College Football Wrap Up (Week 4)

Welcome to the second week of Dime and Duds.  The list includes my Dimes (stellar performances) and Duds (poor performances) from the past football weekend.  Enjoy!

Dimes

1.  Offenses in the Big Ten?

Wow...I never thought I'd say this about the Big Ten, but the offenses in this conference exploded this weekend.  Ya, ya I know they played against some creampuffs known as the MAC this year but for  a conference to have teams score 73, 70, 65, 45, 45 and 35 respectively...that's pretty impressive no matter who you're playing.  Considering the performances of the Big 12 powers this weekend, I think it may be safe to say the Big Ten is the second best conference in the land right now.  Scary?....yes.  True?....yes.

2.  SEC Ranked Matchups

Finally some games lived up to their billing.  After what was an awful week 2 of football that was supposed to bring us numerous close games in ranked matchups, we finally got a weekend of good football.  Very unexpected I must add.  In the SEC we had two sets of ranked teams playing each other and both produced.  No.1 Alabama went on the road for their first test of the season and eventually passed following a bonehead pick by Ryan Mallett.  Granted, Mallett was performing extraordinary on the biggest stage before this....he made the mistake that ultimately cost his team a top 5 ranking, throwing a pick that was returned to the Arkansas 10-yard line.  Alabama then capitalized as most great teams do, pounding home the winning touchdown to make it 24-20. 

In the other marquee SEC game of the week, South Carolina was unable to down the Auburn Tigers on the road, losing by a score of 35-27.  I can't really hear all those Auburn alum complaining about the hiring of Gene Chizik anymore....weird, the people in the front office at Auburn knew more than the fans. 

3.  UCLA...never thought I'd use those words in this part of the column

The Rick Neuheisel led Bruins did the unthinkable, walking into Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and walloped the Longhorns 34-12.  This game was dominated from start to end by UCLA and is a stark sign of what might be to come for Texas.  Is Texas really this down?  Coming into the game I thought this team could win by two touchdowns even during their worst game.  Wrong!  UCLA forced five turnovers which led to the largest home loss in the Mack Brown era.  Kudos to the Bruins...but for Hook'em the worst part is, you just lost to a 2-2 team that still couldn't crack the Top 25 despite beating a top 10 team.  Not really a resume builder there huh?

4.  Wolfpacks

A pair of Wolfpacks have surprised me this year.  The Russell Wilson-led version went down to Atlanta and put a beat down on the Yellow Jackets.  Now granted Georgia Tech is starting to look like and awful squad, NC State finds itself 4-0 and possibly leading the race in the ACC Atlantic.  They get Florida State at home on a Thursday night late in the season...a game that will probably decide the division.

The other Wolfpack? Nevada.  They've rushed (literally averaging 286 on the ground) to a 4-0 record knocking of Cal and BYU.  Buttttttttttttt, they play the same schedule as Boise State.  They ran the conference schedule last year before meeting with Boise State, only this time they're undefeated entering conference play.  So if they run the conference slate will it hurt or help Boise State?  Will it show Nevada is for real...or that anyone with a pulse can run through Boise States schedule?  Only time and voters will tell.

Duds

1.  Texas

Ouch.  Is there really anything to say?  Good luck against Oklahoma...hopefully you we're looking ahead too much this past weekend.

2.  Georgia

See ya 2010 season.  The Bulldogs have been flat out atrocious this season.  They're 0-3 in SEC play for the first time in the Mark Richt era.  But oh wait....A.J. Green is finally back this upcoming week against Colorado.  Too bad it the season is already a wash adn he may be seeing dollar signs leading to the NFL now.

3.  Minnesota

Can it get any worse?  Losses to South Dakota and Northern Illinois before the Big Ten slate.  It's been fun Tim Brewster.

4.  Boise States Remaining Schedule

New Mexico State, Toledo, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Hawaii, Idaho, Fresno State, Nevada, Utah State.  That is all.