TSIB Top 25

No, y’all, we’re not slobbering invalids trying to put together a Rubix cube over here at 3SIB. We voted before last night’s game, but our resident leader, Crimson Daddy, has been busy with this thing they call “work” all week and is just now begging me to get it up. So, without further adieu, here is this week’s 3SIB poll, which is gospel, considering prognosticating this year is about about like managing Tony Romo’s little black book or being Charlie Weis’s personal chef.

1.  LSU 0.982
2.  Oregon 0.978 (We’re idiots)
3.  Kansas 0.902
4.  Oklahoma 0.893
5.  Missouri 0.827
6.  West Virginia 0.787
7.  Georgia 0.760
8.  Arizona State 0.720
9.  Ohio State 0.698
10. Virginia Tech 0.636
11. USC 0.596
12. Florida 0.551
13. Texas 0.533
14. Clemson 0.480
15. Tennessee 0.387
16. Virginia 0.382
17. Boston College 0.360
18. Hawaii 0.289
19. Kentucky 0.262
20. Cincinnati 0.218
21. Illinois 0.191
22. Boise State 0.178
23. Michigan 0.129
24. Wisconsin 0.102
25. Connecticut 0.053

Minka Kelly’s Goodies

Last week, we had the beautiful Megan Fox present our links package, and it drew such rave reviews, we decided to call Friday Night Light’s Minka Kelly to lend her beautiful, amazing, spectacular self to this week’s.

So, enjoy guys.

First off, we’ll take you to SI.com’s top 10 impact freshman. At No. 2 is everybody’s favorite SEC running back Knowshon Moreno (well, my favorite, anyway). No. 6? Mr. All-American himself, Eric “Scary” Berry.

Check out the super cool Animated Blog Poll by our buddy Joel over at Rocky Top Talk. Wish we were graphically oriented here.

Buddy of mine sent me this Mississippi State football game flyover. Can’t say it’s the funniest thing I’ve seen this week, but it’s close. Not quite as cool as the BlackHawk flyover prior to the UT-Ark game last week.

OK, this is shameless because it’s not sports-related. But I have to link a couple of music sites that you absolutely must look at if you like Alt-country, which is the best kind of music. Jay Farrar is the former co-lead singer of Uncle Tupelo and has a band, Son Volt, that you’re just simply missing out on if you’ve never listened to. They’re amazing, and his solo stuff is great, too. They’ve been around forever, so surely you’ve heard them.

Then, there’s the great Scott Miller who lives in Knoxville. This man is brilliant. ‘Nuff said.

Yep. This was just a matter of time. Time for Coach O to go. (I found out about this link from EDSBS.com)

Technically, Kentucky could dispose of Billy Gillispie right now.

Great story on Sylvester Smacktalk by the hack who hates the Vols.

The end of Houston Nutt may be nigh.

Apparently, Bill Belichick has some humanity. It’s still cool to hate him.

Ghost of Neyland

OreGONE

Other than Dennis Dixon’s teeth and Ryan Leaf’s commentary, the most alarming thing about last night’s game is Oregon had looked like absolute world-beaters this season. World-beaters! And, all of a sudden, some nothing team that was at one point this season 2-6 and rumored to be firing its coach was tearing them to shreds.Tis the season that keeps on giving to fans — and taking from contenders.

One point that I’d like to make before moving on to the topic of conversation: Teams that run the spread offense without a spread-option quarterback are S-C-R-E-W-E-D. Unless you’re Urban Meyer and you have another freak of nature backing up your horse freak of nature.

That Ducks offense looked like target practice for Arizona’s defense. It was the most screwed up offense from a No. 2 team I’ve ever seen without Dixon in there. Leaf was struggling to even complete 5-yard passes. And great backs can carry teams through that. I thought Jonathan Stewart was a great back until last night. Now, I’m not so sure.

And as far as Meyer goes, I know that Cam Newton is another manbeast at quarterback, but I’m not so certain that Timmy Boy isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime perfect fit for that offense. I mean, if Newton could run it well, don’t you think he’d be in there some with Tebow being as nicked up as he’s been? And John Brantley is a pure dropback guy. So, Urbie’s going to have to either A.) Bolt to the NFL B.) Change his offense or C.) Pray that Newton can run the spread. I think Florida’s scary good next year, but afterward if Tebow goes pro? Hmmm, interesting question.

Anyway, guys, that was a roundabout way to get to this: We’ve all been saying all year that the college football landscape is crazy. Boston College, South Florida, Kansas, Missouri, the entire SEC, Oregon, Arizona State. All of this is just ridiculous. So, my question is why is this?

We all know the parity that college basketball is enjoying right now — I think we’re going to see a 16-seed beat a 1 in the next five years. But what’s the deal with college football? Why the parity? Players must stay three years. The BCS conferences get all the money. Yet some of the powerhouse schools are down or reeling, some look great one week and shoddy the next. Why is this?

I’m not well-versed enough on the academic side of the NCAA to know if it’s a school-related issue or what. Does anybody have an answer for why things are so crazy or is it just crazy in general? Is this something we can look forward to for a while? Cuz I don’t know about you guys, but dang, this is fun!

Unless you’re a Duck.

Ghost of Neyland