Just as we predicted, the title picture is still obscure.
Earl Thomas and the Longhorns are standing tall after demolishing Ok. State
Popular theory has it that things will be fine as long as Texas and the SEC contenders (Bama and Florida) win out. Given the history of the BCS, we find the possibility of this happening very slim. And with the varied performances of the contenders this weekend, sorting the runes is difficult, as always.
Highs and Lows
Masoli and the Ducks laid their claim against the Trojans on Saturday evening
The Moon: Jeremiah Masoli. There hasn’t been a single-game performance against the Trojans this dominate since Vince Young in the National Championship. Through the air he picked up 221 yards on 61% passing and one touchdown. While this performance was indeed key, perhaps his biggest mark was felt on the ground. Masoli picked up another touchdown on the ground and had 164 yards on thirteen carries, an average of 12.6 yards per attempt.
& the Sixpence: Iowa. Yet another garbage performance by the luckiest team in football. How they continue to remain unbeaten is as baffling as it is infuriating. There were two particular things that stick out: 1) the lucky four bounce INT ball that was returned for a TD by Iowa and 2) Little Ricky Stanzi…never has one man been so unduly rewarded by such skewed statistics. After throwing five picks, Stenzi went 3-3 for 177 yards in the 4th quarter. This line is impressive. Like the entire Stanzi season, however, this line is as shallow as a sidewalk puddle. Stanzi was the benefactor of shoddy tackling by Indiana that allowed his dump-off passes to turn into major yards (92, 62, 19 respectively).
Week Nine Surprises
Against all odds, Snyder has once again elevated the hopes of Manhattan, Kansas
Peter: Kansas State. They didn’t beat OU, but they got damned close (42-30). If you would have told me they would be sitting atop the Big12 North at this point in the year, I would have assumed you were on drugs. While this honeymoon at the top may not last very much longer (final three games are against KU, Missouri, and Nebraska), it is a surprise nonetheless.
Bjorn: Stupid Florida’s stupid offense actually scored points. God has realigned Tebow’s neurons and he was able to throw complete passes to the correct team this past week, allowing the gators to rack up 34 points. Far more than their usual 8. Good for them.
Biggest Win of the Week
Peter: Largely because the win has such great ramifications for another title contender, I’ve got to return to Oregon. Saturday night’s victory over the Trojans was a statement win, officially knocking the Trojans out of the title picture and giving Coach Kelly something to point to on the recruiting trail this coming year. And even more than that, it puts Oregon’s season one step closer to becoming a truly meaningful redemption story. Running concurently with this, as Boise State’s lone credible win, Oregon’s fortunes directly boosts Boise State’s hopes at crashing the BCS party.
Bjorn:The BCS crew. All the top teams won, holding the BCS in a stalemate for at least another week. Looking at Bowl Game predictions, I saw that Chad Ford (i think) had TCU lined up against Boise St. I hope this doesn’t happen, it would seem like an insult to our collective consciences to pit the two smallest conference teams against each other. A way to write off the winner as a non-contender against a “real” team. Give the boys a chance……and a playoff system!
Letdown of the Week
Virginia Tech's hopes for another BCS appearance were halted against UNC on Thursday
Peter: Virginia Tech. Getting dropped by UNC was the Hokies’ second straight loss and has effectively knocked them out of contention for the Coastal crown. For a supposed National Title contender just a few weeks ago, VaTech’s performance was unacceptable.
Bjorn: Iowa not losing. They are terrible, yet they continue to make everyone in America miserable by forcing us to acknowledge their existence. They are going to stumble over themselves into a BCS bowl and it’s going to piss me off.
The Tilted Pylon: A Muddied View
Just as we predicted, the title picture is still obscure.
Earl Thomas and the Longhorns are standing tall after demolishing Ok. State
Popular theory has it that things will be fine as long as Texas and the SEC contenders (Bama and Florida) win out. Given the history of the BCS, we find the possibility of this happening very slim. And with the varied performances of the contenders this weekend, sorting the runes is difficult, as always.
Highs and Lows
Masoli and the Ducks laid their claim against the Trojans on Saturday evening
The Moon: Jeremiah Masoli. There hasn’t been a single-game performance against the Trojans this dominate since Vince Young in the National Championship. Through the air he picked up 221 yards on 61% passing and one touchdown. While this performance was indeed key, perhaps his biggest mark was felt on the ground. Masoli picked up another touchdown on the ground and had 164 yards on thirteen carries, an average of 12.6 yards per attempt.
& the Sixpence: Iowa. Yet another garbage performance by the luckiest team in football. How they continue to remain unbeaten is as baffling as it is infuriating. There were two particular things that stick out: 1) the lucky four bounce INT ball that was returned for a TD by Iowa and 2) Little Ricky Stanzi…never has one man been so unduly rewarded by such skewed statistics. After throwing five picks, Stenzi went 3-3 for 177 yards in the 4th quarter. This line is impressive. Like the entire Stanzi season, however, this line is as shallow as a sidewalk puddle. Stanzi was the benefactor of shoddy tackling by Indiana that allowed his dump-off passes to turn into major yards (92, 62, 19 respectively).
Week Nine Surprises
Against all odds, Snyder has once again elevated the hopes of Manhattan, Kansas
Peter: Kansas State. They didn’t beat OU, but they got damned close (42-30). If you would have told me they would be sitting atop the Big12 North at this point in the year, I would have assumed you were on drugs. While this honeymoon at the top may not last very much longer (final three games are against KU, Missouri, and Nebraska), it is a surprise nonetheless.
Bjorn: Stupid Florida’s stupid offense actually scored points. God has realigned Tebow’s neurons and he was able to throw complete passes to the correct team this past week, allowing the gators to rack up 34 points. Far more than their usual 8. Good for them.
Biggest Win of the Week
Peter: Largely because the win has such great ramifications for another title contender, I’ve got to return to Oregon. Saturday night’s victory over the Trojans was a statement win, officially knocking the Trojans out of the title picture and giving Coach Kelly something to point to on the recruiting trail this coming year. And even more than that, it puts Oregon’s season one step closer to becoming a truly meaningful redemption story. Running concurently with this, as Boise State’s lone credible win, Oregon’s fortunes directly boosts Boise State’s hopes at crashing the BCS party.
Bjorn:The BCS crew. All the top teams won, holding the BCS in a stalemate for at least another week. Looking at Bowl Game predictions, I saw that Chad Ford (i think) had TCU lined up against Boise St. I hope this doesn’t happen, it would seem like an insult to our collective consciences to pit the two smallest conference teams against each other. A way to write off the winner as a non-contender against a “real” team. Give the boys a chance……and a playoff system!
Letdown of the Week
Virginia Tech's hopes for another BCS appearance were halted against UNC on Thursday
Peter: Virginia Tech. Getting dropped by UNC was the Hokies’ second straight loss and has effectively knocked them out of contention for the Coastal crown. For a supposed National Title contender just a few weeks ago, VaTech’s performance was unacceptable.
Bjorn: Iowa not losing. They are terrible, yet they continue to make everyone in America miserable by forcing us to acknowledge their existence. They are going to stumble over themselves into a BCS bowl and it’s going to piss me off.