Nice try Iowa.  You had a national prime time TV audience, Lee Corso, all those  pretty gold shirts and even the striped shirts on your side, but you still didn’t have enough to handle the Buckeyes.  Frankly, at this point in the season, I’m not quite sure who does. The offense looked like the same group we saw in Austin dismantling the defending national champions.  The defense amazes me.  Just when they begin to look vulnerable and play their age, they make a huge play, usually a turnover, and take control.  It appeared the Silver Bullets blitzed more than they had in previous games.  I think you, me and Drew Tate can all agree that they did so very effectively.  Tate did not look a whole lot different from the guy we saw come unglued in the Shoe last year. The run defense continues to worry me, but I’m splitting hairs; the Silver Bullets  are playing great and still they will get better.  I’m looking for a peak on about November 18.  All in all, it was an impressive performance in Iowa City, too bad the referees missed it. 

I know Tress would not like us looking ahead, so let’s focus on the Bowling Green Falcons.  Unlike recent years the Falcons are not led by an outstanding QB.  They have 2 QB’s and we know what it means when you have two QB’s – you don’t have one.  They have a pretty decent running back and a defense which has been hemorrhaging points to all opponents except for the Ohio U. Bobcats.  The bleeding will continue this week, at least until half time at which point we will get to see 2007 and 2008 Buckeyes. 

            Around the country this week you can’t swing a dead cat and not hit a big game.  Things are beginning to percolate in the SEC.  Arkansas at Auburn, which is only a big game if Auburn decides to play as crappy as they did against South Carolina.  Fear not Tiger-WarEagle-Plainsmen fans,  Houston Nutt is no Steve Spurrier and the Auburn  defense will barbeque the Pig’s true freshman QB, Mitch Mustain. LSU invades Florida.  I don’t think the Gators are that good and their best running back is hurt, but they have been finding ways to win. Not this week.  The Tigers have too much defense and Jamarcus  Russell ought to be able to get his team about 17 points, which should be enough.  Tennessee at Georgia is another puzzling contest.   Somehow, probably due to Georgia’s offensive woes, the Vols are favored to win this one “between the hedges”.  I’m not buyin’ it.  I think the Dawgs will find just enough offense and ride their defense to a win to remain unbeaten. Following the game Phil Fulmer will agree to have his stomach stapled and Krispy Kreme stock will drop 20%. In the ACC, Clemson is at Wake, which only matters because somehow Wake is unbeaten. It’s midnight, Demon Deacons, time to turn into pumpkins. The Red River Riot between the Sooners and the Longhorns takes place in the middle of the Texas state fair in Dallas. It is worth mentioning that only Texans could consider Dallas a neutral site. The one time Mack Brown has beaten Bob Stoops was last year when he finally got out of Vince Young’s way .  With Young having departed, one might think the Sooner’s domination should resume. If not for some incompetent PAC Ten officials, the Sooners would  be unbeaten going into this game.  Texas, if memory serves, has only one loss and that to a pretty good team.   Adrian Peterson, great as he is, cannot win this game by himself.  The Sooner’s  defense, despite receiving a lot of pre-season hype, has underperformed.  I think an improving Texas offense helps their defense get a huge win for Mack Brown.    Out west, Oregon at Cal will be interesting. Cal seemingly has bounced back from their season opening humiliation at the hands of Tennessee.  Oregon is unbeaten, thanks to a zebra-aided win over Oklahoma.   The winner of this one gets to be bridesmaid in the PAC Ten.  Given that Oregon’s unis, on some level, resemble hideous bridesmaids dresses, I have to go with the Ducks.  Washington visits USC.  Could Tyrone’s boys pull off the big upset?  Doubtful.  Someday another PAC Ten team is going to take down the Trojans, right?  Really, it will happen.  Just as soon as Pete Carroll flees Reggiegate for the riches of the NFL.  Closer to home, the Weasels host their friends, the Spartans.  The last two contests between these in-state rivals has been decided in OT. This one might have been a classic had not the Spartans imploded earlier than usual this year.  The Spartans, despite the loss of running back Javon Ringer, have talent.  Sadly, I don’t think a tag team of Dr. Phil and Joyce Brothers could heal the MSU psyche enough to make a game of it.  Something bad will happen in the second quarter and John L. will watch as his MSU career unravels. The ugly helmets win easily.  This is one rivalry Lllloyd seems to grasp.