Game Preview: Nevada vs. San Jose State

On a side note, "The Week That Was" should get published by Monday morning.


When: 8:30 PM ET, ESPN

Why You Should Care: As bad as San Jose State has been this season, this might be a surprisingly decent game to watch. The Wolf Pack are on fire right now and the Spartans may not have anything to play for, but at home on national television, there could be some extra motivation.

Nevada Will Win Because...: Uh...Rushing offense? San Jose State's run defense has been very, very poor so far this year. They rank 117th nationally and are allowing over 240 yards on the ground per game which is ridiculous. They haven't played a rushing offense as powerful as Nevada's yet (well, besides maybe USC).

San Jose State Will Win Because...: Again, being home on national TV might help out the cause for San Jose State. Their offense has tanked, not as much as the defense, but it's not pretty. However, anything is possible against Nevada's pass defense which is 119th in the country. They could have some of the worst cover DBs in the NCAA.

Keep an Eye on...: SJSU WR Kevin Jurovich. Jurovich might as well be nicknamed Gramps on this team since he's been on the roster since 2004. He suffered from a season-ending case of mononucleosis so he was granted another year. He's a faster receiver than he may get credit for and should have a couple 15+ yarders against Nevada's atrocious pass defense.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Nevada will win, but it will be a surprising struggle. Don't get me wrong, San Jose State isn't very good at all, but Nevada's road efforts have hardly been inspiring and now they'll be out of their comfort zone. Things will go awry for three quarters while San Jose State comes pumped up to play, but the reality of the situation is that the Wolf Pack are too potent rushing the football against an extremely weak defensive front for the Spartans. Nevada will win a lackluster game (relative to their recent success), 35-27.

Bowl Projections: Week 10

New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. UL Monroe*
St. Petersburg Bowl: USF vs. UCF
New Orleans Bowl: Troy vs. Tulsa
Las Vegas Bowl: Utah vs. Cal
Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State vs. UCLA
Hawaii Bowl: Nevada vs. Marshall
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Minnesota
Meineke Car Care Bowl: Clemson vs. Cincinnati
Emerald Bowl: Boston College vs. Stanford
Music City Bowl: North Carolina vs. Tennessee
Independence Bowl: Iowa State vs. Arkansas
EagleBank Bowl: Ohio* vs. ECU*
Champs Sports Bowl: Northwestern vs. Florida State
Humanitarian Bowl: Idaho vs. BYU
Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. SMU
Sun Bowl: Oregon State vs. Nebraska
Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Navy
Insight Bowl: Michigan State vs. Missouri
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Ole Miss
Outback Bowl: Penn State vs. South Carolina
Capital One Bowl: Iowa vs. LSU
Gator Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Miami
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Pitt
International Bowl: Rutgers vs. Temple
Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Auburn
Papajohns.com Bowl: West Virginia vs. Kentucky
Liberty Bowl: Houston vs. Georgia
Alamo Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Wisconsin
Fiesta Bowl: USC vs. Boise State
Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. TCU
GMAC Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Middle Tennessee*
BCS Championship: Florida vs. Texas

* - at-large qualifier

There are a few things here that are worth discussing. First, the at-large scene. With Kansas dropping out, I had Iowa State fill in for the Independence Bowl. With Purdue or Michigan State eligible, the winner of that game should bump either themselves up or somebody else down to the Motor City Bowl if the Big 10 doesn't get two BCS teams. But regarding at-larges, I still have Middle Tennessee going to the GMAC Bowl. UL Monroe would have to fill in for the New Mexico Bowl. I'm not sure whether or not the Humanitarian would want a great matchup like Fresno/BYU or if they would go with the home team from Moscow. My bet would be on the Vandals.

Of course, that would only happen with Boise State getting bumped up to the BCS and that's what I have here. This is almost a perfect storm for two non-BCS teams. Along with Houston and Utah who have some decent non-conference wins to help with the non-BCS image, Boise State and TCU are undefeated with some resume-defining moments. Voters/Bowl committees would have a difficult time explaining how Pac-10 champion Oregon (if they beat Arizona on the road next week) gets in over Boise State, especially with two losses compared to none. Boise State/USC would be a giant draw I think and I don't think the TV execs should underestimate the effect that Boise State had that lingers from the 2007 Fiesta Bowl; America knows who Boise State is and they know them as Cinderella. Granted it won't be ratings gold, but it would be far from a TV disaster. This would force TCU to play yet another ACC team. This could be a TCU/Clemson rematch but I think the Yellow Jackets will hold on to the title.

Also, what about Cincinnati? They're not going to finish undefeated, folks. Listen, I love Brian Kelly and if it came down to 11-1 Cincy or 12-0 Boise State, I think the Bearcats have a better overall record. But I think Pittsburgh is going to get the best of them. People are overlooking that game for some reason. If Cincinnati just gave up 40+ to Connecticut of all teams, how are they going to do against a revitalized Bill Stull and one of the top rushers in the game, Dion Lewis? This game is at Heinz Field too. I wanted to see if I could work both 11-1 Cincy and 11-1 Pitt into the big dance, but it's just not going to happen if the Fiesta takes Boise State as an at-large which I predict they will do.

Tulsa is on the fence right now. They are 4-5, but I think they will close out the year with a win against Memphis and take one from ECU or Southern Miss so I think they will be 6-6. That would be a total disastrous season if they didn't even go to a bowl game. And yes, I still don't have Kansas State being bowl eligible! Believe it or not. This team is not good. I predict that they will lose to Missouri and Nebraska, finish 6-6 when they need to be 7-5 since they played two FCS schools, and not be technically eligible. I'm torn on Michigan State and Purdue, but I think Michigan State will beat them next week, eliminating the Boilermakers.

Game Previews: Week 10

Sacrificial Lambs of the Week (a.k.a., the biggest blowouts)

When: 1:30 PM ET, ESPN Gameplan/SEC Network

Why You Should Care: Get used to some ugly SEC matchups. It's mostly homecoming throughout the Southeastern Conference so every team is pretty much licking their chops to take on some FCS squads.

Furman Will Win Because...: Furman doesn't have a great offense, but at this rate, they might be able to move the football against Auburn. The Tigers defense certainly hasn't been fantastic ranking 70th in total defense. Jordan Sorrells is good enough to frustrate Auburn fans.

Auburn Will Win Because...: Uh....Gus Malzahn? How could you not bring him up when talking about Auburn football? I know he tries to balance things out overall, but things work best when the passing game is moving the chains; that hasn't happened a lot so far. The Purple Paladins have one of the worst FCS pass defenses which should get eaten alive though.

Keep an Eye on...: QB Chris Todd. Todd probably won't be asked to do a whole lot in this game, but he should throw only a couple incompletions while going for 200+ and a score or so. He needs to continue to stay on the right track post-Ole Miss after struggling against Kentucky and LSU.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Furman is 4-4 in the FCS and gave up 52 to both Missouri and Appalachian State. Right. Auburn will win it, 54-7.



When: 5:00 PM ET

Why You Should Care: Is Western Kentucky going to win a game this season? No. Well, if they are at some point, it's not happening here. The Troy Trojans are well on track to win a Sun Belt title after rampaging through some of the tougher opponents in the conference.

Troy Will Win Because...: The offense is operating at another level right now. They rank 6th nationally in total offense, but over their past few games, they have eclipsed 40 points in all of them. Western Kentucky has given up 60+ in back-to-back affairs. You do the math.

Western Kentucky Will Win Because...: While there's not a lot to build around a defense that surrenders 518 yards per game, the offense went off against North Texas last week. Granted, Troy is a different animal than the Mean Green, but 49 points is a solid start to turn around one of the more lackluster units in the nation.

Keep an Eye on...: QB Levi Brown. The Trojan hurler has really found his stride in the pocket just shredding the poor Sun Belt opposition. So far this year he has 14 TDs to go with 4 picks and 2500+ yards so far.

And the Crystal Ball: Brown will have a big day as Troy dominates both sides of the ball, 53-18.



When: 7:00 PM ET, ESPN Gameplan/SEC Network

Why You Should Care: How competitive should this game be? And for that matter, what is up with Ole Miss? They have failed miserably to deliver on their preseason hype. Also, how did Northern Arizona lose to Sacramento State last week? That's the thing I find the most difficult to believe.

Northern Arizona Will Win Because...: The Lumberjacks suffered a shocking loss last week to the Sac State Hornets but at least they have an offense. Led by Michael Herrick, this offense ranks 8th in total offense for the FCS.

Ole Miss Will Win Because...: Yeah, that's fine and dandy, but the Rebels should not have much issue smothering the NAU passing attack with their talented secondary. Ole Miss has one of the better defensive backfields with Kendrick Lewis and Johnny Brown roaming around.

Keep an Eye on...: Those two. If they can limit Northern Arizona's passing game this should be an easy win. If not, well, things could get more dicey than they need to be.

And the Crystal Ball Says: This game will be surprisingly close after one quarter, but that's about all Northern Arizona will be able to take away from this game. Jevan Snead should have his way with a weak pass defense on the part of Northern Arizona. I think the Lumberjacks could move the ball a little bit through the air, but it won't be done with enough consistency. Ole Miss should win by a fairly large margin, 48-13.

Reba on CW, or.... (a.k.a., the worst televised games)

When: 1:00 PM ET, ESPN Gameplan

Why You Should Care: This shouldn't be that entertaining. Will Eastern Kentucky get slaughtered or will Kentucky actually struggle in this one? It's sort of possible, but the in-state intrigue kind of adds to the hype around this game.

Eastern Kentucky Will Win Because...: Their defense is solid. Allowing 18 points per game, they might not get blown out in this matchup. The Kentucky offense is really struggling to throw the football around so there's a chance after all that the Colonels at least stay in the game by the 3rd quarter.

Kentucky Will Win Because...: EKU may not have an answer for RB Derrick Locke. Locke is having a pretty pedestrian season as he isn't going to get 25 carries on a given day, but he's a lot better than anything Eastern has seen so far in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Keep an Eye on...: Eastern Kentucky CB Jeremy Caldwell. At some point you have to wonder how much luck is involved in getting interceptions since they are those "right time, right place" kind of ordeals, but with seven interceptions, Caldwell is tops in the FCS.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Look for Kentucky to pull away later in the game. Not really in the 4th, more like right after halftime. Eastern Kentucky has a lot to play for in this game, such as their pride obviously. Not to mention they have a somewhat sound defensive group. That won't change the fact that they'll get outclassed on offense and defense as the Wildcats take it 40-17 with a late EKU score for good measure.



When: 1:00 PM ET, ESPN Gameplan

Why You Should Care: Actually, this game should be listed under the blowout section in place of NAU/Ole Miss game, but oh well. Tennessee Tech is coached by the outsted former UAB head man Watson Brown, but the Golden Eagles are having a pretty solid season thus far. Can they keep this within 30 points? Who knows?

Tennessee Tech Will Win Because...: Either passing games in the Ohio Valley aren't very good, or TTU's pass defense is actually pretty solid. Regardless, it's safe to say Georgia is a little better than any offense they've faced so far this season. Still, they have the FCS' 18th ranked pass efficiency defense.

Georgia Will Win Because...: This is a team that can still score some points even in a rebuilding mode. Especially against a program the caliber of Tennessee Tech.....Hopefully. And Joe Cox isn't that bad. He'd be better off if he got some help from his surroundings, but he's made enough solid decisions to keep Georgia in games while the defense hasn't picked up the slack.

Keep an Eye on...: WR A.J. Green. Lazy pick, but he should rip Tech's secondary up pretty good. Look for a couple catch-and-runs as he racks up those YAC yards.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Right. Georgia. 53-3.



When: 3:30 PM ET, ESPN Gameplan

Why You Should Care: This is actually a pretty good and fun rivalry game to watch. If you're not familiar with the history of the Wagon Wheel, it goes back quite aways, to 1946. Akron is struggling, but that usually won't matter in this game.

Kent State Will Win Because...: Simply put, they're just better. While Temple may be in the driver's seat of the East, the Golden Flashes will be bowl-bound if they close out the year with two more wins. While Spencer Keith, a true freshman, isn't going to win a Heisman anytime soon, he has been a Godsend for a team that has struggled at the QB position since Julian Edelman had to leave.

Akron Will Win Because...: They're desperate. What better way to fix a miserable season than beating your biggest rival at your almost-brand-new stadium? While the offense has been abysmal, the defense has at least held their own. This should be a low-scoring game without a lot of offensive fireworks so it probably suits Akron just as much as it suits Kent State.

Keep an Eye on...: While the spotlight is on freshman, the redshirt freshman LB from Kent State, Brian Wagner, has had a huge season. He ranks 16th nationally in tackles per game averaging about 10.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Kent State will prove to be more disruptive on defense and that will be the difference in the game. The Zips have had an okay season on that side of the ball especially considering the lack of assistance from the offense, but with the emergence of Jacquise Terry for the injured Eugene Jarvis, Kent State will win this on the ground. Look for the Golden Flashes to win a very competitive rivalry game, 21-18.

These Guys Gotta Show Something (a.k.a., teams with something to prove)

When: 12:00 PM ET, ESPN2

Why You Should Care: At least since 2006, this is the type of game in November that gets stuck with Pam Ward. Not now with Iowa's 9-game winning streak. If you don't think the Hawkeyes have anything left to prove, you might be oh-so wrong.

Northwestern Will Win Because...: This is the type of game that just derails the college football season, isn't it? Once the talking heads and pundits get comfortable and establish what is inevitable, some middle-of-the-pack team comes from nowhere and stuns a favorite. That's the card Northwestern will be playing and while they are never really a great statistical team, they have heart and find ways to win these kinds of games, at least over the years.

Iowa Will Win Because...: If this game was in Evanston, mark me down as an upset believer. Will the pink locker rooms emasculate Northwestern enough to assure victory? Probably not, but being home helps. Iowa may have the killer instinct on offense, but their consistent play from the defense has kept them in every single game this season. They're only giving up 15 points per game so if Northwestern struggles offensively, this game should be over fast.

Keep an Eye on...: QB Mike Kafka. The thing you have to like about Kafka is that while he's not a great passer by any stretch of the imagination, he is pretty good at improvising, especially with this legs. Kafka is due for a breakout type of game to cap of his decent career, so this is suiting.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Look for Northwestern to keep this really, really, really close. Just close enough to make Iowa a few plays away from soiling themselves. That was a little graphic, but you get my point! The Hawkeyes have a flair for the dramatic and it won't stop here. This is a legitimate upset opportunity, but I think Iowa will get another too-close-for-comfort type of win, 24-21.



When: 12:00 PM ET, Big 10 Network

Why You Should Care: Somebody's postseason is toast after this game. Michigan more than likely is not going to beat either Wisconsin or Ohio State, so this is their last realistic opportunity to get to six wins. Purdue is sitting at 3-6 with winnable games coming up against Michigan State and Indiana, so it's possible.

Purdue Will Win Because...: If this is the same team that came to play against Illinois last week, fuh-get-aboud-it. Michigan was downright horrific in a 38-13 loss to a team that hadn't defeated an FBS program. Tate Foricer is having some injury issues and the defense is horrible under Greg Robinson. If Joey Elliot has a good game, the Boilermakers have this in the bag.

Michigan Will Win Because...: Boy wonder, where have you gone? Has Tate Forcier lost the magic? No, there was no magic. He's just a jacked-up freshman who probably parties too hard for a first-year college student and drinks a can of monster per day. This is a young team, so given time, they'll be fine. I think a return to home will still suit them well and even with that drubbing against Delaware State, this is still the nation's 39th ranked offense.

Keep an Eye on...: DE Brandon Graham. Probably the one constant for the defense on Michigan has been Graham. He's the leader on the team in sacks and tackles for loss. He should cause some issues for Purdue offensively.

And the Crystal Ball Says: I don't know what to expect here. These are both mediocre-to-average teams. All I know is that there's not going to be a middle ground--Somebody is going to get blown out. After the 37-0 skull-bashing absorbed by Purdue last week in Madison, I would assume they'd be the ones with their heads still hanging. Michigan isn't going to "get back on track" because they never had a track to begin with, but they'll be "less bad" in a 43-20 win.



When: 12:30 PM ET, Versus

Why You Should Care: Odds are, only one team from the Sunflower State is going bowling this winter. Kansas comes into the game losers of three straight and Kansas State is just average. I guess you could say the same for the Jayhawks. This game contains bragging rights-aplenty, so it should be interesting.

Kansas Will Win Because...: It's Todd Reesing, dude. Is he going to allow a Kansas team who was on the perimeter of the top 10 to fall off the map into obscurity and lose all of those 2007 heroics to end his career without a bowl appearance? (breath). Make no mistake about it, this is still an offense that can move the football that averages 447 yards per outing.

Kansas State Will Win Because...: The Jayhawk D has fallen off the map. The difference between this version of Kansas and the 2007 one is that they used to play much more solid defense. Bill Snyder's resurgence of K-State football is a positive thing for the program, but they need this win if they want to go bowling (must finish 7-5 overall to qualify).

Keep an Eye on...: RB Daniel Thomas. Or should I say converted QB Daniel Thomas? Either way, he and Keithen Valentine have contributed to a rushing attack that Kansas State can build around offensively. They'll have to penetrate a difficult Kansas defensive front.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Considering the rivalry and bowl implications, this certainly has the makings of a fun game. Can Kansas end the skid? Can Kansas State actually win the Big 12 North? A lot of interesting storylines, but I'd like to think Kansas should win. The Jayhawks have a slightly better defense (hard to believe after the past few weeks, but still) and a little more offensive firepower. Even on the road, I'll take Kansas in a high-scoring game, 40-37.

Upset Alert (a.k.a., what it says)

When: 2:00 PM ET, The Mtn.

Why You Should Care: This game isn't going to get a lot of love in the press or much pregame hype but, uh, does this game worry anybody else? Dave Christensen has gotten a lot out of this Wyoming offense that sputtered and stalled all of 2008 and the Cowboys are always that much tougher at home. This screams trap game.

BYU Will Win Because...: With a bye week to stew over that embarrassment that was October 24th's TCU debacle, the Cougars might come out firing on all cylinders. Obviously without the two devastating losses the Cougars suffered from this year, the offense has remained lights out led by Max Hall and Harvey Unga. This isn't a great defensive unit either as Wyoming is ranked 55th in the nation in total D.

Wyoming Will Win Because...: After scoring 10 points overall for the last two weeks, things may seem rough on paper. It took until the fourth quarter for Utah to put this team away at home. While Christensen, who is widely regarded as one of the most fresh offensive minds in the game, hasn't turned around this offense overnight, they are showing some more signs of offensive production. BYU has really had some issues making plays although they have been able to hold serve more times than not on that side of the ball. Plus, Wyoming is home! That's always a positive thing.

Keep an Eye on...: Wyoming DT John Fletcher. Fletcher leads the team in sacks and that's pretty good considering he plays tackle. If he does a good enough job either drawing double teams or finding his way into a collapsing pocket, consider it a win for Wyoming.

And the Crystal Ball Says: I really think this could be a tight game with the Cowboys hosting. If the game is at BYU, probably not much to worry about. Wyoming's offense has generally been night-and-day different depending on the level of play the opposing defense. I think at home against BYU is a game where they can score some points. This is really stupid, but give me Wyoming in Saturday's biggest headscratcher. The Cowboys will get a home upset and win, 34-32.



When: 3:30 PM ET, ABC

Why You Should Care: So yeah, the Pac-10 is still in the balance. With Oregon having road dates with this Stanford team and Arizona, the championship is far from locked up. Jim Harbaugh's teams have a penchant for pulling off these types of wins (hello, 2007 USC). The Cardinal looked turned-around for good and should make this more than just a game.

Oregon Will Win Because...: This is still the same team that carved up the vaunted USC Trojan defense for over 600 yards, right? Plus one for Oregon. The Ducks have one of the top pass defenses in the nation which should mess with the freshman Andrew Luck, as good of a prospect as he seems.

Stanford Will Win Because...: Well, Stanford has a couple things going for them. They're home. They're rested coming off of a bye week. They have excellent pass protection. And they can score as well. With the 5th ranked team in sacks allowed, Luck should be afforded time to dissect the Oregon secondary.

Keep an Eye on...: RB Toby Gerhart. If Stanford can get a consistent running presence up and going, Oregon's defense will have to respect the running game, obviously. Gerhart is 7th nationally in rushing yards per game.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Ugh, I want to pick Stanford so badly but can't quite force myself to pull the trigger. After seeing Oregon dismantle USC on national television, I think it's safe to assume they are playing some of the highest-level football in America right now. Even saying that, Stanford will be pumped up but they won't quite get the upset as they lose, 35-31.



When: 8:00 PM ET, ABC

Why You Should Care: Thank you, ABC, for treating the Big East like a major football conference. It's been awhile. I'm assuming this partly has to do with the UConn story and the tragedy of Jasper Howard, but the national audience is craving some Cincinnati viewing time, so that's probably the crux of this decision.

UConn Will Win Because...: After back-to-back difficult 28-24 losses to West Virginia and Rutgers, their backs are against the wall. They're still playing defense for the most part even though they have struggled in the clutch for those two games. At the RB position, their most reliable bet lies on the shoulders on Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon who are still combining for a very effective rushing game.

Cincinnati Will Win Because...: You can drop all the QBs you want in this system, and the train keeps on a-chuggin'. The emergence of Zach Collaros from the USF game has spilled over into other games for the last two weeks and while Pike should sit out Saturday, Collaros will be fine as a replacement. Under the bright lights of Nippert Stadium, this team is becoming more and more reminiscent of the 2007 Kansas Jayhawks.

Keep an Eye on...: Cincy LB Alex Daniels. Rebuilding defense? Where? That was the big issue coming into September for Cincinnati, but the defense has been more than fine. Daniels has helped the transition with 5 sacks and 37 combined solo and assisted tackles.

And the Crystal Ball Says: This is a game that Cincinnati should handle, but will they crack on late light national television? Maybe. I doubt that they'll lose here, but UConn is bound to play some inspired football. Their defense alone will keep this game within reach, but they will suffer another close, 4th quarter defeat by a score of 30-23.

I Pity Da Fool Who Misses These Games (a.k.a., the best games of the week)

When: 3:30 PM ET, CBS

Why You Should Care: Duh. Does this need to be explained? The one real game that Alabama can lose. Actually, if this game does indeed wind up being a loss, they could drop out of the SEC championship picture entirely.

LSU Will Win Because...: I mean we surely all know about the success that Alabama's defense has had so far for this season, but what about LSU's? This is a team that was constantly dissed as being frauds after their somewhat competitive loss to Florida, but they currently own the nation's 15th ranked total defense and 7th best scoring defense. Also being 8th in turnover margin doesn't hurt your cause.

Alabama Will Win Because...: Never underestimate homefield in these contests. They still have Heisman contender Mark Ingram who is on pace to break some records in Tuscaloosa. Offensively, they still need to get Greg McElroy settled in at QB as he's not quite the effective pocket passer that Saban wants to groom him to be.

Keep an Eye on...: WR Julio Jones. We know he got banged up against Florida International, but he's played in every game besides North Texas. Compared to his stellar freshman season, Jones has been very quiet with a tad over 200 yards receiving at this point in the year. He needs to get more active.

And the Crystal Ball Says: LSU seems like such a disrespected team right now. Nobody is paying much attention because of the dullness of the SEC title race. It's pretty much been declared that Alabama will face Florida for all the marbles. LSU is a very good team, but aren't quite in that echelon. They should earn some more respect with a competitive showing, but they won't win in Tuscaloosa. Bama wins it, 24-13.



When: 3:30 PM ET, ABC

Why You Should Care: Any time the Big 10 title is on the line, it's worth a tune-in. Granted, this could all be moot if Iowa takes care of business next week on the road against Ohio State, but the BCS picture will be altered somehow. A 10-2 Penn State might not even has as much appeal as a 12-0 Boise State if you think about it.

Ohio State Will Win Because...: Terelle Pryor has to break out of his shell someday, right? If his deal is that he wants to develop into the most polished pocket passer possible, Coach Sweater Vest will more than likely delay that progression by one game. If Pryor is released and told to run wild, he might make plays out of nothing and pick up first downs on busted calls.

Penn State Will Win Because...: Penn State may have had an easy overall schedule, but they're proving to be a very efficient football team. They own the best scoring defense in the nation and are currently are smoking teams on offense as well. Daryll Clark isn't getting a lot of national attention, but he's having a tremendously solid season behind center with the 28th rank in total offense per game.

Keep an Eye on...: While this game is a battle of QBs between Clark and Pryor, another interesting matchup is Ohio State's shaky offensive line play against the impressive defensive front of Penn State. Jack Crawford is the stud on the D-line for the Nittany Lions as he has 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and 28 tackles on the year.

And the Crystal Ball Says: That should just about sum it up. Homefield advantage + pass rush versus sloppy offensive line = a pretty easy win. Ohio State will stay in it with defense, but Penn State's defensive prowess should prove to be too much here. Nittany Lions win, 27-14.



When: 7:45 PM ET, ESPN

Why You Should Care: Damn, these new one-time uniforms are so awesome. But never mind about that, there's a game to play! Florida State and Clemson will duke it out in what amounts to an ACC Atlantic eliminator game. The Noles have found themselves back in the thick of things while Clemson has turned their season around for the most part.

Florida State Will Win Because...: It's like it's a tragedy of timing: Whenever Florida State's defense is strong, their offense is piss-poor. Whenever their offense is lights out, their defense stinks. The Noles haven't been able to put two and two together since 2005, but regardless, Christian Ponder would be receiving some Heisman love if he were on a more winning team. The Noles lay claim to the nation's 25th ranked total offense so they should have some success on the road against Clemson.

Clemson Will Win Because...: If I sound like I'm repeating myself, I probably am, but it's in Death Valley. C.J. Spiller is probably going to be Clemson's answer to Ponder against a Florida State defense that is abnormally slower-than-usual and finds themselves constantly out of position. Not to mention Spiller on special teams and it's a deadly combo. The speedy Ponder may find it difficult to deal with Ricky Sapp and Da'Quan Bowers coming off the edge.

Keep an Eye on...: WR Bert Reed of Florida State. Am I the only one who thinks he's a star in the making? Ponder definitely spreads the love in the passing game, but the sophomore Reed is leading the team in receptions and receiving yardage.

And the Crystal Ball Says: I like what I'm seeing from Florida State right now (not defensively of course). However, this is just a bad match up for them. For an offense in Clemson that has some speedy playmakers and has found a bit of a groove, the Seminoles should be overmatched defensively. Not to mention the fact that the Tigers have played fantastic pass defense all year and that should throw a monkey wrench into the offensive plans of FSU. Clemson should win it at home, 33-27 in a good game.



When: 8:00 PM ET, ABC

Why You Should Care: Okay Arizona State, what do you got? Sitting at a not-so-pretty 4-4, the Sun Devils are teetering on the brink of bowl eligibility and backing up their disappointing 2008 campaign with yet another lackluster season. USC just got spanked by Oregon last week but they remain on the road in another tough venue in Tempe.

USC Will Win Because...: Danny Sullivan has been far from spectacular so far resulting in a lot of stalled drives. The USC defense may have been "exposed" last week, but this is still a group with oodles of talent waiting to be tapped into. They should mess with Sullivan pretty easily who has shown a tendency to get rattled at times.

Arizona State Will Win Because...: Sullivan will at least have Chris McGaha and Kyle Williams to pitch the football to. Plus, this is a different USC team away from the Coliseum. Remember, they lost to Washington on the road, Oregon on the road, and almost dropped a game to Notre Dame as well on the road. Arizona State could capitalize on that.

Keep an Eye on...: USC S Taylor Mays. Mays is supposed to be the inspirational leader of the defense. Let's see him lead by example by being the emotional captain he's supposed to be. Mays is a great athlete though and should have a fine game defending the pass.

And the Crystal Ball Says: This is a game that the Trojans should take comfortably. I think Arizona State can manage to hang around because of their strong defensive unit and the fact that USC might seem hung over after the disappointing defeat last week. Look for Barkley and the USC offense to get back on track though with a 31-17 victory.



When: 8:00 PM ET, ABC

Why You Should Care: Why is Nebraska beating Baylor 20-10 and losing to Iowa State 9-7? Seriously, what the hell is their problem? Bo Pelini, please fix this offense because it is setting the development of college football back by about 100 years. Thanks in advance. The Big 12 North is so mediocre, so can the Huskers actually step up and steal the division away from Kansas State?

Oklahoma Will Win Because...: Oh yeah, there's this other team still in the thick of finishing the year on a positive note and a 9-3 record. If you asked Oklahoma fans what they'd make of a 9-3 season, I'm sure they'd be a little disheartened. However, without Sam Bradford, that's a positive thing. Still, the story for Oklahoma has been the play of their defense which ranks 11th in total along with allowing 12 points per game.

Nebraska Will Win Because...: At least the defense has been fantastic to make up for the offense's shortcomings. This is why Bo Pelini was hired, right? This is a group that is only giving up 267 yards per game so things certainly could be worse in Lincoln. If Cody Green is going to start (pretty sure that's the case), there's at least a prayer that he'll come out of nowhere and things will begin to click immediately.

Keep an Eye on...: P Tress Way. Yeah, the freshman punter from Oklahoma. He's actually turned out to be one of the top ones in the nation. This will come in handy for what should turn out to be a defensive slugfest. If Nebraska is losing the field position battle, Lord knows they can't get in range for any points.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Oklahoma should win this game. As good as Nebraska may be defensively, they have no answer for the Sooner D. Even though Landry Jones will have a tough time, the Huskers have just been so pathetic on offense recently, I can't imagine them beating a good team with that group. Sooners get a solid road victory, 24-10.

Best of the Rest (a.k.a., what it says)

When: 12:21 PM ET, ESPN Gameplan/SEC Network

Why You Should Care: Arkansas isn't necessarily a lock for a bowl game at this point, fellas. They need to win two of four against South Carolina, Troy, Mississippi State, or LSU. Definitely doable, but it's not written in stone either. South Carolina just was dealt a really tough loss against Tennessee which set this program back a little bit.

South Carolina Will Win Because...: Spurrier's offense may be in some hot water, but the defense, specifically in the secondary, is playing air-tight right now. Arkansas should have the same types of issues they had against Ole Miss if they fall in love with the pass too much.

Arkansas Will Win Because...: The Gamecock offense has pretty much fallen flat on its face. Yes, it may be true that Arkansas can't tackle, but if South Carolina can't execute it won't make much of a difference.

Keep an Eye on...: QB Ryan Mallett. Mallett needs a big day and he'll get a huge test. This could be the best secondary he'll face all year outside of Florida and it's probably on par with Ole Miss.

And the Crystal Ball Says: This game could really go either way and while the match up suggests South Carolina, I'll take Arkansas as the home team here. I think it's a testament to how good Arkansas' passing game could be that after squaring off against all of these talented pass defenses, they have come out of it ranked 14th in the nation. I'll take Petrino and the offense here, 30-23.



When: 2:30 PM ET, NBC

Why You Should Care: Is Navy good enough to actually pull this off? Doubt it. But it's Navy/Notre Dame! If you don't watch, you're not an American.

Navy Will Win Because...: If you want to lambaste the Midshipmen schedule which is usually littered with soft teams, their competitiveness against Ohio State and Pitt has to count for something. Those teams are arguably as good if not better than Notre Dame. Even though Navy will miss out on taking advantage of the juicy Notre Dame pass defense, the Irish are confused defensively no matter what play is being called.

Notre Dame Will Win Because...: Clausen. Chuck. Tate. Catch. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Navy will have no prayer of maintaining the Notre Dame passing game. Nobody has so far pretty much.

Keep an Eye on...: Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph. With all of the attention being paid by Navy's defense on their athletic skill guys, Rudolph should get plenty of open looks up the middle. Look for Weis to exploit that.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Notre Dame should win this by a considerable margin. You can't like the odds of them actually holding the future #1 draft pick at bay (my premature guess for April 2010). Notre Dame wins, 45-20.



When: 3:30 PM ET, ABC

Why You Should Care: Man, Wake Forest is kind of disappointing. What's sad is that this is the type of year in the Atlantic that a team like Wake can jump up and surprise people, but they just keep on taking blow after blow. Georgia Tech on the other hand is looking more and more like a top 10 team every week save for a couple bothering defensive lapses against Vanderbilt.

Wake Forest Will Win Because...: They're familiar with the Paul Johnson-tinged triple-option. This is a team that has squared off against Navy three times in the last two years. Yes, they've lost two of those against the Middies, but their defense has played fine. It's the offense that has had some problems, especially recently. It's mostly due to turnovers. If they can hang on to the football, things might be looking up for the Demon Deacons.

Georgia Tech Will Win Because...: This is a team with definite issue on defense, but that won't stop the option offense from scoring some major points. This is a team that's averaging over 300 yards rushing per game and has some of the biggest passing plays in the game since, as expected, defenses aren't expecting the long ball on a given play.

Keep an Eye on...: GT WR Demaryius Thomas. Hey, any time you're averaging 24 yards a catch, something is working. You have to give Thomas some credit for sticking through with the regime change as he realized he wasn't going to be the main focus in the offense. He still has, however, managed to put up some impressive numbers with 800+ yards receiving so far this season.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Georgia Tech should take care of business here. Wake Forest is struggling even with the close call against Miami last week, but they won't entirely be able to handle the option game of the Yellow Jackets. Look for close to 300 yards rushing and a solid day at the office, good for a 38-26 win.



When: 3:30 PM ET, CBS College Sports

Army Will Win Because...: I haven't been keeping up with the news lately, but with the entire tragedy encompassing Fort Hood, the thoughts and prayers of America are with the armed service community. It highlights the fact that these young adults will soon be on to bigger and more dangerous things than college football as this is only a temporary outlet for entertainment for both players and fans alike. Regardless, this is a major rivalry game and has attracted the attention of the College Gameday crew, so on the field there has to be something going on!

Army Will Win Because...: While Army may have an inferior defense and inferior skill when running the option, that's not to say they can't win this game. It's a rivalry and you have to consider the fact that they can prepare for option offenses easily since that is their base offense, after all.

Air Force Will Win Because...: Their defense is a lot better than the Black Knights. While Army's defense relies on time of possession and controlling the clock, Air Force actually has enough talent to beat another offense straight up. Ranking 8th in total defense, they of all teams should know how to stop Army's option game.

Keep an Eye on...: Air Force RB Asher Clark. While Jared Tew will get most of the tough yards to keep the defense honest on the triple option, Asher Clark is going to be one running circles around Army's defensive secondary. Look for him to get to the edge and bust some big gains in this game.

And the Crystal Ball Says: It's certainly not Rich Ellerson's fault. Ellerson has a system in place and he's slowly building this program, but there's only so much that can be established in year one. Air Force will do their thing by running a tremendously efficient option game and playing very solid defense en route to a 28-14 win.



When: 7:00 PM ET, FSN

Why You Should Care: This game will be pretty big in determining the Pac-10 bowl pecking order. Both are locks to make it at this rate, but the Beavers will be looking for some respect and perhaps a couple top 25 votes. Besides that, it sounds like it'll be an evenly contested game.

Oregon State Will Win Because...: Sean Canfield should have a field day. While Canfield and Moevao have had a confusing time together at QB for the Beavers over the last few years, Canfield has taken hold of the starting job and is having a nice season. California ranks 115th against the pass right now and is really struggling against any passing game with a pulse.

Cal Will Win Because...: Jahvid Best might be running into the teeth of the Oregon State defense, but the Beavers aren't going to make plays in the backfield at all. They have struggled mightily at generating pressure of any sort. Not to mention, their secondary might be worse than California's as a result of that.

Keep an Eye on...: QB Kevin Riley. It's funny how Riley gets all of this criticism, but he's turning in a nice overall season. Tedford isn't asking him to be Aaron Rodgers exactly right now, but he's thrown for 13 TDs and only 2 picks.

And the Crystal Ball Says: I'm going to have to go with Cal here. Their offense at home seems to have the advantage against Oregon State with the inability of the Beaver defense to get pressure of any sort against Cal. This should allow for Riley to have time to make good judgments downfield. They should win it, 40-31.



Bonus Pick'em

Miami 28, Virginia 10
Michigan State 34, Western Michigan 14
Minnesota 36, Illinois 13
West Virginia 38, Louisville 17
UCLA 27, Washington 17
North Carolina 28, Duke 24
Tulane 31, UTEP 28(****should have been on "Upset Alert"****)
Houston 46, Tulsa 40
Colorado State 24, UNLV 20
Fresno State 30, Idaho 28

Game Preview: Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech

When: 8:00 PM ET, ESPN2

Why You Should Care: Maybe if this was 2009 Boise State @ 2008 Louisiana Tech this would be a lot more interesting. As it stands right now, Louisiana Tech hasn't exactly disappointed, but they have reeked of mediocrity especially after handing Utah State their first FBS win of the year on the road. Even so, they're at home, so this could be close.

Boise State Will Win Because...: First words that come to mind, as if it needs to be repeated, is that this team is efficient. They put the clamps down on defense and the offense plays pitch and catch consistently. Plus, you do have to take into account the fact that this team is on a mission trying to blow out WAC dregs by more than TCU blows out MWC dregs. It's an arms race!

Louisiana Tech Will Win Because...: If there's any venue in the WAC that is kind of the anti-Hawaii with respect to location, it's Ruston's own Joe Aillet Stadium. Is Louisiana even considered "West"? I don't think so. Anyway, teams normally struggle when they head out there. QB Ross Jenkins has done enough to get wins (but the rest of the team hasn't quite put it together) and Daniel Porter is a pretty special RB, so we'll see if they can have big days.

Keep an Eye on...: Boise WR Austin Pettis. If Moore is #1 in passing efficiency, he has to thank somebody besides his offensive line. Pettis has done a great job stepping in as the go-to guy for the Bronco passing game and should have a decent day even against Louisiana Tech's respectable secondary.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Taking into account the travel distance along with Louisiana Tech playing some average-to-solid defense, Boise State will win this by enough. They won't get credit for earning a big-time blowout, but it'll be a disinteresting game when it's decided after the first quarter. Boise State will take it, 42-17.

I Walk the Lines: Week 10

Hey guys, I'm really sorry about the sparse posting here. Believe me, I'm trying! I've been trying to get a For-Real-Heisman post done, but haven't completed it, so I'll save it for the beginning of next week. I'll try to pick up the pace a little bit here. Anyway, the lines for this week! I was an atrocious 2-5 last week which I think might be the only time I've been worse than 3-4 overall. The lines come from CFP via VegasInsider.com. Overall, SSO is 29-21 in this segment after the debacle that was Week 9.


Kent State -2 @ Akron - What? Really? I know the MAC has a tendency to have a lot of parity where even the suckier teams can find ways to compete with the upper-tier on a given weekend, but this line seems a little off. I realize it's the battle for the Wagon Wheel and that it's the biggest rivalry game for each of these schools, but 2 points for the likely-bowl-bound Golden Flashes? Nah. Akron (who seems like they get featured on this segment every week) is playing true freshman Patrick Nicely at QB. While he's filled in nicely (pun intended), this Zip offense has no flash whatsoever. I mean, yeah, I guess KSU's is pretty bad themselves, but Akron actually hasn't scored more than 20 points since Week 4 in a loss to Central Michigan. I doubt they'll flip the switch in this game. Again, being a rivalry, it should be closer than the records suggest, but even a FG win would go for Kent State here so take the Golden Flashes.


Oklahoma -6.5 @ Nebraska - Nebraska has officially lost it on offense. There is no punch whatsoever. Worse yet, they cost me a game on the road against Robert-Griffin-less Baylor! Really? 20-10? It's in Waco, but come on. The Corhuskers have issues aplenty right now while Landry Jones has settled into his role as the next Rhett Bomar. Next Jason White. Is there a QB who wasn't a bust at the next level or ran into issues with car dealerships? Okay, let's just call him the next Sam Bradford. There. Even though Oklahoma is on the road, that didn't stop Nebraska from sucking against Iowa State. This is a game that OU should be able to win by double digits and even a TD victory gets the win here. Take Oklahoma -6.5.

Troy -24 @ Western Kentucky - Huh. This is a little tougher than it may look on the surface. Earlier this season, South Florida had a similar spread and I actually lost that against the Hilltoppers. But this Troy team has gone insane in Sun Belt play. They've averaged 44 points over the last three games and Western Kentucky has surrendered 60+ in their last two affairs against Middle Tennessee and North Texas. While I doubt Troy will score 60, I think they're a lock for about 50 points and their defense that is perennially chalked with a couple NFL draftees per year should keep the not-so-vaunted Hilltopper offense at bay pretty easily. They'll win by 30+, so go with Troy -24.


Wisconsin -5 @ Indiana - I'm assuming this is the auto-respect that oddsmakers give teams who had surprisingly good outings the previous week. Indiana wasn't supposed to have any business in competing against top 5-ranked Iowa, but some how they defied the laws of physics and did just that. Now home, can they cover this spread with the Badgers being favored by five? I wouldn't think so. The Hoosiers have suffered from some really tough defeats, namely against Iowa, Northwestern, and Michigan, but Wisconsin should overpower Indiana's average run defense with Clay and Brown. Wisconsin has always had their fair share of bruising backs, but these guys form a pretty special combination. Wisconsin though has looked abnormally soft on defense, so I would be wary of this pick, but I think I like Wisconsin -5 here.


UTEP -10.5 @ Tulane - UTEP just lost to UAB at home. I know, I'm as shocked as you are. Sitting at 3-5 with some solid wins and some embarrassing losses, the Miners are a tough team to figure out so you never know what you're going to get on a weekly basis. With Tulane easily being one of the lesser teams in the nation, they have found themselves outscored by 85-6 over the last two weeks against Southern Miss and LSU. Ouch. Still, doesn't this seem like one of those WTF C-USA games that makes absolutely no rational sense as to why it is competitive? I'm getting that vague feeling here. With Tulane just about down-and-out, it makes no sense for them to rise up and knock off UTEP at home, but C-USA West doesn't abide by rationality or logic. Even if the Green Wave don't win, I do think they will find their offensive stride and challenge UTEP to keep it within a 10 point loss. I'd actually go with Tulane in this one +10.5.

Oklahoma State -7.5 @ Iowa State - I'm going to get burned by taking all of these road favorites, I just know it. How though? Is Iowa State really that respected? They have no good wins this entire season. Baylor, North Dakota State, Kent State, and Army don't count. I can't even give them credit for beating Nebraska. Oklahoma State got throttled last week against Texas and while the unbelievably hypocritical and moronic NCAA suspended Dez Bryant for the rest of the year, that was another set back this team didn't want to have to suffer. But for an interesting little tidbit of information in what has become an annual ritual for Oklahoma State, they have the Big 12's and the nation's best offensive line. If Zac Robinsion can sit around in the pocket, he should eat Iowa State's poor pass defense and poor pass rush for lunch. This game has "Oklahoma State by 20" written all over it. Go with the Cowboys.


UL Monroe @ North Texas -1 - Excuse me, who's favored here? This line makes about no sense. Or does it? It's a tough call. Going based purely on records, you'd have to say UL Monroe looks like a superior team, but with a sophomore and untested QB in Cody Wells, the Mean Green will be looking to pick off a decent Sun Belt win at home. Riley Dodge and the UNT offense has gone ballistic once they hit the meat of the Sun Belt schedule and most of that can be attested to Lance Dunbar. The sophomore RB has basically been a Messiah for this offense that had struggled dating back to the end of 2007. Even so, UL Monroe still has Frank Goodin to lean on against a defense that has gone in the opposite direction of the offense for UNT. North Texas just gave up 49 points to Western Kentucky last week. There you go, take UL Monroe.

Game Previews: 11/05

When: 7:30 PM ET, ESPN 360

Why You Should Care: Can Temple keep it going? Odds are, yes. However, I'm not sure whether or not you can count out Miami OH. Even though I never got around to doing a full-blown preview of Week 9, Toledo was on my upset watch, I swear! But I didn't see the RedHawks getting win numero uno under Haywood, so I can't take credit for that. The Owls have to back up the hype on Thursday night, so that alone makes this game worth a watch.

Miami OH Will Win Because...: Momentum. It's something that's foreign to this team, but with a win under their belts, are they actually ready to close out the season on a positive note? Don't get me wrong, the offense remains atrocious, but the defense has picked up some of the slack at least in MAC play. Zac Dysert has at least given the program some hope, so they have that going for them.

Temple Will Win Because...: Vaughn Charlton has been in this program forever and while he's doing what he has to at QB, the star of this offense is definitely Bernard Pierce. Pierce is one of the more underrated RBs in the conference this season as he's averaging almost 130 yards rushing per game. That alone against Miami OH's soft defensive front will do enough damage to seal the deal on this game.

Keep an Eye on...: Those much ballyhooed recruiting classes for Al Golden are finally starting to kick in, and some of that credit has to go to sophomore LB Adrian Robinson. Robinson has been very active in defending the pass with the team lead in sacks (9). The RedHawks are ranked second to last in protecting the QB.

And the Crystal Ball Says: The dynamic defense of Temple and legs of Bernard Pierce will win this game. Miami OH has a win and while that's a good thing for this team who tanked early and often, the Owls have too much momentum and appear to be primed for an 8 or 9 win season. This game should go to Temple in a slightly-competitive matchup, 32-17.



When: 7:30 PM ET, ESPN

Why You Should Care: Can ECU knock off the Hokies? If there's any week to do it, it was probably last week with an unprepared Virginia Tech team, but if they don't snap out of this funk, it can happen. Thursday nights are really odd and confusing some times, so an upper-tier C-USA team can knock off a top 25 group at home. The Pirates bested the Hokies in a surprise to open the 2008 season, so this might be a revenge trip.

Virginia Tech Will Win Because...: It took a defense the caliber of North Carolina to finally stop the Hokies, but it happened. ECU may be solid defensively for a non-BCS team, but Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Williams combined to make a solid 1-2 punch for a stretch of games in between Marshall and Boston College. Overall, Virginia Tech averages 30 points per game and ECU's offense has struggled; don't expect the Pirate O to keep pace. Also, ECU in their non-conference games weren't all that competitive against North Carolina and West Virginia.

ECU Will Win Because...: We know once teams hit conference play in non-BCS conferences that their stats get pumped up automatically (see: Troy, BYU, Central Michigan, etc.), but this ECU defense may have really turned a corner. Rice and Memphis are no Virginia Tech offensively, but SMU has been the only team in C-USA to have scored more than 20 points on the Pirates.

Keep an Eye on...: RB Ryan Williams. He was my player to keep an eye on last week, and he'll be so again for tonight. It'll be interesting to see if this freshman has a head on his shoulders who can absorb a blow as devastating as that fumble last week.

And the Crystal Ball Says: This will be a tight game mainly due to the fact that ECU is at home and Virginia Tech might be hung over after two straight losses. I expect VT to settle in and gain confidence as the game goes on as ECU just doesn't have the depth or horses to pull off this upset twice in a row. Look for the Hokies to pull away in the 4th and win, 28-20.



When: 7:30 PM ET, ESPNU

Why You Should Care: Okay Eastern, unless you want to win a game, you need to start scoring. With the Andy Schmitt injury, the Eagles have relied on Alex Gillett and Kyle McMahon at QB. Northern Illinois on the other hand look to be competing for the MAC West if they can run the table in this stretch of easy games to wrap the year up against Central Michigan.

Eastern Michigan Will Win Because...: They'll rally.......Maybe? Look, if this group is going to win once it'll have to be on the road against Akron. Not coming here, sorry. I can't even make a case for Eastern.

Northern Illinois Will Win Because...: The rushing attack. As I've mentioned before, Eastern's pass defense has looked solid and it sort of is, but the opposition loves running the football against them. Eastern is 120th against the run going up against the top attack in the MAC.

Keep an Eye on...: Meco Brown and Chad Spann. These guys should carve the Eagles rush D up pretty good. You can bank on a combined total of 200 yards for these two.

And the Crystal Ball Says: This game won't be relatively interesting or exciting as Northern Illinois should dominate both sides of the ball. The Eagles are certainly one of the worst teams in the nation and they won't have much of a shot at winning here. NIU will take it, 30-6.

Game Preview: Bowling Green vs. Buffalo

When: 7:00 PM ET, ESPN2

Why You Should Care: Nothing beats a Tuesday night match up between mediocre MAC teams, right? Actually, if you think there are better things to do on a Tuesday night, you may be mistaken as this should be a competitive game. Besides Rece Davis (I'm assuming he gets the call? EDIT: Oh God, it's worse than I thought! Bob Wischusen!) whom I love in the studio but not in the booth, there's a lot to like about this game. The loser will be pretty much eliminated from the bowl chase.

Bowling Green Will Win Because...: While I'm personally disappointed that Dave Clawson has abandoned the run entirely with a back the caliber of Willie Geter, he has reason to; the passing game is stellar. Tyler Sheehan is playing pitch-and-catch with Freddie Barnes who leads the NCAA in receptions per game and receiving yards per game. Buffalo struggled in their last game against Tim Hiller, so Bowling Green should move the ball almost at will here.

Buffalo Will Win Because...: Being at home will be beneficial. For these smaller schools, the mid-week games are actually pretty big deals so the fans will be excited even if the passion is tough to translate on-screen. QB Zac Maynard has been coming along and should be primed for a big 2010, but with a player like Namaan Roosevelt to work with, Buffalo should be able to score some points against the mediocre defense of the Falcons.

Keep an Eye on...: Buffalo WR Brett Hamlin. While Roosevelt may get all of the attention, that's a good thing for Hamlin. He's been quietly productive with 50 grabs and 666 yards receiving (uh-oh). If Roosevelt demands some extra defenders, Hamlin will be crucial on the intermediate routes as a security blanket for Maynard.

And the Crystal Ball Says: I like Bowling Green in this game. I'm probably wrong again after having a pretty tough week, but the Falcons' passing game should get the job done. This is a team that will probably rally to try to make a bowl game and they should finish 6-6 with an easy remainder of the schedule. Neither defense is anything to write home about and while Buffalo's defense may be statistically better, they don't have enough game-changers to make BGSU's vaunted passing game sweat. Falcons win it, 34-28.

The Week That Was: Week 9

1. Men of Troy "Quack" Under Pressure

You'd think anybody with a pair of eyeballs could have seen this coming. Actually, that's a little rough; anybody with a brain wouldn't have picked Cal to win the Pac-10 like I did, so I don't much room to talk. But it did honestly irk me when people thought things would stay normal after the offseason that USC experienced.

They were totally rebuilding on defense. This shouldn't have come as a surprise to anybody. Granted, it's the Trojans, but the minute Pete Carroll began spinning the Sanchez/NFL situation, something smelled fishy. After all, Pete Carroll has a job and a team to worry about. You bet he was banking on returning a Heisman-caliber QB to help his rebuilding team win the Pac-10 and maybe win a national title. Instead, he's taking his lumps with a true freshman QB. Even with this hiccup and an almost certain loss out on a Pac-10 championship, this USC program will return to championship form starting in 2010. As long as Carroll is recruiting at the level he is, this won't turn into a Michigan or a Nebraska who seem to be former national powers scrambling for answers.


2. Should NCAA Smoke Blount Once and For All? & Other Oregon Thoughts

Wow, I must be the king of lame puns today. Am I the only one who finds the NCAA extremely hypocritical in pondering the reinstatement of Blount (more than likely he will be reinstated) and the idea that Dez Bryant is out for an entire season? Every season the NCAA appears to be more and more of a joke. Let me get this straight: Blount displayed the worst sportsmanship in sports since Ron Artest (and would have gone into Ron Artest-mode if not restrained) and Dez Bryant "lies" about not doing anything wrong then Bryant becomes the poster boy for the NCAA to say, "you don't f*** with us!" What a joke.

Anyway, how about them Ducks? Do they even need LeGarrette Blount at this rate? LaMichael James has been out of this world. He ran for 7.6 ypc against USC. Even though as I mentioned earlier that USC is rebuilding the defense, that is still pretty incredible. Oregon racked up over 600 yards on this team in order to deliver the largest defeat in over a decade of football for USC. That is saying something, and the Ducks have earned a boatload of respect for it. I suspect that homefield has a lot to do with this though. I'm just saying if the game was in USC, it may have been an Oregon win but it would have been a lot closer. Anybody notice how Oregon State and Oregon have picked on USC over the past few years in the Beaver State? I don't want to take away from the win at all, to be clear, just mentioning something I thought was interesting. The Ducks are certainly in the driver's seat to win the Pac-10, but they might stumble once more against Arizona, Stanford, or Oregon State.


3. Black Helmets and Black Pants Couldn't Save Georgia

Well, that was expected to happen. Florida beats Georgia big. Yawn.

This is a team that wasn't expected to do more than win 7 games with their ridiculously difficult schedule and their losses on offense. However, you can also say in the same breath that they have been disappointing. Not being all that competitive in some matches, the Bulldogs haven't been remotely careful holding on to the football by challenging Miami OH for the worst turnover margin in the nation (currently stands at 119th). Now, some are clamoring for his job. I saw where there was a rumor around some message boards about canning the Georgia head coach, there is a FireMarkRicht.com already running (I think it has been for some time), and just Googling "Fire Mark Richt" will get you plenty of feisty, angered, and distraught Georgia football fans. They need to cool off. This is the first average season for Georgia under Richt. During his tenure, Georgia's worst win total was 8 in his first season at the helm. Obviously that will be surpassed in 2009, but teams have ups and downs. Hundreds of coaches would kill for Richts stats.


4. Poor Michigan State and Indiana

Holy crap. I don't think I've ever seen as many slugs-to-the-guts in one season as these two teams have endured. Even Job must feel some sympathy for the Hoosiers and Spartans. Only an act of God could keep these teams from hanging their heads and calling it quits, and in all honesty, I wouldn't blame them if they did.

Here's Michigan State's misery chronicled: Gives up last-minute TD to Central Michigan, fails to recover onside kick, gives up last-second FG to CMU. In Notre Dame territory, Kirk Cousins throws INT in end zone to lose. Michigan State scores in waning minutes only to lose to Iowa on last play of the game. Michigan State pulls to within one point of Minnesota on the road with 8 minutes of play only to give up a TD near the end of the game to lose. How about Indiana? Loses to Michigan on a blown INT call by referees after a loooong review. Obviously they got smoked by Ohio State and Indiana. Leads Northwestern 28-3 in the second quarter only to lose 29-28 on a last-second FG. Leads top 5 Iowa but loses by giving up 28 fourth quarter points. What's funny is that while Indiana is actually exceeding expectations coming into the year, Michigan State is a little more solid defense and a killer instinct away from being this year's Iowa.


5. At-Large Battles

I may be mistaken by including Kent State, who is 5-4 overall and 4-1 in MAC play, in the pool of at-large contenders, but it does depend on what they do from here on out. The Golden Flashes are having a really nice season in what basically could have resulted in the firing of Doug Martin if there weren't any results. The race in the MAC East will get really interesting if Ohio, Kent State, and Temple all finish with 7+ victories. At least one MAC school would be on the short-list for an at-large bid.

Elsewhere, the Sun Belt should be capable of fielding two bowl squads this year. Middle Tennessee is well on their way to a 7-5 mark or possibly an 8-4 record. I think the conference does have a sleeper waiting to make a run and that might very well be the UL Monroe Warhawks. Sophomore QB Cody Wells has been trying his best to replace Revell who just so happened to get knocked out before two of their biggest games of the season against possible-upset-ee Kentucky and eventual Sun Belt champ Troy, but he's doing okay. He's thrown 5 scores and 6 picks, but with more experience, those INTs should be toned down a bit. They'll be looking for at least a 6-6 mark with games coming up against North Texas and Western Kentucky, so they will have to pick off one between UL Lafayette and Middle Tennessee.




SSO's Totally Worthless Top 25:

1. Texas
2. Florida
3. Alabama
4. TCU
5. Cincinnati
6. Iowa
7. Boise State
8. Oregon
9. Penn State
10. LSU
11. Georgia Tech
12. Miami
13. Pitt
14. USC
15. Ohio State
16. Houston
17. Utah
18. Notre Dame
19. Virginia Tech
20. Arizona
21. Oklahoma
22. Wisconsin
23. Oklahoma State
24. Cal
25. USF

Others Receiving Meaningless Consideration: South Carolina, Auburn, Boston College, Oregon State, USF

Game Balls!

It's probably safe to say that Masoli has had better days operating the Oregon spread offense and while you could definitely make a case for LaMichael James to be the MVP from the Oregon/USC game, Masoli did a fantastic job managing the offense and finding weakspots in the Trojan defense. Masoli finished with 222 yards passing and a score along with 164 rushing yards and another score.









Am I nuts if I think Lance Dunbar is going to go all LaDanian Tomlinson on everybody and win a rushing title before his career is up? Only a sophomore and the backup to Cam Montgomery before the start of the season, Dunbar has taken the position by storm ranking 9th in the NCAA in rushing yards per game. Dunbar had 227 yards on 23 carries against Western Kentucky. Yes, it's Western Kentucky, but still....That's almost a first down per touch. Riley Dodge also had a stellar day.







And the gold game ball will have to go to Bernard Pierce, the RB from Temple. A lot like Dunbar, he had a similarly effective day on the ground running for 267 yards on 29 carries to go with 2 scores. He's been an integral part in Temple's turnaround and their path to make it to their first bowl game in.....Well, a really really long time.












I hate to keep bringing up Boise State and the whole BCS debate here, but let's ask the question anyway: Is it possible for a pollster to have Oregon ahead of Boise State after this week? Yes, it actually is believe it or not. As much as the rankings system is a crapshoot, you can apply whatever standard or criteria you want to in your poll, as long as you are consistent and can back it up. Because Boise State beat Oregon and is undefeated, that for me puts Boise State ahead of the Ducks. However, you could easily argue that since college football isn't defined by or confined to Team A beats Team B, Therefore Team A > Team B logic. Boise State was at home and the game was before Labor Day. Did that have anything to do with it? It's when Boise State plays at home that they play so well. They've had a lot less success on the road. The game was also before Labor Day, so we can take that into account. It was opening week after all. Maybe this Oregon team has rallied and is different than the one we saw in Weeks 1 and 2? Let's not forget, they didn't start steamrolling "everyone" until they ran into California. They beat Purdue and Utah at home by a touchdown. If you're going to rank teams on how good you think they are as of today, you'd be perfectly justified in ranking Oregon ahead of Boise. I look at things through the scope of the entire season, so I don't do that. Whatever floats your boat, I just wanted to play devil's advocate for a minute.





Word of the Week: Truculent
-adj

1. Fierce; savage; ferocious; barbarous.

This word is good for all of the rabid fans out there and impatient critics. I haven't seen this much knee-jerk reaction since that one NBA season (2003-2004?) where firing coaches was the new black. Fans of Georgia and Michigan want Mark Richt and Rich Rodriguez out immediately. This is surprising as I thought Georgia fans would recognize the amount of success they have had recently under Richt. I understand there aren't the title banners and all of that, but this is one of the healthiest teams in the SEC. Michigan on the other hand is being led by true freshman QBs, still raw position players, lineman who are still trying to get lean enough to run the spread effectively, and a defense in a state of flux. If you want to fire defensive coordinators Martinez or Robinson for being all-around incompetent, be my guest. Just give these two guys time and results will follow.

Bowl Projections: Week 9

New Mexico Bowl: Idaho vs. Ohio*
St. Petersburg Bowl: USF vs. UCF
New Orleans Bowl: Troy vs. Tulsa
Las Vegas Bowl: Utah vs. Oregon State
Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State vs. Fresno State*
Hawaii Bowl: Nevada vs. Marshall
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Iowa State*
Meineke Car Care Bowl: Clemson vs. Pitt
Emerald Bowl: Boston College vs. Stanford
Music City Bowl: North Carolina vs. Tennessee
Independence Bowl: Kansas vs. Arkansas
EagleBank Bowl: Duke vs. ECU*
Champs Sports Bowl: Northwestern vs. Florida State
Humanitarian Bowl: Boise State vs. BYU
Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Cal
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. SMU
Sun Bowl: Arizona vs. Missouri
Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Navy
Insight Bowl: Michigan vs. Nebraska
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Ole Miss
Outback Bowl: Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
Capital One Bowl: Ohio State vs. LSU
Gator Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Miami
Rose Bowl: Iowa vs. Oregon
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Penn State
International Bowl: Rutgers vs. Temple
Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Auburn
Papajohns.com Bowl: West Virginia vs. Kentucky
Liberty Bowl: Houston vs. Georgia
Alamo Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Minnesota
Fiesta Bowl: USC vs. TCU
Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati
GMAC Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Middle Tennessee*
BCS Championship: Florida vs. Texas

* - at-large qualifier


Yikes, I had to dip into the at-large pool here. I still don't like Kent State to qualify for a bowl game. Ohio will be 7-5, Temple might win 9 games, and Central Michigan should obviously win the MAC. Kent State could finish at 7-5, but I think they'll lose to Buffalo in the final week to finish 6-6. Northern Illinois will have a good run of games to close the year out and finish 7-5 as well and they probably have more national appeal (still limited at best). The at-larges here are Iowa State to the Motor City Bowl, Middle Tennessee to the GMAC Bowl, ECU is an alternate tie-in without a bowl eligible Army, Fresno State fills in for the Pac-10 in the Poinsettia since that bowl has an alternate tie-in with the WAC, and that's about it. One team to watch is UL Monroe who finishes the year against North Texas, Western Kentucky, a reeling UL Lafayette team, and Middle Tennessee at home. They are 4-4 right now after losing yesterday to Troy, but don't be shocked if they finish the year 7-5.

Now, onto the other stuff. Even after USC's debacle on the road to Oregon, this is still a team that should get a BCS bid. I've heard they don't travel well, but this is USC. You get them against TCU, it should be an easy sellout and garner plenty of national excitement. Alabama/Penn State is a matchup made for 1979 so that makes sense there. I think the Orange Bowl will stick to its ACC/Big East tradition and take Cincinnati over TCU.

I can't believe some publications are still picking Kansas State. They still need to win two more games. Even though they have 5 wins, two came against FCS schools so even if they beat Kansas next week which is really possible (and that's a team teetering on the brink of eligibility as well), they would have to split between Missouri and Nebraska on the road. I don't think this team will win another game but I could be wrong. Michigan State is also not going bowling. They had to take out Minnesota last week and now they stand at 4-5. They need to beat Western Michigan which should happen, but Purdue on the road is a tricky game. If they win those two, they should get in, but it'll be more difficult than it looks on paper. The Western game could be a trap one if this team discontinues their resiliency that they've shown throughout the year; the loss yesterday could be the straw that broke the camel's back. CFN and CBS also do not have Tulsa eligible. I think this is a team that should still get to 6-6 after taking one between Houston at home, Southern Miss, and ECU while finishing up against Memphis.

Okay, I admit I was wrong about Tennessee and Florida State. My problem was I needed FSU to split against North Carolina and NC State (I had NC State beating FSU) and I needed Tennessee to lose to South Carolina for my predictions to come true. Tennessee has 4 wins but they have Memphis and Vandy coming up along with a very winnable game against Kentucky. Florida State will probably lose to Clemson and Florida, but if they can beat Wake Forest and Maryland, they're in at 6-6. I came around to Duke because I was wrong about their game yesterday against Virginia as well. SMU is in after beating Tulsa. I'm a little queezy about buying into San Diego State. I had them as a bowl sleeper at 6-6, but that 6-6 included a win against Idaho which obviously hasn't turned out to be the case. They should knock off Wyoming at home, but the road game at the end of the season against UNLV is a tossup. SDSU destroyed UNLV's season at home last year and they might want to return the favor.

Game Previews: Week 9

****READ: Hey sorry guys, this was as far as I got. If you're new to the site, trust me, the previews are generally lengthier and not quite as text-based :) . I started doing the previews Thursday night, but I had something come up. Previewing 22 games or so takes on average a little more than 4 hours of plotting, typing, and research to make sure everything aligns, but I do apologize for not completing this. I'll still announce my picks for the week after the jump:



Sacrificial Lambs of the Week (a.k.a, the biggest blowouts)

New Mexico State @ Ohio State

When: 12:00 PM ET, Big 10 Network

Why You Should Care: Like shooting fish in a barrel. New Mexico State will probably be drastically in over their heads here, but what if they put up a fight? It'll be interesting to see if the new life injected by Dwayne Walker will have any effect going up against a vastly superior team. Ohio State can probably take a nap in this game, but can their offense get ignited?

New Mexico State Will Win Because...: Eh, skip this part.

Ohio State Will Win Because...: One has been in the lower-rung of the Sun Belt and the WAC for about the previous 6 or 7 years while another has been making BCS runs right and left. Your call.

Keep an Eye on...: Terrelle Pryor. Can he throw the ball against New Mexico State? If he struggles, Ohio State will be in for a bumpy next two years....

And the Crystal Ball Says: This is easy. Ohio State will dominate from start to finish, especially defensively. For a group that could manage only 21 points offensively against Prairie View A&M, this defense will look like one from the NFL. I do however expect Ohio State to be in a funk offensively for at least the first quarter, but a couple turnovers and big special teams play will seal the deal in the first half. Ohio State wins, 42-3.


Coastal Carolina @ Clemson

When: 1:30 PM ET, ESPN360

Why You Should Care: How did this team lose to Maryland? Clemson is quickly appearing to be the best candidate for a division crown from the Atlantic division. Can they carry the momentum at home against the Chanticleers?

Coastal Carolina Will Win Because...: Yikes. This is a tough one. Well, at least their defense has been solid. Outside of a lopsided loss to Liberty, the unit has been pretty productive. They might keep Clemson to fewer than 50 points.

Clemson Will Win Because...: Coastal has no offense. At all. Their high point this season? They hung 28 on North Carolina A&T. They were shut out 18-0 at Kent State for the season opener. Clemson can probably call their score in this one.

Keep an Eye on...: RB C.J. Spiller. After Spiller single-handedly took down Miami last week, he should be lights out again against a much weaker opponent. He should be out of the game though after 10 carries or so if Dabo Swinney's head is screwed on.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Clemson should win this by however large they want to. This is going to be the worst blowout of the week with the Tigers winning, 62-3.


Eastern Michigan @ Arkansas

When: 7:00 PM ET, ESPNU

Why You Should Care: Can Arkansas finally muster a win? Without a break from officials against Florida or partly against Ole Miss, the Razorbacks have dropped to 3-4. They've played a tough run of games so they deserve a break and Eastern Michigan should be just that.

Eastern Michigan Will Win Because...: They can stop Ryan Mallett's passing attack.....Can they? Probably not. They .have the nation's number one passing defense so that has to count for something, right?

Arkansas Will Win Because...: As I mentioned in last week's preview of the Ball State/EMU game, the reason their pass defense looks so good is because everybody decides to run on them. They have the worst rush defense and the pass efficiency D isn't that great. I'll give them that they do have a solid pass defense for a non-BCS team, but that won't help against Michael Smith. They had one opportunity to win for the rest of the season against Ball State last week and failed at that, so they'll probably be on a downer.

Keep an Eye on...: WR Greg Childs. The sophomore receiver for Arkansas will be involved in a very interesting matchup most likely between him and Eastern DB Chris May. It will be a challenge.

And the Crystal Ball: Eastern is going to get smacked around early and this will get extremely ugly before it's over. While Eastern's pass defense will do an adequate job with what they have to work with, Mallett will still get his yards and the Arkansas rushing game will approach 250+ or maybe even 300 yards rushing. Arkansas wins easily, 56-10.



Reba on CW, or... (a.k.a., the worst televised games)

Akron @ Northern Illinois

When: 12:00 PM ET, ESPN Gameplan

Why You Should Care: Northern Illinois is still in the MAC West hunt. They have only suffered from one defeat, a one-point loss on the road to Toledo. They return home to play Akron who is struggling right now but looking better.

Akron Will Win Because...: This is still an offense that can't score, but they put up a fight last week in the Carrier Dome which tops anything they've done this year. Basically the defense has played three poor games but other than that, they've been pretty solid.

Northern Illinois Will Win Because...: The close calls over the last two weeks against Toledo and Miami OH were due to the fact that the games were outside of DeKalb. Coming back home should do the team some good. A stat to watch here is the 88th ranked rushing defense of the Zips going against Meco Brown and Chad Spann.

Keep an Eye on...: QB Patrick Nicely of Akron. Nicely is a freshman so J.D. Brookhart is not really throwing in the towel, but figured if his team was going to go down, his recruit will get a year's worth of experience along with it. Nicely will be facing the worst statistical pass defense he's seen to this point.

And the Crystal Ball Says: This game looks on paper to really suit Northern Illinois. Nicely will have a decent day, but he'll still make an occasional freshman mistake. Northern Illinois should take control on the ground and win this, while dumping Akron's record versus FBS competition to 0-7 by a score of 34-17.


San Jose State @ Boise State

When: 3:00 PM ET, ESPN Gameplan

Why You Should Care: It's not that Boise State has zero drawing power why this made "Reba on CW, or...", it's the fact that this game will be such a blowout. San Jose State has struggled mightily this year giving Dick Tomey headaches offensively and defensively.

San Jose State Will Win Because...: Since nothing they've done on the field in 2009 counts, has any program historically given Boise State more fits in WAC play? None come to mind. There was 2004, 2006, and kind of 2008. They might be 1-5, but they played tight with Utah and Idaho.

Boise State Will Win Because...: The Broncos, as we all know, are the model of non-BCS efficiency. They can mostly do no wrong defensively and the offense just churns points at will. They've had some hiccups, but still average 40 points per game. Plus, those games I mentioned? All in San Jose.

Keep an Eye on...: QB Kellen Moore. Moore is the leading player in the nation for passing efficiency and that's a testament to him as well as his offensive line. This guy is going to get a Heisman invitation before his career is done.

And the Crystal Ball Says: Boise State. B-I-G. 50-6.


New Mexico @ San Diego State

When: 7:30 PM ET, The Mtn.

Why You Should Care: Can San Diego State make a bowl game? That's about the only storyline here. If you're not interested, move along. Just kidding, but New Mexico is so bad right now.

New Mexico Will Win Because...: How did this happen? If there's ever an instance of a guy needing to be fired after one season, Mike Locksley is it. This is has been an utter disaster. Even after saying all of that, San Diego State has had their moments defensively, but isn't that great. If Donovan Porterie, the only New Mexico offensive player worth a dime, can have a good day, the Lobos might surprise here.

San Diego State Will Win Because...: Offense, and plenty of it. After shredding Colorado State to pieces last week, things are looking on the up-and-up for Brady Hoke's team. The Aztecs racked up over 530 yards of offense against the Rams last week on the road.

Keep an Eye on...: SDSU WR Vincent Brown. Brown had about 600 yards receiving last season and he's already eclipsed that mark. DeMarco Sampson had the big day last week, but Brown has been more consistent at a higher level.

And the Crystal Ball Says: This is a game San Diego State should win easily at home, but in all honesty I wouldn't put it past them to blow it. Even with that said, look for San Diego State to win by close to two scores. Aztecs take it, 37-18.




****


Pick'em-That-Should-Have-Been-Previewed:


UConn 20, Rutgers 13
NC State 34, Florida State 31
Wisconsin 42, Purdue 28
Ole Miss 37, Auburn 30
Houston 43, Southern Miss 32
Miami 36, Wake Forest 23
Cal 30, Arizona State 26
Arkansas State 31, Louisville 28
Boston College 34, Central Michigan 21
Texas A&M 45, Iowa State 27
Virginia 16, Duke 13
Temple 27, Navy 24
Texas Tech 40, Kansas 37
Florida 38, Georgia 27
Oregon State 25, UCLA 20
Kentucky 30, Mississippi State 27
Oklahoma 54, Kansas State 23
South Carolina 23, Tennessee 20
Texas 41, Oklahoma State 30
Oregon 33, USC 31
Michigan State 34, Minnesota 18