Christian Ponder and the Weekend Ahead

Before I get into what lies ahead this weekend and what to watch out for I want to interject this. With all the problems and controversy the Florida State Seminoles are having this year they have found and Jimbo Fisher has developed a real Heisman Candidate in quarterback Christian Ponder. While everything else has gone wrong for the Noles this season, Ponder has been rock steady and definitely is one of the reasons that head coach Bobby Bowden would want to coach another season, Ponder's senior year. Ponder is a NFL future quarterback. He has shown the pocket presence and maturity that the Noles have missed since Chris Weinke. Last nights win and 18-point comeback over North Carolina on national television should have proved to the college football world that Ponder is truly deserving of some Heisman recognition, if not this year than he will be an early candidate next year. Without Ponder in the game, carving up the #1 pass defense in country, the Noles lose and lose big. It was a big win for Noles, for Ponder and for the program that showed some true grit in the face of some serious adversity. The boys from Tallahassee showed some spunk and that there is some left in the tank.

The biggest game of the weekend is between #8 TCU and #16 Brigham Young in Provo. TCU will be out to prove that should be considered for BCS birth. The Horned Frogs have wins on the road against Virginia and Clemson and this will be their first ranked opponent of the season. TCU will have to win and do it in an impressive fashion for the poll voters. They will have only one more game against a ranked opponent, that being #18 Utah. BYU on the other hand is out to prove the home loss to Florida State was a fluke and a victory over the #8 team in the land will go a long way. Last year TCU burst BYU's BCS buster bubble by defeating the Cougars at home. (Say that five times fast)

#12 Georgia Tech gets to travel to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers. Virginia started the season with three straight losses and it looked like Al Groh's future as head coach was coming to an end but just like they seem to do every season they started reeling off some wins. This could be a trap game for Tech coming off the win over Virginia Tech.

South Florida travels to #20 Pittsburgh and will try to get over the loss to Cincinnati. Pittsburgh will be making that late season push for a Big East title.

Michigan will have chance to start showing they are further along with the rebuilding project than expected, under Rich Rodriquez by pulling off a win over #13 Penn State at home in the "Big House".

#2 Alabama gets to host Tennessee. Which Volunteer team will show up is the big question. The Tide should take care of the Volunteers easily but Lane Kiffin will have his team fired up for this SEC match-up in Tuscaloosa.

The best three loss team in the country, Oklahoma, will put some pride on the line as they take to the road against #25 Kansas. Coming off the loss to Texas and the loss of Sam Bradford, now for the season, the Sooners turn to the future for good with QB Landry Jones. The Sooners now look to ruin some seasons. The Jayhawks last tasted victory over Oklahoma in 1997.

The #1 Florida Gators travel to Starkville to take on former offensive coordinator Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Gators have dropped four straight in Starkville and last won there in 1985. The last time the Gators went into this game undefeated in did not end very well for the orange and blue. There will be lots of noise and cowbells and Tebow and the bunch will probably want to bring some aspirin. It's going to be a headache for the Gators all day and this could be the game that ends the Gators hopes for a national championship.

Also keep your eyes on these match-ups, Clemson @ #10 Miami, #6 Iowa @ Michigan State, Minnesota @ #19 Ohio State, Auburn @ #9 LSU and #11 Oregon @ Washington.