The Mission Top Five

Alright all you USC Haters last week was your week to crow. After Michigan lost in the upset of the century, the only question this year was how long 'til another giant bit the dust. Since SC barely got by Washington, I think we all thought they were going to be the one, but no one thought Standford would do the deed. It is indeed a Topsy Turvy season so far. If you want to think about some of the potential hijinx, check out the full rankings at Shadow Sports. He likes to think in terms of worst nightmares for the NCAA and the BCS. 1. LSU (6-0) – The Tigers knocked off Florida in a hard fought game. It doesn’t get any easier with a road trip to Kentucky this week and Auburn, slayer of top 10 opponents next week. 2. Ohio St. (6-0) – Ohio St.’s defense has looked great so far. The question is how it will hold up against a top level offense after last season’s collapse. Another question is will it matter as there are no top level offenses in the Big Ten. 3. Cal (5-0) – The Bears were one of the biggest beneficiaries of all the upsets the last two weeks, and nearly ascended to the number one ranking. 4. Boston College (6-0) – The Eagles have one more game on the JV slate; then we will really learn how good they are. 5. Arizona St. (6-0) – The Sun Devils didn’t have it last week at Washington St., but found a way to win, something past Sun Devils teams have been unable to do, and something others have been unable to do this year. (as always, take all you want, just give us credit)

The Mission Top Five

Here you go folks. I told you last week that I didn't think Wisconsin belonged in the Top Five and lo and behold, Shadow Sports dropped them a little. Gordon, Oregon is getting close in the complete poll, [Number 10] but they are still not Top Five material. Actually, here is where I am at in all of this. The top four teams in the country are USC, LSU, Oklahoma, and Florida. No question about it. They could all lose a game and in my opinion, they'd still be the best 4 teams in the country. So that leaves one place for the rest of the college football fraternity to fight over and this weeks winner seems to be...Penn State. With the worst helmets in football. Finally, I told you either Michigan or Notre Dame would win last week. The question now becomes whether or not Our Mother of South Bend can even score a touchdown on offense. Rankings (W-L, Last Week in Parenthesis) 1. USC (2-0, 1) – USC looked impressive enough in a tough road game to keep the top ranking. Things get a little easier this week (Washington St. at home). For anyone on the west coast, avoid the ABC Saturday night slaughter and watch the SEC showdown on ESPN. 2. LSU (3-0, 2) – We now know the difference between LSU and Louisville: defense. LSU shutout Middle Tennessee St. while the offense rolled. Louisville gave up 42 points while the offense rolled. 3. Oklahoma (3-0, 3) – Oklahoma has been flat out dominant so far, but against sub par competition (the Miami defense might be good, but when the offense can’t get a first down, you get tired fast). This week could be a spot of minor trouble (ask BYU about Tulsa). 4. Florida (3-0, 6) – After destroying Tennessee, it is valid to ask the question: Is Tennessee being overvalued since the defense has looked awful, or another question: Is Florida-Cal going to be the title game? 5. Penn St. (3-0, 7) – Penn St. slept through last week’s game against Buffalo. They won’t be able to do that this week with a revitalized Michigan on deck. (you know the drill...take all you want, just give us a link. preferably hot!)

The Mission Top Five

Okay, so last week we missed getting our rankings up, but this week we are back on schedule. So here is what you missed. LSU looks awesome. They won big and totally trashed Va. Tech last week. Auburn will lose more than they win if they have to score more than 20 points to win. Their offense is just that...offensive. Wisconsin does not belong in the Mission Top Five, but what can I say, I am contractually bound to keep them there, even if the owner of Shadow Sports has a screw loose. Sorry Gordon, maybe next week Oregon makes the grade. So here you go, this weeks rankings and my picks for the week. SC kills Nebraska and either Michigan or Notre Dame will finally win a game. Rankings (W-L, Last Week in Parenthesis) 1. USC (1-0, 1) – To avoid dropping to number three, the Trojans need an impressive win in their national showcase game after LSU and Oklahoma sparkled in theirs. This week: at 19 Nebraska (2-0) 2. LSU (2-0, 2) – The LSU offense was a revelation in the demolition of Virginia Tech. Even if there is a letdown, the defense will keep LSU unbeaten for now, despite the presence of an offensively potent Middle Tennessee team (ask Louisville about that). This week: Middle Tennessee St. (0-2) 3. Oklahoma (2-0, 4) – The toughest early season test has been passed with flying colors. Now they just need to beat Texas and avoid some of the defensive letdowns of years past and the national title game, or at least an undefeated season is in sight. This week: Utah St. (0-2) 4. Louisville (2-0, 3) – Just a thought, if my offense rolled up 58 points and over 700 yards of offense, I would have won in a blowout and my second and third teamers would have given up 28 of those 42 points. That Middle Tennessee scored on their first five drives should really worry Louisville fans with Kentucky and the SEC’s best offense this week. The only silver lining: The Kentucky defense is somehow even worse meaning Louisville should win, even if it’s by whoever has the ball last conditions. This week: at Kentucky (2-0) 5. Wisconsin (2-0, 5) – The Badgers were lucky to get out of Las Vegas in one piece. Fortunately for them, there are a few weeks before the next legitimate test. That comes October 13 at Penn St. This week: The Citadel (1-AA) (take all you want, just give us credit)

The Mission Top Ten

As regular interlopers of "the mission" know, I post a weekly NCAA Top Ten during the college football season. Our thanks to Shadow Sports for their generosity in providing our rankings. For their complete rankings and comments, check "em out over at The Sporting News Blogosphere. 1. USC - There's just so much talent coming back. I don't think they are going to win it all, but they seem like the best team right now. 2. LSU - The same as USC. So much talent and no other outstanding early contenders. They have a better chance in the end than USC. 3. Louisville - I don't know why they aren't ranked higher in the polls I have seen. They are still loaded and the coaching change isn't going to be that big of a deal. Brohm is still there and there are no huge landmines early. 4. Michigan - While they will return to pre-2006 form and lose an early game they shouldn't, the offense is going to be as good as any in the country. Too bad the defense stinks this year. 5. Oklahoma - As long as the quarterback is not a complete idiot, Oklahoma has a shot as an undefeated season. Everything else is loaded. 6. Wisconsin - I really have no idea how accurate this is. The Badgers played nobody last year and won't play and strong teams until October this year. 7. Virginia Tech - They have tons of talent, but there is no telling how the shooting tragedy will affect them. A win over LSU week 2 could launch a national title run. 8. Florida - The Gators are going to have loads of problems. They are only here because it's tough to rank the defending champions too low until they start losing, which could happen as early as the Tennessee game in week 3. 9. UCLA - 20 starters and loads of experience could make UCLA this year's Arkansas, except the preseason polls have picked up on this. An 11-0 start is possible if they get good quarterback play. 10. Tennessee - The Vols are finally going to be Tennessee again after some down time. The road game at Cal to start the year is worrisome, as is the Florida game, but this team feels a lot like the 2003 team that beat Miami on the road and was better than its 10-3 record would indicate. (you know the local rules. take whatever you want, but give us credit, got it?) technorati tags: NCAA Top Ten, College Football, Sporting News

Pure Joy

Bracketology, smacketology! The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are headed to the Sweet 16. Upset Kings. Bracket Busters. For those of you who don't know what this means, let me explain it to you. In the 1999 - 2000 season, UNLV had the best college basketball team on the planet. They beat Duke in the Championship game by 30 points. A record that still stands. And yes, you read that right. They crushed Duke 103 - 73. The next season they went to the Final Four undefeated but were upset in a close rematch with Duke. And that was it. Over the next 16 years, there was an occaisional appearance, but never the Sweet 16. Until now. I am not sure they can beat Oregon, but hey, who thought they could beat Wisconsin? Certainly not Timmer, who had them losing in the first round to Georgia Tech. Look at the faces of these kids. Pure joy. I love sports. There are not many things in life that can bring that kind of joy. Welcome back UNLV! Finally, for all of you bracket people, here are my Final Four picks. Florida, Kansas, Georgetown, and Texas A & M.

Tournament Time

They’re back. That’s right. The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, the former basketball powerhouse of the Southwest are back in the dance. The NCAA Championship. March Madness. The thing every college basketball junkie lives for. We all owe Coach John Wooden, UCLA, and a skinny kid named Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul Jabbar, for our annual party, and through the 70’s and 80’s one of the most exciting teams to watch was the Jerry Tarkanian coached Runnin’ Rebels. I moved to Las Vegas in 1979 and, being a sports nut from Los Angeles, started looking for a professional team to follow. The Rebels were all we had in those days. Michael Johnson and Spiderman Burns. Not great, but good. And they played in the Las Vegas Convention Center. But Tark worked hard to bring high quality players to an up and coming program. Vegas and Tark were the perfect couple. He brought in winners and the city showered him with love. During my days there I was able to see many of the Rebel greats play in person. Ed Catchings, Danny Tarkanian, Elridge Hudson, Armon Gilliam, and Fearless Freddie Banks(pictured here). These were the guys who came before what was one of the great college basketball teams in history, the 1989-1990 powerhouse that had Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt, and of course Larry Johnson. I was also fortunate to see some great non rebel players. Guys like Patrick Ewing of Georgetown and Len Bias of Maryland. But the real stars were always the Rebs. It has been a number of years since UNLV has had much to get excited about. Since Tark left, the school has been left wondering if they were ever going to see a return to prominence. Well that day has finally come! I watched the WAC Championship Game the other day. It was held at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas, the home court of UNLV. It was packed, the Rebs were runnin’, the defense was outstanding, and they defeated longtime rival BYU. This week they will play Georgia Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. No matter how it turns out, it is good to see the Rebels back in the mix. The style of ball they play, runnin’ and gunnin’, is great for recruiting, exciting to watch, and for the first time in a long while, their future looks bright. Now if the NCAA will just leave them alone. (kudos to sports illustrated, the rj, and google for the photos)