Herbie's 2010 Top 5
January 8th, 2010 at 1:00 PM ^
Iowa is actually a pretty good team, but the fact that Herbie picks them as top 5 does not make me any more or less scared of that game. Herbie's prediction percentage is not exactly stellar. Now, if Brian put Iowa in HIS top 5, I might be concerned.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
Ohio State at #2 = FAIL.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:05 PM ^
I was sincerely hoping he meant Oregon State...
January 8th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
Like it or not, Pryor is shaping up to be a real beast next year. Combine that with the fact that their defense always seems to reload, and they should be set up for another good year.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:12 PM ^
That doesn't make up for the fact that they have the potential to lose a TON of talent on defense. Pryor still has to prove he can throw the ball too. These factors would definitely leave them out of the top 10.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^
You're nuts if you think OSU doesn't finish in the top 10.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
T. Pryor 23/37 266yds 7.2avg 2TD 1INT
That's not a mind-blowing game, but it's good when he can also do this:
T. Pryor 20att 72yds 3.6avg 0TD 24 Long
He might not be the best player to ever play, but he's good and getting better.
I don't know that they'll end up in the top five, but they certainly have the potential at this point to be there.
January 8th, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^
The fact that you cited a single, "not a mind-blowing game" against a questionable defense as your support is proof indeed that Pryor needs serious improvement in his passing skills. It demonstrates improvement, sure, but hardly justifies a conclusion that he can pass effectively on a level that justifies a #2 ranking.
I could just as easily cite his passing statistics against Michigan (hardly an imposing defense last year) and conclude that Pryor is a terrible passer relative to other quarterbacks.
January 8th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
The national champion this year was quarterbacked by Greg freaking McElroy. I think you're being a little too harsh on Pryor's ability to lead a top 5 team next year.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:12 PM ^
Dont they always lose tons of talent on D? They just reload. They will be a top 5 pre-son easy. Wake up.
January 8th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
Ohio State has been losing tons of talent on defense every year since 1862.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
Pryor only has to be an average passer to be an outstanding threat next year. Anyone who watched the Rose Bowl saw him turn sacks into 10 yard gains several times with those nasty stiff arms and his impressive speed. Also, he doesn't have to be as good of a passer if people are always worried about him running. Receivers will be more open.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
Iowa is not that good. VT isn't either they are losing 8 guys off their d. A lot of teams have a lot of question marks coming into next season..Florida for one. USC should be ranked ahead of both these teams.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^
I think I've picked Virginia Tech to finish in the top 5 for the past eight years
NOT THIS TIME
January 8th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^
Why is OU in the top 5? Landry Jones will be a good QB at some point but right now they can't score enough to win in the offense minded Big 12. Seriously I would put Boise State there because they return 19 of 22 starters.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^
Hard to argue with a record of 93-11 over the past 8 seasons. No one wants to see Boise State run the table and sit at 12-0 and #1 in the nation. Sorry, that scares people.
Preseason poll with Boise State top 5 is a long shot!
January 8th, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^
93 against primarily WAC competition, man New Mexico State is a powerhouse. Boise plays Va. Tech, let's see how they do. And for scaring people? No, we are not scared of them. A great number of us wanted to play them next year for the opener.
January 8th, 2010 at 4:33 PM ^
They've beaten Oklahoma, Oregon State (twice), TCU (twice), Oregon (twice), Fresno State (four times), Utah and BYU (twice).
January 8th, 2010 at 4:37 PM ^
If you discount the pretty middling Fresno State teams, that is 11 out of 93. They are a good team, but since they play roughly 1/9 games against vastly inferior competition consider me not impressed.
January 8th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
Boise would have rolled Michigan this year and would beat them next year, on any field.
Tate (or DRob) would have been picked at least three times by that secondary and there is now way in hell anybody on our could cover Austin Pettis and Titus Young. And, thats just off the top of my head.
I wanted to see Boise play in the opener, too. Think it would have been awesome. But, I also would have bet against Michigan in a heart beat.
Boise isnt going anywhere. They are a legit. 2 BCS bowl wins. Annual and regular wins over both Oregon schools from the Pac 10. Bitch slapping a Fresno team every freaking year that makes news themselves by upsetting BCS teams every year.
I agree the WAC doesnt help them. And, even though I think they can compete, I dont feel we should put them in the title game based on a singular win. But, you know what, the BCS math will continue to work against them as a result. I am fine with that.
Until teams sack up and are willing to schedule them they are stuck. If we're lucky, we'll see them get 'promoted' into a better league at some point.
Last June, I urged anybody who was up for it to bet me on the Boise/Oregon, and I go no takers.
I offer the same for the Va Tech game to open the season.
January 8th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
And, even though I think they can compete, I dont feel we should put them in the title game based on a singular win. But, you know what, the BCS math will continue to work against them as a result. I am fine with that.That is my sentiment exactly. Boise State, however good they may be, does not play top competition and therefore is penalized for it. It's kind of like basketball where a really good mid-major inexplicably loses in the conference tournament. They may be a great team as evidenced by wins against good programs, but the overall strength of competition dooms them from getting into the Tournament. And for all the people that rail against the BCS for having their pre-conceived notions before actually judging the teams subjectively, your example of Boise State is invalid beceause they are such a chic choice now. Their schedule obviously inhibits them to the point that they cannot make the national title, but that the media has a grudge or is biased against them is absurd. For the "little guy", Boise State has sure turned into college football royalty in the minds of the pollsters (thank goodness they are cognizant of Boise State's schedule.)
January 8th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^
The problem is, they cant do anything about their schedule. Nobody will play them and they cant snap their fingers and change conferences.
If they run the table next season, which would include an OOC slate of Wyoming (bowl winner with 18 starters back), at Oregon State and nuetral site vs Va Tech, I have no trouble with them playing in the BCS Title. It will be compelling to see the math as the season goes on if they're undefeated, just to see how close that OOC slate--which is much tougher than what they did this year--closes the BCS gap.
Back in 2005, they had the perfect slate to make a natty title run. First two games: at UGA (who eventually was the SEC Champ that year) and at Oregon State. But, they got blown out by UGA and lost to OSU in the closing minute. They won the rest. But, 2010 Boise is a deeper, faster, more legit nationally program than they were 5 years ago. I'll let who they have beaten in that stretch when they were given a chance speak for itself. Its like silence.
I think they are legit top-5 team in the nation heading into 2010. It will be interesting to see if they get by that OOC slate without a scratch and, if so, where the math stands to get them in the top-2.
Also, Boise is not a chic thing. They aint going anywhere. They have been doing this for a decade now. And only getting better, which I think is obvious.
Honsetly, I wouldnt mind seeing the NCAA somehow step in a create/force/whatever semantics you want to us to give Boise on axtra big time game a year. Like, if you finished last in the WAC you will be replaced or something the next year on the slate so Boise can play a team from the Big 10, Big 12, whatever. Obvs, the logistics are awful there, but something needs to be done.
Bottomline, I think this program is a whole lot better then people still will give it credit for. I just want to see Boise play the big boys. somehow, someway.
January 8th, 2010 at 6:17 PM ^
Society was dealt a rather unfortunate blow when the BCS Grand Poobahs neglected to recognize the instructional value of BCS games pitting Boise and TCU against more traditional BCS teams. Yes, Boise v. Oklahoma provided a hint. But, dad gummit, we missed a chance to put this all to rest by simply having a Boise play Florida let's say, and TCU maybe an Arkansas, or whomever...fill in the blank. Really, what did we learn from the TCU v. Boise game other than....we still harbor questions about how good they really are when compared to other major conferences. Let the boys play!
January 8th, 2010 at 6:33 PM ^
You shouldn't have a doubt about their quality. TCU won a conference that:
- Has BYU, who won at Oklahoma and beat the shit out of Oregon State.
- Has Utah, who lost @Oregon in the final seconds, and demolished Cal.
- Has Air Force, who owns the best passing defense in the nation, and slaughtered nationally ranked Houston
TCU also won @Clemson, a nationally ranked team.
The MWC is GOOD. And Boise St. beat their best team.
January 8th, 2010 at 3:48 PM ^
they can't score enough to win in the offense minded Big 12
Texas - 16
Oklahoma -13
Oklahoma - 27
Oklahoma State - 0
Texas - 13
Nebraska - 12
The Big Twelve can play defense like anyone else, the "Big Twelve has all offense and no defense" meme is as stupid as "The Big Ten is all too slow". Come on, you're better than that.
For what it's worth, I do think that the Texas-Oklahoma-Nebraska triumvirate will be the most compelling conference race in CFB. I think Nebraska will ultimately win the confernce, but those three defenses are/will be fantastic.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^
I think Penn State should be in there. They play at Alabama in week 2. The winner of that will propel themselves into the title hunt
January 8th, 2010 at 1:12 PM ^
Penn State w/ Newsome starting his 2nd game ever? Don't think so.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:41 PM ^
Why do you say that, the brand new QB worked really well for Texas last night...
January 8th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^
are you aware they lose their starting qb and a majority of their impact players on defense. i don't even think you can put them in the top half of the big ten right now for next yr (behind osu, wisc, iowa, msu, and UM!)
January 8th, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^
I'm interested to see who Oklahoma loses to the draft. They could lose quite a bit or be ridiculously good next year.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^
I think Alabama is the only one of those teams that legitimately deserves to be on that list.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
A lot of things came together for Iowa to get where they did. Are they a really good team? Yes. Are they top 5? I would say no.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^
among others. I think top 5 is too high, top 10 might even be.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^
Anyone for Boise like me? I know they aren't in a tough conference but they return 21 (!!!!) starters off of this years team. They are probably a good #5.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
Won't happen. Ever. That's the type of thing that would actually get them into the title game if they were to go undefeated.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^
Boise probably will be a preseason Top 5 in the mainstream polls. They lose one starter off of a 14-0 team.
Howeva, they will have to prove their worth with early trips to Oregon State and a "neutral site" game in Washington DC against Virginia Tech. Same as every year, if they win their first four games, they are probably unbeaten until bowl season.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
Still a lot more balanced than Lou Holtzah's Top 5:
5. Minnesota
4. NC State
3. Arkansas
2. South Carolina
1. Notre Dame
January 8th, 2010 at 1:34 PM ^
Correction:
1. Notre Dame
2. Notre Dame
3. Notre Dame
4. Notre Dame
5. Notre Dame
January 8th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
...William & Mary #1 in FCS.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:20 PM ^
Sets them up for a big fall! :)
January 8th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^
Penn st behind osu since when are we giving our little brother so much hype it is msu. they are going to fall hard stop giving msu so much credit.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
These question marks mean that I don't know what you are talking about.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:29 PM ^
Why don't you just sit this one out... There's an electrical closet with your name on it.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
No offense my friend, but what the hell did you just say?
Seriously, I don't understand what you have written in your post.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
Allow me to translate:
Penn State behind OSU. Since when are we giving our little brother so much hype? It's MSU!! They are going to fall hard, stop giving MSU so much credit.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^
Still not sure who was giving MSU credit. Any ideas? Typically, when commenting on another person's post, we hit the reply button on that post.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:24 PM ^
I think Iowa will be solid but honestly, I think Wisconsin will be better in the Big Ten.
Big Ten Top 5:
1.) Ohio State
2.) Wisconsin
3.) Iowa
4.) Michigan
5.) Penn State
January 8th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
...but we're coming off a 5-7 season, our defense could be even worse next year, and we have just one road win in the last two years. So with five road games (ND, PSU, IU, Purdue, and OSU) and home games against Herbie's top-5 Iowa and four other bowl teams (UConn, BGSU, MSU, and Wisconsin), I suspect a 4th place finish is a bit high.
But you now what? I'll give you much props if you're right.
January 8th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
I think that the most suprising team in herbies list is Virginia Tech. Also the fact that there is only one SEC team, not because they deserve it but because everyone is balls deep with the SEC
January 8th, 2010 at 1:34 PM ^
VT loses six defensive starters next year...if that's not a recipe for Not Top 5 I don't know what is. Early bet is they finish third in their division behind GT and Miami.