NCAA? No Clue At All

Usually when I refer to the NC2A in this manner, I'm reflecting on their inability to make consistent decisions that are good for the game or the athletes.

This time, though, it's an honest reflection of this season- I have no clue at all what is going on. Nine of the top ten lose over the course of four weeks? Wowzers... However, there are a couple of observations that can be made from this past week-

The best usage of the state song goes to UK, where "The sun shines bright" after the huge upset of LSU. Huh. I could have swore that Kentucky was a basketball school... Here's the clip of the week:

This would be the place where I would talk about where LSU's coach comes from, until I remember that the guy whose defense allowed UK to come back has a great pedigree. So, never mind. Oh, and you don't want Lou Holtz giving you a pep talk- only USF won when he 'spoke' to them. Maybe it's a case of "pep-a-titus"...

The other thing that we learned is that you don't want to play Oregon State when you're number one in the nation. Remember last year? Cal didn't... and was the top ranked team for only about 45 minutes after the UK win. It's one thing to lose, another to lose at home, and something else altogether to lose to a team with some of the ugliest uniforms in their own state (which is saying something...).

So- BCS rankings aside, here's this week's "One Guy's Take" on the top 5 teams. I use the scientific "who would beat who on a neutral field" argument, in case you were wondering:

1. LSU- UK had extra time to prepare, and they still needed three OTs to pull it off.
2. Oklahoma- Just too good on both sides of the ball (And they're young... scary)
3. USC/Cal/Oregon/tOSU- all are good, but have a hole in their games (injuries, no defense, no defense, no offense)
4. USF- Can't argue with winning
5. Boston College- Ditto
   

My guess for the end of the year? tOSU will drop one (maybe even the last one), and we'll have a USF and BC "National Championship Game" (unless someone monkeys with the "computers" and gives OU or LSU more "quality win points" for their conference championship games). People will scream for a playoff, television ratings will be abysmal for the USF/BC game, and we'll have a split NC.

And nothing will change. Even after the BCS ends, change will only happen when the revenue that's currently produced is protected- Bowls generate lots of cash for schools, conferences, and the NCAA.

OK, enough of that...

• Anderson can't get it together, losing to Defiance. Hopefully Joe will drop an email and give us some 411.
• tOSU smacked Kent State. Happiness all around.
• Vandy lost to Georgia at Homecoming... But you've got to see this catch. Amazing.
• Arkansas and Auburn got into a slugfest, where the Tigers/WarEagles didn't let their lack of offense keep them from a 9-7 win.
• aTm opened up an early lead, but couldn't hold on and dropped one to Texas Tech
• The Jesuits beat the Holy Cross folks, who need to remember that (on the off chance that they score) they should act like they've been there before.
  
• Stanford's magic couldn't continue, and the Horned Frogs leave the Bay with a win.
• Coach Ty needs more chocolate milk.
• Kansas continues to roll- What's going on with the basketball schools?
• Remember us talking about Sul Ross' Mike Flynt? Well, he's baaaaaack!
• The Zooks? Still Zooks, I'm afraid...
• And the Wisconsin Lutherans were 45 points better than their Chicago brethren.
  

Nebraska fans, feel free to scroll down to the next section. I tried to avoid writing about the TBPU/Huskers game, but it is a part of our weekend. I can't address the game any better than the folks in Lincoln did, so I won't try. I will point out, though, that the natives are restless... VERY restless. I read a quote somewhere this weekend that said "Steve Pederson said we would not surrender the Big XII to Oklahoma and Texas. Instead, we've surrendered to Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, and Colorado". Hard times to be a member of Husker Nation... Carrie has even started to refer to the Husker D as the "pink shirts".

In another note- listening to the broadcast over the internet was disconcerting, for a couple of reasons. First, obviously the score. Second, the commercials touting the yield for soybean fertilizer. Third, though, was the play by play commentary talking about how well "OSU" was doing. I could have swore it was the end of the world- or our marriage.

Husker fans- You can come back now. Let's talk Points and Picks.
Yup, the Dawgs prevailed this weekend, as Dan and Michael led the way with 33 points. Before we get too excited- that's 22 less than the max. Yup, we're at the point where losing only 22 is reason to celebrate. It's that kind of year.
This week's "Pickin' and Grinin'" award goes to Dan (the only one who knew that Illannoys would Zook themselves) and Cat (Go Beavers!!). Nice work, peeps.
Terry is still running away with this thing, but it's anyone's race. This was Scott's week off... Paula, it's your turn to 'forget' next week.
Jake is still in front... too bad Auburn can't have a game with that type of score, huh? Huge jam at number 11... Not that there's anything wrong with the number 11.

Great games on Thursday- #2 USF travels to Rutgers, and TCU faces the Utes. Not too shabby.

Next week's big game is in Lexington again- this time the Gators travel to see what they can do against the 'Cats. Texas Tech squares off against Mizzou, and U$C gets their turn at making Weis cry. A Florida State and Miami game happens, but I'm not sure that anyone will care. Auburn faces off against a LSU team looking for payback, and UW hosts Oregon in the battle for NorthWet supremacy. The Zooks will get yet another test, as the resurgent Wolverines come to Champaign. KSU and TBPU meet in Stillwater, and the Aggies travel to Lincoln for Big 12 matchups. Anderson tries to right the ship against the Bluffton Beavers.

Ohio State hosts Michigan State and their former defensive coordinator, Mark Dantonio, as well as Sweatervest's nephew. The last time #1 tOSU welcomed the Spartans to the 'Shoe, it was an epic upset. Defensive coordinator for MSU? Mark Dantonio. Given how this season has gone, don't be surprised...

Our visit to the world of Division Three football finds MacCalester at Gustavus Adolphus College, for an exciting MIAC contest. The Scots of MacCalester (speaking of ugly uniforms) are looking to break a four game skid and represent their 1895 students well. Founded as a "Presbyterian but non-sectarian" institution, their investment in multicultural initiatives has helped their number of students of color rise 55% in the past ten years. They also boast one of the top pipe bands in the country, and hosted Al Franken's bid for the Minnesota Senate.

Their hosts, the "Golden Gusties" (seriously. stupid helmets...) are looking to stop a three game losing streak of their own. Another Lutheran school, this one named for the former king of Sweden, who led the Swedish army in the Thirty Years war, where they joined against the Catholic forces for economic and religious reasons. Perhaps this is why they host the "Nobel Conference", which is sanctioned by the international group that brings us the Peace Prize (congrats, Al!).

Let's hope this next weekend of football is more peaceful, huh?