Hindsight is 20/20 - Week 9

Not a good week for ranked teams. Not a good week for me.
Week 9 Record: 4-6
2010 Overall Record: 58-32 (64.4%)


Week 9 Stream of Consciousness: And I would have been right about FSU if it wasn't for QB Ponder fumbling away the ball at the NC State 4 yard line... No Blackmon (Okla. State WR) no problem. OSU put up almost 600 yards on hapless K-State... Iowa slammed Michigan State, leading 30-0 at halftime en route to a 37-6 victory for the Hawkeyes... Florida found it had an offense. And Georgia remembered it was the same team that lost to Colorado, and has no defense... What's worse than losing at home to UCLA and Iowa State? Losing to UCLA, Iowa State, and Baylor. Why do I keep doubting Texas opponents? UT may be the worst year-after-a-BCS-national-championship-appearance team in history... Oregon-USC went just as I expected. Lots of offense, lots of scoring. Oregon wins... How did Penn State score 41? Is Michigan's defense really that bad???... Auburn rolls. War Eagle!... East Carolina just got beat, no bones about it. Now UCF has a leg up on the CUSA-East race (and probably the conference championship).


This week's sign of the apocalypse: 
It is distinctly possible that an undefeated AP number 2 or 3 Boise State gets left out of the BCS. Here's the scenario: 

• TCU wins out, going 12-0, and finishing higher than Big East Champ Pitt
• Boise State wins out and finishes #4 in the BCS, behind #1 Oregon, #2 Alabama, and #3 TCU.
• Auburn loses to Alabama, who wins the SEC and goes to the Nat'l Championship
• Nebraska wins out, beating Oklahoma (11-2) for the Big 12 title, and Mizzou finishes 11-1. 
• Oregon wins out and goes to the Nat'l Championship. Stanford goes 11-1.
• Wisconsin and Ohio State win out, both at 11-1.
• The ACC and Big East champions each get one automatic bid.

That is 12 teams to fill 10 spots. Taking out automatic bids, in this scenario, leaves:

• 12-0 Boise State
• 11-1 Auburn
• 11-1 Missouri
• 11-2 Oklahoma
• 11-1 Stanford
• 11-1 Ohio State
• 11-1 Michigan State

From that list, the BCS gods take 4 teams. Not judged by rankings, picked by bowls to maximize profit. Of course, no more than one can come from the same conference. Picked first would be 11-1 Ohio State. Second would be 11-1 Auburn. Third would probably be 11-2 Oklahoma. Then... Boise State? The situation definitely exists that Boise State would not be picked.

Week 9 WTF???

WTF, Michigan-loving Coaches? Michigan lost 41-31 to Penn State last night. Both teams are 5-3. Yet 3 voters still ranked Michigan over Penn State. Really? It is obvious few people actually watch games they vote on.

WTF, Michigan? 5-0 start, 0-3 next three games. How is this familiar? How does it end? Hint: 0-4 finish, no bowl game. The only game the Wolverines are likely favored in will be against Purdue in two weeks. Have you learned nothing from the last two years? If the Wolverines don't go 2-2 in their last four games, Rich Rod's reign (of terror) in Ann Arbor is likely over.

Game of the Week: Nebraska 31, Missouri 17.

GOTW Record: 6-3 (66.7%)

Why I was very wrong:

• Yes, I said Nebraska's rush offense was potent. I had no idea it would be this potent. Nebraska running back Roy Helu, Jr. rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns. On his first 3 carries. Yes, you read that right. His first 3 carries went for 142 yards. His first 10 went for 228. Helu finished with a school record 307 yards on 28 carries (11.0 yards per carry). But it's not like Nebraska has had a ton of excellent rushers in the past...
• Missouri had no success against the Nebraska defense. Blaine Gabbert, who came in averaging 67% completion percentage, was just 18-42 against the Huskers for 199 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Nebraska bottled up Missouri running backs for just 68 yards (that's how many Helu got on his first rush).
• Nebraska won just its 3rd home Big 12 game in its last 6 tries. The Huskers have won their last 7 Big 12 road games.