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Week 8

MID-SEASON ROUNDUP

by Matt Strobl

This week marked the first release of the 2009 BCS standings, and already the football landscape has undergone some renovation.   With a focus on key games by conference (and leaving ‘Bama to a certain Tide fan), here’s a smattering of recaps related to some key matchups in conferences across the nation.

BIG EAST CONFERENCE

• Keg Party at Nippert -- I’ll start with Cincinnati (#5 BCS), whose battle for the Keg of Nails had to be won without the involvement of QB Tony Pike.  Cincy’s star was recovering from surgery to repair his non-throwing arm- an arm that had already been surgically repaired last season.  Of course, Coach Brian Kelly felt pretty confident that backup Zach Collaros, hero of the victory over South Florida , could manage the situation.  Right he was.  Collaros found a new best friend in wideout Armon Binns.   The 6’4” receiver had only 3 catches and one score , but averaged 25 yards per reception- an indication of how much his touches impacted the game.  Not to be outdone, the rest of receiving corps was also out for blood.  Mardy Gilyard (4 catches, 82 yards, 1 touchdown) and D.J. Woods (3 catches, 54 yards) averaged 20 and 18 yards per reception respectively…in other words, Collaros had an effective day stretching the field with a ridiculous vertical passing game.  Factor in 182 rushing yards and Gilyard’s 129 kick return yards, and you get a fine understanding of how the Bearcats posted 41 points.  The Cincy defense ended up giving up a fair amount of yardage to a pretty poor Cardinals team, but several timely sacks and tackles for loss were drive killers.  The Bearcats lived up to their ranking for another week, and with their best start in about 50 years, are poised to make 2009 a statement season.
• Bull Market in Pittsburgh -- Cincinnati ’s primary competition for the Big East title can be found only one state away.  Pittsburgh (#20 BCS) made a statement of its own this week, trouncing South Florida and making my upset prediction look pretty darn stupid.  Bill Stull and Dion Lewis teamed up to educate me as to why I need to have more respect for the Panthers.  Honestly, Wannstedt’s mustache just makes that very difficult.  But I will hand it to Pitt for taking care of its business this week.  And I will wag my finger at USF and Coach Jim Leavitt.  Are we really going to have to witness a third consecutive Bulls collapse?  Why can’t this program seem to win after mid-October?  Their performance at Heinz Field was horrific as evidenced by the 41 points allowed.  B.J Daniels was completely shut down, and South Florida was generally unable to provide an answer to anything Pitt did.  After this week, I think it’s safe to say that the Big East is a three horse race.
• RIP, Jasper Howard -- The third horse is West Virginia (#23 BCS).  The Mountaineers needed a late comeback to defeat an emotionally-charge UConn squad, which played its heart out for fallen teammate Jasper Howard.  Howard was killed in an on-campus stabbing last week, and his death had a profound impact on the entire conference.  Fans in Morgantown were clearly affected, paying homage to the young man and taking  a very classy approach to cheering during the game.  I don’t think WVU is as good as UC or Pitt, but they did beat a gutsy Huskie team and are in good shape within the conference.  UConn, meanwhile, needs to find some way to rebound not only from this loss, but the loss of one of their own.  Coach Randy Edsel has been a tremendous influence in Storrs , and I have no doubt he’ll get his kids through it.  Best wishes to Howard’s family back in Miami .

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE

• Harried-Canes -- And Miami makes for a good segue here.  Does ACC stand for Anti-Consistency Conference?  Because week to week, it’s nearly impossible to predict who’ll do what.  This time around we saw a Clemson team that had previously lost to the likes of (gasp!) Maryland decide to finally play a full 60 minutes…and then some.  They were facing Miami (#10 BCS), which had worked its way back into the Top 10 after its Blacksburg stumble.  This one was sloppy, folks: seven total turnovers and eleven lead changes made for an exciting but unpredictable game.  And so the end was fitting; who could have predicted that a Tiger QB who hadn’t been able to complete 50% of his passes coming into the matchup would suddenly find his rhythm?  Kyle Parker went 25 of 37 for 326 yards and 3 scores.  Who could have predicted that an offense that had struggled mightily against quality opponents would hang 40 on the Canes before all was said and done?  Who could have predicted that Clemson would pull the upset despite having their superstar tailback C.J. Spiller limited to 81 rushing yards?  When the ‘Canes and Coach Randy Shannon review the tape on this one, they’re going to be kicking themselves.  A lot.  Miami gave this one away with a lack of ball security (1 fumble, 3 Jacory Harris picks) and a lack of discipline (11 penalties).  And yet, for most of the contest, every mistake was followed up by a great play- so much so that it appeared that Clemson’s upset bid would fall just shy.  But when it counted the most, Miami didn’t have an answer.  And so the Hurricanes’ second visit to the Top 10 will be as short as their first.  Whatever slim title hopes remained were dashed, and now Miami needs a lot of help to win the Coastal division.
• A Streak Gets Wrecked -- Staying in the ACC, we turn our attention to Georgia Tech (#12 BCS).  This team lost badly to Miami , but has otherwise looked pretty darn good.  In fact, the Yellow Jackets were coming off a huge victory over Virginia Tech, but still had reason to worry.  Despite the fact that they drew a weak Virginia team, there were two factors working against them this week.  First, the road team in this rivalry has historically been unable to win- Tech hadn’t won in Charlottesville since 1990.  Second, Virginia had been showing some signs of life after three straight wins- two against conference foes.  As it turned out, Georgia Tech had little need to worry.  The weather was one their side as a driving rain for most of the game killed any kind of consistency through the air.  With the teams combining for a mere 253 passing yards, both were forced to pursue their respective ground games.  As fans of the triple option may be aware, that gave GT a significant advantage.  Significant, as in tenfold:  the Jackets won the rushing battle 362 yards to 30.  That disparity was reflected in the final score.  With a 34-9 road victory, Georgia Tech re-asserted itself as the team to beat in the Coastal Division, and couple with Miami’s loss, the win gave them an important cushion over the ‘Canes and VT.  While both Techs have but a single ACC loss, Georgia Tech’s victory over VT would be the tie-breaker.
• The Luck of the Irish -- And a third ACC team was involved in a game receiving national attention.  Boston College went on the road to South Bend in an attempt to extend its winning streak over Notre Dame, which stood at 6 games.  But this BC team doesn’t have the firepower of other recent Eagles’ teams, and Notre Dame had played USC tough the week before.   Except for the hardcore Chestnut Hill faithful, most believed that this one would be easy for the Irish.  What they- we- didn’t count on was Notre Dame’s astounding ability to play down to the level of its competition.  Although they had a good showing statistically, the Irish were totally lackluster for much of the game, and needed five BC turnovers to secure a 4-point win.  If not for a bad interception thrown by Eagle QB David Shinskie in the game’s final minutes, the Irish could very well have watched BC best them for the seventh straight time.  Five turnovers, and the home team still barely escapes with a victory?  This kind of day should ensure that Notre Dame doesn’t approach the Top 15, but given Coach Charlie Weis’ travails, a win is a win and he’ll walk away happy.  Happy, but very lucky once again.

BIG TEN CONFERENCE

• The Luck of the Iowa-ish -- Speaking of luck, it’s time to talk about what might be the most fortunate team in the FBS.  Somehow, the Hawkeyes keep winning.  I keep thinking that there’s no way this type of luck can last, but it did- for at least another week.  Despite being outgained by nearly 40 yards, Iowa managed a last-second touchdown to secure a 2-point road victory, handing Michigan State yet another soul-crushing loss.  The Spartans have watched victory slip away several times this year; they should have beaten Central Michigan .  They should have beaten Notre Dame.  And they certainly should have upset Iowa (#6 BCS).  But Hawkeye QB Ricky Stanzi seems to have a knack for coming through at just the right moment, and this week that moment came with triple zeros on the clock.  The game was clean (no turnover, less than 100 penalty yards combined) but dull- midway through the fourth quarter the score was 6-6.  An Iowa field goal with less than 3-minutes remaining looked like it might stand as the game-winning score, but a sudden flurry of activity took hold.  A game that had spawned no touchdowns for 57+ minutes saw two at game’s end, a Spartan score that appeared to secure the upset, and the shocking Iowa answer that kept the Hawkeyes undefeated. 
• Wolverines Handcuffed in The Big House -- I admit…I picked Michigan to upset Penn State (#13 BCS).  The Lions have had a lot of trouble toppling UM at Ann Arbor lately, and I’ve seen too many good things out of Tate Forcier to dismiss his chances.  Moreover, Penn State was exposed by Iowa- a team with a very good D-line.  And lurking in this matchup was one Brandon Graham.  In retrospect, I underestimated Daryll Clark.  Penn State has been sort of cruising along this year, beating beatable opponents and failing to have a true statement game through the first half.  And of course, the home loss to Iowa was bad.  Really bad.  But this game went a long way toward erasing that memory.  The Lions completely crushed Michigan , dominating the yardage battle (396 yards to 250), the time of possession (34 minutes to 25), the turnover margin (0 to 4), and most importantly, the final score.  Evan Royster had yet another 100-yard performance, and Clark was devastating to the tune of four touchdown passes.  As in Iowa , Michigan was unable to secure the football, and helped out the visitors with 2 INTs and 2 fumbles.  The difference was that they couldn’t bounce back from those miscues to keep this game close.  Iowa was lucky to eke out a win.  Penn State made sure that luck was not a factor.
• Overcoming Pryor Performances -- Ohio State (#19 BCS) needed a bounce-back game.  Ohio State needed to show some offense.  Ohio State needed to convince both itself and its fans that all was not lost.  Even though Minnesota isn’t the best team around, this week’s performance by the Buckeyes fulfilled those needs.  Terrelle Pryor had 342 total yards and finally showed a glimmer of true dual-threat potential.  Coach Jim Tressel didn’t cripple his offense with atrocious play-calling, and the OSU defense once again put forth a good effort to keep the Bucks in contention for a possible Big Ten title.  It’s going to be tough for them to overcome both Iowa and Penn State , whom they play back to back next month.  But for the time being, OSU fans can breathe a little easier.  This win can’t undo the embarrassing loss to Purdue, but it did right the ship a little.

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE

• Fight Between Gator and Bulldog Closer than Expected -- In its continuing bid to be as unimpressive a number 1 team as possible, Florida (#1 BCS) floundered its way through three quarters before disposing of MSU.  Leading 16-13 after three , Florida needed a fourth quarter touchdown to ice the victory and hang onto its lofty spot in the BCS standings.  QB Tim Tebow had yet another sub-par day, which has to have fans and coaches concerned about the ultimate outcome of Florida ’s 2009 campaign.  Throwing two interceptions and being held to 127 yards is bad enough against MSU, but it could be a game-breaker against a team that can fight back.  To their credit, the Gators found other ways to get it done when the passing game faltered.  Florida racked up 249 rushing yards, and that was more than enough production and clock management for a stingy Gator defense.  To make up for Tebow’s two picks by collecting three of their own, in addition to holding MSU to 237 total yards.  While the win moved Florida to 7-0, their last few weeks have been underwhelming.  I get the sense that if they don’t answer some key questions, they’re going to have a tough time running the table.
• Ole Miss Beat Nutt’s Ole Employer -- In a game that Houston Nutt, the Rebels, and QB Jevan Snead all desperately needed, the home team came through and knocked off Arkansas .  This was a statement game for the coach, who certainly wanted to stick it to the school that bade him farewell back in 2007.  Nutt used tailback Dexter McCluster to generate an explosive ground game and Jevan Snead found his throwing arm again while eclipsing the 300-yard mark.  The Rebels made some bad errors, including three turnovers, but got away with them against an out-manned Arkansas team.  They did it by shutting down Ryan Mallett- the 6’7” QB completed only 12 of 34 passes while being frustrated by a very good Ole Miss defense.
• Tigers Step Up to Beat Tigers -- It was a certainty that the Tigers would win this one.  But with both LSU (#9 BCS) and Auburn struggling over the last few weeks, the question was which Tigers would be able to pull it out.  In the end, it really wasn’t close.  Auburn continues its backslide towards mediocrity, undoing the gains of a 5-0 start.  With three state conference losses, these Tigers are done in the SEC.  On the flip side, the LSU Tigers still have some fight left in them.  After a gift victory over Georgia , LSU fell to a superior Florida team, and it appeared that tough opponents would have a fairly easy time with the Bayou Bengals.  This is a team with young QBs who are still trying to find themselves, and it’s about as close to a rebuild as one gets in Baton Rouge .  But for the inconsistency and uncertainty the team has faced throughout the year, they came out swinging against Auburn .  The game was never in doubt, and suddenly the LSU-Alabama game looks a lot more appealing.  ‘Bama struggled and LSU excelled…could it be that the division of talent in the SEC West isn’t quite the gap we thought?

BIG XII CONFERENCE

• Columbian Roast -- Mizzou is rebuilding.  Texas (#3 BCS) is not.  That’s really all the summary that is needed to describe the 41-7 woodshed job that the ‘Horns laid on the Tigers in Columbia .  Missouri couldn’t pass (99 total yards), couldn’t run (74 total yards), threw a pair of picks, and was thoroughly controlled in what might have been Texas ’ best performance of the season.  Longhorn QB Colt McCoy still didn’t have a stellar day, but he was more than good enough.  Wideout Jordan Shipley continued his dark horse run at the Heisman Trophy by going over 100 receiving yards and hauling in two touchdowns.  Of the top 3 teams, Texas had by far the most impressive win this week, and while it probably won’t be enough to move them up in the standings, it did remind many of us that their title hopes are still very much intact in Austin .
• Jayhawks Fall Sooner Rather than Later -- Kansas (#25 BCS) has a schedule that includes a very tough stretch of games against Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Texas, and Missouri over a six-week span.  Instead of keeping us all in suspense, the overrated Jayhawks elected to show their true colors immediately.  This was Oklahoma ’s game from start to finish, Bradford or no Bradford.  The Sooner defense ate Todd Reesing up, forcing three interceptions and a completion rate barely over 50%.  OU backup Landry Jones fared better, throwing for two scores and keeping this one out of Kansas ’ reach for the duration.  The Big 12 South once again asserted its dominance over the North, and Oklahoma showed that while its chances for a national title may be lost, it’s not interested in rolling over.
• Baylor Remembers That It Is, In Fact, Baylor -- Not having Dez Bryant didn’t really seem to matter.  QB Zac Robinson’s three touchdown passes were the culmination of a very balanced attack for Oklahoma State (#15 BCS).  With 250 passing yards and 195 rushing yards, the Cowboys controlled the clock and the scoreboard for all four quarters.  Baylor, which had started off the season with promise, has now fallen back toward the bottom and must now set its sights on merely getting to a bowl.  It’s going to take a turnaround to get even that much done.  Oklahoma State , meanwhile, now prepares for Texas next week.  The Cowboys probably have the best chance of anyone to knock off the Longhorns, and an upset will be on their minds.

PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE

• Beaver Damn -- The USC Trojans (#7 BCS) lost one critical game last year that probably kept them out of the National Championship game.  Although Coach Pete Carroll swore that revenge wasn’t on his mind in 2009, beating Oregon State had to be a major item on his to-do list.  Consider it checked off… but barely.  USC took the game, but not easily or convincingly.   Somehow that win was enough for USC to leapfrog other teams in the BCS standings.  Good one.
• Ducks Set Up Halloween Mayhem -- Avoiding the dangerous confines of Husky Stadium, where Steve Sarkisian’s team has taken several bites out of big-time opponents (see: USC), the Oregon Ducks (#10 BCS) stomped their way by land and by sea to a 43-19 victory. Despite holding a full game lead in the Pac-10 race and beating the team that took out the Trojans, though, the defending conference champs are receiving much more respect in the polls than Chip Kelly’s team. But next Saturday will (hopefully) settle things on the field, when USC comes to Autzen Stadium to try to win in Oregon for the first time since 2005. The winner gets the inside track to the conference title and a guaranteed BCS berth; the loser takes a second loss and starts looking for tickets to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl. (Zach Bigalke)

BONUS: MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

• Frogs Jump All Over BYU -- TCU (#8 BCS) made it very clear this week that it has every intention of busting the BCS this year, Boise or no Boise .  Beating a good BYU team in Provo was extremely impressive, and if TCU runs the table it’s going to be very difficult to keep them out of the BCS.  BYU, which started off the season with such high hopes, must now be content to settle for a mid-tier bowl.  A disappointment to be sure, but there’s no shame in losing to the Horn Frog defense. 

ROCKY BLOCK

by John Mitchell

This was no normal weekend for me. Not only did Alabama face off with hated rival Tennessee on Saturday, but I would also be taking the ACT prior to the game that morning. Also that Friday night, my high school football team would be on the road looking to clinch their first playoff spot in many years. I was unable to make the trip to watch the event, but I did catch the majority of the game on the radio, and listened as we sealed our playoff destiny with one week to go in the regular season. So, that was a nice start to the weekend. I got in the bed earlier than usual on Friday night, as I wanted to be rested for the test the next morning.

My alarm clock went off at 6:00 Central, and I did all the necessary things to get ready and head to Merrill Hall of Jacksonville State University for my first opportunity at taking the ACT. The test started at 8:00 , and I didn’t get out of there until close to 1:00 local time. With an hour and a half to spare before kickoff, I decided to go pick up some lunch. I did just that, and walked through the door of my house just in time for the opening kickoff between Alabama and Tennessee .

Neither team could muster up much offense early in this game, until late in the first quarter, when Alabama moved the ball into striking distance with a 10 play 49 yard drive that ended with a 38 yard field goal by Leigh Tiffin for the first points of the game, and an early 3-0 lead for the Tide.

Tennessee would respond to the Tide field goal with an 11 play 63 yard drive and a field goal of their own from 24 yards out by Daniel Lincoln to tie the score at 3-3. The battle of the Field Goals would continue as Leigh Tiffin answered Lincoln’s field goal with a 50 yard kick to give the Tide a 6-3 lead....   CONTINUE...

UPSET OF THE WEEK

by Matt Strobl

Congratulations, Mike Leach!  Coming off of a convincing win over ranked Nebraska , your team surrendered 52 points to Texas A and freaking M.  In case you missed it, A&M is the team that gave up 62 points to Kansas State last week and the team whose only three wins coming into this matchup were against New Mexico , Utah State , and UAB.  Really, Texas Tech?  REALLY?  First of all, you gave the ball up five times.  Anytime you have five turnovers, you’re setting yourself up for failure.   Second, you were about as one-dimensional as it gets in college football.  Your 456 passing yards are great and all, but with only 64 yards on the ground, what other choice did you have but to throw it?  Third, you gave up 321 rushing yards.  321!  That’s three games worth!  You gave up 120+ yards to not one, but two A&M backs.  There is a stereotype in college football that Big 12 South teams can’t play defense.  Do you ever how that got started? 

THE HOT SEAT WATCH

by John Mitchell

Caution: Highly Flammable

Ron Zook/Illinois – Another Saturday gone, and another loss by the Illini. Illinois fell to 1-6 after Saturday’s loss to Purdue, and 0-5 within the Big Ten Conference. Illinois Athletic Director Ron Guenther announced that Zook would remain the Head Coach in 2010, but I don’t entirely believe what he is saying. I feel it may be just a vote of confidence in Zook, and will limit the distractions surrounding the program. Looking at their schedule, it’s tough to see anymore than one win. I can’t see Zook being retained following a 2-10 season.

Heating Up

Steve Kragthorpe/Louisville – After a blowout loss to Cincinnati , Kragthorpe moves up a spot this week in the Hot Seat watch. The Cardinals are now 2-5 on the season, and 0-3 in the Big East. It’s looking like 4 wins is all Louisville fans should expect from this team, and that is disappointing, considering it doesn’t feel like too long ago that the Cardinals were competing for the Big East title every season. Now, they can’t even seem to get into a bowl game.

Uncomfortably Warm

Ralph Friedgen/ Maryland – Things seem to be getting worse each week for the Terps. After a win over Clemson three weeks ago, things seemed to be looking up for Maryland a bit. But, since that big win, they have turned in three straight losses, and most recently to Duke this weekend. Maryland is now 2-6, 1-3 within the ACC. It seems like it is time for a new regime in College Park .

BCS BUSTER POWER RANKINGS

by Zach Bigalke

The picture is largely down to two. Boise State and TCU continue to garner high national rankings -- when this week’s BCS standings were released, the Horned Frogs had leapfrogged the Broncos. The two sit side by side in the rankings, #6 and #7. Both would be worthy opponents for any BCS team (just ask Clemson , Virginia or Oregon ). But because of the arcane BCS rules, only one of the two will be guaranteed a slot in a BCS bowl even if both finish inside the top ten. So style points, more than ever, will come into play as we come down the homestretch of a heated race...

TCU, on the heels of its demolishing of Colorado State , came into Provo and absolutely humiliated BYU on their home turf -- a team that many thought would be this year’s BCS representative from the Mountain West. TCU is sound on every front; it is hard to find a flaw with this team. They went out and played a tough schedule (ask Miami if Clemson is a tough draw), and they are fifth nationally in total defense. Both their pass and run defenses are ranked in the top-ten nationally; they allow the sixth fewest points a game. What really makes this team scary, though, is an offense that is ranked #22 nationally and #14 in scoring. QB Andy Dalton is eighth nationally in passing efficiency. This TCU team is stacked in every facet of the game, and right now it looks highly unlikely that anyone can unseat them from the catbird seat prior to bowl season.

Finally! The Broncos, after a scare on the road at Tulsa that saw them win by just seven points, came out and demonstrated their offensive fireworks with a visit to Hawaii . The Warriors had no chance against a Boise State offense guided by sophomore QB Kellen Moore, who set a personal best with five touchdown passes on 18-of-30 passing. The Broncos defense, also, showed no mercy against the last BCS Buster from their conference, intercepting three Shane Austin passes and forcing three more fumbles to get a six-pack of turnovers when all was said and done. Boise State , despite the win, fell behind TCU in the BCS standings for the first time this season... they will need many more games like their trip to Hawaii if they are going to convince voters of their merits for selection into a BCS bowl.

Boise State pounded on June Jones’ former team; the Cougars this weekend roughed up Jones’ current squad. Hosting the Mustangs of SMU, Houston showed why they are the class of Conference USA . And they also proved in the process that they are more than merely QB Case Keenum’s rocket arm. The Houston running attack was working in full force, with Charles Sims (15 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD) and Bryce Beall (12 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD) accounting for nearly half the Cougars’ points. The defense also more than did its job -- its three forced fumbles were the absolute difference, two of them ending promising drives and the third getting recovered just one yard from another Houston touchdown. With next week’s contest against formerly-formidable Southern Miss, Houston gets another shot at winning against a recognizable opponent next week.

QB Dan LeFevour continues to impress both on the air and the ground, putting up 275 combined yards and two passing touchdowns on 44 touches to lead the Chippewas past conference rival Bowling Green . Central Michigan would be right in the thick of the BCS discussion had they managed to pull off the tough season opener at Arizona . Yet they continue to rebound after that road loss, rolling up seven straight. Those victories included a win at in-state big brother Michigan State . Next weekend, the Chippewas get one last chance to earn another signature victory when they travel to Massachusetts to take on a surprising Boston College team that narrowly lost last weekend at Notre Dame. LeFevour will have to be at his absolute best for Central Michigan to remain even remotely in the BCS discussion.

Making their first appearance in the top five of the BCS Buster Power Rankings since losing at Oregon in Week 3, Utah is here more on the virtue of the fact that they are the last of the one-loss teams from the non-BCS conferences. With Idaho ’s drubbing by Nevada and BYU’s home loss to TCU, the spot falls to the Utes more by luck than by virtue of their play. We’ll see what they can do now that they are back in the top five -- winnable home dates against Wyoming and New Mexico provide the precursor to Utah ’s November 14 clash with TCU in Fort Worth . Win and Utah can make a case for a second consecutive BCS bid as a one-loss Mountain West champion; lose and TCU will take the title.

OUT OF THE RACE: BYU (MWC, 6-2/L v. TCU 38-7); Idaho (WAC, 6-2/L @ Nevada 70-45);

SOUTHEASTERN CONSPIRACY?

by Matt Strobl

For the third week this season, SEC officiating has come under fire.  This time, it happened in the Mississippi State / Florida game, and involved a game-sealing touchdown for the Gators.  Florida linebacker Dustin Doe intercepted a Bulldog pass and returned it to the endzone for what initially appeared to be a touchdown.  But closer examination of the play showed that MSU’s Brandon McRae stripped the ball out of Doe’s hand before he crossed the goalline.  The linebacker, who was celebrating prematurely, fumbled the ball for what would have been an MSU touchback -- Mississippi State would have had the ball on the 20 and would have still been in the game.

A few weeks back, an absurd personal foul penalty provided undue help to LSU in knocking off Georgia .  Last week, I commented on the officiating in the game between Florida and Arkansas .  That game involved back-to-back 15-yard penalties against the Razorbacks that essentially handed Florida a free touchdown.  The Gators ultimately won by 3 points.  One of the personal fouls was an admitted “blown call” according to the SEC, which suspended the officials involved.  But in addition to those two calls in Florida ’s favor, there were some extremely suspect decisions made by the crew that helped ensure a Gator victory. 

Flash forward a week, and we see the exact same outcome:  a controversial call that benefits the Gators and keeps them on track for a National Title shot.   I have nothing against Florida , but all of this has been awfully coincidental.  And at some point, the rational fan has to become suspicious.

Florida , along with Alabama , represents the league’s best chance at a BCS bowl and potential National Championship berth.  Obviously, the officials are aware of this fact.  If Florida were to stumble, it would ultimately hurt the league.  Based on these calls, it certainly seems as though folks are taking steps to make sure that stumble never happens.  As MSU Coach Dan Mullen said after the fact, it’s excusable to make a bad call on the field in real time.  But when that call is not overturned by replay, it goes from excusable human error to something else.  Perhaps something more deliberate.

I will be interested to see the SEC’s reaction to this call.  With one officiating crew already suspended -- an unprecedented punishment from the conference’s powers that be -- will they dare bench a second?  Is something larger at work here?  I can’t help but wonder when the NCAA itself might step in and take a look at what’s been happening.

At the least, there are some terrible refs in the SEC.  At worst, something rather insidious could be lurking just out of view in the world of college football.  Even after this third controversy, I’m not willing to go full-blown conspiracy theory.  But things are getting mighty weird, and Florida is still sitting at #1.

THE TAILGATER HEISMAN WATCH

by John Mitchell

This may be the most wide open Heisman race in recent memory, and it’s really hard to pick the front runners from the rest of the pack. The truth is, there isn’t that one person who has separated himself from the pack just yet. It will be interesting to see for the rest of the season who emerges from the pack and takes the Heisman trophy.

The Front Runners

• Mark Ingram (RB/Alabama) -- Ingram rushed for 98 yards on 18 carries against Tennessee , and for the first time this year, he didn’t score a touchdown. He also lost a fumble for the first time in his collegiate career on Saturday.  But, he retains the top spot on my Heisman list this week, mainly because I didn’t see any other front runner jump up and take it from him.
• Case Keenum (QB/Houston) -- Keenum threw for 233 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cougars to a win over SMU on Saturday. I still feel Keenum is a front runner for the award, but he would have a much stronger case if Houston didn’t drop that game against UTEP on the first Saturday of October. Still, he has completed over 70 % of his passes with 20 touchdowns and 4 interceptions on the season. He should be getting more consideration than he is getting.
• Jimmy Clausen (QB/Notre Dame) -- Jimmy Clausen completed 26 of his 39 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. He further strengthened his case for the Heisman trophy on Saturday with another solid performance and leading the Irish to a win over Boston College . He’s thrown for over 2000 yards now with 16 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. I do find it kind of odd that Clausen is considered ahead of Case Keenum in the Heisman race. Keenum has put up better stats, but Clausen is ahead of him playing for a two loss Notre Dame team which is deemed better than a one loss to Houston team.
• Tim Tebow (QB/Florida) -- Tim Tebow went 12-22 for 127 yards with two interceptions in Florida ’s win over Mississippi State Saturday Night. For the second straight game, and the third time this season, Tim Tebow ran the ball over 20 times. Tebow punched in his sixth rushing touchdown against the Bulldogs too. I don’t think Florida can rely on Tebow carrying the ball 20+ times all season long, and that could hurt them down the stretch. Tebow hasn’t put up Heisman type numbers, but his name is keeping him in the race.

Others to Watch

• Tony Pike (QB/Cincinnati) -- Tony Pike missed the game against Louisville Saturday, and his health has knocked him from a front runner. His Heisman hopes rely on his arm, and he is modifying the cast on his arm to allow him to play soon. Hopefully it will be this weekend, because if he misses a second game, his Heisman hopes may be down the drain.
• Colt McCoy (QB/Texas) -- Don’t look now, but Colt McCoy has reentered his name in the Heisman conversation. He went 26-31 for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead Texas to a 41-7 road win over Missouri . I thought his chances were almost gone, but with the game against Missouri , his completion percentage is back over 70 % and he has thrown for 1806 yards with 14 touchdowns. He still has some work to do if he wants to be at the Downtown Athletic Club accepting the Heisman.
• Dion Lewis (RB/Pittsburgh) -- The nation’s second leading rusher, for the third straight game, and 5th time this season, exceeded the 100 yard mark on the ground. He had 111 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns in Pittsburgh ’s blowout win over South Florida . Tim Tebow was the first sophomore to win the award, can Lewis become the first freshman to take home the prestigious trophy?
• Ryan Matthews (RB/Fresno State) -- The nation’s leading rusher did it again on Saturday rushing for 157 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns. Every game this season, Matthews has ran for over 100 yards. With Fresno State sitting at just 4-3, Matthews isn’t getting a lot of credit for the great season he has had. He has rushed for 1131 yards this season in just 7 games, and is averaging over 160 yards per game. He definitely deserves more consideration than he is getting.
• Kellen Moore (QB/Boise State) -- After a 223-yard, 5-touchdown day, Kellen Moore is seriously in the Heisman talk now. For the season, he has thrown for 1637 yards, completing 67.7 % of his passes with 21 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Moore has the Broncos undefeated, and as long as they continue, Moore has a great shot at being invited to the Downtown Athletic Club for the presentation.
• Rolando McClain (LB/Alabama) -- If there is any defensive player that has a shot at the Heisman Trophy, it is Rolando McClain. Ndamukong Suh was at the top of my Heisman board two weeks ago, but even after an impressive performance against Iowa State , his team still lost, and I think that ends his chances. As for Rolando McClain, he put together another solid day as Alabama remained unbeaten.
• Dan LeFevour (QB/Central Michigan ) -- The Chippewas QB turned in another solid performance in leading Central Michigan to a win over Bowling Green . He completed 16 of his 22 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 128 yards on the ground. He has thrown for 1696 yards with 16 touchdowns to 4 interceptions, while adding 522 yards on the ground with 9 touchdowns.
• Bill Stull (QB/Pittsburgh) -- Bill Stull has played outstanding for Pittsburgh this season. He added in another strong performance against South Florida this weekend. He completed 18 of 25 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. He’s completed 67.3 % of his passes with 1654 yards passing and 16 touchdowns to 4 interceptions. He seems like a completely different QB from last season to this, and is a major reason for the Panthers’ 7-1 record.

BULLS**T CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

by Matt Strobl

Only in the BCS could a team win by 41 points with a backup QB and drop three spots in the standings.  Cincinnati went from #5 to #8, leapfrogged by Iowa , TCU, and USC.  Let’s think about that for a moment, shall we?

• Iowa has been the luckiest team in football all year, and needed a last-second prayer to beat Michigan State .  We’re talking about a team that nearly lost to FCS foe Northern Iowa .  Then nearly lost again to Arkansas State .  What on earth could the voters be thinking?
• USC has a loss, and it happens to be to a team that went winless only a year ago.  Moreover, the Trojans won by a mere 6 points against a team that Cincinnati played and beat much more convincingly.  What a crock.
• If any team should have jumped UC, it was TCU.  They had a quality win this week and are a great team.  Even so, I find this incredible.
• Florida has stunk things up for three straight week s while hanging onto the #1 spot.
• Alabama won thanks only to two blocked field goals, and they didn’t budge from #2.

The lack of respect for the Big East is palpable, and the horrific joke that is the BCS continues to be played in 2009.  Cincinnati ’s schedule may not be the toughest in the nation, but they’ve beaten two ranked teams on the road and remain undefeated. And moreover, they won via blowout!  How is a coach supposed to explain to his kids that, hey, you guys won huge and dominated, but we still tumbled three spots in the poll?

I’ve never liked the BCS.  But every year that goes by gives me a new reason to hate it even more.  The rational part of my brain knows that polls don’t mean squat until the last week of the season.  But the fan in me is simply disgusted that this is what college football has come to -- failure after failure after BCS failure.

PRIME CUTS AND CHARRED REMNANTS

by Zach Bigalke

Some big upsets were spurred this week by prime performances by big-time players. However, these victories could not also have come about without the ignominious performances, as teams were charred by lesser competition. This week we take a look at both sides of the equation: the key contributors in victory, and those who were most burned by the efforts on the opposite side of the field...

Prime Cuts

• C.J. Spiller (RB/Clemson) -- Spiller put up a career day in defeating the highly-favored Hurricanes. The senior tailback did everything possible for the Tigers -- carrying the ball 14 times for 81 yards, catching six passes out of the backfield for 104 yards and a touchdown, and picking up 125 return yards (including a 90-yard kickoff return). With 310 total yards, Spiller maintained his status as the top all-purpose producer among all FBS players and drove a stake through the heart of Hurricanes fans in the process.
• Jesse Smith (LB/Iowa State) -- The Cyclones had not won in Lincoln in over thirty years, but that streak is now over... thanks in large part to the efforts of the team’s senior middle linebacker. Smith wreaked utter havoc on the Cornhuskers’ offense, racking up 12 tackles (2 for loss), forcing a fumble on the opening drive and intercepting a Zac Lee pass. Smith was the catalyst for an Iowa State defense that forced EIGHT Nebraska turnovers en route to a 9-7 victory.
• Cyrus Gray (RB/Texas A&M) -- Gray gashed the Red Raiders defense both on the ground and with several back-breaking receptions to fuel the victory for the visitors. Gray carried the ball 25 times and racked up 131 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also caught 4 passes from Jerrod Johnson, gaining 41 yards in the process and finding the endzone a fourth time. Gray was instrumental all throughout the game, factoring into half of the scoring plays for the Aggies and chewing up large tracts of real estate.

Charred Remnants

• Jacory Harris (QB/Miami) -- Harris did do some things right on Saturday, including heaving a long touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin and hitting Leonard Hankerson for another score. But Harris also threw two touchdowns to the opposing team, negating any benefit his positive gains might have achieved. Ultimately, this was another case of one step forward, two steps back for the mercurial Hurricane signal caller.
• Zac Lee (QB/Nebraska) -- Lee seemingly could do nothing right at home this weekend against Iowa State . He threw 20-of-37 for 248 yards, but could never find the endzone. He also completed three balls to the opposition, and had butterfingers throughout the game. Lee fumbled the ball thrice, losing his last bobble at the beginning of the fourth quarter and killing any comeback momentum that might’ve otherwise existed.
• Taylor Potts (QB/Texas Tech) -- Potts, who earlier this year looked like another genius diamond-in-the-rough discovery by coach Mike Leach, was the main reason why Tech allowed themselves to get soundly beaten by the Aggies. Potts threw two interceptions, both deep inside Texas A&M territory, and was ultimately pulled in the third quarter after coughing up a fumble.

HOW A PLAYOFF MIGHT LOOK

by David Snipes

This is the current playoff field based on My Playoff Plan

Rose: Big 10 v. Pac 10

Iowa v. Oregon

( Oregon is undefeated in conference)

Orange : Big East v. ACC

Cincinnati v. Georgia Tech

(Georgia Tech is 4-1 in conference)

Sugar: SEC v. AT-LARGE

Florida v.

(Giving Florida the nod over Alabama )

Fiesta: Big 12 v. AT LARGE

Texas v.

The three main teams looking for the at-large bids, as USC & Miami have conference losses:

·         Boise State

·         Alabama

·         TCU

Alabama and Boise State are the highest ranked as far as the BCS shows, so they get the two spots. (Sorry, TCU, enjoy the Cotton Bowl.) Alabama is the easternmost school, so they go to the Sugar Bowl and Boise State heads to the Fiesta Bowl.

Rose: Iowa v. Oregon

Orange : Cincinnati v. Georgia Tech

Sugar: Florida v. Alabama

Fiesta: Texas v. Boise State  

-- No Change from Last week

Submitted 10/22 

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