Snap Judgements: Arkansas, Arizona Step Up and The Top Teams Roll

Have the little piggies of Arkansas finally earned that Razorback nickname? They sure did between the hedges on Saturday, fending off a feisty Georgia team that look poised to put the game away after what looked like a sure Arkansas choke job. Instead, the Razorback D stepped up and gave Ryan Mallet the chance to finally follow through on the hype and he did. In 3 plays he ripped out the hearts of UGA fans everywhere and perhaps launched Arkansas into the top 10. These are the types of wins Hog fans expected when Bobby Petrino was hired. Who knows what disastrous results would have come if Houston Nutt was still in control. As for UGA? Mark Richt's bum will get a bit warmer, but let's be real. Outside of a 6 loss season I don't see the Dawgs firing him this year.

"Tell them...tell the team to bear down" and the Wildcats followed through on the famous words of John Button Salmon, getting a "signature" victory over 9th ranked Iowa. Arizona "beared down" on Ricky Stanzi, sacking him 6 times to overcome a mistake filled second half. I feel ready to buy in on Arizona. They've been consistently improving under head coach Mike Stoops going 8-5 the previous 2 seasons. It seems to me that they are solidifying themselves along with Stanford, as the top contenders in the Pac 10.

Alabama welcomed back reigning Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram and on his first play of the year he ran for 48 yards. Yeah, it was Duke, but you have to start somewhere and he started strong running for 151 yards on 9 carries with 2 touchdowns in a 62-13 route of the Blue Devils. For the first in, well, let's just a say a long time, the Tide is going to lean on it's powerhouse offense to win games. I've never seen an Alabama offense look this good with so many weapons and I find it hard to see them being stopped by anyone at this point. Duke, stick to basketball will ya. Watching the game it even seemed as if the crowd was 60-40 Alabama. Sad.

Speaking of ACC blunders...

Yes we Cam? Maybe so after Auburn turned around what looked like a beat down against Clemson. The ACC Tigers punched Auburn in the mouth in the 1st half, controlling the line of scrimmage and leading 17-3. You have to hand it to Auburn, putting 21 up in the 3rd, but they really have to hand it to Clemson. A dropped TD pass would have won it for Dabo's team and of course, the blunder on the OT field goal.

I'm wondering if the ACC should just suspend their football season. I mean, honestly, can anyone in this conference step up and win a big game? It's a long season and they could turn it around by the time January gets here, but I doubt it. Maybe they should give their BCS bid to the Mountain West.

Then there is Michigan. Can the Wolverine defense really be that bad? We haven't seen Minute Men look that good since Paul Revere's famous ride. UMass is famous for two things when it comes to athletics. John Calipari and John Chaney threatening to kill John Calipari. Unless Denard Robinson can put 40-50 points up each week I don't see how Michigan can expect to keep winning and I seriously doubt Denard will hold up for the entire season if he has to carry that much of the load.

I'd like to thank Ohio State for helping to support Ohio University's athletic department. Saturday's pay day in Columbus will help fund "Harvard on the Hocking's" other athletes the rest of the year.

So, is Notre Dame back yet?

In other news...

Wisconsin was underwhelming at home against Arizona State, will Mississippi State ever be good at football again, Florida keeps plugging along, and Penn State bounced back with a less than stellar victory over MAC doormat Kent State.

Speaking of Penn State, they better not overlook the 3-0 Temple Owls. The cherry and the white needed last second field goals to knock off Villanova and Central Michigan, but enforced a four quarter dismantling of UConn. I still think Penn State will beat Temple, but a close game will not surprise me and quite frankly, nor will an Owl victory.

So, the stage is set for a colossal week 4 in college football. Boise State get's BCS playoff game number two against Oregon State, South Carolina travels to Auburn, Stanford is ready to put a hurtin on Notre Dame and a top 10 battle is coming to Fayetteville as Alabama collides with Arkansas.

See you all next week.