A few big upsets, highlighted by a thrashing in Columbus and a win for the Zooker managed to toss a monkey wrench into the gears this week. The Top 6 are solid, but who knows after that? I am just as shocked as all of you. With that in mind, on to the scores:
Week 10 #1 OU (11-0) 35 Baylor (3-8) 0
Bob Stoops made all the right decisions in this game, including the decision to not try and run the score up. Jason White played a great first half, hitting 19 of 34 for 194 yards and 2 TDs, and Adrian Peterson played an outstanding 3rd quarter, rushing 32 times for 240 yards and 3 TDs. Both Sooner superstars were taken out for the final 11 minutes of the game. The Sooner D came up big again, but that was no surprise, as the Bears were on their 3rd string QB after Shawn Bell went out with a hand injury at Oklahoma State. Considering that the Bears only had 156 yards of total O, Freshman Terrance Parks' 14 of 22 for 130 yards passing is actually kind of impressive. This was a solid game (and second straight defensive shutout) for the Sooners, who play either Iowa State or Colorado in two weeks at Arrowhead stadium for the Big XII Championship.
This Week: Idle
#2 Auburn (11-0) 21 Alabama (6-5) 13
This was every bit the classic Iron Bowl that I expected it to be. Bama flexed a very strong defense early, and went into the locker room with a 6-0 halftime lead. The players and fans were rocking at Bryant-Denny, and it seemed that we might see a big upset in the works. Auburn, however, was not going to allow that. At least, not today. The stars for the Tigers came out strong in their first possession of the second half, with Jason Campbell (18/24, 224 yards, 1 TD) looking like a stud through the air, and 'Cadillac' Williams (15 for 44 yards, 1 TD) and Ronnie Brown (16 for 55 yards, 1 TD) churning it out on the ground. Auburn took a 7-6 lead that they would not surrender for the rest of the day. Those 21 points that Auburn reeled off went unanswered until 1:32 left in the game, when Spencer Pennington (17/30 226 yards, 1 TD) hit an open DJ Hall for a TD to cut the lead to 8. The onside kick was recovered by the Tigers, who were able to run the clock out, but it was a nailbiter, just as it should have been.
This Week: Idle
#3 USC (10-0) Idle
This Week: v. Notre Dame
#4 Cal (9-1) 41 Stanford (4-7) 6
The final score in the battle for the Cal-Stanford Axe in a game known simply as 'The Big Game' was a blowout. The reality was that it was marred significantly by the 26 penalties suffered by the Golden Bears for 228 yards. It was ugly, but it was huge, and Cal will take it. Aaron Rodgers was 11/14 for 120 yards and 1 TD, as Cal kept it on the ground with two 100-yard rushers. JJ Arrington provided the biggest bright spot for Cal, rushing 27 times for 169 yards and 1 TD to eclipse Chuck Muncie's single season Cal rushing record with his tenth 100-yard game of the season, bringing his total to 1584 yards (Muncie had 1460 yards in 1975). He is the only Division I back to gain 100 yards in all of his games this season. Freshman Marshawn Lynch rounded it out with 9 carries for 122 yards. He may have contended with Adrian Peterson and Michael Hart for best freshman running back, were it not for the stellar campaign of Arrington, who is a late dark horse for the Heisman.
This Week: Idle
#5 Texas (9-1) Idle
This Week: v. Texas A&M
#6 Utah (11-0) 52 BYU (5-6) 21
The Ute faithful were all decked out in Mexican garb for their showdown with longtime hated rival Brigham Young, and it was a firm reminder for many that the Utes are pining for a bid to the Fiesta Bowl. Will they go? Probably. Do they deserve to go? Absolutely. The deserve to go far more than the mighty Big East Champ (BC? When did that happen?) will deserve to go to a BCS game. Oh, I am sure there will be many detractors, but Utah is well deservant. They put the hurt on BYU in Salt Lake City Saturday in a game that was close until an Alex Smith run just before the half put the Utes on top for good. Smith had an atypical game that may have hurt his chances for the Heisman, as he threw 2 interceptions, but his teammates took up the slack, as receiver Steve Savoy scored twice rushing and once through the air, and Quinton Gather rushed 11 times for 122 yards to hurl the Utes convincingly into the BCS mix with their first undefeated regular season since 1930.
This Week: Idle
#7 Louisville (8-1) 65 Houston (3-8) 27
This is a little inappropriate, but all I could think of with regard to the Cardinals after this game was Iron Maiden's 'Number of the Beast'. They were truly a beast offensively, with 666 yards of total offense and 65 points (most of them piled on in the fourth quarter). With over 1100 yards between the two teams, this was a meeting of offensive powerhouses. The game was close late, but some big miscues led to 30 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and a convincing points pile from the Cardinals who are begging to be let into the big money show, but will probably be shut out without some big helpers from the BCS schools. The only way is if they can squeeze into the top 6. A bizarre BCS bylaw would grant them a spot that would otherwise be reserved for a Top 4 team from a BCS conference. Complicated, but money is at stake here, so I would not be surprised if the Cardinals find themselves facing some closed doors at the entrance to the big dance.
This Week: v. Cincinnati
#8 Miami (8-2) 52 Wake Forest (4-6) 7
Everyone is apparently shocked that Miami scored 50 points on the Demon Deacons. Since when is this a big surprise? Apparently it is quite an indicator of the state of affairs in Coral Gables. Brock Berlin, who was once touted as the nation's top prep quarterback (when he initially signed with the Florida Gators out of High School), finally showed what people have been waiting his whole college career to see. He hit 13 of 19 passes for 361 yards and 4 TDs. This is the sharpest he has been, and for the Canes' sake, he better stay sharp. Miami hosts rival Virginia Tech in two weeks in a game that will likely decide the ACC Champion. If he can produce against a decent Hokie team, then we should all be impressed. For right now, I am not going to say a thing about potential. Miami needs to produce. Either that, or they swap places in the top ten with the Hokes, lose a BCS bid, and lose the ACC, all in one fowl swoop. Do I need to say that a lot rides on that game?
This Week: Idle
#9 Boise State (10-0) 55 Louisiana Tech (5-6) 14
Yes, the WAC stinks, yes Boise is the team with the goofy blue field, and yes, usually they end up playing there at the end of the season in the whatcha-callit bowl after 10+ no-respect wins. Yes, that will probably happen again this year. Granted, they hung half a hundred on the Oregon State Beavers, but the only thing that really separates the WAC from the PAC-10 is 1 letter and 2 digits. Okay, that was a little unfair and greatly biased, but I have seen almost nothing significant from the PAC-10 (other than 2 teams) to indicate otherwise this year. All the same, this is yet another mid-major that is pining for an elusive BCS bid. They are the least likely of the three to get one, but they still have a chance. All the same, I see them in Boise (the MPC Computers bowl is what they are calling it this year) this holiday season just like every other. Oh yeah, they blasted La Tech to extend their nation-leading winning streak to 21.
This Week: @ Nevada
#10 Tennessee (8-2) 38 Vandy (2-9) 33
In the first half of their bottom dweller schedule, the Vols looked like they were going to roll to an easy win in Nashville, hopping out to an early 14-0 lead. As Lee Corso might say, 'Not so fast, sweetheart.' Vandy rallied, and cut the lead to 28-20 going into the lockerroom. The Vols scored 10 in the third, but Vandy scored 13 in the fourth. As Phil Fulmer puts it, they 'dodged a bullet'. Even though Tennessee has an SEC East title and a trip to Atlanta December 4th wrapped up now, they really had a scare in the Music City, and ought to count their blessings. Certainly the UGA faithful let out a curse in unison as the game ended and they knew that the Bulldogs were not going to face Auburn in Atlanta. The Commodores actually showed sparks of brilliance, as Jay Cutler was 22 of 33 for 314 yards and 3 TDs (with 2 INTs), but it was not enough even if it did leave them wondering what might have been this season.
This Week: v. Kentucky
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