Stacking Up Signature Wins
The Texas Longhorns did their best "survive-and-advance" routine Thanksgiving night, edging out a 10-point win against Texas A&M to secure the third spot in the latest BCS standings.
Texas' critics could point to game as a sign that the Longhorns are undeserving of their lofty ranking, but I attribute the subpar showing to it being a rivalry game on the road.
What should be more troubling for voters, though, is Texas' lack of quality wins. At this point, the best notch on Texas' belt appears to be either its Red River Shootout victory versus a 7-5 Oklahoma team or a 27-point mauling of Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
How do those wins stack up against the best of the other undefeateds? As a measuring stick, let's look at each of the six's most impressive victory based on the latest AP poll (ranking in parentheses):
- Boise State: Oregon (7)
- Florida: at LSU (15)
- Alabama: Virginia Tech in Atlanta (11)
- Texas: at Oklahoma State (22)
- TCU: at BYU (16)
- Cincinnati: at Oregon State (13)
One game does not a season make, but if a team's best win is the No. 22 country, that seems like an indictment of its body of work.
*Know which game really stands out from that group to me? Cincinnati winning in Corvallis. The Beavers have put together a nice little season and could be headed to the Rose Bowl if they upset Oregon Thursday night. Considering that the Big East isn't awful this year, Cincy is moving up this week.
Blatant Homerism Weekly Power Poll: Week 13
1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Cincinnati
4. TCU
5. Texas
6. Boise State
7. Oregon
8. Ohio State
9. Georgia Tech
10. Iowa