WINNERS WIN

November 8, 2012

“Who have they beaten?” We hear that question asked a lot in college football. The redundancy increases this time of year. 

Everyone wants to marginalize the other guy’s achievements. Your team isn’t really that good when you look at it. It’s all smoke and mirrors and pumped up stats against a bunch of weaklings. 

Don’t get me wrong. In some cases, this kind of criticism is very fair. Let’s face it. Just because Ohio and Alabama were both undefeated didn’t make them equals. However, trivializing victories of team’s that play in a major conference is just comical.

This season, I heard people questioning just how good Alabama really was heading into the LSU game. “This season they haven’t played anybody yet.” Forget the fact that they were destroying everybody. Ignore the fact that they hadn’t trailed anybody for more than a minute or two all season. 

I get it though. People are sick of the SEC winning... actually make that dominating college football, so they look for any glimmer of hope that this year they actually aren’t as strong.

The other doubts are falling squarely on Notre Dame. I understand that one too. People don’t want to admit Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the country because... well... they’re Notre Dame. That’s it. 

Have they been hammering people like Oregon? No. They just win. Apparently, that isn’t enough for some people. Even if they win their final three games against Boston College, Wake Forest and USC, they will likely be ranked fourth in the final BCS poll unless teams above them lose.

Do I think Alabama would have needed 3OT to beat Pitt if they played them in Tuscaloosa? No way. Would Oregon have been held to less than 20 points by Michigan? Maybe in the first quarter but not for 60 minutes. 

The real question is how many teams could play teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12, Big East & ACC week after week and not lose. If going 9-0 was so easy, everybody would do it. 

Once teams pull out a few close games, they start to believe. They believe in their coaches. They believe in each other. They believe they will win, and they don’t waver.

A team like that is dangerous. Remember the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes? How many people said they had no shot at beating Miami in the Fiesta Bowl? They had squeaked by again and again. Miami was loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. I am sure some of you want to bring up the debatable pass interference call that extended the game in overtime. Breaks like that are part of a magical season. It isn’t luck. Well, maybe a little bit, but a winning team will put themselves in position to catch a break. Sometimes... they get it.

I too looked at Notre Dame’s record midway thru the season and said, “the Big Ten is actually pretty down this year. We’ll get a better sense of how good Notre Dame is after they play Stanford and Oklahoma.” It looks like I have my answer.

The SEC is the best conference. No one should question that. Can I honestly say that ND couldn’t beat Alabama? Nope. I have no clue. Could they keep up with the Ducks? No. But I think they would frustrate Oregon and stay in the fight. At that point, anything can happen.

Notre Dame just keeps winning... week after week after week. I am starting to get the feeling that if you gave them one shot at one of those top three teams, they’d find a way yet again. Like the ’02 Buckeyes or Penn State in 1986, they would finish the job, because winners win.

Games of the Week:

Texas A&M @ Alabama- The Tide silenced their critics last week with an impressive final drive to defeat LSU in Baton Rouge. The Aggies are led by QB Johnny Manziel. He is the team’s leading rusher with 922 yards and 15 TDs. He has also thrown for 2,527 yards and 16 TDs with only 6 INTs. If this game was at College Station, I would seriously consider taking A&M in an upset. They will challenge the Tide after such an emotional win at LSU. With Bama at home, I like the Tide to win, but A&M will score some points. I will say Bama 24-17.

Oregon State @ Stanford -This game will feature two QBs that were the back up at the start of the season. Stanford has abandoned inconsistent Josh Nunes for Kevin Hogan. The Beavers’ starter in week 1 Sean Mannion was injured and struggled upon returning, so Cody Vaz is now leading the orange and black attack. The difference for me is that Vaz defeated Arizona State. Hogan earned the job in a performance over awful Colorado. With USC’s recent demise, the Beavers can take a a major step towards a Rose Bowl at-large bid with a win here. I like OSU 31-26.

Kansas State @ TCU - The only big key to this game is the health of KSU starting QB and Heisman Trophy candidate Collin Klein. He left the game last week with a head injury. Head Coach Bill Snyder has said he expects Klein to play. If he doesn’t play, this could be the end of KSU’s run to a BCS Title Game appearance. TCU is coming off a road win over West Virginia. After this game, the Wildcats play Baylor on the road and host Texas. I think Klein plays, and KSU wins 35-20.

BCS BOWL PROJECTIONS - 

BCS TITLE GAME - Alabama vs. Oregon

ROSE BOWL - Nebraska vs. Oregon State

FIESTA BOWL - Kansas State vs. Notre Dame

SUGAR BOWL - South Carolina vs. Oklahoma

ORANGE BOWL - Florida State vs. Louisville