Saturday, October 2, 2010

What 2 Watch 4


Here are three things you just might see today during your college football Saturday.


USC's Lane Kiffin (left) looks to reverse the Trojans' fortunes against the team and former co-worker coach Steve Sarkisian (right) that started USC's recent demise.
A Trojan Payback?

A little over one year ago, things were business as usual for the USC Trojans.
And by usual, we mean, the Trojans were in the midst of a 12-game win streak, ranked No.3 in the country, had just returned from a mammoth early season win over No.8 Ohio State in Columbus with a true freshman at QB with Pete Carroll at the helm.
Life at USC was definitely great, but by the same token, it was, well...usual for a team that had won 73 games, two Heisman Trophies and two national championships over the previous five years.
Then on September 19, 2009,one simple loss at Washington may have marked the initial and latest fall of Troy.
Since that day, USC lost more games in a season in roughly a decade, nearly dropped out of the AP Top-25 (24) for the first time in roughly a decade, played in the Emerald Bowl, watched Carroll flee to the NFL, hired Lane Kiffin as head coaxh and has been placed on two years probation by the NCAA.
Adding insult to USC's injury was the fact that a former Trojan coach - Steve Sarkisian - was the coach for Washington that fateful September day last fall.
Today, Sarkisian - who once served on the USC staff with Kiffin - makes his first trip back to the Coliseum since taking over at Washington.
Sarkisian's Huskies had a Heisman Trophy candidate (Jake Locker) and high hopes of competing for a PAC-10 title in the preseason, but both have already vanished in the first month of the season.
Locker has been disappointing and Washington is 1-3 with their only win coming against downtrodden Syracuse.
Meanwhile, the No.18 Trojans are the most unassuming 4-0 team in the country.
Watch for Kiffin to try and reverse USC's fortunes in the very game that seemingly started the fall of Troy this time last year.

Georgia's stand-out receiver A.J. Green (right) returns from a four-game suspension.
A Doggone Rebound?

After their season-opening win over Louisiana-Lafayette, the Georgia Bulldogs have lost three in a row, and each of them SEC losses at that.
Today starts a three-game winnable stretch that finds the Dawgs at Colorado and then host dates against Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
Today also marks the return of UGA's all-conference candidate receiver A.J. Green, who was suspended for the first four games of the season for receiving improper benefits (namely, selling his Liberty Bowl jersey for $1,000).
Green was by far Georgia's leading pass catcher last season, hauling in 53 receptions for 808 yards and six touchdowns, averaging over 15 yards per catch.
Without Green, the Dawgs are 53rd in the nation in passing yards and 73rd in scoring.
And because they have been missing their biggest receiving threat, even the run game has suffered, as UGA is currently 86th in the country in rushing.
Watch for these numbers to drastically improve with the return of Green today.


If today gets wacky with upsets, the Top-25 could be as shaken up as this "As Seen on TV" commercial product. Don't worry, it makes the CFRT both laugh and uncomfortable to watch too.
A Top-25 Shake-Up?

Say No.1 Alabama and No.4 Oregon both win as expected by the folks in Las Vegas today, the Top-10 is still likely to be rearranged when the dust clears.
Especially if No.7 Florida and/or No.9 Stanford lose badly.
Even if the favorites take care of business, though, there is a chance both the Gators and Cardinal will fall out of the Top-10, so watch for teams just outside the Top-10 to make considerable jumps in the polls.
However, if - and CFRT knows it's a sizable if - Florida and/or Stanford pull off an upset, and a few other upsets materialize, things could get really jostled.
In a doomsday scenario, the biggest shake up would occur if No.1 Alabama loses to No.7 Florida, No.4 Oregon loses to No.9 Stanford, No.8 Oklahoma loses to No.21 Texas, No.11 Wisconsin loses to No.24 Michigan State, No.16 Miami loses to unranked Clemson and No.17 Iowa loses to No.22 Penn State. 

Your thoughts?

5 comments:

  1. I tried to give you all a heads up on the pounding that the Tide was going to put on uf. Maybe instead of wishing Ingram was going to break his leg, everyone should have actually watched these two teams play. CFRT please forward your mailing address so that I can send you a copy of 8-Minute Abs in time for next weeks picks.

    Happy Football,
    Alabama Andy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Andy, I have to give your team credit. They man-handled my GATORS. I am not sure what is more disappointing, tonights loss or the fact that on a post I read earlier no one mentioned Bear Bryant until Mike finally caught it. Got to bounce back next week against LSU.
    Gator Ray

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maybe this is the best medicine right now for the Gator coaching staff. We are a good passing team with a QB that can beat you with his arm. I know the 'Bama D was playing with the lead in the 2nd half. But that was not a prevent in the 3rd quarter and the Florida boys played some nice pitch and catch. Better figure this out if we're to meet 'Bama again in Atlanta. Not just to win enough games. But I don't want my head handed to me again. Keep on rolling Tide, you are a credit to the SEC!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Doomsday didn't occur. But the top ten definately will be stirred up a bit. I think Oregon needs to definately jump Boise St, and I can see a case for them to jump Ohio State. Florida will be lucky if still in top 15. I wouldn't be surprised to see LSU slide a spot or two with that loss then win over Tennessee.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alabama Andy, first of all, congrats to you and Bama Nation for the big win. It's unforunate that the breaking of the leg comment was made, but I'm sure it was in good fun. Hold off on the 8 minute Abs, I'm trying the SHAKE WEIGHT now!!

    Gator Ray, you're taking this loss with graciously like any good fan should. Better days will come. As for the Bear Bryant catch, maybe that's a dead giveaway that I'm getting old :)

    Lizard Jr., this was more like a Bon Jovi dose of Bad Medicine, but I think you're right. It's definitely not what Florida did that's most important, it's what they do from here that will tell the tale.

    Sean D, If I were a voter, and I am not, I would put Oregon above Boise State, but solely based on their win last night, at home. Which is why I would probably not put them above Ohio State just yet. I think Ohio State nips the Ducks on a neutral field right now, but my mind may change later.

    Thank you ALL for participating in CFRT, you all have NO idea just how much I appreciate you taking your time to do so. Please spread the word and get others involved and this thing will really get fun!

    ReplyDelete