Who woulda thunk it?
Posted: Sunday October 03, 1999 08:11 PM
By Stewart Mandel, CNN/SI
First off, a hearty welcome to our new readers from the great state of Tennessee. Though we can't promise to not "destroy" your favorite football program, we do guarantee to be an equal-opportunity conspirator. We never, ever get personal. (Note to Ohio State fans: Told you!! Here come the Gophers.)
This past Saturday was a perfect example of why they play the games. While Alabama knocking off Florida may have seemed plausible in the preseason when Bob Bockrath still had a job and Florida's defense was suspect on paper, no one who had watched the Tide this season and/or the Florida-Tennessee game saw it coming.
Likewise, how does a Texas Tech team that lost to North Texas and lost its star player for the season beat an A&M team that looked darn near unstoppable coming in? Well, for one thing, the Red Raiders had done it two of the previous four years. It's what the video game folks at EA Sports call "Rivalry Mode."
Speaking of rivalries, this week marks the renaissance of two of college football's finest. While Florida State-Miami would be a lot bigger if the Hurricanes weren't 2-2, believe us, the talent level is there to produce an '80s-caliber installment in this series. And Oklahoma-Texas, which never lost its luster among the schools but hasn't had the national impact of late, appears back on the rise with Mack Brown's success at Texas and Bob Stoops' impact on the Sooners. This could well be the first OU-UT game to feature significantly more passing than rushing.
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Each week, the Glance offers its projected BCS lineup. |
| Sugar:
Florida State vs. Penn State |
Orange:
Georgia Tech vs. Florida |
| Rose:
Michigan vs. ????? |
Fiesta:
Nebraska vs. Virginia Tech |
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The bowl race at a glance: |
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For the first time this season, the national picture is clearing up (except in the Pac-10, where we still refuse to project a winner. Thanks a lot, Stanford). While Penn State and Florida State are still in the driver's seat, Michigan's proximity in the polls could set up "Judgment Day II" in Happy Valley on Nov. 13. Nebraska, which is getting better by the game, takes over Big 12 frontrunner status following Texas A&M's loss, and is still three weeks away from its first big test at Texas. A major stop on the SEC tour takes place this week when Tennessee hosts unbeaten Georgia. And don't look now, but Virginia Tech is in the heart of the national title race, but with a weaker schedule, may need some serious stumbling by the teams ranked above it. |
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ON:
Ron Dayne. Last week's Goat of the Week is back on top among the nation's rushers. |
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ON:
Andrew Zow. Most derided state-of-Alabama athlete this side of Charles Barkley was a quiet 28-of-40 for 336 yards in upset of Florida. |
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OFF:
Purdue's receivers. Stop staring at Drew Brees' birthmark and haul in the damn ball.
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OFF:
Stanford. 69-17 to Texas. 44-39 to San Jose State. If team goes on to Rose Bowl, making one of those T-shirts that lists the score of every game might be bad idea.
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ON:
Minnesota. 'Da Gophers crack the Top 25, eh? |
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OFF:
Gerry DiNardo. Hey, coach, they play overtime in college now. |
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| Who wants it? |
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This much can be said about the Pac-10: Contrary to public perception, someone will win the conference title before the end of the season. But it doesn't help that the defending champ is in last place, the first-place team just lost to San Jose State and the preseason favorite has been outscored 165-128.
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| Luck of the Bulldogs |
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First, Georgia knocks off Central Florida on a phantom pass interference call. Then, it fends off LSU despite failing to run out the clock because the Tigers can't connect with either of two wide-open receivers on a two-point conversion. Look for Quincy Carter to buy a lottery ticket this week.
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| Tussle in Tallahassee |
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It's a battle of the two programs that brought Florida football to national prominence in the '80s and early '90s. Or, on a more cynical level, it's Free Shoes University vs. The House Luther Campbell Built.
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| Kentucky at South Carolina, Saturday |
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The Wildcats average 32 points a game. The Gamecocks average four. Was this covered in Lou Holtz's Winning Every Day?
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| Michigan at Michigan State, Saturday |
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Michigan State fans torched the campus after losing in the Final Four last year. Now, if the hated Wolverines were to end the Spartans' football title hopes ... people of Lansing, find your nearest bomb shelter.
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| Georgia at Tennessee, Saturday |
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One is overrated. The other is underachieving. Put them together and you get the over-under. What does that mean? Absolutely nothing, which is exactly Georgia's chance of winning this football game.
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| * Three games selected at random |
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Ask the Glance and
you shall receive.
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Remember: this column is updated on Sundays, so don't be that guy who asks,
"Is my team gonna win this weekend?"
Can a two-quarterback offense produce a national champ?
Eric Smith, San Diego
Well, it's never happened, but then there isn't any evidence that it couldn't, either. For illustrative purposes, let's use Penn State's system, with Kevin Thompson and Rashard Casey, as an example. The advantage of rotating them throughout a possible run to the title is that it decreases the possibility of either wearing down in a pressure-filled situation. And their different skills (Thompson is the better passer, Casey the runner) can suit the Lions from week to week depending on what type of opponent they're playing. The biggest down side, it seems, is the extra burden it puts on Joe Paterno and staff to pick the right guy every week, several times a game. If PSU does falter, the two-QB system will predictably be the scapegoat. Case in point: Ohio State in '96 and '97 went 21-4 rotating Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine, but when both struggled in consecutive losses to Michigan, John Cooper's use of the otherwise successful platoon drew heat. So essentially, there's no reason for Paterno to settle on one guy before the Sugar Bowl, and if he does get there, just hope one guy is hot on Jan. 4.
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