GO FUCK YOURSELF ASU AND WINNOW!

[Zamtuk]

That just needed to be said.

[Winnow]

Considering that Oregon will kick the unholy crap out of OhioSU if they meet, I wouldn't get too excited.

Oregon was definitely the better team today. Scary offense.

Besides ASU giving up the obligatory 20+ points at the beginning of the game to dig themselves a hole, I'm not too down on the loss. I don't think you'll see ASU drop too far in the polls.

Oregon will be #2 after this week but should be #1.

[noel]

Considering that Oregon will kick the unholy crap out of OhioSU if they meet, I wouldn't get too excited.

Oregon was definitely the better team today. Scary offense.

Besides ASU giving up the obligatory 20+ points at the beginning of the game to dig themselves a hole, I'm not too down on the loss. I don't think you'll see ASU drop too far in the polls.

Oregon will be #2 after this week but should be #1.

LSU will likely be #2.

[Ashur]

Very likely.

[Canelek]

Impressive game by Dixon, and everyone else for the Ducks. Fucking Comcast was going wacky and I could not get ESPN in the 4th quarter though. =/ (HD or SD)

However, I got to see McFadden break the SEC single game rushing record (323 yds)! Anyone else see his scorching 80 yd run? Was a thing of beauty.

[Sylvus]

However, I got to see McFadden break the SEC single game rushing record (323 yds)! Anyone else see his scorching 80 yd run? Was a thing of beauty.

that guy is fast

[Ashur]

I'm just curious if LSU or Oregon will land in #2.

[Ashur]

... and it's:

1 Ohio State
2 LSU
3 Oregon
4 Kansas
5 Oklahoma
6 Missouri
7 West Virginia
8 Boston College
9 Arizona State
10 Georgia

[Momopi]

with the way they have been squeeking things out I wouldn't be shocked if LSU loses to arkansas in the last week.

[Ashur]

Yeah, they dodged a bullet yesterday. Like earlier this year I thought they were going down and they pulled a W out of their ass.

[Canelek]

Ya never know which Arkansas is going to show up though... It seems once people figure out their odd schemes (aka Wild Hawg formation), they stand a good chance of winning (Alabama did it).

Should be a good game, regardless.

[masteen]

LSU hasn't shown much weakness against the run, and Arky's receivers kinda suck. I don't see LSU losing to them. They could drop the SEC champ game if UK or UF makes it there, but not so much to UGA.

[Spang]

[Tyek]

Winnow's turn to laugh!!!!!

[Winnow]

Bwahahahaha.....BWAHAHAHAHAHA!1


The Big Ten (11) is such a joke of a conference this year. I cant believe there's any debate about the Big Ten being anywhere near the Pac-10 this year.

ASU lost to arguably one of the best two teams in the nation. OhioSU lost to...Illinois...at home? lol!? Michigan has 3 losses so we can discuss their worthiness compared to teams like Washington or another team in the bottom half of the Pac-10 I guess if it needs to be debated at all.

If OhioSU is ranked higher than Arizona State after this week, the polls are a scam.

Gooooo Devillllls!

[Xyun]

ohio state..... hahahahahahahahahahahahaahhhhaahahahahahahaha


hahahahahahahahahahashahahahahaha.


YES!


I'm so happy.





This message is sponsored by:

[Boogahz]

I cant believe there's any debate about the Big Ten being anywhere near the Pac-10 this year.

You were debating yourself...

[Momopi]

if LSU can't pull it together its looking like oregon will be your 2007 national champs.

[Sabek]

OSU deserved to lose that game, but two plays defined the whole game.
1) I can not believe Tressel didn't challenge that fumble on Illinois first TD
2) Boeckman had no business throwing a pick in field goal range into like quintuple coverage.

[Wulfran]

I don't care much about US college sports but with all the shit OSU fans throw around here, its hard not to be happy to see them eating the shit sandwich in turn...

[noel]

I was at the UCLA/ASU game today.

I don't really think either team played well. The UCLA's offense is about as inept as I've seen. ASU had a lot of stupid penalties and played horrible on special teams (otherwise the Bruins aren't in the game at all). UCLA's defense was really good today, it was sad to see them play so well and the offense play so poorly. It has to be frustrating for the players. UCLA was definitely in a position to win the game until the final minutes entirely because of the defense.

The crowd should get a lot of credit as well. In the second half there were several delay of game penalties on ASU that were clearly the result of crowd noise. There was one really great sequence where ASU had to burn a timeout then got hit with a delay of game, and it sure looked like it was the noise. People in Cali don't normally get that riled up so it was great to see.

Finally... I seriously hope that Karl Dorrell gets fired at the end of the year. I think he's a nice, great guy, but he's a poor coach. He doesn't get the team prepared well enough to play the games, they have idiotic penalties and stupid dropped passes. The sad thing is, he might beat USC, and sometimes at UCLA that's enough to keep your job.

[Xyun]

I hope LSU loses so that Oklahoma can retaliate against Oregon for that bullshit game last year, which cost us a chance at the title game.

[Boogahz]

The crowd should get a lot of credit as well. In the second half there were several delay of game penalties on ASU that were clearly the result of crowd noise. There was one really great sequence where ASU had to burn a timeout then got hit with a delay of game, and it sure looked like it was the noise. People in Cali don't normally get that riled up so it was great to see.

They did the same stupid crap against Oregon too...not sure if it was the crowd or the team...

[noel]

I'll be at the UCLA/Oregon game in two weeks! Looking forward to the game (though I'll be secretly rooting for Oregon). Should be awesome to see Oregon's offense operating against UCLA's defense.

[Tyek]

Nice job by that vaunted defense of stopping the Illinois drive at the end. I also thought it was classy to start a fight to show how tough they were even in a loss.

I have a sticker question. Does the quarterback have to give a sticker back for his interceptions?

[Canelek]

I hope LSU loses so that Oklahoma can retaliate against Oregon for that bullshit game last year, which cost us a chance at the title game.

That was all on the refs!

[Canelek]

I'll be at the UCLA/Oregon game in two weeks! Looking forward to the game (though I'll be secretly rooting for Oregon). Should be awesome to see Oregon's offense operating against UCLA's defense.

That should be an interesting game--lucky bastard!

And good on you for rooting for the Ducks--must be the colors, I for some reason always rooted for them when I lived in LA...odd

[Boogahz]

[noel]

And good on you for rooting for the Ducks--must be the colors, I for some reason always rooted for them when I lived in LA...odd

It's more because I'm a bigger fan of the Pac-10 than any individual team. Also, I don't want UCLA to be a spoiler for a Pac-10 team that has a good shot to roll someone up in a national championship game.

[masteen]

Now we just need Oregon and LSU to dump games to set up Kansas (who will beat Oklahomo for the Big 12 title) and Hawaii (hey, their schedule is at least as tough as Ohio State's) in the title game. Maybe that shit will finally kill the BCS and get us a legitimate playoff.

[Ashur]

OSU deserved to lose that game, but two plays defined the whole game.
1) I can not believe Tressel didn't challenge that fumble on Illinois first TD
2) Boeckman had no business throwing a pick in field goal range into like quintuple coverage.

Don't forget:

3) Calling a time out when the opposing team is 4th and inches and has decided to punt, giving them time to realize "Hey, Juice can basically just fall down and convert that into a first down."

Several missed Holding calls before they finally caught one... very aggravating game to watch. I think that the fumble on their first TD was the game changer though. Laurintis recovered that one and the refs just ignored it. The guy was IN THE AIR falling forward after that huge shove and it went flying out of his hands. Down my ass...

While I think if the refs had caught that it would have been a different ball game, I'll concur we deserved to lose. Our D just decided not to play and theirs did.

[Zamtuk]

wow, what a horrible game. now that we lost, we will murder UM (i was really worried about that game until last night), and hopefully play ASU in the rose bowl, which is now a huge possibility.

[Tyek]

I think that the fumble on their first TD was the game changer though. Laurintis recovered that one and the refs just ignored it. The guy was IN THE AIR falling forward after that huge shove and it went flying out of his hands. Down my ass...

I believe the ref was on the outside of the player and if you look at the replay it came out on the opposite side. The TV camera had a better view and at full speed I thought the ground caused the fumble. I did not notice it until the replay. The fault was with your coach, Illinois even delayed their snap count and Tressel did not throw his flag.

I also would be just as quick to site not stopping Illinois on runs on 3rd and 8, and 3rd and 10 as reasons you lost. The Illini just looked better. As Zamtuk stated I would love a ASU/Ohio State Rose Bowl, the hilarious Winnow vs. OSU honks shit talk would be worth it.

[Ashur]

Yep, Coach Tressel missed the opportunity to challenge and then made that horrible time out call.

The Illini definitely looked better, but we compounded the problem with stupid fucking mistakes to hand them the game.

[Sabek]

I think that the fumble on their first TD was the game changer though. Laurintis recovered that one and the refs just ignored it. The guy was IN THE AIR falling forward after that huge shove and it went flying out of his hands. Down my ass...

I believe the ref was on the outside of the player and if you look at the replay it came out on the opposite side. The TV camera had a better view and at full speed I thought the ground caused the fumble. I did not notice it until the replay. The fault was with your coach, Illinois even delayed their snap count and Tressel did not throw his flag.

I also would be just as quick to site not stopping Illinois on runs on 3rd and 8, and 3rd and 10 as reasons you lost. The Illini just looked better. As Zamtuk stated I would love a ASU/Ohio State Rose Bowl, the hilarious Winnow vs. OSU honks shit talk would be worth it.

Overall OSU's defense put them in horrible situations last night.
It seemed that Illinois was constantly in 3rd and 3 or less where OSU was in 3rd and 8 or so.

[Zamtuk]

yeah, that timeout was insanity. after the game, tressel said that he didn't like the way they lined up. yeah, punt formation does look a bit odd on a 4th and 1, why fuck with it?

[Boogahz]

hehe, two of the top 5 in this week's BCS poll are guaranteed losses before the season ends...

1) LSU
2) Oregon
3) Kansas
4) Oklahoma
5) Missouri

The winner of 3v5 will most likely play 4. The winner of that would win the Big12 and get the bowl invite that comes along with it. It's like a mini-tournament!

[Winnow]

I'm not sure why OhioSU is ranked above ASU in the polls considering schedules and the quality of opponent each team lost to but I think ASU will move ahead of OhioSU if they beat #11 USC on Nov 22nd.

[Tyek]

LOL Winnow already starts with the trolling

[Ashur]

I'd like an Ohio State vs. Arizona State Rose Bowl.

[noel]

I wouldn't. ASU won the game on Saturday, but they played like total shit. I know, I know... a win is a win. Bullshit. If anyone from the Pac-10 plays anyone out of conference in a Bowl game, I'd like to see some competition, and I just dont' truly believe that ASU was as good as the ranking they rose to. If they were, they would have ROLLED UP UCLA. Just watch what happens the week after next when Oregon roles into Pasadena...

If you think I'm ragging on ASU just to rag on ASU, you're totally wrong. I'm just being matter of fact. They did not play well at all in a game that should have been relatively easy for them. UCLA's defense is good, but they're not that good, and they made some really poor special teams plays as well.

[Winnow]

ASU's QB Rudy Carpenter has a serous thumb sprain on his throwing hand. If you were at home instead of being at the game, you'd have seen video of him on the sidelines cringing in pain as they kept rewrapping his hand.

It looks like it's not going to get better until after the season but it definitely affects ASU's offense and deep threat scoring. ASU is a good team. They weren't embarrassed by Oregon although it was clear which team was better. Teams often play down to the competition which is what ASU did facing UCLA coming off a huge game at Oregon.

ASU has the best defense in the Pac-10 and if Rudy Carpenter's thumb improves over the ten days before the Thursday, Nov 22nd game vs USC, they have a great shot at beating them, the third team in the Pac-10 on their schedule that has flirted with the #1 spot in the nation. Oregon is one slot away, Cal was a few seconds away from taking #1, and USC was one slot away. That's an exponentially harder schedule than OhioSU's cream puff cruise through shitty teams this year.

The only team that ASU has lost to is the best team in the nation and they played them tough in a road game at Oregon. Oregon was clearly the better team but that doesn't mean anything when comparing ASU to the rest of the teams in the nation. Even Oregon managed to lose one game.

Arizona State isn't a fake good team. They earned their way into the top 25 and have proven time and again that they can stomp opponents (except for the best team in the nation) in the second half of games.

As long as we don't lose Rudy Carpenter to injury, I'd love to face OhioSU in the Rose Bowl. Oregon is the only other Pac-10 team more deserving but they will be playing for all the marbles.

[Sabek]

I wouldn't. ASU won the game on Saturday, but they played like total shit. I know, I know... a win is a win. Bullshit. If anyone from the Pac-10 plays anyone out of conference in a Bowl game, I'd like to see some competition, and I just dont' truly believe that ASU was as good as the ranking they rose to. If they were, they would have ROLLED UP UCLA. Just watch what happens the week after next when Oregon roles into Pasadena...

If you think I'm ragging on ASU just to rag on ASU, you're totally wrong. I'm just being matter of fact. They did not play well at all in a game that should have been relatively easy for them. UCLA's defense is good, but they're not that good, and they made some really poor special teams plays as well.

And just remember that ASU struggled with the team that has given the pathetic Fighting Irish their only win this season.

[Winnow]

And just remember that ASU struggled with the team that has given the pathetic Fighting Irish their only win this season.

It should be interesting to see how OhioSU fares this week against a team that didn't just "struggle", but actually lost to a division 1-AA team.

[noel]

I wouldn't. ASU won the game on Saturday, but they played like total shit. I know, I know... a win is a win. Bullshit. If anyone from the Pac-10 plays anyone out of conference in a Bowl game, I'd like to see some competition, and I just dont' truly believe that ASU was as good as the ranking they rose to. If they were, they would have ROLLED UP UCLA. Just watch what happens the week after next when Oregon roles into Pasadena...

If you think I'm ragging on ASU just to rag on ASU, you're totally wrong. I'm just being matter of fact. They did not play well at all in a game that should have been relatively easy for them. UCLA's defense is good, but they're not that good, and they made some really poor special teams plays as well.

And just remember that ASU struggled with the team that has given the pathetic Fighting Irish their only win this season.

With their walk-on third string quarterback. A loss is a loss, and I'm absolutely not excusing it, but how well would OSU do with it's third-string quarterback?

[Zamtuk]

Antonio Henton would do just fine. His stats, while small, are pretty impressive, even though they have been against really shitty teams. Too bad he isn't playing due to that arrest he had.

[Winnow]

ASU is ranked 6th in the BCS with THE OSU in 5th. I'd think that Arizona State would move ahead of Ohio if they manage to beat USC on Thanksgiving. If that happens, they'll be in the #5 spot. (if they don't move past Ohio with a win over USC, the entire ranking system is a sham considering strength of schedule and the teams they lost to.)

My question is, who in the top 4 might move out of the top 4? Do any of them play each other in the final two weeks or playoffs? I think ASU deserves a shot at the national title if they take down USC and have Oregon as their only loss of the season compared to the losses by the other top 5. (except Kansas)

LSU seems set.

Kansas?
West Virginia?
Missouri?

[Sueven]

LSU is in if they win out, which requires winning two games: Arkansas and the SEC championship game, which will be against either Tennessee or Georgia (if Tennessee loses to Kentucky next week).

Kansas and Missouri play each other next week. The winner then plays the Big 12 championship game, probably against Oklahoma. If either team wins out, they'll play for the national title.

One of the previous three is guaranteed a loss. If either of the other two also lose a game, West Virginia is next in line, assuming they beat Connecticut next week. I doubt they'll drop behind anybody else. Ohio State is the next team behind them, and doesn't play any more games, meaning that they don't have the chance to pick up any more big wins. Arizona State is next, and I don't think that a win over USC is enough to push them past West Virginia (keep in mind that WVU also has a chance to get a big win next weekend).

I think that's pretty reasonable. If Arizona State hammers USC, I might jump them over Ohio State, but I think the right teams almost certainly will play in the title game.

Here's a hypothetical: Tennessee loses to Kentucky, and Georgia then beats LSU.. Kansas wins a close game against Missouri before losing to Oklahoma. West Virginia loses to Connecticut. Arizona State loses to USC.

The results:

Missouri, West Virginia, and Arizona State all lose next week, leaving LSU, Kansas, and Ohio State the remaining contenders. When LSU and Kansas lose, Ohio State moves up to #1. But who plays them in the title game?

Kansas seems like a natural team. They'd be the only other one-loss team in the major conferences. Of course, they just would have lost their conference championship game-- this is the same thing that happened when undefeated Oklahoma lost to Kansas State before getting murdered in the national title game. Should Oklahoma go, as the team that just beat the last undefeated team remaining? They don't look like the second-best team in the country, really.

You have to rule out LSU, because they have two losses, and a two-loss SEC championship team, coming off a win over LSU, is available. So you have to consider Georgia pretty strongly. They'd be on a 7 game win streak, including 4 wins over ranked teams (Florida Auburn Kentucky LSU).

I guess you can also make a case for Virginia Tech or USC.

I vote Georgia.

[Boogahz]

From the local paper, a breakdown of BCS Championship contenders:

http://www.statesman.com/sports/content ... ptcol.html

SPORTS COMMENTARY: RALPH D. RUSSO

Sizing up the six national title contenders
LSU has best chance to get there; Ohio State could surprise

Monday, November 19, 2007
The national championship race is down to a half dozen contenders.

With two weeks left in the season, LSU, Kansas, Missouri, West Virginia, Ohio State and Arizona State are the only teams left with aspirations to play in the BCS title game in New Orleans on Jan. 7.

Let's handicap the field:

LSU Tigers
Games remaining:vs. Arkansas, Friday; SEC title game against Tennessee or Georgia, Dec. 1 in Atlanta.
The Tigers are first in the BCS standings and control their own destiny, and most of the college football world seems content with that.
LSU is the most talented team in the country and has a chance to win the toughest conference, and no other team has a more impressive nonconference victory than the Tigers' 48-7 demolition of Virginia Tech in the second week of the season.
Since that game, the Tigers have also had more narrow escapes than any other contender and there's no reason to believe they couldn't get picked off by Arkansas and Darren McFadden this week, or in the Georgia Dome, especially if they're facing Georgia in its backyard.
Chance to reach the title game on a scale of 1-5 (five being a lock): 4.5.


Ohio State Buckeyes
Games remaining: none.
The Buckeyes are further back, in fifth place, but they don't need all that much to happen. They might just need both Big 12 teams ahead of them to lose, and one of them will Saturday night in Kansas City.
Being idle hurt Michigan last season, when the Wolverines were jumped first by Southern Cal, then by Florida, and were left out of the BCS title game.
But that had a lot to do with voters not wanting an Ohio State-Michigan rematch for the national title. That scenario isn't in play this year.
In one week the Buckeyes' national title hopes went from minuscule to not so bad as Oklahoma and Oregon dropped out. Simply being Ohio State might help the Buckeyes sway poll voters, too.
Chance to reach the title game:3.5.


Kansas Jayhawks
Games remaining: vs. Missouri, Saturday in Kansas City; possible Big 12 title game against Oklahoma or Texas on Dec. 1 in San Antonio.
The undefeated Jayhawks, second in the standings, also have only themselves to worry about. No unbeaten team from a BCS automatic qualifying conference has ever been left out of the title game in favor of a one-loss team.
The bad news for the Jayhawks:No team has a tougher road left. Kansas' opponents to date have a 47-75 record, by far the worst of the six contenders. Because of that, one loss will eliminate the Jayhawks.
There are still legitimate questions about just how good Todd Reesing and the Jayhawks are. The good news for them: They'll get to prove it over the next two weeks. Signs point toward the Jayhawks being exposed.
Chance to reach the title game: 3.5.


Missouri Tigers
Games remaining: vs. Kansas, Saturday in Kansas City; possible Big 12 title game against Oklahoma or Texas on Dec. 1 in San Antonio.
If LSU and/or Kansas slip up in the next two weeks, the BCS picture gets murky.
The Tigers are fourth in the BCS standings and could get caught from behind even if they win out. Kansas has doubters and beating the Jayhawks might get downplayed by voters. Oklahoma's loss to Texas Tech means at best a two-loss team awaits the Big 12 North winner in the league championship.
Chance to reach the title game: 3.0.


West Virginia Mountaineers
Games remaining:vs. Connecticut, Saturday; vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 1.
Aside from needing the Big 12 teams to cancel each other out, the third-place Mountaineers have to overcome the fact the Big East doesn't have another powerful team. West Virginia's best win so far came Saturday night at Cincinnati (8-3). Beating UConn (9-2) will help some, but the Huskies don't have a great national reputation.
West Virginia is ahead of Ohio State and Arizona State in the polls for now, but if voters are asked to chose between the Mountaineers, Buckeyes or Sun Devils to play in the national title game, that could change.
Chance to reach title game:2.5.


Arizona State Sun Devils
Games remaining: vs. Southern Cal, Thursday; vs. Arizona, Dec. 1.
The sixth-place Sun Devils have the most ground to make up, but their remaining schedule has the perfect balance; it's not as tough as the Big 12 teams, but it's more difficult than West Virginia's. Also working in Arizona State's favor: the Pac-10 has been getting a lot of respect this season.
Chance to reach the title game: 2.0.

I've also been reading about the craziness that could decide the Big12 South's participant in the conference championship, and it is kind of funny how the North and South flip-flopped this year.

[Winnow]

From the local paper, a breakdown of BCS Championship contenders:

http://www.statesman.com/sports/content ... ptcol.html

Simply being Ohio State might help the Buckeyes sway poll voters, too.

Wow. Maybe we should stick Michigan and OhioSU in the title game...after all, they are Michigan and OhioSU. Why do any other teams even try? Michigan is one step away from being the Irish. Maybe they should get a network deal to seal the deal.

There is nothing I see that gives OhioSU the right to be ranked above ASU right now, much less if Arizona State beats USC on Thanksgiving. Ohio had a powderpuff schedule this year and still lost to a lower ranked team this year. ASU lost to an equally ranked team that was as high as #2 in the nation. ...but they're OhioSU...the rivalry and all!