#1 OU (3-0) Idle
#2 Texas (3-0) 35 Rice (2-1) 13
Cedric Benson is looking pretty close to unstoppable right about now. Granted, it was Rice this week, but Vince Young gives the Horns just enough option that defenses are kept on their heels for the ground attack. It wasn't the impressive blowout that might have been expected, but it was a solid win for Texas. Rice came into this contest with the number one rushing defense (not unexpected considering their first two games featured teams with high flight passing attacks). Benson rushed for 169 yards on 18 carries in the first half (189 yards on 20 carries total). The October 9 showdown in Dallas against the Sooners is looking very interesting.
#3 Miami (3-0) 38 Houston (1-3) 13
This was, surprisingly, not the complete blowout that we all expected. Despite every effort by the Cougars in this game, it was mistakes that cost them a world-shocking upset over the vaunted Miami Hurricanes, and not their pathetic gameplay. As a matter of personal opinion, I saw a dramatically better Houston football team than the one I saw in Norman two weeks ago. This team was the first to score a touchdown on Miami this season, and was marching down to do it again, when an alert Miami D-lineman (Baraka Atkins) recovered a fumble and returned it 52 yards for the touchdown, effectively sucking the wind out of Houston's sails and destroying any confidence that team may have had. Yes, the score was 24-10 at the half, and yes, it was Houston's first drive of the second half, and yes, it was amounting to a great drive. But alas, it was not to be. Houston was doomed to mediocrity, and Miami escaped with their perfect record. If Miami doesn't find some offense soon, they will find themselves off my top 10. This is why the Thursday night game is one of the best things to have happened to college football in recent years. It gives the second tier Conference USA teams a chance to show up a big time opponent on a national stage. This is what college football is all about. FEARLESS PREDICTION: Houston takes the successes from this game and uses them to bolster a good run in Conference USA.
#4 USC (4-0) 31 Stanford (2-1) 28
Okay, color me a light shade of surprised here. Granted it was in Palo Alto. Granted, the Cardinal has a high octane passing attack. But Stanford led most of this game. The Trojan defense looked sloppy and uninspired in the first half. If they hadn't made the "halftime adjustments" that Pete Carroll is so famous for, we would be talking about one of the greatest upsets in history. As it stands, we are looking at the chinks in USC's armor and thinking the Cal game looks mighty interesting. Can the Golden Bears pull off their second upset in as many seasons? Stay tuned.
#5 Auburn (4-0) 33 The Citadel (0-2) 3
Okay. Auburn played I-AA The Citadel. They beat them. Their starters played a half. Anything I missed? Auburn rested because they face Tennessee next week. May as well have been a bye.
#6 Georgia (3-0) Idle
#7 Purdue (3-0) 38 Illinois (2-2) 30
This was a much closer game than I would have expected, but Kyle Orton found the endzone 5 times in this game. He is the real deal. I can't wait to see the Purdue-Notre Dame game. A win next week will have him striking an early Heisman pose.
#8 Cal (2-0) Idle
#9 West Virginia (3-0) 45 James Madison (2-0) 10
This was a pretty weak performance by a good West Virginia team, but it was enough to pull through the sandwich game slump. The Mountaineers take on Va Tech next weekend after facing Maryland last weekend. They still look like the Big East team to beat.
#10 Virginia (3-0) 31 Syracuse (2-1) 10
Marques Hagans had a solid day at quarterback for the Cavaliers, and he needed to. The defense was dealt a severe blow, when stalwart Chris Canty had to be helped off the field. Coach Al Groh believed the injury to his defensive captain would be serious. The offense knew it had to step up in this game, and Hagans led the charge. The question is whether UVA will be able to keep the ball rolling in two weeks against Clemson without Canty. Clemson will be on the warpath after starting the season 1-3.
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