Two more non-BCS teams snuck their way into the top 25 after week 5. Boise State, the Sooner killers, moved up to #20 after beating Oregon in Eugene. TCU dismantled hopeless SMU to earn their #23 spot. Is it donned upon anyone else that the playing field is leveling now the 24% of the teams in the top 25 are from non-BCS school? 

Oregon State looks to make it two straight victories over USC in Corvallis.

Beavers In the Trojan Horse???

For the last two weeks we’ve heard the PAC-10 get trashed from every angle. Some have called it “USC and the PAC-9,” others have referred to the conference as the “Least-10.” Trojans QB Mark Sanchez has been elevated to be a front-runner for the Heisman after a couple wins of a lousy Virginia team and a unspirited (and perhaps overrated) Ohio State squad. With USC’s track record in the PAC-10 the last couple years I don’t know how everyone can so quickly discount every other school. If you know college football, you know that emotion sometimes will trump talent. USC has a target on it’s back and in the last two years they have been sniped in PAC-10 conference play FOUR times. In 2006 they lost to Oregon State and UCLA on the road and in 2007 they lost to Oregon on the road and Stanford at home. This week will be déjà vu of ’06 for Trojan fans as the Beavers of Oregon State take down USC. How quickly the prideful fall, the Trojans can start saying “goodbye” to a National Championship and it’s still September. 

Michigan Gets Badgered at Home

Question-How long has it been since Wisconsin has won at Michigan? 14 YEARS!! This road trip for the Badgers couldn’t have been planned more perfectly, this will be almost as easy as taking candy from a baby with an identity crisis. While Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez has tried so desperately to implement his new offense, it’s just not catching on. To give an example, it’s catching on as fast as those bunless burgers did during the low-carb craze a few years ago. I’m sure the Michigan offensive players have that same “So the burger is wrapped in a piece of lettuce??” look on their faces while going through the offensive game plan every week. Wisconsin has been rolling so far this year, they notably knocked of Fresno State on the road before having a bye week. Just like LSU broke a 10-year drought against Auburn last week, Wisconsin will break a much longer and more astounding streak. After this game the Wisconsin-Ohio State might have a little more hype to it than USC-Ohio State did. 

This photo speaks a 1,000 words about UCLA's season thus far.

Bulldogs Pick Good Time to Visit Rose Bowl

UCLA had all the makings for a team on the rise and did little to dissuade anyone after opening the season in fashion with an overtime thriller over then #18 Tennessee (who now doesn’t look too grand themselves). Then after a nice bye week to bask in the media limelight, UCLA was victim of a 59-0 drubbing at the hands of #11 BYU. They followed their worst loss in 79 years with another loss to PAC-10 gutter ball Arizona at home. All of a sudden the Bruins are looking like a project, a 5-year project. You want to think that this game against Fresno State is just what the Bruins need to lift them up. Another win at home against a ranked opponent, that would be nice. Fresno State, however, has different plans to kick the Bruins while they are down. With 9 turnovers in their first 3 games, the Bruins are kicking themselves when they are down. Fresno State will avenge their 2000 loss to UCLA, but don’t expect a lot of celebration from Bulldog players. Expect the Bulldogs to have the expression of a person being thrown a surprise party that already knows. 

NC State Doesn’t Strike Twice

East Carolina, the darlings of ’08, were shocked by NC State last week in overtime. While East Carolina tried to shrug it off like it was another game, you know it devastated them. At the other end was NC State, just as excited as East Carolina was devastated (even though East Carolina is a non-BCS school,  meaning NC State should have won, right?). NC State will face a much tougher ranked team this week as they try to knock off two ranked teams in as many weeks. The Wolfpack with find this week a little tougher with the absence of their starting quarterback, now having to start third-string Nebraska transfer Harrison Beck. South Florida looked bad last week after beating then #13 Kansas at home two weeks ago, but the Bulls will find their swagger and tenacity again this week. It helps that the Wolfpack will be in their red jerseys. Get it? Bull + red = ticked off bull..I’m sorry, that was lame… 

Wisconsin will battle Ohio State for the Big 10 Conference Title.

JIB Picks

Week 4: 16-2 / Overall: 74-7

Week 5: #1 USC – Oregon State / #2 Oklahoma – #23 TCU / #3 Georgia – #10 Alabama / #4 Florida – Ole Miss / #5 Missouri (Bye) / #6 LSU – Mississippi State / #7 Texas – Arkansas / #8 Wisconsin – Michigan / #9 Texas Tech (Bye) / #11 BYU (Bye) / #12 Penn State – #21 Illinois / #13 Ohio State – Minnesota / #14 South Florida – NC State / #15 Wake Forest – Navy / #16 Auburn – Tennessee / #17 Utah – Weber State / #18 Kansas (Bye) / #19 Clemson – Maryland / #20 Boise State (Bye) / #22 Oregon (Bye) / #24 Fresno State – UCLA / #25 Vanderbilt (Bye)

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Tags: College Football

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