My Top Ten Teams

Who will hoist the crystal trophy?

1. Auburn-Heading into a big game (Iron Bowl) against Alabama, the allegations and news surrounding QB Cam Newton has quieted and this is much needed for the Tigers. Newton is the most valuable player this season and a win here would surely lock up the Heisman.

2. Oregon Ducks-A very high-powered offense that goes full throttle all the time. They are No.2 in total offense (542.20) in the nation. This offense can be slowed down, and Tennessee did it for one half and Cal did it all game long. If the Ducks and the Tigers win out, look for a very enjoyable BCS title game, where defense will be optional.

3. Boise State-What can be said about this feisty team that is constantly fighting to be recognized. They continue to get it done on the field on both sides of the ball; even though, I feel that they are lacking in quality opponents on their schedule, they deserve a shot at the national title. Give them a chance; let’s see what they prove to the nation. And then hopefully in the next two years we will get a plus-one format that will seed the top four teams, and hopefully this will quiet the critics of the BCS, but is anyone ever satisfied??

4. TCU-Who would have guessed this season that TCU would be the best team out of the state of Texas. Yeah you read that right, no Longhorn sighting this season as Mack Brown’s team continues to sink to the bottom of the ocean. The Horned Frogs are the No. 1 team on defense and No. 9 on offense: they are balanced team that has put up a lot of points and shutdown opponents as well. It’s a heated, neck-and-neck race between them and Boise for who gets in the national title game if Auburn or Oregon falls. Both teams won’t sniff a BCS game but one will end up in the Rose Bowl as a consolation prize, which isn’t so bad.

5. LSU-Probably the best one-loss team in the nation. I know people will argue the fact, but you cannot find fault with a team that has only one loss in the SEC. Yes, people will mention the fluky wins over Tennessee and Florida but the win against Alabama is a darn good one. Couple that with the maturity of QB Jordan Jefferson, who looks like a new quarterback, and is showing confidence in his throws and designed runs. If Jefferson keeps this up, they will beat Arkansas this upcoming week. However, they cannot get to the national title this year with Boise and TCU undefeated, and the other one-loss teams in the rear view mirror and the fact they did not win their conference, so the voters will not let them into the national title game.

6. Stanford-You cannot deny this Pac-10 team some recognition, whose only loss came to the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks, a game where they had a good lead but could not hold on for the win. They have good coaching and probably the best pure passer (Andrew Luck) in the league that will make a big splash when he decides to head for the NFL. Coach Harbaugh has instilled a never-die attitude in these scholars of Palo Alto. I thought there would be a major setback with running back Toby Gerhart gone for greener pastures, and the league having more tape on Luck to figure out his weaknesses but this was not the case. No longer can you think of the Cardinal bunch as a group of geeks; they are winning now and looking very good at it.

7. Wisconsin-Good quarterback play that is set up by a solid running game. This team has lived up to its expectations finally. I have been waiting for this team to step up since ’07 and now it seems they have everything figured out. Much kudos to Coach Brett Bielema for a good season.

8. Oklahoma State-The Bedlam showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners, Saturday, will determine who represents the South in Big 12 Championship game. First year starter Brandon Weeden has thrown for an amazing 3,780 with 30 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. His main target is wide receiver Justin Blackmon (Biletnikoff finalist and likely winner) who has 1,560 and 17 touchdowns; this kid is amazing: his speed and physicality and good hands have made him a wet dream for NFL scouts. The Cowboys has the most explosive offense besides Oregon and Auburn. The Sooners better have that defense ready.

9. Alabama-the defending National Champs will not get a chance to repeat with two losses on the season. However, if they knock off their heated rival No. 2 ranked Auburn in the Iron Bowl that could go a long way for this squad for next season. The Crimson Tide’s running game has all but disappeared due to inconsistent play on the offensive line, and Greg McEleroy has played OK this season but not great. I think the offense needs to reinvent itself; you have to find ways to move the ball and put up six points on the board, field goals won’t do.

10. Ohio State-Terrelle Pryor’s comeback win against Iowa last week was a big win. Coach Tressel let Pryor loose a bit and it showed with him running with conviction and making the necessary throws for his team to win. If only we could get a full, consistent game from Pryor then we can give him the kudos he deserves and he can finally live up to the hype surrounding him coming to Columbus. I don’t see Wisconsin losing this weekend, so the Buckeyes will get their share of the Big Ten Title but the Badgers will go on to play in the Rose Bowl.

Auburn downs Georgia behind the performance of Cam Newton, 49-31

I do not know what to say, or even how to express how enamored, awestruck, and baffled at Cam Newton. This kid is special, no one knew he would be this special, but I bet Gene Chizik and his staff would tell you they did. I crown Auburn as the best team in the nation, with Oregon escaping a scare against Cal (15-13); there is no doubt in my mind that the Tigers are the crème de la crème.

With all the swirling allegations about the recruitment of Newton to Mississippi State, Newton got it done on Saturday which he has been doing for eleven weeks now. Yeah, people are going to start piping up about Auburn’s luxury of home games this season, not playing defense, and they have to go to Tuscaloosa to play a pretty good Alabama team but for Newton it’s no sweat.

Cam Newton deserves Ric Flair's robe and heavyweight title

Players respond differently to adversity, some fold under the pressure and others rise to the occasion and that is what Newton did and his teammates. Newton made some NFL-type throws on a rope that were beautiful. He was playing with an angry streak, showing the doubters that he is unaffected by all this mess and hubris surrounding him. If there is one thing I know is that you do not want to play against a pissed off Newton, that’s for sure. The Crimson Tide better hope there is no damning reports coming out in the next ten days leading up to their Nov. 26^th showdown.

I’m usually level headed, but I say to hell with defense just score. And that is why I say Auburn will beat Alabama. Make it a track meet and watch the Tigers sink ‘Bama. There is a growing fear that if Newton touches the ball, they are going to score. So all those analysts can talk about Nick Saban telling his boys to run the ball (what running game, I say) and control the clock, but every time you turn it over, Auburn will score. You cannot kick field goals to beat this team and if the Crimson Tide is going to wait for the second half to wake up and game plan against the Tigers it will be too late.

This is Newton’s year (eighth player in FBS history to have 1,000 yards rushing and 2,000 yards passing), and he will seize the opportunity. I know earlier in the season, I compared Newton to Terrelle Pryor and forgive me for that. I had water on my brain. For the record, Pryor wishes he had Newton’s ability. Pryor should be utilizing his size (6’6, 233) in a better manner: bowl over defenders, stiff arm them, and show some true grit! Until Pryor shows urgency at the quarterback position, Ohio State will not play for the national title.

 Newton plays with fervor and moxie that Pryor does not show on Saturdays.  To be a star athlete you got to have a nasty streak and you got leave it all on the field, every time you step out there or why bother lacing up the boots. Newton has that mercurial touch and hopefully instead of turning things to gold, he can make a crystal trophy appear in his hands.

So Kirby Smart and Saban better be ready, bring all your powerful weapons because Auburn will be ready this time and it will be in their favor.  And Alabama’s offensive line better be ready for DT Nick Fairley and friends because they will be coming for blood. 

My Two Cents-Can USC beat Oregon?

Father and Son will look to execute a perfect gameplan to topple the Oregon Ducks

It can certainly happen because all the pressure will be on Oregon to stay highly ranked and get the opportunity to play for the national title in Glendale, Arizona. With the two-year bowl ban and thirty scholarships taken from the Trojans, this will be their defining game of the season. What better way to show the nation that they are capable of knocking off the No.1 team in the Coaches and AP Poll and No.2 in the BCS rankings.

The Men of Troy hope Monte Kiffin can dial up some inventive and easy to follow schemes that will help them thwart the explosive offense (No. 1 in the nation) of the Ducks. USC needs to look at last year’s Rose Bowl and study how Ohio State was able to shutdown that offense. With two weeks to prepare for this game, it will be downright embarrassing if the Trojans surrendered 50 points; there is still a bad taste in their mouths from last year’s drubbing, where Oregon hung 47 points on them.

If I was Lane Kiffin, I would establish the run with Marc Tyler and Allen Bradford. The less QB Darron Thomas is on the field, the less this team can score. Don’t engage in a shootout with this team, as they will win the battle. Special teams will be a factor too in this game: good kickoff /punt coverage and making field goals are a necessity. Touchdowns are needed to win against Oregon; kicking field goals won’t do it against this offensive juggernaut.

Everyone is eager to see how Monte’s Tampa 2 will fare against a spread offense team like the Ducks so this will be his opportunity; there is no letter grade for the defense come Saturday, it will be either Pass or Fail. Whatever the outcome, The Men of Troy will play inspired football as this is their glorified bowl game.  So expect to see the same USC team that was firing on all cylinders two weeks ago when they spanked Cal.