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

Before I even get started, I hope you’ve got your ESPNU plans made, or your raking plans, whatever.

If you’re smart, however, you haven’t even mentioned the ESPNU situation. Instead, you should just suggest spending the day with your significant other. When they say, “What about the Buckeyes?” You say, “Oh, there will always be other Saturdays, but we‘ll never have THIS Saturday again.”

But if you say something lame like that, they’ll probably know something’s wrong.

Anyway, back to the football...

Last week, there were nine undefeated teams. With Missouri and Florida losing, that leaves us with only seven undefeated teams left.

I think only one of those seven has a shot to lose this week, and that’s Rutgers.

There are also going to be some one-loss teams who are going to lose and have any hopes of a national championship game appearance disappear, teams like Nebraska and Boston College.

I know, I know. They should’ve never gotten their hopes up.

Unfortunately, there’s no primetime ABC game this week. But ESPN will have the Georgia Tech - Clemson game, so that’s something.

But it’s not Brent.

And because there is no Brent Saturday night, maybe you should take a moment out of your day on Saturday to tell your pardners how you feel about them. Take a minute or two and express to them how much fun it is to watch the game with them, even if they are “dumb and make stupid comments and make Lee Corso look like Football Einstein.”

That’s what pardners are for, after all.

Thursday October 19

Teams: North Carolina at Virginia
Time (TV): 7:30 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 1
Cheer For: North Carolina

Why cheer for North Carolina? Because you're tired of Natrone Means'
legacy being sullied.

Teams: Bowling Green at Central Michigan
Time (TV): 7:30 pm (ESPNU)
Interest: 2
Cheer For: Bowling Green

There's currently no word if ONN is going to re-air this game at a later
time as well.

Friday October 20

Teams: West Virginia at UConn
Time (TV): 8:00 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 3
Cheer For: West Virginia

Why cheer for West Virginia? Because Auburn isn't going to lose again
(unless they lose to Florida in the SEC Championship game) and I'd love to
hear Tommy Tuberville whine about getting left out of the BCS Championship
game in favor of a Big East team. Oh, and UConn has no shot in this game.
Mountaineers by 24.

Saturday October 21

Teams: Texas at Nebraska
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ABC/GP)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Texas

This is probably going to be the first of a two-game series for Texas and Nebraska, as they will most likely meet again in the Big XII Championship Game. Both teams come in at 6-1, with Texas' lone loss coming to the Buckeyes and Nebraska's loss coming to the USC Trojans. The teams are similar in that they both employ high-powered offenses. Nebraska is averaging nearly 450 yards of total offense and 37 points. Texas scores 43 points per game. Both teams are only giving up about 13 points per game, so expect the final score to be something like 34-27. I don't like the fact that Texas gave up 33 points to Baylor last week. But I also don't like the 32 points Nebraska gave up to Kansas a few weeks ago. I guess I'll go with Texas. Colt McCoy threw for six touchdowns last week, so his confidence is sky-high.

Teams: Wisconsin at Purdue
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Wisconsin

Purdue is currently ranked 111th in total defense, giving up 412 yards of offense per game. They're 90th in rushing defense, giving up 157 yards rushing per game. Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill is fifth in the country in rushing, averaging 144 yards per game. For the season, he has rushed for 1,011 yards and eleven touchdowns. Purdue's defense is the coffee can full of gasoline. P.J. Hill is the match. I don't want to get too confident in how well Hill is going to do, however, because I'm starting him this week. Wisconsin by 13.

Teams: Illinois at Penn State
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ESPN2)
Interest: 3.5
Cheer For: Illinois

Neither of Penn State's top two quarterbacks have yet been cleared to play after last week's Michigan encounter. If that stays the case, third-string "quarterback" Paul Cianciolo will be playing. If Cianciolo is playing, expect a lot of short stuff like screens and hitches, and expect a lot of Tony Hunt. If Illinois quarterback Juice Williams can avoid the turnovers, I think the Illini can stay in it. Unless, of course, Illinois can't tackle Tony Hunt--which is entirely probable.

Teams: Michigan State at Northwestern
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (GP)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Northwestern

It will be interesting to see just how deep down the Spartan collapse has gone. Northwestern has no offense, and they don't have the defense to stop Michigan State. There is also the revenge factor from last season's 49-14 Wildcat win in East Lansing. Though I'm guessing there is no such thing as revenge for John L.'s teams. I can't imagine he gives a very stirring speech.

John L.: C'mon guys! Do you remember what these guys did to you last year? They scored 49 straight points on you! Do you have any pride in you? Do you???

Drew Stanton: Uh, coach...can you please put on a towel.

Teams: Louisville at Syracuse
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (GP)
Interest: 3
Cheer For: Louisville

You're cheering for Louisville for the same reason you were cheering for West Virginia. Man, you sure do hate Tommy Tuberville's whining! Syracuse will put up a very valiant fight, but they just don't have enough consistent offense or defense. Running backs Curtis Brinkley and Delone Carter are both good, but they don't get much room because defenses don't really respect the Syracuse passing game. The defense is giving up 24 points per game, which means Louisville will score about 34. Syracuse won't score more than 20.

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

UCLA will be starting backup quarterback Patrick Cowan again this week, so any hope of the Bruins coming into South Bend and getting involved in a shoot out appears to be lost. Still, UCLA went into Oregon and only lost 30-20 with Cowan at the helm. Oregon is better than Notre Dame and there's very little reason to think the Bruins can't keep this one close. They have to avoid the Irish getting up big early and slow the game down by running with Chris Markey. Markey is averaging six yards per carry, but has only reached the end zone once. If the Bruins can keep Notre Dame under 27, then they have a very good shot in this one.

Teams: Temple at Northern Illinois
Time (TV): 3:05 pm
Interest: 1
Cheer For: Northern Illinois

Well, the Garrett Wolfe World Tour is now over. It's been cancelled. Your tickets will be refunded. After last week's game where he only gained 25 yards on 18 carries against the amazing Western Michigan run defense, Wolfe is now out of the Heisman race. He's almost out of the Barry Sanders' Record race as well. He is now "only" on pace to rush for 2,345 yards on the season. They've lost two conference games, so their postseason hopes are pretty much gone. Which means all the team has to play for is Wolfe and the record. Expect another 300-yard game this week.

Teams: Iowa at Michigan
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (ABC/GP)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: Michigan

Forget it. Don't even get your hopes up. Canadian bacon has a better chance to end up in the garbage at Charlie Weis' house than the Hawkeyes do of winning this one. In fact, I'm assuming the Hawkeyes are going to be shut out. If they do score, it will be because of a long run or screen by Damian Sims. Drew Tate is no longer a good quarterback. He's just a quarterback. He has regressed to the point where it now appears that he's just going through the motions in anticipation of his career in NFL Europe.

Teams: Boston College at Florida State
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (ABC/GP)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Boston College

I don't know how Boston College does it. Their wins are about as pretty as Kobayashi's. I know Boston College is clearly the more complete and consistent team, but I just can't pick them in Tallahassee. The Noles need this game, but since they can't run the ball, they'll need to win it with defense and passing. I think they can do that. Boston College's offense just isn't explosive enough to get the 24 points needed to win this one.

Teams: Alabama at Tennessee
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (CBS)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Tennessee

Why Tennessee? Because I'd rather see them in the SEC Championship game than Florida. I think it's just because I want Urbie to slow things down a bit. Oh, and Chris Leak is overrated. Anyway, back to this game...Phil Fulmer is 10-3 against the Crimson Tide. I'm sure everybody is looking forward to the rematch from last year's amazing 6-3 Alabama win! Vol quarterback Erik Ainge is playing incredibly well right now. In fact, he has failed to throw for 250 yards only once this season, but it was in their loss to Florida. I'm expecting a Volunteer win by at least two touchdowns.

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

We're cheering for Cal because we want them with a full head of steam as they bear down on USC. Washington was sort of an upstart team this season, but that has now ended since quarterback Isaiah Stanback is out for the season with a bum foot. Cal by three touchdowns.

Teams: North Dakota State at Minnesota
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (GP)
Interest: 2
Cheer For: Minnesota

The Bison of North Dakota State are 6-0 on the season, including a win over (semi) I-A team Ball State. North Dakota State has a balanced offense led by...eh, who cares. Minnesota will run the ball successfully and they'll throw it deep to Logan Payne. Glen Mason will then get one game closer to a bowl game named after some type of walnut distributor.

Teams: Rutgers at Pittsburgh
Time (TV): 5:45 pm (ESPN2)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Rutgers

Seriously? An interest rating of four? For Rutgers and Pittsburgh? What do you want from me, it's a slow week and a relatively important game. Rutgers comes in as one of three undefeated teams in the Big East. As a brief aside, my wife's brother told me last week that all three of those teams were going to lose last week. He went 0-3. (I just wanted to mention it.) Anyway, thanks to an embarrassingly easy schedule, the Scarlet Knights are 6-0. That record is also thanks in large part to running back Ray Rice's 150 yards rushing per game. The passing game isn't pretty, and that's about as complimentary as I can be. Also, Rutgers' defense is number one in points allowed, with 8.3 points per game. Of course, they've played UNC, Illinois, Ohio, Howard, South Florida, and Navy. This will be the first week they actually play an offense that can score when there are eleven other players staring back at them. I expect Rutgers to lose four of their last six, with this game being the first of the four.

Teams: Georgia Tech at Clemson
Time (TV): 7:45 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 4.5
Cheer For: Georgia Tech

This could be another conference championship game preview. Meaning, one of these two teams is a likely Orange Bowl participant. How exciting! I just don't think Georgia Tech has enough defense to keep Clemson quiet enough to win. The Tigers are averaging 44 points per game, and while they won't score that many on Georgia Tech, 31 is a definite possibility. Georgia Tech won't be able to score more than 21, especially not in Death Valley.

Teams: Hawaii at New Mexico State
Time (TV): 8:00 pm
Interest: 5
Cheer For: Television

Of course you'll be cheering with futile results. The biggest pass-happy matchup of the year, and Versus or ESPNU couldn't show it? Instead we get Louisiana-Lafayette against Florida Atlantic on Wednesday night. Idiots. There will be 1,200 yards of offense in this game and a minimum of 75 points scored. What's not to like? Oh well, here's hoping Chase Holbrook and Chris Williams light it up, because I'm starting them this week. GO AGGIES!!

Teams: Fresno State at LSU
Time (TV): 9:00 pm (ESPN2)
Interest: 2
Cheer For: Fresno State

You can't commend Fresno head coach Pat Hill enough for playing the schedule he does. The only problem is that his team is terrible this season. "Terrible" is probably too harsh, but they're only 1-5 on the season and they've lost to Utah State. You can't lose to Utah State and be considered anything less than terrible in my opinion. LSU is 5-2 with their two losses coming against two teams that were in the top five. They may have two more losses in them this season, and those other two losses may come against teams who end up in the top five as well, in Tennessee and Arkansas.

Sunday October 22

Teams: South Florida at Cincinnati
Time (TV): 8:00 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 1
Cheer For: Cincinnati

The Bearcats stayed with Louisville all game last week, but just couldn't quite get it done, losing 23-17. In that game, Cincinnati ran the ball 52 times in an effort to keep Louisville's offense off the field. Seeing how effective it was, I wouldn't expect the Bearcats to stray from that philosophy this week. Cincinnati is 3-4 this season, but their four losses have come to Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Louisville. If Mark Dantonio would schedule like Rich Rodriguez, Cincinnati would be going bowling.

Teams: Indiana at Ohio State
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ESPNU)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: Ohio State

As ESPNU battens down the hatches in preparation for their best ratings ever, Buckeye fans everywhere clamor for a television that is afflicted with this wee channel. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but Indiana has virtually no shot in this game. I say "virtually" because I refuse to be blamed if anything catastrophic happens. Some things to watch out for: Troy Smith throwing early and often; two long Ted Ginn touchdowns in the first half; Brian Hartline's first touchdown; and a Brandon Mitchell interception.

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