College Football Week 8
October 20, 2006
By
Michael Rauch
Here now in mid-to-late October is when things really start to heat up in the college football ranks. The first BCS poll of the season has come out and teams are making a push to get into the one and two slots to play for the “National Championship”.
Of course the big news of the last week has been that ugly incident in South Florida involving Miami and FIU. I won’t rehash all of the sordid details, but suffice it say that Miami’s and the ACC’s reaction and subsequent suspensions was laughable at best.
On to this weekend’s games. Two games involving two top 25 teams this week. Number five Texas travels to Lincoln to take on number 17 Nebraska in the Big 12 while Clemson and Georgia Tech (12 and 13 respectively) do battle in the ACC at Clemson.
If Nebraska comes out with that 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-rubber attack it employed against USC earlier in the season, then the Longhorns will blow them out. If they air it out against a Texas secondary that has been prone to give up big plays, then it’s a much closer game. Still, the ‘Huskers are another year away from being a force in the Big 12, much less nationally.
Clemson and Georgia Tech should be a slugfest in the ACC. The Yellowjackets’ only loss came in the season opening 14-10 defeat at the hands of Notre Dame while Clemson’s only loss was at a very good Boston College. The winner gets the inside track in a very mediocre ACC this season, with Miami and Florida State having down years.
Speaking of the ACC, number 22 Boston College will have its hands full in Tallahassee against the Seminoles.
A game flying under the radar could be the upset special of the week. Number 20 Oklahoma takes on 1-6 Colorado in Norman. The Sooners will be without Heisman-caliber running back Adrian Peterson, who hopes to be back for a bowl game after breaking a collarbone last week. The Buffs are fresh off their first victory of the season, a 30-6 dismantling of Texas Tech. Furthermore, Colorado has finally seemed to get a grasp on new coach Dan Hawkins’ offense, scoring 30 or more points in their last two games. Colorado’s defense has been effective, holding opponents to 19.4 points per game.
Rutgers takes on Pittsburgh at Heinz Field, which presents another interesting matchup. What makes this game especially intriguing is that both teams come into the game bowl eligible, Pitt at 6-1 and Rutgers at 6-0, and both trying to gain some respect in a beleaguered Big East. No one knows how good either of these teams are as neither have played anybody, with the exception of the Panthers lone loss to Big 10 also-ran Michigan State. Rutgers and their outstanding running back Ray Rice (149 ypg) has garnered most of the attention thus far, getting a number 19 ranking. Pitt’s quarterback Tyler Palko leads the nation in passing efficiency.
Number 21 Wisconsin travels to Purdue to face the Boilermakers. Purdue has beaten the teams they were supposed to beat while losing to ranked opponents Notre Dame and Iowa. Wisconsin’s only loss was at the Big House in Michigan and the Badgers have looked very impressive recently in wins over Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota, averaging 47 points per game.
Alabama travels to Tennessee in the SEC’s featured game this week. Other than a tough defeat at the hands of Florida, the Vols have rolled under the leadership of QB Eric Ainge. Alabama lost at Arkansas (in OT) and at Florida for the only two blemishes on their record, but had trouble with a poor Ole Miss team at home last week.
The only other top 25 team that might have any trouble this week (although this year it has been hard to tell) is number 16 Oregon traveling to Pullman to take on Washington State who took USC to the last possession three weeks ago before falling 28-22. Oregon’s only loss this season came at the hands of California, but it took the help of some suspect officiating for them to pull off a victory over Oklahoma.
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