College Football Week 1

Oregon has its share of issues on the field following last Thursday's incident with Running Back LaGarrette Blount punching a Boise State football player, but Amanda (Right) has created a stir off the field with some recent bikini clad pictures found on the internet. Maybe Nike owner Phil Knight will pay for the problems to go away. We'd prefer Knight come up with yet another uniform for the Pac-10 team.

History Made

Those in attendance at Kinnick Stadium Saturday thought they were witnessing history as FCS Northern Iowa set up for a field goal with :07 remaining which would give the Panthers the lead. However the kick was blocked, yet was rewarded another chance since a Hawkeye football player did not fall on the 1st down opporunity. UNI tried again only to have this kick blocked and time run out. It was the first time ever that back to back field goal opportunities were blocked, and the fifth time it happened in the same quarter. Hawkeye fans were glad to see this type of history occur.

Showdown Saturday

After the 2008 season the match-up many waited for was Ohio State hosting Southern California in week two of 2009. But the most intriguing match-up involves the Buckeye's hated rival, the Michigan Wolverines. Despite many off-field issues, the Maize and Blue executed well while defeating Western Michigan. Michigan hosts Notre Dame after they shut down a very talented Nevada team. We may not have had every question answered after week one between these two teams, but we do expect an even game. If it is a blowout, the team on the receiving end is a pretender.

Big Ten

After completing the first weekend at 10-1, the Nation's Premeir Conference has to prove themself this weekend. Conference teams take on representatives of the Big 12, Mountain West, Pac 10 as well as Notre Dame. Add Fresno State's trip to Madison and this becomes a make it or break it Saturday for respectibility. A sweep and the conference can pound its chest, but losses to two or more will add to the nation's perspective.

College Football Week 14

The Big Ten may have 11, but it's not as screwed up as the Big 12--I'm looking for some one's take on the Big 12 South. What did Texas do to lose the right to play for the championship? Their only loss is at Lubbock on a last second play to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are also tied for the league lead, but lost badly at Norman. Oklahoma's one loss is to Texas, by ten points on a neutral field. The argument for the BCS is that the regular season is the playoff. Then Texas beat Oklahoma and the Longhorns should be on their way to play for Missouri and beat them for a second time this year. Sure, I'd rather see Oklahoma play for the conference and national title, but Texas has earned the right more than the Sooners.

Georgia drops the ball--Not only have the Bulldogs underachieved against the top teams of the conference, and now state, but the Georgia Radio Network may have had the biggest disappointment of the day. On a day that found in-state rival Georgia Tech win for the first time in seven years over the Bulldogs, but it was disappointing to hear (or not hear) the in-game ceremony for former Georgia radio announcer of 43 years, Larry Munson. At the end of the first quarter Munson was brought to the field to be honored with a video tribute in front of the sell-out crowd. However for those of us listening to the network that so many had enjoyed his calls, we were treated to the usual three minutes of commercials. What made Munson famous were his calls on the radio, and for the network that he worked for not to listen in and sell-out to advertisers was uncalled for.

Big Ten, not Penn State thanks Oregon--Oregon's win in the Civil War over in-state rival Oregon State will most likely send the Southern California Trojans to play in the Rose Bowl for the fourth consecutive year. Had the Beavers won, they would've received the invite to play Penn State and USC had gone to another BCS bowl game. Penn State would've been heavily favored over Oregon State in a re-match the Nittany Lions won by 31 in week 2. But it will be a home game for the Trojans and look for another USC win over the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.

Faster, Stronger, Bigger Ducks--Did anyone else think it was a men versus boys match-up between Oregon and Oregon State. The Ducks were faster, stronger and bigger than the conference leading Beavers. Oregon State looked more like the team we've seen over the last five years than the team that beat Southern Cal.

Bowl Predictions--My bowl predictions with one week to go. Look for the Big Ten to lock their teams in this week.

Rose Bowl--Penn State v USC
Fiesta Bowl--Ohio State v Texas
Capital One Bowl--Iowa v Georgia
Outback Bowl--Michigan State v South Carolina
Alamo Bowl--Northwestern v Missouri
Champs Sports Bowl--Minnesota v North Carolina
Insight Bowl--Wisconsin v Kansas

The Capital One is very interested in bringing the Hawkeyes back to Orlando. The match-up with Georgia would showcase two of the best running backs in college football. Shonn Greene of Iowa and Knowshon Moreno of Georgia. The Outback is another possibility for the Hawkeyes and look for LSU to be the opponent if Iowa lands here. South Carolina also has a large fan following, but it wouldn't be necessary if Iowa is invited to Tampa. LSU has a bigger name and will be a good draw for ESPN.

Finally, I'm watching the Bears and the Vikings while writing this up. It sure is nice to see the retro uniforms of Minnesota. Except for them playing indoors, these unis are reminiscent of the Bud Grant, Purple People Eaters era of the 70s and 80s. Or where have you gone Tommy Kramer?

UPSET!!!

Last night Oregon State beat the #1 team in the land, the University of Southern California Trojans. I wrote earlier USC would not be beat and would land in the title game. That dream is over. There is much football to be played, but there are too many teams that will qualify for the BCS Champsionship Game and USC's performance on national television against a 1-2 team will not be forgotten by the pollsters.

We have elminated Ohio State and USC from title talk at this time, and one more team may be eliminated as well after this weekend. #3 Georgia has more on the line as they host #8 Alabama. The Bulldogs cannot afford to be upset at home on national television if they want to keep their title hopes alive.

Oklahoma has the tendency to be tripped up at some point during the season. They have a favorable schedule hosting Kansas and Nebraska, travelling to Dallas to play Texas in the Cotton Bowl, while finishing the regular season at Oklahoma State. Watch out there. The Cowboys have tripped up the Sooners before. The favorite team from the Big 12 North to face them in a title game is Missouri. The Tigers have to go to Austin for a showdown with the Longhorns and to Lincon to meet Nebraska. They meet Kansas in Kansas City to finish the year. I predict the Tigers to lose at least once, if not twice as well as in the Big 12 title game.

Take a look to the Big Ten. The Conference is down, but two undefeated teams have a chance. Penn State has road trips to Purdue, Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Nittany Lions will go down to two of those three. Wisconsin has the meat of their schedule in front of them. The next three weeks the Badgers will travel to Ann Arbor to meet the Wolverines, then come home to play Ohio State and Penn State. Two weeks after that is another home meeting with Illinois. I believe they will win all four, but in between Penn State and Illinois is a trip to Iowa City. That is a trap game and we'll see how Bielema's Badgers will stay grounded for this boarder battle.

The SEC will have a team in the BCS Title Game. This is the best conference for college football in 2008. Florida has two tough games, LSU in the Swamp, and Georgia in Jacksonville. They are my favorite to be playing for the national title.

Tonight's upset was exciting and it sets up another weekend of great college football. However this is the last upset of week 5. Oklahoma will not be tripped up by TCU, and if Illinois beats Penn State, is that a surprise? Post your thoughts and keep it clean.