Ten Answers

I’ve spent the last three days roaming Chicago with AT&T’s weak 3G (actually GSM) coverage on my wireless so I’m a bit behind. Better late than never I suppose. Here’s what we learned last weekend in college football:

1. Is your cat (Bearcat) making too much noise all the time? Try Kitten Mittons:
Cincinnati 24, West Virginia 21

I called Bearcats by five over West Virginia; nearly nailed that with the margin of victory at 3. Cincy still plays an Illini team that is far more talented than WVU (notice I didn’t write “better” there) and then has a young but very good Pitt team on the road (not the backyard brawl but maybe the brawl with the kids a couple neighborhoods over, maybe in the 7-11 parking lot).

Cincinnati had the turnover margin in hand coming into the game but ended up -2 off a fumble and an interception. West Virginia dominated time of possession 34-26 and racked up 200+ yards rushing but couldn’t do enough to stop Cincy on defense. They especially couldn’t stop QB Tony Pike from doing his best Mariano Rivera impression throwing 2-for-4 out of the bullpen with both completions going for touchdowns.

Pike looks to have the ultimate college football gig right about now- throw down a few hot dogs, play a couple pranks on the sideline, run two pass plays for touchdowns, towel whip the fellas as they come out of the shower, constantly threaten a sick pencil-thin mustache, and have your humerus operated on every now and again. Sounds like co-ed utopia to me.

2. Mojito me please.
Ohio State 27, Iowa 24 (OT)

I picked Ohio State by 10 and as you know it was much, much closer than that (line was 16.5).

The last word on this game is the interesting turn the Ohio State offense has taken over the last three games. Recognizing that defenses are going to load the box and dare TP to throw, Tress has simply decided to run right at teams. Give ‘em what they want I suppose. So far it’s working. Hopefully that trend continues against Team Rodriguez this Saturday.

3. Splitting minimum wage.
TCU 55, Utah 28
Boise State 63, Idaho 25

TCU by far had the more impressive of the style-point beatings Saturday dropping the Bionic Elbow early and often on a decent Utah team.

Boise State clearly showed who has the best football in Idaho, a state that has to be at least the 45th or 46th best state for football. Well played Broncos. Well played.

New rule for college football’s Cinderellas- first team to drop 100 on somebody during their remaining games is in- no questions asked. No harm in making a blood sport out of it and besides, would that rule really be any more arbitrary or obscure than the current rules and formulae in place? I think not.

4. USC’s Spin Class.
Stanford 55, USC 21

I called a Stanford win and they obviously won big.

USC has now lost two of their last three and have given up almost 750 combined rushing yards in the two losses. As the losses mount for a USC team that is clearly in transition (and perhaps in crisis), the opportunity Ohio State lost to beat them stings even more.

5. Martina Martinez = Michigan; Green Man = Wisconsin
Wisconsin 45, Michigan 21

I obviously got the pick right in this one but not much of a reach. Michigan kept it close in the 2nd half but that defense just can’t stop being generous. Wisconsin had a very balanced 229 on the ground and 240 through the air.

The more I watch Michigan the more I wonder if RichRod may just be in over his head. I think he probably thought his offense would be dominant enough to outscore most or all Big Ten opponents, a point Tony Gerdeman made over at the OZone. Whether he thought that or not, the defense is not holding up their end of the bargain for the Wolverines this year (or last year either).

6. Come out blasting.
Michigan State 40, Purdue 37
Northwestern 21, Illinois 16

Some level of justice was served Saturday, at least for Big Ten fans hoping for a better bowl showing this year. Michigan State outlasted Purdue and thankfully qualified for a bowl game after what has been a gut-wrenching season for the green and white.

Northwestern won the battle of Illinois outlasting the fighting Zookers with a little help from the officials. A second straight losing season and a second bowl-less season for the Illini will make for an especially numbing winter in Champaign.

Illinois gets 13 days to prepare for a fascinating road matchup at Cincinnati before closing with Fresno State. The Illini have the talent to win both games but your guess is as good as mine as to whether or not they will.

7. Threat level in Eugene this weekend: Yellow.
Oregon 44, Arizona State 21

The Ducks raced out to a 31-7 lead and then held off a good 2nd half from ASU. Oregon continues to display focus and toughness as they march through the Pac-10. They’ll have a tough test at Arizona this Saturday in a night game.

QB Jermiah Masoli continues to do his best west-coast version of Terrelle Pryor, and just like Ohio State, Oregon has simply just been running over opponents despite the lack of a downfield passing game.

8. Elbows and Knees; Steve Spurrier = Dee in the yellow pantsuit.
Florida 24, South Carolina 14
Pittsburgh 27, Notre Dame 22

I called for a Florida win by 20+ which obviously was a little high. Still, Florida did what they needed to to go through the SEC regular season without a loss. South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia threw for 186 yards and two interceptions and got no help from the rest of the offense, Steve Spurrier’s offensive intellect notwithstanding.

Despite giving up 19 second half points, Pittsburgh delivered the fourth loss of the season to Charlie Weis and the Fighting Irish, guaranteeing a BCS-less holiday for them.

Pittsburgh finishes with a road trip to West Virginia and then the de facto Big East Championship game against Cincinnati.

You’re welcome.