College Football Unbeatens but for How Long? Part 1- 09/28/2009
(311 views)
Written by Mark Eddinger
-
September 28, 2009
There are 17 unbeaten teams left in the FBS after only four weeks of play. Will any of these teams be able to run the table and be undefeated entering the bowl selection process? Today I will look at the six undefeated teams that are not ranked in the week five polls. TEXAS A&M (3-0) The Aggies have played three non-conference games against teams they should beat. Give them credit for taking care of business at home against New Mexico, Utah State and UAB. But it is only a matter of time in my mind before A&M loses. This Saturday they take on Arkansas at home and will be their first real test. The following week they play their fifth straight home game to start the season but this time against a ranked Oklahoma State team. I’d expect Texas A&M to drop one if not both of these. If they don’t dates with Oklahoma and Texas at the end of the season will be huge games. WISCONSIN (4-0) The Badgers have opened with four home games and escaped the first two. In week one they beat Northern Illinois 28-20 and then in week two went into overtime to beat Fresno State 34-31. Then they took care of business against an FCS team in Wofford and won their Big Ten opener 38-30 over Michigan State. I thought Wisconsin was going to have a down year but they have not been beaten and their confidence is starting to soar. Saturday they will have their first road test at Minnesota. They might drop this game but if they don’t they surely should drop their first game the following week when they travel to Ohio State, who has pitched two straight shutouts after their loss to USC. UCLA (3-0) The Bruins are unbeaten and two of their three wins have come against an SEC and Big 12 foe in the non-conference. They beat San Diego State in week one and then traveled to Tennessee and came away with a 19-15 win. Two weeks ago they beat Kansas Sate 23-9 at home. This week they take on a solid Stanford team on the road. This could be their first loss. If they do get by the Cardinal they have two straight home games against a hot Oregon team and California. UCLA should leave this three game stretch with at least two losses. SOUTH FLORIDA (4-0) Two of South Florida’s first three games were against FCS teams in Wofford and Charleston Southern. They dominated those games and in between those two games they traveled to Western Kentucky and won easily. Their starting QB Matt Grothe was knocked out for the season against Charleston Southern but somehow South Florida knocked off a ranked Florida State team on the road last week. That was an impressive win and this week they start Big East play at an improved Syracuse team. They should win this game which will set up a battle that could decide the Big East champ when they take on highly ranked Cincinnati at home on Thursday, Oct. 15. If they pull the upset in that one, they could be on their way to an undefeated season but will still have tests against Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Rutgers, Miami and Connecticut. AUBURN (4-0) Auburn has shown an improved offense in 2009. They have scored 37, 49, 41 and 54 in their four wins over Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, West Virginia and Ball State. The defense has allowed a lot of points which leads me to believe they will not be able to stay unbeaten in the tough SEC. They could however get to 7-0 because their next three games are against Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky. That would set up a huge game with LSU. Then they take on Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama in three of their last four games. Expect at least two or three loses in those games. MISSOURI (4-0) The Tigers started with a big win against Illinois 37-9 and have followed it up with Bowling Green, Furman and Nevada. Now they find themselves just outside the AP Top 25 and at No. 23 in the USA Today Poll. Their undefeated season should end in the next three weeks when they face three straight Big 12 ranked opponents. They get Nebraska at home in two weeks, then play at Oklahoma State and back home against Texas. I’d expect at least one probably two losses in these three games. Tomorrow I will look at the six undefeated teams that are in the ranking between 10th and 22nd.
Comments
|
![]() |