Sportaholic College Weekend Setup 11-16-05

Even as the smoke of the Penn State still hazes over the college football landscape, the games must go on. This week features a few marquee matchups on the itinerary including USC vs. Oregon, Nebraska vs. Michigan, and Oklahoma vs. Baylor. This is really the one breather week college football as the next two weeks will feature rivalry week and conference championship week. Teams are now fighting for bowl position as well with the BCS Bowls still up for grabs. The one loss brigade of Oregon, Alabama, Arkansas, Boise State, Clemson, Stanford and undefeated but non AQ status Houston will fight it out to the end for those spots.

LSU and Oklahoma State are slated for the national championship as we stand now but we all know that can change in a matter of a Les Miles crazy coaching moment or a Brandon Weeden knee injury. Both teams still have tough opponents on their schedule with LSU taking on Arkansas and Ok. State still having the whole Bedlam thing with Oklahoma. The stage is set for another dramatic ending to the season for college football.

#17 Nebraska vs. #20 Michigan – This is Nebraska’s first trip to the Big House since 1962 and they will have to deal with Denard Robinson and the Wolverines offense. Robinson isn’t as hot as he was to begin the season but he still is as explosive as any player in the college game. These mirror each other as they are both 8-2 and 5-2 in the conference. They are ranked 12^th and 13^th nationally in rushing with the Huskers coming into the game averaging 232.7 and Michigan at 231.3. The Cornhuskers need a big game from Rex Burkhead as he carried the load for his team with 121 yards and a touchdown against Penn State. The Wolverines Fitzgerald Toussiant has started to make his mark at RB and will get his share of the ball in this one. In the end I trust Nebraska’s defense way more than Michigan’s. Taylor Martinez of the Huskers showed some signs against Northwestern as he completed some tough passes and posted good numbers, even though they lost. Look for Nebraska to put the squeeze on the Wolverines offense with their stellar defense.

The Pick: Nebraska

USC vs. #4 Oregon: Let the Deanthony Thomas bowl commence as the Trojans travel to Eugene to face the Ducks. Thomas was the five-star prospect that spurned the Trojans for the Ducks after being committed to the Trojans for months. Matt Barkley and the Trojans offense have found their groove as they have finally found play-makers aside from WR Robert Woods. Curtis McNeal at running back and freshmen wideout Marquise Lee have really come on and solidified their offense. Everyone knows the Ducks story with their break neck speed offense full of weapons. The Ducks easily handled Stanford with LaMichael James and their potent rushing offense leading the way. The surprising aspect of that game was the Ducks defense which had five turnovers as they seem to be hitting their stride on that side of the ball. USC’s best chance is to turn this one into a shoot out but Oregon’s offense can hang with anybody. The Ducks defense should make enough stops to give them the victory.

The Pick: Oregon

#5 Oklahoma vs. #22 Baylor: I still can’t understand the Sooners lost to Texas Tech. They have played lights out since beating Kansas State and Texas A&M 99-42. That just makes the loss to the Red Raiders more puzzling. The Baylor Bears won’t be a tough out for the Sooners either as they feature the electric QB Robert Griffin III. He has been phenomenal this year. He is 224/302 for 3,093 yards 29 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions, Heisman trophy worthy numbers in other words. He has weapons to as WR Kendall Wright has 81 receptions for 1,073 yards and 9 touchdowns and RB Terrance Ganaway has 889 and 10 touchdowns. The Bears explosive offense will test Oklahoma’s stout defense. We all know what the Sooners offense brings to the table as Landry Jones leads their potent attack. There are worries for them as WR Ryan Broyles of course is out for the year with a torn ACL, RB Dominick Whaley out for the year and WR Kenny Stills being plagued with nagging injuries. This one smells like an upset to me as Baylor has the tools on offense to take down the Sooners. If RGIII can get loose early and gain some confidence, then early momentum can carry the Bears. It happened against Texas Tech for the Sooners and Baylor is even better on offense.  Oklahoma has been playing great but Baylor can spring the upset.

The Pick: Baylor

Game of the week: Oregon vs. USC – This should be an exciting one with two sizzling offense at the helm. Will the Ducks suffer a letdown after last week’s big victory over the Cardinal? Matt Barkley has and the explosive offense will give them a run for their money.

Most Intriguing game: #16 Kansas State vs. Texas  - Colin Klein has become Tim Tebow and is leading the country in rushing TDs. Texas just a couple of weeks was riding high until injuries to RB Fozzy Whitaker and WR Jaxon Shipley. This will be an old fashioned Big 12 slug fest.

Under the radar game: SMU vs. #11 Houston – The Cougars still have an outside chance of making it to a BCS Bowl game if everything falls into place. Case Keenum and the boys take on tougher than advertised in June Jones led Mustangs squad that beat TCU earlier this year.

Coach better get it right game: Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee – The Vols only chance to make a bowl game to beat traditional SEC bottom dwellers Vandy and Kentucky. The problem is that Vanderbilt isn’t a push over this year as Head Coach James Franklin has his team buying into his “All in” message. Tennessee fans won’t except losing to the Commodores, even if they are a decent team. If Derek Dooley can some way to get the Volunteers into a bowl game it would save him a lot of heat going into next year. Coach Dooley, you better get it right. 

Sportaholic College Football Finale

In a word, wow is all I can say about this past weekend of college football. One of the best slates of finishes we’ve seen in awhile. Mississippi State and Auburn played one of the wackiest games you will see with a stop at the goal line finish. Notre Dame had every opportunity to put away Denard Robinson and Michigan at the Big House and couldn’t do it. South Carolina scored in some of the most unconventional ways to defeat Georgia as the seat continues to warm under Mark Richt and Tyler Bray of the Tennessee Vols showed why many think he is the best sophomore QB in the game with his performance against Cincinnati.

Just a great weekend to be a college football fan as it seemed every marquee game had a great finish. The teams that are at the top will face even tougher opposition this week so the games should only get better. One thing I noticed the most this weekend was the lack of defense on most teams. QBs were chucking the ball all over the place in many games and the defenses were defenseless in defending them.

Now its time to breakdown the weekends top games:

Michigan 35 Notre Dame 31 – Now if your going to have your first night game at the big house, this is the way you want it to go down. Denard Robinson led Michigan to a scintillating comeback that saw him throw 2 touchdowns and an on his final three drives. He capped the game with a 16-yard strike to Ray Roundtree with 2 seconds left to lift the Wolverines to victory. Notre Dame was actually the team out the gates that looked as if it would run all over the Wolverines, as their first two drives led to touchdowns. QB Tommy Rees was sharp most of the game as he threw for 315 yards going 27-39 and 3 TD passes in the process. But Rees also had two costly interceptions and the Fighting Irish couldn’t stop the Michigan offense at all in the second half. Rees threw a 29-yard pass to Theo Riddick with 30 seconds left as Notre Dame looked to seal their first victory of the year, only to have Robinson connect with Jeremy Gallon on a wide open pass that got the Wolverines in field goal range. Instead of going for the FG that would have tied the game, Robinson took a shot at the end zone and found Roundtree for the game winner. This is the first time Michigan has beaten the Irish three times in a row since 1908. The teams rolled up the offense as they combined for 965 yards of total yards. Robinson completed only 11 passes good for 338 yards or over 30 yards a completion if you want to look at it that way. The Big House lived up to its billing in its first primetime game.

Auburn 41 Mississippi State 34 – So much for Auburn being overrated huh? The Tigers found a way to pull out a SEC slugfest as they outlasted the Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare stadium. This was another down to the wire game that saw its share of offense. Auburn jumped all over the Miss. State with a pair of quick TDs in the first from Michael Dyer on a burst of 35-yards and an interception return to take the quick 14-0 lead. The Bulldogs would come storming back and tie the game as LaDarius Perkins had a 40-yard burst of his own for a score and Chris Reif vindicated himself from his earlier Int as he found Brandon Heaven for 15-yard Td pass. It really got crazy in the 2nd quarter as the two teams traded touchdowns back and forth and ended the half with Auburn up 31-24. Vick Ballard and Chris Reif begin to pound the Tigers defense in the 2nd half as Ballard finished with 106 yards on 21 rushes. Reif was basically on the same pace as he finished with 106 yards on 27 carries. Not to be outdone, Tigers running back Michael Dyer finished with 150 yards but it was the last play of the game that saw the Auburn defense stop Reif on the hard yard line to seal the game. “We didn’t come up with the big inch,” he said. “I should have made the play.” One of the best finishes in a game you will see this year.

South Carolina 45 Georgia 42 – Another high scoring affair in the SEC that quite frankly we’re not use to seeing in the ultra physical and defensive conference. The Gamecocks got two unusual touchdowns from defensive end Melvin Ingram. The burly 276 pounder rumbled 68 yards for a touchdown on a fake punt and also recovered a fumble and took it to the house for the short score. Those two scores proved to be the difference as Georgia falls to 0-2 this season. Marcus Lattimore continued his dark horse Heisman campaign as he rushed for 175 tough yards on 27 yards. Even top freshman Jadeveon Clowney got in on the act as he burst through the line unblocked and slung Georgia QB Andy Murray to the ground causing him to fumble. That led to one of Ingram’s touchdowns as he batted it toward the end zone and took it in for a TD. Georgia did look impressive on offense as Andy Murray threw form 248 yards and four scores and running back Isaiah Crowell racked up 118 yards but it wasn’t enough to overcome its 3 turnovers. The Gamecocks take the early lead in the SEC East race.

Other notable games and players:

Tyler Bray of Tennessee: Bray just performed surgery on the Cincinnati Bearcats defense going 34-41 for 405 yards and 4 TD passes. He along with receivers Justin Hunter (10 catches 156 yards 1 TD) and Da’rick Rogers (10 catches and 100 yards 2 TDs) are beginning to form a devastating passing attack for the Vols. Bray can make all the throws and Hunter and Rogers are big physical receivers who can make all the catches. It will be fun to see how these sophomores develop as they could form the best passing trio in UT’s storied history. They will have there stiffest test yet when they face Florida this weekend. Game on.

Alabama’s defense: These guys have the resemblance of a NFL caliber defense. On a weekend of wild offensive outbursts, the Tide flexed their muscle and absolutely pounded Penn. State into submission defensively. Bama just comes at you in waves as they are deep and talented. If you watched most of the games on Saturday, there was a noticeable lack of defense in most games. You won’t have to worry about that when you watch the Tide play as they have standouts Dre Kiltpatrick, Mark Barron and Dont’a Hightower just to name a few. Alabama is allowing 1.8 yards per run and 2.8 yards per pass. Their offense seems to rely on Trent Richardson too much as A.J. McCarron continues to learn but as long as that defense shows up they will win a lot of games.

Mark Richt coaching future: The Bulldogs have to go a 7 or 8 game winning streak including a win over Florida to possibly save the longest tenured coach in the SEC job at this point. Georgia did look much improved against South Carolina but they still had far too mistakes. Richt tried to get his team’s attention this year by scheduling maybe the hardest first two games of the year for any team as they faced #4 Boise State and then #11 South Carolina, but his plan may have backfired as the young Bulldogs seem to need more seasoning before they can start to do some damage. Hopefully Richt’s job status won’t be a distraction going forward for Georgia but it more than likely will.

Texas Longhorn QBs Case McCoy and David Ash: Garrett Gilbert has been giving every opportunity to show his talents in Austin and he finally got the leash against BYU after throwing a pair of interceptions. Enter in Case McCoy and David Ash and the two went a combined 9-11 for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Gilbert short lived days of starting Texas QB may be over with his latest poor performance.

And that does it for the Sportaholic College Football Finale. Make sure to check back this week as chronicle the top games for the upcoming week including Oklahoma vs. Florida State and Tennessee vs. Florida.

College Football Weekend Finale

In what was suppose to be a down week as far as the good games, this week saw its share of close to the wire finishes, as Ohio State was able to pull out a thriller in Iowa City vs. the Hawkeyes, LSU and the mad hatter put on show with Jeremiah Masoli and Ole Miss, and Michigan State came from behind to stun Purdue. We even had some comic relief as Northwestern and Illinois played a one-way football game (All that was missing was the all-time quarterback) in historic Wrigley field.




The top three in Oregon, Auburn, and TCU were all idle, so the BCS standings stayed the same in that department for the fourth consecutive week. Following this weekend's games, there remains only one more week in college football's regular season which is such a bittersweet thought for me. Their are some exciting conference races that will come down to the last game in the Big Ten, Big 12 and the Big East. As the season winds down, now is where the great teams will separate themselves from the good teams.



Now lets breakdown the top games of the weekend:

Ohio State 20 Iowa 17 - Terelle Pryor just finds ways to win and when his team needed him, he put on a season-defining drive for the Buckeyes. On their next to last drive, Pryor led the Buckeyes on a 12 play 76 yard drive that would put them ahead for good. The drive would feature gorgeously lofted 50-yard bomb pass from Pryor to DeVier Posey that would have been a touchdown but was dropped by Posey on third and 10. Pryor wouldn't let that deter his team as he scrambled for 14-yards on fourth down to keep the chains moving. Pryor then completed a 24-yard pass to Dane Sanzebacher to set up Dan Herron's go-ahead score. The Hawkeyes and QB Ricky Stanzi couldn't muster up any late game heroics themselves on their last drive as the Buckeyes defense stuffed them. It was just a great performance for Pryor who was having a shaky game before leading his team on the game-winning drive. His athleticism rivals Heisman front-runner Cam Newton, with his length and speed. Iowa as I suspected had no answer for him on defense. The Buckeyes keep there Rose bowl chances alive with the win even though they are a long shot with Wisconsin being ranked higher than them in the BCS rankings.

Wisconsin 48 Michigan 28 - This one turned out exactly as I thought it would. The Wolverines just could not contain the powerful Badger run game. Wisconsin just pounded Michigan into submission with 354 yards rushing. RB Montee Ball, just the third string back two weeks ago, ran for 194 yards and four touchdowns. Freshman James White pitched in with 161 yards and two touchdowns. QB Scott Tolzien completed his first 10 passes and finished the day nearly perfect going 14 of 15 for 201 yards and an interception. Even in the lost, and Michigan QB Denard Robinson set the all-time record for QB rushing yards with 1,538 yards in a season after running for 121 yards on 22 carries. This is the Badgers first win at Michigan since 1994. Wisconsin built a 24-0 lead going into halftime and there was no way Michigan could overcome that lead with the way the Badgers run the ball. Wisconsin now is the highest rated BCS team in the Big Ten and if they win out they should make a run for the Roses in Pasadena.

Texas A&M 9 Nebraska 6 – This one was a low scoring affair that your dad would have been proud of. Cyrus Gray led the Aggies with a career high 137 yards and if you haven’t saw this guy play, your missing out. He was elusive and only got stronger as the game wore on. This was Gray’s fifth consecutive game over the century mark. The game was a defensive struggle for the entire night and Nebraska just couldn’t muster up any offense. They also committed way too many turnovers and a few key ones that may have cost them the game. The roughing the passer call on 3rd and 11 continued the drive that led to a go-ahead field goal by the Aggies. Taylor Martinez missed the last five minutes of the first quarter and the entire second quarter after hurting his right ankle. He came back for the third quarter and played the rest of the game despite noticeably being hobbled. He was flagged for intentional grounding on first down on Nebraska’s last drive and then sacked on third down. The biggest show of the game may have come on the sidelines as Cornhusker coach Bo Pellini was upset with Martinez for some apparent reason and resorted to shouting and poking his finger in the chest of his QB. The loss doesn’t affect the Huskers in the Big 12 south race as they still control their own destiny with a win next week over Colorado. The Aggies now have won four straight and look continue their hot streak and sneak into a New Year’s Day bowl.



Other News and Notables:

Northwestern vs. Illinois – Sometimes schools and administrations force things and this sure felt that way with this game being played at Chicago’s historic Wrigley field. This one had all the makings of a bad game with the teams only able to one way on offense. It was comical to say the least but Northwestern wanted this game played so badly and they made it happen, even if it wasn’t the best conditions. This was the butt of many jokes including where is the all-time QB? There was also a few Arena league quips. The sod was so lose on the field that most players spent their day trying not to slip. The one person who took advantage was Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure, running for a school record 330- yards. Illinois became bowl eligible with the win.

Stanford – After Cal nearly pulled off the upset of Oregon, the thinking was that they and the Clancy Pendergrast defense actually stood a chance in this one. In the great words of Lee Corso “Not so fast my friend”. The Cardinal went out and whooped the Golden Bears in the annual Big Game 48-14. Andrew Luck once again put on a great performance tossing two touchdown passes. He redeemed himself for his less than stellar performance in last year’s game. The 48 point outburst from Stanford was the highest scoring total ever for one team in this heated rivalry.

The Mad Hatter vs. The Nutt – Where is the D in the SEC? The 79 points the teams combined for are the most in the SEC this year. LSU came in with the No. 1 ranked defense in the SEC but allowed Jeremiah Masoli and the Rebels to rack up 36 points. This one had everything you expected from it when Les Miles and Houston Nutt teams get together. The teams traded blows back and forth in the 4th quarter combining for five touchdowns in the period. LSU is such a fun team to watch. They always play down or up to their competition so even they play a team like Ole Miss or Tennessee and it makes for a good game. The Tigers are entrenched in the BCS rankings at # 5 and should hold that ranking this week with the win.

College Football Weekend Setup

This weekend in college football won’t feature any of the top three teams, as they all have a bye week. The most interesting games this weekend are coming out of the Big Ten and the ACC instead of the usual blockbuster games in the SEC. Boise St. also has a prime-time game this Friday with the always anytime, anywhere and any place Fresno State Bulldogs (I love their coach Pat Hill). Ohio State takes on Iowa as the Buckeyes try to break through the three-way logjam at the top of the division and Wisconsin makes a visit to the Big House to face Denard Robinson and the Wolverines. Virginia Tech has a chance to clinch the Coastal Division with a win over Miami. There also is a good match-up in the Big 12 as Nebraska and Texas A&M battle.




Now for the breakdown of the games:

Ohio State (9-1) vs. Iowa (7-3) – The Buckeyes escaped with a victory last week against Penn State on the strength of a second half comeback. Ohio State got two pick sixes after intermission and were able to avoid the upset. Terrelle Pryor hasn’t been putting up the Heisman type numbers everyone thought he would this year, but still has been effective and is the proven leader of his team. The man to watch on the Buckeyes however is now RB Dan Herron. He rushed for 190 yards versus Penn St and has a rushing TD in every game this year since the opener against Marshall. Iowa has to be kicking themselves in the foot as they lost to Northwestern yet again this year (The Hawkeyes have lost five of the past six to the Wildcats, who knew?). Pick six Rick reared his ugly head as Stanzi threw a critical interception deep in Northwestern territory that eventually led to the game-winning Wildcat touchdown. The late game interception has to make Kirk Ferentz nervous going into this one. The Buckeyes have the top rated pass-defense in the Big Ten with 17 interceptions and while only allowing 151.1 yards a game. The Buckeyes also have a dazzling plus 14 turnover margin but the Hawkeyes are not far behind at plus 12. I look for Ohio State to come out and control the game with their running attack and don’t see an answer on Iowa’s defense for Pryor. The Buckeyes defense will force Stanzi into bad decisions and turnovers. Watch out for DE Aaron Clayborn though, he has been dominant this year. The Buckeyes have won 13 of 15 in this series and should keep continue their dominance in this series. The Pick: Ohio State

Wisconsin (9-1) vs. Michigan (7-3) – As I watched the bottom line scores on ESPN and saw how the Badgers hung 83 on Indiana, it got my mind to wondering, how in the world will the Wolverines be able to stop such a potent running attack? Indiana is actually ranked higher than Michigan on defense! The Wolverines have the worst ranked total defense out of all eleven schools in the Big Ten, so this could get ugly. The Badgers didn’t even have their starting running back as John Clay was out with a sprained MCL. The only way I believe the Wolverines stand a chance this game is to score and score a lot. They do have the top ranked offense in the conference thanks to the exploits of QB Denard Robinson .The bad thing about that is that Robinson is coming off his two worst rushing totals of the year with a combined 130 yards against Illinois and Purdue. Robinson also had two interceptions a piece in those games. This game will basically be all about ball control. If the Wolverines can find a way to keep its much maligned defense off the field, they may have a chance. Robinson will have to make good decisions because the Badgers defense preys on mistakes. In the end though, the Badgers run game will be too much with Clay, and James White. When they get their running attack going, you have to look out for QB Scott Tolzien to go play-fake and take a shot down field. I look for the Wolverines to stick with the Badgers until the second half and then give way to the pressure and fatigue that the Wisconsin run game has applied all year to so many of their opponents. The Pick: Wisconsin

Nebraska (9-1) vs. Texas A&M (7-3)- And now to break the monotony of Big Ten games, we have the Cornhuskers vs. the Aggies. The Cornhuskers are another team that has to be upset they couldn’t have pulled out the victory against a down Texas team. If they had beaten the Longhorns, they would be at the forefront of the national title race. QB Taylor Martinez has been nursing an injured ankle but looks to be ready to go in this one. The Aggies were reeling after three straight losses to Oklahoma Stats, Arkansas, and Missouri before turning to QB Ryan Tannehill to take over for the turnover-proned Jerrod Johnson. All Tannehill has done is throw for 1,109 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the Aggies on a four game winning streak. Texas A&M will need the best from Tannehill as the Cornhuskers are top in the nation in defensive passing efficiency. Nebraska will try to pound the Aggies with their option running attack. Roy Helu Jr. has cooled a bit since his 307 yard game against Missouri but is always a threat. The Aggies run a little option of their own but not as much as they did when Johnson was starting at QB. This one to me looks like an upset. The Aggies have been playing some of the best ball in the land since inserting Tannehill as the starter. Nebraska has been up and down over the past few weekends and with the game being played at Texas A&M, I’m going with the upset. The Pick: Texas A&M



Game of the week – Ohio State vs. Iowa – The Buckeyes look to break the three-way tie atop the Big Ten standings.



Most Intriguing game – Virginia Tech vs. Miami – The Hokies can clinch the ACC coastal division with a win and have won 10 of 15 against the Hurricanes.



Rivalry Game – Tennessee vs. Vandy – The Vols have won four straight over the Commodores since Vandy snapped their 22-game winning streak in 2005. UT has to win this game and their next against Kentucky go get a shot at a bowl game.



Under the radar game – Florida State vs. Maryland – Yet another conference division that has a logjam at the top with three teams (Florida State, N.C. State and Maryland). If Florida State losses this one, they would be eliminated. Fortunate for the Seminoles they have had the Terrapins number going 17-1 against them since they’ve joined the ACC.



Wake me when it’s over game – Memphis vs. UAB – At this point in the season, both of these teams are just playing for pride.



Coach better get it right game – Pittsburgh vs.USF – Dave Wannstedt always has his team in contention but they never seem to get over the hump. The Panthers have talent and their record should be better this year. Wannstedt needs his team to win out to win the conference and to have a winning record.

College Football Weekend Finale

This is the time of the season when you can't lose. The BCS frowns upon late season losses and a few teams are now out of contention. Utah got exposed by TCU and the same goes for Arizona against Stanford. Alabama saw their defense of the national title go up in flames at the hands of the "Mad Hatter" and LSU.

Now for the breakdown of those games and some other notables I saw this weekend:

LSU 24 Alabama 21  - This was an old fashioned SEC slugfest but the hatter was in full effect in Baton Rouge. Les Miles was chomping on grass and making gutsy calls in the Tigers victory of the Crimson Tide. "I have a little tradition that humbles me as a man, that lets me know that I'm a part of the field and part of the game," said Miles. LSU got an unusual good performance out of QB Jordan Jefferson who was 10/13 for 141 yards and 1 touchdown. If Jefferson had played this way the whole year, its possible LSU could have been undefeated. Jared Lee also came in and made some clutch throws down the stretch, including the de facto game ender, a 47-yard bomb to Rueben Randall on the final possession. Say what you want to about Miles, but nobody has the galls to make some of the calls he makes. The reverse pitch on fourth and 1 was the hatter at his best. Deangelo Peterson would take it 23-yards to set up Steven Ridley's 1 yard touchdown run. It just seems Miles has a special flair for the dramatics. Most people say he is crazy but I see a Coach who teams love to play for him. Alabama meanwhile squandered its opportunity it had to control their own destiny."I don't think there's an excuse. They beat us. They really did," said Greg McElroy QB of the Crimson Tide. "They did a great job. Credit their players and their coaches. We just didn't come out and play the way we should have played. LSU now has an outside shot at the SEC west title but would need Auburn to lose their next two games.

TCU 47 Utah 7 - This one got out of control in a hurry. TCU was able to dominate the Utes on both sides of the ball and just blew them out of the water. Andy Dalton threw for a career high 355 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Horned Frogs jumped out to a 20-0 lead as Dalton threw two touchdown passes early and Jeremy Kerley, the former high school QB, throwing one himself. Utah's inexperience showed as they had the deer in the headlights look. I thought that TCU would win but defintely not in this fashion. Jordan Wynn was ineffective and had horrible numbers finishing 16/35 for 148 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. He started 5 of 12 for 42 yards, with a sack and a fumble and just couldn't find his way from there against the nation's number 1 ranked defense. Any shot of Utah busting the BCS party is over after this demolition they took (I did like the camouflage and black uniforms the Utes had on though.) "This ranks up there with any game I've played," said Dalton, a senior who recently got engaged. "I have grown up. My team relies more on me now to make plays and not just manage the game." TCU looks to be in good position should one of the top two teams falter in the upcoming weeks.

Stanford 42 Arizona 17  - I had a feeling that Stanford was due for a let down game and lets just say I've been wrong before. The Cardinal laid a beat down on the Wildcats. Andrew Luck continues to show why he is the best college QB and the projected number one pick in next years draft. Luck was throwing lasers and ate the Wildcats secondary up for lunch. He finished 23/32 for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns. Stanford would go up 21-3 by halftime and never let the Wildcats in the game. I was impressed with the way they kept their foot to the throat of Arizona. Nick Fowles returned for the Wildcats but as expected was a little rusty in returning from injury and the number 1 ranked defense in the PAC-10 was just overwhelmed by Luck's precision passes. From the looks of this game, Luck could play in the NFL right now. He makes accurate throws and has a rocket launcher arm. Stanford is enjoying its best season in 40 years and remain in contention for the Rose Bowl, sitting in second place in the conference. They would need a Oregon loss but from the sounds of it, Luck will let the cards fall as they may. "I know there's many different situations about bowl games and what not," Luck said. "That all doesn't really matter unless we win. So we're taking it like that."

Other notables games and players:

Oklahoma State - How bout them Cowboys? OK State had it rolling on offense and Justin Blackmon may just be the best receiver in college football. He made some spectacular plays including a 69-yard reverse that had me jumping out of my seat. Blackmon was returning from a suspension after being charged with a DUI last weekend and made the most of his return. The Baylor Bears just had no answer for the Cowboys on offense. Brandon Weeden threw for school record 435 yards and Oklahoma State set another school record rolling up 725 yards of total offense. For me though, it was Blackmon who stole the show. He showed his versatility with the reverse but also made catch after catch as Weeden kept feeding him the ball. He finished with 13 catches for 173 yards and 1 touchdown catch.I was really impressed by the Cowboys offense.

Oklahoma - This team never looked championship caliber to me and now are proving it. Texas A&M was able to shut down the Sooners offense and really just beat them up on defense. The Aggies built a 19-0 lead and never trailed. This team doesn't have the championship mental fortitude. When they get down as they did with Missouri, they lack the spirit from within to comeback. They have to many offensive breakdowns in the most critical situations of the game. I will give them credit for rallying in the third quarter but I am disappointed in Oklahoma and Bob Stoops this year.

Michigan vs. Illinois - 67-65 are you kidding me? I was watching another game as the score rolled by on the bottom of the screen and I had to remember that it was a football game and not a basketball one. The stats are incredible from this game. The teams would combine to roll up 1237 yards of offense and 58 first downs. Roy Roundtree would set the Michigan all-time one game receiving yard total with 246 yards. Denard Robinson threw for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns before giving way to Tate Forcier who came in and threw for another 114 yards and 2 touchdowns. This wasn't your father Big 10 game as the defense's was defense-less against the offensive onslaught. I'm sure Rich Rodriguez could care less how he gets the win as long as he gets it these days. It was such an entertaining game and Michigan is now bowl eligible for the first time under Rich Rod.

Penn State and Joe Paterno - You have to give it up for Joe Pa. He got his 400th career victory as head coach, as his Nittany Lions came from behind to beat Northwestern 41-35. Even if you don't like Paterno, you have to respect his 400 wins. The longevity of his career is remarkable and he doesn't seem to be slowing down.