Weekend in (P)Review

Due to finals, I have precious little time to spend on football, but of course, I'll do it anyways. I want to talk briefly about last weekend and this coming weekend, as well.

Arkansas gave LSU a run for their money, just like I thought they would. Had it not been for the sack of Casey Dick on the last drive, things may have been different, but you have to hand it to the LSU defense who once again made the play when they needed to.

Georgia Tech fought hard and played Georgia much tougher than I thought they would. Shockely didn't have a great game, but it was good enough to win in a defense-dominated game.

So, that sets up LSU v. Georgia for all the marbles. Here's what I think.

LSU continues to be inconsistent. I still don't buy the "more talent than anyone in the SEC" argument. They've had eleven games to put it together, and I've yet to see it. LSU is a good team, but they are not a great team and are capable of losing anytime they step on the field against an opponent with at least two wins. I'm not saying they will, and yes, anything can happen to any team, but LSU shows a propensity to play to the level of their opponent. That is not a good trait. And then, we have Georgia. The offense comes and it goes, but it lives and dies by Shockley. If LSU can put pressure on Shockley and actually bring him down (easier said than done), they can win this game. Both LSU and Georgia's defenses have been soft at times this year, particularly against the run. LSU has to get its running-game going early for it to win. It would help Georgia to have a running-game, obviously, but Shockley is more capable of killing you with his arm than Russell. Russell is a good QB, but Shockley is better. I think that Georgia is going to pull out the win, but it should be a close one, unless, of course, LSU finally uses the talent it supposedly has. I'm not holding my breath. I would be immensely surprised if Georgia ran away with it, but only slightly less so if LSU does. LSU can be explosive with their speed at reciever, so if the ball bounces correctly, the Dawgs could be down big early. I'm going to assume luck runs both ways, and in doing so, give the edge to Georgia and its senior quarterback. Georgia 21 - LSU 20.

Moving on, we have the much-awaited USC v. UCLA game.

If this game were played on paper (or playstation), USC would score 241 against UCLA's defense. Fortunately, life doesn't work like that. USC's defense is playing like it believes its offense is good enough to win every game. It might be, but it might not be. As evidenced by the Fresno State game (and Notre Dame), a high-powered offense can trade shots with USC and possible come out on top. UCLA has enough weapons to get in a shoot-out with USC and win. Honestly, this one should come down to who has the ball last. UCLA just needs to tell themselves that it doesn't matter if Reggie Bush breaks a 94-yard touchdown run by juking all eleven defensive players twice each. It is still only seven points. A routine touchdown gets an even game again. Style points don't count extra on the scoreboard--just to voters. UCLA needs a flawless offensive performance and a little luck to pull this one out, but it is certainly possible. USC 47 - UCLA 42.

As far as Texas and Colorado goes, I don't expect the game to be much different the second time around.

I will try and put out a Power 22 before this weekend, but that is only time permitting.

Power 22

Again, due to the short week, I can do little more than rank these teams. If you have comments or disagree, please say so. Also, I may be unable to tend to this week's schedule due to time constraints and holiday travel. I have these few comments.

1. LSU could very well be looking at an upset against Arkansas. Arkansas has nothing to lose and has tons of young talent. They unloaded for 44 last week on Mississippi State. If LSU doesn't step up, the Bayou Bengals could find themselves down by too many too late.

2. Georgia should beat Georgia Tech handily. DJ Shockley looks great. Georgia Tech's two biggest wins (Auburn, Miami) were based on the "Make the New QB Beat You" philosophy. They were lucky they caught Auburn when they did. Shockley is hardly a new QB, and he will make them pay if they continue to blitz as heavily as they usually do.

Now on the rankings:

1. Texas
2. USC
3. Ohio State
4. Virginia Tech
5. Penn State
6. Auburn
7. Notre Dame
8. Michigan
9. Georgia
10. LSU
11. Oregon
12. Fresno State
13. West Virginia
14. UCLA
15. Miami
16. Iowa State
17. Iowa
18. California
19. Texas Tech
20. Clemson
21. TCU
22. Oklahoma

Honorable Mention: Minnesota, Georgia Tech, Bama.

You Can't Win 'em All...

Maybe not, but everyone once in a while you get close. The record is 19-4 this week and now stands at 94-36 on the year. This weekend was a crazy one in some respects and produced some very memorable games. Let's start with the losses.

I've Seen This Before: Georgia Tech 14 - Miami 10. As I watched this game, I saw two things. First, Miami couldn't run the ball to save its life. It netted 30 yards on the evening, partly due to the seven sacks by the Yellow Jackets and partly due the simple ineffectiveness of back-up running-back Charlie Jones. Does anyone remember the season opener against Auburn? I sure do. The Jackets helded Auburn to 50 yards rushing, as the Tigers struggled to find who was going to be the running back. Georgia Tech wasn't able to sack QB Brandon Cox as much as Kyle Wright, but the pressure forced him into throwing four interceptions. In that game, as in this game with Miami, Georgia Tech capitalized on instability at running back to put the game squarely in the hands of a new quarterback. Brandon Cox wasn't able to do it, and Kyle Wright wasn't either.

Let's See That Again: Texas Tech 23 - Oklahoma 21. This was an amazing game that came down to a review with 0:00 on the clock. With no timeouts and four seconds on the clock, the Red Raiders elected to run the ball from the 2-yard line for the go-ahead touchdown. First off--that's guts. Second, there was a great hit put on him by one of the linebackers, but he wormed his way forward and broke the plane--we think. As ESPN showed on later reviews, the official who signaled touchdown on the field was screened from viewing the play by a Texas Tech reciever. He rushed in and signaled touchdown and the review confirmed it. However, it's my opinion that had he ruled it to not be a touchdown, that play would have stood too. I don't think incontravertible evidence was available to overturn whatever call happened to be made. So did he make it? I don't know, but it made for a great game.

Why Am I Not Surprised: California 27 - Stanford 3. Stanford, oh Stanford. Why do continue to plague me? I give you a chance to prove yourself to me and you fail miserably. You didn't even make a game of it. See if I ever pick you again.

Now onto the wins.

They're Back: Virginia Tech 52 - Virginia 14. The Hokies absolutely dominated the Cavs. They also managed to sneak onto Virginia's field and paint a giant "T" next to the Virginia "V". They then backed up what that implied by stomping Virginia. There's no doubt that VaTech is the team to beat in the ACC once again, now that Miami has fallen again.

Going Out With Class: Kansas State 36 - Missouri 28. Coach Bill Snyder goes out with a win as his players refuse to give up. Never understimate the value of heart.

Six Feet Under: Iowa 52 - Minnesota 28. Minnesota has lost 4 of its last 5 against ranked teams. And they didn't just lose this one. This was over really quickly. 7-4 is not a bad season, but you know the Gophers are extremely disappointed.

Best Four Loss Team Ever: Ohio State 25 - Michigan 21. After this game, how can anybody argue with Michigan? Yes, they lost a close game, again. I know they have four losses, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to play them. Ohio State again finds some offense, which is one reason why the Buckeyes are so dangerous right now. Ohio State still has an outside shot of making it to a BCS game, but Michigan will have to settle for beating the crap out of a most-likely overmatched school.

Why Won't You Die?: USC 50 - Fresno State 42. Fresno QB Paul Pinegar threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns, but he always seemed to throw one of his four picks at inopportune times. Reggie Bush had a ridiculous game, accounting for over 500 all-purpose yards. Still, Fresno was in this to the bitter end. Everytime USC kicked it in gear, Fresno clawed their way back in. My only beef with Fresno is the last play. It's easy to second guess, because hind-sight is 20/20, but--there had to have been a better option than the pass Pinegar threw. They had the ball at the USC 25 with a little over a minute left. It was first down. The reciever runs what looks like a skinny post. It appeared that he tried to get inside, but the DB was all over him and denied him from making a cut. The safety was on the outside of the reciever. And yet, Pinegar threw the ball to this reciever. Can we say "bad decision?" Not only was the pass horrible and a horrible decision, but it was first down! They had enough time to run the ball if they wanted to--and they had done so with great success all night. Maybe it was the play call and maybe it was the QB's bad decision, but either way, Fresno threw away its chance of pulling off the upset.

You Can't Spell "Better Luck Next Year" Without "UT": Vandy 28 - Tennessee 24. Vandy refused to quit, and despite Tennessee's 3rd best offensive effort this entire year, the Vols fell. That is just sad. I wish Vandy were bowl-eligible, though, because it would have made this win even more special. I think that with this loss Tennessee has solidified itself as the most disappointing team of the entire year. Iowa, Florida, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma all have reason to be upset, but they will all be playing in December.

Sign of Things to Come?: Arkansas 44 - Mississippi State 10. Mississippi State's defense held Alabama to a field goal, and Alabama nearly beat LSU. Yes, Mississippi State was probably playing with some extra emotion against Alabama, but the point is that the Bulldog defense is not horrible. Arkansas blew them out. The Razorbacks scored more points on MSU than any team this year has. That's something to be commended. Freshman RB Darren McFadden is averaging nearly seven yards a carry. If QB Casey Dick can keep the mistakes down, Arkansas has the offensive capability of keeping LSU from reaching Atlanta. Next week should be a good game.

Pass, Bama, Pass: Auburn 28 - Alabama 18. This game was not nearly as close as the score, as Auburn scored 21 straight points in the first quarter. It was as explosive of an outburst as Auburn has had this year. They caught the Bama defense on its heels and kept on pushing. Meanwhile, the defense dominated Alabama for all but one drive. Brodie Croyle was sacked 11 times!! 11! That reminds me of games on Playstation. When you throw in the number of hurries and knockdowns, Brodie probably asked to be relieved on that last set of Bama downs. Although LSU will most likely win the SEC West, Auburn has a legitimate claim as the best team in the SEC. They have beaten the East's best (Georgia), and have played much more consistently than LSU. I'm not taking anything away from LSU. They beat Auburn fair and square, and if they played tomorrow who knows what would happen. However, after what Auburn has shown the last two weeks, they appear to be playing much better football than the Bayou Bengals.

What If...

Everyone loves to speculate about what would have happened had their team been undefeated. Unlike these people, I like to speculate what would happen for everybody's teams. So, here is what I think would have happened had these teams been undefeated.

Miami (8-1) - Miami's lone loss is to Florida State in the season opener by a field goal. Tough break. Had Miami not lost to FSU, their resume would include wins over Florida State, Clemson, and Virginia Tech. If you throw in a win over a tough non-conference opponent (Colorado) and another victory over FSU in the ACC Championship, it would be hard to keep Miami out of the BCS game. However, that's exactly what would happen. Miami made it's mark against VaTech, and with as much hype as the ESPN crew was pumping out on the Hokies, Miami would have essentially taken their place--the odd man out.

LSU (8-1) - LSU's lone loss was to Tennessee in overtime after sqaundering a huge second-half lead. Had LSU hung on, they'd be 9-0 with Ole Miss and Arkansas on the horizon, plus a date with, most likely, Georgia. If LSU navigated an SEC schedule that included Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida (combined current record of 39-10) and beat Arizona State (when they were still good) at Arizona State on the heels of a hurricane that devasted their home state, that's just too good of a story to keep them out of the BCS. Again, though, it would happen. Here is how the media would justify it. The Tigers barely beat the Sun Devils (despite extraordinary circumstances), barely beat Florida (who is not as strong as everyone thought), barely beat Auburn in overtime (by virtue of a 1 for 6 kicking performance, despite being beaten in every major statistical category--except points), and barely beat an offensively-challenged Alabama in overtime. Any SEC West team that went undefeated would get my vote, but this is the spin that the media (outside of the South) will place on the season. LSU could have been beaten at least four times.

Penn State (9-1) - One play from 10-0 and after winning out would be watching someone else win the "undisputed" national championship. Penn State has quality wins galore. If undefeated, they would claim wins over Northwestern (when it was hot), Ohio State (remember?--that team that almost beat Texas...), Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The Nittany Lions have stellar defense and a surprisingly good offense. Personally, I believe they can beat Texas, but not USC. The reason is not that USC is too good, just that they don't match up that well, in my opinion. USC is too fast for Penn State. Regardless, an undefeated Big Ten champ missing out? That hurts. Makes you wonder if the Big Ten and SEC would secede from the BCS and play their own "undisputed" national championship game. Basically, Penn State is back, but let's not get crazy. They couldn't be that could. Otherwise, the media would have ranked them higher (or at all) in the preseason polls. Really, it's Penn State's fault for not being better last year. What were they thinking?

Virginia Tech (8-1) - The Hokies blew it against Miami and precious little could get them in the championship game at this point. But, since we a playing in the world of "what if's," let's discuss. If VaTech had beaten a good Miami team, they could claim wins over the Hurricanes and an unproven West Virginia team who has capitalized on a weak Big East. West Virginia is a good team, but we don't really know what they can do. Virginia Tech's defense was great and it's offense was average. I believe they were "good enough" to make it to the BCS game. However, they could be left out because who have they played? Miami, West Virginia, and Florida State in the ACC Championship. Miami would have two losses, West Virginia is in the weak Big East, and Florida State would be (at least) a four loss team. That's hardly impressive. Place this resume against any of the previous teams and then try to claim that they are better--I dare you. This is one team that I legitimately believe would have a tough time making into the top two if any two of the teams listed above were undefeated--and rightfully so.

Alabama (9-1) - Like LSU, Alabama would have a good claim simply for winning the SEC. Wins over LSU, Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, and probably Georgia would be too good to pass up. Throw in a little tradition and some "defense wins championships" and we've got ourselves a winner. At least, that's what you would think. Nobody can make the claim that Alabama is a better team than USC or Texas (or Miami or Penn State or Ohio State--but we won't go there). The defense is unquestionably better, but the offense is light years behind. Alabama - USC would look a lot like Oklahoma - USC. It could get ugly fast. And unlike Oklahoma, Alabama doesn't have the firepower to keep up or to catch up. If Alabama run the table, it would earn respect, but not a shot at the BCS. Auburn, last year, was much better and deserving than Alabama this year. The only chance Bama has is a pity vote for the SEC, but that seems very unlikely with all the hype surrounding USC and Texas.

Notre Dame (7-2), Oregon (9-1), and UCLA (9-1) - I'm going to make the same argument for all three. Regardless of their schedule, had they gone undefeated and beaten USC, they would be playing for the national championship. They would have enough quality wins to get close to the top, and breaking USC's ridiculous win streak is good for the nod. I don't think it's fair that any would jump an undefeated Penn State simply by nature of beating USC, but let's be honest--look what simply playing USC tough did for Notre Dame. You beat the champ, and you get respect.

Auburn (8-2) - Auburn has progressed mightly since the Georgia Tech game. If Auburn was undefeated it could claim wins over LSU, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It could probably even tack on another win against Georgia. That's impressive. But it's not enough. The schedule is impressive, but Auburn would again be left out. I love it. If that doesn't prove how unfair the poll system is, I don't know what does. The Tigers would be on a 27-game win streak. Still, I don't think there is anyone in the country that could look me in the face and say that Auburn would make it into the top two. Unfair?--you betcha. Of course, we have to remember that a team is judged by its worst opponents, so really, Auburn was never tested since it played Western Kentucky and Ball State. That seems fair to me.

Now I want to look at the top two. Do they really deserve to be there?

USC (10-0) - For once, USC has proven its worth. It could claim victories over Oregon, Cal, Fresno State, Notre Dame, and UCLA. Mad props. The offense is still amazing and the defense is slightly above average, though not the strength of this team. Throw in the win streak and USC has every right to expect to be in the BCS Championship. Yes, they started at the top. Yes, they have struggled at times. However, they have always bounced back and won. They are playing well enough to stay at the one or two spot unless they lose.

Texas (10-0) - Who doesn't like the Longhorns? They are 10-0 in the Big 12 (aka the Weakest Little Conference in Texas). They have Vince Young, who is outstanding, explosive, and exciting. However, who can they claim wins over besides a two-loss Ohio State team? They have beaten a pretty good Colorado team and...well, that's about it. Oklahoma has dropped off considerably this year and Texas simply kicked them while they were down. Texas Tech is drastically overrated. Employing the Auburn-Test, should we judge Texas by Rice or Louisiana-Lafayette? How can this team be placed on such a pedestal with their horrible non-conference schedule (except Ohio State) and incredibly weak conference? They have been challenged only once this whole season because they have only played one team worth a damn. For the media to claim that Texas "unquestionably" deserve a spot in the BCS is ludicrous after how they justified keeping Auburn out last year. It's a double-standard and another example of the how the media controls who plays for the championship.

Weekend Previews

Unfortunately, as finals approach, my time becomes a rather valuable commodity. Consequently, I was pressed for time this week and will be unable to do my in-depth analysis on each game. I will still profile each match-up, but not in nearly as much depth.

Big 12

Oklahoma at Texas Tech - Oklahoma State ran all over the Red Raiders last week and got the win. I bet Adrian Peterson is counting down the minutes until he gets his crack at the Texas Tech run defense. Oklahoma's defense is good enough to keep Texas Tech in check, and if Peterson has a big day, the Sooners pull off the upset. Oklahoma 24 - Texas Tech 21.

Oklahoma State at Baylor - Baylor is on a five-game skid, but OK-State has come out firing the last two weeks. Baylor is still a solid team, but with their bowl dreams crushed, I would not be surprised if Oklahoma State continues to play well. Confidence does wonders for a team. Oklahoma State 28 - Baylor 17.

Missouri at Kansas State - If Colorado loses to Nebraska next week, Iowa State wins out, and Missouri wins out, all hell breaks lose in the Big 12 North. It might be fun, but it's probably not gonna happen. So which Mizzou shows up this weekend? Does Brad Smith have a good game? Can Mizzou run the ball? The bad one, no, and no. Kansas State has played well against some good teams recently and I think the Wildcats would love to put together an upset for coach Bill Snyder's last game with the team. Missouri 24 - Kansas State 27.

Big Ten

Northwestern at Illinois - Northwestern should win this one without any difficulties. Northwestern 45 - Illinois 13.

Minnesota at Iowa - I reiterate that Iowa is much better than they get credit for. Hawkeyes in an upset. Minnesota 31 - Iowa 34.

Ohio State at Michigan - You wanna talk about two hot teams... This is the second best game of the day, after the Iron Bowl, of course. Ohio State is firing on all cylinders, but Michigan is playing inspired football recently. This one should come down to the fourth quarter, but I think Ohio State's defense gives the Buckeyes the edge. Ohio State 17 - Michigan 10.

Purdue at Indiana - Purdue is still a pretty good team. Though the Boilermakers have the same record as the Hoosiers, the teams are fundamentally different. Purdue has lost some close games, while Indiana has bowed out early in nearly every loss. Indiana should be able to put up some points, and a close game wouldn't surprise me, but an uspet would. Purdue is not that bad. I would be very disappointed in the Boilermakers if they fall. Purude 31 - Indiana 14.

Penn State at Michigan State - ESPN Gameday actually chose this site because all the good games weren't carried by the ESPN network. I find that amusing. So Lee Corso, you have fun with this one. You get a hot Penn State team and a very chilly Michigan State team. Try and make us care--I dare you. Penn State 34 - Michigan State 14.

Pac-10

Washington State at Washington - This should be an interesting game, but I think the Cougars are too much for Washington. They've lost a handful of games by one possession. This could rather easily be a bowl team. Washington State 34 - Washington 24.

Oregon State at Oregon - Oregon would easily have won this game with QB Kellen Clemmens, but we can't live in the past. Sophomores Brady Leaf and Dennis Dixon have filled in well and should be enough to finish off the Beavers without QB Matt Moore. Oregon State 17 - Oregon 31.

California at Stanford - Alright Stanford, here's your chance. Cal's using former fullback Steve Levy at QB. If you ever had a chance, it's now. So don't say I never gave you anything. Cal 14 - Stanford 23.

Fresno State at USC - This game should be tons of fun, except that USC is used to dealing with high pressure games and Fresno is not. Of course, you know Fresno has had this date circled on their calendar all year. This makes or breaks their year. Consider it broken. Good luck in your bowl game. Fresno 13 - USC 41.

ACC

Virginia Tech at Virginia - Virginia had a good win last week, but Virginia Tech is a lot better than Georgia Tech. They've had two weeks to get over the loss to Miami--guess what, Virginia? They're coming for blood. You have fun with this one. Virginia Tech 34 - Virginia 10.

Boston College at Maryland - In a match of two mediocre teams (in my book, at least), I give the edge to the better defense (BC) who is playing with a quarterback they have some faith in--Matt Ryan. Boston College 28 - Maryland 24.

Middle Tennesee State at NC State - MTSU beat Vandy, but I just don't think this one should be much of a contest--if, of course, NC State shows up and bounces back from the BC loss. Nothing's a lock for the Wolfpack this year. Middle Tennessee State 10 - NC State 24.

Duke at North Carolina - Will anyone be at this game now that basketball season has started? Duke 7 - UNC 16.

Clemson at South Carolina - This should be a great game. I should have learned by now not to pick against Spurrier, but despite saying "I believe," I really don't. Clemson is the better team. South Carolina has managed to take advantage of an SEC East that is not what it used to be. Not to take anything away from the Gamecocks, but we all know that Tennessee and Florida are bit down. Clemson, though, is coming off a sound beat-down of Florida State. Emotions should be high in this one, but I think Clemson has the talent to pull it off. Clemson 31 - South Carolina 17.

Georgia Tech at Miami - There are way too many games in the ACC this week. At least, there are too many games on the schedule. This one really shouldn't count. If Tech QB Reggie Ball turns into Dan Marino, maybe, just maybe, Tech has a chance. Miami is riding high right now, but they are still vulnerable due to occasional offensive inconsitancy. It would be a fluke if GaTech got a win at the Orange Bowl, but I guess stranger things have happened. GaTech 10 - Miami 28.

SEC

Kentucky at Georgia - Kentucky's offense has improved dramatically, and I would not be surprised if they put up some points on the Georgia defense, particularly since Georgia is coming off the tough loss to Auburn. Of course, the SEC East is Georgia's to lose, and I don't think they will pass up this opportunity. Shockley should pass downfield at will. Kentucky 17 - Georgia 37.

Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Sadly, this will be a good game. Tennessee needs to win to stay bowl eligible. Vandy is already out of the picture, but they would love nothing more than to keep the Vols at home this December. Tennessee has been unable to score points all year. Vandy has not usually had that problem, but LSU and Georgia's defense gave them fits. Luckily, if they match the production against Georgia (17), that may be enough for the win. Vandy 17 - Tennessee 16.

Mississippi State at Arkansas - Slyvester Croom is slowly making Mississippi State better, but it's just not that good yet. Arkansas has a great running game and with Casey Dick at QB, they should dispatch of the Bulldogs. If they win convincingly, LSU better look out. Mississippi State 7 - Arkansas 28.

Alabama at Auburn - The Iron Bowl! It doesn't get any better than this. 9-1 Bama vs. 8-2 Auburn. Well, maybe it could get a little better, but regardless, we're enjoying the now. There is little need for hardcore analysis of this game because, honestly, it doesn't matter much anyways. Bama's offense sucks; Auburn's offense is great. Bama's defense is phenomenal; Auburn's defense is slightly above average. Both teams want to ruin the other's season. I can't wait to see it. Alabama 16 - Auburn 24.

LSU at Ole Miss - This game is dangerous for LSU. They are coming off a win that should wrap up the SEC West for them. However, they still have Ole Miss and Arkansas on the schedule--two teams that have improved dramatically as the season has progressed. An upset is not out of the question. Ole Miss' run defense is very solid, and if the secondary plays a good game, Ole Miss can keep LSU from finding the endzone too often. I like Ole Miss' chances better with passing-QB Ethan Flatt than running-QB Micheal Spurlock. However, I still think LSU is too good for Ole Miss. If an upset is going to come for the Tigers, it'll be next week against Arkansas. LSU 20 - Ole Miss 12.

Why You Hatin'?

I have decided to put out a hit-list of teams that I dislike because they make my task really hard every week.

1. Stanford - Yes, the Cardinal have gotten better each week. Yes, the should have beaten UCLA. I still don't like them. If you lose to a Division-IAA team, you are on my black-list. Apparently, Stanford must have heard me say that and have set out to prove my prediction wrong every week.

2. Georgia Tech - I've already gone here, so there's no need to go back. The Jackets are better than I give them credit for, but I still feel like I can't count on them for anything (see Virginia).

3. Nebraska - I tried to pull for the Huskers. I really did--I swear. After picking them against Oklahoma (and losing), I went back for more against Kansas (and lost). I finally lost faith in Nebraska and went for K-State in the upset (and lost). So basically, I hate you Nebraska. Quit picking on me.

4. South Carolina - I am apparently a little late jumping on the bandwagon, but Spurrier has upset whatever team I picked for three straight weeks. I get the message--don't bet against the Gamecocks.

Power 22

The Power 22 is going to be shortened this week due to time constraints. I remind you, this poll reflects how well teams are playing right now.

1. Texas
2. USC
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Miami
6. Notre Dame
7. Virginia Tech
8. Auburn
9. Georgia
10. LSU
11. Michigan
12. Oregon
13. UCLA
14. Bama
15. West Virginia
16. Iowa
17. Iowa State
18. Fresno State
19. South Carolina
20. Minnesota
21. California
22. Wisconsin

Honorable Mention: Louisville, TCU, Colorado, Boston College, Clemson, Oklahoma State, Stanford

You Can't Win 'em All...

So I went 17-10 this weekend and consider myself lucky. This was one ridiculous weekend of college football. Unfortunately, I only got to see two games and the last play of one. Still, I've done my homework and I watch Sportscenter, so I can comment. If you disagree because you actually saw the game, let me know.

Before I get to the games, I would also like to say I got some negative feedback on the Notre Dame article. Apparently, some feel I was unfairly criticizing the Irish. I have two things to say to that. First, that was not the point of the article. I believe Notre Dame to be one of the best teams in the country and have said so on numerous occasions. And second, what I said was correct. People want Notre Dame to win because it's Notre Dame. It has tradition, and people love tradition. The world is right when Notre Dame, Penn State, and Bama are all rock solid. That bias comes through in the polls no matter what.

Now, on to the games. As usual, we'll start with the losses, of which I have plenty to chose from this week.

Better Late Than Never: Oklahoma State 24 - Texas Tech 17. Texas Tech proves again that it's just not that good. Before this game, at least it could claim that it could handle inferior opponents. And then there's OK-State, who either 1) is a lot better than it showed the first seven games of the season, or 2) only plays well against ranked teams from Texas. Too bad that's the last one on their schedule.

You Live by the QB, You Die by the QB: Clemson 35 - Florida State 14. It was only a matter of time. FSU QB Drew Weatherford continues to regress. He was pretty bad on a day when Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst was pretty darn good. Whitehurst torched FSU for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns. If only I knew which Clemson team was going to show up each week.

I'm a Believer: South Carolina 30 - Florida 22. I knew Spurrier was gonna have the Gamecocks in contention for the East soon, but I certainly didn't think it'd be this soon. This guy is good. I'm convinced and officially on the Spurrier bandwagon. If he can do this with Lou Holtz's players, I can't wait to see what he can do with his own.

Where'd You Come From?: Kentucky 48 - Vandy 43. Kentucky's offense has apparently woken up. After scoring a total of 72 points in five games against the likes of Indiana, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Florida, the Wildcats have put up 75 in the last two against Auburn and Vanderbilt. RB Rafael Little and QB Andre Woodson have a great tag-team effort going on right now. Georgia should be able to outscore Kentucky, like Auburn did, but Tennessee better look out.

At Least I Was Right: LSU 16 - Bama 13. I saw the last play on this game and it irked me greatly. My new pet peeve is coaches that elect to rush only three or four and drop seven or eight on 3rd and long in key situations. Auburn did it to LSU; Bama did it to LSU. The results--two losses by three in overtime. When you have a young quarterback like Jamarcus Russell in the backfield on third and long, you better bring some heat. Make him make a quick decision to beat you, because he's athletic enough to elude a three or four man rush and then has all the time in the world for his very fast LSU recievers to break free. Defensive coordinators need to force the hand of these young QB's instead of making their secondary hold in coverage for thirty seconds. So there.

On to the notable wins.

Told Ya So: Missouri 31 - Baylor 16. QB Brad Smith ran for 161 yards on 21 carries and the Mizzou rushing attack netted 298 yards. I'd say I called this one pretty well.

Iowa is Hotter Than Colorado: Iowa State 30 - Colorado 16. I really don't know if there's any truth to this. I would have to look closely to even find Iowa on a map, but I hear Colorado is pretty cold. Iowa State is making a charge in the Big 12 North. Unfortunately, the odds of them pulling it off is quite slim. Both Colorado and Mizzou will have to drop their next game. Still, it's been a good run.

The Bruins are Back: UCLA 45 - Arizona State 35. QB Drew Olsen was ridiculous in this game, throwing for 510 yards and 5 touchdowns. Wow. Bring that A-game against USC and we'll have ourselves a game. The Bruins have almost a month to prepare for the showdown.

Upset Anyone?: Arkansas 28 - Ole Miss 17. Arkansas freshman QB Casey Dick looked good this week against Ole Miss. He threw for 175 yards and three touchdowns. He is making good progress, and if he is able to balance the Hogs attack, this team could be dangerous. Meanwhile, Ole Miss tried a QB-shuffle, as well. They elected to start Ethan Flatt who responded by throwing for 309 yards. Granted, Ole Miss still has no running game--and both QB's put up these numbers against two average secondaries. Regardless, the reason I spotlight this game is because both of these teams have a legitimate shot of upsetting LSU. LSU has already beaten division rivals Bama and Auburn (both in OT), so it sees its path to the SEC West crown as being pretty clear. However, both Ole Miss and Arkansas have improved greatly as the season has progressed. LSU has not. LSU's offense is still very inconsistent, though it has cut down on its mistakes. Ole Miss' defense is good enough to throw a cramp in LSU's offense. If it's defensive line can get pressure to QB Jamarcus Russell, he may make mistakes that even the Ole Miss offense can turn into points. Arkansas, meanwhile, may be developing a balanced offense. That's definitely dangerous because this team scores points even if they don't throw. LSU has to be very careful through this stretch.

Nailed It: Boston College 30 - NC State 10. So my score was a little low, but the break-down was perfect. BC plays QB Matt Ryan, who has an effective day (8/16, 185 yds, 1 TD). Meanwhile, the BC rush defense shuts down NC State RB Andre Brown (12 yards on 13 carries). I seem to do well with BC. I don't know why that is. Maybe they're just predicatable.

What A Game: Auburn 31 - Georgia 30. Very little can be said about this game. Fantastic. Both teams were clutch when they had to be. Neither defense played exceptionally, but the offenses played quite well. This game made me forget that everyone rags on the SEC for having horrible offenses. Georgia QB D.J. Shockley looked great. He absolutely diced up the Auburn defense, even eluding pressure and slipping up-field for big gains on occasion. TE Leonard Pope also had a fantastic game, and Auburn's linebackers and corners (and anybody else who could get up that high) had their hands full all night. Meanwhile, Auburn RB Kenny Irons continues to explode through defenses. This guy runs with the same level of intensity as Carnell. He's just fun to watch. And the best part of the game was Auburn kicker John Vaughn hitting the game-winning field goal with eight seconds left. Redemption could not have come any easier, as the kick was basically an extra point, but pressure is pressure. From goat to hero just like that. I love this game, and next week's should be just as good--only meaner.

I Like Them Too, But This Takes It Too Far...

Notre Dame is having a great year, even though everyone knocks the combined record of the teams that they actually beat. The Irish offense has not looked this good in quite some time. Taking USC down to the wire was what everyone in America wanted to see. We want USC to lose and Notre Dame to win. That would make everything right again.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame lost to USC and to Michigan State. It's true that its opponents have not faired well this year, despite the seemingly hard schedule. That's why many have knocked Notre Dame's national ranking. They are currently ranked 7th in the two polls that people actually care about or have any faith in. They are ahead of five 1-loss teams from legitimate conferences, most of whom lost to teams ranked ahead of Notre Dame. There is clearly media bias in that. Oh well. It happens. It's just an opinion poll. I'm certainly not thrilled about it, but that's the way it is with Notre Dame, Alabama, and Penn State. People want to believe they are better than they are.

I have accepted this because it is reality. However, I had to take a step back the other day when I was reading the previews for this week's games. On Collegefootballnews.com, the writers typically list the teams' predicted scores and then the line. The media went too far this week. After describing in great detail the match-up between LSU and Alabama, the prediction read: LSU 13 - Alabama 10 (Line: ND -8). Is someone trying to prove a point? My theory is that the writers figured if Notre Dame was favored by 8 in this game it would help their strength of schedule. I'm not going to worry about it, though, unless Notre Dame beats Navy and gets credit for two wins.

SEC Preview - 11.12.05

Florida at South Carolina - Is an upset out of the question here for Steve Spurrier against his old team? Yes, it is. Florida's defense was questionable last week against Vandy, but only late in the game after they had relaxed a little bit. That was clearly a mental lapse, and the Gators cannot afford to let it happen again. Florida's offense finally came to life last week, showing a glimpse of what everyone thought would be a weekly performance. If this continues, the Gamecocks don't have a chance. It's great that South Carolina has become bowl eligible, and the win against Tennessee was huge for the program. But let's be honest--Florida is playing much better than Tennessee right now. Florida's offense can find the endzone. Only heart may keep South Carolina in this one late. Florida 31 - South Carolina 17.

Arkansas at Mississippi - This is my type of football. One of the best defensive fronts in the SEC goes up against the best rushing attack in the SEC. Smash-mouth football at its best. What can I say, I'm an old-school kinda guy. Even after the close loss to South Carolina, I feel Arkansas is way better than its record. The Razorbacks outplayed the Gamecocks statistically, but couldn't find the endzone. Eventually they got burned for a long touchdown and couldn't get anything going quickly. Basically, it comes down to this: Arkansas will only run the ball. The Ole Miss defense will play well, but the Ole Miss offense will be impotent. Eventually, Arkansas will score points. That can't be said of Ole Miss. Arkansas 17 - Ole Miss 9.

Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Kentucky's offense showed life last week, scoring 27 points against a tough Auburn defense. Vanderbilt took Florida into overtime, and barring an extremely questionable penalty, was likely going for two at the end of regulation. Vandy needs this game to have a chance of becoming bowl-eligible. The final two games are against Georgia and Tennessee, with the Tennessee game being the far more likely chance to pick up six wins. Vandy QB Jay Cutler is a smart guy (he does go to Vandy), and he certainly understands that this is a must-win game. He will find a way for this Vandy team to win. Kentucky 17 - Vandy 31.

Memphis at Tennessee - The fourth-ranked rushing offense versus the fourth-ranked rushing defense. Can I ask for any more? This one should be great. Tennessee has a non-existant offense, but the secondary of Memphis is extremely questionable. If Tennessee can put up 21 against Notre Dame, they can probably do the same to Memphis. I think the athletic, SEC-tough defense of Tennessee can shut down Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams, at least as much as that's possible. He's not used to playing defenses quite this good. In the season opener, against Ole Miss' tough D-line, he only put up 85 yards. I would expect about the same performance against Tennessee. Memphis 1o - Tennessee 21

LSU at Alabama - No one wants Alabama to win more than me, but they are going to need some serious help. LSU's offense has been inconsistent all year, but they know that the road to Atlanta runs through Tuscaloosa this year. They've had this date circled for quite some time. If LSU can explode on Alabama's defense, they may get the same type of consideration that is flowing toward one-loss Miami. I don't expect it to happen, though. Alabama's defense is incredible. There seem to be few weak spots, if any. It's the offense that remains the question mark. Alabama needs QB Brodie Croyle to have a productive, though not neccessarily prolific day against the LSU defense. This will be hard, but after seeing Auburn RB Kenny Irons shred the LSU defense, I believe that Alabama RB Kenneth Darby may have similar success. This would take some pressure off Croyle. If ever there was a time for the Alabama offense to find its step, it needs to now. I think LSU is going to come out on top in a close game, but I'm picking Alabama to make myself feel better. Alabama 17 - LSU 13.

Auburn at Georgia - This is a huge game for both teams. If Georgia wins and Florida loses, Georgia clinches the East. If Auburn loses, it's effectively out of the race for the West, and next week's game against Alabama is for nothing but pride (which is plenty to play for in that rivalry). So on to the match-up. These teams are both very good. The defenses are both in the top ten nationally, and the offenses are one and two in the SEC. Both teams can move the ball but have had trouble finding the endzone. Auburn relies on its stable of running backs: Kenny Irons, Brad Lester, Tre Smith, and Tristan Davis. Georgia (as evidenced by the Florida game), relies on senior QB D.J. Shockley, who will be back in action this week, after UGa used its bye-week to get healthy. This game will be decided by the number of mistakes Auburn QB Brandon Cox makes. He has progressed steadily all year, but he is prone to mistakes when pressure gets to him. If Kenny Irons and Brad Lester can get the running game going and the pressure off Cox, then the heat will be on D.J. Shockely and Georgia RBs Thomas Brown and Danny Ware to keep pace. This should be a great game, but I believe Auburn's offense is just slightly better than Georgia's, even with Shockely. Auburn 24 - Georgia 21.

ACC Preview - 11.12.05

Florida State at Clemson - The Bowden Bowl should prove interesting this year. Tommy and Clemson need one more win to get to six, and the regular season finale against South Carolina isn't nearly as easy at it used to look. Florida State, meanwhile, has already clinched its division, and little is on the line except for pride. Clemson is the more offensively balanced of the pair, while FSU relies heavily on the pass. Bobby Bowden chooses to live or die by his QB Drew Weatherford. Several times this year, he's died by him. Untimely interceptions cost FSU at NC State and against Virginia. If Weatherford could keep the ball safe, FSU might very well be undefeated right now. Clemson has lost its fair share of close games this year and is better than it's record--but it's still not better than FSU. Florida State wins this game if Weatherford doesn't have more than one pick. If he makes more than that, Clemson will certainly take advantage and make life extremely difficult on FSU. Florida State 28 - Clemson 24.

Maryland at North Carolina - Maryland is fresh off two losses--one to VaTech and one to Florida State. It was close to getting an upset against FSU, but the win just didn't materialize. UNC has been playing well recently as well upsetting Virgina and Boston College, while playing Miami extremely well in the first half. UNC wins with defense. It's defense isn't even statistically that great, but when it gets under your skin, it changes the tempo of the game. It's offense, meanwhile, is pathetic. Maryland is a solid club that just isn't quite in the same league as FSU, Miami, and VaTech, but it's not far behind. Maryland should be able to handle UNC and have a decent chance of getting its sixth win against NC State later in the season. Maryland 24 - North Carolina 13.

Miami at Wake Forest - Miami is playing as well as any team in the country right now. Wake, however, limps in after getting beat down by Georgia Tech. It will be tough for the Demon Deacons to get anything going offensively against the Miami defense. Miami, though, will need QB Kyle Wright to score some points, as starting RB Tyrone Moss is out for the year. Miami 24 - Wake Forest 7.

Georgia Tech at Virginia - I am really tempted to pick Virginia in the upset, but I realize it's probably due to bias. Both teams are relatively even. The offenses aren't great and the defenses are adequate, with Georgia Tech's being slightly better. Virginia had a tune-up last week against Temple, but QB Marques Hagans didn't exactly clean-up against the Owls. That's not promising. Georgia Tech is coming off a solid victory over Wake Forest and consecutive 100-yard days for RB P.J. Daniels. The difference in this game will be turnovers. Virginia makes them, and Georgia Tech does not. The Yellow Jackets have done a good job protecting the ball this year. It's unfortunate, but if Virginia doesn't win this game, it won't be bowling. With games remaining against VaTech and Miami, that sixth win comes Saturday or not at all. Bet the Cavs are kicking themselves for losing to UNC. Georgia Tech 23 - Virginia 19.

NC State at Boston College - On paper, BC should win easily. However, as Florida State found out, the game isn't played on paper. NC State is hot right now, particularly RB Andre Brown, who has sparked the Wolfpack offense. BC has dropped two in a row, including last week's loss to UNC. BC thought they could challenge for the ACC championship, and after VaTech let the wind out of their sails, BC crumbled. The question is "Can they rebound?" The answer is "yes." NC State is capable of beating BC. However, in the loss last week to UNC, BC was given some food for thought. After starting QB Quinton Porter went 16/26 for 144 yards, but was mostly ineffective in moving the offense, backup QB Matt Ryan went 10/14 for 93 yards and a TD. Only time prevented him from getting a shot to go for the win. If BC's offense is struggling, don't be surprised if you see Ryan in the game. They can't afford to let this season fall apart. NC State has not seen a rushing defense as good at this one all season. Look for rising star Andre Brown to have some difficulties getting on track. NC State 14 - Boston College 17.

Pac-10 Preview - 11.12.05

USC at California - It's really hard not to pick Cal, as they seem to be the only team that's had USC's number in the last few years. However, Cal is down a bit this year. They check in a 6-3, but at least it's a strong 6-3. They choked in the fourth quarter against UCLA, threw a pity party for themselves the following week against Oregon State, and lost a close one in OT to Oregon last weekend. I can't help but feel that this is a very strong three loss team. They are very close to being undefeated. Of course, that can be said by a lot of 1, 2, and 3 loss teams. The difference is that this three loss team can play with the big boys, at least in the Pac-10, where a defensive coordinator measures his success by how many times he can keep the opposition under fifty. Cal's offense is not what it was last year, but the same can be said of USC's defense. The secondary is clearly the weak spot for the Trojans. Although this game doesn't have the Pac-10 title on the line, these teams badly want to beat the other team. This is gonna be a game decided by who wants it more. If USC comes out flat, as it has been known to do this year, Cal will take advantage of that fact and make it exceedingly difficult for the Trojans to come back. However, we all know that USC can turn it on in a hurry, ala Texas at OK-state style. I fee like I'm going point-counterpoint against myself, but that's what happens in games like this. Each team has an answer. I hate to pick USC, because I would welcome the BCS chaos that would ensue, but I don't think either defense can stop the other offense, but Cal will stop itself more often than USC, and that will be the difference. USC 49 - Cal 38.

Washington at Arizona - Poor Washington. In all fairness, though, the Huskies have played a very tough schedule this year. Of course, so has Arizona--and Arizona almost won some of those games. The Wildcats shocked the football nation last week in upsetting UCLA, but of course, everybody was waiting for the UCLA train to get derailed. But still--Arizona wasn't expected to do it. Mad props to 'Zona. Now welcome back to reality. Get over the big win and focus. There is no reason Arizona won't win this game, unless it's still celebrating the victory over UCLA. Washington is not going to lie down just because 'Zona beat a superior team last week. Of course, it doesn't take much for Washington to lie down. If Arizona can keep down the turnovers, Washington will probably beat itself. Washington 17 - Arizona 28.

Stanford at Oregon State - Stanford is playing much better toward the end of the year than at the beginning. However, after dropping games to UCLA and USC, the Cardinal are probably out of bowl contention, barring a major upset. Oregon State needs one more win to qualify and hopes to get it Saturday. If the Beavers don't get it, they probably won't, with Oregon as the regular season finale. In short, Oregon State needs this game much more than Stanford. Offensively, the Beavers blow Stanford out of the water, but defensively, they are comparable. This would seem to give the edge to Oregon State, but they continue to be bitten hard by the turnover bug. They managed to only turn the ball over only once last week, and that trend needs to continue for Oregon State to win this game. QB Matt Moore should be able to tee off on Stanford's pass defense, which at 109th is still ahead of Oregon State's (115th). Stanford QB Trent Edwards needs to have a big game, as well. In order for Stanford to win this game, which should be a shoot-out, it needs to force Moore to make mistakes and throw picks. If that happens, Stanford can get the win. It should be close, but as usual, I'm not picking Stanford. Stanford 37 - Oregon State 43.

Arizona State at UCLA - This game had potential to be great, and maybe it still will, but few people care about it nearly as much as they would have it UCLA hadn't choked and the Sun Devils didn't display the mental fortitude of a seven-year-old girl. This game is a toss-up at this point. Does UCLA rebound? Does Arizona State find a way to win without QB Sam Keller? We'll start with question two. The Sun Devils still have a very potent passing attack, even with back-up QB Rudy Carpenter in for the injured Sam Keller. This will not be the problem. The problem will be in stopping UCLA RB Maurice Drew and QB Drew Olson. Of course, if Arizona can do it, why can't Arizona State, right? The Sun Devils' defense is pathetic in both stopping the run and the pass. Luckily, their offense makes up for it. UCLA's defense is not exactly a powerhouse, but its their rushing defense that really hurts them. Luckily, Arizona State doesn't run much. I believe UCLA's secondary is good enough to keep the Sun Devils in check so that the UCLA offense can remember what the endzone looks like. As for question one, I don't think UCLA wants to crawl back to L.A. on a two game losing streak. This team is talented, but they can't just show up in the fourth quarter and win. UCLA needs a complete performance to top the Sun Devils. Arizona State 34 - UCLA 42.

Oregon at Washington State - Washington State came within three points of beating Stanford, UCLA, and Arizona State, and within four points of Cal. Don't tell me this team isn't dangerous. The Cougars have a very balanced offensive attack and are quite capable of putting a lot of points on the board. Their downfall is that they don't care too much for defense, particularly stopping the pass. That's not good when one plays Oregon, the eighth best passing attack in Division I-A. However, Oregon ran up most of those passing totals with their now injured starting QB Kellen Clemmens. The back-ups have filled in quite well, but are not producing anywhere near the numbers of Clemmens. Oregon should win this game due to its defense and the overall difference in athleticism between the teams. Oregon's young QBs should have time to throw and exploit the weak Washington State secondary. Oregon 31 - Washington State 24.

Big Ten Preview - 11.12.05

Northwestern at Ohio State - This should be a great game. This is a real test for Northwestern. Are they legit? Do they deserve the credit everyone has been giving them? On the whole, I wasn't impressed last week in the win against Iowa. I'll give them some credit for not giving up and coming back in the fourth, but Northwestern's offense was just zoned out most of the day. Iowa is definitely a better team than most expect, but Northwestern, even after the loss to Michigan, should have had the firepower to put the Hawkeyes away. Ohio State, meanwhile, has found an offense, averaging approximately 40 points a game in its last four contests, and the defense is still dominant. Northwestern is still a good team, but Ohio State is a great team. If somehow Ohio State gets into a shootout, it might be able to hang with Northwestern long enough for the Buckeye defense to get back on its feet. If this game is a defensive struggle, then Northwestern doesn't stand a chance. No matter how I look at it, I just do not think that Northwestern is at the same quality level as Ohio State. If would take some very fortuitous events for the Wildcats to leave Ohio State with a victory. Northwestern 15 - Ohio State 24.

Indiana at Michigan - Indiana has yet to play a close game against a quality team. This one should be no different. Indiana 17 - Michigan 38.

Michigan State at Minnesota - Michigan State still needs a win to become bowl-eligible, and they certainly aren't getting it next week against Penn State. It's now or never for the collapsing Spartans. These teams are very close statiscally. Michigan State is 5th in total offense and 11th in scoring offense. Minnesota is 6th and 12th, respectively. Defensively, Michigan State is tied for 70th in scoring defense with, guess who--Minnesota. This should be a high-scoring affair, but I give the edge to Minnesota due to their running backs. I do not see the Spartans stopping RBs Laurence Maroney or Gary Russell. Michigan State 42 - Minnesota 45.

Illinois at Purdue - These two teams are not as close as their records would indicate. Purdue has lost to almost the same teams that Illinois has, but at least it has made the games interesting. Purdue is coming off a win over Michigan State, which hopefully reminded the Boilermakers that they are much better than Illinois. We should see evidence of this fact on Saturday. Purdue has a respectable offense, and Illinois has a laughable defense. Illinois 15 - Purdue 31.

Iowa at Wisconsin - Iowa needs one win to become bowl eligible, and it has games remaining against Wisconsin and Minnesota. It gets Minnesota at home, so there is a good chance of the Hawkeyes downing the Gophers. After the heartbreaking loss to Northwestern last week, though, one has to wonder if Iowa has anything left in its tank. It's lost its last two games by a total of four points. That hurts. Wisconsin has secured a respectable last season for coach Barry Alvarez, but the blowout loss to Penn State put the Badgers in their place. If they get caught feeling sorry for themselves, Iowa is gonna give them another L. Iowa has a balanced offensive attack and a stable defense. Wisconsin, conversely, runs the ball a ton and doesn't put much stock in defense. That formula has worked so far, but if Iowa can bottle up RB Brian Calhoun, its offense is quite capable of running with the Badgers. If this game was at Iowa, I'd call for the upset. Since it isn't, I'm giving the slight edge to Wisconsin. Iowa 31 - Wisconsin 37.

Big 12 Preview - 11.12.05

Texas A&M at Oklahoma - Texas A&M hasn't played well since the beginning of last month. Oklahoma, for the first time that I can remember, is quietly winning--unnoticed for the most part. RB Adrian Peterson is still running and driving the Sooner offense. While Oklahoma has not exactly been dominant, they have been steady--something the Aggies can only dream of. If Texas A&M remembers how to play football again, they can beat Oklahoma. Unfortunately, Oklahoma will not let it happen, especially not at home. Texas A&M has scored a lot of points against lesser competition. Against the big boys, it hasn't found the endzone as often as it should, or at least not often enough to compensate for its horrendous defense. Oklahoma can still play some mean D, but can erratic QB Rhett Bomar take advantage of a below average A&M secondary? If that question is answered in the affirmative, and I think it will be, Oklahoma should win. Texas A&M 10 - Oklahoma 24.

Texas Tech at Oklahoma State - I have a feeling that OK-state won't be quite as pumped for this game as they were for the Texas game. And, there is no way things could go as bad for TTech as they did for the Longhorns in the first half. Oklahoma State has given up an average of 43.6 points in its last five games. Bad defense, meet good offense. Texas Tech should run the score up pretty big in this one. Texas Tech 45 - Oklahoma State 13.

Baylor at Missouri - Baylor, at 4-5, needs to win out to get to a bowl game, and with Missouri and Oklahoma State left on the schedule, it's a definite possibility. The Bears have been on a slide, losing their last four after winning four of their first five. Of course, three of those losses have come to Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech. Business as usual, as far as Baylor is concerned. Missouri, on the other hand, had a legitimate chance to challenge for the Big 12 North, and utterly collapsed with losses to Kansas and Colorado. At 5-4, the Tigers need one more win to reach December. Considering only Baylor and Kansas State stand in their way, odds are good. This match-up is an interesting one because Missouri appears to have a lot more talent than Baylor, but Baylor, as opposed to Mizzou, seems to actually care if they win or lose. I believe this game will hinge on the success of Missouri's running game. As evidenced by the last two losses, when Missouri can't run, Missouri can't win. The Tigers had 59 yards against Colorado and only 33 against Kansas. The good news for Missouri is that Colorado (5th) and Kansas (1st) have two of the best rushing defenses in the country--Baylor (73rd) does not. Look for QB Brad Smith and RB Marcus Woods to get back on track with the Missouri offense finally waking up a bit, providing a close win over a gritty Baylor team. Baylor 13 - Missouri 21.

Kansas State at Nebraska - It seems like every team in the Big 12 needs to win this weekend for bowl eligibility. Here are two more teams to which that applies. If K-state loses, it will be staying home. If Nebraska loses, it has to pull out a win against a hot Colorado team in the season finale. In other words, the loser of this game is essentially knocked out of bowl contention. I have picked Nebraska several times this year and been disappointed each time. Last week's game against Kansas was the last straw. I really don't think the Kansas offense scored 40 without some help from Nebraska--a pick-six, a blocked punt, and 72-yard run. These things don't happen unless a team screws up. Which is, of course, good news for Nebraska because it means they aren't really that bad, they just aren't playing that well. Collectively, these two teams have lost their last seven games. Fortunately, someone gets to end that streak on Saturday. My money is on Kansas State. The Wildcats have played some very close games this year against some good teams. They lost to Texas A&M by two and Colorado by three (last second field goal). Of course, last week's game against Iowa State was embarassing, but Iowa State is playing very well right now, and Nebraska isn't. I think Nebraska might overlook the Wildcats, who are better than their record indicates and deserve to go bowling. It should be a fight to the end, and K-state needs a few gifts from Nebraska to pull this one off. Kansas State 21 - Nebraska 19.

Kansas at Texas - Yes, everyone knows that Kansas was the team that almost knocked off Vince Young and the Longhorns last year, and this year, the defense is even better. Unfortunately, it really doesn't matter, because Kansas isn't the only team that got better. Vince Young learned how to throw the ball, as well as run it. The Texas defense is also playing some great football (excluding the first half of the Oklahoma State game). If Kansas spends its time trying to contain Vince Young and stop the Longhorn rushing attack, Young will just throw over them. This game might be tight into halftime, but eventually, the Longhorns are going to start to pull away. Kansas 10 - Texas 31.

Colorado at Iowa State - If I could pick any Big 12 game to watch this week, it'd be this one. Both teams are playing much better now than they were at the beginning of the season, particularly Iowa State. Colorado's lone losses are to Miami and Texas. That's fairly respectable. Iowa State, on the other hand, doesn't really have a quality victory or even a close loss to a quality team. This is Iowa State's chance to step up and make some noise. If you also consider that a Colorado loss hardly affects the Big 12 North and that this game is being played at Iowa State, one would tend to give the edge in a close game like this to the Cyclones. Colorado 24 - Iowa State 27.

Power 22

There's some major changes going on this week.

1. Texas - I have seen Baylor play twice now, and its defense is not a pushover. I give style points for the absolute dismantling of the Bears.

2. USC - There is no really great reason to drop USC from the 1-slot, but the defense did give up 21 points to Stanford.

3. Penn State - This team just continues to look great. I would love to see Penn State vs. Miami sometime down the road.

4. Miami - Great win over a very good football team. Miami is now kicking itself for the opener, but may get a chance for redemption in the ACC title game.

5. Ohio State - The offense continues to click and the defense is still fantastic. With Northwestern and Michigan coming up, I'm looking forward to some great football.

6. Virginia Tech - And welcome back to reality. At times, VaTech played like the best team in the country. Unfortunately, it wasn't this week.

7. Notre Dame - The offense is still awesome, but giving up 21 to Tennessee calls the secondary into question, even moreso than before the game (and that's hard to do).

8. Wisconsin - The Badgers are still good, just not great. Penn State dominated Wisconsin and proved that the Badgers live and die by RB Brian Calhoun, who was limited to 38 yards on 20 carries.

9. Michigan - The Wolverines get a breather next weekend with Indiana before they take on the Buckeyes in the regular season finale. That should prove to be a very good game.

10. Texas Tech - Six passes of over twenty yards, 433 yards passing, and 627 total yards of offense. Not a bad day for Texas Tech. The defense even forced three turnovers. Too bad they can't win the big ones.

11. Oregon - Somehow Oregon pulled out a win against Cal in overtime with third-string QB Brady Leaf. You got guts, Ducks, and that's worth a number eleven ranking in my book.

12. Colorado - The Buffs continue to play some very good football. They should win the Big 12 North without too much difficulty, but I'd watch out for a hot Iowa State team next weekend. That could be trouble.

13. LSU - I would rank LSU higher if they would play to even 3/4 of the potential everyone talks about. I have yet to see it. The defense is good; it's the offense that continues to struggle. If LSU can make a statement against the Bama defense, then I'll start moving them up.

14. Bama - Yes, the defense is still good. Unfortunately, the offense hasn't scored a touchdown in a month of sundays. Bama is gonna need some of those touchdown things if they plan on beating LSU or Auburn.

15. Auburn - Auburn turned in a big win over Kentucky this weekend but allowed a season high 27 points to the Wildcats. That's gonna give Tommy Tuberville and crew something to think about before they head to Georgia next week.

16. Georgia - The final SEC team in the bunch, Georgia drops because the offense is not good when D.J. Shockley isn't in the game. Even with Shockley, the offense has been inconsistent at times. The Dawgs need to step it up a knotch if they plan on beating Auburn.

17. Northwestern - Northwestern moves up after the comeback win against Iowa. This team refuses to die, and I like that. They have potential to give Ohio State hell next week. I'm looking forward to it.

18. Iowa - Iowa is still playing well right now, they just relaxed a little too soon. They may give Wisconsin problems next week, but I don't think the Iowa defense is quite good enough to do what Penn State did to Brian Calhoun.

19. California - They tried to be good again and fell short. They proved they can still play, though. The Bears may make it close next week against USC solely because they usually do. We shall see.

20. West Virginia - Big win over mediocre team. Such is life in the Big East.

21. Minnesota - The Gophers bounced back against Indiana with RBs Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell carrying the load. A slight test next week in Michigan State and then a dangerous game at Iowa.

22. Georgia Tech - They get a pity vote into the Power 22 since I've been dogging them all year. And they became bowl eligible, which I thought may only be a slim possibility going into this year. My other prediction was that they would be .500 in conference. I still have a chance at that one.

Honorable Mention: Arizona, Iowa State, Florida State, TCU, Kansas, and UCLA.

You Can't Win 'em All...

In no week has it been more apparent that this column is aptly titled. I went 18-9 this weekend. That's a two-game downturn from the previous weeks, but in a weekend of upsets, I don't feel too bad. So here's the breakdown, starting with the losses.

Never Give Up: UCLA 14 - Arizona 52. Haha. Bout time. Of course, I was still calling UCLA when they were 38 down with three minutes to go. Don't tell me you weren't too. I certainly didn't call this one, but I've been saying all year that Arizona is a good team that couldn't put four quarters together to save its life. It looks like they picked a good time to finally get over the hump.

I Shouldn't Doubt Myself: North Carolina 16 - Boston College 14. "This game could be good for a while, and an upset would not surprise me too much." Gotta go with the gut.

Really, I Shouldn't Doubt Myself: NC State 20 - Florida State 15. "That is why this game is so dangerous for Florida State. It would be easy to look ahead to the intra-family Clemson game or the finale against Florida...This one could be an upset."

Well, Maybe I Should: Northwestern 28 - Iowa 27. This was the first upset pick I had for Saturday, and it looked great until about :58 was left on the clock. Northwestern refused to die, or Iowa refused to shut the door--your pick.

Upended Upset Special, Part Duex: South Carolina 14 - Arkansas 10. This one looked good until the end of the third quarter. I can't say I called the game wrong, just the winner. Arkansas had 356 yards of total offense to South Carolina's 190, and freshman QB Casey Dick (136 yards) nearly out threw Spurrier's QB Blake Mitchell (155 yards). This one easily could have gone the other way. Good win for Spurrier and the Gamecocks.

What the Hell?: Kansas 40 - Nebraska 15. Only in the Big 12 do things like this happen. Kansas, with no offense to speak of, puts up 40 on Nebraska? I did not see that one coming.

Maybe I Am Bitter: Georgia Tech 30 - Wake 17. For the second week in a row I've taken the upset pick over Georgia Tech--and lost. At least last week was close. Maybe I'm not giving the Yellow Jackets a fair shake because of the season opener. I feel that they got their ranking (peaking at about #15) off the merits of a win over Auburn. Even after the fact, I didn't feel Georgia Tech deserved to be ranked. They played well, but Auburn fell victim to first-time starting QB Brandon Cox's five mistakes. The fact that Auburn was within one possession until late into the game illustrates that GaTech was not that good. Even with five turnovers, they had to hang on for the win. GaTech shot up because of a win over the #15 team, but at the time, Auburn had no business being ranked #15. So there's my beef. At least I'm honest.

Now on to the wins.

Hurricane Hits Blacksburg: Miami 27 - Virginia Tech 7. Why not? Hurricanes seem to be hitting just about everywhere else now-a-days. I obviously expected this game to be much closer, simply by nature of the defenses involved. This game, though, resembled the Virginia Tech-Boston College game in many regards. Miami never truly blew away Virginia Tech, but they slowly pulled away and never let VaTech in the game. I am not happy about VaTech losing simply because now people can't complain about the BCS as much, unless you're an Alabama fan who actually thinks they will win out (which, by definition, all Alabama fans do).

I Bet You Would Have Cried After This One Too: Florida 49 - Vandy 42 (OT). Now, don't get me wrong. Forty-nine points is a move in the right direction, Coach Meyer. But you have to play defense too. Remember...that thing that wins championships. Right...there ya go. Good boy.

Why Field the Offense?: Bama 17 - Mississippi State 0. And you seriously think you are national title contender? I think Bama can put up more points if only the defense and special teams play. Cut out the middle man.

Are You Joking?: LSU 24 - Appalachian State 0. Twenty-four points against Appalachian State? And ten of those came in the 4th quarter. Appalachian State is the seventh-ranked team in the country--in Division I-AA. I know LSU was looking ahead to the Bama game. Hell, Appalachian State was probably looking ahead to the LSU-Bama game. But LSU, widely known to possess more talent than if the Superfriends fielded a team, (at least according to the media), should have pushed the Mountianeers around all night, even without trying.

Tied Together By Fate

As I alluded to last week in my game recaps, it is quite interesting that Tennessee met Texas A&M in last year's Cotton Bowl. Both were projected to have great years in 2005; however, it was not meant to be. The teams have struggled greatly, with the Vols lacking an offense and the Aggies a defense. This got me wondering if any other bowl foes of last season were having similar seasons. Here's what I found.

Southern Mississippi vs. North Texas - New Orleans Bowl

Irony abounds here. Both teams have had two games postponed due to hurricanes. And where was the site of this bowl game? Yeah, weird.

Ohio State vs. Oklahoma State - Alamo Bowl

These are the only two teams to have led Texas at halftime throughout this entire season.

UTEP vs. Colorado - Houston Bowl

Both teams are currently first in their divisions and playing the number two team this weekend.

Cal vs. Texas Tech - Holiday Bowl

Not only did both teams start 5-0, but they each had their win streak snapped by one of the five remaining undefeated teams (UCLA & Texas).

Purdue vs. Arizona State - Sun Bowl

Both teams were projected to have a good year, and then it all fell apart. Purdue dropped six in a row, and the Sun Devils dropped three.

Louisville vs. Boise State - Liberty Bowl

Both teams are currently 6-2 and disappointed. Each team lost one on the road in a blowout and one at home by a field goal or less. This is like Tennessee and Texas A&M on a slightly smaller scale.

Florida State vs. West Virginia - Gator Bowl

Both teams are 7-1 with the lone loss coming to teams from Virginia.

Pittsburgh vs. Utah - Fiesta Bowl

Pitt started the year ranked just inside the top 25, and Utah was just outside. Now neither is close as Pitt is 4-5 and Utah is 4-4.

Virginia Tech vs. Auburn - Sugar Bowl

Auburn went 13-0 and was locked out of the BCS championship game. It just seems right that VaTech is on the outside looking in, as well.

Double Standard, Anyone?

If anyone ever wanted proof of the media's bias, here is it. Air Force's coach Fisher DeBerry, after losing to TCU, made the comment that TCU "had a lot more Afro-American players than we did and they ran a lot faster than we did. Afro-American kids can run very well. That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to me that they run extremely well." For this he was reprimanded across the country and by his own school. Even after his public apology, ESPN said, "It wasn't quite clear whether he was apologizing for what he said, and the ideas they conveyed, or merely for his word choice."

On ESPN.com today, one can find Penn State coach Joe Paterno making similar comments. "The black athlete has made a big difference. They have changed the whole tempo of the game. Black athletes have just done a great job as athletes and as people in turning the game around." Hmm...that sounds eerily familiar to "Afro-American kids can run very well." But who am I to judge? Let's leave it to ESPN, who attached the column title "Penn State Coach Offers His Praise for Black Athletes." I agree, somewhat, that DeBerry's comments were slightly cruder than Paterno's, but only in semantics. The gist is definitely the same.

Let's be honest here. DeBerry is an easy target who's already made a splash this year with his "Team Jesus Christ" banner. ESPN finds it easy to add fuel to the fire. The last thing they want is for DeBerry to fade quietly into the night. Now contrast that with Joe Paterno. The story on ESPN's agenda is "Joe Pa's Still Got It." He's back and he's better than ever, according to ESPN. Do you think that people may sour a bit on that idea if Joe Pa's comments were treated in the same manner as DeBerry's? Quite likely. It would be further evidence that Paterno is out-of-touch with modern times--which I remind you, was ESPN's storyline prior to this season.

In short, it's a sad state of affairs when one has to read even ESPN with a critical eye.

Big 12 Preview - 11.5.05

Big 12

Texas at Baylor - Any other year and I don't give this a second thought. However, Baylor has made serious strides this year (in the right direction, mind you). Still, they are nowhere near Texas status. The first half against Ok-State was just a hiccup. No worries for Texas, as they should roll. Texas 34 - Baylor 10.

Nebraska at Kansas - Nebraska is coming off a disappointing loss to Oklahoma, and Kansas is still celebrating its win over Missouri, who thrashed the Cornhuskers two weeks ago. Despite this fact, Nebraska should be able to take on the Kansas defense and come out on top. I do not want to slight the Kansas defense too much, but Missouri choked. Let's be honest here. Inconsistency was Mizzou's undoing. Nebraska has been relatively consistent, and although they let me down last week against the Sooners, I have faith they will rebound. Nebraska's offense, though hardly a powerhouse, is decent enough to outscore the anemic Kansas offense. Nebraska 13 - Kansas 3.

Kansas State at Iowa State - I think this may prove to be one of the better games on Saturday in the Big 12. Kansas State has lost two games in a row (Texas A&M and Colorado) by a total of five points. They are not playing poorly; they just aren't winning. Similarly, Iowa State has lost some close games. However, the Cyclones have won their last two games in impressive fashion and seem to be peaking. The win over the Aggies was huge for Iowa State, so I expect them to ride that momentum to a home victory over K-State. Kansas State 28 - Iowa State 34.

Missouri at Colorado - So does Mizzou rebound or do they tank? Now's the time for the Tigers to decide. The Buffs did not look great against Kansas State last week, but they pulled out the win and control their own destiny in the Big 12 North. Missouri's remaining schedule is relatively easier than Colorado's, so if it can beat Colorado it has a good chance of winning out and taking the north. Needless to say, this is a huge game for both teams. Missouri wins if it can run the football. Unfortunately, Colorado's run defense is 4th in the country. If the Buffs stop the run and contain QB Brad Smith, their offense should be able to put up enough points against the Tigers' defense to retain the lead in the north. Missouri 17 - Colorado 27.

Texas A&M at Texas Tech - There was a time when I looked forward to this game. But that time has come and gone, I'm afraid. Consequently, we are left with a disappointing 5-3 Texas A&M team and a Texas Tech team that still has to prove to me it's legit. If either team wins, it will look quasi-good on their resume, but nationally, few will actually care. The Aggies have boatloads of potential, but their secondary couldn't stop Snoop Dogg's pee-wee team. That's unfortunate, as Mike Leach only runs the ball when....wait...wait...he never runs the ball. I have a feeling we are going to see the back of the Aggie's jerseys a lot on Saturday. Texas A&M 20 - Texas Tech 47.

SEC Preview - 11.5.05

SEC

South Carolina at Arkansas - This should prove to be an interesting game. South Carolina is pass first, run if they feel like it...maybe. And Arkansas is run, except for 3rd and long, when they might venture a screen...to the running back. As with every team in the SEC, Arkansas would love a chance to get back at Spurrier before his team catches up to his coaching ability. They are better than their record, with losses against USC, Auburn, Georgia, Bama, and a resurgent Vandy team. That's not a bad crowd. Their biggest problem has been throwing the ball--in that they can't. This week Houston Nutt elected to bench starter Robert Johnson in favor of true freshman QB Casey Dick. As long as he can hand the ball off, the transition to starter shouldn't be too hard. The defenses are roughly comparable. I think Arkansas is going to upset the Gamecocks. South Carolina is still celebrating its win over Tennessee, and I don't think these guys are disciplined enough to focus on a 2-5 Arkansas team. Add on that Arkansas had two weeks to prepare for this game, and my choice is made. South Carolina 24 - Arkansas 28.

Auburn at Kentucky - This is time for Auburn to heal. RB Kenny Irons is banged up, Brad Lester is still out with a groin injury, and Carl Stewart is out with an ankle injury. Hopefully, they won't need Irons past the first quarter. Auburn 31 - Kentucky 7.

Tennessee at Notre Dame - This game may be closer than expected. Tennessee's offense has been horrible, but the Irish defense is not what it used to be. Lucky for Notre Dame, neither is its offense--it's much, much better. QB Brady Quinn should have a good day even against the tough Tennessee defense. The Irish secondary has gotten ripped all year, though, and ranks 114th in pass defense. If Tennessee's QBs are ever going to have a good day, it'd be today. This should be fun to watch. Tennessee 20 - Notre Dame 34.

Alabama at Mississippi State - Mississippi State has played much better defense this year, but its offense is still terrible. Throw in Bama's solid defense, and it doesn't look like the Bulldogs are going to be reaching the red zone often, if at all. Unfortunately, Bama continues to struggle on offense. I'm not sold based on a 35-point showing against lowly Utah State. They should win without much difficulty, but I'm still not a believer. Wins over offensively challenged Tennessee and Florida mean very little to me. Alabama 24 - Mississippi State 3.

Vandy at Florida - Usually this one is a no-brainer. This year, though, I could see picking Vandy as a legitimate upset pick. However, they've been on the slide, and Florida has tons of momentum after beating Georgia. Vandy has dropped four straight and has to play in the Swamp. Odds are not in its favor. Vandy 13 - Florida 27.

Appalachian State at LSU - One more tune-up before the showdown for the West. Appalachian State 0 - LSU 49.

ACC Preview - 11.5.05

ACC

Boston College at North Carolina - This game could be good for a while, and an upset would not surprise me too much. UNC has played some good teams tough (Wisconsin, Virginia, Miami). BC, meanwhile, is coming off a solid beat-down by Virginia Tech. That tends to hurt morale. However, I believe the BC offense and defense is just too good for North Carolina. UNC's only real chance is if BC absolutely self-destructs, and there are no signs pointing to that occurring. Boston College 24 - North Carolina 10.

Duke at Clemson - Well, Clemson lost another close one. There seems to be a trend here. Luckily, Duke is coming to town. Duke fixes everything. They make everyone look good--except themselves. Duke 10 - Clemson 28.

Wake Forest at Georgia Tech - This should prove to be a great game. Georgia Tech is fresh off an emotional win against Clemson, and Wake just dismantled Duke. On the whole, Tech is probably the more sound team, but I give the edge to Wake. The Yellow Jacket offense has had problems finding a rhythm at times, and Wake will score some points. The Deacons love to run the ball, and they're going to fight for every yard against a tough Tech rushing defense. This should be a great smash-mouth game, with Wake coming out on top. Wake Forest 27 - Georgia Tech 23.

NC State at Florida State - The Wolfpack have shown few signs of life after playing Virginia Tech close in the opener. They can't seem to make up their mind if they want to play well or not. That is why this game is so dangerous for Florida State. It would be easy to look ahead to the intra-family Clemson game or the finale against Florida. Even so, FSU is too good for NC State. QB Drew Weatherford is starting to play well, and the defense is very athletic, despite recent rough outings. This one could be an upset, but if FSU comes out swinging, the Wolfpack will lie down. NC State 14 - FSU 34.

Temple at Virginia - Temple is 0-9. Even if Virginia matches last week offensive performance--5 points--that should still be plenty to dispatch the owls. Temple 3 - UVa 27.

Miami at Virginia Tech - The big game of the day. The media seems ready to hand this one over to the Hokies since it's being played in Blacksburg, but I don't hold with that at all. Virginia Tech is a great team, with a great defense, great special teams, and a great quarterback in Marcus Vick. However, they lack any sort of explosiveness. At least, if they have it, now would be a good time to bring it out. Miami lost by three in the season opener against Florida State. That's pretty respectable. Since that time, they have not been challenged. This is a team that can be explosive, even in years when they shouldn't be. It's just part of Miami football. More than any two teams in college football, I believe these two know how to work the momentum of the game. When the Hokies get on a roll, your offense should just punt on first down. Similarly, when the 'Canes catch fire, it doesn't matter if your defense is on the field. This game is a battle of momentum. I give the edge to Miami, just barely. Either way, it'll be great. Miami 14 - Virginia Tech 12.

Pac-10 Preview - 11.5.05

Pac-10

Cal at Oregon - Cal hasn't done anything particularly well since squandering a fourth-quarter lead over UCLA. They've lost to Oregon State and nearly lost to Washington State. Get over yourself, Cal. It's time to move on. You wanna make a statement? Here's your chance. Oregon had two QB's knocked out of their last game against Arizona on consecutive possessions. They barely hung on. Without star QB Kellen Clemens, the Ducks' offense isn't going anywhere in a hurry. If Cal wakes up, it can win this game. It's first-string offense should be able to outscore Oregon's second. Cal 27 - Oregon 17.

Arizona State at Washington State - Thank God--Arizona State finally stopped the bleeding. Even with back-up QB Rudy Carpenter, the Sun Devil offense can score some points. Look for Washington State to continue its five-game slide, but to play tough in the first half before fading away. If the Sun Devils win convincingly, people may actually care when they play UCLA next weekend. Arizona State 44 - Washington State 24.

UCLA at Arizona - This game shouldn't be close, but I'm almost willing to put money on it being tight into the fourth quarter. Arizona is better than its record, but UCLA's talent runs circles around the Wildcats. Even with some emotional burnout, UCLA should still win convincingly. UCLA 38 - Arizona 24.

Oregon State at Washington - Washington still only has one win...over Idaho. I really do feel bad for them. Oregon State should score a lot of points against Washington. The offense is great, if QB Matt Moore remembers to only throw it to his team. Oregon State 51 - Washington 24.

Stanford at USC - This game will not be close! I repeat, NOT GONNA BE CLOSE!! After choking against UCLA, the Stanford bandwagon appears to have lost a wheel, or the horse pulling it died, or something along those lines. I'm glad I never jumped on. Have they gotten better--of course. But do they have a prayer against USC?--not a chance in hell. Stanford 17 - USC 43.

Big Ten Preview - 11.5.05

Big Ten

Minnesota at Indiana - This one should not be much of a test for Minnesota. They are currently on a two game slide, but Indiana is good for a team's morale...unless, of course, you play for Indiana. A win today would get the Gophers bowl-eligible. I don't expect them to miss this opportunity. Minnesota 42 - Indiana 21.

Iowa at Northwestern - These two teams have something in common. Both's last loss was in heartbreaking fashion to Michigan. Iowa lost in overtime, and the Wolverines effectively knocked Northwestern out of contention in the Big Ten. Ouch. So who gets the rebound victory? Well, Northwestern's offense has been on fire recently and then went AWOL in the second-half of the Michigan game. Iowa, meanwhile, is right up there with Texas A&M and Tennessee for most disappointing team of the year. However, they have been playing much better recently. Both teams need a victory to become bowl-eligible. Northwestern still has Illinois on its schedule, so we'll be seeing it in December. Iowa, though, has Northwestern, Wisconsin, and then Minnesota. It needs to find a win badly, and this Saturday is one of its best chances. Not only is Northwestern suffering some serious letdown, it takes on Ohio State next week. This game is a major trap game for Northwestern. I fully expect Iowa to take advantage of that fact. Iowa 21 - Northwestern 20.

Michigan State at Purdue - If this game were last week, it would be a good one. However, Purdue now has no shot of reaching six wins. Michigan State, though, needs only one win. That's great and all, except the remaining schedule includes Minnesota and Penn State. This is the Spartans' best chance to get to the checkpoint. If they lose on Saturday, they may very well lose the next two and get shut out of the postseason. This game is much more important to Michigan State than it is to Purdue. I think the teams match up fairly well, but the psychological edge is heavily in Michigan State's favor, particularly after the thrashing it gave Indiana last week instilled some confidence into the team. Michigan State 31 - Purdue 21.

Illinois at Ohio State - Illinois is on a six-game losing streak. Ohio State is not how you fix that. Illinois 13 - Ohio State 35.

Wisconsin at Penn State - This is probably the second biggest game on Saturday, rivaled only by Miami at Virginia Tech. I was tempted to go with the Badgers simply because I'm in Wisconsin, but reality set in too quickly. Wisconsin is a good team. RB Brian Calhoun is the real deal. He's a workhorse. But Penn State's defense is also the real deal. QB Michael Robinson also appears to be finally reaching his potential. These teams are incredibly equal on paper, with the only difference coming in Penn State's defense. And I believe that defense will be the difference in the game. I don't expect either team to pull away in this one. Wisconsin 19 - Penn State 23.