What we learned on television...

...The Crystal Ball is broken. At 4-5, the Ball had its worst week of predictions by far. Two big upsets did not materialize, while several other prognostications also were wrong. I take pride in these predictions, so my apologies. (On the bright side, we did predict a few games down to a tee: Auburn at West Virginia, Baylor at Nebraska, Oklahoma State at Texas. I also don't begrudge picking Ohio State over Penn State.)

Anyway, a few thoughts about Saturday...

Texas Tech has finally earned its stripes in my view. They hadn't done anything up to now. But their blowout at Kansas demonstrates that they are, indeed, a team to be reckoned with. I dunno if Tech has the horses to beat Texas on Saturday, but the Red Raiders have gained my respect. Similarly, Oklahoma State, even though they lost to Texas, again showed they are worthy of their high ranking. (An aside: Despite their two losses, Missouri ain't half bad either, as their 58-0 pasting of Colorado showed.)

I'm disappointed in the way Arizona played against USC. Sure, the Wildcats kept things close (a 17-10 loss). But the Wildcats offense didn't offer any new looks or show the same dynamism and grit that Oregon State displayed in its upset of USC earlier this season. Arizona's defense played well, as it alwas does against USC, and gave its offense plenty of chances. But the offense failed to capitalize time and time again.

It will be interesting to see how the Penn State offense responds for the remainder of the season. The Nittany Lions' coaching staff changed quarterbacks late in the Ohio State game --- a curious move given that, heading into the game, Penn State's offense was among the nation's most prolific. But on Saturday, Penn State's Spread HD offense looked stuck in the mud.

Trying to predict the ACC is like trying to read tea leaves. Just when you think you've figured things out, it all blows up. Either every team is good or the entire conference is mediocre (I believe it's the latter.) A television executive's worst nightmare: Duke versus Maryland in the football championship game.

TCU still has designs on getting to the Bowl Championship Series. But if I were the Frogs, I would temper that enthusiasm. That 35-10 loss to Oklahoma earlier this year is a BCS killer.

It's scary to think how good Notre Dame might be in two years. This team is so young and so talented and QB Jimmy Clausen is starting to get his sea legs. Beat them now when you have the chance.

Overrated: Utah, BYU, Florida State, South Florida

Underrated: West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Notre Dame, North Carolina

Fine Nine: Texas, Penn State, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Oklahoma State, USC, Texas Tech, Georgia