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And Now for Something Completely Different
Michael Hendricks
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Way too Early 2011 Top Ten

Posted Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at 1:33 PM

The BCS Championship was last night and it was probably one of the best games I have ever watched. I did not have a true dog in the game as I love Oregon and their wacky uniform schemes and Auburn is an SEC team. The game seemed destined for overtime until Michael Dyer was "tackled" after a moderate gain, then realized that his sideline was yelling at him to keep running and that the officials hadn't blown the play dead ran to the the 23. The call was correct as his knee never hit the ground. Then on a run up the middle, trying to get the ball in the right spot for the field goal kicker, Dyer seemingly got a touchdown, but this time (in an almost exact set of circumstances) his knee was down. Dyer is a true freshman from Little Rock, Arkansas. I saw him play last year so I knew how elusive he could be. How Arkansas let him get away I will never know.

Auburn won the game on a field goal as time expired. The college season is over Spring Ball is months away, so naturally it is way too early for a top ten list for the next season.

Here it is anyways:

1. Oregon

2. Oklahoma

3. Wisconsin

4. TCU

5. Alabama

6. Stanford

7. Boise St.

8. Arkansas

9. Auburn

10. Florida St.

Could this list be completely ludicrous? Absolutely. Oregon and Oklahoma seem to be the top of the heap going into next season, especially Oklahoma who gets the large chunks of their offense back.

TCU will be entering a BCS Conference next year that in all honestly is probably as weak as the non-BCS Conference they just left.

The SEC West will be the class of the NCAA again next year. This year they had three teams in the top 10, four in the top 15 with Arkansas at 12. One division has more teams in the top 15 than most conferences have in the top 25.

The Big Ten becomes a twelve member conference next year with the addition of Nebraska. I could be wrong but I do see Nebraska struggling next season going into this conference that has a completely different playing style than that of the Big 12. On the other hand, they could completely run away with the conference. Only time will tell.

Arkansas is losing their top player in Ryan Mallett, but little else from the offense or defense. His back up Tyler Wilson looks like a more than capable replacement but expect a battle anyways.

I do not see any huge surprises next year like we did with Auburn, but could this be the year that a non SEC school wins the BCS Championship? Quite possibly, but it is also entirely possible that an SEC team wins the the Championship for the 6th straight time.

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  • Gag, "too" not "to" (in two (he-he) locations - heading and last sentence). Anyways?? At least you are trying to remove the focus from your last pathetic kneejerk effort.

    -- Posted by BuffRoam on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 2:27 PM

  • last sentence before the poll.

    -- Posted by BuffRoam on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 2:28 PM
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    And people criticize me for spell checking. HA

    -- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 2:54 PM
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    Thank you for the corrections though, I try to get everything spell checked but sometimes I miss. It's a shame that you had to insult to do it.

    -- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 2:56 PM

  • It is crazy how good the SEC is. I don't think any of us could have predicted how dominant the SEC was going to be this year considering this was suppose to be some what of a down year for the conference. Having that said I looked at some of the schedules of this year and also with a little help from my guy Colin Cowherd on some of the stats but in a way it is kinda easy to see why the SEC does so well in BSC bowl games and reg bowl games and big time stages. Here are me reasons why...

    These are some random teams I picked to look at there schedules most are SEC and the 2 non-BCS conference teams that could for sure compete with the big boys. Having that said this is why the BCS conference teams and mostly the SEC has an advantage it is because the SEC and most BSC conference teams are battle tested facing more teams that go to bowl games in hostile environments on a weekly basis...

    Here are some 2010 schedule stats (just REG season does not include the bowl opponents)

    Alabama played 9 teams that went on to play in bowl games. All of them BSC confernce opponents.

    Auburn played 9 teams that went on to play in bowl games. All 9 of them BCS conference opponents.

    LSU played 8 teams that went on to play in bowl games. All 8 of them BCS conference opponents

    Arkansas played 7 teams that went on to play in bowl games. All 7 of them BCS conference opponents.

    Oklahoma played 7 teams that went on to play in bowl games. All 7 from a BCS conference.

    Ohio St played 6 teams that went on to play in bowl games. All 6 of them were BCS conference opponents.

    TCU played against 5 teams that went on to play in bowl games. 1 of them from a BCS conference.

    Boisie St played against 5 teams that went on to play in bowl games. 1 of them from a BCS confernece.

    The reason these teams at the top deserve to be there is because they are battle tested and they go through a gauntlet of a schedule and is probably the reason for the SEC's succes this year because of the multiple tests week in and week out they face. Once these teams make it to a bowl game or go to the National Champ game the lights aren't so big to them because of all the big stages they have already played on the whole course of the season. Auburn wasn't rattled in a close game last night because it came from behind all year and was in tight games all year from the SEC. While Oregon had one close game all year and wasn't battle tested or prepared for that type of environment.

    Here was to a great 2010 college football season.

    Can't wait for 2011!!!

    -- Posted by CLUELESS SW NE on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 3:05 PM

  • and how can you leave LSU out of the top 10??? they return more starters than anyone in the SEC and they were a play away from a possible National Champ shot this year against Auburn... or should I say a Cam Newton away...

    Nearly everyone has them a top 5 pick for next season.

    Curious on your thoughts about that?

    -- Posted by CLUELESS SW NE on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 3:08 PM
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    When I originally typed the blog the rumors were swirling (in large part thanks to Les Miles) that Miles would be bolting for Michigan. That hasn't happened.

    They certainly have an easier path to the National Championship and more than likely they will remain in the top 10 most of the year. If they get into any tough games (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi St, Arkansas) Les Miles has shown that he is not very good in the pressure cooker.

    But to correct you, they were more than two plays away from the National Championship. There was the Auburn game, yes, but there was also the Tennessee game where they got a free play for Tennessee having to many men on the field, never mind that an LSU player went unpenalized for unsportsmanlike play for taking his helmet off. They were also soundly beaten by Arkansas in the final game of the season.

    LSU definitely has the talent to compete in 2011, but they don't have the coaching staff to get them there and that is why I don't have them in the top 10. I see them losing to Alabama and Arkansas and quite possibly Mississippi St.

    -- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 3:36 PM
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    I just looked at Nebraska's Big Ten schedule and all I can say is wow.

    Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn St, Michigan at home

    Ohio St, Michigan St, Northwestern, Iowa on the road

    It will not be an easy road for them, but it should be fun to watch.

    I wonder how many have already gotten the Big Ten network and how many plan to.

    -- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 3:44 PM

  • Yes, the Tennessee game was a complete disaster for both teams, coaching staffs, and Ref's when LSU played em , but LSU did win. Had they beaten Auburn and then loss to Arkansas in the finale there would have been people saying LSU should deserve to go to the NAtional champ game had they gone on and beaten South Carolina in the SEC game. Do I think they should have went over TCU.. Heck no they shouldn't have.. and I don't think they would have either.. But I wasn't saying they were one play away from a Natl Champ but they werre one play away from being in the discussion and causing another BCS dibacle.. I know that is a lot of if and whats but this team proved itself week in and week out against the best conference (without a doubt) and they return the most starters of anyone in that league and you say that alabama who loses thier best RB in Ingram best WR in Jones and possible thier QB in Mccelroy and Arkansas Loses Mallet and you them losing to those teams.. I am not saying they will win for sure but the way the cards are stacked going into the season LSU will be the favorite to win that conference next year on everyones rankings and all the magazines and all the websites..

    as OCHOSINCO WOULD SAY.........EEEEERRRRRRR!!!!

    JUST SAYIN'

    -- Posted by CLUELESS SW NE on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 3:47 PM

  • The insult was about the poor product you produced. I know nothing about you as a person therefore I will not insult you. As a teacher, if you give a student a "D" are you insulting the student or evaluating the effort of what was submitted? In this case you posted too quickly after the shooting and then vigorously defended a defenseless position. Take some criticism without crying.

    -- Posted by BuffRoam on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 4:51 PM
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    "Had they beaten Auburn and then loss to Arkansas in the finale there would have been people saying LSU should deserve to go to the NAtional champ game had they gone on and beaten South Carolina in the SEC game."

    What's interesting there is that exact thing happened the year they won the National Championship. They lost to an unranked Arkansas team at home, won the SEC Championship and were rewarded a spot in the game.

    -- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 5:40 PM

  • Texas A&M and LSU return a lot of players.

    I worry that Arkansas doesn't find a QB and they have Alabama and LSU on the road.

    OU vs Florida State looms as a big early game. I think that OU has the talent to make a run if they can get past this game. They have a favorable home schedule.

    -- Posted by wallismarsh on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 5:48 PM

  • I think LSU lost to Kentucky in 3OT and Arkansas in 3 OT that season. That Arkansas team had McFadden and Felix Jones.

    That was the season that OU lost to CU after leading 24-7 in the 4th Q in Boulder and also lost to TT in Lubbock after Bradford got knocked out in the first series and wound up losing by 7. OU beat NU by about 50 in Norman and beat Mizzu in Norman and then again when they were ranked #1 in the Big 12. I thought OU was a more deserving team than LSU that year.

    -- Posted by wallismarsh on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 5:56 PM

  • I was wrong. OU beat NU 62-28 in 2008. Got my seasons confused.

    -- Posted by wallismarsh on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 5:59 PM

  • TCU at No. 2 right now could make for an even more interesting season in 2011.

    -- Posted by McCook1 on Tue, Jan 11, 2011, at 7:50 PM
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    Okay I researched it wallis.

    LSU did indeed lose to Arkansas and Kentucky that year. They went into the SEC Championship game ranked 7th and then the top teams fell that weekend and they managed despite losing to KENTUCKY and ARKANSAS (both teams 8-5) to gain five spots.

    Oklahoma for most of that season was the more deserving team, but I believe Sam Bradford was still feeling the effects of his injury against Texas Tech.

    Strange how we remember (correctly or incorrectly) remember football seasons.

    -- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Wed, Jan 12, 2011, at 11:47 PM

  • LSU or OU would have beaten Ohio State that year.

    That was the season Les was like 7 out of 7 on game changing 4th downs.

    Les is very high risk high REWARD.

    -- Posted by wallismarsh on Thu, Jan 13, 2011, at 11:01 AM
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    Les Miles hasn't been that lucky since that season. His own fans are tired of him and his late game antics. I predict LSU will lose at least one, if not two, games this year late because of Les Miles' time clock management.

    Arkansas should have blown out Ohio St this year. They beat themselves. From receivers dropping simple catches, to Ryan Mallett thinking he was under pressure (and not being pressured) and throwing bad passes.

    Ohio State is one of the most overrated teams in college football right now. People remember Ohio State because of their past, which is why I am convinced the NCAA let the five players play in the Sugar Bowl. That suspension made no sense. They are suspended the first five games of 2011 but not the last game of 2010 because the actions occurred in 2009?

    -- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Thu, Jan 13, 2011, at 2:11 PM

  • You could very well be right about LSU Mike. I am not defending LSU or necessarily an LSU fan, but I don't dislike them either. LSU does return 17 of it's 22 starters for next season who went 10 and 2 this season. I do think you are right about Les Miles and his coaching, play calling, and clock management are sometimes not the best, but if you have the best team a lot of that won't matter if you are blowing people out, like LSU very well could do next year, they could very well stumble and lose a few as you predict. We will just all have to wait and see how it unfolds. It is just to not put them up there as a favorite or a contender for the title next year considering the dominating performance in thier bowl game against a hot Texas A and M club and returning 17 starters... look out this club could very well make 6 straight National titles for the SEC....

    Not to mention LSU is signing the number 1 Junior College QB prospect in Zach Mettenberger who will contend to take over the starting spot and could very well be the missing extra piece this team needs to be special.

    Steven Sipple of the Journal Star has LSU as the favorite for the National Champ in todays paper for 2011.. not that he knows all, but a lot of people really like them to make a splash next season.

    I completely agree about Ohio St. They are an overrated program right now.. and the reasonn the NCAA and the BCS didn't make the Ohio St players sit out for the sugar bowl is simple... $$$$$$$

    Thats why.. Can you imagine the money lost on that BCS bowl game had they not played?? Ticket sales and prices.. advertising.. the money the BIG 10 could have lost had Ohio St lost.. it is getting pretty ridiculous how money hungry the NCAA is getting. I know they need to make money to fund all these games and get sponsors, but it is getting out of hand and starting to become more and more like a business and the emphasis on the College Athelete (The Young Men and Women) is starting to deline.

    -- Posted by CLUELESS SW NE on Thu, Jan 13, 2011, at 3:21 PM
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