...does it then become the expected? The norm?
In a most fitting conclusion to regular season play and for the second week in a row and the third time this season, both the #1 and #2 teams in the nation were defeated. #1 Missouri dropped the Big 12 Championship game to #9 Oklahoma, 38-17, while #2 West Virginia lost its “Backyard Brawl” to Pittsburgh, 13-9.
#1/2/1 Missouri (11-2, 7-2) The Tigers rolled over and played kitten in the Big 12 Championship against #9/8/9 Oklahoma this weekend. They dropped their second game of the season 38-17 to the Sooners who took advantage of every little mistake Missouri made. Missouri lost the previous meeting this season 41-31 making a very good case for Oklahoma t be moved up to at least #2.
#2/1/2 West Virginia (10-2, 5-2) I said, “I don’t think the #2 Curse will strike White, Slayton, Devine and Company.” That might well have been true, but who were those guys in the gold and black uniforms in Morgantown Saturday night? The Mountaineers got an old fashioned whupping by the unranked Pittsburgh Panthers (5-7, 3-4) 13-9. And it should have been worse. While WVU’s Patrick White had to sit out the better part of two plus quarters with a dislocated thumb on his non-throwing hand, they couldn’t seem to run the ball against the Pitt defense. White finished with 14 carries for 41 yards while Steve Slaton was 9 for 11 (11 freakin’ yards!) and Noel Devine was just 7 for 11 yards (I repeat: 11 freakin’ yards!). Dave Wannstedt could have gained more than 11 yards using his crutches. On the other side of the ball, Pitt Freshman LeSean McCoy carried the ball 38 times and gained 148 yards. Actually, the game shouldn’t have been this close. Two questionable holding calls against Pitt wide receiver Oderick Turner negated first a TD and then a critical first down late in the game. Pitt went on to a) miss the field goal attempt and b) punt the ball. Pitt, having to punt again with just 2 seconds on the clock and the score 13-7, had their punter run around and then out of the end zone for a safety which made the final score 13-9. WVU, by reason of being the Big East Champs will still play in a BCS Bowl game—but it won’t be in New Orleans. Pitt ends its season on a very positive note having come t h i s close to defeating Rutgers and South Florida in their two previous games and then knocking off the arch rival Mountaineers and putting them behind the wall on their “Pitt Stop” to New Orleans.
#3/3/3 Ohio State (11-1, 7-1) The Buckeyes haven’t played a down in three weeks and they are still winning? Go figure.
#4/4/4 Georgia (10-2, 6-2) The Bulldogs should get more respect than they are likely to get. Not being in the SEC Title game will hurt.
#5/7/7 LSU (11-2, 7-2) The Tigers defeated #14/15/14 Tennessee (9-4, 6-3) this week for the SEC Championship 21-14 and are now politicking to be back in the National Title game in New Orleans. They were #1 twice already this year and lost both times. If they move up and it’s against Ohio State, maybe they win. If it’s against Georgia…. But it won’t be because that would pit two SEC teams against one another and the howls of the fans from other conferences would be heard far and wide.
#6/5/6 Virginia Tech (11-2, 8-1) The Hokies beat #12/12/11 Boston College (10-3, 6-3) for the ACC Conference crown, 30-16. Sharing QB duties with Tyrod Taylor, Sean Glennon completed 18 of 27 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns for the Hokies as the defense managed to “hold” Matt Ryan to a 33 of 52 for 305 yards but no TDs and two interceptions.
#7/6/5 Kansas (11-1, 7-1) The Jayhawks are another team that could benefit from the loss of the top two but their chances of moving up are slimmer than some since they lost to Missouri last week.
#8/9/8 Southern California (10-2, 7-2) The Trojans beat cross town rival UCLA (6-6, 5-4) rather handily, 24-7 to become the PAC 10 Champs. (Yawn.)
#9/8/9 Oklahoma (11-2, 7-2) The Sooners downed #1/2/1 Missouri for the Big 12 Championship. The second time this year they have beaten Missouri. They deserve to move up, but how far?
#10/11/10 Florida (9-3, 5-3) The Gators’ sat on the sidelines this week and wondered where they might end up. Probably right here.
#11/10/12 Hawaii (12-0, 8-0) The Warriors, WAC Champs, played an out of conference game against Washington Huskies (4-9, 2-7 Pacific 10) this week ad came very close to losing their perfect season. The Huskies jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first 9 ½ minutes when they forced three fumbles. Then Colt Brennan went to work. When he was finished he had completed 42 of 50 passes for 442 yards and 5 TDs. He was a perfect 6-6 on the final drive that ended in a TD pass to Ryan Grice-Mellon with 44 seconds left in regulation to put the Warriors up for good 35-28. Grice-Mellon caught 10 passes for 121 yards and that all important final TD. Jason Rivers caught 14 balls for 167 yards and the other four Warrior TDs.
#12/12/11 Boston College (10-3, 6-3) The Eagles lost to #6/5/6 Virginia Tech 30-16 to see their shot at the ACC Crown evaporate.
#13/13/13 Arizona State (10-2, 7-2) The Sun Devils edged intrastate rival Arizona (5-7, 4-5) 20-17. Unfortunately, they saw the PAC 10 title and, possibly, their shot at a Rose Bowl berth slip away when USC downed UCLA.
#14/15/14 Tennessee (9-4, 6-3) The Volunteers dropped their SEC Title game to #5/7/7 LSU (11-2, 7-2) 21-14.
#15/14/15 Illinois (9-3, 6-2) The Fighting Illini were observers this week but will probably see their position improve due to the Tennessee and Boston College loses.
#16/17/16 Clemson (9-3, 5-3) The Tigers’ season ended a couple of weeks ago but they too could see their position improved by others’ misfortune.
#17/18/20 Texas (9-3, 5-3) The Longhorns were on the sidelines this week.
#18/20/17 Oregon (8-4, 5-4) The Ducks dropped another one since Dennis Dixon’s injury. This one was to intrastate rival Oregon State (8-4, 6-3) by a score of 38-31 in double overtime.
#19/16/18 Wisconsin (9-3, 5-3) The Badgers, like the rest of the Big Ten, sat on the sidelines this week yet will likely see their position improve.
#20/24/23 Cincinnati (9-2, 4-3) The Bearcats were idle this week.
#21/19/19 Brigham Young (10-2, 8-0) The Mountain West Champs defeated San Diego State (4-8, 3-5) 48-27.
#22/21/22 Virginia (9-3, 6-2) The Cavaliers were observers this weekend.
#23/21/24 Auburn (8-4, 5-3) The Tigers were another team on the sidelines this week.
#24/23/25 Boise State (10-2. 7-1) The Broncos were idle this week.
#25/NR/21 South Florida (9-3, 4-3) The Bulls were idle this week.
NR/25/NR Arkansas (8-4, 4-4) The Razorbacks were idle.
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