College Football Week 8

Well, today was relatively uneventful on the college football landscape. Some close calls, but in the end, the elite teams held on. Lets start at the top, Ohio St rolls on 44-3 vs. Indiana (W on line). Another impressive day for Troy Smith, as he appears to be the biggest runaway Heisman winner in quite some time. Michigan took care of their biggest obstacle before the mathup with OSU with a 20-6 win vs Iowa (W on line). Once again, the story was the front seven of the Wolverines battering Drew Tate all afternoon. The Wolves were once again without Mario Manningham due to knee surgery the previous week. Look for him to return next weekend when Big Blue faces Northwestern. And as most of us have heard and predicted by now, I have the winner of the OSU/UM game in the BCS Title game. USC will stay at #3 in my poll with a bye this week. W. Virginia looked very impressive with their running game, just as we have come to expect when the thumped UConn on Thursday night. Messengers White and Slaton abused the huskie defense, and the Neers showed they can play a little of their own. With Louisville struggling lately, including today, their toughest matchups might be at Pitt and the season finale vs Rutgers. I also see, as do many analysts, a few one loss teams I believe would leapfrog WVU into that National Title game. But that is fodder for another conversation. Lets move on to the game of the day in snowy, cold, windy, and rainy Lincoln. The Longhorns were up 19-13 late in the fourth, with the snow picking up, when the Huskers called two great plays to score a TD to take a 20-19 lead. First, a double reverse which gave them about 15 yards, then the half back option pass for the TD. The Husker D then held, and forced a punt which led to a third and two for the Huskers. Play action pass was called, it was completed, then the received got drilled and fumbled. Horns took over with under 2 minutes to play on about the Husker 40. They drove down, and used their walk on right footed kicker (had used the left footed kicker all day; granted he missed an extra point and two field goals) to boot the game winner. McCoy is really growing up, and he is going to be special for the Horns. Mack Brown made a few very questionable coaching decisions in this one...I still do not think he is a good coach, and if it wasnt for Vince Young, he would not have a title. Things are also looking up for the Huskers, and it is good for college football when they are challenging for the title. My sixth ranked squad Tennessee was involved in another barn burner as they defeated Alabama 16-13 (L on line). Give Bama credit for playing with a lot of heart defensively, but their offense just has not developed as of yet behind their young QB. Ainge was not particularily sharp for the Vols, but he got it done in the end with a late TD drive to put them up for good. They still have some dicey road games left, along with a pretty tough home slate, so winning the SEC East doesnt look good. But a BCS bowl game is certainly in reach, and would have to be considered a very solid year after last years 5-6 record. Florida is #7 in my rankings and they had a bye this week. They return to action next weekend in the Cocktail party against a very depleted Georgia team. The Gators have a very favorable schedule, and will be favored to win every game relatively handidly except their visit to Tallahassee to close out the year. I look for the Gators to face the Auburn Tigers in the SEC title game, and the winner of that to match up with the OSU/UM winner for the title. #8 in my poll, and certainly slipping in my mind is Louisville. I am giving them a pass this week for not burying the Cuse, and their next game is the big matchup with WVU. I will pass my judgment on both these teams after that game, but rest assured that the loser will not be ranked in my Top 10. Clemson makes their first appearance in my rankings this year after their demolition of Georgia Tech Saturday night. I really have not paid much attention to Clemson, they usually play relatively well early, and have some bouts of losing their concentration. Is this year going to be different? Their only loss was at BC, a game they dominated. And we saw what BC did today. Clemson only has one road game left which is next week in Blacksburg. If they could somehow get thru that, they will win their last 3 in my opinion and be 11-1 heading to the ACC Title game. Problem for them is their SOS is not going to be good enough to get them into the BCS title game. Lets see how they fair next weekend. And #10 I have another newcomer. Wisconsin, thats right! The Badgers have only lost one game this year, 24-10 vs Michigan in the Big House. They played well in that game, and it was even tied late in the third before the Michigan defense took over. Following that, they have anialated every one in their path. They arent the most explosive, and Stocco isnt a household name, but they sure put up a lot of points. And we dont hear much about their defense, but they keep playing very well. They only have one road game left, and with the teams on their slate, they should at worse be looking at a 10-2 record. Possible BCS worthy? We'll see, but nevertheless, a solid year in their first without Alvarez. Here is how I see it right now, and where I see the teams finishing:

1-Ohio State 8-0 (11-1)
2-Michigan 8-0 (12-0)
3-USC 6-0 (10-2)
4-WVirginia 7-0 (12-0)
5-Texas 7-1 (11-1)
6-Tennessee 7-1 (9-3)
7-Florida 6-1 (11-1)
8-Louisville 7-0 (10-2)
9-Clemson 7-1 (10-2)
10-Wisconsin 7-1 (10-2)

Five to watch in alphabetical order: Arkansas 6-1, Auburn 7-1, Boston College 6-1, California 7-1, Notre Dame 6-1