Thoughts and Games

I am, unfortunately, pretty darn busy this week, so I have to write this post in the amount of time it takes to cook ramen. So, hang with me. I'll start with the only games that are remotely interesting this weekend.

Penn State vs. Ohio State - Ohio State cannot play like it did against Cincy and win. So, it won't. Penn State wasn't exactly reloading USC-style. It'll be some time before this team comes together. Ohio State 34 -Penn State 10.

Iowa State v. Texas - Texas should dominate this game, but I still like Iowa State. QB Meyer is just fun to watch. Texas rolls, though, bc he can't do it all himself. Iowa State 13 - Texas 41.

Arizona State v. Cal - If I can steal a chance to watch a game, this will probably be it. I'm curious. I give the nod to ASU simply bc they have a proven QB. On the whole, Cal is probably the better team, but I'll go with the upset here. Arizona State 35 - Cal 34..

Alabama v. Arkansas - The Tide has struggled mightily, and the Hogs haven't wowed anyone. Mustain is geared up for the vaunted Bama D, but he must remember that it graduated already. This year's Tide defense is tough, but nowhere close to last year's defense. I like the Hogs, but just barely. Alabama 13 - Hogs 17.

Notre Dame v. Michigan State - After the way Michigan torched the Irish last week, they can do two things: lie down or stand up. I'm betting they don't lie down. Michigan State is an easy win if the Irish can stop QB Stanton. He's a one-man team in my opinion. Shut him down and you win. Hopefully, ND comes out with a chip on its shoulder and something to prove. ND 27 - MSU 24.

On to other matters. This morning on SportsCenter, they were debating who is #2 and #3. First, everyone gives the one spot to Ohio State. I think there is legitimate debate there. I think they've done enough to deserve the one spot for now, but they shouldn't get a free-pass as other teams prove themselves against competition that may be stiffer than Texas. Then, Holtz says USC is the "clear" #2, and that Florida is the 3, with West Virginia at 4. You think Holtz is still bitter over Tubby's comment about him not being able to win at South Carolina? Maybe so. He essentially said that Auburn managed almost no yards against LSU and "won the game on a controversial play." Alright Holtz, I'm calling you out. Anybody that watched that game knows damn well that that play did not "win the game" for Auburn. Was it a big play? Yeah. Was it the right one? I don't want to get into that bc somehow it will turn into a Pac-10 vs. SEC shouting match (or so history tells me). LSU scoring from where they would have gotten the ball, by the way, was not even close to a gimme, so don't give me that crap, Lou. We played the number six team in the country and won. Deal with it. In a related vein, why the hell does USC get a free-pass at the 2-spot? They're talented, but they haven't done much to prove it. They beat a mediocre Arkansas team and a solid Nebraska team. I'm sorry, but neither is LSU, Florida, or Georgia. The difference between a team in the top 10 and a team beyond 15 is usually night and day, especially as the season wears on. So the argument (made on ESPN, mind you) that "at the end of the season USC will have played more top 25 teams" is plain crap. Arizona State, Cal, Nebraska, Oregon, and Notre Dame. Of that bunch, two graced the top ten and were embarrassed. If there's any justice in this world, none but ND will claw their way back. Unfortunately, it's almost a given that either Cal or Oregon will make it up there. Neither is a top ten team. I hate to break it to you. Meanwhile, Auburn gets LSU, Florida, Georgia, and quite possibly one of these teams again. That's four TOP TEN teams. There is a huge difference between beating the sixth best team in the country and the twenty-first. (Those are random numbers, by the way, so don't read too much into it.)

Alright, i have ramen to eat, and I'm done ranting.

WAR EAGLE!