Time for a Reality Check

College Football Week 10 – TCU-Utah, Bama-LSU, Arizona-Stanford

Time for a Reality Check

September and October are history. November is upon us and college football enters its final stretch. Five weeks remain – four in November one in December. When we go to bed on Saturday night December 4, we’ll know which two teams will be playing for the national championship on January 10.

The next five weeks are not only critical for determining the scene on January 10, but also the participants in the other BCS bowls, the Heisman Trophy winner, and what coaches won’t be back for the 2011 season.

As we begin the final stretch, it is a good time to do a reality check. After all, with nine weeks down and five to go, reality is almost upon us.

With all the craziness in the SEC East Division this season, two games Saturday were significant – Florida-Georgia and Tennessee-South Carolina. For after all, it is Florida and South Carolina who control their destinies towards winning the division. And the two teams are on a collision course – November 13.

In Jacksonville, the Gators beat the Dawgs for the 18th time in 21 years. Florida won, but the outcome of the game was not decided without extra time. Florida beat Georgia, 34-31 in overtime. The Gators led the Dawgs 21-7 at halftime, but Georgia fought back in the second half and tied the score 24-24 with 9:01 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Both teams added another touchdown and the game was tied 31-31 at the end of regulation. Georgia had first possession in overtime, but Florida intercepted an Aaron Murray pass to kill the Dawgs’ opportunity. The Gators only moved the ball five yards on their first three downs. On fourth down, Chas Henry kicked a 37-yard field goal to win the game for Florida.

In Columbia, the Gamecocks had a tough time shaking off the Vols. The game was tied 10-10 at the half. It remained close until 3:28 remaining in the final quarter when South Carolina scored to take a two-touchdown lead. The Gamecocks beat Tennessee, 38-24.

So South Carolina sits at 4-2 in the SEC East and Florida is 3-3. All other teams in the East have four or more conference losses. Assuming South Carolina beats Arkansas and Florida downs Vanderbilt, the winner of the South Carolina-Florida game in Gainesville November 13 will win the SEC East and go to the conference title game in Atlanta on December 4.

The SEC West is a contrast to the SEC East. In the West, one team (Auburn) is undefeated and two teams (Alabama and LSU) only have one loss. Two more teams (Mississippi State and Arkansas) just have two losses. Saturday, Auburn beat Ole Miss, 51-31 and Mississippi State downed Kentucky, 24-17. Alabama and LSU were idle.

Auburn and Alabama control their destinies. LSU needs Auburn to lose its remaining two SEC games. Alabama and LSU play this Saturday in Baton Rouge. Auburn and Alabama clash on November 26 in Tuscaloosa.

Six SEC teams are bowl eligible – Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, Arkansas and South Carolina. No SEC coaches are in serious trouble of losing their jobs. However Georgia’s Mark Richt, Vanderbilt’s Robbie Caldwell and LSU’s Les Miles are feeling some warmth on their seats.

Three games in the ACC were significant. Significant because the underdog won in all three contests. Thursday night, N.C. State handed Florida State its first loss in ACC play. The Wolfpack beat the Noles, 28-24. FSU was on the Wolfpack goal line with about a minute left, but a fumble by Noles’ quarterback Christian Ponder turned the ball over to N.C. State.

Saturday, Boston College, winless in conference play, upset Clemson, 16-10. The loss was Clemson’s third in ACC play and all but removed any hopes the Tigers have of winning the Atlantic Division. Then Virginia, also winless in conference action, knocked off Miami, 24-19. Canes’ quarterback Jacory Harris was injured early in the game.

Harris was replaced by Spencer Whipple who played the rest of the first half. In the second half, Whipple was replaced by true freshman Stephen Morris. Trailing 24-0 in the fourth quarter, Morris rallied the Canes to three touchdowns in the final 10 minutes. The loss all but dashed Miami’s hopes of winning the Coastal Division. In another ACC game, Maryland exploded for 62 points, beating hapless Wake Forest, 62-14.

So in the ACC Atlantic Division, Florida State, Maryland and N.C. State are in the driver’s seat, with the Wolfpack in control of its destiny. Maryland plays Florida State on November 20 and N.C. State on November 27. Both games are in College Park.

Virginia Tech remains the leader in the Coastal Division. Four ACC teams are bowl eligible – Florida State, Maryland, N.C. State and Virginia Tech. No ACC coaches are in serious threat of losing their jobs, but North Carolina’s Butch Davis, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe are feeling some heat.

Two games were significant in the Big 12 Saturday – Missouri-Nebraska and Baylor-Texas. In Lincoln, Nebraska handed Missouri its first loss of the season. The Huskers beat the Tigers, 31-17. Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was so effective against Oklahoma the previous week, was totally ineffective against the Huskers. Missouri’s pain was caused by Nebraska running back Roy Helu and the Husker defense. Helu rushed for 307 yards.

In Austin, Baylor handed Texas its third conference loss (fourth loss overall). The Bears beat the Longhorns, 30-22. Texas, one of the preseason favorites in the Big 12 South, falls to 2-3 in Big 12 play and 4-4 overall. In another Big 12 game, Oklahoma State bounced back from its first loss last week. The Cowboys beat Kansas State, 24-14.

In the Big 12 North, Nebraska and Missouri are the two leaders. But by virtue of its win over Missouri, Nebraska is in the driver’s seat. Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the leaders in the Big 12 South, and each have yet to play each other. Baylor plays at Oklahoma State this week and hosts Oklahoma on November 20. Okie State hosts OU on November 27.

Five Big 12 teams are bowl eligible – Nebraska, Missouri, Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Colorado coach Dan Hawkins is all but assured of losing his job at or near the end of the season.

In the Big Ten, two games were significant Saturday – Michigan State-Iowa and Michigan-Penn State. The Hawkeyes, suffering a one-point loss to Wisconsin the previous week, bounced back big-time to hand Michigan State its first loss. Iowa beat the Spartans, 37-6. The Hawkeye defense intercepted three of Kirk Cousins’ passes.

Then in a game where both teams really needed the win, Michigan’s Denard Robinson rushed for 191 yards, but was denied victory, as Penn State beat Michigan, 41-31. The loss was the Wolverines’ third-straight, after beginning the season at 5-0. Both teams are now 5-3 overall, but the Nittany Lions are 2-2 in Big Ten play, while Michigan drops to 1-3. In another Big Ten game, improving Illinois slammed Purdue, 44-10.

Michigan State and Ohio State are sitting at 4-1in the conference, while Wisconsin and Iowa are 3-1. Iowa entertains Ohio State on November 20. Five Big Ten teams are bowl eligible – Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern. Indiana coach Bill Lynch is in serious trouble and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez is on thin ice. Minnesota already fired Tim Brewster.

Two games were significant in the Big East – West Virginia-Connecticut and Syracuse-Cincinnati. Friday night, UConn handed the Mountaineers their second-straight conference loss. The Huskies beat WVU, 16-13 in overtime. West Virginia, who some thought would win the Big East at preseason, has fallen onto hard times. The Mountaineers are 1-2 in conference play and 5-3 overall.

Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, Syracuse, who was picked for the conference cellar, blew past the Bearcats, 31-7. The Orange improved to 6-2 overall. In another Big East game, Pitt beat Louisville, 20-3. Pitt is in first place in the Big East with a 3-0 record, followed by Syracuse at 3-1. Syracuse is the only Big East team that is bowl eligible. West Virginia coach Bill Stewart is feeling some serious heat.

There was one significant game in the Pac-10 Saturday. Undefeated Oregon wore down USC in the second half and beat the Trojans, 53-32. USC led the Ducks, 32-29 with 11:19 to go in the third quarter, but it was all Darron Thomas and LaMichael James after that. Oregon went on to score 24 unanswered points.

In other Pac-10 games, Stanford beat Washington, 41-0; Arizona downed UCLA, 29-21, and Oregon State tripped up California, 35-7. Arizona quarterback Matt Scott passed for 318 yards.

Oregon is in sole possession of first place in the Pac-10 with a 5-0 record. Arizona, Stanford and Oregon State all follow with only one loss each. Arizona plays at Stanford this week and at Oregon on November 26. Oregon State plays at Stanford on November 27 and hosts Oregon on December 4. Three Pac-10 teams are bowl eligible – Oregon, Arizona and Stanford. Washington State coach Paul Wulff definitely will be fired, and UCLA’s Rick Neuheisel and Arizona State’s Dennis Erickson are feeling some heat.

The Mountain West Conference had a significant game Saturday – Utah-Air Force. Some thought the Falcons had a chance of upsetting the Utes and they almost did. But in the end, Utah prevailed, 28-23. The Utes improved to 8-0. In another MWC game, San Diego State beat Wyoming, 48-38.

Utah and TCU lead the MWC with 5-0 records. San Diego State is just behind at 3-1. The Utes and Horned Frogs play in Salt Lake City this weekend. San Diego State plays at TCU on November 13 and hosts Utah on November 20. Three MWC teams are bowl eligible – TCU, Utah and San Diego State. New Mexico coach Mike Locksley will be canned at or near the end of the season.

Boise State continues to rule the roost in the WAC. Last Tuesday night, the Broncos beat Louisiana Tech, 49-20. In other WAC action Saturday, Hawaii downed Idaho, 45-10, and Nevada beat Utah State, 56-42. Boise State and Hawaii are both undefeated in WAC play. Fresno State and Nevada each have just one loss.

Boise State still has to play Hawaii, Fresno State and Nevada. Of the three, only Nevada is a road game. Nevada plays at Fresno State on November 13. Boise State, Hawaii and Nevada are bowl eligible. No coaches in the WAC are in danger of losing their jobs.

Conference USA had a big game Saturday. The two leaders in the East Division – UCF and East Carolina – met in Orlando. UCF prevailed, 49-35. In other conference games, UAB outlasted Southern Miss, beating the Eagles 50-49 in two overtimes. Houston downed Memphis, 56-17; SMU beat Tulane, 31-17, and Marshall edged UTEP, 16-12.

UCF leads the C-USA East with a 5-0 record. East Carolina follows with one loss. In the West Division, Houston and SMU lead with 4-1 records. But the Cougars beat the Mustangs in an earlier meeting. UCF is the only C-USA team that is bowl eligible. UTEP’s Mike Price, UAB’s Neil Callaway, Tulane’s Bob Toledo and Rice’s David Bailiff are feeling some heat.

In the Mid-American Conference, all of the division leaders won Saturday. Temple and Miami of the East Division beat Akron and Buffalo respectively. The Owls downed the Zips, 30-0, and the RedHawks trimmed Buffalo, 21-9. Northern Illinois and Toledo of the West Division beat Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan respectively. NIU edged Western Michigan, 28-21, and the Rockets blasted Eastern Michigan, 42-7.

Temple, Ohio and Miami each have 4-1 records in the MAC East. Northern Illinois and Toledo have 5-0 records in the MAC West. Temple hosts Ohio on November 16 and plays at Miami on November 23. Toledo plays at Northern Illinois on November 9. Four MAC teams are bowl eligible – Temple, Ohio, Northern Illinois and Toledo. No MAC coaches appear to be in trouble.

There was a big upset in the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday. Louisiana-Monroe surprised Troy, 28-14. Troy still leads the Sun Belt with a 3-1 record, followed by Middle Tennessee and Florida International, who each have 2-1 records. No Sun Belt teams are bowl eligible yet. Louisiana-Lafayette’s Rickey Bustle and Arkansas State’s Steve Roberts are feeling heat. North Texas already fired Todd Dodge.

Among the Independents, there were two surprises Saturday. Duke knocked off Navy, 34-31. Then, under solemn conditions in South Bend, Tulsa edged Notre Dame, 28-27. Navy at 5-3 and Notre Dame at 4-5 are disappointments this season, while Army at 5-3 is a pleasant surprise.

At the top of my Heisman list (after nine weeks): 1. Cam Newton (Auburn), 2. LaMichael James (Oregon), 3. Kellen Moore (Boise State), 4. Andrew Luck (Stanford), 5. Taylor Martinez (Nebraska), 6. Andy Dalton (TCU), 7. Jordan Wynn (Utah) and 8. Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State).

Just off of my radar (down but not necessarily out): Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, Michigan’s Denard Robinson, Alabama’s Mark Ingram, Oklahoma’s DeMarco Murray, Wisconsin’s John Clay and Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins.

Boise State was criticized by some last week. Up 42-14 against Louisiana Tech in the fourth quarter, the Broncos were running trick plays to continuing scoring. That doesn’t speak well for Boise State coach Chris Petersen. Meanwhile, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, the Broncos were being chastised by Joe Scarborough. Scarborough, an Alabama grad, said “Real football teams don’t play on Tuesday night.” He went on to add, “No team that plays on Tuesday night deserves to play in the BCS championship game.”

I read last week about the San Francisco Giants’ baseball fans waving their rally thongs at the Giants’ games. It seems that Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff wears thong underwear as a good luck charm during the games. That made me think that Georgia fans should be waving rally red panties at the Dawgs’ football games. Florida wears jean shorts; Georgia wears red panties.

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley had a “Lane Kiffin” moment last week. Speaking to the press, Dooley compared his football team to the Germans on D-Day. Wonder if Dooley compares himself to Sergeant Shultz.

The SEC is coming down hard again on Mississippi State fans. Conference commissioner Mike Slive threatened last week to hit Miss State with some heavy fines for the cowbell violations during the Bulldogs’ home football games. This year, Miss State fans were told they could only shake the bells when play is not in action on the field – before the game, after the game, at halftime and during timeouts.

Apparently, Miss State fans have been abusing the ruling, shaking the cowbells while play is in action on the field. If Miss State fans keep it up, Slive threatened to ban the cowbells entirely next season. Stay tuned.

Well, forget Lady Gaga. I guess it’s not so easy to dress up like the glam queen for Halloween. And besides, Rockledge Gator wanted Bootsie to go with him. So, they went as a “Jersey Shore” couple. Bootsie dressed as “Snooki” and Rockledge Gator was who else – “The Situation.” (Now, in reality, Bootsie was “Olive Oil” and Rockledge Gator was “Popeye.” Yeah, I really want to see Rockledge Gator eating a can of spinach.)

Touchdown Tom
November 1, 2010


Weekend Review

GAME OF THE WEEK: LaDucky – Oregon 53, USC 32 (Touchdown Tom said: Oregon 35, USC 27). At this point, you have to wonder if anyone will beat Oregon. If anyone does, they need an offense that can stay with the Ducks. If there’s a weakness, and there is, it’s the Oregon defense. The Trojans stayed with the Ducks for a little more than two quarters. But USC lost its zip after that. LaMichael James and Darron Thomas are a dynamic duo. A crowd of 88,726 attended the game in Los Angeles.

RUNNER UP: Helu trashes the Zou – Nebraska 31, Missouri 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Nebraska 28, Missouri 26). I think Mizzou spent itself on Oklahoma and had nothing left for Nebraska. Roy Helu was too much for the Mizzou defense. And Blaine Gabbert and the Mizzou offense couldn’t cope with the Nebraska defense. A crowd of 85,907 attended the game in Lincoln.

REST OF THE BEST: Birds pick Cousins – Iowa 37, Michigan State 6 (Touchdown Tom said: Iowa 33, Michigan State 32). You could tell Iowa was mad about the loss last week to Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes took all their frustrations out on Michigan State. A crowd of 70,585 attended the game in Iowa City.

Poor little garnet riding hood – N.C. State 28, Florida State 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Florida State 27, N.C. State 26). The Wolfpack won the first quarter; the Noles won the second quarter; the Wolfpack won the third quarter, and the Noles fumbled in the fourth quarter. All-in-all, not a bad game, especially if you like to howl. A crowd of 56,807 attended the game in Raleigh.

Back in the saddle again – Oklahoma State 24, Kansas State 14 (Touchdown Tom said: Oklahoma State 39, Kansas State 27). Nebraska knocked the Cowboys off their horses, but K-State couldn’t keep them out of the saddle. Okie State bounced back from its loss to the Huskers. A crowd of 50,831 attended the game in Manhattan.

Ute force – Utah 28, Air Force 23 (Touchdown Tom said: Utah 28, Air Force 14). Trailing 28-10 at the end of the third quarter, Air Force closed the gap to five points with 10:22 remaining in the fourth. A crowd of 37,211 attended the game in Colorado Springs.

Knights shine – UCF 49, East Carolina 35 (Touchdown Tom said: UCF 32, East Carolina 30). The Knights move to the top of Conference USA. A crowd of 40,073 attended the game in Orlando.

Rolls Royster – Penn State 41, Michigan 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Michigan 36, Penn State 29). Michigan loses its third-straight game; while Penn State wins its second in a row. The Nittany Lions made a point to score more than the Wolverines. State’s Evan Royster rushed for 150 yards. Rich Rod is back in the doghouse. A crowd of 108,539 attended the game in State College.

A Tree grows in Seattle – Stanford 41, Washington 0 (Touchdown Tom said: Stanford 34, Washington 26). Wow, Stanford held Washington to 88 yards passing and 19 yards rushing. Andrew Luck excelled again, not only passing, but also rushing for 92 yards. A crowd of 69,020 attended the game in Seattle.

Dance with me Henry – Florida 34, Georgia 31 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Florida 27, Georgia 26). This one started out like another rout for the Gators. Florida was up 21-7 at the half. But then somebody let the Dawgs out. Georgia came back and tied the score, 24-24. Then it was 31-31. Then it was overtime. Then it was Chas Henry’s 37-yard field goal. I was impressed with Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. Yeah, he made his mistakes, but he’s young. He’s got a future ahead of him. The question is: Does Mark Richt have a future ahead of him at Georgia? I was also impressed with Florida’s Trey Burton. He’s got a future ahead of him too. It was interesting watching the two coaches during the fourth quarter and overtime – when the game was tight. You would have thought Urban Meyer was the coach on the hot seat. Meyer was going through all sorts of contortions and spasms. He was as tight as the game. Meanwhile, Richt acted as cool as a cucumber. But maybe that was Georgia’s problem – Richt was too cool – emotionless. Maybe the three-straight wins prior to the Florida game had cooled-down Richt. While the three-straight losses really bothered Meyer. He didn’t want a fourth loss. Meyer was emotional. Richt is now a cool 2-8 against Florida. A crowd of 84,444 attended the game in Jacksonville.

Claws take the Paws – Auburn 51, Ole Miss 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Auburn 33, Ole Miss 16). The more I see Auburn play, the more I think the Tigers and Oregon would make a great matchup in the national championship game. Both teams score – score a lot and score fast. And both have defenses that give up a fair amount of points. A crowd of 61,474 attended the game in Oxford.

Life of Riley – Oregon State 35, California 7 (Touchdown Tom said: California 30, Oregon State 29). I should know better than to pick Cal on the road. The Bears are good at home, but a disaster on the road. The Beavers still have a shot at the Pac-10 crown. A crowd of 45,439 attended the game in Corvallis.

Bears milk the Cows – Baylor 30, Texas 22 (Touchdown Tom said: Texas 27, Baylor 24). When quarterback Garrett Gilbert is the leading rusher for Texas, you know the Longhorns have problems. A crowd of 100,452 attended the game in Austin.

Cards get shuffled – Pitt 20, Louisville 3 (Touchdown Tom said: Pitt 35, Louisville 27). Don’t look now, but Pitt has won three in a row. A crowd of 48,562 attended the game in Pittsburgh.

Orange Blossom Special – Syracuse 31, Cincinnati 7 (Touchdown Tom said: Cincinnati 26, Syracuse 18). What’s with Syracuse? The Orange are 6-2. A crowd of 32,072 attended the game in Cincinnati

Bruins scratched – Arizona 29, UCLA 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Arizona 30, UCLA 17). Rick Neuheisel has to be in some kind of trouble. A crowd of 53,408 attended the game in Pasadena.

Cowbells rule – Mississippi State 24, Kentucky 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Mississippi State 32, Kentucky 29). Dan Mullen is doing a heck of a job in Starkville. A crowd of 54,168 attended the game in Starkville.

Grimacing in the Nutmeg State – Connecticut 16, West Virginia 13 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: West Virginia 30, Connecticut 19). The wheels are off the bus at West Virginia. WVU’s inept execution on offense Friday night was one of the strangest, saddest and most frustrating performances I have ever seen in football. The fumbles, the penalties, the mistakes were never ending. And what’s with Geno Smith? A quarterback who looked so promising earlier in the season can’t hit the broadside of a red barn now. He looks like a scared chicken when he runs. He looks confused and frustrated. Maybe I would look scared, confused and frustrated too if Bill Stewart was my coach. And therein lies the problem – Bill Stewart. He never should have been named the coach of West Virginia back in 2008. He didn’t have the credentials to be a big-time college football coach. He’s the friendliest guy in the world. He’s obnoxiously friendly. He’s so friendly he should be a greeter at Wal-Mart. That was his calling. On the sideline of a football field, he looks and acts like the village idiot. He stands there and almost constantly grimaces. He acts like he is in pain. I think West Virginia is about to find out how good its new athletic director – Oliver Luck – is. Yes, the wheels are off the bus. And I think there is a Wal-Mart in Morgantown. A crowd of 40,000 attended the game in East Hartford.

Aggies scrub the Potts – Texas A&M 45, Texas Tech 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Texas A&M 28, Texas Tech 25). Tommy Tuberville’s luck ran out in College Station. And Mike Sherman keeps hanging in there. Wow! What was with Aggie quarterback Ryan Tannehill? He had 349 yards passing. A crowd of 84,479 attended the game in College Station.

Potatoes mashed – Hawaii 45, Idaho 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Hawaii 37, Idaho 29). Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz is a passing machine. A crowd of 37,466 attended the game in Honolulu.


AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Hurtin’ Hoosiers – Northwestern 20, Indiana 17 (Touchdown Tom said: Northwestern 29, Indiana 28). The Wildcats always seem to play to the level of their competition. A crowd of 37,818 attended the game in Bloomington.


YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:

Blue Navy Blue – Duke 34, Navy 31 (Touchdown Tom said: Navy 29, Duke 19). Against Navy, Duke quarterback Sean Renfree obviously found a defense he likes. Renfree passed for 314 yards, completing 93 percent of his tosses. A crowd of 34,117 attended the game in Annapolis.

Boilers have no Hope – Illinois 44, Purdue 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Illinois 31, Purdue 17). Looks like Ron Zook is going to be around Champaign a little longer. The Banned Indians are impressive. A crowd of 50,371 attended the game in Champaign.

Comment: A tough week at 16-7, brings my season total to 158-58 (73.2 percent).


AROUND FLORIDA:

Miami lost to Virginia, 24-19. A crowd of 39,528 attended the game in Charlottesville…. Florida Atlantic surprised Florida International, 21-9. A crowd of 17,543 attended the game in Fort Lauderdale.

Florida A&M bested Morgan State, 31-17. A crowd of 30,459 attended the game in Tallahassee…. Bethune Cookman humbled North Carolina A&T, 67-17. A crowd of 8,112 attended the game in Daytona Beach…. Jacksonville U. dumped Morehead State, 61-17. A crowd of 6,854 attended the game in Morehead.


Superlatives

Impressive Passers: Oklahoma’s Landry Jones – 32-46-0 for 453 yards; Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill – 36-50-1 for 449; Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett – 27-44-0 for 409 yards; Utah State’s Diondre Borel – 24-38-0 for 399; Southern Miss’ Austin Davis – 30-48-2 for 388, and Louisiana-Lafayette’s Brad McGuire – 25-38-1 for 384.

Also, San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley – 16-32-2 for 365 yards; San Jose State’s Jordan La Secla – 22-35-0 for 361; Western Michigan’s Alex Carder – 31-53-2 for 360; SMU’s Kyle Padron – 18-32-0 for 354; Hawaii’s Bryant Moniz – 27-38-1 for 326; Arizona’s Matt Scott – 24-36-1 for 318; Duke’s Sean Renfree – 28-30-0 for 314, and East Carolina’s Dominique Davis – 39-54-1 for 310.

Also, Indiana’s Ben Chappell – 30-54-1 for 308 yards; Arizona State’s Steven Threet – 26-32-0 for 300; Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden – 22-39-0 for 298; Boise State’s Kellen Moore – 20-28-1 for 298; Houston’s David Piland – 20-23-0 for 292; Oregon’s Darron Thomas – 19-32-1 for 288, and USC’s Matt Barkley – 26-49-2 for 264.


Impressive Rushers: Nebraska’s Roy Helu – 307 yards; Oregon’s LaMichael James – 239 yards; North Texas’ Lance Dunbar – 215 yards; Tulane’s Orleans Darkwa – 193 yards; Michigan’s Denard Robinson – 191 yards; South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore – 184 yards; UCF’s Ronnie Weaver – 180 yards; Auburn’s Michael Dyer – 180 yards; SMU’s Zach Line – 177 yards, and UAB’s Pat Shed – 176 yards.

Also, Memphis’ Gregory Ray – 176 yards; North Carolina’s Johnny White – 164 yards; Army’s Jared Hassin – 158 yards; Penn State’s Evan Royster – 150 yards; Boise State’s Doug Martin – 150 yards; Louisiana Tech’s Lennon Creer – 149 yards; Southern Miss’ Kendrick Hardy – 147 yards; Northern Illinois’ Chad Spann – 146 yards; Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter – 143 yards, and Boston College’s Montel Harris – 142 yards.


Quotes of Last Week

“From the moment the Gators’ receiver (Chris Rainey) was suspended indefinitely, didn’t you sort of figure that the ‘indefinite’ period would end this week?,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz.

“But as for Urban Meyer, I really would like to see a copy of his discipline guidelines. Is buying a stolen laptop worse than a player texting a death threat to a former girlfriend?,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz.

“At least 31 Florida players have been arrested since 2005. There’s also the high-profile issue of violence against women. But two things trump heat in sports: Talent and desperate coaches,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz.

“According to legend, or sources close to legend, the origins of Halloween date back over 2000 years when the summer harvest ended and the weather turned cold and the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead were so narrow that SEC football coaches figured it was safe to start recruiting and NCAA executives and college presidents lounged inside their palatial suites that were paid for by network executives and texted each other, ‘Time To Close Our Eyes. Hey, are you going to Urban’s pool party later?’,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz.

“It’s the 30th anniversary of Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott. Now let’s advance to more recent decades. The Gators have won 17 of the last 20 meetings. The last two came by a combined score of 90-27, give or take a major organ,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz.

“I understand Derek Dooley is entertaining and well read but he might want to hold off on any more analogies that liken his football team to panicking Nazis when the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. Better to just mix in a Lane Kiffin joke,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz.

“The note of the year: Dan Mullen (6-2) is bowl eligible before Urban Meyer, Mark Richt, Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino. He doesn’t make as much money as the others but there’s that psychic income of living in Starkville,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz.

“Georgia State at South Alabama: South Alabama has won seven games by an average score of 44-7. I guess Tuscaloosa will be a step down for the Panthers,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz.

“OK, now that we’ve had opening night in the new arena and seen the Magic play the Heat, can we get to the NBA playoffs now?,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“He doesn’t know his butt from a goal post,” Facebook quote about West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.

“I’m going to be drawing social security before the Dawgs figure out how to win against Florida,” Georgia grad Susan Eaton.

“Georgia under (Mark) Richt has become the toothless tiger – the team everyone respects but nobody fears,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Mark Bradley.

“He’s (Mark Richt) no longer a championship coach. Dating back to November 29, 2008, his Bulldogs are 13-11, which means he’s barely even a winning coach,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Mark Bradley.

“I almost burst into tears after the game. This is the biggest win we’ve had,” Florida coach Urban Meyer, after the Georgia game.


The 20 Hottest and Most Intriguing Games of the Week…and then some

GAME OF THE WEEK: 1. TCU (9-0) at Utah (8-0) – (MWC vs. MWC) – Utah is a good team with a good up-and-coming quarterback in Jordan Wynn. But TCU has a mean defense and a cool quarterback in Andy Dalton. That’s why TCU is the better team. But it will be close. The winner will definitely get a big boost in the polls and the BCS standings. Frogs take the salt out of the lake – TCU 27, Utah 24.

RUNNER UP: 2. Alabama (7-1) at LSU (7-1) – (SEC vs. SEC) – Always a fun game. Nick Saban goes up against his former team. Some folks in Zydeco land love him; others hate him. Well, he does have a national championship under his belt for both schools – LSU and Alabama. He’s working on his second for the Tide. They have a good chance to make it to the “big game.” But so do the Tigers. Each has one loss, but if the cards fall right they could make it to Glendale. That’s why this game is so important. LSU’s defense, so highly touted at one time, has to play better than it did against Florida or Auburn. I know, the Tigers beat Florida, but LSU’s defense sucked. Bama should be glad this isn’t a night game in Baton Rouge. Winner will also take a big jump in the polls and standings. Tigers awash in soap suds – Alabama 28, LSU 23.

REST OF THE BEST: 3. Arizona (7-1) at Stanford (7-1) – (Pac-10 vs. Pac-10) – What a game this should be. Both play good offense and defense. The winner will also move way up in the polls and BCS standings. Wildcats go too far out on a limb – Stanford 28, Arizona 24.

4. Baylor (7-2) at Oklahoma State (7-1) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – Can Baylor keep a good thing going? The Bears are hot. But so is Okie State. Oklahoma State 35, Baylor 32.

5. Arkansas (6-2) at South Carolina (6-2) – (SEC vs. SEC) – Steve Spurrier better hope his Gamecocks aren’t looking ahead to Florida. The Gamecocks better hope Steve Spurrier isn’t looking ahead to Florida. South Carolina is so close to Atlanta. Chickens feed on Pork Butt – South Carolina 26, Arkansas 24.

6. Hawaii (7-2) at Boise State (7-0) – (WAC vs. WAC) – Can the Pineapple Boys upset the Broncos? A lot of people would like to see Boise lose. Hawaii is too much of a one-dimensional team to win. Pineapples sliced – Boise State 45, Hawaii 31.

7. Oklahoma (7-1) at Texas A&M (5-3) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – OU isn’t out of the big picture. But the Sooners have to keep winning. The Aggies looked good last week against Texas Tech. Possible upset? Wagons ho! – Oklahoma 31, Texas A&M 26.

8. North Carolina (5-3) at Florida State (6-2) – (ACC vs. ACC) – Now here’s a North Carolina team that FSU should be able to beat. But on a given day, the Heels can play some defense. Mutton – Florida State 27, North Carolina 19.

9. Georgia Tech (5-3) at Virginia Tech (6-2) – (ACC vs. ACC) – One team (Virginia Tech) on the way up, and one team (Georgia Tech) on the way down. The Hokies have gotten their act together after the first two games. They are on a roll. Meanwhile, the Bumble Bees are still trying to find their act. Hokies raid the Hive – Virginia Tech 32, Georgia Tech 17.

10. Northwestern (6-2) at Penn State (5-3) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – After Indiana, Northwestern should play better against Penn State. But can the Wildcats play well enough to win in Happy Valley. And how will the Lions perform after the win over Michigan? Do they still have emotion? Pride – Penn State 31, Northwestern 29.

11. Maryland (6-2) at Miami (Florida) (5-3) – (ACC vs. ACC) – At 6-2, Maryland is a surprise team. The Terps may keep the Fridge around for another year. But can the Terps surprise the Canes? Not in Miami. Besides, Randy Shannon doesn’t like a warm bottom. Sugar Canes – Miami 30, Maryland 26.

12. Illinois (5-3) at Michigan (5-3) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – You got to figure that four losses in a row would be curtains for the Rod. I don’t think Michigan fans could stomach that. This should be a good one. Curtain Rods – Illinois 29, Michigan 26.

13. Missouri (7-1) at Texas Tech (4-4) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – Now how will Mizzou respond to the big loss at Nebraska. The Tigers could self-destruct. Or they could bounce back. Tech doesn’t have near the defense that Nebraska does. They're great – Missouri 30, Texas Tech 29.

14. N.C. State (6-2) at Clemson (4-4) – (ACC vs. ACC) – The Wolfpack have their eyes on the ACC title game in Charlotte – a first for N.C. State. But that could be the problem – they have their eyes on Charlotte. Dabo Swinney may not survive another loss. Two baseball playing quarterbacks will be going against each other. Clemson is no Wolf trap – N.C. State 28, Clemson 26.

15. Navy (5-3) at East Carolina (5-3) – (Ind. vs. C-USA) – Both teams coming in off losses. But East Carolina’s loss was more emotional. Middies have been a strange team this season. Sailors walk the plank – East Carolina 31, Navy 29.

16. Air Force (5-4) at Army (5-3) – (Ind. vs. Ind.) – Air Force is going for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Only Army stands in the way. Bombs away – Air Force 29, Army 26.

17. Louisville (4-4) at Syracuse (6-2) – (Big East vs. Big East) – The Orange are on a roll and I don’t think the Cardinals are going to stop them. Orange Birds – Syracuse 18, Louisville 17.

18. Nevada (7-1) at Idaho (4-4) – (WAC vs. WAC) – Except for the slip up against Hawaii, the Wolf Pack would be undefeated. And they have thoughts about their upcoming game against Boise State. That’s why they can’t overlook the Vandals. Wolf Pack scallops the Vandals – Nevada 32, Idaho 20.

19. Rutgers (4-3) at South Florida (4-3) – (Big East vs. Big East) – South Florida found itself in its last game. The Bulls hope to keep a good thing going. Rutgers is still playing in the shadow of Eric LeGrand’s injury. The Knights need to regroup and pick themselves up. Knights stuck in Cow manure – South Florida 24, Rutgers 22.

20. Washington (3-5) at Oregon (8-0) – (Pac-10 vs. Pac-10) – Washington has been a strange team – up-and-down. But not strange enough to hang with the Ducks, especially not in Eugene. Ducks make the Huskies look Daffy – Oregon 46, Washington 16.


AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

21. Arizona State (4-4) at USC (5-3) – (Pac-10 vs. Pac-10) – Well, USC has had its bowl game and lost. No telling how the Trojans will play for the rest of the season. Dennis Erickson is fighting for his job at ASU. Dennis is no Menace – USC 33, Arizona State 24.


YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:

Florida (5-3) at Vanderbilt (2-6) – (SEC vs. SEC) – The Gators may have spent themselves against Georgia and could have a mental let down against Vandy. They have to be on guard for that. The game is in Nashville and on occasion, the Commodores can cause problems. But not on this occasion. Albert gets Captain Hook – Florida 27, Vanderbilt 12.

Nebraska (7-1) at Iowa State (5-4) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – The Huskers have to be careful in Ames. Nebraska has had so many big games lately (Texas, Oklahoma State, Missouri) that there could be room for a letdown. Birds can’t pick the Corn – Nebraska 28, Iowa State 17.

Virginia (4-4) at Duke (2-6) – (ACC vs. ACC) – Both teams surprised their opponents last week. Only one can surprise this week. It’s back to ACC play for the Dookies so that means they lose. Cavs make ham out of the Devils – Virginia 27, Duke 25.

Idaho State (1-7) at Georgia (4-5) – (Big Sky vs. SEC) – Now here’s a team Mark Richt doesn’t need to show any emotion over. Heck, Uga VIII could play offense and defense against the Bengals and Georgia would win. But, tell me, how do you get up for Idaho State after losing in overtime to Florida? Uga drools on the Bengals – Georgia 56, Idaho State 0.

Wisconsin (7-1) at Purdue (4-4) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – Everyone else is pounding the crap out of Purdue. Now it’s Wisconsin’s turn. Besides, the Badgers are the highest ranked Big Ten team in the BCS standings. They could still go a long way yet. Limburger in the Boiler – Wisconsin 30, Purdue 13.

Texas (4-4) at Kansas State (5-3) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – Go figure the Longhorns. They don’t make sense. A good opportunity for K-State to beat Texas. Those opportunities don’t come along very often. Cows can’t moo – Kansas State 27, Texas 23.

West Virginia (5-3) is off.


Comment: What a week! Two unbeatens (TCU-Utah) go head-to-head in Salt Lake City. Four one-loss teams face off – one game in Baton Rouge (Alabama-LSU) and the other game in Palo Alto (Arizona-Stanford). Throw Baylor at Oklahoma State and Arkansas at South Carolina into the mix and you’ve got quite a week.


AROUND FLORIDA:

UCF (6-2) visits Houston (5-3)…. Florida Atlantic (2-5) travels to Western Kentucky (1-7)…. Florida International (2-5) is hosting Louisiana-Monroe (4-4)…. Florida A&M (5-3) is on the road at North Carolina A&T (1-8)…. Bethune-Cookman (8-0) plays at Hampton (5-3)…. Jacksonville U. (8-1) visits Butler (4-5).


Tuesday’s Television Schedule – November 2

Middle Tennessee at Arkansas State – 7:00 p.m. ET – ESPN2


Wednesday’s Television Schedule – November 3

Rutgers at South Florida – 7:00 p.m. ET – ESPN2


Thursday’s Television Schedule – November 4

Buffalo at Ohio – 7:30 p.m. ET – ESPNU
Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech – 7:30 p.m. ET – ESPN


Friday’s Television Schedule – November 5

Western Michigan at Central Michigan – 6:00 p.m. ET – ESPNU
UCF at Houston – 8:00 p.m. ET – ESPN2


Saturday’s Television Schedule – November 6

Air Force at Army – 12:00 noon ET – CBS-CSN
Illinois at Michigan – 12:00 noon ET – ESPN
Maryland at Miami – 12:00 noon ET – ESPNU
N.C. State at Clemson – 12:00 noon ET – ACC Game of the Week
Louisville at Syracuse – 12:00 noon ET – Big East Game of the Week
Florida at Vanderbilt – 12:20 p.m. ET – SEC Game of the Week
Baylor at Oklahoma State – 12:30 p.m. ET – Fox Sports Network
Penn at Princeton – 3:00 p.m. ET – Versus
Alabama at LSU – 3:30 p.m. ET – CBS
Nebraska at Iowa State – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC
Northwestern at Penn State – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC/ESPN2
Washington at Oregon – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC/ESPN2
North Carolina at Florida State – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC
TCU at Utah – 3:30 p.m. ET – CBS-CSN
Hawaii at Boise State – 3:30 p.m. ET – ESPNU
Arkansas at South Carolina – 7:00 p.m. ET – ESPN
Louisiana-Lafayette at Ole Miss – 7:00 p.m. ET – ESPNU
Oklahoma at Texas A&M – 7:00 p.m. ET – Fox Sports Network
Oregon State at UCLA – 7:00 p.m. ET – Versus
Arizona at Stanford – 8:00 p.m. ET – ABC
Missouri at Texas Tech – 8:00 p.m. ET – ABC
Texas at Kansas State – 8:00 p.m. ET – ESPN2
Tennessee at Memphis – 8:00 p.m. ET – CBS-CSN
Arizona State at USC – 10:30 p.m. ET – Fox Sports Network


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . SMU has added Northwestern State (Louisiana) to its 2011 schedule. The game will be played in Dallas…. UNLV has added Southern Utah to its 2011 schedule. The game will be played in Las Vegas…. Southern California will construct a $70 million athletics building with new offices and training facilities for the football team. Construction on the two-story, 110,000-square foot building will begin in January, finishing in about 18 months.


Extra Points

Injury Update – Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist, who left the Tulsa game in the first quarter, has a torn left patellar tendon in his knee and is out for six months. Miami (Florida) quarterback Jacory Harris, who left the Virginia game in the second quarter, has a concussion and is doubtful for the Maryland game this week.


AP Poll – 1. Oregon, 2. Boise State, 3. Auburn, 4. TCU, 5. Alabama, 6. Utah

Coaches Poll – 1. Oregon, 2. Auburn, 3. Boise State, 4. TCU, 5. Alabama, 6. Utah

TT’s Poll – 1. Oregon, 2. Auburn, 3. Boise State, 4. TCU, 5. Utah, 6. Alabama

BCS Rank – 1. Oregon, 2. Auburn, 3. TCU, 4. Boise State, 5. Utah, 6. Alabama


On the Internet – College Football Week now has a Website and can be found at www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com.

On the Radio – Listen live to Touchdown Tom every Friday morning from 8:05 to 8:40 ET on the Bill Mick Live show, talking college football with Bill Mick on NEWS TALK 1240 and 1350 WMMB AM. The show streams on http://www.wmmbam.com/. To listen, go to the Web site and click on “Listen Live.”

Touchdown Tom


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but on a sad note, there were eight passings of mention last week – Alex Anderson, Gregory Isaacs, James Phelps, Lisa Blount, James MacArthur, Roy Skinner, Theodore Sorensen and Maurice Lucas.

Alex Anderson, the cartoonist who first drew Rocky the flying squirrel and his buddy, the bumbling moose Bullwinkle, television characters who captivated young baby boomers in the early 1960s, died last week in Carmel, California. He was 90 and lived in Pebble Beach, California. Alexander Anderson Jr. was born in Berkeley, California, on September 5, 1920. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Gregory Isaacs, reggae’s “Cool Ruler,” whose aching vocals and poignant lyrics about love and loss and ghetto life endeared him to fans of Caribbean music, died last week at his home in London. He was 60. Isaacs was born on July 15, 1950, in Kingston, Jamaica.

James Phelps, a gospel and R&B singer who performed with Lou Rawls and Sam Cooke, died last week in Los Angeles. He was 78. Phelps had a hit single “Love Is a Five-Letter Word” in 1965. James Phelps was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1932. In his late teens, he moved to Chicago.

Lisa Blount, who played a local girl hoping to marry a Navy pilot trainee in the 1982 film “An Officer and a Gentleman,” was found dead last week at her home in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was 53. Blount was nominated for a Golden Globe as new star of the year for her portrayal of Lynette Pomeroy, the cynical friend of Debra Winger’s character, Paula Pokrifki, in “An Officer and a Gentleman,” which also starred Richard Gere. Blount made guest appearances in a number of television shows, including “Murder, She Wrote” and “Picket Fences.” She also had a supporting role in “Great Balls of Fire!,” a 1989 film about the rock ’n’ roll star Jerry Lee Lewis, starring Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder. In 2004, Blount played the title role in the film “Chrystal,” which also starred Billy Bob Thornton. Blount was born on July 1, 1957, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

James MacArthur, who played Danno, the boyish-looking but hard-driving sidekick on the long-running television detective show “Hawaii Five-O,” died last week. He was 72. For 11 of the 12 years that “Hawaii Five-O” first ran on CBS, MacArthur, as Detective Danny Williams. His boss was Detective Steve McGarrett, played by Jack Lord. The original “Hawaii Five-O” ran from 1968 to 1980, making it one of television’s longest-running crime shows. MacArthur left in 1979, saying that he wanted to pursue other acting challenges. James Gordon MacArthur was born in Los Angeles on December 8, 1937. When he was seven months old he was adopted by the celebrated actress Helen Hayes and her husband, the playwright Charles MacArthur. Before “Hawaii Five-O,” MacArthur acted in several Disney adventures, including “Kidnapped” and “Swiss Family Robinson.” He had a small but significant role in the taut 1965 cold war thriller “The Bedford Incident.” In the rambunctious 1967 film “The Love-Ins,” MacArthur’s character hung out in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco and smoked banana peels. Besides “Hawaii Five-O,” MacArthur acted in many TV shows, including “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza,” “The Love Boat” and “The Untouchables.” But it was his appearance in the 1968 movie “Hang ’Em High,” a low-budget spaghetti western starring Clint Eastwood that prompted Leonard Freeman, the creator of “Hawaii Five-O,” to cast him.

Roy Skinner, the Vanderbilt University coach who recruited the first black athlete to play varsity basketball in the Southeastern Conference and who led the Commodores to more victories than any other coach, died last week in Nashville. He was 80. Roy Gene Skinner was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on April 17, 1930. He graduated from Presbyterian College in South Carolina in 1952, where he played point guard. In 1957, Skinner became an assistant coach at Vanderbilt, and in 1958 he became the acting head coach. He became the head coach in 1960 and held the position until 1977. Skinner won 278 games during his career and was named the SEC’s coach of the year four times.

Theodore (Ted) Sorensen, one of the last links to John F. Kennedy’s administration, a writer and counselor who did much to shape the president’s narrative, image and legacy, died yesterday in New York City. He was 82. Theodore Chaikin Sorensen was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on May 8, 1928. Sorensen earned undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Nebraska.

Maurice Lucas, the bruising All-Star forward who helped take the Portland Trailblazers to their only NBA championship, died yesterday. He was 58. Maurice Lucas was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He starred at Marquette University, joining with Bo Ellis in taking the team to the 1974 NCAA tournament championship game. Marquette lost in the final to N.C. State, led by David Thompson.