UCLA single-handedly put a damper on this week's Texas-OU game.

There are still quite a few unbeaten teams in the nation, but without a doubt Alabama and Ohio State are #1 and #2. Boise State and TCU are battling to be the heir-apparent if the Buckeyes or Crimson Tide lose and after that it’s wide open. Speaking of Alabama, their comeback against Arkansas was the amazing finish of last week…the UCLA Bruins proved to be Jan Brady. While we’re on a Brady Bunch kick, Notre Dame might as well be this week’s  Cindy Brady. They are truly the runt right now…dorky pigtails, lisp and all.

Red River Shootout is Anything But

This isn’t going to be the ’07 Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford type of “shootout,” this is two struggling teams that are quite possibly unable to shoot anything out (even with a Red Ryder dual carbide-action range rifle with a compass and a stock). UCLA pummeled the Longhorns in Austin last week 34-12, which was in retrospect better than the last time the two schools met and UCLA won 66-3.  Meanwhile, the Sooners struggled with Cincinnati, escaping with a win. With exception to their win at home over Florida State, the Sooners have struggled letting teams hang around. I guess you could say Texas will have the advantage this week because they are coming off of a “bye week.” Although both teams are on the mend, this is still a rivalry, which always makes it fun to watch. They may not be good, but they will try hard. Here’s an interesting tidbit, the “Red River Shootout” was officially renamed the “Red River Rivalry” a few years ago as to not condone gun violence. Come on, really???

Pac-10 Stamps Pass To Rose Bowl

This week’s winner between the Ducks and the Cardinal will decide who goes to the Rose Bowl (perhaps even the National Championship). Although that may sound like a bold statement, it’s really not when you consider two things. First, Arizona is in the top 3 of the Pac-10, but solidly as #3. Second, the “Cheaters of Troy” are banned from post-season play for the next few years because of their shenanigans. Notre Dame is still down (let me know when they’re up), but going into South Bend and pounding them in such a fashion as Stanford did is impressive. Oregon has their now expected high-flying offense in mid-season form already, but they needed several Arizona State miscues to keep their score last week respectable. The Cardinal defense is in the top 15 right now, they have a great defensive line and linebacking crew that will be able to give the Ducks some issues, but the Ducks will still find a way to score 35+ points. Stanford will score against Oregon a lot as well, especially with QB Andrew Luck’s pass/run threat. This match-up in Eugene will be the real *shootout this weekend.

Penn State has been consistently underachieving lately.

Penn State Crumbles Again

Florida State forced (depending on who you talk to) Bobby Bowden out last year, it makes you wonder when Penn State is going to start nudging out their 84 year old head coach Joe Paterno. He’s a legend and a class-act, but just about any coach could have won as many games the past few years as Paterno has. Penn State will continue to recruit well after Paterno is gone, it’s Penn State for crying out loud! Paterno’s Nittany Lions have consistently fallen short the past few years. They did get a Rose Bowl bid a couple years ago but were embarrassed in what was basically a home game for USC. Whatever edge Paterno and his teams had on opponents is quickly fading. Iowa has a staunch defense and their offense continues to get better. Penn State has their usual good defense and sputtering offense, advantage Iowa.

JIB Picks

Last Week: 17-4 / Overall: 66-9

#1 Alabama – #7 Florida / #2 Ohio St. – Illinois / #3 Boise St. – New Mexico St. / #4 Oregon – #13 Stanford / #5 TCU – Colorado St. / #6 Nebraska – (Bye) / #8 Oklahoma – #16 Texas / #9 Wisconsin – #21 Michigan St. / #10 LSU – Tennessee / #11 Auburn- Louisiana-Monroe / #12 Utah (Bye) / #14  Arizona (Bye) / #15 Arkansas (Bye) / #17 Miami – Clemson / #18 Iowa - #20 Penn St. / #19 Michigan – Indiana / #22 South Carolina (Bye) / #23 Missouri (Bye) / #24 Oklahoma St. – Texas A&M / #25 Nevada – UNLV

*JIB Sports does not condone gun violence but will continue to use the moniker “shootout.”

Michigan State's fake field goal capped off week 3's best finish.

 You can always count on a couple things every week; the first is an amazing finish, the second is a team stepping up and saying, “Look at me! Look at me! I’m just as good as those other guys!!!” Notre Dame – Michigan State was the amazing finish, and Arizona stepped up and acclimated themselves from Cindy to Jan Brady status. Michigan State’s fake field goal to beat Notre Dame in overtime was the most gutsy call we’ve seen since probably the New Orleans Saints’ onside kick to start the second half of the Super Bowl last February. Just the thought of what his team had just pulled off possibly caused Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio to suffer a heart attack later that night. Who’s going to to have an amazing finish? Who’s going to stomp their foot and scream, “MARCIA! MARCIA! MARCIA!”??? I guess we’ll know on Monday, let’s get to the “Headlines” for this week:  

Notre Dame Has Luck on Their Side Again  

If there was such a thing as the “best loser,” it would be Notre Dame. Their last seven losses, dating back to last year of course, have come by less than a touchdown. Their losses this year have both been nail-biters, this week’s game with Stanford will be no different. With other quarterbacks faltering, the Cardinal’s Andrew Luck has emerged as one of the nation’s top passers. As good as Luck and Stanford’s offense is, Irish QB Dayne Crist is equally as good at running Notre Dame’s offense. The difference in this game will be Notre Dame’s defense, they will play better than Stanford’s. Expect a lot of scoring, but this week it will be the Irish defense that gets the last laugh, and there will be no fake-outs.  

Tide Wimps Out in Arkansas  

Arkansas is not your typical SEC team. They like to win by scoring, not by having their defense stop the other team from scoring and hope to catch a break. Perhaps that’s the influence of their offense-minded head coach Bobby Petrino, who came from Louisville(Loo-vule) back when the Big East was relevant a few years ago.  The Tide haven’t faced any good offenses yet this year; Duke, San Jose State, and Penn State don’t come close to the offensive capabilities of the Razorbacks. QB Ryan Mallett is having a great year and in the safe confines of Razorback Stadium will be confident and poised to knock off #1 Alabama. If Alabama is to win, fans need to forget “Roll Tide,” and start saying “Score Tide.”  

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's LSU's offense!!!

Tigers Pounce on Mountaineers  

Watching LSU‘s offense is like watching a “vibrating football” game. They can move the ball, but ever so slowly, like paint drying. LSU QB Jordan Jefferson is only averaging 120 yards/game and completing 60% of his passes. The Tigers ARE your typical SEC team with an inept offense but a very good defense, which has only given up four touchdowns all year. All four of them actually came in their first game against North Carolina and they have allowed under seven points in their other two game (against highly inferior opponents but impressive nonetheless). A few stats are that might be overwhelming to West Virginia are that LSU has a 30-game winning streak against out of conference opponents at  home and LSU has never lost to West Virginia. Actually, this is their first meeting, so West Virginia has never lost to LSU either! The Mountaineers offense is heating up after a very lackadaisical start to the season, especially against Marshall two weeks ago. They do have the weapons to score points, but not on LSU’s defense.  

JIB Picks

Last Week: 21-2 / Overall: 49-5  

#1 Alabama – #11 Arkansas / #2 Ohio St. – Eastern Michigan / #3 Boise St. – Oregon St. / #4 Texas – UCLA / #5 TCU – SMU / #6 Oregon – Arizona St. / #7 Nebraska – South Dakota State / #8 Florida - Kentucky / #9 Oklahoma – Cincinnati / #10 Wisconsin- Austin Peay/ #12 LSU – #21 West Virginia / #13 Utah – San Jose St. / #14 Auburn – #15 South Carolina / #16 Arizona – California / #17 Stanford – Notre Dame / #18 Iowa – Ball St. / #19 Miami – Pitt / #20 Penn St. – Temple / #22 Michigan – Bowling Green / #23 Michigan St. – Northern Colorado / #24 Missouri – Miami (OH)/ #25 Oklahoma St. (Bye)

Arizona will need more on the run from Grigsby to knock off #10 Iowa.

Going into week 3, there is only one showdown with top 25 schools and everybody else will be making their case for why they should jump Florida in the polls. No team in college football history has ever fallen more than six spots in the polls after winning their first two games…Florida has dropped six! While Florida continues to lose respect, Alabama and Ohio State took all of Boise State’s respect as they sit alone at the top with all the 1st place votes this week. Virginia Tech certainly did Boise State no favors losing to a school named after a president, that’s pretty bad. Makes you wonder if Virginia Tech was paid off to take a “dive.” With all the conspiracy that is the BCS mafia, would it really surprise you? Let’s take a look at some week 3 “Headlines.”

Hawkeyes Burned in the Desert

Arizona has been the Pac-10′s little engine that could under head coach Mike Stoops (who is an Iowa alum) the past six years. They have been trudging uphill but have not yet made it to the top. With a top 25 ranking and a 2-0 record, a win over #10 Iowa may be just what this little engine needs to reach the top. Both Arizona and Iowa tote excellent quarterbacks, the question for the Hawkeyes is if their fragile QB Ricky Stanzi can stay on the field. Stanzi has been injury prone and took a big hit last week that put him out for the game, but the fact remains that the Hawkeyes strong point is their defense. Behind Oregon, the Pac-10 is up for grabs this year and Arizona will start a quest for their first Rose Bowl with a win over the Hawkeyes.

Nevada Defeats Cal in Old Western Shootout

The WAC isn’t just Boise State and a sleuth of  “Let’s be part of  history by being one of the teams to lose to Boise State on their quest for a National Championship because we’ll never actually beat someone to make history ourselves” teams. There’s teams like Fresno State and Nevada that will be tough tests for the Broncos this year. This may be one of the last times we even hear of the WAC because all three schools will be joining the Mountain West Conference the next couple years. But for the WAC, and Nevada for now, a victory over Pac-10 member Cal will be something they can smile about. With senior QB Colin Kaepernick, the Wolf Pack has an explosive offense that will be tough for the Golden Bears to contain. The Wolf Pack scored over 50 points in 5 games last years, over 30 in 4 more. Kaepernick only accounted for 36 touchdowns last year, rushed for over 1,200 yards, and passed for over 2,000. As for defense…who cares about defense? Right?!?!?

Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian hopes he's this happy Saturday.

HuskIES Feast on HuskERS

By preseason expectations, Washington is off to a disappointing start. It was almost certain they would start 1-1,  seeing that the HuskIES have not won a road game since the beginning of the 2007 season. The HuskIES have been significantly better at home, beating ranked teams USC, Arizona, and Cal  last season. Nebraska comes ranked in the top 10, but they haven’t exactly been tested this season. HuskER QB Taylor Martinez has averaged over 13 yards per carry this season against less than stellar Western Kentucky and Idaho. Typical of most Nebraska QBs, Martinez has more yard rushing than passing. For the HuskIES to beat the HuckERS on Saturday, they are going to have to do it in the box between the tackles. 2009′s signature win for HuskIES head coach Steve Sarkisian was at home against USC, one of hopefully many signature wins for this year with be defeating the HuskERS on Saturday.

JIB Picks

Last Week: 17-3 / Overall: 28-3

#1 Alabama – Duke / #2 Ohio St. – Ohio / #3 Boise St. – Wyoming / #4 Texas - Texas Tech / #5 TCU – Baylor / #6 Oregon – Portland St. / #7 Florida – Tennessee / #8 Nebraska – Washington / #9 Oklahoma – Air Force / #10 Iowa – #18 Arizona / #11 Wisconsin – Arizona St. / #12 LSU – Mississippi St. / #13 Arkansas – Georgia / #14 Utah – New Mexico / #15 Auburn – Clemson / #16 South Carolina- Furman / #17 Miami (BYE) / #19 Stanford – Wake Forest / #20 Penn St. – Kent St. / #21 West Virginia – Maryland / #22 Michigan – Massachusetts / #23 Houston – UCLA / #24 California – Nevada / #25 Missouri – San Diego State

The first week of college football was all we could have hoped and wished for. Monday’s finale with Boise State and Virginia Tech truly was “the Super Nintendo” of the week. If you are a proponent of a playoff then this year might be the icing on the cake of arguments. What we need is for Boise State to win out convincingly and be one of no more than one other school left undefeated at the end of the season. Then, we need them to NOT get selected to play in the National Championship! Oh the injustice! Oh the robbery! Oh the perfect storm to finally change some things! With another slate of great games between top 25 teams, this weekend looks to be exciting as well. Here are some headlines you might see in the paper, read on the internet, or haunt you in your sleep.

Miami and Ohio State's last meeting is memorable for both schools for entirely different reasons.

Miami Gets the Buckeye Beatdown

It’s a well known fact that Columbus, Ohio is not hurricane country, and it certainly won’t be this weekend. The last time Miami and Ohio State met was in the 2002 National Championship game. Both programs have gone in completely opposite directions. While Ohio State has played for another Championship and been to several other BCS games, the Miami Hurricanes have been downgraded to tropical depressions. QB Jacory Harris and the Hurricanes are no doubt a team on the rise, but they aren’t quite there yet. The voters want them to be there, you can tell by their #12 ranking. Their most impressive win last year was on a national stage against Georgia Tech (who finished 10-3), they have not had a signature win against a top 5 team since their 2001 National Championship game. Maybe this is the stepping stone head coach Randy Shannon and Miami need to push themselves back onto the national radar, but that’s just wishful thinking at this point. Believe it or not, Ohio State has more to prove.

It’s a Gamecock Eat Dog World Out There

Georgia Bulldog’s star wide receiver A.J. Green just got served a 4 game suspension for selling his game jersey from the Independence Bowl last year on ebay. I really can’t blame him, while his teammates had nothing to show for going to a toilet bowl, he got $1,000 out of it.  If anything, he’s quite the businessman. While his absence alone will not doom the Bulldogs on the road in South Carolina, it certainly won’t help his team have a chance to win. The Gamecocks looked good in their season opener, and home field advantage in this game will be the deciding factor. Another factor in the game is that gamecock “gobble” they play over the sound system after every first down and good play. The gobble alone is enough to make a man go crazy. Georgia QB Aaron Murray only had 160 passing yards in a 55-7 blowout last week against Louisiana-Lafayette. Murray will need to carry the load this week if the Bulldogs are going to win, the running game will struggle against the Gamecocks’ stingy defense.

Oregon takes their high-flying offense into Knoxville this week.

Vols Feed the Ducks Another Win

There are a lot of teams that have something to prove, Tennessee is one of them. Tennessee has been largely irrelevant for as long as Miami has. While they have strung together a few good 9-win seasons, they have not amounted to much in terms of SEC Championships and BCS Bowls. They have lost their longtime coach Phil Fulmer, their one season non-wonder Lane Kiffin, and after watching “The Blind Side” we learned they lost out on standout recruit Michal Oher as well. It’s hard to use either team’s shutout victories over FCS schools last week as measuring sticks (New Mexico might as well be a FCS school), but it’s safe to say that Oregon’s offense will be difficult for Tennessee to stop. Especially with starting running back LaMichael James back, Tennessee fans can take some consolation that their team will at least put up more points than New Mexico’s none. The real questions isn’t whether or not Oregon is going to win, it’s what uniforms they will be sporting this week. Nike just loves playing dress up with Oregon’s football team like they’re little Barbie dolls.

JIB Picks

Last Week: 21-0 / Overall: 21-0

#1 Alabama – #14 Penn St. / #2 Ohio St. – #12 Miami / #3 Boise St. (BYE) / #4 Texas – Wyoming / #5 TCU – Tennessee Tech / #6 Florida – South Florida / #7 Nebraska – Idaho / #8 Oregon - Tennessee / #9 Iowa – Iowa St. / #10 Oklahoma – #18 Florida St. / #11 Wisconsin – San Jose St. / #13 Virginia Tech – James Madison / #15 Arkansas- Louisiana-Monroe / #16 LSU – Vanderbilt / #17 Georgia Tech – Kansas / #19 Georgia – #25 South Carolina / #20-T Auburn – Mississippi St. / #20-T Utah – UNLV / #22 West Virginia – Marshall / #23 Arizona – Citadel / #24 BYU – Air Force

The only original name for Monday night's game, "The Super Nintendo."

It was Christmas 1991, one of the best ever. My siblings and I got our customary presents on Christmas Eve and then on Christmas morning. Just as we were cleaning up wrapping paper we found a secret present under the couch – A SUPER NINTENDO!!! Call Utah-Pittsburgh ” Christmas Eve,” Saturday’s football action “Christmas morning,” and Monday’s game with Boise State and Virginia Tech “the Super Nintendo.” For football fans, right now is the most wonderful time of the year. Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your marriages to bring you another season of college football! It’s been a while since “Headlines” have been posted, so let me refresh everyone’s memory on how this goes. It’s quite simple, I give you headlines every week you might see during that weekend of college football and you all think, “Dang Gina! This JIB Sports guy sure knows what he’s talking about!” Also as an editor’s note, I use the Coaches Poll for all the rankings I mention, since the Associated Press Poll is not represented in the BCS ranking formula…just go with it.  

MWC Makes It’s Case…Again

It’s no secret to anyone in the college football world that the cream of the crop in the Mountain West Conferences are forces to be reckoned with. TCU, Utah, and BYU consistently schedule BCS schools and consistently beat them. Utah has been to and won two BCS Bowls, TCU has been to one and lost, but there is still no room at the BCS big boys table for those schools. It’s no wonder Utah decided to bolt and go to the Pac-10(11, 12…who knows what it will be at any given time), and BYU decided to go independent. TCU is sure to be looking to bolt the conference as well soon. TCU, Utah, and BYU will all start their seasons with nice wins against BCS opponents, but will still be relegated to the little kids’ table, ordering off a menu they can color on and eating PB&J or Mac & Cheese.

Brian Kelly's thoughts: "How in the world will I fix what that moron Weis did?"

Notre Dame Back in Good Graces 

 Fun fact here (unless you love the Irish), with Charlie Weis calling the shots at Notre Dame the past few years, they are in the bottom 5 of BCS schools in total wins.  It’s no wonder Weis was fired and Brian Kelly was hired to lead the Irish onto the field this Saturday. Kelly is a proven coach, while Weis was at best a proven pupil. Kelly put Cincinnati FOOTBALL on the map, many thought they only had a basketball team until Kelly took over. Kelly is a winner and the Irish will be winners under him this year, there is definitely bowling in the future for Notre Dame. The only way Purdue wins this game is if Drew Brees is able to sneak out on the field without anyone noticing and throw a few touchdowns.

Boise State Proves They Belong

 As much as we love testing our knowledge of FCS mascots by seeing who the top 25 teams are playing to start the season, it’s nice to see two top 10 teams actually playing each other the first week of the season. Pat yourself on the back if you can name and pronounce correctly the mascot for Coastal Carolina (whom West Virginia will play). Boise State finds themselves starting ranked higher to start the season than any other non-BCS EVER! Even if they win out, many say they could never play for a National Championship, but that’s why they play the game. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here, this is only the first week of the season. No team has ever won a National Championship the first week of the season…there certainly has been those that have lost one though, which will be Boise State’s case if they lose to Virginia Tech. Although it’s going to be a ruckus crowd in Washington D.C. in a practical road game for the Broncos, they are going to shock their naysayers for what seems like the gazillioneth time.

JIB Picks

Last Week 0-0 / Overall 0-0

#1 Alabama – San Jose St. / #2 Ohio State – Marshall / #3 Florida – Miami-Ohio / #4 Texas – Rice / #5 Boise St. – #6 Virginia Tech / #7 TCU – #22 Oregon St. / #8 Oklahoma – Utah St. / #9 Nebraska – Western Kentucky / #10 Iowa - Eastern Illinois / #11 Oregon – New Mexico / #12 Wisconsin – UNLV / #13 Miami(FL) – Florida A&M / #14 Penn St.- Younstown St. / #15 Pittsburgh – #24-T Utah / #16 LSU – #18 North Carolina / #17 Georgia Tech – South Carolina St. / #19 Arkansas- Tennesse Tech / 20 Florida State- Samford / #21 Georgia  – LA-Lafayette/ #23 Auburn – Arkansas St. / #24-T West Virginia – Coastal Carolina