Auburn Is Selling Freeze-Dried Turf To Commemorate Their BCS Victory

So, Auburn fans, how deep is your love? Is it deep enough to shell out 99.99 for a piece of dirt—wait, sorry—I mean, freeze-dried turf? It's a lovely item that comes packaged in a block of plastic with an overhead shot of the field where your championship Tigers played their way to a Sears Trophy.

Well, if you're hankering to get that dirt freeze-dried turf on your shelf before the start of the 2011 season, go ahead and go "all in", Auburn begins taking pre-orders February 4.

It certainly looks authentic (not really), Tiger fans. I mean, wow, this is a piece of the field where Nick Fairley and Cam Newton ran, tackled, and passed (at least that's what the product info says) so who cares if it looks like it could've come from Gene Chizik's lawn, right? You're getting a piece of history (I guess).

I kid, I kid. Have at it, Tiger fans, enjoy your moment.

Photo Credit: Auburn Tigers Online Turf Store

WATCH: Oregon Ducks "Take It All" Music Video

Is he a rapper? A singer? A producer?

Whatever he thinks he is, this video is his contribution to the 2010 Oregon Ducks and their trip to the National Championship game in January.

My advice would be for him to have a nice backup plan—just in case this whole rapper/singer/video production thing doesn't work out to his liking.

The 10 Most Dramatic Bowl Games of All Time

Every true fan of college football, regardless of whether they’re an ardent supporter of the BCS or an advocate of a playoff, can’t get enough of late December and early January. Bowl season is the most wonderful time of the year, when a veritable buffet of games is at your fingertips. Given the sheer amount of bowls in existence — 35 for the 2010 season — there are sure to be a few dramatic moments that’ll carve their place in college football lore. The following games have done just that, as evidenced by their endless airings on ESPN Classic. Hopefully, if we’re lucky, we’ll see one this year worthy of supplanting the lowest-ranking game on this list.  

1. 2006 Rose Bowl — Texas 41, USC 38: Defending champion USC was dubbed "the greatest college football team of all-time" by some media members during the ’05 season despite its apparent vulnerabilities and the presence of an equally talented Texas team. During the second half of the BCS Championship Game, the Trojans seemed to be on their way to meeting the hype, leading by 12 with 6:42 remaining in the contest. But Vince Young’s presence ensured the Horns were never out of it. After he ran in a 17-yard touchdown with 4:03 left, the Longhorns defense made a dramatic fourth-down stop on an up-the-middle run by LenDale White, who had gashed them all evening long. Young proceeded to orchestrate a 56-yard drive that ended on an eight-yard, fourth-down touchdown run with 19 seconds remaining. He passed for 267 yards and ran for 200 in the game, and all three of his touchdowns came on the ground. His memorable performance helped earn Texas its first national title in 35 years.




2. 2003 Fiesta Bowl — Ohio State 31, Miami 24: The ’03 BCS Championship Game wasn’t supposed to be close. The vaunted Miami Hurricanes were the defending champs, while the upstart Ohio State Buckeyes overcame a few close games to remain undefeated and in contention. The game had everything — a nasty knee injury suffered by Hurricanes star running back Willis McGahee, Maurice Clarett’s awesome strip of Sean Taylor after an interception that put the Buckeyes in control of the game, a game-tying Miami 40-yard field goal as time expired in regulation, two overtimes, and of course, a controversial fourth-down pass interference call at the end of the first overtime that cost Miami the title. The Canes’ 34-game winning streak was ended and second-year Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel was only beginning his successful career with the storied program.




3. 1984 Orange Bowl — Miami 31, Nebraska 30: Miami’s great run of success that spanned two decades started in the ’84 Orange Bowl. The Canes played ahead of the undefeated and favored Huskers for most of the game, but Tom Osborne’s squad rallied and put itself in position to win the game. In the fourth quarter, backup I-back Jeff Smith scored two touchdowns, the latter of which occurred on a fourth-and-eight pitch from Turner Gill with less than a minute left, bringing the Huskers to within a point of tying the game. Then, Osborne made perhaps the gutsiest call of all-time, deciding to go for two, the win and the undisputed national championship. Gill’s pass was broken up and the Canes went on to win their first of five national championships. Earlier in the game, Osborne made another memorable call, successfully executing the trick-play known as the fumblerooski. Never before has a coach been so praised after a loss.



4. 2007 Fiesta Bowl — Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42: The ’07 Fiesta Bowl was a classic David versus Goliath matchup. Oklahoma had just won its fourth Big XII Championship under Bob Stoops. Boise State, the WAC champion, had just earned its first BCS bowl appearance. The Broncos stunned the Sooners and most of the nation by dominating most of the game. Midway through the third quarter, the Broncos held a commanding 28-10 lead after Marty Tadman’s interception return for a touchdown. But the Sooners made ferocious comeback, scoring the next 25 points. The game was seemingly over after Jared Zabransky’s pick-six to Marcus Walker with 1:02 left, but the Broncos regrouped and completed the first of the their memorable plays — a hook-and-ladder with seven seconds remaining that led to the tie. At the end of the first overtime, the Broncos responded to an Adrian Peterson touchdown by scoring on a touchdown throw made by backup receiver Vinny Perretta. Ian Johnson’s subsequent two-point conversion on a Statue of Liberty play capped of a huge win for the little guys.




5. 1973 Sugar Bowl — Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23: Two of football’s elite programs and elite coaches met for the first time during the ’73 Sugar Bowl. Both Bear Bryant’s Crimson Tide and Ara Parseghian’s Fighting Irish were undefeated and loaded with All-Americans. The game lived up to the billing, as the teams exchanged leads during most of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, the Tide took a 23-21 lead after a trick play in which halfback Mike Stock connected with second-string quarterback Richard Todd from 25 yards out. Bill Davis failed to make the extra point, which enabled Notre Dame to go ahead with 4:26 remaining. It was the sixth and final lead-change of the game. The Irish sealed the deal with 2:12 left after an ultra-risky 36-yard pass — from inside their own five yard line — from quarterback Tom Clements to receiver Robin Weber. Notre Dame proceeded to finish No. 1 in the AP Poll while Bama, previously No. 1, dropped to No. 4.



6. 1963 Rose Bowl — USC 42, Wisconsin 37: The ’63 Rose Bowl featured the first No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup in a bowl game, so it was, in effect, an early national championship game. Trailing 42-14 in the fourth quarter, the second-ranked Badgers made a ferocious comeback, scoring 23 unanswered points and reducing the Trojans lead to six points. Ron Vander Kelen threw for 401 yards and orchestrated key drives that enabled Wisconsin to get back in the game. Despite outgaining USC 32-15 in first downs and 486 to 367 in total yardage, the Badgers fell short and Trojans coach John McKay secured his first national championship in just his third season with the program.

7. 1965 Orange Bowl — Texas 21, Alabama 17: When two mammoth programs like Texas and Alabama come together, there’s bound to be drama. The ’65 Orange Bowl matched-up Darrell Royal and the ’63 national champion verses Bear Bryant and the ’64 national champion. It was the first primetime college bowl game, making stakes even higher as everyone involved knew it would be must-see TV. The Horns jumped out to an early 14-0 lead after tailback Ernie Koy Jr. ran for a 79-yard touchdown and quarterback Jim Hudson connected with receiver George Sauer on a 69-yard touchdown pass. Alabama quarterback Joe Namath, who hadn’t started the game due to a knee injury he suffered in practice, was sent in by Bryant to right the ship. He immediately led an 87-yard touchdown drive in which 83 yards were through the air, and eventually brought the Tide within four points of Horns. The game’s most significant play came in the fourth quarter, when Texas made a goal line stand in which Joe Namath was met head-on by linebacker Tommy Nobis, apparently short of the endzone. Namath finished the game and his college career with a valiant effort, tallying 255 yards and two touchdowns.




8. 1980 Holiday Bowl — BYU 46, SMU 45: Although the Holiday Bowl has never been considered a first-tier bowl, it has certainly provided some heart-stopping games through the years. The ’80 edition brought together two very different teams. Brigham Young, the Mormons who did things the right way, led the nation in total offense, passing offense and scoring. Southern Methodist, who would receive the death penalty later in the decade, featured an unstoppable running attack led by Eric Dickerson and Craig James. The duo combined to run for 335 yards against the Cougars defense, enabling the Mustangs to establish a comfortable lead. With just four minutes left in the fourth quarter, SMU led 45-25 and BYU was preparing to punt on fourth and long to concede the game. Quarterback Jim McMahon, however, had other plans, throwing for a touchdown pass instead. The Cougars proceeded to recover the onside kick and score another touchdown. Down 45-39, BYU forced SMU to punt on the next possession, and Bill Schoepflin’s block put the ball on SMU’s 41-yard line. The game culminated with a miraculous Hail Mary completion from McMahon to tight end Clay Brown as time expired. The extra point gave BYU the victory, capping off a 21-point rally in the final two minutes and 33 seconds of the game.



9. 1979 Cotton Bowl — Notre Dame 35, Houston 34: The legend of the Comeback Kid began in the icy ’79 Cotton Bowl — also known as the Chicken Soup Game. Notre Dame quarterback Joe Montana, who was suffering from the flu, battled hypothermia during the game as his body temperature plummeted to just 96 degrees. In order to warm up, he was taken back the Notre Dame locker room, covered with blankets and given warm chicken soup. That facilitated his return midway through the fourth quarter, when the Irish were trailing the Cougars 34-12. The team then proceeded to score 23 unanswered points, including Montana’s game-tying touchdown pass to receiver Kris Haines. The extra point, which took two tries due to a penalty, won the game for the Irish, completing the most dramatic Cotton Bowl of all-time.



10. 1987 Fiesta Bowl — Penn State 14, Miami 10: Very few games in the history of college football have received the hype and anticipation of the ’87 Fiesta Bowl. Previously considered a minor bowl game, it had maneuvered to accommodate the match-up between undefeated independents Miami and Penn State, which were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. The two teams couldn’t have been more different and that was especially evident during the lead-up to the game. During Miami’s flight to Arizona, the team changed into military-style fatigues. Penn State players, on the other hand, wore suits and ties to the pregame steak-fry. It was at that event that Miami defensive tackle Jerome Brown revealed his fatigues and attempted to lead a walk-out after Penn State punter Joe Bruno made jokes at the Canes’ expense during a skit. The game proved to be a close-fought contest despite Miami outgaining the Nittany Lions 445 yards to 162. Trailing 14-10 with 3:07 left in the game, Heisman-winning quarterback Vinny Testaverde began to lead the Canes downfield, eventually moving inside of Penn State’s five yard line with 45 seconds remaining. On fourth-and-goal, Testaverde’s pass into the endzone was intercepted by linebacker Pete Giftopoulos, ending the game and securing the national championship for Joe Pa and Penn State. The pick was Testaverde’s fifth, Giftopoulos’ second, and Miami’s astounding seventh turnover of the game. Despite the sloppy play, the telecast earned the largest TV audience in the history of college football.




This article was offered via courtesy of bestcollegesonline.com.

Major Applewhite: "...I Love The City of Austin"

Now that the Florida Gators have, reportedly, found their man in Will Muschamp, new speculation has arisen as to who he might bring along with him.

Major Applewhite, the current University of Texas running backs coach, and former offensive coordinator of the Alabama Crimson Tide, is rumored to be tagging along to take over the OC duties at Florida.

However, the possibility of Applewhite leaving Austin seems unlikely given his ties to the program (he once played under coach Brown) and the city of Austin.

Applewhite has long been on-the record as a full-blown Texas guy. He loves the city of Austin and has stated his desire to remain there for as long as possible.

Last season, Gentry Estes of the Mobile-Press Register sat down to interview Applewhite during BCS National Championship week. He asked Applehwhite some very candid questions about his decision to vacate Nick Saban's staff after just one season, his connection to Alabama, and his hopes for the future.

Here are just a few quotes from that interview:

On leaving Alabama for Texas after just one season:

"...I understood why I wanted to go back to the University of Texas. I graduated there. My wife had graduated there. I'd spent seven years there as a student, player and grad assistant. I was familiar with every coach on the staff. I love the city of Austin. I liked my time in Tuscaloosa, but I love living in Austin, Texas. I was familiar with the administration. I knew the environment a lot more. It was a more comfortable environment. My wife and I were wanting to start a family. Look, people are going to talk. I played quarterback, and people talked back then. It really doesn't bother me. ... When I was at Syracuse, I thought about getting back to Texas. When I was at Rice, I thought about getting back to Texas. When I was at Alabama, I thought about getting back to Texas. I love the place. It's my home."

On why he didn't take the job at Houston (he was a candidate at one point but, reportedly, withdrew his name from consideration):

"Yes. I mean, I had an opportunity to go interview at Houston for a head job. It's amazing how the rumors can go a thousand different directions, but I was either going to take a job at Texas or I was going to stay at Alabama. It's that simple."

On his connection to Alabama:

"...Having been named after Major Ogilive, being an Alabama fan, you've got Coach Bryant's poster in your room, and you're wildly familiar with the expectations at Alabama. When I went to Texas from high school as a player, you notice those same things in a different part of the country. It's just a different state."

If a bet had to be made, one might place it on Applewhite staying put and taking advantage of the possibilities that a re-organizing of the staff could mean for him—possible move to QB coach? Too soon for an offensive coordinator's position?

Either way, there could be as many reasons for Applewhite to remain in the city he adores, at the school he loves, than there is for him to return to the SEC. Don't pencil him in just yet.

College Football ATS: Can South Carolina Defeat Auburn This Time Around?

After a 13-7 haul last weekend, the 'Lady' finally was able to get above that elusive .500 (79-76) mark. So, with that goal met, and only a few games left to go before championship football and bowl season begin, this site now shifts to picking ATS winners for the next few weeks—every game, every match-up.

The slate this weekend will be a small one, but the biggest one, for those of us who live in the southern part of the country, is likely to be tonight's game between Auburn and South Carolina. South Carolina nearly pulled the upset over the Tigers in their first meeting, but the Cam Newton show took over late in the game—with a little help from a mistake-laden Stephen Garcia—and sealed the win for the Tigers.

So, the natural question this weekend has to be, can Auburn do it again?

At stake for them is a trip to the BCS National Championship game, while South Carolina is hoping to win its first ever SEC Championship. If either feat takes place, both coaches will be lauded as pure genius as it only took one player to make their teams come to life.

For Steve Spurrier, his capture of South Carolina's biggest in-state running back prospect since George Rogers—Marcus Lattimore—has been the catalyst behind the Gamecock's resurgence. Popular opinion has always been if Spurrier could ever find a good back, he might be able to make a little more noise in the SEC East. Lattimore not only exceeded expectations but, in week two, he made his glorious presence felt against a Georgia Bulldog team that often got the better of their match-up.

However, it was his 212-yard, three touchdown performance against Florida that really made heads turned. The Gamecocks had finally arrived and Steve Spurrier has found his man for, presumably, the next three years.

As for Gene Chizik, Cam Newton has been the difference. The SEC's best player has been a menace to all opposing defenses, scurrying and passing his way into record books on his way to leading Auburn to an undefeated season.

If he can make it happen one more time, the Tiger faithful are likely to see their season end with a championship—a national one.

That said, let's jump into the picks for this week:

1. Miami (OH) at Northern Illinois: Northern Illinois (-14.5)

The Huskies enter this game on a nine game winning streak and, during that time, they have been absolutely dominant at home. By contrast, the Redhawks have played many of their games close to the vest and often only manage to win in the final minutes. That said, the Redhawks are prepared for a battle, if need be, even against the No. 1 ranked scoring offense in the conference. This should be a tight one. 

The Lady's Pick: Miami (OH) to cover.

2. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: Cincinnati (-1.5)

Pittsburgh was embarrassed by West Virginia last week, while the Bearcats were summarily dispatched by Connecticut. Both teams were thought to be Big East factors at the start of the season—neither has impressed. So, this game is about who has enough motivation to come on the field and salvage a disappointing season.

The Lady's Pick: Pittsburgh to cover.

3. Rutgers at West Virginia: West Virginia (-21)

West Virginia is on a roll and Rutgers has been terrible—against just about everybody. It's time for the Scarlet Knights to go back to the drawing board. By contrast, the Mountaineers will just be approaching this game with a win on their mind.

The Lady's Pick: West Virginia to cover.

4. UConn at South Florida: South Florida (-2.5)

The Huskies have been hard to peg this season. They are either lights out or awful. However, South Florida has been equally enigmatic—particularly B.J. Daniels. If the big quarterback, with the talented arm, and fluid mobility can find his groove, he can be the most dangerous man on the football field for the Bulls. That said, if he gets rattled or fails to hit his marks, he can be every bit the disaster.

The Lady's Pick: South Florida to cover.

5. Utah State at Boise State: Boise State (-43)

Clearly, the better team on the field will be the Broncos. However, 43 points just seems ridiculous given the fact that the Broncos are no longer playing for much. Will they have enough energy or motivation to shellac another bad football team?

The Lady's Pick: Utah State

6. Nevada at Louisiana Tech: Nevada (-7.5)

The Wolfpack are coming off a huge win against Boise State and this game may be just an after-thought to them at this point—usually a dangerous mindset to have. However, Colin Kaepernick is not likely to let the Bulldogs break his team's stride.

The Lady's Pick: Nevada to cover.

7. Southern Cal at UCLA: USC (-6.5)

Lane Kiffin will be on the hot seat before too long as it will take a miracle for him to explain how this Trojan team isn't at nine wins—considering the perceived ease of their schedule to start the year. Either way, the Bruins are either as bad as they've looked all or just playing possum. No clue if it's the former or the latter but, in this game, it's probably just safe to go with USC.

The Lady's Pick: USC to cover.

8. Oregon at Oregon State: Oregon (-16.5)

The Beavers play very well at home and they won't be looking to lay down against these Ducks—no matter how good everyone says they are.

The Lady's Pick: Oregon State to cover.

9. Florida State at Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech (-3.5)

The Hokies are a better football team, overall, than the Seminoles. Their experience and the leadership of Tyrod Taylor will be the difference here.

The Lady's Pick: Virginia Tech to cover.

10. Auburn at South Carolina: Auburn (-5)

The Auburn Tigers are nowhere near the same team that the Gamecocks nearly defeated back in week four. Nick Fairley has become a dominant force on the Tiger's defensive line and, despite the ineptitude of Auburn's secondary, the front seven of Auburn can wear down an offensive line like nobody's business.

If that happens, Garcia will be in trouble as his best games seem to happen when Marcus Lattimore is finding space and being effective—Auburn shut Lattimore down the first time. Can they do that again?

The game will come down to line play and Auburn simply has the best of that match-up on both sides of the ball.

The Lady's Pick: Auburn to cover.

The Lady's Luck Picks:

11. Washington over Washington State (NL)


12. Idaho (-13) over San Jose State


13. UNLV (+34.5) at Hawaii


14. Florida Atlantic (-4.5) vs. Troy


15. Middle Tennessee (+5) at Florida International

16. Central Florida (-9) vs. Southern Methodist


17. Oklahoma (-4.5) vs. Nebraska

AP Preseason Top 25: Pick by Pick—Did The AP Writers Get It Right?

Did the AP writers get it right?


What follows is a pick-by-pick analysis of the AP Preseason Top 25 in its entirety and whether or not, in my personal opinion, each team was placed at the right spot—it's that simple.

That said, let's get to it:


1. Alabama

The Tide are the reigning BCS Champions and should be given their proper respect as such. They have questions on defense but the talent and coaching on that side of ball leads many to believe they will be just fine. As for the offense, they are set and should have little trouble scoring this season.


2. Ohio State

I'm not as sold on Ohio State as everyone else seems to be at the moment. Terrelle Pryor could be the quarterback that we saw play so well at the Rose Bowl but, then again, he could also be the guy we saw play so poorly against Michigan the week prior. The Buckeyes will live or die with him this season, and I don't know that he's ready—the Buckeyes should be lower.


3. Boise State

If I have to go simply by the numbers and not my personal opinion of Boise, then they should be No. 2. They finished the year undefeated, beat an Oregon team that ended up playing in a BCS game, and won their BCS match-up against TCU—a Top 10 opponent. They return 22 starters, including Kellen Moore at QB, and have a favorable schedule. All signs point to success this season.


4. Florida

Too high. No way a team loses the best quarterback in college football, their two top receivers, and the heart of their secondary—not to mention their defensive coordinator—and are actually made better for it. I'm not buying Florida at four—they will have some growing pains this year.


5. Texas

Again, too high. Texas lost some key elements on both offense (Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley) and defense (Earl Thomas and Sergio Kindle) and will be breaking in a new quarterback in Garrett Gilbert. Some may feel that Gilbert earned his wings in the BCS Championship game, stepping in for the injured McCoy, but that's not enough to make Texas a contender in 2010. He will have to prove he can be consistent for more than three full quarters of one game.


6. TCU

They might be exactly where they should be—for now. I am not sure how well the Frogs will deal with the defensive losses of Daryl Washington and Jerry Hughes. Those two were a major part of the smothering defense that wreaked havoc on the MWC in 2009. Now that they are in the NFL, can they find able-bodied replacements?

7. Oklahoma

Too high. I think the AP voters are still in love with Bob Stoops and all of the wonderfully dominant teams he coached at the start of the decade. His teams routinely find favor in the Top 10 of most polls—despite how poorly they finish the season. That said, an 8-5 record does not deserve this much respect, and neither does Bob Stoops at this point.


8. Nebraska

Too low. Hello, Nebraska beat Oklahoma...see what I mean about the respect that Bob Stoops teams receive? The Cornhuskers came within 60 seconds of possibly finding their way into the title game and they return 17 starters—eight of whom are on defense. Suh might be gone and perhaps that's what gave voters pause, but this is still a good team.


9. Iowa

About right. I really like Iowa in the Big Ten this year and I think they could have something special brewing at the tail spot this season—despite the logjam. They just need a little more consistency out of their quarterback to really get things moving in 2010.


10. Virginia Tech

Too high. It might help the No. 3 team to know that the program they will play in September will already have a reason to gripe if they actually get their backside handed to them in RFK. The Hokies defense is suspect and their special teams is inexperienced—they should not be ranked ahead of Miami, Georgia Tech, or North Carolina based on what they have coming back in 2010.


11. Oregon

Too low. Masoli is gone but so what? Chip Kelly has never had any trouble breaking in a new guy at quarterback and the Ducks still have plenty of firepower on offense to go along with a better than average defense.


12. Wisconsin

The coaches' poll seems to be spot-on about Wisconsin—they aren't sure what to make of them just yet. Here's the thing, the Badgers need some quality conference wins this season to offset that joke of an OOC schedule. If they can do that, there is little reason they shouldn't be BCS bound this year.


13. Miami

Too low. The offensive line is a question mark—absolutely. The defense has talent but needs more fire—no doubt about it. That said this is still one of the best teams that Randy Shannon has fielded since he took the reigns at "The U" and there is no excuse for them not to do well this season.


14. USC

I don't know what to think of this pick. While I can understand the need to include the Trojans in the poll, there is little reason for them to be ranked higher than a team that actually has a chance at a BCS bowl appearance in 2010. It just seems like a wasted spot. So, in my opinion, they are ranked too high because they probably shouldn't be ranked at all. 


15.  Pittsburgh


If Bill Stull were still spreading the ball around, I could understand placing the Panthers here, but a repeat of last season seems unlikely—even with Dion Lewis running the ball. I don't think they should be ranked significantly lower than 15, but I do think they should be slotted a bit lower than both Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

16. Georgia Tech


Too low. I know that they can be beaten if there is time to prepare but, seriously, how often will a team have time to get ready for the triple-option? The loss of Demaryius Thomas cannot be taken lightly (he was their leading receiver) but the Jackets still have Josh Nesbitt and a wealth of talent at running back. If the defense can find even a small trace of competency under new DC, Al Groh, they will be even more dangerous this year.

17. Arkansas


Ryan Mallett is the main reason why this team is getting so much love. Honestly, he's the best quarterback in the SEC—no question. However, he does not play defense and the Hogs have a little trouble keeping good offenses honest. The Razorbacks have a great quarterback but everything else is average. I can think of a half dozen other teams who would be more worthy of this spot—they are too high.

18. North Carolina


Too low. The offense is anemic but the defense is the reason this team will be good in 2010. If the NCAA doesn't yank too many of their key players and the offense can find any amount of consistency in the passing game, this team could win the ACC.


19. Penn State

Does it seem like too much of an insult to say that this is too high for the Nittany Lions? I realize that Evan Royster is back, but the defense is a major concern with all three starting linebackers gone. Even more, Daryll Clark may have made some fans want to set his jersey on fire after the way he played against Iowa last year, but he did lead the conference in touchdown passes last season. He won't be easy to replace.


20. Florida State


I'm going to say they are a little too low. I think they should be swapping places with Arkansas but that's just me. The 'Noles are bringing in a new coach this season after more than four decades with Bobby Bowden at the wheel. Expectations for QB Christian Ponder remain high and the defense, particularly the secondary, is expected to improve. They won't play in a BCS game, but they should have a better record than the 7-6 one they ended with in 2009.

21. LSU


I tend to believe that Les Miles has finally begun to wear on the Baton Rouge faithful a bit after the coaching miscues of last season.  This is going to be his year to prove that he hasn't lost his touch and can still field a winner in the SEC West. I don't know if No. 21 is too high for them, but they are definitely a team that could go either way.


22. Auburn

I like the Tigers and I feel that they are too low here—perhaps No. 19 would have suited them better. Then again, how would I justify placing them above an LSU team that they got pummeled by last year?


23. Georgia

Mark Richt's squad isn't getting much love this season and, perhaps, that is exactly what he wants to see. If his team can fly a bit under the radar in 2010, maybe he can sneak up on a few of his overly confident foes. They may be just right at No. 23.

24.  Oregon State


Too high. The Beavers have a lot of excitement on their roster in the Rodgers brothers, but they aren't worthy of a Top 25 ranking—not right now. I think that Navy or Connecticut would have been a much better choice here.

25. West Virginia


Again, too high. The Mountaineers weren't that impressive last season and didn't close out well in their bowl game against Florida State—losing 33-21. I don't know that they should be ranked at all and I could have easily seen Missouri or South Carolina resting comfortably in this spot. Even better, where's the love for Rutgers? They are a potential Big East sleeper with QB Tom Savage at the helm—do not overlook them. 

Dennis Dodd Says Georgia Bulldogs Aren't Even Third Best Team in Weak SEC

Here we go again. For those of you who detest articles written with a tinge of homerism—this one may not be for you.

However, in the interest of being fair, I would like to see some comments below if you find my analysis to be off the mark or leaning too heavily towards blind loyalty.

That said, I felt compelled to write this article after reading a piece featured on College Football News (CFN) titled "State of the Game".

It's focus was on this question: Will you be okay if the SEC Champ isn't in the BCS Championship—assuming said winner has only one loss—even if either the Big Ten or the Big XII each bring an unbeaten team to the table.

Several members of the local and national media chimed in with their response, including CBSSports.com senior writer, Dennis Dodd.
In his response, Dodd had this to say:

Weeeell, that's a bit superficial don't you think? Start with the fact that beyond Ala and Fla, the SEC isn't particularly strong this year. What is the third-best team -- Arkansas?, LSU?, South Carolina? (Please don't give me Georgia). In your scenario, then, (a loss to Florida), the only team you're talking about is Alabama. If the strength of schedules are relatively even, then, yes I'm OK with the SEC champion not playing in the BCS title game. You're talking about an undefeated Ohio State, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas. I have no problem with that 1) because the SEC is down; 2) the Big Ten is making a comeback; 3) Texas and Oklahoma are loaded in a tough conference and 4) don't forget Boise in that mix. It's going to start in the top five. Voters will by hypocritical if they drop the Broncos after winning all their games.

Now, while I understand and appreciate that Mr. Dodd is entitled to his opinion, I have a bone to pick with just about everything he has to say in his response—obviously.

"...Start with the fact that beyond Ala and Fla, the SEC isn't particularly strong this year. What is the third-best team -- Arkansas?, LSU?, South Carolina? (Please don't give me Georgia)."

First of all, the SEC isn't so much weak this year as it appears to have more parity. It's probably the first time in more than a few seasons that you couldn't clearly state who the champion of the east and west divisions would be.
 
The departure of Tim Tebow has left Florida looking a lot more vulnerable than in season's past and the questions about the Alabama defense, coupled with close losses to both Tennessee and Auburn last season, make the Tide look ripe for an upset on their drive back to Atlanta this year.

Parity is a good thing, Dennis.

Secondly, what's with the "Please don't give me Georgia" comment? Mark Richt might be the owner of a program that finished 8-5 in 2009, but he is certainly not an SEC afterthought. He's posted a winning record against every team in the conference since his arrival, save Florida (2-7) and LSU (3-3) and that means he's worthy of a lot more respect than he's gotten from guys like you over the last eight months.

"...If the strength of schedules are relatively even, then, yes I'm OK with the SEC champion not playing in the BCS title game."

I admit I'm an SEC loyalist, but there is little doubt that the SEC is the toughest conference in the nation. There is no such thing, at least not at present, of a "relatively even" strength of schedule when compared to the SEC's.

Get real, Dennis.

"...You're talking about an undefeated Ohio State, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas. I have no problem with that 1) because the SEC is down; 2) the Big Ten is making a comeback; 3) Texas and Oklahoma are loaded in a tough conference..."

While I have no problem seeing Iowa or Ohio State make a BCS appearance—despite the fact that Ohio State has had their backsides handed to them twice by an SEC team, it's idiotic to say that Texas and Oklahoma are playing in a tough conference. Aside from said teams, who on earth offers them any legit competition in the Big XII? Baylor? Kansas? Kansas State?...Oklahoma State (minus Robinson, Bryant, and Cox)?, Colorado?...You're joking right?

I guess Dennis has to say the Big XII is tough (after all, he is a Mizzou alum), but everyone else knows that after Oklahoma and Texas, there is only Nebraska—and once they leave...well, you fill in the blanks.

"...and 4) don't forget Boise in that mix. It's going to start in the top five. Voters will by hypocritical if they drop the Broncos after winning all their games."

LOL...wait, let me get this straight: Boise plays in the WAC...THE WAC. There is literally no excuse for them not to run all over and through their conference with ease. The WAC is not a competitive place for the Broncos to play—everyone knows that.

Additionally, Boise's OOC schedule tends to be equally as laughable and, aside from their early season match-up with Virginia Tech in September, it offers nothing in the way of competition this year either. That said, people should take them seriously if they go undefeated in 2010, why?

I know they can only play the games they are scheduled to play but, the fact remains, they have the easiest road to the BCS Title Game—hands down. So, if they finish undefeated while a Big Ten or SEC team suffers one loss, I'm giving the edge to the SEC or Big Ten team and so would most every other voter.  

If Boise wants legitimacy, a win over Virginia Tech will be necessary. If they lose, they SHOULD go to the back of the line—period.

The whole CFN article can be found here, if you're interested.