Podcast: Episode 42

Thanks ACC for reminding us once again why no one should take you seriously until basketball season rolls around. Just when we thought Miami, Florida State or North Carolina might be considered BCS title contenders ... all three reminded us why no team from the ACC will ever when the championship (that includes you too Va Tech).

As painful as it was, both the 'Eye and the 'Eer gave Rich Rodriguez credit for Michigan's 4-0 start, but both agree that 1-3 Michigan State will probably win this weekend. Let's not forget about the potential interesting match ups this week - LSU-Georgia, USC-Cal and Oklahoma-Miami. We also have some fun at the expense of Tony Barnhart, Ron Zook and the Iowa Hawkeyes during Quick Hitters.

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No panache at Penn State

When ESPN's Game Day comes to town there is a lot of pressure on the student body to be rowdier and funnier than whatever campus Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso (oh yea, Desmond Howard is on the trailer now) went to the week before.

Penn State's fans this past weekend were up to the task, even as inclement weather approached. But then folks spotted the Erin Andrews sign. No not the one that says "Erin Andrews for Heisman." No the other one. Just look down a little to the left ... you'll see it.

Real classy Penn State.

The best part of that entire day for Nittany Lions fans was when senior meteorologist student Drew Anderson does the weather report during Game Day.

(Hat tip: Penn State Clips)

AEAAE Top 25

Welcome to the first An 'Eye and an 'Eer Top 25 poll. Since we despise the validity of preseason polls we waited until after the fourth week to gather rankings from our correspondents around the nation. We could still use reliable voters from Big 12 and Pac-10 country, but the knowledge and diversity of our voters makes this Top 25 better than that lame Harris Poll.

Team Record
1. Florida (4-0)
2. Texas (4-0)
3. Alabama (4-0)
4. Cincinnati (4-0)
5. LSU (4-0)
6. Boise State (4-0)
7. TCU (3-0)
8. USC (3-1)
9. Iowa (4-0)
10. Ohio State (3-1)
11. Oklahoma (2-1)
12. Virginia Tech (3-1)
13. Michigan (4-0)
14. Houston (3-0)
15. Missouri (4-0)
16. Kansas (4-0)
17. South Florida (4-0)
18. Auburn (4-0)
19. Oklahoma State (3-1)
20. Oregon (3-1)
21. Penn State (3-1)
22. Georgia (3-1)
23. Miami (2-1)
24. Wisconsin (4-0)
25. Nebraska (3-1)

Others receiving votes: Mississippi, BYU, California, Notre Dame

Hey, watch where you stick that yard marker

The 'Eye probably gets the Big Ten Network and watches meaningless games like Minnesota and Northwestern. But the sideline mics do a good job of picking up the chatter of the players and coaches. Turn up your volume and listen to what Minnesota’s Simoni Lawrence says after almost impaling himself on a yard marker (not a shocker here, but it’s NSFW).

Well, at least the Harris Poll has got it togeth...oh, what's that?

Ahh, early-season polls, it's the smell of stupidity. And not just from the AP and crazy Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. As an OSU fan, I think Doug does a fine job as the PD's beat guy. But man, this vote is caaaaraazzzeeeee.


Computer dork Jeff Sagarin fired up the Commodore 64 and came up with this gem. Now, i guess the BCS only uses the ELO-CHESS version which is totally confusing.

But my winner of this week is the season's first edition from the 141 voters in the Harris poll, who were apparently all together having a substantial kegger when they filled out their votes which include:

- Penn State coming in at #12, which doesn't seem so bad except that Iowa is ranked #14. And the Hawkeyes just won - in Happy Valley - Saturday night. But hey, the Nits have the White Out thing. I guess that's worth two spots.

- Cal at #21 and Oregon at #23. Which would be great except the Ducks just beat the Bears - BY 39 POINTS.

Let's not only watch the game people, let's stick around and check out the final score.

Tebow TKO'd

It's unfortunate that many college football fans were pleased to see Tim Tebow get knocked unconscious during an easy win over Kentucky. Tebow takes a beating every game. The biggest hit on the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, may have come tonight when he was sacked by Wildcats defensive end Taylor Wyndham. Wyndham hit Tebow squarely in the chest and as he fell Tebow hit the back of his head hit Gators tackle Marcus Gilbert's knee.

Hopefully it's nothing serious and Tebow will be fine. Shame on those who cheer the injury.

Observations from Saturday's games (Sept. 26)

Until it reaches the middle of October there are no upsets. This weekend is more proof why rankings shouldn't begin at least until four weeks into the season (note to all readers: 'Eye and 'Eer rankings begin Monday).

So don't get that excited about No. 6 Cal losing at Oregon, Florida State falling to South Florida, or No. 5 Ole Miss losing at South Carolina (Thursday), and so on. Let's get to the rest of the 'Eer's observations from today.

1. Is there a better receiver in the country than Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard? If you find him let me know. Gilyard is elusive and a nightmare for DBs because he can go long on anyone or take a short dump pass from Tony Pike and score. In the Bearcats 28-20 victory over Fresno State, Gilyard had nine catches for 177 yards and two scores. Nice day.

2. Is there a conference that needs a signature win more than the ACC? Since Notre Dame is an independent it's tough to pick the Irish, so the ACC is it. Saturday was a mixed bag for the league. Clemson losing at home to No. 15 TCU (14-10), Rutgers thumping Maryland in College Park (34-13), and No. 18 FSU playing inconsistent against South Florida (17-7) were devastating for the ACC. It didn't even help that No. 11 Virginia Tech dominated No. 9 Miami and Georgia Tech routed No. 22 North Carolina in Atlanta. The Canes and Tar Heels had a chance to represent the league on a higher level.

3. Is it time for Bobby Bowden to call it a career? It's actually time for the Seminoles to clean house. Not only should Bowden go, but so should the rest of the staff. Any team that plays as inconsistent as the Noles is showing the signs of multiple coaching deficiencies.

4. What happens to The U now? The loss in Blacksburg isn't a surprise, but how the Hokies dominated all game is the shocker. Miami must let it go and get ready for No. 10 Oklahoma or the Hurricanes will quickly go from BCS contender to 2-2. Jacory Harris seems like the type of guy who can put it behind him. However, I question wheather the Canes defense can.

5. Is the SEC still the nation's best conference? Sure, but the league is extremely top heavy (No. 1 Florida and No. 3 Alabama). The Gators and Crimson Tide are arguably the best two in the country, but after that it gets pretty sketchy. Mississippi State had No. 7 LSU on the ropes in Baton Rouge, Tennessee is struggling with Ohio out of the Mid-American Conference, Arizona State is putting up a fight in Athens against Georgia, and consider No. 4 Ole Miss' loss at South Carolina Thursday. However, South Carolina and Auburn should be considered for the Top 25.

6. Should Michigan be concerned after a close win against Indiana? Not at all. The Wolverines are 4-0 and have eclipsed last year's 3-9 season. Of course, Rich Rodriguez and the fans would have enjoyed an easy win this week, but that's not going to happen too often in Big Ten play with such a young team. UM fans should be encouraged that the Wolverines battled down the stretch and frosh Tate Forcier led them on another late TD for the win. Last year's team wouldn't have done that.

7. Who's the happiest coach after Saturday's games? Ohio State's Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes were not flashy in defeating Illinois 30-0 in The Shoe, but Tressel has to love that stat sheet. OSU rushed for 236 yards and passed for 82. That's the type of ball control Tress loves.

8. What was the biggest surprise of the day? Jim Tressel going for it fourth-and-goal from 3 with 1:18 to play the Vest decided to go for it up 23-0. Terrelle Pryor found Dane Sanzenbacher for the score. I don't have a problem with the call, just doesn't fit his personality.

9. What's wrong with Big Ten officials? I have no proof, and don't want to sound like Charlie Weis, but it seems Big Ten refs are flag happy. Watching the Michigan-Indiana game was painful because of all the questionable calls. However, the worst call came on the Hoosiers' final drive when Michigan's Donovan Warren was credited with interception when it was clear Demarlo Belcher had the reception and the ball was pulled away on the ground. I felt bad for IU as it was going for its first win in The Big House since 1967. Indian coach Bill Lynch was not too pleased with the call.

10. Is Boise State a legitimate Top 5 team? Hell no. Of course LA Times dolt Bill Plaschke thinks the Broncos should be ranked No. 1. Boise has a nice team, but does anyone really think they could consistently play the conference schedule of any BCS conference and not lose at least three games? Didn't think so.

Can Clemson avoid another disappointment?

It seems to be in Clemson's DNA. Get a big game and flop. Today the Tigers get BCS-buster TCU at home. Don't be fooled into thinking this is a trap-game (sorry for the cliche). If Clemson can't handle the Horned Frogs defense, which has been the standard under Gary Patterson's teams, we may see a little more of this.

Picks of the Week: No. 4

Guess I'm wimping out this week. I like Bowling Green to cover against Boise State, and Iowa to cover at Penn State. Heck, I even like TCU to cover at Clemson, but I'm not taking any of those games. Forgive me, but I need to improve on my record.

Here's my shot at a better record.

Miami (-2.0) over Virginia Tech
Miami is not back yet. The Hurricanes are much better than most expected, but championship UM teams are better than this squad. However, Randy Shannon's team is oozing confidence and they are more talented than the Hokies. Force Tyrod Taylor to throw and it's an easy win for Miami.
Pick: Miami 33, Virginia Tech 22

Florida Sate (-14.0) over South Florida
A week ago I would have taken the Bulls and the points. Matt Grothe and his ACL tear changes things a bit. Now Christian Ponder will be the best quarterback in this game. Hell, E.J. Manuel may be the second-best QB in Tallahassee. The Noles are rolling into this game following last week's win at BYU. The Bulls are just reeling.
Pick: FSU 34, South Florida 14

Ohio State (-14.0) over Illinois
Been reading all week how Illinois upset OSU two years ago in The Shoe. It's not going to happen, and the Illini won't even cover. The Buckeyes are still the best team in the Big Ten and they'll prove that again this week with a stout defensive performance.
Pick: Ohio State 28, Illinois 13

Alabama (-17.5) over Arkansas
Did you see all of those points the Razorbacks scored against Georgia? Sure, but Arkansas lost. Now Bobby Petrino must get his offense ready to play a much more aggressive and speedy defense. Bama will roll easily.
Pick: Alabama 48, Arkansas 21

Upset of the Week Texas Tech (+1.0) over Houston
The Red Raiders surprised me in a close loss to Texas last week in Austin. Houston had its moment at Oklahoma State. QB Taylor Potts fits well into Mike Leach's system and he'll pick apart the Cougars defense.
Pick: Texas Tech 42, Houston 30

Last Week: 3-2
Season Record: 8-7

Good bet: UF-UM in BCS title game

At least according to The Miami Herald's Joseph Goodman. It appears the Vegas odds makers think there is a good chance Miami will hook up with Florida in the national title game. Odds today are 12-to-1. UF vs. Texas is still the best bet at 6-to-1.

However, a Canes-Gators match up would create some exciting scenarios in Florida. How about odds on who'll win? What do you think? Lucky for Urban Meyer, Miami's coach Randy Shannon won't provide Lane Kiffin-like bulletin board material.

Hey FOX, stop pretending to know something about college football

More proof why FOX sports has not business doing college football games. Even this studio production is amateurish, even worse than watching Jim Wharton on WTAP in Parkersburg. The only positive are the guests. At least they are knowledgeable.

Mallett real deal? Or UGA defense bad?

Arkansas' Ryan Mallett leads the nation in passing efficiency. Not a huge surprise, but it sure helps when you get a home game with Georgia. Seems all of that SEC speed is reserved for offense.

Mallett, who has a passing efficiency of 193.5, lit up the Bulldogs last weekend for 408 passing yards and five touchdowns. Winning, however, lessens the sting. Mark Richt quipped at a recent presser about his defense (Hat Tip: MrSEC.com), “Well, they’re not playing the best pass defense in the country, that’s for sure.” He did note that the Bulldogs have faced some solid passing teams. “I haven’t lost faith in this bunch at all.”

SEC fans have to love what Tony Barnhart said on his blog Mr. College Football.

"Well, Mallett may have played his first SEC game last week but his real SEC debut comes Saturday when the Hogs go to Alabama."

Mallett will see a speedier defensive unit this week when he faces No. 3 Alabama. Something tells me he won't be able to sit in the pocket against the Tide and pick apart the secondary.

Podcast: Episode 41

We have a special guest this week on An 'Eye and an 'Eer: College Football Podcast. We welcome Mike Eisenberg from Eisentower30.com and big-time Miami Hurricanes' fan. Eisenberg, a former minor-league baseball player, is now a film student in Chicago. He provides us a little insight into UM's big road test in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech. The 'Eye and the 'Eer take a look at last week's interesting outcomes, as well as look into our crystal balls as we consider some of the possibilities this weekend. We also discuss Pete Carroll, Bobby Petrino, the lackluster Florida Gators, Matt Grothe and Penn State.

Today's notes: Talk about a dangerous precedent

A few thoughts from the blogosphere:

- Geez, Chip Kelly, just cause you got crushed and one of your players cold-cocked a Boise State player, don't give the money back. I'm still waiting on my money from Ohio State for the 1999 Outback Bowl.

- Lane and Urban, sitting in a tree. B-I-T-C-H-I-N-G.
Okay, boys, break it up. This thing's over. Urban, stop talking about the flu. Lane, quit acting like you won. This is football. Grown ups football, boys.

- Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen has lost his favorite jump ball target, Michael Floyd, for the rest of the year. Charlie Weis hints that Big Ten refs were probably to blame.

WVU fans beware - animated loss to Auburn

FULL SCREEN VERSION
(Drive chart courtesy of SBNation's Rocky Top Talk)

Both 'Eye and 'Eer watched every play of this game, but apparently we needed to relive the horror through this fancy schmancy animated drive chart. Auburn still wins 41-31 and WVU still turns the ball over six times. (Note to OC Jeff Mullen: No more middle screens).

Oh no you di int!

Please Urban, be the bigger man. Did you really have to stoop to Lane Kiffin's level?

Guess he couldn't help himself during Sunday's media session. Instead of giving Tennessee credit for keeping the game close in The Swamp Saturday, UF coach Urban Meyer had this to say.

"I didn't feel like they were going after the win. They wanted to shorten the game. I think that was the plan. There are 10 minutes to go and they're not in a no-huddle. It's 23-6 and no urgency (on Tennessee's part).

"The way we lose a game there is throw an interception. Why put yourself in that position? Let's find a way to win the game. We're not trying to impress the pollsters. We're trying to win the game. A lot of it had to do with the way they were playing. It made our life a little easier."

Hey coach, we all agree with you. But it was the only strategy Kiffin and the Vols had. The Gators are far superior. Somehow, I could see this playing into Kiffin's diabolical scheme. Now he has billboard material. Now he can go tell recruits how he and his old man outcoached you in what was supposed to be a Gator romp.

These two are going to be fun to watch over the next few years. That's if Kiffin can keep his job.

Game Day - Afternoon of chaos

- of COURSE USC lost. A week too late. Criminy.

Crazy loud home crowd? Check.
Great defensive effort? Check.
Solid QB play and gameplan. oh....

anyway, down go the Trojans in their typical PAC 10 style.

- Kirk Cousins, Michigan State quarterback, COME ON. In case you missed it, Cousins drove MSU down inside the Notre Dame 15 where a field goal would send the game into OT. Instead Cousins makes a horrendous decision to scramble then panic as he was thrown to the ground, just flinging the ball right to an Irish defender. MSU's ownership of Notre Dame Stadium came to an end.

- Virginia Tech - lucky as hell.

- Utah. Welcome to the world of the BCS has-beens.

- BYU will be joining you shortly.

Observations from Saturday's games (Sept. 19)

This isn't easy to do right now. I'm trying to watch my Mountaineers at Auburn, so my observations may be random and incoherent.

So let's get to the 'Eer's observations for today.

1. Bad day for Utah. Looks like two BCS Busters are going down today. Oregon failed to beat Boise State, but give the Ducks credit for taking down Utah and the nation's longest winning streak. Florida State and BYU are still playing, but the Seminoles have gone to Provo, Utah, and appear to be doing what Oklahoma couldn't the first week of the season. Can you believe the 'Noles almost lost to Jacksonville State?

2. USC upset. Did anyont really think the Trojans wouldn't find a way to lose a Pac-10 game on the road this season? Pete Carroll may be a great recruiter and coach, but he's too flaky. The Pac-10 isn't good enough to do this year in and year out.

3. Hot seat. Virginia's Al Groh jumped ahead of Colorado's Dan Hawkins as the most likely to get fired before the end of the season. The Cavaliers 37-34 loss to Southern Miss may have sealed his fate. Not too far behind is Maryland's Ralph Friedgen, whose Terrapins lost to Middle Tennessee State, 32-31, at home.

4. Holy Pitt. Let's not crown the Panthers the Big East champ just yet, but Pitt has avoided the normal early season slip up that we've come to know under Dave Wannstedt. Beating Navy 27-14 is bigger than it may appear. The Midshipmen are always a tough foe, and even Bill Stull is playing OK.

5. No moral victories. How did Tennessee hang with Florida today? Easy. Monte Kiffin's defense. He outcoached Urban Meyer (just don't tell UF fans because they'll want to argue with you for an hour). If the Vols had any offense, they'd be creating the ol' man with the win.

6. Statement game. Maybe I'm alone in thinking this, but Iowa's 27-17 victory over Arizona was important for the Big Ten. The Wildcats may be a middle of the pack, lower-tier bowl team from the Pac-10, but Iowa hasn't been that impressive this year. Should be an interesting game next week when the Hawks travel to Penn State.

7. Weakens the cause. As much as Iowa's win helps the Big Ten, Purdue's loss to Northern Illinois gives ammonition to those who trash the conference.

8. Best option. Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy remain the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy, but Cal's Jahvid Best should top the list. His five-TD performance in a road win at Minnesota was impressive.

9. Not sure. Butch Davis has a great defense at North Carolina, and the Tar Heels may be 3-0. But can anyone tell me if they are really an ACC contender?

10. Alabama shower. After about an hour delay because of inclement weather, one of ESPN's talking heads said about the Auburn fans who waited in the stands during the downpour: "they just took off their shirts and took a free shower." Timing was good, it was their day to shower.

Game Day - thoughts so far

- What in holy hell is Oregon wearing now?

- If I thought Tennessee could move the ball at all in this game, I might have been tempted to pick them...to cover. Now that I say that, the Vols are moving down the field...

- Ohio State recovered fairly well with a 38-0 shutout of Toledo, but man, the Rockets defense is horrific. HORRIFIC. I don't know exactly what that says about Colorado.

Pryor ran, threw, etc. but there are still a lot of problems with this offense. Namely the lack of a steady running game. Really like freshman RB Jordan Hall, who looked the most natural RB the Bucks have. The defense was outstanding again. Frustrating to watch Tressel discover the QB sneak - a week too late. Still, a good win heading into Big Ten play.

- nice effort by Minnesota against Cal, but not quite enough. Gophers hurt themselves with some dumb penalties and missed opportunities. Loving the new stadium.

- Michigan struggled to stop the run against Eastern Mich in the first half, but made some adjustments and have now equaled their win total from last season.

I'm not settling in for the afternoon.

Anything for a win

Dan Hawkins is desperate these days. The Buffaloes are 0-2 (when many thought they'd be 2-0 right now). Of course, this was planned well before last week's program-embarrassing loss at Toledo, but CU is trying to channel some of the success of the 1930s.

Hawkins' team is wearing 1937 Colorado Buffaloes throwback uniforms when his 2009 team takes on Wyoming on Saturday during Legacy Day in Boulder. The Buffs will don the jersey of that era, gold in color with black numbers, along with silver pants. I love when teams do this, especially paying homage to a specific time in their history. Not a bad year in CU history. The Buffs went 8-0 that season.

Nice tribute and Colorado should finally get that first win of the season.

Of course, you can buy this NIKE jersey.

Picks of the Week: No. 3

If Stanford hadn't buckled in the second half, and if Texas didn't sleep walk through the first half 'Eer would have been 4-1. Instead the week wasn't as good as I had hoped. So this week I have to prove my mettle. Here we go.

Ohio State (-20.5) over Toledo
Jim Tressel is not known as a guy who runs up a score. But after last week's near-win against USC and the heat he's taken all week from the fans, Coach Tressel will try to show he can still call an effective game. This should be like a home game for the Buckeyes as most of the crowd in Cleveland Browns Stadium will be rooting for No. 11 OSU. Just Toledo will get the huge gate receipts.
Pick: Ohio State 42, Toledo 13

Texas (-17.5) over Texas Tech
How bad does No. 2 Texas want to avenge its only loss of 2008? Watch this game and you'll see. Colt McCoy and Mack Brown want payback and to keep the Longhorns on track for a BCS Championship showdown. Beside, Mike Leach and the Red Raiders don't fare well in Austin. Another interesting fact is since 2000, the Red Raiders have lost all four games played against ranked teams in August and September.
Pick: Texas 45, Texas Tech 21

Tulsa (+17.5) over Oklahoma
The 12th-ranked Sooners will win this game, but it's going to be much closer than 17.5 points. The Golden Hurricane are 2-0 and one of the top teams in Conference USA. This is Tulsa's best chance to win this in-state battle. Don't overlook the fact that Tulsa is road-tested this season with wins over Tulane (37-13) and New Mexico (44-10).
Pick: Oklahoma 38, Tulsa 28

North Carolina (-7.5) over East Carolina
The Pirates were everyone's early season darling in 2008. This year Skip Holtz' defense is a bit more porous as is evident in ECU's opening games against the Mountaineers (35-20 loss to West Virginia and 29-24 win over Appalachian State). Butch Davis' boys struggled at UConn last week, but returning to Chapel Hill and a focused week of practice is all the 24th-ranked Tar Heels need to win this week.
Pick: North Carolina 32, East Carolina 14

Upset of the Week
Georgia (-1.0) over Arkansas
Something doesn't seem right about this one. UGA is the underdog at Arkansas? OK. I'll bite. The Bulldogs got the offense going against South Carolina last week (wish I could say the Dawgs' defense looked better). QB Ryan Mallett is a nice player and could light up Georgia, but I'm going with the more talented team ... that's Georgia.
Pick: Georgia 32, Arkansas 24

Last Week: 2-3
Season Record: 5-5

Random posting

That's exactly what this is. The 'Eer spends way too much time seeking out random and unusual college football news. He also runs across a lot of videos. Here is one from Ohio University of the Mid-American Conference. 'Eer was impressed with the quality of shots. It's interesting even for someone who doesn't even know how to get to Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats are 1-1 after this OT win at North Texas.



For our Facebook friends, click here to view the video.

Thursday night musings

As I watch 'da U screen and crossing route Georgia Tech into oblivion, my ears are beginning to bleed from the cliche assault of The Pony and The Bachelor. Yikes. Yes, Jesse, speed does indeed kill. Or so I've heard.

Anywho, some notes and thoughts from around CF:

- Matt Barkley didn't throw again today, calling into question whether he'll play this weekend at Washington. Interesting. So what happens if Aaron Corp comes out and lights it up while Carroll's Golden Child watches from the sideline. Hmmmm. Oh yeah and Taylor Mays is dinged up.

- Other injuries: Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson is out for the season. Which means the Illini defense will get, uh, worse?

Ohio State loses starting right tackle Jim Cordle for a month. Buckeye Nation yawns, although are somewhat concerned which player on the line can step up to become the whipping boy. Bryant Browning, do you hear me?

- Interesting stuff from Doc Saturday with this post previewing the Texas-Texas Tech game. Turns out Mike Leach's six plays can be hard to stop for the 'Horns. Of course, Leach is better at stopping himself when he goes for it on fourth and eight from his own six-yard line in the first quarter. But hey, he really likes pirates!

Miscellaneous game-watching commentary section:

- The whole Dr. Lou thing should keep The Lisping Leprechaun Holtz out of the College Football Hall of Fame. Dammit. He's already in.

- Dave Matthews is evil. Pure f*ing evil.

- Pre-teen girls slobbering over Papa Johns crap-ass pizza does not make me want a slice.

- Next week I'm going to count how many times Jesse Palmer says "speed."

Podcast: Episode 40

This week it is the ’Eer and his WVU Mountaineers who have the big game as they travel into SEC country to take on Auburn. He is optimistic the Mounties can continue their recent dominance of SEC foes.

On the flip side, ’Eye is going to stay home and watch the Buckeyes travel to Cleveland and take on Toledo. He needs the break after the tough loss to USC last week. However, he does an excellent job of breaking down OSU's offensive woes, what the future is for Terrelle Pryor and what is lacking in Jim Tressel’s playbook.

We also look at the potential whipping that Lane Kiffin may take at the hands of Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators. Folks, strap ’em on, this should be another great week of College Football.

Zip it already Mr. Kiffin

So now Urban Meyer has another reason to score at will on Saturday. That's right, Lane Kiffin just doesn't know when to shut up. He sort of reminds us of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who rambles incoherently a lot these days.

Like the Gators didn't have enough bulletin-board material when Kiffin took a swipe at the Florida offense. Thanks to Joseph Goodman's blog at The Miami Herald, Kiffin told some beat writers that UF's spread offense could be the reason some top recruits like Nu'Keese Richardson backed out on Florida and wound up in Knoxville.

"You see some kids that don't want to play in that system because a lot of times it hurts them going to the next level for their draft status," Kiffin said.

It didn't take Florida's PR machine long to respond to Kiffin's body blow with a knockout punch of its own. Pulled from UF's response: Since 2006, the Gators have had more wide receivers (six) taken in the NFL Draft (they are tied with LSU and Ohio State).

Did Florida stop there? No. Of course not. Those crafty sports information folks also reminded us that Tennessee has had just one receiver drafted since 2006.

Psst. Lane. Just take your beating this weekend and if (and that's a big if) you ever beat Florida then you can start running your mouth then.

It could get ugly in The Swamp

Remember this quote?

"I'm really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee, for instance the Vol Walk, running through the T, singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year," Lane Kiffin said back on Dec. 1, 2008. "It will be a blast.

The Florida Gators remember. I've recently spoken to a few UF fans (even a few who will be in attendance and will probably be wearing the mandated blue clothing) and I get the feeling beating Kiffin and the Vols won't be enough. They want to humiliate Kiffin in The Swamp on Saturday. Something tells me Urban Meyer isn't worried about playing back-ups this week.

Let's not forget that Kiffin has had some other lapses in judgment since taking over in Knoxville.

Tim Tebow has been quoted as saying he has his coach's back, while others have said Kiffin's remarks are certainly being used for motivation. I love what OL James Wilson said of Kiffin. "It's all over our locker room," he said. "That's something you don't forget. We just look at it like it's another thing to back up and just prove him wrong. I thought he was a nice guy, but I don't know what he was thinking when he said all that. It kind of hit a nerve."

Is it possible to be this excited about a game you know will be a blow out?

Oregon fans show Blount support

While 'Eye and 'Eer understand the sentiments of these fans outside Auzten Stadium before Saturday's Oregon game against Purdue (the Ducks barely escaped with a 38-36 win), they definitely fit the ultra liberal stereotype that gets slapped on folks from Eugene. I guess they want to rehabilitate suspended RB LeGarrette Bount, like OSU fans would like to do with Maurice Clarett.

No. 9, No. 9, No. 9

Observations from Saturday's games (Sept. 12)

Another great Saturday of College Football. Upsets, close calls and breakout performances. Oh yea, how much longer can Notre Dame officials think everything is OK with Charlie Weis?

So let's get to 'Eer's observations.

1. "How much did I pay for that?" At least that's what I think T. Boone Pickens is saying about Oklahoma State's stunning 45-35 loss to Houston, just one week after beating Georgia and moving to No. 5 in the polls. Houston is a decent Conference USA squad, but this is the early favorite to be the biggest upset of 2009.

2. Whew!! This goes for Wiconsin, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and especially Florida State. But for those who didn't watch last Monday's FSU-Miami game you may not truly understand why the Seminoles were primed for an upset Saturday. After the hard-hitting affair with the Canes, FSU had to be worn out today.

3. Viva LeFevour. Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour is not a household name, but the big QB may be a first- or second-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. The Mid-American Conference's best player led the Chippewas to a big upset of Michigan State on the road. Don't overlook LeFevour or CMU this fall.

4. Slick Rick. Did you see that awkward halftime interview between Erin Andrews and UCLA's Rick Neuheisel. Did he actually say, "How you doin?" He's either real smooth or slimier than Lane Kiffin. Slick got the win, though, while Tennessee fans are wondering about Lane.

5. What can Brown do for you? QB Jarrett Brown is doing everything he can to help WVU fans forget Pat White. The senior threw for a career-high 334 yards and four touchdowns as the Mountaineers exacted a bit of revenge with a 35-20 victory over East Carolina. Now the Mountaineers have to solve the turnover issue to be a legitimate Big East contender.

6. Boulder, we've got a problem. And his name is Dan Hawkins. The man who once ranted "It's Division I football!!!!!", should consider finding a Div. I quarterback. Otherwise he won't be coaching Division I football any more. Are there any openings in Colorado's intramural program?

7. Not so offensive. What little I've watch of South Carolina-Georgia one thing is clear ... both teams can play a little offense. After managing just seven points apiece last week, each SEC team has eclipsed 26 points in the third quarter.

8. LeSean who? Pitt doesn't look like it will miss LeSean McCoy quite as much as many feared. Dion Lewis has stepped right in and played extremely well again Saturday, rushing for 190 yards in a 54-27 victory at Buffalo. His presence is also taking pressure off the much-criticized QB Bill Stull.

9. Nice rebound. The ACC went 9-1 this weekend after an embarrassing 5-7 last week. Poor Virginia and Al Groh. However, North Carolina, Wake and Maryland were all lucky, so 'Eer still believes the ACC is the worst BCS conference.

10. Nice first half. Despite what happens in the second half, Ohio State has played USC better than 'Eer expected. Just hope 'Eye has sobered up enough to enjoy the game.

Great prediction Lou

Like we needed any more proof that Lou Holtz is senile, but it's fun to go back and watch his stellar prediction that Notre Dame will play Florida in the BCS Championship Game. Now let's see how he figures out a way to still keep the Irish in the talk for a BCS Bowl Game.

Props to RichRod

We get accused of sour grapes and hating on Rich Rodriguez. Maybe there's some truth to it. But today will give him a salute for the job he and his coaching staff did in getting Michigan prepared and the adjustments they made to pull the upset of No. 18 Notre Dame in the Big House Saturday.

RichRod deserves credit for rallying from adversity leading up to the start of the season, but also for showing faith in his freshman QB by putting the game in the hands of the talented Tate Forcier. The young signal caller didn't let his embattled head coach down by rallying the Wolverines on a 57-yard touchdown drive in the final minute for the win in Ann Arbor.

Forcier, who executed UM's spread offense eerily similar to Pat White when he starred for RichRod at West Virginia, gave RichRod his biggest win at Michigan. Brandon Minor helped take some of the pressure off Foricer by rushing for 106 yards and a TD.

But this win lifts a large amount of pressure off RichRod (we'll talk more about the pressure on Charlie Weis later). Now he may get the opportunity to build a Big Ten contender. Michigan isn't all the way back, but the Wolverines are a lot closer than either 'Eye or 'Eer thought they were just three weeks ago.

Appears the OSU-Michigan game could be fun again this November.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Free Press)

Picks of the Week: No. 2

I'll take a 3-2 week, but wow was I off on the Notre Dame-Nevada game. Probably avoid the Irish until I get a better feel for Charlie Weis' team. Let's see if I can do a little better this week.

Texas (-33.5) over Wyoming
Clearly Texas is going to win this game, but by 33.5 points? Without a doubt. The Longhorns are the most talented team in the nation and Mack Brown has been known to run up a score to earn computer points. Colt McCoy will pick apart the Cowboys and Texas will roll big.
Pick: Texas 63, Wyoming 7

Vanderbilt (+14.5) over LSU
The Tigers were shaky in their win at Washington last week. The once-vaunted defense of LSU gave up 478 total yards of offense to the Huskies, who finished 0-12 last year. Les Miles says the defense will perform better this week. Maybe, but not enough to cover the spread. LSU will win though. The Tigers never seem to lose night home games.
Pick: LSU 27, Vanderbilt 21

USC (-7.0) over Ohio State
'Eye will probably be upset to see this pick, but if wants Ohio State in an upset then he should make these picks. This goes against everything I believe in, especially picking true freshmen QBs (Matt Barkley) to win in hostile environments at night. But the Buckeyes have lost five consecutive games against Top 5 teams. The Buckeyes will keep this much closer than a year ago, but USC will control the line of scrimmage and win back-to-back against OSU.
Pick: USC 31, Ohio State 17

Virginia Tech (-19.0) over Marshall
One thing Frank Beamer coached teams usually do well is putting tough losses behind them and focusing on the next game. The Thundering Herd are better this season, but not Hokies' good. VT will score at least one special teams TD and roll in the home opener and erase some of the bad memories of last week's nationally televised loss to Alabama.
Pick: Virginia Tech 36, Marshall 9

Upset of the Week
Stanford (+3.0) over Wake Forest
I'm not feeling a real upset this week. Maybe I'm gun-shy after last week's horrible pick. This would be a minor upset, but if Stanford could go across the country and win at Wake that would be a very nice win. I don't usually pick against Jim Grobe because he's the best coach in the nation (seriously, this guy wins with less talent). But Jim Harbaugh also does a fine job with the Cardinal and following Wake's loss to Baylor last week the Demon Deacons may be losing confidence.
Pick: Stanford 28, Wake Forest 24


Last Week: 3-2
Season Record: 3-2

Eric Berry and the Heisman campaign

Could Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry really win the Heisman Trophy? Probably not. He may need to pick off about four Tim Tebow passes on Sept. 19 in The Swamp. But after watching this video I could see support picking up for him.



This almost has the feel of one of those FreeCreditReport.com commercials. Love the reference to Peyton Manning getting jobbed the year Charles Woodson won the Heisman. This is the second video. New ones are scheduled to come out each week of the season. Here is the first Berry video.

Podcast: Episode 39

The Big Ten has two big games this weekend that could help enhance its image. First, of course, is Ohio State's shot at redemption against USC at Ohio Stadium. Will the atmosphere of a night game at the Shoe be enough to rattle the freshman QB Matt Barkley? Then there is Michigan's shot at Notre Dame. Both teams need this win in the worst way, but the Irish have more experience, and probably a lot more riding on this game. We also look at the biggest surprises and disappointments from Week 1 (Can you say Iowa and Oregon?), as well as which coach's seat just got a little hotter (Hint: Al Groh).

For our friends on Facebook who want to hear the podcast, just click here.

Insensitive or too PC?

So who at Third Tier University decided this program cover was acceptable? Maybe they had a good reason, but neither 'Eye nor 'Eer would have signed off on it.

Seriously, is that Mike Leach with some mascots chasing a frightened Native American riding a horse? I guess if you play the North Dakota Fighting Sioux it's OK. I'd love to see that program cover when TTU plays Grambling.

We are not the only bloggers/reporters who find this depiction of Native Americans to be insensitive. There are others who think it is much ado about nothing.

So are we being too politically correct with this one? Leave a comment and let us know.

Miami-FSU highlights

No matter who you root for, last night's Miami-FSU game was truly a classic and a real treat for any college football fan. What a way to end the long weekend. Above are some highlights from the game.

I'm not sure the Hurricanes are all the way back to being considered a national title contender, but Jacory Harris and the rest of the Young Canes put on a show. I'm not sure FSU has much to be embarrassed about either.

That was by far the best-played Miami-FSU game in the past decade. Maybe Randy Shannon will save his job this year.

Rutgers to win Big East ... huh?

Every year the 'Eye claims Virginia Tech is the most overrated team in the preseason rankings. Most of the time he's right.

So when he spends his entire summer driving his friends nuts by espousing too often on a media darling who he feels is not as good as the hype ... people should listen. This summer it was Rutgers. He questioned and picked apart "the experts" who kept telling us Rutgers would win the Big East. The Scarlet Knights proved him right as Cincinnati looked every bit the defending champ and favorite to win it again this year.

Besides, any WVU fan will tell you there is no way Rutgers will win the Big East.

The Bearcats were dominant and have become the team to beat in the Big East (which should have been the case all preseason). Why? That's simple Tony Pike. The senior signal caller hit on 27-of-34 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns in just three quarters.

Greg Schiano has done an amazing job with RU, but outside of a program-making victory over an undefeated Louisville in 2006, his teams have been mediocre. The only positive in Monday's loss was the debut of freshman QB Tom Savage. He added some stability to the Knights offense and he'll probably be the starter for a long time now.

Miami-Florida State (Live Blogging! WooHoo!)

If anyone's paying attention

Miami 7, FSU 0
First quarter - Yikes. Nice start for the 'Canes and Jacory Harris at QB. Was that a 12-year old girl who caught the touchdown pass? i've never seen a football player that skinny in my life. Fast girl, though.

Miami 7, FSU 7
This might be the rarest of rare finds in recent Miami-FSU game - one with two quarterbacks who seem competent and don't spend the entire game running for their lives and throwing interceptions. Randy Shannon is leading the world in timeouts used.

Second quarter - This is actually a well-played game. Sorry, but I'm a little shocked. Recent games in this series have been sloppy, emotion-filled games filled with crazy plays and turnovers. Heck, I don't think there's even been a personal foul yet! Is this really Miami-FSU?

Miami 7, FSU 10
Okay - decent offensive line play, no personal fouls, competent quarterbacking and now an FSU kicker NOT named Sebastian Janikowski kicks a 52-yarder??? This is not Miami - Florida State.

Miami 14, FSU 10
I don't know who Mark Whipple is, other than the new Hurricanes' offensive coordinator, but Miami just put together a great drive to take the lead right before halftime. About 1,000 times better than what Patrick Nix was calling a year ago.

Halftime - first big mistake goes to FSU as Christian Ponder throws a pick in the end zone when they were in FG range.

Third quarter

And there's the first personal foul, right on the second half kickoff - and it's on the KICKER for Miami. Somewhere, Michael Irvin weeps.

Miami 14, FSU 16
Short field helps as Ponder scores on a QB draw after another Miami penalty. Nice start to the second half for FSU. And the 'Noles miss the extra point. That's the FSU kicking game I know and love.

So much for good quarterback play. Deep in his own end, Ponder throws up two prayers down the sideline. Miami gets good field position and Harris immediately throws a pick on his own prayer. I think we're officially back to form.

Miami 14, FSU 23
Another nice drive by the 'Noles. Miami's defensive discipline and tackling have disappeared. Be interesting to see if Shannon can convince them they're still in this game. Their body language isn't showing that.

Miami 17, FSU 23
Wow. Never mind. I counted them out a little early. A huge kickoff return by Graig Kooper, a nice pass and, oops, FSU's defense stiffens and forces a FG.

Miami 24, FSU 23
The 'Canes rally and take the lead. Didn't see that one coming at all. Harris looks solid but it's Graig Kooper who is really carrying Miami.

Miami 24, FSU 31
This has turned into one hell of a football game. Back and forth. A blitzer hits Harris, the ball pops into the air, gets picked off and returned for a TD. And Harris is holding his arm. FSU goes for two and....gets it on a slant. Big conversion.

Miami 31, FSU 31
Damn. nice drive. Harris to Cooper. nice move on that one.

Miami 31, FSU 34
Pet Peeve. I don't like the deep fade route as the checkoff when the defense is blitzing. I think it's hard to complete. (This comes from years of watching Ohio State football.)
Anyway, FSU settles for the FG and the lead with 4 minutes left.

Miami 38, FSU 34
Holy crap what a throw by Harris to get the ball to the two. TD Canes with 1:53 left.

Final Miami 38, FSU 34
wow. great finish. FSU WR should have caught that one. The ball hit him in the facemask and bounced down.

Late observations on Week 1

All right. Enough already. Sorry for the late post, but family time and the UConn-Ohio game last night have kept the 'Eer away from the laptop. So here are my thoughts from the first weekend of games (with a few still to play).

- I guess I'm a little more a believer now. The BCS busters came up big this week. I don't want to take anything away from Boise State and BYU, but is that really the best Oregon and Oklahoma could muster? Seriously Chip Kelly. You've had all that time to get the Ducks motivated and prepared. Instead your offense executed as well as Coca-Cola execs trying to market New Coke back in '80s. Thanks for letting Boise believe it belongs. Maybe I should be more surprised by Oklahoma's showing against BYU, but this is so Bob Stoops. When's the last time this guy really beat a good team? Don't tell me Texas Tech. At least now the Sooners should be eliminated from the national title discussion.

- Do you think Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Ohio State's Jim Tressel are glad not to be lumped into the same conversation with Virginia's Al Groh? I don't see how Groh can even make it through the year after the Wahoos lost to William & Mary, 26-14. The loss was Virginia's first to a Football Championship Subdivision school since 1986.

- Crap. Did both 'Eye and 'Eer really underestimate how much Notre Dame and Michigan have improved? Maybe. But after this week, one of them will be 1-1 and the coach will be on the hot seat again. Also, I'd still be a little concerned watching how both offenses failed to execute as well in the second half.

- It may be a loss, but as someone with nothing to gain, Washington's nice showing against LSU in Steve Sarkisian's first game is a good sign for the Huskies and also important for the Pac-10. However, if I'm a Tigers fan I'd be concerned that LSU is going to struggle again in 2009.

- The Big East didn't do much to help quiet the critics, but we should give credit to Syracuse and new coach Doug Marrone for almost pulling an upset of Minnesota in the Carrier Dome. Greg Paulus also played a solid game, despite throwing an interception in OT.

Enough of that. Now we're ready for Miami-FSU on Monday.

First Saturday thoughts

While the 'Eye is finally back from Ohio State's Salute to Navy Day, the 'Eer is off in Athens, Ohio enjoying his $5 tickets as the Bobcats try to knock off UConn.

While Ohio State's escape against Navy was worrisome enough, it was the non-stop salivating over sportsmanship and Navy salutes that got on my nerves. Bizarre. I'm not pro-booing any opponent, much less a service academy. But it was like Hug A Middie Day. One stop Naval salute.

Anywho, some thoughts:

- Ohio State played a nice first half, then decided to sleepwalk through the second half, including Tressel's bizarre decision to for a 4th and 2, including an equally-bizarre decision to run the ball between the tackles where OSU had been unable to run the ball all day. Next week's game with USC is not looking promising for the Buckeyes.

- Are Michigan and Notre Dame better than the 'Eer and I thought? Both had solid outings against overmatched opponents.

- The Big Ten. Yeesh.

- Mizzou looks like they're not missing a beat in pummeling Illinois.

- Big win for Okie State. Wish I had gotten to see more of that one.

= BYU is hanging tough against Oklahoma in a penalty and turnover-filled first half. BYU QB Max Hall is killing 'Homa's blitz scheme.

-

Picks of the Week: No. 1

I'm back for a second year to offer my best prognostication skills against the talented odds makers of Las Vegas. OK, last year I went a mediocre, but above .500, 32-27. If you follow the 'Eer you'll know he follows his gut (which seems to be getting bigger) more than he should. But he thinks 2009 is his year.

We'll see.

Alabama (-6.5) over Virginia Tech
I say it every year, Virginia Tech is the most over-rated team. The Hokies enter this marquee showdown in Atlanta with an 0-20 record on the road against teams in the Top 5. Nick Saban is a better game-day coach than Frank Beamer (seriously, only people in Blacksburg actually believe Beamer Ball is relevant). Bama proved last year in this game that the preseason top-rated team in the ACC is no match for a Top-5 SEC squad.
Pick: Alabama 30, Virginia Tech 17

Nebraska (-22.5) over Florida Atlantic
Remember last year when Howard Schnellenberger said Texas was soft? Exactly, a 52-10 drubbing by the Longhorns. The Cornhuskers aren't Texas, but Bo Pelini will put it on the Owls in Lincoln.
Pick: Nebraska 48, FAU 9

Minnesota (-7.0) over Syracuse
Tim Brewster and the Gophers love these early games. Last year Minnesota opened 7-1 and finished 7-6. As much as I'd love to pick the Orange in an upset and give new coach Doug Marrone a nice start, Minnesota's offense is too diverse and talented for Syracuse. Plus, I can't pick former Duke point guard Greg Paulus to win.
Pick: Minnesota 27, Syracuse 14

California (-21.0) over Maryland
Maybe I'm hating on the ACC a bit this week. But I remember watching the Terps upset the Bears in College Park last year (and who could forget Jahvid Best puking up his breakfast after a big hit). Cal has the better talent, and more experience. I don't think revenge is a huge factor, but Maryland shouldn't expect Cal to sleep in for the first three quarters this year.
Pick: California 38, Maryland 14

Upset of the Week
Nevada (-14.5) over Notre Dame
Go ahead Irish fans. Laugh. But you wont' be laughing after athletic junior quarterback Colin Kaepernick shreds the Irish defense in the first meeting between the two schools. Kaepernick is the preseason WAC Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for nearly 3,000 yards last season. If ND can't protect Jimmy Clausen any better than it has the past two seasons it could be real ugly. Plus it will be fun to watch the Charlie Weis haters get fired up early.
Pick: Nevada 27, Notre Dame 24

Sorry. I wanted to pick Miami over Florida State on Monday, but I don't have the stones to do it.

Season Record: 0-0

Sucker punch

By now everyone has seen the footage of Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount cold cocking a Boise State player after the Ducks' disappointing and lethargic performance late Thursday night (and early Friday morning).



Apparently if you run your mouth all week talking about avenging last year's loss and then you rush for -5 yards, maybe you just want to hit someone. To be totally fair, it appears the Boise player says something out of line, but Blount's display of sportsmanship can't be tolerated by anyone at Oregon.

What I am totally shocked about is how no one from Boise State's team went after the guy. What restraint. However, Boise's fans looked ready to rumble. Now that would have been interesting.

Bad blood

With kickoff just minutes away we provide you with a little musical proof that this Oregon at Boise State game tonight should be worth staying awake on the East Coast. Below are two music videos that are not too flattering (NSFW).

Enjoy.



Here is Boise State's response.



This is going to be fun tonight. Even with that ugly-ass blue field.

Dear Penn State:

Boise State wants you to know "White Outs" are for pansies.

The above photos is from this page, where the Broncos athletic department tells their fans exactly what color of shirt to wear to every game the rest of the year.

What is this, the Beijing Olympics?

I don't want to overstate this, but I'm pretty sure this is exactly how the Nazis came to power.

Ode to MJ

Fairmont (W.Va.) State receiver Perry Baker just can't resist the urge to do a few Michael Jackson dance steps during a recent practice. Nice moves Perry. If you watch some other video of him on YouTube.com you'll see he has some pretty nice moves on the field also. The Falcons lost their opener to Clarion last Thursday, but will try to even their season record at 1-1 when Fairmont travels to Lake Erie in Painesville, Ohio.

(Hat tip: Brothers In 3-z)

Podcast: Episode 38

You can tell by our voices in today's podcast that were more than ready for Thursday night's kickoff to College Football. However, how could we do a show without starting it off by talking about Practice Gate and the problems with Rich Rodriguez in Ann Arbor. No sympathy here.

After we spend way too much time talking about the team up north, we get on with other important topics such as Pete Carroll's love affair with Matt Barkley and if the Cincinnati-Rutgers game on Monday could provide the Big East with some relief. 'Eye and 'Eer also make their Heisman picks, as well as give you a game this weekend that you should care about.

Welcome 2009 Football Season

This is what greets Notre Dame's Charlie Weis as he drives to work. Clearly Lou Holtz didn't pay for this.

This oversized dig at the oversized coach didn't cause him too much angst. “Tell ’em thanks a lot for wishing me best wishes. I heard about it, I haven’t seen it and we’ll just leave it at that.”

Can we just get the games started already?

(Hat tip: The Wiz of Odds)

Marrone is God to Cuse fans

Just so no one confuses us of becoming a Rich Rodriguez blog, above is a hilarious video produced by the funny folks over at Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. And if you watch the entire spot you'll see maybe there's a tiny bit of a knock on RichRod. Enjoy. The bloggers at Nunes Magician also had one of the funniest Tweets yesterday in reference to Practice Gate at Michigan.

"I refuse to believe that a coaching staff that includes Greg Robinson could be working its players too hard."

It's all about perspective and these guys had to deal with some rough times under Robinson. Hopefully it gets better with Marrone. The Big East needs Syracuse to be a player again.