One Game, Two Views

Ever wonder how two people can look at the same game so differently? Reggie Hayes and Pete DiPrimio of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel break down the Notre Dame-Purdue game, much the same way Jane Curtain and Dan Aykroyd tackled the issues when they went toe-to-toe during their Weekend Update skit on “Saturday Night Live.”

Does This Count in the BCS Rankings?

The Wall Street Journal has a piece today ranking football's smartest teams. Much of it deals with the NFL but there is a college section. Of course, we like to turn it around and look at it from the other side: football's dumbest teams. Teams were ranked according to how players fared on the Wonderlic Personnel Test. The Average Joe scores 21. Players from the Miami Hurricanes averaged 16.3 to take top honors. Stanford players ranked as the smartest, 28.8. The Journal charges for much of its content, so you might have to run down to the local newstand and pick up a copy or fork over money online, but consider it worthwhile because you will now know what to do with all your gambling earnings.

Crystal Ball

Double D, Boston Herald: Single or Double D, the Wizard doesn't discriminate. Double D's record is 21-15, so maybe he has been distracted as of late.

Ralph D. Russo, Associated Press: Another guy with 'D' in his name. Must be a trend.

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: Like many of us, he is still recovering from that historic loss by LSU.

John P. Lopez, Houston Chronicle: He is considering changing the 'P' to 'D,' depending on how Double D and D. Russo do this week.

Betting Fool, San Francisco Chronicle: Record is 18-15. He mixes in some NFL, which probably explains the record.

Fab Five, Detroit News: The paper's panel of experts tackle the lineup after a bruising Week 4.

The Headline Says It All

Michigan is in search of a leader and may have found one in Jason Avant, who let it rip after the tough loss at Wisconsin. Beating red-hot rival Michigan State could turn around the season, and this game will test the Wolverines' character. Can they do it? Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News has the answer.

Columnists' Corner

Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times: Look who's back in town? And for only $90, you can have O.J. Simpson's autograph.

Chuck Culpepper, Newsday: It's his weekly twist on the top 25. One of the better reads out there.

Bud Withers, Seattle Times: Breaking down the Harris Poll. Remember, the only poll that really matters is the last one.

Norman Chad, Houston Chronicle: Exactly what is the criteria for voting in the Harris Poll? You'll have to click here to find out.

Reporters' Notebooks

Keith Whitmire, Dallas Morning News: The muddy waters of the Big 12 North should clear when Iowa State and Nebraska clash (registration).

Chad Hartley, Reno Gazette-Journal: Jerry Glanville has Hawaii playing defense, much to the concern of the rest of the WAC.

Scott Bordow, East Valley & Scottsdale Tribune: Former Arizona State coach Frank Kush says USC is the greatest college team ever.

Mark Bradley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Tennessee's sterling comeback at LSU is the latest example of the brilliance of Phillip Fulmer (registration).

Unnecessary Roughness

South Florida fans are outraged over the use of force by Tampa police and private security guards at the conclusion of the Bulls' stunning 45-14 victory over Louisville. As fans stormed the field at Raymond James Stadium to celebrate arguably the biggest win in team history, police were waiting with Tasers, batons and handcuffs. South Florida professor Kathleen Armstrong told the St. Petersburg Times that the incident brought back memories of a 1960s or '70s war protest, saying two or three officers would take down one fan, "throwing (the fan) on the ground, punching them in the head, the chest, the back or slamming them against the wall."

Music to Soothe the Savage Beasts?

The pink visitors' locker room at Iowa's Kinnick Stadium might be hogging all the attention, but the Hawkeyes are not alone in trying to make visitors passive. Boise State players say the pregame music played at Hawaii's Aloha Stadium is designed to alter their mood. Warrior Coach June Jones says there is no intent behind such hand-holding songs as "We Are the World" and "Goodtimes Together," but acknowledges that his staff have meetings to select the pregame music.

The Eyes of Texas

A contact lens that has been in development for seven years and received FDA approval in April will face its biggest test yet when Texas plays Missouri. Nike Maxsight, designed to cut down on bright sunlight and glare, will be worn by 30 Longhorn players. The lenses, which come in gray-green (favored by skill position players) and amber (favored by linemen), have quickly become popular with the Longhorns. "When you glance up in the sky when the ball is coming, it's a lot clearer," tight end David Thomas said. Other teams using the lenses including Miami, USC and Michigan (some registration required).

Alberts: Broadcasting Career Likely Over

Trev Alberts, who was fired earlier this month as an analyst for "College GameDay," says his "opportunities in broadcasting have probably been destroyed by ESPN." The 35-year-old Alberts was unable to go into details about his departure because of pending litigation, but said, "More than likely, I'll be making a lifestyle and professional change, which I suppose isn't always bad."

A Fatal Melee Caught on Camera

This is disturbing and powerful stuff, we want to warn you. The Orlando Sentinel has obtained photos of Central Florida officer Mario Jenkins holding a gun to someone's head and then tumbling to the ground with tailgaters moments before his death. Jenkins, 27, was working an undercover operation aimed at stopping illegal drinking before Central Florida's game against Marshall. He was shot and killed by a reserve officer for the Orlando Police Department. Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi is calling it "the worst tragedy in Orlando sports history," and it's incredible more people were not hurt. The dramatic photos were taken by a Central Florida graduate who asked that her name not be revealed and first published by the student newspaper, the Central Florida Future.

Crystal Ball

Dan Hinxman, Reno Gazette-Journal: It's Week 5 of the Great Handicapper Challenge and the Sooner we get starter, the better.

Lenn Robbins, New York Post: Lenn, you're 8-11-1 and John "Junior" Gotti just got out. You better pick up the pace, brother (registration).

Columnists' Corner

Wally Hall, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: It's not the losses to USC or Alabama that enraged Arkansas fans. It's the loss to Vanderbilt.

Andrew Bagnato, Arizona Republic: USC and its smug, latte-sipping followers get under everybody's skin. But you know what? The Trojans are good for the game.

Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News: Ready to toss old Lloyd Carr to the curb? Think again, Michigan fans, because he's still the man.

Teleconferencing the Conferences

Rivals or Scout? They are so last week. ESPN? Just another corporate behemoth that reacts slowly to the news. The Wizard? He's always on the cutting edge and ready to serve you, the gridiron public. So we bring you links to the weekly teleconference calls with coaches of the Atlantic Coast, the Big Ten, the Southeastern, the Big East, the Pacific 10, the Western Athletic, the Mid-American, the Big 12, and Conference USA. And the Mountain West has a slick production that takes you around the conference. In return, we ask that you give the site a shameless plug. An easy way to let your friends know about us is by clicking on the mail icon below and passing this priceless post to them.

Frank Talk From a Gaming Official

Frank Fahrenkopf, chairman of the American Gaming Association, says he plans to meet with the NCAA amid indications that the governing body of collegiate athletics wants to re-establish a working relationship with Nevada sportsbooks. "It seems to me that our message finally got through to them that we are not the problem, we are the solution."

Reporters' Notebooks

Chris Dempsey, Denver Post: It's time to separate contenders from pretenders as conference play begins in the Big 12.

Brian J. Pedersen, Arizona Daily Star: After being dismantled by USC, what will become of Oregon? History says a downhill slide.

Jeff D'Alessio, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: From B.C. to V.T., it's a look around the ACC (registration).

Looking for a Uniform Policy

Western Athletic Conference officials have received complaints about Hawaii's road uniforms, saying the silver-on-white numbers have made it difficult to identify players. Although game officials have yet to file a complaint, fans, broadcasters and statisticians have, according to conference commissioner Karl Benson said. Hawaii said it is working to find a solution to the problem.

Leather Helmets Not Included

Nothing fancy here. In Barry Alvarez's final season as coach, Wisconsin (4-0) is one of 28 undefeated teams (registration). The Badgers ground it out (239.3 rushing yards a game), an old-school formula that has become an Alvarez trademark. Up next is surprising Indiana (plus 18), coached by Terry Hoeppner, who is using the Wisconsin program as his blueprint.

Laying It On the Line

Despite the best efforts of the NCAA, the governing body has lost the fight against gambling. A study found 35% of male student-athletes and 10% of female student-athletes reported wagering on a sporting event at some point in 2003, an NCAA violation. Football players and golfers comprised the highest percentage, and the NCAA is working with those two sports to cut it down. In reality, all it can hope to do is maintain the integrity of its sports.

Getting Fired Up for the Hokies' Visit

Morgantown firefighters have issued "abatement orders" to 500 residents in preparation for West Virginia's game against Virginia Tech. Any indoor furniture that has been place outside must be removed. Two years ago, after the Mountaineers' 28-7 victory over the Hokies, drunks, dunces and football fanatics set more than 140 street fires. And those West Virginia fans are sure to pick on Marcus Vick. We can't wait!

Everybody Is Jockeying for Poll Position

This is a bad week for the polls. First comes the Harris Poll, which the New York Post has just called a farce, fraud and folly, followed by the Master Coaches Survey, an advisory poll made up of 16 former college coaches, the results of which will be available here.

A Good Place to Do Business (Wink, Wink)

We love San Diego, but something dysfunctional always seems to be going on in America's Finest City. This year alone, it re-elected a mayor who didn't get the majority of votes, then was convicted of talking illegal campaign cash (he eventually resigned), followed by an interim mayor who resigned after being found guilty of conspiracy, extortion and fraud (he accepted money from a Las Vegas strip club owner). So the place had three mayors in four days. Not bad, eh? Now comes word that not all is right with the Holiday Bowl.

Don't Kill Us, We're Only the Messenger

Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution paid a visit to Starkville and it's safe to say he won't be back unless he's ordered to return by some federal parole program. "There's really no way to describe this place. How do you describe nothing?" To add insult to injury, his slam of the city came after Georgia's 23-10 victory over Mississippi State. After word of his column reached Starkville, the comment board had to be shut down (registration).

Interior Decorating 101

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz, whose team has staggered to a 2-2 start, says he has more important issues on his mind than pink locker rooms. But that wasn't the case during a public hearing Tuesday night. Erin Buzuvis, adjunct lecturer at the university's College of Law, continued her protest over use of the color in the Kinnick Stadium visitor's locker room (another subscription-only story located in comments). Des Moines Register columnist Marc Hansen says "if David Skorton, the school president, spends more than five minutes on this, it's time to worry."

Columnists' Corner

Carl Dubois, Baton Rouge Advocate: By throwing beer bottles and breaking windows on a bus carrying Tennessee players to Monday's game, Louisiana State fans put another stain on Tigertown.

David Climer, Nashville Tennessean: A week ago, he buried the Tennessee Volunteers. Now he's looking good for next year's NFL Combine, backpedaling like an All-Pro corner.

Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star: Can you say "must-win?" If Purdue loses to Notre Dame, rest assured the Boilermaker season is going in the tank. Gee, that almost sounds like a threat.

Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News: SMU used to have the best team money could buy. Now, 17 seasons after the NCAA death penalty, the program barely has a pulse (registration).

Reporters' Notebooks

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: How Tennessee's Rick Clausen got Phillip Fulmer out of a pickle Monday night against Louisiana State (registration).

Terry Bowden, Yahoo! Sports: Journalist? No way. He's just here on a fall internship, and we shall let you, the blogging public, decide his fate. Much the way they did at Auburn.

John Clay, Lexington Herald-Leader: His last note won us over. The "Washington-Dallas Monday Night Football telecast averaged 16.1 million viewers. Sunday night's second-season debut of Desperate Housewives averaged 28.2 million viewers."

Luciana Chavez, Raleigh News & Observer: Chuck Amato, this is your life! The North Carolina State coach goes toe-to-toe with Chavez. HBO's Harold Lederman is ringside (registration).

LSU-Tennessee Ratings Set ESPN2 Record

Who said football on Monday night was dead? The game between Louisiana State and Tennessee on ESPN2 was seen by 2.76 million households, making it the highest-rated college football game in the network's 12-year history. One of those watching was Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom, whose Bulldogs play host to LSU on Saturday.

They're Turning Up the Heat in Tempe

It was the third week of September in 1996. No. 1 Nebraska, a 24-point favorite, was coming to Tempe with a 26-game winning streak. But the Sun Devils did something special by stunning the Cornhuskers, 19-0. Now No. 1 USC is coming to town as a 16-point favorite with a 25-game winning streak. If the Sun Devils are to make a statement, this is their chance.

Knight Wants to Tackle a New Challenge

Marion "Suge" Knight, head of Tha Row Records, told Contactmusic.com that he is considering walking away from the industry that has made him a multi-millionaire to become a football coach. The 325-pound Knight, who was shot in the leg at a party last month, attended Nevada Las Vegas on a football scholarship and briefly played for the Oakland Raiders.

Just in Case They Feel Insecure

If Michigan State keeps this up, it's going to need a private security detail. First came the planting of the flag at Notre Dame Stadium. Then, clinging to a 61-14 lead with 1:32 remaining against Illinois, the Spartans called for a pass into the end zone on a fourth-and-three play. This did not go over well with Fighting Illini assistant Reggie Mitchell, who reportedly yelled "bleep you!" to Spartan assistant Dave Baldwin. If Michigan State is in search of security, may we suggest Ralphus, above right, the former protector of professional wrestler Chris Jericho.

A Spartan Existence

Michigan State is the next big thing, right? Third in the nation in offense, fifth in scoring, a victory over Notre Dame ... that "other" team in Michigan couldn't beat the Fighting Irish now, could it? Don't look now, but here come the Wolverines. And not everybody says the Spartans will win. Historically, this is not Michigan State's time to shine and Michigan (plus 5) is playing the unfamiliar role of underdog. Plus, the Wolverines just had one of those "players-only" meetings. Do those things ever work?

Loss Cost the Cardinals a Spot in SI

It's called the Sports Illustrated jinx. Appear on the cover — sometimes just get mentioned anywhere in the magazine — and your ecstasy will soon turn into agony. Louisville didn't even get that far. SI followed the Cardinals on their trip to South Florida, then the Bulls scored a stunning 45-14 victory. SI has since canned the story, but at least ESPN is hanging around, sending in a crew to begin taping all-access footage for the show, "The Season."

First the Turnover, Now the Turmoil

North Carolina State had it rolling in 2002, finishing an 11-3 season with a 28-6 pounding of Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. But since that magical season, Chuck Amato has lost five assistants. Now the Wolfpack is stumbling and Amato has received the dreaded vote of confidence from athletic director Les Fowler, who says better days are ahead (registration required).

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Knobler, Jeff D'Alessio, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: This piece breaking down the Atlantic Coast Conference is so involved it took two people to write and countless others to edit (registration).

Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Louisville's loss has suddenly given hope to 1-3 Pittsburgh, which opens Big East play Friday at Rutgers.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: A rare — actually, this is probably historic — glimpse into the mind of a Harris Poll voter (registration).

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Back by popular demand, the Hlist, guaranteed to be gathered from sources not based in pink locker rooms (subscription, story is in comments tab).

Now the Big Guy Is Getting Involved

University of Iowa President David Skorton has condemned threats made against a faculty member who is protesting the use of the color pink in the visitors' locker room at Kinnick Stadium. Erin Buzuvis said she has received death threats since telling a reporter the use of the color reinforces sexist and homophobic stereotypes. The Iowa City Press-Citizen chimes in with an editorial.

And the Final Score Is ...

America's finest city certainly deserves a quality football team, doesn't it? Tom Craft, who is 15-25 as San Diego State's coach, wants to soften the schedule. No more Ohio State, no more UCLA. And "it's not an excuse. It's a dose of reality." Craft later said of the 1-3 Aztecs, "Our record is deceiving. We outplayed UCLA offensively." The Bruins won, 44-21.

Wizard Has a 5-2 Week

A stunning second-half collapse by Louisiana State against Tennessee dropped the Wizard's season record to 18-9-1 (64.2%) against the spread. To recap, the winners: Arizona State, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Wisconsin. Losers: Illinois, LSU.

Bellotti: Quack Attack Derailed by Calls

Coach Mike Bellotti is questioning two penalties that cost Oregon touchdowns in its 45-13 loss to USC. "I think they were incorrect. I don't agree with either call and I'll send" in the video to the Pac-10 for a review and explanation. Bellotti also said, "I think it would have been a different football game with those points on the board."

That's Nearly a Vote for Every Loss

The Harris Poll is out and Idaho, with a spotless 0-4 record, received five votes. It must have been that 24-0 home loss to Hawaii — the Rainbows' first shutout since 1999 and first road victory since 2003 — that won over the voters (registration required). While the Fort Worth Star-Telegram appears to be fawning over the poll, the excellent site deadspin.com is putting it in perspective, saying the poll is already on its death bed, noting that 2-2 Illinois, routed 61-14 at home by Michigan State, received 13 votes. The Fighting Illini travel to former top-10 team Iowa this week, which received only seven votes. Guess it's time for that no-respect-from-the-Harris-pollsters speech Hawkeye Coach Kirk Ferentz has been saving up.

You Say Tomato, I Say Amato

North Carolina State has one win in its last seven ACC games, that coming in overtime against Wake Forest. What was viewed as a can't-miss top-20 team a few years ago is now groping for daylight in its own backyard. And the fun has only started. The Raleigh News & Observer has posted a flash cartoon by 1992 North Carolina State grad Grey Blackwell that takes a jab at Coach Chuck Amato, whose undisciplined team is averaging 10 penalties a game (registration required).

It's Dusty Rose, Not Dusty Rhodes

Although a professor at the University of Iowa is wrestling with the pink visitors' locker room at Kinnick Stadium, the real grappling match involved picking the right shade, a job given to associate athletic director Jane Meyer. "You have to realize," Meyer said with a grin, "how many pink colors I looked at for this project." For the record, the shade is Dusty Rose. We know, it rolls off the tongue like Dusty Rhodes, the former professional wrestler.

Week 5

Week 4 still has a game left (Tennessee-LSU), but this is a busy week, with games Tuesday-Saturday. USA Today hasn't posted the lines for the week, so you can click here for the numbers from Covers.com.

Investigation Starts Into Shooting Death

There is outrage in Orlando over the shooting death of Central Florida campus police officer Mario Jenkins, who was working an undercover operation to combat illegal drinking before the Central Florida-Marshall game. Jenkins was killed by a reserve officer for the Orlando Police Department. There was no formal briefing between the agencies before the operation, officials said, and a state agency has started an investigation.

You Thought Only Louisville Was a Fraud

The Harris Interactive Poll is out, and ladies and gentlemen, it's not exactly a collection of rocket scientists we have working on this project. Asked ESPN commentator Joe Theismann, "Terry Bradshaw, college: Do those things belong together?" Hey, but the good people at Harris figured out that USC is No. 1.

Columnists' Corner

Andrew Bagnato, Arizona Republic: A small pocket of resistance to USC's title hopes has flared in Tempe. Reggie Bush and Company have been summoned.

Chuck Culpepper, Newsday: Score one for the regular guy. Notre Dame's Charlie Weis is one of six Division I coaches who, gulp, never played the game. I'm sure he has a bowling shirt, too.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Unlike Wall Street, the College Football Market is open 24-7. So he's taking the opportunity to buy and sell as we speak.

Dick Weiss, New York Daily News: We don't want to overdose on Charlie Weis stories, but the man has quickly become part of Notre Dame folklore.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: The Crimson Tide's resurgence has once again made Auburn that other team in Alabama.

Bud Withers, Seattle Times: We don't want to overdose on USC stories, but here's a man with a plan on how to beat the Men of Troy.

Cop Kills Campus Police Officer at Game

Central Florida ended the nation's longest losing streak, but the victory over Marshall was marred by the pregame shooting death of a campus police officer. Mario Jenkins, 27, was working an undercover operation aimed at stopping illegal drinking when he was shot and killed by a reserve officer for the Orlando Police Department.

Bobby Wallace and the Temple of Gloom

It was considered Temple's best shot. The game the Owls would win to salvage the season. Western Michigan was coming to town, a middle-of-the-road team from the Mid-American Conference. But true to form, Temple blew a 13-2 lead and lost, 19-16 (registration required).

One Is High Tech, the Other Georgia Tech

There are pretenders and there are contenders. Virginia Tech is a contender. Georgia Tech? It's merely a pretender. That was made clear during the Hokies' thorough lashing of the Yellow Jackets (registration required).

Kentucky Continues to Lose Ugly

Don't let that 49-28 loss to Florida deceive you. Kentucky is worse than the score indicates. You know it, I know it, and now the American people know it, thanks to the Wizard bringing you the filthy details.

Has USC Solved Its No. 1 Problem?

Oregon was supposed to be the stumbling block for USC. A capable opponent in the toughest environment in the Pac-10. The 24-game conference winning streak would end in Autzen Stadium, right? Forget it. USC spotted Oregon a 13-0 led, then turned on the juice.

Wizard Is 5-1 With a Game Remaining

Winners: Arizona State, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Wisconsin. Loser: Illinois. Game Outstanding: Louisiana State. Currently, the season record stands at 18-8-1 against the spread (66.6%). You listening out there in TV land?

Raising a Stink About Pink

A professor at the University of Iowa says she has received numerous Internet threats after it was reported she planned to protest the pink visitors' locker room at Kinnick Stadium. Erin Buzuvis said she has had "death threats and rape threats. I'm not having a fun day." Buzuvis is among a group that plans to raise the issue at a public hearing next week. The group claims the pink lockers are an attempt to demean opposing teams by suggesting they're gay or women. Buzuvis also has a blog.

Boys With the Most Toys Don't Always Win

Three 60-inch plasma televisions. Wood-paneled lockers with Internet ports and ventilation systems. Plush sofas. A security system that reads thumbprints and an automated locker-room door to Autzen Stadium that opens and shuts vertically. Oregon's locker room is second to none, but many think it has made the team, coming off a 5-6 season, complacent (registration, also posted in comments).

In Any Language, It Was a Victory

At least one of the Bay Area teams can beat a team nicknamed the Aggies. California took another important step with a 41-13 road victory at New Mexico State. It was the first college sports event believed to be broadcast in Navajo. After the loss, Aggie coach Hal Mumme would not allow his players to be interviewed.

It Was No Breeze for Cyclones

Iowa State lost style points and the statistical battle, but escaped West Point with a 28-21 victory over Army (subscription, so story is in comments tab). The victory raised more questions about the Cyclones, who have a showdown at Nebraska next week. Earlier, outgoing ISU athletic director Bruce Van De Velde expressed his displeasure over Army backing out of a return game in Ames in 2006.

The Wizard and Week 4

The man stands at 13-7-1 (65% against the spread) entering play. He's fired up! Click on the comments tab for his seven selections.

Problems Start Up Front for Hawkeyes

Iowa is a team without an identity and a serious problem along its defensive front because of defections from the 2002 and 2003 recruiting classes (subscription, so story is in the comments tab). The Hawkeyes have spent the fall trying to piece together a unit that averages 261 pounds a man and they promise adjustments for Saturday’s game at Ohio State, which is angry over getting drilled by Iowa, 33-7, last season, but struggling on offense (registration).

Colorado Comes Down From the Mountain

The last time Colorado played on a September 24 came in 1994, when Michael Westbrook caught Kordell Stewart's miracle 64-yard scoring pass to beat Michigan, 27-26. Can the Buffaloes do it again? They get a shot against Miami and slim and trim Tyrone Moss (registration required). If Gary Barnett, right, doesn't win Saturday, he may have lost his lost chance at glory as Colorado's coach.

We're No. 1 — at Losing

Meet Central Florida, losers of 17 in a row, the nation's longest losing streak. Former Georgia Tech (and Notre Dame, remember?) coach George O'Leary was brought in to fix the mess. It hasn't worked. And a 17-point loss to South Florida got the fans howling. Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi is among the throng. But at least the cheerleaders rank among the nation's best.

Is Iowa State the Cream of the Big 12 North?

The Cyclones and quarterback Bret Meyer get a chance to show their stuff tonight before a national audience when they play at Army. Iowa State hasn't played since beating rival Iowa on Sept. 10 and could be looking ahead to a showdown against Nebraska on Oct. 1.

High Noon in Death Valley for B.C.

Boston College might be wondering what it got itself into (the Atlantic Coast Conference, for one) when it watches Clemson players come down The Hill, touch Howard's Rock and roll onto the field (registration required). The electricity created on game day at Memorial Stadium is unmatched, and to win the Eagles may have to call on backup quarterback Matt Ryan. To make matters worse, Clemson has speed and athleticism.

Up Next, the University of Creampuff

Remember back in the day when Kansas State's Bill Snyder was roasted for playing a cupcake nonconference schedule? Take a look around these days and all the big boys are regulars at the bakery, sampling the likes of Maine, Sam Houston State and, opps, UC Davis. And the Big 12, for one, will profit by fattening up against the softies (registration required).

Reporters' Notebooks

Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegam: Big 12 coaches talk about running up the score and at what point you enter the humiliation zone (registration required).

Chad Hartley, Reno Gazette-Journal: Fresno State's Pat Hill is still steaming over the officiating in the Bulldogs' loss at Oregon.

Columnists' Corner

Norman Chad, Houston Chronicle: Holy Leprechaun! Grab your Charlie Weis bobblehead doll, he's now a Notre Dame fan.

Bud Withers, Seattle Times: A letdown? Would never happen to Seattle's pillar of knowledge. And it won't happen to USC, either.

Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News: Michigan State's victory over Notre Dame was a stepping stone. Illinois will not be a stumbling block.

Crystal Ball

Fab Five, Detroit News: The newspaper's top college analysts picked up the pace last week and get top billing as a reward.

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: He has five picks, hopefully all winners, because his season record is 7-9.

Betting Fool, San Francisco Chronicle: Again, skip past all that NFL nonsense and get to the prime rib, college football.

Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal Constitution: He's 11-9 against the spread. It's good he lives in Atlanta, which is 1966 miles from Vegas, a place he could get into some real trouble (registration required).

Brian Bennett, Louisville Courier-Journal: A new entry into the Crystal Ball. Bennett is a pedestrian 12-12 against the spread.

Back in Black in Lincoln

Nebraska middle linebacker Corey McKeon, the team's leading tackler, has started a campaign for fans to wear black to the Big 12 opener against Iowa State on Oct. 1 at Memorial Stadium. The Cornhusker defense has long been known as the "Blackshirts," and the unit has keyed a 3-0 start. As for the offense, averaging 271.3 yards a game, well, that's another matter.

Duke Mascot Sacked for a Big Loss

During Saturday's game against VMI at Durham, a member of the Keydets band leapt over a wall and sacked the Duke Blue Devil. Charlie Suwankosai, the Duke student inside the costume, declined to press charges against the unidentified VMI student. The Blue Devils recovered from the loss and defeated VMI, 40-14.

Gators' Defense Is Covering the Spread

Urban Meyer's spread option offense is all the rage, but the secret to Florida's success thus far has been the defense. The Gators rank No. 2 nationally in defense and the offense is a pedestrian 60th.

Tech's Talk of 100 Upsets Sycamores

Indiana State Coach Lou West promises to use the talk by Texas Tech players of scoring 100 points this week into a motivational tool. "Obviously, that's bulletin board material, and I've put it up on ours," West said (registration required, story also in comments tab).

Arkansas Fans Put Perspective on Losses

Where does USC's 70-17 bashing of Arkansas rank with the Hog Nation? There was the 10-3 loss to The Citadel, a Division I-AA team, in 1992, and a 51-7 loss to Miami in 1987. What about the 31-7 loss in 1997 to SMU? Or the 63-20 loss to Tennessee in 2000? Hog fans debate the question.

Huskies' Willingham Is a Forward Thinker

He has been a winner at every stop, but he didn't win enough at Notre Dame and was fired. Tyrone Willingham got up, dusted himself off, and took the Washington job. Now he is preparing his new team to face his old one (registration required).

Vandy's Johnson: No Bells or Whistles

He's not a screamer. He's not a sulker. His facial expressions are, well, expressionless. Meet Bobby Johnson, the coach of the 3-0 — yes, 3-0 — Vanderbilt Commodores.

In Blacksburg, He's the Miracle Worker

Name the third-winningest active coach behind Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno? It's Frank Beamer, who has accomplished what was thought to be next to impossible, bringing a Virginia Tech program to elite status (registration required).

Crystal Ball

Dan Hinxman, Reno Gazette Journal: Week 4 of the Great Handicapper Challenge is upon us (ignore these fools who pick NFL games).

Lenn Robbins, New York Post: Gambling problem? Like they say, Lenn, gambling is only a problem when you lose (registration required).

LSU and Tennessee Is More Than a Game

Louisiana's first major sporting event since Hurricane Katrina devastated the state is scheduled for Saturday night. Tennessee is coming to Baton Rouge to play LSU, and although life might never be the same again, it marks an important step forward for the state. "When the Tigers take the field, everything is right in Louisiana," LSU Coach Les Miles said. But with Hurricane Rita lurking in the Gulf of Mexico, ESPN officials scrapped plans to broadcast its "GameDay" show from the LSU campus.
Update: Game is now scheduled for Monday because of the threat of Hurricane Rita. Click the comments tab for details.

Utes Need a Beaut Against Falcons

If Utah has any hope of repeating as Mountain West champion, it must defeat rival Air Force tonight at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The teams have a knack for creating suspense and given the condition of the Utes, a nail-biter is expected.

Reporters' Notebooks

Michael Pointer, Indianapolis Star: Ohio State is plotting its revenge for Iowa, a team that has yet to find an identity.

Jeff D'Alessio, Atlanta Journal Constitution: A team-by-team look at the Southeastern Conference (registration required).

Brian J. Pedersen, Arizona Daily Star: Those who suggest Oregon has a chance against USC might be living in the past.

Columnists' Corner

Berry Tramel, Oklahoman: Don't count out the Sooners. Under that 1-2 record is a team that is improving (registration required).

Andrew Bagnato, Arizona Republic: Score one for the Pac-10, whose teams are averaging 40.2 points a game, most among I-A conferences. The busy Bagnato also has a nice breakdown on each Pac-10 team.

Jake Curtis, San Francisco Chronicle: Before we can look ahead, we must look back at the true meaning of zero.

Chuck Culpepper, Newsday: Mr. Culpepper doesn't vote in the Harris poll because he's simply overqualified.

The Dreaded Penguins of Youngstown State

You know times are tough when the Division I-AA Youngstown State Penguins, fresh off a 42-0 rout of Liberty, are looking forward to invading your stadium. But that's the way it is these days for the winless Pittsburgh Panthers. Can you say UC Davis?

Golden Bears Are Not Half Bad

How good of a coach is California's Jeff Tedford? He lost starting quarterback Nate Longshore in the season opener, then got Joe Ayoob up and running for a rout of Washington. Against Illinois, the Golden Bears trailed, 17-7, at halftime, but rallied for a 35-20 victory. It's all about halftime adjustments, and Tedford is among the best. Cal plays Friday night at New Mexico State.

Beavers Put Up No Defense

Oregon State gave up 553 yards and 63 points at Louisville, and now high-flying Arizona State comes to Corvallis. The Sun Devils ripped through Northwestern for a team-record 773 yards in a 52-21 victory. Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller, left, is among the national leaders in passing and total offense. But the Beavers say they won't have a hangover from the loss to Louisville.

School of Hard Knox-ville

It's foolish to write off Tennessee after one bad game, but it appears David Climer of the Tennessean is doing just that. An unsettled situation at quarterback and a juggling of the offensive line are only some of the problems. And up next is a scheduled trip Saturday night to a rested and healthy Louisiana State.

Don't Tug On Superman's Cape

There's no lack of confidence in Eugene. Oregon students let that be known while standing in line for free tickets to Saturday's game against No. 1 USC. "Ducks 35, USC 31," said one student. Another was taking a more cautious approach, noting the 70-17 rout of Arkansas. "That kind of scares me," she said.

Showdown at the Metrodome

Glen Mason (Minnesota) and Joe Tiller (Purdue) were hired 22 days apart in late 1996. But Mason's Golden Gophers are 0-6 against Tiller's Boilermakers. Maybe it's some kind of spell Lou Holtz cast over the Gopher program when he left more than 20 years ago, but is Saturday the day Minnesota finally ends the skid against Purdue (plus 3.5)? Something has to give when the No. 1 rushing offense meets the No. 1 rushing defense (some registration required).

That 70s Show Has No Class

You knew this was coming. Wally Hall of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette puts the hammer down on USC's Pete Carroll for running up the score Saturday night. Were the Trojans trying to send a message to the SEC through the Razorbacks?

Columnists' Corner

Mark Kiszla, Denver Post: A tough piece on Gary Barnett's future at Colorado. Here are two million reasons why he won't be back.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: Alabama looks better today than it did a week ago, but don't consider a victory over South Carolina the start of a championship run.

David Locke, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: No longer can Notre Dame claim it has a unique spot in college football.

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: He takes an in-depth (and humorous) look at the opponents of Iowa State and Iowa (subscription, so story is in comments tab).

Reporters' Notebooks

Jeff D'Alessio, Atlanta Journal Constitution: The always-helpful Atlantic Coast Conference notebook (registration required).

Natalie Meisler, Denver Post: Urban Meyer is gone, but the former Utah coach's impact on the Mountain West is clear, with teams adopting versions of the spread option.

Tom Oates, Wisconsin State Journal: Despite what the spin doctors say, the Big Ten's prestige has taken a huge hit.

Tony Barhart, Atlanta Journal Constitution: "Mr. College Football" says Clemson's season probably will be defined by the Boston College game (registration required).

Blue Ribbon Matchup in Boise

Bowling Green takes a shot Wednesday night at stopping Boise State's 25-game home winning streak. Although the Broncos have stumbled to an 0-2 start, they are 39-1 at Boise since 1999. What's the secret? Maybe it's the blue turf (story is in comments tab).

Off Topic: Know What Your Kids Read?

Now the Wizard, in his quest for the best of the college game, often stumbles across what some might view as startling information. Sex columns have become the rage at many college newspapers, but one of the best we've seen is crafted by Lara Loewenstein of the UCLA Daily Bruin. Now don't go there if this isn't your normal programming. But if you have kids in college, well, good luck. ...

The Sod, Sod Truth at Iowa and Penn State

It was no field of dreams at Iowa, where complaints from players after the Sept. 3 opener against Ball State led to the decision to install new turf at Kinnick Stadium, above. Iowa's next home game is Oct. 1 against Illinois. The Hawkeyes are not alone. Penn State officials decided to put in new turf at Beaver Stadium after chunks of the field were dislodged during the opener against South Florida. Now all the Nittany Lions have to worry about is Minnesota's Laurence Maroney tearing it up on Oct. 1.

It Was a Cardinal Sin

The Stanford Tree isn't the only one in recovery mode after the Cardinal lost to UC Davis. The San Francisco Chronicle's Betting Fool is trying to put it in perspective, saying the I-AA Aggies are scrambling to schedule Oklahoma before season's end. The frenzy hasn't stopped at the Davis campus, and to make matters worse for Stanford, it can't decide if it wants a rematch in 2007.

Nervous in Norman?

Oklahoma has the record of 47 wins in a row. USC has won 24 in a row, and as far as it has come, it needs to go. The Oklahoman takes a look at the two streaks, compares the different eras, the qualities that set back-to-back champions apart and the streaks of each of the teams. And a glance at who USC can pass next on the list of winning streaks (registration required). Meanwhile, Trojan fans should enjoy this remarkable run.

Running Numbers

Because their faces are rarely seen behind helmets, a jersey number becomes the identity for a player. Although pro players often profit from giving up a number to a teammate, that is not the case in college (registration required).

They Are Now Known as the Road Warriors

A tad dated but great stuff. Nobody in the college game will travel more this season than Hawaii, which will log 32,852 miles to five road games. That total will outdistance 29 of the 32 NFL teams.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: An over-the-shoulder look at the past weekend, with a little help from Renee Zellweger's marriage counselor (subscription, so story is in comments tab).

Blair Kerkhoof, Kansas City Star: How the mighty have fallen. For the first time since Nov. 3, 1969, the Associated Press rankings do not include Nebraska or Oklahoma (registration required).

Dave Dye, Detroit News: Win a big game, lose the next one. Michigan State seems to have this drill down.

Columnists' Corner

Ray Melick, Birmingham Post-Herald: If you're comparing scores to predict an outcome of a game, you're asking for trouble.

Mark Blaudschun, Boston Globe: Alabama has served notice that it's no longer an afterthought in the SEC West.

Week 4

USA Today odds are up and also linked on the right. If you care to comment on the point-spreads for this week's set of games, go right ahead. The fun begins Wednesday, with the Bowling Green-Boise State game at Boise, hometown of WWE Diva Torrie Wilson.

An Age-Old Question in Manhattan

You've heard the clamoring for Penn State's Joe Paterno or Florida State's Bobby Bowden to hang it up, but add a new name to the list: Bill Snyder. The Kansas State coach transformed what was arguably one of Division I's worst teams into a national power. But the Wildcats are coming off a 4-7 season and Snyder will turn 66 on Oct. 7. Kansas State is 2-0, but if it stumbles in Big 12 play, will the voices of dissent grow?

At Least They Maintain a Sense of Humor

The Arkansas message boards, as one could expect, are full of chatter about Saturday night's 70-17 loss to USC. One poster said Reggie Bush just ran through his office. Another said the USC postgame press conference was still going on because nobody could stop laughing.

Fans Lost When ESPN's Alberts Got the Boot

Although former ESPN "College GameDay" analyst Trev Alberts has been the subject of much ridicule across the Internet, Jeffrey Parson of the Wichita Eagle says college football junkies have lost a personality "who was not only happy to take on the world with his opinions but seemed ready to jump over that desk in front of him to do so."

The Flag Is Up in South Bend

Michigan State's on-field celebration after its overtime win against Notre Dame included the Spartans planting an MSU flag in the middle of the field. That didn't go over well with some Fighting Irish fans.

Texas Tech Math: After 80 Comes 100

And you thought USC's 70 points against Arkansas was impressive. Texas Tech hammered Sam Houston State for 80 and now, with creampuff Indiana State coming to town, it is talking about eclipsing that total.

This Could Have Been the Nutt-Cracker

Arkansas' stunning 70-17 loss at USC is not good news for Coach Houston Nutt. He likely will be out of work in December.

Columnists' Corner

Andrew Bagnato, Arizona Republic: How does the Pac-10 rate nationally? That's difficult to judge, but we do know that USC is USC.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Stanford's loss to UC Davis ranks right up there considering the Aggies play in I-AA and have only 35 scholarships.

Dick Weiss, New York Daily News: The USC Trojans have all the horses and appear unstoppable.

Wildcats Need to Sharpen Their Claws

In 2003, Arizona was routed at Purdue, 59-7. But the Wildcats went toe-to-toe with the Boilermakers on Saturday night in a 31-24 loss at Tucson. Many of the mistakes that cost the Wildcats a chance to win can be attributed to youth and it appears better days are ahead. As for Purdue, the offensive line and running game were terrific, but the pass defense needs work.

Glass Is Half Empty, Glass is Half Full

Former Nebraska student Tommy Lee might think the Cornhuskers are smoking after a 3-0 start, but that's not the opinion of Curt McKeever of the Lincoln Star-Journal. The 7-6 victory against Pittsburgh was merely another indication of trouble ahead. In the Steel City, the 0-3 Panthers have been getting roasted, right? Not the case. Joe Starkey of the Tribune-Review says Pittsburgh's improvement has it on the cusp of a turnaround. "I'm telling you. Pitt will be 5-3 (OK, maybe 4-4) going into its game Nov. 3 at Louisville."

In Seattle, the Past Meets the Present

Notre Dame, as predicted by the Wizard, not only failed to cover, but lost the game to Michigan State. Now comes the anticipated trip to Seattle. No, they aren't going to visit the Space Needle, rather, the Fighting Irish are going to play Washington and former coach Tyrone Willingham, whose tenure at South Bend ended in ugly fashion.

When Does Basketball Season Start?

Rick Bozich of the Louisville Courier-Journal has seen enough. He wants Rich Brooks out as Kentucky coach. In a blistering review of the Wildcats' 38-14 loss to Indiana, Bozich asks readers to send him names of candidates to replace Brooks.

Oklahoma Is Not OK

UCLA might be touting its 41-24 victory over Oklahoma as indication the program has arrived, but really, what kind of outfit did the Bruins beat? Sooner running back Adrian Peterson wasn't talking after running behind an offensive line that had its third different starting lineup in three games. And gamblers, of course, were the first to catch on. Only Florida State (minus 13.5) in 2001 was a bigger favorite over Oklahoma than was UCLA (6.5) since Bob Stoops arrived in Norman.

Nobody Is Going to Beat These Guys

Establish a running game? Lose the battle for time of possession? Forget that crap. USC's offense is so good, everybody else is playing for second. Arkansas was considered an attractive opponent for USC, but the Trojans needed only 1:32 to score four touchdowns in the first quarter of a 70-17 drilling of the Razorbacks. "It's scary," USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett said. "It can happen so fast at times." Said Coach Pete Carroll, who continued to pile it on: "We can't ask them to score slower." (some registration required.)

Wizard Goes 4-2-1

Winners: UCLA, Michigan State, Alabama, Virginia Tech. Losers: Boston College, Arkansas. Push: Rice. The season record now stands at 13-7-1 (65%) against the spread.

From the Sofa to the Recliner

OK, we lost the remote for TV No. 3, and some guy named Bush keeps running off right guard for Louisville. But we always have another remote handy, although getting it involved having to physically move. Just a word that the postings will be down today. It's payday, so to speak. You understand. We will be back later in the evening, but that doesn't mean we're over the new BCS ticket scam.

They're Partying at Rosa's Cantina

It was a victory that would have made the late Marty Robbins proud. In the West Texas town of El Paso Friday night, the hometown Miners stormed back from an early deficit to take a lead against Houston, then missed an opportunity to win in regulation. It went to a second overtime, and safety Quintin Demps intercepted a Kevin Kolb pass to give Texas El Paso a 44-41 victory. The bad news for the Miners? They didn't cover. ... Here are two accounts from the game, one from the El Paso Times, the other the Houston Chronicle.

Makes No Sense for Fans, Dollars for BCS

The prediction here is that coverage of the Bowl Championship Series-Rose Bowl ticket plan will gain momentum this weekend. It was interesting how this story was dropped late Friday. Saturday historically is the day many people don't bother with the paper, so if you have bad news, tell the world about it late Friday. Another reason is that East Coast papers can't chase the story and by Sunday, it becomes dated. Thus far, only the Los Angeles Times has figured it out. The policy is disturbing, but check the last two graphs of the Times' story. Last add: If you don't want to register on the Times' site, the story is now posted in the comments tab.

The Wizard and Week 3

He is 9-5 (69.2%) and ready to rock and roll with seven selections. You'll have to click on the comments tab below to see the picks.

This Seems Like Some Kind of Scam

Fans of college football should be outraged. The Bowl Championship Series and the Rose Bowl have released a plan where fans can purchase the rights to secure a limited number of tickets at face value to the BCS title game on Jan. 4, 2006, in Pasadena. Each team has a specific value. Examples: for USC, the going rate is $100; for UCLA, it's $10. Click here to see your team's value (there is a pop-up menu on that page). The money paid to secure the reservation won't apply to the actual cost of a ticket if your team is selected to play in the title game. The reservation only secures you the right to purchase one of these tickets. If your team is not selected to play in the Rose, then it is our understanding that you lose your reservation money, unless you are able to sell the reservation before it becomes worthless.

In addition, fans will have the chance to secure reservations that apply to all BCS bowls, excluding the Rose. So, for example, if you fear USC might not be selected for the Rose but will secure a bid to another BCS game, you can spend another $80 to include the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar. So for $180, USC fans, you are covered for all the BCS bowls. If they don't make any of the BCS games, you are out the money.

Reservations also are being sold individually for the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar.

He's No Fan of the Fighting Irish

Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News says the pride of the Big Ten is at stake Saturday when Michigan State plays Notre Dame. And he's rooting for the Spartans, saying, "You lose in Notre Dame Stadium for the first time since 1993, and allow the Irish to go 3-0 under Charlie Crew Cut, and we have a major problem."

It's Only Cheating If You Get Caught

Did Texas Christian run an illegal play to end Utah's 18-game winning streak Thursday night? The Utes say yes, but the Horned Frogs, who won, 23-20, say no shenanigans were involved.

Crystal Ball

John Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News gets up from canvas and dusts himself off after going 3-3 last week.

Detroit News staffers continue to wage their battle against the numbers. Total for the group is 81-69 (54%). And where did they get this Iowa (minus 5.5) line?

Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World picks the Big 12 games, but he doesn't include the numbers

Columnists' Corner

Bud Withers, Seattle Times: High praise from the Wizard. If you don't know what Southeastern Conference football is all about, here is a primer. A dandy piece.

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: Times have changed in the Sunshine State. Would it be possible for Florida, Florida State and Miami to lose on the same day?

Jim Moore, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Another Northwest offering. This one with a bite. A 75-3 victory by Washington State over Grambling State would be OK, but he prefers 96-0.

Connecting With a One-Two Combination

This is an oldie but a goodie. Lee Corso loses it during an interview with KTCK-AM in Dallas (mp3 file down on the page). And since we are picking on a member of ESPN's "GameDay" crew, let's go after the network for misuse of the news crawl during game telecasts.

No Volunteers Are Needed

Steve Spurrier is long gone from Gainesville, but that hasn't stopped the Florida fans from poking fun at their favorite punching bag, Tennessee Coach Phil Fulmer (registration required).

Yale Study: Gambling Is Good for Seniors

Researchers at Yale University have found that older gamblers are healthier than their younger counterparts, who have higher rates of alcohol and substance abuse, bankruptcy, depression and incarceration.

Crystal Ball

John Lopez, Houston Chronicle: He's 9-6 for the season and his large lock is ... well, you'll have to click on the link.

Dan Hinxman, Reno Gazette-Journal: The handicapper challenge enters Week 3. Give him the old college try, even though the Reno crowd is mixing in NFL games.

Betting Fool, San Francisco Chronicle: Again, blast through the NFL stuff at the top to the college picks down low. The Fool was 4-1 last week in college.

Lenn Robbins, New York Post: Listed at the bottom of this posting because he is 4-5-1 on the season. Start winning, Lenn, and you move up.

It's Garbage Time in Columbus

There were 17 deserted tents, 20 white lawn chairs, 30-40 folding chairs, 12 charcoal grills and dozens of coolers filled with everything from human waste to raw meat. That's just the beginning. The cleanup crew after the Texas-Ohio State game set a record, hauling away 43.6 tons of waste. By comparison, only 15.9 tons were hauled away after the opener against Miami of Ohio (subscription, so story is also posted in the comments tab).

'U' Too Might Have This Problem

Virginia Tech's game against Ohio (plus 33.5) is on ESPNU, and much of the Hokie nation is up in arms because of the limited availability of the network. One fan called the Roanoke Times saying he thought ESPNU was a typographical error because he had never heard of the network. In Tucson, the situation is worse. Arizona fans are stunned that the Wildcats' game against Purdue (minus 7.5) won't be telecast. But Arizona officials say the blackout could boost the gate by about 8,000.

How Sooner They Forget

Oklahoma played in the BCS title game in January, but the empire appears to be crumbling. First comes the acknowledgment that the Sooners are an average team. How did this happen? One view is that Bob Stoops has lost his edge and his players are taking advantage of a kinder, gentler coach (registration required).

Oh Yeah, They Have a Football Team, Too

There are many outstanding bands, but few reach the celebrity status of Grambling State's Tiger Marching Band. The football team plays Washington State on Saturday at Qwest Field in Seattle, and the famed show band is ready to boogie.

Are They Winners or Whiners?

Ohio State officials have issued an apology to Texas fans who said they were harassed after the Longhorns' victory against the Buckeyes at Columbus. The Austin American-Statesman published several letters complaining about Ohio State fans, who were called rude, belligerent and intoxicated.

They Don't Like the Spread Offense, Either

Arkansas players and coaches dislike what Las Vegas is saying about the Razorbacks' chances Saturday at USC. Arkansas is a 31-point underdog. "No bookie in Las Vegas knows the heart and the character of this team," defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said. "Nobody does. We'll find out this Saturday."

Columnists' Corner

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: If third-year UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell, has turned around the program, he needs to show it Saturday. Oklahoma is coming to town.

Chuck Culpepper, Newsday: An entertaining look at the top 25 stories from the college game.

Natalie Meisler, Denver Post: Mountain West Conference's teams are 4-5 against opponents from automatic-qualifying BCS leagues, but the WAC, Conference USA, Sun Belt and MAC are 2-39.

Lorenzo Perez, Raleigh News and Observer: What does a million dollars get you these days? For starters, that's the going rate for compiling a staff of assistants.

Playing the Owls Is Simply a Hoot

You can make an argument that Temple is the nation's worst team. After two games, the Owls have been outscored, 128-16. And the scheduled is daunting. Eight of Temple's opponents went to bowl games last season, including five that finished in the top 25.

It's Hear and Now for Fans of the SEC

Here is a link to the weekly teleconference call with coaches of the Southeastern Conference. The conference call will be posted every Wednesday.

Trying to Restore the Roar in State College

Beaver Stadium seats 107, 282, but undefeated Penn State has yet to play a top-level team. Central Michigan (plus 22) visits Saturday, and the Chippewas appear to be just another directional opponent that has failed to grasp much interest in State College, even with the players. "There's like 20 Michigans," an unnamed Nittany Lion player said, grasping to name Saturday's opponent.

Look Who Is Crashing the Party

They are asking for calm in South Bend, where Notre Dame is 2-0 and appears to be unstoppable. On Saturday, nemesis Michigan State (plus 6) comes to town. The Spartans have defeated the Fighting Irish six times since 1995 and has won five in a row at Notre Dame Stadium. But if it comes down to the kicking game, Michigan State could be in trouble.

Cardinals Not Alone in Eyeing the Beavers

Maybe it's a good week for Oregon State to be on the road. Consider the distraction, with Playboy in Corvallis looking for candidates to appear in next fall's "Girls of the Pac-10" pictorial. Meanwhile, the football Beavers are at Louisville (minus 13.5), where the game is a sellout.

Fifteen Yards for Excessive Headbutting

Sons of the former World Wrestling Federation tag-team champion Wild Samoans will meet Saturday when Georgia Tech plays Connecticut. Joe Anoai is a defensive tackle for Georgia Tech and Afa Anoai is a defensive tackle for Connecticut. Credit the great BenMaller.com site for getting it first. You can read about the cousins near the bottom of this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story.

Reporters' Notebooks

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: The incredible catch by Alabama's Tyrone Prothro against Southern Mississippi could be the start of something big for the Crimson Tide.

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Louisiana State's JaMarcus Russell was rewarded Saturday for all his good deeds (subscription, so story is in comments tab).

Leila Wai, Honolulu Advertiser: June Jones misses Hawaii's practice and Jerry Glanville says he might swap his all-black attire and wear an aloha shirt.

Gordon Monson, Salt Lake Tribune: Utah and Brigham Young each have played two games and observers are trying to figure where the teams might be headed.

A Case of Old-School Thinking

The L.A. Coliseum has reached an agreement with USC that will prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages inside the facility during Trojan home games (may require registration).

What's Brewing in Maxwell's House?

Central Michigan safety Marlin Maxwell said Miami of Ohio receivers were skittish during the Chippewas' 38-37 victory. "They folded up. You could tell that they didn't want to catch the ball over the middle."

Vandy Looks Dandy to This Voter

Vanderbilt has victories at Wake Forest and Arkansas, but the support of only one voter in the Associated Press poll. The voter, Beau Bishop, says anything less than a bowl appearance for the Commodores would be a disappointment.

Remembering Chris Schenkel

Bill Griffith of the Boston Globe has a nice piece on former ABC college football announcer Chris Schenkel, who died Sunday at age 82 after battle with emphysema.

Officially, This Is Not a Fun Job

Bobby Moreau, a Southeastern Conference official who received death threats after a controversial call in last season's Tennessee-Florida game, was pulled from Saturday's game. Steve Beckman, who retired after 31 seasons as an official, knows what it's like to get booed by 110,000 Michigan fans.

How to Combat Soaring Tuition Costs

The Rocky Mountain Collegian, the student newspaper of Colorado State, says betting against the Rams might be the way to go. "So if we bet against CSU, then we can win money to make the losses actually benefit us instead of breaking our school spirit. We can exploit the football team and maybe even earn enough money to make attending CSU a little less costly."

Reporters' Notebooks

Michael Vega, Boston Globe: Boston College will quickly learn the ABCs of the ACC when it plays host to Florida State on Saturday night.

Dave Dye, Detroit News: Michigan State's Clifton Ryan says of Notre Dame and Touchdown Jesus, "Once I seen it, I realized it wasn't all it's cracked up to be."

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Mr College Football" looks at the three strangest decisions from Week 2 (registration required).

Chris Dempsey, Denver Post: His look at the Big 12 leads with Missouri trying to put the pieces back together after a stunning loss at home to New Mexico.

Drawing a Line in the Sand

Arizona will look to spring an upset Saturday night when Purdue visits Tucson. Last year, Arizona pushed Wisconsin to the limit at Arizona Stadium before losing, but the Boilermakers are intent on taking care of business.

They're Exporting Gaming, Too

Macao, a small island territory 37 miles southwest of Hong Kong, is being called Asia's Las Vegas. Entrepreneurs have been promising to transform this tiny former Portuguese colony into the entertainment capital of Asia, full of Vegas style.

What Happens Here, Leaves Here

The betting world no longer revolves around Las Vegas. A 10-year boom in offshore sports books has turned Las Vegas into a smaller player, second in line to computers in remote international outposts.

Their Own Private Idaho

Washington is 33-2 against Idaho, with the Vandals' two victories coming in 1900 and 1905. But the whispers around Seattle suggest the Huskies might be in trouble Saturday.

Columnists' Corner

Dick Weiss, New York Daily News: He's not only on the Vince Young bandwagon, he's driving it after the quarterback guided Texas to a victory over Ohio State.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Preseason magazines are meant to sell product, not inform. Take Pittsburgh, for example.

Andrew Bagnato, Arizona Republic: Louisiana State rose to No. 3 in the polls after beating Arizona State, but the Tigers didn't look worthy of such a ranking for three quarters.

Mark Blaudschun, Boston Globe: Credit the Big Ten for breaking new ground. Before Saturday, no conference had three top-10 teams lose on the same day since the Associated Press started its rankings in 1936.

Week 3

USA Today does not have this week's college lines up at the moment, so you can check out this link for all the numbers at Covers.com.

Call It the Cyclone State

Iowa was the team with the hype, but Iowa State was the team with the substance. They Cyclones' 23-3 stomping of the Hawkeyes was Dan McCarney's biggest victory at Ames and an enormous confidence booster. Iowa State gets a week off before playing at Army, then comes a Big 12 North showdown at Nebraska. Click on comments tab for story.

Tiger Tale: Pinkel on the Hot Seat

If this keeps up, Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel will wake up one morning with hundreds of "For Sale" signs on his lawn. His Tigers lost at home to New Mexico, 45-35, and the heat is on. Registration required, but if you're lazy, click on the comments tab below. The story is posted there.

Cardinal Rule: Class Is in Session

Stanford, coached by Walt Harris, is 1-0 after its victory at Navy. Pittsburgh, Harris' former team, is 0-2. But would Harris use the Cardinal victory to get in a jab at his former employer?

Sooner of Later, It Had to Happen

You knew this was coming. Oklahoma fans, giddy over the firing of former Nebraska Cornhusker Trev Alberts by ESPN, have taken it upon themselves to Photoshop Alberts' face in ways that are unimaginable.

Chris Schenkel Dead at 82

The former voice of ABC telecasts of college football dies in Fort Wayne, Ind., after a long battle with emphysema.

Wizard, Scratching His Head, Goes 4-3

The man has plenty to say after going 4-3. He is 9-5 for the season, picking at a 64.2% clip, but missed opportunities and shenanigans at the end of a couple of games has the man fuming. We'll be back later after we go through this ream of notes from our exclusive interview.

The Dave Wannstedt Error

This was Ohio, not Ohio State. Pittsburgh lost a game and had its pride battered Friday night in a 16-10 loss to Ohio in what Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette calls "one of the sorriest chapters in the university's athletic history."

The Wizard and Week 2

He was 5-2 in Week 1 and will try to maintain the momentum. Click on the comments tab below for the selections.

Columnists' Corner

Bud Withers, Seattle Times: His reader-friendly column begins with Hurricane Katrina and ends with Mike Ditka taking a shot at former Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris, now at Stanford.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The paper's "Mr. College Football" says there are three things to look for on Saturday.

Maybe He Likes Being 'Marginalized'

If Rece Davis, host of ESPN's "College Football Gameday" and "College Football Scoreboard," knew about Trev Alberts' firing by the network, he wasn't talking about it when he spoke this week to the Huntsville Quarterback Club. No replacement has been named for Alberts, who was let go two days before Davis spoke, but Desmond Howard filled Alberts' former seat Thursday night.

Crystal Ball

Here is one man who will go to the window and put down his hard-earned newspaper money on Ohio State.

The so-called experts continue to line up behind the Buckeyes. And this guy even writes for a Texas newspaper.

Leroy's College Challenge already is a success, with officials exceeding the expected number of entries.

Detroit News picks the games (not off to a good start, either).

Wildcats Have Leg Up on the Competition

A stripper, who says she is wearing only "four or five articles of clothing," is promising to discard one piece for every Kentucky victory. The Wildcats have won only six games the past two years.

He Is Wrestling With Oklahoma's Loss

Jim Ross, the ringside announcer for World Wrestling Entertainment and noted Oklahoma fanatic, felt like he had been body-slammed after the Sooners' stunning 17-10 loss to Texas Christian at Norman. "I was in denial and shock — much as I felt a few months after my second marriage," he said.

Karsten Obituary Is Published

Click on the comments tab below to read the obit that ran this week in the Oshkosh Northwestern for Adrian Karsten, the former ESPN sideline reporter who was found dead in his home Friday.

At Duke, It Doesn't Add Up

And the Wizard thought these kids at Duke were the sharpest pencils in the drawer. The student newspaper, the Chronicle, points out that although the Blue Devils were 2-9 last season, they were 7-3 against the spread. ... OK, we didn't say they were good at math.

How to Attract Readers? This Is a Sure Bet

USA Today, while noting that sports betting is illegal in nearly every state, dedicated much of its sports cover to this dastardly demon. Oh, and don't forget the chat later today (wink, wink) with oddsmaker Danny Sheridan.

Let the Chips Fall Where They May

Washington State Coach Bill Doba, whose team plays at Nevada (plus 9.5) on Friday night, is worried about distractions in Reno. "I'm sure it is going to be hard to keep a kid from putting a quarter in a slot machine because they're all over the place," he said. But the trusting Doba believes his players will stay out of trouble.

Crystal Ball

Dan Hinxman, Reno Gazette-Journal: It's week two of his handicap challenge.

Jeff Haney, Las Vegas Sun: Sportsbook director says the Stardust goofed with its opening Hawaii-Michigan State line (second item).

Columnists' Corner

Ted Miller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: What is it like to practice with Black Hawk helicopters buzzing overhead? The Louisiana State Tigers know.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Hurricane Katrina has made Tulane a team without a home (registration required).

Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: This game is bigger than Texas. So big, it has to be played in Ohio Stadium. We're talking Texas and Ohio State (registration required).

Call It the Toilet Bowl

Texas El Paso officials took a tent and three portable toilets to Las Cruces and set up a temporary dressing room after it was determined the visiting locker rooms at New Mexico State would not accommodate the team.

Karsten Was Found Hanged in Garage

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that former ESPN sideline reporter Adrian Karsten was found hanged in his garage Friday, the day after he was to report to federal prison to begin serving an 11-month term for tax evasion (requires registration, story also posted in comments).

Big Ten News and Notes

How big is Saturday's game against Cincinnati (plus 21) for Penn State? Since 1990, the Nittany Lions have lost the second game four times, leading to a losing season. The 10 victories have led to a winning one.

Wisconsin is shuffling its secondary after giving up a staggering 458 passing yards to Bowling Green.

Don't put much stock in Iowa's rout of Ball State and Iowa State's sluggish victory over Illinois State. Saturday's game between these rivals is as intense as they come.

Moving Game Upsets LSU Fans

The Shreveport Times reports that not all Louisiana State fans believe moving Saturday night's game against Arizona State from Baton Rouge to Tempe was the right thing to do. Many took their frustration to talk radio.

Reporters' Notebooks

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: Is this the first hint that not all is well at USC? LenDale White, upset in Hawaii, gets the tough yards, leaving Reggie Bush to get the Heisman-style touchdowns (may require registration).

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: What a difference a week makes. Tommy Tuberville won 15 in a row at Auburn, but a startling loss to Georgia Tech has Tiger fans pushing the panic button.

Randy Holtz, Rocky Mountain News: Think Dennis Franchione was the only coach to error on Saturday? Colorado State's Sonny Lubick has come forward to confess his sins.

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: A colorful look at who sizzled and who fizzled in Week 1 (pay site, so story is in the comments tab).

Duel in Desert Is a Hot Ticket

Tickets for Saturday night's Louisiana State-Arizona State game in Tempe are going fast, and officials are hopeful former Presidents Bush and Clinton will attend.

Tale of the Tape

Hawaii (plus 29) travels to Michigan State this week, and Warrior Coach June Jones said the Spartans refused to exchange game tapes. Spartan Coach John L. Smith blamed Hawaii. Smith, whose team lost last season to the Rainbows, 41-38, let it be known that he was no fan of Jones, although he later said he was kidding.

Trev Alberts Is Out at ESPN

The network has fired the studio analyst after he failed to show for work Sunday, according to John Walters of SI.com. The dispute reportedly has been brewing for months over Alberts' role on "College Football Gameday" and "College Football Scoreboard." Said Alberts: "It's just a matter of not wanting to be marginalized."

AP Finally Moves on Karsten

Associated Press has filed a story on the death of former ESPN sideline reporter Adrian Karsten. Not much that we didn't already know, but the Green Lake County sheriff's department is expected to release more information Wednesday.

Did Somebody Say Road Trip?

It started in Orlando and ended in Tallahassee. Steve Elling and Tania Deluzuriaga saw three games in five days, covering 1,200 miles and three states, and got the Orlando Sentinel to pay for it.

Reporters' Notebooks

Chris Dempsey, Denver Post: Oklahoma is switching quarterbacks, but the Sooners' problems begin up front.

Angelique S. Chengelis, Detroit News: Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr plans to shake up his shaky defense before Saturday's game against Notre Dame.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: Staggering personnel losses have caught up with Auburn and Oklahoma (requires registration).

Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Dave Wannstedt says Pittsburgh will rebound from its humbling loss to Notre Dame. A trip to Ohio is next.

A Real Flash in a Fan

For the sixth consecutive year, Ken Romig has put together a Flash presentation to honor the USC Trojans. Here is a link to past efforts, plus his dig at rival UCLA. Requires bandwidth.

ASU-LSU Moved to Tempe

The Wizard hits the bull's-eye again: Saturday's Arizona State-Louisiana State game is being moved from Baton Rouge to Tempe.

Karsten Death Labeled Suicide

The New York Post reports that former ESPN sideline reporter Adrian Karsten died of an apparent suicide. Linked and in comments.

Week 2

The USA Today odds are up. Let's have at it!

Columnists' Corner

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Not the right time for Miami and Florida State to play.

Andrew Bagnato, Arizona Republic: What the Pac-10 and late Rodney Dangerfield have in common. The busy Bagnato also shares his views of Week 1.

Kevin Whitmire, Dallas Morning News: What went right and what went wrong for the Big 12.

Dick Weiss, New York Daily News: Is Kyle Wright the problem-solver for Miami?

Cat Is Out of the Bag

Arizona might be 0-1, but the hometown Arizona Daily Star is 1-0. The paper's decision to augment coverage of the Wildcats with its Cat Tales blog was a rousing success, reporter Charles Durrenberger says

A 5-2 Start for the Wizard

The man has garnered enough strength to pull himself off the couch and talk about the weekend's games and his brush with perfection. Check the comments below.

Former ESPN Sideline Reporter Dead

Adrian Karsten, 45, was found dead in his Green Lake, Wis., home, according to ESPN.com. Karsten pleaded guilty on July 8 to two counts of failing to file federal income tax returns for the years 2000 and 2002. He was sentenced to 11 months in a federal prison to be followed by nine months of home confinement.

Hoosiers 1-0, but 0-1 in Vegas

Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz was encouraged by Indiana's 20-13 victory at Central Michigan. "A couple of years ago, they would have lost to anybody. And failed to cover the spread." Well, they didn't cover Friday, either.

They're Blogging at Arizona

Arizona Daily Star reporter Charles Durrenberger is filing a blog report after practices and games. We've included his effort after the Wildcats' 27-24 loss to Utah, plus a column by his colleague, Greg Hansen.

Tulane Cancels Fall Semester

But university officials say the athletic teams will continue to compete. Click on comments for details

Not Playing by the Book

Thirteen Ball State players -- more than half of them starters -- were suspended for Saturday's game against Iowa (minus 39) after they allegedly misused a used book loan program. The game likely will be off the board. Details in comments.

ASU-LSU Game on the Move?

Oddsmakers generally calculate a homefield advantage to be three points, and that advantage might swing to Arizona State as there appears to be a possibility the Sept. 10 Arizona State-Louisiana State game could be moved from Baton Rouge to Tempe. Details in comments.

Houston, We Have a Problem

KILT-AM, the sports-talk leader in Houston, won't be talking point-spreads.

Crystal Ball

Now that the rent check went through, these Brave souls have come out of hiding and are willing to put it on the line. In comments.

Thursday Evening Quarterback

He's 2-0 and has plenty to say. The Wizard offers his unique critic of Thursday's games in the comments section.

They Have No Class

Maybe we are onto something. Several universities that field powerhouse teams also are ranked in the The Princeton Review's annual survey of colleges where students (almost) never study.

Let's Tee It Up!

Welcome to our new visitors, especially those friends being directed to the site from BenMaller.com. Remember, this your site, a public forum to exchange information to help us all. Send us any links or notes or post them in the comments sections.

That said, the moment has arrived. The captains are coming on to the field for the coin toss. The TiVo is set, the pillows arranged on the sofa, the refrigerator is stocked, and -- most important -- the Wizard has posted his picks and the logic behind them in the comments section of Week 1.

We will be back later in the evening.

Columnists' Corner

A coast-to-coast look at what they are saying as we get ready for the coin toss. In comments.

Do Casinos Abuse Patrons' Rights?

A recent story in the Las Vegas Tribune says yes, and the incidents are not isolated occurrences.