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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
Will someone please explain to me how Minneosta who barely beat a division 1-AA team two weeks ago presently be beating Indiana 28-0 who beat Iowa Iowa three weeks ago?
Its that tough Big Ten. And parity.
The Penn State Wisky game is friggin boring....
The Clemson Maryland game should be good...
BTW 14-9 Michigan....
Lots of young players this year.....especially at key positions.
Indiana and Illinois are both starting freshman QBs. Minnesota lots it's entire 4 deep for RBs from last year....
And you forgot that Iowa (also starting a freshman) is losing by 14 to NorthWestern (who starts a sophomore) right now....
yeah it's on a Jefferson Pilot station for me (it's usually the CW, whatever that is)....
1. Because Iowa was overrated.
2. It is college football.
3. Even in the pro's anyone can beat anyone occasionally, witness Arizona and Chicago.
4. And teams improve/fall apart over the season.
That and Northwestern has ALWAYS won at least one game per year in the Big Ten that it has no business winning....
Last year they won 2 games like that.
Against Wisconsin and against, you guessed it, Iowa.
Maybe they have Iowa's number?
Every one I've ever heard such as players and coaches, who can speak with some authority, are unanimous that college and pro ball are different worlds.
Nebraska scores again! 24-3 Nebraska leads.
Thank you for your input. It all makes sense now. :o(
Michigan realizes that it's in a game...
Michigan 24
Ball St. 9
A West Point Cadet sends this along with the photo below:
I'm a cadet at West Point, and tonight at our game against the Air Force Academy, a big sign emerged, and it was shown to the Corps of Cadets, who cheered wildly, and then shown to the Air Force cadets, who also cheered.
(Air Force destroyed Army 43-7).
John Kerry Insults Troops (NEW) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BWvduRAr-U
Will Ball State be in the BCS playoff picture if they beat Michigan? ;o)
1 minute and change left in the 2nd quarter...
LOL
I don't think that's happening :)
Are you watching the Wisconsin Penn State game?
Only the NCAA would make a rule that a team could take advantage of in such a way....
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