Week 8 in Review

This week the fun all started Thursday night with South Florida playing at Rutgers. #2 South Florida in the National Title spot light. While the Rutgers what are they well known for again.... knocking off teams that look to make the big game. Well here was a great shot for South Florida to prove their deservance of the national title game. It was a good game through out neither team ever really took control. In the third quarter it did become a game of catch up as Rutgers took a ten point lead. On some trickery... after a fake field goal ended in a passing touchdown making it 27-17 in favor of the Rutgers. But with Ray Rice and the Rutgers attack they would hold on as the final score ended up 30-27. Much to the devestation of South Florida who was just about taken out of title contention for that loss. The Rutgers charged the field and took away the Bulls hope of a dream season by defeating them. Knocking them out of their #2 spot in the BCS and other polls. What is going on the season... I mean the team that is the surpise team that shouldn't be up there is losing. This doesn't make sense anymore who will be atop the polls come January 9th. That is the question and we still all want to know. But with plenty of good football left this season just about anyone could be there. As only 5 teams remain unbeaten... in Kansas who survived against Colorado, 19-14. Ohio St. came out strong against the Michigan St. Spartans 24-0 but then they turned the ball over twice allowing the Spartans to score making the final score 24-17. Then Arizona St., Boston College, and Hawaii all had byes this week.
LSU played Auburn at home this weekend. Looking to keep their title hopes alive after last weeks loss to Kentucky. Auburn came out though right away trying to make a statement as they had the lead 17-7 by the half. They were also keeping LSU's offense in check for most of the first half. Also a big turnover that they returned for a touchdown gave them help taking the lead. Then in the second half though LSU had other plans. Especially in the 4th quarter reminding us as to why they are the 4th ranked team in the country. Going up 23-17 but then with three minutes left in the game Auburn took a 24-23 lead. So their defense should be able to hold off the LSU attack and give every SEC team a second loss. Well not so fast. 4 seconds left on the clock. Time for LSU to turn the game around as with one second left on the clock Byrd caught a ball in the endzone giving LSU the 30-24 win. Although LSU stays a strong part of the BCS hunt they have to first worry about winning the SEC as they still have to play Alabama who is still in the SEC West race and then they'll have to play Florida, Kentucky or South Carolina again most likely in the SEC championship. They may not be able to survive that schedule either as Florida should have beaten them and Kentucky did beat them. Which sets up the next game I'll be going over.
Lexington, Kentucky these fans just saw their team knock off the number 1 LSU Tigers now they look to beat the Florida Gators. The Wildcats scored the first touchdown in what ended up being a high scoring affair. As Tim Tebow would help lead the Gators to a 14-7 first quarter lead. The Wildcats were not in a good position though at half time being down 21-10.. trying to avoid a 21st straight loss to Florida. Unforunately that turned the 2nd half into a game of catch up for the Wildcats leading to their demise. As they could never catch back up even though Woodson threw 5 touchdown passes. Tim Tebow's 4 ended up better in the Gator's 45-37 win. This kept the SEC East wide open. But it also lowered the 11th of twelve teams in the conference to having two or more losses. Leaving LSU the only team with a real shot at making the National Title game for the SEC. Now I am going to complain a little bit here about this. Seeing as no other conference could do this and still be seen as the best conference or even respectable. Well the SEC is probably the most open conference especially as number 6 South Carolina loss too.
At home Steve Spurrier should have some offense you'd figure. But after Vanderbilt scored 17 points in the first quarter the only other points of the game would be 6 by S.C. showing that they don't have offense. South Carolina isn't out of the race for the SEC championship yet but they'll have to start doing something on the offense. But a 17-6 loss to Vanderbilt is no way to prove anything. Then another big loss this week was in the Rose Bowl. As UCLA hosted Cal. This should be a nice easy comeback game for the bears as UCLA lost to Notre Dame. But a interception by UCLA brought back for a touchdown ended the Bear's hopes to get a game winning field goal. Also took away their national title hopes as they lost to the Bruins 30-21. These losses open up the top ten to two lost teams also show that there may be only two teams with one or less losses this season.
Then one other big SEC surprise was the Alabama Tennessee game. Tennessee looking to stay in the SEC east hunt... well this wasn't the way to do it. By losing 41-17 to Alabama they did all but put those dreams away. Alabama on the flipside now looking for a shot at the SEC West.
Then as for big 10 action we will start off with Michigan Illinois. As Illinois came out strong scoring first and going up 14-3 but then Henne came back in without Mike Hart. Who suffered from a high ankle sprain to give Michigan the 17-14 lead at half time. Then Mallett would look good but not score anything neither would Mcgee for the Alumni. But then Michigan and Henne got lucky as a muffed punt resulted in great field position for Michigan and a 24-17 lead and then Michigan would go on to win 27-17 despite all the adversity they faced through out the game. Keeping Michigan at pace with Ohio St. and opening a gap in the Big 10 race as it becomes Michigan and Ohio St. and then everyone else. Wisconsin ended a losing streak beating Northern Illinois 44-3. Purdue beat Iowa and Penn St. beat Indiana in what ended up being a close game. Then Northwestern beat Eastern Michigan 26-14 on Friday. Then Minnesota lost to Div. 1AA North Dakota St. 27-21.
I've decided heisman watch will always be with my poll now. So until Tuesday.