CFB Week 4 Recap

This is the first week I wasn't able to watch an abundance of games. It stunk in all honesty too because I love college football. But with the help of ESPN, the Big Ten Network and a lot of reading on the web, I have plenty to talk about in my college football recap (that I am starting at 2:21am ET...sober)

THE BIG 10 THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK
1. Terrelle Pryor is the Future - but not the now. Don't get me wrong. I was happy with his play against Troy. He passed for 4 TD and ran for 66 yards. All in all, a very solid performance. But this was against Troy. It's hard for me to be sold on him when he hasn't faced a legit defense yet. Those runs he had today won't be as long against Wisconsin or Penn State. Those passes he threw are knocked down against Illinois and Penn State. As much as I want him to succeed, I think it needs to be next year. But after practically benching Todd Boeckman for a game, his psyche has got to be shot. Even when the fans had no confidence in him and he had no confidence in himself, he always had the confidence from the coaching staff. Well, not anymore. And now as the Bucks move into Big Ten play, who is the starting QB? This doesn't bode well I think at all.

2. OSU is no longer the Big Ten favorite - Yeah, they are the champs until someone knocks them out but heading into Big Ten play, you'd be a fool to think that OSU is the favorite to win the Big Ten these days. The defense showed many signs of weakness to USC and even to Troy. The offense has sputtered one too many times as well. Meanwhile, Penn State has looked great. Yeah, they have played cupcakes but they are beating them like good teams should. Wisconsin also is a force to be reckoned with. I don't know what the problem is with this team. Heck, I don't think they know. They have one more week to prepare for 'Sconsin but for now, OSU is nothing but mediocre.

3. Tim Tebow is no Archie Griffin - I know it's only 3 games in but so far, not so impressed with the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. Just check the stats. Only 393 yds and 3 TD through the air in 3 games. That's an average of 131 yds passing a game and just one score? Pretty sure a lot of college QBs have those numbers or better right now. And the rushing numbers aren't much better. 118 rush yards and zero touchdowns. Yikes. Now, Florida is 3-0 and their defense showed its stuff against Tennessee so there's no need to worry in Gator land. But if they wanted to see Timmy T two-time the Trophy, he better pick up his play.

4. USC is going 12-0 - It's funny...USC doesn't even play this week but they get a mention in this week's recap. And it's because the Pac-10 showed just how bad they really are. Arizona State never looking competitive to Georgia. Oregon losing to Boise State at home...and the score was closer than the actual game. And the rest of the conference is not even ranked and for good reason. USC has an easy road to a perfect regular season but this has been said before and yet, they have found ways to lose. So no guarantees but if USC loses this year, it's a travesty.

5. Don't assume...makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me" - This is directed at every voter that had Florida State in the Top 25. I mentioned this in my preview and I've been proved right. Florida State may have been 2-0 but when your two wins are against FCS teams, you have nothing to base a vote on. But yet, voters did. So when FSU was moved to #24, all of a sudden, their game against Wake looked like a can't miss. Well, trust me, you could have. FSU turned the ball over 7 times, including 5 picks. They amassed 139 in penalty yards and their two leading passers were also their two leading rushers. Oh, and all of this was at home. Yeah, sounds like a top 25 team huh? Let this be a sign to voters that if a team hasn't played anyone close to respectable, let's not jump them into the top 25. Cause not only do the voters look stupid, but the team's loss looks that much worse.

6. Ohio University is the best 0-4 team in the nation - Ok, they are also the only 0-4 team in the FBS but stick with me here. They were probably the best 0-3 team coming into Week 4 but now after a 16-8 loss to Northwestern, this team really has fallen into the category of teams that just can't get over the hump. Their average margin of loss is 6 points and that includes two games against Big Ten foes. Their offensive stats aren't 0-4 terrible. More than 1000 total offensive yards so far. The defense has played better than many expected too. But yet, the 'Cats are 0-4. They could be 2-2 or 3-1 (not 4-0) but the reason they are 0-4 is turnovers and special teams. They can't consistently make field goals (0-3 vs. N'Western) and they keep turning the ball over at critical junctures in ballgames. I feel for Frank Solich and his coaching staff. By all looks, they have prepared this team each week to be successful and have a gameplan that they execute well for 50 of 60 minutes. But it's those 10 minutes or 10 seconds on a play that ruin it all. Thankfully, there are 8 games left to turn this ship around and win the conference, which is the main goal every year anyways. But this has to start wearing on the demeanor of the team.

7. BCS Busters: The Good, Bad and Ugly - Gotta give nothing but props to Boise State for their resounding victory over Oregon. As usual, the Broncos brought their best and the ranked team wasn't ready. Same goes for BYU and their dominating win over Wyoming. It's the second straight shutout for the Cougars who are showing they can do it with offense or defense. Both teams have legit shots to bust the BCS. Meanwhile, Fresno State showed a hangover from their loss to Wisconsin. No doubt they were devastated by the loss but you gotta move on in college football. They nearly lost to a less than mediocre Toledo team and in my mind, probably will lose their top-25 ranking. And finally, East Carolina succumbed to all the great talk about them. After two wins over ranked teams, the team gained confidence and probably some cockiness too. That hurt them last week against Tulane and ultimately, helped lead to a loss today against NC State. They wanted those wins in the first two weeks bad and played like it. They didn't do that the last two weeks against lesser opponents and it's a shame.

8. SEC Showdowns are fun - I don't think LSU or Auburn have a shot at making the national title but I'll tell ya, that game was fun to watch. Watching those two teams go back and forth was truly a treat. And it was traditional SEC football. Close throughout and big plays making the difference. And while LSU/Auburn got most of the publicity, Vandy/Ole Miss was another SEC dandy. Vandy won the game after forcing an Ole Miss fumble at the 2 yd line with 2:45 left to go. Now, next week, the SEC games include Tennessee/Auburn and Alabama/Georgia. Should be some more fireworks.

9. You're not in Athens anymore... - So I went to my first college football game as a sideline photographer at Williams-Brice Stadium for South Carolina's game against Wofford. Within my first 5 steps on the field, I knew it wasn't MAC football. The stadium can seat 80,000. The band is loud. The students are drunk and yelling every cheer they know. I mean, it was an eye-opener for me. Again, SC was only playing Wofford so the energy in the stadium was not an SEC energy but man oh man, I've been to OSU games and felt that energy. South Carolina had that same thing and they aren't even good. Slowly becoming convinced that down south is where real football fans are. And I mean slowly...

10. Lou Holtz is right - I still don't like the Dr. Lou segments. They're just not as funny as the pep talks and they are incredibly too cheesy. But in his latest one, he ended it with a great quote that I may use many times as a parent. "If you can't improve upon silence, be quiet." Now how good is that? I'd say I'd apply it to myself but I know it won't happen. But if someone told me that, I'd think twice about saying something stupid around them again.

11. Lou Holtz is (gonna be) wrong - When Lou Holtz said Notre Dame would go 11-1, I immediately shot him down. But when I took a closer look at their schedule, I gave the coach a 5% chance of being right. I mean, any team with the likes of Syracuse, Navy, and Washington on the schedule should feel pretty good about their chances. I mean, the only ranked team on the schedule now is USC, which was the automatic loss I was giving the Irish. But now that they been put through the (Javon) ringer by Michigan State, 11-1 isn't gonna happen. Lou is gonna be wrong and Mark May will undoubtedly point it out.

BEST GAME - East Carolina @ NC State
NC State had not scored an offensive touchdown the entire year. They were by far one of the worst offenses in college football. But when it mattered against their rival, who happened to be ranked as well, they showed up and played like champions. NC State is not going to a bowl game this year and has a lot of work to before they even think about that. But wins like those a re huge for a program. And watching them come back and score to take it to OT and then make the plays they needed to in OT was something to see.

WORST GAME - Florida @ Tennessee
This game gets this distinction because of the way Tennessee laid and egg to the Gators. A nationally televised game and chance to prove they are better than that UCLA loss in the opening weekend and what do the Vols do? How about 3 turnovers, including 2 in the red zone. How about giving up a punt return for TD and falling behind 27-0 at home to fully take away whatever home field advantage you had. A lot of people figured this would be a great game and instead, it was a dud thanks to Florida's solid play and Tennessee's pathetic play.

OVER/UNDER
I was gonna go with West Virginia but this week, the team that I feel is overrated is Florida State and for all the reasons that I listed above. They had played no one to deserve the ranking but when they face a legit team, they fall flat on their back and turn the ball over 7 times. That's no good.
As far as an underrated team, how bout Ball State taking down Indiana handily and without star receiver Dante Love? Nate Davis spearheads that Cardinals offense but it's the whole team that is making this team a threat to make some noise maybe even beyond the MAC. They could run the table in the conference and if they do, you gotta start throwing them in the BCS Buster mix.

HE/SHE SAID WHAT?
"Running backs and quarterbacks, get whatever six pack you can get a hold of, and sit in the ice tub, cause that's gonna be sore." -Paul MaGuire after Jimmy Clausen gets whacked (maybe not appropriate considering most college players are underage)

3 QUESTIONS
1. West Virginia loses again. Pitt squeaks by. South Florida looks lackluster against FIU. When will someone step up in the Big East and take control?

2. Why does the Big Ten have its own network but the SEC does not? Damn shame...

3. Who is the starting quarterback for OSU vs. Minnesota? Pryor or Boeckman?