Top 10 Rewind:
#1 Ohio State
What a slow day by QB Troy Smith who finished with only 238 yards and two touchdowns for the Buckeyes in OSU’s 38-7 victory over Michigan State. How unselfish is WR Ted Ginn Jr.? So unselfish that fellow wide out Anthony Gonzalez is getting most of Smith’s passes due to the fact Ginn is getting double and triple-teamed by the opposition. Both receivers finished with a touchdown apiece, but Gonzalez had more receptions (12 to 3) and yards (120 to 58). Ginn probably won’t win the Heisman with Gonzalez putting up better numbers, but Jim Tressel has to love the way Ginn gives up production for wins.
#2 Florida
For as well as QB Chris Leak has played for the Gators, you can’t turn the ball over twice late in the game like Leak did. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing Auburn, Ohio State or one of those poor excuses of a school Nebraska plays. Turnovers is what made this 27-17 win for the Tigers and what broke it for the Gators – plain and simple. After leaning on a strong run game the entire night, Florida needed Leak at the end the way the Gators needed Leak in the end of the Tennessee and Alabama game. He just couldn’t deliver and unfortunately it will probably cost Florida a trip to the National Championship.
Look, it might not be fair that Florida has had to play the toughest schedule in all of college football and now face falling down the ranks – in fact, it isn’t fair at all. But this is how the NCAA wants it and despite the hopes of most red-blooded Americans, this system isn’t going anywhere.
I have to give it to Auburn – the Tigers stepped it up Saturday. I criticized them hard for losing to Arkansas last week, but Auburn straightened out its season with this win and will get an undisputed welcome back into the top 10. Great game by Brad Lester (17 carries, 92 yards) along with Kenny Irons (13 carries 66 yards), who both ran ragged through Florida’s usually stout run D.
#3 USC
Do the Trojans look overly impressive to anyone? They certainly don’t to me. After taking a 21-0 lead, USC defeated Arizona State 28-21 Saturday in yet another sub-par victory. The past three weeks Pete Carroll’s team has had to hang on for a victory in the fourth quarter. At first I gave the Trojans credit for the close W’s, but now it’s getting questionable.
In the end, a win is a win, so who cares right? But this isn’t the NFL where a 3-0 ugly win will look like a 45-0 victory later in the season. In college, you have to blow inferior opponents out from time to time to show that you deserve a high ranking. Michigan looks more like a #2 worthy program than USC right now and when the new polls come out, they should reflect that.
#4 Michigan
How about Brent Musberger announcing that Michigan had already beat Penn State with more than 13 minutes still left in the contest? The Wolverines were only up 17-3 (albeit a comfortable 17-3, but nevertheless) and Musberger starts waxing poetically about how Michigan probably will be ranked #2 with its victory over the Nittany Lions. Then PSU scores to make the game 17-10 with about three minutes left and Musberger tells everybody to hold on “we might have a game here!”
Michigan ended up hanging on for the 17-10 win, but slow your role a bit Brent. Nice win for the Wolverines without stud WR Mario Manningham. It’s tough to go on the road without arguably your best offensive weapon and still keep it together.
#5 West Virginia
So much for Syracuse proving to be a decent test for the Mountaineers. QB Pat White rushed for an incredible 235 yards on just 14 carries and scored three times in West Virginia’s 41-17 victory over SU. White was so busy running that he only threw for 97 yards. RB Steve Slaton carried the ball 21 times for 178 yards and two scores. Other than Syracuse being up 7-0 to start the game – this was a laugher.
#6 Texas
Baylor did have a 10-0 lead against the Long Horns Saturday night. Then Texas woke up and blew by the Bears 63-31 on the strength of an amazing six-touchdown performance by freshman QB Colt McCoy. McCoy connected with receivers Limas Sneed and Billy Pittman twice each and finished with 276 yards on 21 of 32 passing. The Long Horns are quietly sneaking back into the top five, especially with Florida losing. The defense might not be as stout as it was when it started the season, but McCoy is playing great and Texas has a bright future with this kid only being a freshman.
#7 Louisville
The Cardinals got QB Brian Brohm back from injury and he looked sharp in a too-close-for-comfort
23-17 win over Cincinnati. Brohm completed 20 of 36 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown. The Bearcats made it close at the end when QB Dustin Grutza hit Derrick Stewart on a touchdown pass that cut Louisville’s lead to 23-17 with four minutes left to go in the contest. Grutza drove Cincinnati 71 yards to the Cardinals’ 21-yard line after a Louisville punt, but failed to connect on a 4th and 15 on the last play of the game. Louisville’s fifth ranked rushing attack was held to just 105 yards.
#8 Tennessee
Off – will host Alabama next weekend.
#9 Notre Dame
Off – will host USC in South Bend next weekend.
#10 California
The Golden Bears didn’t have much trouble against fellow Pac 10 opponent Washington State. California took care of business on the road in a 21-3 contest that didn’t feature a score in the entire second half. Junior RB Marshawn Lynch provided all the offense that the Bears needed, rushing 24 times for 147 yards and two scores.
Most impressed with: I think I have to go with a quarterback (White) rushing for 235 yards on just 14 carries. Regardless of whom they played, that was a hell of a day for the Mountaineer.
Lest impressed with: Florida not using Tim Tebow like it did last week. Where was this guy against Auburn? Everybody just hailed this team (including myself) on how well Urban Meyer got this kid the ball and then he’s virtually a no-show except for a rushing TD. After Leak’s performance, I can hear the calls for Tebow starting to rumble now.
Biggest melee of the day: Do yourself a favor and read this article about Miami and Florida International throwing haymakers at each other for five minutes before being retained by police officers. As if that wasn’t enough, the officers had to then go into the stands because several fans decided to act out what was going happening on the field. Wonderful, another situation where Hurricane players are throwing punches.
Upset of the day: It’s a toss up between #15 Iowa losing to Indiana 31-28 or #16 Georgia losing 24-22 to Vanderbilt. It has to be the Bulldogs, however, because at least the Hawkeyes lost on the road. How does Georgia get trounced last week at home to Tennessee, only to turn around and lose again between the hedges to freakin Vanderbilt? I understand that the Commodores might possibly have their best team since 1982, but Georgia was a team that was supposed to be a big contender in the SEC. Forget that notion now, Florida is going to wipe the floor with these guys in two weeks.
Looking forward: Iowa-Michigan should have been hyped, but with the Hawkeyes choking Saturday in Indiana, that showdown is a moot point now. Texas-Nebraska should be a good contest, but the last big game that the Cornhuskers had on their schedule, NEB dropped the ball against USC. So forget that one too.
Believe it or not, the best game on the schedule next week is Georgia Tech at Clemson. Possibly the two biggest surprises this season square off in what should be an even match up. With the Tigers racking up 63 points on that high school team named Temple last Thursday and GT coming off a bye, this game might be a great ACC shootout.
