2009 College Football - Week 6 Recap

I had so much hope for this week. I was hoping for monumental upsets. I was hoping for a huge shake-up in the national title picture. I was hoping some conference races would be thrown for a loop. But I got none of that. And for that, I'm not a happy college football fan. But that can all change this next week with such a great slate of games. But before I look ahead at Week 7, time to take a look back at Week 6.

THE BIG 10 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THIS WEEK

1. UF more than Tebow - If you read my preview post, I didn't think Tim Tebow would play. Obviously, I was wrong. But after watching that game, it almost felt like he didn't play. He wasn't really an impact in the game. Instead of dominating the game like he does in most games, he just managed the game a la Craig Krenzel, Matt Flynn, Chris Leak, and other QBs who were BCS champs but not spectacular. The Florida defense impressed me a ton with how they shut down the Tiger offense. Also, the Gator running game was great, allowing Tebow to hand the ball off 80-85% of the game while controlling the clock. If I was a Gator fan, I'd feel really good about the team after that performance.

2. What if? - This is strictly for an OSU fan like myself. What if the Buckeyes would have beaten USC? What if Matt Barkley's final drive would have ended with no score? Think about it. First off, one has to think that OSU would be ranked in the top 5, probably 4th after UF, UT and Bama. They also would have the opportunity to get quality wins over the likes of Iowa and PSU, two top-15 teams, and a Michigan squad that is slowly gaining respect. Of course, getting to the title game would still take a loss by one of the big 3 ahead but to at least be in that conversation would be fun. Eh well....

3. Welcome to the 2009 season - It was a shot of reality to Missouri and Auburn this week. For Mizzou, the shot came from Nebraska. For 3 quarters, Mizou looked to be a legit unbeaten that could hang with the likes of Nebraska. But then Zac Lee and the Huskers took over and exposed Mizzou as a team that just had a fortunate schedule. The same may be said of Auburn, who also has had a favorable schedule to begin the season. Against an unranked Arkansas team, the Tigers never were in sync offensively or defensively. Maybe it was just a bad game for the Tigers but even so, the games only get harder with the likes of Ole Miss, LSU and Alabama still to come.

4. MAC Race is on - Look out Owls, the Bobcats are coming. Last week, I talked about how I wished OU would get some respect among the MAC East. After two road wins against MAC opponents, I think that's happening. The Cats have 4 of the last 6 games at home, including against Temple, also undefeated in the MAC East. That game on November 27th could determine the division. Glad to see the Cats even back in this discussion. Myabe Frankie Solich isn't a bad coach after all.

5. Pac-10 Race is on - Right when it looked like Stanford was going to stay perfect until they faced the best of the best, the Cardinal fell to Oregon State. Meanwhile, Washington shocked Arizona on a freak play. USC of course has already lost to the Huskies and needs to Oregon to lose at some point. But the Ducks have already beaten Cal and UCLA and are the only team perfect in the conference. There's a lot to be figured out still, though it could easily be settled if Oregon beats USC and keeps on winning. But something tells me that's not the case.

6. Big East battles - I am convinced that just about Big East game is going to be close. There are a lot of mediocre teams this season except for Cincinnati, which makes for a lot of close contests. The thing is, these mediocre are capable of great performances, including one that could take down Cincy. Every game is going to be a battle for every team and the favored team better be ready.

7. ACC Atlantic Awfulness - All the sudden, the ACC Atlantic is turning into the Big 12 North. Just like the North has struggled to keep up with the great play of the South, the Atlantic is falling way behind the Coastal. The ACC right now is being held up by the play of VT, Miami (FL) and GT. All of them play in the Coastal while disappointments like Clemson, FSU and Maryland play in the Atlantic. These kinds of things are always cyclical so things will change soon enough but for now, the winner of the Atlantic shouldn't be proud. They should just be fortunate they aren't in the Coastal.

8. Teams Falling Apart? - It's the halfway point for many teams and for some, it's also time to look in the mirror and wonder what's going wrong. Georgia began the year 3-1 against one of the tougher schedules in the nation. But after a heartbreaking loss against LSU, the Dawgs laid an egg against Tennessee, in what may have been the worst played game by UGA in the Mark Richt era. Meanwhile, the Ron Zook era may be coming to a close as long as Illinois keep struggling. The Illini are 1-4 and showing no signs of recovering from their sluggish start. They benched Juice Williams and that didn't work. So what will? Finally, don't look now but Michigan has lost 2 in a row and QB Tate Forcier was rocked in their loss to Iowa. Can the Wolverines recover or will they fall apart? Time will tell.

9. National Title Race clearing up - Here's what I can decipher. It's fairly safe to say the winner of the SEC title game will be in the BCS title game, provided they have just one loss. As far as the other team, it's going to be either Texas, VT, USC, or Cincy. That's it and that's all. OSU is out with USC beating them. Iowa needs some help as well from the aforementioned 4 teams. Kansas would have to beat Texas in the Big 12 title game. Boise State or TCU needs to be the only undefeated team among 2-loss teams. And Oregon is pretty much done for sure but a convincing win over USC could help them a ton.

10. Heisman Watch - Colt McCoy was strong yet again and keep his hold on the top spot in my book. Tebow didn't play his best game but considering the circumstances and the media's love affair with him, the fact that he played is probably worth the award alone. Other top contenders like Tony Pike and Jimmy Clausen were off this week so not too much to report on here. For now, these 4 seem to be the only real contenders but there's still time for others to show up.

11. A Look Ahead - As great as the matchup were last week, this week may be better. Just look at some the great Top 25 matchups. Cincy-USF on Thursday, Oklahoma-Texas, USC-ND, GT-VT and S. Car-Bama. And other potential upsets such as Boise St-Tulsa, Iowa-Wisc, and Mizzou-OKST. It should be an amazing weekend of games. And I didn't even mention Miami (OH)-OU. Oh the humanity!

OVER/UNDER
- Tough decision here but I'm gonna say that NEBRASKA is my UNDERRATED team of the week. Don't forget, the Huskers are just one Tyrod Taylor TD pass with 11 seconds left from not only being undefeated but also in the BCS championship discussion. What the Huskers did to Mizzou just shows what kind of team they are. Yeha, they were down on the road playing in awful conditions. But they didn't use that as an excuse. Instead, they scored 27 points in the final quarter, proving they are the more superior team. Bo Pelini has this team on the right track.
- As far as the OVERRATED team, I'm going with AUBURN. Their record made everyone believe they were ready for national recognition and a top-20 ranking. But the Tigers choked and now must work their way back. There is talent on this team but to think they would win 9-10 games was ridiculous. Getting to 8 wins would be a great accomplishment for this team and event I'm not sure that's gonna happen with the teams they have left.

HE/SHE SAID WHAT?
"I can't root for Jimmie Johnson to win the Nextel Cup b/c of all of his Super Bowl wins."- Matt Millen

3 QUESTIONS

1. After Arkansas great performance against Auburn, can they give Florida a run for their money?

2. Now that FSU is 2-4, is it safe to say the 'Noles need to make a coaching change?

3. Will Boise State be able to stay at #5 or will they be jumped because of their weak schedule?

2009 College Football - Week 6

This is where the college football season gets fun. As of now, there are about 10-15 teams with a legit shot of getting to the BCS title game. This week's slate of games will go a long way into shrinking that number. That's because this week, a lot of ranked teams have some tough tests, including a few of them against fellow ranked teams. The most fun will be in the SEC but beyond that, there are other critical games that will go a long way in determining conference races.

It was another good week of picking games for me, going a respectable 10-5. I also predicted my second straight APPY pick, which I think may be a personal record. I'm gonna try to make 3 for 3 this week, but in my life, the third time has never really been the charm. My overall record for the season is up to 48-27. Here's hoping I can make it a perfect 15-0 in Week 6, but I doubt it with such amazing games on the schedule.

GAME OF THE WEEK
1. #1 Florida @#4 LSU - Doesn't get much better than this on a Saturday. Tons of storylines in this one. The first one obviously being the health of Tim Tebow. My gut tells me he will get medically cleared but will not play. Losing this game does not end the Gators title chances. In fact, it gives them a scapegoat. But losing Tebow long-term will ruin their chances. LSU's offense has not been great this season but they're scrappy and seem to just find ways to win when it matters. But this is a Florida that really doesn't like the Bayou Bengals and will do everything in their power to bring home a win for their injured captain. Having the game in Baton Rouge is a huge advantage, especially if back-up John Brantley makes his first career start. Should be a great game and my pick to win is LSU.

BEST OF THE REST
2. #3 Alabama @ #20 Ole Miss - Another great SEC showdown this Saturday with national title implications too. Bama hasn't really been challenged since their opening week win against VT but they should get one from Ole Miss. The Rebels are probably still steamed about their loss to South Carolina and you can bet Coach Nutt will have this team motivated and ready to pull the upset. Thing is, the Rebels are facing one of the best defenses in the nation. QB Jevan Snead has to stay away from turnovers to assure his team a chance. The Tide's offense has been playing well as of late and should be able to move the ball against the Rebels. Now, the game is in Oxford so the Rebel faithful will make things tough. I'm not gonna make it secret that I am rooting for Ole Miss but ALABAMA has looked too strong so far to fall in this one.

3. Michigan @ #12 Iowa - Great Big Ten battle here of two teams who are fighting for a Big Ten title just as much as favorites OSU and PSU are. Michigan did fall last week to MSU but barely. QB Tate Forcier did another great job of bringing his team back against MSU but in the end, also threw away the game with an INT in overtime. Meanwhile, Iowa was anything but impressive in their 24-21 win over Arkansas State. Both teams have a lot to prove in this one. While I think Iowa is a good team and played a great game against Penn State, they haven't showed me anything that tells me they are for real So in my APPY pick, I'll take MICHIGAN to win on the road in Iowa City.

4. #13 Oregon @ UCLA - The Ducks have come a long way since the Boise State opening week loss. They've now won 4 in a row and find themselves right in the thick of the Pac-10 race. But all is not rosy in Eugene. Their starting QB Jeremiah Masoli may not start after injuring his knee last week. Since the suspension of RB LaGarrette Blount, he's been the cog that makes the offense go so losing him is a big deal. UCLA is no joke either. They did lose last week to a good Stanford team but are more than capable of pulling off this upset, especially at home and against a backup QB. Still taking OREGON though to escape with the win.

5. #21 Nebraska @ #24 Missouri (THURS) - In case you missed it, Missouri is undefeated on the season and QB Chase Daniel has graduated. Now the question is, is this team for real? They'll find out this week against a Nebraska team that has its sights set on winning the Big 12 North. Bo Pelini's team only loss has come to VT, and that was by one point, so this is a team with plenty of talent and confidence. Meanwhile, Missouri's best win is at Nevada. Yikes. Mizzou may be ranked but NEBRASKA is the better team. Much better.

6. Wisconsin @ #9 Ohio State - There have been occasions when Wisconsin has upset the higher-ranked Buckeyes. Don't expect that this week. Yes, the Badgers come in undefeated and off a rivalry win on the road at Minnesota. But the Badgers defense is nothing special, having already given up 123 pts in 5 games. In contrast, the Buckeyes defense has given up just 59 pts in 5 games, including just 14 in the last 3. The Badgers will have to win this game on the ground but the Buckeyes defense is 10th against the run. The winner takes sole possession of first place in the conference at 3-0. I'll take OHIO STATE in a game that could be settles at halftime. OHIO STATE 34, WISCONSIN 14

7. #22 Georgia Tech @ Florida State - All the talk this week in Tallahassee has been all about Bobby Bowden and his job situation. For a football team, this is the last thing you want to hear as you try to turn your football season around. Or is it? GT head coach Paul Johnson believes all the talk about Bowden will only inspire the 'Noles to play for their beloved coach and prove that he still has "it". GT is the better team but if they don't get off to a good start, it won't be good. They are the kind of offense that jumps out of the gate and seizes control. Because of all the emotion and talk, I don't see them being able to do that. So I'll take FLORIDA STATE in an upset.

8. Boston College @ #5 Virginia Tech - Without a doubt, VT is the better team and if all goes right, should win by 14 or more. But this is the kind of game that VT loves to lose, or at least lately. Last year, they inexplicably lost to BC in Chestnut Hill 28-23. Of course, this game is in Blacksburg, a place VT rarely loses. But don't count out BC, who is coming off an emotional win against FSU. VIRGINIA TECH is my choice to win, even though this could be a bit of a trap game with GT next week.

9. Connecticut @ Pittsburgh - A critical game in the Big East race. The Cincy/USF battle next Thursday will give one of those teams a loss. The same goes for this game as both hope to stay perfect in conference play. UConn is off to a good start at 3-1, giving up just 60 pts in their 4 games. Pitt should be perfect if not for a bad loss to NC State. They bounced back nicely against Louisville though and should be more than ready to take on that stout UConn D. PITTSBURGH is my pick.

10. Georgia @ Tennessee - This is a big game for the Vols but an even bigger game for the Dawgs. UGA had LSU right where they wanted them, losing with less than a minute left. But the Dawgs couldn't finish the job and now, they're 3-2, unranked and wondering what could have been. But this is the kind of game they need badly. They lose this game and their season goes for a tailspin. But the Vols need this game too, especially if they have sights set on making a bowl game. Their defense will have their work cut out for them to stop the Dawgs though. I'll go with GEORGIA.

11. Stanford @ Oregon State - The Cardinal are 4-1 and 3-0 in the conference. Is it a joke? Not at all but it is a bit misleading. You see, Stanford finishes the year with Oregon, USC, Cal and Notre Dame, so the best is yet to come. But with every game, this team gains confidence and with a win this week, could find themselves ranked for the first time all year. To win, they'll have to stop an Oregon State team that hasn't played great in the early part of the season but at any time, could break out of that funk. STANFORD is my pick to win but I expect this one to be close.

12. #17 Auburn @ Arkansas - The secret is out about Auburn: they're good. Their offense has put points up in every game and their start has many thinking they could be the comeback team of the season. But let's not get too crazy. They're in SEC play now and things will only get tougher. They beat Tennessee 26-22 and now must take on an Arkansas team that can pass with the best of them but doesn't have the defense to match. This game could be an offensive shootout and in the end, AUBURN should come out on top.

13. Baylor @ #19 Oklahoma - This game would be much higher if both teams had their quarterbacks healthy. Baylor lost super sophomore Robert Griffin for the year due to injury and Oklahoma is still without their Heisman Trophy-winning QB Sam Bradford. Now, Bradford could be back for this game, which would be big so he can get some playing time before the big showdown against Texas. With Griffin, the Sooners would be on upset alert but since the Bears are sans Griffin, OKLAHOMA wins by a ton.

14. #10 TCU @ Air Force - This is an important one for the team hoping to bust the BCS. actually, all of them are important now. TCU still has BYU and Utah on the schedule but it would be a bad idea not to bring their best for the Air Force. TCU has been great so far this season, controlling games with their offense and with their defense. Meanwhile, Air Force is 3-2 but both losses by 7 or less. They have one heck of a rush offense, #2 in the nation. The Falcons are definitely a worthy opponents but the Horned Frogs of TCU should come away with the victory.

15. Colorado @ #2 Texas - As far as the game, it's not the most attractive matchup. Colorado is not a good road team and one of the more inconsistent teams in the Big 12. They are also turnover-prone and tend to become exactly that against good competition. All eyes on this game should be on Texas, as they prepare for Oklahoma. Getting out of this game injury-free will be very important. Yes, you could call this a trap game but Colorado doesn't have enough to pull off the upset even if Texas overlooks them a bit. TEXAS wins by a healthy margin.

OTHER GAMES
Ohio @ Akron - It's the final game of a three-game road swing for the Cats. So far, it's gone fairly well. A hard-fought loss to Tennessee and then an offensive shootout win at Bowling Green. But now they travel to an Akron squad that has had it rough this year. The Zips are 1-3 but the losses are quality losses to Penn State, Indiana and Central Michigan. This will the Zips first real chance of winning and you can bet they know that too, especially with 2 weeks to prepare for the Cats. In order for OU to win this game, the defense has to play like they did against UConn, not BG. OU will put points on the board but it's that defense that worries me. Starting 2-0 in the MAC East would be a great start. Since Akron hasn't proven themselves, I'm going with OHIO to move to 4-2. OHIO 38, AKRON 28

Don't forget, I am running the Augusta Half Marathon on November 1st and am raising money for Habitat For Humanity. You can help me reach my goal of $1,000 in one month but time is running out. Just visit my fundraising website and donate. Every little bit helps...and thanks!

2009 MLB Playoffs

It's October and that must mean baseball postseason. Despite the fact that my team was all but eliminated in June, I am going into this postseason with a lot of excitement. I honestly think any of these 8 teams could win the World Series with their collection of hitting, pitching, defense and coaching. That should make for some great games. The only bad thing that I can think of is that I have to hear a lot of Tim McCarver this month, something I wouldn't wish upon anyone.

Before the games get underway, here are my predictions for each series. With the Indians out of the postseason, I am rooting for the Twins and Rockies. Why? Because it would be cool to see some new teams in the World Series and actually win. Yes, I know both have made the World Series in my lifetime but it's better than seeing any team from LA, NY or Boston make it.

Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Game 1: Wednesday 10/7 - 2:30 - in Philadelphia
Game 2: Thursday 10/8 - 2:30 - in Philadelphia
Game 3: Saturday 10/10 - 9:30 - in Colorado
Game 4: Sunday 10/11 - Time TBD - in Colorado
Game 5: Tuesday 10/13 - Time TBD - in Philadelphia

My Take: This should be a great series. The Rockies come in hot, as they were two years ago when they made the World Series. They also come in boasting pitchers that have really performed well this season. The Phillies are the defending champs and may be better than last year's team. Raul Ibanez has brought another big bat to the lineup and Cliff Lee has been amazing since coming over from the Tribe. The Rockies seem to just play better when they play at home so don't expect this one to end in Colorado. PHILLIES IN 5

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Game 1: Wednesday 10/7 - 9:30 - in Los Angeles
Game 2: Thursday 10/8 - 6:00 - in Los Angeles
Game 3: Saturday 10/10 - 6:00 - in St. Louis
Game 4: Sunday 10/11 - Time TBD - in St. Louis
Game 5: Tuesday 10/13 - Time TBD - in Los Angeles

My Take: The Dodgers come in with the NL's best record and one of the more potent lineups top to bottom. The pitching staff is deep too, with a good mix of young and veteran arms. The Cardinals have one heck of a lineup too, led by presumed NL MVP Albert Pujols and midseason acquisition Matt Holliday. But the strength of this team is pitching, led by Cy Young candidates Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. It's gonna be tough for the Dodgers to take on those two and even worse, they get the duo at home. Don't be surprised to see the Cardinals win both in L.A. CARDINALS IN 4

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees
Game 1: Wednesday 10/7 - 6:00 - in New York
Game 2: Friday 10/9 - 6:00 - in New York
Game 3: Sunday 10/11 - Time TBD - in Minnesota
Game 4: Monday 10/12 - Time TBD - in Minnesota
Game 5: Wednesday 10/14 - Time TBD - in New York

My Take: On paper, this is an absolute mismatch. While the Yankees are filled with All-Star talent on the entire roster, the Twins are made up of gritty, everyday players who just seem to play well year in and year out under manager Ron Gardenhire. The emotion of winning the tiebreaker may help them as they take on the best team in the regular season. They'll need it because besides maybe catcher, the Yankees are better in every aspect. The Yankees have all the pressure on them and that's never good. Plus, they haven't won a playoff series since 2004. YANKEES IN 4

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels
Game 1: Thursday 10/8 - 9:30 - in Los Angeles
Game 2: Friday 10/9 - 9:30 - in Los Angeles
Game 3: Sunday 10/11 - Time TBD - in Boston
Game 4: Monday 10/12 - Time TBD - in Boston
Game 5: Wednesday 10/14 - Time TBD - in Los Angeles

My Take: It's deja vu all over again with these two AL titans facing off in the ALDS round. The last two years, it's been the Sox who defeated the Angels, even though L.A. had the home field advantage. Both years, it's been the Red Sox pitching that's been the difference. Expect the same this season as the Sox come in with the superior pitching staff again. But don't count out the Angels just yet, who were pushed for once in the AL West, unlike previous years when they cruised in with no momentum. They have pitchers that can get the job done but the Red Sox lineup is a tough one to contain. RED SOX IN 4

NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

Yet another exciting week of NFL action and at the same, another week of shifting with my NFL Power Rankings. The shifts aren't nearly as dramatic as previous weeks though. That's because judging the teams is getting a lot easier as they become more consistent and get away from the sloppy play that comes with the beginning of a new season. There are still a few surprises among the 32 teams that I'm having a tough time believing but that's how it goes.

With the urging of my friend Luke, I have added an element to my power rankings that is probably long overdue. Instead of just going with my gut on Tuesday morning when I wake up, I will actually look back to the previous week and move teams as I see fit after that week's performance. It makes sense and while it makes for a bit more work/thinking than what I had been doing, it is something I think will make the power rankings better. Kudos Luke.
1. Indianapolis (4-0, Last Week: 2) - Everyone knows about the offense led by Peyton Manning. But watch out for this defense. They completely shut down Seattle's offense. Having a puss-rusher like Dwight Freeney helps. NEXT @ Tennessee

2. New England (3-1, LW: 4) - After wins over Atlanta and Baltimore, I think it's safe to say the Patriots are for real this season. The defense gave up a ton of yards to the Ravens but Brady and the offense did enough to win. NEXT @ Denver

3. Baltimore (3-1, LW: 3) - The Ravens gave the Pats all they could handle. Joe Flacco looked good against a quality defense and showed that he can hang with the big boys. The defense though couldn't stop the Pats pass attack when it mattered. NEXT vs. Cincinnati

4. Pittsburgh (2-2, LW: 5) - Forget about the 4th qtr of that Sunday night game against SD and the Steelers looked like the Super Bowl champs again. Add that 4th qtr and they prove they can win but their pass defense needs some serious work. NEXT @ Detroit

5. Denver (4-0, LW: 8) - Alright, I'm finally okay with saying this team is for real. The defense is pretty darn good and the offense, while led by Kyle Orton, doesn't really depend on him. Oughta be interesting to see them face the Pats though. NEXT vs. New England

6. NY Jets (3-1, LW: 3) - I don't think there's any argument about their defense anymore, giving up just offensive touchdown to the Saints. As for Mark Sanchez, welcome to the NFL. We'll see just how well he bounces back from that terrible performance. NEXT MON @ Miami

7. Cincinnati (3-1, LW: 7) - I'm not really sure how this team keeps winning but they do. It's hard to believe that this coming week they are playing for AFC North supremacy. Marvin Lewis may keep his job if they keep this up. NEXT @ Baltimore

8. San Diego (2-2, LW: 6) - The Chargers have plenty of talent but for some reason, can't put it together in a game for 60 minutes. The defense was awful against the Steelers while the offense didn't wake up until the 2nd half. They need to figure something out during the bye week. NEXT: Bye Week

9. Houston (2-2, LW: 10) - Beating the Raiders isn't worth a huge jump in the rankings. But mad props to their defense for keeping the Raiders to 6 points. The Texans defense is the only thing keeping them from being a playoff contender. NEXT @ Arizona

10. Jacksonville (2-2, LW: 12) - The last two weeks have been great for the Jags. The offense has found a new star in Mike Sims-Walker and the defense did a great job of not letting an early lead slip two weeks in a row. Not bad through 4 games. NEXT @ Seattle

11. Miami (1-3, LW: 13) - Apparently, all it took was a change at quarterback to get this offense going. Just kidding. Henne didn't have to do much. The running game took that game over. But they'll need to count on Henne at some point this year. NEXT MON vs. NY Jets

12. Buffalo (1-3, LW: 11) - They haven't shown much in the past two weeks, being outscored 55-17. So how does one recover from two bad games like that? How about playing the Cleveland Browns? That should help the Bills get back on track. NEXT vs. Cleveland

13. Tennessee (0-4, LW: 11) - It's tough to pin this loss on one player as many want to do with Kerry Collins. The defense has been atrocious the last 3 weeks, giving up 95 pts. A change to Vince Young may not bring wins but it would give him experience. NEXT vs. Indianapolis

14. Oakland (1-3, LW: 14) - It's too bad the Raiders cut Jeff Garcia because with him under center, this team may have won 6-7 games. But with Russell there and a banged up offensive line, this team is destined to have a top 5 pick once again. NEXT @ NY Giants

15. Kansas City (0-4, LW: 15) - Matt Cassel is playing well but it's tough to compete when your defense can't stop anyone. The offense also has no threat at runningback. Larry Johnson's best days are behind him and Jamaal Charles is still young. NEXT vs. DAL

16. Cleveland (0-4, LW: 16) - Derek Anderson played okay as did Jerome Harrison. But after overcoming a 14-0 deficit, the team couldn't stop a Carson Palmer drive to tie the ballgame and later win it. Just gonna be a long season in Believe-land. NEXT @ Buffalo.


1. New Orleans (4-0, LW: 1) - The remarkable TD pace Drew Brees was on has slowed but the odds of them winning the NFC just keep getting better, especially if that defense continues to menace QBs like they did to Mark Sanchez. NEXT: Bye Week

2. NY Giants (4-0, LW: 2) - For the first time this season, Brandon Jacobs made an impact in a ballgame. Of course, they were only playing the Chiefs so it wasn't important but it will be come week 6 when they face NO in what should be a battle of unbeatens. NEXT vs. Oakland

3. Minnesota (4-0, LW: 3) - Good performance against a good Green Bay team. Brett Favre showed he can carry the team when the run game cannot. But it's still the defense that drives this team, keeping teams from gaining any offensive rhythm for 60 minutes. NEXT @ St. Louis

4. Atlanta (2-1, LW: 4) - Best news from the bye week for them is that Jerious Norwood should be back and healthy, giving Matt Ryan and that offense just another threat. They'll need that as they take on one tough defense in SF. NEXT @ San Francisco

5. San Francisco (3-1, LW: 5) - The Rams aren't the toughest team to play but the 49ers defense made them just look silly. The offense played fine without Frank Gore and Shaun Hill has been solid at QB. Great test for them this week. NEXT vs. Atlanta

6. Philadelphia (2-1, LW: 6) - Donovan McNabb should be healthy after a few weeks off. That is great news for a team that could possibly be the best in the NFC with him under center. Will we see Michael Vick more or less now with McNabb back? NEXT vs. Tampa Bay

7. Chicago (3-1, LW: 8) - Jay Cutler had another great game and Matt Fotre helped the offensive attack as well, adding 121 yds. This team has looked great since the Week 1 loss. Too bad they are going into a bye week because they are hot right now. NEXT: Bye Week

8. Green Bay (2-2, LW: 7) - The Packers have great corners in Al Harris and Charles Woodson to stop a great pass attack. But the Packers couldn't get any pressure on Brett Favre. Any good QB will win that battle every time. NEXT: Bye Week

9. Dallas (2-2, LW: 9) - It's a shame this team has Tony Romo as their quarterback. Despite a solid rushing attack, a good offensive line and an aggressive defense, Romo continues to find ways to turn wins into losses. NEXT @ Kansas City

10. Arizona (1-2, LW: 10) - For Cardinals fans' sake, let's hope Kurt Warner and the offense reminded the defense that they have to not allow 35+ points if the team is going to win. Getting Beanie Wells involved this week is also important. NEXT vs. Houston

11. Seattle (1-3, LW: 11) - I continue to believe this team will struggle until Matt Hasselbeck comes back. He just makes smarts decisions that Seneca Wallace seems incapable of. The defense also must play better than last week against Indy. NEXT vs. Jacksonville

12. Washington (2-2, LW: 14) - For awhile, it looked like the Redskins were going to lose again to an awful team. But Jason Campbell rallied and the team evened their record. But is this team good? Not by a longshot. They have more problems than I can fit on this post. NEXT @ Carolina

13. Carolina (0-3, LW: 12) - Panthers fans have to be hoping the bye week allowed the team to watch video of them last year and remember how to win ballgames. It takes a dominating run game, few turnovers, and a defense able to slow down an opponent's offense. NEXT vs. Washington

14. Detroit (1-3, LW: 13) - The Lions had some fight in them in the first half. Then, in the second half, they looked like the Lions of 2008. Losing Matthew Stafford to injury isn't good, especially since he's been playing well the past 2 weeks. NEXT vs. Pittsburgh

15. Tampa Bay (0-4, LW: 15) - One has to wonder if this demise due to the firing of Jon Gruden. With Gruden, this team may be 2-2 and a Monte Kiffin-led defense is among the top 10. But with both gone now, this team looks to be in disarray. NEXT at Philadelphia

16. St. Louis (0-4, LW: 16) - San Fran made them look like a high school team. There's a lot of work to be done with this team. Among the first things on the list is find a competent quarterback because neither Bulger or Boller is gonna cut it in the NFL. NEXT vs. Minnesota

2009 College Football - Week 5 Recap

The college football season is a third of a way done and it's been an exciting one so far. Top 10 teams have been falling just about every week and the top-tier teams have all had a bit of a scare. But that's just the way it is in college football, with every week meaning so much for every team. There's still a ton to be figured out but for now, here's what I learned from the Week 5 action.

THE BIG 10 THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK
1. In Pryor We Trust? - When Terrelle Pryor decided to play his college football at Ohio State, I was ecstatic. I figured it not only meant 3-4 great years of QB play, but a great chance at a national title. But I'm not so sure about that anymore. Yes, Pryor has played great the past three games but his mechanics and decision-making is still not up to par for a team that depends on him so much. I haven't completely lost faith but a great, actually make that dominant performance against a quality team like Wisconsin would go a long way to changing my opinion.

2. Luck of the Irish - Okay, maybe it's not luck but the way Notre Dame has been winning games is getting to be a bit pathetic. For a team that is supposed to be among the best 25 in the nation, they aren't playing like it. They've only beaten one team with a winning record and in 3 of their 4 wins, it's been by 7 or less. Yes, it's a great thing to win but winning these games like this also shows this is a team that has the inability to dominate and/or take over a game. The defense has been awful and thankfully, Jimmy Clausen and the offense has bailed them out. If I'm a ND fan, I'm not encouraged by the play or Charlie Weis's coaching yet.

3. Welcome Back SEC - Last year was a down year for the SEC. No matter what people may say, it was. Besides Florida and Alabama, no one else really was scary. But this is a new year and this is a conference with some real talent. Beyond the aforementioned two, there's an LSU squad that keeps getting better. A South Carolina team that while slow starters are showing signs of being a legitimate worry for Florida come November. Auburn is perfect and can score with the best of them. And Ole Miss is still a good team and has their opportunity to prove it against Bama. I'm really excited to see how the action all shakes out.

4. Bye Bye Bobby? - I'm never one to call for a coach's head, especially in college football. But it may be time for Bobby Bowden to call it a career. This season is off to awful start for the 'Noles, having gone 2-3. I'm not blaming that on Bowden but when things are going bad, coaches get canned. And with FSU with a coach-in-waiting, why not make the switch? Bowden doesn't look like he does much on the sideline anyways, walking around sans headset. His best moments come during the press conferences where he spouts off about how bad his team played in his folksy manner. Time for a change FSU and by the sounds of it, it may be coming.

5. Bye Bye BCS Title Game - At the beginning of the season, there were a good amount of NFL "experts"/pundits that had Oklahoma in the BCS title game. Now, just after 4 games, the Sooners are out of that picture, after losing their second game. Same can be said for California, who many thought had an outside shot of not only winning the Pac-10 but also making a run at the title game. Both teams have obviously not been eliminated but it'll be a steep hill to climb. And while losing early is better than losing late, it's also true that winning is better than losing at all.

6. ACC Ridiculousness Begins - I was really hoping this year that the ACC would be easy to figure out. The good teams would be beat the bad teams and the race would come down to one big game between those good teams. Just 5 weeks into the season, forget that. North Carolina was ranked just two weeks ago. But on Saturday, lost 16-3 at home to Virginia, who is awful. Clemson came close to beating Georgia Tech and TCU but blew a 13-3 lead against Maryland en route to a 24-21 loss. Meanwhile, VT couldn't beat Duke by double-digits. And the once mighty FSU lost to BC. Here's hoping GT, VT and Miami (FL) avoid the upsets and the ACC becomes a fun conference once again.

7. Time To Respect OU - The Bobcats are just 3-2 but it's time to respect them when it comes to the MAC East race. Every publication I found picked the 'Cats to finish no higher than third. After seeing this team perform in the first 5 weeks though, I see no reason to believe this team can't win the division. The offense has been outstanding, even with the lack of a true running game. The defense hasn't been terrible and the special teams is about as good as it gets for a MAC school. They won't go undefeated in the MAC but a 6-2 record isn't out the question at all.

8. The "other" unbeatens - Auburn, South Florida, and Missouri. Last week, I talked about these teams as teams not getting any respect because they were such a surprise. Well, I'm glad to see that they are finally getting noticed. All 3 teams have jumped into the top 25 and for good reason. They've come out of the gates strong despite low expectations. Now all of them are going to be put to the test. Missouri faces Nebraska on Thursday night in a battle of ranked squads. South Florida faces Cincinnati on October 15th in what should be a battle of unbeatens. And Auburn still has the likes of LSU, Ole Miss and Bama on the schedule.

9. BCS Busters - Not the best of weeks for the 3 teams hoping to jump into the BCS. Boise State did win but it was an ugly win over a UC Davis team that had no business hanging with the Broncos on the blue field. TCU didn't play bad at all against SMU. The only problem is that they were playing SMU. But it was an awful week for Houston, who were thumped by UTEP. Case Keenum threw for more than 500 yards but that wasn't enough as the Cougars find themselves all but out of the BCS picture now.

10. Heisman Watch - With Tebow and McCoy idle, there was room to jump into the spotlight for some players. RB Jahvid Best didn't do that at all, thanks to another bad performance against a quality team. Cincy QB Tony Pike's numbers were good but not great, throwing for 270 yds and 2 TD against a winless Miami (OH) team. QB Case Keenum did throw for 536 yds and 5 TD but in a losing cause. QB Jacory Harris threw for 202 yds and 3 TD in a big win but also had 2 INT. Maybe the biggest mover of them all though was Jimmy Clausen, who threw for 422 yds and 2 TD in yet another heroic late-game performance.

11. Lee's Losing It - I'm a big Lee Corso fan. His antics and eccentric personality are welcome when I wake up on Saturday morning. But Corso is starting to lose his touch. I can't take him seriously in any of his analysis because not only is it 5-10 seconds but it is awful compared to the in-depth information Kirk Herbstreit provides. In the picks segment, the only thing Corso is good for is a "Not so fast my friend". But even that gets old after the fifth time he does it. I'm not sure I want to see Desmond Howard or Jesse Palmer take his spot instead but I do know that ever since the minor stroke, Corso just hasn't been the same.

OVER/UNDER
- There are a few possibilities here but i"m going with NORTH CAROLINA as my OVERRATED team. Losing to Georgia Tech is one thing but losing at home to Virginia is just pathetic. I mean, come on, the same Virginia team that lost to FCS foe William & Mary. Butch Davis had seemed to getting this team on the right track but nothing about the last two performances is right.
- As far as my UNDERRATED team this week, I'm going with SOUTH CAROLINA. This is a team that is just a couple plays from being undefeated. And while they don't win in dominating fashion, they do win. They have an offense that can strike quick. They have a QB that is getting more comfortable with every game. And they have a fast defense. This is by far the best team Steve Spurrier has had since he's been there. Now, let's see if he can turn them into an SEC contender.

HE/SHE SAID WHAT?
"He ran in there like Ray Charles. You got to look in the eyes and see where you're going."- Doc Walker

3 QUESTIONS
1. Will Tim Tebow be back to play against LSU? And if so, will he 100%?

2. Which Iowa will show up against Michigan? The one who upset Penn State or the one that nearly lost to Arkansas State?

3. Will Stanford really be able to challenge USC in the Pac-10?

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