Bowl Predictions Offer Hope for BYU / No Hope for Utah

Luke Ashworth Finally Had a Big Game Against UW

So, the BCS ratings are once again out, and after another #1 team lost (Oklahoma) the BCS shot SEC leader Auburn from 4th up to first by virtue of their 24-17 victory over #6 LSU on Saturday.  So in other words their win was more important than Oregon and Boise State's not losing... Let's face it, BSU, TCU or Utah will not get to play for a National Championship in this system, as long as Auburn  & Oregon keeps winning.

Along with the BCS ratings, ESPN also gave some early bowl predictions and apparently they love the BYU Cougars.  BYU (3-5) are coming off a hard fought 25-20 win over Wyoming.  It wasn't impressive, but at least it was a win, which sets up BYU nicely for a shot a bowl elligibility.  ESPN had BYU playing either Central Florida in the Armed Forces Bowl or Fresno State in the New Mexico bowl, and frankly I think BYU would be estatic if they're able to get into either one of these games.  I agree with ESPN and here's why:

BYU's final four games:  vs. UNLV / @ Colorado State / vs. New Mexico / @ Utah

I think BYU will win out until they face Utah.  UNLV, CSU and New Mexico are TERRIBLE teams, worse than Wyoming, and I do think BYU's getting better.  I think they'll have to fight hard to beat UNLV and CSU, but they should win confidentally against New Mexico.  That will get them to 6-5 heading into the Utah game, which they will lose, and lose big, but hey 6-6 will get the Cougs into a bowl game.

Meanwhile for the Utes, ESPN had multiple people place them in the Las Vegas Bowl against either Cal or Washington, which means, of course, that everyone's picking TCU to beat Utah.  Let's face it TCU is a great team and they could definitely come into Salt Lake and get the win, but people shouldn't overlook Utah entirely.  They certainly have a chance to win out.  Here's the remaining schedule for the Utes:

Eddie Wide Rolls in for a Score Against CSU

@ Air Force (tough game) / vs. TCU (really tough game) / @ Notre Dame (not as tough as either AFA or TCU / @ San Diego State (should be a win) / vs. BYU (a definite win).

Utah will win at Air Force, but not by a lot.  I honestly believe the Utes will hang right in there with TCU.  If the Utes survive early look out, they could upset the Frogs.  Utah should win by 2+ touchdowns at Notre Dame (they better because I'll be in the stands) and they should have a similar result against SDSU.  BYU is a wild card since it's a rivalry game, but Utah's got the better team, and should pull it out by 2+ scores.

People shouldn't automatically write off the Utes.  They're good enough to beat any team in the country on any given day... TCU better beware.

POWER RANKINGS FOR WEEK 6: WHO'S THE BEST IN THE NFC?

The J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets became the 1st team to stay on the top spot of my Power Rankings for a 2nd consecutive week after picking up a come from behind victory in Denver.  It's pretty evident currently that the AFC is the dominant conference in the NFL, with six of the top 10 spots all going to AFC teams, but who really is the best team in the NFC?

According to the Power Rankings, it's the Eagles.  They leap frogged the Falcons by blasting them 31-17 on Sunday in Philly behind a masterful performance by Kevin Kolb.  The biggest question surrounding the Eagles is who is their true #1 quarterback?  Andy Reid continues to say the Vick will be when he returns from his rib injury, but if Kolb keeps playing this well, I don't think it would shock anyone if Reid went back on his word.  Is that going to be a continually distraction for the Eagles all season?  I think it might be, so I can't side with my Power Ranking system on this one, I don't think the Eagles are the best in the NFC.

So who is the best?  I honestly think I have to say the Giants.  Something has ignited the G-Men and they are playing fanatical football.  Their defense has turned into one of the best in the NFL, their running game is extremely solid and Eli does just enough to help them win games.  I think the Giants, despite their slow start, are the best the NFC has to offer currently and I think you'll see them continue to rise in the Power Rankings as the weeks go on.  Here are the full rankings from top to bottom:

1 NY JETS


2 PITT STEELERS

3 TEN TITANS

4 NE PATRIOTS

5 PHI EAGLES

6 ATL FALCONS

7 IND COLTS

8 BAL RAVENS

9 NO SAINTS

10 CHI BEARS

11 NY GIANTS

12 KC CHIEFS

13 GB PACKERS

14 SEA SEAHAWKS

15 HOU TEXANS

16 MIA DOLPHINS

17 SD CHARGERS

18 WAS REDSKINS

19 TB BUCS

20 CIN BENGALS

21 STL RAMS

22 MIN VIKINGS

23 AZ CARDINALS

24 DEN BRONCOS

25 JAX JAGUARS

26 DET LIONS

27 DAL COWBOYS

28 OAK RAIDERS

29 CLE BROWNS

30 SF 49ERS

31 CAR PANTHERS

32 BUF BILLS

J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS ARE #1

Okay, so the Packers (now #9) the Steelers (now #3) and the Chiefs (now #7) all lost the week after I named them the #1 team in the NFL.  Is the jinx legit?  This weekend will be a great time to find out!  The New York Jets are the new #1 team on my power rankings and this weekend they are traveling to Denver to face my beloved (22nd ranked) Broncos.  This is a game the Jets SHOULD WIN, but will they?  Or will they fall just like the Packers, Steelers and Chiefs did?  I have my doubts... I honestly think the Jets may stay at #1 for a while.  They are playing amazing football right now.  Mark Sanchez isn't throwing interceptions (0 for the year so far) so he's doing an amazing job of managing the game without turning the ball over.  Tomlinson is running as well as he did 2-3 seasons ago for the Chargers (#14 after they lost in Oakland on Sunday) and the Jets defense is strong at every position.  They are a legitimate contender for the AFC Championship right now and I don't think we'll see them slide anytime soon.  In my pre-season superbowl pick I did pick the Jets to represent the AFC in the superbowl, so I'm feeling pretty confident with that pick.  (Of course I did pick the Cowboys (#27 currently) to represent the NFC, so yeah, I'm not so optimistic with that pick.

In addition to the Jets, there are some teams to really keep a close eye on over the next few weeks.  #1 team of interest:  The Steelers.  How will Big Ben do now that the suspension is over?  #2 team if interest:  The Giants.  Look out New York, with the way the G-Men have started playing on defense a Giants vs. Jets superbowl, could be possible...

Here are the full Week 5 Power Rankings:

1 NY JETS


2 ATL FALCONS

3 PITT STEELERS

4 NE PATRIOTS

5 BAL RAVENS

6 CHI BEARS

7 KC CHIEFS

8 TEN TITANS

9 GB PACKERS

10 PHI EAGLES

11 IND COLTS

12 TB BUCS

13 NY GIANTS

14 SD CHARGERS

15 NO SAINTS

16 WAS REDSKINS

17 HOU TEXANS

18 SEA SEAHAWKS

19 JAX JAGUARS

20 CIN BENGALS

21 MIA DOLPHINS

22 DEN BRONCOS

23 AZ CARDINALS

24 DET LIONS

25 STL RAMS

26 OAK RAIDERS

27 DAL COWBOYS

28 MIN VIKINGS

29 CLE BROWNS

30 SF 49ERS

31 CAR PANTHERS

32 BUF BILLS

NFL POWER RANKINGS #3

Great coaches and a great draft = a great start to this season for the Kansas City Chiefs.  Todd Haley the Chiefs head coach has done wonders for their franchise by bringing in the coaching staff (minus Belichek) who created the New England Patriots dynasty.  Is it any wonder that with great coaching a team can turn into a decent offensive team and an excellent defensive team?  It really shouldn't be.  They also had an amazing draft with players like Eric Berry, Dexter McCluster, Javier Arenas and Tony Moeaki all turning in big time contributions.  They did what I wish my Broncos would have done, which was bolster your defense and special teams with high caliber, athletic players.  Instead the Broncos got Tebow... (yeah I'm not bitter at all?).  All of this though has lead to KC's 3-0 start and a spot at #1 on the power rankings.  Their stint in the top spot may be short lived though, the last two teams that I've declared #1 (Packers & Steelers) both lost their games the following week... will KC continue that trend this week as they match up with Peyton Manning?  We'll see...

Here are the complete rankings:

1 KC CHIEFS



2 NY JETS


3 PITT STEELERS


4 NE PATRIOTS


5 ATL FALCONS


6 GB PACKERS


7 BAL RAVENS


8 HOU TEXANS


9 NO SAINTS


10 SD CHARGERS


11 CHI BEARS


12 IND COLTS


13 TEN TITANS


14 PHI EAGLES


15 STL RAMS


16 TB BUCS


17 CIN BENGALS


18 DEN BRONCOS


19 WAS REDSKINS


20 SEA SEAHAWKS


21 DAL COWBOYS


22 MIA DOLPHINS


23 MIN VIKINGS


24 NY GIANTS


25 CLE BROWNS


26 JAX JAGUARS


27 AZ CARDINALS


28 OAK RAIDERS


29 DET LIONS


30 CAR PANTHERS


31 SF 49ERS


32 BUF BILLS