AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCan South Florida go the distance?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every team in the Associated Press preseason Top 10 now has a loss. So there is no reason to believe that we’re going to go the rest of the season without some more upsets. If I were still voting in the polls, this would be my top five. Each one still has some stumbling blocks along the way.
1. South Florida (6-0): To those who don’t want the Bulls in the BCS championship game because they are not a “traditional” power, shame on you. This is a team that was good enough to go on the road and win at Auburn and beat West Virginia when it was ranked No. 5. USF has a short week and must go on the road to Rutgers Thursday night. Home games against Cincinnati (Nov. 3), and improving Louisville (Nov. 17) won’t be easy.
2. Ohio State (7-0): The Buckeyes are the champions of Ohio (Youngstown State, Akron, Kent State) but that’s about it. Their 23-7 win at Purdue, when the Boilermakers were leading the Big Ten in scoring, is worthy of note. Ohio State still has to play at Penn State (Oct. 27) and at Michigan (Nov. 17).
3. Boston College (7-0): The Eagles have two quality wins over Wake Forest (38-28) at home and Georgia Tech (24-10) in Atlanta. Those who doubt BC will soon get their answer. If the Eagles can go to Virginia Tech on Oct. 25 and win, then they deserve their lofty ranking. After that BC sill has to play Florida State, Maryland, Clemson, and Miami.
4. LSU (6-1): Despite the triple overtime loss at Kentucky, I still think the Tigers may be the best team in the country. After two tough, emotional games (Florida, UK), LSU will have its hands full Saturday night against Auburn. If LSU can win, it will get a week off to get ready for the stretch drive that includes Alabama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas.
5. Oklahoma (6-1): The only potential loss for the Sooners is a Nov. 17 trip to Texas Tech. Unless Oklahoma can get some luck, it will be on the outside of the BCS championship looking in because of that 27-24 loss to Colorado on Sept. 29.
Five others to consider:
Kentucky (6-1): After what I saw Saturday (against LSU) I will not doubt this team again. But the ‘Cats will have a tough time beating Florida on Saturday in Lexington.
Oregon (5-1): This is a really good team that could easily be undefeated now. The Ducks host Southern Cal on Oct. 27.
South Carolina (6-1): Sure, it’s a long shot for the Head Ball Coach. But if South Carolina goes 12-1 and wins the SEC championship against that schedule, the Gamecocks deserve to be in the big game.
Virginia Tech (6-1): Notice how everybody has just forgotten about the Hokies? Their only loss was on the road at LSU (48-7). If they beat BC on Oct. 25, it might get interesting.
West Virginia (5-1): The Mountaineers still have the most explosive offense in the country when everybody’s healthy.
Comments
By pvb
October 16, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
KY is for real!
By steve
October 16, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
South Florida has the talent, both players and coaches, it’s just a matter of keeping groounded and staying on task from game to game. If they can keep from getting a collective swollen ego (coaches need to address this) then they have a very good chance. The games that are the most challenging are Rutgers (due to psychological reasons pertaining to rocket ride to #2…see swollen ego) and Cincinnati being very talented. If South Florida and Ohio State met on a neutral field this weekend for BCS championship, Ohio State has the advantage, not from playing ability or coaching, but from the “been there, done that” experience factor. I’d still take South Florida and six points.
By Tom
October 16, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
Hey, KneePad!
When are you going to bring your ‘Animal Farm’ board back out of its never-seen-in-the-12-yr-history-of-The-Hive “bunker mode”?
What are you afraid of, after all, on your “all holes bared” forum?
LOL!!!!!
By JD
October 16, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
Here’s my problem with USF and OSU: if you gave them some of the 1 loss teams’ schedules (like LSU having to play VT, UK, UF, etc.) I think both of those teams would have at least one loss. That, combined with the fact that I think LSU would beat both of those teams like a drum, is why LSU should be #1.
By KneePa-....uh....I mean BeeBad
October 16, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
Hey, Tom!!
Sorry, you do not have permission to view this topic (because I’m staying in bunker mode as long as I want….it’s MY board!). You may probably (not) perform this action after you login. If you are not a member, you can register here (ok…..not really, since I’m afraid of letting anyone else in!). If you are already logged in then the administrator (that’s me….teehee!) of the board does not allow this action. Should you have any questions, please contact bbuzzoff@hotmail.com (but don’t hold your breath!*)
BeeBad….hiding under my BeeBed
By BB's
October 16, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
The best thing that could happen to college football in the long run is for Boston College and South Florida to go undefeated and get in the BCS game. Then, maybe, finally, the SEC coaches and presidents will say enough and get out. That will blow the whole thing up and we will finally have a playoff. And by the way, I am not an SEC fan.
By David-ATL14
October 16, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
Your takes look about right, other than the vastly overrated Mountaineers of West Virginia. Play in a terribly weak conference. South Fla does also, but willing to wait a little longer on their validation. The jury is in on WVA. They suck.
By toby young
October 16, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
Right on Tony…BUT The Gamecocks will win the SEC East.and go undefeated .Its no long shot for the old ball coach..5 REASONS WHY….5..Best coach in the country..4..A team that belives it can win….3..Best fans….2..The best players will come to play for the best coach…1..We play ten ER see on the road and get clem son at home..gators are c** bait…
By Joe Jones
October 16, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
Putting Boston College at #3 is just indefensible. As somebody said, they’re just Notre Dame’s rejects. That’s the #3 team in the nation? I don’t think so. The LSUs, Floridas, Notre Dames and Michigans all have players who laughed at BC’s recruiting letters and used them as paper towels. I can have a smidgen of understanding with South Florida, but LSU is a LOT different than Auburn. God help South Florida if they get LSU in New Orleans. You don’t want that; I’d hate to see what a 66-3 final would do to South Florida’s recruiting and the New Big East’s reputation.
What it comes down to is that the pollsters need to show some guts. They have to say to Boston College and South Florida: We know you’re 12 or 13 and 0, but you’re a joke. What did Tom O’Brien say when he left BC? He said, “The best you can do at Boston College is 8 or 9 wins a season.”
Exactly. The pollsters need to tell teams like BC and USF: Teams like you barely belong in the BCS discussion, never mind the National Championship. How do you think Herbie, Corso, and Craig James feel having to discuss Boston College on national television, as if they matter? It must be sickening for them, the pollsters have no guts so they’re forced to waste television time talking about these kinds of teams. BC in particular must be revolting—with their plus-90% graduation rates they show absolutely no commitment to winning. If they wanted to beat real teams like LSU and USC, they might want to spend a little less time in the classroom and a little more time in the weightroom and on the practice field. Show some dedication. Just a thought.
Either of you show up in the National Championship game, and who will watch? Exactly, because viewers know you don’t belong. Each of you would wind up 8-4 if you had to run the SEC gauntlet each week. How do we know this? Because you don’t obliterate 1-AA and lower-tier teams. You don’t find out a team is great because they win or lose a crucial game against another Top-10 team or a conference rival. You find out they’re great because they can hang 50, 60 or 70 points on a North Texas, a Middle Tennesee State, or a Buffalo. That’s when you find out a team is great, when they run up the score on the weak sisters of college football.
So it’s up to you, pollsters. Show some guts. Drop the hammer on these teams, because as we know from the preseason rankings, they simply don’t belong.
By Buck
October 16, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
No, USF can’t go the distance. By the way, has anybody seen this thing about UCLA and Spurrier? Some fan REALLY wants Steve in Westwood. http://209.200.252.69/~gnnsite2/forum/index.php?topic=95.msg138;topicseen#new
By Mike K.
October 16, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
I think USF could stand toe-to-toe with anyone right now. If Auburn can beat LSU that just makes USF’s win that much better. I think they can beat Rutgers (who was exposed by Maryland and Cincy) and should be favored for the rest of their games. Ohio State hasn’t played anyone, and I’m still a bit cynical towards the Big 10+1 in general. If they played USF or LSU they’d get run out of the stadium like they did last year against the Gators.
I think BC is a good team but their signature win against Tech is somewhat suspect since Tech has been so inconsistent this year.
By boo hoo
October 16, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
Why do I get the feeling the South Florida haters all come from the Southeastern Conference? South Florida beat Auburn on the road and they also beat #5 West Virginia. All any team can do is beat the teams on their schedule. Auburn thought they’d get a patsy to help cushion their “tough” SEC schedule. HA !! Just remember, no team was born a powerhouse. Every team started somewhere. This is South Florida’s time. Let’s just all sit back and watch. If they lose, then fine, they can watch the National Championship game with the rest of us. But if they continue to win and finish undefeated, they have just as much right to prove their position as anyone. Go Bulls! I can’t claim myself as a fan, but I’m rooting for you!
By KR
October 16, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Auburn did not schedule USF thinking they were a “patsy.” If AU learned nothing else from 2004, they know they need to schedule higher quality out of conference opponents.
As near as I can tell, the majority of negative posts about USF appear to come from Florida fans.
I don’t think USF can go the distance, but we’ll just have to wait and see. Most people (including me) didn’t give Kentucky a chance against LSU and we see how that turned out.
WAR EAGLE!
By Eric
October 16, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
I’m sick and tired of hearing how great LSWHO is. They obviously are vulnerable. But according to the polls they’re made of solid gold or some such crap. I can’t wait till they get put in their place for the second week in a row. WAR EAGLE!!!
By jeff
October 16, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
if the LSU and Oklahoma fans want to complain about how tuff it is to play their conference schedule, then leave your conference so you can more easily make the national championship game. shut up your whining and just win. if a team from a BCS conference is undefeated and you are not, then they played their way in and you didn’t. maybe you want to expand the SEC and allow South Florida to join.
By GT_JJ
October 16, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Joe Jones, If that post of yours is parody, then I say, “Bravo! Well done!” You had me going for a little while, though I think you tipped your hand a bit at the end with the whole “North Texas” business. Still, very funny stuff!
Of course, if it wasn’t parody…well, let’s just not go there, huh? No one could be that ignorant ;-)
By 3 Rivers jacket
October 16, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
Come on Tony how can you blow off USC and for you SEC nazis that is not South Carolina. I still think they and LSU are the best teams and if they run the table (with the teams they play that will be tough) they will jump over efery other One loss team. For a months pay if they were playing Saturday who would you take SF or USC. I thought so.
By NorCal Dawg
October 16, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
Wow. 3 Rivers jacket, as the great John McEnroe would say, “You canNOT be serious !”.
You must not have seen any USC (Southern California) games if you think they should be anywhere near the top 2 teams. Their signature win is at Nebraska, which doesn’t exactly have the same luster as it did then, huh?
They lost to one of the worst programs in the country in Stanford, and could have easily lost to Washington and Arizona—not exactly powerhouses.
They will have at least three losses by the end of the year. Probably four.
They are going to be closer to playing UGA in a bowl than LSU. And I think it would be a good game.
By College Football Fan
October 16, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this
Tony, here is the upset special of the week: Vanderbilt over South Carolina. SC is cocky (pun intended) and prime for an upset by a very underrated team.
By Mark
October 16, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
I think David-ATL14 is still upset over WVU’s last 2 bowl wins
By UGA SUCKS
October 16, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
People in the South are so ignorant and arrogant. Good football is played in other conferences as well. Yes, the SEC is the best league top to bottom but to completely discount other conferences and other teams is ignorant and arrogant.
By the way, WVU is not over-rated and it’s WV not WVa. Please remember state’s initials are 2 letters. I’m assuming a kid from Tech would understand that but not one from UGA.
If you look up over-rated in the dictionary it would have a picture of Matthew Stafford beside it.
You know you have a program when you lose to Vanderbilt one year and then have to have a lucky fumble and a last second field goal to beat them the next year. Congratulations on beating a very good intramural team.
By GT_JJ
October 16, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
3 Rivers jacket,
UCLA 45 - Stanford 17 Oregon 55 - Stanford 31 Arizona St. 41 - Stanford 3 TCU 38 - Stanford 36
All of these games AT Stanford
Stanford 24 - USC 23 (AT USC)
Sorry, but that’s about as ugly a loss for a #1 team as I can recall in recent history. USC might have all the talent in the world, but if they don’t get it done on the field, they don’t deserve to be called national champions, and I have no sympathy for them. If it’s just based on talent alone, and what happens on the field doesn’t matter, then we might as well have just lined up USC and LSU (since everyone has already decided they’re the most talented) to play the championship game on Sep. 1 and skipped the season.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge playoff advocate, and if USC goes on to win the Pac-10, I’d be all in favor of them GETTING A SHOT at the title in a playoff. In our current system, though, USC probably needs (and rightly so) a LOT of things to go right for them to get to the championship game.
And, BTW, until I see otherwise, nothing USC has done is anywhere close to USF winning at Auburn, so no way is it automatic I’d pick them over USF right now.
By RJ
October 16, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this
Let’s see … USF barely beat AU. Miss State beat AU. So the best team in the Big lEast is not quite as good as a 4-3 Miss State team.
By Ed
October 16, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this
Bravo, Joe Jones, bravo. That was a smart and entertaining way to make a point.
By anonymous arbiter of everything
October 16, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this
“UGA SUCKS,” it is well that you have been indoctrinated to use postal abbreviations for state names. The two-character state abbreviations used by the U.S. Postal Service improve the timeliness and accuracy of U.S. mail delivery. However, there are many acceptable abbreviations of state names (e.g., Ariz., Cal., Fla., Ga., Mich., Penna., S.C., Tex., W. Va.) that predate the two-letter postal codes and are still perfectly acceptable to use in other contexts.
By Big Dawg
October 16, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
If USF goes undefeated then IMHO they would deserve a chance to play for the National Championship. They beat Auburn at Auburn, they beat probably the most explosive offensive team in West Virginia. Of all the teams in the Top Ten that are overrated IMO that would be Ohio State as they haven’t played anybody to this point but they do have a couple of games coming up where we will find out a little more about them. In watching them they have a very, very good defense and Defense wins championships. As for Boston College I have seen them play several times and they seem to be a very good offensive and defensive team with a very good QB. Just like OSU they have some tough games left to play which will tell us if they are deserving or not.
By March Madness Man
October 16, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
Perhaps I’m the minority here, but why doesn’t South Florida deserve its ranking? Sure, Mississippi State beat Auburn, but Auburn beat Florida and Arkansas on the road? Are we ignoring those games when we go down the ‘compare and contrast’ road? Didn’t USF just destroy a UCF team that played Texas to the wire? I’m an SEC guy, and I while I think it is the best conference, I also think us SEC fans get crazy with our perspective on perspectives. With the exception of the Florida Atlantic game, USF hasn’t shown any reason not to deserve their ranking, neither has Boston College.
By ViewFromMidtown
October 16, 2007 5:58 PM | Link to this
Actually RJ, both USF and Miss. St. barely won at Auburn; Auburn beat itself. Both teams benefited from five(!) Auburn turnovers proving that any team can lose to any other by giving away the ball (see USC’s five turnovers to Stanford). That being said, USF is a definitely a good football team. Are they a championship caliber team? I’m not sure. In this wild season it’s hard to say what that really is since there definitely doesn’t appear to be any truly dominant teams out there.
By Atlanta Gator
October 16, 2007 7:06 PM | Link to this
Well, we are an impatient lot, aren’t we?
USF is clearly better than anyone credited them at the start of this season, but I’m not ready to crown any of Ohio State, South Florida or Boston College just yet. All three of them have a lot of football to play, including the best part of their respective conference schedules. As usual, I expect that two of them, maybe all three, will have at least one loss at the end of the season. If they each win their respective conferences, then they would all arguably deserve a spot in an 8-team playoff, but that’s not the reality in 2007-08, is it? The point is the pollsters are being asked to prop up a radically imperfect BCS system by plucking the two best from among 5 to 10 worthy candidates … and that really represents an apples-to-oranges comparison, and even that only half way through the season.
Sure, this is only a fan blog, but I still wouldn’t crown or dismiss anyone in the top 10 or 15 teams in the BCS standings yet. There’s still a whole lot of ball to be played … .
By GM
October 16, 2007 7:18 PM | Link to this
Hey, why aren’t all the Dawg fans complaining that they’re not on this list? You know, this could be the year…wait, that’s every year for the pre-season Dawg fans…
By MountaineerFan
October 16, 2007 7:59 PM | Link to this
Hey David-ATL
i got two words for you…FAKE PUNT!!! still LMAO!
By War Eagle
October 16, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
Eric, If Auburn can go 8-4 after a 1-2 start, I will be happy. Majority of SEC teams saying youth is in their corner. It could be true, but Auburn is really young and has talent. If Kodi comes though next three years, Auburn will be winning some big games…LSU will be p**, but if we can just hang and slow their offense, maybe we can keep it tight.I hope we don`t get blown out. WAR EAGLE
By War Eagle
October 16, 2007 8:52 PM | Link to this
Eric, I meant to mention, CTT has a winning record against all present SEC coaches except CMR at UGA 3-3, …tie breaker on its way 11/19/07.. going to the game??
By merculf
October 16, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this
I am an auburn guy and I think it jusy took us a little time to wake up this season. With that being said, don’t count out the real tigers in the sec just yet. Auburn is one team you don’y want to see in your own back yard. Just ask uga. Fla and ga should play home and home. There’s a lot ot be said with beating the home team to make a point. Teams are too comfortable at home. Look at AUBIRNS road record over the last 4-5 years. That is why we can’t pick up any teams for our schedule in the future. I have to say I can’t blame them.
War Damn Eagle!!!!
By merculf
October 16, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
I am an auburn guy and I think it jusy took us a little time to wake up this season. With that being said, don’t count out the real tigers in the sec just yet. Auburn is one team you don’y want to see in your own back yard. Just ask uga. Fla and ga should play home and home. There’s a lot ot be said with beating the home team to make a point. Teams are too comfortable at home. Look at AUBIRNS road record over the last 4-5 years. That is why we can’t pick up any teams for our schedule in the future. I have to say I can’t blame them.
War Damn Eagle!!!!
By merculf
October 16, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
ttno one wants to play play Auburn at their home. We don’t care where we play. WE can’t get any teams to commit to play us in a home and home. The talking heads say we won’t leave the south, but it isn’t our fault. We have had to rely on ESPN to help us with scheduling(pay off) to get teams play us. Tubberville isn’t scared to go any where with his teams. WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!
By GT
October 17, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this
Georgia and South Florida are showing on two different stages what is wrong with the polls. Georgia is ranked and few seem to be upset. They have lost two, by the grace of God it wasn’t three, and the meat of their schedule before them. South Florida which is treated like an illegal immigrate has beaten two teams that are relative to the 2007 season, has the weaker part of their schedule before them. If they run the table you will watch grown men on radio and television tear up in rage. You are already hearing, “if they played in the SEC” they would have lost at least one. The same wind was blowing for Ohio State which last year was crowned national champion and had a real reality check. What I love is the back paddling of comments by these idiots when they lost trying to explain what they really met or didn’t say. Auburn couldn’t even get into the dance the year they were undefeated yet now a one loss team take your pick which one should be playing ahead of an undefeated team. Good luck. Drop out of the NCAA and you will be playing at a Southern Conference level in four years. The SEC is all about hype, how you going to hype a league that takes their ball and goes home.
By Joe Jones
October 17, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Atlanta Gator said, “I’m not ready to crown any of Ohio State, South Florida or Boston College just yet. All three of them have a lot of football to play, including the best part of their respective conference schedules. As usual, I expect that two of them, maybe all three, will have at least one loss at the end of the season.”
Bravo. I fully agree. I can’t say for sure how many OSU or USF will lose, but we already know Boston College will lose three to four games this year. How? Well, because at Boston College 8 or 9 wins is the best you can do.
Forget what you’ve seen on the field. Forget the fact that BC has not lost to anyone. Forget the fact that no team has come close than ten points against them. Forget the fact that BC immediately scores a touchdown whenever a team gets close to them in the 2nd half. Ignore the possibility that BC may be playing possum with its playbook, not needing to use it to the full extent with none of these games being close.
Focus on what matters. They sat on the ball late against Army, UMass and Notre Dame when they could have punched it in for more points. They allowed garbage time touchdowns to NC State and Georgia Tech. Thus, they did not enjoy the margin of victory that a top-ranked team is supposed to have. A real team runs up the score, they don’t hold back as if the psyche of the other kids matters. Rather, a real team and a real coach “puts them in a body bag, YEEAAHHH!!!”
That’s what matters. Top-10 teams are ranked Top-10 in the preseason rankings. They have 40-60% graduation rates. They get Top-5 recruiting classes. They put mascot heads on Lee Corso. That’s how you know a team is top-10.
Forget what you see with your eyes, and silly, inane statistics such as “won-loss record”. Focus on number of touchdowns thrown against Grand Valley State. On the number of defensive TDs against Cumberland College. On the number of RVs parked in your parking lot before the nationally televised game. That’s what matters. That’s how you know a team belongs in the BCS Championship Game. Boston College falls short in all these areas—make your travel reservations for December now, boys.
By John
October 18, 2007 7:05 AM | Link to this
While I think USF should be #1, going the distance is another issue. Can they do it? They sure can. Will they? Remains to be seen. As mentioned by Mr. Barnhart, they have a big test Thursday night at Rutgers and Cincy and Louisville will not be easy. The game at UConn could be a tricky one as well.
For Joe Jones -
What I read from you is an ELITIST pile of garbage. BC can and I believe will win 10 this year. Tom O’Brien is the same imbecile that took the N.C. State job and they’re no better off. At worst this BC team ends up 11-2 with both losses coming to Virginia Tech. (next Thursday and the ACC Championship Game.) Florida State and Miami won’t beat them. Those two teams were exposed for they are. And, I’ll take BC over Maryland and Clemson.
And, as for bad-mouthing USF. Where do you think Miami and Florida State back in the day were like? USF is taking the same path as these 2 teams.
And, I’ve read asinine things before, but you take the cake. It’s so moronic to think things that are really irrelevent as # of RVs in the parking lot should determine. They sure piled up the RVs in the parking lots in the Fiesta Bowl when Utah was there in 2004 and Boise’s trip there last season.
And, you’re last paragraph on your last post is a reflection of 1 of 2 things. Saracasm or you being a 1st class loser.