This weeks BlogPoll Roundtable is hosted by Dave from Maize n Brew. Also this weeks BlogPoll has been released and USC has Dropped to #4 with their lackluster win against Nebraska. Dave's questions and my answers are below. Enjoy!
1. Its only the third week of the season and we've already seen some highly ranked favorites drop out of national championship contention. Preseason favorite Cal dropped to #21 after a loss and a pair of underwhelming victories. Who's your pick as the next NC contender to take a fall?
That's a tough one. All of the top teams have some easy games and tough games in the next few weeks. But I think it has to be Florida. After Kentucky they have Alabama, LSU and Auburn before they hit their bye week, they one of the toughest schedules. The Tennessee win was an emotional win but how much did it take out of them. The only saving grace is that all of these games except Auburn is at home. It looks like Chris Leak is starting to get comfortable within the Urbanator's offense but will he make a mistake and cost the Gators one of these games?
2. By that same token there are several schools hanging around without a loss that all of a sudden look like surprise contenders. There are also a few one loss teams with a legit shot at getting back into it. Looking at the rankings who's the team no one's talking about with the best shot at crashing the party ?
I would say Michigan. I honestly thought that Notre Dame was going to blow them out and dash the hopes of all the great Michigan bloggers that I enjoy reading. A loss to ND would wake up the echoes in wanting Lloyd Carr's head. This pick may a bit unfair to Michigan, which has always been a proud program, but recently has fallen under scrutiny of late with their lackluster season last year and the their recent inability to beat their chief rival. Now, this doesn't mean that they couldn't have a let down and lose to one the lesser opponents on their schedule but they won a game that very few people gave them a chance to win.
3. Every team has their quicksand away game. You know. That place you should win but somehow find ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory or at least scare the &$%^ out of you every year. Did you know that over the last 21 years Kentucky wasn't won once in Knoxville? Where is your team's yearly sandtrap?
SC's away schedule this year is very favorable. The Pac 10 in general looks like it is having a down year so this year it would have to be UCLA. The Bruins look to be better this year, at least against SC, but not scary better. SC has their three toughest games at home, Oregon, Cal and Notre Dame. Because of the rivalry factor I just can't ignore the Bruins. Regardless of how good or bad they are there have been stretches in this rivalry that have produced some exciting games. Anything can happen.
4. Now that you've looked into the darkest place in your football soul, free Escalades aside, turn and look into your crystal ball. Conference play is either just starting or a single game in. Based on what you've seen so far, give the order of finish in your conference, and if you've got a Conference Championship game tell us who the winner will be. Independents must predict the remainder of their schedule. The results your predictions will be held against you at the end of the season.
I don't think that the top 3 will change but it's anyone's guess as to where the rest of the conference will finish.
- USC
- Oregon
- Cal
- UCLA
- Arizona State
- Washington
- Arizona
- Washington State
- Oregon State
- Stanford
This depends on a number of factors: the time of the game, when in the season a particular game is played, if I am at home with the Wife and Baby or out with the guys and of course who they are playing. But the usual line up is as follows:
The Tune up- Always 2 shots just before as the game gets started.
Followed by- For during the game festivities.
By the middle of the 4th qtr.- Time to rehydrate.
AND IF WE WIN!!!
Just one shot!