The Sideline Report: College Football Weekly: September 19

Florida Week

Any other season in the recent history of the Tennessee Vols this week would be referred to as Florida week. This year, not so much. This year most Vol fans would like to forget this week.

If not for last week's UCLA debacle, however, there might not be as much angst heading into this week. Sure, Florida would still be double-digit favorites, but I doubt they'd be favored by 29 points.

Tennessee was exposed last week. Exposed for exactly what they were in 2008—one of the worst offenses in the country.

It's that fact alone that makes this week miserable for most Vol fans.

I know this is college football. I know the old adage that anyone can beat anyone on any given Saturday. I know that this Tennessee defense might be one of their best ever. I know that unit might give Florida's offense fits on Saturday. The question is, does it matter? If Tennessee does shut them down on offense, how are the Vols going to score?

The answer is special teams and defensive scores. If I am Lane Kiffin I've worked hard on special teams all week. I would have worked on putting Eric Berry back as a punt returner or kick returner.

On Monte's side, the defense, I would have done everything within my power to make life for my defense miserable. I want them mad going into the swamp. I want them ready to tear Tebow limb from limb.

Face it, Tennessee is not going to win this game. But if I could challenge the players psychologically to get after it on Saturday I would have done everything in power to do that.

We'll see how the Vols come out Saturday. This year the motto is, "keep it respectable." Let's hope this is the last time we have to worry about this. Here's to the return of "Florida Week" next year and beyond.

I believe...

Five random points that I believe...

• I believe Matt Barkley will win multiple Heisman Trophy awards before he's done at USC. For a true freshman to show the poise that he did at Ohio State on Saturday takes moxie and fearlessness. This kid is the real deal and should be fun to watch for the next three or four years.

• I believe the talk about Jim Tressel being on the hotseat at Ohio State is completely asinine. I understand Buckeye fans want to "win the big one." But you have a guy who has beaten Michigan mercilessly and has led your program to multiple Big 10 titles and BCS bowl appearances. Let him go 6-6 or worse for a couple of years before you start mentioning the hotseat.

• I believe Cal RB Jahvid Best will crash the Heisman party in December. Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Best will be the finalists for the big prize, and if this season turns out like I think it's going to for the Golden Bears he might just win the thing. Cal looks every bit the force that I thought they could be in the Pac 10 this season, and Best is going to put up great numbers all season long.

• I believe the Georgia Bulldogs had better find a defense and a quarterback before they get into the meat of their SEC schedule. Oh wait, the meat started last week! South Carolina scored 37 on them last week and Arkansas seems primed and ready to bust out bigtime against the 'Dawgs this week. It should be a high-scoring affair.

• I believe Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly is a tremendous coach and a great man. He has turned that program around in just three short seasons and has the Bearcats looking like the favorites to win the Big East this season. He turned down job offers and interviews this past offseason for jobs at bigger schools to keep from moving his kids around. Will he be able to turn down Notre Dame at season's end?

Ridiculous Picks

Thursday Night: Georgia Tech at Miami: Introducing my new method for picking ACC intraconference games…Coin Flip…Tails it is: Ga. Tech 35-34

Friday Night: Boise State at Fresno State: Fresno State should have beaten Wisconsin on Saturday. I think they'll finish much better Friday night: Fresno State 35-34

Boston College at Clemson: Heads…BC 27-24  

Tennessee at Florida: Here’s how UT wins…Special Teams and Defense…and LOTS of it. We have to create turnovers on defense and give our offense a short field. One PR or KR for a TD, one INT return for a TD, 2 INT/fumbles giving us a short field and we have a chance…That’s all: Florida 37-7

Cincinnati at Oregon State: Cincinnati has a chance to make some national noise in this one. I think they go on the road and get it done: Cincy 34-30

Florida State at BYU: BYU makes Bowden contemplate retirement: BYU 48–17

Georgia at Arkansas: Petrino + Mallet + UGA defense that gave up 37 to South Carolina=Dawgs in pain: Arkansas 41–30

West Virginia at Auburn: West Virginia is better than I thought, but Auburn takes it at home: Tigers 31-27

Texas Tech at Texas: Revenge anyone?: ‘Horns 51-34

Nebraska @ Virginia Tech: This is the game of the week. Nebraska is on it's way back, but this one is at Blacksburg where the Hokies have a decided advantage: Tech 30-21

I was 5-5 again last week. That pushes my overall record through two weeks to 10-10. Hey, at least I'm not under .500.

Power 25—Week 3

1. Florida

2. Texas

3. Alabama

4. USC

5. BYU

6. Penn State

7. California

8. Ole Miss

9. Ohio State

10. Boise State

11. Georgia Tech

12. Oklahoma

13. LSU

14. Virginia Tech

15. TCU

16. North Carolina

17. Cincinnati

18. Miami

19. Michigan

20. Houston

21. Oklahoma State

22. Georgia

23. Nebraska

24. Notre Dame

25. Kansas