Last year, you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a colossal upset in college football. Being the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the polls was like the kiss of death -- and plenty of programs saw their title hopes deep-sixed as a result.
So far this season, the HUGE upsets weren't happening. That is . . . until No. 1 USC walked into Corvallis and got waxed for the second straight time by the Oregon State Beavers. That set off a chain reaction that saw Top 10 teams like Wisconsin, Georgia and Florida fall victim to the upset bug (although Georgia's loss was to another top-10 team in Alabama, so that could hardly be considered a big upset. Florida losing to Ole Miss AND Wisconsin falling to Michigan, though . . . peee-yewww).
The upset express made a stop in my ratings last week as well, causing my first losing week of the year and making me rethink my strategy for the rest of the season. While I ponder that new attack, here's a look back at last week's train wreck (my predictions in parenthesis):
Texas 52, Arkansas 10 (Texas 63-14) -- At least Bobby Petrino didn't quit on the Hogs to go back to the NFL -- for this week, anyway.
Connecicut 26, Louisville 21 (Louisville 31-27) -- Just when you thought the Huskies were a flash in the Big East frying pan, they look like they might be legit.
Michigan 27, Wisconsin 25 (Wisconsin 38-17) -- Obviously, the Badgers were looking ahead to that REAL big game with Ohio State. How else would a team blow a 19-0 lead to Michigan?
Florida State 39, Colorado 21 (FSU 24-21) -- Wow, the Seminoles actually found their offensive groove.
Oklahoma 35, TCU 10 (OU 52-24) -- Horned Frogs just not in Oklahoma's league right now. In fact, it's hard to say if ANYBODY is.
Alabama 41, Georgia 30 (Georgia 21-20) -- The only shocking thing about this was how quickly Alabama took control of the game. The final score is not much of an indicator for how the Tide dominated.
Notre Dame 38, Purdue 21 (Purdue 31-21) -- Just when you thought the Irish were dead . . .
Central Michigan 27, Buffalo 25 (Buffalo 24-21) -- I'm still a believer in the Bulls. They will be bowl bound this December, just watch.
South Florida 41, North Carolina State 10 (USF 34-14) -- I believe in these Bulls as well. Would love to see them crash the BCS party and play for all the marbles.
Penn State 38, Illinois 24 (Penn State 27-21) -- Maybe the Nittany Lions will take over the Little 10 (plus IoWHAT???). Ohio State is overrated and Wisconsin doesn't seem to want the gig.
Virginia Tech 35, Nebraska 30 (Huskers 31-21) -- Silly mistakes cost the Huskers, and they can't do that and expect to get back to the top in this day and age.
Week's record: 5-6 (.455) Season record: 33-17 (.660)
They don't give Mikey C a vote in either of the polls, but we're far enough along in the season that I could tell you who my top 10 teams are at this stage of the season. They are:
1. Oklahoma (Sooners are five tough wins and several pillow fights away from a national title)
2. LSU (Until the defending champions prove otherwise, they should be playing for it all again)
3. Missouri (Only team, at this point, that has the talent to beat anybody)
4. Alabama (Big statement win over very good Georgia team last week)
5. Penn State (Hate putting a Little 10 team up this high, but Nittany Lions are deserving)
6. Texas (As good as the Longhorns are, they're a distant third in the Big 12 right now)
7. Texas Tech (Only question is whether their defense can stop Texas and Oklahoma)
8. South Florida (My choice for this year's BCS gate-crashers, and they could win it all)
9. Georgia (In spite of getting waxed by Alabama, Bulldogs are still one of the nation's best)
10. USC (Still talented enough to get back into the championship picture)
And now, here's how I see this week's 10 picks unfolding . . .
Pittsburgh at South Florida -- Last year, the Panthers spoiled West Virginia's national title hopes on the road. This is a much better USF team, though, and the Bulls aren't about to get upset at home: Golden Bulls 41, Pitty-Kats 28
Iowa at Michigan State -- Believe it or not, the Kirk Ferentz Unemployment Watch has yet to catch on in Iowa City. We don't know if it's because Squawkeye fans' standards aren't that high or if it's the fact Ferentz has some inside dirt on the athletic director. It CAN'T be because they think he's doing a good job, can it? Green Men of Sparta 30, Black Wrens of Iowegia 20
Florida State at Miami (Fla.) -- Remember back in the day when this game MEANT something? All the pagentry and intensity of one of the great rivalries of the 90's has fallen by the wayside as both teams have seen their fortunes diminished in recent years. Even though nothing is on the line from a championship perspective, it'll still be a whale of a game to watch: Northern Warriors 27, Southern Blowhards 24
Auburn at Vanderbilt -- The three signs of the apocolypse are: 1. Oil prices going above $100 a barrel, 2. A minority AND a woman involved in the race for President of the United States, and 3. Vanderbilt playing a meaningful football game in October. If you haven't made peace with your maker, now is a good time: Dandy Vandys 21, Auburned 17
Oregon at USC -- What is it with the state of Oregon that has Southern Cal so flummoxed? Must be the opposing uniforms . . . and Oregon's are some of the worst when it comes to fashion. If Oregon State's were a distraction, we shudder to think what Oregon's will do to the Trojans' state of mind. Still, when it's two ranked conference foes hooking up, you usually go with the home team: Men of Troy 42, Quackers 31
Ohio State at Wisconsin -- This was supposed to be the death knell for the Fraudeyes. Wisconsin is clearly the best team in the Little 10 (plus IoWHAT???), but they stumbled and let a 19-0 lead get away at Michigan. I still like the Badgers, but this one has me feeling a little more uncertain than I was a week ago: Cheeseheads 31, Fraudeyes 24
Louisiana-Lafayette at Louisiana-Monroe (Somebody's Gotta Win Special) -- Both teams are 1-3 with losses to a good team, an OK team and a stinker. Lafayette almost came back to beat Kansas State on the road. That's enough for us to tip the scale the Rajun Cajuns' way: Laugh-a-lots 38, Mon-Whoas 35
Texas Tech at Kansas State (Gimme of the Week) -- My only question is whether or not Mike Leach will call off the dogs or if he's just going to run up the score to put a scare in Nebraska fans for next week. The thing is, I'm not sure the Mildcats' defense is good enough to stop a Red Raider offense that's taking it easy on them: Red Storm 63, Mildcats 17
Kansas at Iowa State (Gimme of the Week runner-up) -- The nice thing about football in Iowa is that it's a great warm-up for wrestling season. Good thing for Kansas they don't have a wrestling program: Blue Birds 52, Stiff Breeze 17
Missouri at Nebraska -- If you know anything about Mikey C, you know that first and foremost I am a Husker fan. Always have been, always will be. Having said that, though, I've gotta say -- based on what I've seen so far out of both teams' first four games -- the Tigers are just way too loaded, on both sides, for the Huskers to handle. Defensively, the Huskers would have to find a way to get to Chase Daniel early and often, something no team has even come close to doing. Offensively, Nebraska would have to play 100 percent perfect football and find a running game, something no team has been able to do against Missouri's defense so far this season. Maybe this will be this week's version of USC getting beat at Oregon State -- but as much as I'd love to see it happen, I just don't think it's going to: Tigers 45, Huskers 24
That's all we have time for this week, folks -- don't forget to help the pet population and have your pets spayed or neutered. And make sure you feed the fish . . .
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