Fantasy Buddha

Projected BCS Top 10 as of 10/30/2011:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma State
4. Stanford
5. Boise State
6. Oklahoma
7. Oregon
8. Arkansas
9. South Carolina
10. Virginia Tech

I had to post these projections from BCSGuru.com because A)My beloved alma mater South Carolina is back in the Top 10 B)Ahead of our arch-rival Clemson again C)It likely will not last long because the Gamecocks are playing without superstar RB Marcus Lattimore and their best OL Kyle Nunn D)At #8 Arkansas this Saturday.

But, for at least this week, Carolina fans can revel in the feeling of being among the nation’s elite programs and enjoy the continued improvement of young QB Connor Shaw, freshman RB Brandon Wilds and one of the most exciting defenses in the entire country.

Also, for what it’s worth, Clemson’s convincing loss at Georgia Tech appears to have dropped them all the way out of the BCS Top 15 after beginning the week ranked number 5.

With all due respect to the more obvious choices like Michigan QB Denard Robinson, Auburn RB Michael Dyer, Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon and numerous other players across the NCAA this weekend, my choice for national player of the week is South Carolina DL Melvin Ingram.

Despite contributing only two tackles from his defensive tackle position, Ingram did factor heavily in the Gamecocks 45-42 over SEC East rival Georgia. The 6’ 2”, 276 pound senior impressively took a fake punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and sealed the game in the fourth quarter with a 5-yard fumble return for his second TD of the game.

Congratulations to the versatile Ingram and his Carolina teammates, who are now 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in the conference.

South Carolina catcher Robert Beary scored the game-winning run in a 5-4 victory against Texas A&M. Beary blasted a leadoff double in the bottom of the 9th inning and eventually came around to score on a bases loaded walk-off single by senior 2B Scott Wingo. The defending national champion Gamecocks became the third SEC East to advance to the 2011 College World Series winners bracket. Carolina will take on #1 overall seed Virginia on Tuesday while the Aggies must defeat the Cal Bears in order to keep their CWS hopes alive.

Breaking News: Last year’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player Jackie Bradley Jr. will start tonight for the defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks against Texas A&M. Bradley Jr. has not played since a wrist injury in late April threatened to end his college career. JBJ was taken by the Boston Red Sox in the compensatory round of the recent Major League Baseball draft. Bradley Jr. will bat second and play center field for the Gamecocks.

Who’s the best running back in the Southeastern Conference this year? Knile Davis? Marcus Lattimore? Trent Richardson? Other?

Best coach in NCAA baseball.

The defending national champions are the 5th team in this year’s College World Series field. Coach Ray Tanner and his South Carolina Gamecocks dispatched the UConn Huskies on back-to-back days to win the Columbia Super Regional and become the 3rd SEC East team making the trip to Omaha. Carolina used the same formula to beat UConn that has served them well all season: great pitching, solid defense and patience at the plate. The 50-14 Gamecocks are the #4 overall seed in this year’s NCAA tournament.