Is Talib the best defensive back in College Football?
Talib possesses so much versatility that he actually has caught more touchdown passes than he’s allowed this season. His combination of cover skills and receiving prowess has moved him to a No. 1 spot in the Rivals.com College Football Power Rankings, which measure the top players and coaches at each position.
One year after leading the nation in passes defended, Talib has caught a touchdown pass in each of the Jayhawks’ first three games. Although he leads the Jayhawks with three touchdown catches, this two-way threat is best known for his ability as a cover corner.
The secondary is much improved so far this year. I thought we’d be a 6, maybe 7 win team at best this year, but I think that may have been the hangover from last year’s blown losses thinking. With the improvement in the secondary and multiple receiving threats, Mangino may have turned the corner with this team. Way too early to celebrate, granted, but I think there’s been enough football played that we I can say this is a better team than I thought it was.
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September 21st, 2007 at 7:26 pm
There is a technical problem with adding new posts on Phog Blog, so here are this week’s Take it to the Bank predictions:
The Top Ten things we learned in the first three weeks of the 2007 college football season:
10. Nebraska is over-rated (i.e, a good, but hardly great team);
9. Texas still gets Michael Jordan treatment by Big 12 refs;
8. Michigan can’t beat a team with a mobile QB;
7. Notre Dame sucks;
6. The Big 11 sucks;
5. Mizzou will go as far as its defense, which sucks, takes it;
4. KU will go as far as its offensive line takes it;
3. USC, LSU, and OU look awesome;
2. Florida and Cal look like potential spoilers;
1. There will be no national champion. Again.
The Games of Week 4:
1. Fla Atlantic +30.5 at KU
The Jayhawks are not getting a lot of play in the national media—perhaps, understandably, considering their opponents to date, even taking into account their average margin of victory. But they are now getting props from Vegas, which has tired of giving away money with lines like CMU+7.5 sad Toledo +21.5. This line is legit. FAU stayed within 14 of Miami last Saturday. But KU is single-minded in its quest not only for pre-season perfection, but also in making a habit of bringing it for 60 minutes, which could prove invaluable when the REAL games start two weeks hence in the Little Potato.
KU
2. Ball St +22 at Nebraska
A good, but not great team with a major sour taste in its mouth.
NU
3. Miami (Ohio) +13.5 at Colorado
To win by 14 points, CU will first have to figure out how to score 14.
MIAMI (Ohio)
4. Texas Tech -3.5 at Okie St
Okie St’s offense will be just fine at home. Tech’s is fine anywhere. But you can’t spell either “Oklahoma State” or “Texas Tech” with a “D.” I’ll take the angry home dog.
OKIE ST
5. Baylor -4 at Buffalo
A good friend of mine says he never picks Baylor. Never.
Actually, the Bears did cover two weeks ago against Rice. At Home.
This one is on the Road.
BUFFALO
6. Iowa St -4 at Toledo
To cover a 4 point spread, ISU must first score 5 points. On the Road.
Toledo.
7. Michigan St -13 at Notre Dame
How low can the Fighting Irish go?
MICHIGAN ST
8. Penn St -3 at Michigan
Call them the Michigan Margarines. Not just because it is alliterative, but because they are on a roll.
MICHIGAN
9. Iowa +7.5 at Wisconsin
We know Iowa is not a legitimate Big 11 team. The jury is out on the Badgers. But they are undefeated and they are at home.
UW
10. Duke +11.5 at Navy
Duke tries to make it 2 for 24. But Navy is not a Big 11 team.
NAVY
11. Kentucky +6.5 at Arkansas
Kentucky’s offense is big time. But how are they going to stop the Razorbacks on the road?
ARKANSAS
12. South Carolina +16.5 at LSU
The Gamecocks might have the best coach in college football. LSU might have the best team. And the best home field advantage.
LSU
13. SMU +20.5 at TCU
SMU on the Road. ‘Nuf said.
TCU
14. Washington St +24.5 at Southern Cal
Maybe USC will have a letdown. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
USC
15. Washington +6.5 at UCLA
UCLA returns home looking for redemption after being taken to the cleaners by Utah last Saturday. Washington takes to the Road after being part by a Big 11 team of all things.
UCLA
–Mark