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Impressed- Depressed- Unmoved – Week 7 of NCAA college football

Down goes Cal! Down goes LSU! Alex Ferguson talks emotionally about Week 7 of the college football season….IMPRESSED

Kentucky

After being embarrassed at South Carolina, I could have sworn the loss would start a steady slide for the Wildcats. Well, after a three overtime victory against LSU, I was wrong. Andre Woodson for the Heisman? You’d better believe it.

Oregon State

OK, so it was lucky that a lapse of judgement and time stopped California from spoiling the Beavers away day party, but hey- at least the Beavers proved there’s still fight in them – particularly after they were slapped by Cincinnati early in the season. After causing three turnovers and battling to a 31-28 victory, the Beavers just put themselves back on the map.

Penn State

Everything went right for the Nittany Lions in their 38-7 ass-kicking of Wisconsin. They stopped PJ Hill and scared the crap out of quarterback Tyler Donovan. Not only that, but they had two key interceptions and could well have had a couple more. The Lions were good this week – can it hold up on the away trip to Indiana?

Northwestern

Like Northwestern’s monster clash with Michigan State, this was another one that will probably live long in a Wildcat fan’s memory. The Wildcats came from a 35-14 deficit to force overtime with just 8 seconds left on the clock, and then won out on overtime with Minnesota’s two point conversion failed them. If this carries on, Northwestern are must viewing.

Nevada/Boise State

If you truly want one of the most exciting games of the year, then you could do worse than trying to get hold of a reply of this wonderful Sunday night encounter. Sparring on the blue turf of Boise, the Broncos pulled out a 69-67 quadruple overtime victory that set off lots of records and a hell of a lot more heart monitors. Watch out for Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick – this one could be special.

Auburn

What is it about Tommy Tuberville that he can get these Tigers to constantly come away with victories in harsh road environments? This 9-7 slugfest at Arkansas was no exception. Auburn’s defence was again on fire, limiting Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to only 85 yards between them. Watch out LSU.

South Florida

Armed with a defense that caused three turnovers and an offense that boasts quite possibly one of the most underrated QBs in the whole of Division I-AA in Matt Groethe, the Bulls ripped apart a proud UCF team – the same one which frightened Texas a few weeks ago – and jumped to #2 in the rankings. Not bad for a team that wasn’t around 20 years ago eh?

Arizona State

After bitching non-stop about Arizona State and their lack of schedule, the Sun Devils finally proved that they aren’t a bad side at all….as their 44-20 slapping of Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies proved. Quarterback Rudy Carpenter certainly wasn’t wonderful, but when you’ve got Keenan Harring putting up around 120 yards, what does it matter that your quarterback threw a 20 of 31 with a pick?

Iowa

After being pumped by Penn State last week, the Hawkeyes looked like a ghost of the team that was one of the media’s dark horses in Big Ten (when are they NOT, by the way??). But after an exceptional defensive effort against a high-power Illinois team, Kirk Ferentz came out with a 10-6 victory and an important scalp to his name.

Oklahoma

Down 24-23 in the third quarter, the Sooners surged back with 18 in the fourth to take the win and end Missouri’s unbeaten streak. Sam Bradford was again great, throwing for 266 yards and two TDs in the win, while the defence caused two turnovers. If South Florida and Ohio State lose, expect this team be one of the top-ranked teams in the country again.

Vanderbilt/Georgia

Exciting until the very last play of the game, the Vandy-Georgia game was another shining example as to why the SEC is the conference to watch. Highlighted by a circus reel catch by Vandy’s Sean Walker, this game constantly switched momentum and served notice that even the 3-3 teams aren’t that bad.

UNMOVED

Ohio State

Sorry Buckeye fans – your team’s #1 and I should be really impressed by the work Jim Tressel’s done this year. However, the Buckeyes haven’t exactly played anybody, have they? Although Michigan State won’t prove to be much competition in the Horseshoe on Saturday, the game at Penn State looms on the horizon.

Boston College

BC manage to pull out victory after victory and still don’t look wonderful doing it. Matt Ryan may well be a good quarterback, but a BC defence that gives up 17 to Notre Dame don’t look like a team that’ll run the table this year. Sorry, Boston.

DEPRESSED

USC

A rough outing for the Trojans, who turned the ball over twice and only produced 276 yards of offence – only 21 yards more than an Arizona team which has defined the word “terrible” this season. If this continues, Notre Dame will be quite a handful for Carroll & Co.

California

Next time, tell your quarterback to throw it to the back of the end-zone instead of spiking it.

LSU

Was it a good decision to run the ball FOUR TIMES in triple overtime? We think not. And will Les Miles do the same thing if the situation comes again? We think not. And is the LSU still the best team in the nation? Probably, but the pollsters seam to think not.

Purdue

My jaw still drops open when I think about Purdue, a team that goes from playing like USC in September to Temple in October. The defense once again took a vacation, giving up 458 yards and 48 points to the Michigan Wolverines.

Texas A&M

Dennis Franchione for the chop? After their 35-7 loss to Texas Tech, things can’t seem to get any worse for the once-ranked Aggies….unless you count the incident earlier in the week when the coach was admonished by the school for sending out “secretive, for-pay newsletters” to boosters.

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