Better than College Gameday, with only half the senility…
In what appeared to be another week of potential upsets, only two top teams went down while the rest coasted through the middle point of their season.
We started off by watching UTEP squeak by the same Tulsa team that scared Boise State the week before. Free Shoes continued their Jekyll and Hyde persona by bouncing a UNC team that seemed to be looking forward to basketball season. For the FSU fans out there; if it weren’t bad enough that their team seems to resemble a plane crash into a clown college, they’ve got to be hating the fact that they’ve stooped to playing on Friday nights to gain viewers. Next stop: The Ocho.
Saturday’s Big T1e1n matchups included State Penn exorcising their “Big House with small seats” demons, beating Mach1gAAn at home for the first time in thirteen years. We’d dispatched a correspondent to cover the game, but so far I haven’t gotten photos yet. If I do, we’ll post them.
While I’m not surprised that Joe Pa’s team won, I am shocked that 4CA!! was still standing at the end of the game. UM fans, here’s your “legend’s” numbers from Saturday: 13/ 30 for 0 TD and 1 INT, 13 rushes for 20 yards. Not that I don’t think he’s a great fit for your program, just giving a bit of perspective.
Iowa needed a late slant against the Spartans to continue their undefeated season. I think I heard it best this weekend: The Hawkeyes are Ohio State circa 2002- few mistakes, solid defense, doing what it takes to win. It will certainly be interesting to see how this one plays out.
Elsewhere in the midwest: Northwestern and Indiana played a tight ball game, Ohio State thumped Minnesota (well, in the second half), Purdue made the Illini AD speak up, while a proud Boiler alum alienated an entire portion of the Western Hemisphere.
Over in the SEC, Alabama staved off a scare from the sherbet Volunteers, blocking a field goal with time running out. Another point of discussion from yesterday- Why not fake it? Your kicker has already missed one, had the last one blocked, and you know the Tide is selling out. Plus, you’re on the road as a huge underdog- Tell me a TE release wouldn’t have been wide freaking open:
Florida held on to beat Mississippi State, in spite of Lord Tebow’s two “pick six” throws. Again, having ranked teams in nail-biter games against unranked teams means that your conference is awesome (note: does not apply to the Big T1e1n). Mississippi beat Arkansas- maybe Corso was right. Kentucky beat no one, Auburn fell to LSU, and Vandy is still Vandy.
Over in the Big 12, more upsets abounded as Texas A&M discovered that you can also play offense and pounded Cap’n Leach’s piratey crew. TBPU rolled Baylor (minus their QB), Nebraska fell to unranked Iowa State and Oklahoma defeated #25 Kansas. Remember, having ranked teams beaten by unranked teams proves your conference’s awesomeness (note: does not apply to the Big T1e1n).
The ACC’s poster program du jour took a hit as #10 Miami lost to Clemson at home. The ACC = Awesome, given what we’ve already discussed (not so fast, Big T1e1n fans). Georgia Tech also continues to ramble, and Boston College lost this year’s “Catholic Clash” with Notre Ame. It must be nice to have opposing QBs constantly throw interceptions to wide open defenders in the waning minutes of close games. This means, as we learned on ESPN 360’s halftime show, that Notre Ame continues to be the top independent program in the country; analogous to being a home school valedictorian.
Out west, TCU throttled BYU (see what happens when you can’t put the QB out of the game?), Boise State remains undefeated, Washington Ducked, U$C managed to beat Oregon State- bringing them to .500 against them for the last four years.
Small schools update: Juanita managed to slip by the Moravian Greyhounds, 10-3.
Last week, we talked about what I’d like to see for a “final four” package if, you know, college football had a playoff. This week, let’s look at the “Hope for Destruction”- this one not involving a Mayan Calendar.
We could, realistically, end up with six undefeated teams: Boise State, Cincinnati, Florida/Alabama, Iowa, TCU, and Texas. Given that only two of these good squadrons could end up in Pasadena at the end of the season (well, technically, four- but only two for the huge corporate sponsership fiasco with the sparkly football), there will be some sad pandas.
Given the wonderment of logic that is the BCS, the remaining four undefeated teams will more than likely not be matched up against each other (if they even get to the BCS- realistically, TCU and Boise State won’t both make it). So, we could end the season with five undefeated teams. This wonderfulness brought to you by the BC$… it’s Fan-Tastic!
This week, there are some great games on slate- U$C squares off against Oregon, and Texas and Oklahoma State play for the Big 12 South Championship. Florida and Georgia meet in the “World’s Largest Outdoor Renamed Event“, while Baylor hosts Nebraska. Mich1gAAn travels to Champaign, while Notre Ame meets WSU! In primetime! Get excited!!
That’s it for this week… uh… last week. I hope soon to figure out how to do something as awesome as this for SportsCenter:
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