A lot of consternation amongst Texas fans but the Horns have debuted at number 3 in the BCS rankings. Not much reason to worry, with #1 Florida and #2 Alabama set to face off later in the year all Texas has to do is win out and they’ll end up in the BCS title game.
Link: Florida No. 1 in first BCS standings
Video: Brad Edwards’ BCS take
Lots of action this weekend in college football, especially in the SEC. Georgia at Tennessee, Auburn at Arkansas, Alabama at Ole Miss, and the big one, Florida at LSU. Luckily the games are perfectly scheduled and you will be able to watch the good ones on the beautiful CBS HD feed. The Texas game starts about 45 minutes before Florida/LSU, hopefully enough time for Texas to gain a big lead so we can switch back and forth between the games. Now let’s get more in depth on the games.
3 Alabama at 20 Ole Miss (+4) – 3:30 PM EST on CBS. Ole Miss definitely has a lot to prove today against Alabama if they want to be taken seriously in the SEC. Alabama is looking to bounce back after probably their worst game of the season. Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead is also looking to rebound, after going 7 of 21 for 107 yards in their loss to South Carolina. With the spread so close, mistakes will probably decide this one. Alabama seems like the more controlled team, and I see them winning the turnover battle. Take Alabama minus the points.
Colorado at 2 Texas (-33) – 7:15 PM EST on ESPN. At the start of the season I would have told you I was a little worried about this Colorado matchup, especially with the big game against OU the week after. Thankfully Colorado has struggled this year and I don’t see them putting up much of a fight. They are outmatched in every way, and have to deal with playing in front of 100,000 opposing fans. Basically there is no chance for the Buffaloes week. Texas wins big and will cover the 33 point spread.
1 Florida at 4 LSU (+9) – 8 PM EST on CBS. Night game at Death Valley, need I say more? LSU has won 32 consecutive Saturday night games, and I don’t see that changing this weekend. Tebow’s status is questionable, and even if he does go I don’t see him being 100%. Florida has had an extra week to prepare, but most of that time has probably been spent coddling Tim Tebow and stroking his ego. LSU is proving to be a good running team, and if you give Jordan Jefferson enough time he is a very capable quarterback. It really doesn’t get much better than this in college football. Florida’s 14 game winning streak ends tonight. Take LSU plus the points.
Well this weekend is the game we have been waiting for since last season. Texas versus Texas Tech in a huge revenge game. Honestly there really isn’t much else on this Saturday, so make sure to plan your day around the night game. Let’s see what else can fill the time:
Tennessee at (1) Florida (-30) – 3:30 PM EST on CBS. I don’t expect this to be much of a game (either does Vegas), but I am interested in seeing how serious Florida takes this game after the comments Lane Kiffin made last season towards Urban Meyer and his team. Florida has probably had this game pinned up in their locker room for quite some time now, and they will probably take out all of their frustrations on a weak Tennessee team. Enjoy the beautiful CBS HD picture and take Florida in this one.
(19) Nebraska at (13) Virginia Tech (-5) – 3:30 PM EST on ESPN. If you are looking for a physical game, this is the one for you. Both of these defenses fly around the ball and expect to see many big collisions. This is Nebraska’s first big test of the season and I think they will get off to a slow start. Virginia Tech is really tough to beat at home, and with an early lead I expect them to cruise to victory. Take Virginia Tech and give the points.
Texas Tech at (2) Texas (-18) – 8:00 PM EST on ABC. One question I have hear is how badly do we have to beat them in order to stop seeing the Michael “Oh My Phong is Ringing” Crabtree highlight from last year? My guess is 30, and honestly that could happen tomorrow. Muschamp has had a whole year to prepare for this game and I think our defense is faster and smarter from a year ago. Taylor Potts may be like Chuck Norris and we know how crazy the Tech fans can get, but I think Texas pulls away easily late in the game. Take Texas and give the points.
It seems a consensus has developed in national preseason rankings. The top of every list has the Florida Gators number one, followed by the Texas Longhorns and then Oklahoma Sooners. The website Over the Pylon slots the Horns in at number two again and has written good previews on all the top 25 teams. From the Texas preview:
For the Longhorns, their season will come down to one game. 60 minutes on October 17th determine their standing within the college football landscape and their ability to control their own destiny in terms of the Big 12. Expect a contest that is truly worthy of the superlatives it will receive both before and after, and expect a close and exciting Longhorn win. The Longhorns make up half of our national title picture, as they finish the regular season 12-0, win the Big 12 title, and try their best to right the wrongs from 2008.
Check out their full Texas preview now and the entire OTP top 25.
The first official college football poll of the 2009 season is out and the Longhorns are sitting at a great position debuting at number 2. They sit between the reigning champs #1 Florida Gators and the hated #3 Oklahoma Sooners in the top 5. This preseason spot puts a lot of expectations on the team but also leaves it where an undefeated season (even with a weak non-conference schedule) will guarantee the Horns a shot at the national championship.
Coaches’ preseason poll top 5
- Florida
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- USC
- Alabama
ESPN’s college football analysts talk about [tag]Florida[/tag], Texas, [tag]Oklahoma[/tag], and USC competing for the 2009 BCS title:
Texas head coach [tag]Mack Brown[/tag] was on ESPN SportsCenter this weekend talking about preseason rankings, expectations, going undefeated, and of course the [tag]BCS[/tag]. Watch:
The Longhorns didn’t finish off the 2009 recruiting class with the bang some fans were hoping for, but the class is still one of the top in the nation. Rivals.com ranks Texas as fifth overall class overall, but is with [tag]Florida[/tag] and USC for best average rating per prospect. Check out a brief video feature on the entire top ten below:
Let’s see what else looks good this weekend. I went a decent 3-2 last weekend and should continue my 75% pace this weekend.
#1 Alabama at #4 Florida (-10) – 4:00 PM EST on CBS. This is probably one of the more shocking lines that I have seen in a while. And not necessarily because I don’t agree with it, but because the undefeated, #1 team in the nation is double digit underdogs playing in their conference championship. Needless to say Alabama will have a chip on their shoulder for this one. I am still not convinced that Tim Tebow can throw the ball effectively against a good defense. Have you seen his passing touchdown highlights? They are always ugly lobs to a receiver that is wide open, never a crisp pass into coverage. I think Alabama will be able to contain the run and force Tebow to beat them through the air (which he can’t), and not only cover the spread but win outright. Take Alabama moneyline.
#5 USC at UCLA (-33) – 4:30 PM EST on ABC. Some weird controversy in this game with Pete Carroll wanting to wear the home jersey even though they are the road team. You know what, who cares, I say let them both wear home jerseys. It’s not like it is going to matter. Last weekend USC’s defense only allowed 4 first downs. This weekend they will only allow 3. UCLA is not playing well right now and is too young in the talent positions. This game was over before it even started. Take USC and give the points.
#20 Missouri at #2 Oklahoma (-17) – 8:00 PM EST on ABC.I hate when you can’t control your own destiny, but yet again Texas fans have to sit back and root against Oklahoma for a shot at the national championship. At the beginning of the year I would have said Missouri has a shot, but after we destroyed them at home this season and seeing how they have been playing lately, I will go ahead and say they have no shot at winning this game. In fact, they really don’t have a shot at covering this game. Oklahoma will get up 21-0 in the first quarter and never look back. Take Oklahoma and give the points.
Another solid 2-1 last weekend and I am planning on going undefeated today. Let’s see what’s going on:
#22 Georgia Tech at #11 Georgia (-7.5) – 12:00 PM EST on CBS. Georgia doesn’t have a shot at going to the National Championship, but they probably don’t care much about that this Saturday as all they want to do is kill Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech, and the whole ACC for that matter, has been very up and down this season. Since Georgia Tech played so well last weekend, they are due to get blown out this weekend. Take Georgia and the easy win.
Auburn at #1 Alabama (-14.5) – 3:30 PM EST on CBS. Even Auburn had ANY semblance of a real quarterback, I would probably take them in this game. Even though this is a heated rivalry game, since Alabama already has the SEC West wrapped up, I feel they may be looking ahead to Florida. But that won’t really matter much since they will jump out early and dominate this game from the beginning. Take Alabama, but buy the half point just in case.
#4 Florida at #20 Florida State (+16.5) – 3:30 PM EST on ABC. The same thing applies in this game. Florida already has the SEC East wrapped up and all anyone can talk about it their matchup against Alabama. Florida State actually has the athletes that can keep up with Florida and won’t be too surprised by their speed. Now that won’t help them win, but I do think it will help them cover. I am thinking Florida State covers this one.
Baylor at #7 Texas Tech (-23) – 3:30 PM EST. The big question in this one is whether or not Texas Tech will have a letdown game after getting drubbed in Norman. Baylor has played pretty well this season and I think this 23 points might be a tad high. Yeah Tech can score some points, but I bet a lot of them think their season is over. Baylor might even win this one. Take the Bears and the points.
#3 Oklahoma at #12 Oklahoma State (+8) – 8:00 PM EST on ABC. Obviously the biggest game of the day for Texas fans. Luckily this weekend we actually get to root against OU. As much as I would like to think Oklahoma State can hang with OU, I just can’t make myself believe it. Oklahoma State does have the extra week to prepare for this one, but if OU plays up to their potential that doesn’t matter. I expect Stoops to have Oklahoma extra ready for this one and they probably plan to make another statement this weekend. Take Oklahoma and give the points, and say goodbye to our National Championship dreams.