NCAA Week 8 Running Thread

[BitterYoungMatador2]

No way does USF sniff the title game. They had no margin for error.

That was my thinking, too. USF not only had to win out, but from this point, every game would be a "statement game" a la the UCF game. Given the wackiness of this season, I might back off my contention that they'll fall way out of the top 10, but many voters are looking for an excuse to move up some Big 12 or Pac 10 team, and now they have it.

And is South Florida loses one more, hello Houston Bowl. At best, Charlotte.
Long way from pining away for the BCS championship game.

At worst they'll make the Gator. Cincinnati will lose one more along the way

 

[Oz]

That being said, someone needs to explain to me why Kansas and Arizona State -- two undefeated teams from BCS conferences -- are not in the top five while Boston College is?

BC received votes before the season; KU and Arizona State didn't. So with all the upsets that happened, BC quickly moved into the Top 25 and worked its way up. It took some time for people to believe in KU and Arizona State, though.

And for those who say we shouldn't have polls until October, I'm not sure KU and Arizona State would be ranked higher than where they are now. Oklahoma can lose once and move back into the top five in weeks; KU and Arizona State lose once and they've been exposed. That's the mentality.

 

[GB-Hack]

He specified two teams, not the entire Pac-10.

Hence the word either.

They wouldn't assrape Stanford or the Beavers, either.

You mean the Oregon State that lost 34-3 to Cincinnati earlier this season?

Or the Stanford that got crushed by UCLA, Arizona State and Oregon?

You saw Rutgers last night. You seriously think either Stanford or Oregon State's defense could handle Ray Rice? South Florida's No.11 defense couldn't.

Stanford is giving up 167 yards per game on the ground, 75th in the nation. Oregon State is giving up 25 points per game, 59th in the nation, thanks in part to having Utah, Idaho State and Arizona on its schedule.

Faced with Cincy, UCLA and Arizona State, they gave up 39 points per game. Rutgers would win both of those games easily.

As far as USF is concerned, I'd be a little concerned about the Louisville and Cincinnati games, but both are in Tampa, which will help a lot. The rest of the Bulls road schedule isn't tough at all (UConn, Syracuse, Pittsburgh).

 

[hondo]

No way does USF sniff the title game. They had no margin for error.

That was my thinking, too. USF not only had to win out, but from this point, every game would be a "statement game" a la the UCF game. Given the wackiness of this season, I might back off my contention that they'll fall way out of the top 10, but many voters are looking for an excuse to move up some Big 12 or Pac 10 team, and now they have it.

And is South Florida loses one more, hello Houston Bowl. At best, Charlotte.
Long way from pining away for the BCS championship game.

At worst they'll make the Gator. Cincinnati will lose one more along the way

They won't be in the Gator under any circumstances. Gator has to take Big East twice and Big 12 twice in four-years, which began last year with West Virginia. The game contractually has to take Big 12 team two times in the next three years. But they can ditch a Big East team once during the term of the contract to take Notre Dame. Since Notre Dame isn't going to any bowl this year, the Gator isn't about to take a Big East team, and leave themselves without the option of taking Notre Dame for the balance of the contract.
Here endeth the lesson.

 

[BBJones]

He specified two teams, not the entire Pac-10.

Hence the word either.

They wouldn't assrape Stanford or the Beavers, either.

You mean the Oregon State that lost 34-3 to Cincinnati earlier this season?

Or the Stanford that got crushed by UCLA, Arizona State and Oregon?

You saw Rutgers last night. You seriously think either Stanford or Oregon State's defense could handle Ray Rice? South Florida's No.11 defense couldn't.

Stanford is giving up 167 yards per game on the ground, 75th in the nation. Oregon State is giving up 25 points per game, 59th in the nation, thanks in part to having Utah, Idaho State and Arizona on its schedule.

Faced with Cincy, UCLA and Arizona State, they gave up 39 points per game. Rutgers would win both of those games easily.

As far as USF is concerned, I'd be a little concerned about the Louisville and Cincinnati games, but both are in Tampa, which will help a lot. The rest of the Bulls road schedule isn't tough at all (UConn, Syracuse, Pittsburgh).

The problem with your argument is that national statistical rankings are even more useless than the polls.

 

[zagoshe]

No way does USF sniff the title game. They had no margin for error.

That was my thinking, too. USF not only had to win out, but from this point, every game would be a "statement game" a la the UCF game. Given the wackiness of this season, I might back off my contention that they'll fall way out of the top 10, but many voters are looking for an excuse to move up some Big 12 or Pac 10 team, and now they have it.

And is South Florida loses one more, hello Houston Bowl. At best, Charlotte.
Long way from pining away for the BCS championship game.

At worst they'll make the Gator. Cincinnati will lose one more along the way

They won't be in the Gator under any circumstances. Gator has to take Big East twice and Big 12 twice in four-years, which began last year with West Virginia. The game contractually has to take Big 12 team two times in the next three years. But they can ditch a Big East team once during the term of the contract to take Notre Dame. Since Notre Dame isn't going to any bowl this year, the Gator isn't about to take a Big East team, and leave themselves without the option of taking Notre Dame for the balance of the contract.
Here endeth the lesson.

Would that land them in the Sun Bowl in El Paso instead? I thought I read that bowl could flip with the Gator Bowl and trade a Big 12 for a Big East. Is that true?

 

[GB-Hack]

He specified two teams, not the entire Pac-10.

Hence the word either.

They wouldn't assrape Stanford or the Beavers, either.

You mean the Oregon State that lost 34-3 to Cincinnati earlier this season?

Or the Stanford that got crushed by UCLA, Arizona State and Oregon?

You saw Rutgers last night. You seriously think either Stanford or Oregon State's defense could handle Ray Rice? South Florida's No.11 defense couldn't.

Stanford is giving up 167 yards per game on the ground, 75th in the nation. Oregon State is giving up 25 points per game, 59th in the nation, thanks in part to having Utah, Idaho State and Arizona on its schedule.

Faced with Cincy, UCLA and Arizona State, they gave up 39 points per game. Rutgers would win both of those games easily.

As far as USF is concerned, I'd be a little concerned about the Louisville and Cincinnati games, but both are in Tampa, which will help a lot. The rest of the Bulls road schedule isn't tough at all (UConn, Syracuse, Pittsburgh).

The problem with your argument is that national statistical rankings are even more useless than the polls.

You're right, which is why I pointed out Oregon State has a 25 ppg average because of the lightweights on its schedule. When they've faced a full-strength opponent -- Cal notwithstanding because of Longshore's absence -- they haven't been able to stop anyone from scoring on them.

 

[zagoshe]

One problem I have with computers -- they can't see teams play.

I know that sounds silly but what I am trying to say is that you can watch teams play and get a good idea of how good they are relative to other teams. That being said -- it is impossible to know which team is better than which team if they don't actually play, which is why we need a playoff.

 

[hockeybeat]

Bowl schedule:

Bowl Game Date/Time (ET) Site Matchup Network
Poinsettia Dec. 20/9 p.m. San Diego Mountain West vs. Navy/At-Large ESPN
New Orleans Dec. 21/8 p.m. New Orleans Sun Belt Champ vs. C-USA ESPN2
PapaJohn's.com Dec. 22/11 a.m. Birmingham, Ala. Big East vs. C-USA ESPN2
New Mexico Dec. 22/4:30 p.m. Albuquerque, N.M. Mountain West vs. WAC ESPN
Las Vegas Dec. 22/8 p.m. Las Vegas Mountain West vs. Pac-10 ESPN
Hawaii Dec. 23/8 p.m. Honolulu C-USA vs. WAC ESPN
Motor City Dec. 26/7:30 p.m. Detroit Big Ten vs. MAC ESPN
Holiday Dec. 27/8 p.m. San Diego Big 12 vs. Pac-10 ESPN
Texas Dec. 28/8 p.m. Houston Big 12 vs. C-USA NFL
Champs Sports Dec. 28/5 p.m. Orlando, Fla. ACC vs. Big Ten ESPN
Emerald Dec. 28/8:30 p.m. San Francisco ACC vs. Pac-10 ESPN
Meinke Car Care Dec. 29/11 a.m. Charlotte, N.C. ACC vs. Big East ESPN
Liberty Dec. 29/4:30 p.m. Memphis, Tenn. C-USA vs. SEC ESPN
Alamo Dec. 29/8 p.m. San Antonio Big Ten vs. Big 12 ESPN
Independence Dec. 30/8 p.m. Shreveport Big 12 vs. SEC ESPN
Armed Forces Dec. 31/10:30 a.m. Fort Worth, Texas Mountain West vs. Pac-10 ESPN
Sun Dec. 31/2 p.m. El Paso, Texas Big 12/Big East/N. Dame vs. Pac-10 CBS
Humanitarian Dec. 31/2 p.m. Boise, Idaho ACC vs. WAC ESPN2
Music City Dec. 31/4 p.m. Nashville, Tenn. ACC vs. SEC ESPN
Chick-fil-A Dec. 31/7:30 p.m. Atlanta ACC vs. SEC ESPN
Insight Dec. 31/TBA Tempe, Ariz. Big Ten vs. Big 12 NFL
Outback Jan. 1/11 a.m. Tampa, Fla. Big Ten vs. SEC ESPN
Cotton Jan. 1/11:30 a.m. Dallas Big 12 vs. SEC FOX
Gator Jan. 1/11 a.m. Jacksonville, Fla. ACC vs. Big 12/Big East/N. Dame CBS
Capital One Jan. 1/11 a.m. Orlando, Fla. Big Ten vs. SEC ABC
Rose Jan. 1/4:30 p.m. Pasadena, Calif. *BCS vs. BCS ABC
Sugar Jan. 1/8:30 p.m. New Orleans *BCS vs. BCS FOX
Fiesta Jan. 2/8 p.m. Phoenix *BCS vs. BCS FOX
Orange Jan. 3/8 p.m. Miami *BCS vs. BCS FOX
International Jan. 5/10 a.m. Toronto Big East/Notre Dame vs. MAC ESPN2
GMAC Jan. 6/8 p.m. Mobile, Ala. C-USA vs. MAC ESPN
BCS Title Jan. 7/8 p.m. New Orleans *BCS #1 vs. BCS #2 FOX

Up-to-the-second Big East Standings

Team Record Pct Home Away Streak Record Pct Home Away Streak
Connecticut 1-0 1.000 0-0 1-0 W1 5-1 .833 3-0 2-1 L1
Rutgers 2-1 .667 1-1 1-0 W2 5-2 .714 4-2 1-0 W2
Cincinnati 1-1 .500 0-1 1-0 L1 6-1 .857 3-1 3-0 L1
USF 1-1 .500 1-0 0-1 L1 6-1 .857 4-0 2-1 L1
West Virginia 1-1 .500 0-0 1-1 W1 5-1 .833 2-0 3-1 W1
Louisville 1-1 .500 0-1 1-0 W1 4-3 .571 2-2 2-1 W1
Syracuse 1-2 .333 0-2 1-0 L2 1-6 .143 0-4 1-2 L3
Pittsburgh 0-1 .000 0-1 0-0 L1 2-4 .333 2-2 0-2 L4
http://www.bigeast.org/standings/Standings.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19400&SPID=11215

If the bowl season started Today, USF would be in the Sun Bowl. That said, I'm not sure just how good Cincinnati is and USF's schedule is pretty favorable. They will beat UConn next week, host the Bearcats and Louisville, and travel to Pitt and 'Cuse--both of whom don't belong on the same field with the Bulls. It's not out of the realm of possibility that USF finishes 11-1.

Should that happen, they are headed to either a BCS bowl or the International Bowl.

Date Opponent USF Rank Opp Rank Location Time (EST) Results Media
Sat, Sep 01 Elon - - Tampa, Fla. 7:05 p.m. 28 - 13 (W)
Catch 47 / ESPN Gameplan
Sat, Sep 08 Auburn - 17/13 at Auburn, Ala. 9 PM 26 - 23 (W)
ESPN2
Sat, Sep 22 North Carolina 23/24 - Tampa, Fla. Noon 37 - 10 (W)
ESPN/ESPNHD
Fri, Sep 28 West Virginia * 18 5 Tampa, Fla. 8 PM 21 - 13 (W)
ESPN2
Sat, Oct 06 Florida Atlantic 6/9 - at Boca Raton, Fla. 3:30 PM 35 - 23 (W)
ESPNU
Sat, Oct 13 UCF - - Tampa, Fla. Noon 64 - 12 (W)
ESPNU
Thu, Oct 18 Rutgers * 2/3 - at New Brunswick, N.J. 7:30 p.m. 27 - 30 (L)
ESPN
Sat, Oct 27 Connecticut * - - at Hartford, Conn. 3:30PM
ABC
Sat, Nov 03 Cincinnati * - - Tampa, Fla. TBA

Sat, Nov 10 Syracuse * - - at Syracuse, N.Y. TBA

Sat, Nov 17 Louisville * - - Tampa, Fla. TBA

Sat, Nov 24 Pittsburgh * - - at Pittsburgh, Pa. TBA

* Conference Games

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

No way does USF sniff the title game. They had no margin for error.

That was my thinking, too. USF not only had to win out, but from this point, every game would be a "statement game" a la the UCF game. Given the wackiness of this season, I might back off my contention that they'll fall way out of the top 10, but many voters are looking for an excuse to move up some Big 12 or Pac 10 team, and now they have it.

And is South Florida loses one more, hello Houston Bowl. At best, Charlotte.
Long way from pining away for the BCS championship game.

At worst they'll make the Gator. Cincinnati will lose one more along the way

They won't be in the Gator under any circumstances. Gator has to take Big East twice and Big 12 twice in four-years, which began last year with West Virginia. The game contractually has to take Big 12 team two times in the next three years. But they can ditch a Big East team once during the term of the contract to take Notre Dame. Since Notre Dame isn't going to any bowl this year, the Gator isn't about to take a Big East team, and leave themselves without the option of taking Notre Dame for the balance of the contract.
Here endeth the lesson.

Remember this, the bowls are all about ticket sales. And the Gator has a better chance of selling out with a team from Tampa than they do one from Lawrence, Kansas. Especially since it appears that the entire city of Tampa is on the bandwagon.

 

[hondo]

No way does USF sniff the title game. They had no margin for error.

That was my thinking, too. USF not only had to win out, but from this point, every game would be a "statement game" a la the UCF game. Given the wackiness of this season, I might back off my contention that they'll fall way out of the top 10, but many voters are looking for an excuse to move up some Big 12 or Pac 10 team, and now they have it.

And is South Florida loses one more, hello Houston Bowl. At best, Charlotte.
Long way from pining away for the BCS championship game.

At worst they'll make the Gator. Cincinnati will lose one more along the way

They won't be in the Gator under any circumstances. Gator has to take Big East twice and Big 12 twice in four-years, which began last year with West Virginia. The game contractually has to take Big 12 team two times in the next three years. But they can ditch a Big East team once during the term of the contract to take Notre Dame. Since Notre Dame isn't going to any bowl this year, the Gator isn't about to take a Big East team, and leave themselves without the option of taking Notre Dame for the balance of the contract.
Here endeth the lesson.

Would that land them in the Sun Bowl in El Paso instead? I thought I read that bowl could flip with the Gator Bowl and trade a Big 12 for a Big East. Is that true?

The contract between the Gator Bowl, Big East, Big 12 and Notre Dame gives the Gator the pick of the Big East litter after its champion goes to the BCS (or if a runnerup goes to the BCS). Gator also can choose non-BCS Big 12 teams, and the Gator, Cotton and Holiday are supposed to make nice and arrange the best matchups.
Starting with last year, the Gator picks Big 12 twice and Big East twice in four years. For non-BCS bowl purposes, Notre Dame is considered a member of the Big East. Gator can use the Notre Dame option once in the two years it goes Big East.

Clear enough? So if you use your head, you realize that no one in their right mind at the Gator would pick a Big East team this year, and eliminate their Notre Dame option in 2008 and 2009. They're going Big 12 this year, and hope to match Texas vs. Clemson.

 

[hockeybeat]

No way does USF sniff the title game. They had no margin for error.

That was my thinking, too. USF not only had to win out, but from this point, every game would be a "statement game" a la the UCF game. Given the wackiness of this season, I might back off my contention that they'll fall way out of the top 10, but many voters are looking for an excuse to move up some Big 12 or Pac 10 team, and now they have it.

And is South Florida loses one more, hello Houston Bowl. At best, Charlotte.
Long way from pining away for the BCS championship game.

At worst they'll make the Gator. Cincinnati will lose one more along the way

They won't be in the Gator under any circumstances. Gator has to take Big East twice and Big 12 twice in four-years, which began last year with West Virginia. The game contractually has to take Big 12 team two times in the next three years. But they can ditch a Big East team once during the term of the contract to take Notre Dame. Since Notre Dame isn't going to any bowl this year, the Gator isn't about to take a Big East team, and leave themselves without the option of taking Notre Dame for the balance of the contract.
Here endeth the lesson.

Remember this, the bowls are all about ticket sales. And the Gator has a better chance of selling out with a team from Tampa than they do one from Lawrence, Kansas. Especially since it appears that the entire city of Tampa is on the bandwagon.

I talked to a USF person last night and he said Tampa is awash in Green-and-Gold, that the city believes in the Bulls.