Face-off is finally back after a couple weeks on the sideline, and now it’s time to throw down topics and discuss major events happening in the NCAA. As the Texas Tech Red Raiders squeaked by number 1 Texas in one of the biggest classic games anyone has seen in the last decade, which teams are in the hunt to be the top two teams in the nation?
Kashtan: I haven’t seen a game like the one we just saw vs. the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns. This ultimate game had everything you ever want in a college football game, the biggest thing that I took out of it, was the performance by the Red Raiders offense. What an explosive offense to have, and to beat number 1 Texas, has to be their biggest morale boost and victory this club has ever seen. Who’s number 1? Well as of right now, Alabama took the spot after the upset in which Texas dropped to number 4 in the country. This weekend has shook the BCS standings and now is a free for all for the final games of the season. My debate? I think that Alabama deserves everything they have right now, but if Texas Tech can beat their next two opponents against Number 9 Oklahoma State and Number 6 Oklahoma, then they have to be number 1 in the country. Texas Tech is at a whole new high beating number 1 Texas, and they know they can beat anyone in the NCAA with what they have accomplished.
Young: Oh Mike, your ignorance never ceases to amaze me, your claim that Texas Tech should be number 1 if they win their next two games is garbage. Texas Tech has won many games and has been very impressive this season running Mike Leach’s Air-Raid offense, but the fact remains that they have not played that many good teams. They have played Texas, and they are the only team that has been ranked higher than 23rd. In their game with Texas they showed that they can score at will but their defense was shaky giving up 33 points. On the other hand you have the Alabama Crimson Tide, who play in the mighty SEC, the crème de la crème of the college football landscape. Alabama has played three ranked teams including a number 13 Georgia, a number 16 LSU and the former number 9 in Clemson. They defeated all of those teams handedly which featured a 34-10 shellacking of Clemson that showed their defense shutting down Clemson’s vaunted rushing attack and they did the same to Georgia and their featured running game 41-30.
My next issue with the rankings is the Florida Gators still not getting the respect they deserve even after they took the whooping stick to Georgia 49-10. And they are doing it not just with Tim Tebow, they are putting all eleven pieces of the puzzle together on all sides of the ball to win their games. I think the best thing that happened to them was the stunning loss to Ole’ Miss earlier this season because after that they were able to re-focus and do what had to be done. Florida has proved year after year that they are a good team with an excellent coaching staff and an excess amount of talents. The end of their season favors them with Vanderbilt, South Carolina and former head coach Steve Spurrier (read my earlier column on how I feel about him) and the Citadel. The last time they had a one-loss season, they were chosen to the National Championship and took the fight to Ohio State 41-14. So lets reconsider their nonsense ranking this week and give some respect to the blue and orange.
Kashtan: There’s no question that Florida should get some respect, but why haven’t you talked about Penn. State!? The one team that everyone seemed to forget this week in the rankings, after all they have been through this season, they just stayed at number 3 in the BCS. The real debate here is whether or not the Trojans can come back from a early loss to Oregon State. Right now, they are ranked at number 7, but it’s very possible for them to move up. Their defense has been unstoppable as they shutout teams three times this season. The only thing with this, is there are 3 or 4 teams who might be locked in the top 5 as of now. There is still plenty of football left, but I just don’t see these guys going to the top two teams. My final prediction has to be Texas Tech staying at number 2, or jumping Alabama as the number 1 team in the country. If Florida does come back and someone falls, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Florida can be in the top two teams in the country. Never give up on Texas, even with their loss last week, they might still be in good shape of making the Championship at seasons end. Like I said before, it’s still a wide open race in the BCS.