Here's your chance bloggers.  Jump aboard the Texas Bandwagon Express before ESPN, FOX, and all of the other major media outlets turn on their hype machines next week. 

This week after having beat OU you saw a lot more comments about how UT is decent, but it's usually a back-handed comment tied in with their porous defense and the "fact" they'll lose against Mizzou this coming week.  I think after Mizzou gets the spank down in Austin, that we'll finally see the Bama Bandwagon Express jump the tracks in favor of the head-of-steam Longhorns who will have a much more impressive resume then.  I can already see Corso and Herbsteit in Austin next week blowing the Longhorns every 5 seconds to make up for their horrid predictions and analyses of Texas this past weekend against OU.  Plus, I don't think even Corso has the nutz to put on a Mizzou tiger head at the end of College of Gameday pre-game.  Didn't these guys learn their lessons when UT beat OSU and USC in 2005?

So, anyway, climb aboard, and finally realize that Texas has an awesome offensive line that give Colt McCoy all day to make decisions and either pass/run for the best results.  Colt is making smart decisions, and his boys are getting open for him, or spreading the field when he wants to run.  Lets also not forget about the speed in the defensive ends, Brian Orakpo and Henry Melton.  No double-teaming this line.  Our defensive line pressure is giving our young DBs a fighting chance to be in on plays and keeping the passing damage to a minimum.  Mizzou will undoubtably get their passing yardage, but can they run and can they avoid making mistakes again?  This may be the most raucus Austin crowd we've ever seen, since Texas hasn't been a regular season #1 in nearly 25 years, and UT just added a few million more seats to DKR Memorial Stadium.  The party is in Austin this weekend, and Mizzou is not invited!

Hook'em!

Woh! I'm pretty sure there are plenty out there that agree with me that this past weekend was one of the most awesome in a long time.  Big time shake-ups abound, and thus my undefeateds analysis gets turned on top of itself this week.  At the current rate of losing undefeated teams each week, I won't have anything to write about next week.  Anyway, I thought the last few seasons of college football were amazing with the upsets and barn-burners, but this year is even better.  Lets just hope the BCS doesn't screw up this one, and create a lame ending to an otherwise great regular season.  So here's the perfect 10 of Div-IA football.  Enjoy!


1. Texas
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Better than last week's "no chance".  10%
Key Wins: Oklahoma, @Colorado  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  Missouri, Ok.St., @Texas Tech, @Kansas, Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  Texas A&M. 
Comments:  Wow! Did anyone think Texas could really throw that kind of team on the field against OU this weekend?  Either it was a perfect storm of coaching and playing to its maximum, OU falling apart, and refs calls, or Texas was grossly underrated and OU was grossly overrated.  This is why we play the games on the field and not on paper.  Anyway, the Horns shouldn't rest on their laurels long.  Missouri comes calling to Austin this weekend, and will not be happy following their upset defeat at the hands of Oklahoma St.  BTW, did anyone see that killer block that WR Quan Cosby laid on that OU defensive back when UT receiver Jordan Shipley was sprinting to the endzone for an almost-TD?  CRUSH!

2. Alabama
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Very Possible. 50%
Key Wins: @Clemson, @Georgia. Kentucky.  Near Misses: Kentucky.
Remaining Toughies:  @LSU, Auburn, SEC CC.
Potential Trap Games:  Ole Miss, @Tennessee. 
Comments:  Alabama received some serious help from Florida this weekend when the Gators thumped LSU in the swamp.  Not only does it slap a key conference loss on the Tigers, but it was a textbook analysis of how to disemble LSU in a way we haven't seen in a long, long time.  Bama coach, Nick Saban, should be licking his chops right about now.  However, the Tide needs to tend to this week's business of Ole Miss, who will not be a push over.  Ole Miss already went to the Swamp earlier this season and knocked off Florida, could they have a second "shock the nation" moment in them?

3. Penn State
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Much better than last week's chances.  50%
Key Wins: @Wisconsin, Illinois, Oregon St.  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  Michigan St., @Ohio St. 
Potential Trap Game:  Michigan
Comments:  Jo Pa and the boys waltzed into Camp Randall stadium this weekend, and put a smack-down on the Wisconsin Badgers.  PSU keeps building an impressive resume that could take them to the BCS NC game.  After getting over the hump of Wisconsin, which looked like a seriously tough game on the schedule, and with Michigan looking terrible, only a visit to the Horse Shoe at Ohio State posses a problem for the Nittany Lions.  Like Alabama, they are down to really 1 tough match-up on their schedule, with maybe an additional challenge thrown in. 

4. Oklahoma State
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Like UT, better than last week's chances, though still tough and low.  10%
Key Wins:  @Missouri.  Near Misses:  @Missouri. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Texas, @Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Big 12 CC
Potential Trap Game:  @Colorado
Comments:  OSU's road victory over Missouri was quite the accomplishment, but unfortunately seems to have taken a backseat to Texas' victory over Oklahoma and ascension to #1 in the polls.  Not only did the Cowboys show up with a defense to keep the Chase Daniel show in check, but it showed up with a highly underrated, multifaceted offensive attack.  OSU has the best running attack in the Big 12, and will keep the best of defenses off balance.  This was the Cowboys first big game, and they shined brightly.  Like Texas, they shouldn't rest on their laurels.  There are still plenty of tough road-blocks coming their way.

5. Texas Tech
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Very Tough. 25%
Key Wins: @Kansas St.  Near Misses: Nebraska.
Remaining Toughies:  @Kansas, Texas, Ok.St., @Oklahoma, Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  @Texas A&M. 
Comments: Well, what can we say about the Red Raiders, who should've thrown up 70 again on the Cornhuckers with their sieve defense?  Instead they went to overtime for the win at home.  Nebraska's offense is middling at best, and yet took the supposedly improved TT defense to the limit.  We still don't know what this Red Raiders team is made of, but kudos to them for doing what they've needed to stay perfect.  A visit to A&M this weekend seems like a possible trap game, but A&M is looking as bad as Arkansas did before their game against Auburn this past weekend.  Difference?  TT actually has an offense and Auburn doesn't.

6. BYU
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Good.  33%
Key Wins:  UCLA.  Near Misses:  @Washington. 
Remaining Toughies:  @TCU, @Utah. 
Potential Trap Games: None
Comments:  I had to downgrade BYU's chances of staying undefeated because of TCU's killer defense.  TCU is quietly flying under the radar with their one loss (against Oklahoma), and are primed to be the fly in the ointment against BYU and Utah with their CFB leading defense.  BYU looked less than impressive against a mediocre New Mexico squad this weekend at home.  Perhaps it was just cruise-control, and staying undefeated is staying undefeated.  However, when the ultimate goal is the BCS NC game, you gotta get noticed and impress some voters.  One of these days BYU should consider the Pac 10 (Pac 12?) as their future home.  Playing USC, Cal, Az.St would go a long way to earning some respectability in the polls, and gain those automatic bowl bids.

7. Utah
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Good. 33%
Key Wins: @Michigan, Oregon St.  Near Misses: Plenty. 
Remaining Toughies:  TCU, BYU. 
Potential Trap Games:  @San Diego St. 
Comments:  See BYU.  The season for Utah and BYU comes down to their matches against TCU and their own Holy War game.  The Ute's 2 key wins against Michigan and Oregon St. seem less and less with each passing week, and wins over TCU and/or BYU would seem bigger victory's at this point of the season.

8. Boise State
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  99% certainty
Key Wins:  @Oregon.  Near Misses:  @Oregon. 
Remaining Toughies:  Fresno St. 
Potential Trap Games:   Any of 4 road games remaining. 
Comments:  The Broncos took care of business going to Southern Miss. this weekend.  Their schedule still looks like a skate.  I took some criticism last week for making them a 100% certainty last week, with the argument that nothing is a 100% certainty. So, this week they are a 99% certainty to run the tables.  Yet, BSU will still find itself way on the outside looking in at the end of the season due to their ultra-weak schedule.  The more losses and weak wins that Oregon keeps showing, the less and less Boise St.'s schedule looks.

9. Tulsa
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Good. 33%
Key Wins:  Rice.  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Arkansas, @Houston, CUSA CC. 
Potential Trap Games:  UCF, @Marshall.  
Comments:  Potential Heisman QB David Johnson had a decent 200+ yard 3-TD day against SMU in a close one.  The real surprise here was the Tulsa running game, which racked up over 300+ yard rushing for the game, setting the passing game in the background for a change.  After Arkansas' upset win over Auburn this weekend, Tulsa's road game to Arkansas may be a bigger test than originally thought.
 
10. Ball State
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Very good. 66%
Key Wins:  @Indiana (relatively speaking).  Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies:  LOL, they play a bunch of directional teams from here out. 
Potential Traps:  The info on the teams on their schedule is so thin, that I can't even analyze them. 
Comments:  David Letterman's now famous Cardinals won a good victory on the road at West Kentucky this weekend.  They've maintained their Top 25 ranking for the 2nd consecutive week, and look to continue to run of great ball against Eastern Michigan in two weeks.  Ahhhh a bye week.  Ball St. looks to rest up and prepare for the final leg of their dream season.  There is obviously no chance at a BCS bowl here, but undefeated in any Div-IA league is still a feat worthy of praise.  Keep flying Cardinals!

In Memorium:

Oklahoma - I would have a load of respect for the Sooners after their hard fought loss in the Red River Rivalry.  However, all of the whining and complaining I've been hearing and reading from OU fans totally spoils any respect I have for at leas the fans.  Bad refs or not, Texas got the bad end of the stick a few times too, and OU is the last school to complain about cheese during big games.  Howabout that tip drill of a TD in the first quarter?  The cheese was equally thick on both sides, the refs calls were balanced if not bad, and the emotions and play were high and rough.  Great game!  OU is still definitely well within shot of the BCS title game, but they need some help now.  Sam Bradford did not hurt his Heisman chances very much, except by losing the big one when Colt McCoy got the W.

Missouri - The chinks in the Tiger armor were revealed severely to their demise.  Lack of defense and some poor decisions by would-be Heisman candidate, QB Chase Daniel, led to a 4th quarter collapse.  This was every bit as good of a game as the Texas-OU game, and like UT-OU, it showed which team was ready to step up and have that little bit extra to win the big one.  Like OU, their national championship aspirations are far from over.  This week's game in Austin against UT proves to be another in a month's worth of big time showdowns in the Big 12 with national title implications.  Look for another doozy.

LSU - It's no sin to lose to Florida in the Swamp.  It's a sin to give up 51 points if you're the defending national champion.  The Tigers totally got dismantled, and Florida now looks like a viable SEC representative, with Tim Tebow vaulting back towards the top of the Heisman race.  Coming out flat in the Swamp is good way to get gator bit, and did Florida ever take a big hunk out of the Tiger.  LSU is still alive in the BCS hunt, but will need some help coupled with a big win over Alabama in a few weeks.

Vanderbilt - I actually got one of my upset specials this week.  Vandy proved to be Vandy this week as they hit the road to Miss. St.  Sylvester Croom and his boys always seem to have a big upset in their bag each season, and the Commodores were this year's victim.  Vandy has to wait another week to try and earn that elusive bowl qualification win.

Northwestern - The great defense of the Northwestern Wildcats fell to the pounding, punishing offensive attack of Michigan St. this weekend.  RB Javon Ringer has 120 yards and 2 TDs against the 'Cats, mixed with 3 turnovers, spelled doom for the undefeated chances.

UPSET SPECIALS OF THE WEEK 

Missouri @ Texas ( This isn't necessarily an upset in that Texas is so much better than Missouri, but any time you can take out #1 on their home turf, it rates as an upset. I still like Texas to win though)

WHO WILL STAY UNDEFEATED THIS WEEK

Texas, Alabama, Penn St., Okalhoma St., Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, Boise St., Tulsa, Ball St.

WHO GOES DOWN THIS WEEK

None.  Other than the Missouri at Texas game, the schedule is pretty light this week, with most of the undefeateds getting little breathers.

Hey hey hey, it's your favorite Longhorn alum, Matthew here.  Look for me trolling the sidelines of the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, as I prop up my boys.  Here's my list of the things I love most about Texas-OU weekend in Dallas.

10)  Where else can you get deep-fried Twinkies, Cokes, ice cream, Snickers, pickles, turkey legs, and bacon in one complex? State Fair of Texas, baby!

9)  Where else can you find 200,000 football fans acting for a weekend like I do all year?  And, that's just in the tailgating and fairgrounds.

8)  I always enjoy a weekend in the city of the King of Scoundrels, J.R. Ewing.  The Texas liquor and the Texas women, baby!

7)  Cotton Bowl officials are allowing me to do a uterus burial (courtesy of my baby-mama) at the 50-yard line of this year's game.  Freaky-deaky, baby!

6)  I'm looking forward to our Colt mounting up on those OU Boomer Scooner philly ponies. Yeah!

5)  I love hearing that annoying Boomer Sooner song over and over after every play.  By the end of the game I got a banging buzz going in my head that my doctors declare is a medically valid reason for lighting up again.

4)  Where else can I pull out my burnt orange jacket outside of Austin and be appreciated for it?

3)  Dallas in October is one of the few places in America still warm enough to play bongos outside naked as a pregame ritual.

2)  Texas and OU fans are the only ones who can understand my inebriated Texas drawl.

1)  Hey hey hey.  I may be getting older, but those freshmen cheerleaders stay the same age.

Hey, babies, if any of you see my boy, Roger, give me a ring.  He's been in hiding lately for some reason.  Also, my gal, Sandra, doesn't return my calls anymore.  Let me give a last shout out to my boy, Lance "Left-Nut" Armstrong.  I love ole Nutty.

Peace my friends!

There wasn't much of a shake up amongst the undefeateds this week, which came as a shock, since the previous 5 weeks of the season were as upsetting as any the past decade.  So, it figures that we had a calm, normal, favs-win type week.  So, with a few adjustments here and there, here's this week's take on the undefeateds:

Oklahoma
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Excellent
Key Wins: None.    Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies: Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas Tech, @Ok. St., Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  @Kansas St. 
Comments:  This week's game is likely OU's only solid challenge until the Big 12 CC.  With a win in the Red River Rivalry, go ahead and pencil in OU to the NC game.

LSU
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Very Tough
Key Wins: @Auburn  Near Misses:  @Auburn. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Florida, Georgia, Alabama, SEC CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  @South Carolina. 
Comments:  The Tigers had a bye week to rest up and prep for a trip to the Swamp.  Even though Florida is playing way below what we'd normally expect from them, and Tebow is looking nothing like a returning Heisman winner, don't expect them to just roll over for the Tigers.  I think this may be LSU's toughest game all season, having to go on the road.

Missouri
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Even Odds
Key Wins: Illinois  Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies:  Ok.St., @Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  Kansas St. 
Comments:  I really thought NU would bring more of a game this past week, and I had it marked as one of my upset specials.  Since we saw the real MO and NU, I can't even qualify that win as a "Key Win".  The Big 12 North still has a long way to go to match the talent in the South.  Gotta wonder where this program goes when Chase Daniel leaves.  The Tigers have one of the more interesting games of the week with another undefeated team, Oklahoma St.  Any other week I'd have College Game Day sitting in Missouri on Saturday morning, but alas there is a little game being played in Dallas with a much more interesting flare to it.

Texas
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  No Chance
Key Wins: @Colorado  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  Oklahoma, Missouri, Ok.St., @Texas Tech, @Kansas, Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  Texas A&M. 
Comments:  The Longhorns got their first real test this season by going on the road to Boulder, and Colt McCoy on the boys treated it like their own practice field.  McCoy once again put up Heisman numbers in the air and on the ground, and if it was not for some quirky plays, he'd not have those 2 INTs.  Texas is showing more swagger, meddle, and confidence than we've seen since the VY days.  I might have been feeling insecure about the Horns' chances against OU before this week, but they showed they are ready, loaded, and gunning.  Should be a great show.

Alabama
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Very Possible
Key Wins: @Clemson, @Georgia. Kentucky.  Near Misses: Kentucky.
Remaining Toughies:  @LSU, Auburn, SEC CC.
Potential Trap Games:  Ole Miss, @Tennessee. 
Comments:  The Tide dodged a bullet at home this past weekend against undefeated Kentucky.  This was marked as one of my upset specials, and the 'cats nearly pulled it off.  Alabama looked very underwhelming on their home turf, and don't you know Les Miles is licking his chops now for that Tide to roll into Baton Rouge.  Bama has a week off to get their ship back in order, and I doubt we'll see a flat performance against Ole Miss in two weeks.  Saban is too good of a coach to look ahead, and will have the Tide ready.  Does Bama become #1 if Texas beats OU this week?  If we use the #8 Bama beats #3 Georgia logic, then NO, #5 Texas leapfrogs Bama, LSU, Missouri to become #1. 

Penn State
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Very Tough
Key Wins: Illinois, Oregon St.  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Wisconsin, Michigan, @Ohio St. 
Potential Trap Game:  Michigan St. 
Comments:  The Lions didn't throw up 50pts this week on the road to Purdue, but they still made ready work of the Boilermakers nonetheless.  Penn St. is looking as good as anyone in the country thus far, and they may be the silent assassins waiting in the wings, underappreciated to move up to #1 over the next month.  Big wins against Wisc, Mich, and OSU could go along way to screaming at the voters and BCS that they deserve #1.

Texas Tech
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Very Tough
Key Wins: @Kansas St.  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  Nebraska, @Kansas, Texas, Ok.St., @Oklahoma, Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  @Texas A&M. 
Comments:  I'm gonna give Texas Tech credit for a Key Win this week against Kansas St.  Not because they went on the road and scored 58, but because the defense ONLY gave up 28 to a Wildcats team that sported some offensive talent.  The Red Raider D definitely made the KSU talent look offensive.  Some of the naysayers against TT should now be quieted, seeing the Raiders play a real opponent on the road.  Next up is a home game against Nebraska, which may have seemed bigger last week before Chase Daniel chewed them up on their home field.  Expect a similar blow out for TT this weekend in Lubbock.

BYU
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Excellent
Key Wins:  UCLA.  Near Misses:  @Washington. 
Remaining Toughies:  @TCU, @Utah. 
Potential Trap Games: None
Comments:  The Cougers made easy work of Utah St. on friday night, and their path looks pretty clear with their only remaining true challenges laying with TCU and a season ender at Utah.  I look forward to that battle of undefeateds, and likely your rep from the non-BCS schools to the big shows in January.

Oklahoma State
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  No Chance
Key Wins:  None.  Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Missouri, @Texas, @Texas Tech, @Colorado, Oklahoma, Big 12 CC
Potential Trap Game:  None
Comments:  Though this OSU hasn't played anyone impressive yet, they have looked grossly impressive themselves with the games they do have under their belt.  A 56-28 drubbing of A&M in Stillwater looks closer than it actually was.  28 first quarter points for the Cowboys closed the book on this one early.  OSU gets its first pinultimate test of the season this weekend going to undefeated Missouri.  What's the over/under for both the OSU/MO and OU/UT games.  200 pts?

Boise State
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  100% certainty
Key Wins:  @Oregon.  Near Misses:  @Oregon. 
Remaining Toughies:  Fresno St. 
Potential Trap Games:   Any of 5 road games remaining. 
Comments:  The Broncos haven't played since last wednesday night, so this almost feels like a bye week for them to go on the road to Southern Miss this weekend.  Long travelling road games are never easy, and Boise St. meets a Golden Eagles team with some offensive punch.  BSU should overcome with relative ease, as their defense cracks down early, and give the offense all the time they need to run up a big number against So.Miss' bottom-dweller defense.  The Bronco's path continues to look pretty smooth and easy.  Who from those non-BCS confs will run the gauntlet and get the BCS invite?

Utah
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Excellent
Key Wins: @Michigan, Oregon St.  Near Misses: Plenty. 
Remaining Toughies:  TCU, BYU. 
Potential Trap Games:  @San Diego St. 
Comments:  The Utes go to Wyoming this week in a tough road test.  However, Utah has already won in the Big House this year, so what's a little trip to cold Wyoming?  I hope the first blizzard of the season isn't in line for Wyoming this weekend.  The Utes still are eyeing two toughies against TCU and BYU as possible interruptions to their dreams for an undefeated season.

Vanderbilt
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  No Chance
Key Wins:  Auburn.  Near Misses:  @Mississippi. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Georgia, Florida, @Kentucky, @Wake Forest, SEC CC
Potential Trap Games:  Are they really trap games when you shouldn't be this good or undefeated to begin win? (Tennessee). 
Comments:  What more can be said about Vandy?  Easily the best feel-good story this season.  The Commodores knocked off a good Auburn squad, and moved themselves into the Top 15 rankings this week.  They have a road test this weekend at Miss St, and better not overlook it with eyes on their visit to Georgia in two weeks.  Keep it rolling, Vandy!  One more week at least!

Northwestern
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  No Chance
Key Wins:  @Iowa.  Near Misses:  @Duke, @Iowa. 
Remaining Toughies: Mich St., Purdue, Ohio St., @Michigan, Illinois. 
Potential Trap Games: They are all traps. 
Comments:  Could we be seeing the phoenix rising in the post-Barnett era?  Pat Fitzgerald has this team going in the right direction with killer D that's already racked up 17 sacks this season.  Undefeated is definitely way too high of a bar to reach, but this will be successful season if the 'cats finish 8-5 with a win over a Big 10 biggie, and a bowl trip.  NW had this past week off in preparation for a toughie against MSU this week.  Playing at home is a god-send, but it may not be enough against the rising Spartans and star RB Javon Ringer.

Tulsa
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Excellent
Key Wins:  Rice.  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Arkansas, @Houston, CUSA CC. 
Potential Trap Games:  UCF, @Marshall.  
Comments:  Ho-hum another week, and another 63 points and near 600yard effort from the Golden Hurricanes.  Their game against Rice was actually pretty decent, going back and forth for the first half.  However a 42pt second half totally drubbed the Rice Owls who were game for a half.  I like this as a Key Win for Tulsa, and I realize that key wins are relative.  However, the Owls have one of the best QB-WR combos in the nation.  Though Rice got their points and yards, Tulsa played bend but don't break, and just kept racking up the points.
 
Ball State
Chance of staying undefeated through the season:  Hah! Who cares?
Key Wins:  @Indiana (relatively speaking).  Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies:  LOL, they play a bunch of directional teams from here out. 
Potential Traps:  The info on the teams on their schedule is so thin, that I can't even analyze them. 
Comments:  Ball St. made quick, easy work at Toledo this weekend 31-0.  Next up, the killer Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky.  You get the picture.  Is it possible to create some sub-BCS national championship that's above the DIV-IAA level?  Maybe we could let Ball St and Tulsa play for that title.

In Memorium:

Kentucky Wildcats - The Cats played a great defensive game again in Tuscaloosa, but you need some offense to go with that D if you want to upset a top 5 team in their home town.

UCONN Huskies - Losing at Chapel Hill, NC was not grossly unexpected.  Many figured them to lose to a Butch Davis squad at UNC that is on the upward path.  UCONN having already played over their heads to-date, finally met their match.  Both programs should be solid contenders in the Big East and ACC for the next few years.

UPSET SPECIALS OF THE WEEK 

Vanderbilt at MIssissippi St.
Penn St. @ Wisconsin

WHO WILL STAY UNDEFEATED THIS WEEK

Oklahoma, Missouri, LSU, Alabama, Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, Boise St., Kentucky, Tulsa, Ball St.

WHO GOES DOWN THIS WEEK

Texas, Penn St, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma St., Northwestern


STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK TO SEE ME GIVE A RANKING OF THE REMAINING UNDEFEATEDS

Last season I did a weekly analysis of the remaining undefeated teams in Div-IA football.  I'm starting a few weeks later this season, as the list was still quite long going into last weekend's games.  Now I have a nice pared down list of teams to work with, and the list WILL shrink significantly over the next 2-3 weeks.  This list isn't necessarily a ranking of best to worst undefeateds, but is more of the just analyses of each remaining team.  So, don't flame me that Bama has more quality wins.  In a few weeks I'll start indicating my opinion of how they should be ranked.  So without much further ado, here's list #1 of 2008 with 17 undefeateds:

Oklahoma
Key Wins: None.    Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies: Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas Tech, @Ok. St., Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  @Kansas St. 
Comments:  The Sooners have decimated all opponents thus far, but the quality of schedule has been less than eye-popping.  Though the schedule seems loaded from here on out, OU has the talent and coaching to sleepwalk through this schedule until a possible Big 12 CC rematch against 2007 opponent, Missouri.  Be careful OU, the upset bug is alive and well this season, and sleeping on any of your schedule could spell instant demise to #3-4 in the Big 12 South standings.

LSU
Key Wins: @Auburn  Near Misses:  @Auburn. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Florida, Georgia, Alabama, SEC CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  @South Carolina. 
Comments:  With 3 Goliaths left to play in the SEC, plus a rematch with one of them in the SEC CC game, LSU's path to undefeated looks difficult at best, and impossible at worst.  There have only been 2 SEC teams finish the season undefeated in the BCS era, and yet there have still been a slew of national championships come from this conference.  1 or 2 losses in this conference may not be enough to sink the ship, as LSU proved last year.  Don't underestimate the defending champ.

Missouri
Key Wins: Illinois  Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Nebraska, Ok.St., @Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  Kansas St. 
Comments:  Mizzou definitely has the offensive talent to stick with anyone in the country, and they are led by Heisman candidate Chase Daniel.  However, their D is still a big question mark, as Illinois put up 42pts against MO in their opening game, and the Tigers haven't faced a formidable opponent since.  They are about to enter the meat of their schedule with a key game at Texas.  If the Tiger escape the gauntlet of October, they better not rest on their laurels with a potential trap game of Kansas St coming to visit.

Texas
Key Wins: None  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Ok.St., @Texas Tech, @Kansas, Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  Texas A&M. 
Comments:  As easy as the Longhorns' schedule has been to start the season, it all comes to an end this weekend at Colorado.  Texas faces teams with a combined 24-4 record over the remainder of their schedule.  Talk about SOS.  The Longhorns may very well be looking at 3-4 losses before they exit October.  However, the Longhorns are playing great under the leadership of junior QB Colt McCoy, who is an early Heisman fav so far this season.  The young defense is starting to gel under D-Coordinator Will Muschamp, and the rest of the Big 12 better watch out.  This may be the most underrated UT squad in decades.

Alabama
Key Wins: @Clemson, @Georgia.  Near Misses: None.
Remaining Toughies:  Kentucky, @LSU, Auburn, SEC CC.
Potential Trap Games:  Ole Miss, @Tennessee. 
Comments:  The Crimson Tide undoubtedly have the best early season resume with 2 top 10 wins.  They are playing great in Nick Saban's second year at the helm, and the glory seems to be returning quickly to the Land of Bryant.  'Bama could very easily fall into the same trap that USC, Florida, Georgia, Va.Tech, W.Va., etc have fallen into early this season.  Do not grow fat on the hype, media acclaim, and bandwagon glory that have washed a crimson tide over the nation this week.  A hungry, undefeated Kentucky team is coming to Tuscaloosa this weekend with the best defense in the country.  Don't forget about the Ole Miss team that beat Florida last weekend, who comes to town in a few weeks.  'Bama may have 2 tougies out of the way, but there are plenty of landmines littering the SEC season, of which few teams have ever escaped unscathed.

Penn State
Key Wins: Illinois, Oregon St.  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Purdue, @Wisconsin, Michigan, @Ohio St. 
Potential Trap Game:  Michigan St. 
Comments:  The Nittany Lions are throwing up points in droves, and their defense is playing top-notch.  They have a pair of second-rung big wins, and seem primed to enter the toughest stretch of schedule as any team in the nation will find.  3/4 road games against perennial rivals.  Jo Pa misses the undefeated Northwestern Wildcats on his schedule, but he better not overlook a growing Mich.St. squad that might be primed for an upset at the end of the season.  Now if Jo Pa can only keep his kids on the practice field and out of the prison yards.

Texas Tech
Key Wins: None.  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  Nebraska, @Kansas, Texas, Ok.St., @Oklahoma, Big 12 CC. 
Potential Trap Game:  @Kansas St, @Texas A&M. 
Comments:  Does anyone really know what this team is made of yet?  Their high flying pass attack is clicking on all cylinders right now with QB Graham Harrell passing and handing off to perfection.  This team might be different in that they sport a running game to supplement the usual pass.  The defense still remains a big question mark, as the Red Raiders have yet to face a real test.  First test comes at KSU and QB Michael Freeman this weekend.  Tech sports one of the easier paths to undefeated getting Texas, OSU, and Nebraska at home, while missing Missouri on their schedule.  Only a mega-tough road game at Norman, OK stands out as a roadblock.

BYU
Key Wins:  UCLA.  Near Misses:  @Washington. 
Remaining Toughies:  @TCU, @Utah. 
Potential Trap Games: @Utah St. 
Comments:  BYU sports one of the easiest paths to an undefeated season, but that still might not spell a visit to the national championship game.  BYU currently sits at #9 in the Harris poll, and might climb up a few more slots with impending Top 10 losses ahead of them.  However, they may well fall victim to the BCS computer that keeps them in a BCS game, but out of the NC game.  A friday night visit to Utah St. stands out as a big trap game, as Utah St. comes off a bye week with plenty of game film and practice.  A season-ending match-up with the undefeated Utah Utes looks like BYU's biggest challenge on this weak schedule.

Oklahoma State
Key Wins:  None.  Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Missouri, @Texas, @Texas Tech, @Colorado, Oklahoma, Big 12 CC
Potential Trap Game:  Texas A&M. 
Comments:  The other-other-OSU is looking like the best OSU at this point in the season.  The Cowboys better watch out for a visiting A&M squad that is trying to get its feet under it for the first time this season, and finally starting QB Jerrod Johnson might do it for the Ags.  OSU has 4 monster road games that spells doom for any hopes of an undefeated season, and any chance at a Big 12 South title.  Oh did I forget that they still have to play OU at the end of the season?

Kentucky
Key Wins: None.  Near Misses:  Mid. Tenn. St. 
Remaining Toughies:  @Alabama, @Florida, Georgia, SEC CC. 
Potential Trap Games:  South Carolina, Vandy, @Tenn. 
Comments:  The 'cats have the nations best defense only having surrendered 22 total points in 4 games this season.  It's defense versus offense this week at Alabama, in a game that will clear the picture for both squads.  Will the real Bama and Kentucky step forward?  Even with a loss, Kentucky could still run the gauntlet in the SEC, but the trap games might do them in.

Boise State
Key Wins:  @Oregon.  Near Misses:  @Oregon. 
Remaining Toughies:  Fresno St. 
Potential Trap Games:   Any of 5 road games remaining. 
Comments:  With an easier schedule than BYU, the Broncos are looking ahead to a season-ending battle with Fresno St.  This kind of oversight might potentially spell an upset in one of their underwhelming road games against the weak WAC.  The BCS world will come tumbling down around us if a second Big 12 or SEC slips into the Top 4 of the final rankings, while undefeated Boise St. and BYU/Utah are sitting in the Top 10.  Oh lets throw in a hypothetical 1-loss Notre Dame for fun, if they pulled off an upset at USC.  Too many promises for too few BCS bowl slots.

Utah
Key Wins: @Michigan, Oregon St.  Near Misses: Plenty. 
Remaining Toughies:  TCU, BYU. 
Potential Trap Games:  @San Diego St. 
Comments:  The Utes are having a Cinderella season thus far, having opened with a monumental win at The Big House, and then pulling off a Pac-10 win against Oregon St. on Thursday night.  However, the rest of their games have all been close and losable, which suggests these Utes can play a close game, but what happens when better teams like TCU and BYU come to town?  Many in the pro-BCS world are hoping that the Utes play spoiler to BYU while stumbling somewhere along the line.  Utah needs to look out for a "look-ahead" game when they go on the road to San Diego before meeting BYU.

Vanderbilt
Key Wins:  None.  Near Misses:  @Mississippi. 
Remaining Toughies:  Auburn, @Georgia, Florida, @Kentucky, @Wake Forest, SEC CC
Potential Trap Games:  Are they really trap games when you shouldn't be this good or undefeated to begin win? (Tennessee). 
Comments:  The Commodores are off to their best start in forever, and have a couple of decent wins against South Carolina and Ole Miss.  They get to miss out on Alabama and LSU, but the stretch of Auburn, UGA, Fla, and KY should soon put them out of their misery.  If by some chance they ran the gauntlet, they still have a road trip to Wake Forest to look forward to, but who's afraid of them after running that SEC table?  I'm rooting for the brainiacs :-)

Northwestern
Key Wins:  @Iowa.  Near Misses:  @Duke, @Iowa. 
Remaining Toughies: Mich St., Purdue, Ohio St., @Michigan, Illinois. 
Potential Trap Games: They are all traps. 
Comments:  Could we be seeing the phoenix rising in the post-Barnett era?  Pat Fitzgerald has this team going in the right direction with killer D that's already racked up 17 sacks this season.  Undefeated is definitely way too high of a bar to reach, but this will be successful season if the 'cats finish 8-5 with a win over a Big 10 biggie, and a bowl trip.

Connecticut
Key Wins:  None.  Near Misses:  @Temple, @Louisville. 
Remaining Toughies:  W.Va., @South Fla, Pitt. 
Potential Trap Games:  @NC, Cinn. 
Comments:  UCONN has steadily been improving the last few seasons, and are moving themselves into a position of respectability in the Big East.  That's the Big East, I said.  aka Big Least.  That's like being the blind horse in a three-legged horse race.  As I write, I'm having a dream of UCONN running the tables against the down Big East this season, and being the first BCS undefeated to not play in the NC game since Auburn in 2004.  Except this season there won't be 2 undefeateds playing ahead of them.  Look for the Huskies to finish with 2-3 losses.

Tulsa
Key Wins:  None.  Near Misses: None. 
Remaining Toughies:  Rice, @Arkansas, @Houston, CUSA CC. 
Potential Trap Games:  UCF, @Marshall.  
Comments:  If an undefeated UCONN team was a dream, above, then an undefeated Tulsa team might be a reality.  These guys lead Div-IA in points and yards.  They chunk it all over the place with ease.  Granted that's been against lesser competition.  However QB David Johnson is as solid as any front-running Heisman QB in the nation.  There is potential trouble in their schedule, but it's not grossly tough.  If Johnson and Golden Hurricanes keep throwing up those same monster numbers every week, beat an SEC team (Arkansas) on the road, win their CC, and crack the Top 10, then we might see an outside chance of them qualifying for a BCS at-large.

Ball State
Key Wins:  @Indiana (relatively speaking).  Near Misses:  None. 
Remaining Toughies:  LOL, they play a bunch of directional teams from here out. 
Potential Traps:  The info on the teams on their schedule is so thin, that I can't even analyze them. 
Comments:  I suppose their win on the road against a Big 10 school was something.  I think these guys stand as good of a chance to run the tables as anyone in the country.  Will they hit a pot-hole?  Most likely.  However, they've totally been killing everyone they've played thus far.  I'd like to catch them on an ESPN2 Wed, Thur, Fri. night special.

UPSET SPECIALS OF THE WEEK 

• #4 Missouri @ Nebraska
• Kentucky @ #2 Alabama
• #24 UCONN @ UNC (if that's an upset)

WHO WILL STAY UNDEFEATED THIS WEEK

Oklahoma, LSU, Texas, Penn St., Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, Boise St., Oklahoma St., Kentucky, Tulsa, Ball St.

WHO GOES DOWN THIS WEEK

Alabama, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, UCONN


STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK FOR ODDS ON REMAINING UNDEFEATED