College Football: Is Oregon Better Than Alabama, Michigan Better Than Ohio St?

Puppet Master

Sep 14, 2010

It did not take long last Saturday night in Tuscaloosa to see Penn State lacked the explosive ability and experience to compete with Alabama.

The Nittany Lions—predicted to finish in the middle of the Big 10—were in over their heads against the heavily favored Crimson Tide.

The circumstances surrounding freshman quarterback Rob Bolden of the Lions prevented him from being effective, as he tossed four interceptions.

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Coach Joe Paterno never had a chance to collect victory number 396.

Still, the numbers of the game cast doubt upon any imagined Crimson Tide invincibility.

The Nittany Lions controlled the ball for over 30 minutes, rushed for 127 yards, and converted on 36 percent of third down situations.

Such statistics indicated that the 2010 perception of Alabama may be better than the real thing.

Oregon, for its part, spotted Tennessee an early 10 point lead in Knoxville, but recovered to annihilate the Volunteers, 48-13.

More than one Vol fan expressed the feeling the Ducks would be the best team the Big Orange face this season.

There is no doubt Oregon was the most impressive team playing in the South on Saturday night.

Ohio State staked its claim as the nation's best team with what can only be described as a lackluster performance against a suddenly vulnerable-looking Miami Hurricane squad.

True, the Buckeyes controlled the game and posted the win, but, what kind of win?

Given that OSU signal-caller Terrelle Pryor is regarded as the best player in the country, his overall production left something to be desired, especially considering everyone already wants to hand him the Heisman.

Pryor threw 15 incomplete passes on Saturday while completing only 12. He personally stalled the Buckeye offensive machine, making the game closer than it really was.

Did the Hurricane quickness and speed really disrupt the Buckeye defensive plans to such an extent that they surrendered 24 points at home?

Not hardly. If anything, the Buckeyes appeared to be faster than Miami.

Miami's QB Jacory Harris reverted to his ways of early '09 with a four interception afternoon and the Buckeyes sailed by, 36-24.

The Buckeyes are still the best team in the country, even when when Pryor is not playing like the best player in the country.

When he is not performing up to his level of talent there is a chance—just a chance mind you—that Ohio State could be beaten somewhere along the way.

Ohio State must be aware of the improvement of "that team from up north," as Coach Woody Hayes used to call the fellows from Ann Arbor.

With sensational new quarterback Denard Robinson running all over defenses the Wolverines have plainly returned to their winning ways of old and are ready to challenge the Buckeyes for the Big 10 Title.

With home games upcoming against Iowa and Wisconsin, the feeling among some Wolverine faithful is that Michigan could head into it's final game, in The Horseshoe, undefeated.

That would be a special ending for the Big 10 under the old alignment.

The Top 10 Teams After Week Two

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No.1: Nebraska Cornhuskers (1)

No.2: Ohio State Buckeyes (2)

No.3: Boise State Broncos (3)

No.4: Alabama Crimson Tide (4)

No.5: Iowa Hawkeyes (5)

No.6: Oklahoma Sooners (7)

No.7: Florida Gators (9)

No.8: Wisconsin Badgers (8)

No.9: TCU Horned Frogs (10)