Pyle of List

“It ain’t over till it’s over.”

-Yogi Berra

You know what that phrase means even if you don’t.  That is, while it seems highly redundant upon first reading it, if you think about it for a second it makes perfect sense.  This tended to be the case with all of Berra’s quotes.  They were intellectually stupid.  Almost like riddles.  I wonder if he crafted some of them in advance or if they were all made up on the spot.  Either way, it’s highly impressive.

While every game matters in college football, most people are already taking the post-season for granted.  The Florida/Bama winner will play Texas, and the other three undefeated teams will be left out in the cold, with two of them having a very solid beef for being slighted.  But who’s to say it’s going to end up that way?  If you’ve got no dog left in the fight, I say root for chaos.

Below is a look at this week’s games and my ranking of the six remaining undefeated teams.  (Current record: 57-16.)

#6 Boise State: The Broncos put a beatdown on Idaho, winning 63-25.  If this were earlier in the season, I’d probably move them up in the rankings.  But with only five teams above them, there’s no one to jump.  It’s the same problem they’re facing in the BCS rankings, except there they keep getting passed by teams with a loss.

I know they’re AT Utah State tonight, but since I haven’t yet talked about their blue turf field, indulge me.  Instead of debating whether it looks awesome or stupid, I’m wondering if it’s somehow a contributing factor to their success.  I don’t just mean at home, where it could be argued (probably not very well) that they “blend in” with the field and have a special advance.  I’m talking psychologically.

This could be total BS, because I don’t have a degree in this or anything.  But I’m currently Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers (it’s awesome, check it out) that’s all about the idea of success, and it has me thinking.  Maybe having a blue field gives them more of a “we have to defend our honor” mentality.  Would we hear nearly as much about the blue turf if they WEREN’T successful?  Probably not.  But if they were a crappy team, the jokes about their field would just be adding insult to injury.  Right now, it gives them something to “protect,” as if they are being disrepected.  Despite their lack of staying power in the BCS, the country acknowledges that they are a good team.  But some people still make fun of their field.

Anyway, just a crazy thought.

Winner: Boise State

#5 Cincinnati: It was a close game, but not as close as the score might indicate.  West Virginia got within three by scoring a touchdown with less than a minute to play, and then they failed to recover the onside kick.  So yes, close, but not as big of a scare as it might seem.

Meanwhile, I’m still not convinced Cincy doesn’t have somewhat of a QB controversy.  Collaros did most of the work, throwing for 205 yards but also tossing one pick to no touchdowns.  Meanwhile, Pike only went 2 of 4 for 16 yards, but those two completions were both touchdowns.  (Presumably his other passes were incompletions because the defense keyed in on Kelly’s strategy of using Pike to throw touchdowns.)

With them both fully healthy, it will be interesting to see if they split the playing time.  And if not, how long Pike gets to stay in if he struggles.  They’re got some time to think about it, with a bye this week and an easy game against Illinois the next before their showdown with Pittsburgh.

 #4 TCU: After pounding Utah into a pulp, I’d be willing to let the Horned Frogs off the hook if they don’t absolutely cream Wyoming.  But I hope they do, finishing their last two games strong and giving lots of reporters the chance to talk about how they deserve a shot at the national title just like the SEC and Big 12 teams.  The tale will be even more bittersweet if Bama upsets Florida and then wins the championship game, because people will be wondering if, once again, there was a Mountain West team that could have beaten them.

Winner: TCU

#3 Florida: Another week, another perfectly acceptable victory for the Gators that features very good but not great and certainly not amazing stats for Tebow.  I expect he’ll be able to pad his stats against Florida International this weekend, but I hope the Heisman voters will remember that it’s Florida International.

Right now the Gators are like a guy you sort of know but don’t really mesh with yet feel obligated to invite to your parties.  He does fine hanging out by himself and doesn’t bother you too much, but it’s still kind of weird that he’s there.  Sometimes he dominates the spotlight, sometimes he just gets one good joke in, and sometimes he hangs around way too long.  But at the end of each and every party, he takes a hot girl home with him.  You may not like his style, but you can’t argue his results.

Winner: Florida

#2 Alabama: Poor, poor Chattanooga.  Forget the “Why did Alabama schedule this at this point in the season” question.  Why in the world would the Chattanooga Mocs schedule the Crimson Tide for their LAST GAME OF THE YEAR?  They’re having a decent season at 6-4, and now they’re going to end their season by being absolutely demolished.  Quite the springboard for the off-season.  (Or just imagine if they were going to the playoffs.  That would be even worse.)

Take a look at their athletic website.  Notice anything strange?  The Alabama game is not mentioned anywhere on the front page!  Football is barely even referenced.  They are trying to pretend like this game is not happening, and I don’t blame them.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide has a freaking countdown. (To 11:21, for some odd reason.)  I understand that it’s Senior Day and all, but is it really that exciting to your seniors when you’re playing a team that the band could probably hold their own with?

The only slightly interesting thing about this game is the risk/reward scenario Saban faces.  How many points can you rack up without taking chances of injuring key players?  My guess is quite a few.

Winner: Alabama

#1 Texas: Sorry I didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt, Longhorns.  Your 35-3 win over UCF the previous week was not impressive to me, but then that team went ahead and beat #15 Houston, their first win over a ranked team.  And Texas took care of business too, pounding Baylor 47-14.

Tomorrow they play Kansas, which has enough problems right now without having to think about Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley.  Their coach is on the way out the door but is currently wedged in the doorframe.  (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)  Normally, I’d say this would be the kind of game where the players could rally to help their coach out.  Except in this case, it’s the players trying to show him the door.  Apparently they can’t stand him.

I am in no way suggesting that the Kansas football players are not going to try to beat Texas.  It would be the thrill of their lives for most of them.  But for the players who want Mangino gone, don’t you think the last thing they want to do is give him any credit whatsoever for beating a #3 team?

Even if it’s a subconscious thing, it will affect their gameplay.  Expect them to look like they don’t care.

Winner: Texas

Yep, no upsets this week either.  I call ‘em like I see ‘em, folks.