Week 9 Recap and 3 Games

Sorry for the delay this week.  Halloween turned out to be one of the most boring and worthless Saturdays in recent college football history.  Every game that meant something, pretty much was a dud.  With that said, one thing we all saw was that the contenders and the pretenders were set.  USC may have lost more than just the Pac-10 and the BCS on Saturday, but we may be witnessing the changing of the guard.  But onto the rest of the column.

THREE THINGS I LEARNED

1.  Congradualtions are in order for Tim Tebow and the Gators.  First anytime that you can surpass the legendary Hershel Walker in anything, it is an accomplishment.  Hats off to Tebow for breaking that record.  Also at the same time, with Florida crushing Georgia, and couple that with a egg that South Carolina laid against Tennessee, Florida has retained the SEC Eastern Division Championship.  Can Alabama finish off the SEC West next Saturday?

2.  Oregon is now officially in the race for Pasadena, the race for the “Crystal Ball” not the “Roses”.  Big win by Oregon, and even though they have one loss, they are in a much better position to get to the BCS title game, than Iowa.  They can thank USC’s and the SEC’s domination of the Big Ten in the BCS for that.

3.  With USC losing it makes the BCS race more chaotic.  USC’s spot now is open for Boise State to claim it without a automatic bid.  I think it is now likely that (as of right now) that both TCU and Boise State will be in the BCS.  What a statement for the little guys if they can unbelievably sneak two of their own into the BCS.

3 GAMES TO WATCH

BIGGEST GAME

#9 LSU at #3 Alabama – Saturday, November 7 – CBS – 3:30 pm EST – “Saban Bowl III”

HUGE GAME, for both, this is essentially the SEC Western Division Championship Game.  If LSU wins, they don’t clinch, but for Alabama to lose and still go to Atlanta, LSU would have to lose to either Ole Miss or Arkansas, plus Alabama would have to beat Mississippi State and Auburn.  But to simplify things for the Tide, if they win, they are headed to Atlanta.  The bye week will help Alabama get their heads readjusted and focused on the mission.  LSU will bring the lumber but I don’t think it will be enough.  Alabama will win but they will have a fight for a trip to Atlanta.

ALABAMA 20  LSU 10

MOST INTRIGUING GAME

#16 Ohio State vs. #11 Penn State – Saturday, November 7 – ABC – 3:30 pm EST

This will be a very close game.  These two teams are similar in the fact in their biggest games they lost.  Their difference, Penn State has beaten everyone on their schedule, and Ohio State has that ugly loss against Purdue.  The Ohio State offense is not dynamic enough to stay with Penn State in this game.  Penn State will have a fight, but they will pull away in the 4th quarter.

PENN STATE 24  OHIO STATE 10

UPSET ALERT

#19 Oklahoma St. at Iowa St. – Saturday, November 7 – ABC – 3:30 pm EST

Oklahoma St. lost badly in their biggest game of the year, and pretty much has no chance of going to the Big XII Championship.  Thus the Cowboys are likely looking at heading for a nice holiday in San Diego.  Meanwhile, Iowa St., has a lot to play for.  Believe it or not they are still in the Big XII North.  I understand they don’t have a prayer in beating Texas if they were to get to Dallas, but just getting there is an accomplishment.  I think Iowa St., at home, having more to play for, look for the Cyclones to possibly pull off the upset.

Again sorry for the delay this week.  Later today I’ll have the BCS Bowls Outlook.
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