After a weekend that was messier than a Fourth Meal at Taco Bell, we’re down to seven undefeated teams in college football. Two of said undefeated teams need an immediate NCAA death penalty to most of (if not all of) the top 10 in order to find their way into the BCS Championship game. (That collective, horrified gasp followed by a relieved-sounding sigh you just heard was from Alabama.)

Now I understand why they changed the name from the Red River Shootout to the Red River Rivalry…The biggest game in the history of October 17, 2009 noon timeslots didn’t really live up to the hype, which is kinda saying something this year.  If ever a huge rivalry game could fly under the radar, it was this one.  Maybe it was Sam Bradford’s injury woes the first 6 weeks of the season?  Or maybe it just fell victim to the Southern Cal @ Notre Dame hype machine?  Either way, the game was fairly ugly – a Big XII defensive struggle.  Turnovers left and right, inability to move the ball from the 20 yard line to the 0 yard line, Sam Bradford getting injury woe’d yet again on the second series.  Bleh.

Trey: It was a skin flick on Cinemax at 1 AM. It entertained me, but was very sloppy, and even bad at points. Where the hell has Colt McCoy gone? If  this wasn’t such a bad year for individual statistics, the guy’s name wouldn’t be within 3 paragraphs of the word Heisman.  Hook em!

Because he just loves the teacher:student ratio in the Finance department in Norman, right?…Sam Bradford did not make a bad decision…Sam Bradford did not make a bad decision…Sam Bradford did not make a bad decision. Good luck getting me to believe that. I cringe when I hear any player who is ready (meaning he’s going to be a first/second rounder) but is deciding to stay. First, winning a National Championship is effin’ hard, not worth putting your body through 13-14 games for. Second, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. You don’t make that skrilla selling insurance and making appearances at homecoming. Trust me.

Miz: As I said Saturday, if Matt Leinart is Exhibit A on why a college athlete should turn pro early when basically guaranteed a high draft pick , Sam Bradford is now Exhibit B.  Yes, he has an insurance policy, check out this quote from insurance specialist and Heisman Trophy-rearing dad, Kent Bradford:

Sam Bradford’s father, Kent, is an insurance specialist. He declined to provide details of the policy but said, “The odds of a kid getting a career-ending injury is slim. But if it did happen, and you had the chance to insure, chances are you would feel pretty dumb. You’re insuring earnings power.”

I sure hope said earning power still exists in the NFL for Sam.   (More information on the insurance policies including a few additional tidbits of advice from Pops Bradford.)

“I’m just happy to be here”…Memo to Charlie Weis. You’re the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, not Akron.

“If you would have told me before the game, ‘Hey, you can have the ball on the 5-yard line with a chance to tie it or win,’ I probably would have taken that,” he said.

Are you kidding me? You know why Gerry Faust was able to last as long as he wanted at Akron and was forced out at Notre Dame? Because of THIS mentality. It doesn’t matter if that team has owned you. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had two very rough seasons. YOU ARE THE COACH AT NOTRE DAME. You’d take NOTHING less than the win. NOTHING.

Miz: Chuck understands he was coaching for his job Saturday and he neither sealed the deal on being fired at season’s end nor being retained.  He’s probably just sitting on a warm seat, still.  Although there were positives to be derived from this loss (the comeback to have a shot at a tie at the end of regulation, Jimmy Clausen keeping his name in the Heisman Trophy discussion), it’s telling that Weis’ two signature games are actually both close losses to Southern Cal.

It wasn’t complete, but neither was Stuart’s Portrait of George Washington, and that’s a freaking Masterpiece…the Notre Dame comeback shows that this team can play against top talent under Charlie Weis. Win out and we could see the Irish in the Rose Bowl, a game in which they haven’t played in decades.

Miz: While I would generally agree that the Irish have the ability to play and compete with top talent, something’s missing.  It took a 4th quarter, multi-score comeback to make the Southen Cal matchup look competitive and multiple other games against what was viewed as inferior opponents have resulted in similarly required late-game heroics to pull out the win.  Chuck adoringly refers to his squad as cardiac kids, but maybe he should work to keep his cardiac focus solely on his diet?

Trey: By the way, I’m far from a Notre Dame hater and I’ll openly admit, I root for the Irish. That being said, NEVER EVER EVER EVER doubt me when I’m willing to bet a precious body part that a team will win.

Reason Number 327 why Cincinnati is the best team in Ohio…It’s time for Ohio State to decide what type of offense they want to run. The spread option? The power run game? It’s ok to go from different formations, but to change philosophies from game to game, and even in-game, creates a lot of consistency and flow problems. Meaning Ohio State doesn’t have a GOING problem…they have a GROWING problem. Terrelle Pryor is a phenomenal athlete and solid quarterback, but when your best moments come from broken plays, you have to step back and ask yourself where things are…or take some Levitra…whatever’s easier.

Miz: In regards to the class of the Big East, I guess we could say Cincy took the Bull by the horns!?  Yeah, it’s a pun; deal with it.  It’s looking like the Bearcat’s main competition now consists of the ‘Eers of West Virginia and the Panthers of Pittsburgh.  In regards to Ohio State…I’m kinda at a loss for words other than to say that I was under the impression that this was the year that the Buckeyes were supposed to be loaded up for a championship run, and they looked anything but championship-calibur against a previously 1-5 Boilermakers club.  According to the front page of Buckeyextra.com, “Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor were prime targets of disgruntled fans’ criticism after Saturday’s loss.”  Could it be possible that an Ohio State head coach could find himself on the hot seat regardless of his success nationally, and especially against Michigan?  We’ll see.

Trey: I think the administration at Ohio State should visit Lincoln, NE before firing Jim Tressel…For the William Jennings Bryan House, of course…pretty sweet.

Since the concussion heard ’round the world…I feel it’s become painfully obvious that the Gators offense revolves more around Tim Tebow than I originally thought it would.  Six games in, and the only legit, consistent playmaker helping out Tebow is Tebow?  The dude accounted for all of the passing yards andhalf of the rushing yards; that makes for a tough road to both an SEC championship and a national championship.  At this rate, tight games against inferior competition will continue, and Florida may get bit.  If Southern Cal, Miami, andVirginia Tech (prior to this weekend, of course) show us anything, it’s a reinforcement that it’s best to lose early in college football…and the season’s getting late for the Gators.

Trey: **ALERT**Removing the Orange and Blue goggles**ALERT** Florida lost two receivers they expected to start in camp. They also lost their top two receivers from last year’s National Championship squad. Someone has GOT to step up…the problem? They’re playing the Prevent Offense, and it’s not allowing it to happen. Yes, at this rate they’re going to get knocked off by someone (cuts to the Ol’ Ball Coach grinning, staring at a large video screen of me typing this…a suttle “hahaha” fills the room).

I’ll get the hype machine going…Look for Arkansas to be next year’s preseason Ole Miss…

Things seem to be going well in Tuscaloosa…isn’t it time for another cheating scandal?  I kid, I kid!  But seriously, isn’t it time?  Bammer rode running back Mark Ingram and another stellar defensive effort to victory over South Cackalacky.  Ingram ended up with246 yards on the ground while the defense only gave up 6 points, none of them coming in the 2nd half.  Whew, the Tide seems to be justifying their continued theft of 1st place votes from Florida.

Trey: Actual text between a family friend and myself. She’s a mid 40’s Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalabama fan who would tell you that Bear Bryant was circumcising kids in Asia before Tebow, only he did it with a paper plate and masking tape.

P: Number One
Trey: In the poll that doesn’t matter. Besides I like to build your hopes up so when you get destroyed in Atlanta drinking rubbing alcohol won’t cure your depression.
P: You’re so nice.

Bama deserves it anyway.

One place where the hot seat is flaming…The Orlando Sentinel (who is VERY money when it comes to college football) is reporting that Louisville is targeting Jon Gruden to be their next head coach after Steve Kragthorpe has torn down the program that committed 80 Million to expanding their stadium before he arrived. The Cards can’t draw 1/2 their current capacity, much less the expanded capacity. The lesson? Don’t go recklessly spending on expansion projects because you’ve sold your stadium out for three straight years…

The Sparty & Friends Ranking Analysis:
Last week was largely devoid of major upsets, but not this past weekend.  The result was plently of extreme movement.  Oh, and we’ve got a new ranking to include from now until the end of the season – the BCS Rankings…see below (click twice on the graphic to enlarge to full size…two clicks, not a double-click):

Immediate Observations…Bammer spent the past few weeks stealing a first place vote here and a first place vote there from Florida and Texas.  Not anymore.  The AP voters seem to have bought in to Bammer’s case for the top spot and decided to just go ahead and move them up there.  Not so much in the Coaches poll and the newly-released BCS standings, but neither are significant at this point.  I’m sure Nick Saban would prefer his Tide remain out of the spotlight the #1 ranking brings along with it.  Aside from Bammerjumping other teams that won, the voters seemed a bit restless this weekend.  Usually, by week 7, the poll movements are more of a reshuffling and lacking the dramatic rises andfalls…not this week.  Notice how far both Virginia Tech and Ohio State fell in each poll.  And, take notice of the rise of teams like Georgia Tech, Utah, Pitt, West Virginia, and Texas Tech.  There’s unrest in the air…or maybe somebody just farted.

Overrated/Underrated – Undefeated Teams:

Florida (6-0) – BCS #1
Trey: Overrated. The offense looks like it took a giant step back after losing Harvin. You knew there would be no replacement, but they won without him in the SEC Championship and still moved the ball very well. That being said, running Tebow40 times a game is more of a death sentence than a strategy.
Miz: Overrated.  It’s the offense, stupid…see comments above.  Ultimately, it still doesn’t matter who’s #1 and who’s #2 between the Gators and the Tide as long as both keep winning…it’ll be sorted out in the Georgia Dome in December.

Alabama (7-0) – BCS #2
Trey: Underrated. Best team in the country. They play great defense. They run the ball very well. Their fans are pooping rose and vanilla scented turds…yep Alabama is back.
Miz: Underrated.  Barely.  If Bammer were ranked lower than #2, then I’d say straight up underrated.  But, one poll is recognizing the Tide as the best in the country while the others are warming up to the idea.  Also, see final comment above.

Texas (6-0) – BCS #3
Trey: Would you believe me if I said this team is Overrated? I just haven’t seen ANYTHING from these guys to believe they’re not going to get knocked off somewhere…It starts at Mizzou Saturday.
Miz: Just right.  The only reason I’m ok with the Longhorns here is that I can’t justify anyone else here.  That’s it.  Again though, it doesn’t matter where Texas is ranked as long as it’s top 3 because Florida and Bammer will at least knock one or the other out of the way.

Boise State (6-0) – BCS #4
Trey: Overrated. Everyone’s conspiracy theory is that the BCS is forcing a team like Boise State near to top to prevent a lawsuit. This isn’t the X-Files. Even if Boise State wins out, they’re going to need almost EVERYONE to lose at least 2 games to get to Pasadena on January 9 thanks to a schedule that Baylor could probably own.
Miz: Overrated.  Although Boise has beaten all the teams it’s supposed to and remained undefeated, I don’t think this team is better than all but three teams in the country, which is ultimately what their ranking reflects.  That’s part of what rankings are, right?  If that’s truly the case, I’d slot them somewhere around the bottom of the top 10.

Cincinnati (6-0) – BCS #5
Trey: Underrated. This team just seems to do everything right, and while they’re not world beaters, they’ve played a tough schedule and can give anyone a game. They need Tony Pike to get healthy before jumping into the remainder of the Big East schedule or they could be the next Louisville/Rutgers/WVU/USF.
Miz: Underrated.  Barely.  I’d have Cincy above Boise and so will the pollsters if both keep taking care of their business.

Iowa (7-0) – BCS #6
Trey: Underrated. They still have to go to Michigan State and Ohio State though, gonna be tough.
Miz: Just right.  I don’t see Iowa as better than USC.  Let’s see tham take down MSU and OSU, then we’ll talk.

TCU (6-0) – BCS #8
Trey: Just right. Clemson andVirginia blow, so it’s hard to get a read on this team. They head to the always exciting Provo, Utah this weekend for a ESPN College Gameday matchup against the Cougars of BYU. Win Saturday you get that legitimacy argument a tad bit more your way.
Miz: Overrated.  Barely.  I’d have these guys bumped down a notch or two and have Boise State occupy the spot right above.  I’m not exactly sure I could make an argument for the Horned Frogs to take down LSU, Oregon, or Penn State.  So, maybe I actually think they’re more than barely overrated.

That’s all we’ve got for you in Week 7’s edition of The Weekend That Was College Football.  Stick around this week for TWTWCFB specials including “My Conference is Better Than Yours!!” and “Game O’ the Week” and a NEW feature on Wednesday…”Bowl Predictions”

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