What we learned by watching television (Bowl Edition)

Tears have been shed. Fists have been shaken. Sleep has been lost. Now, it's time to reflect on the final shake out to another great college football season.

Weekend thoughts...

Woe to the also-rans. As a Boston College fan who has seen his team's BCS bowl hopes go up in smoke three times since 2004 (and as a guy rooting for Jake's vanquished Arizona State Sun Devils this past weekend), I can genuinely empathize with those schools that *almost* made it to the promised land. Ball State, Boise State, TCU, Oregon State, Texas Tech, Pittsburgh, Missouri, Tulsa, Brigham Young... Guys, this beer's for you.

The BCS National Championship is Florida's to lose. I do not believe Oklahoma has the defensive horses to shut down Florida. And, I think the Gators have the smarts and talent to decode Oklahoma's offense. The old adage, "Defense wins championships" will never ring truer than in this game. Remember, too, that Oklahoma's special teams coverage is suspect. Florida happens to shine in that arena.

Big 12 defenses are bad. Top CBS analyst Gary Danielson recently compared Big 12 stats to "pesos," and pointed out that almost every quarterback in the conference put up impressive numbers this year. Having watched Oklahoma air it out and hang 60 on five straight mediocre Big 12 defenses, I think he's right.

Oklahoma's potent offense is built around pacing. Defenses playing Oklahoma most struggle with the Sooners' frenetic pacing. On most snaps, QB Sam Bradford gets the play off in 20 seconds. The strategy has defenses sucking wind by the second quarter.

Florida is keyed by offensive balance and playcalling. In the fourth quarter of the SEC title game, we saw the Florida coaching staff's brilliance shine through. With the ball and leading 24-20 late in the game, the Gators could have done what just about every other college and pro team would have: run, run, run. Instead, Florida twice went to playaction and scored a touchdown that put the game out of reach. Now that's an example of "playing to win."

Nick Saban is a helluva coach. Say what you want about Alabama's coach. He can flat out scheme. Despite having a team with clearly inferior talent, he had Florida's offense confused and stout defense off balance until well into the fourth quarter. A discussion about Alabama is a good segue into our next entry...

...Good luck, Utah. The Utes are a solid team and have had a memorable season. But to think they will be competitive against a Nick Saban-coached, 12-1 Alabama team in the Sugar Bowl is a pipedream. Crystal Ball picks aren't for a few weeks yet, but I would be surprised if the Utes are still in this one at halftime.

The ACC championship game should be played in Charlotte. Our favorite ESPN blogger, Heather Dinich, has got it right. For two straight years, the title game has proven to be an absolute joke. Empty stands. Tickets being given away free at the door. Irrelevance to the national scene. While the conference's national prominence will only improve with time and talent, the ACC can remedy its empty-stands syndrome by hosting the title game in a location that doesn't just cater to Florida State and Miami.

Ohio State versus Texas, ugh. How the undeserved Buckeyes squeeze themselves into all of these BCS games is a mystery. Ohio State had their chances this season. But in my opinion, losing to USC 35-3 with the whole nation watching should have, right then and there, removed the Buckeyes from the national conversation.

West Virginia QB Pat White has been at West Virginia forever. Doesn't it seem like seven or eight years ago now that Pat White burst onto the national scene with that dominant performance against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl? Congrats on a prolific college career, Pat. Next year, we'll see how good Mountaineers' coach Bill Stewart really is.

If only the Big East could play all of its games in the dead of winter. Speaking of West Virginia, what a great atmosphere in Morgantown Saturday for the game against South Florida. There was snow, sub-freezing temperatures, a packed house and lots of defense. Despite its many deficiencies, the Big East is one of the few conferences that can truly replicate the Lambeau Field vibe.

I like the USC-UCLA uniform thing. Powder blue against dark maroon. It worked for me.

Enough with the phrase, "Dial up." What began as the signature phrase of ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer has now become a full-blown epidemic. These days, no football game -- college or pro -- goes by without at least one analyst uttering the phrase, "dial up." It is often used in conjunction with defensive coordinators calling blitzes (Example: "I bet Brett Venables dials up a blitz here..."). Even John Madden, The Dean of Football Broadcasters, has started to use the phrase. Heaven help us. Dial me outta here.

The ACC could be the Big 12 in three years. Laugh now, but with all the young talent in this conference, I envision a Big 12 South-like national slugfest sometime in the future.

Now, for a quick look at the bowl picture...

Games I'm looking forward to watching:

Orange Bowl, Oklahoma versus Florida.

Chick-fil-A Bowl, LSU versus Georgia Tech.

Rose Bowl, Penn State versus USC.

GMAC Bowl, Tulsa versus Ball State.

Cotton Bowl, Ole Miss versus Texas Tech.

Holiday Bowl, Oklahoma State versus Oregon.

Poinsettia Bowl, TCU versus Boise State.

Hawaii Bowl, Hawaii versus Notre Dame.

I'd rather be digging graves (Can you believe that these are actual bowl matchups?):

New Mexico Bowl, Colorado State versus Fresno State.

New Orleans Bowl, Southern Miss versus Troy.

Motor City Bowl, Florida Atlantic versus Central Michigan.

Independence Bowl, Northern Illinois versus Louisiana Tech.

Texas Bowl, Rice versus Western Michigan.

Games I'd love to see, but won't:

Texas versus Oklahoma (The Rematch).

Florida versus USC.

Georgia Tech versus Texas Tech.

USC versus Oklahoma.

Boise State versus Utah.

Ohio State versus Cincinnati.

Penn State versus Alabama.

Georgia versus Texas Tech.

Georgia versus Missouri.

Ohio State versus Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech versus Notre Dame.

Ted Kim's Awards...

Heisman Ballot: QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), QB Tim Tebow (Florida), QB Colt McCoy (Texas)

Won't Win Any Awards Studs of the Year: RB Donald Brown (Connecticut), WR A.J. Green (Georgia), DE Michael Johnson (Georgia Tech), QB Darren Clark (Penn State), RB Javon Ringer (Michigan State)

Won't Win Any Awards Studs of Tomorrow: QB Russell Wilson (NC State), RB Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech), WR Julio Jones (Alabama), RB Golden Tate (Notre Dame), DT DaQuan Bowers (Clemson),

Offenses of the Year: 1. Oklahoma, 2. Texas Tech, 3. Florida.

Defenses of the Year: 1. USC, 2. Alabama, 3. TCU.

Overrated Offense of the Year: Missouri.

Overrated Defense of the Year: Georgia.

Underrated Offense of the Year: Alabama, Georgia Tech.

Underrated Defense of the Year: TCU, Boston College.

Overrated Team of the Year: Clemson.

Underrated Team of the Year: Ole Miss, Texas.

Stadium Atmospheres of the Year: 1. Texas Tech, 2. Oklahoma, 3. Penn State, 4. Florida, 5. Utah, 6. Texas, 7. Ohio State, 8. Alabama, 9. Oregon, 10. Georgia. Honorable Mention: Oregon State, LSU, Notre Dame.

Coaches of the Year: Mike Leach (Texas Tech), Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech), Urban Meyer (Florida), Kyle Whittingham (Utah), Chris Peterson (Boise State), Brady Hoke (Ball State), Turner Gill (Buffalo), Nick Saban (Alabama), Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech).

Weekend thoughts...

NORMAN, Okla. --- I spent part of Saturday at this educational outpost on the open plains. Amy and I, on our way back from a weekend in Oklahoma City, took a spin around campus about two hours before kickoff of Oklahoma-Texas Tech.

To say that Oklahoma's Owen Memorial Stadium is intimidating in person is like saying Mount Everest is a wee-tough climb. Undefeated Tech found out the hard way, getting blown to smithereens. Having now been to Norman and seen the unbridled passion, the middle-of-nowhere canyon-like stadium, the series of national championships painted on the scoreboard, all of first hand, I do not believe the Sooners can be beat there.

Jake foreshadowed Oklahoma's win last week. The Crystal Ball took it a step further. Here is the prediction word for word... We don't call it the Crystal Ball for nothing:

"The Red Raiders have cheated death in 10 straight games, but payment has come at last.

I believe in Tech and all they've accomplished. QB Graham Harrell and WR Michael Crabtree are studs and the team's No. 2 ranking is well deserved. But on the road against Oklahoma, watch for Tech's secrets to be laid bare.

The Sooners always show up in force for these conference showdown-type games and, now, they have had two weeks to prepare. I've picked against Tech the last few weeks, but my Spidey Sense tells me the team's karma is about to change. Football giveth and football taketh away. You read it here first: Oklahoma wins in a blowout."

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit mentioned during the game that he didn't think anyone could have predicted such a lopsided outcome. Well, he didn't read 3Fans.

Now, for some quick hits:

Ambush in waiting: Missouri. Twice beaten by Oklahoma last year, the Tigers have quietly waited in the weeds for their chance at revenge and to show the nation that they are, indeed, an elite team. I foresee a pumped up and focused Mizzou against whoever wins the Big 12 South: Watch out Texoma Tech.

Big Bowl matchups I'd love to see: USC versus Florida, Oklahoma-Texas versus Florida, Texas Tech versus Utah.

Big Bowl matchups I'd hate to see: Cincinnati versus Georgia Tech, Cincinnati versus Utah. In fact, any game involving the (yawn) Bearcats.

Most inconsistent team of the century: Maryland. Loses to Middle Tennessee State by 10. Beats California by 8. Loses to Virginia by 31. Beats Wake Forest by 26. Loses to Virginia Tech by 10. Beats North Carolina by 2. Loses to Florida State by 34. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

If I were a Wall Street Man, I'd short sell: Alabama. They're good, but they're not national championship good. Watch for them to get exposed Texas Tech-style against Florida in the SEC title game.

Overrated: Utah, Boise State

Underrated: Georgia Tech, Cincinnati

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

What we learned on television...

...We learned a number of things. That sometimes ABC has its head up its butt on how it splits its network football coverage. That NBA TV has some of the most crystal clear high def I've seen on satellite. That the money the Yankees are shelling out for players is just criminal. That Florida is playing the best football in the nation. That USC's defense is vulnerable to the run. That Texas is running on fumes. That the Cowboys are, indeed, a much more confident team with QB Tony Romo calling the signals. That Boston College always seems to win big games when Ted Kim isn't watching...

Confessions of a Dallas resident: I must admit. I'm starting to become a Dallas Mavericks fan. As a Massachusetts native, I'm a Celtics fan at heart. Yet I find my eyes drifting to the Mavs' box scores every morning. It's typical for me to latch onto a team just as they start to enter a period of prolonged suckiness.

If I were a Wall Street man, I'd short sell: Utah. I worry that they are not as good as their record or point totals indicate.

I couldn't see this coming two years ago: Struggling Syracuse fires coach Greg Robinson.

Overrated: Utah, Boise State, Georgia

Underrated: East Coast football, Brigham Young, Alabama, N.Y. Jets

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

What we learned (express)

Another crisp fall weekend has come to a close. The weather's getting nippy, even in Dallas, which means the games are getting important.

Things are finally (Finally!) starting to shake out in the BCS conferences. The list of games that matter is growing short. But if you're team is still alive at this point, then your season's already made.

Let's look toward the final weeks and pinpoint the games we'll all be watching...

Brigham Young at Utah (11/22). Mountain West supremacy, BCS birth, yada yada yada. All of it is Utah's to lose. (That said, they better not overlook San Diego State the week before.)

Texas Tech at Oklahoma (11/22). If you're not aware of this game's significance already, you might as well stop reading.

Michigan State at Penn State (11/22). A defacto Big Ten title game?

West Virginia at Pittsburgh (11/28). This showdown will likely decide the Big East championship.

Georgia Tech at Georgia (11/29). Can the Yellow Jackets finally break the Bulldog hex and represent their conference? They've got as good a shot as any.

Notre Dame at USC (11/29). If you can draw breath and you watch at least an hour of ESPN each day, then it's your duty to watch no matter how lopsided it is.

Auburn at Alabama (11/29). For the Crimson Tide, only one game to go before the SEC title game and a shot at the national title. What a perfect opportunity for your arch nemesis to screw it all up.

Florida at Florida State (11/29). Here's the ultimate chance for the Seminoles to show they're back.

Games that interest only me:

Florida State at Maryland (11/22). This one, at what will be a rocking Byrd Stadium in College Park, Md., will be for ACC Atlantic Division supremacy.

Syracuse at Notre Dame (11/22). The matchup looks boring on paper, I know. But consider all the subplots. This is a must-win for the bowl hopes of the Irish and could be Syracuse coach Greg Robinson's last hurrah. Moreover, it's Notre Dame's last home game of the season on NBC.

Colorado State at Wyoming (11/22). The Mountain West Network's first televised high-definition game. It'll be from Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium, a venue I have never seen before on television.

Overrated: Boise State, Ball State

Underrated: Florida State, Virginia Tech, Indianapolis Colts

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

What we learned on television (Express Edition)...

Another good football weekend comes to a close (tho' not with the results that this blogger would have wanted -- B.C., the Pats and the Celts all lose.)

Some quick hits:

Like everyone, I was impressed with how Texas Tech played in their showdown with Texas. Perhaps surprisingly, they controlled both offensive and defensive lines. (Not to take away from Tech's victory, but I also think Texas was worn out having played a string of tough ones.)

Speaking of tough ones, I'm wondering whether Tech's magic wears off this week against Oklahoma State. Tech coach Mike Leach probably schemed and prepared for the Longhorns for weeks... The Cowboys? Prolly not. We'll save the prediction for the Crystal Ball, but I think Tech should fear Okie State and their stud WR Dez Bryant.

Florida and QB Tim Tebow are on a mission to win the SEC. Woe to any team in Florida's way. They are playing confident football.

Just how crazy is the ACC? Put it this way: B.C. is 2-3 in conference, but still has a chance to win it all.

Watching USC play Washington at the Coliseum on Saturday night was like watching the Indianapolis Colts play Utah State. Talent. Recruiting. Play calling. Cheerleaders, even. USC is on a different level.

I'm afraid New England's sports ride is over. B.C., the Pats and the Celts all lost this weekend. And the Red Sox didn't make the World Series. Here's hoping the losing doesn't become contagious.

The Tennessee Titans won't go undefeated, but I do think they are a very good team. Defense. Running game. Special teams. They have it all. The key to beating them? Getting an early lead and forcing journeyman QB Kerry Collins to pass. But good luck getting that early lead.

Coming soon to 3 Fans: Ramped up coverage of men's college basketball... Yeah, baby...

Nintendo Stat of the Weekend: Number of first downs in the Atlanta Falcons' 24-0 victory over the Oakland Raiders. Falcons, 30; Raiders, 3. (That's not a typo.)

Overrated: Utah, Boise State, TCU, Dallas Mavericks

Underrated: Kansas, Northwestern, Tennessee Titans

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

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

The Agony Meter... plus other thoughts

Here it is, a day late... A quick look at the tribulations of our alma maters.

Heaping dose of agony: Southern Methodist
The team put itself in a position to upset Houston, only to give away the game at the end on defense. It would have been the team's first conference win. Instead, the Mustangs drop to 1-7 and gnash their teeth once more. No one said rebuilding would be easy, but garn!

Some agony: Arizona State
A bye week takes some of the sting off of a disheartening four-game losing streak. But at 2-4, the Sun Devils will have to get moving if they want to give themselves any chance at a bowl game.

A dash of agony: Boston College
Yes, B.C. upset Virginia Tech on national television. It's hard to complain about that. But, boy, was it U-G-L-Y. The Eagles gave up five turnovers, including two pick-sixes. Yet they still won. Catholic fortune? Hokie bad luck? Or a sad commentary on both of these supposed ACC powers? We report. You decide.

If I were a Wall Street man, I'd short sell:

Phillies' closer Brad Lidge. He's solid, there's no question. But my Spidey Sense tells me he's due to get lit up and blow a game or two during this World Series.

Penn State. This team is very good and deserves its high ranking, but I'm done drinking the Kool Aid. After watching this team struggle against Purdue and Michigan, I can't see them making it to the Promised Land unscathed.

Oklahoma State. Good? Absolutely. Top Ten quality, even. But a national title contender? C'mon. Sell high now, before it's too late.

Your portfolio is trash if you haven't already sold:

Dallas Cowboys. What a disaster zone. If you recall, we put the Cowboys on our "short sell" list a few weeks ago. Look at how things have played out... Pacman. Romo. Jerry. St. Louis. Yada, yada, yada. The implosion would almost be sad if it weren't so twistedly amusing (said the diehard Patriots fan).

Overrated: Texas Tech, Tennessee Titans

Underrated: Ohio State, Tulsa, The Atlantic Coast Conference

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

Nintendo Stat of the Week: 36 (First downs made by Tulsa in its 77-35 rout of UTEP on Saturday.)

What we learned, express...

Like Jake, I had a busy weekend. Some expanded. thoughts are on the way. In the meantime, some one word thoughts to get started...

Red Sox... Sad.
Bottom of the Sox' lineup... Grrr.
Texas... Wow.
Missouri... Ouch.
Dallas Cowboys... Ugh.
Rays versus Phillies... Yawn.
Ted's fantasy football team this week... Blech.
Boston College... Hurray.
Virginia Tech... Evil.

More soon.

What we learned on television...

...I'd say that we, ahem, learned quite a bit this weekend.

We learned that sports, like life, is unpredictable and runs its natural course no matter how you try to push it and prod it and fit it neatly into a box. Thus was the case in college football this weekend -- a weekend when many games defied all forecasts.

Who could have predicted that Missouri and Oklahoma State, two of the game's most prolific offenses, would become locked in a defensive struggle? Who would have thought the Tiger's first-team offense, which did not have a three-and-out all season and had put up 52 the week before at Nebraska, would turn into a pumpkin? (Missouri ended up scoring fewer points against Okie State than Houston and Texas A&M did.)

Who could have foreseen Penn State's 48-7 thumping at Wisconsin or Florida's 51-21 dismantling of defending national champion LSU? Who would have believed that Texas, which had yet to establish a consistent rushing attack all season, would run roughshod over Oklahoma's vaunted defense?

As much as we'd all like to think we know the secrets to sports, politics, finances or life, the truth is there's no substitute for real life, which to paraphrase columnist Thomas L. Friedman, "always bats last and always bats a thousand."

We should have given this weekend a theme: Weeding Out the Pretenders Weekend. These games in October and November separate the wheat from the chaff. We're starting to see which teams belong where.

The Wheat:

Texas. All of that game experience is starting to pay off for QB Colt McCoy, who served as a steady hand for the Longhorns in a game that was buffeted by roller-coaster-like momentum swings.

Penn State. What an impressive team. After last week's 20-6 sleepwalk against Purdue, I was ready to write them off. But on Saturday, the Nittany Lions pummeled Wisconsin in Madison. It takes talent and desire to do that.

Oklahoma State. The Cowboys won this weekend's most improbable game. They accomplished the impossible mission: Shutting down Missouri's juggernaut of an offense. And they did it on the road, too. That feat alone is enough to sell me.

Florida. I would argue there's no team that's faster than the Gators, including USC. I still believe LSU has a solid defense. But you can't tackle what you can't catch.

Notre Dame. Yes, they lost to North Carolina. But QB Jimmy Clausen, just a sophomore, continues to grow on me. His poise and accuracy under pressure is remarkable. Sure, Notre Dame will struggle at times the rest of this season. But, as commentator Bob Griese put it on Saturday, the taste of last season's 3-9 debacle is long gone.

The Chaff:

Oklahoma. What happened when the Sooners ran up against adversity for the first time this season? They crumpled. This team is so used to first-half blowouts that it did not know how to react to a pressurized fourth-quarter battle. The talent is there, but the emotional leadership is lacking.

Missouri. It finally happened. Missouri's offense let the team down. That's a scary thought given that the offense is what makes the Tigers an elite team. Without the O, Mizzou is little more than a pretender.

Texas Tech. It is only a matter of time before the Red Raiders, presently ranked No. 7, start to lose games. Both the offense and defense struggled at home against a mediocre Nebraska team. With the Big 12's heavyweights looming on Tech's schedule, the team's days in the Top Ten are numbered.

Crystal Ball report card:

The Crystal Ball had arguably its worst week ever: Wrong on Oklahoma, wrong on Vanderbilt, wrong on Kentucky and dead wrong on Missouri. The Ball also predicted two other games correctly, but incorrectly described how those contests would unfold. Wins by Florida and Penn State were absolute blowouts, not hard-fought close calls. Still, a few predictions actually came to fruition: The Ball foresaw victories by North Carolina, Kansas and USC to a tee. The Ball also had a good feeling about Toledo upsetting Michigan, but the prediction ended up on the cutting room floor.

Overrated: Texas Tech, Brigham Young

Underrated: Notre Dame, Michigan State, Boise State

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

What we learned on television

There's a lot on Ted Kim's agenda this weekend, so we'll make it an express edition.

Analysts will say all week that Vanderbilt is "the real deal" following their upset win of Auburn. No doubt the Commodores are a gritty, scrappy team with talent. But make no mistake: Auburn lost the game because of poor offensive playcalling. The Tigers ran wild in the first half behind bruising RB Ben Tate, rushing him 21 times. In the second half, Auburn called Tate's number just six times. Coach Tommy Tuberville said afterward that the team was in catchup mode and needed to pass. That's hogwash: Vanderbilt was up by one point. They won 14-13. Still, kudos to Vandy, which beat the Tigers for the first time since 1955.

Speaking of Vandy, the Commodores' upset was one of several games predicted to a tee by The Crystal Ball... (see: Ohio State over Wisconsin with QB Terrelle Pryor making the difference; and blowouts by Texas Tech, Texas, Missouri and USC.) There also was this Crystal Ball classic, which was pretty much as wrong as it gets:

"Florida State at Miami. The Seminole defense is an elite unit. So is Miami's. Which will give in first? Both offenses will struggle, but Miami will have a tad more success in moving the ball than Florida State. The Hurricanes win in a low-scoring affair." (The Seminoles won in a 41-39 shootout.)

Quick Notre Dame Note: It's clear that Notre Dame is getting better, but I'm still not convinced they can compete against the better teams. We'll find out how far the Irish come when they travel to Chapel Hill Saturday to play a vastly improved North Carolina team.

If I were a Wall Street man, I'd shortsell: Penn State. We all know they're solid, but all of this "national championship" talk makes me wary. Their Spread HD offense struggled mightily against Purdue (Purdue!). Moreover, the team is preparing to run the gauntlet by playing at Wisconsin, Michigan and at Ohio State.

Someone stop him from getting any better: N.C. State QB Russell Wilson. I foresee this young freshman becoming a Michael Vick-like unstoppable force one day. He was impressive Saturday against a stout B.C. defense, throwing for over 200 yards and a touchdown and scrambling repeatedly out of trouble.

Someone stop them from getting any worse: North Texas. Nothing quite epitomizes the word "suck" like being down to Florida International at halftime by four scores. North Texas lost 42-10.

Tears in Winter Award: Chicago Cubs fans. Ugh, what an utter flameout after so much promise this season. Final diagnosis: Good pitching, good hitting, poor defense. The D made all the difference. (See: How the Red Sox are winning.)

Overrated: Kansas, BYU, South Florida.

Underrated: Missouri offense (They are absolutely unstoppable. I saw it with my own eyes.)

Fine Nine: Oklahoma, USC, Alabama, Texas, LSU, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Penn State.

What we learned by watching television...

...We learned many things: that no team is immune to the upset bug; that early-season rankings often skew our perception of who is good and who is just okay; and that Nick Saban sure can coach.

League play is starting in the SEC, finally giving us a chance to separate the wheat from the chaff. What to make of Florida's home loss to Ole Miss? Who could have predicted it? Ole Miss lost to Wake Forest, which on Saturday loses to Navy (and convincingly, too). And yet, here are the Rebels beating Florida in the Swamp. I think the next SEC team to be exposed as a great-but-not-elite team is LSU. They struggled at home against Mississippi State, a team which was waxed 38-7 by Georgia Tech the week before.

The Big 12 has some of the best offenses in the nation (Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, to name a few). Yet it is the defense of each that will dictate how far each team goes. As far as I can tell, Oklahoma has the best one in the conference, followed by Texas. That is why, in the end, the Crystal Ball foresees those two teams as eventually beating all the others.

Notre Dame is getting better, especially on defense. I saw it with my own eyes in high definition. If now mullet-free QB Jimmy Clausen continues to improve, I think the Irish have the chance to win eight or nine games this year.

Penn State is a very good football team. But I would not put them on the Oklahoma-USC-Alabama tier just yet. I watched the Nittany Lions' "Spread HD" offense with great interest on Saturday and I've subsequently concluded that it is the "spread" fused together with some West Coast-style short passes. Fine. The question is: Can I foresee the Penn State defense matching wits with the offense when the chips are down? I don't think so.

As for Alabama's big win against Georgia, the Crystal Ball foresaw it:

"...the Bulldog O' doesn't match up well with Alabama. Georgia's weakness is its young offensive line, while 'Bama's strength is its D. In many ways, Georgia is but a more talented version of Clemson: talent at the skill positions, but a young line. Tide Coach Nick Saban, I think, will blitz Georgia to kingdom come and have some surprises on offense. Can Georgia adjust? My sense is not in time. 'Bama pulls off the road upset."

Here is another Crystal Ball special:

"Colorado vs. Florida State (in Jacksonville). Florida State's defense is stout and will get to Colorado QB Cody Hawkins all game long. The Seminoles have had problems moving the ball, but I think they will be able to move it enough to win."

(Those and a few other predictions aside, it was generally a rough week for the Crystal Ball, especially on the ACC foretellings.)

Overrated: the Big 12 (except for Oklahoma, Texas and the Missouri offense), South Florida

Underrated: the Pac-10 and ACC, Notre Dame, Tulsa, Alabama WR Julio Jones, Ball State, Connecticut RB Donald Brown

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

What we learned: Addendum...

Overrated: Texas Tech, South Florida, Wisconsin, Fresno State, Connecticut, BYU

Underrated: Wake Forest Defense, Michigan State, Tulsa

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

What we learned in high def...

Of the multitude of sportscasters/analysts out there, I'd put ESPN's Chris Spielman among the worst. He uses so much football jargon that it sounds like he's calling out military coordinates. The average person, Chris, doesn't know what a SAM linebacker, a flag-in route, a zone read or a stunt are. Still, you use these words repeatedly and in tandem with each other. No one but Peyton Manning knows what you're saying, man.

Following Mr. Spielman is ESPNU's Larry Coker. The former Miami coach brings almost no insight to the table. He might as well be your great grandfather hollering at the television. "Arrgh. Shoulda run the ball there. Arrgh." Thanks Larry. Pearls of wisdom.

Thoughts from Saturday:

Get your shots in on the Buckeyes now. Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor is going to be unstoppable in about 12-15 games. He is so strong and his strides so long that he makes everyone else look like they are stuck in the mud. It reminds me of when Reggie Bush was running the ball at USC. With a little game experience and some more muscle on that lanky frame, watch out.

Florida State is a tale of two teams. The offense is sooooo very pathetic. At home against Wake Forest, the Seminoles turned the ball over seven times and looked like a high school unit. The defense, on the other hand, can hang with any offense in the country: Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma. The question is this: Will the offense come around soon enough? My answer is no.

I'll say it again: Missouri needs to shore up its defense if it wants to compete with the elite. QB Chase Daniel also needs to find targets other than WR Jeremy Maclin. It took over 400 passing yards from Daniel for Mizzou to overcome Buffalo (Buffalo!) in the second half.

Arizona State gets a gold star for hanging in there against Georgia. The Sun Devils didn't win, but, as Jake pointed out earlier, Georgia had to expend quite a bit of energy in the victory. I thought the game's key play was when the Georgia offense converted a long third down from inside its 10 yard line in the first half.

LSU will not repeat as national champions, not with that offense. A number of teams have defenses that are at least equal to LSUs, but much better offenses: Florida, Georgia, USC, Texas and Oklahoma, to name a few.

The ACC is stacked with teams that are good but not great: North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Miami, Florida State, Wake Forest, Clemson, Maryland. It's like a poor-man's SEC.

I wouldn't say that Brigham Young is doing it with smoke and mirrors, but I don't foresee them getting through their conference schedule unscathed. Yes, the Cougars beat Wyoming 44-0 at home Saturday. But the score sounds more impressive than the game really was as BYU had the help of six Wyoming turnovers. The Cougars have to play better if they want to beat TCU, Utah and Air Force.

Penn State is the Big Ten's best team. I have yet to see any team come close to stopping Penn State's new hybrid spread offense. The defense ain't bad either.

Hats off to Fresno State. They play anyone, anywhere and at anytime. On Saturday they traveled to the Rust Belt to take on Toledo in a night ESPNU game (a scrappy double OT win). The Toledo game came one week after their big nationally televised home glamour game against Wisconsin.

Crystal Ball rewind... A tough week for the Crystal Ball. My Troy-upsetting-Ohio-State scenario didn't play out, Florida State lost to Wake Forest and SMU didn't show any signs of offensive improvement. Bright spots: The Crystal Ball called Ball State's upset of Indiana, LSU's win and Miam's victory over Texas A&M.

What we learned by watching television...

Try predicting this game: One team is coming off of a 66-3 beat down of a conference rival and, before that, an impressive win over a Big Ten foe. The other team is coming off of a bad loss to Middle Tennessee and, before that, a near-miss against I-AA Delaware. Who wins a matchup of Teams A and B? The surprising answer is Team B. And convincingly, too.

I'm talking of Maryland upsetting No. 23 California, a game that helped set the tone for Saturday and raise many questions. I have a hypothesis, or at least dueling hypotheses. Either the Pac-10 is not as good as advertised or the time zone changes during away games really create a problem for the conference's mojo. Cal, Stanford, Arizona, UCLA, Washington and Washington State all lost to non-conference foes by at least a touchdown. Washington State lost by 28, Washington by 49 and UCLA by 59 --- the Bruins' worst lost since the Great Depression.

Meanwhile, Oregon, which racked up nearly 700 yards of offense the week before, struggled mightly to move the ball against an average Purdue team. Arizona State lost to UNLV, a team that had been beaten soundly by Utah the week before.

USC's demolition of Ohio State, of course, was a conference bright spot. Oregon State also won, crushing a piss-bad Hawaii team. But this week really makes me wonder about the strength of a conference that I thought was right there with the SEC. It also makes me wonder whether we have the Top 25 correct.

It looks like the Big 12, Mountain West and the rank-and-file teams in both the Big Ten and ACC are actually pretty good. It also turns out that USC's sacrificial lamb in Week One, Virginia, is much more pathetic than we initially thought. The UVA win catapulted USC to No. 1. But Virginia struggled with I-AA Richmond the very next week and on Saturday lost to the Connecticut Huskies by five touchdowns. Am I saying that UConn could get it on with USC? No. But the season has yet to reveal who the true diamonds are.

In Focus: USC-Ohio State

It's clear to me that the Buckeyes, my preseason No. 1, have absolutely no business being in the Top 10, or maybe even the Top 15. Last week, they struggled at home to beat a bad Ohio team (Ohio lost at home to Central Michigan this week). On Saturday against the Trojans, Ohio State was grossly overmatched.

USC coach Pete Carroll employed an NFL-like gameplan against Ohio State: Offensively, they established the run, applied burner RB Joe McKnight in Reggie Bush-like formations and then went for Ohio State's jugular with playaction. The defensive plan depended upon which Buckeye was calling the signals. Carroll blitzed Todd Boeckman relentlessly and employed extra linebackers against Terrelle Pryor. Without injured star RB Beanie Wells to keep the defense honest, the Buckeyes were vulnerable and it showed.

So, what happens from here? I think USC is still the team to beat, but I'm curious to see how they match up against the best of the SEC. Despite the loss, I think Ohio State will still flourish in the Big Ten. But they should clearly not be mentioned in the same sentence as the elite.

In Focus: Notre Dame

A few thoughts on Notre Dame. Yes, they beat Michigan convincingly (a result aided by six Michigan turnovers in rainy weather.) I also think ND coach Charlie Weis is building something in South Bend. But Notre Dame's future is hazy to me. As ESPN's Lee Corso pointed out on Saturday, the Irish have landed three straight Top 10 recruiting classes under Weis. But against San Diego State last week and Michigan, Notre Dame exuded a High School feel.

Weis is a good offensive coordinator. His schemes are complex, he takes risks and he adapts his offense to the circumstances of the game. But Weis is now in Year Four and his team still looks to be light years away from competing at an elite level. The talent, even the upperclassmen whom Weis recruited four years ago, compares to the Mountain West level, maybe a Utah, I'd say. That's fine, but not for a team that wishes to "stir up the echoes." If the defense can continue to force turnovers, I think the Irish will reach a bowl game this year. But I expect another embarrassing loss when the Irish travel to USC later this season.

Quick thoughts on other games...

I fear for the future of SMU football. Rebuilding or not, the team looked hideously overmatched against Texas Tech, especially on defense. Tech rolled up 33 first downs and nearly 700 yards. And, as far as I can tell, SMU Coach June Jones has never been known for building defenses. SMU Freshman QB Bo Levi Mitchell struggled in a way that was almost painful to watch. Five interceptions, including three in the first quarter. The experiment continues...

Speaking of the SMU-Tech game, I smell a rat. Vegas had Tech favored by 36.5 points. Tech led 43-0 late into the fourth quarter when SMU scored a TD. Final spread: 36.

Kansas was overrated, yes. But QB Todd Reesing has made a believer out of me. He's a fighter, has good instincts and he's accurate. Against South Florida on Friday, he withstood constant pressure and a hostile crowd to pass for nearly 400 yards and three scores.

The Mountain West Conference has a chip on its shoulder. This supposedly second-tier conference has a stable of legitimately good teams: BYU, Utah, TCU and Air Force. Even better, they all win in different ways. BYU with short passes, Utah with balance, TCU with a relentless rushing game and Air Force with a potent triple option attack.

The following surprise defenses are among the nation's best: Georgia Tech, Iowa, Fresno State, Tulane

Watch out for WR Brandon Tate of North Carolina. He's the ACC's version of Reggie Bush.

Overrated: Wisconsin, South Florida, Oregon, Illinois

Underrated: Florida State, Boise State, Iowa, Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee, Kentucky

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

What I learned by watching television...

What I Learned by Watching Television:

We reflect on a busy week of college football that saw Jake's team (Arizona State) romp, Ian's team (SMU) rebound and my team (Boston College) reveal itself as not having a very good offense.

Georgia RB Knowshown Moreno is an absolute beast and, in my eyes, the new kid to beat in the Heisman race. In a drubbing of Central Michigan, he locomotived his way to an almost casual 168 yards and three scores. Georgia is so very good (as is the rest of the SEC). The College GameDay guys should buy a time-share in the southeastern U.S. because that's where the action is this year.

Miami, Fla. is going to be scary good... in three years. They may not be anything special now, especially after their pounding at the hands of Florida. But this team, stacked full of freshmen and sophomores, offers hope for the 'Canes. Against Florida, they showed poise and athleticism. Make no mistake: Miami is on the rise.

The Pac-10 is clearly the nation's second best conference: A half-dozen teams in the conference could hang with anyone from the SEC: USC, Arizona State, Oregon, Arizona, California, UCLA. Yes, USC is the jewel in the tiara, but all those other teams are wickedly good, too.

Let's spot Ohio State four touchdowns now. The Big Ten is not very good, comparatively, and I'm afraid it's going to show on Saturday when Ohio State travels to USC. If Beanie Wells doesn't play for the Buckeyes, they have no shot against the Trojans. None.

What's up with East Carolina? Talk about random success. Who on earth might have predicted the success of this team early on in the season? It's equal parts a nice story and a commentary on the sad state of East Coast football.

Reflections:

The Crystal Ball has a Sixth Sense:

"Washington gives BYU a run for its money, but loses."

"Wake Forest, its misdirection plays neutralized by SEC speed, nevertheless squeaks one out at home against Ole Miss."

The Crystal Ball was kind of right:

"Cincinnati keeps it close against Oklahoma... in the first half."

"Florida absolutely crushes Miami in the Swamp, sinking the ACC even lower than it already is. Gator Percy Harvin runs buck wild."

"Texas Tech plays a closer than expected one at Nevada."

The Crystal Ball was kind of wrong:

"Stanford keeps things competitive but ultimately loses against Jake's boys from Arizona State."

"Ian's gang SMU rebounds and runs up the score June Jones-style against Texas State."

The Crystal Ball was sniffing glue:

"Bowling Green beats Minnesota and skirts the Top 25."

What I learned from watching television...

Here's a summary of what we learned from the first night of college football:

1. You need a quarterback to be competitive. Did you see NC State and Baylor struggle to move the ball? (Heck, they struggled to snap the ball.) Without a quarterback, you, College Football Team X, are dead in the water.

2. Wake Forest is really good. They may not be Florida good, or even Clemson good. But this is a football team that is going to make some noise this year.

3. Baylor is bad. They may not be South Dakota State bad. But this is a football team that is going to get stepped on repeatedly in conference this year unless they show marked improvement.

4. South Carolina needs an offense. Yes, the box score looks impressive: 34-0 over NC State. But the game was 3-0 at the half and 13-0 into the fourth quarter. And all of those points were off of turnovers. If the 'Cocks want to be even remotely competitive in the SEC this year, they need to actually pass the ball to their own receivers and not their opponents, like they did four times.

5. Ted Kim gets a sick number of college football channels on satellite. Let me put it this way: At one point, I was switching between the South Dakota State/Iowa State and Hofstra/Connecticut games. Disgusting, I know.

6. Lou Holtz needs to lay off the make up, especially when he's on ESPN high def. It's a new era, Lou. We can see every dimple and mole. You can't powder your way out of age.