I cannot tell a lie.  Last week my picks can be summed up with one word:  PATHETIC.  So pathetic even a Caveman could do it.  So pathetic any #### with a keyboard could pick them.  All told, I finished up 4-9 ATS.  A 3 year-old could do that well. 

For the season that puts me at 44-35-3.  Profitable at 55.7%, but now very much middling and on the brink of the 'Mendosa Line'. 

Time for some positive thinking, and the gumption to get the nose back to the grindstone. 

Without further adieu, I bring you my Week 8 selections.  As always, only the toughest and most interesting games will fill out my opinions.

Thursday:

BYU @ TCU (+ 1):  Unbelievable, but this game is bigger than the Florida State @ NC State game on this night's slate.  BYU is riding high and undefeated as the 8th ranked team in the country.  TCU, statistically, has the #1 and #2 ranked defense in the nation in terms of yards and points given up respectively.  No doubt this is a game in which contrast of styles will clash.  BYU has a high-powered offense with an above average defense, while TCU has a stout defense and a ball-control offense.  Something has to break in this one, right?  TCU's only loss was against Oklahoma in which they gave up a bevy of big plays and 4 TO's compared to 0 for OU.  And the final score was still only 35-10.  BYU has been struggling a bit as of late, thus the line movement from BYU favored by 3 to a mere 1 since it opened.  I'm not buying, and will go against the general public in this one.  BYU just hasn't been challenged mentally in the past couple of weeks to be prepared.  They should be fully prepared for this one, and have enough defense to keep the Horned Frogs offense at bay, even if their offense struggles.  It should be a good one, but I'll side with the better team........BYU 24 TCU 17.

Saturday:

Wake Forest @ Maryland (+ 1.5):  I'll be honest.  I can't figure out this Wake Forest team.  Yes, I believe they are good, but the question is:  How good?  Maryland can be a very tough team when prepared and mistake-free.  But Wake just doesn't allow a team to be mistake-free.  Alphonso Smith may be the best cover corner in the country and he baits even the best of QB's into mistakes.  If Maryland can't run the ball, they are in serious trouble.  I see that as a very likley problem, even at home.  Not my favorite of contests, but I'll side with the road favorites and take Grobe over the Fridge......Wake 22  Maryland 13.

Georgia Tech @ Clemson (+2):  Seems way too easy to take Georgia Tech after all the turmoil surrounding Bowden's resignation/dismissal from Clemson.  I won't bite.  Even Clemson players have spoken openly about their dislike for Bowden's tactics.  Look for Clemson players to regroup and put together a solid effort after the departure of their embattled coach.....Clemson 27  Georgia Tech 17.

Virginia Tech @ Boston College (-3):  I'll gladly take the 3 points with the road dogs and play......Virginia Tech 21 Boston College 17.

Mississippi @ Alabama (-13):  Ole Miss was getting 24 from Florida in their upset of the Gators a couple of weeks ago.  Now they only get 13 from the 2nd ranked team in the country?  Something smells funny doesn't it?  That funny smell is Alabama's sometimes less than efficient offense.  Their defense isn't as good as most would think either.  The Tide have been far from a smoke and mirrors team, but they have been very opportunistic in their games thus far.  Personally, I hate the game, but like the dreaded O/U total of 49 1/2.  From the line given they are saying that Bama wins something like 31-18.  I simply can't see that much scoring in this contest.  I'll take UNDER the total and stay far away from a scary 13 point post for Bama..........Alabama 27  Ole Miss 14.

Vanderbilt @ Georgia (-15):  Even as pathetic as Vandy's offense is, I still have to side with them (don't I?).  Even when the line moves from an opening 13 to the now stated 15.  Time for Georgia to impress.  Their 'great' road win over a 2-4 Arizona State team now looks rather mediocre, at best.  Their arse-handing defeat to Alabama should be the reality of this squad so far.  Unless Georgia keeps from turning the ball over to the ball-hawking Vandy 'D', this one should go UNDER the total of 45.  Throw in the fact that Vandy might not score, and it seems like a very sensible play.  I like Georgia to cover, but will not make a play on it.......Georgia 22  Vandy 6.

USC @ Washington State (+42 1/2):  I'm putting this game in here because I can't remember the last time I saw a ROAD team favored by 7 TD's in a College Football game.  I do remember the days of home teams being favored by 50+, but not against a conference opponent on the road.  Yes, Washington State is THAT bad.  Of note, however, is the last time USC was favored by 40 or more they were beat STRAIGHT UP by Stanford last year.  After the 28-0 shutout over Arizona State last week in which the teams combined for 9 TO's, look for the Trojans to be very sharp early against the worst BCS school in the land.  Even in Pullman.  The only saving grace for WSU is if it snows........ alot.  And that likely won't help.  In 4 conference games Wazzu has been on the wrong side of the following numbers:  66-3, 63-14, 66-13, and 28-3.  The last against a depleted UCLA squad.  2 of those humbling defeats have been at home.  Now onto another humbler,..........I'll make the O/U play in this one.  I'll take the OVER in the 55 1/2, and look for USC to pack it in by half and let the Cougars score just enough to put it over the total...........USC 52  Washington State 10.

Ohio State @ Michigan State (+ 3):  Toughest game on the card.  I will simply look for a late scorefest, or early one, to cover the 41 1/2 on the OVER/UNDER that is given. I'll take the OVER......... Ohio State 27 Michigan State 24.

California @ Arizona (+2):  Night game @ Arizona.  All I need to know.  Take the home dog.........Arizona 31  Cal 24.

Game of the Week:

Missouri @ Texas (-5 1/2):  Simple play for me.  Missouri has never beaten Oklahoma or Texas in Big 12 conference play.  Media, fans, and experts are taking Missouri in the upset.  I'll take Texas, to stay focused in a game that I believed that Missouri would attain their 1st loss anyway.............Texas 41  Missouri 27.

The chimpanzee has spoken.

That is how I see it, how about you?

As always, best of luck to you and yours, and good luck to your squad for the rest of the year.

 

Hold on to your hats, this is looking to be like a frenzied finish for the ages.  

So what did we learn in Week 7 of College Football?

You can't spell ouch without OU.  The best team in Missouri history just isn't good enough.  Okie State might be ready for primetime.  Texas Tech has some work to do.  Penn State is legit.  LSU was exposed.  Florida is back in the race.  Texas is for real, and Tommy Bowden has resigned.

Texas:  The 'Horns were down 14-3.  Then Jordan Shipley returned a kickoff return 96 yards for a TD.  The 'Horns were back in it.  Then a dagger-like 52 yard TD reception by OU's stud TE Jermaine Gresham followed less than 3 minutes later.  In the past, this is about when you would have expected Texas to just rollover.  At least without Vince Young, right?  Enter in the gunslinger;  Colt McCoy.  Donning the name made for an Old West Shootout, Colt picked the 'Horns up and threw them on his back.  For the remainder of the second quarter, down 21-10, Colt drove them to a 12 play 80 yard TD and a 6 play 51 yard field goal to make the halftime score 21-20, and the 'Horns just weren't going to go away this time.  In one the best Red River games in recent memory, Colt and the 'Horns outlasted Bradford and the Sooners.  Their reward?  A perch atop the rankings in College Football.  First time they have been there since that Young guy left.  How long they will remain is the question?  So far so good, and welcome to the Heisman party Mr. McCoy.

Oklahoma:  Texas wasn't the only team that played well and fought hard on Saturday.  Oklahoma played well enough to have beaten just about any other team in the country.  They just ran into a well-prepared, focused, and driven Texas team.  No doubts that the Sooners will respond.  They also can't give up on the season.  Run the table, and you still have a shot at the Big 12 and National Championship games because Texas has a brutal schedule left.  The Sooners definitely have some things to work on, but this is far from being the humbling loss that many other teams that are still ranked in the top 10 have on their resume.

Missouri:  Sporting what is arguably the greatest team in Missouri history, Chase Daniel and company simply came up short against an upstart Oklahoma State crew at home on Saturday night.  The 3 interceptions thrown by Heisman contender Chase Daniel didn't help much either.  It always seemed like Missouri was going to come back and win this thing.  It just didn't happen, but.........

Oklahoma State:  Give Oklahoma State their due credit.  They used a potent mix of run and pass behind their unheralded signal-caller Zac Robinson to pull off the upset in Columbia.  And Kendall Hunter is a pretty damn good RB as well.  When it came down to it, the Cowboys made more plays, at the right times, than Missouri, and deserved the victory.  They forced the turnovers, they forced the mistakes and in the end came away with a hard fought win.......on the road.  Something this team just isn't known for.  They'll get their chance to prove their worth in upcoming games with Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech.  My how the 'South' (in the Big 12) has risen.

Texas Tech:  Most were likely expecting another 70-10 beat down when Nebraska rolled into Lubbock, TX on Saturday night.  That is what happened the last time the Huskers visited, and this was a team off of the biggest loss in the history of their program at home, and now they had to go back to the biggest disgrace of the entire history of the program.  Surely there would be carnage, right?  Down 17-7, the Huskers could have imploded.  But something happened in Lubbock on Saturday afternoon.  The 'Skers showed some heart, and exposed some weaknesses in the Red Raider's.  You can't give up over 40 minutes of Time of Possession in future contests and expect to walk away with a victory.  You also can't have Graham Harrell throw for 73 fewer yards than his opposing QB and come away with wins in the future.  The Red Raiders simply aren't a top 10 team.  And upcoming contests with Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma will prove it.

Penn State:  That was an impressive beating they put on the Badgers in Camp Randall.  Sure the Badgers were coming off of two disheartening losses, but we should have at least expected them to fight.  That didn't even come close to happening, and Penn State has now legitimized themselves as true National Title contenders.  The only games that likley stand in the way of the Nittany Lions run to an undefeated season are a trip to Ohio State and the season finale with Michigan State at home.  And with the teams left on the schedule for Texas and Alabama, it is very difficult seeing those teams remaining undefeated.  A spot in the National Title game seems to be well within their grasp.  Will fans and voters be willing to accept a Big 10 team in this years National Championship game is the question?

LSU:  Nothing like getting caught with your pants down.  After all the smack-talk of Ricky Jean-Francois, who didn't even play in the game coincidentally, it was the Tigers that got their teeth kicked in.  Early and often.  If Ohio State gets lambasted for their poor showing in Los Angeles, then LSU should get equal treatment for this sorry effort.  If Ohio State looked slow against USC, then LSU looked slower against Florida.  How will this team respond?  The Tigers better lick their wounds, because a feisty road trip to South Carolina is up next.  Followed by games with Georgia and Alabama. 

Florida:  Tim Tebow and the Gators got back on track, and ran circles around a very good defensive unit from LSU.  WIth Rainey, Harvin, and Demps we got to see a preview of Fast, Faster, and Fastest.  Throw in Trindan Holliday from LSU, and this 4-some might have won the 4x100 Meter relay in Beijing this summer.  But if I was a Gator fan, I wouldn't get too excited about this one. In the 6 games that Florida has played this year, they have only really played well twice.  And with games against 5 teams in the next 6 weeks that can beat you, you better strap on your helmets and be ready to play each and every week.

Tommy Bowden:  The Tommy Bowden era at Clemson is officially over.  And no doubt it wasn't without the pressure of being forced out.  In his 10th year at Clemson, Tommy was leading what many considered his best team since his arrival.  6 games into the season and the Tigers stand at 3-3 with all 3 losses in which his team played poorly.  The Wake Forest game on Thursday night had to be painful to watch for any Tiger fan.  Errors, missed assignments, and lack of execution are all signs of poor coaching.  They were all evident in that game on Thursday.  The question now, is who will end up coaching at Clemson next year?  Should be an interesting short list.  Also look for a mass exodus of some solid recruits that Tommy was accumulating this year.

SEC:  Vanderbilt finally tasted defeat.  But it was at the hands of lowly Mississippi State.  When you can only muster 107 yards of offense, what should one expect?  Either way, Vandy is still tied for 1st place in the SEC East and control their destiny in whether they appear in the SEC Championship game.  Let's just say I have some doubts about that happening.  The 'Dores needed that win against MSU to secure their 6th bowl eligible win.  A look at their schedule, and they don't have a guaranteed win left.  That would truly be sad to see this hard fighting team come up short.  Only 1 team remains undefeated in the SEC, Alabama, and we aren't even halfway through the conference slate.  Tough to see Alabama running the table and completing that difficult task.  If the LSU and Florida teams of the past couple of years couldn't do it, it is hard to see this Tide team completing that task.  By the way, I don't know that Auburn fired the right coach, or is it just me?

Big 12:  6 teams ranked in the top 15 of the coaches poll.  It won't remain that way for long.  In the next 6 weeks these teams clash heads 10 times.  The fireworks in the Big 12 are just starting.

The Texas A&M dive into oblivion continued with a humbling 44-30 home loss to Kansas State.  Don't look now, but the Aggies may well have won their last game of the season when they beat Army on September 27th.  At Baylor, true freshman Robert Griffin is turning the heads of the entire Big 12.  His pure athleticism and playmaking abilities are getting rave reviews, and ..............the comparisons to the great Vince Young.  Art Briles is doing some good things down in Waco, and if he can capitalize on the talents of this young phenom, look for a strong recruiting class to make their way to Baylor for the 1st time in a long time. 

Big 10:  It is definitely a two-horse race, but there are some interesting stories in this confernce this year.  Tim Brewster has the Minnesota Gophers at 6-1 and bowl eligible after a dismal 1-11 season in his 1st year at the school.  2nd year man Mark Dantonio has the Spartans riding equally as high at 6-1 as well.  With Brewster, Dantonio, Bret Bielema, and Pat Fitzgerald, the Big 10 has some solid coaches to bring back teams to compete with Ohio State and Penn State in the future.  And with Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, it won't take him long to get the Wolverines competing again although they are struggling now.  Many can pick on the Big 10 now, but they have some solid coaches that are in the process of building some solid programs.  Question is, whether these guys stay at these schools?

That was week 7 as I saw it.  What do you think?

As always, best of luck to you and yours, and good luck to your squad for the rest of the year.

All stats, names, logos and scores courtesy of:  http://msn.foxsports.com;      Tommy Bowden photo courtesy of:  http://images.google.com;    confernce logos courtesy of:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/footbal
l/ncaa/teams/divia.html

With a heavy heart, and my tail between my legs, I bring you Week 6 in College Football.   

So what did we learn?   

The Big Red might be officially dead.  Mizzou is legit.  USC is still USC.  Ohio State isn't done yet.  Vanderbilt is the best story in the country this year, and the distance between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' in the Big 12 is bigger than the Grand Canyon.   

Nebraska:  On Saturday my beloved Huskers got their proverbial heads handed to them early and often.  No less than 59 seconds into the game, I witnessed Jeremy Maclin streaking down the sideline untouched for a 58 yard touchdown reception.  Less than a minute into the game, and it was over.  By halftime the humbled Huskers were down 31 - 10, and the 30 year Missouri drought in Lincoln, NE was all but done.   This one hurts.  Bad.  Last year could be dealt with.  We were going to restart our proud tradition by bringing in our saviour in Bo Pelini.  Sadly, it is a new guy, but the same results.  Husker fans at least expected us to compete this year.  We can handle a loss, but this wasn't just a loss.  It was a beating like none we have ever seen at home in over 50 years.  And that included a last second TD to make the score a 'respectable' 52 - 17.  Is the Big Red officially dead?  Maybe.  I hate to cry for such dire results after the 5th game of the new regime, but the coaching isn't any better than it was last year.  Will it improve?  Hard to say.  But as a lifelong Husker fan, this loss felt different.  It felt like it very well could be the final dagger in our collective hearts for a very long time.  After 11 years of obscurity, it very much looks like we are looking forward to 11 years of the same, or sadly even more.  And if the actions of players spitting on Chase Daniel and chucking balls at them before the game are true, we might well deserve it.    

Missouri:  I doff my cap to the Tigers.  They are a very good football team, and deserve every ounce of credit for dismantling Nebraska on Saturday.  Chase Daniel, Derrick Washington, Jeremy Maclin, Jared Perry, Danario Alexander, Tommy Saunders, Jimmy Jackson, and Chase Coffman form one of the deadliest offenses in all of College Football.  They made it look easy on Saturday.  Too easy.  They may be just that good.  With upcoming games against Oklahoma State and a visit to Texas, they'll get to show if they are the 'real deal' or not.  I expect them to show very well.    

USC:  The 600 pound #### got up off of the turf and delivered Oregon a humbling 44 - 10 defeat.  Many still consider this team the best of the best in College Football.  Can they keep from stubbing their toe again for the rest of the year?  Keep your focus Trojans, you are still alive in the National Championship hunt.

Ohio State:  Still hate the Buckeyes?  Well, they aren't going anywhere, and they are still the team to beat in the Big 10.  Penn State included.  Terrelle Pryor is the freak that many expected him to be, and with Beanie Wells alongside, they form the best backfield in the entire Big 10.  But it won't come easy.  Road trips to Michigan State, Northwestern, and Illinois loom.  Along with home games against Penn State and rival Michigan.  Don't count the Bucks out just yet.  They will keep getting better as the season rolls along.  And with the Golden Child at QB, they should be able to make a run at the National Title game........yet again.  Whether you like it or not.   

Vanderbilt:  Every year we have a team that rises to the challenge even though the deck seems to be stacked against them.  The Commodores are that team in 2008.  On Saturday, they found themselves down 13 - 0 against pre-season SEC West favorite Auburn.  Then their star QB Chris Nickson went down with an injury.  Obviously it was time to panick in Nashville.  Not so fast.  Backup Mackenzi Adams came in to lead two TD drives to put the 'Dores in the lead, and then they relied on their stingy defense to shut out the Tigers for over the final 48 minutes of the game.  They aren't winning pretty.  But they are winning.  With an offense that is ranked 114th in the nation, Vanderbilt sits atop the SEC East with a 3-0 conference record.  Can they keep this miraculous season going?  WIth upcoming games @ Georgia, vs. Florida, @ Kentucky, vs. Tennesse, and @ Wake Forest it doesn't seem likely.  But stranger things have happened, and this team is dialing up all the right buttons so far.  Hand the Coach of the Year trophy to Bobby Johnson right now.      

Big 12:  In 2008 it is simply a story of the 'haves' and the 'have nots'.  Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Texas Tech, and maybe even Oklahoma State look to be head and shoulders above their other 7 Big 12 brethren.  Last week these teams beat conference foes by the following scores:  52-17, 49-17, 58-28, 56-28, 38-14.  The sad reality is that all but one of those games was on the road.  Give the 4 heavyweights their credit, and maybe even Oklahoma State, but the bottom 7 are leaps and bounds away from making this conference the best in the country.    

Tulsa:  Time to give the Golden Hurricane some due justice.  They are 5-0 and have scored 45 or more in every contest.  They lead the nation in total offense, and QB David Johnson is leading the nation in Passing Efficiency at a clip of 214.8.  On the bad side of the ledger they are 99th in total defense.  And they haven't played anybody.  Sadly for Tulsa fans they won't play anybody of note for the reamainder of this year either.  WIth a remaining schedule of SMU, UTEP, UCF, Arkansas, Houston, Tulane, and Marshall, the Golden Hurricane will end up ranked at some point in time this year.  But they have no chance of sniffing a BCS bowl game bid.     

Big East:  Bagging on the Big East conference is officially in season.  South Florida just laid an egg against embattled coach Dave Wannstedt and the Panthers.  Formerly undefeated UConn got their arses handed to them by North Carolina.  The Big East now has zero undefeated teams, and their BCS bowl bid is now officially at stake as well.  It is very hard to see a team making it through the rest of the season undefeated.  And that will likely be necessary for anybody in this conference to finish in the top 16 of the final BCS rankings.    

ACC:  I've said it once, and I'll say it again.  This will likely be the most interesting conference championship race in the entire country.  Last week I said that Duke, Virginia, and NC State didn't have a chance of winning this thing.  I can only exclude NC State after last week's action.  Look for a ton of close and tightly contested games throughout the remainder of the ACC conference slate.  Who will win is just about anybody's guess right now.  If you are still looking to wager on this conference championship contest, you may as well bust out your trusty dart board.    

Big 10:  It looks like a 2 horse race, but I still think that Michigan State will have something to say about this one before all is said and done.  Minnesota is one of the most improved teams in the country, and Northwestern could be the Big 10's Vanderbilt.  Illinois isn't out of it yet either.  But when push comes to shove, it will be either Penn State or Ohio State.  I still think the Buckeyes are the best team in the Big 10, and Penn State has to travel to the 'Shoe to beat them.    

SEC:  I have to be honest.  This is still the deepest and toughest conference in the country.  Outside of Arkansas and Mississippi State there is not a walkover in this league.  Period.  Kentucky can play some defense this year, in a conference loaded with great defensive teams.  Hard to see any team waltzing through this conference unscathed.  Alabama still has Ole Miss, @ Tennessee, @ LSU, Auburn and a possible SEC Championship game on their schedule.  LSU has @ Florida, @ South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and a possible SEC Championship game on their slate.  I'll call for neither of these teams to run the table.  Buckle up SEC fans, it is going to be a great one.  

 Mountain West:  Time for some MWC love.  WIth a now standing 6-1 record OOC vs. the Pac 10, the Mountain teams deserve it.  BYU and Utah are solid, and  TCU, New Mexico, and Air Force aren't exactly pushovers either.  WIth two teams currently ranked in the top 14, it is very hard not seeing their conference champ being in a BCS bowl.  BYU is the favorite, but Utah gets them at home.  And if both teams roll into that contest undefeated, don't be shocked if it is for a place in the National Championship game. 

CONTENDERS:  Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama, LSU, Texas.  Others to be considered:  USC, Ohio State, Penn State and BYU.  On the fence:  Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Georgia, Florida and Vanderbilt.   

That was week 6 as I saw it.   

As always, best of luck to you and yours, and good luck to your squad the rest of the year. 

So far this season I stand at 31-19-2 against the number.  For those that are counting that is a very respectable 62% winning record.  Yep, right here, for free, on your FoxSports Blogging site.

But I'll be honest.  I doubt I'll maintain those lofty standards for the rest of the year.  But it won't be for not trying.

As I have done in the past, I'll leave you with some wagering knowledge:  Quit betting favorites! 

If you have a penchance for wagering on favorites, in the end you will almost always end up losing.  Period.  I'm not saying you shouldn't wager on favorites, but be selective in the ones that you do.  Underdogs are where the professionals make their coin.  Also, never be afraid to play the moneyline on games that involve spreads between 6 to 13 points.  Those types of wagers, when they come in, can garner you from 2 times up to 4 1/2 times your original investment.  Last years Superbowl was a perfect example of that type of wager.  Taking the Giants to win outright for $100 would have netted you $325 in profits.  If you like 'em getting 10 or 11, then you obviously feel that they can compete and maybe even win.  Why not pull that trigger for the ultimate 'cash in'?

Enough about that, what about Week 6 in College Football?  Once again, I will highlight the games that will grab the publics attention and select the toughest games at hand:

Thursday:

Pittsburgh @ South Florida (- 13 1/2):  Last week Dave Wannstedt had the audacity to set mousetraps throughout the Panther lockeroom to keep his team focused on a potential 'trap' game against Syracuse.  Are you kidding me?  In case you didn't notice Dave, your Panthers are coming off of a 5-7 season.  ANY road game in which you can snare a victory is far from being a 'trap' game, even against lowly Syracuse.  This week you face South Florida.  Should we expect you to be laying bear traps throughout the lockeroom this week?  Because, without a doubt this would be a very large pelt for your Pitt team to bring home.  In this contest it simply comes down to coaching.  USF has one.  Pitt doesn't.  Unless Dave finds a way to unleash LeSean McCoy's true talents, I don't see the vastly better coached Bulls having much trouble here.  In one of the few contests that remains to seriously challenge the South Florida Bulls, I'll gladly lay the lumber in this one......USF 34  Pitt 13.

Oregon State @ Utah (- 12 1/2):  The Beavers are fresh off of the biggest upset thus far this season over the mighty Trojans from USC.  But, they did play that game on a Thursday night, and Utah played on Saturday.  Albeit against Weber State.  (Yeah, I didn't know they had a football team either.).  No doubt Utah was looking ahead as they struggled quite a bit last Saturday.  The big question is whether the Beavers are spent, or if they still have some fight left in them to give the Utes a game.  On the other side, Utah is good.  In fact, very good.  They have already rolled into the Big House in Michigan and came away with a victory and outlasted a pesky Air Force squad.  But this line just seems to be too much for them to overcome.  I'm not a big fan of the 12 1/2, so I'll make a different play in this one and take the 'OVERS'.  The current O/U total is 53.  I very much see a lot of scoring in this one as it will be tough for the Beaver defense to sustain their intensity this week.  Take the over, and maybe even lay a little on the eager Beavers while you're at it........Utah 37 Oregon State 27. 

Friday:

BYU @ Utah State (+ 28 1/2):  I'm a little uneasy to lay a large number on the road after the USC debacle.  But this one seems way too easy to take BYU and their high-flying offense and stingy defense against a severely overmatched Utah State crew.  These are the types of games that scream 'stay away'.  Not my favorite play, but I'll still side with the Cougars and hope they don't have a letdown as they need to continue impressing pollsters.  I'll likely need to stave off the backdoor cover from the Aggies as well........BYU 52  Utah State 19.

Saturday:

Penn State @ Purdue (+ 13):  I thought that Penn State might be that team that would cover many a line to start the season.  Their game against Illinois not only stopped that streak, but opened up some serious questions on their defensive side of the ball.  For Purdue, talented RB Kory Sheets is out.  So it will be up to Curtis Painter to make the Boilers effective this week if they are to have any chance against the tough Nittany Lions.  Penn State's offense is rolling, and their defense should be effective against the one-dimensional offense from Purdue.  Also look for the Nit's to get a ton of pressure on Painter as they cover this one comfortably.......Penn State 48  Purdue 22.

Connecticut @ North Carolina (- 7):  I keep pegging the Huskies to lose a game that they should almost every chance I can.  Have I learned my lesson?  Maybe.  The Heels are off of a huge victory over Miami on the road, and have dreams of an ACC Championship.  This game isn't necessary for either team in their conference championship aspirations either.  The biggest problem for UConn is that team leader Tyler Lorenzen is out for awhile, thus they will have to rely upon the nation's leading rusher in Donald Brown to carry their upset bid.  With all these factors taken into consideration, the best play is the UNDER.  The O/U is set at anywhere from 45 1/2 to 53.  Obviously one of these 'books' doesn't know that Lorenzen is out.  Either way I'll still take this one to go under the total.......UNC 24  UConn 17.

Texas Tech @ Kansas State (+ 7 1/2):  Most would think the 7 1/2 is a gimme for the Red Raiders.  Not so fast my friend.  Josh Freeman can play a little bit, and the Tech defense hasn't exactly 'matured' this year like many expected.  The Mildcats have also moved the 6'2" 232 pound athlete Lamark Brown into the role as their starting RB.  When push comes to shove, this should be a very good game.  And when the Wildcats can get some offensive momentum going they are a very dangerous team, especially at home.  Don't be afraid to fire the OVER of 65 1/2 either,  in the 'defenseless' Big 12.  Take the dogs in a shootout and a possible moneyline play...... Texas Tech 44 Kansas State 41.

Auburn @ Vanderbilt (+ 4 1/2):  Guess which team is undefeated and in 1st place in their division in this contest?  Yep, ......Vandy.  It is time for a reality check.  Vanderbilt simply can't move the ball offensively, and Auburn should be ready to take advantage of field position and a punishing ground game.  This might even turn it into a shutout victory for the Tigers who are off of a less than inspiring win over the Vols.  The smoke and mirrors show stops here.........Auburn 31  Vandy  6.

Stanford @ Notre Dame (- 7):  I'm undefeated in Notre Dame contests this year, so why stop now?  This is the somewhat quiet rivalry that Notre Dame has on their slate nearly every year.  Both teams are very much improved this year.  Which one has improved the most is the real question.  Jimmy Clausen and company caught a bit of their offensive stride last week against Purdue.  It should continue against Stanford.  As usual, with any Notre Dame game, the line seems about right.  I'll likely regret even making a pick on this one, but for some reason this just seems like a line that will depend upon a missed field goal, extra point, or turnover.  In those types of games I'll always take the underdog........Notre Dame 27 Stanford 22. 

Illinois @ Michigan (- 2 1/2):  The Illini's losses have been to two top 10 teams.  Michigan needed a miraculous second half to overcome Wisconsin last week.  Both teams are off of tough games from last week, so the most appealing number is the Over/Under.  51 1/2 is just too many.  Look for a defensive battle to come about from a couple of bruised up squads.  Take the UNDER, and maybe a very small play on Illinois although I won't tout it, but the better QB should win.........Illinois 17  Michigan 13. 

Missouri @ Nebraska (+ 10 1/2):  Even though my beloved Huskers gave up 35 at home to a deplorable offense from Virginia Tech last week, they fought back.  When they were down 28-10 last week to the Hokies they didn't quit and ended up losing 35-30.  Last year they would have lost 45-13.  Bo and his renewed attitude of playing hard defense will force the Tigers to at least punt a few times.  The Husker offense should be able to score some as well.  I won't call for the upset, but the Huskers should cover the number against a team that is looking to lay a beating on them.........Missouri 38  Nebraska 31.  

Texas @ Colorado (+ 14):  Texas gets their 1st real test on the road against an angry bunch from Colorado that is prone to pulling off double-digit underdog upsets at home.  I'll stay as far away from this one as I can, and simply look to see if Texas is really that good. 

Florida State @ Miami (- 2 1/2):  Wide left.  In the last 20 years, there probably hasn't been a more important game in deciding National Champions than this one.  And both teams are looking to make their rise towards greatness once again.  This is a HUGE game for both teams as they try to exert their presence upon College Football once again.  Either way, I don't expect much scoring.  Period.  The OVER/UNDER is 43.  Too much.  Both teams will be jacked, and both defenses should rule this contest.  Unless the defenses score or special teams make a huge impact the play is the UNDER.  I'd also make a very very small play on FSU.......Florida State 16  Miami 13

Arizona State @ California (- 9 1/2):   There probably isn't a conference with a bigger home-field advantage than the ones enjoyed in the Pac-10.  ASU beat Cal by 11 last year.  Look for Jahvid Best and company to return the favor.  The Bears should roll........Cal 38  ASU 20.

Kentucky @ Alabama (- 16 1/2):  In case you haven't noticed, Kentucky is leading the nation in scoring defense and is 4th in total defense.  Now you can argue that they haven't played anybody, but they only gave up a safety to Louisville who is ranked 25th in total offense as opposed to an Alabama offense which is ranked 57th.  After the big victory over Georgia , this has a letdown game feel all about it.  You might not have noticed that these are also two undefeated teams as well.  Look for the Wildcats to show some heart against a team that may be looking ahead to a bye week and playing less than inspired football.........Alabama 24  Kentucky 13.

Ohio State @ Wisconsin (+ 1 1/2):  Yep, it is basically a pick'em.  But Ohio State will always have the better athletes than Wisconsin.  Terrelle Pryor, Beanie Wells, and Brian Robiskie should be able to show it on offense and the LB's and secondary from Ohio State will back it up.  Give Ohio State a team that will look to pound it right at them, and they will absolutely enjoy it.  Even in Camp Randall the Buckeyes will prove that they are still the team to beat in the Big 10..........Ohio State 31  Wisconsin 20.

Oregon @ USC (- 16 1/2):  You think USC might have a sense of redemption in this one?  Even without their possible 'star' MLB Rey Maualuga roaming the middle ground, the Trojans will come into this game with a renewed influence.  The rushing attack from Eugene will not enjoy any 'rushing' success, and the multi-faceted atttack from USC will regroup.  Look for a plethora of the Men from Troy to score as the Trojans will regain some pride, and put a beating on an overmatched Duck squad.  Lay it......USC 48  Oregon 13. 

Sorry that I have not highlighted a game of the week.  This week there just doesn't seem to be a game that trumps the others.  There are a bounty of great games nonetheless.  Take your pick.

As always, best of luck to you and yours, and good luck to your team this year.

How about an upset or 2?  How about SEVEN in the top 25 alone?

Is there a better sport than College Football?  Saturday's games and thrill ride give us all a resounding answer of a 'NO' to that question.

I guess I'll never understand why people will be so completely shocked about upsets in College Football when they happen each and every year.  However, I'll have to include myself in the Oregon State upset of USC.  That one was downright baffling.

So what did we learn in Week 5?

Plenty.

Georgia isn't ready for primetime.  Alabama is.  Florida isn't physical enough.  Time to take notice of Texas.  Wisconsin is the same team every year.  USC continues to stub their toe against inferior opponents, and the non-BCS schools are a serious threat to play in the BCS Championship game this year.

Georgia:  'Blackout'?  How about 'Blowout'?  In an attempt to rally the crowd and pull the 'psyche' trick on Alabama, the Bulldogs simply got tattooed on their home field Saturday night.   The Bulldogs were only able to run the football for 50 paltry yards as the visiting team took a commanding 31 - 0 lead at the midway break.  You do have to give the Bulldogs some credit though.  They did come out and make the contest a little interesting as they closed the gap to 31 - 17 early in the 4th quarter.  But a clutch drive and field goal by the Tide iced the game as they went up 34 - 17 with 9:45 left to play.   All the Georgia fans pining for respect this season were given a large serving of humble pie, and their SEC and National Title hopes took a serious hit in this dominating Alabama victory. 

Alabama:  Is there a better big game coach than Nick Saban?  The Tide have played two top 10 teams on the road this season, and in both contests the 'Bama Boy's came in and handed it to the favored team right from the get go.  It is very difficult not ranking these guys as the #1 team in the country right now.  They easily have the 2 most impressive wins of any team in the country.  Roll Tide!  Looking for the most improved player in the country?  Right now, my vote goes to John Parker Wilson.  His decision making and poise in the pocket are night and day compared to his last 2 years as the starter for the Crimson Tide.

Florida:  The Gators just aren't tough enough up front.  Especially in the SEC.  Their Achille's Heel stepped up and bit them in this contest against Ole Miss.  Their inability to run the football.  Take away the runs of QB Tim Tebow and WR Percy Harvin, and the RB's from Florida combined for 36 yards on 6 carries.  And this game was at home.  On the crucial and deciding 4th down play, everybody and their dog knew that Tim Tebow would be carrying the ball.  He was unable to even get back to the line of scrimmage.  This will not be the Gator's last loss of the season.  They just aren't physical enough up front on the Offensive and Defensive Lines to win the SEC.

Texas:  The Longhorns might be one of the least talked about top 5 teams in the history of College Football.  (OK, that might be stretching it just a tad bit.)  Colt McCoy should also start getting some serious mention for the Heisman Trophy.  5 weeks into the season, and the 'Horns have pasted their competiton to the tune of 193 to 43 and are a comfortable 4 - 0.  Likely Texas won't get much mention unless they can take the proverbial #### off of their back and beat Red River Shootout rival Oklahoma  in 2 weeks.  But be very aware, these 'Horns look like they may be the real deal, and Colt McCoy is running the spread offense as good or better than any QB in the country right now.  The extra weight and muscle he has put on in the offseason the past two years is definitely paying off, and he is not only throwing the ball with confidence, but he is running the ball with a purpose and some physicality as well. 

Wisconsin:  The Badgers are a fringe top 15 team each and every year.  This year is not any different.  Take away Travis Beckum and they just don't have the specialty players that really scare anybody.  In the 1st half, Michigan had 5 turnovers, generated 1 first down, and had a total of 21 yards of total offense.  But yet were only down 19-0 as the Badgers settled for 4 fields goals and a touchdown.  What a difference a half makes.  In the 3rd and 4th quarters Steven Threet did his best Pat White impression and rallied the Wolverines back to one of their biggest comebacks in the history of the Wolverine program.  This was a landmark victory for Rich Rodriguez as he continues his rebuilding process at Michigan.  Given time and the ability to recruit his kinds of athletes to Michigan, this team might be pretty scary in a couple of years.  All the while Wisconsin will continue to be the same plodding team with a mammoth offensive line and an overvalued and plodding 235 + pound running back pounding the ball between the tackles.

USC:  USC's struggles with inferior opponents continued on Thursday night.  As 24 to 25 point favorites against an Oregon State team that was handed their head by Penn State, the Trojans came out about as inspired as a person heading to the dentist.  Trailing 21 - 0 at halftime, the Trojans tried to rally, but it was too little too late.  The Corvallis Curse continues, and the real question right now is how will the Pete Carroll 'dynasty' be defined?  Will it be the incredible record and great athletes that have paraded through LA since 2002, or will it be the devastating defeats at the hands of double digit underdogs that define his tenure?  With only 1 undefeated season to his record, it very well may be the latter.   

BCS Crashers:  WIth the upsets that USC, Florida, Georgia, and Wisconsin incurred, the door is cracking open wider and wider for a non-BCS team's chances of not only playing in a BCS bowl, but maybe even the biggest one of them all:  The BCS Championship Game.  The Mountain West's victories over the Pac 10 this year will give them some serious bonus points to their overall conference SOS.  If either BYU or Utah can run the table (more importantly BYU) and be the only undefeated team in the country, I would not be shocked if either of these teams finished amongst the top 2 when all the dust settles.  Likely, BYU is going to be a top 10 team when the polls are released later today.  The highest ranking of a non BCS school this early in the season.  Let the BYU watch officially begin.  If a Big 12 and/or SEC team cannot run the table as undefeated, expect to hear some complaining if these two conference's champions don't play in the BCS Championship game this year.  Especially if BYU gets the nod.   

SEC:  All the talk of the powerful SEC East has been hushed thus far.  Vanderbilt sits atop the SEC East, and the two remaining undefeated teams in the East are the Commodores and Kentucky.  Wow.  These 2 teams were expected to be the rebuilding doormats.  On the other side, the two actual best teams in the conference are LSU and Alabama.  Circle November 8th on your calendar.  That is the date that Alabama and Nick Saban travel to his old stomping grounds in the Bayou and take on the LSU Tigers.  However, it is looking more and more likely that an SEC team just won't be able to run the table in the rough and tumble SEC this year.  Outside of Arkansas, it truly looks like anybody can beat anybody on any given weekend.  Bring your best each and every week in the SEC, or limp home with your tail between your legs and a hickey in the 'Loss' column.

Brains vs. Brawn:  Whats up with the 'Academic' schools?  The traditional doormats of College Football are making some noise this year.  Northwestern, Duke, Vanderbilt, and Stanford have combined for an amazing 15-3 record thus far this season.  Throw in the fact that Vanderbilt and Northwestern sit atop their conference standings and this story gets to be more intriguing yet.  Congratulations to the amazing coaching efforts performed thus far by Pat Fitzgerald, David Cutcliffe, Bobby Johnson, and Jim Harbaugh.  You think Tennessee fans wish they had Cutcliffe back as their QB coach and Offensive Coordinator right about now?

Big 12:  Before anyone gets all excited and starts proclaiming the Big 12 as the best conference in the country, I'll ask a simple question.  Who have they beat?  Missouri's win over Illinois is the only win on the OOC ledger that even comes close to deserving any respect.  And before you start annointing the Oklahoma Sooners as the best team in the country, be very wary of the fact that they are struggling to move the ball on the ground with much success.  In their 35 - 10 romp over TCU, they ran the ball 36 times for 25 yards.  Sure, some of that was sacks, but when your top two RB's combine for 50 yards on 26 carries, there needs to be some concerns in Norman about the Sooners running game, or lack thereof.  Nebraska got beat at home by a very average Virginia Tech team with a one man show in QB Tyrod Taylor.  Oklahoma State's offense continues to rack up impressive offensive numbers, but their defense continues to give them up as well,  and Colorado showed that they have a ways to go after being manhandled by a middling Florida State team on the road.  All told, the Big 12 looks like it will come down to 4 teams.  Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, and Texas Tech.  The rest of the teams are at least a notch or two below these guys.

ACC:  Week 5 and not a single team remains undefeated.  Wake Forest's loss to Navy at thome was yet another devastating blow to this conference's national perception.  But with that said, this conference may come to be the most exciting conference race of them all.  Outside of Virginia, NC State,and Duke, you can make a case for the reamaining 9 teams as being the conference champion in the ACC.  I really have no idea who I would favor right now as to who will come out on top in this conference.  One thing will be for sure.  Whoever does come out on top in this conference will be battle tested.  They also will likely not be given an invitation to a BCS bowl game either.

CONTENDERS:  A serious blow was taken by many a team, and the list is dwindling down to a select few.  Who are the remainding Contenders?:  Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama, Missouri, Texas, Penn State and BYU. 

On the Fence:  South Florida.  Penn State is a little bit on notice of the need to shore up some defensive concerns, but they did put away a ranked opponent by 2 TD's.  BYU has to be considered as legitimate contenders right now.  The UCLA beatdown is looking better and better as the weeks go by.  South Florida continues their roll towards being potential BCS Championship game party crashers as well.   

Notre Dame:  Lastly, is it time to wake up the echoes of the storied Irish program?  Jimmy Clausen is improving each and every week and with the young and talented skill position players like Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Kyle Rudolph, and Armando Allen helping him along, the Irish may well be a pretty good football team by the end of the season.  Currently standing with a 3-1 record the Irish are beginning to make people eat some crow on the early cries for Charlie's head and the death and demise of the Notre Dame program.  Take a peek at their remaining schedule and find a game other than USC that they can't win?  Don't look now, but the Irish may well be BCS dancing come December.  Although I wouldn't exactly bet on that actually happening.  Either way, the Domers should at least find themselves bowling again this year.  And whether you love 'em or hate 'em, Notre Dame is good for College Football.

Well, that is Week 5 as seen through my eyes.  What do you think?

As always, best of luck to you and yours, and good luck to your squad for the remainder to the season.

scores and stats courtesy of:  http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/scores
 

As they say, "time sure flies when you're having fun", right?  Well, to me it still feels like the opening weekend in College Football, and.........poof!  We are at week 5. 

All told, your fellow prognosticator had a solid weekend in Week 4 going 7-4 against the number.  That means for the season I stand at 24-15-1 ATS.  That is a 61.5% clip.  Not too shabby by any standards.  But enough about patting myself on the proverbial back, what do I 'think' about Week 5? 

We shall see. 

In week 5, things are starting to really heat up as many teams are entering their slate of conference games while others are finishing up their non-conference against strong opponents.  No doubt about it, this is definitely a tough week to pick the 'tough' games at hand. 

But here goes............

Thursday:

USC @ Oregon State (+ 25 1/2):  If this game was played in Week 1, USC would have been favored anywhere from 6 to 10 points.  But this is Week 5, and the Beavers are struggling while the mighty Trojans are flexing their muscle as being the team to beat in College Football this year.  We can bag on the Pac 10 all we want, but one thing will be for sure.  USC will absolutely get everyone's best shot from here on out in conference play.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, NOBODY is as good or as bad as their last outing.  That is the mantra of anybody that takes wagering seriously.  The last time that USC travelled to Corvallis they were 10 point favorites and were handed the bitter taste of defeat, 33-31.  This was also the site in which Mark Sanchez was introduced to the ebbs and flows of the great game of College Football.  Two years later and we find ourselves at a pardox.  Oregon State is reeling.  Badly.  They can't stop anybody from running the football, and they can't keep their QB Moevao from throwing interceptions.  That is a bad recipe against what can be argued as the best Defense in all of College Football, and one of the more potent stable of RB's in the entire country as well.  This game will likely get out of hand early, and look for the Trojan defense to score a TD themselves.  Hard to give 25 1/2 points on the road to anybody in conference play, but this one just doesn't seem to fit very well for the home team.  Especially when you consider 'running out the clock' means a 5 star talent like Allen Bradford will get a chance to taste the endzone against a depleted and disheartened stop unit from Oregon State.  Take USC and lay the healthy post............USC 58  Oregon State 10.

Friday:

Connecticut @ Louisville (- 3):  Which Louisville team will show up is the question.  The one that struggled to score any points on offense against Kentucky, or the one that pounded Kansas State last week?  I'll go with the latter.  And with the revenge factor of the 'fair catch' punt return looming from last year's upset, don't be afraid to play that angle in this year's contest.  I'm sure many a Louisville coach, fan, and player hasn't forgotten about it either.........Louisville 27 Connecticut 17.

Saturday:

Northwestern @ Iowa (- 8 1/2):  The Wildcats are 4-0.  Iowa, and their embattled head coach Kirk Ferentz are coming off a disappointing 1 point loss at the hands of struggling Pittsburgh and Dave Wannstedt.  Throw in the fact that Iowa now finds themselves in a QB controversy and it seems all too easy to take Northwestern and the points.  I'll bite and side with logic, but I also have a feeling that Iowa may respond very strongly in this contest.  Definitely not my favorite game, but I'll take the points, go against my gut, and play the dog in this one.........Iowa 29  Northwestern  23. 

Purdue @ Notre Dame (- 1 1/2):  Notre Dame wasn't beaten as soundly as the 23 - 7 final from last week's tangle with Michigan State as many would make you believe.  MSU was able to force some costly turnovers of the still learning QB Jimmy Clausen into their reward.  They also road the coattails of Javon Ringer.  Purdue is off of a disheartening loss to Oregon from 2 weeks ago and needed everything they had to put away Central Michigan last week.  This is an extremely tough game to handicap with a plethora of questions surrounding it.  Will Kory Sheets be nearly as effective running the ball as Javon Ringer?  Will Notre Dame continue to make mistakes and turn the ball over against an opportunistic Purdue defense?  Will Curtis Painter find his groove as one of the more talented signal callers in the country, or will Jimmy Clausen continue to make strides in his decision making in the pocket for the Irish?  Tough questions all.  In a game that has a lot of bowl aspirations for both teams at stake, I'll side with the home team, and make a meager play on the Irish...........Notre Dame 23  Purdue 16.  

Minnesota @ Ohio State (- 17 1/2):  In case you haven't noticed, the Golden Gophers are 4-0.  The Bucks are still trying to recoup for the year long emphasis on the USC game, and have played less than inspiring football thus far this season.  Adam Weber is one of the best QB's you have never heard of, and he plays for Minnesota.  He is also mobile.  This could turn into a shocker if Terrelle Pryor is unable to carry the attitude that the Bucks so desperately need.  And he is a true Freshman.  I won't call for the outright upset, but I will call for this to be a very tightly contested game well into the 4th quarter........Ohio State 31  Minnesota 27.

Virginia Tech @ Nebraska (- 7): Another tip in wagering is to separate your heart from your head.  Obviously this is a tough one for me to make any kind of selection as my Huskers, with their new coaching staff in tow, taking on a tough-minded Hokie squad fresh off of 3 straight thrilling contests against much better competition.  My Huskers have struggled hard to run the football this year against inferior competiton.  It won't get any easier against the staunch defense that the Hokies put on the field.  The Hokies front 4 are very underrated and their secondary is one of the best in the country.  On defense the Huskers will have to contain a mobile QB in Tyrod Taylor.  However, they will not be faced with a strong rush attack or many playmakers outside of the guy under center.  This game will simply come down to the hometown crowd willing their team to victory.  And I fully expect that they do just that.  However, it won't be enough to cover the number in yet another classic Husker night homegame..........Nebraska 23  Virginia Tech 19.

Tennessee @ Auburn (- 6 1/2):  Tennessee was not as un-competitive as many would think against Florida.  The 6 1/2 points on the road at Auburn pretty well explains that notion.  Auburn just took a huge blow to their pre-season goals in a last minute loss to LSU last week.  This is a psyche check for both teams.   In a game and a line that doesn't make much sense I'll side with the underdog and call for the outright upset.......Tennessee 23  Auburn 16.

Wisconsin @ Michigan (+ 6):  Michigan isn't nearly as bad as everyone is saying, and Wisconsin isn't nearly as good as everyone believes they are either.  I have no doubts that Michigan will vastly improve as the season progresses.  Look for the Michigan offense to get some traction with Sam McGuffie and crew, and I'll call for the home upset in this one, as everyone and their dog throws their garbage at me..........Michigan 27  Wisconsin 24.

Colorado @ Florida State (- 5 1/2):  There are 15 ways to Saturday to look at this game.  Thus I'll be short.  Florida State is reeling, and Colorado is getting better.  I'll take a short line and Colorado in the 'upset'.........Colorado 24  Florida State 13.

Illinois @ Penn State (- 14): Penn State looks like a team that may cover any line put in front of them.  Illinois looks like a team destined to crawl back into the bottom half of the Big 10.  Penn State 41  Illinois 14.

TCU @ Oklahoma (- 17 1/2):  TCU was the last team to beat Oklahoma on their home field.  Don't think that fact is lost on the boys from Oklahoma.  However, TCU is a very good defensive football team and should cause the Sooners some troubles.  They will also shorten the game against Oklahoma with their solid special teams play and heady defense.  Most will look at this line as an easy one for Oklahoma.  They shouldn't.  The Sooners will prevail, but it won't be that easy........OU  31  TCU  17.

Game of the Week:

Alabama @ Georgia (- 7):  Alabama fans have been waiting for this game.  Although they will be predominantly on the sidelines having to watch as their Tide are playing 'between the hedges'.   This IS the 1st real hurdle that the Bulldogs have to overcome this year.  From what I'm hearing this will be a 'Blackout' game for Georgia.  Last year they were 2-0 in such contests, as well as against the spread.  These are the games that make College Football great.  Put away the records, put away the history, put away.........well,........virtually everything.  These are two damn good football teams. Period.  Stafford will not enjoy the passing lanes and time he enjoyed against Arizona State.  Alabama will not enjoy rushing for 10+ yards per carry like they enjoyed against a downtrodden Arkansas squad.  Something has to give, right?  I might be out of my skull on this one, but I very much like the Crimson Tide to pull off the outright upset in this one.  Saban is a gamer, and he will pull out everything he can to get these young'uns to overachieve a very monumental task.  Look for a fake punt, an onsides kick, or a special teams play to turn the 'Tide' in this one.  My personal play of the week.  Take Alabama and the outright money line.........Alabama 27  Georgia 22.

That is Week 5 as I see it.  How about you?

As always, best of luck to you and yours, and good luck to your favorite team this year.

Week 4 is in the books.  So what did we learn?

The big and bad SEC and Big 12 just aren't that big and bad.  Some elite teams have found some chinks in their armour, and the Pac 10 took another Joe Frazier left hook right on the chin.  It is also time to give the defending National Champions their due respect. 

SEC:  You can talk about how big and bad the SEC is all you want.  But this year, when it really comes down to it, they aren't that much different than anybody else.  LSU, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, and Alabama are good.  The rest of the conference is average to poor at best.  Arkansas and Mississippi State are downright awful, and South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Kentucky don't scare anybody.  Tell me all you want about how tough the SEC is from top to bottom.  It's falling on deaf ears right now.  The SEC has a top, no middle, and a lot of bottom.  That's a nice setup if you are a Playboy model, but not good if you proclaim yourself as the best conference in all the land.

Big 12:  Just like the SEC, the Big 12 is top-heavy.  Take away Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, and Texas Tech and this conference is rather mediocre.  Baylor and Iowa State are making huge strides, but Texas A&M and Kansas State's struggles more than make up for their improvements.  Colorado beat West Virginia, but that team is so poorly coached right now it's hard to call that a great win and Kansas is good, but far from great.  Nebraska is a ways away yet, and Oklahoma State still doesn't have a defense that can stop a local high school team on a regular basis.  The conference is getting better, but it hasn't exactly lived up to the hype and billing that everyone is giving it credit for right now. 

Florida:  Don't let the 30-6 final fool you.  The Gators struggled immensely to move the ball on offense, and are still struggling to move the ball on the ground.  And this was against an average SEC defense.  Take away a scintillating punt return by Brandon James and two Vols turnovers on the Gator goalline and this game has a very different look and feel about it.  Their defense is also a far cry from the furious ones that play at LSU, Auburn, Georgia, and Alabama.  If the Gators can't find a way to rev up their mighty offensive engine, then they will not beat LSU or Georgia.  The Gators are no longer my favorite to come out of the SEC.  In fact, there may well be 4 teams in the SEC better than them right now.

Missouri:  Missouri was never in any real danger against Buffalo.  But their mental lapses and mistakes are looking like they may be this team's achille's heel.  Putting the ball on the carpet three times and giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown are not the things that 'elite' teams do.  Chase Daniel and the offense have been simply dominant, but if they can't shore up these mental mishaps, then a tougher team will step up and bite them.  Time to concentrate on the little things Tigers, and strive for perfection.  You don't have the dominant defense to fall back upon like other elite teams.

Pac 10:  For the second week in a row the Pac 10 takes it on the chin.  Oregon gave up 386 yards passing and 37 points to Boise State in a loss at home, and Arizona State didn't even belong on the same field as Georgia last night.  It is tough to see anybody that can compete with USC in the Pac 10 this year.  Maybe Arizona at home at night?  Hard to see Oregon, California, or Arizona State rolling into the Coliseum and giving the Trojans any kind of a test.  When the season started, USC's schedule looked very formiddable.  4 weeks into the season, and it looks like one of the easiest of all the contenders.   

LSU:  Time to give these Tigers their due.  They had a couple of mental breakdowns in their secondary, gave up an interception return for a touchdown, and still found a way to pull out a victory on the road in a hostile environment.  The Tigers offensive and defensive lines are the best duo in the country.  Charles Scott is a beast of a RB, and don't look now, but they also may have found a QB in Jarret Lee.  Right now, the Tigers are my team to beat in the SEC and the scariest part is that they will keep getting better as the season progresses.  When all is said and done, we may get our USC vs. LSU matchup in this year's National Championship game.

Vanderbilt:  Looking for an early season favorite for Coach of the Year?  Then look no further than Bobby Johnson at Vanderbilt.  The Commodores are off to a 4-0 start and have 2 SEC wins on their ledger already.  Using nothing more than Chris Nickson and a bunch of smoke and mirrors, Bobby Johnson has the least talented bunch in the entire conference sitting atop the SEC East standings.  At least for now he does.

Alabama:  Whether you like him or not, Nick Saban is a great College Football coach.  The Tide is riding high at 4-0 and with a game next week @ Georgia we will get to see if these guys are contenders.  Don't be surprised if they pull off the upset in that one and vault into the top 5.   

Wake Forest:  Time to eat some crow.  In the pre-season I didn't give the Demon Deacons much of a chance of being ACC Conference Champions.  4 short weeks into the season, and they look like the favorites.  One truly has to appreciate the coaching efforts done by Jim Grobe and his staff.  Against Florida State they lined up inferior athletes at virtually every position.  They then proceeded to show what coaching and team play is all about.  While the 'Noles were busy strutting their normal swagger and smack talk, the Deacons used the heady play of veteran signal caller Riley Skinner and an underappreciated defense to put the Seminoles in their place for the 3rd straight year.   

Florida State:  Dadgummit.  It is looking more and more apparent that the game of College Football has passed by Bobby Bowden and his coaching staff.  Time for the 'Noles to start making their move towards a different future.  Then again, for a fan base that can't pack a stadium for a Nationally televised game featuring two ranked and undefeated teams, I just don't have much sympathy for them.  The strutting and smack-talk that is the constant of this team is getting old.  Especially when they don't produce much on the field.

Penn State:  Are the Nit's for real?  Right now they look like it.  Daryll Clark is playing some pretty good football in the new spread attack that Joe Pa has unveiled this year in Happy Valley, and the defense has been pretty solid as well.  Games against Illinois, @ Purdue, and @ Wisconsin will tell us a lot about this team in the upcoming weeks, but as of this moment the Lions look like they have a lot of fight in them this year.

Minnesota:  Don't look now, but the Golden Gophers are off to a 4-0 start under Tim Brewster in his 2nd season as head coach in Minneapolis.  The defense is vastly improved, and Adam Weber is a gritty and heady signal caller with a few weapons around him.  This is easily one of the most improved teams in the entire country, and they look like they will have some say in who comes out on top in the Big 10 this year.

CONTENDERS:  The list didn't change much this week, but the Gators are on notice and I have added Penn State to the mix for now.  As I see it, these are the teams that look like they have legitimate National Title hopes in line:  USC, Oklahoma, Missouri, LSU, Georgia, Florida, and Penn State.  Those that are on the fence:  BYU,  Wisconsin, Alabama, Texas, and South Florida. 

That was week 4 as seen through my eyes. 

As always best of luck to you and yours, and good luck to your squad for the rest of the season.

all scores and stats courtesy of:  http://msn.foxsports.com

No doubt that we all have seen the banter about the fallout of the USC dominance over Ohio State. 

The one thing that irks me the most is the commentary around the almighty 'speed'.

Speed is good.  No doubt.  But speed is NOT the ever pressing factor.  The real factor is.........

Well, this is a multiple question type answer.  Put it this way.  You line up the 10 fastest guys at USC and the 10 fastest guys at Ohio State and I would be very sure that you would not see much of a difference......if any.  In fact, I would lean towards the Bucks in that contest.

But this is football.  And football has a differential that a time clock or stats can't  tell you about. 

It is called "speedabilityandtoughness".  Yes, I made up a new word.  But I'll detail it for you.

What you witnessed on Saturday night was not a true speed differential between the two teams.  Ohio State has speed.  And lots of it.  The real difference was speed with a purpose. 

As an example. 

Take what is supposed to be the two best linebackers in all