings:
1)(1) Alabama (vs Mississippi)- They survived a comeback by Texas A&M a couple games ago and now get a hungry team in Mississippi similar to the Aggies a year ago. Ironically, they are home again for a potential trip up game on their path to a conference/national title.
2)(2) Oregon (vs California)- They are back after a bye week and California has been one of the few if any teams to slow down the Ducks in recent years so it should be interesting to see if they can keep them under 50.
3)(3) Ohio State (vs Wisconsin)- They have what seems like two very solid quarterbacks and how they choose to use them in games like this week will go a long way in if they can repeat their success from last year.
4)(4) Clemson (vs Wake Forest)- They got lucky with a call and will need to be leery of another ACC team hoping to halt their national title hopes.
5)(5) Stanford (at Washington State)- They looked very good against Arizona State and will need to build off of that game going forward as they could be on a collision course with a high powered Oregon offense.
6)(6) Louisville (BYE)- They get a week off and they look like a 12-0 team in the making after their start.
7)(7) Georgia (vs LSU)- They drew the short straw this year and get a third top 10 opponent before October. They are 1-1 in those games and still control their SEC East fate.
8)(8) Florida State (at Boston College)- They have looked dangerous at times when they get rolling and this week could be more of the same.
9)(9) LSU (at Georgia)- They continue to grow as an offense and have speed as usual with a lot of unpredictability with their options.
10)(10) Texas A&M (at Arkansas)- They quickly got back on track after losing to Alabama and should do well again this week as they hope to climb back into the title picture with their one loss.
11)(11) Oklahoma State (at West Virginia)- They get a West Virginia team who has seemed to struggle with slowing down Big 12 offenses the last couple years and the Cowboys have one of the better one for sure.
12)(12) South Carolina (at UCF)- They have an interesting challenge this week as UCF has looked better than some expected and the Gamecocks can't take them lightly if they want to keep pace with Georgia and Florida in the SEC East.
13)(13) UCLA (BYE)- They get a week off but have looked dynamic on both sides of the ball each week and starting to separate themselves from the southern half of the Pac-12.
14)(15) Oklahoma (at Notre Dame)- They got beat at home last year to Notre Dame and are out for revenge against a team that has looked like they struggle moving the ball at times.
15)(16) Northwestern (BYE)- They are off this week and continue to improve in all phases and could be interesting when they start to draw big conference foes.
16)(17) Miami (FL) (at USF)- They truly ran up the score last week and while getting a better team this week they might just do the same.
17)(14) Michigan (BYE)- They survived two close calls against lesser teams and now get a week off to figure out how to sharpen up before they get into conference games.
18)(18) Washington (vs Arizona)- This will be another good opportunity this week to see what type of team the Huskies are.
19)(19) Florida (at Kentucky)- They lost their starting quarterback last week and hung on to win and should do well enough again this week but down the road they will need guys to step up.
20)(20) Baylor (BYE)- Next to Oregon, there is not a better offense going right now. They might be even better based on statistics and get a week to rest.
21)(21) Notre Dame (vs Oklahoma)- They have battled hard the last couple games and survived with wins. They will need to duplicate the same type of timely scoring and tough defense to win this one.
22)(22) Mississippi (at Alabama)- How good is this team? This game this week against Alabama will be a huge yardstick for their season and they have the ability to keep it close and open the door for a huge upset.
23)(24) Wisconsin (at Ohio State)- They know they need this win against the Buckeyes to keep pace with them as well as make a huge statement as they hope to win the Big 10.
24)(25) Nebraska (BYE)- They bounced back very well and get a week off to continue to figure things out on and off the field in Lincoln.
25)(NR) Texas Tech (BYE)- They have looked very good with a young quarterback and coach and create an interesting dynamic in the race for the Big 12 South.
NEXT 5
1) Arizona State (vs USC)- They took a step back losing a close one to Stanford but could bounce back against a USC team struggling to put points up.
2) Michigan State (BYE)- They have hovered on the edge of the top 25 both in and out and get a week to regroup after a close loss to Notre Dame.
3) Fresno State (at Hawaii)- They are certainly continuing to look very good offensively and might be this year's BCS buster if they keep it up.
4) TCU (vs SMU)- It will be another good showdown in the Lonestar State for the Horned Frogs and must get out to a better early start.
5) Virginia Tech (at Georgia Tech)- They don't look especially amazing but good enough to grind out wins and will need to bring their defensive A game to slow down a fast paced Georgia Tech offense.
After a down week of competitive games and top 25 games, there are a few good top 25 games this week and the national title picture will start to get a little clearer as teams continue to work to separate themselves.
With Week 5 coming up, here are this week's power rankings:
1)(1) Alabama (vs Mississippi)- They survived a comeback by Texas A&M a couple games ago and now get a hungry team in Mississippi similar to the Aggies a year ago. Ironically, they are home again for a potential trip up game on their path to a conference/national title.
2)(2) Oregon (vs California)- They are back after a bye week and California has been one of the few if any teams to slow down the Ducks in recent years so it should be interesting to see if they can keep them under 50.
3)(3) Ohio State (vs Wisconsin)- They have what seems like two very solid quarterbacks and how they choose to use them in games like this week will go a long way in if they can repeat their success from last year.
4)(4) Clemson (vs Wake Forest)- They got lucky with a call and will need to be leery of another ACC team hoping to halt their national title hopes.
5)(5) Stanford (at Washington State)- They looked very good against Arizona State and will need to build off of that game going forward as they could be on a collision course with a high powered Oregon offense.
6)(6) Louisville (BYE)- They get a week off and they look like a 12-0 team in the making after their start.
7)(7) Georgia (vs LSU)- They drew the short straw this year and get a third top 10 opponent before October. They are 1-1 in those games and still control their SEC East fate.
8)(8) Florida State (at Boston College)- They have looked dangerous at times when they get rolling and this week could be more of the same.
9)(9) LSU (at Georgia)- They continue to grow as an offense and have speed as usual with a lot of unpredictability with their options.
10)(10) Texas A&M (at Arkansas)- They quickly got back on track after losing to Alabama and should do well again this week as they hope to climb back into the title picture with their one loss.
11)(11) Oklahoma State (at West Virginia)- They get a West Virginia team who has seemed to struggle with slowing down Big 12 offenses the last couple years and the Cowboys have one of the better one for sure.
12)(12) South Carolina (at UCF)- They have an interesting challenge this week as UCF has looked better than some expected and the Gamecocks can't take them lightly if they want to keep pace with Georgia and Florida in the SEC East.
13)(13) UCLA (BYE)- They get a week off but have looked dynamic on both sides of the ball each week and starting to separate themselves from the southern half of the Pac-12.
14)(15) Oklahoma (at Notre Dame)- They got beat at home last year to Notre Dame and are out for revenge against a team that has looked like they struggle moving the ball at times.
15)(16) Northwestern (BYE)- They are off this week and continue to improve in all phases and could be interesting when they start to draw big conference foes.
16)(17) Miami (FL) (at USF)- They truly ran up the score last week and while getting a better team this week they might just do the same.
17)(14) Michigan (BYE)- They survived two close calls against lesser teams and now get a week off to figure out how to sharpen up before they get into conference games.
18)(18) Washington (vs Arizona)- This will be another good opportunity this week to see what type of team the Huskies are.
19)(19) Florida (at Kentucky)- They lost their starting quarterback last week and hung on to win and should do well enough again this week but down the road they will need guys to step up.
20)(20) Baylor (BYE)- Next to Oregon, there is not a better offense going right now. They might be even better based on statistics and get a week to rest.
21)(21) Notre Dame (vs Oklahoma)- They have battled hard the last couple games and survived with wins. They will need to duplicate the same type of timely scoring and tough defense to win this one.
22)(22) Mississippi (at Alabama)- How good is this team? This game this week against Alabama will be a huge yardstick for their season and they have the ability to keep it close and open the door for a huge upset.
23)(24) Wisconsin (at Ohio State)- They know they need this win against the Buckeyes to keep pace with them as well as make a huge statement as they hope to win the Big 10.
24)(25) Nebraska (BYE)- They bounced back very well and get a week off to continue to figure things out on and off the field in Lincoln.
25)(NR) Texas Tech (BYE)- They have looked very good with a young quarterback and coach and create an interesting dynamic in the race for the Big 12 South.
NEXT 5
1) Arizona State (vs USC)- They took a step back losing a close one to Stanford but could bounce back against a USC team struggling to put points up.
2) Michigan State (BYE)- They have hovered on the edge of the top 25 both in and out and get a week to regroup after a close loss to Notre Dame.
3) Fresno State (at Hawaii)- They are certainly continuing to look very good offensively and might be this year's BCS buster if they keep it up.
4) TCU (vs SMU)- It will be another good showdown in the Lonestar State for the Horned Frogs and must get out to a better early start.
5) Virginia Tech (at Georgia Tech)- They don't look especially amazing but good enough to grind out wins and will need to bring their defensive A game to slow down a fast paced Georgia Tech offense.
After a down week of competitive games and top 25 games, there are a few good top 25 games this week and the national title picture will start to get a little clearer as teams continue to work to separate themselves.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
NFL Week 3 Preview
Week 2 provided lots of great action to follow opening weekend as 10 games were decided by a touchdown or less. The Chiefs and Dolphins continued to show signs of being teams to watch this year as they grow. Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning looked just as sharp as Week 1 while his brother New York Giants QB Eli Manning continued his early season struggles. Besides Denver, the Seattle Seahawks look like an early favorite to win it all besting the equally good San Francisco 49ers in another Seattle beatdown. While they might be 2-0; the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and Houston Texans have mostly looked anything but dominant so far. The four games I highlighted to watch last week were not exactly instant classics as in addition to the Broncos and Seahawks blowing out the Giants and 49ers respectively; the Green Bay Packers wrapped up their win over the Washington Redskins practically by half time and the Pittsburgh Steelers kept it close during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals but just didn't have enough to slow down the Bengals in the second half as they won by 10. That was closest score of the four games.
As the focus now turns to Week 3, there are 8 teams that will look to avoid an 0-3 start and all but cripple their playoff hopes. With my picks, I was able to duplicate the success of Week 1 and go 13-3 to improve to 26-6.
Here are this week's top 4 and the rest.
TOP 4
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday Night): The Chiefs are 2-0 and have already matched their win total from 2012. The Eagles look like they move the ball on offense led by HB LeSean McCoy. However, the Eagles seem to lack an equally explosive defense to slow down teams effectively. The Chiefs don't need to score a lot but enough to outlast the Eagles. It willl lean towards which defense steps up with a couple key plays. The Eagles will get their points but as the game tightens near the end, the Chiefs will do enough to secure a key score that will allow them to hold on. PICK: CHIEFS
Green Bay Packers at Cincinnati Bengals: This is an early statement game especially for the Bengals as both squads are 1-1 and have Super Bowl aspirations. This one has the potential to be a shootout as both teams have good passing games with lots of depth. It will be up the opposing defenses to slow them down. A key stop or two might be the difference in what should be a close one. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers looked nearly unstoppable last week and he has proven to be a top quarterback in the league. He will lead the Packers to the lead and his defense will make a key stop late to preserve a tough win. PICK: PACKERS
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens: The Texans have had two close calls against teams that did not make the playoffs last year. Now they get the Super Bowl champs. However, the Ravens' offense has been lacking that extra punch as you can tell on both sides of the ball they miss guys like SS Ed Reed. Reed looks like he could make his Houston debut this week and ironically it would be against his former team. The Texans have tested their luck the first couple games and they will likely repeat that as Texans QB Matt Schaub has not shown the ability to take his game to another gear to build on their recent success. A defensive play by Baltimore provides the difference. PICK: RAVENS
Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins: I don't think many expected the Dolphins to enter this one looking like a top team. The Falcons will be without HB Steven Jackson and that could provide issues getting a balanced attack going against an underrated Dolphins' defense. That defense keeps the game close but Falcons' have two many down field threats that Falcons' QB Matt Ryan will find enough space to create separation. They get a winning drive in the 4th to escape with a tough win. PICK: FALCONS
THE REST
St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys: The Rams put up a good second half fight against Atlanta last week before falling to them while the Cowboys could not figure out the Chiefs' defense enough to pull out the win. One of the big matchups to watch in this one is Cowboys' HB DeMarco Murray against the Rams' defense. He exploded against them a couple years ago and could have another big game. It will be a mirror opposite image for the Rams as they are struggling to replace HB Steven Jackson. The Cowboys' running game will lead the way to some passing touchdowns and a victory overall. PICK: COWBOYS
San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans: The Tennessee Titans have been one of the surprise teams of 2013 so far. They shocked the Steelers then almost shocked the Texans. The Chargers are a bit harder to figure out as they seem to be turning around some of the mistakes of last year but nearly let both of their games get away. This one has a similar feel as the Titans' defense keeps the score fairly low and close and does something late either a touchdown or field goal to squeak by. PICK: TITANS
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings: How will be the Browns' play without their best player who was traded? Vikings' HB Adrian Peterson will likely need to do a lot again as the passing game has been hit and miss at times. Both teams have holes in different areas and a couple turnovers will almost even things out. Browns fight harder than some expect but come up short in the end with a late drive being halted. PICK: VIKINGS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots: One team has a QB in turmoil and the other has a QB struggling to get teammates going. It might not be a pretty game and a showcase for the Patriots, but they have enough led by QB Tom Brady to win. PICK: PATRIOTS
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints: The Saints have shown signs of a reemerging explosive offense but have not truly taken off. They have a chance this week to do so. The Cardinals with QB Carson Palmer to WR Larry Fitzgerald will put up a fight but it won't be enough as Saints' QB Drew Brees will likely utilize TE Jimmy Graham a lot and get enough out of the rest of receivers. PICK: SAINTS
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins: Redskins' QB Robert Griffin III has looked like his 2012 self at times but has had slow starts both weeks and that has resulted in two losses. The Lions have not always done well on the road especially against strong teams. The Redskins seem to be struggling putting a complete game together and Lions' QB Matthew Stafford might have enough down the field attacks to WR Calvin Johnson to create another hole. This should be close down the stretch with a costly turnover for RGIII and the Redskins' offense. PICK: LIONS
New York Giants at Carolina Panthers: The Giants' offense hopes a trip to Carolina will get themselves back on track. QB Eli Manning has put up solid passing numbers but has turned it over seven times. The Panthers have slowly but surely gotten their running game going and have kept their first two games close despite losses. The Panthers' defense will surprise some by how well they play and because of that it won't be easy for the Giants. But, Manning will utilize WR Victor Cruz as well as WRs Hakeem Nicks and Reuben Randle in different sitautions. Panthers QB Cam Newton tries a late fourth quarter comeback but it won't be enough. PICK: GIANTS
Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers: Newly acquired HB Trent Richardson will likely play a decent role for the Colts but don't expect a major game out of him. The Colts want to get their running game going more and that will open things up for QB Andrew Luck. The 49ers have a bad taste from Seattle they want to get out of their mouth and could jump out early. Luck will engineer a strong 4th quarter but not enough as they fall by less than a touchdown. PICK: 49ERS
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets: This will likely not be a stellar game as two rookie quarterbacks will make a mistake or two and there will be some lead swaps and a push and pull type of tempo. Similar to last week, Bills' QB EJ Manuel works some late magic to slide by the Jets. PICK: BILLS
Jacksonville Jaguars at Seattle Seahawks: The Jaguars have struggled to do about anything on offense and the Seahawks will be able to take their intensity back a step after facing San Francisco. It would not be crazy to say this will be a 30 point blow out easily especially since the Seahawks did it a couple times last year to weak teams. PICK: SEAHAWKS
Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday Night): Could Pittsburgh really start 0-3? They are lacking a passing attack and running game that would keep defenses on their toes. They will continue to play hard as they shown enough fight to still be a team able to get themselves back into a better position. The Bears are playing well late when it counts most. They needed QB Jay Cutler to step up and he has. The Bears will use HB Matt Forte in running and passing situations to set the tone but Pittsburgh will fight back. Which will lead Cutler to put together a clinching drive. PICK: BEARS
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (Monday Night): The Raiders' defense will need to do everything they can to keep Broncos' QB Peyton Manning off the field. That is no easy task. He will put together another solid performance of 3 to 5 touchdowns that adds to his already hall of fame resume. PICK: BRONCOS
There are few interesting top games this week as the Chiefs and Dolphins can continue to make early statements as they hope they are are on their way back to the postseason this year. Teams like the Giants, Steelers, and Redskins do not want to fall into an 0-3 hole. QB Peyton Manning might have a big night on Monday against the Raiders and something to watch to end Week 3. Another week of some good games that could produce close endings as surprise teams are hoping to continue to emerge as early favorite hope to build up more steam.
As the focus now turns to Week 3, there are 8 teams that will look to avoid an 0-3 start and all but cripple their playoff hopes. With my picks, I was able to duplicate the success of Week 1 and go 13-3 to improve to 26-6.
Here are this week's top 4 and the rest.
TOP 4
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday Night): The Chiefs are 2-0 and have already matched their win total from 2012. The Eagles look like they move the ball on offense led by HB LeSean McCoy. However, the Eagles seem to lack an equally explosive defense to slow down teams effectively. The Chiefs don't need to score a lot but enough to outlast the Eagles. It willl lean towards which defense steps up with a couple key plays. The Eagles will get their points but as the game tightens near the end, the Chiefs will do enough to secure a key score that will allow them to hold on. PICK: CHIEFS
Green Bay Packers at Cincinnati Bengals: This is an early statement game especially for the Bengals as both squads are 1-1 and have Super Bowl aspirations. This one has the potential to be a shootout as both teams have good passing games with lots of depth. It will be up the opposing defenses to slow them down. A key stop or two might be the difference in what should be a close one. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers looked nearly unstoppable last week and he has proven to be a top quarterback in the league. He will lead the Packers to the lead and his defense will make a key stop late to preserve a tough win. PICK: PACKERS
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens: The Texans have had two close calls against teams that did not make the playoffs last year. Now they get the Super Bowl champs. However, the Ravens' offense has been lacking that extra punch as you can tell on both sides of the ball they miss guys like SS Ed Reed. Reed looks like he could make his Houston debut this week and ironically it would be against his former team. The Texans have tested their luck the first couple games and they will likely repeat that as Texans QB Matt Schaub has not shown the ability to take his game to another gear to build on their recent success. A defensive play by Baltimore provides the difference. PICK: RAVENS
Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins: I don't think many expected the Dolphins to enter this one looking like a top team. The Falcons will be without HB Steven Jackson and that could provide issues getting a balanced attack going against an underrated Dolphins' defense. That defense keeps the game close but Falcons' have two many down field threats that Falcons' QB Matt Ryan will find enough space to create separation. They get a winning drive in the 4th to escape with a tough win. PICK: FALCONS
THE REST
St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys: The Rams put up a good second half fight against Atlanta last week before falling to them while the Cowboys could not figure out the Chiefs' defense enough to pull out the win. One of the big matchups to watch in this one is Cowboys' HB DeMarco Murray against the Rams' defense. He exploded against them a couple years ago and could have another big game. It will be a mirror opposite image for the Rams as they are struggling to replace HB Steven Jackson. The Cowboys' running game will lead the way to some passing touchdowns and a victory overall. PICK: COWBOYS
San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans: The Tennessee Titans have been one of the surprise teams of 2013 so far. They shocked the Steelers then almost shocked the Texans. The Chargers are a bit harder to figure out as they seem to be turning around some of the mistakes of last year but nearly let both of their games get away. This one has a similar feel as the Titans' defense keeps the score fairly low and close and does something late either a touchdown or field goal to squeak by. PICK: TITANS
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings: How will be the Browns' play without their best player who was traded? Vikings' HB Adrian Peterson will likely need to do a lot again as the passing game has been hit and miss at times. Both teams have holes in different areas and a couple turnovers will almost even things out. Browns fight harder than some expect but come up short in the end with a late drive being halted. PICK: VIKINGS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots: One team has a QB in turmoil and the other has a QB struggling to get teammates going. It might not be a pretty game and a showcase for the Patriots, but they have enough led by QB Tom Brady to win. PICK: PATRIOTS
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints: The Saints have shown signs of a reemerging explosive offense but have not truly taken off. They have a chance this week to do so. The Cardinals with QB Carson Palmer to WR Larry Fitzgerald will put up a fight but it won't be enough as Saints' QB Drew Brees will likely utilize TE Jimmy Graham a lot and get enough out of the rest of receivers. PICK: SAINTS
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins: Redskins' QB Robert Griffin III has looked like his 2012 self at times but has had slow starts both weeks and that has resulted in two losses. The Lions have not always done well on the road especially against strong teams. The Redskins seem to be struggling putting a complete game together and Lions' QB Matthew Stafford might have enough down the field attacks to WR Calvin Johnson to create another hole. This should be close down the stretch with a costly turnover for RGIII and the Redskins' offense. PICK: LIONS
New York Giants at Carolina Panthers: The Giants' offense hopes a trip to Carolina will get themselves back on track. QB Eli Manning has put up solid passing numbers but has turned it over seven times. The Panthers have slowly but surely gotten their running game going and have kept their first two games close despite losses. The Panthers' defense will surprise some by how well they play and because of that it won't be easy for the Giants. But, Manning will utilize WR Victor Cruz as well as WRs Hakeem Nicks and Reuben Randle in different sitautions. Panthers QB Cam Newton tries a late fourth quarter comeback but it won't be enough. PICK: GIANTS
Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers: Newly acquired HB Trent Richardson will likely play a decent role for the Colts but don't expect a major game out of him. The Colts want to get their running game going more and that will open things up for QB Andrew Luck. The 49ers have a bad taste from Seattle they want to get out of their mouth and could jump out early. Luck will engineer a strong 4th quarter but not enough as they fall by less than a touchdown. PICK: 49ERS
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets: This will likely not be a stellar game as two rookie quarterbacks will make a mistake or two and there will be some lead swaps and a push and pull type of tempo. Similar to last week, Bills' QB EJ Manuel works some late magic to slide by the Jets. PICK: BILLS
Jacksonville Jaguars at Seattle Seahawks: The Jaguars have struggled to do about anything on offense and the Seahawks will be able to take their intensity back a step after facing San Francisco. It would not be crazy to say this will be a 30 point blow out easily especially since the Seahawks did it a couple times last year to weak teams. PICK: SEAHAWKS
Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday Night): Could Pittsburgh really start 0-3? They are lacking a passing attack and running game that would keep defenses on their toes. They will continue to play hard as they shown enough fight to still be a team able to get themselves back into a better position. The Bears are playing well late when it counts most. They needed QB Jay Cutler to step up and he has. The Bears will use HB Matt Forte in running and passing situations to set the tone but Pittsburgh will fight back. Which will lead Cutler to put together a clinching drive. PICK: BEARS
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (Monday Night): The Raiders' defense will need to do everything they can to keep Broncos' QB Peyton Manning off the field. That is no easy task. He will put together another solid performance of 3 to 5 touchdowns that adds to his already hall of fame resume. PICK: BRONCOS
There are few interesting top games this week as the Chiefs and Dolphins can continue to make early statements as they hope they are are on their way back to the postseason this year. Teams like the Giants, Steelers, and Redskins do not want to fall into an 0-3 hole. QB Peyton Manning might have a big night on Monday against the Raiders and something to watch to end Week 3. Another week of some good games that could produce close endings as surprise teams are hoping to continue to emerge as early favorite hope to build up more steam.
College Football Week 4 Preview
There were a couple exciting endings in Week 3 but none better than the game of the week in College Station. It certainly lived up to much of the hype as Texas A&M jumped out to a lead before Alabama stormed back with a few scores and then A&M battled back and when the dust cleared it was 49-42 in favor of Alabama and a worthy sequel to last year's contest. Some might not mine a similar scenario from a few years ago when Alabama had a rematch with LSU for the national title and A&M could climb back into the top of the picture very easily if the rankings break in their favor. Unfortunately, once again; the big games this week are fairly absent and a few blowouts are likely going to occur.
Looking back at last week, TCU was tested more than expected by many by Texas Tech as the loss knocked the Horned Frogs from the top 25 and puts the Red Raiders on the brink of getting in. While both Oregon and Ohio State had little trouble with their games and continue to showcase why they are top tier title contenders especially Oregon.
In my top 5 for Week 3, I went 3-2 bringing my record to 12-3 on the year. The Washington Huskies continue to improve and they secured a solid victory on the road in Chicago against what looks like a better Illinois team this year. They can stay under the radar and possibly provide some shockwaves out west if they are hitting on all cylinders. Wisconsin looked like they were about to sneak by Arizona State in a tough battle in the dessert but a late call in the Sun Devils' favor was a timely decision that instead allowed Arizona State to escape with one of their bigger wins in the last few years. Texas' troubles continued for a second week as Mississippi was able to wear down the Longhorns and roll them over in the second half as questions continue to pile up over the type of season ahead for the both squads after the game.
Both UCLA at Nebraska and Alabama at Texas A&M provided a full game's worth of action. Nebraska looked to be cruising to victory, but all of sudden UCLA hit a switch in the third quarter and the complexion of their contest completely changed as the Bruins made a huge statement on the road against a Big 10 team. They are certainly looking like the best team from the southern division of the Pac-12 so far. While as commented earlier, Alabama and Texas A&M had a crazy shootout as A&M QB Johnny Manziel put on an equally great performance from his game a year ago against the Crimson Tide. However, a couple of costly turnovers were the difference as not even over 400 yards passing was enough for Manziel to over take the Tide for two straight years.
Now comes this week's games to spotlight and the weekly top 5.
Games to highlight in Week 4:
#4 Clemson at NC State (Thursday)- Clemson is good enough to win games like they did against Georgia but most years, title hopes are dashed by a surprise team. NC State did it to Florida State last year.
Kansas State at Texas- Kansas State had a crushing opening day loss while Texas has been run over in their second and third games of the year. While both might not be going to a BCS game or win the Big 12, this might be for pride for both.
Purdue at #24 Wisconsin- Wisconsin lost a tough one against Arizona State while Purdue almost edged Notre Dame last week. Based on the play of both last week, this could be a physical Big 10 matchup with two teams not wanting to lose.
SMU at #10 Texas A&M- A&M could have won last week but made a couple costly mistakes and ran out of time. Now they must show how they rebound and what type of team they will be with a loss in a pocket.
#14 Michigan at Connecticut- This should be an easy win for Michigan. Connecticut lost to Towson in Week 1 but Michigan's near lost to Akron might worry some so how they play here could show if they got the warning message last week.
Top 5 Games of Week 4 (12-3):
5) Boise State at Fresno State (Friday)- This has been a good matchup in recent years regardless of their record or standing. Boise State has normally been the better team with BCS title dreams but this year they look about average at best. Fresno State is certainly knocking on the door of the top 25 and this one might be enough to push them over the hump. The passing attack of the Bulldogs might be just too push for what has normally been a potent passing game for the Broncos. PICK: FRESNO STATE
4) Auburn at #9 LSU- While this might not be as marquee as last week's SEC West game, it features a challenge for most teams. Can Auburn continue to improve within their conference after a nice win against Mississippi State? Can LSU continue to grow as a team that could potentially knock off Alabama? LSU certainly has more at stake and looks to be much more balanced and fast. Auburn has not won any of their games easily and will be pressed early in this one. LSU doesn't put up tons of points, but what they do; it might be too much for Auburn to overcome. PICK: LSU
3) Tennessee at #21 Florida- While this might not be as big as earlier SEC East game this year, both teams especially Florida are looking for a statement win. Florida has not looked very good so far and might find themselves out of the top 25 with a loss to the Volunteers, who are trying to show they can once again rise the ranks of SEC. Regardless of location, these ones have mostly been competitive recently. Should be another close and low scoring one with the Gators doing enough largely on the ground late to win this one. PICK: FLORIDA
2) Michigan State at #22 Notre Dame- Notre Dame has been pushed in back to back weeks by Big 10 teams and will likely again be challenged by Michigan State. They at least get to be home for this one. Michigan State has quietly started 3-0 behind a slow and steady offensive approach that has seemed to wear down opposing teams. Notre Dame has seemed to look for quick strikes to get their offense going. This should be a similar push and pull type of game like Michigan and Purdue for the Fighting Irish with them coming up big in the 4th quarter. PICK: NOTRE DAME
1) #23 Arizona State at #5 Stanford- After a couple of ranked vs ranked matchups, this is the only one this week. Arizona State escaped their clash with Wisconsin with a big win last week as Stanford did not look especially lethal against Army. This one is big test for the Sun Devils while Stanford knows they need this win too in order to keep pace with Oregon. Thus, a lot is truly on the line for both Pac-12 squads in the biggest contest this year so far in the conference. In the end, Stanford has more explosive potential and could get a couple of second half scores to put this one out of reach if it is still close by halftime. PICK: STANFORD
After a few top ten matchups and some shifting in the top 25, this might be a quiet week as many top teams should blow out opponents and get themselves ready for tougher games down the road. The only game with some implications will be Stanford hosting Arizona State in the only top 25 contest. Should be some good games by some Heisman contenders despite the competitiveness of the games.
Looking back at last week, TCU was tested more than expected by many by Texas Tech as the loss knocked the Horned Frogs from the top 25 and puts the Red Raiders on the brink of getting in. While both Oregon and Ohio State had little trouble with their games and continue to showcase why they are top tier title contenders especially Oregon.
In my top 5 for Week 3, I went 3-2 bringing my record to 12-3 on the year. The Washington Huskies continue to improve and they secured a solid victory on the road in Chicago against what looks like a better Illinois team this year. They can stay under the radar and possibly provide some shockwaves out west if they are hitting on all cylinders. Wisconsin looked like they were about to sneak by Arizona State in a tough battle in the dessert but a late call in the Sun Devils' favor was a timely decision that instead allowed Arizona State to escape with one of their bigger wins in the last few years. Texas' troubles continued for a second week as Mississippi was able to wear down the Longhorns and roll them over in the second half as questions continue to pile up over the type of season ahead for the both squads after the game.
Both UCLA at Nebraska and Alabama at Texas A&M provided a full game's worth of action. Nebraska looked to be cruising to victory, but all of sudden UCLA hit a switch in the third quarter and the complexion of their contest completely changed as the Bruins made a huge statement on the road against a Big 10 team. They are certainly looking like the best team from the southern division of the Pac-12 so far. While as commented earlier, Alabama and Texas A&M had a crazy shootout as A&M QB Johnny Manziel put on an equally great performance from his game a year ago against the Crimson Tide. However, a couple of costly turnovers were the difference as not even over 400 yards passing was enough for Manziel to over take the Tide for two straight years.
Now comes this week's games to spotlight and the weekly top 5.
Games to highlight in Week 4:
#4 Clemson at NC State (Thursday)- Clemson is good enough to win games like they did against Georgia but most years, title hopes are dashed by a surprise team. NC State did it to Florida State last year.
Kansas State at Texas- Kansas State had a crushing opening day loss while Texas has been run over in their second and third games of the year. While both might not be going to a BCS game or win the Big 12, this might be for pride for both.
Purdue at #24 Wisconsin- Wisconsin lost a tough one against Arizona State while Purdue almost edged Notre Dame last week. Based on the play of both last week, this could be a physical Big 10 matchup with two teams not wanting to lose.
SMU at #10 Texas A&M- A&M could have won last week but made a couple costly mistakes and ran out of time. Now they must show how they rebound and what type of team they will be with a loss in a pocket.
#14 Michigan at Connecticut- This should be an easy win for Michigan. Connecticut lost to Towson in Week 1 but Michigan's near lost to Akron might worry some so how they play here could show if they got the warning message last week.
Top 5 Games of Week 4 (12-3):
5) Boise State at Fresno State (Friday)- This has been a good matchup in recent years regardless of their record or standing. Boise State has normally been the better team with BCS title dreams but this year they look about average at best. Fresno State is certainly knocking on the door of the top 25 and this one might be enough to push them over the hump. The passing attack of the Bulldogs might be just too push for what has normally been a potent passing game for the Broncos. PICK: FRESNO STATE
4) Auburn at #9 LSU- While this might not be as marquee as last week's SEC West game, it features a challenge for most teams. Can Auburn continue to improve within their conference after a nice win against Mississippi State? Can LSU continue to grow as a team that could potentially knock off Alabama? LSU certainly has more at stake and looks to be much more balanced and fast. Auburn has not won any of their games easily and will be pressed early in this one. LSU doesn't put up tons of points, but what they do; it might be too much for Auburn to overcome. PICK: LSU
3) Tennessee at #21 Florida- While this might not be as big as earlier SEC East game this year, both teams especially Florida are looking for a statement win. Florida has not looked very good so far and might find themselves out of the top 25 with a loss to the Volunteers, who are trying to show they can once again rise the ranks of SEC. Regardless of location, these ones have mostly been competitive recently. Should be another close and low scoring one with the Gators doing enough largely on the ground late to win this one. PICK: FLORIDA
2) Michigan State at #22 Notre Dame- Notre Dame has been pushed in back to back weeks by Big 10 teams and will likely again be challenged by Michigan State. They at least get to be home for this one. Michigan State has quietly started 3-0 behind a slow and steady offensive approach that has seemed to wear down opposing teams. Notre Dame has seemed to look for quick strikes to get their offense going. This should be a similar push and pull type of game like Michigan and Purdue for the Fighting Irish with them coming up big in the 4th quarter. PICK: NOTRE DAME
1) #23 Arizona State at #5 Stanford- After a couple of ranked vs ranked matchups, this is the only one this week. Arizona State escaped their clash with Wisconsin with a big win last week as Stanford did not look especially lethal against Army. This one is big test for the Sun Devils while Stanford knows they need this win too in order to keep pace with Oregon. Thus, a lot is truly on the line for both Pac-12 squads in the biggest contest this year so far in the conference. In the end, Stanford has more explosive potential and could get a couple of second half scores to put this one out of reach if it is still close by halftime. PICK: STANFORD
After a few top ten matchups and some shifting in the top 25, this might be a quiet week as many top teams should blow out opponents and get themselves ready for tougher games down the road. The only game with some implications will be Stanford hosting Arizona State in the only top 25 contest. Should be some good games by some Heisman contenders despite the competitiveness of the games.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
NFL Week 3 Power Rankings
The NFL season is starting to settle in. Most of the top teams are mostly holding tow while a few other teams are surging up the rankings and other teams are dropping. The big game of the week in Seattle did not live up to some of the expectations as the delayed game along with the 12th man provided enough instability for the 49ers as they again could not get much going as HB Marshawn Lynch mostly did enough for the Seahawks with his two scores to put the game away in another blowout. It adds an interesting chapter to last year's finale and build up to the rematch in San Francisco near the end of the year with the division title likely on the line. Possibly even less thrilling was the Green Bay Packers dominance of the Washington Redskins during the first half of their game that made the second half an afterthought. The loss brings up even more questions of the type of season ahead for the Redskins as they try to repeat last year's success. While the Packers look like they could overcome preseason struggles to make another deep playoff run.
The Monday night showdown in Cincinnati was mostly nothing special either as the Bengals ran the ball effectively and just wore down the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half after the two teams were tied up at halftime. For most of the first half as well, the New York Giants kept it close with the Denver Broncos but like in Week 1; the Broncos hit the accelerator in the second half and had another big win. Thus, four big games and four less than excited endings. The Philadelphia Eagles suffered a setback with a close loss to the San Diego Chargers who surged the most this week. Also, the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins are off to fast starts and could be surprise teams to watch. While the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons continue to play well but lack a complete game so far.
With all that said, time to get ready for another week and here are Week 3's power rankings:
1)(1) Broncos- They were able to repeat their dominating performance of Week 1 and now look to be at a slightly different level than the rest of the AFC contenders.
2)(3) Seahawks- They might have the best homefield advantage in the NFL and they used it again to romp a very good 49ers team to better position themselves in the NFC playoff race to have all their games at home.
3)(2) 49ers- They are still a top 5 team in the NFL but they will need to figure out how to win in Seattle because they might need to go there to get back to the Super Bowl if they do not win the NFC West.
4)(4) Falcons- They might have lost HB Steven Jackson for a couple games, but there are still plenty of tools at QB Matt Ryan's disposal to keep them on track.
5)(7) Packers- They looked nearly unstoppable for about three quarters against the Redskins and QB Aaron Rodgers look like an MVP candidate. Some questions about them going into the season might have been overexaggerated after two games.
6)(6) Texans- They are 2-0, but could easily be 0-2 after barely winning both of their games. They will need to be a sharper team against better teams or they find themselves in trouble fast.
7)(6) Patriots- QB Tom Brady is clearly frustrated with the lack of help he has on the field right now. He is good enough to get them by two poor teams and they should go to 3-0 in all likelihood but do not look like a team capable of challenging for a title right now.
8)(8) Saints- They did enough to win the game, but they still show some vulnerabilities when on the road despite having a very good offense with a quarterback and head coach reunited to execute it.
9)(9) Bears- Two wins, two late drives by the offense. They might have enough talent to escape future similar situations and upend the Packers for the division.
10)(11) Ravens- QB Joe Flacco certainly misses a couple of his big targets from last year, but he needs to do more getting the ball down the field as well as working HB Ray Rice more into the passing game.
11)(12) Bengals- They might have found a future star at running back and provide them with a legit triplet group to become a powerhouse in a tough division.
12)(18) Chiefs- They are getting things slowing going on both sides of the ball and their defense could be potent enough to slow down teams to allow the offense to score enough points to win like this past week.
13)(19) Dolphins- They have not been too flashy, but are 2-0 and with a less than stellar product in New England; they might have enough to steal the division crown.
14)(10) Colts- QB Andrew Luck fell a bit short in another 4th quarter comeback as he is seeing year two might not be as easy as they have not picked up totally where they left off last year.
15)(13) Cowboys- They almost blew one game and had chances to win another. They are moving the ball fairly well and improving their defense but need to play more complete to be the team they are capable of being.
16)(24) Chargers- They have played much more inspired so far this year than in 2012. They were very close to being 2-0 right now and could use the momentum of slowing down enough one of the fastest offense going forward. WR Eddie Royal is quickly becoming a hidden gem for them.
17)(14) Rams- They battled back in the 4th quarter but it was not enough. There were flashes of greatness from both QB Sam Bradford and WR Tavon Austin that show potential of what could be very soon.
18)(15) Eagles- They were slowed down enough and almost went to 2-0. They are showing the potential to be a scary team if they start going and are not slowed down as their speed in the open field creates difficulties for defenders.
19)(16) Giants- Turnovers, turnover, and turnovers. That explains why they are 0-2. They kept things close in the first half and tried to keep pace early in the second half before mistakes and a lack of touchdowns caught up to them.
20)(17) Redskins- QB Robert Griffin III is struggling to get going this season as defenses are coming hard at him. He has had better second halves of games but they are practically in garbage time with the game basically out of reach.
21)(20) Lions- WR Calvin Johnson can only do so much and that seems to be where they are right now which is holding them back from being a potential explosive offense with a better running back.
22)(26) Cardinals- QB Carson Palmer continues to provide an upgrade for them as he had to work to outscore the other team.
23)(23) Titans- They shocked the Steelers and almost upended the Texans. They are playing well on defense and doing enough on offense as HB Chris Johnson is starting to reemerge.
24)(22) Vikings- As the passing game goes, will this team's playoff chances. They kept it close largely due to non-offensive scores and need to do more in all areas on offense.
25)(21) Steelers- They are struggling on offense and their defense can only do so much to make up for that. They are not familiar to this level of disarray but have a solid head coach who has steered them through other struggles at times.
26)(29) Bills- They were on the positive side of a dramatic end of game of touchdown. QB EJ Manuel continues to develop and look like the pick he was intended to be.
27)(25) Panthers- QB Cam Newton is showing some improvement but their offense continues to lack that next level type of performance.
28)(27) Jets- It may have been the weather or just reality, but that couldn't get the same luck two weeks in a row and still have some questions to answer on both sides.
29)(31) Raiders-They look to be developing a good dynamic with their backfield and quarterback and that could provide them with the ability to pull off a surprise win or two.
30)(28) Buccaneers- They have come close and held late leads only to lose by a field goal each time. Closing a game will be something to work on for sure.
31)(30) Browns- They need more from QB Brandon Weeden if they are going to improve and compete with the rest of their division.
32)(32) Jaguars-They look to be lucky if they a touchdown each week with their play after two games.
The schedule this week lacks a big time matchup but a few good ones including a test for Kansas City going to Philadelphia as head coach Andy Reid faces his former team as well as Miami hosting Atlanta. Eight teams are hoping to avoid an 0-3 start while contenders are hoping to become a bit more polished. Houston going to Baltimore could feature a playoff preview as well. Movement will likely continue to occur.
The Monday night showdown in Cincinnati was mostly nothing special either as the Bengals ran the ball effectively and just wore down the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half after the two teams were tied up at halftime. For most of the first half as well, the New York Giants kept it close with the Denver Broncos but like in Week 1; the Broncos hit the accelerator in the second half and had another big win. Thus, four big games and four less than excited endings. The Philadelphia Eagles suffered a setback with a close loss to the San Diego Chargers who surged the most this week. Also, the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins are off to fast starts and could be surprise teams to watch. While the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons continue to play well but lack a complete game so far.
With all that said, time to get ready for another week and here are Week 3's power rankings:
1)(1) Broncos- They were able to repeat their dominating performance of Week 1 and now look to be at a slightly different level than the rest of the AFC contenders.
2)(3) Seahawks- They might have the best homefield advantage in the NFL and they used it again to romp a very good 49ers team to better position themselves in the NFC playoff race to have all their games at home.
3)(2) 49ers- They are still a top 5 team in the NFL but they will need to figure out how to win in Seattle because they might need to go there to get back to the Super Bowl if they do not win the NFC West.
4)(4) Falcons- They might have lost HB Steven Jackson for a couple games, but there are still plenty of tools at QB Matt Ryan's disposal to keep them on track.
5)(7) Packers- They looked nearly unstoppable for about three quarters against the Redskins and QB Aaron Rodgers look like an MVP candidate. Some questions about them going into the season might have been overexaggerated after two games.
6)(6) Texans- They are 2-0, but could easily be 0-2 after barely winning both of their games. They will need to be a sharper team against better teams or they find themselves in trouble fast.
7)(6) Patriots- QB Tom Brady is clearly frustrated with the lack of help he has on the field right now. He is good enough to get them by two poor teams and they should go to 3-0 in all likelihood but do not look like a team capable of challenging for a title right now.
8)(8) Saints- They did enough to win the game, but they still show some vulnerabilities when on the road despite having a very good offense with a quarterback and head coach reunited to execute it.
9)(9) Bears- Two wins, two late drives by the offense. They might have enough talent to escape future similar situations and upend the Packers for the division.
10)(11) Ravens- QB Joe Flacco certainly misses a couple of his big targets from last year, but he needs to do more getting the ball down the field as well as working HB Ray Rice more into the passing game.
11)(12) Bengals- They might have found a future star at running back and provide them with a legit triplet group to become a powerhouse in a tough division.
12)(18) Chiefs- They are getting things slowing going on both sides of the ball and their defense could be potent enough to slow down teams to allow the offense to score enough points to win like this past week.
13)(19) Dolphins- They have not been too flashy, but are 2-0 and with a less than stellar product in New England; they might have enough to steal the division crown.
14)(10) Colts- QB Andrew Luck fell a bit short in another 4th quarter comeback as he is seeing year two might not be as easy as they have not picked up totally where they left off last year.
15)(13) Cowboys- They almost blew one game and had chances to win another. They are moving the ball fairly well and improving their defense but need to play more complete to be the team they are capable of being.
16)(24) Chargers- They have played much more inspired so far this year than in 2012. They were very close to being 2-0 right now and could use the momentum of slowing down enough one of the fastest offense going forward. WR Eddie Royal is quickly becoming a hidden gem for them.
17)(14) Rams- They battled back in the 4th quarter but it was not enough. There were flashes of greatness from both QB Sam Bradford and WR Tavon Austin that show potential of what could be very soon.
18)(15) Eagles- They were slowed down enough and almost went to 2-0. They are showing the potential to be a scary team if they start going and are not slowed down as their speed in the open field creates difficulties for defenders.
19)(16) Giants- Turnovers, turnover, and turnovers. That explains why they are 0-2. They kept things close in the first half and tried to keep pace early in the second half before mistakes and a lack of touchdowns caught up to them.
20)(17) Redskins- QB Robert Griffin III is struggling to get going this season as defenses are coming hard at him. He has had better second halves of games but they are practically in garbage time with the game basically out of reach.
21)(20) Lions- WR Calvin Johnson can only do so much and that seems to be where they are right now which is holding them back from being a potential explosive offense with a better running back.
22)(26) Cardinals- QB Carson Palmer continues to provide an upgrade for them as he had to work to outscore the other team.
23)(23) Titans- They shocked the Steelers and almost upended the Texans. They are playing well on defense and doing enough on offense as HB Chris Johnson is starting to reemerge.
24)(22) Vikings- As the passing game goes, will this team's playoff chances. They kept it close largely due to non-offensive scores and need to do more in all areas on offense.
25)(21) Steelers- They are struggling on offense and their defense can only do so much to make up for that. They are not familiar to this level of disarray but have a solid head coach who has steered them through other struggles at times.
26)(29) Bills- They were on the positive side of a dramatic end of game of touchdown. QB EJ Manuel continues to develop and look like the pick he was intended to be.
27)(25) Panthers- QB Cam Newton is showing some improvement but their offense continues to lack that next level type of performance.
28)(27) Jets- It may have been the weather or just reality, but that couldn't get the same luck two weeks in a row and still have some questions to answer on both sides.
29)(31) Raiders-They look to be developing a good dynamic with their backfield and quarterback and that could provide them with the ability to pull off a surprise win or two.
30)(28) Buccaneers- They have come close and held late leads only to lose by a field goal each time. Closing a game will be something to work on for sure.
31)(30) Browns- They need more from QB Brandon Weeden if they are going to improve and compete with the rest of their division.
32)(32) Jaguars-They look to be lucky if they a touchdown each week with their play after two games.
The schedule this week lacks a big time matchup but a few good ones including a test for Kansas City going to Philadelphia as head coach Andy Reid faces his former team as well as Miami hosting Atlanta. Eight teams are hoping to avoid an 0-3 start while contenders are hoping to become a bit more polished. Houston going to Baltimore could feature a playoff preview as well. Movement will likely continue to occur.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
College Football Week 4 Power Rankings
Three weeks of games are in the books and there has been a little bit of movement among the top teams as three straight weeks of top ten matchups have rewarded the winners and punished the losers. However, not terribly. The streak of top ten matchups halts but there are still a couple top 25 matchups that will continue to keep the rankings fluid. Texas A&M came close to coming back to knock off #1 Alabama but the Crimson Tide got their revenge. In the other top 25 matchup, UCLA shocked those gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska when they came back in the second half to not only win but destroy the Huskers. There were a few scares for some teams and could losses. Wisconsin fell a little bit due to their tough loss to Arizona State, who jumps into the top 25. While TCU lost to Texas Tech and they fall out along with a 3-0 Michigan State in favor of an impressive Mississippi team who won Austin against Texas and are now 3-0 themselves.
With Week 4 fasting approaching, here are this week's power rankings:
1)(1) Alabama (vs Colorado State)- It was a wild and earned victory at Texas A&M but unlike last year, they were the better team. They might not be as complete as last year, but still look like a tough team to beat.
2)(2) Oregon (BYE)- 50 plus points in each of their first three games should scare most of college football especially everyone in the Pac-12 as teams might have to outscore them which is no easy task.
3)(3) Ohio State (vs Florida A&M)- They should have little difficulty again this week, but execution is something they can continue to polish up before conference games.
4)(5) Clemson (at NC State)- After a week away, they start their ACC schedule and this is the type of game that could be a trap if they don't come prepare.
5)(4) Stanford (vs Arizona State)- They seemed to struggle against a lesser team in Army at times and now have a confident Arizona State team coming to town in a solid Pac-12 matchup.
6)(7) Louisville (vs Florida International)- Like the first three games, this one should be a similar dissection by QB Teddy Bridgewater and the Cardinals.
7)(8) Georgia (vs North Texas)- Georgia finally gets a bit of a break with an opponent not ranked in the top 10.
8)(9) Florida State (vs Bethune Cookman)- They did not look overly impressive in the first half before exploding in the second half. They might have a full game like the second half this week.
9)(10) LSU (vs Auburn)- They have been very consistent with play so far and get an improved Auburn squad in a game that they will be fired up for.
10)(6) Texas A&M (vs SMU)- They turned it over a couple times and that proved to be the difference as despite one of the best games by QB Johnny Manziel it was not enough and now they must recalibrate and stay focused.
11)(13) Oklahoma State (BYE)- Outside of Oregon, they might have one of the best offenses so far this season. They get a break to rest up this week.
12)(12) South Carolina (BYE)- They rebounded nicely after their loss to Georgia by taking down Vanderbilt and get a bye at a time when their star defender could use it.
13)(17) UCLA (vs New Mexico State)- They seemed like a completely different team in the second half against Nebraska as they hit a switch and kept scoring and continue to impress each week.
14)(11) Michigan (at Connecticut)- They almost let a winnable game slip away and they could that as a lesson for another game this week which they should win easily.
15)(14) Oklahoma (BYE)- They are not doing anything over the top, but slow and steady might be enough until they run into Oklahoma State or Baylor with high powered offenses.
16)(18) Northwestern (vs Maine)- They continue to look sharp and should have a game this week that will allow them to continue to work on execution before facing tougher opponents.
17)(19) Miami (FL) (vs Savannah State)- They return from a bye with a lot of excitement and could use this game to further showcase their improved talent and better discipline.
18)(23) Washington (vs Idaho State)- A solid road win last week as they continue to grow as a team and rise in their conference.
19)(21) Florida (vs Tennessee)- They go from one rivalry game to another after their bye. Based on how they have played to start the year, this week could be another test for Florida as they try to show they can be a dominant team in their conference.
20)(24) Baylor (vs LA-Monroe)- The surging Bears return and could continue to put up a point barrage this week.
21)(20) Notre Dame (vs Michigan State)- They have not looked especially sharp the last two weeks and needed big four quarters where one was not enough and get another Big Ten foe this week.
22)(NR) Mississippi (BYE)- A much deserved bye after a surprising 3-0 including a statement win at Austin against Texas.
23)(NR) Arizona State (at Stanford)- It was a weird ending but the Sun Devils had a solid win as a great way to build up momentum for their clash with Stanford.
24)(15) Wisconsin (vs Purdue)- It was a tough loss last week in a winnable game until the very end and now must regroup for a conference battle with Purdue who has looked better this year overall.
25)(16) Nebraska (vs South Dakota State)- They seemed to have a slight grasp on their game this past week before UCLA rolled them in the second half to once again but a major question mark above their defense.
NEXT 5
1) Michigan State (at Notre Dame)- They are still a top 25 worthy team and with a win, they could swap places with Notre Dame.
2) Texas Tech (vs Texas State)- They like Baylor have been a pleasant surprise in the Big 12 showing balance.
3) USC (vs Utah State)- They needed the type of win they got last week against Boston College and will certainly aim for a repeat to show some life in their offense.
4) TCU (BYE)- They did not seem as crisp as usual this past week which opened the door for Texas Tech in the second half and now have a week off to see where improvements need to be made.
5) Virginia Tech (vs Marshall)- They have looked strong and weak at points this year and it is still hard to figure out their capability.
After three weeks of top 10 matchups, there is only one top 25 matchup this week when Arizona State visits Stanford in what should be a good Pac-12 game. Michigan State could jump back into the top 25 with a win at Notre Dame and knock them out. Most top 25 teams have fairly winnable to likely wins and thus movement might be limited this week.
With Week 4 fasting approaching, here are this week's power rankings:
1)(1) Alabama (vs Colorado State)- It was a wild and earned victory at Texas A&M but unlike last year, they were the better team. They might not be as complete as last year, but still look like a tough team to beat.
2)(2) Oregon (BYE)- 50 plus points in each of their first three games should scare most of college football especially everyone in the Pac-12 as teams might have to outscore them which is no easy task.
3)(3) Ohio State (vs Florida A&M)- They should have little difficulty again this week, but execution is something they can continue to polish up before conference games.
4)(5) Clemson (at NC State)- After a week away, they start their ACC schedule and this is the type of game that could be a trap if they don't come prepare.
5)(4) Stanford (vs Arizona State)- They seemed to struggle against a lesser team in Army at times and now have a confident Arizona State team coming to town in a solid Pac-12 matchup.
6)(7) Louisville (vs Florida International)- Like the first three games, this one should be a similar dissection by QB Teddy Bridgewater and the Cardinals.
7)(8) Georgia (vs North Texas)- Georgia finally gets a bit of a break with an opponent not ranked in the top 10.
8)(9) Florida State (vs Bethune Cookman)- They did not look overly impressive in the first half before exploding in the second half. They might have a full game like the second half this week.
9)(10) LSU (vs Auburn)- They have been very consistent with play so far and get an improved Auburn squad in a game that they will be fired up for.
10)(6) Texas A&M (vs SMU)- They turned it over a couple times and that proved to be the difference as despite one of the best games by QB Johnny Manziel it was not enough and now they must recalibrate and stay focused.
11)(13) Oklahoma State (BYE)- Outside of Oregon, they might have one of the best offenses so far this season. They get a break to rest up this week.
12)(12) South Carolina (BYE)- They rebounded nicely after their loss to Georgia by taking down Vanderbilt and get a bye at a time when their star defender could use it.
13)(17) UCLA (vs New Mexico State)- They seemed like a completely different team in the second half against Nebraska as they hit a switch and kept scoring and continue to impress each week.
14)(11) Michigan (at Connecticut)- They almost let a winnable game slip away and they could that as a lesson for another game this week which they should win easily.
15)(14) Oklahoma (BYE)- They are not doing anything over the top, but slow and steady might be enough until they run into Oklahoma State or Baylor with high powered offenses.
16)(18) Northwestern (vs Maine)- They continue to look sharp and should have a game this week that will allow them to continue to work on execution before facing tougher opponents.
17)(19) Miami (FL) (vs Savannah State)- They return from a bye with a lot of excitement and could use this game to further showcase their improved talent and better discipline.
18)(23) Washington (vs Idaho State)- A solid road win last week as they continue to grow as a team and rise in their conference.
19)(21) Florida (vs Tennessee)- They go from one rivalry game to another after their bye. Based on how they have played to start the year, this week could be another test for Florida as they try to show they can be a dominant team in their conference.
20)(24) Baylor (vs LA-Monroe)- The surging Bears return and could continue to put up a point barrage this week.
21)(20) Notre Dame (vs Michigan State)- They have not looked especially sharp the last two weeks and needed big four quarters where one was not enough and get another Big Ten foe this week.
22)(NR) Mississippi (BYE)- A much deserved bye after a surprising 3-0 including a statement win at Austin against Texas.
23)(NR) Arizona State (at Stanford)- It was a weird ending but the Sun Devils had a solid win as a great way to build up momentum for their clash with Stanford.
24)(15) Wisconsin (vs Purdue)- It was a tough loss last week in a winnable game until the very end and now must regroup for a conference battle with Purdue who has looked better this year overall.
25)(16) Nebraska (vs South Dakota State)- They seemed to have a slight grasp on their game this past week before UCLA rolled them in the second half to once again but a major question mark above their defense.
NEXT 5
1) Michigan State (at Notre Dame)- They are still a top 25 worthy team and with a win, they could swap places with Notre Dame.
2) Texas Tech (vs Texas State)- They like Baylor have been a pleasant surprise in the Big 12 showing balance.
3) USC (vs Utah State)- They needed the type of win they got last week against Boston College and will certainly aim for a repeat to show some life in their offense.
4) TCU (BYE)- They did not seem as crisp as usual this past week which opened the door for Texas Tech in the second half and now have a week off to see where improvements need to be made.
5) Virginia Tech (vs Marshall)- They have looked strong and weak at points this year and it is still hard to figure out their capability.
After three weeks of top 10 matchups, there is only one top 25 matchup this week when Arizona State visits Stanford in what should be a good Pac-12 game. Michigan State could jump back into the top 25 with a win at Notre Dame and knock them out. Most top 25 teams have fairly winnable to likely wins and thus movement might be limited this week.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
NFL Week 2 Preview
Week 1 provided lots of great action starting with Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning slinging 7 touchdown passes to tie an NFL record and ending with the Houston Texans making a crazy second half comeback to beat the San Diego Chargers in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. The Broncos and Baltimore Ravens had a solid first half before the Broncos showed their many weapons and speedy offense to pull away. Sunday afternoon on opening weekend was highlighted by another classic between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers. Like the previous two contests, the 49ers had a little more offense as QB Colin Kaepernick put on an offensive showcase and truly is a dual threat. Earlier in the day, the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons had an equally great game with the Saints doing a little more at home to get the leg up on what should be good division race. Finally, among the four highlighted contests; the Dallas Cowboys finally won in their new stadium against the New York Giants. The Cowboys took advantage of multiple Giants' turnovers. However, QB Eli Manning and WR Victor Cruz kept the Giants in the game until the end despite all the turnovers.
Altogether, the opening weekend had four safeties including two in one game and some wild finishes. The Philadelphia Eagles' offense looks as good as advertised. The New England Patriots might not be as good as advertised after nearly losing to the Buffalo Bills. As the focus now turns to Week 2, the 16 teams that are 0-1 will look to avoid an 0-2 start. With my picks, I was able to go 13-3 for a solid start. A last second field goal by the New York Jets downed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled to do much against the Tennessee Titans. And, as mentioned, the Eagles were on the field and scoring points much of Monday night against the Washington Redskins.
Here are this week's top 4 and the rest.
TOP 4
Washington Redskins at Green Bay Packers- The Redskins did not look very good most of the game against the Eagles. Their offense was barely on the field and when it was, it was turning the ball over. They now turn to face a more typical style offense led by Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers. The Packers looked good in defeat as a simply better team edged them. Both of these playoff teams from a year ago do not want to start 0-2 and that should make this game even better. Based on their performances in Week 1, Rodgers will likely move the ball a little better as RGIII still does not look like his dynamic self yet. PICK: PACKERS
Denver Broncos at New York Giants- Manning Bowl III. The first two were good contests as the two brothers kept the scores close with Peyton doing a little more than Eli. It will be hard for Peyton to duplicate his seven touchdown performance while Eli hopes to not throw three interceptions again. WR Victor Cruz looks healthy after a preseason scare and will be a clutch weapon for Eli during this potential shootout. While it looks like the Broncos' offense is even deeper than last year. WR Wes Welker looks to be quickly turning into a key weapon for Peyton and a developing tight end gives them potentially five targets. The Giants running game might be the biggest area to watch. The Broncos will likely try to be a bit more balanced and should be successful getting their duo of backs going while the Giants are searching for something. And...for those worried about the absence of LB Von Miller, it looks like LB Wesley Woodyard might be a suitable replacement until Miller returns. Like the first two meetings, the game is close at the half and then like in Week 1; the Broncos will start to take over the game. PICK: BRONCOS
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday Night)- The AFC North and NFC East the last decade or so has been known for some physical and high pressure divisional games. Last year, it looked like the NFC West is the new "black and blue" division led by the 49ers and Seahawks. Seattle surged late in the season and nearly caught San Francisco for the divisional title highlighted by a complete dominating performance in Seattle by the Seahawks. That game will likely be in the heads of both teams. This game will also give the winner a leg up in what should be a close race again for the division. Homefield is truly important to Seattle because they beat three teams that were probably more talented than them at home with the help of the 12th man. Expect a low scoring affair early before a couple big plays come out in the second half. While the 49ers might be a slightly better team right now, the Seahawks will feed off the energy and watch for HB Marshawn Lynch who has had a couple big games at home the last couple years. It should be a bit closer but Seattle provides an aura for the Seahawks. PICK: SEAHAWKS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (Monday Night)- The Steelers got a safety on the first play against the Titans. They were essentially shutout for the rest of the game with a late touchdown that closed the gap in their loss. Now, they must get themselves up for a key divisional clash. The game being in Cincinnati makes it a bit more challenging as they would have had the home crowd to provide a boost. The Bengals made a couple of costly errors and turnovers in Week 1 that cost them a winnable game against Chicago. Offensive line concerns are still apparent and the secondary will be asked to slow Bengals WR AJ Green down enough to keep the score low in this one. Bengals WR Mohammed Sanu might be the x-factor in open field. Steelers find themselves in a close divisional battle before a late score by Cincinnati puts it away giving the Bengals the inside track for the division. PICK: BENGALS
THE REST
New York Jets at New England Patriots (Thursday Night)- Regardless of record, most times recently these games have been close. The Jets pulled off a shocking last second win in Week while the Patriots had their own late 4th quarter comeback as well. Patriots QB Tom Brady continues to work with a young offense and that will make this one probably close again. In a tight defensive battle, the Patriots do enough as the better team. PICK: PATRIOTS
St. Louis Rams at Atlanta Falcons- Falcons HB Steven Jackson faces his former team for the first time. The Falcons fell short in New Orleans and with large aspirations, they will not want to start 0-2. The Rams are still a young and growing team and their speed might be able to hang with the Falcons. While the front seven of the Rams is starting to prove themselves, the secondary might have matchup issues based on how Falcons QB Matt Ryan positions all his weapons. A few holes here and there that will appear will allow for a couple big plays that will be the difference in a fairly close game at times. PICK: FALCONS
San Diego Chargers at Philadelphia Eagles- The Eagles' offense came alive on Monday night after questions were circulating during the preseason. They might not be Oregon yet but with weapons on the field like HB LeSean McCoy and WR DeSean Jackson they could be tough to slow down. The Chargers came out early as fast as the Eagles on Monday night but they were not as sharp in the second half as they let the Houston Texans back in the game and lost on a late field goal. Thus, this one could feature fast starts by both teams with a similar second half for both as they both take the foot off the gas a little. The Chargers' run game might be the difference here as they lack the balance of the Eagles, who should be able to put up a few scores again. PICK: EAGLES
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts- They both won close games last week and could be set for another. This one features two quarterbacks drafted in the top 10 in the 2012 NFL Draft. Colts QB Andrew Luck had an amazing if not record breaking rookie season leading his team to the playoffs having a safety net in WR Reggie Wayne. While Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill went through more rookie struggles but has his own top target now in WR Mike Wallace. While those passing duos should do decent to well, it should be interesting to see how the running game compare especially with the Colts' banged up a bit there. QB Andrew Luck works similar magic as last week and leads a big 4th quarter drive that puts this one away. PICK: COLTS
Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills- The Bills came up just a little short against the Patriots while the Panthers played the Seahawks close. They are fairly evenly matched with young and agile quarterbacks and some room for growth overall. Likely a fairly low scoring, defensive type of game early before a couple scores in the second half with Buffalo holding on late. PICK: BILLS
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears- The Bears escaped with a win last week while the Vikings let one slip away. This will be a crucial divisional contest early in the year. Vikings HB Adrian Peterson has recently found some success against a normally tough Bears' defense. The balance of the Bears on offense makes them a little better and a turnover by Vikings QB Christian Ponder in the second half might seal their fate. PICK: BEARS
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs- Both teams had a good start to the year. Defensively they played well especially the Chiefs. Thus, this probably won't become a game in the 30s. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid while with the Eagles has had a lot of success against Dallas and his knowledge of the team should help. An array of good players at home should be enough for the Chiefs to shock some with a solid win. PICK: CHIEFS
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens- The Ravens did not start their title defense the way they envisioned. They are still trying to replace some key players on both sides of the ball and drawing a divisional foe will keep this game somewhat close. The Ravens do enough take advantage of some Browns' mistakes to win. PICK: RAVENS
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans- The Texans were pushed to the limit on Monday night in San Diego. They could be tested again if they don't establish a good balanced attack early on. A lot of the pressure goes to Texans QB Matt Schaub who continues to lack the killer instinct and big game moments. The Titans' defense surprises the Texans a little bit during the first half before the Texans start to spread the ball around and pull away. PICK: TEXANS
Detriot Lions at Arizona Cardinals- This one features possibly the two best receivers in the NFL and look for lots of passes their way. Both should have good games. They will play close, swap leads, and set up a winning drive for the team with the ball late. That will probably be the Lions and they are doing well so far to get a running game going again. PICK: LIONS
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers- The Saints' high powered offense seems to lack the same juice away from home. Add in the fact that this is a divisional game against a team angry about letting a game slip away and this could be a closer than expected battle for much of the day. Saints QB Drew Brees is still a top 5 quarterback and that will be the difference as he gets a couple timely scores to secure the win. PICK: SAINTS
Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders- Normally, a contest like this doesn't come along until after Thanksgiving. A game with the number 1 pick in the next NFL Draft possibly on the line. It is very likely that these two teams will be near the bottom of the league during this year. They both have holes but the Raiders are a bit more complete and should do enough in all areas to separate themselves and win. PICK: RAIDERS
The big game this week will be on Sunday night as a potential NFC title game preview will take place in Seattle. Revenge will be on the 49ers' minds while the Seahawks will continue to seek respect. The Manning Bowl III should be another good battle. While half the league will be looking to avoid an 0-2 start; something that could put a dent in teams' playoffs dreams. Another week ahead as teams start to show whom will be contenders and whom will be pretenders.
Altogether, the opening weekend had four safeties including two in one game and some wild finishes. The Philadelphia Eagles' offense looks as good as advertised. The New England Patriots might not be as good as advertised after nearly losing to the Buffalo Bills. As the focus now turns to Week 2, the 16 teams that are 0-1 will look to avoid an 0-2 start. With my picks, I was able to go 13-3 for a solid start. A last second field goal by the New York Jets downed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled to do much against the Tennessee Titans. And, as mentioned, the Eagles were on the field and scoring points much of Monday night against the Washington Redskins.
Here are this week's top 4 and the rest.
TOP 4
Washington Redskins at Green Bay Packers- The Redskins did not look very good most of the game against the Eagles. Their offense was barely on the field and when it was, it was turning the ball over. They now turn to face a more typical style offense led by Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers. The Packers looked good in defeat as a simply better team edged them. Both of these playoff teams from a year ago do not want to start 0-2 and that should make this game even better. Based on their performances in Week 1, Rodgers will likely move the ball a little better as RGIII still does not look like his dynamic self yet. PICK: PACKERS
Denver Broncos at New York Giants- Manning Bowl III. The first two were good contests as the two brothers kept the scores close with Peyton doing a little more than Eli. It will be hard for Peyton to duplicate his seven touchdown performance while Eli hopes to not throw three interceptions again. WR Victor Cruz looks healthy after a preseason scare and will be a clutch weapon for Eli during this potential shootout. While it looks like the Broncos' offense is even deeper than last year. WR Wes Welker looks to be quickly turning into a key weapon for Peyton and a developing tight end gives them potentially five targets. The Giants running game might be the biggest area to watch. The Broncos will likely try to be a bit more balanced and should be successful getting their duo of backs going while the Giants are searching for something. And...for those worried about the absence of LB Von Miller, it looks like LB Wesley Woodyard might be a suitable replacement until Miller returns. Like the first two meetings, the game is close at the half and then like in Week 1; the Broncos will start to take over the game. PICK: BRONCOS
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday Night)- The AFC North and NFC East the last decade or so has been known for some physical and high pressure divisional games. Last year, it looked like the NFC West is the new "black and blue" division led by the 49ers and Seahawks. Seattle surged late in the season and nearly caught San Francisco for the divisional title highlighted by a complete dominating performance in Seattle by the Seahawks. That game will likely be in the heads of both teams. This game will also give the winner a leg up in what should be a close race again for the division. Homefield is truly important to Seattle because they beat three teams that were probably more talented than them at home with the help of the 12th man. Expect a low scoring affair early before a couple big plays come out in the second half. While the 49ers might be a slightly better team right now, the Seahawks will feed off the energy and watch for HB Marshawn Lynch who has had a couple big games at home the last couple years. It should be a bit closer but Seattle provides an aura for the Seahawks. PICK: SEAHAWKS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (Monday Night)- The Steelers got a safety on the first play against the Titans. They were essentially shutout for the rest of the game with a late touchdown that closed the gap in their loss. Now, they must get themselves up for a key divisional clash. The game being in Cincinnati makes it a bit more challenging as they would have had the home crowd to provide a boost. The Bengals made a couple of costly errors and turnovers in Week 1 that cost them a winnable game against Chicago. Offensive line concerns are still apparent and the secondary will be asked to slow Bengals WR AJ Green down enough to keep the score low in this one. Bengals WR Mohammed Sanu might be the x-factor in open field. Steelers find themselves in a close divisional battle before a late score by Cincinnati puts it away giving the Bengals the inside track for the division. PICK: BENGALS
THE REST
New York Jets at New England Patriots (Thursday Night)- Regardless of record, most times recently these games have been close. The Jets pulled off a shocking last second win in Week while the Patriots had their own late 4th quarter comeback as well. Patriots QB Tom Brady continues to work with a young offense and that will make this one probably close again. In a tight defensive battle, the Patriots do enough as the better team. PICK: PATRIOTS
St. Louis Rams at Atlanta Falcons- Falcons HB Steven Jackson faces his former team for the first time. The Falcons fell short in New Orleans and with large aspirations, they will not want to start 0-2. The Rams are still a young and growing team and their speed might be able to hang with the Falcons. While the front seven of the Rams is starting to prove themselves, the secondary might have matchup issues based on how Falcons QB Matt Ryan positions all his weapons. A few holes here and there that will appear will allow for a couple big plays that will be the difference in a fairly close game at times. PICK: FALCONS
San Diego Chargers at Philadelphia Eagles- The Eagles' offense came alive on Monday night after questions were circulating during the preseason. They might not be Oregon yet but with weapons on the field like HB LeSean McCoy and WR DeSean Jackson they could be tough to slow down. The Chargers came out early as fast as the Eagles on Monday night but they were not as sharp in the second half as they let the Houston Texans back in the game and lost on a late field goal. Thus, this one could feature fast starts by both teams with a similar second half for both as they both take the foot off the gas a little. The Chargers' run game might be the difference here as they lack the balance of the Eagles, who should be able to put up a few scores again. PICK: EAGLES
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts- They both won close games last week and could be set for another. This one features two quarterbacks drafted in the top 10 in the 2012 NFL Draft. Colts QB Andrew Luck had an amazing if not record breaking rookie season leading his team to the playoffs having a safety net in WR Reggie Wayne. While Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill went through more rookie struggles but has his own top target now in WR Mike Wallace. While those passing duos should do decent to well, it should be interesting to see how the running game compare especially with the Colts' banged up a bit there. QB Andrew Luck works similar magic as last week and leads a big 4th quarter drive that puts this one away. PICK: COLTS
Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills- The Bills came up just a little short against the Patriots while the Panthers played the Seahawks close. They are fairly evenly matched with young and agile quarterbacks and some room for growth overall. Likely a fairly low scoring, defensive type of game early before a couple scores in the second half with Buffalo holding on late. PICK: BILLS
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears- The Bears escaped with a win last week while the Vikings let one slip away. This will be a crucial divisional contest early in the year. Vikings HB Adrian Peterson has recently found some success against a normally tough Bears' defense. The balance of the Bears on offense makes them a little better and a turnover by Vikings QB Christian Ponder in the second half might seal their fate. PICK: BEARS
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs- Both teams had a good start to the year. Defensively they played well especially the Chiefs. Thus, this probably won't become a game in the 30s. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid while with the Eagles has had a lot of success against Dallas and his knowledge of the team should help. An array of good players at home should be enough for the Chiefs to shock some with a solid win. PICK: CHIEFS
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens- The Ravens did not start their title defense the way they envisioned. They are still trying to replace some key players on both sides of the ball and drawing a divisional foe will keep this game somewhat close. The Ravens do enough take advantage of some Browns' mistakes to win. PICK: RAVENS
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans- The Texans were pushed to the limit on Monday night in San Diego. They could be tested again if they don't establish a good balanced attack early on. A lot of the pressure goes to Texans QB Matt Schaub who continues to lack the killer instinct and big game moments. The Titans' defense surprises the Texans a little bit during the first half before the Texans start to spread the ball around and pull away. PICK: TEXANS
Detriot Lions at Arizona Cardinals- This one features possibly the two best receivers in the NFL and look for lots of passes their way. Both should have good games. They will play close, swap leads, and set up a winning drive for the team with the ball late. That will probably be the Lions and they are doing well so far to get a running game going again. PICK: LIONS
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers- The Saints' high powered offense seems to lack the same juice away from home. Add in the fact that this is a divisional game against a team angry about letting a game slip away and this could be a closer than expected battle for much of the day. Saints QB Drew Brees is still a top 5 quarterback and that will be the difference as he gets a couple timely scores to secure the win. PICK: SAINTS
Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders- Normally, a contest like this doesn't come along until after Thanksgiving. A game with the number 1 pick in the next NFL Draft possibly on the line. It is very likely that these two teams will be near the bottom of the league during this year. They both have holes but the Raiders are a bit more complete and should do enough in all areas to separate themselves and win. PICK: RAIDERS
The big game this week will be on Sunday night as a potential NFC title game preview will take place in Seattle. Revenge will be on the 49ers' minds while the Seahawks will continue to seek respect. The Manning Bowl III should be another good battle. While half the league will be looking to avoid an 0-2 start; something that could put a dent in teams' playoffs dreams. Another week ahead as teams start to show whom will be contenders and whom will be pretenders.
College Football Week 3 Preview
Week 2 had a similar feel as Week 1 when it comes to the quality of
games and some of excitement provided. There were not as many shockers
like the FCS victories over FBS schools. There were conferences starting
to align a bit as after two weeks a lot of teams have played at least
one divisional foe. For the second straight week, Georgia found
themselves in a close contest. Luckily for them, there was a different
outcome. Miami (FL) might have had one of the biggest wins of the week
and one of their biggest wins in the last five years. The biggest losers
in Week 2 might have been Texas and USC who both suffered their first
loss of the year and find themselves on the outside of the Top 25. Week 3
is thin with big matchups again but each week is a build up big time
conference games including Alabama at Texas A&M this weekend.
Looking back at last week, both Louisville and Clemson cruised
showing why they are ranked where they are. Louisville was much sharper
but neither contest was close. Stanford and Texas A&M were equally
impressive in victory. A&M still could see some improvement on
defense but if their offense can do what is has done the first two
weeks, they might be able to outscore Alabama and "steal" another win
against them. Oregon State and Kansas State looked much better in bounce
back games for them after losing to FCS schools in Week 1. Nebraska as
well looked much more dominant as they truly played up to their ability
after limping to victory in Week 1. Finally, Boise State looked more
complete against a lesser team but still could have work to do this
year. Something they are fairly not used to the last decade.In my top 5 for Week 2, I went 5-0 bringing my record to 9-1 on the year. Northwestern continues to look good and might be a surprise team to watch in the Big Ten. Michigan and Ohio State look to be the best two teams in the conference, but Northwestern could make a case for third best and will have a chance to prove it with each win especially when they move into their conference slate. Virginia at least kept Oregon under 60 but the Ducks are truly explosive on offense and maybe their defense doesn't get enough credit because the games aren't close and likely minus a couple conference games; most won't be at this point. Florida did not look 100% or very efficient in Week 1 against an easy opponent. They made similar mistakes in Week 2 against a better opponent and one much hungrier to prove something. The Hurricanes finally showed what they can do when they play top talent. Head coach Al Golden has them going in the right direction and a couple more big wins this year could have them playing for a conference title after a bit of a drought for them.
The battle in the Big House was at times a blowout and at times a nail biter similar to last year's contest between Michigan and Notre Dame. QB Devin Gardner for Michigan could rise into the Heisman conversation if his high play continues. At second half mistake let the Irish back in the game and something for him to grow from. Notre Dame still looks like a talented team but their luck will not take them back to a title game appearance as this loss in all likelihood. Finally, Georgia was tested once again and QB Aaron Murray played a bit better answered each challenge South Carolina threw his way. It was far from easy but unlike against Clemson, they were able to create some breathing room and that provided enough separation to escape with a win.
Now comes this week's games to spotlight and the weekly top 5.
Games to highlight in Week 3:
#22
TCU at Texas Tech: TCU enters their Big 12 schedule and they could get a
good test before tougher games when they travel to Lubbock to face the
Red Raiders.
Tennessee at #2 Oregon: Oregon likely poses too matchup
issues for the Volunteers but it could be good to see how they matchup
with a SEC squad as they will likely need to go through the eventual
conference champion to win a national title.
#3 Ohio State at California: California on paper does not
matchup with Ohio State. The Buckeyes played more inspired in Week 2
and it should be interesting to see how strong they come out against a
Cal team that has at times played inspired against a couple top teams.
Top 5 Games of Week 3 (9-1):
Top 5 Games of Week 3 (9-1):
5) #23 Washington at
Illinois: Washington had a solid win to start the year while Illinois
has been playing much more inspired ball this year after a few down
years. If this game was out west, it might be not be as close as it
could get. However, the Huskies look very balanced on offense and should
wear down Illinois as the game goes on. PICK: WASHINGTON
4) #15 Wisconsin at Arizona State: While only
having played one game, Arizona State certainly looked like a top 25
type of team. A big matchup with Wisconsin could solidify that status
with a win. While Wisconsin looks to be a bit more aggressive this year
and it could be a physical type of game where each possession truly
matters. The Badgers are a bit more talented and start to separate in
the 4th quarter. PICK: WISCONSIN
3) Mississippi at Texas: Ole Miss shocked
Vanderbilt in Week 1 and followed that up with a solid win in Week 2.
They get a very good test on the road against Texas. The Longhorns got
run over against BYU and will likely come out angry at home. Their
defense will likely still have a few holes but last weekend they played
at an all time bad level. Improving a bit should be enough to hold the
Rebels as their offense can score and QB David Ashe has shown the
ability to keep fighting. PICK: TEXAS
2) #17 UCLA at #16 Nebraska: This is a great Pac-12-Big
Ten matchup early in the year. The Bruins might be the third best team
out west only behind Oregon and Stanford and likely will face either one
of those teams for a Pac-12 crown. While Nebraska was sluggish in Week 1
and dangerous in Week 2. It could be hard to tell which squad shows up
in Week 3 but most likely the latter with this type of contest.
Nebraska's defense is not living up to their legacy of title contending
teams and the Bruins look capable of exposing the holes there. It will
be close throughout. PICK: UCLA
1) #1 Alabama at #6 Texas A&M: The Aggies
shocked most people last year especially Alabama with their big November
victory on road. Now the Crimson Tide know what to expect from Texas
A&M and their Heisman QB Johnny Manziel. Manziel has looked very
good so far this year but does need to keep himself in check to avoid
any costly penalties or mistakes. The offense line of Alabama looked
horrible in Week 1 and if A&M can keep the pressure on Alabama's
offense, it will likely set up a similar ending as last year. Special
teams will be key for the Aggies as well based on what Alabama did
against Virginia Tech. That is ultimately what cost the Hokies the game.
Manziel shines and the game is tight but Alabama head coach Nick Saban
is very similar to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichek: they
don't usually lose rematches too often. That is something that might be
enough to give Alabama a slight edge. PICK: ALABAMA
There is similar excitement for Week 3 as college football continues to provide shockers, big games, and lots of excitement. National title aspirations again will be in play in the "big game of the week". Clemson won a big one to start the year. Georgia and Michigan continued the trend in Week 2. Either Alabama or Texas A&M will add their name as the top teams start to separate themselves.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
NFL Week 2 Power Rankings
After about seven months, the NFL season finally kicked off. The first half in Denver between the Ravens and Broncos felt very much like their playoff duel in January. However, the second half was all about QB Peyton Manning. He went on to throw seven touchdowns tying the record for most in a game and making a strong case for why they might finish what they came close to doing: winning a Super Bowl. The second half also showed the growing relationship on the field between Manning and new WR Wes Welker. Add a developing tight end and they have many weapons that any questions about their defense early in the season are not too much of a worry. The 49ers won the other marquee Week 1 matchup outlasting the Packers. The 49ers certainly have the Packers' number and could see each other again come January. The Saints in their own right won a close one against divisional foe Atlanta and they could spend a lot of the year jockeying for first place. The Eagles and Cowboys took advantage of mistakes by their respective NFC East foes while potential title contenders Seattle, New England, and Houston all won but did not look very impressive.
With all that said, time to get ready for another week and here are Week 2's power rankings:
29)(29) Bills- QB E.J. Manuel did very well in his rookie debut and if it were not for a late drive by QB Tom Brady, they might have pulled off the upset win. Lots of promise potentially ahead as they navigate growing pains of a young team.
30)(27) Browns- They played tough against Miami but are still in a state of rebuilding strengthening their quarterback and creating a team capable of competing with the rest of their division.
31)(30) Raiders-They definitely played hard against the Colts and with some more work they might begin to get a little closer to being a .500 team.
32)(32) Jaguars- They were pretty inept to start the year and will definitely be a work in progress all year based on Week 1's preview.
Week 2 features a couple key contests with the Broncos visiting the Giants and the 49ers looking for revenge on the road against the Seahawks who throttled them in Seattle in December. There could be some more movement again next week as the top teams continue to square off.
With all that said, time to get ready for another week and here are Week 2's power rankings:
1)(1) Broncos- QB Peyton Manning looked about as good as he has
ever been as he tied an NFL record of 7 touchdown passes as the Broncos
wore down the Ravens in the second half.
2)(2) 49ers- They looked like they are even better than the team that made the Super Bowl a year ago. WR Anquan Boldin and TE Vernon Davis look like matchup issues for teams as QB Colin Kaepernick is a dangerous dual threat that is hard to plan for.
3)(5) Seahawks- It was not pretty but that summed up a lot of Seattle's games last year and they will likely need to duplicate that same grittiness in other contests especially those on the road.
4)(3) Falcons-They went back and forth with the Saints and just fell short. The rematch should be equally as close and might produce a different outcome. It will be much like a couple years ago as they battle the Saints for the division crown.
5)(6) Texans- They got punched early and had to mount a comeback. The victory was a good test of character and could help them against tougher opponents.
6)(8) Patriots- They played uncharacteristically and were lucky to escape with a win over a young Buffalo team. QB Tom Brady might have to pull off similar miracles at times this year.
7)(4) Packers- The Packers have been pretty effective against most teams in the league. The 49ers are not one of them as they have lost three in a row since the beginning of the 2012 season.
8)(12) Saints- They seemed to be lacking something without their head coach Sean Payton last year. They looked to be a bit more back on track and could find themselves in the playoffs again.
9)(13) Bears- They look to gave a good balanced team that is capable of winning the division and making a playoff run and beating a potential division champion and playoff team to start the year shows how they are against top teams.
10)(11) Colts- The Colts were tested a bit more than expected and like many times last year QB Andrew Luck did enough in the 4th quarter to secure a win.
11)(7) Ravens- The defending champions looked anything like that in the second half of the first game and will need create enough offense to give their defense a break.
12)(9) Bengals- A couple mistakes cost them a winnable game and they will need to learn from them if they hope to win the division and take that next playoff step.
13)(18) Cowboys- It was only a matter of time before the Cowboys beat the Giants in Jerry's World. They didn't play as sharp as they could and if it were not for many turnovers by the Giants they could have lost.
14)(15) Rams- They showed signs of being that complete team that can take the next step and to win the division their defense will need to play up to their ability.
15)(19) Eagles- They certainly must have gotten the kinks out in the preseason because the new Eagles' offense looked to be multifaceted with the potential to wear down defenses.
16)(14) Giants- QB Eli Manning looked like a polar opposite than his older brother in Week 1 and showed why the Giants are one of those teams that could make a playoff push and run or could falter due to turnovers and miss out on the postseason.
17)(10) Redskins- For most of the first half, their defense was on the field. Things started well with a turnover but it was the Redskins' that would become turnover prone throughout the game costing them the win.
18)(20) Chiefs- If Week 1 was any indication, head coach Andy Reid has this team going in the right direction and might steal a wildcard spot with a team that looks to be pretty balanced.
19)(21) Dolphins- They still have some work to do and if they can get WR Mike Wallace going along with a sharper defense, they might have enough to potentially make a run at dethroning the Patriots in the AFC East.
20)(24) Lions- HB Reggie Bush might see the rebirth in Detroit he could not complete in Miami after leaving New Orleans. He might be the x-factor that can balance out a strong passing game.
21)(16) Steelers- After the opening safety to the game, the remaining 59:58 was some of the worse football the team has played and they might now have more offensive line woes to come.
22)(17) Vikings- HB Adrian Peterson opening carry made it seem like he on his way to breaking his own single game rushing record and lead the way for a Vikings' victory. They didn't win and will need to get more out of their passing game to help Peterson.
23)(28) Titans- They certainly deserve a lot of credit for a big win to start the year but part of their success was due to facing a team with offensive woes. Giving up two safeties is something they hope not to repeat for a long time.
24)(22) Chargers- They certainly caught the Texans off guard and had a large lead and a victory in hand. They couldn't close the door and turned it over late that allowed the Texans to escape.
25)(25) Panthers- They provided a strong challenge for the visiting Seahawks but their offense still needs a kick to try to match an improving defense.
26)(26) Cardinals- While they fell late to the Rams, WR Larry Fitzgerald looks reborn along with QB Carson Palmer who can bring the Arizona offense back to life after a few tough years.
27)(31) Jets- QB Geno Smith played better than most expected and obtained his first 4th quarter comeback by doing enough with his arm and legs that set up the winning kick.
28)(23) Buccaneers-
They did not play efficiently at times and had a victory in hand if it
was for a late penalty and an accurate kick against them. 2)(2) 49ers- They looked like they are even better than the team that made the Super Bowl a year ago. WR Anquan Boldin and TE Vernon Davis look like matchup issues for teams as QB Colin Kaepernick is a dangerous dual threat that is hard to plan for.
3)(5) Seahawks- It was not pretty but that summed up a lot of Seattle's games last year and they will likely need to duplicate that same grittiness in other contests especially those on the road.
4)(3) Falcons-They went back and forth with the Saints and just fell short. The rematch should be equally as close and might produce a different outcome. It will be much like a couple years ago as they battle the Saints for the division crown.
5)(6) Texans- They got punched early and had to mount a comeback. The victory was a good test of character and could help them against tougher opponents.
6)(8) Patriots- They played uncharacteristically and were lucky to escape with a win over a young Buffalo team. QB Tom Brady might have to pull off similar miracles at times this year.
7)(4) Packers- The Packers have been pretty effective against most teams in the league. The 49ers are not one of them as they have lost three in a row since the beginning of the 2012 season.
8)(12) Saints- They seemed to be lacking something without their head coach Sean Payton last year. They looked to be a bit more back on track and could find themselves in the playoffs again.
9)(13) Bears- They look to gave a good balanced team that is capable of winning the division and making a playoff run and beating a potential division champion and playoff team to start the year shows how they are against top teams.
10)(11) Colts- The Colts were tested a bit more than expected and like many times last year QB Andrew Luck did enough in the 4th quarter to secure a win.
11)(7) Ravens- The defending champions looked anything like that in the second half of the first game and will need create enough offense to give their defense a break.
12)(9) Bengals- A couple mistakes cost them a winnable game and they will need to learn from them if they hope to win the division and take that next playoff step.
13)(18) Cowboys- It was only a matter of time before the Cowboys beat the Giants in Jerry's World. They didn't play as sharp as they could and if it were not for many turnovers by the Giants they could have lost.
14)(15) Rams- They showed signs of being that complete team that can take the next step and to win the division their defense will need to play up to their ability.
15)(19) Eagles- They certainly must have gotten the kinks out in the preseason because the new Eagles' offense looked to be multifaceted with the potential to wear down defenses.
16)(14) Giants- QB Eli Manning looked like a polar opposite than his older brother in Week 1 and showed why the Giants are one of those teams that could make a playoff push and run or could falter due to turnovers and miss out on the postseason.
17)(10) Redskins- For most of the first half, their defense was on the field. Things started well with a turnover but it was the Redskins' that would become turnover prone throughout the game costing them the win.
18)(20) Chiefs- If Week 1 was any indication, head coach Andy Reid has this team going in the right direction and might steal a wildcard spot with a team that looks to be pretty balanced.
19)(21) Dolphins- They still have some work to do and if they can get WR Mike Wallace going along with a sharper defense, they might have enough to potentially make a run at dethroning the Patriots in the AFC East.
20)(24) Lions- HB Reggie Bush might see the rebirth in Detroit he could not complete in Miami after leaving New Orleans. He might be the x-factor that can balance out a strong passing game.
21)(16) Steelers- After the opening safety to the game, the remaining 59:58 was some of the worse football the team has played and they might now have more offensive line woes to come.
22)(17) Vikings- HB Adrian Peterson opening carry made it seem like he on his way to breaking his own single game rushing record and lead the way for a Vikings' victory. They didn't win and will need to get more out of their passing game to help Peterson.
23)(28) Titans- They certainly deserve a lot of credit for a big win to start the year but part of their success was due to facing a team with offensive woes. Giving up two safeties is something they hope not to repeat for a long time.
24)(22) Chargers- They certainly caught the Texans off guard and had a large lead and a victory in hand. They couldn't close the door and turned it over late that allowed the Texans to escape.
25)(25) Panthers- They provided a strong challenge for the visiting Seahawks but their offense still needs a kick to try to match an improving defense.
26)(26) Cardinals- While they fell late to the Rams, WR Larry Fitzgerald looks reborn along with QB Carson Palmer who can bring the Arizona offense back to life after a few tough years.
27)(31) Jets- QB Geno Smith played better than most expected and obtained his first 4th quarter comeback by doing enough with his arm and legs that set up the winning kick.
29)(29) Bills- QB E.J. Manuel did very well in his rookie debut and if it were not for a late drive by QB Tom Brady, they might have pulled off the upset win. Lots of promise potentially ahead as they navigate growing pains of a young team.
30)(27) Browns- They played tough against Miami but are still in a state of rebuilding strengthening their quarterback and creating a team capable of competing with the rest of their division.
31)(30) Raiders-They definitely played hard against the Colts and with some more work they might begin to get a little closer to being a .500 team.
32)(32) Jaguars- They were pretty inept to start the year and will definitely be a work in progress all year based on Week 1's preview.
Week 2 features a couple key contests with the Broncos visiting the Giants and the 49ers looking for revenge on the road against the Seahawks who throttled them in Seattle in December. There could be some more movement again next week as the top teams continue to square off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
