Another week in the books, another week closer to the Heisman Trophy ceremony….
I had my first losing weekend of the season picking games–and it was a bad one (hey, Sports Illustrated said I was the foremost authority on the Heisman, not on picking games). I went 3-11 and, on the season, I am now 54-47-2 (.530) against the spread, which still means I’d be winning in Vegas. A couple near misses could have stopped the bleeding somewhat but, oh well, I will just have to bounce back next week.
Talk continues on ESPN Game Day about how a one-loss SEC team should “definitely” be taken over a no-loss Big East team. What’s more, only a one-loss team from the SEC should be considered to jump over an undefeated team.
I have an idea. How about these talking heads look at the schedules of the teams on a case-by-case basis at the end of the season and then determine who is worthy? Would that be too hard? Is that too much to ask?
If it turns out that Auburn or Florida had a tougher schedule overall, then fine. But it is certainly not a fait accompli.
While I was off in my picks this week, one of my preseason prognostications is looking better and better. I thought that Clemson running back C.J. Spiller would be the best freshman in the country and he is playing like it right now, with three 100-yard efforts in his last four games. He is as fast as Reggie Bush (10.42 100m) and has decent size, too. While James Davis is doing very well, I think Spiller has more potential and will eventually be the main guy.
With super quarterback recruit Willie Korn coming in this spring, Clemson has a bright future. Next year may be a little tough as the Tigers must replace four seniors on the offensive line, but 2008 could be special.
It looks to me like Louisville is struggling more with Brian Brohm back in the lineup than without him. The Cardinals looked sluggish again in a win against Syracuse and at this point I don’t like their chances against West Virgina.
As bad as UCLA’s loss to Notre Dame was, you have to be impressed with the job Dwayne Walker has done with the Bruin defense. For the first time in years, UCLA actually looks like it knows what it is doing on that side of the ball. A lot of Bruins are calling for Karl Dorrell‘s head, but they would be wise to find a way to keep Walker around at least.
Ty Willingham has probably done one of the best coaching jobs in Division One this season. Washington (4-4) was able to hang with Cal despite playing without its best player, quarterback Isaiah Stanback. The Huskies just plugged in Carl Bonnell, who did a fine job and gave Cal all it could handle. If top quarterback recruit Jake Locker–next year’s presumptive starter–pans out, then Washington should be a consistent bowl team once again.
One of the few picks I got right this week was Boston College over Florida State. The Seminoles handed off just eight times to running backs and let Drew Weatherford air it out 48 times. This is such a mess of a program, I can’t imagine Bobby Bowden coming back another year. So does Tommy Bowden come a-calling? Who will take over the sleeping giant?
How weird is it that Colt McCoy of Texas can be playing so well and still not be the best quarterback in the country with the name “Colt?”
In case you all haven’t noticed, Colt Brennan of Hawaii is having a year to remember. He has 28 touchdown passes in seven games and is leading the nation in pass efficiency at 183.1. He is on pace for 4,500 yards, 48 TDs and just 9 interceptions in 12 games. Those are numbers not seen since Ty Detmer.
June Jones says he is a pro prospect, too.
Will someone please stop throwing Dwight Lowery‘s way? The San Jose State corner already has 8 interceptions in 6 games!
About Heismanpundit
Chris Huston, A.K.A. ‘The Heisman Pundit‘, is a Heisman voter and the creator and publisher of Heismanpundit.com, a site dedicated to analysis of the Heisman Trophy and college football.
Dubbed “the foremost authority on the Heisman” by Sports Illustrated, HP is regularly quoted or cited during football season in newspapers across the country. He is also a regular contributor on sports talk radio and television.
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