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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
Thanks. I have to say the good thing about Russell is he is not a quitter. But good grief the turnovers lol. I have no idea how we went into such a hostile environment like that and won with all our penalties and turnovers.
There's a lot of homebody's when it comes to the SEC ref crews. They won't be from that school, but the refs know which way the wind blows. The muffed punt in the first half is a good indication that they preferred one team to win over the other. Either way, it doesn't matter, the Tigers won!
Wow LSU finally beat someone with a pulse, way to geaux tigers.
Interesting factoid. I believe this is the 9th straight week we have won the coin toss. What are the odds of that. I wonder what the record is?
I root for the Huskers, because my fratbrother and his wife live there and have invited me up there for the USC game(they have tickets!) next season. Don't ever badmouth your friend(though I did rock'n'roll over that huge Colorado blowout in 2000.)
Feel free to badmouth LSU if it makes you feel anatomicly equable, but take a look at the current bowl matchups, because the latest I've seen is LSU-Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. You don't mind if we danced all over you like we did against Miami, do you?
Dont mind, but its true this is the first victory over a quality opponent for LSU. Can you deny that? Nebraska has issues thats for sure, bad defense the key for them, and today was our first win from a team with a pulse.
testing one two three....
Sorry if my previous remarks stung, but:
Nebraska may be my next destination for a live game, but I've always been a Colorado fan. Blame it on frat brothers...
That being said, LSU has underachieved all season. They were robbed at Auburn and screwed themselves at Florida. Today, they finally woke up(Les Miserables Miles is starting to catch heat) and beat a team they were supposed to. If this is the start of a trend, Arkansas better look out, because LSU can manhandle them worse than USC did...
I hope so, I dont care much for Arkansas.
That Cotton Bowl will never happen though, because Nebraska since 1981 or something has refused to play a game there for some reason. Of course BC may decide its alright, we will see.
Personally, I'd love to see Nebraska knock off Texas in the Big XII Title game. SEC title games are usually boring, but the Big XII always throws a curveball... ;^)
You and me both, then Nebraqska would have to face the mighty Broncos of Boise State. Man talk about a WAC game, Nebraska with no secondary and Boise with no defense!
Wake Forest Laying the wood to Boston College! 21-7. I think the ACC may be worse the the Big 12 this year if Wake Forest can win there division.
It's a BCS bowl, take take the money and run!
Funny Video! Chase Daniels, Mizzou QB eating his boogers live on National TV.
http://www.zippyvideos.com/2788213176234406/chase/
Reminds me of "Caddyshack". I'll pass on the real thing...
Ok, I am now a true believer. I have refused to believe that Ark was worth the hype I have been hearing. But they have already made the case to me tonight. I am very impressed so far. I am impressed how well they are playing on the road against SC. I am now very worried about the game after thankgsgiving big time
Question for anyone out there that might know this. I have always heard that LLOyds of London will insure anything. Has there ever been a case where a college player had insured himself for his last year.
For instance in our case if Jermarcus Russell stays and doesa not try to go pro but fears a career ending injury his last year.
Colt McCoy in just 10 games has set the UT single-season record for passing touchdowns. At 27 TD's, he's just 2 away from the national record for freshman quarterbacks.
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