Week 7 Preview

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Variety of sources/sites used....

<table id="inlinetable" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tbody><tr><th colspan="10" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Missouri at Oklahoma Matchups</th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">QB</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">RB</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">WR</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">OL</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">DL</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">LB</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">DB</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">ST</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">Coach</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">Overall</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td align="center" width="62">

</td> <td align="center" width="62">

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> 

Missouri Offense vs. Oklahoma Defense
Missouri runs a lot of four- and five-wide receiver sets offensively with dual-threat QB Chase Daniel serving as the triggerman. Daniel has emerged as one of the most dangerous and efficient quarterbacks in the country. He has good vision and continues to improve as a decision maker. He displays the arm strength to drive the ball down the field and he also shows good touch when throwing short-to-intermediate passes. By spreading the field horizontally as much as Missouri does, it really puts pressure on opposing defenses to match up. No team in the country boasts a more dangerous tight end tandem than the Tigers' duo of Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman. Rucker leads all Division I tight ends with 38 receptions this season and Coffman has chipped in with 24 catches of his own. Missouri frequently uses both tight ends on the field at the same time, which puts defenses in a tough spot because linebackers struggle to keep with them athletically and safeties tend to lack the size. Oklahoma DSs Nic Harris and D.J. Wolfe are better than most, though; so expect coordinator Brent Venables to use them frequently in man-to-man coverage versus the athletic tandem of Rucker and Coffman. Nic Harris is an especially good fit for the job, as his combination of size and speed should allow him to match up versus Rucker or Coffman -- both in coverage and fighting through blocks in run support. With Harris and DS D.J. Wolfe spending a lot of time versus Missouri's tight ends, it should open up some room in the deep perimeter passing game for WR's William Franklin and Jeremy Maclin, who both possess the speed to challenge CBs Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker.  <table id="inlinetable" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="225"> <tbody><tr><th colspan="1" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><center>Missouri at Oklahoma</center></th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="225">
</td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="100%"> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="left">

</td> <td align="center">vs. </td> <td align="right">

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When: Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Norman, Okla.
Preview: Missouri's undefeated season on the line at OU </td> </tr> </tbody></table>  The Tigers are more effective throwing than running, but they still rush for an average of 200 yards per game. By spreading the field with so many multiple receiver sets, it typically creates a size and numbers advantage for the Tigers' offensive line in the ground game. RB Tony Temple left last week's game with an ankle injury so his status for Saturday's game at Oklahoma is uncertain. He is by no means an elite talent but he does lead the team in rushing and his quickness allows him to exploit creases in spread out defenses. When he was out of the game last week Missouri ran even more five-receiver sets than usual and turned to Daniel as its primary runner. Backup Jimmy Jackson will need to step up if Temple is limited. Also look for Maclin to get some chances, as he is currently third on the team in rushing and averages a remarkable 10.9 yards per carry.

Oklahoma Offense vs. Missouri Defense
The Sooners got their swagger back offensively in last week's victory in the Red River Rivalry and that should carry over versus a pedestrian Missouri defense this Saturday. The Tigers do a lot of stunting and blitzing with their defensive front seven, but play much more conservatively in the secondary. Look for them to continue that pattern this week, as they don't match up very well on any level of their defense. For starters, they simply haven't been able to generate much of a pass rush this season, and they don't have the elite athletes to penetrate versus Oklahoma's exceptionally gifted offensive line. Secondly, CBs Darnell Terrell and Hardy Ricks will be completely overmatched on the perimeter versus Sooner WRs Malcolm Kelly and Juaquin Iglesias, who have combined for 1,012 yards on 57 receptions, including 11 scores. Kelly possesses a rare blend of size and athletic ability, while Iglesias as the speed and improved route running skills to consistently separate. As we saw last week, QB Sam Bradford is comfortable sitting in the pocket and spreading the ball around to his multitude of pass-catching weapons. So, if Kelly and Iglesias are garnering too much attention on the perimeter, TE Jermaine Gresham has emerged as a viable threat down the middle. With that in mind, look for Missouri defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to take a conservative approach with mostly Cover 2 zone throughout the evening. The problem is that Missouri's defensive line doesn't match up well at the point of attack versus the run, either. Oklahoma's offensive line averages 322 pounds across the board and it should be able to physically dominate a defensive line that features a pair of 290-pound defensive tackles in Ziggy Hood and Lorenzo Williams. Hood and Williams have good quickness to penetrate and chase when fresh, but neither is great at anchoring when opponents run at them. That's why we expect a heavy dose of RBs Allen Patrick, DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown on north-south runs this week. Patrick got a bit banged up last week, so his health will be in question for this Saturday's contest. At this point, though; it seems the talented freshman Murray brings more burst and explosiveness to the table as a runner and he's gained enough experience to handle the featured role if necessary. Regardless of how the carries are split up, expect Oklahoma to gash a Missouri run defense that ranks 71st nationally, allowing an average of 158.8 yards per outing.

Special Teams
 <table id="inlinetable" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="225"> <tbody><tr><th colspan="1" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><center>Key individual matchup</center></th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="225">
</td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="100%"> Missouri QB Chase Daniel vs. Oklahoma safeties
The biggest difference between Daniel from his freshman to sophomore season is that he's not forcing things nearly as much. When he sees an opposing defense pinching inside to take away his excellent tight ends (Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman), Daniel is exploiting man-to-man coverage versus his speedy perimeter receivers. Conversely, if the opponent is dropping its safeties back in Cover 2 zone, Daniel is working the ball to his tight ends down the seam. Finally, when opponents back off and play too conservatively, Daniel is checking off to the run and either taking it himself or handing it off to RB Tony Temple. With all that said, Daniel won't face a defense this season that matches up better personnel-wise than Oklahoma's this Saturday. The Sooners have great depth and talent at safety -- particularly with 6-foot-3, 232-pound FS Nic Harris -- to throw many different looks at Daniel from a coverage standpoint. It won't be enough for Daniel to make the proper read. In order to give his team a chance on the road in this game, Daniel will need to execute at a higher level than he has all season -- and that's saying a lot considering he currently ranks fifth nationally in total offense. </td></tr></tbody></table> The Sooners have a clear advantage on special teams in this game. For starters, PK Garrett Hartley is a reliable senior who has nailed four of six field goal attempts this season, including a long of 53 yards. PT Michael Cohen is averaging a very respectable 44.3 yards per attempt. Oklahoma's return units have been strong this season, as well. Iglesias and Murray handle most of the attempts on a kickoff return team that ranks sixth-nationally, averaging 28 yards per. Reggie Smith also is a threat returning punts and he's averaging a solid 7.6 yards per attempt. Missouri is solid in the return game, as it ranks 10th nationally in punt returns and 44th nationally in kickoff returns. Jeremy Maclin is the star of both those units, averaging 22.4 yards per kick return and 16 yards per punt return. Junior Jeff Wolfert has been adequate as the team's kicker, connecting on seven of 11 field goal attempts thus far, including a long of 47 yards. However, he does not have good deep accuracy, which is evident in him missing three of four attempts from beyond 40 yards. The punting unit has been a weakness for Missouri, as it ranks 118th nationally with a net average of 26.4 yards per punt. The one positive is that PT Adam Crossett shows good directional skills, landing seven of his 17 attempts inside the opponents' 20 yard line.

Scouts' Edge
Missouri's spread attack -- led by dual-threat Daniel -- has enough versatility and firepower to put up some points versus Oklahoma's defense. But the Tigers are simply overmatched on the other side of the ball. Bradford is seeing the entire field and should distribute the ball effectively versus the nation's 104th-ranked pass defense. Once the Sooners get out to a lead, their massive offensive line and deep crop of running backs will be able to seal the deal with an authoritative ground attack.

Prediction: Sooners 38, Tigers 24

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech

By Scouts, Inc

Friday, October 12, 2007


 <table id="inlinetable" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><th colspan="10" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Texas A&M at Texas Tech Matchups</th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">QB</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">RB</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">WR</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">OL</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">DL</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">LB</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">DB</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">ST</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">Coach</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" align="center" width="62">Overall</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td align="center" width="62">

</td> <td align="center" width="62">

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> 

Texas A&M Offense vs. Texas Tech Defense
Texas A&M has run the ball slightly more than it has thrown it. Ideally, the team would like to show an even stronger commitment to the ground game against a Texas Tech team with a potent offensive attack. Establishing an effective ground game will put the Aggies in position to win the battle of time of possession and effectively limit the Red Raiders' opportunities to put points on the board. Texas Tech is familiar with this approach and likely will stack the line in an effort to force QB Stephen McGee to move the ball with his arm. The problem is that it might not be enough to slow down a dynamic Texas A&M ground game. The problem starts with the Aggies' ability to run the ball up the middle. Although it's not a dominant unit, an interior offensive line led by OC Cody Wallace and LOG Kirk Elder gets into adequate position and sustains blocks. It should be able to control the middle, working against DTs Rajon Henley and Colby Whitlock, who have problems anchoring when teams run right at them. That's good news for RB Jorvorskie Lane, who is at his best pounding the ball between the tackles because he has excellent size and the power to consistently pick up yards after contact. If and when the Red Raiders start to collapse in an effort to take away the inside, the outside will open up for McGee and Lane's partner-in-crime Mike Goodson. McGee is an effective open-field runner who makes accurate reads and runs the option well. Goodson has the burst to get outside and can turn on the jets when he gets a seam. Making matters worse for Texas Tech, there are questions at linebacker. ILB Paul Williams is a first-year starter, and Brian Duncan is seeing more playing time because the Red Raiders suspended SLB Kellen Tillman for an off-the-field incident. If any of the linebackers fail in their responsibilities and get caught out of position, especially when defending the option, it will create a seam for the talented Texas A&M backfield to exploit.
 <table id="inlinetable" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="225"> <tbody><tr><th colspan="1" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><center>Texas A&M at Texas Tech</center></th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="225">
</td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="100%"> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="left">

</td> <td align="center">vs. </td> <td align="right">

</td></tr></tbody></table>
When: Oct. 13 (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET)
Where: Lubbock, Texas
Preview: A pair of 5-1 teams meet in Lubbock </td> </tr> </tbody></table>  The biggest drawback to stacking the line of scrimmage against the Aggies is they have the ability and weapons to make teams pay for it. McGee has adequate arm strength and the quick feet to buy his receivers enough time to separate from the coverage. WR Kerry Franks is a playmaker with excellent speed, and No. 2 Earvin Taylor's size allows him to make the occasional play downfield. They will create matchup problems for DCs Jamar Wall and Chris Parker. Keeping that in mind, DSs Joe Garcia and Darcel McBath will have to provide help over the top. If either or both of them gets caught too close to the line of scrimmage or bites on play action and the pass rush doesn't get to McGee, they will struggle to recover, in effect leaving the corners in single coverage. Of course, mistakes in the secondary can be masked by an effective and consistent pass rush, so it's important Texas Tech get to McGee quickly. The problem is that it's easier said than done. Although DEs Brandon Williams and Jake Ratliff are relentless pass-rushers, they will have to temper their aggressiveness and stay in their rush lanes because of McGee's ability to create when he breaks. In addition, McGee can help neutralize the pass rush by quickly getting the ball to TE Martellus Bennett over the middle or Goodson in the flat.

Texas Tech Offense vs. Texas A&M Defense
This game is a study in contrasting offensive styles, as Texas Tech throws the ball more than twice as much as it runs it. The Red Raiders' spread scheme requires a smart, decisive and accurate quarterback and a talented receiving corps to be truly effective. They have both. QB Graham Harrell has thrown just three interceptions compared to 28 touchdowns and appears supremely confident in his second season at the helm of this offense. At receiver, redshirt freshman Michael Crabtree caught ten passes for 154 yard and three touchdowns last week, and he already has broken the NCAA freshman single-season record for touchdown receptions. Danny Amendola is an excellent No. 2, as he runs crisp routes, catches the ball well and can turn a catch underneath into a long gain. Eric Morris is a productive No. 3, and while L.A. Reed might not be available after sustaining an injury last week, reserve Edward Britton is blocking well. As a result, the Red Raiders' screens are that much more effective when he is in the game. With that kind of personnel on the field and the Texas Tech scheme keeping it off balance with route structures, the Texas A&M secondary is going to have its hands full. In addition, Harrrell's ability to read defenses and quickly get rid of the ball will make it tough for pressure to get to him. That's unlikely to change, since the Aggies' front four has struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks. Texas A&M will give itself the best opportunity to win this game by staying conservative and limiting big plays. If the back seven tackles well and limits the receivers' production after the catch, it will increase Harrell's passing attempts, or, from the defense's viewpoint, the chances of him making a mistake. The defensive linemen also can pitch in by keeping their heads up and getting their hands in the air when they see Harrell go into his throwing motion.
The Red Raiders will try to keep the Aggies honest by occasionally mixing in RB Shannon Woods. Woods is a shifty runner who has the burst and second gear to make good use of the vertical seams this spread scheme generates for him. That doesn't bode well for a Texas A&M run defense that is, at its best, slowing power runners. DT Red Bryant and NT Henry Smith are capable of holding their own and preventing Texas Tech's interior offensive linemen from releasing up to the second level. That frees up LBs Mark Dodge and Misi Tupe, who are tough at the point of attack and tackle well. However, Dodge and Tupe lack ideal explosiveness and range. If they take a false step or a poor pursuit angle, they'll have problems recovering before Woods gets to the second level, and he is dangerous when he gets into space. It's also worth mentioning that Woods is an excellent receiver and Texas Tech can supplement its running game by getting him the ball in the flat.

Special Teams
 <table id="inlinetable" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="225"> <tbody><tr><th colspan="1" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><center>Key individual matchup</center></th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="225">
</td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="100%"> Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree vs. Texas A&M DC Marquis Carpenter
Carpenter, who replaced Jordan Peterson earlier in the season, has three picks on the year, so it's important that QB Graham Harrell doesn't give him an opportunity to make a play on the ball. However, Crabtree's ability to fluidly change directions and quickly regain his speed will allow him to separate from Carpenter, who isn't as explosive. Texas Tech can take advantage by running receivers deep and hitting Crabtree on crossing routes over the middle. If Carpenter tries to take away the underneath by crowding the line of scrimmage, Crabtree is quick and strong enough to get a clean release. That's bad news for Carpenter, because he can take too long to open his hips when forced to turn and run downfield, and he lacks the second gear to recover once he gets caught in a trail position. Finally, Carpenter has to tackle well. Crabtree is a dangerous open field runner who reads blocks well, can make the first defender miss and is strong enough to pick up yards after contact. </td></tr></tbody></table> Texas Tech PK Alex Trlica has connected on four of six field goal attempts this season and has shown good range with a long of 51 yards. Trlica displays his strong leg on kickoffs as well, averaging 65.4 yards per attempt with an impressive 17 touchbacks in 51 attempts. Red Raiders P Jonathan LaCour averages 42.5 yards per punt but has placed only one of his 11 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The good news for LaCour is his cover unit has been one of the best in the nation this year, allowing an average of just 5.5 yards per return. Texas A&M PR Peterson, who is averaging just 7.4 yards per return, should struggle to find daylight as a result. KOR Kerry Franks has shown flashes of big-play ability, with a long of 44 yards. Unfortunately for him, Texas Tech's kickoff coverage has been more than solid this season.
Matt Szymanski handles the kicking duties for the Aggies. Szymanski is averaging 66.9 yards per kickoff with an outstanding 17 touchbacks in 35 attempts. However, he has not shown great accuracy, especially on long-range field goal attempts. On the year, Szymanski has made just 10 of 16 attempts, with four of those misses coming from beyond 40 yards. P Justin Brantly is averaging 44.1 yards per attempt and has placed five of his 19 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. For the Red Raiders, Danny Amendola and Eric Morris took turns returning punts last week against Oklahoma State, with Morris having the long return of 34 yards. L.A. Reed had been handling the kickoff returns for the Red Raiders, but he sustained an injury last week and might not be available. Edward Britton and David Schaefer got the call last week and likely will return kickoffs if Reed can't go. Britton is averaging 29 yards per return with a long of 58, and Schaefer is averaging just 3 yards on his only two attempts. The Red Raiders' coverage units aren't the only cover units playing well, as both the punt and kickoff units for the Aggies are ranked statistically in the top ten in the nation.

Scouts' Edge
A quick look at the Scouts Inc. Advantage boxes suggests Texas A&M is the clear-cut favorite, since it owns the edge at several different spots. But the sum is greater than its parts in this matchup. While Texas Tech has been quick out of the gate and excelled at putting points on the board in the first half, Texas A&M has been a relatively slow starter, and it will cost it in this game. Look for the Red Raiders to build a lead in the first half with their potent passing attack. That lead will force the Aggies to put the ball in the air in an effort to come back, essentially taking away the strength of the Texas A&M offense, the ground game. In addition, this game will be played in Lubbock, and the noise level will make it that much harder for QB Stephen McGee and the Aggies to mount another second-half comeback.

Prediction: Red Raiders 42, Aggies 31

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

UCF at South Florida ESPNU, noon ET
Last week proved to be a letdown game for South Florida, who barely eked out a win against Florida Atlantic after upsetting West Virginia. The program has reached an unprecedented level of success, and sometimes it's hard to keep focused after an emotional win. That said, give FAU some credit. The Owls were able to do some things in the passing game (259 yards) and caused a few Bulls turnovers (four). South Florida should bounce back from this game with more focus; it proved that if you don't play your best every game, anyone can beat you. That anyone most likely won't be Central Florida. After winning three of its first four games -- and playing Texas very close in its only loss -- UCF was blown out by East Carolina in Week 6. Going in, I thought the Knights' offense was rolling and that they were pretty good on D, and was shocked that they lost 52-38. They do create matchup problems for South Florida. The Bulls have a quick, mobile defense that might have problems containing a powerful runner like Kevin Smith. He comes right at you, and if the Bulls are going to stop him, they're going to have to gang-tackle him. On defense, Central Florida is going to have to rattle Matt Grothe. He's not going to throw the ball away multiple times in consecutive games, so Central Florida will have to slow him down and score a lot of points on offense. The one constant for the Bulls has been the solid play of the defense; they rank seventh in pass efficiency defense and 13th in scoring defense.

South Carolina at North Carolina (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET)
This is a sort of homecoming for South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who began his coaching career at Duke and was rumored to be a candidate for the North Carolina job when he returned to coaching college teams. The Tar Heels are coming off a statement win for the program, beating a Miami team many thought was back after dismantling Texas A&M. The Heels moved the ball, played smart and overall, looked much improved. Quarterback T.J. Yates is taking care of the ball and doing a good job of managing the offense. They'll face a tough test in South Carolina, fresh off a monster effort against Kentucky and with a few added days of rest. The Gamecocks' Eric Norwood looked like the defensive player of the year with his performance against the Wildcats -- returning two turnovers for touchdowns in the win. South Carolina's secondary has been impressive, and now that Spurrier has settled on a quarterback, the connection between Chris Smelley and Kenny McKinley is improving. North Carolina's win was the best thing that could have happened to South Carolina because it got the team's attention. It would have been easy for the Gamecocks to look past North Carolina and next week's matchup with Vanderbilt to a date with Tennessee. But the Heels' win was a reminder of the need to focus on each game. North Carolina proved it's capable of an upset -- and South Carolina certainly doesn't want to be its next victim.

Boston College at Notre Dame
On a similar note, Notre Dame's win put back the spark in what could have been an easy game for the Eagles to overlook. But by shocking UCLA on Saturday night, the Irish returned to the national radar. Besides Stanford's upset of USC, it was one of the most improbable outcomes of last weekend's games. To beat Boston College, Notre Dame is going to need another monster game from Maurice Crum and some help on the offensive side. Charlie Weis managed the game conservatively against the Bruins, not letting the Irish beat themselves. But Notre Dame will have to put points on the board to keep up with Heisman hopeful Matt Ryan, who is playing as well as any quarterback in the country.

Rams Reyna/US Presswire
Michael Crabtree poses matchup problems for nearly every opponent.

Texas A&M at Texas Tech (ABC, 3:30)
Say what you want about Texas Tech's offensive system, but it's hard to ignore freshman Michael Crabtree's receiving numbers: 60 catches, 1,074 yards, 17 touchdowns. And the most amazing thing is that teams know Graham Harrell is going to throw it to him -- yet he still makes the catch. I don't care who they're playing or what they're running -- Crabtree's numbers are astounding. Tech started off the season fast -- the Red Raiders are 5-1, losing a close game at Oklahoma State -- and this matchup is the first in a rough slate of conference games. Tech's probably licking its chops, as Texas A&M owns the nation's 75th-best pass defense (allowing 237.5 yards per game). Harrell could put up that many yards in the first half. The Aggies are coming off a big, come-from-behind victory to the Cowboys in Week 6. To get past Tech, they'll have to keep Crabtree and Co. off the field and use their running game to wear down Tech's defense. As their games against Oklahoma State proved, these teams are fairly evenly matched, and home-field advantage might be the difference in this matchup. A&M's players have shown a lot of mental toughness over the past week, dealing with issues both on the field and off, and proved that they are ready to gut out wins. Can they do it two weeks in a row?

LSU at Kentucky
LSU is coming off a tremendous win, and is going on the road to play a team coming off a disappointing loss. Kentucky's offense could give the Tigers trouble if Andre' Woodson doesn't turn the ball over. In the loss to South Carolina, the Wildcats were their own worst nemesis. Woodson has personally paid the price, dropping from among the Heisman favorites to nearly out of contention for even all-conference honors, after Eric Ainge's game against Georgia and Tim Tebow's continued outstanding performances. The big question for Kentucky is: Can Rafael Little make some first downs? Florida moved the ball on LSU by mixing up its offense; Kentucky won't be able to rely solely on Woodson's arm to beat LSU. Kentucky gets a bit of a break, as the Tigers are dealing with a number of injuries, but they do get Early Doucet back this week, which should add another dimension to an already impressive offense. LSU coach Les Miles has shown a lot of confidence in his team in the past two conference games, and they have responded successfully in turn. He's called two fake field goals this season, and the Tigers have converted both. He's gone for it in every clutch situation, and LSU has made it every time. One of the knocks on Miles in the past is that he's winning with former coach Nick Saban's players, but his play calling the past two weeks has made a statement and should lessen the comparisons.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Missouri hasn't beaten Oklahoma since 1998, and OU holds an all-time series edge of 63-23-5. But the Tigers are unbeaten and roaring after last week's 41-6 destruction of Nebraska. We asked our former coaches, Bill Curry and Mike Gottfried, to pretend they were gameplanning for this weekend's showdown. Then we had Jim Donnan pick a winner. On paper, anyway.

Curry takes over Missouri

This could be a rough day for us. Oklahaoma's bigger and better at most spots on the field, so we need to spring an upset. That means we'll have to work very hard on dominating in hidden-yardage. We need punter Adam Crossett to have a monster day, because our net punting average (28.6 yards) has to be 10 yards better against Oklahoma. We have to play field position football all day, because Oklahoma can't have a short field to work with. On defense, we need our defensive line to stand up OU's solid offensive line and create gaps for our linebackers, especially top tackler Sean Witherspoon, to get into the backfield. We know OU will run RBs Allen Patrick and DeMarco Murray a ton, and we need to have Witherspoon and company draped all over them before they even get to the line. Once either one of those guys gets going downhill, we're in trouble. We'll take chances with monster blitzes to stuff the run game and get in QB Sam Bradford's face on passing plays. Even though he's a freshman, Bradford is very calm in the pocket. It's possible to rattle him, as Colorado did, and that's the only time he seems to falter. If Bradford is cool and collected in the pocket against us, he'll pick us apart with passes to dangerous wideouts Malcolm Kelly and Juaquin Iglesias. On offense, we need Tony Temple's ankle to heal up in a hurry. He has to be receiving treatment five times a day if that's what it takes. Oklahoma gives up 1.9 yard per carry, and we need to do better than that, and Temple's the key. The biggest thing for QB Chase Daniel is for him to play mistake-free. If OU is getting turnovers and Daniel takes some bad sacks, we have no chance. Everybody knows we're going to use two tight-end formations with Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, but we have to break tendencies. That means putting them both in motion, shake up where they line up on every play, put one or both in the backfield and hand it to them, all sorts of different things to keep OU guessing. I'd do the same thing with wideout Jeremy Maclin. He's a Devin Hester-type game-changer on catches, runs and returns, and we need him to touch it at least 12 times.

Gottfried takes over Oklahoma

Missouri is 1-16 against OU since 1984, and has mostly been run over like roadkill. We want to continue that. We'll protect Bradford, even if it means keeping backs in to block. Missouri will not get to him. Then Bradford can rip up the secondary with those wideouts and underrated tight end Joe Jon Finley. Bradford throws a terrific deep ball, too, so Missouri can't just sit on short routes. Thing about the wideouts is, they're not just great pass-catchers. Kelly is a big, 6-4 kid who's willing to do the dirty work of blocking for the run game. Missouri's cornerbacks, Darnell Terrell and Hardy Ricks, are solid, so that's not a huge edge for us. But up front, we do have a big advantage. The OU line is huge and will wear down Missouri. Both backs pick up the tough yards, but either could break an 80-yarder any time he touches it, too. We'll control the ball and the clock and keep Daniel with his helmet off on the sidelines. When the Mizzou offense is out there, we're going to pester Daniel. Corners Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker are studs, but they'll have their hands full with Maclin and William Franklin. They get overlooked sometimes in Missouri's offense, but not by us. And the tight ends are terrific. Missouri's good at options, screens and crossing routes with Rucker and Coffman. The only way to handle that is with zone coverage, and have safeties Nic Harris and D.J. Wolfe come up and stick them.

Donnan takes over

This is Missouri's best chance to beat Oklahoma. The Tigers should use Colorado's (and Bill's) gameplan: keep the ball, keep the OU offense off the field. That won't be easy. Look for OU to pound Missouri's under-sized front and set up play-action and screen passes. Daniel has the mobility to hamper the Sooners blitzes and linebacker plugs. Both teams have explosive kick return games, so there could be a big return that turns the game. I like the Sooners to win this one, and for both teams to rematch in December's Big 12 title game.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Bruce Feldman's Picks

I'm filing this week's guesses from Oxford, Miss., as the "Meat Market" book tour rolls on, and as some of you probably have figured out, I struggle big time on the road. Last week, I was 6-9 against the line. The good: getting Illinois right. The bad: expecting LSU to have less trouble with Florida. The ugly: believing USC would hammer Stanford. This week's hunches:
Thursday, Oct. 11

Florida State 24, Wake Forest 20: I know Xavier Lee wasn't dazzling last week, but I think the Noles will continue to play hard for him and they'll make a few plays in the second half to pull out a road win against a well-coached team that has a lot of answers for what FSU likes to do.

Saturday, Oct. 13

Rutgers 41, Syracuse 14: The Scarlet Knights have struggled in recent weeks, but the Cuse is a welcome sight. Look for Rutgers to outhit the Orange and use its speed advantage to blow things open early and often.

Miami 20, Georgia Tech 10: Last week, the Canes played one of the most listless, worst first halves in their recent history. They finally woke up in the second half, but by then, they were in too big of a hole. Expect Graig Cooper and Miami's wideouts to hit a couple of big plays to balance out a UM defense that has to show some pride after last week's "effort" against North Carolina.

Illinois 27, Iowa 17: This would be a nice road win for the Zooker. The Illini, with a powerful running game and physical D-line, look like the Iowa teams of old. I think the Hawkeyes' shaky O-line will continue to struggle against a very underrated Illini front.

Michigan 34, Purdue 21: Two Big Ten programs still trying to figure out which direction they're heading. I'll go with the Wolverines, who have the more consistent running game, although I could see Curtis Painter rattling the Wolverines' suspect pass defense.

Nebraska 35, Oklahoma State 28: Two programs coming off bad weeks. Bill Callahan can't afford many more slips, because Big Red Nation's patience has worn thin. I suspect his offense will bounce back against a mediocre defense, and the home support will get the Huskers through.

Texas 28, Iowa State 20: Interesting game with new ISU coach Gene Chizik going against his old team. I think he will have some answers for UT and try to exploit some soft spots on the Texas team, but ultimately, he still will not have enough athletes to pull the big upset.

Boston College 23, Notre Dame 13: The Eagles have a great QB in Matt Ryan and a solid defense, although they have climbed the rankings against a lot of inferior opponents. Notre Dame obviously is miles from being an elite team, but I think the Irish will stay competitive for most of the day by staying very conservative.

USC 27, Arizona 10: Mark Sanchez should spark the Trojans' offense a bit, and I think the USC defense will play hard after last week's humiliating loss, but Zona still should hit a few plays to take this game into the second half. Mike Stoops' D should be inspired and give the Trojans' O-line some trouble, too.

Oregon 41, Washington State 17: The Ducks' high-powered attack keeps sizzling behind Dennis Dixon and all of those playmakers. This game looks to be one of those 300-yard passing/100-yard rushing days that boost Dixon's Heisman hopes.

LSU 34, Kentucky 13: If South Carolina could get after Andre' Woodson, wait until the Tigers' vaunted D-line gets across from the Cats' QB. While this appears to be a trap game, I'm not buying it. I think LSU will play so hard for Les Miles, rewarding him for his belief in them when he went for it so many times last week. To me, that was his investment in them and the rest of this season. Also, I doubt LSU drops as many passes as it did last week.

Penn State 23, Wisconsin 10: Even with a shaky Nittany Lions offense, I think Penn State will cruise behind a stout defense and a loud home crowd. I think there will be too much pressure on P.J. Hill to have a big day.

Missouri 35, Oklahoma 31: The Sooners never lose at home, but I think Chase Daniel is tough enough to pilot a big upset. He has a lot more firepower at his disposal than most people talk about, with two great tight ends and rising star Jeremy Maclin. I do think Mizzou will have its hands full with the OU ground game, which I could see burning the Tigers, but I think Daniel will make the big play late to win the game.

Cal 44, Oregon State 23: The Bears are very explosive, although I doubt they have the kind of defense that can win a national title. Still, OSU will be too one-dimensional to pose much of a threat.

Arkansas 24, Auburn 16: The Tigers' young O-line has responded well over the past few weeks, but I think the Hogs will be inspired this weekend and get after them on defense. Plus, the nation's top backfield combination is sure to rip off some huge plays.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

here's a team-by-team breakdown of the first half of the 2007 ACC season:

Boston College Eagles

Talk about your smooth transitions. With 16 starters returning from last year's 10-3 team, the biggest question for the Eagles heading into the season revolved around how well BC would respond to first-year coach Jeff Jagodzinski following the departure of Tom O'Brien to North Carolina State. Answer? No problem. The Eagles (6-0, 3-0 Atlantic) are off to their best start since 1942 and are ranked No. 4, the highest since Doug Flutie's Heisman Trophy-winning season in 1984. The offense and quarterback Matt Ryan have been every bit as good as expected. The Eagles rank first in the ACC in total offense (454.8 yards per game), scoring offense (35.8 points per game) and pass offense (314.2 yards per game). The running game also has picked up lately, which has made Ryan and BC's passing attack even more difficult to defend. The defense -- which lost two key starters in linebacker Brian Toal and defensive tackle B.J. Raji before the season began -- isn't exactly suffocating, but it's been plenty good enough to win. The Eagles rank last in the ACC in pass defense, but much of that is due to opponents being forced to throw after falling behind in games.

Midseason MVP
Ryan has been sensational, completing 57.1 percent or more of his attempts in five of BC's six games. He already has thrown as many touchdown passes (15) as he did all of last season. Ryan is unquestionably the ACC's MVP through the first half of the season, and with the Heisman Trophy race wide open, the senior could make a run at college football's top individual award with an equally strong second half.

What's next
The second half of the season figures to be much tougher for the Eagles than their first six games. BC will play four of its final six contests on the road, beginning Saturday with a trip to South Bend, Ind., to play Notre Dame. The two remaining home games -- Florida State and Miami -- won't be a breeze, either.  <table id="inlinetable" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="200"> <tbody><tr><th colspan="1" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><center>Midseason Mayhem</center></th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="184">
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Clemson Tigers

Unlike in 2006, the Tigers (4-2, 2-2 Atlantic) haven't waited until the second half of the season to collapse. After jumping out to a 4-0 record and moving up to No. 13 in both major polls, Clemson lost back-to-back games to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech and dropped out of the rankings. That's made an Atlantic Division title and ACC championship game appearance an unlikely scenario. Special teams have been an absolute disaster for Clemson, particularly in its two recent losses. Also weighing down the Tigers is tailback C.J. Spiller, who is suffering through a sophomore slump. He was held to less than 10 rushing yards for the third time in his past four games by Virginia Tech and is averaging 40.2 yards per game after running for 72.2 yards per game last season. It's not all Spiller's fault. Clemson's offensive line has struggled, as has the team's entire running game. After finishing fifth nationally in rushing last season with 217.8 yards per game, the Tigers are ranked 80th this week with an average of 126.3 yards.

Midseason MVP
Quarterback Cullen Harper, who had thrown 22 passes in his career heading into 2007, has been better than expected. Harper, a junior, has thrown 14 touchdown passes with only three interceptions. He began the season by extending his run of passes without an interception to a school-record 165 before getting picked off by Georgia Tech.

What's next
Clemson will need plenty of help to get back into the Atlantic Division race. If the Tigers get that assistance, they could go into their Nov. 17 showdown with division leader Boston College at Death Valley with a berth in the ACC title game on the line. If Clemson is out of it by then, coach Tommy Bowden's job will be in serious jeopardy -- if it isn't already.

Duke Blue Devils

The Blue Devils (1-5, 0-3 Coastal) might not have a very good record, but they're not the easy mark they used to be. Aside from a season-opening 45-14 defeat against Connecticut, Duke has been in every game it's played. After snapping a 22-game losing streak by defeating Northwestern on Sept. 15, the Blue Devils have lost their ensuing three games by a total of 18 points and had a chance to win each of them. That's not easy, considering Duke is ranked last in the ACC in rushing offense, sacks allowed, rushing defense and scoring defense. What's kept the Blue Devils in contention has been their passing game. Sophomore Thaddeus Lewis started the season slowly, but over the past month, he has been the best quarterback in the ACC not named Matt Ryan. Lewis is tied with Ryan with a conference-high 15 touchdown passes, four more than he threw all last season. Junior receiver Eron Riley leads the ACC in receiving yards per game (90.7) and touchdown catches (7) and has combined with senior receiver Jomar Wright to give opponents plenty to worry about.

Midseason MVP
Lewis has been the ACC's hottest player over the past month, throwing 13 touchdown passes with only three interceptions over his past four games. One wonders what Lewis could accomplish if the Blue Devils had any kind of running game or provided their quarterback with adequate protection.

What's next
Despite definite improvement, expectations remain modest in Durham, N.C. The Blue Devils have won as many as two games only three times this decade, and getting a second win this season won't be easy. Duke could give itself a nice lift by winning one of its five remaining conference games. The Blue Devils have lost 19 consecutive ACC games dating back to the 2004 season.

Florida State Seminoles

The Seminoles (4-1, 1-1 Atlantic) have bounced back nicely, after a season-opening loss to Clemson, by winning four consecutive games, although none of those victories was particularly impressive. The quarterback situation remains uncertain with Xavier Lee replacing Drew Weatherford as the starter in the past two games. Dropped passes and a slow beginning by tailback Antone Smith in his first season as a starter have slowed down a Florida State offense that ranks ahead of only North Carolina State in the ACC with a 23.2-point average. Not exactly what fans expected following the departure of the reviled Jeff Bowden and the hiring of high-priced offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. Still, the Seminoles might be headed in the right direction. Their four-game winning streak is the school's longest since the beginning of the 2005 season, and last Saturday's victory against North Carolina State snapped Florida State's eight-game losing skid against Atlantic Division opponents.

Midseason MVP
Linebacker Geno Hayes has had his problems off the field, but he's been solid in uniform. Hayes ranks second on the Seminoles with 36 tackles and three sacks and seventh in the ACC with eight tackles for loss. He has keyed an FSU defense that ranks ninth nationally in points allowed and 11th in run defense.

What's next
The first thing the Seminoles must do is settle on a quarterback. Lee is the starter now, but he was given the chance to be No. 1 last season and was unable to keep the job. Lee and FSU certainly will be tested in the final seven games, including road contests at Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Florida.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Yellow Jackets (3-3, 1-3 Coastal) appeared as if they might be the class of the ACC after jumping out to a 2-0 record and No. 13 national ranking. But they followed that start by losing three of their next four games, including a 28-26 loss to Maryland last Saturday that probably ruined any chance they had of defending their Coastal Division title and earning a second straight berth in the ACC title game. A big problem has been the offense. The Yellow Jackets rolled up 102 points in their first two games but only 72 points over the past four. Tailback Tashard Choice and the running game have been solid, but the offense has been mostly one-dimensional. Georgia Tech ranks next-to-last in the conference in passing with 173.3 yards, and first-year starting quarterback Taylor Bennett has managed to throw only two touchdown passes. The Yellow Jackets led the ACC last season with 25 touchdown passes. The veteran defense also has been a disappointment in ACC games.
Midseason MVP
Choice remains in the same spot where he ended the 2006 season: at the top of the ACC rushing leaders. Choice is averaging 106 yards per game, pretty impressive considering that he has played with an injured hamstring for several games and gets little help from the team's passing game.

What's next
There still is half a season to be played, but the Yellow Jackets don't have much to play for, except a second-tier bowl game. Bennett had a solid second half against Maryland, but it will be interesting to see if coach Chan Gailey sticks with the junior quarterback or gives Calvin Booker, a transfer from Auburn, a shot at the starting job.

Maryland Terrapins

The Terrapins (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic) seemed to be in big trouble after getting blown out by West Virginia, followed by a painful overtime loss to Wake Forest. But Maryland bounced back with an impressive win at No. 10 Rutgers and then held off Georgia Tech last Saturday. The key to the Terps' recent turnaround might have been an injury that knocked out starting quarterback Jordan Steffy against Rutgers. Backup Chris Turner stepped in and has played admirably, completing 24 of 37 passes for 404 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions while bringing the big play back to the team's attack. Steffy's status is uncertain, but he's unlikely to unseat Turner when he does return. Maryland has gotten plenty of production from its tailback tandem of Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball. The Terps rank second in the ACC in rushing, with Lattimore and Ball among the conference's 10 leading rushers.

Midseason MVP
Lattimore, the younger brother of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, is making a name for himself this season. Through six games, Lattimore is third in the ACC in rushing with 94.0 yards per game, despite sharing time in the backfield with Ball.

What's next
Keeping its momentum going is not going to be easy for Maryland, which has been beset by injuries. The latest was a broken leg suffered last Saturday by senior guard and All-American candidate Andrew Crummey, further depleting an offensive line that already had depth concerns. But if the Terps can hold things together and survive the next three games -- at home against Virginia and Clemson and at North Carolina -- they could go into their Nov. 10 showdown against Boston College with a division title on the line.

Miami Hurricanes

Just when the Hurricanes (4-2, 1-1 Coastal) looked like they were regaining traction as an ACC title contender, they fell apart during the first half of a 33-27 loss to North Carolina last Saturday in Chapel Hill. Once known as road warriors, the Canes have turned into road kill. Miami is 0-2 away from home in its first season under coach Randy Shannon and now has lost six of its past seven on the road dating back to 2006. Miami is unlikely to get better results until it gets better play at quarterback. After getting his starting job back from Kirby Freeman, senior Kyle Wright led the Hurricanes to three consecutive victories and was playing relatively well. That was before his career-high four interceptions against the Tar Heels, who hadn't beaten a Division I-A opponent this season. Heading into Saturday's critical meeting with Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl (ESPN, noon ET), Wright has committed 10 turnovers (eight interceptions, two fumbles) and has thrown eight touchdowns this season.

Midseason MVP
The Hurricanes would be in a lot worse shape if not for the contributions of tailback Graig Cooper, a speedy freshman who is seventh in the ACC in rushing despite serving as a backup to Javarris James. Cooper has been Miami's only consistent playmaker, not only running, but also catching passes and returning punts.

What's next
The Hurricanes could go in either direction. Only one of their remaining half-dozen games -- Nov. 3 against North Carolina State in the Orange Bowl -- appears to be a gimme. The remaining schedule includes three rough road games against Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boston College. Wright is a key. If he plays better, Miami will win. If he doesn't, the Hurricanes aren't done losing.

North Carolina Tar Heels

After playing pretty well all season but not having much to show for it, the Tar Heels (2-4, 1-2 Coastal) broke through last Saturday by upsetting Miami before a packed house in Chapel Hill. Make no mistake about it. North Carolina still is at least one, maybe two seasons, from being a serious contender in the ACC. But the victory was a nice perk for a young team that had lost three of its four games by a touchdown or less. It also was nice for Butch Davis, the former Miami coach who appears to have the Tar Heels' program heading in the right direction. Davis needs a couple more strong recruiting classes to make UNC a serious threat, but there is some good young talent already on the roster. Sophomore receiver Hakeem Nicks is a keeper, as are quarterback T.J. Yates and running back Anthony Elzy. There also are building blocks on the defensive side, starting with defensive tackle Marvin Austin. It's not going to happen right away, but with Davis in charge, the Tar Heels could be chasing an ACC title sooner than many expected.

Midseason MVP
Yates has had a respectable season, considering he hasn't had much support in the running game or with pass protection. Yates played a masterful game in the upset of Miami, completing 15 of 23 passes for 218 yards and no turnovers.

What's next
The Tar Heels could make a bigger splash this week against No. 7 South Carolina (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) which travels to Chapel Hill. Best-case scenario for UNC would be the continued development of its young roster with a couple more victories to boost confidence. With North Carolina State and Duke still on the schedule, that's more than possible.

North Carolina State Wolfpack

Think Tom O'Brien would like to reconsider his decision to go from Boston College to NC State (1-5, 0-3 Atlantic)? The rebuilding project O'Brien has on his hands appears to be extensive. The only victory so far this season came against Wofford, while four of the five losses have been by no fewer than 17 points. Injuries have decimated the offense. Starting tailback Toney Baker is out for the season with a knee injury. Andre Brown, Baker's replacement, broke his foot Saturday against Florida State and also is gone for the rest of the year. Starting tight end Anthony Hill was lost when he injured a knee prior to fall camp. Starting quarterback Harrison Beck is hurt and missed the Florida State game. Fumbles and interceptions also have been a big problem. NC State ranks last in turnover margin among Division I-A teams, averaging nearly four per game.

Midseason MVP
Darrell Blackman has been the Wolfpack's go-to guy as a receiver and return specialist. With Baker and Brown out for the season, Blackman also could end up seeing some action in the Wolfpack's backfield. Blackman came to NC State as a running back.

What's next
At this point, the Wolfpack would do well just to end the season in one piece. They will get a week off before facing East Carolina on Oct. 20, which is exactly what this team needs. O'Brien's most important chore might be to keep his players' confidence from completely disappearing as the losses pile up.

Virginia Cavaliers

The Cavaliers (5-1, 3-0 Coastal) were written off after starting the season with an embarrassing 23-3 loss to Wyoming. But somewhere on the road to ridicule, Virginia turned it around and is riding a five-game winning streak heading into Saturday's game against undefeated Connecticut. Not that it's been easy. Virginia has won three games by a combined nine points, including a 23-21 victory against Middle Tennessee on Saturday that wasn't decided until Chris Gould's 34-yard field goal with eight seconds left. Tailback Cedric Peerman carried the offense for several weeks, but quarterback Jameel Sewell came up big against Middle Tennessee, completing each of his five passes for 63 total yards on the final drive that led to Gould's game-winning kick. Sewell is averaging just 135.3 yards passing per game, but he has thrown only three interceptions, and, considering the lack of production from Virginia's wide receivers, has turned in a solid half-season. The defense, led by ACC sack leader Chris Long (seven), has played well since the season-opening debacle.

Midseason MVP
Before he left Saturday's victory against Middle Tennessee with a sprained ankle, Peerman was the ACC's unexpected leading rusher. Peerman, a junior, rushed for more than 100 yards in three straight games after the Wyoming loss, giving some stability to an offense that desperately was searching for a playmaker.

What's next
Can the Cavaliers win a Coastal Division title? Possibly, but it's going to be an uphill road. Of Virginia's five remaining conference games, three are on the road. The Cavs' hopes could come down to the regular-season finale in Charlottesville against in-state rival Virginia Tech, which has beaten Virginia in seven of the past eight meetings. Virginia's offense could be in a tough spot if Peerman is out for an extended period of time.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Will the real Hokies stand up? Virginia Tech (5-1, 2-0 Coastal) hardly looked like at top 25 team after a brutal loss to LSU in Week 2, followed by three unimpressive victories against a collection of creampuffs. That was until coach Frank Beamer's crew opened some eyes last Saturday by traveling to Death Valley and dismantling Clemson. But Saturday's victory didn't wash away concerns about an anemic offensive unit that ranks last in the ACC in total offense, passing offense and third-down conversions. The biggest disappointment has been the lack of production from tailback Branden Ore, who finished second in the ACC in rushing last season but is averaging only 55.5 yards per game and 3.1 yards per rush. In Ore's defense, he has played hurt this season and has been running behind an offensive line that has struggled. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has added a boost of athleticism and excitement the Hokies lacked with Sean Glennon as the starter, but he still is experiencing the expected growing pains of a first-year player at his position. The defense and special teams finally broke out against Clemson, accounting for Tech's first three touchdowns.

Midseason MVP
Middle linebacker Vince Hall, a first-team All-ACC selection in 2006, was enjoying another strong season before fracturing his left wrist against Clemson and undergoing surgery. Hall, who could miss between four to six weeks, is fourth in the ACC with 10.2 tackles per game and has five tackles for loss, including two sacks.

What's next
Despite a relatively uninspiring first half, the Hokies are in good position to make a run at their second ACC title. If Taylor grows up quickly and Ore starts running the way he did last season, Virginia Tech could be hard to beat down the stretch. The Hokies get Boston College, Florida State and Miami in Blacksburg but must play on the road against Georgia Tech and Virginia.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

The defending ACC champions survived an injury to quarterback Riley Skinner and two season-opening losses and have moved back into contender's status in the wide-open conference race. If the Demon Deacons (3-2, 2-1 Atlantic) get back to the conference title game, they will point to their 31-24 overtime victory against Maryland on Sept. 22 as the reason why. Down 24-3, Wake came back to record the most dramatic win by an ACC team this season. Skinner, the ACC's Rookie of the Year in 2006, injured his shoulder in the opener against BC and missed two games before returning against Maryland. Skinner's numbers aren't very good -- seven interceptions, two touchdown passes -- but he gives Wake's offense a chance any time he's in the game. A return to form by tailback Micah Andrews, bouncing back slowly from knee surgery, would be a nice boost for the ground-bound Deacons. Midseason MVP
Receiver Kenneth Moore has been a triple threat for the Demon Deacons all season. He is Wake's leading rusher (245 yards, 10.7 average), receiver (30 receptions) and punt returner (10.1 average, 1 TD). The senior keyed last week's victory against Duke, scoring on a 53-yard reverse with 2:24 that sealed the 41-36 victory. Moore finished with 84 rushing yards on four carries, 11 receptions for 100 yards and three punt returns for 22 yards.

What's next
Wake faces a critical Atlantic Division showdown on Thursday night (ESPN, 7:30 ET) in Winston Salem against Florida State. The Demon Deacons crushed the Seminoles last season in Tallahassee. After Florida State, there's a pair of tough back-to-back road games against Virginia and Clemson in November, but if Skinner remains healthy and BC falters, another ACC championship game berth is a real possibility.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Here's a team-by-team look at the first half of the Big Ten season:

Illinois Illini

The Illini (5-1, 3-0) have already won more games overall and in the Big Ten than they managed combined in Ron Zook's first two years (4-19, 1-15). Zook is doing it with a combination of veteran holdovers (like linebacker J Leman and tailback Rashard Mendenhall) and his own recruits (wide receiver Arrelious Benn, cornerback Vontae Davis and quarterback Juice Williams). Illinois' methods aren't mysterious. It plays hard-edged defense and run-oriented offense. Both are time-tested avenues to success in the Big Ten. Leman is a certified star in the middle of the defense and has flair, too, telling an ABC audience prior to a win over Wisconsin, "We put the pain in Champaign." That victory, on the heels of an upset of Penn State, gave Illinois its first back-to-back triumphs over ranked teams in consecutive weeks since 1959. Now Zook has his team in the Top 25 for the first time at the school since 2001. There are still some holes that Zook's recruiting hasn't had the time to fill. But for the first time in a long time, Illini fans are more excited about the second half of a football season than they are about the start of basketball practice.

Midseason MVP
There's no way to pick between Leman and Mendenhall, because the Illini wouldn't be where they are without the two. Leman leads the Big Ten in tackles with 71 (11.8 per-game). He did that last year, too, so that's no surprise. The surprise is Mendenhall, and his 128.7-yard per-game average. He's rushed for 100 yards or more in each of his last four games, but it's how he's doing it that's so valuable. Mendenhall can pound and he can outrun defenders, so opponents get to the fourth quarter both fatigued and frustrated from trying to get him on the ground.

What's next
A bowl bid -- Illinois' first postseason trip in six seasons -- is a given. But the Illini have reason to expect more from themselves in this ahead-of-schedule rebuilding of the program. Having already won at Indiana, there's no reason Illinois shouldn't win this week at Iowa. Michigan comes to Champaign after that, then there's Ball State and a road trip to Minnesota. Only a game at Ohio State appears daunting, and after that comes the home finale against Northwestern. A 10-2 finish isn't impossible if Illinois handles its success well. But remember, last season, the Illini won unexpectedly at Michigan State and then lost their last seven.

Indiana Hoosiers

Illinois' ascent into the Top 25 has stolen some attention from Indiana, which lost to the Illni in the Big Ten opener, 27-14. IU (5-1, 2-1) hasn't lost since, however, winning at Iowa and home against Minnesota to get within one victory of bowl eligibility for the first time since 1993. It's hard not to root for the Hoosiers, given the tragic death of head coach Terry Hoeppner on June 19. Before Hoeppner lost his battle with brain cancer, he made the phrase, "Play 13," a signature goal of the program. That desire to play a postseason game will be realized with one more victory, which could come as soon as this week. Quarterback Kellen Lewis is a run-pass threat who gives IU a chance every week. His top weapon is wide receiver James Hardy, a load for any defense, as evidenced by his league-best eight touchdown catches. The surprise has been Indiana's defense. It isn't spectacular, but it ranks in the middle of the league in most categories. That's a dramatic improvement over previous seasons, when IU was last or close to it against both the run and pass.

Midseason MVP
Lewis has built upon his outstanding freshman year and improves every week. He leads the league in total offense with 318.3 yards per game. Not all of that comes via the pass. Lewis can do damage on the option or on scrambles. He's rushed for 447 yards, which leads the Hoosiers, and three touchdowns. Lewis still turns it over too often, but his touchdown-to-interception ratio of 15-to-6 is something Indiana can live with, given his big-play potential.

What's next
Scoring 38 points at Iowa opened eyes around the league, because it showed the Hoosiers capable of going on the road and playing well. That could serve them Saturday at Michigan State and again two weeks later at Wisconsin. Neither would be a shocking upset, after the way MSU and the Badgers have struggled so far. The key will be whether Indiana's defense can hold up. Defensive end Greg Middleton has 8.5 sacks, which ranks second in the nation. If he can keep getting pressure in the pocket, IU's suspect secondary might not be exposed.
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Iowa Hawkeyes

Farmers obsess over prices, whether it's for corn, soybeans, hog futures or their head football coach. No one complained about Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz's nearly $3 million annual contract when he was producing record yields in the win column. But now, with the Hawkeyes on an eight-game Big Ten losing streak, the grumbling is getting louder. Ferentz hasn't gotten dumber, but his players have. Wide receiver Dominique Douglas' involvement in a credit card scam robbed Iowa of its best pass-catching weapon, and injuries to that position have compounded the problem. Quarterback Jake Christensen therefore has no one to throw to, and his offensive line can't protect adequately or open holes for Albert Young or Damian Sims. Too bad for Ferentz this is a football team, not a 400-acre farm. The latter, he could fix with fertilizer and a few pesticides. But the problems he has can be fixed only by time, good recruiting and players with the good sense to stay out of trouble and the good fortune to avoid injury.
Midseason MVP
Linebacker Mike Humpal is having an all-conference season. He's leading the team in tackles (55) and ranks among the league leaders with two forced fumbles Humpal has been forced to play without his running mate, Mike Klinkenborg, because of an injury and has held steady. The Hawkeyes rank among the top four in the league in most defensive categories and Humpal is the biggest reason why. What's next
Teams don't score that much against Iowa (16.7 points per game), so if the offense ever gets going, a winning streak and seventh straight bowl bid aren't impossibilities. The final three games against Northwestern, Minnesota and Western Michigan are tailored to spruce up the Hawkeyes' credentials. That means Iowa must find a win this week against visiting Illinois, at Purdue or home against Michigan State to get the six wins required to play in the post season.

Michigan Wolverines

The primary reason for Chad Henne, Jake Long and Mike Hart to return for their respective senior seasons vanished in Week 1 with a loss to Appalachian State. It's OK to lose to a national champion. Just not the Division I-AA national champion. It's also not OK to get stomped the following week at home, which Michigan did against Oregon. So Henne, Hart and Long, who came back to go undefeated, weren't even ranked after two weeks and still aren't. But guess what? Michigan can still win the Big Ten and defeat Ohio State for the first time in Henne's, Hart's and Long's careers. That's what drives them, but there is much work to be done before Nov. 17.

Midseason MVP
Mike Hart might be them most indispensable player on any team in the nation. He guaranteed Michigan would defeat Notre Dame, then went out and made sure of the win himself. He virtually willed the Wolverines past Penn State, and has remained a force every week since. Now Michigan's career rushing leader, with 4,655 yards, Hart is deserving of a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. He likely won't get there, but that says more about the voters than it does about Hart's worthiness.

What's next
While Hart, Henne and Long chase an amended dream exit of defeating OSU and participating in a BCS bowl as the Big Ten's automatic representative, the unknown is whether Michigan's defense is up for the challenge. The Wolverines struggle to stop even pedestrian teams like Northwestern and Eastern Michigan, so how is it feasible to expect an 8-0 conference record built on stretch drive victories at Illinois, at Michigan State, at Wisconsin and home against Ohio State? Even this week's matchup against visiting Purdue is no picnic for a defense that struggles every time it glances at a spread attack.

Michigan State Spartans

Mark Dantonio's hiring and his message of toughness and accountability resonated in the aftermath of the wacky John L. Smith regime. Trouble is, too many people bought into the supposed turnaround at MSU before the Spartans proved anything was truly different under Dantonio's direction. Smith, for all his goofiness, never had trouble starting fast. It was finishing that eluded his teams. Don't look now, but MSU has wasted a 4-0 start with consecutive losses at Wisconsin and home against Northwestern. There's no shame in the losing at Camp Randall, but the Northwestern loss was inexcusable. More bothersome, Michigan State lost it in a vintage John L. meltdown. Northwestern went for more than 600 yards and 48 points in the OT triumph, while MSU handed tailback Javon Ringer (12 carries, 185 yards) the ball exactly once in the final 12 minutes of regulation and in overtime.

Midseason MVP
A close call between Ringer and defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic. Ringer is averaging 121.5 yards per-game rushing and is also a weapon as a receiver. Saint-Dic was a pass-rush beast early in the year, but has been neutralized lately by double-teams. He still has seven sacks to rank fourth nationally. He needs more help on a porous Spartans' defense, but he won't get it.

What's next
Dantonio is going to be around for a long time, so this isn't a critical time for him as much as it is for this team. Eventually, he'll eradicate the fold-in-the-face-of-adversity mentality that's seemingly woven into the fabric of MSU's program. But as for this team this year, who knows. The Spartans face perhaps the nation's toughest schedule the rest of the way, with Indiana, at Ohio State, at Iowa, Michigan, at Purdue and Penn State yet to play. There's not a single gimme in that group, so a swoon from 4-0 to 4-8 isn't impossible.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Tim Brewster made some outlandish promises upon taking over at Minnesota (1-5, 0-3). Nearly going winless wasn't among them. The Gophers are fortunate to have their one victory, which came only because of a 33-yard field goal miss by Miami of Ohio at the end of the second overtime in an eventual 41-35 triple OT triumph for Minnesota. Brewster told anyone who would listen that he'd take Gopher Nation to the Rose Bowl. Unless he has a group ticket rate, that won't happen any time soon. The closest his team has been to a conference victory was a two-touchdown loss to Purdue. The Gophers have already committed more turnovers than they suffered all of last season, and their defense invents new ways to allow yardage (515.8 ypg.) and points (37.3 ppg.). No Minnesota fan would be unjustified wondering whether things would be this bad if Glen Mason were still the head coach. And the answer is, they wouldn't.

Midseason MVP
Strong safety Dominique Barber must feel like the last man alive in the foxhole. He's made a team-high 51 tackles, which is never a good thing for a player at his position as the last line of defense. Minnesota is so porous up front, and so inviting to throw against, that Barber is sure to have plenty of chances to pad those numbers the rest of the year. He needs help, but won't get it. At least there will be second-team all-conference mention as a reward.

What's next
The Gophers have to hope that freshman quarterback Adam Weber will settle down and stop giving away possessions. He's thrown 12 interceptions, just one under his touchdown pass total. No team can survive turnovers at that pace, least of all one that can't stop anyone on defense. A shootout Saturday at Northwestern and Division I-AA North Dakota State loom as the only winnable games left on the schedule. If the Gophers don't win at least three games, it will be their worst year since 1992. Suddenly, an Insight Bowl or Music City Bowl berth doesn't look so bad.

Northwestern Wildcats

The Wildcats are easily the most confounding team in the league. This seemed like one of those once-every-five-year rotations that would land Northwestern (3-3, 1-2) in the conference's first division. Coach Pat Fitzgerald had an experienced quarterback, a veteran line and plenty of weapons on that side of the ball, and there were enough veterans to be hopeful the defense would hold up well. Everything seemed fine for two weeks, but then came a horrendous 20-14 home loss to Duke. That ended the Blue Devils' 22-game losing streak and plunged Northwestern into a funk that brought a thrashing the next week at Ohio State. Then, the switch flipped and the Wildcats played Michigan tough, then went on the road at Michigan State and won. Good luck figuring that out, particularly since two-time 1,000-yard tailback Tyrell Sutton has been out for a month and might redshirt.

Midseason MVP
Quarterback C.J. Bacher is just as unpredictable as his team. He didn't throw an interception the first two weeks, then threw seven without a touchdown pass in his next three games. Saturday at Michigan State, he riddled the Spartans for five scores. That's what Bacher can do when he's dialed in, which he has been enough to throw for an average of 294 yards per-game.

What's next
Northwestern is .500 at the midpoint of the year, with inviting games against Minnesota this week and Eastern Michigan next on the schedule. Surviving those tests without a hiccup would give the Wildcats four cracks at winning a sixth game this season to gain bowl eligibility. None of those four -- at Purdue, Iowa, Indiana, at Illinois -- are slam dunks. But nor would the Richter Scale register if Northwestern won any of the four to gain a bowl bid.

Penn State Nittany Lions

The Lions were the under-the-radar pick to win the Big Ten, but that won't happen now. Losses to start conference play at Michigan and Illinois leave Joe Paterno's team with only a cameo role in the title race, and it's that of spoiler. Penn State gets Ohio State at home on Oct. 27. Question is, can Anthony Morelli restore his confidence by then? Right now, the Penn State senior quarterback is reeling after criticism from a fan base fed up with his interceptions (six) and his failure to take advantage of the league's deepest receiving corps. In fairness, Morelli hasn't had a tailback he can rely on. Austin Scott and Rodney Kinlaw have both struggled with fumbleitis. The defense has been solid, but not so dominant that any of the next three games against Wisconsin, at Indiana or OSU are automatic wins. It looks like another third-place bowl for the Lions (4-2, 1-2).

Midseason MVP
The headlines went to linebacker Paul Posluszny last season, when Dan Connor had just as good a season. This year, it's Connor who's in the spotlight, and fellow linebacker Sean Lee is playing just slightly better. Lee leads the Big Ten in tackles in conference games with 40, and his 63 tackles (10.5 per game) ranks second overall to Illinois' J Leman.

What's next
The three games left on the schedule will decide which brand is placed on 2007. Wins over visiting Wisconsin, on the road at Indiana and an upset of third-ranked Ohio State would launch Penn State back into elite New Year's Day consideration. A loss, or even two, would mean Penn State has wasted its talent and a favorable schedule as it enters a rebuilding mode in 2008.

Purdue Boilermakers

The Boilermakers can still unleash a scorched-earth policy with coach Joe Tiller's Basketball On Grass approach. They put up 300 yards of total offense in the first quarter against Central Michigan, and until running into Ohio State, had ripped opponents by a collective 137-20 margin in the first half. Ah, but the Ohio States and Michigans of the world have been the hair in Purdue's oatmeal for many years, and this season appears no different. OSU thumped Curtis Painter and Co., allowing them past the 40-yard line only once. So what will Purdue do? Painter and his receivers must find a way to get vertical against upper-echelon Big Ten defenses, and the Boilermakers must get better pressure on opposing passers to spare a suspect secondary too many long looks downfield.

Midseason MVP
Everything at Purdue is predicated on the quarterback, and has been since before Tiller arrived. From Len Dawson to Gary Danielson to Mike Phipps to Jim Everett to Drew Brees, it's always fallen to the guy under center to make things happen. Curtis Painter is a senior with flashy statistics, but whether he's just a bunch of numbers or a guy who can lead his team to a special season remains a question only the next six games will answer.

What's next
There's not a game on the schedule Purdue can't win, either by outscoring opponents or by defending much better than the No. 9 ranking in the league that currently defines the Boilermakers. Trouble is, there also isn't a gimme left to play. The trip to Michigan this week will chart the course for the remainder of the year. Two should-be victories at home follow against Iowa and Northwestern, but Purdue has shown a penchant for losing such games in seasons' past once the Buckeyes and Wolverines take a bite out of Petey Boilermaker's sledgehammer.

Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes appear as oblivious to obstacles as their buttoned-down, sweater-vested, never-let-them-see-you sweat head coach. A 6-0 start isn't shocking, but it's the easy stroll to that mark which raises eyebrows. Jim Tressel has found a quarterback in junior Todd Boeckman who won't put the OSU defense in a position where it could fail. Not that many such positions exist. The Buckeyes allow only 7.2 points per game, but they're really better than that. The first unit has allowed only two touchdowns in situations when games weren't out of reach. Tailback Chris Wells has a balky ankle, but freshman Brandon Saine is good enough to take over the job without any dropoff. All this brings up a question: Does Tressel recruit this well, or does he simply clone?

Midseason MVP
Boeckman's numbers aren't without blemish. He has thrown six interceptions. But without him, OSU would have been in danger at Washington and Purdue. An injury would turn the job over to unproven sophomore Rob Schoenhoft. So while linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins have been outstanding, Boeckman is the one guy OSU can least afford to lose.

What's next
A third trip to the in-state dessert bar approaches with a Saturday visit from Kent State, which, like Akron and Youngstown State, will take a six-figure payday and smile through the ensuing black eye. Road trips to Penn State and Michigan remain, as do home encounters with Wisconsin and Illinois. That foursome might appear daunting, but each team has a weakness Ohio State can expose in an effort to win its second straight outright league championship.

Wisconsin Badgers

The criticism of the Badgers has been vocal and broadly-based. Those who saw them barely survive at UNLV chirped about a Top 10 ranking being undeserved. The same shouts arose after Wisconsin barely survived Iowa and Michigan State at home, giving rise to I-told-you-sos after a loss at Illinois. What went unnoticed last week was P.J. Hill's mid-game groin injury, which forced Wisconsin to throw 49 times. The Badgers aren't at their best doing that, so the loss wasn't necessarily an omen of things to come. An injury to receiver Paul Hubbard and now, a season-ender to Luke Swan, haven't helped. What would help is for the defense to start tackling like it did last season. Most of the players are veterans, so there's really no excuse for why Wisconsin hasn't been able to dictate on that side of the field.

Midseason MVP
Tight end Travis Beckum has been invaluable, particularly in light of the injuries to the rest of the receiving corps. Beckum gives Wisconsin an edge every week, because he's too fast for linebackers and too physical for cornerbacks to cover. He averages nearly seven catches per-game for 81 receiving yards and has scored three touchdowns. He can also play wide receiver, if needed.

What's next
Surviving at Penn State this week is critical to sustaining Wisconsin's Big Ten championship hopes. After that, the Badgers will have consecutive home games against Northern Illinois and Indiana. That would allow P.J. Hill some rest, since backup Lance Smith can play at Camp Randall, just not on the road, because of a university-imposed suspension. Hill would then be fresh for a trip to Ohio State and subsequent home game against Michigan. By then, Hubbard should be back, too.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Here's a team-by-team look at the first half of the Big 12 season:

Baylor Bears

After a solid 3-1 nonconference start, Baylor approached the Big 12 race with momentum. It was heightened because its offense had scored at least 34 points in every victory. Some of the more optimistic Bears fans even hinted about snapping their 13-season bowl drought, longest in the conference and tied for third-longest among the six Bowl Championship Series conferences.
But self-inflicted mistakes have led to devastating losses to Texas A&M and Colorado, pushing them back into their accustomed position in the South Division basement. Baylor's lack of defensive production has been particularly pronounced in Big 12 play, allowing opponents an average of 501 yards in those two games as they've been outscored 77-33.

Midseason MVP
After a slow start in the season opener against TCU, sophomore QB Blake Szymanski produced some big passing numbers despite his team's struggles around him. Szymanski passed for a school-record 412 yards against Rice and had two other efforts of at least 410 yards. And he's thrown for 15 touchdowns and 1,815 passing yards, putting him on pace to break both single-season school records if he can maintain a similar pace and remain healthy.

What's next
It's not a good sign for coach Guy Morriss' job security when his team was serenaded by boos throughout much of the game last week against Colorado. And it will only get worse, as the Bears face opponents with a combined record of 25-9 in their final six games. The Bears have had troubles on special teams and have struggled implementing new coordinator Larry Hoefer's defense and running the ball. Szymanski will keep posting big numbers, but the Bears might need to pull off a couple of upsets down the stretch to save Morriss' job.
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Colorado Buffaloes

Coach Dan Hawkins was known across the nation for his wild rant before the season about the difficulty of playing in the Big 12. His team appears to have taken his suggestion to heart after struggling in nonconference play. The Buffaloes have shown substantial improvements during a 2-0 start in conference play marked by a huge upset over Oklahoma and an impressive victory the next week against Baylor. After struggling with a hamstring injury earlier in the season, senior tailback Hugh Charles has rebounded to rush for 100 yards in each of his last three games. It's taken some of the pressure away from freshman quarterback Cody Hawkins, who has pleased his father with his quick command of the offense.
The Buffaloes defense has been steady, ranking 21st nationally in total defense and 23rd against the run. LB Jordon Dizon has been a force as the hard-hitting, spunky defense limited Florida State, Miami (Ohio) and Oklahoma to 230 yards or less.

Midseason MVP
Dizon has been a tackling machine, leading the nation with an average of 13 stops per game. The Buffaloes' defensive unit has developed a nasty streak that has emanated from its leader, whose productive play has been spurred by strong support from an underrated defensive front. Defensive tackles George Hypolite and Brandon Nicolas deserve special mention and might be the conference's best pair of interior players

What's next
Hawkins could have his team pointed to a solid challenge for the North Division title if the Buffaloes can keep playing like they have the last few weeks. His son is becoming more poised as the starting quarterback, and Colorado's special teams provide one of the team's most underrated strengths. The Buffaloes will also benefit from division's most accommodating schedule down the stretch with home games against the North's other unbeaten teams -- Kansas and Missouri -- along with a home date to finish the regular season against Nebraska.

Iowa State Cyclones

First-year coach Gene Chizik turned a lot of heads nationally with an early victory over Iowa. But some of the excitement of that game has subsided after the Hawkeyes' own struggles and the Cyclones' consecutive road losses against Toledo, Nebraska and Texas Tech. ISU's offensive line has shown an inability to protect or run block; its special teams play is comical; and senior quarterback Bret Meyer has been inconsistent. Running back J.J. Bass was a bright spot before he was injured and Jason Scales was impressive in his place the last two games.
Chizik is trying to change the culture in his new program. But it won't make things any easier this season, as the program will likely bottom out in a difficult finish that will see them as an underdog in every remaining game.

Midseason MVP
Wide receiver Todd Blythe has been the same steady player as earlier in his career, snagging 32 passes to serve as Iowa State's top game-breaking threat. He already has broken the school's career receiving yards record and needs only eight more catches to break the school's career receptions record.

What's next
The Cyclones could lose every game during the rest of the season, considering their final six opponents all are headed for bowl games. It will be interesting if Chizik ever gets to the point where he decides to pull Meyer in favor of freshman Austen Arnaud in order to build for the future. It would be difficult considering Meyer's strong play for the Cyclones over his career, which has included 42 career starts and ISU records in passing yards and total yards. But it would be understandable if Chizik wanted to get an early start in building for the future of his program.

Kansas Jayhawks

He might not look like the prototypical rocket-armed quarterback. His teammates call him "Sparky" because of his stumpy 5-foot-11 frame. But sophomore Todd Reesing has provided all the leadership needed to help direct the Jayhawks to an improbable 5-0 start.
Coach Mark Mangino took a lesson from his coaching mentor, former Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, in allowing his team to build confidence by grazing on a pastry wagon of gooey treats during the nonconference part of his schedule. Sure, the Jayhawks' first four opponents have a current collective record of 7-16. But those early triumphs helped produce a 4-0 record and the confidence necessary to go into Kansas State and claim Kansas' first victory there since 1989 in the Jayhawks' conference opener last week.

The most telling signs of improvement have been defensively, particularly in a defensive unit that was repeatedly blistered against the pass last season. The Jayhawks rank eighth nationally in pass defense after ranking last in the nation last season. Kansas ranks third in total defense, up from 94th in 2006.

Midseason MVP
Whether he's catching balls or defending receivers, versatile two-way star Aqib Talib is involved in all phases for Kansas. He's not producing the monster pass-deflection numbers he did last season because fewer opposing teams are testing him. But he's becoming more involved offensively with seven receptions this season, including four touchdown receptions. Most amazingly, Talib has scored a touchdown in six straight games, dating back to last season.

What's next
Confidence from the upset at KSU has catapulted the Jayhawks into prime North Division title contention. But a good indicator will be seen after this week's game against Baylor. Kansas will face a difficult two-game road swing to Colorado and Texas A&M. The final part of the schedule softens with late home games against Nebraska and Iowa State before finishing the regular season in a neutral -site game at Arrowhead Stadium against Missouri. The Jayhawks are a lock to go bowling, which is a big step after missing out last season. And they could be playing for much more later in the season.

Kansas State Wildcats

Under Bill Snyder, Kansas State's nonconference schedule was largely a joke, dotted with enough cream puffs to stock a buffet. But his successor, Ron Prince, has taken a different approach that seems to have the Wildcats prepared this season. KSU played strongly in a season-opening loss at Auburn, developing the confidence necessary for three-straight victories -- including an impressive 41-21 win at Texas in the Wildcats' Big 12 opener.
But as they did last season, the Wildcats couldn't recover quickly from an upset over the Longhorns, falling against Kansas in their next game. KSU has been repeatedly plagued by an inability to produce more than an occasional big passing play and a struggling running game that has produced less than 100 yards rushing in three of its last five games. Those struggles have helped make them one-dimensional in recent games and could cause them more troubles against tough North Division defensive rivals.

Midseason MVP
Former walk-on wide receiver Jordy Nelson has emerged as one of the nation's most underrated players, ranking second nationally in receptions (10.4 per game) and fourth in receiving yardage (126.8 per game). His value could be even more profound if he could improve on a rather pedestrian 12.2-yard per catch average.

What's next
The Wildcats face a virtual elimination game Saturday when they host Colorado. It would be a big surprise if they could contend for a division championship with two home losses to divisional foes. But KSU's defense and special plays should give them an opportunity in every game. They have a chance to beat any team in the league if quarterback Josh Freeman can stay away from interceptions. KSU needs to win four remaining games to get to seven wins, which likely will be necessary to snag one of the Big 12's bowl berths. That will place a premium on a challenging three-game finish that includes tough road games at Nebraska and Fresno State sandwiched around its home finale against Missouri.

Missouri Tigers

The unaccustomed role of preseason North Division favorites hasn't affected the Tigers, who have streaked to five straight victories and have soared to their highest national ranking since 1981. Quarterback Chase Daniel has been the ringleader of one of the nation's most explosive offenses, ranking fourth nationally in total offense. And he's done it without wide receiver Danario Alexander, who was out with a fractured wrist before returning last week. All-purpose freshman standout Jeremy Maclin has emerged in a variety of roles, leading the nation in all-purpose yardage as he has become a threat running, receiving and with returns. Tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman are the backbone of an explosive receiving corps. The defense was a concern, particularly in closer-than-expected victories over Illinois and Ole Miss to start the season. But the unit looked strong against Nebraska, limiting the Cornhuskers to only 74 yards in a convincing 41-6 triumph that has stamped the Tigers as a legitimate threat for their first conference championship since 1969.

Midseason MVP
While it could be argued that Maclin has kick-started Missouri's attack in a variety of ways, their offense begins with Daniel's contributions. His decision-making in coach Gary Pinkel's spread attack has been flawless and he's playing like he should be considered in the mix of Heisman Trophy contenders.

What's next
Missouri has made similar fast starts -- like last season's 5-0 beginning -- before cratering late in the season. Pinkel needs a fast finish to finally get the respect that has eluded him during his seven-season tenure at Missouri. His high-powered offensive attack features more weapons than any other in the conference, but will be tested during a tough finish against some salty opposing defensive units. It starts on Saturday at Oklahoma, where Missouri hasn't won since 1966, and later includes challenging trips to Colorado and Kansas State. The defense must play better and will be challenged in the next two weeks by Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Let's see how the Tigers make it through those games before the Bowl Championship Series talk gets too far.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

After a blowout victory over Nevada to start the season, coach Bill Callahan received a two-year contract extension that stretched his current deal through 2012. But considering how the season has played out since then -- narrow victories over Wake Forest and Ball State and crushing blowout losses to Missouri and USC -- Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson might be having some serious second thoughts about that decision. The Cornhuskers' defensive struggles have made coordinator Kevin Cosgrove's long-term job status a hot-button issue. And he didn't win much support against Missouri when he stubbornly kept the Cornhuskers in a three-man defensive front that failed to notch a sack in 47 pass attempts. That came after the Cornhuskers were gashed for 313 rushing yards by USC and 610 total yards by Iowa State earlier this season. Opponents have scored at least 40 points in three of Nebraska's last four games. The last time that a Nebraska opponent has scored 40 points three times in the same season came in 1943, when basketball coach Adolph J. Lewandowski was trying to get the program through World War II. Quarterback Sam Keller has been as productive as expected, but the Cornhuskers haven't been able to run the ball consistently against better opponents. That tendency has placed too much pressure on the passing game.

Midseason MVP
Keller has been one of the few constants for Nebraska, providing consistent play and leadership for a team that could have floundered in several key situations. He has twice sparked comeback victories and has played hard even in the disappointing losses. Keller already has broken Nebraska's single-game passing record with a 438-yard effort against Ball State. And if he maintains his current pace, he'll smash most of the school's single-season passing records set by his predecessor, Zac Taylor.

What's next
Even with all of the gloom surrounding the Nebraska program after the Missouri loss, the Cornhuskers still can charge back into North Division title contention. The key will be their next two games -- home games against Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. If the Cornhuskers can show improvement and pick up two victories, their chances to repeat as North Division champs remain strong. Tough road games will then follow against Texas, Kansas and Colorado. An attitude adjustment is necessary over the next couple of weeks to get the Cornhuskers in a proper mind-set for the tough finish. Because if they don't play much better over the next two weeks, it could really get nasty for Callahan and his program.

Oklahoma Sooners

A fast early start had the Sooners among the prime challengers for the national championship during an impressive four-game winning streak to start the season. Redshirt freshman QB Sam Bradford orchestrated a potent offensive mix that averaged 61.5 points in their first four games. The offense struggled at Colorado and the defense finally wore down in the second half of a stunning 27-24 upset loss. That defeat sparked some soul searching among the young Sooners, who responded with a gritty 28-21 triumph over Texas last week that pushed them back into the South Division title hunt. Bradford's early start has been surprisingly strong and redshirt freshman running back DeMarco Murray has emerged as a prime breakaway threat. The defense played well early, but has been torched for at least 220 passing yards in each of its last three games and must improve if the Sooners have hopes of becoming the first repeat champion in Big 12 history.

Midseason MVP
The Sooners' biggest question coming into the season was at quarterback. Bradford has answered those and more, putting himself in line to break the national single-season record for freshman touchdown passes with a strong finish. His teammates say his command of the offense and his leadership skills have been astounding, considering his inexperience. And his rebound performance against Texas (21-of-32 passes for 244 yards and three TDs) was notable after his struggles in the second half in the Colorado loss.

What's next
Winning against Texas put the Sooners in control of their destiny down the stretch. Their secondary will face a big test against Missouri this week before a potentially huge game against South leader Texas A&M on Nov. 3. That game, and the Sooners' visit two weeks later to Texas Tech, will likely determine their South title hopes. And considering the wackiness of the last few weeks, the Sooners still have legitimate national title hopes if they can run the table during the rest of the season.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys' season was marked by coach Mike Gundy's rant after their finest moment. A dramatic 49-45 victory over Texas Tech appeared to represent a turnaround after a disappointing start that had seen earlier road losses to Georgia and Troy. But that was all upstaged by what happened after the game. Gundy switched to quarterback Zac Robinson before the Tech game, replacing Bobby Reid. Robinson responded with two strong performances before he was hurt late in the loss at Texas A&M last week. But the offense hasn't been a problem, as OSU has produced at least 432 yards in each of its last five games. The biggest concern is defensively, where the lack of a pass rush and injuries to playmakers like linebacker Chris Collins and cornerback Martel Van Zant have hampered productivity. The Cowboys rank 116th nationally in pass defense, 96th in sacks, 101st in turnover margin and 92nd in total defense and must show improvement if they have any hope of making a bowl trip. And they also have to play smarter, as critical penalties have repeated doomed them, most recently against A&M.

Midseason MVP
Senior running back Dantrell Savage's early strained abdominal muscle has been the most devastating problem for the Cowboys. When he was hurt, the offense sputtered and OSU ranked among the bottom feeders nationally in third-down conversion. But since his return, he's rushed for 100 yards in three straight games to spark an improved element of balance in the Cowboys' attack.

What's next
The Cowboys might be the one team most affected by the Big 12's balance this season. They will face a difficult closing finish, including games at Nebraska and Oklahoma, sandwiched around three tough home games against likely bowl teams Kansas State, Texas and Kansas. And the Cowboys likely need to get to seven wins to assure a bowl berth this season. That might be tough without sneaking an upset -- or two -- during the second half of the season.

Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns' hopes of challenging for a national championship have been quashed by back-to-back conference losses to KSU and Oklahoma after a 4-0 start. Those defeats have stretched Texas' conference losing streak to four straight games. The Longhorns' offensive line has struggled protecting quarterback Colt McCoy, causing him to take more hits than during his freshman season. That punishment has helped explain why McCoy has struggled through a sophomore slump in which he's thrown as many interceptions (10) as touchdown passes. Tailback Jamaal Charles started quickly, but has struggled in his last two games. He's also battled a rash of fumbles with four in his last four games -- including a critical one deep in Oklahoma territory that helped turn that game around. The defense has struggled making plays and hasn't produced a turnover in the last 10 quarters. The scary thing is how close the Longhorns could be to another loss or two, if not for their knack for self-preservation during closer-than-expected victories over undermanned teams like Arkansas State, TCU and Central Florida. And the rash of off-the-field problems during the summer and early in the season apparently didn't help the team's focus, either.

Midseason MVP
The early choice would have been Charles, but he's made too many critical mistakes in the two recent losses. Former minor-league baseball player Quan Cosby has brought the team some maturity and has also been one of the team's top offensive producers and its primary kickoff and punt returner. He ranks in the top six among both kick and punt returners in the conference and has also produced 31 receptions. And he could be poised for a big finish as the Longhorns struggle without top deep threat Limas Sweed, out for the season with a wrist injury.

What's next
The Longhorns appear headed for a mid-level bowl game after quickly falling out of contention in the South race. It will be interesting to see whether Brown starts working toward the future by experimenting with some talented, but inexperienced, defensive playmakers like linebackers Sergio Kindle and Roddrick Muckelroy and cornerbacks Chykie Brown and Deon Beasley. Who knows? Maybe even talented freshman backup quarterback John Chiles also might get an extended look in the latter stages of the season.

Texas A&M Aggies

After a humiliating, nationally-televised loss at Miami on Sept. 20, the Aggies were vilified for their lack of competitiveness. It got even worse when news leaked later that coach Dennis Franchione was leaking team secrets in a VIP newsletter targeted to select boosters. With all of that baggage, the Aggies' recent two-game winning streak looks more remarkable. They beat a struggling Baylor team, but notched their most impressive victory last week. A&M rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to notch a 24-23 victory over Oklahoma State, which matched the largest comeback for an A&M team in 21 seasons. The Aggies are in first place in the South Division, but their stay could be short-lived. They will need a big performance down the stretch from quarterback Stephen McGee, better play from a veteran offensive line and more production from a defense that ranks tied for 105th nationally in sacks.

Midseason MVP
Massive tailback Jorvorskie Lane has crawled out of Franchione's doghouse to have two big games since receiving only two carries -- and none until the third quarter -- in the Miami loss. Lane rushed for 123 yards against Baylor and keyed the comeback against Oklahoma State with a three-touchdown performance that also included a 49-yard option pass that set up another score. He'll receive more playing time if Michael Goodson's injury woes continue.

What's next
Franchione's job status still could be tenuous, considering the Aggies' difficult finish. All six remaining opponents are likely bowl teams, including gauntlet of difficult road games at Nebraska, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Missouri. The Aggies need more production out of McGee, whose inspirational leadership has been strong away from the field as Franchione's biggest supporter. A&M also needs an upgrade from a defense that has been susceptible to big plays, but has produced at least three turnovers in three games this season.

Texas Tech

After claiming the unofficial Conference USA championship after three easy victories over SMU, UTEP and Rice, the Red Raiders played horribly defensively in a 49-45 loss at Oklahoma State. Coach Mike Leach went ballistic after the game and veteran defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich stepped down in the wake of the 610-yard catastrophe that included three OSU players rush for at least 100 yards. Interim defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill has changed his unit's attitude, eliciting strong performances against Northwestern State and Iowa State in his first two games. But it remains to be seen how the Tech defense will perform against more substantial offensive tests. Tech's offense has been as good as expected. Freshman receiving sensation Michael Crabtree has emerged as the nation's top receiver and Graham Harrell is posting pinball kind of offensive numbers -- even for Leach's offense. Tech's offensive line play in pass protection has been solid. But one big key down the stretch will be improving a running game that ranks 113th nationally and hasn't produced a runner that has gained more than 75 yards in any game this season.

Midseason MVP
It might be a cop-out, but it's really difficult to decide between either Harrell or Crabtree. Harrell leads the nation in total offense and ranks second in passing efficiency and has already thrown for 2,726 yards and 28 touchdowns against only three interceptions. And Crabtree could be on the way to breaking every major Division I-A single-season record if he matches his first-half totals of 70 receptions, 1,074 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first six college games. So split the award among both of them.

What's next
The Red Raiders have taken advantage of an easy schedule to cruise to a 5-1 start. They also have a favorable upcoming schedule with home games against Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Their hopes of claiming their first South Division title could depend on sweeping Missouri and Colorado, a task they've never been able to accomplish before in the same season. The Red Raiders have posted a combined 3-7 record against those two schools since the Big 12 was formed. The rest of the season should be interesting. Harrell and Crabtree will challenge the record book if they can stay healthy. And Leach should still be full of quips, even as he nurses a broken arm he sustained in a bicycle accident last week.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Here's a team-by-team look at the first half of the Big East season:

Cincinnati Beacats

This is getting serious. The 15th-ranked Bearcats (6-0, 1-0) suddenly have the nation's second-longest winning streak (nine) and have been ranked three consecutive weeks for the first time since 1954, when Sid Gillman prowled the sidelines. Sellout crowds have become the norm at Nippert Stadium. The Cincinnati Enquirer actually ran a photo of the team boarding buses for a trip to Rutgers. Isn't this supposed to be a basketball school? The upward trend began under former coach Mark Dantonio and has continued under Brian Kelly, whose spread offense with new quarterback Ben Mauk is beginning to click. The defense leads the country in takeaways (25). A Big East title is a very real possibility. The Bearcats already are bowl eligible, but there's a lot of season left. It'll be interesting to see how Cincinnati copes with its newfound success.

Midseason MVP
Any number of defensive players could qualify, but when it came time to win the biggest game of the season thus far, Saturday at Rutgers, Mauk stepped up. The Wake Forest transfer with the rebuilt arm passed for 257 yards and three touchdowns and made several key plays with his feet. Mauk has completed 65 percent of his passes and thrown for 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He ranks second in the conference in passing efficiency.

What's next
Who would have thought Cincinnati would be favored against Louisville, a team that smacked the Bearcats, 70-7, in 2004? The Bearcats host the Cardinals on Saturday (ESPNU, 7 p.m. ET), then hit the road for visits to Pitt -- whom they have never beaten -- and South Florida. The latter game should have major ramifications on the conference race.
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Connecticut Huskies

Give the Huskies (5-0, 1-0) credit for a fast start, even if it took a highly questionable call to beat Temple. The 34-14 road win at Pitt was impressive. Duke, Maine and Akron presented favorable matchups, and Connecticut came through to the point where it is receiving votes in the polls. The defense ranks fourth in the country (250.6 yards per game) but has not faced an offense ranked above No. 96. One more victory will make the Huskies bowl eligible for the first time in three years. That would make this season a success, even if they struggle through the meat of their Big East schedule.

Midseason MVP
Junior-college transfer Tyler Lorenzen has stabilized the team's problematic quarterback position. Lorenzen has completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,083 yards and has twice as many touchdown passes (six) as interceptions (three). He's also a threat running the ball.

What's next
A victory Saturday at Virginia (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m. ET) might put the Huskies in the top 25. After that, they'll have a chance to make their statement in the Big East, with games against Louisville, South Florida, Rutgers and Cincinnati.

Louisville Cardinals

Once thought to be a national championship contender, the Cardinals (3-3, 0-1) now face an uphill battle to become bowl eligible. This was supposed to be Louisville's fastest defense under fourth-year coordinator Mike Cassity, but it can't seem to track down all those receivers and running backs running wild through its secondary. Losing three-fourths of the secondary and stud tackle Amobi Okoye after last season has proved to be a much more significant blow than expected. New coach Steve Kragthorpe has so little confidence in his defense that he ordered an onside kick with 3:33 left in the Utah game last Friday, trailing by only six with two timeouts. Utah recovered and put the game away with a field goal.

Midseason MVP
You can't blame quarterback Brian Brohm for the Cardinals' problems. He has completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 20 touchdowns, four interceptions and 402.5 yards per game. The latter figure puts him second in the country in total offense.

What's next
The Cardinals' final six opponents are a combined 26-6. Saturday's game at Cincinnati might represent Louisville's last chance to make some noise in the Big East. Road games at USF and West Virginia loom, and if the Louisville defense doesn't make drastic improvements, it could prove to be humiliating.

Pittsburgh Panthers

Coach Dave Wannstedt has two years left on his contract after this season, a precarious position for any college coach. If Pitt's administration does not extend his deal, Wannstedt will be hamstrung on the recruiting trail. That is assuming he's still around. Pitt, coming off a hideous, 44-14 loss to Virginia, is 1-8 in its past nine games against Division I-A competition. Injuries to the starting quarterback (Bill Stull), the star receiver (Derek Kinder) and two starting linemen (Gus Mustakas, Jason Pinkston) haven't helped, but Pitt needs to do better than a 20-point home loss to UConn. Program backers have been pointing to 2008 as Wannstedt's breakthrough season. School chancellor Mark Nordenberg has been firmly in the coach's corner to this point, but winning a game or three wouldn't hurt if Wannstedt wants to avoid lame-duck status next season, or worse.

Midseason MVP
Middle linebacker Scott McKillop has more than adequately replaced H.B. Blades and leads the Big East in tackles, but the team's best player has been freshman tailback LeSean McCoy, who is third in the conference in rushing (100.6 yards per game), despite the coaching staff's reluctance to feature him against Connecticut. McCoy, averaging more yards per carry (6.0) than West Virginia's Pat White or Steve Slaton, is Pitt's most explosive runner since Curtis Martin left in 1995. What's next
The next three games -- Navy, at Louisville, Syracuse -- are winnable, even for Pitt (2-3, 0-1). Wannstedt would gladly take two of three before Pitt visits Rutgers and faces possible season-ending massacres against USF and West Virginia.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

There's no way around it: The Scarlet Knights have been a profound disappointment so far. They opened with one of the kindest schedules in the country -- five consecutive home games, the first three against Buffalo, Navy and Norfolk State -- but dropped the past two, against Maryland and Cincinnati, and dropped from No. 10 in the AP poll all the way to "Others Receiving Votes." A leaky defense is the primary culprit. Rutgers is sixth in the Big East in rush defense, allowing 144.6 yards per game. That includes 389 yards rushing allowed over the past two games. Mike Teel also has yet to prove he is a championship-caliber quarterback. He was outplayed by Cincinnati's Ben Mauk on Saturday and has thrown seven interceptions in two career games against the Bearcats.

Midseason MVP
Ray Rice won't win the Heisman Trophy, and he couldn't get untracked against Cincinnati, but he easily leads the Big East in touchdowns (11) and all-purpose yards per game at 153.6. That is 18 yards better than the second-place player (WVU's Slaton).

What's next
After visiting Syracuse on Saturday, Rutgers plays back-to-back home games (USF, West Virginia) that will go a long way toward determining its fate. If it wins both, it will vault back into the rankings and the Big East title picture.

South Florida Bulls

Despite some self-destructive tendencies, the fifth-ranked Bulls (5-0, 1-0) have emerged as the Big East favorite, a national title contender and one of the biggest stories in college football. In its 26-23 victory at Auburn, USF overcame four missed field goals. In its victory against West Virginia, it overcame four turnovers. Heck, in the past two games (Florida Atlantic, West Virginia), the Bulls have given up 848 yards and committed eight turnovers and won by an average of 10 points. The team's success is largely due to a defense that is rife with NFL prospects and was able to stifle powerful West Virginia for the second consecutive season. The offense has contributed some big plays, most notably quarterback Matt Grothe's scramble-and-chuck 55-yard touchdown pass in the huge win over West Virginia, but must cut down on the turnovers.

Midseason MVP
With 10 sacks, sophomore defensive end George Selvie is on pace to break the Big East record of 20, set two years ago by Louisville's Elvis Dumervil, who plays for the Denver Broncos.

What's next
The two most challenging games left on the schedule figure to be at Rutgers on Oct. 18 and at home against Cincinnati on Nov. 3. Did any sane person believe the USF-Cincy game would decide the Big East title? It's possible.

Syracuse Orange

The Greg Robinson watch officially is on. After a stunning victory over what we now know is a seriously flawed Louisville team, the Orange lost to Miami (Ohio) and were systematically destroyed by West Virginia. In the latter game, SU gave up more points (55) in a home game than any team in the program's history, which began in 1889. The 55-14 loss left the Orange 1-5 overall, 1-1 in the Big East. Robinson, in his third season, is 6-23 overall, 2-14 in the Big East. Many of the statistics associated with his team are downright mind-boggling, and not in a good way. For example, Syracuse has been outrushed this season, 1,408 to 297, and has been outscored in first halves, 111-34.

Midseason MVP
Can a kick returner be MVP? Freshman Max Suter, whose 27.9-yard average ranks third in the conference, merits mention, but senior safety Joe Fields probably deserves the honor. A converted quarterback, Fields leads the team in tackles (52) and interceptions (three) and has made himself into a legitimate NFL prospect.

What's next
Syracuse figures to be favored in only one of its final six games -- Oct. 20 against visiting Buffalo. A loss there, and we could be staring at the first 11-loss team in school history.

West Virginia Mountaineers

Upon further review, maybe the Mountaineers' national title hopes aren't dead. West Virginia (5-1, 3-1) fell from No. 5 to No. 13 after the crushing loss to USF, but quickly rose to No. 8 after destroying Syracuse and watching upsets erupt all over the country. No doubt, the defense is much better this season. The offensive line isn't, though, which might account for the rushing averages of quarterback Pat White and tailback Steve Slaton being down by more than a full yard each. Slaton has yet to bust out with the kind of huge game that became his trademark over the past two seasons. Even though the Mountaineers imploded like the Buffalo Bills in a Super Bowl when they played USF, committing six turnovers, all things remain possible.
Midseason MVP
The temptation is to pick White and/or Slaton, but they've rolled up big numbers mostly against cream puffs and faltered in the biggest game of the season -- the loss to USF -- so the nod goes to senior defensive end Johnny Dingle, who has been downright destructive. Dingle leads the team in tackles for loss (8.5) and is tied for the team lead in sacks (five), forced fumbles (two), fumble recoveries (one) and even pass breakups (two).

What's next
The next three conference games should decide West Virginia's fate. First comes a visit to Rutgers on Oct. 27, followed by what better be a victory at home against Louisville, followed by a visit to Cincinnati. Three wins, and the Mountaineers will rekindle talk of a Big East title, perhaps even a national title. Anything less, and the season will be careening toward profound disappointment

frankiegotti · Oct 12, 2007

good post yessir, i liked reading it.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Here's a team-by-team breakdown of the first half of the 2007 Pac-10 season:

Arizona Wildcats
This was supposed to be Arizona's breakthrough year under Mike Stoops. After three poor-to-middling seasons counterbalanced by touted recruiting classes, Stoops was expected to have attained his coaching stride. With a new spread offense and experienced talent, the Wildcats were a popular pick to push back into the top-half of the Pac-10.

That hasn't been the case. Despite 19 starters returning from a team that won four of its final six games in 2006 -- including victories over California and Oregon -- the 2-4 Wildcats appear headed toward another losing season.

It started with a pair of humbling nonconferences losses, first at BYU and then, far worse, at home against New Mexico. After a blowout defeat to California, it looked like things might be picking up following a dominant 48-20 win over Washington State.

But, in a must win last weekend at Oregon State, the Wildcats didn't even show up, losing 31-16 in a game that was over by halftime.
What's been most strange: The new spread offense has been fairly consistent, but the veteran defense has mostly flopped.

Midseason MVP:
While quarterback Willie Tuitama's 15 touchdown passes stand out, cornerback Antoine Cason is the Wildcats' best player. Period.
He's the second-leading tackler (40) and has two interceptions. He also averages 11 yards per punt return, which ranks third in the conference, and has taken one 70 yards for a touchdown.

What's next:
A ninth consecutive season without a bowl invitation, which could mean Arizona's powers-that-be will take a serious look at whether Stoops should return in 2008.


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Arizona State Sun Devils
Not to take anything away from first-year coach Dennis Erickson and Arizona State, but a 6-0 start is in large part a function of a serendipitous schedule that has been slowly ramping up the level of competition from poor-to-middling, allowing coach and team plenty of time to get to know each other. And it wasn't like the cupboard was empty when Dirk Koetter was fired.
Still, the Sun Devils proved they could dominate during the first five games and then win ugly on the road against a hungry Washington State squad. It also doesn't hurt perceptions that Colorado, which ASU whipped 33-14, turned around and beat Oklahoma.
Most folks figured the offense would be pretty good, and Erickson has quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who's been known to overthink, playing loose and within himself. But the real surprise is the defense, which is tops in the conference in scoring, holding opponents to just 14.2 points per game.
Of course, the Pac-10's best offenses lay ahead, so it might be premature to go all-in with the defense.

Midseason MVP:
Erickson doesn't hesitate when asked who his MVP is: Linebacker Robert James. James is the heart-and-soul of a surprisingly stout, no-name defense that has been the critical element of an unbeaten start. His 9.8 tackles per game ranks fifth in the conference and he also has 2 sacks and 7½ tackles for a loss.

What's next:
The toughest part of the schedule, which may deflate some of the euphoria in Tempe. After visits from Washington and California, the Sun Devils head to Oregon and UCLA and then play host to USC and rival Arizona. They certainly will reach a bowl game, the big question is which one.

California Golden Bears
California officially arrived as a national power when it out-ran and physically manhandled Tennessee, but that bounce for the Golden Bears self-esteem would have been fairly meaningless if they hadn't won at Oregon. Winning at in Autzen Stadium was a far tougher challenge, and it established Cal as a potential foil to USC.
And then, when the Trojans stumbled against Stanford, something else happened: Cal became a national title contender, rising to No. 2 in the national rankings, the program's loftiest position since Pappy Waldorf's Golden Bears were No. 1 in 1951.

The Bears offense has been dynamic, as expected, even with DeSean Jackson limited by a thumb injury before busting out against Oregon. But if this season is going to be special -- read: national title game or Rose Bowl -- then the Bears injury-riddled defense is going to have to improve.
Of course, if Cal's turnover margin continues to be plus-2.2 per game, they might not need to do anything but wait for their opponents to screw up.

Midseason MVP:
While running back Justin Forsett's steadiness earned kudos as the conference MVP, we'd be remiss if we didn't salute Jackson, who's came up huge in Cal's biggest victories. Sure, a thumb injury suffered against Tennessee hurt his early numbers -- and Heisman Trophy candidacy -- but his spectacular punt return set the tone for that game. Then, against the Ducks, he looked all-better, hauling in 11 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

What's next:
A date with LSU in the BCS national title game? Sounds unbelievable, but if the Bears win out, that's the reality. Of course, they've got USC coming to Berkeley on Nov. 10 and four other tricky road games to contend with, so a lot of work remains.

Oregon Ducks
Oregon showcases an offense as dynamic as any in the nation, but if this is going to be a special season, its defense needs to step up. Of course, the Ducks, who average 44 points and 529 yards per game, might be able outscore just about anybody.
The defense didn't look too shabby during the 39-7 beatdown at Michigan, but the Ducks past two conference foes have rung up 31 points. It also doesn't help that linebacker and team captain A.J. Tuitele will be out six-to-eight weeks after foot surgery.
The difference in the hard-fought 31-24 loss to California wasn't defense, however, it was turnovers, a tally the Ducks lost 4-0. The big question now is how Oregon, which lost five of eight after losing to Cal last season, will respond.

Midseason MVP:
Quarterback Dennis Dixon lost his job late last season and then took some heat when he opted to play professional baseball during the summer instead of staying in Eugene. But he quickly dispelled any concerns about his confidence and focus with a tour-de-force performance against Michigan. He looked like a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate before throwing his first two interceptions against Cal. Still, he nearly rallied the Ducks to victory and still ranks fourth in the nation in pass efficiency.

What's next:
Oregon has started fast before, so fans are surely crossing their finger that the high level of play established during the first half continues. The Ducks should be 6-1 when they play back-to-back home games against USC and Arizona State, a two-week period which figures to establish the ultimate trajectory of the season.

Oregon State Beavers
Is Oregon State lined up for a case of déjà vu?
Consider that the Beavers started 2006 2-3, including an embarrassing blowout loss on the road against a Cinderella team -- Boise State -- before rolling up victories in eight of their final nine games.

The Beavers, embarrassed this year at Cincinnati, are again at a crossroads, with a 3-3 record after a critical victory over Arizona. Will history repeat itself? Not likely. That team had a senior quarterback, Matt Moore, who found his rhythm, while current quarterback, sophomore Sean Canfield, is at the bottom of the learning curve.
And the schedule is brutal, with four of the final six games on the road, which doesn't bode well for a team that doesn't take care of the football, see a nation-"leading" 23 turnovers.
On the plus side, running back Yvenson Bernard remains his steady, productive self, with 107 yards rushing per game, and the defense is holding foes to just 290 yards, which ranks second in the conference.

Midseason MVP:
This is a bit of an upset, and it comes straight from the coach's mouth. While middle linebacker Alan Darlin doesn't lead his unit in any statistical category, coach Mike Riley immediately tapped him as the leader of one of the conference's best defenses. He's a team captain, makes the defensive calls and is adept in both run support and pass defense, see three pass breakups.

What's next:
If the Beavers are going to put together another second-half rally, they're going to have to beat ranked teams on the road, starting with a visit to California this weekend. Other trips include: USC, Washington State and rival Oregon. Still, there's enough leeway for a winning season and another bowl berth.

Stanford Cardinals
Can one game change everything? Usually, no, but for a program that hasn't posted a winning season since 2001 and is coming off a 1-11 campaign, beating the nation's No. 2 team and ending its 35-game home winning streak might inspire more than just a flicker of hope.
But that was already there. Stanford has played hard for first-year coach Jim Harbaugh. It challenged both UCLA and Oregon before faltering in the second half, and it whipped crosstown rival San Jose State, 37-0. Still, the Cardinal has been consistently outmanned, see three conference losses by a combined 141-51 count before the USC game.
But the 24-23 victory over the Trojans, a testimony to scrappy, determined play if there ever was one, could serve as the anchor for Harbaugh's rebuilding effort. It certainly figures to raise a few eyebrows with prep recruits.

Midseason MVP:
Sometimes you go with sentiment. While senior receiver Mark Bradford doesn't lead the Cardinal statistically, his clutch play against USC under the toughest of circumstances surely inspired his team. Just days after burying his father, Mark Bradford, Sr., 48, who died of a heart attack, the younger Bradford caught the winning touchdown pass against the Trojans on fourth-and-goal from the 10. His five receptions for 87 yards made him the Cardinal's biggest weapon in their biggest win in years.

What's next:
Probably more losses. While the win over USC was stunning, Stanford still lacks the talent to consistently win in the Pac-10. That said, the fight the Cardinal showed against USC suggests they'll notch a surprise or two over their final seven games.

UCLA Bruins
UCLA fans have been ragging on coach Karl Dorrell seemingly since the day he was hired in 2003, but the critics' case is stronger today than it's ever been. In terms of talent, his Bruins are a Top 25 team. But already twice this season, they have lost to dramatically inferior opponents. Not just lost, been whipped.
Things started fine, with two workmanlike victories over Stanford and BYU. Then, on the cusp of that Top 10 ranking, the Bruins went belly-up at Utah, completely imploding in a 44-6 defeat.
Exhibit A for an inconsistent team: Two weeks later, the Bruins bludgeoned Oregon State 40-14, scoring 40 unanswered points on the road. Oregon State, by the way, had opened its season with a dominating, blowout win over Utah.
That performance had the Bruins back on the cusp of the national rankings. Then they gave Notre Dame its first win of the season in a humiliating 20-6 loss at home.

The only excuse is injuries, particularly at quarterback. Starter Ben Olson apparently played much of the Utah game with a concussion, a possible explanation for his erratic performance. In the Notre Dame loss, Olson went down early with a knee injury, and, with backup Pat Cowan also out with a knee injury, redshirt freshman walk-on McLeod Bethel-Thompson was forced into a game he was obviously not ready to play.

Midseason MVP:
While more was expected of a defense that welcomed back 10 starters, end Bruce Davis is pulling his load. He's at the top of the Pac-10 with 6½ sacks and he also has shown he can drop into coverage, witness four pass breakups. If the offense continues to struggle, Davis and the defense might have to win a few of the remaining games on their own.

What's next:
Probably more infuriating inconsistency. That's how it has been in recent years with the Bruins. Some games, they look like national title contenders. Others, they live up to their soft-headed, easily distracted reputation. A bye week should help them sort out the quarterback question, but the Bruins biggest problem may be inside their collective chest.

USC Trojans
The truth is USC hasn't looked in sync all season. Sure, the Trojans won impressively at Nebraska, but the Cornhuskers have been mostly woeful since then, which has significantly diminished the value of that effort. Even then, the passing attack was struggling. The only complete effort probably was the 47-14 win over Washington State.
There are excuses. The Trojans lost two starting offensive linemen on the same play against Washington. They lost cornerback Josh Pinkard for the season. Linebacker Brian Cushing, tailback Stafon Johnson and a host of others have missed games. And it appears that quarterback John David Booty, who tossed four interceptions against Stanford, will miss Saturday's game with Arizona with a broken finger.
But USC is supposed to be too deep for injury woes to slow it down. Moreover, the Trojans second-unit should be good enough to beat Stanford.

And now, as if USC wasn't dealing with enough issues, the NCAA investigation into improper payments by a would-be sports agent to former Heisman Trophy winning running back Reggie Bush appears to be moving forward, according to the LA Times.

Midseason MVP:
Through it all, All-American nose tackle Sedrick Ellis has been a consistent force. Despite frequently facing two blockers, he's still recorded four sacks and 20 tackles, which ranks fifth on the team. Athleticism? He also has broken up four passes.

What's next:
That's the $17 million question -- as in, will the Trojans run of BCS bowl games end at five? They figure to rediscover their mojo the next two weekends against Arizona and Notre Dame, but then things get tough: at Oregon, Oregon State, at California, at Arizona State and UCLA. That's an arduous road.

Washington Huskies
For the second consecutive year, Washington started fast and appeared on the brink of breaking through to respectability following three straight losing seasons. But, for the second consecutive season, that breakthrough has apparently broken down.
With touted redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Locker leading a new spread offense, the Huskies opened with a impressive, nationally televised win at Syracuse. They returned home and beat No. 22 Boise State. Then they led then-10th-ranked Ohio State 7-3 at halftime. The rebuilding project in year three of the Tyrone Willingham Era appeared on track. But since then, little has gone right.
The Buckeyes overwhelmed the Huskies in the second half, winning 33-14. That game exposed a weak running defense, which UCLA exploited for 333 yards in a wild 44-31 win. The Huskies then played a tough game against USC before yielding 27-24, but neither the offense nor the defense has been consistent.
The Huskies have surrendered an average of 273 yards rushing during their three-game slide, while their own running game has been non-existent outside of Locker scrambles.

Midseason MVP:
One guy can't do everything, but Locker apparently is willing to try. He's accounted for nearly 73 percent -- 1,205 total yards -- of the Huskies offense and 11 of their 16 total touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 225 pounder looks like a budding star, but he needs some help if Washington is going to push back into the top-half of the conference.

What's next:
The nation's toughest schedule isn't getting any easier, with four ranked teams still lying in wait. Though there are a few games the Huskies could win -- Arizona, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State -- it's hard to imagine them running off the five victories necessary to qualify for a bowl game.

Washington State Cougars
Washington State coach Bill Doba is well-respected and well-liked but he needs to win some games if he's going to keep his job. With the toughest part of the schedule ahead, it's hard to see where those wins might come.
The Cougars opened with a respectable performance at Wisconsin and then they pounded two nonconference patsies, San Diego State and Idaho. But they opened conference play with two blowout defeats, first to USC, which was justifiable, and then to Arizona, which wasn't. A heartbreaking homecoming loss to Arizona State on a late field goal, left them reeling at 2-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
While the defense was surprisingly stout against the Sun Devils, it's still the weakest unit in the Pac-10, surrendering an average of 34 points a game. If the Cougs are going to find wins down the stretch, they're probably going to have to score a lot of points.

Midseason MVP:
Quarterback Alex Brink, though maligned by many Washington State fans, is leading the conference in total offense (316.2), passing (304.7) and TD passes (17). With 369 yards against Arizona State, he eclipsed Jason Gesser to become the Cougs career passing leader with 8,923 yards. He also has 67 career TD passes, just three behind Gesser's school record of 70. He is on pace to become just the eighth quarterback in conference history to top the 10,000-yard career passing mark.

What's next:
Trouble. The next three opponents -- Oregon, UCLA and California -- are a combined 13-3. If the Cougs start conference play at 0-5, it's hard to imagine there won't be overwhelming pressure to push out Doba and start looking for another coach.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

Here's a team-by-team breakdown of the first half of the 2007 SEC season:

Alabama Crimson Tide

When Alabama put together a last-minute drive to edge last year's division champion Arkansas, 41-38, on Sept. 15, everybody was gushing that $4 million a year in new Tide coach Nick Saban's wallet was a great investment. Saban didn't get too high about the win, because he saw his defense get gashed for 450 yards (301 rushing) by the Razorbacks. The only reason Bama was able to survive that was quarterback John Parker Wilson had a big passing night (327 yards, four touchdowns).But the game also clearly defined one thing about the Tide. If Wilson doesn't have a good game, making smart decisions and sure throws, Alabama simply doesn't have the defensive talent yet to take over games. Since the win over Arkansas, Alabama has lost two of its last three (now 4-2 overall, 2-1 in the Western Division) and came within a last-second Simeon Castille interception of a Houston pass in the end zone of losing three straight. Saban is shuffling his depth chart to create competition, like last week benching starting running back Terry Grant, who's sixth in the SEC in rushing (88.5 yards per game), in favor of Glen Coffee, who ran 30 times for 121 yards vs. Houston. As far as Wilson, he has Saban's public support. Behind the scenes, though, there may be some debate among the Bama offensive braintrust about Wilson checking out of called plays too often. Saban is reluctant to make a quarterback change because backup Greg McElroy is a redshirt freshman with zero experience.

Midseason MVP
On a defense that lacks playmakers, Alabama senior end Wallace Gilberry is the one guy Saban can count on every game to make a play. Gilberry, who has 37 tackles on the season (6.2 per game), is tied for second in the SEC in tackles for loss with nine. He's just coming off an 11-tackle performance against Houston that earned SEC defensive player of the week honors. And he did that playing through after he nursed a bruised knee ligament week. Saban loves players who sell out their bodies and play through injuries. He's looking for more of them.

What's next
Alabama's offense was supposed to be its strongpoint. The Tide needs to get better week-to-week efficiency from Wilson. Three of Alabama's last five games are at home, with games against Tennessee and LSU sandwiching an open date. It looks like a 7-5 regular season record is in the offing, but 8-4 is still a possibility.

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Arkansas Razorbacks

No coach in the SEC needed a good start to his season more than Arkansas' Houston Nutt, who was roasted in the offseason by critics who believed Nutt forced freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain's hand in transferring to Southern Cal. The one thing that the Hogs needed to do early was demonstrate a vastly improved passing game to back up defenses stacked to stop Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. That hasn't happened for two reasons, the first of which was star receiver Marcus Monk tearing knee cartilage in the preseason. He hasn't played a down this season, and the Hogs also lost two more receivers for the year, including athletic tight end Ben Cleveland who had the wheels to line up as a wideout. With no big-play receivers, returning starting quarterback Casey Dick hasn't had much confidence throwing the ball. He has the lowest completion percentage (52.6) of all the SEC starting quarterbacks.Because of running brilliance of McFadden (155.8 yards per game) and Jones (126.2 ypg), the nation's No. 3 and No. 8 ranked rushers, the Razorbacks have scratched out three wins. The problem is they haven't beaten anybody (Troy, North Texas and Chattanooga) and are 0-2 in the SEC, allowing Kentucky to ring up 21 straight points in the fourth quarter of a 42-29 UK win in Fayetteville on Sept. 22. Having lost defensive playmakers Jamaal Anderson and Chris Houston to the NFL this year, the Razorbacks are hurting for somebody to make plays on defense. They've tried moving safety Michael Grant to cornerback, and Grant has won his share of battles. He and teammate Jerrell Norton lead the SEC in passes defended.

Midseason MVP
McFadden and Jones have been magnificent and there's no way you can separate the two. While Jones has been the Hogs' big home-run hitter -- he leads the nation in yards per carry at 10.5 yards and is fourth nationally in kickoff returns (scoring twice on returns) -- McFadden hasn't been bad himself. He's averaging 6 yards per carry, a miracle considering defenses have no respect for Arkansas' passing game and often put eight to nine defenders in the box.

What's next
The Razorbacks dive back into SEC play on Saturday against Auburn, a team Arkansas beat last year in the road when the Tigers were ranked No. 2 nationally. Arkansas is hoping to get the same boost this time around. But honestly, with two SEC losses on the ledger before the frost is on the pumpkins, winning the West is a huge fantasy. The best Arkansas can hope for is 7-5 overall, which would land them in a lower-tier SEC bowl, probably in Memphis (AutoZone Liberty) or Nashville (Music City).

Auburn Tigers

Such is life in the SEC. Three weeks ago, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville was the dumbest coach in America, with a last-second home win over Kansas State, followed by home losses to South Florida (which doesn't look bad now) and to Mississippi State (a team Auburn had shut out the last two seasons). Now three weeks later, with better offensive line play leading to an improved running game leading to stable quarterback play, Auburn is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Western Division, including a 20-17 win at No. 3 Florida two weeks ago. Suddenly, Tommy Tubbs is a genius, ready for road games at Arkansas and LSU the next two weeks. It's not impossible for Auburn to come back and win the West. Granted their three toughest league games are remaining on the road, but Tuberville's teams have won their last 13 of 14 SEC road games.Of all the Western Division teams not named LSU, Auburn is the only team that has made consistent progress over last three weeks. The return of tailback Brad Lester last week from academic suspension is a huge boost, because Lester has fresh legs after missing the first five games. The improvement of the running game and better pass protection has given senior starting quarterback Brandon Cox new life. He was a turnover machine in Auburn's first three games when he had an interception to touchdown ratio of 6 to 2 and lost his starting job in game four against New Mexico State. But he shined in that game, regained his starting spot and has completed 44-of-62 passes for 526 yards, two TDs and one interception in Auburn's current three-game winning streak.

Midseason MVP
A lot of things have been up-and-down with the Tigers so far this season. But placekicking hasn't been a problem, even with the graduation of All-SEC kicker John Vaughn whose 50 career field goals ranks him No. 16 all-time in the league. True freshman Wes Byrum has been a rock, nailing 8-of-10 field goals and hitting a game-winning 43-yard field goal twice at Florida (twice because of that dreaded last-second timeout).

What's next
One of Auburn's two losses last year was to Arkansas. But that loss came three weeks after the Tigers beat LSU, 7-3, in a game in which Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox absorbed a frightful beating. He was never physically right the rest of the season. This season's schedule has pushed the LSU-Auburn game to next week, so Auburn is in good shape to make a sprint to the finish of the end of the season. Auburn thrives on road challenges, and there plenty of them left. If Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves gets those dislocated toes heeled, look out. Auburn could finish the regular season anywhere from 10-2 to 8-4.

Florida Gators

The defending national champion Gators take a 4-2 record (2-2 in the Eastern Division) into an open date week. The break is needed to ponder a rarity in Urban Meyer's coaching career --- two straight losses to Auburn and LSU by a combined five points. The reality for Florida is this: it has won one game against a quality opponent, a 59-20 bashing of then-No. 24 Tennessee on Sept. 15. On that day, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was so superb, accounting for 360 yards total offense and four touchdowns (two passing, two running), that the Gators' offense got a false sense of security. That offense went completely out of whack the next week, holding on for 30-24 win at SEC doormat Ole Miss. Tebow had to run the ball 27 times, including 11 carries on Florida's final two possessions in the fourth quarter to avoid being upset. But the wheels came off in the 20-17 loss to Auburn and the Gators couldn't hold on in a 28-24 loss at LSU.

Florida has sorely missed wide receiver Andre Caldwell, who has barely played this season after a sprained a medical collateral knee ligament on Sept. 8 in game two against Troy. Because Florida has no dominant presence at tailback, the entire offense has been placed on the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Tebow's shoulders. He gets a little help from the quick feet of receiver Percy Harvin, a breathtaking but sometimes fragile wisp of wind. Defenses have started to figure out how to defend Tebow. You can't look at him as a conventional QB. He's an old-time option QB who also happens to throw. The defenses that bring the heat on him the whole game, the units that hit him almost every snap, the ones that sell out to get a piece of him, are the defenses that succeed. If you get him moving in the pocket, his pass percentage drops dramatically.

Midseason MVP
Tebow was a Florida football god even before he took a snap this season. Just his work off the bench last season as a short-yardage situation running quarterback grew his legend, a big 'ol boy who flattened defenders despite the fact the defense and everyone in the stadium knew he was going to run. Meyer had every intention of developing Tebow's passing skills at the start of the season, but he's had to rely on Tebow as his primary ball carrier. Tebow ranks first in the SEC and third nationally in passing efficiency, and is eighth in the league in rushing. And though he has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,445 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions, he isn't close yet to being a polished passer.

What's next
Honestly, the Gators are still in good shape to win the Eastern Division and get to Atlanta. Better offensive balance and a young defense that has to get physically tougher up front should be able to set up Florida for a possible rematch with LSU in the title game. The clear threat for the Gators is a Nov. 10 at South Carolina. Florida had to block a South Carolina field goal last year to escape with a 17-16 victory, the last close call in the Gators' national championship year. Florida could be staring at 10-2 or 9-3 at the end of the regular season.

Georgia Bulldogs

Until last week, the most puzzling team in the SEC was Tennessee. Now, that title goes to Georgia, which fell behind the Vols 28-0 at halftime in Knoxville and limped back to Athens as a 35-14 loser. The Bulldogs have gone from losing their SEC opener to South Carolina (16-12 on Sept. 8) to rebounding the next week with a 26-23 overtime victory at then No. 20 Alabama. But since then, Georgia has played one good half of football, the second half in a 45-17 victory over Ole Miss.

Since Georgia's offense is fairly vanilla, it's about execution, especially in the running game. The offensive line hasn't been consistent the last couple of weeks, and it has showed. Running backs Thomas Brown and freshman Knowshon Moreno, the SEC's 10th leading rusher, have gone from destroying Ole Miss in the second half two weeks ago to being completely erased by a Tennessee defense that looked lost in early season losses at Cal and at Florida. Brown is now out with a cracked collarbone for the next four to six weeks, but Georgia gets back the full-time services of senior Kregg Lumpkin, the team's leading rusher last season who broke his thumb in this season's opening win over Oklahoma State. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is better than his passing stats (1,163 yards, nine TDs and four interceptions), but eroding pass protection hasn't helped his confidence. Georgia's defense has been adequate, but it lacks game-changing pizzazz. The Bulldogs have forced fewer turnovers (four) than any other team in the SEC.

Midseason MVP
Freshman tailback Knowshon Moreno has been a pleasant surprise. Playing most of the year so far off the bench behind Thomas Brown, Moreno has run for 462 yards and three touchdowns. He's very quick, extremely explosive through the holes and has an understated toughness about him. There has been debate which is the better tailback, Brown or Moreno, but that debate is now over for the moment because of Brown's injury.

What's next
The schedule doesn't bode well for the Bulldogs. They play at Vanderbilt on Saturday, a team that beat the Bulldogs last year. Then, the remaining SEC games are against Florida in Jacksonville and at home against Auburn and Kentucky. It's going to be tough for Georgia to bounce back and win the East, unless the defense starts making more plays and the O-line toughens up. The Bulldogs are staring at 8-4 or 7-5.

Kentucky Wildcats

It has been a banner season for the Wildcats so far. Kentucky has been better than expected even coming off last year's 8-5 record topped with a Music City Bowl victory over Clemson. The basic line of thinking was that Kentucky '06 performance was an aberration and the Wildcats would return to their regularly scheduled selves. They certainly haven't for several reasons, the least of which is the Heisman-like consistency of senior quarterback Andre' Woodson. Although the wheels came off for Woodson a bit in last week's 38-23 loss at South Carolina, Woodson still has an eye-popping 18 touchdowns to 2 interceptions ratio. He has been clutch with the game on the line against then-No. 9 Louisville and at Arkansas where he led the Wildcats to 21 unanswered points. While everyone knows about the Wildcats' primary weapons, such as running back Rafael Little (third in the SEC in rushing averging 113.7 yards) and receiver Keenan Burton (second in the league in receptions with 37), UK has developed some nice additions, like receiver Steve Johnson and running backs Tony Dixon and Alfonso Smith. Defensively, Kentucky no longer is at the bottom of the SEC. The Cats defense still isn't dynamic, but they no longer give up a string of big plays every game. Everything is earned against UK, who has the league's leading tackler in Wesley Woodyard (6 tackles, 10.8 per game) and a playmaker in cornerback Trevard Lindley.

Midseason MVP
No doubt that it is Woodson, who has continued the metamorphisis that he began last season when Randy Sanders was hired as Kentucky's quarterback coach. Woodson was an average quarterback at best two years ago when he threw six TDs and six interceptions. When Sanders resigned as Tennessee's offensive coordinator, Rich Brooks was smart enough to hire him. Sanders worked wonders with Woodson, correcting footwork, adjusting the throwing motion and getting Woodson to make better decisions. In the 19 games Woodson has played with Sanders as his QB coach, Woodson has thrown 49 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.

What's next
Rich Brooks has been honest in his assessment of his team. He knows his schedule is backloaded with his team's toughest games, starting with No. 1 LSU on Saturday. In fact, the Tigers and Florida visit Lexington on back-to-back weekends, and the Gators are coming in after an open date. Kentucky also has to play at Georgia and ends the regular season trying to break a 22-game losing streak to Tennessee. The Wildcats have the firepower to outscore anybody in the league, but don't have a defense yet on the level of a championship defender. Look for UK to finish no worse than 8-4.

LSU Tigers

The starting quarterback has been bothered by ankle injury since game one. The best wide receiver is still nursing a groin pull and has missed the last four games. The All-America defensive tackle, who sits at No.1 on Mel Kiper's NFL draft board, has been battling hamstring problems all season.Yet No. 1 LSU (6-0, 3-0 in the Western Division) is so deep and so talented, that it can survive Matt Flynn's aching ankle, Early Doucet's nagging groin and Glenn Dorsey's tweaked hamstring. Oh yeah, and don't forget LSU's offensive line, which really hadn't had the services of its best lineman, Will Arnold, most of the season because of injuries.
The Tigers have had just one subpar game this season, a 34-9 win over Tulane two weeks ago when Flynn was sacked six times and the Tigers had to dig a little deep for motivation against a vastly inferior opponent. LSU has answered the biggest challenges to date, playing loose and fast on both sides of the ball. The Tigers have called and successfully run two fake field goals in the last three games, one of them resulted in a momentum-grabbing TD shortly before halftime against South Carolina.
LSU's defense has avoided major injuries and has been as good as advertised. The Tigers have at least seven future NFL draft choices on defense, ranging from Dorsey to linebacker Ali Highsmith to safety Craig Steltz, who leads the team with 41 tackles.
LSU is ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense (197.8 ypg), No. 4 in rushing defense (58.5 ypg) and No. 2 in scoring defense (9.3 points per game).

Midseason MVP
On maybe the physically and mentally toughest team in America, the toughest guy might be running back Jacob Hester. The 6-foot, 232-pound banger isn't the fastest back on the team and doesn't have the shiftiest moves, but he may be the best inside-the-tackle runner in the SEC. He doesn't fumble. He doesn't miss a pass protection. He's an excellent receiver. He's a complete football player, as he demonstrated on LSU's game-winning drive against Florida this past weekend, when he converted two fourth-down situations and scored the winning TD on a third-down plunge that was nothing but grit and power.

What's next
Most of LSU's heavy lifting appears to be in the rearview mirror, but in the SEC every game is a potential trap, starting with Saturday's date at Kentucky. The Wildcats have had a little extra rest, having played last Thursday while LSU played Saturday. Also, the Tigers play rapidly-improving Auburn next week in Baton Rouge. The last three games between the teams have been decided by a combined eight points. Can LSU run the regular season table? It sure looks like it.

Mississippi Rebels

This is the worst team in the SEC, and that's not to say the Rebels are terrible. They do good things at times. They have their moments. For instance, Seth Adams, who won the starting job from last year's designated savior/hot recruit Brent Schaeffer, has been surprisingly decent most of the year. Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is fifth in the SEC in rushing, averaging 95 yards per game.But even with new defensive coordinator John Thompson, the defense has collapsed against the best offenses on the schedule so far. During a four-game losing streak, Ole Miss gave up 38 points to Missouri, 31 to Vanderbilt, 30 to Florida and 45 to Georgia.
Finally after the Georgia loss, third-year Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron, supposedly regarded as a great recruiter, said his team didn't have enough SEC-caliber talent. One of Orgeron's problems is that of the 54 players he signed in his first two recruiting classes, only 33 are still with the team.
Compound that fact that Orgeron had never even been an offensive or defensive coordinator when Ole Miss hired him. The SEC is no place for on-the-job training as a head coach and Orgeron's record to date of 9-20 overall and 3-16 in the SEC indicates that. Orgeron is on track to have the worst SEC record of any Ole Miss coach in history in his first three seasons at the school. If Ole Miss had the money to buy out Orgeron, it probably would. But it doesn't, and the Ole Miss administration will have to eat its mistake for at least one more year.

Midseason MVP
Seth Adams has been a shining light for the Rebels. His story finally proves that a walk-on can start at quarterback in the SEC. Last season, Adams was never given a chance to compete for the starting job. Orgeron made the huge mistake on signing day in February 2006 of naming junior college signee Brent Schaeffer his starter. Schaeffer finally qualified academically for entrance to Ole Miss just as fall practice started, but he didn't look any different from the way he played at the University of Tennessee as a freshman in 2004. Adams persevered, had a great spring this past March and April and nailed down the job in the spring. He certainly hasn't been the Rebs' problem on offense this year.

What's next
The only guaranteed win left on the Ole Miss schedule is against Orgeron's alma mater, Division I-AA Northwestern (La.) State. It really doesn't mean much that the majority of the Rebels' toughest SEC games will be played in Oxford. Because if Ole Miss loses the next couple of weeks, the empty seats in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will increase. The most optimistic finish for Ole Miss would be 4-8, assuming it can nab at least one SEC win.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Fourth-year Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom doesn't have a much better SEC record than his Ole Miss counterpart. Croom is 13-27 overall and 5-22 in the SEC, but most of those SEC wins have been quality. Wins over Florida and Alabama got Ron Zook and Mike Shula fired as head coaches. Croom's win over Tommy Tuberville and Auburn early this season also turned heads, but from the standpoint it didn't look like a fluke.

Say this for Croom. Despite a string of quarterback injuries the last two years, he has an offensive philosophy and has recruited to it. Sure, State would like to develop a stronger passing game and take more shots downfield. But right now, the Bulldogs' offense is all about running back Anthony Dixon and some ball-control passing to move the chains. State's hope every game, especially against superior opponents, is to be in position to win the game in the fourth quarter. And the Bulldogs have done that for the most part this season, aside from the season-opening 45-0 loss to LSU when quarterback Michael Henig threw six interceptions.
State's defense, right in the middle of the pack in the SEC in total defense, is vastly underrated. The Bulldogs have already returned four interceptions for touchdowns this season. State defensive end Titus Brown has emerged as the best pass rusher off the edge in the SEC, with six sacks, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. In the secondary, DBs Anthony Johnson and Derek Pegues have made opposing receivers pay.

Midseason MVP
It's got to be Brown, whose relentless pursuit has forced double-teams and created opportunities for his teammates. Even with the extra attention on Brown, he has gotten his share of sacks. More than that, it was Brown's postgame speech after the LSU loss that lifted his teammates' spirits and got the Bulldogs back in step when they could have wallowed in pity.

What's next
The question is if State can squeeze out two more wins to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2000. It doesn't look good, even with three home games against Tennessee, Alabama and Ole Miss. The Bullies definitely have a shot at the Rebels meaning they'll have to steal a win elsewhere. Their best shot may come this weekend against Tennessee, who has to play State in between dates against Georgia and at Alabama. State goes no worse than 5-7, and a little luck gets that 6-6.

South Carolina Gamecocks

The way that South Carolina (5-1 overall, 3-1 in the Eastern Division) has won this year -- with a strong defense and finely controlled offense -- just underlines the fact that Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is one of the greatest coaches in SEC history. Spurrier's Florida team's in the 1990s that won six SEC championships and a national title blew up scoreboards with a passing offense that took no prisoners. The Gators' one running play was a draw and the passing game was so good that a Gators' running back could enjoy a 1,000-yard rushing season running just a draw play. At South Carolina, Spurrier has nowhere near the athletic in-state high school talent that he enjoyed in Florida. So, the Gamecocks' defense is the side of the ball filled with the athletic studs and the offense is catching up slowly but surely. There are a few good reasons why Carolina's pass defense leads the nation allowing just 126.5 yard per game. One of them is defensive end Eric Norwood, who is among the league leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. There's also strong safety Emmanuel Cook, who has 37 tackles. It's a defense that continually improved against the run, a defense that is getting the ball back more often for the Carolina offense.
And speaking of the offense, it has improved dramatically the last two weeks when Spurrier benched starting quarterback Blake Mitchell in favor of Chris Smelley. Spurrier's thinking was that since Carolina's offensive line has been so porous -- it has allowed an SEC-worst 16 sacks -- Smelley was more mobile than Mitchell. But what has been an added bonus is Smelley has thrown the ball well. He makes the right reads, goes to the right spots with this throws. He spreads his completions around. In his last two games as a starter, both wins over Mississippi State and Kentucky, Smelley completed a combined 36-of-67 passes for 535 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

Midseason MVP
When Carolina receiver Sidney Rice decided to jump to the NFL as an underclassmen, Carolina had to replace someone who caught 142 passes in the last two seasons. Who better to replace Rice than his wingman, Kenny McKinley. He benefitted from defenses tailing Rice, but McKinley is now the guy that cornerbacks have to sweat. He already has 32 catches for 382 yards and league-high five TD receptions. McKinley always finds the open spots in zones, catches balls in crowds and gets good yardage after catches.

What's next
In just Spurrier's third year at Carolina with less-than-superior talent, South Carolina is in the thick of the Eastern Division race. Its fate will be decided in back-to-back road games at Tennessee and Arkansas on Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. If South Carolina survives that, it gets it on with Florida in Columbia on Nov. 10. The Gamecocks won't win the East, but a 9-3 finish will position them for a nice bowl trip.

Tennessee Volunteers

No one is quite sure about the Vols (3-2 overall, 1-1 in the East), who finally played a complete game in Saturday's 35-14 pounding of Georgia. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has been put under the blowtorch by his critics this season because the once-mighty Vols looked so bad in losses at then-No. 12 Cal, 45-31 and at then-No. 3 Florida, 59-20. Against Cal, the Vols missed 22 tackles. Against Florida, Tennessee wasn't even competitive. In both losses, the Vols allowed a kick return for a touchdown. In both losses, the Vols were awful in third-and-short situations, particularly in the red zone. Though Tennessee has had a lot of problems, ranging from weak play at defensive tackle to those aforementioned kick coverage problems, the one steady positive has been senior quarterback Erik Ainge, who has been sharp with his decision-making and his passing.

The most pleasant surprise has been a trio of receivers who have been steady, despite not being as spectacular as the Vols' NFL-bound pass catchers Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain and Bret Smith. The new guys -- Lucas Taylor, Josh Briscoe and Austin Rogers -- all rank among the SEC's reception per games leaders. Taylor, Briscoe and Rogers have combined to catch 81 balls for 941 yards and four touchdowns.

Midseason MVP
Ainge really has been brilliant on many levels. He leads the SEC in passing yards per game, averaging 259 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. But it's a treat to watch him operate. His checks are clear. He usually goes to the right receiver. He might be the best QB in the SEC at managing a game. His smarts work against him at times. He's so trained to check down on plays that he rarely has had a chance throw a deep ball this season against defenses forcing the short throw.

What's next
Florida's two straight losses have put the Vols back in the Eastern Division race -- and Tennessee controls its own destiny. Steve Spurrier has had a hex on Phillip Fulmer for the most part through the years. Kentucky, after 22 straight losses, is due to beat the Vols. So Tennessee finishes no better than 9-3, which should do wonders for Fulmer's job security.

Vanderbilt Commodores

The last few years, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson keeps feeding media the line that his team is getting better, has more SEC quality players and is getting closer to the bowl bid that Vandy has sought since its last trip in 1982. To a certain extent, what Johnson said is true. But when it comes down to consistently closing out SEC opponents, the Commodores still can't do it because it doesn't have SEC quality depth. The Commodores (3-2 overall 1-2 in the Eastern Division) do have their selected stars. For instance, wide receiver Earl Bennett is about to become the SEC's all-time receiving leader in just three seasons, an amazing feat considering he's had to work with two quarterbacks. The defense has some players with NFL futures, like linebacker Jonathan Goff, who's fourth in the SEC in tackles with 40, and end Curtis Gatewood. There are more athletes on defense for Vandy, which is third in the SEC in total defense, than on offense. One of the Commodores' biggest problems on offense this season is returning starting quarterback Chris Nickson has not matured in his decision-making. Nickson is completing just 53.6 percent of his passes, and has thrown just more TD (6) than he has interceptions (5).

Midseason MVP
He isn't the biggest or fastest receiver, but Earl Bennett is just most precise receiver in the SEC. He runs crisp routes, he knows how to deal with physical cornerbacks and get separation, and he doesn't drop balls. Bennett has 202 career catches and needs seven more to become the SEC's all-time reception leader surpassing Kentucky's Craig Yeast.

What's next
Vanderbilt's 35-7 loss to Auburn last Saturday is an indication where the Commodores are headed. Every SEC opponent left on Vandy's schedule has a winning record, and the Commodores' three hardest leagues are on the road. Vandy won't get the three wins to be bowl eligible. At best, it will finish 5-7.

YesSir · Oct 12, 2007

x factors for the undefeated

There are 11 undefeated teams left in Division I-A. What will it take to win the remainder of the way? Todd McShay looks at the biggest X-factors facing each team.

No. 1 LSU Tigers
X-factor: WR Early Doucet (Sr.)
In order to run the table from here on out, the Tigers need more from their passing attack, which currently ranks 77th nationally. Doucet is LSU's most explosive playmaker when he's healthy. The problem is a groin injury has kept Doucet out of the past four games. Brandon LaFell has done a decent job of stepping in as the No. 1 receiver but he's not as polished and he has dropped some key passes in the past two outings. Doucet draws far more attention when he's on the field as LSU's Z-receiver and he proved early this season (with 15 catches in the first two games) that's he capable of separating from double-coverage. Subsequently, LaFell is much more dangerous working one-one-one versus opponents' No. 2 cornerbacks.

No. 2 Cal Bears
X-factor: DE Tyson Alualu (So.)
Cal's pass defense, which ranks 106th nationally, is the biggest obstacle standing between it and an undefeated season. The team obviously needs far better play out of CB's Syd'Quan Thompson and Brandon Hampton. However, one way to limit their exposure in coverage is to force opposing quarterbacks to get rid of the football quicker than they would like. Alualu got off to a fast start as a pass rusher this season with 2.5 sacks in the first three games, but he has cooled down since with zero sacks in the past two outings. The burden is on Alualu, DT Matt Malele and the rest of the Cal defensive line to keep the heat on opposing quarterbacks in order to protect its vulnerable secondary.

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes
X-factor: RB Chris Wells (So.)
It's obvious when studying this unit on film that Wells is the engine that drives the continually improving Ohio State offense. Junior Maurice Wells filled in admirably versus Purdue when a minor injury limited Chris in the second half. But Chris is clearly the more explosive runner and more complete all-around back. When Chris is established, he forces defenses to cheat up one-or-both safeties, which in turn creates some easy throws for QB Todd Boeckman to make versus man-to-man coverage in the play-action passing series.
Chris Wells never has been forced to carry a full load, so durability is the great unknown moving forward. He also has had some fumbling issues in the past. Bottom line: If Wells stays healthy, protects the football and continues to churn out yards on the ground as the team's bell-cow back, Ohio State has a great chance to return to the national title game a few months from now.

No. 4 Boston College Eagles
X-factor: Andre Callender (Sr.)
The Eagles continue to use a two-back rotation of Callender and L.V. Whitworth, but Whitworth is only getting half as many carries as his fellow senior back. Callender is simply the better fit in new coach Jeff Jagodzinski's zone-blocking scheme because he changes directions quicker and shows better initial burst. While he has been adequately productive as a whole, Callender's inconsistency is concerning. He only rushed for 49 yards on 14 carries versus Wake Forest and for 54 yards on 17 carries versus Georgia Tech. QB Matt Ryan has been sensational but he needs more help from the run game if Boston College is to remain undefeated when the weather turns sour down the stretch.

No. 5 South Florida Bulls
X-factor: PK Delbe Alvarado (So.)
Alvarado has connected on only 5 of10 field goal attempts this season. All five misses have come in South Florida's two biggest games to date, as Alvarado missed four attempts at Auburn (37, 45, 37, and 21) and one against WVU (47). The sophomore kicker needs to straighten his mechanics out and prove to be more clutch in big games for South Florida to remain undefeated.

No. 11 Missouri Tigers
X-factor: DE Stryker Sulak
Much like Cal, the biggest challenge for Missouri is to shore up a leaky pass defense that is surrendering 275.8 yards per game (104th nationally). CB's Darnell Terrell and Hardy Ricks are both returning starters, so there's not a ton of hope for improvement in that regard. Coordinator Matt Eberflus is using a lot of zone coverage in an attempt to mask his secondary's lack of speed and athleticism in coverage. However, that philosophy hasn't done a lot of good to this point. If the Tigers are to hold up in coverage versus some better passing attacks down the stretch, they will need a great effort from the front-four pass rush. So far the only consistent pass rusher has been Sulak, who leads the team with three sacks through five games. Sulak and his linemates will face their toughest challenge to date in Norman this Saturday.

No. 14 Arizona State Sun Devils
X-factor: WR/PR Kyle Williams
The Sun Devils' brand-name players -- QB Rudy Carpenter, RB Ryan Torain and WR Rudy Burgess -- are all on the offensive side of the ball. But Dennis Erickson's squad remains undefeated on the strength of its defense. That's why it will be so important for Williams to step up as a consistent playmaker down the stretch -- both as a receiver and in the return game. Williams gets lost in the shuffle at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, but his speed and elusiveness as an open-field runner make him a dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands in space. The emerging sophomore came up big as the team's leading receiver in its toughest test to date at Washington State last Saturday. Williams also ranks among the top 30 punt return specialists in the nation, averaging 12.7 yards per attempt.

No. 15 Cincinnati Bearcats
X-factor: DS Haruki Nakamura (Sr.)
It's not a fluke that Cincinnati has forced 25 takeaways through six games. Coordinator Joe Tresey brought his aggressive style of defense with him from Central Michigan, where his unit forced 29 turnovers last season. No player on the field has more chances to create big plays than the strong safety, which will be used on the blitz on one play and as a deep centerfielder the next. So far, Nakamura has shown the instincts and versatility necessary to excel in Tresey's scheme. The senior safety leads the team in total tackles (37) and is second on the team in interceptions (three). He also is contributing as a punt return specialist.

No. 16 Hawaii Warriors
X-factor: ILB Solomon Elimimian (Jr.)
Coach June Jones' offense always will rank among the nation's best, especially when QB Colt Brennan is healthy. However, if the Warriors are to remain undefeated, they'll need to tighten up their run defense. Adam Leonard is the biggest of Hawaii's linebackers, but Elimimian resides in the middle, which means he's asked to sift through traffic and make plays versus the inside run. His defensive line is inexperienced and inconsistent, which leads to the 224-pound linebacker taking on bigger blockers too frequently. The play of Elimimian and the defensive front-seven will be especially important in potential roadblock games versus Boise State (RB Ian Johnson) and Washington (QB Jake Locker) to close out the regular season.

No. 20 Kansas Jayhawks
X-factor: CB/WR Aqib Talib (Jr.)
Realistic Jayhawk fans understand that an undefeated season is not in the cards. However, finishing the regular season with 10 wins is actually a reasonable goal. A critical element in accomplishing it will be Talib's stamina. The 6-2, 195-pound junior has emerged as one of the nation's premier man-to-man cover corners and already has notched three interceptions. Talib also doubles as a receiver and has scored in each of the Jayhawks' five games thus far.

Connecticut Huskies
X-factor: QB Tyler Lorenzen (Jr.)
Let's face it; Connecticut has all but no chance of finishing this season undefeated. After all, four of its five victories so far have come against Duke, Maine, Temple and Akron. But following a four-win season in 2006, it's all about returning to a bowl game and repositioning itself as a contender in the Big East. No player has made a bigger difference in the team's success thus far than Lorenzen -- and that will remain true moving forward. Last year, Huskies' quarterbacks completed 51.4-percent of their throws with nearly as many interceptions (12) as touchdown passes (14). Through fives games this season, Lorenzen has completed 64-percent of his throws with twice as many touchdown passes (six) as interceptions (three). Maintaining that efficiency won't be easy against a much tougher second-half schedule, which includes games against Virginia, South Florida, Rutgers, Cincinnati and West Virginia. But Lorenzen should provide enough stability for UConn to finish the season with at least eight victories and go bowling.

YesSir · Oct 13, 2007

1. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU (6-2, 292) | Previous: Same
Disruptive force along the interior. If there is one non-skill position player fans should watch, Dorsey is the one because, despite constant double-teams, he is always making plays or opening up space for his teammates.
2. Jake Long, OT, Michigan (6-6, 320) | Previous: Same
Top-drawer left- or right-tackle prospect.
3. Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC (6-1, 297) | Previous: Same
Tampa Bay Bucs-style DT with superior quickness and a nonstop motor.
4. Chris Long, DE, Virginia (6-4, 282) | Previous: Same
A 3-4 defensive end with great bloodlines who understands leverage and uses his hands as well as any D-lineman in the country.
5. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College (6-4, 223) | Previous: 7
He has the size and arm to wow the NFL brass during testing.
6. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (6-3, 223) Previous: 5
Polished pure passer in the Jim Kelly mold; however, Brohm has thrown four INTs in the past three games.
7. Dan Connor, LB, Penn State (6-2½, 231) | Previous: 9
Big-play performer who finds the ball.
8. Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky (6-5, 232) | Previous: 6
Big and mobile with a rocket arm.
9. Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida (5-11½, 202) | Previous: 10
He has excellent recovery speed and the toughness you look for in a cornerback. His size allows him to match up with an opponent's No. 1 wide receiver.
10. Keith Rivers, LB, USC (6-3, 233) | Previous: 11
Has the skill set to become a super blue-chipper.
11. Ali Highsmith, LB, LSU (6-1, 225) | Previous: 13
Showed tremendous potential in 2005 before taking a step back as a junior. Highsmith is re-establishing himself as one of the top linebackers in the SEC.
12. Sam Baker, OT, USC (6-4½, 310) | Previous: 8
Exceptional pass-blocker with superb technique.
13. Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College (6-6½, 320) | Previous: 12
Should thrive in 2007 with move from right to left tackle.
14. Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina (6-4, 298) | Previous: Same
Unbelievably talented player who is primed for a breakout season.
15. Tony Hills, OT, Texas (6-5, 302) | Previous: 16
Greatly improved technique. Combine that with great athleticism and Hills is one of the more intriguing offensive line prospects in the country.
16. Chevis Jackson, CB, LSU (6-0, 185) | Previous: Unranked
LSU is loaded on defense and Jackson leads the way in the secondary for the Tigers. Very strong at supporting the run and has been a reliable performer the last three years.
17. Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn (6-3, 251) | Previous: 15
Speed rusher with the talent to rank as one of the more feared sack artists in the nation. An injury (three dislocated toes suffered against Florida) could slow him down the next couple of weeks.
18. Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC (6-4, 266) | Previous: 17
A strong finish to 2006 has carried over to the first month of the season.
19. Early Doucet, WR, LSU (5-11½, 205) | Previous: 18
Super-talented, is LSU's go-to option this season, although he has been slowed by injuries early in the season.
20. DeJuan Tribble, CB, Boston College (5-9, 191) | Previous: 21
Off to a strong start in 2007 with three INT and six pass break-ups in first five games.
21. Kellen Davis, TE, Michigan State (6-5, 258) | Previous: 19
Not only the top tight end in the senior class, but Davis has shown his athleticism on both sides of the ball, playing situational defensive end at times. Expect to see his number called on offense more in the coming weeks.
22. Darrell Robertson, DE, Georgia Tech (6-5, 251) | Previous: 25
Impressive quickness off the snap, Robertson has the potential to be an outstanding pass-rusher in the NFL.
23. Frank Okam, DT, Texas (6-5, 318) | Previous: Same
Great physical ability and overall potential.
24. Shawn Crable, DE/OLB, (6-4, 245) | Previous: 22
You can see that Crable is starting to put it all together in 2007. He's been lining up as a down defensive end most of the time this season, but he'd be ideal as an OLB in a 3-4 defense in the NFL.
25. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas (6-4, 217) | Previous: 20
TD-maker who plays fast with pads on. Struggled early with an ankle injury and was shut down recently by Kansas State.
DROPPED
Harry Douglas, WR, Louisville (5-10½, 175) | Previous: 24
Underrated, bringing speed, toughness and great hands to the WR spot

YesSir · Oct 13, 2007

^Mel Kiper's new big board

Fondybadger · Oct 13, 2007

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