2004-2005 NCAA football Preview

[Kevin]

Fresno State deserves to be higher. They knocked off two BCS teams -- more than anyone else has done so far.

These polls can get a little absurd sometimes.

Well, Baylor beat Texas State and we play North Texas this weekend. After that it gets a little hairy.
Texas
Missouri
Nebraska
Iowa State
TAMU
Tech
OSU
OU


Too bad we couldn't play Kansas and Colorado again this year.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by ADPiZXalum
Well, Baylor beat Texas State and we play North Texas this weekend. After that it gets a little hairy.
Texas
Missouri
Nebraska
Iowa State
TAMU
Tech
OSU
OU


Too bad we couldn't play Kansas and Colorado again this year.

Baylor has a shot at 2-3 of those. TAMU, Miss U., and ISU should be definite possibilities. NU is an outside shot. I think Texas, Tech, OU and OSU will just use you as an opportunity to play some of their backup players.

[starang21]

it was a bad football weekend for me. both oakland and michigan lost.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by ktsnake
Fresno State deserves to be higher. They knocked off two BCS teams -- more than anyone else has done so far.

These polls can get a little absurd sometimes.

They deserve to be exactly where they are; when they continue to win, they'll continue to advance.

PS - Boy I sure was right on the Big 8 - anyone want to wave a finger at my direction yet?

Originally posted by KSig RC
PS - Boy I sure was right on the Big 8 - anyone want to wave a finger at my direction yet?

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....7897b67a.html

Mike Finger: Recent losses won't sink Big 12
Web Posted: 09/13/2004 12:00 AM CDT


San Antonio Express-News

The little guys had their fun this weekend, celebrating on national television and exposing the weaknesses of a conference in a down year.

Somehow, though, you get the feeling the little guys won't be so excited in a few months.

Summer isn't even gone yet, and the Big 12 is already off to one of its worst starts ever. Supposed powers Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Kansas State and Missouri have all been beaten — most of them thoroughly — by teams from conferences not associated with the Bowl Championship Series.

But how, exactly, will the league pay for all this embarrassment?

By sending seven or eight teams to bowl games. And earning one or two berths in the BCS. And possibly winning another national championship.

Some down year.

The truth is, the Big 12 is at a point in its history where it isn't devastated by a poor showing in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Bowl commitments are already in place, TV contracts are already signed, and big-name reputations are already well established.

That's probably one of the biggest problems with college football these days. Even after this weekend, Nebraska, KSU and Missouri probably have better opportunities to get into the BCS than Southern Mississippi, Fresno State and Troy — the three teams that just trounced them.

Granted, it's not a good sign when only two Big 12 teams are ranked in the Top 25, as Oklahoma and Texas are this week. And certainly, there would be reasons to be concerned if the league made these September upsets a yearly ritual.

But the knee-jerk reactors — those who say this weekend suggests the Big 12 has taken a big step back in the nation's power-conference hierarchy — aren't really looking at the big picture.

Take a look at what lies ahead for the Big 12 this season.

OU still is a favorite to reach the national championship game. If the Sooners lose to UT, then the Longhorns will be in the same position.

The North Division champion — whether that be Nebraska, KSU, Missouri or Colorado, which actually carried the Big 12 banner well with a road victory against Washington State on Saturday — will receive serious consideration for an at-large BCS bid, as will the UT-OU loser.

On top of that, as many as eight Big 12 teams still have a winning season well within reach, and the league has enough bowl tie-ins to satisfy all of them.

Just about every team in the conference will need to address some glaring issues to make it happen. A&M, Tech, Missouri and KSU all have defensive weaknesses, Nebraska and Oklahoma State must prove they can adapt to new offensive approaches, and Colorado and Kansas still haven't shown they can handle the rigors of a full season.

But if it all works out, with the Big 12 winning a handful of bowl games, including one or two after New Year's Day?

Then this past week will be forgotten.

And as usual in college football, there won't be much the little guys can do about it.

Kitso
KS 361 times you can accuse me of being a Big XII 'homer' but hey, i'm not gonna sell out my conference just yet.

[AUDeltaGam]

War Eagle

[PhiPsiRuss]

Chris Rix and Jeff Bowden need to be made an offer (to leave) that they can't refuse.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by KSig RC
They deserve to be exactly where they are; when they continue to win, they'll continue to advance.

PS - Boy I sure was right on the Big 8 - anyone want to wave a finger at my direction yet?

Okay, the Big XII minus OU is crappy this year.

OSU might be okay, no one has been able to stop their running game yet. Texas... we just don't know.

Other than that, yeah, the Big XII has gone to hell it seems. They may end up doing better later in the season, but right now, after week 2 (which is really too early to tell), they look like crap.

Except OU.

They look good

[ThetaLove]

AUDeltaGam, are you ready for Saturday?


Stupid question, huh?


GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, if we could only get Ivan to go away!!!!!!!!!!

[AUDeltaGam]

Originally posted by ThetaLove
AUDeltaGam, are you ready for Saturday?


Stupid question, huh?


GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, if we could only get Ivan to go away!!!!!!!!!!

I hope we still have the game! I know Auburn has cancelled classes for the rest of the week, so I am still hoping for an AU/LSU matchup this weekend!!

[steelepike]

Ok story for your entertainment....


I'm at the Oklahoma-Houston game this weekend and i for one want to watch a good game. You know one in which the Sooners don't score astronomical amounts of points while the opposition prays for the second string to get some snaps. The game starts off well for me when Houston actually scores first. But due to them scoring first all of my friends then begin to think i am in some way "the" reason for Houston's miraculous lead. I get told to leave, have popcorn thrown at me and to top that my girlfriend says and I quote, "This is why i hate watching games with you." is it really my fault that i don't like seeing the score at 77-0 or whatever they happened to score. I like the close games where you don't know who might win until the games over and you get to walk away mesmerized at how close a call that was for your team. So what if you lose a few years of your life atleast you enoyed yourself.

ok you can continue your debate.

Originally posted by steelepike
I get told to leave, have popcorn thrown at me and to top that my girlfriend says and I quote, "This is why i hate watching games with you." is it really my fault that i don't like seeing the score at 77-0 or whatever they happened to score.

Blow me, numnuts.

Kitso
KS 361

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by ktsnake
Okay, the Big XII minus OU is crappy this year.

OSU might be okay, no one has been able to stop their running game yet. Texas... we just don't know.

Other than that, yeah, the Big XII has gone to hell it seems. They may end up doing better later in the season, but right now, after week 2 (which is really too early to tell), they look like crap.

Except OU.

They look good

haha, ok - well, I was being facetious, b/c just like it's too early to vault Fresno into the top 10, it's too early to write off the entire conference (even though I essentially did it pre-season, but god I hate the big 8). Although they looked pretty weak outside of OU, there's time - however, that said, I think KState's loss is very telling, and they've looked beatable for a few years now (not a very good record against good teams), and I felt Mizzou was a bit overrated for how young they are, riding a couple recent recruiting surges along w/ the Brad Smith hype - always a bad recipe.

As for Texas - they're Texas. They will lose a big game to a crappy opponent.

A&M obviously needs more time than people hoped to rebuild, and Nebraska does NOT have the horses to run that offense (yet - exceptionally young QBs have this bizarre tendency to 'improve' at 'startling rates' so we'll see how they finish up). Plus Callahan's a dick - if you didn't hate Nebraska before, might as well start now, am i rite?

Anyway - tough 2 weeks for the big 8, but I think it's indicative of problems that have been mounting for some time. It takes a while to dig out - but there's no doubt that the Big8 isn't on the same level as the SEC from top to bottom. Unfortunately, right now it certainly looks like OU and 11 "not OUs" . . . I just think it's been like that for longer than just these last 2 weeks, it's just coming to bear now.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by KSig RC
haha, ok - well, I was being facetious, b/c just like it's too early to vault Fresno into the top 10, it's too early to write off the entire conference (even though I essentially did it pre-season, but god I hate the big 8). Although they looked pretty weak outside of OU, there's time - however, that said, I think KState's loss is very telling, and they've looked beatable for a few years now (not a very good record against good teams), and I felt Mizzou was a bit overrated for how young they are, riding a couple recent recruiting surges along w/ the Brad Smith hype - always a bad recipe.

As for Texas - they're Texas. They will lose a big game to a crappy opponent.

A&M obviously needs more time than people hoped to rebuild, and Nebraska does NOT have the horses to run that offense (yet - exceptionally young QBs have this bizarre tendency to 'improve' at 'startling rates' so we'll see how they finish up). Plus Callahan's a dick - if you didn't hate Nebraska before, might as well start now, am i rite?

Anyway - tough 2 weeks for the big 8, but I think it's indicative of problems that have been mounting for some time. It takes a while to dig out - but there's no doubt that the Big8 isn't on the same level as the SEC from top to bottom. Unfortunately, right now it certainly looks like OU and 11 "not OUs" . . . I just think it's been like that for longer than just these last 2 weeks, it's just coming to bear now.

It could also be a realignment of power. Texas will always be Texas. They'll always have decent talent. Currently, they have a horrible coach in Mack Brown who nearly lost the game at Arkansas. If good 'ol Matt hadn't giftwrapped victory to them in that fumble of his, Texas would be a 2-1 team right now.

Okie State is on the upswing. They have been mounting a VERY nice running attack. Their secondary is also pretty good. There are some quesitons in my mind at LB and the D-line. They may well have one of the best o-lines around though.

Kansas is another whose stock is rising. The Fighting Manginos have a decent shot at the North Title. It really wouldn't shock me. Mangino is as good if not a better coach than Snyder and could pull it off. They just beat the hell out of Toledo who was supposed to be pretty good this year in the MAC.

You're right about the QB situations. They have ways of improving. K-State has a shot if they can get some good QB play.

Nebraska... As an OU guy, it sucks to see what used to be considered your biggest rival down so much. I like the fact that technically, on paper, Texas has a chance every year. It makes beating them more fun. On the bright side of things, I really hope OU runs the score up on NU this year as payback for some of the Tom Osborne scores of the 90's.

As for the SEC being strong top to bottom.. they have issues also. Or didn't you notice that Oregon State sans their running game of last year took them to the wire and only lost because of a lousy kicker? Did you perhaps notice Georgia's lackluster performance against South Carolina? In my opinion, there are teams there that are just as overrated. I mean, Georgia at #3??? Preposterous.

The Pac-10 is having issues as well. Oregon, a perennial pick for #2 in the conference just lost to a team that will probably be #11 in the Big 10 (that is just funny to say). They were probably "looking ahead" to OU. I'll be at that game. It'll be fun watching these Oregon players from temperate Pacific NW roast under the 95+ degree Oklahoma Sun/high humidity.

As for the Big XII, yes, Miss. U., NU and K-State have been huge disappointments so far. On the other hand, did you notice that Iowa only beat ISU, who is probably our #11 team by 7 points?

I think parity is really starting to come to fruition in D-IA. The point is though, I agree, it's too early to judge.