College Fish Wrap: Week 9

29. October 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

JoePa can't walk without a cane.  He can't stand on the sideline; he has to coach from the press box.  He can't even walk down to the locker room at halftime, because halftime would be over by the time he got there, and then he would miss the first part of the second half getting back to his perch.  But what he can do is adapt to the changing landscape of college football.  He needs to retire before his body fails him; but he's got plenty left in the tank upstairs.  The Buckeyes were latest team to find that out last week.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Texas:  3 down, 1 to go.  Unfortunately, the last is always the toughest.  The 'Horns outlasted a tough Oklahoma State team last week, now they go on the road to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders in primetime.  I believe if the 'Horns defense can get one or two stops, they win.  But that's easier said than done.

2. Penn State:  I said last week that Buckeye fans would go home crying.  Check.  Now let's see if the Nittany Lions run the table, which was my other prediction.

3. Alabama:  I know that the Crimson Tide fans are happy with being No. 2 in the BCS, and in most polls.  But until last week, they've been living by their elephant skins.  It won't be long before they fall, and everyone else in the country falls in line with my rankings.

4. Oklahoma: This is a team that is seriously lurking right now.  Their only loss was to the No. 1 team in the land.  They bounced right back by trouncing the entire state of Kansas (KU & KSU) the past two weeks.  And their offense hasn't missed a beat.  If the 'Horns stumble somewhere down the line, look out for the Sooners.

5. Florida: Anytime you hang a half a hundred two weeks in a row in the SEC, especially when one of the opponents are the defending National Champions, you deserve Top 5 status.  I don't care what the computers say.  If they do it again this week against Georgia, look out!

6. Oklahoma State:  I don't get this one with the other rankings.  The Cowboys pushed the No. 1 team in the land to the brink last week, in their house, and had the ball with a last chance to pull off the upset as time expired, and they fall to 9th in most polls?  No way.  They are better than that.

7. Georgia: World's largest cocktail party.  The whole team celebrated after their first TD like a bunch of high schoolers.  Their coach planned it that way.  Mr. Richt, allow me to introduce you "Mr. Payback-Is-A-Bitch".  You'll be getting very acquainted with him this weekend.

8. Texas Tech:  I have resisted putting these guys in my Top 10 because their schedule was so light.  I said last week I would consider it depending on what happened against a good, and ranked, Kansas team in Lawrence.  All the Red Raiders did was blast the Jayhawks and lay 63 on them.  I think they'll have a tougher time with a Texas defense that is the fastest, most athletic bunch, especially up front, that they have encountered all year long.  But it will be a dandy in primetime.

9. USC:  These guys continue to underwhelm me, especially on the offensive side of the ball.  They play in a very weak Pac-10 this season, and I can't believe they are as high as they are in the BCS (5th).  Apparently, computers take into account previous reputation.  These guys are in danger of falling out of my Top 10 if they don't show me something in a hurry.  And I'm not counting this week against a lowly, winless Washington team that just fired Ty Willingham.

10. Utah:  These guys were BCS Buster pick from the WAC all along, right?  Ahem, right ?

DORM NOTES

--Ty Willingham was unfairly fired from Notre Dame; he was not unfairly fired this time around in Washington

--I'm seeing more articles and hype about the Red Raiders this week, than I am about Texas.  If I'm a Red Raider fan, I would sure be wishing it were the other way around.

--What's the office pool on how much longer Phil Fulmer lasts at Tennessee?

--Count me in as a guy who really enjoyed seeing Ohio State lose last Saturday, so that we now don't have to worry about another BCS Championship debacle

--If Penn State fulfills my prophecy and reaches the BCS Championship game, they won't be another Ohio State.  Count on it.

--Unless they're playing Texas, I'm rooting for JoePa to win the crown this year, then retire on top. 

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College Fish Wrap: Week 8

21. October 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

Two important things occurred this week in the world of college football:  1) The first BCS rankings of the season were released and 2) There wasn't a major tsunami at the top of the rankings.  Speaking of rankings...

POWER RANKINGS

1.  Texas:  Even I, a proud Texas graduate (I'm sure you've heard that before), didn't think we would pound Missouri that badly.  2 down, 2 to go in the gantlet.

2.  Penn State:  I don't care what the BCS, or the other polls say, the Nittany Lions are better than Alabama.  They'll prove it against the Buckeyes this weekend.

3.  Alabama:  Last weekend was the second straight game they jumped out to an early lead, then almost let it get away from them.  Not good.

4.  Oklahoma:  This team still scares me come BCS Championship.  I could easily see a scenario where the Sooners don't make the Big XII Championship game, because of their loss to the 'Horns, but still have the second best BCS rankings.  I'm just saying.

5.  Oklahoma State:  Again, I'm departing from the other rankings.  I'm giving the Cowboys the nod over USC and Florida because of the undefeated record.  But we'll see how good the Cowboys are this weekend in Austin.

6.  Georgia:  The Bulldog pups have bounced back nicely from the drubbing they took at the hands of the Crimson Tide.  But the next two weeks will go a long way in proving if they're ready to take that next step.  LSU this week, and Florida the following week.

7.  USC:  I think their rankings in the other polls this week were largely inflated, due to the tremedously one-sided pounding they put on Wazzou (69-0).  I still have my questions about this team.  The biggest concern being how long can Mark Sanchez stay healthy.

8.  Florida:  Bye week this past Saturday.  Tebow will continue his "Mission To Redemption" against Kentucky this weekend.

9.  Ohio State:  The Buckeyes have looked good since Beanie has returned.  Pryor is slowing beginning to come into his own at QB.  And they have the Nittany Lions in the 'Shoe this weekend.  All that, and I still think that Buckeye fans will go home crying.

10.  Utah:  The way they beat-down the Cougars last Thursday was impressive.  Far more impressive than my call about BYU being the BCS Buster lock for 2008.

DORM NOTES

--Any way I can get 1/2 credit for my BCS Buster pick?  I got the conference right; it's just going to be Utah, not BYU.  That's all.

--I'm still looking forward to the Nov. 22 tilt of BYU vs. Utah, in case you were wondering.

--When a game is as lopsided as USC vs. Washington State, shouldn't it just be stopped at some point.  Like a boxing match where one boxer is beating the crap out of another, and the ref steps in and stops it for the health of the other boxer.  The health of the Washington State football program sure could've used a rule like that on Saturday.

--I'm still not putting Texas Tech into my Top 10 because of their weak schedule.  I will consider it after seeing how they perform this weekend against Kansas

Until next weekend...

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College Fish Wrap: Mighty Longhorns

14. October 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

You're 'ol buddy JFish is back in the hizzy.  Alright, that's my last attempt at sounding urban and cool.  I promise.  But I'm fresh off my beloved Longhorns huuuge victory over OU (sucks!), their ascension into the top spot in all major polls (not necessarily a good thing this season), and my recovery from the alumni association game watch party (always a good thing).  As "The Godfather of Soul" sang, "Ow.  I feel good."  Speaking of the Texas Longhorns and feeling good...

POWER RANKINGS

1.  Texas--You didn't think I wasn't going to follow suit with all the other polls, did you?  What kind of graduate would I be?  In all serious, I did have to think about this one.  Alabama was No. 2 in my last rankings, and they were on a bye last week.  You really shouldn't be jumped on a bye week, especially if you're an SEC team.  But it was the sketchy performance against Arkansas that was the determining factor.  That said, being No. 1 this season has been a death knell.  The season is only 6 weeks old, and already we've had 4 different teams ascend the throne (Georgia, USC and OU being the others).  The Red River Rivalry game last week was only the first of a four-game gantlet the 'Horns have to run.  Next up is No. 11 Missouri, followed by No. 8 Oklahoma State (who just upset Missouri in Columbia), and finishing with No. 7 Texas Tech in Lubbock.  Ewww!

2.  Alabama--They stay here this week.  But probably not for long.  I'm continually impressed, with each passing week, with Penn State.  I've said before that I didn't think the Crimson Tide would be this good, this fast.  After their performance against Arkansas, I'm beginning to think that their first stumbling block is coming.

3.  Penn State--This team has snuck up on everybody, including myself.  JoePa has done a terrific job of realizing that his program was quickly falling behind the times over the past several years, and turning it around in a hurry.  You'll definitely want to read my "Things I've Learned" section below for my bold prediction on the Nittany Lions.

4.  Florida--I believe that Mr. Tebow stated after the Gators' loss to Ole Miss that there wouldn't be player in the nation that would play harder from there on out.  Hanging 51 on the Bayou Bengals qualifies.

5.  BYU--This is where I part from the pollsters.  BYU still aren't getting the respect they deserve, largely because of the conference they play in.  Fair enough.  But the way they aren't just beating their opponents, but destroying them, leads me to believe that they can play with anyone in the country.  I'm getting more and more excited for the BYU vs. Utah game on Nov. 22.  And I never thought I would say that I was excited for a WAC game.  Welcome to college football 2008!

6.  Oklahoma--Their special teams aren't.  It will keep them out of the National Championship title game.  You can count on it.

7.  USC--Gustsy performance last week by QB Mark Sanchez.  But his lack of health will probably prove deadly to the Trojans again at some point in the season.

8.  Georgia--I wanted to see how this young team reacted after their disastrous beat-down at the hands of Alabama.  I liked what I saw in their victory over the Vols.  Next up, Vanderbilt.  That's actually two ranked opponents right now.  Who thought you could say that about Vandy?  Again, Welcom to college football 2008!

9.  Oklahoma State--The Cowboys defense against Chase Daniel and Missouri was far better than anyone thought.  But to put up that kind of performance on the road, ina hostile environment, was even more impressive.  Speaking of the Tigers...

10.  Missouri--Here's where the pollsters, and myself, part company.  The pollsters have ranked Oklahoma State 8th this week (same as me).  But they ranked Missouri out of the Top 10.  I don't understand how you can, on one hand, say the winning team was a Top 10-caliber team, and then on the other hand, say that the losing team should fall from No. 2, all the way out of the Top 10 because of the loss.  If the Tigers got beat by a Top 10 worthy team, they shouldn't have fallen out of the Top 10.  If they got beat by a team not worthy of the Top 10, then they should have fallen out of the Top 10, but Oklahoma State shouldn't be in.  The pollsters logic isn't.  And I have just spen waaay too much time trying to elaborate that point.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED (In lieu of DORM NOTES, which will return next week)

Bold Prediction:  Penn State WILL BE playing in the National Championship game.  They are, hands down, the best team in the Big Ten.  They will run the table in that conference, including a victory over Ohio State (prepare yourselves Buckeyes) and win the Big Ten.  There is no conference tourney in the Big Ten; so there's no chance of them losing late.  And eventhough the strength of schedule, because of the lowly Big Ten, will be a problem, they'll overcome it by being undefeated.

I have been consistenly ahead of the polls in most of my rankings (I had Missouri No. 2 sooner and I had the Sooners higher than anyone to start the season), but I"ve had two really, really terrible mistakes.  I fell love with the intoxication of youth that is the Georgia Bulldogs, and I totally screwed up Jacquizz Rogers' name in my column 2 weeks ago.  I'm still beating myself up over that one.

As mentioned earlier, no one likes the No. 1 slot.  That doesn't bode well for my Longhorns.

Butch Davis will have North Carolina football competing for attention on campus with the North Carolina basketball team next season.

LSU was not who I thought they were

I actually felt bad when I saw that Vanderbilt lost last weekend.  Here's hoping they finish the deal and finally go to a bowl game.

Tommy Bowden leaving Clemson was the right thing to do.  The Tigers were never going to get over the hump while he was coaching.

College Football

College Fish Wrap: Week 6, No Fish

9. October 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

You might have noticed that there has been no College Fish Wrap posted yet for this past weekend.  This would be because it's Texas/OU weekend.  Me being a graduate in good standing from THE University of Texas, I have been helping prepare for the alumni party this weekend.  Assuming that I'm: a) not completely obliterated next Tues/Wed or b) completely depressed and wanting to crawl under a rock, I will be back with my regular column next week.

And quickly, I have to post a correction.  In my last column, I talked about Jacques Reeves from Oregon State and his huge game against USC.  One problem:  the man's name is Jacquizz Rogers.  That's the last time I write The Wrap while preparing my NFL fantasy team.  My deepest apologies to Mr. Rogers.

See you guys next week!

College Football

College Fish Wrap: Week 5

30. September 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

I will be avoiding College Gameday this week like the plague.  I don't want to get caught in another (what I'm now calling) "Herbie Goes Bananas" situation.  In last week's Wrap, I noted that Herbstreit had said that "the only thing that can beat USC, is USC", and for the first time in four years I actually agreed with Herbie.

No more.  No sooner than I agree with Herbstreit does USC goes out and get beat by Oregon State.  Or by themselves, should I say.  That wasn't the only surprise last Saturday either, as we got the first major shakeup in the Power Rankings.

1. Oklahoma:  I have noted several times in this column that I am a proud Texas graduate.  Since Week 1, I have said how much it has pained me to say that the Sooners were the legitimate No. 2 team in the nation.  So you can imagine how placing them at No. 1 in the nation is especially painful.

2. Missouri:  DNP.  We're about to find out how good these guys are.  Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas all in a row, starting this weekend.

3. Alabama:  I said two weeks ago that the SEC needed to watch out for the Crimson Tide because Saban's boys were coming, and coming hard.  I should have said coming fast.  That beat-down of the 'Dawgs was very, very impressive.

4. LSU: The Tigers playing Florida and Georgia in two of the next three weeks looked a lot more impressive before last Saturday.  Now November the 8th needs to be circled on your calendars.  The Tigers and the Crimson Tide should be a barnburner.

5. Texas:  My beloved Longhorns are quietly lurking in the shadows.  If the 'Horns get by Colorado this Saturday, then you have a Top 5 Red River Rivalry with Boomer Sooner in two weeks.  Texas, Texas, Yeee-haw!

6. Penn State: Call me officially intrigued.  Another nice game against a ranked Illinois team.  Then take into account that the Nittany Lions rolled up 45pts. on an Oregon State team that just beat USC, and I'm starting to believe that Penn State might have enough to get the Big Ten crown this year.

7. BYU:  DNP.  Let's be honest here.  You need to start paying attention to the Cougars.  They will be your BCS Buster for 2008.  So  you may now start asking yourselves which major conference team will get the shaft.

8. USC:  The 'Men of Troy' looked more like the Trojan Women, especially when it came to stopping Oregon State RB Jacques Reeves.  But I still think that USC will be rearing it's mohawked helmet near the top of the rankings again by year's end.

9. Georgia:  Most have the 'Dawgs right at No. 10 or lower.  But I believe this butt-whupping was a huge wake-up call.  They just have too much talent to go into the tank now.

10. South Florida:  Talk about a team that went under the radar for the first month of the season.  An unblemished record, a quality win against Kansas and three of the first five on the road.  Nice work.

DORM NOTES

--You might notice that all major rankings have Texas Tech in the Top 10, yet the Wrap does not.  Sorry, but I can't take any Mike Leach coached team seriously when the first four games on the schedule are Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU and UMass.  Seriously?  This is college football, not college basketball Mike.

--What a disappointing turn-of-events for ECU.  Another unexpected loss this past weekend, and now, after a promising start, they're out of the Top 25.

--Anybody seen the conference formerly known as the Pac 10?

--It's good to see that Bobby Petrino didn't let that brief stint in the NFL change him.  His teams still can't play any defense.  In their only two games against quality opponents (Alabama and Texas), they allowed 49pts and 52pts respectively.

--Lastly, a special salute to Oregon State RB Jacques Reeves for his performance against the Trojans.  For those who aren't in the know, Reeves is a supremely talented kid out of Houston, Texas (my hometown).  Although he put up mind-boggling stats in high school, he was never recruited by any of the big boys.  That was an especially hard pill to swallow when he  was told by all the in-state schools that his services weren't needed.  Why, you might ask, wasn't he recruited?  Hidden medical condition?  Off field shenanigans?  Nope.  He committed the incredibly horrendous offense of being short.  No one wanted him because Jacques Reeves is only 5'6" tall.  Or small, I should say.  I'm guessing that after his 189-yard, 2 TD performance against USC, some of those coaches are now kicking themselves (preferably in the groin). As NBA superstar, LeBron James, said when asked recently about Davidson guard Stephen Curry's stature, "if you can play, you can play."  Jacques Reeves can play.

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College Fish Wrap: Week 4

23. September 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

We finally have some rivalry games played (Tennessee/Florida), and there will be more to come as the season kicks into high gear.   Let the National Championship shape begin!

POWER RANKINGS
1.  USC:  DNP.  It's no wonder the Trojans start off every season so strong.  They begin each year with play a cupcake, get a week off, play a tough opponent, get a week off.  Who else in the nation gets 2 bye weeks in the first month?

2.  Oklahoma: DNP

3.  Missouri:  The Tigers destroyed Buffalo.  Ho-hum.  Now the good stuff begins.  They have Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas in the next 3 weeks, with 2 of those games on the road.

4. Georgia:  Good game against a tough opponent in Arizona State.  But this week they have the game of the week.  The Dawgs and the Crimson Tide are must see TV ( to "borrow" a phrase from NBC, assuming they don't sue me for intellectual property).

5. Florida:  They own Tennessee.  Period.  End of story.

6. Texas:  A drubbing of Rice doesn't impress much.  But seeing how the secondary handles Petrino's Arkansas team next week should prove interesting.

7. Alabama:  This is a crucial week for the Tide.  Can they run with the big "dawgs", or will they have to get off the porch?

8. LSU: I know this is a big drop, considering they beat Auburn, as I expected.  However, I didn't expect the Tigers to have such sketchy quarterback play.  I think Jarrett Lee might have put that to rest in the seond half, but I'm not confident.

9. Wisconsin:  A tough win over #21 Fresno State was impressive; however, I can't put them up too far in the rankings just yet.  Why?  Because they have #14 Ohio State, #12 Penn State and #22 Illinois in the next five weeks.  We'll see how real this team is as they progress through that gauntlet.

10. BYU:  These guys will be your BCS Busters this year.  They are just pounding teams mercilessly.  Another drubbing this week, as they posted a 44-0 destruction over Wyoming.  They have #24 TCU in three weeks.  If they get by that, it should be clear sailing until the final game of the season on November 22nd when they face #17 Utah for all the marbles.


DORM NOTES
--Mississippi State is the most unbalanced team I have ever seen.  They have an unbelievable defense, and an inept offense.  They also managed the worst punt snap I've ever seen in my life.  Go to youtube and see if you can find it.  Hilarious.

--Penn State has put up 45pts. or more in all four of their games.  They have gone to the spread offense.  JoePa seems to have gotten with the times.  And they have Illinois this weekend.  Very interesting, under-the-radar matchup going on.

--Florida vs. Tennessee isn't a rivalry anymore.  Not until UT figures out how to become competitive.

--Florida State's defacto decision to have offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher take over whenever Bobby Bowden retires is looking to be a terrible decision.  Shouldn't he have been able to recruit a decent quarterback by now?  The Seminole QB's have been terrrible for about five years running now.

--Did I mention that you should watch Alabama v. Georgia this weekend?  I know that I'll be watching.

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College Fish Wrap: Week 3

16. September 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

Growing up in Houston, you learn to go on hurricane watch at this time of the year.  Usually, they just swipe on by to the East or the West.  Every now and then, like this year, it goes right through the city.  However, I didn't think I would have to continue to be a hurricane watcher once I moved to Cincinnati four years ago.  But apparently after last Sunday, I do.

It's always fun to have to pickup pieces of your house and put them in the garage for "safe keeping".  But at least it was during the NFL games, not college Saturdays, right?  And for those of you who care, all of my family in H-town are perfectly fine.  Unlike the Buckeyes, they know how to prepare for the big event.

POWER RANKINGS

1.  USC:  Herbstreit pretty well summed it up during the coverage on Saturday night, "the only team that will beat USC, is USC".

2.  OKLAHOMA: As a Texas graduate, it still hurts me to have to rank these guys this high.  But they are making good teams (Cincinnati and Washington) look silly.

3.  MISSOURI:  Here's the surprise in my rankings.  But the Tigers and the Sooners are the only two teams in the nation that have hung 52pts. on each of their opponents this season.  The Tigers even did that on at least one Top 25 team in Illinois.  Not even the mighty 'Men of Troy' can claim that.

4. GEORGIA: I had the chance to watch the Dawgs take on South Carolina this past Saturday.  I had to drop them one slot because I now have concerns about their red zone offense, and their defensive coordinator's ability to make in-game adjustments.

5. FLORIDA: DNP.  They're gearing up for their annual death match with the Vols this weekend.

6. LSU: The Tigers predictably beat-up on North Texas this past weekend.  Now they get the 'other Tigers' in the Superior than Everyone Conference this weekend in Auburn.

7. TEXAS: The Longhorns have had an extra layoff due to Hurricane Ike.  Let's just hope that the layoff doesn't affect them as poorly as it has affected the Astros.

8. ALABAMA: Note to the SEC, Bama is back!  Saban's boys are coming, and coming hard.

9. AUBURN: These Tigers are going to look like kitties this time next week, after LSU gets their claws in them.  And wow, that was way too many cat/tiger references in one sentence.

10. WISCONSIN: I love "The Wisconsin Winnebego" P.J. Hill.  I really do.  But I can't in good conscience put any team from the Little Ten above good SEC teams right now.

BCS BUSTERS:  BYU, East Carolina

DORM NOTES

--Can someone please tell Ohio State that it's okay for them to be competitive in big games outside the Little Ten?  Barely in the game for one quarter is getting really old.

--In case you were wondering, BYU is for real.  The beat-down they put on UCLA (who recently beat Tennessee), was the worst defeat UCLA has suffered in over 50 years.

--The BYU vs. Utah game is shaping up to be a great late season matchup

--Fantasy Alert:  If you play in an NFL keeper league, Missouri QB Chase Daniel is a great college quarterback, but will be a terrible NFL one.

--This one is special for my friend Ben-Ro:  I am aware that UK had only allowed 3pts. heading into last weekend's game vs. MTSU.  But you need look no further than that very game to see why I'm not giving the 'Cats any love just yet.

BUFFALO FOREVER!  (If you didn't see the ending on their game last weekend, go to youtube and check it out.  You won't be disappointed.)

College Fish Wrap: Power Rankings Week 2

10. September 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

Let's get right to it, before Hurricane Ike forces me to reschedule this column. 

1. USC:  Didn't play last week, but will prove their dominance this week vs. the Buckeyes

2. Oklahoma:  Rolled up 5 TD passes on a good Cincinnati secondary.  Then broke UC quarterback Dustin Grutza's leg for good measure.

3. Georgia:  Expectedly beat up on Central Michigan.  More importantly, didn't have any significant injuries.

4. Florida:  Miami win moves them up one notch.

5. Ohio State:  O-line doesn't dominate anyone.  That will get them killed against USC Saturday night.

6. Missouri:  Southeast Missouri State was nothing more than a break after having tough Week 1 tilt vs. ranked Illinois team

7. LSU:  Didn't play.

8. Texas:  Good road start to the season against UTEP.  Horns will get unexpected off week this week as game with Arkansas has been rescheduled due to Ike.

9. Alabama:  SEC take note.  Crimson Tide's defense is back, and very good.  10pts. allowed to Clemson, only 6pts to Tulane, and they don't have to run the gauntlet like a Georgia does.

10: Wisconsin:  The Wisconsin Winnebago, P.J. Hill, might be the best runner you never hear about.

BCS Busters:  East Carolina (another huge win vs. West Virginia), BYU

Dorm Room Notes

West Virginia:  Rich Rod leaves for the maize and blue, and the Mountaineers still manage to lose a game per year they have no business losing. 

SEC:  Two weeks in, they are still the best conference in the land.

East Carolina:  These guys are for real.  I guess when Lou Holtz said his son Skip was the best coach in the Holtz family, he wasn't joking.

Cincinnati:  The injury to Dustin Grutza was truly grusome looking.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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College Fish Wrap: Power Rankings Week 1

2. September 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

I'm back, baby!  That's right.  This is your buddy, JFish, back for another season of college football.  However, I'll be in a bit different capacity this season.  Some of you may know that I host the wildly popular (or so I like to think) show, Fantasy Fastball, on GetSports Radio.  Due to the fact that the Fastball show will be popping in from time-to-time throughout baseball's offseason, making it a year-round commitment, and some other writing commitments I have, I'm leaving the in-depth college writing to newbie, Scott Heckle, and others.

I'll be popping in once a week to deliver my personal Top 10 rankings (let's face it, if you're not in the Top 10 in the Bowl Crap System, you don't have a chance), and I'll also be reviving a segment from a show I used to host in the early days of GetSports Radio (College Football Weekly) called Dorm Room Notes.  As always, no wagering.  Enjoy.

Top 10 Power Rankings

1. USC: Sanchez's knee is fine.  They rolled a very good defensive team in Virginia in their house. 

2. Oklahoma:  It was just Chattanooga, I know.  But they have the best offensive and defensive line in college football.  That will carry them through.  As a Texas graduate, that hurt to write.

3. Georgia:  Anymore injuries and these guys are toast.  Look for them to fall as their brutal schedule kicks in.

4. Ohio State:  With or without Beanie, they won't beat USC. 

5. Missouri:  Hanging 52 on Ron Zook's boys is no small feat.  Giving up 42 worries me though.

6. Florida:  Looked very good without Percy Harvin.  Should be an interesting game this Saturday with in-state rivals, The "U".

7. LSU:  Crowd didn't have the typical rowdiness, due to the early start time because of The German Hurricane.  But the defending champs looked as rowdy as ever on the field.

8. West Virginia:  Still have a big question about their defense.  We all know they can score.  They will get a great test Saturday vs. potential BCS buster East Carolina.

9. Alabama:  That dominant display against a good Clemson team was impressive.  We'll see if they can keep it up when SEC games begin.

10. Texas:  Colt McCoy accomplished something only one other QB at Texas has accomplished:  Passing for 200 yards, Running for 100 yards in multiple games.  The other QB?  "He who walks on water"; Vince Young.  Horns should be undefeated until the Oklahoma game, as usual.  Then all bets are off.

Dorm Room Notes

Congrats to ECU for outbeamering, beamer-ball

Clemson still can't win when it matters. 

Pittsburgh continues to underwhelm, no matter how much preseason hype they get.

Auburn's offense still stinks, which is why they are not in my Top 10

Top 4 Potential BCS Busters:  BYU, Utah, Fresno State, East Carolina

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Fantasy: September Call-Ups

29. August 2008  - Published by Jeremy Fischer

Rosters expand to 40 around Major League Baseball on September 1st. Fantasy owners that are still playing for something in their fantasy baseball leagues need to know which players could make an impact. Here's some my notes from the Fantasy Fastball on GetSportsRadio.com.

Marlins - Cameron Maybin (AA):  spent time on DL with back earlier in season.  Now missing some games after being bit by a spider.  In between, he’s hit .278/13 HR/20 SB.  But has 115/56 K/BB ratio.

Mets - Jon Niese (AAA): already rumored to be taking Maine’s rotation slot.  However, Mets don’t need fifth until Sept. 2.  So he’ll basically be a call-up.  Has 3.18 ERA, with solid but unspectacular 143K/161 IP.  Only 21, so there’s plenty of room to grow and learn.  Good control.  Shouldn’t start him on 2nd, they get the Brewers.

Brewers - Mat Gamel (AAA):  .328 avg / 20 HR / 99 RBI between two levels.  Could easily be compared to Ryan Braun.  Great stick, can’t play defense worth a damn.


TUNE-IN
FANTASY FASTBALL - Get ready for the playoff push and more September sleepers by catching me on the Fastball.

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