Week three of the college football season is usually when patterns are starting to develop. With this in mind, here are some of the things we learned this past weekend.
1)Alabama could be as explosive as anyone in the nation: The Crimson Tide racket 626 yards in their 62-13 pasting of Duke. Heisman trophy winner, RB Mark Ingram showed no ill effects from his recent injury rushing for 151 yards, including a 50 yard TD dash.
2)TCU is more than the real deal: While the talk of the non-BCS title contenders teams center on Boise State, the Horned Frogs are quietly setting them self up for a title shot. Their 45-10 romp over a very athletic Baylor team is another sign that they can beat anyone in the nation.
3)Texas is the more beatable top 10 team in the nation: For the past three weeks we have seen poor overall performance by the Longhorns. They have looked sluggish on offense while the defense has been suspect, especially in the secondary.
4)Nebraska is back: The Cornhuskers demonstrated on Saturday that they are the class of what is beginning to look like a diluted Big XII. Nebraska put 56 points on an underrated Washington defense. The big difference for the ‘Huskers this year is that they have a quarterback (redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez) athletic enough to run the new combination of the spread-option the club is employing. It sure seems like old times in Lincoln.
5)West Virginia is a juggernaut: The Mountneers have not only demonstrated that they are the beast of the Big East, but they could sneak into the national championship contention. QB Geno Smith could gather some Heisman votes if he helps West Virginia defeat LSU next Saturday.
6)QB Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks are ready for Alabama: For two years now, the big Arkansas’ signal caller has been teasing us with the possibility of greatness, now it seems those lofty expectations are being met. Mallett looked like a number one NFL draft pick on Saturday when he shredded Georgia’s secondary for 380 yards and 3 TDs.
7)Wisconsin is not a legitimate top 15 team: For three weeks now, the Badgers have struggled to defeat opponents they were supposed to blow out. Their defense is sound, the problems rest on offense where imagination and explosiveness are not part of the vocabulary.
8)The PAC-10 is more than underrated: This weekend showed how little respect the once perennial conference in the nation is getting. Aside Cal implosion on Thursday, the rest of the league have looked sharp, even beleaguered USC. Oregon looks like a national championship contender blowing people out. Arizona’s big win (34-27) over #9 Iowa is another clear sign the league is much better than advertised. Plus, don’t forget about Stanford which has a player (QB Andrew Luck) that could take over any game.
9)Robinson is saving Rich Rodriguez’s job, for now: QB Denard Robinson (10-14, 241 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INTs, 17 carries for 104 yards, 1 TD) is Michigan football. He is the main reason the Wolverines are 3-0. The defense looks like the same unit that imploded last season. UMass managed 429 yards, including 217 on the ground. That wouldn’t cut it in the rushing-driven Big Ten.
10)Florida’s talent is far superior to anyone, except ‘Bama, in the SEC: Despite another lackluster offensive performance, the Gators easily defeated Tennessee, 31-17, showing in the process that their talent is good enough to compensate for turnovers (4 fumbles, one lost) and penalties (5). But they would need more if Urban Meyer’s club wants to challenge the Crimson Tide for SEC predominance.
By Raul Colon
rcolonfrias@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment