T3R WEEK 5

Sorry for the delay this week, I have been regretting recruiting my son to play quarterback for my team.

#1 TEXAS LONGHORNS (11-0, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: 51-0 win vs Kansas
NEXT GAME: Thursday @ Texas A&M
The Longhorns looked very solid against Kansas and now focus on a heated instate rival, the A&M Aggies. This is always a tough game, and the Aggies have actually won 2 of the past 3. Texas doesn’t need this weeks game to win the Big XII, but they do need to win it if they want to play in the National Title game.

#2 FLORIDA GATORS (11-0, 8-0)
LAST WEEK: 62-3 vs Florida International
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Florida State
When I was growing up this was the best rivalry in football. It was Bowden vs Spurrier and almost always had national title implications for both teams. That has not happened in a long time. Florida has won 5 straight in this rivalry and like Texas needs this win to stay in the National Title hunt.

#3 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (10-0, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: 45-0 vs Tennessee-Chattanooga
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Auburn
The Iron Bowl is a huge game in the state of Alabama. Auburn has a very good offense and could create some problems for the Tide if they can control the tempo of the game. There is nothing Tiger fans would like more than to be able to knock Bama from the National Title game. Of all the top teams playing rivalry games this week, I think this is the best possibility of an upset.

#4 CINCINNATI BEARCATS (10-0, 6-0)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT GAME: Fri vs Illinois
This is a tune-up for the Bearcats before the Big East Championship game in Pittsburgh on December 5th. Although, losing to Illinois would completely dash any outside chances the Bearcats have at playing in the National Title game.

#5 TCU HORNED FROGS (11-0, 7-0)
LAST WEEK: 45-10 win @ Wyoming
NEXT GAME: Sat vs New Mexico
TCU is completely destroying their opponents. The good news is that the Horned Frogs should be able to continue that and get style points by maybe putting up 100 on New Mexico (I’m dead serious that they could do that!). The bad news is that New Mexico is one of, if not THE worst team in D-1 football and even a huge win will hurt the Frogs in the computer rankings.

#6 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (10-1, 7-1)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT GAME: Sat vs Georgia
You have got to love the name of this rivalry game, by far the best and my favorite, Clean Old Fashioned Hate! What better way to describe a rivalry? Every rivalry game wants to say that, but this one actually does.

#7 PITT PANTHERS (9-1, 5-0)
LAST WEEK: OFF
NEXT GAME: Fri @ WVU
The last time Pitt traveled to Morgantown for the Backyard Brawl (also a good rivalry name, although I may be a bit biased) the Panthers pulled of a stunning 13-9 upset that knocked WVU from the national title game (which they probably would have own against Ohio State) and started the downfall of their program (RichRod leaving). This year the Mountaineers get a chance to play spoiler to the Panthers great season.

#8 OREGON DUCKS (9-2, 7-1)
LAST WEEK: 44-41 2OT win @ Arizona
NEXT GAME: Thursday Dec 3rd vs #11 Oregon State
The Ducks won, but really struggled at times against the Wildcats. Regardless, a win is all they needed and after pulling off a great 4th quarter comeback they got the “W” in OT. Now they will play Oregon State in the Civil War for a spot in the Rose Bowl.

#9 the OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES (10-2, 7-1)
LAST WEEK: 21-10 win @ Michigan
NEXT GAME: Rose Bowl
Michigan outplayed the Buckeyes in almost every phase of the game, but shot themselves in the foot repeatedly at terrible times in the game and even worse spots on the field. Ohio State forced and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a defensive TD and picked of Michigan at least two other times as the Wolverines were marching down field and in the Red Zone. A win is a win, but The Vest and crew will have to play better than that if they want to snap their BCS losing streak.

#10 BOISE STATE BRONCOS (11-0, 6-0)
LAST WEEK: 52-21 win @ Utah State
NEXT GAME: Fri vs Nevada
UPSET ALERT!!!!!! Nevada is good! The bad thing about this game is that it is being played on the Smurf Turf in Boise. Expect lots of scoring and lots of offense. Nevada leads the nation in rushing with an NCAA record before 3 players rushing for over 1000 in a season. They also have a terrible pass defense, and Boise has one of the top passing attacks in the country. The last time these two teams played in Boise it was a 69-67 final in 4 OT’s.

#11 OREGON STATE (8-3, 6-2)
LAST WEEK: 42-10 win @ Washington State
NEXT GAME: Thursday Dec 3rd @ #8 Oregon
The Beavers are peaking at the right time. With wins against Stanford and Cal under their belts already and winners of 4 straight and 6 of 7 (only loss was a 6 point loss @ USC) they are the hottest team in the Pac-10. It all comes down to one game on December 3rd against the rival Ducks for bragging rights and a trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.

#12 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (9-2, 6-1)
LAST WEEK: 31-28 win vs Colorado
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Oklahoma
This is first time in a long time that the Bedlam game has meant more to the Cowboys than the Sooners, but a win this weekend and the Cowboys could find themselves in the Fiesta Bowl as an at-large team.

#13 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (8-3, 5-3)
LAST WEEK: 34-28 win @ Stanford
NEXT GAME: Sat Dec 5th @ Washington
It was the first time in years since the Big Game actually meant something and both teams entered the game with 7+ wins. Cal dominated play in this one for the last three quarters of the game and have got to be kicking themselves for the way they played in that two week span earlier in the season when they lost to USC and Oregon by a combined 72-6. If that had not happened, Cal would be headed to the Rose Bowl.

#14 CLEMSON TIGERS (8-3, 6-2)
LAST WEEK: 34-21 win vs Virginia
NEXT GAME: Sat @ South Carolina
This has once again become a heated rivalry, which got even hotter last year when both team started swinging fists. Clemson just needs to avoid injuries in any extra curricular activities because they have an ACC title game to play for a spot in the Orange Bowl the following week.

#15 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (10-2, 6-2)
LAST WEEK: 42-14 win @ Michigan State
NEXT GAME: BOWL GAME
Penn State once again beat all the bad to average teams on their schedule and will once again go to a very nice bowl. Penn State is holding out hope for an at-large BCS bowl, which is about 50-50 at this point. Unfortunately for the Lions they won’t being playing one of those bad to average teams in a BCS bowl if they make it.

#16 MISSISSIPPI REBELS (8-3, 4-3)
LAST WEEK: 25-23 win vs LSU
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Mississippi State
This is the place the Rebels expected to be all season, but some early season struggles slowed them down. Now that Ole Miss has their offense playing at a high level and would certainly not be a team I would want to face in a bowl game.

#17 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (8-3, 4-3)
LAST WEEK: 31-13 win @ Boston College
NEXT GAME: Sat @ NC State
The tale of two seasons continues. The Tar Heels have losses to Virginia and Florida State, but wins over Miami, and Virginia Tech and Boston College on the road.

#18 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (8-3, 5-2)
LAST WEEK: 17-3 win vs Kansas State
NEXT GAME: Fri @ Colorado
The Nebraska black shirt defense is back and playing some dominant football. They have the style of physical defense that could give Texas a tough time in the Big XII Title game next week, but first they will have to deal with rival Colorado to close out the regular season.

#19 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (8-3, 5-2)
LAST WEEK: 38-10 win vs NC STATE
NEXT GAME: Sat @ Virginia
The Hokies were a big disappointment this season and still find themselves ranked in the top 20 as the regular season comes to a close. The defense, which was supposed to be a strong point didn’t show up in big games and the offense, which was suspected to struggle, did. Both of the Hokie conference losses were very winnable games and would have turned their season around if they would have won them.

#20 ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (7-4, 3-4)
LAST WEEK: 42-21 win vs Mississippi State
NEXT GAME: Sat @ LSU
Quick who is the best QB in the SEC? Nope, it is not Tim Tebow! It is Ryan Mallet, the former Michigan Wolverine. After a very shaky start Mallet and the Arkansas offense looks very good and will be a force in bowl season.