CFB Week 11 Recap

Going into this past Saturday, I felt there was a good possibility that the three remaining undefeated BCS conference teams could all lose. All 3 had games that weren't going to be easy (or supposed to be). But instead of 3 losses, only one lost and unfortunately, it was the one that I figured would run the table. Eh well...

All in all, another good week of football. Some conference pictures are clearing up while others all just getting more and more complex. Oh, and there's that whole BCS picture that isn't exactly clear.

THE BIG 10 THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK

1. Losses motivate Terrelle Pryor - I was wondering how the freshman QB could come back after a tough loss in which he fumbled the win to his opponent. Well, question answered. Pryor played possibly his best game yet, especially through the air. He made plays with his legs to make plays with his arm. And despite his numerous scrambles backwards, he didn't lose yards. Instead, he got positive yardage out of almost every play. This OSU offense with him unde center will be fun to watch the next two seasons.

2. PSU needs a 2007 OSU miracle - Last season, OSU lost to Illinois in their second to last game and fell from #1 to #7 in the BCS standings. Many left them for dead and said they needed a miracle. Well, they got it and OSU jumped right back to the #1 spot somehow. Well, PSU needs the same to happen. Good thing is that a lot of the teams in front of them will have one loss and all will be Big 12 or SEC (besides USC) meaning the list is actually much smaller cause you have to win your own conference to make the BCS title game I think. I think it can happen again. A Bama loss to Auburn or Miss. St and Florida loss to South Carolina or FSU, and then Florida beating Bama in the SEC Championship may be the easiest road. But plenty of football to be played.

3. Red Raiders are for real - If you didn't believe it then, you have to believe it now. They may have beaten Texas on a last minute TD but they dominated an OKST team that Texas only beat by 4. Not only that, but they did it after that emotionally charged tussle with Texas. Graham Harrell may have taken the Heisman Trophy lead as well. But it's the defense that's really been impressive. And they'll need to be in two weeks against Oklahoma.

4. Bama vs. Florida for BCS Title Game berth? - Well, both have clinched their spot in the SEC Title game with wins this past Saturday. Of course, both still have some big games left. Bama vs. rival Auburn and Florida against a good South Carolina defense and rival FSU. But if both run the table, no doubt that the SEC title game might as well be a national semifinal with the winner heading to the BCS Title game. If that's the case, talk about exciting football to come.

5. USC's defense is BCS title-game worthy - Still don't like Pete Carroll or USC but man oh man, that defense is just unreal. In 9 games, it has given up just 60 points! And considering 27 of them came against Oregon State in their lone loss, it's given up just 33 in 8 games. Yea, thats a bit more than 4 points per game. Pretty darn good.

6. Brian Kelly is a great coach - I knew this before this game but what Kelly is doing with the Cincinnati Bearcats this season is just amazing. After getting smacked by Oklahoma in Week 2 and losing two quarterbacks, the Bearcats have bounced back nicely. Now, they are 7-2 and tied at the top of the Big East after a huge road win in OT over West Virginia. Cincy fans may not wanna hear this but Kelly is just padding that resume. Look for him to jump to a place like Tennessee or Clemson after this great coaching job.

7. Utah and Boise State in BCS? - Could that really happen? Two non-BCS schools jumping into the BCS? Well, it just might happen. Utah beat a ranked TCU team and Boise State is well, Boise State and have built a reputation now like Gonzaga has in college bball. And with the restrictions in no more than 2 per conference in BCS games, plus the fact that the SEC and Big 12 are the only two truly deserving conferences for that, it might happen. The sad thing is that Ball State is not getting any of this BCS love. But it's all good. They still have David Letterman.

8. Steve Spurrier is impossible to figure out - I hate to argue with a coach that has won a national title and has a lot of success in his career BUT alternating quarterbacks every other snap is just dumb. It leads to a lack of rhythm on offense for everyone. But the team won and scored 34 points so I don't wanna argue too much. But my advice to him to beat Florida next week is to just stick with one guy. And I choose Stephen Garcia.

9. The ACC saga continues... - I mention this pathetic conference every week because it just is. Everyone in the conference has at least 2 conference losses. In fact, there is a 3-way tie in each division. UNC is the highest ranked team in the conference at #17, lower than 4 non-BCS schools. I don't know the conference tiebreakers nor do I care but needless to say, ACC country can't wait for basketball to begin already.

10. The title chase is down to 6 - OKST is out after their 2nd loss of the year, leaving Bama, Tech, FLA, Texas, Okla and PSU. USC is not in the mix yet for me because the Pac-10 is weak and if the season ended today, would not even win the conference. Oregon State would. Tech-Okla have to face off as well as Bama-FLA so plenty to be decided still.

11. Michael Phelps seems to be a nice guy - I got to see the American "hero" at the South Carolina game and from all signs, seems like a nice guy. He stopped for pictures, signed some autographs, and really only stopped doing that until someone told him he had to. Of course, I got nothing but hey, he was 10 feet from me and that's closer than most of you ever will be. So take that.

BEST GAME - Penn State @ Iowa
I hated the fact that Penn State lost this game but I loved the scene of watching the Hawkeye fans have something to cheer about again. They've endured a lot since the Brad Banks days. And this game had all the twists and turns you want in a game. And that final drive was one that may have saved Kirk Ferentz's job.

WORST GAME - Bowling Green vs. Ohio
If you haven't noticed, I keep forgetting to pick the OU game. And while this is an honest mistake, I think it's also the case that I've just given up on this year's edition of the 'Cats. And after a 28-3 loss this past Saturday, I don't think I will be gaining any confidence. I'm just glad I couldn't see this game in person or on TV.

OVER/UNDER
After thinking long and hard, I think the team that was OVERRATED was MINNESOTA. I was just singing their praises a few weeks ago. But after two straight losses, including this week's lopsided loss to Michigan, maybe I jumped on the bandwagon too early.
And as far as the UNDERRATED team of the week, I'm going with UTAH. Why? Because despite being undefeated and playing at home, they were the underdog vs. TCU. And all they did was win 13-10 and keep their BCS game hopes alive.

HE/SHE SAID WHAT?
"He is like a mean brother on Thanksgiving day. He gives him a little leg and he takes it back away". - Brad Nessler

"Who are the people that run college football? Fifty-and-older white, Southern men. Those are the people who run college football, and so to expect progress from them is a tough battle. They want someone who looks like them." - Spencer Tillman, while CBS holds a discussion on 4 black coaches in all of I-A college football.

"If you want to get to the championship game stay in the ACC and dominate." - Lou Holtz
"If you want to get to the championship game, go to the Big Ten and not play anybody and win." - Mark May after the discussion began with whether UNC coach would leave for somewhere else.

3 QUESTIONS
1. I mean, I know Tennessee is having a tough year but really, how do they lose to Wyoming at home?

2. Now the national title looks to be a distant memory, is JoePa gonna retire after the season?

3. Why doesn't Boise State just become a member of the Pac-10 now? Because the WAC is becoming way too easy for them and I'm pretty sure they'd be able to finish in the Top 3 every season