Virginia Tech – RIVALS RUNDOWN

College Football Week 9 Power Rankings

October 29, 2013 benchwarmer42Leave a comment

If this is your first time checking out our rankings here at the Rundown, there are a couple of things that you need to know. The first thing is that we have a West Coast and Pac12 biased. Yep, that’s right we are in Pac12 Country and watch a lot of late night College Football on Saturday Night’s (Sometimes we even watch Hawaii). Now, the second thing you should know about our rankings is that we don’t care about where teams might have been ranked the week before, every week we wipe the slate, look at the teams across College Football and we rank based off of what’s in front of us. Why is this important? It becomes relavent when a team like Virginia Tech loses to Duke or Stanford loses to Utah, in some polls voters don’t want to move someone out or down too far because that is accepting the fact that they were wrong the week before, us, we don’t give a @#%#$^. So, with the side notes out of the way, we present to you our Week 9 College Football Rankings…

1. Alabama 8-0
“To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.”
When we sat down to put together this weeks edition, we really honestly thought that Florida State should be here based off of the body of work but looking back at each teams wins, losses, and the overall performance in all games…’Bama is still #1.

2. Oregon 8-0
We know, we know… I just said that I was going to rank Florida State #1, well not just yet. Remember when I said we are biased, yep that’s right! Oregon is the second best team, now with the games coming up, this will be settled within the next week.

3. Florida State 7-0
The SEC is the best conference, then the PAC 12, then the ACC right? Well we think that it’s actually a tie between the ACC and BigXII, the reason all comes down to the Duke upset of Virginia Tech, it to some street creed away from the ACC’s depth. Back to Florida State, if they Miami, they will jump Oregon until the Ducks face off with Stanford after their bye week.

4. Ohio State 8-0
The Buckeye’s have an easy schedule, it’s not all their fault that, oh wait yes, yes it is. Scheduling Buffalo and Florida A&M is not going to help your National Title hopes in a year that the Big Ten as a conference is down. The Buckeye’s however have a better chance then the top three teams of going undefeated in the regular season. With a light challenge from Indiana and Michigan left, a back to back perfect regular season is in the sights, now let’s see how they close.

5. Baylor 7-0
The Bears have done what was needed for them to be here, they are putting up impressive and shocking numbers. They made it to the bye week perfect and now have a breather before the schedule turns and they face a gauntlet of Big XII teams. We ‘ll talk more then…

6. Miami 7-0
The Hurricanes return to a National Title Game rests with the Florida State match-up. If they win they stay in the conversation, a loss and they will drop based off of a weak ACC schedule. We’ll also watch for a let down against a tough Virginia Tech defense.

7. Clemson 7-1
We look at who Clemson beat and lost and they deserve to still be ranked the highest of the one loss teams. They beat Georgia before Georgia suffered for a ton a injuries and even though they got destroyed by the Seminoles, they have still only loss to the #3 team in our rankings.

8. Stanford 7-1
The Cardinal will see if they can steal our dream of a ‘Bama vs Oregon National Championship and also become the best one loss team in the country. We think that Oregon will win this time and Stanford will drop to a top 15ish team.

9. Missouri 7-1
Laces Out!!!

10. Auburn 7-1
We have no faith in this team but their one loss is to a solid LSU team and puts them a in the top 10…for now.

11. Oklahoma 7-1
Another team that is hard to read and with a little luck and an extra week to prepare for Baylor, The Sooners could find themselves moving in the right direction.

12. Texas A&M 6-2
With a nice break in the schedule right now, the Aggies are retooling and getting ready for the final stretch after they see if they can beat the spread on UTEP.

13. LSU 7-2
Can’t wait to see what happens when the square-off against ‘Bama.

14. Texas Tech 7-1
The Red Raiders showed they could play to the last minute against the best, now with a big stage game behind them, let’s see if they can put the finishing touches on what could be a special season.

15. South Carolina 6-2
Still hangin tough…

And the Rest…

16. UCLA 5-2
They have lost only to Stanford and Oregon, we’ll see if it breaks them like it did Washington or if the rise back to win to Pac 12 South

17. Fresno State 7-0
We have proof of one thing, if Carr and the Bulldogs are in games late, they have the ability to win and they believe they will win no matter what. Carr should be in the Heisman talk based on his performances winning games for his team.

18. UCF 6-1
Only loss to South Carolina and a nice win against a team we had going undefeated, we’re not going to discount them and no way rank them below Louisville, that’s just disrespectful.

19. Oklahoma State 6-1
After one trip-up let’s see how the Cowboys finish the season…

20. Louisville 7-1
Here’s the thing, Louisville has enough talent that we serious believe they could compete in a bowl against anyone but the question is: with BCS in question, can the Cardinals keep focus and finish out the year.

21. Northern Ill. 8-0
Not sure if we’re buying the Huskies as a top team but we respect what they’ve done so far.

23. Michigan State 7-1
Could this be the year the Spartans finally break through?

24. Notre Dame 5-2
Since the loss to Michigan, Notre Dame has become a better team. Now what for the Golden Domers?

25. Arizona State 5-2
The Pac 12 South should come down to UCLA and the Devils, can ASU win on the road and close out the season?

Just outside:

Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon State, BYU, Texas,

Rivals Rundown College Football Top 25 – Week 8

October 15, 2013October 15, 2013 benchwarmer42Leave a comment

After taking a week off and enjoying some music at Austin City Limits, we here at the Rundown have pieced ourselves back together and are ready to get back to some College Football! The Top 6 teams have stayed almost untouched for the first six weeks of the season. Now that both Alabama and Oregon have faced true tests in Texas A&M and Washington and passed, that leaves Louisville as the only untested top 6 team. We will give Louisville some props for avoiding the trap game against Rutgers and while Rutgers is a good team, they are nowhere near A&M or Washington. Other notes… We are still of the opinion that LSU has the best shot of making it to a National Championship game other then Oregon or Alabama at this time, even though we have them ranked at 7. With the showdown between Florida State and Clemson looming, the loser will fall somewhere between LSU and Miami, thus giving everyone a dilemma, does the winner deserve to be 1,2 or 3… That is going to be a huge choice, I think at this time it depends on who the winner is and how they looked. But, it will be tough! It’s too bad Stanford choked on Utah, it hurts the overall street cred of the Pac12 and Washington. Until that we would say that the Winner of Stanford vs Oregon would peg their ticket if they were undefeated and so was Clemson or Florida State but now the Ducks are going to have to be really impressive, not to mention games left against Stanford and Oregon State. (Oregon State is a whole different blog). Even as we sit back and look at our rankings, UCLA and Baylor might be the most underrated teams and we’re not sold on Texas Tech and Auburn but the deserve the rankings for now. Ok, no more rambling, here is our most recent installment of the Rivals Rundown Top 25 Teams, Week 8 Edition!

1	Alabama Crimson Tide
2	Oregon Ducks
3	Clemson Tigers
4	Ohio State Buckeyes
5	Louisville Cardinals
6	Florida State Seminoles
7	LSU Tigers
8	Texas A&M Aggies
9	Baylor Bears
10	UCLA Bruins
11	Miami Hurricans
12	South Carolina Gamecocks
13	Stanford Cardinal
14	Missouri Tigers
15	Virginia Tech Hokies
16	Georgia Bulldogs
17	Washington Huskies
18	Fresno State Bulldogs
19	Texas Tech Red Raiders
20	Northern Ill Huskies
21	Michigan Wolverines
22	Nebraska Huskers
23	Michigan State Spartans
24	Auburn Tigers
25	Oklahoma Sooners

(Stats via Espn.com; Picture via sbnation.com)

Week 5 College Football Games to Watch

September 27, 2013September 26, 2013 benchwarmer42Leave a comment

Thank you Baby Jesus that we made it to Week 5 of the College Football Season! With no major match-ups and with the best game of the weekend over with on Friday night between Fresno State and Boise State, we have made it back to a weekend of real games, most importantly, Conference Games! For the most part this weekend marks the beginning of Conference play, which marks the beginning of “who’s real and who’s faking it!”

As we found out last week, Arizona State is questionable Top 30 material, while Stanford proved they are Top 5 material. Look Wisconsin the week before, while the ran for 200+ yards on the Devils, if you subtract one home-run run of 70, ASU held Wisconsin to 130ish yards, statistically they are the best rushing team in the whole country. Stanford had no problems running, passing or causing disruption all over the field, this brings us to Week 5, so who this week will prove to be the Stanford and who will be the Sun Devils?

First, one note on the Fresno State vs Boise State Match-up: These two teams are Top 25 teams, no questions asked, Boise State might be the best two loss team in the Country, right in-front of Utah State. Derek Carr is a legit Heisman Candidate, he has proven himself as an NFL passer and clutch in two prime time games on ESPN. Fresno and Colorado have to make up their missed game and let’s hope the two (Boise, Fresno) teams win out the season and play for the Mountain West Title and a possible BCS birth. Think of it, Fresno State could finish with a better strength of schedule over Louisville, one big problem, they don’t have the ranking yet but we’ll see. Anyways, on to week 5 games!

We stay in the Mountain West!

Utah State at San Jose State

Normally we like home dogs on Thursday or Friday nights, something about the upset and national tv just works! Look up the numbers! This time, we think Utah State is finally licking their chops after losing very close games to Utah and USC, we think that the Aggies are going to come into Spartan Stadium ready to unload what some are calling, “The Poor Man’s Manziel” in QB Chuckie Keeton all over the field on an over-matched Spartans Defense. In a rare one, we are taking Utah State to Cover on a Friday Night!

Moving East

East Carolina at North Carolina

This is a must win for the North Carolina Tar Heels. After losing by 8 to a very tricking and tough to read Georgia Tech team, North Carolina enters this match-up at 1-2 and still the Tar Heels have to get through the heart of their ACC schedule before things get easier. For East Carolina, it’s not a must win as they still have to get into the depth of conference play but we like the Pirates to keep things close. Let’s take East Carolina and the points. Also the over deserves a second look.

Now for some Big Boys!

LSU at Georgia

These two teams are National Champions in the waiting, the stakes couldn’t be higher, blah blah, yada yada yada. Look, we know what’s going on here, this game is to take claim for a solid top 5 spot and for Georgia, it’s a must win to keep their outside shot of being the only one loss team with National Championship hopes alive. The main factors that we are all going to be watching fall to Georgia’s defense and LSU’s offense. The major difference we feel is that Georgia’s defense has been tested and has gained quick and important experience by already playing two top ten teams. They have the help of playing at home, which strengthens the defense and they have an offense that can keep up with anyone in the country. For LSU this is their first major test, yes we all felt going into the TCU game that that would provide the test but comparing TCU and Georgia isn’t fair, TCU has fallen short of our preseason hype, while Georgia is fitting into the mold we expected. We’re not buying the Tigers yet over the Bulldogs so we’re taking Georgia to cover.

And our Final Game:

Ball State vs Toledo

Bet you didn’t see that one coming! Look there are great games this weekend, Wisconsin vs Ohio State, Oklahoma vs Notre Dame and Ole Miss vs Alabama but everyone is talking about those. We want to talk about a game between two rising programs in the MAC that need some love. The importance of this game? The winner has a fast-tracked chance at competing against Northern Illinois for the MAC West Title. The key is that both of these teams can do it! We recommend that if you want to watch two teams put everything on the line in week 5, check this one out. We like Ball State in this one!

Side notes:

We like Alabama, Oklahoma and Ohio State. We think that all three teams are going to come out with something to prove, all for different reasons. Look for Ohio State to expose the weak secondary of Wisconsin with a balanced run, option, throw attack. Look for Oklahoma to do the same actually to Notre Dame. Alabama and Ole Miss might be close at halftime but we see the Tide pulling away in the 4th Quarter.

Final Note-

Because we were late with this post, we had a chance to watch the Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech game. Virginia Tech’s defense is getting better every week and is going to give this Hokies team a chance in every football game from here til the end of the season. We’re standing by our prediction for Virginia Tech, for now, although we need that QB to step up the way that he should be in this season.

2013 Top 5* @TheACCFootball Conference Predictions!

July 22, 2013July 22, 2013 benchwarmer42Leave a comment

Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Top 5* Rundown

The ACC this year is a tale of two stories, the Atlantic Division where we find a battle between two (outside) National Championship contenders and the Coastal Division where we find a battle between two storied programs trying to return to a National Championship mold. The ACC welcomes two additional programs in Pittsburgh and Syracuse in it’s expansion to a 14 team field. The season kicks-off like a Fast and the Furious opening scene, with Clemson playing host to the Georgia Bulldogs, in a game that will have BCS implications. Meanwhile down in Atlanta, Alabama’s Pro-Football Team known as the Crimson Tide roll into town to face-off with Frank Beamer’s Hokies who will be looking to see if they can keep up with the best for four full quarters of football. Is it August 31st yet? Here’s the ACC Rivals Rundown:

1. Clemson University Tigers 11-1 (Atlantic Division Champions)

We have a hard time here at the RR believing in the Clemson Tigers, but with 13 returning starters between defense and offense led by one of our Heisman Trophy contenders in QB Tajh Boyd, this year we are going all in on the Tigers. Standing in the way of Clemson is a schedule that starts right out of the gate with Georgia coming into Memorial Staduim, a game that will determine if we are talking about a National Title run or just an ACC Title run. We like the Tigers in that game and see them coasting until they match-up with Florida State on Oct. 19th, in the game that will determine the Atlantic division. After that If they can survive a trap game against Georgia Tech at home, Clemson could find themselves playing South Carolina in the final game of the season with the national media talking BCS, BCS, BCS.

2. Florida State Seminoles 10-2

The question surrounding FSU this year is: Reload or Rebuild? After a season that could’ve seen the Seminoles playing for a National Championship, Jimbo Fisher is looking to replace his playmakers on both sides of the football. The schedule sets up nicely for a young team looking to develop before they match-up against the heavyweights of Clemson, Miami, and Florida. FSU should be 6-0 before going into the game with Clemson but Clemson has too much experience and gets the Seminoles at home, which is the difference maker. The answer is, they will be reloading this year and if leaders can emerge on offense watch out for the Seminoles to be in the national picture.

3. Virginia Tech Hokies 10-2 (Coastal Division Champions)

Last season the Hokies found themselves struggling to become bowl eligible but after winning their final two regular season and beating Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl, the Hokies finished the 2012 campaign on a high note. Since then, they have revamped the offensive coaching staff and are poised to return to the double digit win total that they have become accustom to in Blacksburg. The Hokies find themselves with the most difficult opening game in all of college football, a neutral site game against the defending Champs, Alabama. If they survive that test and take away the positives, Virginia Tech could go on an eight game winning streak setting the scene for a coastal division match-up against the Hurricanes, even if they lose that head to head, we still like Virginia Tech to meet Clemson for the ACC Championship and the chance for a BCS return. In true Beamer fashion, it will rely on defense and special team, while hoping the offense isn’t too far behind.

4. The University of Miami Hurricanes 9-3

It’s been too long since the “U” dominated college football with it’s on and off the field actions, as we look at our 2013 predictions it’s tempting to say that they have arrived and this is the year…however, it’s not. On the bright side, the program is about to turn the corner and starting being in the conversation once again. The ‘Canes return a what will be one of the most exciting offenses in college football but still have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball. The defense gave up a school record in points last year and have only 4 starters returning (which could be a good thing). They have a tough schedule with Florida and Florida St, but could be playing for a Coastal Division Championship when they meet Virginia Tech. We like Miami to be playing for a National Title in 2015 and a BCS shot in 2014 but this year they will be finishing behind the Hokies.

5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 8-4

Last year Georgia Tech had a bad schedule, why? They faced what turned out to be a bad Virginia Tech before they knew they were bad and lost in OT. Then they lost, again in OT, a couple of weeks later to an slightly above average Miami team. Those two losses deflated their sails and they couldn’t recover until they found themselves at 3-4 and yet somehow Georgia Tech still found themselves beating USC on New Year’s Eve in the Sun Bowl. This year they bring back 16 starters, 11 which are seniors, they start with Elon and Duke then could easily find themselves at 2-3 before they finish the season at 8-4. With the experience The Yellow Jackets are bringing back, they get our “Outsiders” chance to surprise everyone and win the division if they can get through a three game stretch of North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Miami.

6. University of North Carolina Tar Heels & N.C. State Wolfpack

Ok, here’s the deal and we’re not going into a long thing here, honestly, we don’t like either of these teams, N.C. State with it’s new coach and a North Carolina team that hasn’t been able to live up to it’s recruiting. So here they sit, the problem is North Carolina was 9 points away (total) from going 10-1 in a year that they were not bowl eligible and N.C. State has a schedule that has 9 wins if they are on the same page by August 31st. So, with both of them being dangerous, both having some nice upside, here they both sit tied for the final place in our Rivals Rundown of the ACC.