Trent's Touchdown - Week 13

Riddle me this. Did the average fan actually watch a lot of college football last weekend? I swear, I watched like 15 total minutes last week. We’re back to normal this week with another “Biggest Game of the Year” and many key conference match-ups that will decide BCS bowl invitations. Anyway, on to the Touchdown:

1) No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma – 8:00 on ABC

Just when I was starting to go through Big 12 withdrawal, this game luckily popped up. Let’s look at what we know. Texas Tech is hotter than the sun, yet all their big wins came at home. Oklahoma has been blowing the doors off everyone, but proved against Texas that they can’t win a shootout against a semi-competent defense. Graham Harrell is the best QB in the nation, but it goes beyond stats. He understands the importance of moving in the pocket and seems to have a psychic link with his receivers. I think it stays close for the first half, before Texas Tech just rolls.


2) No. 15 Michigan State at No. 8 Penn State – 3:30 on ABC

As with most years, I jumped on a bandwagon too early, only to have it go hurtling off the road. Thanks Penn State. The reason Penn State was winning was not only because the Big 10 was a joke this year, but they played really good defense and combined it with competent offense. Unfortunately, that competent offense has been failing them of late. Michigan State will try and run the ball with Javon Ringer, but it’s tough to do against the Penn State defense. I think Penn State wins it if they can get back to the formula that was working for them earlier.


3) No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati – 7:15 on ESPN2

I think this is the first Big East game to make the Touchdown all year. This is pretty much the story of two opposing offensive styles. Cincy likes to go to the air, yet they may have a problem since their quarterbacking crew looks like they stepped out of an episode of ER. Pitt likes to rush the ball, but the Cincy defense is very good against the run. Cincy wins and they are pretty much going to BCS bowl. Pitt wins and they still need to face West Virginia to win the Big East. I think Cincy takes it and punches their own ticket.


4) No. 14 BYU at No. 7 Utah – 6:00 on The Mtn.

I don’t know about you, but I like the idea of schools from non-BCS conferences making a run at a BCS bowl. Now, I’m not going to claim to be some expert on the Mountain West, but I know a few things. I know that Utah can score in droves, but BYU has the better offense. However, Utah has the better defense of the two. The Utah defense is going to have to do what its done lately, which is completely shut down opponents. BYU has the QB-WR tandem that is sort of like Harrell/Crabtree light in Max Hall and Austin Collie. I think BYU can pull this one out.


5) No. 21 Oregon State at Arizona – 7:00 on local channels

Who would have thought that Oregon State would control their own destiny in the Pac-10? I want to make the old “it’s better to be lucky than good” line for the Beavers, but I won’t. After their loss to Stanford in the conference opener (Stanford!), they have run rough-shot over the Pac-10. They have one of the best young running backs in the country and a QB who won’t hurt you. Plus, they have a solid defense. While Arizona is actually a tougher team than their record suggests, I don’t think the Beavers let down this week.


6) Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State – 12:00 on ABC

Wasn’t it two years ago that this game decided who would get beaten by Florida in the National Championship Game? What the hell happened to Michigan? Anyone?


Extra Point:

7) As I mentioned earlier, the Touchdown has been sufficiently Big East free all season. There is a good reason for this. The Big East makes the ACC look like the Big 12 South, yet the Big East champion (who may well be unranked) will get an automatic BCS bowl invitation.

A more deserving conference would be the Mountain West, with Utah, BYU, and TCU all in the top 20. Now, far be it from me to strip the Big East of their bowl game. Not so long ago, there were some top flight teams (last year West Virginia was a victory away from the National Championship Game).

There is a dip in talent this year and the average fan is paying the price. Not only that, deserving teams are getting left out of the mix. How about a little play-in game? The champion of the Big East and Mountain West square off in a winner take all match. No doubt the Mountain West wins. No doubt.