What We Know...Week 3

- Charlie Weis has balls. I swear, I thought he was going to go for it on fourth down with over 6 minutes left at midfield. I just sat there and told my wife that I would not have the slightest gumption to go for it in that situation. (Michigan State 44, Notre Dame 41, OT)

- Vanderbilt going to a bowl is a real possibility now with a win over Ole Miss. The ‘Dores have Richmond and Middle Tennessee the next two weeks and will get Kentucky at home. While I don’t believe all the hype about QB Jay Cutler, I will say that confidence and emotion go a long way in college football. Without the wins over Wake and Arkansas, Ole Miss would have completed the comeback. A new Vandy? Maybe…(Vanderbilt 31, Mississippi 23)

- So USC puts up 70 points against Arkansas… Folks, lets calm down here, while the above-mentioned Vanderbilt stands at 3-0, the Hogs are down. Sure USC has firepower, but the Hogs aren’t their usual selves. USC will be in for a fight against Oregon…wait, no they won’t. (USC 70, Arkansas 17)

- It was ugly. It wasn’t Fun-N-Gun, but Florida now has the keys for Atlanta in their hands after taking down Tennessee. Urban Meyer will get the headlines and is the perceived savior in Gainesville for his offensive play calling ability, but questions still remain for the Gators. For today, we will reward Meyer for making the Gators solid in the kicking game, a staple that never existed under Spurrier. (Florida 16, Tennessee 7)

- Speaking of Spurrier… it seemed everytime I flipped from the Notre Dame game, I saw Alabama with the ball on their way to rolling up 338 yards on the ground. The Cock-N-Fire has a LONG way to go. I guess I was duped with the Cocks game against Georgia. I now wonder about Georgia’s offense when they play comparable talent. Alabama needs to now be in the mix of talks about the SEC West. (Alabama 37, South Carolina 14)

- Note to coaches everywhere: Shutting it down with over 9 minutes left in the 3rd quarter is NOT advised. John L. Smith did everything to lose the game that Michigan State held firmly in their hands. I understand running the ball to run clock, but when you have the pedal to the metal and its working, why back off? JLS needs to confer with Mike Leach at Texas Tech… (Michigan State 44, Notre Dame 41)

- Rhett Bomar, 20-for-29, 241 yards vs. UCLA is a far cry from his Tulsa outing (7-for-18, 61 yards). However, wasn’t the Oklahoma defense supposed to be the anchor this year? So much for my early prediction of the Sooners playing with a chip on their shoulder. This was the only appearance in Pasadena this year for the Sooners. Stoops will earn his paycheck for the rest of this year, however Bomar’s improved play will help avoid this season becoming a lost cause. OU is now a team playing for a Big 12 championship. If Texas doesn’t win in Dallas this year…hang it up. (UCLA 41, Oklahoma 24)

- Drew Weatherford of Florida State is another bounce-back candidate. After his gem against Miami, (7-for-24, 67 yards) not much could be expected against Boston College. Weatherford did more than manage the game or playing safe and not taking chances. Instead the sophomore stood his ground, moved the team, and answered after BC took a 17-14 lead. Add in the measly 13 rushing yards for the Seminoles and Weatherford can be credited for the win. Florida State will be just fine, thank you very much, but their Rose Bowl hopes will be dashed down the road without a running game. (Florida State 28, Boston College 17)

- Expect Miami to get things rolling after surviving a scare in Death Valley. Clemson showed moxie, coming back from 20-10 down to send the game to OT. However, Miami would pull out the win. The Hurricanes called a balanced game, with Kyle Wright going to the air for 152 yards and Tyrone Moss rushing for 139. The Canes face Colorado at home this weekend before getting three glorified scrimmages (South Florida, Duke, at Temple). The showdown with Virginia Tech will loom large for the ACC Coastal division. (Miami 36, Clemson 30, OT)

Quick hitters:

- Dave Wannstedt is now the biggest fraud in college football, although, isn’t Bill Callahan supposed to be modernizing the Nebraska attack? Zac Taylor’s (10-for-20, 93 yards doesn’t exactly impress me.) Fortunately, I didn’t see the game as we got the Ohio State-San Diego State yawner in the Lexington area. (Nebraska 7, Pitt 6)

- Shame on ABC for even having that Ohio State – San Diego State crap in their regional mix. (Ohio State 27, San Diego State 6)

- Shame on CBS for picking up the Florida-Kentucky game this weekend.

- C’mon coach (Mike Leach), 208 yards by your backup quarterback in a rout? (Texas Tech 80, Sam Houston State 21)

- Notre Dame’s secondary was THAT BAD last year for Tyler Palko, who threw for five touchdowns for the Irish…Palko, a shell of himself or the true representation after the South Bend fluke (you decide), was 11-for-26, 190 vs. Nebraska (Nebraska 7, Pitt 6)


Awards:

Dummy of the Week: Phil Fulmer, Tennessee. “We’re gonna start Clausen.” (For a quarter.) “We’re gonna run the ball with Riggs.” (Only when we don’t try to hit one deep.) “We’re gonna keep them off-balance.” (Florida looked pretty comfortable to me.)

Genius of the Week: The genius was on the visiting side of the field in South Bend… until it was 38-17, then the Spartans got ultra-conservative. However, JLS was talking his boys up coming into this game and they delivered…just after working some overtime.