I still like Oregon over Bama for now and here’s why:
Last week I wrote if Alabama beat Texas A&M I’d probably re-elevate the Tide to No. 1 in the AP poll.
One of the reasons I said “probably” was in case Bama won, but gave up 628 yards in doing so. Another reason I said “probably” was just in case Oregon made Tennessee look like a JV high school team.
Since both of those things happened it’s my belief that if the Ducks and Tide played each other at a neutral site last Saturday, Oregon would be more likely to win the game. Here are a few reasons I think the Ducks are still the slightly better team at this point:
— A&M wasn’t the only team to roll for more than 600 yards against an SEC opponent Saturday. Oregon covered 687 in its 59-14 win over the Vols.
— Total turnovers for Oregon in three games: Zero, while getting seven from opponents. Total turnovers for Alabama in two games: two, while getting three from opponents.
— Alabama fumbled at the goal line when it had a chance to close the game out. No. 1 teams don’t do that.
— Yet another Oregon weapon emerged in tight end Johnny Mundt.
— Give it the eyeball test and boil it all down, and Oregon is Texas A&M with a better defense. Marcus Mariota would’ve been able to abuse the Alabama corners as much as Johnny Manziel did Saturday, and maybe without the two interceptions considering he hasn’t thrown one yet.
Here’s my poll:
1. Oregon
2. Alabama
3. Ohio State
4. Clemson
5. Stanford
6. Louisville
7. LSU
8. Florida State
9. Texas A&M
10. Georgia
11. Oklahoma State
12. South Carolina
13. Oklahoma
14. UCLA
15. Northwestern
16. Michigan
17. Miami
18. Washington
19. Baylor
20. Arizona State
21. Notre Dame
22. Wisconsin
23. Ole Miss
24. Michigan State
25. Texas Tech
Here’s how the entire panel voted:
1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Clemson
4. Ohio State
5. Stanford
6. LSU
7. Louisville
8. Florida State
9. Georgia
10. Texas A&M
11. Oklahoma State
12. South Carolina
13. UCLA
14. Oklahoma
15. Michigan
16. Miami
17. Washington
18. Northwestern
19. Florida
20. Baylor
21. Ole Miss
22. Notre Dame
23. Arizona State
24. Wisconsin
25. Texas Tech
could this be the year clemson doesn’t shoot their own foot??? i think ohio state will run the table in the big10.
I’m a Mariota fan but just who has Oregon played??? When they play somebody of equal caliber, then and only then I can get a measurement as to how really good Oregon is…not sure if Oregon could compete with Texas A&M….seriously…..although would love to see Mariota take Oregon to the BCS Bowl National Championship as much as I wanted to see Manti & Notre Dame v. Oregon last year…now that would have been a contest between two local all state products…..if Oregon can go undefeated and get by Stanford, Ariz. State, Washington…well, then I think they will go to the BCS championship over a Big Ten undefeated team as this past weekend was a disaster for the Big Ten conference so Ohio State really would be left out if Oregon can go undefeated ………
Mariota is better than Manziel? Dave I love you man but do the docs have you on some type of special medication? Manziel is the best college football player in 35 years. June Jones even said that on Artie’s show on Friday. Only got two words if Alabama played Oregon. Roll Tide. And agree with Hossana – Oregon would have a tough time beating A&M, forget about Bama!
Just my normal, non humble, irritating and quite possibly wrong opinion.
It’s hard to say who will win that potential match up for the title. it’s too early in the season to know how good a team is. Alabama’s defense will get better, the question is will it be good enough to stop the ducks? Time will tell…
BTW: What do think the UH football team record will be after the end of this season? I thnk of all the people who cover UH football, you are the most realistic and accurate predictor.
My prediction is zero wins. The offense schemes that coach Chow put in place is not a match for the players we have. I feel bad for the players, who are not being given a chance to win.
I really hope I am wrong .
Hey, Manoa Mist…that’s classic when you said “Dave……but do the docs have you on some type of special medication?” Ha…ha..ha….man, i got tears in my eyes from laffing so hard reading that……ha..ha…and yes, definitely, Oregon would have a tough time beating A&M………i just wonder what kind of meds Reardon is on…ha..ha…ha…
I kid Dave because I care. Always enjoy reading his stuff and have for years.
I don’t think I said Mariota is better than Manziel. I think I wrote that Mariota and Oregon could dissect Bama at this point as much as A&M did, and pointed out that Mariota has thrown no interceptions while Manziel threw two against Tide. And that Oregon’s defense is better than A&M and Bama’s.
Of course this all changes when and if Oregon loses to Stanford or whoever else. Remember, the poll is supposed to be about who is better than who RIGHT NOW … not next week, not next month, not January.
Would be a matchup made in NCAAF heaven . . . if Alabama can win the SEC this year.
hossana … you are easily amused.