Gators Leap the Ducks

First BSC standings surprisingly list the Florida Gators at No. 2. Here's why:

By Ron Schiltz

(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

The year’s first BCS standings were released this weekend and when the smoke cleared the SEC was once again at the top of the poll.  Alabama retained their No. 1 spot as in all the human polls the week before.  The big surprise, however, was that the Florida Gators had jumped Oregon to take the No. 2 spot from the Ducks.  The Gators had the best computer rankings of any team and that was enough to have them scoot past Oregon. 

The SEC has won the last six BCS national championships including every one since the official BCS National Championship Bowl Game was added in 2007.  This year the Ducks from Eugene seem like the only threat to end that streak.  The only problem is that the computers see the SEC as the best conference, thus every win in that conference counts as more.

The Gators do not play Alabama during the regular season and are in opposite divisions of the SEC, thus if both teams win out they would meet in the SEC championship game.  This was the exact same situation as last year, LSU and Alabama met in a regular season game and even though LSU won Alabama was given a birth into the BCS National Championship because of the strength of the SEC.  This game raised quite a controversy over the BCS system and could have prompted the change to a 4-team playoff starting in 2014.  That however does not cover this year.

The Ducks do have one thing going for them this year though.  They have a very back loaded schedule with games against No. 10 USC, No. 20 Stanford, and No. 8 Oregon State still to come.  If Oregon were to run the table, including the PAC-12 championship, they, theoretically, should have enough to gain a birth in the ‘ship and get a shot at the mighty South Eastern Conference. 

If Oregon comes out with a strong showing this Thursday, and one would imagine they would, that may help appeal them to the computers.  If that is not enough a win in the Nov. 10 meeting at the LA Coliseum with No. 10 Southern California would definitely be good for a few bumps in the computer rankings.

In these last few years of the BCS college football fans will see if the SEC will “Roll Tide” into the new playoff system or if the other football giants can reestablish themselves as dominant powers.

The Geno Smith Experience

Can Geno Smith be running away with the Heisman Trophy already after only five games?

By Ron Schiltz

The West Virginia Mountaineers have always boasted a high-powered offense.  Now in the Big 12, the Mountaineers wanted to show that they can hang with the big boys.  No other player wanted this for his team more than West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.

(AP Photo)

To this point Smith has 24 touchdowns, zero interceptions, almost 2,000 yards, while completing 81 percent of his passes. Those are video game numbers.  And the craziest part about those stats is – it’s only been five games.

Geno Smith, senior, has been a three-year starter at West Virginia. He came into this season as an outside possibility for the Heisman, especially with all the hype around USC quarterback, Matt Barkley.  But now, five weeks into the season, Smith is leading the race to the coveted trophy by a wide margin.  After USC lost to Stanford, Barkley fell out of favor with many experts, and where Barkley disappointed, Smith produced.

It’s hard not to notice the offense that Smith is operating.  The team’s lowest point total was 31 against Maryland, but they have also scored 69 and 70 points this season against Marshall and #25 Baylor respectively.  In the game against Baylor Smith broke school records with 45 completions, 656 yards, and eight touchdowns.

ESPN Big 12 Blogger, David Ubben described watching Smith play as “The Geno Smith Experience.”  There’s no other way to put it.  Watching a single player take over the game every time he steps on the field is simply that, An Experience.