With the top two teams in the nation on byes this week, it made room for some of the higher ranked teams to gain and lose ground on them. Alabama was still ranked number one at the end of the week, but Oregon wasn't.
Florida State showed that they are for real with another win against a top ranked opponent. Earlier this year the Noles beat the number three ranked Clemson Tigers, and this weekend they beat the number seven ranked Miami Hurricanes, and one of their biggest rivals. FSU hasn't just showed they can beat these kind of teams, but that they have the ability to beat these kinds of teams badly. Neither of these games were even close to being as close as anticipated. This is why the Seminoles have moved to number two in the BCS rankings.
The Ducks have the opportunity to prove that they are the number two team in the nation when they play the number five ranked Stanford Cardinals this week. But after the Seminoles beat two unbeaten teams its hard not to like them as the number two team in the nation, or even the number one team. The Ducks and the Seminoles both have beaten top ranked teams, and have proven themselves. We will get a good test of the Crimson Tide when they play top ranked and bitter rival, Auburn.
Another big game this weekend was the Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, Michigan vs. Michigan State. This game proved the old saying right, the best offense is a good defense. The high powered Michigan offense was held to only two field goals, and had -48 rushing yards. This was a good testament of how good the MSU defense is. They are according to the stats, the best defense in the nation, and they proved just that. The Big Ten is starting to separate one team in each division, and that is who we will see in the championship.
With the conference championships getting closer and closer, and the decision of who will be playing in which bowl games keeps getting closer, the best teams are starting to prove themselves. For teams like Miami and Michigan this isn't going to be the perfect season they envisioned. But these two teams will have games left on their schedule that won't be decided by their records, but by the will of the players. That is how rivalries are born, through teams that put the records and stats behind them and just compete on one Saturday to beat their competitors. For teams like Florida State, Oregon, and Bama their stride for perfection is getting closer to reality, but their is a lot of hard nose to nose football left to be played.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
DJ takes the HSBC with final charge
Dustin Johnson the long bomber, didn't look that good when he lost two shots to his nearest chasers at the beginning of the round. But with a eagle on 16 and then a birdie on 17, DJ was able to walk away with a three shot win over defending champ, Ian Poulter.
Johnson was leading by three shots going into Sunday, but when McDowell and Poulter (his playing partners) both birdied the first hole, and Johnson bogeyed it, it wasn't going to look like a run-away victory. And it really wasn't until he separated himself on the last couple holes. The win on Sunday marks the biggest win for Johnson, and this elevates his prestige on the tour quite a bit.
DJ won the HSBC in a definitive manner, and showed much of the nay-sayers that he isn't the same player he used to be. This is still the same golfer who shot in the 80's his final round at the US Open when he had the lead, and the same player who had the PGA won and then grounded his club in a non-traditional bunker, causing him to be penalized and missing the playoff. Now the WGC HSBC Championship isn't a major, but the World Golf Championship events are the biggest non-major events.
Some of the notable players who had high finishes were Poulter in second, McDowell in third, Garcia in fourth, Rose in fifth, McIlroy in sixth, and Watson in eighth. With this strong of a showing from the top players in the world it sets a great tone for the 2014 season. The only thing missing from this tournament was a good showing out of Tiger, but I'm not to worried about him for next year.
The first big tournament of the 2014 season was a big success due to the best players making it a tight race. This shows a lot of promise going forward for 2014, and all the drama that will take place.
Johnson was leading by three shots going into Sunday, but when McDowell and Poulter (his playing partners) both birdied the first hole, and Johnson bogeyed it, it wasn't going to look like a run-away victory. And it really wasn't until he separated himself on the last couple holes. The win on Sunday marks the biggest win for Johnson, and this elevates his prestige on the tour quite a bit.
DJ won the HSBC in a definitive manner, and showed much of the nay-sayers that he isn't the same player he used to be. This is still the same golfer who shot in the 80's his final round at the US Open when he had the lead, and the same player who had the PGA won and then grounded his club in a non-traditional bunker, causing him to be penalized and missing the playoff. Now the WGC HSBC Championship isn't a major, but the World Golf Championship events are the biggest non-major events.
Some of the notable players who had high finishes were Poulter in second, McDowell in third, Garcia in fourth, Rose in fifth, McIlroy in sixth, and Watson in eighth. With this strong of a showing from the top players in the world it sets a great tone for the 2014 season. The only thing missing from this tournament was a good showing out of Tiger, but I'm not to worried about him for next year.
The first big tournament of the 2014 season was a big success due to the best players making it a tight race. This shows a lot of promise going forward for 2014, and all the drama that will take place.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Battle for the Paul Bunyan
The interstate rivalry between
Michigan and Michigan State has had 105 football games, and this year’s game
may be one of the best games in the rivalry yet. Going into this year’s game,
Michigan is ranked #23 in the nation and Michigan State is #24. Both of them
have one loss on the year, and are looking to compete for a Big Ten
Championship.
In the past, Michigan has been the better team, and has always come across as underestimating the Spartans. Michigan players have called Michigan State their "little brother" in the past, and have also said that its amusing watching MSU try to compete with them. These comments have not gone over well with State, and maybe that's why they went on a four game winning streak from 2008-2011, after most of these comments were said. Michigan, under Brady Hoke, has shown the Spartans a lot more respect than in the past, and they are not going to underestimate, the highly underestimated Spartans.
The Spartans are 7-1 this year, with their one loss coming to Notre Dame (17-13). They are 4-0 in the Big Ten, and are looking at the 2014 Rose Bowl in their future. For them to make it into the Rose Bowl, they will have to win the Big Ten, and that will require making it into the Big Ten Championship. In the legends division MSU has the advantage over Blue because of their undefeated record in the Big Ten. So this game pulls a lot of weight for which team will make it into the Championship and most likely face the #4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. To get there, the Spartans will most likely have to win the rest of their games (same with Michigan), and they face a good Nebraska team, then a struggling Northwestern, and then a underrated Minnesota team. So getting there won't be easy for the Spartans.
Maize and Blue is looking to extend their season by making it to the conference championship, and that is certainly not going to be easy. Michigan faces a strong Nebraska team after they play State, and then they get Northwestern and a good Hawkeyes team. But then the real test, "THEE" Ohio State Buckeyes, who if Michigan makes it to the championship will play again.
The match-up this weekend should be a good one to watch. Michigan's explosive offense versus the strong and talented defense of the Spartans. Michigan is led by their quarterback, #98, Devin Gardner. While the Spartans are led by Shilique Calhoun. Calhoun leads the number one ranked defense in the country against the Wolverines, at defensive end. This matchup of defense vs. offense should be a good one to watch.
The long tradition of Michigan and Michigan State will be continued by what should be an exciting game this Saturday. The Battle for the Paul Bunyan should once again decide who the best team in the state of Michigan is.
In the past, Michigan has been the better team, and has always come across as underestimating the Spartans. Michigan players have called Michigan State their "little brother" in the past, and have also said that its amusing watching MSU try to compete with them. These comments have not gone over well with State, and maybe that's why they went on a four game winning streak from 2008-2011, after most of these comments were said. Michigan, under Brady Hoke, has shown the Spartans a lot more respect than in the past, and they are not going to underestimate, the highly underestimated Spartans.
The Spartans are 7-1 this year, with their one loss coming to Notre Dame (17-13). They are 4-0 in the Big Ten, and are looking at the 2014 Rose Bowl in their future. For them to make it into the Rose Bowl, they will have to win the Big Ten, and that will require making it into the Big Ten Championship. In the legends division MSU has the advantage over Blue because of their undefeated record in the Big Ten. So this game pulls a lot of weight for which team will make it into the Championship and most likely face the #4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. To get there, the Spartans will most likely have to win the rest of their games (same with Michigan), and they face a good Nebraska team, then a struggling Northwestern, and then a underrated Minnesota team. So getting there won't be easy for the Spartans.
Maize and Blue is looking to extend their season by making it to the conference championship, and that is certainly not going to be easy. Michigan faces a strong Nebraska team after they play State, and then they get Northwestern and a good Hawkeyes team. But then the real test, "THEE" Ohio State Buckeyes, who if Michigan makes it to the championship will play again.
The match-up this weekend should be a good one to watch. Michigan's explosive offense versus the strong and talented defense of the Spartans. Michigan is led by their quarterback, #98, Devin Gardner. While the Spartans are led by Shilique Calhoun. Calhoun leads the number one ranked defense in the country against the Wolverines, at defensive end. This matchup of defense vs. offense should be a good one to watch.
The long tradition of Michigan and Michigan State will be continued by what should be an exciting game this Saturday. The Battle for the Paul Bunyan should once again decide who the best team in the state of Michigan is.
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