Impressed- Depressed- Unmoved: College Football Week 9

I’m still hurting over Penn State’s loss to the Buckeyes….That’s all I have to say…Alex Ferguson talks about his other feelings on another superb week for college football.Ohio State

The Buckeyes sent into the monster banana skin that is Happy Valley and roared out 34-17 winners. Todd Boeckman showed that he’s a dark horse for a Heisman. And with that offensive line, which rendered one of the best defenses in college football practically useless, why wouldn’t he be? And another thing: is it too early to think about a second straight National Championship Game??

Georgia

The Bulldogs pulled off a monster shock of the Big Match That May Have been Known As The World’s Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party in its former life when it downed Florida 40-32. Not only did Matt Stafford and his offense make enough key plays to keep the Dawgs’ noses ahead of the Gators, but their defense also came up trumps, sacking Tim Tebow six times and intercepting him twice.

Mississippi State

When they were beaten 48-0 at home by the LSU Bulldogs, I didn’t hold a lot of hope out for Buddy Croom’s men. But after a win at Auburn earlier this year and a win of Kentucky in Lexington on Saturday, MSU might well have some better times ahead.

West Virginia

After Rutgers beat South Florida – albeit somewhat fortiuitously– people expected them to give the Mountaineers a major test. But after Pat White put up nearly 300 yards of offense alone via arm and foot to send the WVU to Victory Lane by the scoreline of 31-3, the Mountaineers proved that they are still in Big East contention.

Connecticut

After practically ignoring UConn for the first nine weeks of the season, Connecticut showed that they’ve arrived with a 22-15 win over ranked South Florida. Led by Andre Dixon (167 yards rushing) and a defense that performed a goalline stand with the game on the line, the Huskies showed they might just be for real.

South Carolina/Tennessee

Wow. What a game. At the start of the game it looked as though the Vols would be scoring 140, as they took a quick 21-0 lead over the Gamecocks. However, Steve Spurrier’s certainly taught this team resilience, as they came back with three straight touchdown scores in the second half to make it 21-21. Then came the drama. Unfortunately-named USC kicker Ryan Succop hit what would have been the winner, had it not been for a fortuitous bounce stemming from a fumble that put UT in field goal range. After that? Overtime. And after UT converted a field goal in OT and Siccop missed his, it was Tennessee who were celebrating victory over Spurrier.

Arizona State

If this had been last season, we would have heard the news that ASU had gone down 13-0 early to Cal and presumed the worst for Dirk Koetter’s Sun Devils. But now Koetter’s gone and Dennis Erickson’s in charge, the news of a 13 point deficit meant nothing to the Devils, who eventutally ran out 31-20 winners.

Kansas

Despite being involved in one of the dullest three quarters of the planet, the Jayhawks quietened the screaming throngs at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field to record an important 19-11 road victory to further cement their credentials of a Big XII North title. We’d love to give props to Jayhawk RB Brandon McAnderson, who ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Who needs a QB when you’ve got this man eh?

UNMOVED

Boston College

Virginia Tech and a bit of rain proved how Boston College could struggle. Don’t get me wrong – I was impressed enough by Matt Ryan’s heroics with two minutes left, but how about the other 58? It was as dull at ditchwater. But as they say, a win’s a win.

Hawaii

Yay! Hawaii and their vastly overrated quarterback Colt Brennan put up 50 points against New Mexico State! I’m thrilled! When are the Warriors going to play anyone good?

Texas

In the fourth quarter the Longhorns scored 19 points to scrape by the Nebraska Cornhuskers….at home. That would be a reason for me to stand up and applaud the Longhorns’ performance – if it wasn’t a) the Cornhuskers they were playing and b) if they hadn’t put themselves in the hole in the first place.

DEPRESSED

Virginia

For the best part of the season so far, Al Groh’s team looked like real ACC contenders. But after Week 9 and their 29-25 loss to a NC State side which hadn’t won an ACC game since August 2006, that’s all gone down in flames.

South Florida

Two weeks after people are talking about USF and being second-ranked in the Nation, the Bulls have lost two straight and presumably fallen away from both national and Big East contention.

Rutgers

Ouch.

Kentucky

How on earth does a team which has beaten LSU and come close against Florida then lose to Mississippi State? All we know is that the fact that the Wildcats lost no less than SIX turnovers in their 31-14 loss can’t have helped.

Penn State

Shocked at the way the Lions lost to the Buckeyes? No. Depressed about the fact that they did indeed lose to the Buckeyes? Certainly. We….are….Sad….State….