You Can’t Spell OverraTed without a Capital T!
What a year it has been so far in this college football season. There have been upsets, close calls, and great finishes all over the national scene. As fans we cannot ask for much more. There have even been 3 clear cut national powerhouses all year long that have a great chance of meeting for the National Championship. Wait, maybe there are 2 and one who is not deserving of all the hype that it is given in the national media.
Someone please tell me why the Texas longhorns are getting all the love in the world from the National Media. Why are they more deserving than any other undefeated team in the country? Of the BCS conferences, what other conference has been worse than the Big 12 this season. Oklahoma is down due to Bradford’s injury, A&M and Tech are terrible, Baylor lost it’s stud QB for the year and that is all without mentioning the disaster that is the Big 12 North. Who the hell wants to win that division? Texas and Oklahoma State are the lone bright spots in the conference and the winner of tonight’s game will clearly go on to win the Big 12 Championship game. The other 5 BCS conferences can all make claims that they have deeper conferences this year and have more “quality wins”.
SEC (Florida, Alabama, LSU, South Carolina)
Big East (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, South Florida),
Big Ten (Iowa, Penn State, Ohio State),
ACC (Virginia Tech, Miami, Georgia Tech)
Pac-10 (USC, Oregon, Arizona)
Who has Texas beat this season? Let’s run down the games on the schedule that have been less than impressive:
9/12 41-10 @ Wyoming (the game was 13-10 at the half with WYOMING!!!!!!!!!!)
9/19 34-24 vs. Texas Tech (this is the same Tech team that was ABUSED 52-30 by the Aggies in Lubbock and Texas only gets 34? WOW)
10/17 16-13 vs. Oklahoma (this is the same OU team that lost to BYU and Miami, but yet the ‘Horns can only win by 3: I don’t care what they say, this is not a statement victory)
The Longhorns’ remaining schedule is almost as weak as the beginning of the season with the exception being tonight’s tussle with OSU. They finish with Central Florida, @ Baylor, Kansas, and @ Texas A&M. Don’t get me wrong, Texas is a great team, and very deserving of a high ranking, but why do they get automatic acceptance into the title game by going undefeated. There are 6 other undefeated teams in the country and here is how they should breakdown:
Florida – undefeated in the best conference in the country, win @ BCS #9 LSU, remaining games against BCS #22 South Carolina and BCS #2 Alabama
Alabama – undefeated in the best conference in the country, wins vs. BCS #25 Ole Miss and BCS #22 South Carolina, remaining games against BCS #9 LSU and BCS #1 Florida
Iowa – wins vs. BCS #20 Arizona and @ BCS #12 Penn State, remaining game @ BCS #17 Ohio State
TCU – win @ BYU, remaining game against BCS #16 Utah
Boise State – win vs. BCS #10 Oregon
Cincinnati – win @ South Florida, remaining games BCS #20 West Virginia and @ BCS #15 Pittsburgh
Why is Texas more deserving than Iowa or Cincinnati if they are all undefeated? I know some people might say, well this guy is an SEC homer, and hates Texas. I live in Texas, but it is widely known that I am a huge Gator fan. This has nothing to do with allegiances though. I believe that the Florida-Alabama deserves to be in the title game, but the debate for the other team is far from over. Texas fans feel like this is owed to them, because they were supposedly screwed last year. Why were you screwed any more than Texas Tech last year? They were written off because OU destroyed them, but the argument would have been strong from their side if Texas was in the title game. Tech would have had the same amount of losses, and won the head to head game with Texas.
At the end of the day, Texas is a title contender, but I do not think it should be a forgone conclusion that if they win out, they will be in the title game. That is not fair to other teams who didnt ‘have the luxury of starting in the preseason Top 5. I know that Alabama and Florida also started there, but their entire body of work will be much more complete than Texas at the end of an undefeated season. And honestly Texas fans, I do not think you would want any part of either SEC team right now due to the fact that Texas has no running game and would have to completely rely on Colt McCoy. SEC defenses would simply pin their ears back and bring the speed and the pain. In my honest opinion, an SEC vs. Cincy or Iowa would be a more enjoyable National Title game at the end of the season.
All I can say about this article is it is completely bias on your part and you are very vindictive of Texas. I think you are completely wrong in your most overrated team. The most overrated team in the country right now is Iowa. Iowa has beaten mediocre teams by less than a field goal. The started out their season with a 17-16 win over Northern Iowa. They have since gone on to beat Arkansas State (2-5) by a field goal, Michigan (5-3) by 2 points, and Michigan State (4-4) by 2 points. And might I add had to come up with a 4th quarter rally to overcome the unranked Indiana (4-4). I think you really need to consider all possible teams before you make a huge statement like you are doing with this article.
As for you saying that Texas is the most overrated. You reasons that Texas is overrated is because of a half time score against Wyoming and the points spread on the Tech game. Might I add that the final score on the Wyoming game ended up being 41-10 with Texas not allowing any 2nd half points and the Tech game point spread was 5.5 points, which was more than met.
Lets turn the table to your dear Florida Gators the last 3 weeks with the highest point spread by 10 points. This includes a field goal victory at the end of the game against an unranked Arkansas team and an unranked Mississipi State team with a final score of 29-19. This is the same Mississippi State team that has 2 non-conference losses and allowed Jackson State to put up 45, Auburn to put up 49, LSU to put up 30, GT to put up 42, Houston to put up 31, and Middle Tennessee State almost got to where Florida was with 27. If point spread is so much of a factor than why is Florida getting any love?
Going further on Florida, they sure aren’t playing like a team that should have broken a record for the most number one votes at the beginning of the season. Here is a prediction; Florida doesn’t make it to the National title game. Alabama is a better team than Florida this year and I called it from the beginning. While everyone was crying Tebow, McCoy, and Bradford for Heisman, I was crying Ingram. The number one team in the nation is indeed Alabama and not a Florida team that is still riding off of last year’s success. Depending on what you are making the assumption of the most overrated team in the nation is there might be an argument that Florida shouldn’t be number one.
Going back to your slamming of Texas, while I don’t think this is the strongest running team that Texas has had their defense is one of the strongest in the nation and has kept them in games. You might discount the OU team for not having Bradford but that is a load. His back up Landry Jones was the number one recruit out of New Mexico and now currently holds the most touchdowns in one game for an OU QB, something that Bradford had many chances at and doesn’t hold. To discount a Texas team because of a rivalry game involving a great defensive battle is just ridiculous. OU all season has allowed only 71 points. Florida has allowed 71 points also. OU has faced 4 ranked teams this year and Florida has faced 1. Would you be giving Texas more recognition if Bradford would have stayed behind center in the TX-OU game?
I can agree that Oklahoma State is probably the biggest test outside of OU that Texas will face, but your assumption is really based off conferences. How can you honestly say that Texas is the most overrated teams in the nation? You are basing your assumption off of conference play. You honestly believe that an Iowa or Cincy would be a more deserving and better match than a Texas team. You have to completely crazy to think that. If you go by conference, even a Tech driven Taylor Potts team would put up 40 to 50 points on an Iowa team. I respect Cincy they are a good team this year, but I wouldn’t think of putting them a head of the Texas team. This is strong statement you are making far too early in the game. This is college football and things happen. We may be looking at a TCU vs. Cincy National Title game before all is said and done. That is what is great about college football, but to make a statement like that is completely meritless and discredits any future articles you might write about Texas or Florida. Tread lightly when it comes to NCAA football.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:55 pmLet me respond to this comment paragraph by paragraph. I am not vindictive of Texas to start. I don’t like Texas fans, but I have no problem with the team. They are very talented and Colt McCoy deserves to be a finalist for the Heisman this year and probably could have won it last year. In my OPINION, Iowa will have a better resume at the end of the year due to a victory on the road at Penn State and if they finish undefeated at Ohio State. Those two victories alone, beat any combination of victories for Texas.
Now in defense of my “dear” Gators, yes they have not played well OFFENSIVELY in the last 3 weeks. Defensively they have been better than any other team in the nation. The Gator D went to Baton Rouge and held the BCS #9 team to 3 points TOTAL!!!! The defense allowed 6 points last week (13 pts came from INT’s for Miss St.) I never said point spread before the game was the problem. Margin of victory was what I was complaining about for Texas, though it should be said that margin of victory is not factored into the Computers. Florida beat a decent Arkansas team and then a Miss St team who should have beat LSU earlier this season. Most victories in the SEC this season, shine over a victory in most of the Big 12 this year. I will get back to Texas and their opponents and their victories in a minute.
Alabama is a great team and might very well be the No. 1 team in the nation. But if you are comparing them to Florida, the best way to do it is by common opponents. The two teams have 3 common opponents this season: Arkansas (Bama won 35-7, Fla won 23-20, point Bama), @ Kentucky (Bama won 38-20, Fla won 41-7, point Fla) and Tennessee (Bama won 12-10, Fla won 23-13, point Fla). 2-1 means a slight lead in the polls. To elaborate on that point, I present the rushing numbers from both Tennesse games. Mark Ingram rushed for 99 yds on 18 carries and the Tide has 136 on the ground as a whole. Tebow had 76 yards on 24 carries and the Gators ran for 208 yards as a team.
Back to Texas and their opponents. Since you wanted to compare points from other teams. You said Middle Tennessee State “almost” reached Florida’s point total against Miss St. New Mexico scored “almost” as much as Texas did against Texas Tech. Florida will face 3 ranked teams by season’s end, but if you look at where those teams that OU faced are now, things might look different. BYU and Kansas are no longer ranked, and Miami is struggling with Wake Forest right now. If OU was more significant it would help Texas, but I am tired of the rivalry game mentality. According to Texas fans, the 16-13 score was ok because it was a tough rivalry game. So that tells me as a Texas fan, you expect OU to come into the game jacked up and playing at a higher level, but Texas is just supposed to weather the storm and hold on while OU plays higher? Yes OU was jacked up and came to play, but why didnt the Texas offense step up their game. To respond to the Tech beating Iowa comment….what happened last year when the 1 team that Texas lost to played the 1 team that Florida lost to in a bowl game? Ole Miss 47-34 over Tech in a game that was not really that close.
I want to once again say that I do not have a problem with Texas at all and think they are a great team. When you see the word overrated, you automatically think I am saying that a team is not as good. I am saying that simply it should not be an automatic bid for Texas to be in the title game. Hell maybe it should not be automatic for Florida or Alabama to be in the title game if undefeated. But the computers back up the Bama and Florida rankings. Texas is ranked 5th in the computers, might I add barely above Cincy and Oregon. I have been waiting all year for Texas to maybe play Florida and then it will finally be settled on the field and all the whining about we should have been there last year will be done. Mark my words, no matter who it is, Bama or Florida, either one will beat Texas by 2 TD’s based on the Horns lack of running game and the speed factor.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:33 pmOh Mike..I do agree Texas is not good as Florida or Bama, but at the same time why are ready to crown Boise and Cinn. And where’s is this media hype you speak of? Sounds very bias….Nobody is crowning Texas especially not the media..but if your name is Texas, USC, Florida etc and you start the sesaon ranked in the top 5 and your run the table..why shouldnt you be in the National Tilte game? Sounds to me your propblem should be with preseason rankings and the BSC…yeah they are part of the media but there not hyping Texas up like you say. Im actually surprised USC fell out of the top 10 in the BSC..now the media really loves them..they be back in top somehow before the season ends….and thats why I love college football..you not only have to win every game, you have to win in style!!!!!!
November 1st, 2009 at 2:44 pmI think my point was proven this weekend. We have Texas moving up because they routed their toughest competition so far this year. Texas defense prevails again. By the way, obviously the AP poll has come to its senses and agress that Iowa is overrated. AP dropped them from the 4 spot to the 8 spot behind a one loss Oregon team. Again, the most overrated team in college football today is still Iowa with the BCS number 4 spot. I think TCU, Boise State, and Cincy should at least be ahead of them. Roll Tide next week and hopefully onto the SEC Title game to provide another year of an over bite.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:26 pmEveryone knows you can spin a story. Get a good journalism major on your payroll and watch the magic happen. Its about the argument…ask a lawyer! Weak is weak no matter what. And the big 12 is exactly that. I think Mike did a fair job. No one argued the weakness of the big 12 when the names Young, Benson, and Peterson were there. Take the advice from a true hall of famer Tony Dorsett on the media’s hype and attention of his former team’s starting QB Tony Romo; “What has this guy done!?!? Nothing to deserve anything!”
November 5th, 2009 at 9:59 pmSad thing here is that when Young, Benson, and Peterson were playing in the Big 12, SEC fans were still crying that SEC was a stronger conference and that accounted for their short comings. I think my point was proven yesterday about Iowa being the most over rated. Finally there string of 4th quarter comebacks on unranked teams came to an end.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:18 am