Lost Money and Earned Regrets: College Football Recap Week 4

What a weekend.  Two top 5 teams (Ole Miss and Penn State) fell, while Houston kept their BCS hopes alive.  Oregon proved they aren't as bad as people thought, while also showing Cal isn't as good as people thought and Boise State just may be much better than people thought.  LSU ugly-slugged their way to a win again, while Florida and Texas destroyed far inferior competition.  Virginia Tech asserted themselves as the premier ACC team, while Florida State fell to their second consecutive in-state foe.

#1 Florida (4-0, 2-0) 41 Kentucky (2-1, 0-1) 7

Spread: Florida (-21.5)

The big news, of course, is that Tim Tebow went to the hospital after this game with a concussion.  I only hope that the knock on his noggin causes him to see the light, repent Christ, and start banging each and every girl in Gainesville, starting with Erin Andrews.

#2 Texas 64 (4-0) UTEP (1-3) 7

Spread: Texas (-34.5)

The Longhorns outgained the Miners 639 to 53.  Perhaps results like this will give Mack Brown the confidence in his team to schedule some stiffer non-conference competition next season. 

#3 Alabama (4-0, 1-0) 35 Arkansas (1-2, 0-2) 7

Spread: Alabama (-15.5)

I don't care what the polls say, Alabama is the best team in the country right now.  I'm pretty sure Nick Saban will find a way to blow it, but Tide fans can enjoy it while it lasts.

South Carolina (3-1, 1-1) 16 #4 Ole Miss (2-1, 0-1) 10

Spread: Ole Miss (-3)

Pretty much everything I've read or heard about this game mentioned the fact that most people doubted the Rebels' ability to win this game, which makes me wonder who voted them the fourth best team in the country?

Iowa (4-0, 1-0) 21 #5 Penn State (3-1, 0-1) 10

Spread: Penn State (-10)

I guess Penn State isn't the juggernaut they appeared to be against the likes of Akron, Temple, and Syracuse.  Also, while the Hawkeyes looked very impressive in this game, we all have to remember that this is the same team that needed two consecutive blocked FGs to beat Northern Iowa on opening weekend.

Oregon (3-1, 1-0) 42 #6 California (3-1, 0-1) 3

Spread: Cal (-6)

Wow.  I expected Oregon to pull off the upset in Eugene, but this is ridiculous.  Did the entire Bears team come down with the H1N1 prior to kickoff? 

#7 LSU (4-0, 1-0) 30 Mississippi State (2-2, 1-1) 26

Spread: LSU (-13)

Prediction: LSU will struggle mightily next week against Georgia (and may even lose), beat Florida, and then lose to Auburn.  The Tigers continue to be one of the most maddeningly inconsistent teams in the country, while the Bulldogs showed they may not be the worst SEC team in Mississippi.

#8 Boise State (4-0) 49 Bowling Green (1-3) 14

Spread: Boise State (-17)

At one point, Boise State led 43-0.  While this game probably seemed like a good idea for the Falcons when it was scheduled, I wonder how BG's AD and alumni feel about it now.

#11 Virginia Tech (3-1, 1-0) 31 #9 Miami (2-1, 2-1) 7

Spread: Miami (-2.5)

The Hokies reminded the Canes that the ACC is still theirs, while also putting an end to any Jacory Harris Heisman talk (9-25, 150 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT). 

#12 USC (3-1, 1-1) 27 Washington State (1-3, 0-2) 6

Spread: USC (-44)

The Trojans showed why that 44 point spread was ridiculous, grinding out an efficient, dominant, steady win over the Cougars that relied on safe passes by Matt Barkley, a steady diet of runs by the Trojans' 8,000 running backs, and a defense that only allowed 85 rushing yards despite 46 attempts (!) by Washington State backs.

#13 Ohio State (3-1, 1-0) 30 Illinois (1-2, 0-1) 0

Spread: Ohio State (-14.5)

Apparently, the Buckeyes are much, much better than most of their Big Ten brethren, as Illinois was expected to be at least a middle of the pack team.  Juice Williams (13-25, 77 yards, 2 INT, 15 carries for 18 yards) disappoints all seven Juice Williams fans in his Columbus swan song.

#14 Cincinnati (4-0) 28 Fresno State (1-3) 20

Spread: Cincinnati (-16.5)

Fresno State may be the best 1-3 team ever, while Cincinnati pulled out a tough win to remain undefeated.  After a should-be blowout in Oxford (Ohio, vs. Miami), the Bearcats will face their first real challenge in Tampa against a surprisingly still dangerous Matt Grothe-less South Florida team.

#15 TCU (3-0) 14 Clemson (2-2) 10

Spread: Clemson (-3)

Although the TCU defense held Clemson scoreless for the final 12:46 of the game to secure the win and generally held the Tigers down all day, C.J. Spiller (26 carries, 112 yards, 3 catches, 79 yards, 1 TD) still had an impressive day.

#16 Oklahoma State (3-1) 56 Grambling State (2-2) 6

Spread: N/A

WHO CARES?

#17 Houston (3-0) 29 Texas Tech (2-2) 28

Spread: Houston (-1)

The Cougars came back to win this one with 49 seconds left, capping off a truly impressive victory.  The only things (seemingly) standing in Houston's way to a BCS Bowl are Southern Miss and whether or not the BCS will offer bids to more than one non-BCS school (as an undefeated Boise State team is a lock for a bid). 

South Florida (4-0) 17 #18 Florida State (2-2) 7

Spread: Florida State (-18)

Lessons learned: Florida State is not a good home team (losses to South Florida and Miami, struggled against Jacksonville State); Florida State plays terribly every other week; South Florida may be alright without Matt Grothe.

#19 BYU (3-1, 1-0) 42 Colorado State (3-1, 0-1) 23

Spread: BYU (-15)

The Cougars have to be pissed after watching the team that wrecked their BCS dreams--Florida State--absolutely shit the bed.

#20 Kansas (4-0) 35 Southern Miss (3-1) 28

Spread: Kansas (-13.5)

Southern Miss actually had this game tied going into the fourth quarter before their offense was completely shut down.  While Todd Reesing (30-41, 331 yards, 3 TDs) and Kerry Meier (10 catches, 141 yards, 2 TDs) were the stars for the Jayhawks, the defense deserves credit for holding dynamic Southern Miss back Damion Fletcher (4658 career rushing yards, 40 career TDs) to only 27 yards on 10 carries (he did manage 70 yards receiving, though).

#21 Georgia (3-1) 20 Arizona State (2-1) 17

Spread: Georgia (-12.5)

On the day the Bulldogs defense finally shows up, the offense decides to take the day off.  And what does the fact that Georgia managed to put up 92 combined points against SEC foes South Carolina and Arkansas but only 30 combined points against Oklahoma State and Arizona State (two schools not exactly known for their stout defenses) say about the state of SEC defenses in general?*

*OVERRATED.

Georgia Tech (3-1, 2-1) 24 #22 North Carolina (3-1, 0-1) 7

Spread: Georgia Tech (-2.5)

Besides Ole Miss being #4, the Tar Heels inclusion in the polls each week was the strangest ranking of all.  Thanks to the Yellow Jackets' complete decimation of Butch Davis's boys, we won't have to worry about it for the rest of the season.

#23 Michigan (4-0, 1-0) 36 Indiana (3-1, 0-1) 33

Spread: Michigan (-21)

While the offense may be back to an elite level, a Wolverine defense that allowed 467 yards to Indiana still has a long way to go.

Stanford (3-1, 2-0) 34 #24 Washington (2-2, 1-1) 14

Spread: Stanford (-7)

The Cardinal made up for only 107 yards passing with 321 yards rushing to wear down the Huskies and end the celebration in Seattle after only one week.

#25 Nebraska (3-1) 55 Louisiana-Lafayette (2-2) 0

Spread: Nebraska (-26.5)

Never. Bet. Against. Nebraska. When. They. Are. Playing. A. Sun. Belt. School.

Missouri (4-0) 31 Nevada (0-3) 21

Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) 38 Michigan State (1-3, 0-1) 30

Auburn (4-0) 54 Ball State (0-4)

Missouri and Wisconsin are the two quietest undefeated teams in the country, while Auburn is a juggernaut about to be unleashed on the SEC, starting next week in Knoxville.

Boston College (3-1, 1-1) 27 Wake Forest (2-2, 0-1) 24

Given the way the ACC usually plays out, I would not be surprised if one of these teams ends up in the championship game while around the country people ask what happened to Miami, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. 

North Carolina State (3-1) 38 Pittsburgh (3-1) 31

Pittsburgh blew leads of 17-7 and 31-17.  How is Dave Wannstedt still coaching?

Central Michigan (3-1, 1-0) 48 Akron (1-3, 0-1) 21

Dan LeFevour continues his non-existent Heisman campaign with 337 total yards (197 passing, 140 rushing) and 6 total TDs against the Zips.

Tennessee (2-2) 34 Ohio (2-2) 23

I kept closely monitoring the score of this one on the scroll at the bottom of ESPN, as the Bobcats were only down 24-20 in the 3rd quarter.  The Vols pulled away, and Ohio was denied what may have been the biggest upset in MAC history (the only other contender I could find was Toledo beating Penn State in 2000).

Idaho (3-1) 34 Northern Illinois (2-2) 31

Notre Dame (3-1) 24 Purdue (1-3) 21

Notre Dame needed a last second TD (and a gift timeout called by Purdue) to beat the Boilermakers, who the week before were beaten by Northern Illinois, who lost to Idaho.  Therefore, Idaho and Notre Dame should meet to determine who truly is the best of this batch.*

*I don't really remember what the point of lumping these games together was except that Notre Dame should be concerned it took such effort to beat a team that was beat by a team that was beat by Idaho.

WEEK 5 LINE PREDICTIONS

#3 Alabama at Kentucky

Alabama by 25

#4 LSU at #18 Georgia

LSU by 6.5

#6 Virginia Tech at Duke

Virginia Tech by 27.5

#7 USC at #24 California

USC by 8

#8 Oklahoma at #17 Miami

Oklahoma by 4.5

#9 Ohio State at Indiana

Ohio State by 18.5

#10 Cincinnati at Miami (OH)

Cincinnati by 31

SMU at #11 TCU

TCU by 16.5

#12 Houston at UTEP

Houston by 19

Arkansas State at #13 Iowa

Iowa by 24

#15 Penn State at Illinois

Penn State by 18.5

Washington State at #16 Oregon

Oregon by 21

Utah State at #20 BYU

BYU by 22.5

#21 Ole Miss at Vanderbilt

Ole Miss by 6.5

#22 Michigan at Michigan State

Michigan by 6.5

#25 Georgia Tech at Mississippi State

Georgia Tech by 5