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Posted on 11/02/2006 3:06:56 PM PST by MikefromOhio
Weekend Nine brought one of the “Big 3” down. USC went into Corvallis, Oregon with their BCS destiny in their hands. Had they won out, they were assured of playing for the mythical National Championship. Unfortunately for USC, the Oregon State Beavers had other ideas. After getting out to a 33-10 lead, Oregon St. survived a ferocious comeback attempt by John David Booty to hold on. The loss by USC opened the door for yet another unbeaten team to hold destiny in the palm of their hand. West Virginia takes the spotlight this weekend in the Thursday Night Showdown with Louisville.
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This game will easily be the toughest game that either team has experienced this year. West Virginia features a devastating running game headed by RB Steve Slaton. While you may not know the name now, as a sophomore, he still has time to make a name for himself in college. Louisville features a tough dependable Quarterback in Brian Brohm. 5 weeks after having surgery on a ligament in his throwing hand, Brohm is back guiding the Cardinal offense with the efficiency that was predicted early on this year. The winner of this game has the inside track to the BCS National Title game. The loser is still in the BCS hunt, but can’t afford another slip up.
Louisville is a good team, but West Virginia is the class of the Big East. Slaton and QB Pat White will show why their running game is one of the best in the nation. This won’t be a blowout, but I think that by the end of the game, everyone will know exactly who is the top dog in the Big East race.
(1) Ohio State (-24) at Illinois
Ohio State 45 – Illinois 6
Ball St. at (2) Michigan (-33.5)
Michigan 34 – Ball St. 3
Oklahoma St. at (4) Texas (-18)
Texas 38 – Oklahoma St. 27
Arkansas St. at (6) Auburn (-30)
Auburn 37 - Arkansas St. 3
(7) Florida (-17) at Vanderbilt
Florida 35 – Vandy 10
(13) LSU (-3.5) at (8) Tennessee 
LSU 21 – Tennessee 17
(9) USC (-28) at Stanford
USC 37 – Stanford 10
UCLA at (10) Cal (-17)
Cal 42 – UCLA 21
North Carolina at (11) Notre Dame (-24.5)
ND 38 – North Carolina 7
(12) Arkansas (-2.5) at South Carolina
Arkansas 24 – South Carolina 17
Fresno St. 21 at (14) Boise State 45 from Wednesday
(15) Rutgers BYE
(16) Boston College (-3.5) at (22) Wake Forest
BC 30 – Wake 24
Penn State at (17) Wisconsin (-7)
Wisconsin 25 – Penn State 22
(18) Oklahoma (-2) at (21) Texas A&M
Oklahoma 45 – Texas A&M 28
Maryland at (19) Clemson (-20)
Clemson 32 – Maryland 24
(20) Georgia Tech (-5) at N.C. State
Georgia Tech 38 – NC State 16
(23) Virginia Tech (-2.5) at Miami
VT 23 – Miami 17
(24) Oregon (-16.5) at Washington
Oregon 32 – Washington 28
Arizona at (25) Washington State (-16)
A&M is entering a tough stretch of their schedule. After putting away Baylor late, they enter a brutal stretch in the Big XII where they will face Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas in consecutive weeks.
Oklahoma 45 – Texas A&M 28
Memphis is one of the worst teams in D-1A this year. Southern Miss tends to play down to its competition, but I think they will win this game easily.
Southern Miss 38 – Memphis 13
Major conferences don’t usually play on Tuesday nights. That said Tuesday night games are great exposure for the MAC. Northern Illinois should be the favorite in this game. Can Garrett Wolfe look like the guy who was on pace for nearly 4000 yards on the ground? That’s the key here.
Northern Illinois 32 – Toledo 28
Where do I go for that "put out to pasture or stud" thing anyhow??
Now thats the life dying with a smile on your face... he came and went :)
Only 2 or 3. WV will fall below them, so that's up to 6, Auburn is only barely ahead of Texas in points, so if Arkansas wins out (leaving Auburn out of the SEC champ game) UT has a good shot of jumping Auburn.) Texas is likely going to move up in points on strength of schedule, as A&M(so far just one loss) and probably OK St. are bowl teams, and whoever wins the Big 12 north could help if they win out. Of course Texas could very well be upset Saturday by OK St. But if not, they can probably be able to get up to at least 5 without a loss (and I think Auburn and its inept offense will lose to Alabama.) If Michigan loses to Ohio St, they may well drop below Texas, so that likely gets them to BCS 4. I don't think UT can jump Louisville without them losing, but the Cardinals may well be upset at Rutgers or at Pittsburgh. Probably a 50-50 shot that Louisville loses a remaining game, and I'd give the same odds for Florida being upset between S. Carolina, at Florida St (remember how a mediocre FSU nearly shocked superior Penn St. last year) or in the SEC champ game. So yes, it doesn't take that much now for Texas to move up to #2 BCS. In fact based on recent history the odds are in their favor of enough losses taking place, however history also suggests that if that happens Texas will also lose!
I wouldn't rule out anyone in the current BCS top 15 just yet(except for WV) from reaching the mythical nat'l championship game, there are scenarios for everyone from Boston College on up.
Goodness gracious, lots of us around here remember reading and hearing the same utter BS about USC last year, ESPN's team of the century. Then they lost in their own backyard.
Yes I know but I just don't see it I may sound arrogant.. but it's just confidence we get by Michigan I just don't see anyone giving us a game but it's true sh*t happens I just feel as if this is a team of Destiny just as I see us holding both Houses in the upcoming elections I just feel it that's all, no logic or reason I suppose but I have this feeling this year!
And at least if we were to lose to Michigan I could understand that we might lose to a good team how we lose in politics will depress me alot facing the opposition we have even with the lamestream media on the Dem's side
I'd rather think of tuesday being more like this from last year :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOuEH2XP31A
Down to the wire but the Good Guys win!!! :)
Nite all it's been alot of fun talking football now lets buckle down and Get the Vote out!!!
You still think West Virginia is the class of the Big East? You still kissing up to their feeble little quarterback? Here in Louisville, we'll keep taking the disrespect and we'll keep kicking ass.
Oh btw did I remember to tell you all THE Ohio State Universty OWNS Michigan?? Go Bucks that school up north Sucks!!!! LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ChtR3yMuD8&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBA8MCPpec4&search=Ohio%20State%20Buckeyes
Yes thats number 7 Ted Ginn Jr.. 4.2 forty...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeP7y3p0c80
Yes thats future Buckeye Brandon Saine 4.1 forty!
Eat your Hearts out the rest of the NCAA!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBA8MCPpec4&search=Ohio%20State%20Buckeyesaine
We just reload each and every year! Remember all the Pundits saying we would drop because we had 9 starters on D going to the NFL draft the beginning of the season??
Bwaahaaaahaaaa
Are you sure you're not an OhioRepublican?
thanks on the bar congrats. Sorry about how the game went.
There is no Destiny for sports teams. There's been too many heartbreaks for me to believe that there is anything Providential about a ballgame.
If you want to see a really messed-up BCS poll, then imagine the following scenario:
1. Louisville runs the table
2. Florida wins out (including the conference championship game)
3. Texas wins out (including conference championship), and..ta da..
4. Michigan/Ohio State game is close, decided in the last minutes by a bad ref's call, which is NOT subject to review...the clamor for a rematch would be huge...
Since scerario 4 is somewhat unlikely, the BCS final standings should be decided by this week's poll. Does Louisville jump to #3, or does Florida get it? Once in..it's hard to imagine the #3 team being bumped, assuming they keep winning...and they'll play the winner of the OSU/Michigan game for the top spot..
Only on a very, very good day. Pro teams are made up of proffesional athletes vetted by the draft and who have been playing sports for many years longer than college athletes. Even the worst NFL team contains more talent than college team. This years OSU team doesnt even contain near the level of talent as say last years USC or 1995 Huskers or the 2001 Hurricanes, who may have had the talent capable of beating a low tier NFL team.But chances are the low tier NFL team would have beat any one of them 9 out of 10 times.
That extra game for Florida and Texas has always been the thing that bumps an SEC team or Big 12 team to the NC game over a "lesser" unbeaten team, they say SOS doesnt matter as much anymore but when the difference is only .02-.05 then just that one more game can bump a team. Which sucks for a team like Loiusville who would clearly deserve to go if they are unbeaten, but they can create some distance the next few weeks with there matchups against Rutgers and the rest of the Big East with a good record.
It's hard to ignore strength of schedule..I mean look at the SEC vs. the Big East..top to bottom..playing a much tougher schedule all season takes a toll...but OTOH, the inherent beauty of the college game is that it's ONE game, one win, for the national championship..I mean, OSU or Michigan would probably beat Boise State 19 times out of 20, but if that ONE time was in the BCS championship game..
Pasted??? I don't think so.
They where one fake punt away from losing to Georgia. Once the Dawgs got their office moving, WVU could not stop them.
I balme the GA defensive coach for not having a better plan for stopping WVU in the first half. They obviously did not scout well or were over confident after samshing LSU.
WVU is a 1-2 man team. You lose either guy and they are done.
I am not sure I understand your question.
As well, my apologies for all the poor spelling on my last post.
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