JP Top 25 - Week 10

With apologies to Nevada and San Jose State, who are set to play later tonight, here is my top 25 following an exciting week ten.

1. Texas (Record: 9-0, Last Week: 1)
The Longhorns continue to look like the best team in the nation, with the best balance of offense, defense, and special teams.

2. Alabama (9-0, LW: 2)
A gutty performance by the Crimson Tide showed this team has what it takes to fight through tough times and still come out victorious.

3. Florida (9-0, LW: 3)
Offensively, Florida is easily the worst team among the top teams in the nation. Allow me to be the first to predict the Gators will be BETTER on offense in 2010 when John Brantley takes over the QB spot. He's got a much better arm and will really help open things up. Whether he can win like Tebow or not will be the real discussion in the offseason.

4. TCU (9-0, LW: 4)
I'm making the road trip to Fort Worth to watch the game of the week in person next weekend. TCU hosts Utah, their last big test of the season.

5. Georgia Tech (9-1, LW: 6)
Paul Johnson's gutsy call to go for it on fourth down late in the fourth quarter while trailing Wake Forest shows the confidence he has in his offense right now.

6. Cincinnati (9-0, LW: 7)
The Bearcats had to hang on tight to beat UConn, which shined a spotlight on a defense that might not be as good as we previously thought. And I now firmly believe Brian Kelly can plug any quarterback on his roster into the lineup and score points. Kelly clearly prepares his quarterbacks better than just about anybody in America.

7. Boise State (9-0, LW: 8)
Boise had another mid-week close call, but I still believe the defense on this team ranks them as a legitimate top 10 team. The Broncos nearly jumped Cincinnati in my poll this week.

8. Pittsburgh (8-1, LW: 11)
The next time I hear Pitt mentioned in the national conversation will be the first. Right now, the gap in the Big East between Cincinnati and Pitt is razor thin. Bill Stull and Dion Lewis have the offense humming, and the defense - a Wannstedt specialty - is coming together nicely as well. Don't be surprised if the Panthers end up with the Big East's BCS bowl bid.

9. Oregon (7-2, LW: 9)
Looks like Oregon isn't what everybody thought they were. I kept having flashbacks to that opening night game where they looked like a bottom ten team (not a top ten team) against Boise State, which prevented me from raving about this team as much as everybody else did.

10. USC (7-2, LW: 12)
The Trojans looked absolutely average in defeating Arizona State on the road Saturday night. Maybe Oregon's big win wasn't as big as it first seemed.

11. Ohio State (8-2, LW: 14)
12. LSU (7-2, LW: 10)
13. Virginia Tech (6-3, LW: 15)
14. Miami (7-2, LW: 16)
15. Iowa (9-1, LW: 5)
16. Penn State (8-2, LW: 13)
17. Arizona (6-2, LW: 19)
18. Utah (8-1, LW: 20)
19. Oregon State (6-3, LW: 24)
20. Houston (8-1, LW: 22)
21. Oklahoma State (7-2, LW: 23)
22. South Florida (6-2, LW: 21)
23. Stanford (6-3, LW: NR)
24. Tennessee (5-4, LW: NR)
25. BYU (7-2, LW: NR)

Just missed the cut:
Wisconsin, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Auburn, West Virginia, Clemson

Big XII Preview

Projected Records & Standings

South Division

1. TEXAS              12-0  (8-0)
2. OKLAHOMA           11-1  (7-1)
3. TEXAS TECH          7-5  (4-4)
4. OKLAHOMA STATE      7-5  (4-4)
5. BAYLOR              6-6  (3-5)
6. TEXAS A&M           5-7  (2-6)

North Division

1. NEBRASKA            9-3  (6-2)
2. COLORADO            8-4  (4-4)
3. KANSAS              8-4  (4-4)
4. MISSOURI            6-6  (3-5)
5. KANSAS STATE        6-6  (3-5)
6. IOWA STATE          3-9  (0-8)

South Champion: TEXAS
The Longhorns shared the South Division title in 2008 and defeated arch-rival Oklahoma in the process. 2009 looks like it could follow a very similar script. Mack Brown has put together potentially his most talented team yet, so it’s only a matter of stepping up to the plate and giving a consistent performance every week for Texas to win the South again.

The secondary looks to be the best in the nation, and the receiving corps is a year older and should give Colt McCoy even more weapons to unleash on opposing defenses. On the other side of the ball look for Sergio Kindle to wreak havoc on offensive tackles much the way Brian Orakpo did a season ago. Freshman defensive end Alex Okafor has the potential to step right into a starting spot and make sure defenses pay if they concentrate too much on blocking Kindle. This defense is going to be really good.

North Champion: NEBRASKA
Bo Pelini is still in the building process at Nebraska, but luckily so is the entire North Division. The Huskers have the benefit of one of the brightest young defensive minds in football. Add to that one of the best interior linemen in the nation – defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh – and you have two big reasons why the Blackshirts will continue on the road toward rebuilding their battered reputation. There are some big questions offensively (WR? new QB?), but the offensive line looks to be a team strength – and that’s always a good place to start.

Could Surprise (South): TEXAS A&M
Everyone already knows Baylor is on the cusp of qualifying for a bowl game for the first time since 1994, thanks to the coaching of Art Briles and the play of sophomore sensation Robert Griffin at quarterback. So it should be no surprise when they meet their raised expectations.

Texas A&M, however, is getting dumped on by everybody. Even I’m picking them last in the Big XII South. Mike Sherman is on the hot seat according to some Aggie fans, even though he has only been in town for a single season. But don’t be surprised if they end up being one of the most improved teams in the conference - and that includes Baylor. Quarterback Jerrod Johnson is legit. He has an arm that A&M fans have never seen the likes of before. Throw in a pair of talented young tailbacks and a nice all-purpose threat in QB/WR Ryan Tannehill and you have what could be a solid offense.

There is still much work to do on the other side of the ball where Dennis Franchione left the cupboard completely bare. But Sherman is a good coach and they will improve in that area as well. For Texas A&M in 2009 the only question is how big a step they will take in their improvement.

Could Surprise (North): MISSOURI

Don’t expect the Tigers to disappear off the face of the earth just because Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, and a host of other playmakers are gone. Don’t get me wrong, they will take a step back – but it won’t be a big one. Gary Pinkel knows his system and recruits to it well. Blaine Gabbert will be fine at quarterback, and in fact might even surpass Daniel by the time his career at Missouri is over. It’s a transitional season for Missouri, but that doesn’t mean they’ll stop scoring points and qualifying for bowls.

Question the Hype: THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
What has the state of Oklahoma done to deserve all this hype? Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are consensus top 10 picks, and many preseason polls have them both in the top 5! Somebody needs to fill me in on their credentials because I don’t consider wins over Missouri to be worthy of the kind of praise that is being heaped on these two teams heading into the 2009 season.

Bo Jackson Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
QB-Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
QB-Colt McCoy, Texas
QB-Robert Griffin, Baylor

Ten to Watch:
WR-Brandon Banks, Kansas State
WR-Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
TE-Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
RB-Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
QB-Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M
WR-Kerry Meier, Kansas
OT-Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
QB-Todd Reesing, Kansas
WR-Jordan Shipley, Texas
RB-Rodney Stewart, Colorado

Herzlich Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
DT-Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
LB/DE-Sergio Kindle, Texas
DT-Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma

Ten to Watch:
DE-Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
CB-Dominique Franks, Oklahoma
FS-Jordan Lake, Baylor
LB-Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
LB-Joe Pawelek, Baylor
SS-Darrell Stuckey, Kansas
SS-Earl Thomas, Texas
LB-Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
DT-Colby Whitlock, Texas Tech
CB-Aaron Williams, Texas

J.Pike's Ballot: Bo Jackson Trophy

The final award for the 2008 season is the Bo Jackson Trophy. Consider this Pikes Picks' answer to the Heisman Trophy. We don't try to fool you into thinking we consider defensive players for the award though (that's what we created the Arrington Trophy for), and we'll even consider linemen if they are worthy.

The inaugural Bo Jackson Trophy was a difficult one to hand out, as there were a large number of worthy candidates. But Colt McCoy is my choice because he stood out for the entire season, from start to finish.

Sam Bradford and Andre Smith were my other top choices heading into the bowls. However, Smith didn't even play thanks to an issue with an agent, so I replaced him with Knowshon Moreno - one of my all time favorite running backs to watch. As for Bradford, if his own coaches don't think enough of him to turn him loose in the national championship game, then I can't justify giving him this award.

McCoy routinely surprised me with not only his accuracy and decision making, but his athleticism and leadership skills. The final drive in the Fiesta Bowl was the perfect capper to a brilliant season any quarterback would be lucky to duplicate.

J.Pike's Ballot: Gold Wrenches

I chose to hand out five Gold Wrenches this season. Pikes Picks awards Gold Wrenches for outstanding play in the trenches, and all five of these groups played huge roles in determining the outcomes of their teams' games.

Alabama Offensive Line
starters: Antoine Caldwell, Drew Davis, Marlon Davis, Mike Johnson, Andre Smith
reserves: John Michael Boswell, Brian Motley, David Ross

Texas Defensive Line
starters: Lamarr Houston, Henry Melton, Roy Miller, Brian Orakpo
reserves: Ben Alexander, Sam Acho, Eddie Jones, Aaron Lewis

USC Defensive Line
starters: Clay Mathews, Fili Moala, Kyle Moore, Christian Tupou
reserves: Armond Armstead, Jurrell Casey, Everson Griffen, Averell Spicer

Oklahoma Offensive Line
starters: Jon Cooper, Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson, Brandon Walker, Trent Williams
reserves: Cory Brandon, Branndon Braxton, Brian Simmons

Penn State Defensive Line
starters: Josh Gaines, Aaron Maybin, Jared Odrick, Ollie Ogbu
reserves: Maurice Evans, Abe Koroma

JP25 - Final 2008 Top 25

This was one of the most difficult set of rankings I've ever had the pleasure of filling out. It is the final poll of the 2008 season, but more importantly, I'll have a hand in crowning the first official Pikes Picks National Champion.

In my mind, the top four teams (Florida, Texas, Utah, USC) could all beat each other on any given day. So I tried to look at each of their seasons as a whole and give the top spot to the most deserving candidate.

I considered Texas to be the best team throughout most of the latter part of the season, and I voted them number one in my final regular season poll. The Longhorns beat Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, but weren't National Championship-sharp throughout most of the game. However, they showed the heart and the ability to answer in the clutch that led me to believe they could beat any other team in the country prior to bowl season.

Florida won the BCS National Title game, but we all know (now) their opponent was a sham. Worse still, their opponent abandoned the game plan that got them to the game in the first place and then quit in the fourth quarter, robbing all of us from truly judging just how good Florida is. I still think the Gators have flaws in terms of the Xs and Os (especially on offense), but I really admire the passion with which they play in all three phases of the game.

USC obviously has the hype on their side. The Trojans blasted a Penn State team I held in high regard in the Rose Bowl, which gives them high marks in the "what have you done for me lately" category. They are also a fantastically talented team with the ability to shut down any offense they face. However, I don't feel like USC played at as high a level from week to week during the season as Texas and Florida did, and for that I discarded them from the #1 discussion.

Utah is the wild card. Thanks to the Mountain West Conference's terrible television contract it was difficult to see much of Utah this season. However, the Utes finished as the only undefeated team, and, in my opinion, played a strong enough schedule that they should be considered for the top spot. They played Michigan in the Big House to open the season (who knew how bad a season the Wolverines would be?), beat Oregon State the week after the Beavers knocked off mighty USC, and finished the season by beating three top 25 teams (TCU, BYU, Alabama) in their final four games. That's a tougher schedule than at least half the teams in BCS conferences had to play this season. Above all though, from what I DID see from the Utes, I like the way they play football.

After considering all the facts, here are my final rankings for 2008:

1. Florida	3	13-1
2. Texas	1	12-1
3. Utah	7	13-0
4. USC	5	12-1
5. Oklahoma	2	12-2
6. Alabama	4	12-2
7. Penn State	6	11-2
8. TCU	11	11-2
9. Ohio State	9	10-3
10. Georgia	15	10-3
11. Texas Tech	8	11-2
12. Boise State	12	12-1
13. Oregon	19	10-3
14. Virginia Tech	13	10-4
15. Oklahoma State	10	9-4
16. Oregon State	24	9-4
17. Cincinnati	16	11-3
18. California	17	9-4
19. Michigan State	20	9-4
20. Ole Miss	23	9-4
21. Pittsburgh	21	9-4
22. Missouri	22	10-4
23. West Virginia	--	9-4
24. Nebraska	25	9-4
25. Georgia Tech	14	9-4

Others Receiving Consideration:
Boston College (9-5), Florida State (9-4), LSU (8-5), Maryland (8-5), North Carolina (8-5), BYU (10-3), Northwestern (9-4), Iowa (9-4), Kansas (8-5), Rice (10-3)

Dropped Out:
Boston College (18)

J.Pike's National Title Game Rant

Nice one Sooners.

Can everyone in the media (including you, Mr. B.Pike) please come out and admit that you were all wrong about Oklahoma? You got caught up in offensive numbers, inflated by the likes of Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Missouri - were any of those teams impressive in their bowl games? - and rewarded an undeserving team a spot in the Big XII Championship game and then the BCS National Title game.

As wrong as it was to send OU to those games, it was nothing compared to the egg the Sooners laid tonight against Florida. When a team is literally HANDED a golden opportunity, and they not only squander it with one of the worst offensive game plans in championship game history, but then QUIT with five minutes left in the game, it says a lot about the character of that team.

Say what you want about Tim Tebow (and believe me - I did tonight), at least he acted like he wanted to win the game.

The most desire I saw out of Oklahoma all night was when safety Nic Harris tried to rip Percy Harvin's leg off after making a tackle late in the game. I'm not sure why there wasn't a flag on that play, but it was the only sign of a pulse I saw from any OU player.

If you can't beat 'em - injure 'em. Is that what Stoopsie is teaching his team nowadays? Because he sure didn't put any thought into the offensive gameplan. Oklahoma made their living all season by being aggressive and dictating tempo to defenses. I saw one drive like that tonight, and it resulted in an easy OU touchdown. Sam Bradford spent the rest of the game looking over at the sideline waiting for an indecisive coaching staff to call in the same vanilla plays over and over again.

For instance, when Oklahoma was down on the Florida goal line, why did they not once attempt to find Jermaine Gresham? Nobody has been able to cover that guy all season - and you've got the freaking Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback! Instead, the Sooners lined up in the I-Formation with two tight ends for seemingly the first time all season and ran the same off tackle play three times in a row. It's no surprise they came up empty.

It's completely ridiculous to me that the Oklahoma coaching staff changed their entire offensive philosophy for this one game. Sam Bradford really is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, but the coaching staff didn't give him the tools to make anything happen tonight.

Which brings me to my final question: Why is Oklahoma treated like a god by the media while Ohio State is a national punch line? Seriously, think about it. Over the last few years, which team has been worse in Big Games? The Vest or Big Game Bob?

Sure, Ohio State has the three black eyes from their performances against LSU and Florida in the past two national championship games, and USC earlier this season. But Oklahoma has lost five consecutive bowl games, including getting blown out by USC and West Virginia, losing to Boise State, and of course the heartless performance against Florida tonight. Oh yeah, and Stoops is 1-3 the last four years against Texas too.

So what's the difference? Ohio State got dumped on all season, yet Oklahoma received more praise than anybody this side of Tim Tebow. How does that make any sense? Is anybody (including all of you who voted Oklahoma ahead of Texas in their final regular season polls) beginning to see the error of their ways?

All I'm asking is this - can we please not let this happen again?

Bo Jackson Trophy Finalists

BO JACKSON TROPHY

The Bo Jackson Trophy, Pikes Picks version of the Heisman, will awarded to the best offensive player in the nation. Unlike the Heisman however, we will include all offensive players - not just the best quarterbacks on the best teams - and we won't tarnish the award by handing it out to, say, Eddie George instead of Tommie Frazier.

In my mind, this season was dominated by the Big XII and the SEC. The cream of the crop in these two conferences happen to be the cream of the crop in the whole nation. So all five of my choices for finalists come from these two conferences.

J.Pike's Finalists

SAM BRADFORD
(Sophomore QB, Oklahoma)
Key Stats
4,464 yards passing;
48 touchdowns against only 6 interceptions;
68.3 completion percentage;
186.3 QB rating;
343.4 passing yards per game;
Bradford was the trigger man for one of the most impressive offenses in college football over the last decade. The Sooners averaged 54 points and 562 yards per game in 2008, mostly because of the play of their sophomore quarterback. He is rarely affected by the pass rush and never makes a bad throw.

MICHAEL CRABTREE
(Sophomore WR, Texas Tech)
Key Stats
93 receptions for 1,135 yards;
18 touchdowns;
12.2 yards per catch;
94.6 yards per game;
Crabtree provided perhaps the most memorable highlight from the 2008 season when he reeled in a Graham Harrell pass on the sideline, fought off a tackler, somehow managed to stay in bounds, and ran in the game winning touchdown with one second left on the clock to upset Texas [LINK]. It's a play that showed off his hands and remarkable strength, two qualities that led to him being a finalist for this prestigious award.

COLT McCOY
(Junior QB, Texas)
Key Stats
3,445 yards passing;
32 touchdowns, 7 interceptions;
77.6 completion percentage (led the nation);
287.1 passing yards per game;
576 rushing yards (led the team);
10 rushing touchdowns;
4.5 yards per carry;
335.1 yards of total offense per game;
McCoy was the Texas offense in 2008. Not only did he display a passing accuracy rarely seen in college football, he also led the team in rushing. McCoy has every quality you could want in a quarterback and then some.

KNOWSHON MORENO
(Sophomore RB, Georgia)
Key Stats
1,338 rushing yards;
16 touchdowns;
5.9 yards per carry;
111.5 rushing yards per game;
27 receptions for 329 yards;
1 receiving touchdown;
141.4 all-purpose yards per game;
Moreno might be a surprise on this list, but he deserves the nod. If I was starting a college football team from scratch, Moreno might be my first choice. He plays with a desire and displays leadership ability that is matched only by his skills as a running back. In my mind, Moreno is a simply a smaller version of Adrian Peterson.

ANDRE SMITH
(Junior LT, Alabama)
Key Stats
38 career starts;
1 sack allowed;
Smith has simply been the nation's premier offensive lineman since he stepped on campus three years ago. This season he was the cornerstone for an Alabama line that mauled people all season to the tune of 196.5 rushing yards per game and paved the way for the Tide's surprising 12-1 record.

Arrington Trophy Finalists

LaVAR ARRINGTON TROPHY

The Arrington Trophy is a Pikes Picks award handed out annually to the best defensive player in the nation. It is named after former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington for his menacing defensive presence. Arrington had one of the most memorable moments in college football over the last decade when he made his now-famous "LaVar Leap" to stop Illinois on 4th down [LINK].

There were so many great offenses in college football this year that it's easy to forget about all the great players on the defensive side of the ball. I had a hard time narrowing my list down to eight finalists (sorry Sen'Derrick Marks), but here they are.

J.Pike's Finalists

ERIC BERRY
(Sophomore S, Tennessee)
Key Stats
72 tackles;
7 interceptions (2 returned for touchdown);
6 passes broken up;
3 sacks;
8.5 tackles for loss;
Eric Berry is so impressive that he continually stood out as one of the best players in the SEC despite playing for one of the worst teams in the conference. He defines the term "playmaker".

BRANDON GRAHAM
(Junior DE, Michigan)
Key Stats
46 tackles;
10 sacks;
20 tackles for loss;
2 forced fumbles;
Much like Berry, Graham took over games at times despite playing for a terrible team. There were several great defensive ends in the Big Ten this sesason, but Graham stands out from the pack because of his consistency.

MARK HERZLICH
(Junior LB, Boston College)
Key Stats
105 tackles (leads the team);
3 sacks;
11 tackles for loss;
6 interceptions (2 returned for touchdown);
7 passes broken up;
2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered;
Herzlich made his living around the ball in 2008. No matter where the play went, Herzlich was there. He led the Eagles with a remarkable 6 interceptions, but he also made plays behind the line of scrimmage. It didn't stop there - Herzlich was a terror on special teams as well!

PERIA JERRY
(Senior DT, Ole Miss)
Key Stats
47 tackles;
6 sacks;
17 tackles for loss;
3 QB pressures;
2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery;
Jerry dominated the line of scrimmage in SEC play, which is not an easy feat. He managed an incredible 17 tackles for loss from a position usually limited to tangling up blockers so other players can make the tackle.

RASHAD JOHNSON
(Senior S, Alabama)
Key Stats
82 tackles (2nd on team);
5 interceptions (2 returned for touchdown);
11 passes broken up;
1 sack, 5 tackles for loss;
1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery;
Johnson was the standout player on a standout Alabama defense in 2008. Whenever the Tide needed a big play, Johnson was there to make it. Not bad for a former walk on.

REY MAUALUGA
(Senior LB, USC)
Key Stats
73 tackles (leads the team);
2.5 tackles for loss;
2 interceptions (one returned for touchdown);
3 passes broken up;
Maualuga was the vocal and emotional leader on one of the best defenses in America. He set the tone and led the way for the Trojans, who held all but two opponents to 10 points or less.

BRIAN ORAKPO
(Senior DE, Texas)
Key Stats
40 tackles;
10.5 sacks;
18 takles for loss;
4 forced fumbes;
27 QB pressures;
2 passes broken up;
Orakpo is an impressive physical specimen at defensive end for the Lonhorns. His size/speed combination is unmatched in college football, and it allowed him to pile up double digits in sacks and live in opponents' backfields all season long. He dominated Oklahoma's All American left tackle Phil Loadholt back in October to the tune of 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss.

ALPHONSO SMITH
(Senior CB, Wake Forest)
Key Stats
36 tackles;
6 interceptions;
13 passes broken up;
2.5 tackles for loss;
1 blocked punt;
20 career interceptions;
You'd think offenses would stop throwing Smith's way after he collected 14 interceptions over his first three years at Wake. But Smith kept finding ways to make plays and pick off passes even with game plans designed to go as far away from him as possible.

Tommie Frazier Award Finalists

Just because the regular season is finished doesn't mean there is no more football to talk for a while - it's awards season! Pikes Picks has decided that the real awards, namely the Heisman Trophy, no longer go to deserving candidates. So we came up with our own awards.

TOMMIE FRAZIER AWARD

The Tommie Frazier Award, named after the great Nebraska quarterback, is given to the quarterback we deem to be the most exciting to watch. This could include any number of factors, but knowing Brent and myself it will come down to a quarterback that is as likely to make the highlight reels with an 80 yard run as he is with an 80 yard pass.

The following six quarterbacks were nominated as finalists for the Frazier Award by J.Pike.

J.Pike's Finalists

ROBERT GRIFFIN
(Freshman QB, Baylor)
Key Stats
Passing: 2,091 yards, 15 td, 3 int;
Rushing: 843 yards, 4.9 avg, 13 td;
242.4 total offensive yards per game, 28 total touchdowns;
Set NCAA freshman record for most consecutive passes without an interception


COLT McCOY
(Junior QB, Texas)
Key Stats
Passing: 3,445 yards, 32 td, 7 int, 77.6 completion percentage;
Rushing: 576 yards, 4.5 avg, 10 td;
335.1 total offensive yards per game, 42 total touchdowns;
Led Texas to an 11-1 record


TYROD TAYLOR
(Sophomore QB, Virginia Tech)
Key Stats
Passing: 896 yards, 2 td;
Rushing: 691 yards, 5.2 avg, 6 td;
144.3 total offensive yards per game, 8 total touchdowns;
The Hokies were 7-2 in games Taylor started;
Taylor is arguably the most elusive quarterback in the nation


PAT WHITE
(Senior QB, West Virginia)
Key Stats
Passing: 1,510 yards, 18 td, 6 int;
Rushing: 919 yards, 5.4 avg, 8 td;
220.8 total offensive yards per game, 26 total touchdowns;
Graduates as the NCAA's all time leader in rushing yards from the quarterback position


JUICE WILLIAMS
(Junior QB, Illinois)
Key Stats
Passing: 3,173 yards, 22 td;
Rushing: 719 yards, 4.1 avg, 5 td;
324.3 total offensive yards per game, 27 total touchdowns;
Williams has a cannon for an arm, one of the strongest in the nation


RUSSELL WILSON
(RS-Freshman QB, N.C. State)
Key Stats
Passing: 1,769 yards, 16 td, 1 int;
Rushing: 342 yards, 3.2 avg, 4 td;
211.1 total offensive yards per game, 20 total touchdowns;
Wilson threw at least two touchdowns in 7 of the 10 games he started;
He only threw one interception all season and was easily the most polished freshman quarterback in the country

It looks like the race for number two in the BCS is going to come down to Texas and Oklahoma. Both teams have identical records, but Texas beat Oklahoma earlier this season. So where's the debate? Does an on-field result no longer carry any weight just because the loser likes to run up the score on teams later in the season? If that's the case, why bother playing the games in the first place?

If we're going to discount the head-to-head meeting (which is completely ridiculous), then the debate is about which team is better at this juncture of the season. Okay, let's have that discussion.

Oklahoma scores a lot of points. Sam Bradford leads an impressive offense that can seemingly score points at will on anybody (except Texas). The national media wants to praise them for their poise and ability to answer every opponent's score with a touchdown of their own. I seem to remember a Texas team doing that in the Cotton Bowl a month and a half ago.

Oh yeah, there's also two other phases of the game: defense and special teams. Maybe if the Sooners were a little better in those two areas their offense wouldn't have to score so many points. Oklahoma State ran up and down the field to the tune of 41 points. That was the second time this season the Oklahoma defense gave up 40 or more points (the first time was against Texas).

The Cowboys also returned a kick for a touchdown - the FOURTH time that has happened against Oklahoma this season (you guessed it - one was by Jordan Shipley of the Longhorns). At the end of the day, Oklahoma still has the same weaknesses that were on display in the Cotton Bowl. So don't give me that garbage that they are the "hotter" team right now. They just haven't had to play another team of Texas' caliber lately.

It's a no brainer to me - there is no argument. No matter how you want to look at the two teams, Texas is better than Oklahoma. They were better on October 11th, and they are better right now.

Without further ado, here's the latest JP Top 25:

1. Alabama	1	12-0
2. Texas	2	11-1
3. Oklahoma	3	11-1
4. Florida	4	11-1
5. USC	5	10-1
6. Penn State	6	11-1
7. Utah	8	12-0
8. Texas Tech	7	11-1
9. Ohio State	10	10-2
10. Oklahoma State	11	9-3
11. TCU	12	10-2
12. Boise State	14	12-0
13. Cincinnati	16	10-2
14. Georgia Tech	17	9-3
15. Georgia	9	9-3
16. Boston College	18	9-3
17. California	19	7-4
18. Oregon	23	9-3
19. Michigan State	21	9-3
20. Ball State	25	12-0
21. Missouri	13	9-3
22. Ole Miss	24	8-4
23. Virginia Tech	--	8-4
24. Oregon State	15	8-4
25. Pittsburgh	--	8-3

Others Receiving Consideration:
Nebraska (8-4), BYU (10-2), North Carolina (8-4), Northwestern (9-3), Iowa (8-4), West Virginia (7-4), Florida State (8-4), Rice (9-3), Western Michigan (9-3)

Dropped Out:
Florida State (20), West Virginia (22)

WEEK FOURTEEN - Top 25 Preview (Part II)

You know there is going to be a shakeup somewhere this week. The holidays seem to bring out the worst in top ranked teams, and if last year is any indication, the schools that now seem most likely to play for the National Title game won't even be in the picture by Sunday.

Two schools in the thick of the national title picture must hit the road to face ranked opponents - could disaster strike there? Who is safe? Who is going to fall? Here is Pikes Picks' guide to the top ranked schools most likely to lose this weekend. Keep in mind though, chaos rules this time of year, so these are only our best guesses.

Texas A&M (4-7) at #2 Texas (10-1)
(Thursday, 7 pm, ESPN)
Chance of Shakeup: 5%
A&M has won the last two meetings, but this is a different year. Texas has only really played one bad half all season, and the Aggies are struggling. Mike Sherman didn't inherit a lot of talent, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Expect Colt McCoy and the Longhorns to light up the scoreboard early as they cruise to a quick 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Brian Orakpo is back from injury and looking to hit double figures in sacks. Knowing Will Muschamp will be around for a while will certainly energize the rest of the defense and they'll shut down the Aggies.
J.Pike's Pick: Texas 48, Texas A&M 13
H.Simons' Pick: Texas 35, Texas A&M 14

Notre Dame (6-5) at #5 USC (9-1)
(Saturday, 7 pm, ESPN)
Chance of Shakeup: 5%
As it turns out, Charlie Weis doesn't give Notre Dame a "schematic advantage" over everybody they face. In fact, Notre Dame holds very little advantage over even the least imposing opponents - other than in the arrogance department. USC is looking to stay alive in the BCS race, and this should be nothing more than a scrimmage. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen has yet to show any improvement as he continues to throw ill-advised passes that lead to interceptions. USC's imposing defense will have a field day forcing turnovers. This one will be over early.
J.Pike's Pick: USC 45, Notre Dame 12

#4 Florida (10-1) at #20 Florida State (8-3)
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
Chance of Shakeup: 25%
Florida has built up some momentum down the stretch, but did the detour against The Citadel last weekend knock them off course? I know the Gators took care of business early, but did they lose their feel for playing actual opponents in the process? Florida State is improving, and the defense will slow down the Gators overrated offense. However, the speed on the Gator defense is unmatched anywhere in the country. Brandon Spikes and company will make Christian Ponder ponder his decision to attend Florida State University. Look for Florida's defense and special teams to combine to score as many points as either offense in this game.
J.Pike's Pick: Florida 34, Florida State 17

#3 Oklahoma (10-1) at #11 Oklahoma State (9-2)
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Chance of Shakeup: 35%
Bedlam. Oklahoma State would love nothing more than to ruin the Sooners dreams of another National Title game appearance. They have more tools to accomplish the feat than Texas Tech did, too, but is that really saying much? Running back Kendall Hunter and tight end Brandon Pettigrew are two dynamic weapons that can mix things up against an Oklahoma defense that will surely be playing with inflated egos after their dominating performance against the one-dimensional Red Raiders. For Oklahoma State to pull the upset, they are going to have to handle their emotions, get Hunter going on the ground early, and hit Pettigrew or receiver Dez Bryant deep for a big play or two. It is all possible, but I'm picking the Sooners.
J.Pike's Pick: Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 27

Baylor (4-7) at #7 Texas Tech (10-1)
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, Versus)
Chance of Shakeup: 40%
Texas Tech is finished, and they still need two more losses to fill the "Mike Leach Quota" for the year. Against Oklahoma last week, Leach reverted to his old self by going for it on fourth down twice in the early going, essentially assuring that his team would be blown out of the building. Now one of Leach's top proteges comes to town with a hot shot freshman quartebrack named Robert Griffin and all the knowledge necessary to land another knockout punch on the reeling Red Raiders.
J.Pike's Pick: Baylor 41, Texas Tech 35

Auburn (5-6) at #1 Alabama (11-0)
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
Chance of Shakeup: 50%
Auburn has had a terrible season, but they aren't nearly as bad as their record would lead you to believe. The defense is actually quite good. They rank 10th nationally in points allowed, giving up only 16.4 per game. Believe me - when Sen'Derrick Marks wants to track you down, he'll get you. Marks should be healthy for the Iron Bowl after sitting out the last two games with an ankle injury. Alabama has proven to be inconsistent offensively all year, so Marks and pass rusher Antonio Coleman could make a big difference. The player I expect to make the biggest difference though is a player former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin never gave a chance - quarterback Kodi Burns. Burns has been getting better every week since Franklin got fired. His athleticism gives the offense a dimension the Tigers never had under Chris Todd. Burns is also much more confident in the pocket than Todd, which means he'll make fewer stupid mistakes than Todd did. In a rivalry game that is always hard fought and low scoring, I look for Kodi Burns to make the difference with his improvisation skills. Auburn salvages their season with a huge upset win.
J.Pike's Pick: Auburn 17, Alabama 13

Will Muschamp News

Big news out of Austin this afternoon: Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, one of the hottest commodities on the Coaching Carousel, isn't going anywhere.

Mack Brown announced today that Muschamp will remain on staff as the defensive coordinator, and will eventually replace Brown as the head coach when he decides to retire. [LINK]

This is big news because Muschamp has been linked to a number of open jobs (Clemson and Tennessee to name two). He's such a hot commodity because he has consistently coordinated great defenses over the last several years, including the national championship defense at LSU in 2004.

I'm sure the rest of the Big XII wasn't as happy with this news as the people in Austin.

Mack Brown still has eight years left on his contract, and said he has no plans of retiring in the immediate future. That means there is still plenty of time for Muschamp to change his mind. Personally, I believe he'll stay in Austin because the Texas job is one of the top gems in the coaching world - 95% of all coaches would kill for it. Even if Muschamp has to wait eight years, he'll only be 46 years old when he gets the job. And taking over the Texas job when you're 46 is a pretty sweet gig.

Even if he does end up getting wooed to go somewhere else in a couple years, at least he drove up his price a little bit. And Texas will get at least a couple more years of great defenses out of him.

WEEK TWELVE - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1 Texas Tech is IDLE

Mississippi State @ #2 Alabama
(Saturday, 6:45 pm, ESPN)
This game comes down to whether or not Alabama shows up. The fact that the Crimson Tide have lost two in a row to the Croomdawgs means Nick Saban didn’t have to work too hard to get his team’s attention. It will probably still be a hard fought, low scoring game, but I don’t expect Bama to have too much trouble dismissing Mississippi State.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 22, Mississippi State 10

#3 Texas @ Kansas
(Saturday, 11:30 am, FSN)
Simply put, this isn’t the same Kansas team that won a BCS bowl game last year. The Jayhawks definitely miss defensive coordinator Bill Young, who took over the DC job at Miami in the offseason. Kansas is giving up a Big XII worst 276.3 passing yards per game, which means Texas quarterback Colt McCoy should be in for yet another big day. The Longhorns will put this one away early and erase all the recent memories of photo finishes in Lawrence.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 42, Kansas 24

South Carolina @ #4 Florida
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
I’ll be honest with you, I have no idea what to expect from this Florida team on a week to week basis. Urban Meyer’s squad has as much athleticism as any team in the nation, but they seem to rely on their speed more than on Xs and Os. That leaves the door open for any opponent they face to sneak out of town with a win (see Ole Miss earlier this season). South Carolina brings a solid defense to The Swamp, highlighted by speedy defensive end Eric Norwood and tackling machine Emanuel Cook (if Cook ever misses a tackle, let me know). But the Gamecock offense is anything but consistent. Steve Spurrier keeps going back and forth between freshman Stephen Garcia and error prone (but eligible) Chris Smelley, and that leads to drastic ebbs in the cohesiveness of the offense. I would say Garcia should be the guy, but I have a feeling Smelley might come up big in this game. South Carolina will keep it close, but I’ll give Florida the nod.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 24, South Carolina 18

Indiana @ #5 Penn State
(Saturday, 11 am, Big Ten Network)
After getting knocked out of the national title picture with a loss to Iowa last week, you might think the Nittany Lions would pack it in for the season. But the senior leadership on this team won’t let that happen. Quarterback Darryl Clark has been inconsistent of late, but facing the Big Ten’s worst pass defense should allow him and his three senior receivers to get back on track.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 37, Indiana 13

#6 Utah @ San Diego State
(Saturday, 7 pm, The Mtn.)
The clutch comeback win at home over TCU last Thursday night was huge. Now the Utes get to stretch their legs a little bit and get some backups some valuable game experience because San Diego State doesn’t have a chance to compete in this one. Utah was held to 13 points against the stingy Frog defense, but Brian Johnson and company should have no problem putting points on an Aztec defense that has given up at least 35 points in each of the last six games.
J.Pike’s Pick: Utah 44, San Diego State 7

#7 Oklahoma is IDLE

#8 USC @ Stanford
(Saturday, 6 pm, Versus)
I’ve been calling for it for weeks, so here it is: Stanford will upset USC. Again. I know nobody has forgotten about last season when Jim Harbaugh’s troops marched into the Coleseum and emerged victorious, despite being 42 point underdogs. How did they do it? They played scrappy defense, collecting four sacks and forcing five turnovers. Well, fast forward a year and Stanford is now leading the Pac-10 in sacks. They’ll get to Mark Sanchez and force him to make decisions on the run, which means USC will struggle to score. That opens the door for the surprisingly physical Stanford offense to ride Toby Gerhart and the Pac-10’s second ranked rushing attack to victory. USC has been playing outstanding defense of late, but they haven’t really faced a real challenge during that stretch. Oregon State proved that if you aren’t scared of USC, and you come out and punch them in the mouth, the Trojans will back down. Because there’s no use risking an NFL career for a meaningless college game …
J.Pike’s Pick: Stanford 20, USC 18

#9 Georgia @ Auburn
(Saturday, 11:30 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
My, how the mighty have fallen. Before the season started I circled this game as one of the top five games to watch this year. Auburn was a preseason top 10 team and Georgia started the year at the very top of the polls. Now Georgia is struggling to maintain legitimacy at 8-2 while Auburn wallows in the pit of the SEC at 5-5. This game could be ugly. Auburn is only averaging 13.3 points per game in SEC play, but they can play a little defense when their hearts are in it. Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno’s heart is always in it, and I expect him to carry the Bulldogs this afternoon.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 24, Auburn 12

#10 Boise State @ Idaho
(Saturday, 4 pm)
It’s a Potato State showdown! Is Boise State ever going to play anybody again? Idaho is one of the worst teams in Division 1A, and there will probably be more Boise fans at the game than Vandals. Boise makes French fries out of Idaho and rolls to 10-0.
J.Pike’s Pick: Boise State 38, Idaho 6

WEEK ELEVEN - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1-t Alabama @ #21 LSU

(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
Nick Saban travels to Baton Rouge, where he won a national championship just five years ago. Les Miles won a championship last year, but his Tigers have taken a step back this year. Without Bo Pelini to run the defense, LSU gave up 50+ points to both Florida and Georgia. LSU has some talent on the D-Line, but Knowshon Moreno ran wild on the Tigers. That means the Crimson Tide can do what they do best and hammer Glen Coffee and Roy Upchurch behind that massive offensive line. That will take the pressure off John Parker Wilson who will be able to make a couple plays to blossoming wideout Julio Jones. The Tide stays unbeaten.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 25, LSU 17

#1-t Penn State @ Iowa
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN)
Iowa has been the trendy upset pick this week. Unfortunately if you have seen either team play at all you’d know that Penn State will win this game without much difficulty. Iowa has had to rely solely on their tailback Shonn Greene because of the revolving door at quarterback. Greene is a solid back (139.7 yards per game), but Penn State’s defense is way too good to allow a one-man offense to score many points. Plus, the Nittany Lions seniors won’t let the team get a big head, and the upset talk will have them more focused than ever. Penn State wins this one going away.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 27, Iowa 6

#8 Oklahoma State @ #3 Texas Tech
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Texas Tech pulled off a big upset over top ranked Texas a week ago with an excellent performance. But can the Red Raiders get as jacked up for Oklahoma State as they were against Texas? If they can, they’ll stay undefeated. But I think it’s near impossible to get that up for two games in a row, and Oklahoma State has a few more offensive weapons than the Longhorns had to offer. Running back Kendall Hunter is one of the best backs in the Big XII and he’ll have better luck against the Tech front than the Texas running game did. Also look out for tight end Brandon Pettigrew – he’ll have a huge game and end up making the difference. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I like the mental makeup of this Oklahoma State team. Coach Mike Gundy doesn’t let his team get too up or too down, and that will pay big dividends on Saturday night as they go to Lubbock and pull off the upset.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma State 41, Texas Tech 35

Baylor @ #4 Texas
(Saturday, 11 am, FSN)
This one is worth getting up early for. Getting to see freshman quarterback Robert Griffin go up against Will Muschamp and the Longhorn defense should be a treat. Texas is without the services of stud defensive end Brian Orakpo though, who was injured against Texas Tech. That leaves Roy Miller, Sergio Kindle, and Roddrick Muckelroy to chase after Griffin. Griffin is an excellent player and new head coach Art Briles has this program headed the right direction. After taking Missouri down to the wire last week, the Bears will continue to improve as they make another strong showing in Austin this weekend. Unfortunately Briles doesn’t have enough complementary players yet to beat Texas.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 42, Baylor 24
J.Pike Guarantee: Baylor will make at least one bowl game during Robert Griffin’s career

#5 Florida @ Vanderbilt
(Saturday, 7 pm, ESPN 2)
The Vanderbilt secondary is good enough to cause the Florida passing game some problems. But the speed of Jeffrey Demps and Percy Harvin out of the backfield will be enough to counter that Vandy advantage. Ever since Bobby Johnson went away from Chris Nickson at quarterback, the Vanderbilt offense has lost the ability to score consistently against SEC defenses. He was a player opposing defenses had to game plan for, and although Mackenzi Adams is a solid player, he doesn’t have that same effect. All of these factors add up to a Gator win.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 31, Vanderbilt 13

#6 Oklahoma @ Texas A&M
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
I’m starting to think the jig is up. Oklahoma hasn’t been dominant on defense for a couple years now, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the amount of coaches they have lost from the coaching staff on that side of the ball or if they just don’t have the same caliber of player anymore. Either way, it has become a trend rather than a fluke. So don’t write the Aggies off so quickly in this game. Quarterback Jarrod Johnson is proving week after week that he should have been playing ahead of Stephen McGee all along, and he has the talent to put the A&M offense on his broad shoulders and score 30+ against the Sooners. The problem is Mike Sherman inherited a roster completely void of any defensive talent. Sam Bradford shouldn’t have a problem putting points on the board against the woeful Aggie defense, but again – don’t be surprised if the outcome is still in doubt deep into the third quarter.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 47, Texas A&M 34

#17 California @ #7 USC
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Oh no, this one could be ugly. Jeff Tedford finally realized his team was better with Kevin Riley at quarterback, but Riley suffered a concussion in the first quarter last week against Oregon. Cal held on to win with Nate Longshore at quarterback, but that was a fluke. If Longshore has to play against USC you can count on him throwing at least two picks and allowing the Trojans to pick up another easy Pac-10 victory. If Riley plays though, give the Bears a shot. Cal running back Jahvid Best is one of the fastest players in the nation and he could give the USC defense fits if he gets any help at all from the passing game.
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 32, California 20
Saturday morning update: Cal QB Kevin Riley will sit out this game with a concussion, which means Nate Longshore will get the start.

#9 Georgia @ Kentucky
(Saturday, 11:30 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
Both of these teams have suffered an alarming number of key injuries this season. That means it will come down to depth, and Georgia wins that battle every time. Oh yeah, there’s also the Knowshon Moreno advantage – Georgia has him and Kentucky doesn’t. This won’t be the prettiest game of the weekend, but Georgia will get back on the right track with a hard fought victory over Rich Brooks’ pesky Wildcats.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 23, Kentucky 10

WEEK TEN - J&BP Top 25 Preview

#1 Texas @ #8 Texas Tech

(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Since Texas Tech’s last win in this series in 2002, Texas has won by an average score of 48 to 30. These games haven’t been as close as you might think from all the “it’s always tough up there in Lubbock” talk. It’s just Drunk Vince Gill’s clownish offense clouding your memory. Texas is on a roll and the talk of a Texas Tech upset this weekend is just the fuel they need to take the field with a chip on their shoulder in Lubbock. On the field the Longhorns will get it done by actually playing a little defense. Much like the game plan Will Muschamp put together to stifle Missouri’s potent offense, he’ll turn his imposing D-Line loose, send blitzers after Graham Harrell, and hit the quarterback repeatedly until Tech is forced to narrow those wide offensive line splits they are known for. Don’t think for a second Tech’s line will be able to handle Brian Orakpo and Roy Miller – nobody has contained those two all season. The Red Raiders have run the ball a little bit more this year, and that is the X-Factor here. But I haven’t seen enough from Leach’s track record to indicate he’ll actually stick with the run in a big game. Look for Texas to win easily in a relatively low scoring game. Well, low scoring compared to what some are expecting anyway.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 42, Texas Tech 28

Arkansas State @ #2 Alabama
(Saturday, 2 pm, ESPN360.com)
Bama had better be careful here. And no, I’m not joking. Arkansas State has a respectable 4-3 record that includes a win over Texas A&M. Quarterback Corey Leonard and running backs Reggie Arnold and Derek Lawson form an unsung trio in the backfield – all three could make a name for themselves with big games against Alabama. Let’s also not forget this is the same Crimson Tide team that lost a game to Louisiana-Monroe late last season. Nick Saban has an extremely physical football team, but he also has an offense that is limited, especially if you can manage to slow down Glen Coffee and the running game. Arkansas State will show up ready to play, and they WILL give Alabama a game. How long will the Red Wolves hang in there? We’ll find out Saturday.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 20, Arkansas State 17

#3 Penn State is IDLE

#7 Florida vs #4 Georgia (@ Jacksonville, FL)
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
There’s no shortage of motivation in this rivalry. By now I’m sure everyone has re-lived the moment last year when the entire Georgia team ran on the field to celebrate after scoring their first touchdown. I know Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators remember it, so this might be one of those games where the team that can manage their emotions the best and make fewer stupid mistakes in the heat of battle will win. Georgia has committed their fair share of stupid penalties this year, and that could be what does them in if they lose. Florida is known for their speed and explosive offense, and a lot of prognosticators are expecting the Gators to run Georgia off the field in a blowout. But did you know Georgia is actually averaging 20 more yards per game offensively than Florida this year? Keep in mind that is against a much more challenging schedule too. Meyer’s offense seems to be based more around speed than actual Xs & Os. Georgia’s defense can match Florida’s speed, so will Meyer be able to counter the attacking Bulldog defense with a play more creative than “Hey Tim Tebow, fake like you are going to run then throw a jump pass to the tight end”? We’ll see. Georgia also has not-so-secret weapon Knowshon Moreno in the backfield. The sophomore tailback is easily one of the best players in the nation and he runs with a determination that you have to see to fully appreciate him. He’ll be the key to getting Georgia off to a fast start, and he’ll poke and prod the Florida defenders until they start committing stupid penalties. Georgia gets back in the national title discussion with an impressive win.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 32, Florida 20

Nebraska @ #5 Oklahoma
(Saturday, 7 pm, ESPN)
With Bo Pelini in the fold this rivalry will eventually pick up steam again. The problem is, with the Big XII scheduling the way it is, it will never be the event it once was. Nebraska will play Oklahoma this year and next year during the rebuilding process, but the two won’t be scheduled to play in the regular season in 2010 or 2011. So Pelini will have to squeeze some magic out of this series with an inferior roster for the next two years. Don’t think he can’t do it either. Oklahoma is talented, and I’m sure Sam Bradford is licking his chops to go up against one of the more error-prone secondaries in the nation, but the Sooners are prone to mental breakdowns defensively too. They are also gaining a reputation for not showing up in big games late in the season. Bradford might have his way with the secondary early, but I expect Nebraska to adjust and scratch and claw their way into making this a game in the second half.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 34, Nebraska 21

Washington @ #6 USC
(Saturday, 5:30 pm, FSN)
Here’s another opportunity for USC to put up an impressive score against a bad team. All the national pundits will see the big score and gush about how great the Trojans are and how they are “the most dangerous team in the nation right now.” Go ahead and keep inflating their egos – I can’t wait to see them lose to Stanford again.
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 43, Washington 10

#9 Utah @ New Mexico
(Saturday, 8:30 pm, The Mtn.)
See Mountain West Upset Alert [LINK]
J.Pike’s Pick: New Mexico 24, Utah 23

Iowa State @ #10 Oklahoma State
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
How will the Cowboys respond to the loss to Texas? Some might say the strong showing against the #1 team in the country gave them confidence, that it confirmed their belief they belong in the top ten. But don’t forget the possibility that the Cowboys put their season on the line in that game and got their hearts ripped out with a close loss. Sometimes that’s the recipe for a huge letdown the following week. Judging by the way Oklahoma State handled their big win over Missouri (no big celebration, they simply walked off the field like a team that just did what they were supposed to do), I think Mike Gundy has his team on an even keel - they won’t get too ‘down’ because they never got too ‘up’. So I expect Kendall Hunter and Brandon Pettigrew to get back to rolling up points against the struggling Cyclones.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma State 40, Iowa State 17

#11 Boise State @ New Mexico State
(Saturday, 6 pm, ESPN360.com)
Almost four years ago New Mexico State fired their successful head coach Tony Samuel so they could bring in that clown Hal Mumme. Well, a mere 11 wins later that move is looking even more ridiculous than it looked at the time. The Aggies are coming off a loss to lifeless Idaho for goodness sake! I can only imagine how easily Boise State will roll over Mumme and his towel in Las Cruces this weekend.
J.Pike’s Pick: Boise State 34, New Mexico State 13

#12 Ohio State is IDLE

#13 TCU @ UNLV
(Saturday, 7 pm, CBS College Sports)
See Mountain West Upset Alert [LINK]
J.Pike’s Pick: TCU 33, UNLV 16

#14 Tulsa @ Arkansas
(Saturday, 1 pm, ESPN360.com)
This won’t be a pretty football game. Gus Malzahn’s Tulsa offense is averaging 605.6 yards and 55.6 points per game this year. Malzahn happens to be the former offensive coordinator at Arkansas and he played a role in the firestorm that eventually led to the ousting of Houston Nutt. He’ll be looking to show the fans in Fayetteville what his offense can do. But Arkansas still has SEC athletes and with home field advantage and running back Michael Smith they are capable of pulling the upset. I’m not sure the Hog defense, which appears to be frightened by the prospect of tackling at times, is up to the challenge of slowing down the Golden Hurricane attack.
J.Pike’s Pick: Tulsa 38, Arkansas 34

#15 Missouri @ Baylor
(Saturday, 2 pm)
I like the job Art Briles has done at Baylor so far. He has the Bears playing with more fire than I have seen out of that program in quite a while. A big reason for that has been the play of their hugely talented quarterback Robert Griffin. With Griffin at the helm, I guarantee you Baylor makes a bowl game in the near future. But this year is year one on the learning curve. Missouri and Chase Daniel are way ahead of that, and they won’t hesitate to run it up on the upstart Bears. Jeremy Maclin flat out has too much speed to not reach the end zone at least three times on Saturday.
J.Pike’s Pick: Missouri 51, Baylor 21

Wisconsin @ #16 Michigan State
(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN)
The season is quickly getting away from Wisconsin. Not only are the Badgers struggling to get decent play out of the quarterback spot, they just lost their best offensive weapon, tight end Travis Beckum, for the season thanks to a knee injury. And now they have to travel to face one of the best running backs in the nation. Michigan State’s Javon Ringer is the definition of a workhorse: he averages over 33 carries per game and has piled up 1,373 yards and 16 touchdowns so far this season. Even if Wisconsin manages to slow him down, I’m not sure they’ll be able to put many points on the board.
J.Pike’s Pick: Michigan State 23, Wisconsin 17

#17 Florida State @ Georgia Tech
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN)
Florida State has rallied around freshman quarterback Christian Ponder and quietly climbed to a 6-1 record. I’m not sure about Ponder though. He’s the kind of quarterback that makes stupid plays for the majority of the game and then stumbles his way into a big play in a key situation. I’m not sure how much of it is skill and how much of it is luck, but my impression from watching him is that these clutch plays aren’t going to be there for him against better competition. Georgia Tech has a pretty good defense and they are led up front by end Michael Johnson and tackle Vance Walker. Those two will make it difficult for Ponder to get in a rhythm. Offensively, Georgia Tech will lull a talented Seminole defense to sleep with their triple option, and eventually bust a long run late to set up the game winning score.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia Tech 18, Florida State 16

Tulane @ #18 LSU
(Saturday, 7 pm, ESPN360.com)
It’s time for the annual battle for Louisiana. It’s also time for LSU to take out some frustrations after giving up 50 points for the second time this season a week ago.
J.Pike’s Pick: LSU 34, Tulane 7

Northwestern @ #19 Minnesota
(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN 2)
A season that started out so promising for Northwestern is now falling apart. The Wildcats lost two of their last three games, and must now face top 25 teams Minnesota and Ohio State. Injuries have been the main factor in the sudden dropoff, with quarterback C.J. Bacher and running back Tyrell Sutton each suffering season ending injuries in October. If you tune in to this game, check out Minnesota’s speedy freshman wideout Brandon Green. He broke out with 5 catches for 100 yards a week ago, and showed some excellent speed on a 71-yard reception. He could be a big time player in the Big Ten in the near future.
J.Pike’s Pick: Minnesota 23, Northwestern 16

#20 BYU @ Colorado State
(Saturday, 5 pm, The Mtn.)
See Mountain West Upset Alert [LINK]
J.Pike’s Pick: BYU 34, Colorado State 24

#21 North Carolina is IDLE

#22 Ball State is IDLE

#23 Oregon @ California
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
Jeff Tedford is his own worst enemy. After a strong start to the season with Kevin Riley at quarterback, Tedford decided to give Nate Life-long Spare the job. Once again, Longshore proved he has no mettle and can’t hold up under pressure. His awful play was instrumental in the Bears getting destroyed by Arizona. Tedford went back to Riley at QB and the team responded with an easy win over UCLA. With Riley in the fold, Cal has an excellent shot to beat Oregon, whose pass defense is surprisingly shoddy. This game also features the three best running backs in the Pac-10. Sorry USC – five stars next to your name in high school doesn’t make you a good college running back. Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount has been pounding opponents this season with his physical running style (12 tds), and Jeremiah Johnson has one of the best stiff arms you’ll find. But Cal’s Jahvid Best will be the difference maker. His speed and agility is off the charts, and he’s finally healthy again.
J.Pike’s Pick: California 30, Oregon 28

#24 Maryland is IDLE

Kansas State @ #25 Kansas
(Saturday, 11:30 am, FSN)
Here’s a game with shootout potential. Both teams feature potent passing attacks: Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing has Dezmon Briscoe (760 yards, 9 td) and Kerry Meier (63 receptions, 4 td) at his disposal, and Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman likes to find speedy JC transfer Brandon Banks (813 yards, 20.8 yards per reception). Additionally, both defenses were burned repeatedly through the air a week ago: Kansas State gave up 58 points to Oklahoma and Kansas gave up 63 to Texas Tech. Mark Mangino gets the best of Ron Prince in the coaching matchup though.
J.Pike’s Pick: Kansas 38, Kansas State 32