Pac-10 Dominates Week 1 of College Football

Week one of the College Football season is over, and what a week it was:

Game of the week

It's hard to pick just one, but UCLA's win over Tennessee was a classic. The total transformation of Kevin Craft in the second half, the field goal at the end of regulation, the atmosphere at the Rose Bowl, many elements of the game were classic. 

Rick Neuheisel is very lucky, though. If Craft hadn't turned it around in the second half and instead thrown two or three more picks, Neuheisel would've looked like an idiot. As it is, though, Craft and Norm Chow made him look like a genius for his faith in the QB.

Honorable mention

Cal-MSU: Shane Vereen's 81-yard TD run brought back memories of Lynch and Forsett, and was the difference in what was otherwise a very close game. The commentators seemed shocked at the speed of Cal, as well as the ability of the defense to bottle up Javon Ringer.

Cal update

Defeated MSU 38-31. (See above)

Next: The Pac-10 opener for Cal is on the road against expected bottom-feeder Washington State.

My Top 35 after Week 1

(Disclaimer: These rankings, as well as the conference rankings, are not based as much on pre-season rankings, last year's performance, or even overall talent, as they are on performance. This is why, for example, the Pac-10 is ranked as the #1 conference, even though the SEC has many more teams in the top half of the rankings. Pac-10 teams only lost one game, and beat the SEC in the only head-to-head matchup. This doesn't necessarily mean that I think the Pac-10 will be better the SEC in a month, let alone at the end of the season, just that Pac-10 teams have performed better so far - which is the only thing I think a ranking should be based on this early in the season.)

Top 25:

1. USC

2. Georgia

3. Ohio State

4. Oklahoma

5. Mizzou

6. Florida

7. West Virginia

8. LSU

9. Auburn

10. Texas

11. Texas Tech

12. Kansas

13. Alabama

14. Arizona State

15. Wisconsin

16. Penn State

17. Oregon

18. BYU

19. South Florida

20. Illinois

21. Wake Forest

22. East Carolina

23. South Carolina

24. Fresno State

25. UCLA

26-35 (in no particular order): Cal, MSU, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Utah, Pitt, Kentucky, Boise State, Cincy

Conference Rankings after Week 1:

1. Pac-10

Biggest win: USC 52, Virginia 7

Arizona may have won 70-0, but that was against Idaho. USC's win was so convincing that they are now ranked No. 1.

Worst Loss: Oklahoma State 39, Washington State 13

The Cougars will need a lot more than 82 passing yards to beat Cal. This was the Pac-10's only non-conference loss, despite a decent schedule of games.

Week 2 Pac-10 game of the week: BYU @ Washington

Washington looked terrible against Oregon, and this may be one of the few chances the Huskies have to get Ty Willingham a good win. BYU's hosting of UCLA in week 3 will probably be a much better game, but UW almost beat Hawai'i last season. BYU is much more balanced than Hawai'i was, however.

Prediction: BYU 35, UW 17

2. SEC

Biggest win for conference: Alabama 34, Clemson 10

Davis and Spiller were dominated by the Alabama defense, the only highlight coming on an (albeit electrifying) special teams play. The first "statement" win for the SEC, and a resounding one.

Biggest Losses: Louisiana Tech 22, Mississippi State 14; UCLA 27, Tennessee 24, OT

Alabama's win over (albeit over-rated) Clemson offsets Tennessee's loss to UCLA. But Mississippi State's loss to Louisiana Tech, coupled with Arkansas' close win over Western Illinois, gives the Pac-10 top spot for now.

Week 2 SEC games of the week: South Carolina at Vandy (Thurs, 9/4); Miami at Florida

Last year, South Carolina was highly-ranked, and seemed to take Vanderbilt for granted.  The loss started a Cal-esque free-fall that ruined the high expectations of Gamecocks fans.  This year, South Carolina is ranked much lower but will not overlook the Commodores again.

Miami at Florida could be a great game, but I don't think that the Hurricanes have enough offensive firepower to outscore the Gators, especially in the Swamp. First-time Miami starting QB Robert Marve (who was suspended for the first game of the season) has potential, but he could have a rough first game as he adjusts to big-time college football.

Prediction: UF 40, Miami 20

3. Big 12

Biggest win: Mizzou 52, Illinois 42

A scary game for the Tigers as Jeremy Macklin was injured, but the Illinois defense was equally scared as Missouri piled on the points.

Worst Loss: Arkansas State 18, Texas A&M 14

This loss was very, very bad. But other than Baylor's loss to Wake, it's the only loss for the conference so far, which is part of the reason why the Big 12 is higher than the Big 10 right now. Besides, with Mizzou, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Kansas winning, the conference hierarchy is intact. A&M is nowhere near being a Big 12 power.

Still, who loses to Arkansas State? (Actually, Texas almost did at home last year).

Week 2 Big 12 game of the week: Northwestern State at Baylor

Just kidding. I don't think that Cincy can come close to OU on offense (yes the Bearcats put up 40...on Eastern Kentucky), so for pure entertainment value, Texas Tech at Nevada has to be the pick.

Both have the ability to put up 650 yards of offense (Tech will put up at least 35-40 points). Fans of defense will probably hate this game, but at least it won't be boring.

Prediction: TTU 50, Nevada 35

4. Big 10

Biggest win: Penn State 66, Coastal Carolina 10

Penn State exploded for the win. Paterno tied Bobby Bowden for most major college football wins, and should surpass him this season, as Penn State is better than FSU right now.

Worst Loss: Utah 25, Michigan 23

Utah could be a sleeper team in the Mountain West. But Michigan is Michigan, right? Not when they're in the middle of an offensive system transition. Any Michigan fans know the last time UM lost consecutive home openers?

Illinois loss by 10 to a favored Missouri team was expected, and shouldn't affect much. (I didn't think Illinois should've been ranked higher than 24 or 25 after their losses).

Week 2 Big 10 game of the week: Oregon State at Penn State

How can you possibly choose the best game from the great non-conference slate that the Big 10 provides every year? Ok, this year (MSU @ Cal, Illinois vs. Mizzou, and of course, OSU @ USC), there are quite a few good match-ups. But not in week 2 (Duke against Northwestern?).

Oregon State braving the White Out in Happy Valley could be interesting, however, if OSU doesn't turn the ball over as much as they did vs. Stanford.

Prediction: PSU 45, OSU 30

5. Big East

Biggest win: South Florida 56, Tennessee-Martin 7

Not much to say when a win over Tennessee-Martin is the best win a conference can manage. West Virginia also won handily, but gave up 21 points to Villanova.

Worst Loss: Bowling Green 27, Pitt 17

The Big East now only has two ranked teams. Despite a hyped running game and almost 400 yards of total offense, Pitt only managed 17 points, thanks to four turnovers.

Louisville's 27-2 loss to Kentucky was one of the least watchable games of the weekend.

Week 2 Big East game of the week: West Virginia at East Carolina

Can the Pirates, who escaped Virginia Tech with a great special teams play, compete with Pat White and company? Probably not, but they might make it uncomfortably close for at least a half. West Virginia usually loses at least one game it absolutely should win on paper, but this probably won't be it.

Prediction: WVU 40, ECU 24

6. ACC

Biggest win: Wake Forest 41, Baylor 13

Wake was the only ranked ACC team to win in week 1, and in my rankings at least, the only one left in the top 25. Yes, it was against Baylor. (That's why the ACC is the worst of the BCS conferences for now).

Miami's 52-7 win was nice, but Charleston Southern is nowhere near even Baylor's level.

Worst Loss: Alabama 34, Clemson 10

(See SEC, above). Clemson was dropped from my top 25 because although Alabama may be significantly better than No. 24, a top 25 team should not lose 34-10 at home to anyone.

Virginia's loss to USC shouldn't have been by over 40, but the Cavaliers were not expected to stay close for long.

Although it didn't lose, North Carolina barely avoided ignominy against McNeese State, 35-27.

Week 2 ACC game of the week: Miami at Florida

(See SEC, above)

Georgia Tech at BC could be interesting as well, as Tech's rushing attack meets BC's Matt Ryan replacement.

Ole Miss and Houston Nutt travel to Wake in what could be a surprise. Nutt helped the Bulldogs put up 41 on a weaker Memphis team, but can the defense contain Riley Skinner? Ole Miss pounded the ball on the ground in week 1, rushing for over 200 yards., and will try to dominate possession against Wake's passing game.

Prediction: Wake 30, Mississippi 27

(Possible) Upset of the Week: Tulane at Alabama

There aren't any top 25 games that are especially upset-worthy, but Alabama might be vulnerable to a letdown after a great win last week. The Tide did lose at home to Louisiana-Monroe at home last season. But Tulane doesn't have running back Matt Forte (who graduated) anymore.

Will this week be without a major upset? I doubt it, but I'm not sure where or when it will come.