Toughest Opponent in Pasadena

by Infield Elephant on Nov 4, 2009 5:10 PM CST Comment 24 comments

As of Halloween, the Horns have shown they are a very realistic contender for the National Championship, more so than any time this season. While there are still four games left in the regular season and one to follow in the Big XII Championship game, we're looking at all the other top ranked teams, trying to determine who the likely participants will be in Pasadena, wondering if and when they are going to lose a game.

I realize the importance of not getting ahead of ourselves - one game at a time. But, each week I am watching all these other teams, learning about them, trying to decide who would give Texas the hardest time.

As of right now, I can't decide. Most people seem to immediately assume Florida will be there and are the faves to win it. I'm not sure I buy that. Alabama has looked very strong most of this season, although that Tenn game has left a bad taste in our mouths, so we lose sight of that. How about the other undefeated teams? Do any of them pose a threat to Texas if they were to meet in the MNC?

Again, don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but I plan to watch each of these teams even closer in the coming weeks to see what we might be up against.

That said...

Poll

Assuming Texas were to make it to the National Championship game in Pasadena, what team do you think poses the biggest threat to the Horns?

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Other?

I hesitated putting “Other” on there, because that would have to be a 2+ loss team. Curious who that would be. Does that imply that all the other teams will lose two or more?

by Infield Elephant on Nov 4, 2009 6:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I put other

Meant to put one of the one loss teams.

"I don't ever miss free throws. I'm like 100-percent from the free throw line. I just don't think about missing and if you think about missing you're going to miss. I just take my time and know I'm going to make it and I do," McClellan said.

by blazzinken on Nov 4, 2009 10:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i know chances are small that they'll make it to the MNC...

….but right now the team i’d hate to face the most (other than the Horns) would be Oregon.

by Heart of a Muschampion on Nov 4, 2009 6:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." - Will Muschamp

by Mulliganville on Nov 4, 2009 7:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thinking that exactly....

by ElMariachiLoco on Nov 4, 2009 8:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't worry about that

Masoli’s the type of QB Texas could rattle very easily. He had a very hard time getting on track this season chiefly because Boise State rattled him, and I think the lack of pressure he’s faced in the pocket has been key in that. It’s a very inexperienced offensive line, and the only reason it hasn’t had him running for his life a little more is because it hasn’t faced much in the way of experienced, quality lines.

James could key up some good runs, but I still couldn’t see more than 21pts. by Oregon against UT.

by burntorangehorn on Nov 5, 2009 10:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Aggy

Let’s get by them in College Station first….they always seem to pull magic out of their butts and look like a real football team when we play them. Especially at Kyle Field, which is on my Top 3 list of places I hate most (along with Hell and Lubbock). I remember they gave us somewhat of a “challenge” in 2005.
Besides that, I would have to say the Duckies would be most likely to ruffle our feathers.

by ElMariachiLoco on Nov 4, 2009 8:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Oregon

I think Texas can take pretty much any team in the nation, even a healthy OU, but against Oregon I think it could go either way. This is why I want a playoff because I think we take care of our last four regular season games, humiliate the North team, go into California and beat whoever the BCS puts against us. But after the game is over and Colt and Jordan are holding the crystal high in the air while being showered with confetti I don’t think we just beat the other top 2 team in the country. We beat the SEC champ, the Big 10 champ or maybe one of the BCS busters but not the other top team in the nation. Now watch Oregon get beat down at home by Oregon State or Arizona State and make this post completely worthless.

by seth78 on Nov 4, 2009 9:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I really think its Oregon too

This defense has shown its ability to handle anything, we are great against the run, and what we did against Zach Robinson last week was amazing.

But this Oregon team is something different, they are more balanced offensively than any other team in the country. They scare me more then Alabam, Florida, and LSU.

by blazzinken on Nov 4, 2009 10:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nothing says "balanced offense"

quite like being ranked 11th in rushing yds/game and 105th in passing yds/game

by luxar on Nov 4, 2009 11:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is true

But they pose the threat to pass, and they can do it efficiently

by blazzinken on Nov 5, 2009 7:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

honestly,

The only reason that Oregon could be a concern is because they play CRAZY offensive football. They thrive in chaos. (Kind of like a very distant, much smaller and weaker relative of the Texas 05 team) I think they are a good team, but they beat a very over-rated SC. (by a lot, i know) I’m just not willing to say that they could really play with what is right now the top 3 teams. I could see TCU throttling them… but there’s still a lot of football to be played.

"It's comin' home to Texas. It's comin' home all the way back to Awwwstin, Texas, baby!" -VY

by 2100 San Jac on Nov 5, 2009 12:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don't fear the Duck

They’re good, but see my above post. Masoli’s hold on that offense is inconsistent, and depends largely on protection.

by burntorangehorn on Nov 5, 2009 10:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ducks

1. Do you see Oregon posing a threat in actually getting to the MNC, or is that hypothetical – if they made it?

2. If they had not lost to Boise St, would they be ranked higher than either Texas, Florida or Alabama?

Doesn’t really matter, I guess, because a lot of stars would have to align to get them there and yeah, they did lose a game, so questioning ranking is n/a.

by Infield Elephant on Nov 5, 2009 11:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

1. I don’t see either as likely
2. No, they’d probably be 4th though

by burntorangehorn on Nov 5, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

florida poses the biggest threat. They are the most balanced team on that list

by MJY6087 on Nov 5, 2009 11:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

No one’s come within 10 points of beating Tebow and Co., right?

Texas v. Florida would come down to big plays and turnovers, because both defenses would do a number on the other team’s offenses.

They’re a really good defense, plagued with some offensive inconsistency. Both sides of the ball have great athletes. Sounds similar to us.

by notsofst on Nov 5, 2009 1:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FL

If you compare FL’s schedule to Bama’s, I’m not totally convinced they are that much stronger or that they have dominated the most. And yes, four teams have come within 10 pts.

9/05 Charleston Southern - W 62-3
9/12 Troy – W 56-6
9/19 Tennessee – W 23-13
9/26 @ Kentucky – W 41-7
10/10 @ No. 4 LSU – W 13-3
10/17 Arkansas – W 23-20
10/24 @ Mississippi State – W 29-19
10/31 vs. Georgia – W 41-17

I would be more weary of Bama than Florida, though both are good. And yeah – FL does sound similar to us, in a way.

by Infield Elephant on Nov 5, 2009 1:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I mean "within" as in, "less than"

I had forgotten about the arkansas game though… What was the story with that game? I guess it’s comparable to the Bama-Tenn game.

by notsofst on Nov 5, 2009 3:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

okay

so within 11. not as benchmark of a number, but still, I do not see anything compelling that tells me Florida is that much better than Bama. We’ll see soon enough.

That FL / Ark game? Gators escaped by the skin of their teeth, maybe with a little help.

by Infield Elephant on Nov 5, 2009 4:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Alabama because of Nick Saban and his dastardly ~~trickeration~~ grabassery.

by burntorangehorn on Nov 5, 2009 1:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don't judge strictly based on Alabama-Tennessee

That’s bloodsport — just like people shouldn’t judge us on our less-than-stellar margin of victory against a reduced-strength Oklahoma. We won. We survived. We’re happy. So is ’Bama, believe me.The games against your biggest/next biggest rival, you just win and enjoy the outcome. You save the style points for other opponents.

Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
- Thomas Jones

by beast in bama on Nov 5, 2009 5:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs