College Football: Week 2

Well, week two of college football’s fall frenzy has ended. While most games ere played outside the conference, there were a few exceptions. In any case, the shake-up of the top 25 rankings has begun as pollsters get a better idea of what a team is actually capable of this year instead of guessing based on last year’s play. (Did Michigan really, really deserve to be a preseason #5 pick? Based upon the first two games, I guess not!)
(Rankings are based upon the AP/Coaches Polls.)
#1 USC was idle this week and will stay in top position.
#2 LSU took #9 Virginia Tech http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/teams/page/LSU to the woodshed in a 48-7 drubbing. LSU stays put but VT probably falls, but just a notch or two.
#3/#4 West Virginia Had a difficult time getting started against a tough Marshall squad and trailed at the half 13-6. But they play 60 minutes, not 30 and when it was over, WVA, with Slayton and White running over, around and through, had collected a 48-23 victory.
#4/#3 Florida let little Timmy Tebow play with his toys—I mean Troy and the result was a 59-31 win for the Gators that wasn’t really that close as Florida took a siesta in the third quarter.
#5/#6 Oklahoma went out and beat up on the little guys again on Saturday, defeating Miami 51-13. What? It was Miami of Florida, not Ohio? Might not be such a strong Hurricane season after all. Too bad, the teams above did so well, cause the Sooners can’t move up against them.
#6/#5 Wisconsin nearly succumbed to the odds as they needed a late score to edge UNLV 20-13. The Rebels nearly had this one but Donovan’s 29-yard bootleg for a TD with just 1:53 to play saved the Badger’s bacon. This could cost the Badgers a couple of notches in the polls.
#7 Texas was being shut out and trailed #19 Texas Christian 10-0 at the half, but, as I said earlier, they play 60 not 30 minutes. The Long Horns came out of their slumber in the second half and defeated the Horned Frogs 34-13. The slow start might cost the ‘Horns a chance to move up.
#8 Louisville’s offence was impressive in their 58-42 victory in the track meet against Middle Tennessee State, but their defense went AWOL—again. Brohm had a career high 401 yards passing and Anthony Allen a school record 275 yards on the ground for the Cardinals. And they needed every inch of it to beat the Blue Raiders. Sure the Cardinals have scored 131 points in two games (73-10 vs Murray State and 58-42 against Mid Tenn St.), but if they can’t stop anyone, they’re going to have to average those 65 points per game and pray it’s enough. (Slayton, White, Rice, and Teel are probably licking their chops thinking about the Cardinal defense.)
#9 Virginia Tech lost 48-7 to #2 LSU. The Tigers stripped the Hokies to their underwear in this one. While losing to a higher ranked opponent usually isn’t going to hurt you, this one could. Expect the Hokies to fall hard.

#10 California. The Bears offense managed to score enough points to hold off the Colorado State Rams 34-28 but it was a near thing. Leading 34-14, the bears managed to allow Colorado State to score two TDs in a 53 second span in the fourth quarter.

#11/#12 Georgia lost to the south Carolina Gamecocks 16-12 in a game that saw one TD and seven filed goals. This one is going to cost Georgia as it will fall several slots in the polls.

#12/#11 Ohio State. The Buckeyes spotted Akron 2 points via a safety in the first quarter, led just 3-1 at the half, and then ground out a 20-2 victory over the –well, Zips. Should it have been this close? Or were the Buckeyes being neighborly? Up in the polls—no. Down—maybe.

#13/#14 UCLA scored a TD late in the game to seal a close 27-17 victory over the BYU Cougars. The win ended a BYU 11 game winning streak. Whether it will cost them in the polls remains to be seen.
#14/#15 Penn State dismantled Notre Dame 31-10. PSU could move up, but this was not the Notre Dame of the past.

#15/#16 Rutgers handily defeated Navy 41-24. Whether they get to move up or not? [shrugs shoulders]

#16/#17 Nebraska eked out a 20-17 victory over Wake Forest on the road. It probably won;’t help or hurt their ranking in the polls.

#17/#13 Auburn lost to South Florida in overtime 26-23. Expect Auburn’s stock to fall while the South Florida Bulls may crack the top 25 this week.

#18 Arkansas was idle this week. (BTW: Who made up the schedule for Troy (now 0-2)? Week one against Arkansas (46-26) and week two against Florida (59-31)?

#19 TCU. The Horned Frogs gave #7 Texas all they could handle in the first half (they led 10-0 at intermission) before succumbing to the inevitable 34-13. Up? No way. Down? Possibly/probably.

#20/#22 Hawaii won a squeaker of a game at Louisiana Tech 45-44 in overtime. Colt Brennan through for 548 yards and 4 TDs and needed every one of them plus a stopped 2-point conversion in OT to win this Western Athletic Conference contest. This will not inspire voters to move them up in the polls. Down is another matter.

#21 Georgia Tech, after taking apart Notre Dame last week, gave lessons in football to 1-AA opponent Samford. The Yellow Jackets scored 45 points in the first half as they rambled over a wrecked Bulldog squad to a 69-14 victory. Tashard Choice ran for 110 yards and two TD in the first quarter and sat out the rest of the game as the second and third string rolled up time and points to a 62-0 lead at the end of three. Up? Maybe. Down No way, Jose.

#22/#20 Boise State saw their 14-game win streak come to an end at the hands of Washington Huskies 24-10. The Broncos are falling this week.

#23 Texas A & M squeaked past Fresno State in triple overtime 47-45 when a 2-point conversion by the Bulldogs failed. Could cost the Aggies a slot or two.

#24 Tennessee drubbed Southern Miss 39-19.

#25/NR Clemson rolled over Louisiana-Monroe 49-26 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Looking up for the Tigers.

If any team cracks the top 25 this week it will be Boston College (victors over North Carolina State, 37-17 and now 2-0). Boise State may find itself on the outside looking in.