College Football Week 9 Recap

    The season presses on as we head into week 10 and have a look back on a big week 9.

    #4 Notre Dame took on #9 Oklahoma and proved all doubters wrong with a very strong showing, beating the Sooners 30-13. The Irish have played the hardest schedule this season, and are now 8-0. There are people, however, that have said they have not played anyone, and their record is a fluke.

Notre Dame QB Everette Gholson

    But the Irish have wins vs. Michigan State, Michigan, Miami (FL) #13 Stanford, BYU, and now have one over #14 Oklahoma. All critics should be silenced, and Notre Dame should win it's next four games vs. Pitt, Boston College, Wake Forest, and #16 USC.  Note Dame has the best chance out of the other three undefeated schools with legit title hopes (Alabama, Oregon, and Kansas State), to win out, and they have taken a stake in the national title talks.

    Former #3 Florida was taken down by Georgia, and could quite possibly ruin the Gator's title hopes. #14 Oregon State was upset by Washington, and the Beavers title hopes are gone as well. I think Oregon State was always overrated, and the high rankings in the BCS and AP polls were way too high to me. The loss brings them back down, and the Huskies get a much-needed conference win.

    #6 USC lost all their title hopes too to a crushing defeat to Arizona. The Trojans play #2 Oregon this weekend and hope to salvage a spot in the BCS.


Top 25

1. Alabama 8-0
2. Oregon 8-0
3. Notre Dame 8-0
4. Kansas State 8-0
5. Ohio State 9-0
6. Georgia 7-1
7. LSU 7-1
8. Florida State 8-1
9. Florida 7-1
10. Clemson 7-1
11. Louisville 8-0
12. South Carolina 7-2
13. Stanford 6-2
14. Oklahoma 5-2
15. Texas AM 6-2
16. USC 6-2
17. Boise State 7-1
18. Mississippi State 7-1
19. Texas Tech 6-2
20. Texas 6-2
21. Nebraska 6-2
22. Oregon State 6-1
23. Arizona 5-3
24. Louisiana Tech 7-1
25. Oklahoma State 5-2

Next 5 In:

West Virginia 5-2
Kent State 7-1
Michigan 5-2
UCLA 6-2
Toledo 8-1

Dropped Out:

Rutgers (#17)
Michigan (#20)
NC State (#21)
Ohio (#23)
West Virginia (#25)


Non-BCS schools to watch:

Tulsa 7-1
Northern Illinois 8-1
Louisiana-Monroe 6-2
Utah State 7-2
Ohio 7-1
San Jose State 6-2

What To Watch:

#15 Texas AM (6-2) @ #18 Mississippi St. (7-1)
12:00 pm ET, ESPN

Mississippi State was blown out of the water by Alabama, and they will look to show they are an elite force in the SEC. Texas AM will try to continue their winning streak. The Aggies will make it close, but Mississippi State is just too good, and will shut down the Aggies' high powered offense.

Prediction: Mississippi St. 24 TAMU 16

TCU (5-3) @ West Virginia (5-2)
3:00pm ET, FOX

It's now or never for West Virginia to salvage this season, and now or never for Geno Smith to get back into the Heisman race. Smith's season reminds of Baylor's RGIII last year. He started off very strong but abruptly fell off the map, as did his team. But then he came back at the end, won the Heisman, and the #2 pick in the draft. That very well could be the same for Smith this year, and it could start this week. A bye should help West Virginia get the W.

Prediction: West Virginia 35 TCU 21

#2 Oregon (8-0) @ #16 USC (6-2)
7:00 pm ET, FOX

The two best teams in the PAC 12 square off in Pasadena, and the Ducks have a lot to prove as they have been passed over in favor of Kansas State and Notre Dame in most polls. A big win over a down Trojan squad will go a long way. USC has a good chance of a win here, but Oregon has the upper-hand. 

Prediction: Oregon 47 USC 44

#1 Alabama (8-0) @ #7 LSU (7-1)
8:00 pm ET, CBS

A rematch of last year's title game - this will be Alabama's hardest game of the season so far, and LSU needs a win to keep their title hopes alive. It should be another low scoring game, but Alabama has a better offense. They also have a slightly better defense, and they should roll over LSU like they did last January. 

Prediction: Alabama 13 LSU 6

#25 Oklahoma State (5-2) @ #3 Kansas State (8-0)
8:00 pm ET, ABC

Kansas State has another test vs. a very good Big 12 school. The Wildcats should come away with another win, but we have seen all of the Big 12 beat up on each other week in and week out. It has been hard to distinguish a clear-cut favorite in the Big 12, but a win over the Cowboys could give K-State that label. Don't sleep on an Oklahoma State upset, but Kansas State should win this one. 

Prediction: Kansas State 51 Oklahoma State 41

#23 Arizona (5-3) @ UCLA (6-2)
10:30 pm ET, Pac-12 Network

You never know who will beat who in the Pac 12 this year, and aside from Oregon, the Pac 12 resembles the Big 12. Everyone is beating up on everyone else. Arizona is fresh off a huge win over #16 USC, and will try to also beat the Trogan's rival UCLA. The Bruins are a talented team though, and I am calling an upset here.

Prediction: UCLA 42 Arizona 36

Other Predictions:

Virginia Tech 27 Miami (FL) 21
Washington 27 California 24
#5 Ohio State 38 Illinois 25
Michigan State 24 #21 Nebraska 20
#9 Florida 35 Missouri 10
#14 Oklahoma 38 Iowa State 21
#11 Louisville 27 Temple 18
Michigan 42 Minnesota 7
ECU 36 Houston 30
Air Force 35 Army 26
Tennessee 38 Troy 14
Arkansas 36 Tulsa 28
Auburn 45 New Mexico State 14
Georgia Tech 24 Maryland 17
#13 Stanford 41 Colorado 7
Kent State 35 Akron 14
Utah 27 Washington State 14
#6 Georgia 28 Ole Miss 7
#3 Notre Dame 38 Pittsburgh 10
#20 Texas 38 #19 Texas Tech 36
#24 Louisiana Tech 49 UTSA 14
#10 Clemson 38 Duke 10
UCF 38 SMU 28
Southern Miss 24 UAB 13
#17 Boise State 24 San Diego State 10
#22 Oregon State 35 Arizona State 31
Ohio 42 Eastern Michigan 27

BCS Bowls Today:

Championship: #1 Alabama vs #2 Oregon

Rose: #21 Nebraska vs #3 Notre Dame

Fiesta: #4 Kansas State vs #13 Stanford

Sugar: #6 Georgia vs #10 Clemson

Orange: #8 Florida State vs #11 Louisville

College Football Week 2 Recap

    Week 2 is now done, and what a weekend it was. We had many upsets go down, small and large, including a number of FCS schools take down FBS ones.

     It started on Friday night, as #22 Utah and Utah State renewed their rivalry. Utah had won the last 12 meetings, but the streak ended and the Aggies won 27-20. The upsets had begun.

     #9 Wisconsin traveled to Corvallis, Oregon where they were stunned by the Oregon State Beavers. A loss that highlighted a terrible weekend for the Big 10, but a great weekend for the Pac 12. #17 Nebraska (Big 10) fell victim to UCLA (Pac 12). Arizona State also beat up on Big 10 member Illinois 45-14.

     The Pac 12 played well all around except for #22 Utah, Colorado, and Washington. All teams but those three came away with a win. Arizona also pulled off a stunner and took down #19 Oklahoma State. 

     One interesting thing to take away from this weekend, is the sad-state of Colorado's two universities. Colorado lost to FCS-opponent Sacramento State, and Colorado State lost too FCS school North Dakota State. It doesn't get much lower then that for a state's football programs.

     But the most shocking upset of Saturday was the Sun Belt's Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks upset of the SEC's #8 Arkansas Razorbacks. The score was 21-7 Razorbacks at halftime. But Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson had taken many blows and was knocked out of the game with a head injury. UL Monroe jumped at the chance and held Arkansas to seven points in the second half. Overtime began with Arkansas scoring a field goal. ULM got the ball, and on 4th and 1, ULM QB Kolton Browning ran for a TD. 

    Final score: UL Monroe 34 #8 Arkansas 31.

     Arkansas looked shaky last week vs Jacksonville State, but after this performance, they look pitiful. If Wilson had stayed in the game, then the Razorbacks would have most likely won. But this is college football and we can only wonder.

Kolton Browning, UL Monroe

Top 25:

1. USC (2-0)
2. Alabama (2-0)
3. Florida State (2-0)
4. LSU (2-0)
5. Oklahoma (2-0)
6. Oregon (2-0)
7. South Carolina (2-0)
8. Georgia (2-0)
9. Michigan State (2-0)
10. Virginia Tech (2-0)
11. Texas (2-0)
12. Clemson (2-0)
13. West Virginia (1-0)
14. Ohio State (2-0)
15. Michigan (2-0)
16. TCU (1-0)
17. Louisville (2-0)
18. Kansas State (2-0) 
19. NC State (1-1)
20. Notre Dame (2-0)
21. Stanford (2-0)
22. Northwestern (2-0)
23. Mississippi State (2-0)
24. Arkansas (1-1)
25. Wisconsin (1-1)

Next 5 in: Boise State (0-1), Florida (2-0), Nebraska (1-1), Tennessee (2-0), UCLA (2-0)



What To Watch:

UL Monroe (1-0) @ Auburn (0-2) 
12:20pm ET, SEC Network

Auburn has dropped two to open the season, and you never know...

Prediction: Aub 45 ULM 14

#2 Alabama (2-0) @ #24 Arkansas (1-1) 
3:30pm ET, CBS

Arkansas looks to bounce back after embarrassment, but Alabama is just too strong regardless.

Prediction: Bama 37 Ark 24

Northern Iowa (1-1) @ Iowa (1-1) 
3:30pm ET, Big Ten Network

With how bad Iowa has been so far, and with how many FCS upsets we have already seen, I think something could happen here. NIU already gave problems to Wisconsin. 

Prediction: NIU 29 Iowa 24

Florida (2-0) @ Tennessee (2-0) 
6:00pm ET, ESPN

An SEC rivalry, both of these teams are good and it will be interesting to see if Jeff Driskel and Florida can compete with the stronger SEC teams this season.

Prediction: UF 28 Tenn 13

#1 USC (2-0) @ #21 Stanford (2-0) 
7:30pm ET, FOX

Stanford struggled vs SJSU, but beat up Duke. So far we can't tell what they really are without Andrew Luck. Versus USC, we should be able to tell. USC should get revenge on some losses in previous years.

Prediction: USC 52 Stanford 14

Utah State (2-0) @ #25 Wisconsin (1-1) 
8:00pm ET, Big Ten Network

Wisconsin needs to get it together because Utah State is dangerous and will cause some problems here. Would not be suprised at all if the Aggies won.

Prediction: USU 30 Wis 27

Houston (0-2) @ UCLA (2-0) 
10:30pm ET, Pac 12 Network

Can UCLA sustain the momentum and slow down Houston's offense? Can Houston bounce back after two poor showings? It really comes down to if UCLA's offense. Can it match the firepower of Houston's? Houston could run away with this one.

Prediction: UCLA 45 HOU 38


Week 1 Recap

    

PAC 12 Preview

    
ACC   Big East   Big 10   Big 12   SEC   Other Conferences   Bowls and Top 50
     
    
    The Pac-12 will be one of the most explosive conferences this year, as many of the teams are built around  a high powered offense.

    USC, Oregon, Washington, UCLA, Washington State, Utah, and Arizona could easily put up 35+ points per game, which makes the Pac-12 the most fun conference to watch.

Nickell Robey, USC

    USC is back, after a two-year bowl ban. And they are stronger then they may have ever been. Matt Barkley could be the best QB in Trojan history and they are stacked across the board. They will go 12-0, and will be in the BCS Championship.

    Oregon plays a very easy schedule in the first half of the season, and should be 8-0 heading into a huge showdown in LA on November 3rd vs USC. But, USC is still considerably a better team then Oregon, and the Ducks won't get past USC. They will meet again in the Pac-12 championship, but they won't be able to knock off USC a 2nd time.

    Utah is the third best team in the conference, and certainly one of the most underrated teams in the nation. Stanford is much worse then last year, but still will make a bowl game. Washington is another very underrated team and has upset teams before. Watch for them to give LSU a battle September 8th.

    UCLA, California, and Arizona are my picks to finish off the bowl-bound teams, but Washington State may surprise people. Under new coach Mike Leach, they will run the second best passing attack in the conference behind USC, and one of the top ones in the nation. Marquess Wilson is the best receiver you have never heard of in the nation. But, the Cougars have holes at almost every other position, which ultimately will keep them from a bowl game.

    Arizona State is a year or two away before returning to competitiveness. Oregon State is close too, but still has bit to go. Colorado will struggle this year, and could very well loose all conference games this season.

Projected Standings:

North:

1. Oregon 11-1 (8-1)

T2. Stanford 8-4 (6-3)

T3. Washington 8-4 (6-3)

4. California 6-6 (4-5)

5. Washington State 4-8 (2-7)

6. Oregon State 2-10 (1-8)

South:

1. USC 12-0 (9-0)

2. Utah 9-3 (6-3)

3. UCLA 6-6 (5-4)

4. Arizona 6-6 (4-5)

5. Arizona State 4-8 (2-7)

6. Colorado 2-10 (0-9)


PAC-12 Championship: USC over Oregon