Gators Chomp Tennessee, Tide Roll, Lions Maul: Early Week 4 Feelings

Some thoughts on Week 4, while I'm getting my breath back from an emotionally exhausting afternoon of Ryder Cup/ College Football viewing:

Some quick feelings:

1) Florida should be ranked higher than Georgia

On the basis of the Gators' performance at Tennessee, where they won 30-6, THIS is the team to beat in the SEC East and perhaps the SEC in total (it would be the country, but that would be a small team in Southern California). Tim Tebow's brilliant, and the Gators have speed all over the place. The secondary is looking increasingly less porous, meaning that Urban Meyer's unit could well scare people all the way to January. Plus: who have Georgia beaten this year?

2) Miami may well contend in the ACC

After watching a good defensive performance at Florida and some of today's 41-23 slaughtering of Texas A&M on the road, Randy Shannon's team has got an abundance of speed - something that may well worry the Hurricanes' upcoming opponents. 

3) East Carolina go from upsetters to upset, all in the course of four weeks

Not nice being on the other side of the fence, is it Skip? Seriously though, ECU blew its chances, and NC State came up golden in overtime.

4) Penn State eats another cupcake

The College Gameday guys said that Penn State would overpower Temple in the second half. Joe Paterno said this was the best Temple team he'd seen in games. 45-3 later (and there could could have been another PSU touchdown had it not been for Brent Carter's goalline fumble right at the end), and neither were the case. The 'Spread HD' offense was held scoreless until the second quarter, but 31 second half points meant one thing: the Nittany Lions are 4-0. Oh, and check out Stephfon Green's 60 yard TD run in the second half - it was pretty special.

5) 16th ranked Oregon will be No. 16 no more after today

Remember what happened to Oregon's season last year when Dennis Dixon was injured? It was derailed. Freight train derailed. Current incumbent Justin Roper's out, and replacement Jermiah Masoli had to leave with a concussion. The future - freshman Darron Thomas - threw for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns against Boise State, but it wasn't enough to stop Autzen Stadium being quietened by Boise State as the Broncos won 37-32 winners.

6) Alabama send a message

Watch out SEC West. Watch out SEC. Watch out world. Nick Saban - the god of turning round adequate college football programs into powerhouses (see LSU for details) seems to be working his magic for the Crimson Tide. Last year an SEC road game would have been too much for the Tide to take. This year, Rammer Jammer rolled on, nuking Arkansas 49-14.