The Ideal Sports Blog

By Robbie Stirrup

California at Stanford

Stanford is coming off two huge wins against Pac 10 perennial powerhouse schools USC and Oregon while Cal is still hanging around in the middle of the conference, but still ranked at 25. Jahvid Best will not be playing in this game for Cal therefore the rest of the offense is going to need to really step up. Stanford just needs to keep giving the ball to Toby Gerhart and that will open the passing game up. I calculate that this could have the makings of a shootout and I feel that the home crowd will have a huge impact in the game. Stanford 42-35.

LSU at Ole Miss

I expect this game will be a very good one as both teams are looking to be the third-best team in the SEC. LSU looked kind of lackluster last week against Louisiana Tech, but I fully expect that they will bring their A-game this week. The Ole Miss offense behind Dexter McCluster really came to life last week against Tennessee and they will need to do the same thing this week against the Tigers if they’re going to win. Ole Miss hasn’t won at home against LSU since 1998, but I believe that streak will end this week. Ole Miss 27-24.

Oklahoma at Texas Tech

Both teams have had their ups and downs this year and both have 6-4 records. The Sooners are coming off a win where they dismantled Texas A&M while Texas Tech lost a close one against Oklahoma St. last week. As much as it’s been about offense in the past, this game will depend on whose defense is better. There is no doubt that Oklahoma’s defense is great, but can they shut down Texas Tech’s spread offense? I think they can and will. Oklahoma 35-17.

Ohio St. at Michigan

The Buckeyes have already cashed their ticket to the Rose Bowl and are looking to take the Big 10 title outright while everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for Michigan. I believe that Ohio St. is playing their best football right now and Michigan has been playing their worst. Even though rivalry games are usually close, I don’t see this one going that way. Ohio St. 38-14.

North Carolina at Boston College

These two teams have both been overshadowed by Miami, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech this year, so a lot of people forget that they boast 7-3 records. The Tar Heels are coming off a huge home win against Miami while Boston College slipped by the ACC’s doormat team Virginia last week. North Carolina has put together the components that they need to be a good football team, but they are going to need to come up with an answer for Boston College’s runningback Montel Harris who already has over 1000 yards rushing this season. I’m going to take North Carolina in a close one. North Carolina 17-13.

Oregon at Arizona

The season for Pac 10 teams is coming down to the wire and a lot can happen at the top of the standings in the next few weeks. Oregon is currently in first place, but that can all change if they lose this weekend. Arizona is still in the hunt for the Pac 10 title, but they need a few things to happen. Oregon’s offense has looked very powerful, but their defense can be questionable at times. If Arizona can shut down Oregon’s running game there is no doubt that they can win, but it will be difficult. I’m picking the Wildcats for the upset. Arizona 38-35.

By Robbie Stirrup

Another week of this college football season has passed and things are going down to the wire. There are still a lot of questions yet to be answered such as can TCU really make it to the National Championship? With that said, here are the latest power rankings.

1. Alabama. I know they played a Mississippi St. team that isn’t great, but they’ve looked very good and very complete lately which makes them take the top spot. Next game vs. Chattanooga.

2. Te...

By Robbie Stirrup

Indianapolis rallies in the fourth to take down New England 35-34

The Colts maintain a perfect record after coming back form seventeen points down in the fourth to win by one point. If you turned this game off thinking it was over then I feel really sorry for you because this might have been the game of the year. Both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady went to the air all day long as Manning racked up 327 yards and four touchdowns while Brady threw for 375 yards and three to...

By Robbie Stirrup

Ohio St. at Penn St.

Penn St. has to playing the best football out of any team in the Big 10 right now while Ohio St. has looked questionable lately. The difference in this game will be the play by both teams’ quarterbacks. Daryll Clark has established himself as the best quarterback in the conference and Terrelle Pryor has looked like anything but great as he’s been making terrible throws. Penn St. will also have a major advantage playing at home. Penn St. 24-14....

By Robbie Stirrup

1. Texas. The Longhorns are really starting to play prime football and have been very consistent and that is why they are holding the top spot.

2. Florida. The Gators had a really nice win against Georgia, but I still want to see if this team has what it takes to win like that week in and week out.

3. Alabama. The Tide had the week off and I’m sure they have been thinking about their upcoming matchup with LSU after almost losing against Tennessee the week prior...

By Robbie Stirrup

Minnesota halts a second-half comeback by Green Bay to win 38-26

 

The Vikings are coming off their first loss of the season and the Packers have had a couple wins over bad teams the past couple weeks. Last time these two teams met Aaron Rodgers was on the ground most of the game getting sacked eight times. As Brett Farve returns to Lambeau field, he is not the most important factor. If Green Bay’s defense can contain Adrian Peterson then they will be successful and if they can’t then they will probably lose. I...

By Robbie Stirrup

This is the game that I’ve been waiting for in the Big 12. Myself and the rest of the nation want to see if Texas has as good a defense as advertised against a stellar and explosive Oklahoma St. offense. The Cowboys will be with out Dez Bryant so they are going to need the rest of their receivers to step up. The Longhorns have taken eleven straight victories in Stillwater, but I know the Cowboys will be playing with a lot of emotion in front ...

By Robbie Stirrup

1. New Orleans. The Saints proved that they can dominate games and now they have proved that they can play from behind and still win.

2. Indianapolis. The Colts have been steam rolling their competition and they will look to continue against the 49ers.

3. Denver. Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that it would be week eight and the Broncos would be undefeated?

4. Minnesota. The Vikings lost a tough one in Pittsburgh last week and now they travel ...

By Robbie Stirrup

1. Alabama. The Tide hold on to the top spot for another week just barely though. After a scare from Tennessee that required two blocked field goals to win, they head into a bye week before taking on LSU.

2. Florida. There is no doubt that Florida’s defense is good, but their offense is questionable. If they expect to keep winning then they are going to need to start playing mistake free football. Next game vs. Georgia in Jacksonville.

3. Texas. The Longhorns f...