Ohio State is the latest school to vacate wins during an infraction period after being caught red-handed, but how much does that really matter?

I can guarantee you nobody is going to remember that there was “no Sugar Bowl winner” in 2011. The Buckeyes ripped Arkansas for the program’s first ever win over an SEC school in a bowl game, and that’s what people will remember. Will people remember the Jim Tressel-led cheating scandal? Of course. But years from now, they’ll forget all about the punishment. They’ll assume there was a punishment, but they won’t remember specifics.

Meanwhile, when I’m at a bar playing trivia five years from now and the question of who won the 2011 Sugar Bowl arises, I’ll bet many more put ‘Ohio State’ than ‘vacant.’

Already, we remember Derrick Rose’s missed free throw and Mario Chalmers’ game-tying three pointer in the 2008 national championship as one of the most defining moments in NCAA tournament history. That game was actually voted the #1 game of the 2000s by CBS Sports. But did you know Memphis never actually played in that game? That’s right. The Tigers vacated all wins from that season, including the Final Four appearance after learning of John Calipari’s scandal involving Derrick Rose’s SAT.

But nobody remembers that. They remember Memphis being there, because they were, and they remember the group of young, talented players who nearly became the first ‘mid-major’ to win a national title in 17 years.

Who won the 2004 football national championship?

If you answered USC, you’re wrong. Yes, they may have clobbered Oklahoma, but they actually vacated that championship because of the Reggie Bush scandal.

Vacating wins is an overrated form of punishment. Which will you remember? The great games, or the punishment handed down to the teams who didn’t deserve to be there in the first place?

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Ohio State lost at Wisconsin Saturday after blowing a 15 point second half lead.  So what does this mean for the rankings tomorrow?  Nothing.  At least it shouldn’t.  At least not for Ohio State.

Wisconsin should get a decent bump, maybe even into the top 10.  But Ohio State?  They should (but won’t) be #1 when the polls come out tomorrow.

The Buckeyes are the last division 1 team to lose this season, and they lost in a place where just about everybody else has lost at some point this decade.  The Kohl Center, along with Allen Fieldhouse, are the toughest places to win a college basketball game.

I can’t say I was surprised Ohio State lost Saturday.  If anything, it will be good for them.  But if the NCAA tournament were to start this week, they better be on the committee’s top line as the #1 overall seed.  They, along with Kansas and San Diego State, are the only one-loss teams in the country.  I don’t think I need to convince you that the Buckeyes are more deserving than San Diego State.  I’ll make quick work of the Jayhawks too.

Ohio State’s lone loss was a four point loss on the road against a Badger team that was undefeated at home and ranked #13.  Kansas’ only setback was a double-digit home loss to Texas.  Ohio State also has four wins over teams currently ranked, while Kansas has just two.  And consider this – the Jayhawks have only two conference wins against teams in the RPI top 60 (Missouri, Kansas State).  Ohio State has six such wins (Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota twice, Michigan twice).

The Big 12 is the most disappointing conference this season in terms of playing to expectations.  Only four teams are going to make the tournament.  Ohio State plays in a better conference against better teams and has beaten better teams.  Simple enough.

You may be able to make an argument for Pittsburgh, but that Tennessee loss is looking worse by the day.

Might as well give Ohio State the top line now.  They are done losing. Kansas still has a Big 12 Championship date with Texas.

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Another bowl season is upon us, and it’s time for me to make my picks so I have a reason to watch a number of games I would otherwise not care about.

New Mexico Bowl – BYU vs UTEP
A disastrous start to the season for BYU was saved by winning five of six before nearly pulling off an upset at Utah.  The Cougars saved their season and are playing their best ball now, while UTEP is headed in the opposite direction.  The Miners lost five of six after starting 5-1.  The records are even, but these are not evenly matched teams.
BYU 45, UTEP 14

Humanitarian Bowl – Northern Illinois vs Fresno State
Fresno State went 8-4 against a tough schedule that included Boise State, Nevada, Illinois, Ole Miss and Hawaii.  Unlike the Huskies, the Bulldogs are battle-tested.  Northern Illinois puts up a ton of points, but how they will do against a legitimate team remains to be seen.  The key for Fresno State will bed stopping NIU’s run attack.  Chad Spann averages 103 yards per gamed and has 20 touchdowns.
Fresno State 35, Northern Illinois 30

New Orleans Bowl – Troy vs Ohio
The Bobcats won seven of eight after starting 1-3 to earn this bid and put their 21st ranked defense up against Troy’s 25th ranked offense.  The Trojans love to pass the ball, leading to Corey Robinson’s 3,000+ yard season, but the main problem has been interceptions (15 in 12 games).  He can’t do that against Ohio’s defense and expect to win.
Ohio 24, Troy 20

St. Petersburg Bowl – Louisville vs Southern Mississippi
The Cardinals somehow got into a bowl game despite going 3-4 in the Big East, including a 26-0 shutout of Big East champion UConn. Southern Miss brings a high-flying offense averaging more than 200 rushing yards per gamed to Florida, but they will have to contend with Louisville’s 11th ranked defense.  This is a hard one to pick, but I’ll go with Louisville even though their schedule was soft.
Louisville 27, Southern Miss 24

Maaco Bowl – Boise State vs Utah
It’s amazing how far one can fall with one loss.  The Broncos went from likely Rose Bowl contenders to playing Dec. 22 because if two missed chip shot field goals.  Utah struggled down the stretch, losing to Notre Dame and nearly to BYU.  The Boise State defense won’t let this Utes offense budge, and the Broncos will score enough to win easily.
Boise State 37, Utah 9

Poinsettia Bowl – San Diego State vs Navy
For Navy, it’s going to bed run-run-run.  For San Diego State, expect pass-pass-pass.  The winner will be whichever defense can adjust and make the other offense get out of its comfort zone.  I think it will be easier for San Diego State to run than it will be for Navy to throw, so San Diego State, with a more difficult schedule, has the advantage.
San Diego State 20, Navy 14

Hawaii Bowl – Hawaii vs Tulsa
It’s always tough for the team that has to fly all the way out to Hawaii to play the Warriors, but this one looks to be especially tough on Tulsa for two reasons.  31 – Hawaii leads the nation in pass offense.  #2 – Tulsa can’t stop the pass (ranked 115th nationally).  If there is one thing the Golden Hurricane have going for them, it’s momentum.  They have won six straight, but it stops here.
Hawaii 43, Tulsa 36

Little Caesars Bowl – Florida International vs Toledo
There’s really not much to like about Toledo.  Their quarterback has more interceptions than touchdowns, and their leading rusher averages just 75 yards per game.  Florida International played a gauntlet of a nonconference schedule, and it paid off with a 6-2 Sun Belt record.  The Golden Panthers have two backs averaging more than 4.5 yards per carry.  That’s the difference in this snoozer.
Florida International 13, Toledo 9

Independence Bowl – Air Force vs Georgia Tech
The top two rushing offenses in America clash in what promises to be one of the most exciting games on the bowl slate.  Both of these teams know how to defend the triple option since they do it every day in practice, but ironically, neither team has a great run defense.  The difference comes down to who can make plays on third and long.  Air Force’s pass offense sucks a little bit less.
Air Force 31, Georgia Tech 21

Champs Sports Bowl – West Virginia vs North Carolina State
A lot of people think West Virginia would have been the best Big East BCS representative.  As it is, they are stuck here and cannot take resurgent N.C. State lightly.  The Wolfpack’s Russell Wilson threw for 3,288 yards and 26 touchdowns this year but likely hasn’t seen a defense as good as the Mountaineers’ D.  Expect a low-scoring game with West Virginia making enough plays through the air to win.
West Virginia 24, North Carolina State 10

Insight Bowl – Missouri vs Iowa
Many in Iowa City are calling this season a disappointment following last year’s Orange Bowl championship, but the Hawkeyes have a chance to salvage the season against a very good Missouri team.  Iowa’s defense played well even in late season losses, and Kirk Ferentz will have the unit ready for Missouri’s four-headed running back monster. If Missouri wants to win, it will have to be through the air.
Iowa 33, Missouri 24

Military Bowl – East Carolina vs Maryland
These teams actually have two common opponents (Navy and N.C. State).  East Carolina’s defense is absolutely pathetic, as evident by the 76 points Navy put up in a route.  Maryland beat Navy and held the Midshipmen to 14 points.  The Pirates lost four of their final five while Maryland won four of its final six.  The game is being played in Washington D.C.  Anyone else seeing the trend here?
Maryland 49, East Carolina 20

Texas Bowl – Illinois vs Baylor
Two overachieving teams limp into Houston after not being picked bowl eligible before the season.  Illinois was thinking 9-3 with Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and Fresno State as its final four, but finished just 1-3.  Baylor had the Big 12 South lead at 4-1 before losing its final three.  Robert Griffin should be able to make enough plays in this de facto home game.
Baylor 28, Illinois 22

Alamo Bowl – Oklahoma State vs Arizona
Both teams seem to have gotten the benefit of the doubt in the bowl selection process, despite Arizona finishing 0-4.  Oklahoma State brings the nation’s top offense to San Antonio, and that’s trouble for the wounded Wildcats, who gave up 40+ points against comparable offenses Stanford and Oregon.  The Cowboys’ defensive struggles will mean little if they can win this shootout.
Oklahoma State 38, Arizona 24

Armed Forces Bowl – Army vs SMU
For the first time ever, all three service academy schools are bowl eligible, so Army gets the game you know they’ll be excited for.  We know Army can run the ball, but on the other side, can their pass defense stop a very efficient Kyle Padron, who has thrown for more than 3,500 yards this season.  Army will put up a fight in its first bowl game since 1996, but SMU, playing in its home town of Dallas, will win.
SMU 30, Army 19

Pinstripe Bowl – Kansas State vs Syracuse
The first ever bowl game in Yankee Stadium will be the coldest bowl without a doubt.  The inaugural game features a contrast of styles.  Syracuse wins with tough defense, while Kansas State relies on its running game to win high-scoring games.  Four of Syracuse’s five losses came at home, which isn’t good considering this one is in the home state.  It’s a coin flip, but I’ll take Syracuse.  I’ll probably be wrong.
Syracuse 21, Kansas State 20

Music City Bowl – North Carolina vs Tennessee
As bad as the Volunteers were at times, it’s hard to think they are actually bowl eligible.  They very quietly won their final four games to get here at 6-6, though they didn’t play a team as good as UNC during that streak.  North Carolina could have been in a very different position if not for the early season slew of suspensions.  They are a better team now then they were at the start of the year.
North Carolina 27, Tennessee 23

Holiday Bowl – Nebraska vs Washington
The ‘Huskers blew the Big 12 Championship game for the second year in a row, and again find themselves in the Holiday Bowl against a weak opponent who they already beat by five touchdowns.  The rare rematch was not the Holiday Bowl’s choice, but it will be more of the same.  Nebraska racked up 383 rushing yards in the week three blowout, and they may get more in San Diego.
Nebraska 37, Washington 7

Meineke Car Care Bowl – South Florida vs Clemson
South Florida has all kinds of problems, starting with their anemic offense. B.J. Daniels has three more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (9), and they can’t run the ball either.  Clemson has struggled offensively as well, but against a much tougher schedule, Kyle Parker and the Tigers have done enough to keep them in most games.  This will be a defensive struggle, and not a pretty one to watch.
Clemson 17, South Florida 6

Sun Bowl – Notre Dame vs Miami
The Sun Bowl gets very lucky.  With USC’s two-year bowl ban, the Sun gets the first choice of an at-large team, and Notre Dame is the obvious one.  With Miami struggling down the stretch, the ‘Canes fall into the Sun Bowl’s lap, creating a battle of program-rich powers with down seasons.  Notre Dame comes in hot, while Miami limps in, but I still think the Hurricanes are the better team.
Miami 35, Notre Dame 30

Liberty Bowl – Georgia vs UCF
On paper this may not look fair, but don’t pencil anything in just yet.  UCF won Conference USA with defense, holding nine f their 13 opponents under 20 points.  Georgia started 1-4 but went 5-2 after that, rolling along with an offense that has put up at least 30 points in each of those seven games.  In fact, the Bulldogs have scored at least 41 in all six wins.  Offense prevails in this one.
Georgia 38, UCF 31

Chick-fil-A Bowl – South Carolina vs Florida State
The losers of their respective conference championships meet in Atlanta after bigger dreams were dashed not long ago. For South Carolina, it’s a chance to wipe away humiliation they suffered just two weeks ago when Auburn torched the in this same building.  Christian Ponder and the Seminoles will be able to score, but the inconsistent defense needs to keep South Carolina at bay.
Florida State 33, South Carolina 31

TicketCity Bowl – Northwestern vs Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have to be disappointed with their 7-5 season considering they hired Tommy Tuberville in the offseason to bring a defensive mindset to the program, as well as establish a balance between run and pass.  Instead, Texas Tech finished 114th in total defense and 81st in rushing offense.  Northwestern is becoming a bowl regular, but can they win one? They too have defensive issues.
Texas Tech 32, Northwestern 27

Outback Bowl – Florida vs Penn State
Urban Meyer will supposedly be coaching his final game Jan. 1.  We’ll see.  If he does leave for good, his last game could potentially be a win over the man with the most coaching wins – Joe Paterno.  Meyer’s defense is solid, but John Brantley is suspect, and Jeffrey Demps is having a down year.  Even so, emotions will be riding high in Meyer’s last game, and the Gators have home-field advantage.
Florida 20, Penn State 12

Capital One Bowl – Alabama vs Michigan State
Who would have thought Nick Saban’s team would finish fourth in their own division?  Better yet, who would have thought Michigan State would win 11 games?  The ‘Tide roll in with the nation’s sixth best defense and have faced Spartan-quality offenses before.  Michigan State’s defense will see one of its most dynamic offensive opponents of the season with Greg McElroy and Julio Jones.
Alabama 28, Michigan State 7

Gator Bowl – Mississippi State vs Michigan
Believe it or not, neither of these teams had any bad losses.  Mississippi State’s four losses came against SEC West opponents ranked in the top 25, while Michigan lost to three 11-1 teams, as well as Iowa and Penn State.  The Bulldogs held running quarterback Cam Newton to 70 rushing yards…not a bad total, in an early season loss.  They will have to deal with Denard Robinson this time.
Mississippi State 27, Michigan 20

GoDaddy.com Bowl – Middle Tennessee State vs Miami-Ohio
Both teams come in hot.  Miami-Ohio upset Northern Illinois to win the MAC, while Middle Tennessee won three straight to get bowl eligible.  However, this is the Redhawks’ game to lose.  The defense should be able to handle a Blue Raiders offense that doesn’t do much, and Thomas Merriweather could have a big day on the ground.  Miami-Ohio will make it six straight.
Miami-Ohio 35, Middle Tennessee State 14

Cotton Bowl – LSU vs Texas A&M
The Aggies finished 6-0 and landed here because of proximity.  LSU had a shot at the Sugar Bowl if not for a late season loss to Arkansas.  LSU has been all about defense and are doing it again this year despite facing one of the nation’s toughest schedules.  You can bet they are looking forward to stopping Jerrod Johnson and an Aggie offense that was very good in the season’s second half.
LSU 27, Texas A&M 24

Compass Bowl – Pittsburgh vs Kentucky
Mike Hartline was the only thing keeping this game close.  He threw for 3,178 yards and 23 touchdowns with only nine interceptions before being arrested, kicked off the team and effectively ending any hope Kentucky hd of keeping this game close.  The Panthers will get a big day from Dion Lewis against a soft UK rush defense, and Pitt should hold Kentucky’s offense in check without Hartline.
Pittsburgh 31, Kentucky 10

Fight Hunger Bowl – Nevada vs Boston College
The Wolfpack may still have hangover worries because of the Boise State win, but Boston College is still one of the better teams they have played.  The interesting matchup here is Nevada’s 3rd ranked rush offense led by Vai Taua’s 120 yards per game against the top rush defense in the country.  For Nevada to be successful, they will have to stay balanced, which they can do against the Golden Eagles.
Nevada 27, Boston College 17

Rose Bowl – Wisconsin vs TCU
This is the most difficult BCS game to pick, primarily because of what Wisconsin did offensively at the end of the year.  It’s scary to think the running game got better after John Clay got hurt, but that’s the truth.  The Badgers are in a rhythm right now, one that I can’t even see TCU breaking.  If TCU’s offense can move the ball, which I think they can, then it will be a fun game to watch.
Wisconsin 22, TCU 21

Fiesta Bowl – Connecticut vs Oklahoma
If you’re picking UConn, raise your hand.  If you’re raising your hand, stop lying.  Connecticut is one-dimensional on offense, though Oklahoma’s rush defense has been suspect.  Expect the Sooners to stack eight in the box and blitz a lot, forcing quick decisions from Zach Frazer.  If this game was played two weeks ago, Oklahoma wins.  But it’s in January.  I’m raising my hand.  Why not.
Connecticut 38, Oklahoma 35

Orange Bowl – Stanford vs Virginia Tech
Remember when Virginia Tech lost to James Madison?  Me neither.  The Hokies have made everybody forget after winning 11 straight following an 0-2 start.  Stanford isn’t too shabby either.  It’s lone loss is to a team playing for a national title.  The Hokies have shown they can score, and Tyrod Taylor doesn’t make mistakes.  This should be another good one if both defenses come to play.
Virginia Tech 31, Stanford 24

Sugar Bowl – Ohio State vs Arkansas
A top 10 offense (Arkansas) vs a top 10 defense (Ohio State) is always a fun matchup.  Ohio State held a good Michigan offense to seven in the final game of the season.  Arkansas can score on good defenses though.  They put up 43 on Auburn, 41 on South Carolina and 31 on LSU.  I think Terrelle Pryor could have a big day against the Arkansas defense.  OSU plays in big games like this every year.
Ohio State 31, Arkansas 19

BCS National Championship – Auburn vs Oregon
The Ducks average better than 300 yards per game, while Auburn allows just 110.  Something has to give in what seems like an evenly matched national championship game.  Oregon’s weakness is its defensive front, which should allow Cam Newton time to do what he does.  However, no team is more dynamic or plays faster than the Ducks, which Auburn hasn’t seen.  Expect a shootout.
Oregon 45, Auburn 38

Conference records

ACC:  6-3
Big 12:  4-4
Big East:  5-1
Big Ten:  3-5
Conference USA:  1-5
Independents:  0-3
MAC:  2-2
Mountain West:  3-2
Pac 10:  1-3
SEC:  5-5
Sun Belt:  1-2
WAC:  4-0

Confidence

35)  Nebraska
34)  Pittsburgh
33)  Maryland
32)  Boise State
31)  Miami-Ohio
30)  BYU
29)  Alabama
28)  SMU
27)  West Virginia
26)  Oklahoma State
25)  Nevada
24)  Ohio State
23)  Clemson
22)  Air Force
21)  Iowa
20)  Ohio
19)  Hawaii
18)  Georgia
17)  Mississippi State
16)  San Diego State
15)  LSU
14)  Florida International
13)  Miami
12)  Baylor
11)  Fresno State
10)  Louisville
9)  Texas Tech
8)  Florida
7)  Florida State
6)  Virginia Tech
5)  Syracuse
4)  Oregon
3)  North Carolina
2)  Wisconsin
1)  Connecticut

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Here are my updated BCS bowl game projections after the Boise State loss Friday:

BCS National Championship:  Oregon vs Auburn
Rose Bowl:  Wisconsin vs TCU
Fiesta Bowl:  Nebraska vs Connecticut
Orange Bowl:  Virginia Tech vs Stanford
Sugar Bowl:  LSU vs Ohio State

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Remember the age-old saying ‘think before you speak?’  Apparently Gordon Gee doesn’t listen well.

The Ohio State president ripped both Boise State and TCU’s football programs earlier this week, saying neither team deserves to play in the BCS Championship game even if they go undefeated.  Gee referred to their schedules ‘little sisters of the poor’ and said they don’t have to run the gauntlet like Ohio State does.  Both Boise State and TCU presidents responded, and they weren’t exactly forgiving.

What Gee may have forgotten during his snide remarks is that Ohio State is still in the hunt for the Rose Bowl. 

Why is that important? 

Because a little-known rule in 2011 will force the Rose Bowl to take a non-automatic qualifier if it loses either the Pac 10 or Big Ten champion to the national championship game.  In case you haven’t noticed, Oregon is ranked #1 and shows no signs of losing anytime soon.  If the Ducks win out, the Rose Bowl will have to take the team ranked #3.  That team will almost certainly be Boise State or TCU.  If Wisconsin loses to Northwestern and Ohio State takes care of Michigan, the Buckeyes win the Big Ten and would play that automatic qualifier. 

The Buckeyes might be able to pass Wisconsin in the BCS standings even if both teams win, but that is a longshot.  Still, Gee’s school may have to go up against a school he recently called ‘not worthy,’ and believe me, it wouldn’t end well for the Buckeyes.  Both Boise State and TCU are better than Ohio State, so now I’m rooting for that Rose Bowl matchup.

If it happens, Gordon Gee will eat his words.

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So what exactly did we learn from opening week?

Nothing.

Except the good teams can beat the bad ones.

The first week of college basketball was lowlighted by college basketball’s best beating up on everybody else.  This week changes things though, starting with ESPN’s third annual 24 hour marathon.

I’ve tried staying awake for this each of the past two years and not only failed at doing so, but also fell asleep in class the next day both years.  Since I’m in mountain time this time around, I’ll be able to watch Memphis rip apart Miami like they did to the Gentlemen, before drifting off about the time St. John’s starts pulling away from St. Mary’s out in Cali.

By the time I wake up, Stony Brook and Hawaii will have also notched wins, and I’ll be brushing my teeth while watching Robert Morris take out all its revenge from last year’s first round choke job against Villanova on a helpless Kent State.

One of the best games slated for this 24-hour blitz is Virginia Tech against Kansas State. It will be the first battle of ranked teams this season, and I’m excited to watch Malcolm Delaney and Jacob Pullen exchange blows. The one everybody is talking about starts two hours later when Ohio State visits Florida.  Four years removed from the 2007 football and basketball championships involving these teams, the memories are still there.  State fans want this one bad.

If you don’t like commercials, don’t worry.  The Baylor women gave UConn all it could handle in last year’s regional final, and the rematch is the featured women’s game of the night.  Geno Auriemma is already on record saying UConn will lose this season.  Will it be game one?

Duke, Wisconsin and Syracuse should pick up easy home wins at night.  The same can’t be said for Louisville.  Rick Pitino’s Cardinals open the season with Butler, last year’s runner-up.  Will a Gordon Heyward-less Dogs team have the same fight?

Bruce Pearl’s scandal-driven Volunteers were one point away from going to the Final Four last year.  They get the late action started against Belmont.  A half hour later, the team that beat Tennessee in that regional final, Michigan State, continues its push for another Final Four berth against SEC East basement dweller South Carolina.

Don’t go to sleep too early.  A battle of ranked mid-majors closes the slate, as #11 Gonzaga hosts #25 San Diego State.

For what it’s worth, this will be a great next 24 hours.  We will find out a lot about a lot of teams that haven’t proven themselves yet.  Let November madness begin!

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There’s something special about college football Saturdays.  Every week can indeed change the season, as ESPN proclaims.  When I decided back in the summer that I was going to make a trip back to my alma mater to see old friends and watch my Missouri Tigers play Oklahoma in the Homecoming game, I certainly didn’t think both teams would be undefeated, and I never would have thought College Gameday would be in town.  Now both are a reality.  Yesterday’s euphoria of tweets and Facebook statuses was a great thing to see.  When I woke up this morning, it hadn’t changed.  There is still overwhelming excitement for what is now the Big 12′s game of the year to date.

But on to the task at hand.  The first official BCS rankings come out tonight.  That’s great if you want to see a bunch of coaches trump a bunch of computers and screw things up.  Here’s what the rankings should be when ESPN does the unveiling tonight:

1)  Oregon Ducks (6-0)
This is not a difficult decision coaches.  Oregon has played the most difficult schedule of all unbeatens, and has absolutely crippled opponents.  They are averaging 54 points per game and have not scored fewer than 42 in any game.

2)  TCU Horned Frogs (7-0)
TCU’s defense has been stifling.  They’ve allowed fewer points per game than any team in the country, and are beating up on everybody.  Andy Dalton has been huge, throwing for nearly 1,500 yards so far.  The Nov. 6 game at Utah is huge.

3)  Auburn Tigers (7-0)
Auburn can make a legitimate case for number two because of their schedule.  They already have wins against South Carolina, Arkansas and Clemson, though those were all at home.  They’ve won their two road games by three points each.

4)  Oklahoma Sooners (6-0)
There have been some close calls for the Sooners this year (Utah State, Air Force, Cincinnati, Texas), but Bob Stoops has won close games.  They’ve had a difficult schedule that only gets tougher with a road game at Missouri this week.

5)  Boise State Broncos (6-0)
The Broncos are going to need help.  Mathematically, there can be as many as five unbeatens after championship Saturday, and Boise would be fifth on the list because they don’t have a schedule.  Their biggest obstacle: the TCU/Utah winner.

6)  LSU Tigers (6-0)
Winning ugly seems to be the motto for this team.  Or maybe it’s winning lucky?  Either way, LSU is 7-0 in a difficult SEC.  The meat of their schedule hits this week with a trip to Auburn, followed by a visit from Alabama.  Arkansas is the last game.

7)  Utah Utes (6-0)
It has been a relatively easy road for the Utes so far, but they are taking care of business in a big way.  The last five games are tough, with road trips to Air Force, Notre Dame and San Diego State, and home games against TCU and BYU.

8)  Michigan State Spartans (7-0)
They obviously catch a huge break with no Buckeyes on the schedule.  The win over Wisconsin looks a lot better now, but the win over Michigan doesn’t.  All in all, it’s been an easy road for Sparty…until a trip to Iowa to end the month.

9)  Wisconsin Badgers (6-1)
Wisconsin finally got that program-changing victory.  The Badgers beat Ohio State to shake up the Big Ten.  If they go to Iowa City and win this week, they are a legit contender for a BCS game.  Their only loss is to undefeated Michigan State.

10)  Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1)
The loss to Wisconsin hurts, but Ohio State has been here before.  They lost to Illinois much later than this in 2007, then wound up playing in the title game when everyone else tanked.  They need a Michigan State loss and a win at Iowa.

11)  Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1)
They looked sloppy again against Ole Miss but still came away with the win.  Wins against Penn State, Florida and Arkansas are all looking worse by the week, as is the loss to South Carolina.  Games against LSU and Auburn will decide the West.

12)  Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1)
The experience of Ricky Stanzi has made this a more dynamic offense in 2010.  The Hawkeyes have looked good on both sides of the ball since a loss at Arizona.  A lot stands in the way of a Big Ten title though starting with Wisconsin this week.

13)  Florida State Seminoles (6-1)
After a spanking at the hands of the Sooners, FSU has responded nicely with five straight wins and a 4-0 ACC start.  With a weak schedule that doesn’t include Virginia Tech, and the Florida game in Tallahassee, they could run the table.

14)  Arizona Wildcats (5-1)
Oregon State’s loss at Washington won’t do the ‘Cats any favors, but the win over Iowa is still a big one.  It’s a tough road for Arizona, especially without quarterback Nick Foles, but they are hopeful he’ll be back in time for a Nov. 26 trip to Eugene.

15)  Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0)
Yes, they’re 6-0, but how long will that really last?  They needed a late turnover to beat A&M at home, and they really haven’t played anyone outside of that.  They host Nebraska this week, and Kansas State, Texas and Oklahoma will follow.

16)  Missouri Tigers (6-0)
Much like the Cowboys, Missouri hasn’t been tested yet.  Their defense ranks second in the country in points allowed, but it will be put to the test this week against a high-scoring Sooner offense.  After this is a trip to Nebraska.

17)  West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1)
Their only loss is a six point loss at undefeated LSU, and they have played a tougher schedule than most team on this list.  The problem is, while other teams have big games coming up, this team doesn’t.  Even with wins, they will likely slip.

18)  Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1)
Their nonconference schedule sucked, and they lost to an unranked (at the time) team at home.  Now Nebraska has to regroup for a big game in Stillwater, followed by a battle for the North crown with Missouri.  It’s not a fond Big 12 farewell.

19)  Stanford Cardinal (5-1)
Stanford football is back, no doubt.  But being spanked by Oregon and nearly losing to USC at home won’t go over well with voters or computers.  In a deep conference where every game is a threat, it will be hard for them to win it.

20)  Arkansas Razorbacks (4-2)
Arkansas is the best two-loss team in the country.  Losses to Alabama and Auburn are respectable, and they have wins over Texas A&M and Georgia.  Ryan Mallett is having a very good season, and they still play South Carolina and LSU.

21)  Texas Longhorns (4-2)
After an embarrassing loss to UCLA and a tough loss to Oklahoma, Texas responded by shutting down Nebraska in Lincoln.  Garrett Gilbert played mistake-free football in the win, which puts Texas back in the south hunt.

22)  South Carolina Gamecocks (4-2)
The letdown that many people predicted following a win against Alabama came earlier than the Gamecocks would have liked in a loss to Kentucky.  Still in the SEC East driver’s seat, South Carolina needs to beat Florida to win the division.

23)  Kansas State Wildcats (5-1)
While other teams have slipped against weaker opponents, the Wildcats have not.  They responded to the Nebraska thrashing by destroying in-state rival Kansas.  The cupcake part of K-State’s schedule is over now with a trip to 5-2 Baylor next.

24)  Northwestern Wildcats (5-1)
They sit here for now because they only have one loss.  Whether or not they can keep themselves here remains to be seen.  They had a bye week this week to prepare for undefeated Michigan State.  Last year they beat then-undefeated Iowa.

25)  Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2)
After starting 0-2, all hope looked lost in Blacksburg.  Since then, the Hokies have won five straight and are unbeaten in the ACC.  The Orange Bowl is suddenly looking like a possibility again after losses to Boise State and James Madison.

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(1) Ohio State 34, (18) Wisconsin 16

(12) Arkansas 28, (7) Auburn 27

(15) Iowa 30, Michigan 24

(5) Nebraska 21, Texas 17

(13) Michigan State 31, Illinois 21

UPSET SPECIAL:  San Diego State 31, (23) Air Force 23

Last week:  2-4
Overall:  23-13
Upsets:  1-5

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Go ahead. Laugh.

I deserve it.

I’m the guy who said Oregon wouldn’t be the same team this year because of the losses of Jeremiah Masoli and LeGarrette Blount. Oops.

I’m the guy who said New Mexico would come within a touchdown (31-24) of beating Oregon in Eugene (real final: 72-0). Oops.

Yes, I’m even the guy who criticized the offseason, saying they wouldn’t recover. Oops.

I’m also the guy who can admit when he’s wrong (though it doesn’t happen often).

I was wrong. Oregon is good. So good, in fact, that I can’t find a team better through two weeks. And the Ducks aren’t just thinking BCS. That was last year. This year, Oregon is thinking national championship.

Week 2 rankings:

1)  Oregon Ducks (2-0)
If you can find me a team that has played two more convincing games against quality competition, please come forward.  The Ducks beat a Mountain West team by 72, then went to Knoxville and won by five touchdowns.  That’s not normal.

2)  Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0)
No Mark Ingram, no problem for the ‘Tide against JoePa.  Trent Richardson is not just Ingram’s replacement – he’s now a Heisman contender after his 144 rushing yards paced Alabama in a convincing win over the young Nittany Lions.

3)  Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0)
Against a Miami program that’s as good as its been since the ’03 Fiesta Bowl, Terrelle Pryor did just enough on offense to win the rematch.  Although he didn’t do much with his arm, Pryor’s 113 rushing yards kept the defense off the field.

4)  TCU Horned Frogs (2-0)
TCU overcame some mistakes to beat Oregon State in Dallas.  Last week, they were virtually perfect in a 62-7 slaughter of Tennessee Tech.  Six Horned Frogs saw the end zone.  Seven of the teams first eight games are in the state of Texas.

5)  Michigan Wolverines (2-0)
Before you start whining about how high they are, look at the schedule.  UConn is a good team, and that game wasn’t close.  Now look at the Notre Dame game.  Michigan came back to beat a likely nine-win team on the road.  Quality.

6)  Texas Longhorns (2-0)
Mack Brown might have the best defense in the country, but we already knew that.  This week, he let Garrett Gilbert throw more, and the first year starter rewarded his coach with 222 yards, a touchdown, and no turnovers for the second straight game.

7)  Florida Gators (2-0)
The Gators overcame another slow start to blow by in-state rival South Florida.  Florida used big plays and five turnovers to set up 31 second half points and pull away in a game that featured no fumbled snaps after having eight the week before.

8)  Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0)
Nebraska’s 38 points against Idaho Saturday was deceiving.  The defense scored 14 of them and forced five takeaways, and the offense had trouble getting into a groove.  A road date with Washington Saturday is the Cornhuskers’ first real test.

9)  Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0)
The in-state rivalry with the Cyclones is always a fun matchup for the fans, but not for the players in the red and white.  Iowa dominated again Saturday behind 156 rush yards from Adam Robinson on just 14 carries.  Iowa ran it 50 times overall.

10)  Oklahoma Sooners (2-0)
The convincing win over Florida State probably proves the Utah State scare was a fluke.  Nevertheless, I can’t rank them higher until I see FSU-like performances every week.  Landry Jones threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns Saturday.

11)  Utah Utes (2-0)
The Utes backed up their overtime thriller over Pittsburgh with an impressive showing against UNLV.  Even though the offensive numbers were nearly identical, the Utah special teams forced the Rebels into too many mistakes.

12)  Arizona Wildcats (2-0)
Going to Toledo and winning by 39 was more impressive than beating the Citadel by 46, but the margins of victory and the dominance their defense has shown make it difficult to put them even this low.  The game of the week is in Tucson this week.

13)  Wisconsin Badgers (2-0)
After a good second half against UNLV, the Badgers looked extremely sluggish against San Jose State in the home opener.  John Clay was a workhorse once again, but the passing attack managed fewer than 200 yards.  Arizona State visits Saturday.

14)  LSU Tigers (2-0)
Find me another team that has two road wins over power conference opponents.  If you’re having trouble, that’s because there’s only one.  Les Miles is working his way off the hot seat with a hot start.  The defense held Vanderbilt to 135 total yards.

15)  Boise State Broncos (1-0)
They have one win, and it is against an 0-2 team that lost to an FCS team at home.  If the Broncos were to hang their hat on one win this year, Virginia Tech was going to have to be that win.  Now it’s not.  They are lucky to be in my top 15.

16)  Miami Hurricanes (1-1)
Miami is the best non-undefeated team in the country, but showed weaknesses against a very good Ohio State team.  After I praised Jacory Harris for the way he protects the ball in wins, he promptly threw four interceptions in the loss.

17)  South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0)
South Carolina started its SEC season off with a bang in knocking off a ranked Bulldogs team in Columbia.  Defense was the story for offensive-minded Steve Spurrier, as his team held Georgia to 61 rush yards and 192 pass yards.

18)  Stanford Cardinal
Going into the Rose Bowl and winning isn’t easy, but Stanford made it look that way Saturday night.  Andrew Luck was not great but mistake-free, and the defense shut out UCLA and scored a TD in Stanford’s first road win over UCLA since 1996.

19)  Arkansas Razorbacks (2-0)
My skepticism is fading.  For now.  Ryan Mallett battled through a rough first have to complete 28 passes for 400 yards and lift Arkansas to a 24 point second half to pull away from Louisiana-Monroe.  Greg Childs had 148 yards and two TDs.

20)  Penn State Nittany Lions (1-1)
Saturday’s loss to Alabama was a classic example of inexperience showing its colors against a good team.  The young Nittany Lions were not as physical as the ‘Tide, and it showed.  Sophomore Kevin Newsome got to take a few snaps at the end.

21)  Auburn Tigers (2-0)
Auburn has been less than impressive in both games, but winning on the road in the SEC is tough, and Auburn passed test one with a win at Mississippi State.  Six Tigers combined for 190 rushing yards.  Clemson comes to town this week.

22)  California Golden Bears (2-0)
I probably should have the Bears higher after outscoring opponents a combined 105-10 the first two weeks.  Kevin Riley threw four touchdowns in the latest parade, this a 52-7 win over soon-to-be Pac 10 for Colorado.

23)  Air Force Falcons (2-0)
After crushing Northwestern State in week one, Air Force dominated a ranked BYU team in Falcon Stadium.  The Cougars never saw the endzone in the Mountain West’s first game.  The Falcons head to Norman for a battle with OU Saturday.

24)  West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0)
The Mountaineers escaped Marshall in overtime Friday in a game they probably should have lost.  Noel Devine rushed for 112 yards, and Geno Smith threw for 316 yards on 32 pass completions.  Maryland and LSU are on the schedule next.

25)  Houston Cougars (2-0)
Case Keenum is not on pace for another record-breaking season, but he’s lighting up the scoreboards again for the Cougars.  After leading Houston to 68 points in the opener, he put up 54 Saturday.  Houston makes a trip to the Rose Bowl next.

#12 Miami Hurricanes at #2 Ohio State Buckeyes
The way to beat Ohio State?  Don’t turn the ball over, and make Terrelle Pryor one-dimensional.  Jacory Harris does not turn it over.  He threw just three incomplete passes in a week one win against Florida A&M.  The defense allowed just 53 net rush yards, and in plays in which they stopped A&M for a loss, they racked up 81 yards the other way.  If their run defense is as good this time, Pryor will be forced to throw, and that’s a perfect recipe for success.
Miami 29, Ohio State 24

#18 Penn State Nittany Lions at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Mark Ingram is out, meaning another opportunity for Trent Richardson.  Alabama had no problems in game one, but they probably want a two-back tandem to deal with this Lion D.  They won’t get it, but it won’t matter.  A defensive struggle will consume the first half until Greg McElroy finds some holes in the second half.
Alabama 24, Penn State 9

#17 Florida State Seminoles at #10 Oklahoma Sooners
Brothers reunite as FSU offensive coordinator Mark Stoops meets OU head coach Bob in a showdown of top 20 teams that became very interesting after week one’s results.  Oklahoma blew a 21-0 lead and had to claw out a win against Utah State, while Christian Ponder began his Heisman chase by going 12-14 for 167 yards and four touchdowns in just one half.  Still, Oklahoma will get it together this week.
Oklahoma 33, Florida State 17

#22 Georgia Bulldogs at #24 South Carolina Gamecocks
It’s a battle for second place in the SEC East as the traditional SEC opener between the two heads to Columbia.  I’m still trying to figure out how South Carolina won by 28 with nearly identical stats in every category as Southern Miss.  Every category except red zone chances.  Georgia’s #4 ranked defense won’t be so generous.
Georgia 27, South Carolina 20

#7 Oregon at Tennessee
I was wrong about the Ducks.  Judging by the New Mexico game, it appears they have no weakness on offense or defense.  LaMichael James is back for a showdown with the Vols.  This offense appears to be on the right track, and I’m not going to cross them again until they give me reason to.  Nevertheless, it won’t be a 72 point win in Knoxville.
Oregon 34, Tennessee 16

UPSET SPECIAL – Kansas Jayhawks 26, #15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 20
Turner Gill’s debut was a disaster.  A 6-3 loss to North Dakota State is embarrassing, but something tells me they’ll be ready for this one.  I don’t know why, and I’ll probably be laughed at later when Tech wins by 20, but Kansas has always had a respectable defense, and they can hang around if they figure out how to slow down Tech’s option.

Last Week:  4-2
Overall:  4-2
Upsets:  0-1