40 Acres Sports

Our Thoughts

Matt – Man, those guys from ESPN still haven’t got on the ball and updated their Heisman picks for this year. Slackers.

My number one spot stays the same this week with Adrian Peterson, mainly because he is the only reason they won this past weekend and he scored the winning touchdown on a 70+ yard reception (did you see that block on that play? wow).

Based on Brady Quinn’s sub-par performance against Georgia Tech, I have dropped him down to the #4 spot and moved Troy Smith and Chris Leak up one spot each. Troy Smith was very impressive this weekend, throwing for 3 touchdowns and 297 yards. Most of his deep balls were a little under-thrown, but with the speed he has at receiver it really didn’t matter too much.

I still have Kenny Irons at #5 but was very tempted to move him to the #4 and move Quinn all the way down to #5. Irons’ performance was pretty impressive, almost rushing for 10 yards per carry. I am going to wait though on moving him up until I see how he performs against LSU in two weeks. If he has a big game there I will probably move him into my top 3.

If the stakes weren’t high enough already, the Ohio State at Texas matchup this Saturday is officially a #1 versus #2 battle. The Texas Longhorns were already #2 in the USA Today Coaches poll, but now they are also #2 in the AP poll as Notre Dame slides down to #4.

This will mark the first time in 10 years that the #1 and #2 teams in the AP poll have met during the regular season. That year #2 Florida State edged out #1 Florida 24-21.

The Longhorns are 4-0 in #1 versus #2 battles, the most recent one taking place when Texas beat USC in the Rose Bowl to win the BCS National Championship. The Ohio State Buckeyes are 2-0 in these games, their latest coming when they beat Miami in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl.

This really comes as a shock to me though. With all the love Notre Dame gets from the media who would have thought they would dare move Notre Dame down in the polls after a victory. I didn’t think they were that level-headed.

So get ready. Saturday is only 4 days away!

Our Thoughts

Matt – Well I ended up shuffling around my Top 25 quite a bit this week after finally getting to see the teams play. I only had one team drop out, Alabama, mainly because I felt South Carolina had a better showing than them. Obviously I was most impressed with Tennessee, as I jump them from #24 into my top 10. As a result of their drubbing of Cal, I am now moving Cal to the #25 spot and may drop them out completely if they don’t step up their game. Texas, Ohio State, and USC held true to form and dominated their respective opponents. As good as Ohio State looked early, they might be the most suspect out of the top 3 mainly because of their poor defense.

I also dropped Notre Dame down quite a few spots with their sub-par performance against Georgia Tech. And if it weren’t for a questionable personal foul call (Reggie Ball wouldn’t have gotten that call) and a 3rd down CATCH by Calvin Johnson that was overturned that in the game, Notre Dame might sitting down out the bottom of the poll with Cal right now.

Texas gets their toughest test of the season this week against Ohio State and with all of the controversy right now with Tarell Brown who knows what is going to happen. I definitely feel nervous going into this game, but I feel a lot better after seeing what NIU’s Garrett Wolfe did to their defense.

Other Big XII teams I have in the top 25 include Nebraska at 17, Oklahoma at 21, and Texas Tech at 22.

Related Links

• Last week’s rankings
• AP Top 25
• USA Today Coaches Top 25

Our Thoughts

Brian – In my inaugural Heisman poll of the season I have more of a #1 and #1a then I do a 1 through 5. Adrian Peterson and Brady Quinn are the two clear favorites with the media and for once I agree with them.

In my opinion, Peterson has at least one advantage over Quinn. As a running back, he can play on an average team and still be a Heisman winner if he puts up the stats. The last five Heisman winning quarterbacks have lost a total of 4 regular season games in the years they won the award, if Notre Dame loses two games or more voters will take that out on Quinn. Of course if Notre Dame somehow makes it through the season without a loss, Quinn will receive every single vote. (No not every single first place vote, every 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place vote on every single ballot.)

Jamaal Charles is still a season away from really making a run at the award. Selvin Young has looked great this summer and fall and has really become one of Texas’ vocal leaders, which means Charles won’t get the 25 carries per game he’d need if he was to be a finalist this year.

Matt – I am in full agreement with Brian’s top two choices, as I also have Adrian Peterson and Brady Quinn as the cream of the crop when it comes to this year’s Heisman race, the main difference between the two is that Peterson has the talent and Quinn has the media.

At #3 I have Troy Smith, who I think is going to have an outstanding year, but what is holding him back is all of the other weapons OSU has on their team. For me it is hard to say you are the best player in college football, when you have 2 other potential candidates (Ginn, Pittman) on your team.

For my 5th choice, I always like to pick a dark horse who I think will do some good things this year. Auburn should have a big year this year, and I think Irons is going play a huge role in that success.

Our Thoughts

Brian – The first and probably most wrong Bevo Sports Top 25 of the year. I went into detail on my top 10 last week, which is probably the only part of the poll I have any confidence in whatsoever. I have Oklahoma at number 12 to start off the season, and I don’t think I’d have had them much higher even if they had Rhett Bomar. I just don’t have any faith in their offensive line at all. LSU at 13 is a lot lower than most people have them, but I still don’t believe Les Miles is the right guy for a big time program. Other Big XII teams in my top 25 include Tech at 18 and Nebraska down at 21. The Cornhuskers are getting a lot of love as the North division favorite and though I think they’ve got a chance to do that while still being decidedly mediocre. They’re recruiting much better lately and seem to be back on their way up though.

Matt – It seems like so many teams are not returning keys players this year, that this Week 1 poll seems more difficult than ever. First off, teams I am not sold on are Notre Dame, West Virginia, LSU, and Cal, so if I see any slip-ups I will not be afraid to drop them down a few spots. Ohio State has a lot of question marks on defense, but with their offense laced with so much talent, I can see why some people would have them as #1. I have been really impressed with the video I have seen of the Texas scrimmages. Selvin Young looks almost as fast as Jamaal Charles. Texas vs. Ohio State is definitely going to be the match-up to watch, and don’t worry, I will be there to witness it. Other Big XII teams I have in the top 25 include Oklahoma at 16, Nebraska at 19, and Texas Tech at 22.

Related Links

• AP Top 25
• USA Today Coaches Top 25

Houston came in at #18 and DFW came in at #27.

I swear, everytime I read some poll dealing with colleges, Texas seems to be #1 on the charts.

Now this one should come as no surprise, as Texas topped the list of the biggest college football money-makers bringing in a whopping $53,204,171. What was shocking though, is that Texas A&M came in at #10 with $38,359,977. I guess the difference between #1 and #10 is a 7,000 sq ft video board versus a 4,000 sq ft video board.

1. Texas $53,204,171
2. Ohio State $51,810,607
3. Georgia $50,895,838
4. Michigan $46,396,107
5. Florida $43,417,641
6. Alabama $42,979,669
7. Notre Dame $41,754,817
8. Auburn $40,563,927
9. Louisiana State $40,107,764
10. Texas A&M $38,359,977

Source

Ohio State is #1, Notre Dame is #2, and Kirk Bohls is an idiot.

10. TCU. With two Big 12 teams on their schedule in the first three games we’ll find out very quickly if the Horned Frogs can hang with the big boys. By far the toughest games on their schedule, an improving Baylor will give them a fight and Texas Tech could be favored to win in Fort Worth. TCU the last several years keeps losing a game they shouldn’t and it’s cost them an opportunity to play in a BCS bowl. With the new BCS title game and two more spots available, a one-loss season (if the loss is to Baylor or Tech) might still be enough to get them to their goal.

9. Notre Dame. With their schedule, there’s no way in hell they go undefeated. There’s a very real chance they start the season by going 2 and 2. Charlie Weis and Brady Quinn give them a chance to have a huge year but do they a wide receiver that can step up to take Maurice Stovall’s spot? And can their secondary, which got killed by any team with a little speed last year, keep opposing offenses at the end zone? Everything hinges on their defense.

8. Iowa. I think this is pretty much Iowa’s permanent spot on my rankings, they seem to be right around here every year. In a down year for the Big 10 (other than Ohio State) I think Iowa should be the clear number two team in the conference. A down year last season, but I really like Drew Tate and Kirk Ferentz is one of the nation’s top coaches.

7. Florida. Is Chris Leak any good? Can Urban Meyer’s spread option offense fly in the SEC? Will Nike make them wear those awful uniforms again? Tons of potential but probably too many issues to go through their schedule without a loss or two.

6. Miami. The Hurricanes need to finish here or better this year or Larry Coker will be looking for a new job. They’ll be without two offensive starters for the opener with Florida State with Tyrone Moss and Ryan Moore suspended for violating team rules. Probably reason number 3,092 to schedule Directional State U. for that season opener and not your biggest rival. If Kyle Wright continues his improvement and their young offensive line is up to the task, they’ve got the defense to beat anybody on their schedule.

5. West Virginia. WVU is a team that can’t afford a misstep. No team from the Big East can lose a game and still hope to be in the title picture. They’re young at quarterback and running back, but lots of experience elsewhere. If QB Pat White progresses from his exciting freshman season and they get past their main test in Louisville (and maybe Maryland), there’s no reason they should lose another game.

4. Southern Cal. Texas is replacing Vince Young, the Trojans have to replace two Heisman winners in their offensive backfield and the school’s all-time leading scorer. The quarterback spot is in young but good hands with either John David Booty or Mark Sanchez. Running back is a bigger issue. Their top two tailbacks have a total on 19 career carries and fullback Brandon Hancock will miss the entire season. They’ve got blue chippers all over the place, if a few of them step up in key positions they’ll right back in the thick of things at the end of the season.

3. Ohio State. Probably the best overall offense in the nation, Troy Smith is like a much smaller version of Vince Young who doesn’t run nearly as effectively. The strength of their team last season was their elite linebackers and dominant defense, and they’ve lost nine starters from that side of the ball. That’s a lot of talent to replace and I’m not sure they do it quickly enough to be ready for their game in Austin on September 9th. As the defense gels this team will get much stronger and should be favored to win the rest of the games on their schedule.

2. Auburn Can an SEC team finally get through the tough conference schedule undefeated and earn a spot in the BCS title game? Auburn fans are still pissed about 2004, but with the parity this season an undefeated season with victories over teams such as LSU and Florida should be good enough to earn them a chance to play for the championship. If Florida’s Leak plays well, they and Auburn could very well swap places.

1. Texas. Last year when Texas was outplaying Southern Cal in the middle of the season the national media kept screaming that USC deserved to stay number one based on the fact they were the champs last year. “You have to keep them at number one until they lose.” Personally I think that’s a bunch of crap, but I’m going to use it just for fun. The Longhorns have as much returning talent as anyone in the country and have recruited among the best the last several years as well. There’s just that one question to answer…

10. Cal. Cal is a definite BCS threat this year, as they are returning 15 starters. We will get a good idea of just how good they are quickly, with early season tests against Tennessee and Minnesota.

9. Miami. With more experience under their belt, Miami’s offense should be much improved this season. Losing Moss and Moore in the first game of the season against Florida State is costly, but if they can make it past that they should do well.

8. Florida. QB Chris Leak finally doesn’t have to learn a new offense this year. He should be more comfortable this season with head coach Urban Meyer. They do have a tough schedule though, facing Alabama, LSU and Auburn all in consecutive weeks.

7. Auburn. When you return both your starting quarterback and starting tailback at a school like Auburn, you should have a solid team. They also have their toughest matchups at home this year.

6. LSU. LSU has one of the toughest schedules you could imagine, playing at Auburn, at Florida, and at Tennessee. Their defense should keep them in every game, and may just be enough to win.

5. West Virginia. Pat White may be the fastest quarterback in college football and their 1-2 punch at tailback in Slaton and Schmitt should prove to be hard to stop. I think the downfall for this team may be the fact they are in the lowly Big East, where the competition is suspect.

4. Notre Dame. For some reason it really pains me to have Notre Dame this high, but with their offensive talent and Weis’ gameplan make them hard to beat. If they can last through their schedule, they are a clear Top 5 team.

3. Southern Cal. Even thought they lost two Heisman trophy winners, USC has some serious talent on their team. Chauncey Washington will help ease the drop-off of losing Bush, and Booty and Sanchez are both nice options to replace Leinart. The linebackers on defense are solid, but the defense as a whole is a little questionable.

2. Ohio State. No one can really question their talent at offense. Troy Smith is the flashy quarterback on the No. 1 team, but he is no Vince Young. I was really impressed with Antonio Pittman last season, and he should have another excellant year. The big question mark here is their defense, as it seems like almost everyone left for the NFL.

1. Texas. Defending National Champs. Redshirt freshman Colt McCoy and true freshman Jevan Snead have impossible shoes to fill, but the zone read offense is well established in Texas and both of these QBs can run. The offensive line is one of the best in the nation, returning 3 starters including Plano East’s own Justin Blalock. Texas has ridiculous depth at running back, and Jamaal Charles is an early candidate for the Heisman Trophy. The defense has a lot of depth and is as fast as ever, and should be good enough to help the offense win games if needed.