As I watched the games Saturday, I really thought there would be a big upset. Several teams struggled, but they all pulled it out in the end.

Alabama led Mississippi State at halftime based solely on its special teams. The Crimson Tide pulled away in the second half. USC was tied with Stanford at the half as the Cardinals ran all over USC’s defense. The Trojans also put the game away in the second half. For the second week in a row, Georgia had to come from behind in the fourth quarter against an average SEC foe, but they also were able to secure a victory.

Finally, we have LSU, which trailed Troy 31-3 in the third quarter. Nevertheless, on the wings of a 30 point fourth quarter, even the Tigers were able to avoid the upset.

So, since all the top teams managed to win this week, my main story is the ACC. It is true that the conference does not boast a national title contender. However, what the conference lacks in top-heavy power, they make up for in overall competitive play. This makes the ACC very exciting to watch. While only three teams (Maryland and Boston College in the Atlantic Division and Miami in the Coastal Division) control their destiny, I would not bet that any of those three will be in the ACC title game.

Want numbers? Check these out. With two weeks to play, 11 of the 12 teams in the ACC are separated by two games or less, with Duke the one exception. Nine of the 12 teams are still mathematically alive to play in the ACC championship game. Six of the 12 teams are ranked between 23 and 29 in the latest USA Today poll. Nine of the 12 teams average between 300-350 yards per game and another nine of the 12 teams average between 20-28 points per game.

All right, you get the point. As you can imagine, these statistics have translated into some extremely competitive football on the field. I agree that the ACC does not have a dominant team, and they may not even deserve an automatic BCS bid. However, as I fan, I love it. Would you rather watch one team beat everyone into submission? Not me. I like to watch games that can truly go either way. That’s excitement.

Games of the week
No. 24 South Carolina 6
No. 3 Florida 56
Odd note: This game marked the first time a Heisman Trophy winner (Steve Spurrier) has ever been a head coach against another trophy recipient (Tim Tebow).

In the first quarter, South Carolina turned the ball over three times over the span of four plays. This led to a 21-0 deficit. From that point, the rout was on. Florida dominated this game, demonstrated by the fact that they had an impressive 519-173 advantage in total yards. When it was all said and done, the Gators handed Spurrier his worst loss ever. I’m pretty sure no one will be shedding a tear for the ol’ ball coach.

Florida has looked terrific lately. After clinching a spot in the SEC championship game last week, I wanted to see how it would come out against South Carolina. Boy, the Gators sure didn’t disappoint. Tebow is in Heisman form, and the defense is playing lights out. The Gators are fifth in the country in scoring offense (44.1 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense (11.3 ppg). I haven’t seen numbers that good since my Madden ’05 season with the Pats.

No. 17 North Carolina 15
Maryland 17
Since Miami beat Virginia Tech last Thursday, UNC entered this game in control of its own destiny in the ACC. Unfortunately for them, Maryland wasn’t about to give them anything, and the Tar Heels were not strong enough to take it. A first half played in severe rain resulted in a 15-14 North Carolina lead. The second-half weather was much better, but so where the defenses. Both teams combined for only 239 yards, with seven punts, two turnovers, and a measly three points in the second half. In the defining drive, a stagnant Maryland offense came alive and marched 73 yards before kicking a go-ahead field goal.
 
This season, Maryland is 6-0 at home and 1-3 on the road. They have beaten four ranked teams at home, but lost to Virginia and Middle Tennessee State on the road. The fact is, college teams often play considerably better at home. But no matter how the Terrapins got here, Maryland is in control of its destiny in terms of the ACC. If both Maryland and Boston College win next week, then Maryland and BC will play in the regular-season finale, with the winner going to the ACC championship game. Oh, and the game is at The Heights.

I told you that North Carolina is the best team in the ACC when quarterbacked by a healthy T.J. Yates. This was the first week in nearly two months that Yates was healthy, so I expected good things. Inexplicably, UNC coach Butch Davis stuck with junior Cameron Sexton as opposed to starting Yates. This is not like the Patriots, when Drew Bledsoe lost his starting job, while hurt, to Tom Brady. In this case, T.J. Yates is a much better quarterback than Sexton.

Boston College 27
No. 20 Florida State 17
The Eagles jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead and held on for the win. As usual, Boston College’s defense was stout, allowing only 285 yards and forcing three turnovers. BC put the game away with a fourth-quarter drive that resulted in a field goal. On the drive, the Eagles rushed 15 consecutive times and ate up almost nine minutes of clock. All of the runs were by either Montel Harris (121 yards) or quarterback Chris Crane. When Florida State finally got the ball back, there was just not enough time to do anything.

Florida State still has a chance to win the ACC Atlantic Division, but it now needs some help. Like so many of these ACC teams, the Seminoles are inconsistent. On paper, they are very good, with an average scoring margin of plus-14 points. They also rank fifth in the nation in total defense, allowing only 275 yards per game. The main problem is penalties, where they average eight penalties for over 75 yards per game. Some very talented teams, such as Florida and USC, can get away with committing a lot of penalties, but the Seminoles are not one of those teams. I really think that if Florida State committed fewer penalties, it would be a solid top 15 team.

Boston College’s defense has looked amazing the last two weeks. If the Eagles win their final two games, at Wake Forest and home against Maryland, they will be playing in the ACC championship game. That would be an amazing feat for a team no one expected to challenge in the ACC. Their fate rests on the arm of Crane, who has been sporadic at best this season. He really needs to put together two good games for the Eagles to have a chance to play for a BCS game.

California 21
No. 23 Oregon State 34
Oregon State led the majority of the game, but it was close throughout. The Beavers finally sealed the victory with a pick six in the fourth quarter. Oregon State’s defense was particularly solid in the game. Of Cal’s 15 possessions, only one of them lasted more than five plays. Oregon State also saw the return of starting quarterback Lyle Moevao. While Moevao didn’t have a good day passing, his return is important as the Beavers look to capture the Pac-10 title.

With their win over USC earlier this year, Oregon State is the only team in the Pac-10 who controls its own destiny and the Rose Bowl berth that accompanies it. The Beavers' final two games are on the road against Arizona and at home against Oregon. These are two tough games, but Oregon State should be favored in both of them. I would love it if the Beavers' Rose Bowl life was at stake the final week of the season against Oregon, where the in-state rivalry is referred to as the "Civil War."

Play of the week
In the Vanderbilt-Kentucky game, Vanderbilt held an incredible 39-21 minute advantage in time of possession. One of the main reasons for this was the play(s) of the week: Kentucky roughing the punter. The Wildcats committed three personal fouls for roughing the punter in this game.

I love when a team tries to block a punt, and obviously, if you constantly try to block punts, you will commit a few personal fouls -- this comes with the territory. But three roughing the punter fouls in one game is ridiculous. You are literally giving your opponent new life right after you stopped them. You cannot possibly expect to win games by sending a tired defense back onto the field to try and stop an offense they just stopped moments earlier.

Things we learned this week
• The ACC is still completely up for grabs.
• Cincinnati controls its own destiny in the Big East.
• Alabama is capable of winning in spite of its offensive deficiencies.
• Oregon State still has a chance to spoil USC’s Rose Bowl hopes.

Closing thoughts
One of the reasons why college football is so great are the rivalry games. In addition to the normal excitement that surrounds rivalry games, several college football games stoke the competitive fire by playing for a tangible trophy. The fans and teams go crazy for these games. How crazy you ask? Well, check out this bonfire before a Texas-Texas A&M game.

But wait, I haven’t even gotten to the best part, which is the actual trophy. Some of these trophies are ordinary, run-of-the mill types that you see all the time. But some are truly unique. Below is a list of my ten favorite college football rivalry trophies.

10. Oregon and Oregon State
Trophy: Platypus Trophy
History: This inter-state rivalry game is referred to as the “Civil War.” In 1959, Oregon created a trophy featuring a platypus to be held by the reigning champion. They chose a platypus because of the schools' mascots (Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers). A platypus has the bill of a duck and the tail of a beaver. The actual trophy was missing between 1961 and 2004, but it was found and is once again presented to the winner.

9. Boise State and Fresno State
Trophy: A 10-gallon chrome Milk Can
History: California and Idaho are two of the nation’s top four states in terms of dairy production. In 2005, one dairy group from each state decided to put up money and a trophy for the victory of this game. This is the only traveling trophy among WAC schools.

8. Iowa State and Missouri
Trophy: Telephone Trophy
History: Before the 1959 game, it was discovered that the coaches’ field phones somehow had switched wires. While testing, they realized that each sideline could hear the other. The problem was fixed before the start of the game, but the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company created the trophy after the controversy.

7. Minnesota and Wisconsin
Trophy: Paul Bunyan’s Axe
History: Originally these two teams played for a wooden Slab of Bacon. It was created to symbolize the winning team "bringing home the bacon." When the wooden piece of meat went missing, they modified the tradition by playing for a large wooden axe, referred to as Paul Bunyan's Axe.

6. Michigan State and Penn State
Trophy: Land Grant Trophy
History: This trophy is given because these are two of the nation’s oldest land-grant colleges, where the government donated land to be used for higher learning. The trophy itself is pretty boring, but the idea of giving a Land Grant trophy just sounds cool.

5. Cincinnati and Louisville
Trophy: Keg of Nails
History: It is not known for sure exactly how this tradition started. However, it does have a long history, extending over three conferences, as Cincinnati and Louisville moved from the Missouri Valley Conference, to Conference USA, to the Big East. The current trophy is a replica of a keg used to transport nails. It signifies that the winning team is "tough as nails."

4. Indiana and Michigan State
Trophy: The Old Brass Spittoon
History: The trophy was initiated by the Michigan State student council in 1950. The spittoon came from one of Michigan's earliest trading posts and is believed to be nearly 190 years old. According to legend, this exact spittoon was around when both institutions were founded -- Indiana in 1820 and MSU in 1855.

3. Mississippi and Mississippi State
Trophy: Golden Egg
History: In 1926, after a Mississippi victory, its fans rushed the field to try and tear down the goalposts. Mississippi State (Mississippi A&M at the time) fans then ran onto the field to defend its goalposts. Fights broke out resulting in several injuries. From that point on, the schools decided to award a trophy to the victorious team as a way to help prevent on-field celebrations by fans. The trophy was designed to be a brass football on top of a wooden base. However, since footballs in the 1920s were more oval than round, the trophy resembles a golden-colored egg.

2. Illinois and Ohio State
Trophy: A wooden turtle, called an Illibuck
History: The tradition began in 1925 and used a live turtle. Yes, the schools actually passed a living animal back and forth. The turtle, a creature with a very long life expectancy, was meant to symbolize long life for the rivalry. When the turtle passed away, the teams began using wooden turtles, and they write the scores on the shell. They are currently on their ninth wooden turtle. During the second half of each game, the trophy is passed to the team that won the previous year’s game. The passing is done in a bizarre ritual among students, where the Illibuck is passed overhead and backward.

1. Iowa and Minnesota
Trophy: Floyd of Rosedale
History: The tradition started in 1935, as a bet between Iowa and Minnesota governors to try and relieve some of the postgame fighting between the fans. The first trophy was a live pig. After that game, a bronze trophy was created in its likeness.

I did not think Texas Tech could beat Texas. Boy, was I wrong. Congratulations, Texas Tech, you now have my full attention. Tech’s victory over Texas propels them from a good team to a great team. Suddenly, the Red Raiders are the team to beat in the Big 12. 

Under coach Mike Leach, Texas Tech could always score on anyone. However, the difference this season is that the team can actually play defense. Against Texas, they pressured Colt McCoy all night, sacking him four times and returning an interception for a touchdown.  After nine games, Texas Tech is ranked first in the Big 12 in total yards allowed per game and third in the Big 12 in points per game.

The pollsters have also taken notice of the Red Raiders. In the AP Poll, Tech moved from No. 6 to No. 2, jumping undefeated Penn State. In the two human polls that matter in terms of the BCS, Texas Tech is ranked third. However, the computer polls have Tech ranked No. 1, tied with Alabama. 

There are still a lot of games to play, but it is interesting that the computer polls favor two Big 12 teams (Texas and Texas Tech) over Penn State. However, as long as Penn State finishes undefeated, I would be surprised if they do not play in the BCS championship game.

Games of the week

No. 6 Texas Tech 39
No. 1 Texas 33
Wow, what a game. Texas Tech, buoyed by the largest crowd in the history of Jones A&T Stadium, toppled the invincible Texas Longhorns. Tech received the opening kickoff, but was forced to punt. Texas then took over at their own two-yard line. Their very first play was a run that resulted in a safety. At that point, the gauntlet was thrown.

The Red Raiders did not completely dominate the game, but they were just a little better than the Longhorns in every facet. Most notable was the line play. Tech’s huge offensive line was up to the task and outplayed Texas' front seven. 

Meanwhile, Tech's defensive line embarrassed Texas' offensive line. Tech rushed three or four men all night, but the Texas line simply could not keep them out of the backfield. As evidence, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was sporting a bloody lip after the game.

Texas entered the game with the Big 12's top-ranked defense in terms of total yards allowed and points allowed. I figured that Texas' defense would be able to slow down Tech enough so that the Longhorns could outscore the Red Raiders. 

I was right about Texas' defense, which did a decent job of slowing down Tech's offense. However, the difference was Tech's defense. The Red Raiders rushed only three or four men and played zone for most of the game. Tech defensive backs were sitting on the short routes that Texas loves to throw, forcing the Longhorns out of their game.

Right from the start, Texas could not match Tech’s energy. After the safety, Texas' second possession resulted in three dropped passes. The last of which was a would-be sixty-yard touchdown pass that slipped through Jordan Shipley's  hands. At halftime, total yardage was 326-108 in favor of Tech. A big third-quarter punt return for a touchdown jump-started Texas, but it was not enough.

Every great game needs a great ending, and this game certainly had that. After being outplayed all game, Texas scored a touchdown with less than two minutes to play to take a one-point lead. Then, after several first downs, Tech faced first and ten at the Texas 28 with under thirty seconds to play. After scrambling out of the pocket, Tech quarterback Graham Harrell threw a pass that bounced off a Tech receiver and rebounded into the air. The ball, flying softly through the air, seemed destined for a game-ending interception. Remarkably, it went right through the arms of Texas freshman safety Blake Gideon. It will probably be the easiest interception chance he will have in his Texas career.

In the end, this was a game Tech deserved to win. The Red Raiders outplayed and outhustled the Longhorns from the start. The next two weeks, Tech plays at home against Oklahoma State and on the road at Oklahoma. These two games will determine just how good this Texas Tech team really is. But on this night, in front of this crowd, there was no question that Tech could have beaten any team in the country.

No. 5 Florida 49
No. 8 Georgia 10
The yearly battle between Florida and Georgia is known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party." It is played on a neutral site, in Jacksonville, Fla., where the Jaguars play.  This year's game was a battle for the top spot in the SEC East. 

Florida also entered the game with some extra motivation. Last year, Georgia's entire team stormed the field in celebration of its first touchdown. Georgia's players danced and stomped in the end zone, while the Gators stood and watched in bewilderment. This drew the ire of the Gators, but also propelled the Bulldogs to victory.

In this game, Florida was clearly the better team. However, the final score is deceiving. At halftime, Florida only led 14-3, and Georgia had three big miscues. The Bulldogs missed two field goals (37 and 27 yards) and committed a personal foul that negated a would-be interception. Georgia could not overcome these mistakes, and eventually fell apart in the second half.

Georgia looks like a good team, but Florida looks like a great team. Besides their loss to Mississippi, Florida has blown out every other team its has faced. After halftime, Florida dominated Georgia, as quarterback Tim Tebow passed Emmitt Smith to become Florida's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns. If Florida keeps playing this well, it will set up a terrific matchup against Alabama in the SEC championship game.

Arkansas 30
No. 19 Tulsa 23
Tulsa entered the game 8-0, but Arkansas is its only opponent all season from a big six conference. It is important to note that the Razorbacks are not a particularly good team.  They are currently 1-4 in the SEC. Tulsa came into the game with the nation's top-ranked offense in terms of total yards per game (620) and points per game (56). Arkansas' defense was allowing 32 points per game, last in the SEC.

Looking at the numbers, it seems like Tulsa would run away with this one, but this game highlights the disparity between good and bad conferences. In this case, the best team from Conference USA lost to one of the worst teams from the SEC. 

Tulsa's offense did put up 528 yards, but the Golden Hurricane could not cash in when it counted. In fact, they scored less than the average team who plays Arkansas. 

Now, I am not trying to bash Conference USA. I am simply pointed out that an undefeated team from a lower conference is sometimes worse than a middle-of-the-pack team from a top-tier conference.

Play of the week
There is only one play I could possibly choose this week: the play that slayed the dragon.  With eight second to play, one timeout, and down one point, Texas Tech faced second and ten from the Texas 28-yard line. With their kicking game unreliable all season, Tech called one final pass play to try and improve its field position. Tech quarterback Graham Harrell threw a fade route to the team's best wide receiver, Michael Crabtree. 

The Texas defense was in man-to-man coverage with safety help, but it was powerless to stop Tech. Crabtree caught the fade pass at the Texas five-yard line, between two defenders, and then tiptoed on the sideline into the end zone. He scored with one second remaining on the game clock. 

It was an unbelievable and shocking ending to an incredible game. With only seconds to play, you expect a short pass to help your field goal kicker. You do not expect a touchdown pass that wins the game.

Things we learned this week

It felt an awful lot like statement Saturday as teams started to show their true colors against tough conference foes. Some teams stepped up to the challenge while others faltered. Texas proved that last week’s victory over Oklahoma was no fluke, and is now clearly the team to beat. Alabama and Penn State also demonstrated that they are dominant teams.

After eight weeks, Texas, Alabama and Penn State have separated themselves from the pack. However, the season has a very long way to go. Penn State has their big test next week when they go to the Horseshoe to play Ohio State. Alabama has several tough SEC games remaining. Texas, meanwhile, has a murderous schedule. They still have to play No. 6 Oklahoma State, at No. 8 Texas Tech, at No. 23 Kansas and a Big 12 Championship game, if they get there. If Texas goes undefeated, it would be one of the greatest single seasons in college football history. Obviously, they have a long way to go. If any of these teams slip up, there are a slew of teams who could end up at the top of the rankings.

Games of the week:
No. 1 Texas 56
No. 11 Missouri 31
I was excited for what I expected to be a marquee matchup of two championship-worthy teams. I suppose this description is kind of true, as Texas is in the hunt for a national championship and Missouri is still in the hunt for a Big 12 North championship -- smaller trophies.

After last week’s huge victory over then No. 1 Oklahoma, Texas coach Mack Brown had his team dig a hole near their practice field and they buried the game ball. The players received the message loud and clear, because after they buried the ball, they buried Missouri. The final score is not indicative of just how dominant Texas was in this game. The Longhorns' offense scored touchdowns on all five of their first half possessions. Meanwhile, their defense suffocated Missouri’s offense. The Tigers entered the game having gone three-and-out only twice all season. In this game, Texas forced Missouri into three three-and-outs on their first four possessions. At the half, Missouri had only 100 yards of total offense, compared to 352 for Texas.

So how good is Missouri? After beating up on the likes of Nevada and Buffalo, it has lost at home to Oklahoma State and been beaten badly by Texas. Over the past two weeks, the Tigers' offense has looked nothing like the powerhouse we saw early in the season. Chase Daniel continues to look frustrated against good defenses. Missouri has three tough games on their schedule, and is 1-2 in conference so far. Look for them to win out before a season- ending battle against Kansas, with the Big 12 North crown on the line.

No. 20 Alabama 24
Mississippi 20
I told you that the SEC has many good teams. Alabama was in control at the half. In the second half, its offense fell apart, and Ole Miss began moving the ball. If this game had lasted a little longer, Mississippi might have pulled off the upset. But the Tide were able to hold on, which is what good teams do.

No. 4 Oklahoma 45
No. 16 Kansas 31
It was a record-setting day for both offenses. Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford continues to put up silly numbers, as he passed for a school record 468 yards, throwing for three touchdowns and no picks. He hooked up with senior wide receiver Juaquin Inglesias for 12 receptions and 191 yards, both school records. Inglesias was actually outdone by Kansas sophomore wideout Dezmon Briscoe, who caught 12 passes of his own for an amazing 269 yards -- both Kansas school records.

The Sooners have allowed 962 yards of offense the last two games, but they came together in the second half, forcing Kansas to punt on five straight possessions.

No. 9 BYU 7
TCU 32
Playing at home, TCU dominated BYU, scoring on six of their first seven possessions. On defense, TCU pressured BYU quarterback Max Hall all game, sacking him six times.

Mid-major programs such as BYU, Utah, and Boise State enter the season knowing they have to go undefeated to even have a chance at a BCS bowl. TCU already lost to Oklahoma. Now they beat BYU to end their dreams of a BCS bowl. In my eyes, this game just shows how good the top of the Mountain West is. Utah, TCU, and BYU are three very good teams that will beat up on each other all season. The Mountain West conference does not get the attention they should.

No. 10 Georgia 24
No. 22 Vanderbilt 14
Georgia’s defense was very good in this one. The Bulldogs picked off two passes and dropped several other would-be interceptions. Neither of these teams looked very good. Georgia started the season No. 1 in the country, but has not played anything like it. The next two weeks, Georgia plays at LSU and at home against Florida. I think they are going to have a tough time in both of these games.

No. 12 Ohio State 45
No. 20 Michigan State 7
And then there were two, as in only two good teams in the Big Ten. Year after year, Michigan State continues to show that it is not able to stand toe-to-toe with the big boys. The Spartans' six consecutive wins prove that they are a good team. However, on Saturday, a very good Ohio State team put them in their place. The Buckeyes led 28-0 at the half, before coasting to victory. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor looked terrific until he was taken out after the game was in hand. Ohio State’s defense was successful because it was able to contain Michigan State running back Javon Ringer, holding him to only 67 yards. In doing so, the Buckeyes forced the Spartans into five turnovers and six punts. Ohio State has looked terrific with Pryor at quarterback. They look like a completely different team than the one that lost badly at USC.

On a side note, how did I not know that star Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis' father is Animal from the WWF tag-team wrestling team Legion of Doom?

No. 13 LSU 24
South Carolina 17
South Carolina led 17-10 at the half and had a 227-189 advantage in total yards. In the second half, LSU held South Carolina to a mere 38 yards and forced two turnovers. Again, any win in the SEC is a good one. I am excited to see how LSU fares next week against Georgia, in what I expect to be a very hard-fought game.

Play of the week:
Normally, the play of the week is the best play of the week. However, this week the play is a bad one. In Dabo Swinney’s coaching debut at Clemson, the team ran way too many “trick” plays. This culminated in an absolutely ridiculous double lateral play in the fourth quarter. The play was reminiscent of one used when a team is trailing by a touchdown with only a few second to go, and they try to keep lateraling until they score. The problem with Clemson’s version was that it occurred with three minutes to go in the game. At some point, you need to be able to line up and simply beat the man in front of you. Clemson never seemed to do this.

Things we learned this week:
• Texas is clearly the team to beat this year.
• After two straight losses, Missouri is not ready for prime time.
• Penn State and Ohio State are the class of the Big Ten.

Closing thoughts:
I love the history of the college football bowl system. I also love the fact that so many teams get to play one final game, most of them nationally televised. However, until college football gets some sort of playoff system, they will not have a true national champion.

BCS rankings come out this week. Now, I am not going to go complain about the initial rankings because there is still so much football to play. I imagine that I will have something to say later in the year. With that said, I can talk about the BCS as a whole. According to the NCAA, the main objective of the BCS is “to match the two top-rated teams in a national championship game.” To this end, it is impossible for the BCS to fail, since the two top-ranked teams automatically play. The main goal of the BCS is not to have the two best teams, or the two most deserving teams play for the championship. No, the goal is to have the two top-rated teams play. So, the obvious next question is how the BCS ranks teams. Come on, you don’t really think the NCAA is going to tell us that, do you?

The current BCS rankings are based on the results of six computer rankings and two human polls. The two human polls are the Harris and USA Today/Coaches Polls. The Harris Poll is comprised of former players, coaches and administrators. You can go online to get a complete list of the individual participants. The Harris Poll even releases the final week’s individual rankings. It would be nice to have these every week, but at least the final rankings are a start. This season the USA Today/Coaches Poll is made up of 61 current college football head coaches. While a list of coaches is available, their individual rankings are not. Wouldn’t it be nice to know if coaches are ranking teams from their conference higher to help themselves? A better question is: Who actually fills out these rankings? In the past, head coaches wouldn’t even see the rankings -- assistants would create them. However, now that they are part of the BCS, head coaches may actually be involved.

So far we have one (Harris) poll that has good intentions and one (USA) that is so wrought with possible land mines that I cannot even begin to offer an explanation of how it could be legitimate.

The six computer rankings are exactly what they sound like. Someone writes a program, inputs the data, and a result is spit out. If this was an accurate way of ranking teams, why would anyone even play sports? Again, the public is not given these formulas or programs, because the writers want sole possession so they can make money. I know that some of the individuals who created these formulas are brilliant mathematicians, but these are just numbers in a computer. I like the idea of using statistics when it comes to in-game decision making, but not when determining if one team is better than another.

So, the NCAA championship game is selected by former players and coaches; current coaches, whose individual results are not provided; and computer programs, whose formulas are not given. Come on, it’s not like we are launching nuclear weapons here. Shouldn’t the public be allowed to know how these teams are selected? Last year, the BCS rankings came out for the final eight weeks of the season. Over that span, the top two teams changed seven times. That sounds more like a game of musical chairs than a process for selecting the national championship game -- sorry BCS championship game.

In reality, the BCS is nothing more than a publicity stunt. Its real purpose is to ensure that big- time college football programs make as much money as possible. Did you know that it is impossible for more than one school (Notre Dame excluded) outside of a “big six” conference to make a BCS bowl in a single year? Yes, impossible. Put another way, if the season ended today, Utah, Boise State and TCU would all be eligible for a BCS bowl, and millions of dollars in revenue. However, only Utah would go, since they are ranked highest in the BCS.

So far this season, the elite teams from the Big 12 conference have been scoring at will. You might know that the Big 12 currently boasts four of the top seven teams in the country. What you probably did not realize is that the conference also owns four of the nation’s top six passing offenses, and seven of the top twenty. I wonder what Tom Osborne thinks of this?

Obviously, these statistics are skewed because of the level of competition. Teams like Chattanooga, Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Washington don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of these teams. However, the fact is that the Big 12 is racking up huge amounts of yardage and points (six of the top nine scoring teams in the country). The Big 12 has six teams averaging over 43 points per game.

Now that conference play has started, things are certainly going to get more interesting. The question is: Will these teams continue to rack up points, or will they be stymied by better defenses?

Games of the week:
No. 9 USC 44, No. 23 Oregon 10
With a tough loss last week, USC was sure to have a good game this week. After a slow first quarter, USC picked up their play dramatically and rolled to a blowout victory. When it was all over, the Trojans had produced 598 yards of total offense and scored the game’s final 41 points. During one stretch, USC scored on six consecutive possessions.

This game proves that USC is still the team to beat in the Pac-10. As for Oregon, they really did not have a chance in this one. Starting your third-string quarterback and playing at the Coliseum against an angry USC team is not a recipe for success.

Pittsburgh 26, No. 10 South Florida 21
What a difference a week makes. Pitt played very poorly in their win versus Syracuse last week. Meanwhile, South Florida looked great in a win at North Carolina State. But in Tampa last Thursday, they both looked like completely different teams. Pittsburgh used a smothering defense to upset the No. 10 team in the country. The Panthers held South Florida to 245 yards of total offense, which is over 200 yards below its average. Pittsburgh constantly brought pressure, and USF’s junior quarterback Matt Grothe looked frustrated all night. This game proves that the Big East does not have a team this year that can challenge for the national title.

No. 19 Vanderbilt 14, No. 13 Auburn 13
While fans in Ann Arbor can already see some progress with Michigan’s new spread offense, Auburn’s version of the spread still has a long way to go. Auburn managed a measly 208 yards of total offense on the road at Vanderbilt. After a first quarter which saw Auburn score all 13 of its points, the War Eagle's then had to punt on nine consecutive possessions.

Vanderbilt’s offense wasn’t much better, but it didn’t have to be. The Commodores are 5-0, and I am excited for them. I love when a regular cellar dweller is able to rise up. However, I have to point out that Vanderbilt is winning games with smoke and mirrors. See below for Vandy’s ranking among the twelve teams in the SEC.

CATEGORY/SEC RANK
Passing yards per game: 12th
Rushing yards per game: 3rd
Passing yards allowed per game: 10th
Rushing yards allowed per game: 10th

How are they winning games, you ask? The answer is turnovers. Vanderbilt leads the nation with a +1.8 turnover margin per game. Turnovers can be the golden goose for a football team. The problem is that you can’t count on them. At some point, Vanderbilt is going to have to start plugging the holes in their defense and start creating offense on their own.

No. 14 Ohio State 20, No. 18 Wisconsin 17
For 53 minutes and 29 seconds, the Wisconsin defense made Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor look like the true freshman he is. What they couldn’t do was stop him when it counted the most. The Buckeyes drove 80 yards in the waning minutes for a go-ahead touchdown. On the final drive, Pryor threw for 59 yards before scoring on an 11-yard run. With Pryor running the offense and a relatively healthy Beanie Wells in the backfield, Ohio State is a very formidable team. I bet they would love another shot at USC with this squad.

Wisconsin let a game slip away that they really needed to have in order to vie for the Big Ten crown. After blowing a big halftime lead against Michigan last week, Wisconsin is now 0-2 in the conference. Next week against Penn State will define which direction their season is going. A loss to the Nittany Lions would all but end any chance the Badgers have of winning the Big Ten.

Hawaii 32, No. 22 Fresno State 29
Fresno State simply did not come to play in this one. They reminded me of Wile E. Coyote, standing dumbfounded as an Acme missile hurls itself in his direction. Fresno State committed six turnovers, missed three field goals and still took the game to overtime. However, OT was more of the same, as Fresno missed a field goal before Hawaii finally put the game away.

Fresno State is never able to put together a complete season. I think the main reason for this is that they try to stack their schedule. I believe this really wears on the players. This was only the fifth game, but already the Bulldogs have played a Big East team, a Big Ten team and a Pac-10 team. Meanwhile, many of these big-time programs load up with cupcakes before starting their conference play.

Play of the week
After an Alabama punt in the third quarter, Kentucky started with the ball at its own 30. To that point, Kentucky had managed only 73 yards of offense. After a ‘Bama penalty, Kentucky completed a wide receiver bubble screen for 36 yards. On the very next play, Kentucky ran the same play to the opposite side. This wide receiver bubble screen resulted in a 26-yard touchdown pass.

The first screen was a good call because Alabama was regularly sending extra men. The second screen was an even better call. Sometimes you just need to go with what works. You see this all the time in high school football, where coaches have much smaller playbooks. College coaches often try to outthink the opponent, when the most obvious answer is often the correct one.

Things we learned this week:
• The Big 12 offenses are deadly.
• With UConn and South Florida both losing, the Big East is in bad shape.
• After some good preseason hype and a solid start, Arizona State looks like it is in disarray.

Closing thoughts
Why do teams bring in the “BIG” formation on short yardage situations in the middle of the field? Big formations are referred to as “goal-line” sets. This is because they are best suited for use on the goal line, where the end zone is only 10 yards deep and linebackers and safeties are right behind the line of scrimmage. End zones are only 10 yards deep in order to make it more difficult for offenses to gain yardage when points are on the line.

By using a "BIG" set in the middle of the field, an offense is allowing the defense to treat it as a goal line situation, which is playing right into their hands. Even if teams throw out of this set, all of the players are crowded around the line of scrimmage to begin with. This gives a huge, yet unnecessary, advantage to the defense.

The use of a "BIG" set in middle-of-the-field short yardage situations is even more confounding when the offense normally features a spread system. I am perplexed why a team that runs the spread offense would all of a sudden use a goal-line set on fourth-and-one at the opponent’s 40-yard line. It takes a different type of mentality to put nine guys on the line of scrimmage and try to plow ahead for one yard. Teams that run the spread offense, with the quarterbacks constantly in the shotgun, are not used to playing smashmouth football. The offensive linemen often line up in a squatting stance and create multiple running lanes. It i