#1 OU (4-0) 28 Texas Tech (3-2) 13
The Oklahoma Offense came out sloppy in this game. For the first time this season, a team had an answer to the explosive Sooner attacking offense. The Sooners struggled on a few drives, but defense was really the story for OU. Yes, Jason White set the OU record for most touchdown passes in a career, but time and again it was the OU defense that stifled an impressive Red Raider passing attack. Sonny Cumbie still passed for 369 yards, but his 3 interceptions and a fumble broke the will of Texas Tech deep in Oklahoma territory, holding Tech to only 6 points until the 4th quarter when the game had already been decided. Freshman phenom Adrian Peterson again rushed for over 100 yards (146 on 22 carries with a touchdown), and the Sooners are still alive for next week's Red River shootout in Dallas. If they don't play better than they did this week, they will be Longhorn feed. The only reason I still have them ranked #1 is that even when they look a little sloppy they still slobberknock the other team. Next week will be a big indicator.
Next Week: v. Texas @ Dallas
#2 Auburn (5-0) 34 Tennessee (3-1) 10
Auburn QB Jason Campbell was firing on all cylinders in Knoxville, hitting 16 of 23 passes for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns enroute to an unexpected route of the Vols. Both freshmen quarterbacks for the Vols (Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer) got kicked around all day by the tough Auburn defense. I was a little surprised by the Tigers and their outstanding play, but this was the team that a few people picked to win it all last year. Cadillac Williams had a good game, as well, gaining 95 yards on 24 carries with 1 touchdown. Overall, this outstanding performance was enough in my eyes to catapult Auburn into the number 2 spot. I am really excited about their November 13 showdown with Georgia.
Next Week: v. Louisianna Tech
#3 Georgia (4-0) 45 LSU (3-2) 16
This is the UGA team people have been waiting to see. Total domination on both sides of the ball. David Greene's school record 5 touchdown passes was just the icing on the cake for the bulldogs in their unreal route of last season's co-national champions. Under coach Mark Richt, the dawgs have been anything but dominant offensively. Their defense has kept them in virtually every game they have played, but this was probably one of the best performances in Richt's four years as a head coach. The numbers aren't particularly impressive with regard to yardage (Greene 10/19 for 172 and Ware 109 on 22 carries), but the scoreboard was lit relatively non-stop for UGA with 5 TDs through the air and 1 on the ground and a 32 yard field goal by Andy Bailey.
Next Week: v. Tennessee
#4 Texas (4-0) 44 Baylor (2-2) 14
This was not a huge surprise. Baylor is the lone pushover in the Big XII South, and it was in Austin. It was raining, and the Longhorns took advantage of a weak Bears secondary. Texas QB Vince Young hit Tony Jeffrey twice, and RB Cedric Benson found paydirt 3 times (he almost found it another time early in the first, but fumbled into the endzone where TE Bo Scaife recovered). Also notable, Benson passed Earl Campbell for second all time rushing at Texas, trailing only Ricky Williams with 4,452 yards (Williams is second in NCAA history with 6,207 yards -- probably not falling anytime soon). Benson also tied the UT record with TDs in 11 consecutive games. Next Weekend's game against Oklahoma is looking epic.
Next Week: v. Oklahoma @ Dallas
#5 USC (4-0) Idle
Next Week: v. #8 California
#6 Purdue (4-0) 41 Notre Dame (3-2) 16
Holy Boilermaker, Batman! Did anybody see this coming (Anybody outside of West Lafayette, IN?) I knew Purdue was good. I knew Kyle Orton was good. I just didn't know they were this good. The last time Purdue won in South Bend was 1974. 1974! Kyle Orton is legitimate. His 385 yards and 4 touchdowns against an improved Fighting Irish defense proves that. He currently has 17 touchdowns and ZERO interceptions. He has my Heisman vote. It certainly seemed as if Notre Dame had turned the corner (especially after dishing Michigan two weeks ago). Now it looks like Purdue is the best bet to win the Big 10 this year. With Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State all coming to Purdue, where can they hiccup (probably Iowa?)? I can't say enough how impressed I am with Purdue at this point on both sides of the ball. If they keep that freight train rolling (and get a few breaks), they could be in the Orange Bowl come January.
Next Week: @ Penn State
#7 Miami (4-0) 27 Georgia Tech (2-2) 3
Well, surprise surprise, Brock Berlin finally showed up to play. The Miami defense has kept them in the hunt so far, but the offense finally stepped up to the challenge and played hard against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. Berlin hit 50% of his passes for 200 yards and a career high 3 TDs. Bulldog Frank Gore carried the ball 15 times for 124 yards. The Hurricanes can feel good about this game. Their next real test comes on a Thursday night in two weeks against my #10 Louisville and QB Brian Brohm. The mid-majors play well for the Thursday night games, and I would not be surprised if that contest goes down to the wire, much like the last time Miami played on Thursday (Houston two weeks ago). I am very excited about that game.
Next Week: Idle
#8 Cal (3-0) 49 Oregon St (1-4) 7
I am almost as impressed by this victory as I am by Purdue's victory over Notre Dame. I look at these guys and I see a team that is very much to the Pac 10 what the Boilermaker juggernaut is to the Big 10. A big away game against the Beavers proved the worth of QB Aaron Rodgers who, despite two interceptions, managed to complete 12 of 16 for 140 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Cal defense looked particularly strong and managed to hold Oregon State under 100 yards rushing. The undefeated bears look forward to their game against the Trojans in Los Angeles next week. That game should answer a lot of questions, including: How good is Cal, really?
Next Week: @ #5 USC
#9 Virginia (4-0) Idle
Next Week: v. Clemson
#10 Louisville (4-0) 59 East Carolina (0-4) 7
Freshman QB Brian Brohm completed 12 of his 16 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, and RB Eric Shelton set a school record with 5 touchdowns (12 carries for 129 yards) as the Louisville Cardinals oblitterated the East Carolina Pirates. Shelton is a transfer from Florida State after being highly touted at Bryan Station High in Lexington. He is currently ninth on the career touchdown list at Louisville with 18 (he had 3 TDs last week against UNC). This was his 5th 100 yard game. The Cardinals are third in the nation in scoring defense, and their defense played extremely well, gathering in 5 turnovers, 3 of which were converted into touchdowns. The two headed quarterback of Stefan LeFors and Brian Brohm, coupled with Shelton and Michael Bush on the ground make the Louisville offense formidable. Their Thursday night game at Miami looks to be very interesting.
Next Week: Idle
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