CFTop10 Games Week 1

First of all, I would like to sling some poop at all the schools who scheduled Div II schools. I could care less about teams like Temple (a glorified DII team anyway) or Iowa State, but teams like Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Florida, Kansas, and Arizona State have no business playing schools from that division. Shame on them and they all should lose points in the BCS standings for doing so. You cannot tell me that they couldn't find a way of scheduling some one. Look at all the teams playing DII schools! Even a bottom feeding DI team is better. It's pathetic. But the real poop goes on Florida. They consistently schedule these teams. How many other programs that sat at 5-7 or 6-6 and didn't get a bowl bid because they scheduled a tough team instead of a scrimmage could have used that spot for a creampuff and raked in the nice bowl money for their programs... Top 25 teams have no business going out and doing that. I don't care what conference they are in or how hard they think their schedule is without it.

Onto the top 10 games of the week.

1. Oregon +4 @ Boise State -4
Pick: Take Oregon not only for points, but I think they win this..... Big.

2. BYU +22 @ Oklahoma -22
Pick: This is an interesting game. BYU has a tendency to start strong and finish weak in the season. Is Oklahoma's defense better? Is BYU's? I see a shootout here. BYU with the points. Oklahoma wins but won't cover.

3. Georgia +5 @ Oklahoma State -5
Pick: Oklahoma State to cover.

4. Alabama -4 @ Virginia Tech +4
Pick: I find this to be a very interesting line. Bama get's blown up by Utah and VT wins their bowl game. Bama loses some key people and VT returns a rediculous amount of their talent from a team even Beemer thought wouldn't do well last year. Take VT and the points. They will win this in heroic fashion over a Bama team that needs another year before they show up for real.

5. Maryland +21 @ Cal -21
Pick: Cal will cover. It will be interesting to see how Cal responds to a lack luster season and a major disappointment at Maryland last year. I see Cal opening it up and running away with the game early on the shoulders of Javid Best.

6. LSU -17 @ Washington +17
Pick: As of this morning not many places had a line on this game. That the line is 17 makes me scratch my head a little. People must think UDub has some talent and the new coaching staff will get the best out of it. Nick Holt comes from the Pete Carroll/Monte Kiffin cover 2 defense scheme which will limit the homerun balls. Sark comes from the mastermind Norm Chow west coast offense which spreads you out. Combine that with the freakish ability of Jake Locker and you've got some weapons. LSU doesn't have the horses it once had. LSU wins and will cover. But just barely.

7. Nevada +14.5 @ Notre Dame -14.5
Pick: Notre Dame covers, but will struggle to make it there. NV will throw some funky stuff at them but Notre Dame has the talent to overcome. Jimmy Clausen will finally show why he was so highly recruited in this game.

8. Mizzou +6.5 @ Illinois -6.5
Pick: Illinois will cover in a blowout fashion. Mizzou is in dire need of some talent around a QB that very well could be a massive talent (Blaine Gabbert) in a year or two. Mizzou keeps it close early but falls apart late.

9. Western Michigan +11 @ Michigan -11
Pick: Michigan to cover. Interesting because if they fall apart, with all the other stuff that has happened, RichRod won't be here next year. He's pissed away all his chances with the alumni and from what it looks like, his players.

10. Central Michigan +12 @ Arizona -12
Pick: Central Michigan has one of the best unknown QB's in the game but Stoops lost a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. His defense will be stout but not that stout. Central Michigan and the points. Zona wins but doesn't cover.

Darkhorse Upset of the Week: Washington

PAC10 Prognostication

1. USC (9-0) (12-0 overall) will play in the NC game unless Texas/OK and Florida go undefeated. Otherwise some other BCS game. SC won't get a break in the polls.
2. Cal (8-1) (11-1 overall) will play in the Holiday. Won't get a break into the BCS.
3. OSU (7-2) (10-2 overall) Sun Bowl.
4. Ore (6-3) (9-3 overall) Alamo....
5. UCLA (5-4) (7-5 overall)
6. Stan (4-5) (6-6 overall)
7. ASU (3-6) (5-7 overall)
8. UW (2-7) (5-7 overall)
9. AZ (1-8) (4-8 overall)
10. Wazu (0-9) (2-10 overall)

USC Update

As I have said would most likely happen for some time now, Matt Barkley has been named the starting QB for USC. No offense to Aaron Corp who was a phenomenal talent in HS at Orange Luthran, Barkley is the real deal. Pro arm strength and composure. It was only a matter of time before Pete named him the started at USC. Had he come in and struggled right away there would have been room for the staff to redshirt him for a year. But with his early entrance and mastering of a very difficult program, it was only a matter of time before he supplanted Corp as the QB. He truly is a rare talent and USC avoided a controversy sometime this season or at the beginning of the next season.

I would not be surprised to see Corp come into the game more often that any other backup under Pete, but Matt is going to really blow people away with his maturity. Neither QB has any real game experience in college so that is a real equalizer.

Mitch Mustain won't take many snaps at USC, but I still think he will be drafted in late rounds and play in the NFL much like another USC backup not so long ago... Mitch is no slouch and given an opportunity in a much less crowded field will show a lot of moxy.

CFTop10 3rd Week Preseason Top10

Only 2 weeks of fall practice left and things are starting to clear up.

10. Oklahoma State - I believe this is the darkhorse team to come out of the Big 12 this year. Very potent offense with Dez Bryant being a Sunday-bound guy.
9. Penn State
8. Virginia Tech
7. Alabama
6. Cal - Riley being named starter adds continuity to the end of last season.
5. Ohio State - Still too much uncertainty on defense to move them up.
4. USC - The injury to Aaron Corp doesn't concern me as much as the injury to Kris O'Dowd and Armond Armstead. The good news is that the backups for both players have had significant play time and success. After their scrimmage this weekend I'll know more about where they are.
3. Oklahoma
2. Florida - Not convinced they have a running game or receivers to add help to TT. Without the threat of Percy Harvin it will be much easier to teams to focus on TT who isn't going to wow you with his speed. I still believe their defense is overrated.
1. Texas - Outstanding talent on both sides of the ball. Unless one of the other top 4 show more consistency in all facets of the game, Texas is #1 to me.

Dropped off: Oregon. Too many questions on the OL and DL to put them on the top 10.

CFTop10 Pre-Season Week 1

Week 1 of the preseason practices are now underway. No major injuries to report, but some gaps are being filled already.

10. Cal - Enters the Top10 with the QB situation starting to clear itself up. Best is one of the, well, best RB's in the country and their line looks to be solid for him.
9. Penn State - The offense will be potent, but less so than last year. Their defense looks to be a little less potent than it should be.
8. Virginia Tech - VT defense is stout and Tyrod Taylor is showing improved decision making capability. Very dangerous.
7. Alabama - New QB. Let's see how the fall plays out, but they may be up for a drop here.
6. Oregon - Looks like a little trouble on both the offensive and defensive lines.
5. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma - Not so much that they dropped a spot, but USC jumped a spot.
3. USC - Completely healthy at this point and their defensive line has been dominating what is being called the best offensive line in the country. Not a good sign for the opposition.
2. Texas
1. Florida

Dropped off: Boise State. Not sure they have the guns to run with Oregon this year. Even though they are playing at home and boast one of the greatest home records since the 1970's. I believe they have lost less than 30 home games in that time. Impressive.