Week In Review

The "U" may not be back 100% but they are making some noise this year. After taking care of #8 Oklahoma on Saturday night Coach Randy Shannon has the Canes heading upward. They finished a tough four games to open the season 3-1. They now have a schedule that is conducive for them to make a run at BCS bowl game.

Remember a few months ago when the University of Auburn administration was getting blasted for hiring Gene Chizik from Iowas State, a program that was going nowhere but down with Chizik at the helm. It appears that the folks at Auburn knew a little for then anyone gave them credit for. After knocking off Tennessee they remain undefeated. The schedule for the Tigers gets harder from here on out though next up is Arkansas and then Kentucky. They'll finish the season with playing four now ranked opponents in their last five games with LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia and finish the season in the Iron Bowl against Alabama. Will the somebody please rank this team!

I blew the call on Georgia taking care of business between the hedges against LSU. The Tigers dropped the Dawgs 20-13. LSU's defense is stout, It's offense though is very anemic. I would have to agree with Brad Nessler of CBS , calling them the worst offense among the top five. But on the flip side Georgia's D is no slouch bunch either. No one will remember this game though, except maybe the Bulldogs, if the Tigers take care of business against the Gators next weekend at home. Florida though will have their hands full with this Tiger defense. The game in Baton Rouge will not be a shoot-out.

How about the Notre Dame-Washington game? OT, goal line stands and a big hit to end the game in overtime it had a little of everything. Jimmy Claussen making an impression on Heisman voters by throwing for 422 yards for the Golden Domers. Golden Tate pulling in 224 yards on 9 receptions for the Irish. The emotional and hard fought win this weekend could inspire the Irish for the rest of the season. This is a win Charlie Weiss can build upon. Washington though has nothing to hang their heads about so far this season. They beat the mighty USC Trojans, nearly pulled one off in South Bend, and gave LSU all they could handle. Coach Steve Sarkasian should be very proud of the team he is putting on the field. This is not the same Husky squad of the last few years.

Michigan proved that a rivalry game can produce an unpredictable outcome as the Wolverines came back and fought hard but dropped a tight one to Michigan State in over time. For the second year in a row the Paul Bunyan Trophy will reside in East Lansing. Michigan has though eclipsed its win total from last year already and has plenty of hope, with Tate Forcier running the offense at quarterback, for a few more seasons.

Will someone please give Wisconsin a little respect after dispatching Minnesota, the Badgers are off to a 5-0 start. They do have a history of fading but they are off to a great start. Along those same lines, Iowa is now 5-0 for the first time since 1995 after winning Saturday. Iowa also has a big win against Penn State on this seasons resume'. The Big 10 is playing some good football this year.

The clock struck midnight for the Cinderella season that the Houston Cougers were trying to put together to be a BCS buster. The University of Texas at El Paso stole the glass slippers right of the Cougar's feet by dropping 58 points on them. The Cougars did manage 41 points. Between the two teams they amassed over 1,300 yards of total offense. Over 800 yards in the air and over 400 on the ground. Houston QB Case Keenum was 51-76 for 536 yards and five touchdown passes. To put it mildly I think both teams forgot to tell their defense to get off the bus.

It's official the wheels have come of the bus for the Florida State Seminoles, losing to Boston College 28-21. Coach Bobby Bowden made the comment at half time, after being down 21-6, that the second half would define the Noles season. Well, the definition might read like this in Webster's dictionary: Florida State Football: (noun or verb) being susceptible to the big play on defense, ability to move the ball down field but can not score, failure to close the deal. After coming back and tying the game 21-21 and getting a gift of a turnover the Noles blew an opportunity to change the outcome of this contest with a missed a field goal. Hats off to BC as they have found a QB in Dave Shinskie. BC now leads the ACC Coastal Division at 2-1. The Noles start 0-2 in ACC play for the first time ever. Many Nole fans are thinking 2011 can not come soon enough. First season post Bobby Bowden.

In other ACC play of note North Carolina proved that they still have a long way to go dropping a game 16-3 to Virginia, who picked up their first win of the season. Butch Davis better rally the troops at least on the offensive side of the ball because they are offensive on offense.


Cal's season seems to be unraveling, for the second week in a row they got it handed to them by an inter-conference foe as USC laid a backyard beat down on the Bears.