The 2012 College Football thread!!!

[BigTyla]

Let me clarify blowout. I say they win by at least 17. Not that Texas is bad. I think they're a great football team that's just starting to find their identity. I expect WVUs defense to pick it up this week after last week's abyssmal performance. Something tells me they'll be pumped for this game.

I feel you on the youngness. It feels like we're younger than last year too. Only 6 starters are seniors, and we just moved two freshman to the top of the depth chart.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

Mack Brown claims that's the most physical OSU team he's ever seen...

He also said WVU looks like Texas and USC when they won their respective national championships.

And...

Poor tackling again plagued Texas in an escape at Oklahoma State. By Brown’s count, the Longhorns missed 12 tackles resulting in 109 yards and two touchdowns.

“It’s obviously affecting us right now,” Brown said. “We’re going to have to look at playing different people. We have enough video of guys that continue to miss tackles.

“We’ll give up 70 this weekend if we don’t tackle better than we did Saturday night.”

Both of our fullbacks are hurt, one of which is our feature back. Hopefully he makes it back. I doubt they'll be any stopping him from playing, he'll want it too bad.

Yes, our pass defense was beyond dismal. However, we completely shut down Baylor's ground game. I think that's the key to the UT game, as well. We'll let you have the pass plays, within reason hopefully lol, as long as we can shut down your running attack. Granted, this is a MUCH more potent ground game than Baylor.

I'm expecting an aerial shootout if Ash continues to perform like he has.

Jeremy

[AdamVR4]

Let me clarify blowout. I say they win by at least 17.

I could certainly see that, but let's be realistic here... WVU beat Maryland by 10 and Baylor by 7. You think 2012 WVU beats the 2011, RG3-led Baylor team? That Baylor team found a way to lose 3 games in the B12 because they couldn't stop anyone.

Not that Texas is bad. I think they're a great football team that's just starting to find their identity.

Far from great, still searching for an identity... The good news is that the offense has options. The bad news is that the defense was supposed to carry the team.

I expect WVUs defense to pick it up this week after last week's abyssmal performance. Something tells me they'll be pumped for this game.

I expect the same from Texas. This should be the loudest Texas crowd of the year.

I feel you on the youngness. It feels like we're younger than last year too. Only 6 starters are seniors, and we just moved two freshman to the top of the depth chart.

Texas depth chart vs WVU shows 4 senior starters... 8 on the entire thing.

[AdamVR4]

I'm expecting an aerial shootout if Ash continues to perform like he has.

Jeremy

Salubi started off well, but you guys definitely tightened up rushing defense as the game went on. Your defensive front in general, got much better in the 2nd half. I'm sure you'll load up to kill the run early and we'll run right into it to see how you hold up to a power running attack. Our plan will be to hold the ball as long as possible and, I assume, concede some runs from Geno if it means getting pressure on him. Vacarro has been killing QB's when they scramble, so Geno will need to slide like he did against Baylor.

[AdamVR4]

Great summary of Texas offense vs OSU

My preview was correct in breaking down OSU's personnel (particularly noting their upgrade at DT), but I was dead wrong on their predicted defensive strategy. Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bill Young abandoned his usual bend-but-don't-break philosophy, killed the Longhorn running game for three quarters with numbers and blitzes, and dared David Ash and the Longhorn receivers to beat top notch cornerbacks placed on islands. Which Texas did.

Harsin pulled double duty as OC and DC and, as against Ole Miss, we saw him consciously play call with our defense and the total team in mind. Harsin robbed possessions from the OSU offense, particularly in the second half of the contest when it was clear that the Cowboys would score every time they had the ball. OSU only had five possessions in the second half and scored on four of them (27 plays, 251 yards, 9.3 yards per play, 2 TDs, 2 FGs) the only non-score when they took over with 0:29 seconds left in the game on their 25 yard line and the defense finally got a stop. In that half, the Longhorn offense had the ball for 20:32 compared to OSU's 9:28 and scored three touchdowns in five possessions (Ash interception, one punt).

Despite racking up 440 yards and putting 34 offensive points on the board, it wasn't all glory for the offense. I wrote in my preview that this game would be a great litmus test for our OL - can they impose their will from the opening whistle on comparable athletes or stacked fronts? - and we found out that answer is no. Which we probably already suspected. That means any decent team that wants to deny our running game can if they're willing to allow the Longhorn passing game some operating space. But the better Ash and our receivers play, the more cloudy that calculus gets.

http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2012/...ball-breakdown

[BigTyla]

Took a look at the Sagarin ratings this morning. No suprise who they determined has had the most difficult schedule so far...

College Football Ratings Page

42 Auburn A = 75.57 1 3 79.43( 1) 0 1 | 0 3 | 75.48 44 | 75.36 42

Auburn is also the highest ranked 1-win team (moral victory, yay!), with the second-highest ranked 1-win team at #59, which is 17 spots away.

Also seems my analysis of who the toughest conference was so far was spot on.

The WIN50% is the rating required to win 50% of the games if playing an
infinite number of round-robins in the given group at a neutral location.

CONFERENCE CENTRAL MEAN SIMPLE AVERAGE TEAMS WIN50%

1 BIG 12 (A) = 83.72 82.58 ( 1) 10 82.93 ( 1)
2 SOUTHEASTERN (A) = 81.30 81.45 ( 2) 14 81.38 ( 2)

[BigTyla]

On a sidenote, I'm interested in hearing how eljefefx feels about his Fighting Tubervilles now that they seem to be doing so well with their strong defense. I'm sure it's not the kind of football he's used to but it seems to be working. I remember him calling for his head last year. If they beat Jokelahoma they could have an exciting year on their hands.

[AdamVR4]

Took a look at the Sagarin ratings this morning. No suprise who they determined has had the most difficult schedule so far...

College Football Ratings Page

I'll take it, but I'd much rather see Texas in the fiesta bowl... Texas will be physically ready for the sort of challenge Alabama will present in 2013. If winning the B12 means playing 'Bama, WVU can have it! haha

[Mikes2nd]

The ONLY hope for WVU is if Texas can't stop the bombing. If they are like baylor and can't simply protect the bombs, then yes WVU can sqeak out a win. Baylor had a swiss cheese pass defense, so did WVU. Their run defense won't stop texas though either. You guys are way over rating that Baylor win.

Here is how Texas goes the rest of the year.


Oklahoma = .very close loss
Texas Tech = very close loss
Kansas State = Loss

Rest are wins

[BigTyla]

The ONLY hope for WVU is if Texas can't stop the bombing. If they are like baylor and can't simply protect the bombs, then yes WVU can sqeak out a win. Baylor had a swiss cheese pass defense, so did WVU. Their run defense won't stop texas though either. You guys are way over rating that Baylor win.

I would say your analysis is not accurate. Smith is an extremely accurate passer. He does not have to rely on bomb passes and broken coverage to win a football game.