Let’s get right to it, GovLoopers… it’s the Hokie Guru’s mid-season evaluation of NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams. We’ll review the six Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conferences, including the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Big 12 Conference (Big 12), the Big 10 Conference (Big 10), the Pacific 10 (Pac 10) Conference, and the Big Least East (Big East) Conference.
But, first, the Hokie Guru recommends that you see the new movie, “W”. It rocks. The Hokie Guru loved it and will see it for a second time on Sunday, October 19. Here’s a clip:
On to college football 🙂
SEC
Best Team – Alabama – The Crimson Tide has an undefeated record. The Hokie Guru did not see this coming in Nick Saban’s second year at Alabama. The Hokie Guru also thinks it’s too tough for Alabama to go undefeated.
Surprise Team – Vanderbilt – The Hokie Guru likes seeing quality academic schools get their due in athletics, specifically, college football. Duke, your time is coming.
Worst Team – Tennessee – Hello, Mr. Phillip Fulmer. You are on the hot seat!!
ACC
Best Team – Virginia Tech/Wake Forest (Tie) – Virginia Tech and Wake Forest are horrendous offensive teams. And Virginia Tech is not as good on defense as in past years. Somehow, both of these teams find a way to win and they both do it by capitalizing on turnovers. Both have great coaches in Frank Beamer and Jim Grobe.
Surprise Team – Georgia Tech – The triple option offense is working in a BCS conference; the Hokie Guru did not think he would see the day.
Worst Team – North Carolina State University – This is an unfortunate rating because the Hokie Guru likes Tom O’Brien and he hopes Wolfpack supporters give him at least two or three more years as the head coach.
Big 12
Best Team – Texas – Big, big win over Oklahoma last week. Longhorns, keep winning and you are in the BCS title game.
Surprise Team – Oklahoma State – The Hokie Guru was impressed with the dominating victory by the Oklahoma State Cowboys over Missouri last week. Quite frankly, it is too bad that Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State are all in the Big 12 South Division. The Cowboys could be any team in the North Division, but will likely not get a shot at the Big 12 title game because of the strength of the South Division.
Worst Team – Texas A&M – Texas A&M barely beat Army. Enough said.
Big 10
Best Team – Penn State – At the beginning of the season, the Hokie Guru thought that the Nittany Lions could finish anywhere from third to seventh place. The Hokie Guru was obviously wrong. However, the Hokie Guru notes that Joe “Weekend at Bernie’s” Paterno is not on the sideline. This might be is why Penn State is winning. Penn State is running a spread offense and it is the 8th wonder of the world!! Keep winning and you are in the BCS title game.
Surprise Team – Minnesota – The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 6-1 and bowl-eligible. Last year, the Gophers won one game (and lost to North Dakota State University!!). I’d say that Tim Brewster is the Hokie Guru’s runner-up nominee for coach of the year.
Worst Team – Indiana – Stick with basketball soccer, Hoosiers!!
Pac 10
Best Team – University of Southern California (USC) – Okay, you blew your title shot by losing to Oregon State. Have fun in the Rose Bowl against Boise State University (yes, I said Boise State).
Surprise Team – Oregon State – The Oregon State Beavers big win over USC was my favorite Thursday night game of the early season. They likely knocked USC out of the national championship game.
Worst Teams – Washington/Washington State (Tie) – The Apple Cup could determine the last place team in the Pac 10. The power balance has shifted in the Pac 10.
Big East
Best Team – University of South Florida/Pittsburgh (Tie) – The Pittsburgh Panthers have the best talent in the Big East, but South Florida has the best coaching staff. The Bulls will have to hope that Wanny blows a few games; the Hokie Guru thinks that is a given.
Surprise Team – Connecticut – Connecticut, a football school? The Senate Committee on Homeland Security Affairs and Government Reform needs to investigate this development.
Worst Team – Syracuse – Greg Robinson is at hot seat position #5.
Mid Major
Boise State University – Keep winning and you are in the Rose Bowl and a potential future member of the Pac 10. Everyone loves the Smurf-turf in Boise.
Heisman Hopeful
Colt McCoy, QB, Texas – This man is playing flawless football, passing for a ton of yards, and is winning. That’s everything you’d expect in a Heisman Trophy winner.
Coach of the Year
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State University – I’m a man; I’m 40!!
Seriously, Gundy has the Cowboys at 6-0. They are the surprise team of the year and could likely be playing in the Fiesta Bowl as an at-large BCS team.
Have a great week and go Virginia Tech Hokies… Beat Boston College!!
Great post. It’s been a great year. I’m interested in seeing who ends up making it to the BCS. Go Bulls!