NCAA Odds and Ends

A lot to talk about after last weekend.

• Gamecocked - Tons of shake-ups this week the obvious one being South Carolina's upset of the Crimson Tide.  Fluke? Not entirely, but if you think South Carolina could beat Alabama 8 out of 10 times, you've got another thing coming.  Beyond that, if you've crossed Alabama off your list of potential national champions, it's time for you to watch a little closer.  Bama's got time to make up the ground they've lost.  Currently, they have remaining games against #9 LSU (6-0) and #7 Auburn (6-0).  Should those two teams be undefeated when they face the Tide, and the Tide find a way to win, Bama is right back in the SEC Championship with  a chance to defend their crown.  Another loss effectively seals their fate, however. 
• LSU Yet Again - It hasn't been, but Les Miles has the Bayou Bengals in a position to win a National Title.  The Tigers were again able to use some trickery to take down another SEC powerhouse this weekend, handing Florida its second consecutive loss.  While much of the talk has been around what LSU can't do (quarterback play), I want to focus on what they can do: play defense.  LSU boasts the best all around corner in the country in Patrick Peterson, as well as standout defensive lineman Drake Nevis, who single handily made the Gators one dimensional last weekend.  The Tigers are just as talented as any team in the nation on the defensive side of the ball, and if they are able to hold teams to that 14-24 point range, they have a shot to win every week.  
• Tropical Storm - This week was yet another chance for Miami to show it's ready to start its ascent back to the top of the college football world.  It was for not.  The Seminoles pushed the Canes around on both sides of the ball, giving Florida State fans a performance that will help them forget the debacle in Norman a few weeks ago.  The Seminoles, on the other hand, seem to be hitting their stride, and with the recent problems up in Gainsville, the Noles may be find themselves sitting atop the Sunshine State when all is said and done.
• Trojan Travesty - Karma has been unkind to SC.  Since rolling through opponents early in the decade, winning everything from national championships to Heisman Trophies, the Trojans have become an inconsistent team without an identity.  They don't stop the run, are unable to rush the passer, and if it weren't for Matt Barkley's stellar season, they may be under .500 for the first time in a long time. 

BCS Predictions

• National Title Game - Alabama over Ohio State
• No change here for me.  While the Tide obviously have some holes, they are also the team most capable of fixing them.  I fully expect them to win out, beat a fairly high ranked Florida or South Carolina team in the SEC Championship, and wind up right back at the top of the college football world.
• Rose Bowl - Oregon over Iowa
• Oregon looks primed to make a run at a national title, but with SC faltering, and Arizona looking more and more human, they may be victims of their conferences' lack of punch.  Although if Zona can get its groove back, and Iowa ends up finishing second in the Big 10, we may see the Ducks get a boost from the computers that catapults them into a date with the Buckeyes.
• Orange Bowl - Florida State over West Virginia
• The Seminoles seem to be getting that old swagger back, looking especially potent in their win over the Hurricanes last weekend.  West Virginia looks to be the strongest team coming out of an otherwise lackluster conference. 
•  Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma over Boise State
• I know, I know...I don't give the Broncos very much respect.  But its hard to just hand a team a chance at the crown when their two "big" wins are against a Pac-10 team who always stumbles just before they reach the mountain top, and an ACC team that lost to James Madison.  I need a win on the road against one of the historic powers to validate this program.
• Sugar Bowl - South Carolina over TCU
• This is the season Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks arrive.  They have a great ground game, and a quarterback who is comfortable doing just enough to help his team win.  This will be the season the Gamecocks capture their first BCS bowl appearance and win.