Football
Tom's Tip Sheet (Sans Tom)
By Tony Gerdeman

Not a bad slate of games this week.

There are "Games of the Year" in the Big XII (North and South), the SEC, and the Pac 10.

There is also a Thursday night game pitting Bobby Bowden against Moobs McGee.

Get your "Personal Foul Bingo" Cards out!

The game kinda goes like this:

The ref announces the penalty...

"Spearing - North Carolina State"

You yell "Bingo!"

The emcee says "Please read your bingo card out for all of us."

"Spearing - North Carolina State; Roundhouse Kick - Florida State; Face Mask - Florida State; Attemped Kidnapping - North Carolina State; and Roughing the kicker - Florida State!"

"That's a winner!!"

(And that's just Thursday's game!)

Things are going to start clearing up this weekend. Nearly half of the top ten or eleven teams could be losing this weekend, meaning there will be some new teams invading the BCS landscape. Teams like Clemson, Tennessee and Cal.

That's nothing. Just wait a couple of weeks until Georgia Tech is in that group.

Thursday October 5

Teams: Florida State at NC State
Time (TV): 7:30 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 3
Cheer For: NC State

Wow! What a Thursday night game! Two ACC powerhouses in prime time!! Oh, that’s right, this isn’t 2002. Dang.

Teams: TCU at Utah
Time (TV): 9:00 pm (Vs/OLN)
Interest: 2.5
Cheer For: Utah

This actually should be a pretty entertaining game, and since we no longer have to worry about either of these teams stealing a BCS bid, we can watch in peace. TCU’s loss at home to BYU last week sealed their fate, and they are now bound to another year of mid-major malingering. As such, I’m taking the Utes, who accepted their fate weeks ago.

Friday October 6

Teams: Louisville at Middle Tennessee
Time (TV): 8:00 pm (ESPN2)
Interest: 1.5
Cheer For: Louisville

Why cheer for Louisville? If the Buckeyes are undefeated, wouldn’t you rather play Louisville than a one-loss SEC team? As far as this game is concerned, Brian Brohm is still out, but expected to be able to play against West Virginia in a month. Oklahoma beat Middle Tennessee 59-0 a couple of weeks ago. No reason to think this game won’t be much different.

Saturday October 7

Teams: Arkansas at Auburn
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (CBS)
Interest: 3
Cheer For: Arkansas

Yeah, it would be nice if Arkansas could win this one, but they can’t. They won’t be able to move the ball on Auburn and they won’t really be able to stop Kenny Irons. Until Arkansas’ freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain gets several more games under his belt, he’s a liability against quality opponents. Right now, they are 2-0 in the SEC thanks to a two-point win at Vanderbilt and 38 missed kicks from Alabama’s “kicker”. Auburn won’t be able to score a gaudy amount of points, since they are an SEC offense, but they’ll never be tested. 31-10 sounds about right. I feel bad for those of you who will be watching and forced to listen to CBS’ B-crew come up with filler material for the second half. Get ready to talk about CBS new fall line-up and the riotous “Two and a Half Men”.

Teams: Texas A&M at Kansas
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (FSN)
Interest: 2
Cheer For: Kansas

Any team that takes Nebraska to the brink deserves your attention. Kind of like how you feel it’s necessary to brag about almost overtaking a station wagon out of a red light, then explaining your defeat by saying, “Yeah, but it had dual exhaust.”

Teams: Purdue at Iowa
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ESPNU)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Iowa

I say cheer for Iowa because it helps the Buckeyes, but it’s hard considering the Hawkeyes lack of integrity on the football field. I hope none of Purdue’s offensive linemen get assaulted, or none of the Boilermakers skill players get speared in the back when they are down on the ground. I’m also hopeful that none of them have to experience a knee across the face as they are being tackled. But I guess that’s what Iowa football is all about. Go Boilers. (Incidentally, I think Purdue has a pretty decent shot at getting the win.)

Teams: Northwestern at Wisconsin
Time (TV): 12:00 pm
Interest: 3
Cheer For: Northwestern

Games like this are much better when Northwestern isn’t terrible. (However, I much prefer to play them when they’re like this, rather than the juggernaut they were in 2003.) The Badgers are starting to get their passing attack going, which will only make their running game even more potent. P.J. Hill will run all over the Wildcats. I’m thinking 150 yards and a couple of touchdowns en route to a three touchdown win.

Teams: Indiana at Illinois
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (GP)
Interest: 2
Cheer For: Indiana

Yeah, both of these teams are terrible. But if you weren’t aware, something’s happening here. What is it? Well, both of these two teams are now starting freshmen quarterbacks who are mobile and able to run for their lives from opposing defenses. So, if you’ve got nothing else to do, tune in and watch two teams at the foothills of their future. Or, see if Mythbusters is on Discovery. Either way…

Teams: Penn State at Minnesota
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ESPN2)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Penn State

I say cheer for Penn State, but I won’t be able to do it. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Gophers can do on the ground against Penn State. It will be a good barometer to see just how far out of the top two the Nitts are. Michigan held Minnesota to 108 yards rushing. I will be surprised if Penn State can approach that. And as long as the Anthony Morelli Era is in effect, expect Penn State to lose.

Teams: Stanford at Notre Dame
Time (TV): 2:30 pm (NBC)
Interest: 2.5
Cheer For: Stanford

Notre Dame has now reached the portion of their schedule where Brady Quinn will look like what everybody thinks Brady Quinn looks like.

Teams: Texas vs Oklahoma (in Dallas)
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (ABC/GP)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: Texas

Yes, Oklahoma should be undefeated. But after this week, it won’t matter. People may think Bob Stoops has Mack Brown’s number, but Bob Stoops doesn’t have a defense. In fact, Stoops doesn’t have the players. His players are developing at a Cokerian rate. (Meaning, they aren’t developing.) The Longhorns should be able to move the ball on the Sooners and I’ll be surprised if the Sooners can match them offensively. Give me the Longhorns by a touchdown.

Teams: LSU at Florida
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (CBS)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: LSU

“The game of the year of the week this week in the SEC”. I think that’s what CBS is calling it, anyway.

I’m going back and forth on how I feel about this one. LSU is second in the nation in points allowed, with 7.4 points allowed per game. Florida is fourth with 9.4 points allowed. Don’t be shocked if this turns out to be a 10-7 game. DeShawn Wynn’s sprained knee will probably keep him out, so Florida will have to rely on sophomore Kestahn Moore and freshman Tim Tebow to find running room against the Tigers. However, since there won’t be much scoring, it won’t matter if neither team can run the ball. So that leaves us with the quarterbacks. Faced with standing in front of an oncoming defense, I’ll take JaMarcus Russell every time against Chris Leak. Urban has never lost at home. However, the last team to visit the Swamp and come away with a victory was LSU back in 2004. In fact, they’ve won the last two here. I’m guessing they’ll make it three in a row.

Teams: Washington at Southern Cal
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (FSN)
Interest: 2
Cheer For: Washington

I’m starting Southern Cal’s defense this week, so hopefully I’ve put the jinx out there. (I started Michigan State’s defense last week and they lost to Illinois.) People are starting to jump on the Tyrone Willingham bandwagon, but people need to remember that he’s Ty Willingham and that his bandwagon is two wheels short of having two wheels.

Teams: Akron at Cincinnati
Time (TV): 3:30 pm
Interest: 2
Cheer For: Cincinnati

I’m shocked that this isn’t on ESPNU. I would’ve thought that this was a no-brainer. ESPNU chooses games like first-week college freshmen choose which bum to give change to.

Teams: Michigan State at Michigan
Time (TV): 4:30 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: Madness

Yes, I want the Spartans to win. But imagine if they lost another one after having a double-digit lead. Just think of that press conference.

John L: Yeah, it was a tough game. Michigan’s a good team, but the coaches really blew it out there.

Reporter: Coach, you were up by 34 points. How do you explain this loss?

John L: It’s just one of those things. You score 41 straight points and then you give up 41 straight points. It’s not unusual, it happens all the time.

Reporter: Coach, last week you slapped yourself. Do you think that this week’s performance is worthy of a taser?

John L: I hadn’t thought about it, I don't know.

Reporter: I happen to have a taser here with me.

John L: As I said, I hadn’t thought about it.

Reporter: That’s fine. That’s fine. I’m just going to set this up here on the podium and if you…you know, “get the urge”…

John L: Whatever.

Reporter: Coach, Charlie Weis said that he was tasered by a Spartan in the fracas a couple of weeks ago. What do you make of that?

John L: He said what???

Reporter: Yeah, he said that Matt Trannon held him and Drew Stanton tasered him right under the chin, like this…[reporter mimics his chin being tasered].

John L: [visibly fuming] Oh yeah?? I got something…[John L grabs the taser] VVZZZZZZZPPPPPPPTTTTTT!!!! [John L crumples to the ground]

Reporter: I am awesome.

Teams: Missouri at Texas Tech
Time (TV): 7:00 pm (TBS)
Interest: 3.5
Cheer For: Texas Tech

Missouri is 5-0 and outscoring their opponents by 23 points per game. Of course, they’ve played exactly nobody. If Missouri wins, they could be the lone undefeated team in the Big XII after this weekend. Texas Tech still worries me though. They scored three points at TCU and gave up 35 to UTEP. Missouri is playing well, and they can move the ball throwing and running. I can't believe I'm going with Mizzou.

Teams: Tennessee at Georgia
Time (TV): 7:45 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: Tennessee

I am completely convinced that Tennessee wins this one. Georgia (5-0) has played three BCS conference teams and won by an average score of 15-7. Georgia scores points at about the same rate the desert loses sand. I think Tennessee will be able to score around twenty on Georgia, and that should be enough to win by a touchdown.

Teams: Oregon at California
Time (TV): 8:00 pm (ABC/GP)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: California

I have no idea how this one is going to go. Both teams have great running backs. Oregon's Jonathan Stewart is averaging 150 yards rushing in his three starts this season. Cal's Marshawn Lynch is averaging over seven yards per carry and a threat to break one at any time. Both quarterbacks are rolling right now. Oregon's Dennis Dixon is averaging 260 yards passing per game, and he also mixes in his 4.5 speed now and again. Nate Longshore is throwing for about 280 yards per game since the Tennessee debacle. Cal's averaging 38 points per game; Oregon's averaging 40. I don't know how it's going to turn out, but it's going to be fun watching it do so. (I think I'll take Cal, but don't quote me on it.)

Teams: Nebraska at Iowa State
Time (TV): 8:00 pm (ABC/GP)
Interest: 3.5
Cheer For: Iowa State

I'm not sure if Iowa State will know what to do playing on prime time network television. My guess is that they'll completely choke. Still, I think it'll be good enough to beat Nebraska.

Sunday October 8

Teams: Northern Illinois at Miami (OH)
Time (TV): 8:00 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 2.5
Cheer For: Northern Illinois

Garrett Wolfe is officially a freak show. He is pounding nails into the collective skulls of his opponents and passing a handkerchief through their nasal cavities. He rushed for 353 yards last week against Ball State to push his season total to 1,181 yards rushing. He's on pace for 2,834 yards. This week, he travels to Miami. The Redhawks are 104th in the nation against the run, giving up 182 yards rushing per game. Garrett Wolfe is going to inhale a bean and pass it through his eye socket to the tune of 285 yards rushing against Miami.

Saturday October 7

Teams: Bowling Green at Ohio State
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (GP)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: Ohio State

It would be nice for Troy Smith to put up some stats, and I think he'll get that shot early. Look for him to try and get his rhythm back with Ted Ginn, because they'll need it as the season progresses. The Buckeyes' run defense is going to be busy in the first half. The Falcons are 12th in the nation in rushing, averaging 208 yards rushing per game. In case you were out of the country, the Buckeyes are ranked 42nd against the run. They should only really have to focus on the running game for a little more than a half. Then Bowling Green will be forced to start throwing every down. The over/under on Robert Rose sacks is 1.5.

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