Week 8 #1 OU (7-0) 41 Kansas (3-4) 10
For the third straight week, the Oklahoma Offense sputtered in the first half. Once again (for the second straight week) Sooner phenom Adrian Peterson was held to minimal yardage in the first half. Yet, once again, the Big Red Scoring Machine got turned on at halftime and came out firing on all cylinders. Kansas made a fair share of mistakes, giving up the ball more than once (once for a defensive TD), but the story of the game was again the Freshman Peterson, who became only the third Freshman in NCAA history to break 1000 yards in 7 games (Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk are the other two, consequently). He has been mentioned for a Heisman Trophy, but his limited experience outside of Highschool will probably prevent this. Next week will be a major Bedlam showdown in Stillwater. Both teams will be ranked with only one loss between them.
This Week: @ O-State
#2 Auburn (8-0) 42 Kentucky (1-6) 10
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers cruised to another win, this time over perennial SEC doormat Kentucky. Running all over the league's worst defense, Auburn used their defense to completely dominated and utterly destroy the Wildcats. This game wasn't even close. The Auburn coaching staff will need to guard against looking too far ahead. They face a pathetic Rebel team on Saturday and may be looking to Georgia in two weeks.
This Week: @ Ole Miss
#3 USC (7-0) 38 Washington (1-6) 0
The Trojans had a slow start against the Washington Huskies, but finished up in style, scoring 28 points in the second half enroute to their 16th straight victory. This is the best start for USC since 1988, and will likely only get better. This was the first time Washington has hit a goose egg since 1981. It was the longest active streak for a Division I-A school. The offense performed well in the second half, with LenDale White gaining 93 yards on 17 carries with 2 TDs and Matt Leinart throwing for 217 yards and 2 TDs, but the story was defense, defense, and more defense. USC has been dominant on D of late, and held Washington to only 113 total yards.
This Week: @ Washington State
#4 Wisconsin (8-0) 24 Northwestern (3-4) 12
The badgers reached 8-0 Saturday for only the 4th time in their 115-year history. Again, this is a team with a stellar defense. Seems to be a pattern with the top teams. Of course, complementing the nation's best D is Anthony Davis on the ground, who had another great day with 117 yards on 31 carries with 2 TDs, and John Stocco who hit on 13 of 21 for 178 yards and a TD. Wisconsin held the Wildcats scoreless for almost a full three quarters (one TD coming with :54 seconds left in the 3rd and the second coming after an onside kick recovery). This Badger D is on par with anyone in the country, and is a testament to the Barry Alvarez style. This is the best team in the Big 10, bar none. I may not even have to eat my words, as the Badgers do not play Michigan this year, and the only road test will be against Iowa in their last regular season game. It is conceivable that Wisconsin could take the Big 10.
This Week: v. Minnesota
#5 Miami (6-0) 45 NC State (4-3) 31
It looked for a brief while like the Wolfpack might pull off the upset against Miami. But then, this has become a trend for the Hurricanes this season. Apparently having a team with a ton of talent is just enough to squeak by. NC State led 10-7 at one point, but was not close again after leading 17-14 at the beginning of the 2nd Quarter. Miami was able to reel off 31 unanswered points over the second and third quarters, before NC State decided to fight back, scoring 14 unanswered points to end the game. The yardage went to the Wolfpack, 440-416, but the scoreboard went to the visitors, as Miami pulled out another one to stay undefeated. The Canes have faced their biggest tests already, but the game at Virginia looms in two weeks.
This Week: @ North Carolina
#6 Cal (5-1) 38 Arizona (1-6) 0
Arizona is struggling and Cal used the Wildcats to put further emphasis on their rebound after the USC game. A huge block on an interception return by Arizona was met with cheers from the crowd, and only served to incense the visiting Golden Bears. The Cal defense shut down Arizona, allowing only 245 total yards. Aaron Rodgers hit on 20 of 27 passes for 235 yards and 3 Touchdowns. WR Geoff McArthur set the Cal career receiving yardage mark, and RB JJ Arrington rushed for 135 yards on 24 carries with a TD in the blowout. They look to try to do the same thing to the other Arizona team this week, but it may not be so easy.
This Week: v. Arizona State
#7 Texas (6-1) 51 Texas Tech (4-2) 21
The Longhorns destroyed the Red Raiders in Lubbock Saturday, mostly on the strength of a great performance by Vince Young at QB. His 300 yards of total offense catapulted Texas ahead of Tech on the ground and through the air. With four rushing TDs and one passing, Young silenced a great many critics with his awesome performance. Few expected this kind of effort from the same guy that seemed incapable of doing any right in the last two games, but he definitely showed up to play.
This Week: @ Colorado
#8 Florida State (6-1) 20 Wake Forest (3-4) 17
What happened to the FSU team that thoroughly dominated UVA last week? The answer lies in the inconsistency that has plagued the Seminoles all season. Three costly turnovers by QB Wyatt Sexton almost had the Seminoles woeing their trip to Winston-Salem, but standout play from the defense managed to squeak them by just enough for the win. This was not a high-quality win for the Noles, but Bobby Bowden will likely add to his NCAA record win total however he can.
This Week: @ Maryland
#9 Michigan (7-1) 16 Purdue (5-2) 14
Michigan had been counting on Chad Henne to pull it out for them over the past few weeks. This time, it was on the ground, and another star freshman, RB Michael Hart, made the plays that pushed the Wolverines over the top for the victory. Henne was solid again, throwing for 190 yards, but Hart's single game Michigan freshman rushing record of 206 yards on 33 carries enabled the Wolverines to deal the Boilermakers a second-straight heartbreaking home loss. It was enough to vault Michigan back into my top 10, as I knew they would before the season was over. It still leaves them with a tie for the Big 10 right now, as their only loss was to Notre Dame (who has since lost another game). If the Wolverines do not bow out to state rival Michigan State this week or to hated rival Ohio State in Columbus to end the season, it may be an arm-wrestling match to see who goes to the Rose Bowl (or the Orange Bowl).
This Week: v. Michigan State
#10 Louisville (5-1) 41 South Florida (1-5) 9
Vengeance belonged to the Louisville Cardinals Saturday, who took out their frustrations from last week's loss to Miami on the poor defenseless Bulls of South Florida. This was no competition for the best team in Conference-USA, a team that ALMOST stole the wind from Miami's sails in the same South Florida the week before.
This Week: v. South Florida
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