Here we are in week eight of the 2005 college football season.  It really does seem like just yesterday I was complaining that there was no kickoff classic this year to signal the start of the season. 

I guess that's ok because this week the "Official" shotgun start began for all the college junkies from Miami, Fla. to Los Angeles, Ca. to debate.  That's right, on Monday the first BCS poll was released. There were no real surprises. USC, Texas and Virginia Tech are #1, #2 and #3 as expected and the three SEC heavyweights, Georgia, Alabama and LSU are ready to pounce on any opportunity that comes their way.  This year the Associated Press took their better than all attitude and left, while taking their poll with them.  In it's place this year, is the Harris Poll, made up of
former coaches, players, and media members.  No matter what your opinion of the National Championship format is, let's face it, nothing fuels the fire for message boards and sports talk radio more than the never ending saga of the
BCS.

Here we are in week eight of the 2005 college football season.  It really does seem like just yesterday I was complaining that there was no kickoff classic this year to signal the start of the season. 

I guess that's ok because this week the "Official" shotgun start began for all the college junkies from Miami, Fla. to Los Angeles, Ca. to debate.  That's right, on Monday the first BCS poll was released. There were no real surprises. USC, Texas and Virginia Tech are #1, #2 and #3 as expected and the three SEC heavyweights, Georgia, Alabama and LSU are ready to pounce on any opportunity that comes their way.  This year the Associated Press took their better than all attitude and left, while taking their poll with them.  In it's place this year, is the Harris Poll, made up of
former coaches, players, and media members.  No matter what your opinion of the National Championship format is, let's face it, nothing fuels the fire for message boards and sports talk radio more than the never ending saga of the
BCS.

What a day it's going to be deep in the heart of Texas on Saturday.  #2 Texas(6-0) hosts #10 Texas Tech (6-0) in what's going to be an old fashioned "Lonestar Shootout".  Looking deep into the numbers, these teams are eerily similar.  Both teams average over 45 points per game on offense and keep their opponents to under 20.  Each team can set off fireworks and put up 14 points before you can say scoreboard.  Vincent Young is the best player east of the Rockies. We'll all be talking about him next year when he's playing football as a profession, but Tech's fifth year senior, Cody Hodges can wing it all over the field. If not for Young, Hodges would be the 1st team All Big 12 quarterback, and offensive player of the year.  There's always a joke out there about Texas Tech's out of conference schedule, and it's justified, but Kansas State has taken the same criticism over the years. When late October came around each season and it was time to step it up the Wildcats did.  I see a similar effort coming from Mike Leach and his Red Raiders.
    
Let's look back for a moment.  Last December, then #4 California was outraged when they were leapfrogged by Texas in the final BCS poll.  Cal. hadn't brought their A game with them on their season finale at Southern Mississippi, a game they were a 25 point favorite in.  Cal. won the game 26-16, but due to a sluggish, uninspired effort, it wasn't decided until just under the 2:00 mark. So as we all know now, Texas got the BCS berth and played in the Rose Bowl, while Cal accepted an invitation to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.  This California team had a quarterback named Aaron Rodgers and the NCAA's leading rusher, J.J. Arrington.  You might have heard of them, they play on Sundays. I'll also add that this particular Cal. team was the last to beat USC. California took the field at Qualcomm Park (basically a home game for them) as an 11 point favorite and three hours later lost 45-31.  What team pulled off the upset? You got it, Texas Tech. 
    
The Texas Longhorns are 16 point favorites this Saturday and the winner of this game will probably win out and represent the Big 12 in the BCS.  There will be no shortage of points scored in this game, but Mack Brown's been waiting for a season like this for a long time, he won't let it slip away.  The Longhorns are just a better all around team.  Two things are for sure, Lee Corso will put horns on his head, and Texas will win the game.  The Red Raiders, though, will win us dinner.  Add Texas Tech plus 16 to your parlay card this week.
    
This week's meat and potatoes game brings us to the SEC.  #5 Alabama (6-0) hosts #17 Tennessee (3-2) in a pivotal conference clash.  The 'Bama crazies have had this date circled on their football calendars for two years, and it has nothing to do with any Tennessee players.  There aren't too many people more hated in Alabama than a man named Phillip Fulmer.  It was almost three years ago that coach Fulmer pointed the finger at Alabama boosters and turned them in to the NCAA for recruiting violations.  Stiff penalties were handed down on the Crimson Tide program for the infractions.  We all know that the recruiting of players these days is a cutthroat business, but nobody's going to tell me that Ole Phil's never looked the other way on a rule or two.  And how many Volunteer players had court dates over the summer?  Fulmer's actions were shady at best, and now the Alabama faithful want payback.
    
It's no secret that the 1998 National Coach of the Year has few friends in the coaching fraternity, but the man produces results.  He has a National Championship under his belt and is the current leader in winning percentage amongst active Division 1A head coaches.  Last year's season finale win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl gave Fulmer his 8th double digit win season in a span of 13 years.  That's pretty impressive in my book.
    
Waiting for Fulmer's arrival will be the die hard fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide.  These people are as passionate about their football as any other fans in the country.  I hear University Boulevard in downtown Tuscaloosa will close Friday afternoon at 1:00 so a stage can be set up for a block party to be held later in the evening.  Do you think it's going to be a little crazy down at U of A this weekend?  Add the ESPN Gameday crew to the mix and this college town will be electric on Saturday.  With all the turmoil this program has gone through in the last decade, Tide fans have been waiting quite a while for a championship caliber team.  This year that's exactly what they have.
    
Alabama is in the driver's seat of the SEC West, hoping to win out and take on Georgia in the conference title game.  They would need a little help, but an undefeated season and a conference title would give Mike Shula and his boys an
outside shot at smelling the roses.
    
Last week Alabama almost had their dreams shattered.  They went into Mississippi as  14 point favorites and were lucky to escape with a 13-10 win. It took a 31 yard field goal with no time remaining to slither out of Oxford with their perfect record intact. Quarterback Brodie Croyle, who sat out most of last year with a knee injury, has been the leader of the offense.  Three weeks ago, Croyle threw for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns in that 31-3 victory over Florida.  Anytime a player puts up those numbers against any Gator team, you have to take notice.  In that same Florida game, wide receiver/kick returner, Tyrone Prothro caught 5 passes for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The problem for Alabama is this.  Prothro, their only real playmaker, broke his leg at the end of that game and is done for the season.  It's safe to say his absence had something to do with the paltry total of 13 points put up at Ole Miss. last week   The heart and soul of the 'Bama squad is the defense (what else is new ).  They are ranked 5th in the country in total defense, and 4th in scoring.  For 'Bama to keep it's streak alive, this nasty unit must step it up once again.
    
Back on the night of September 26th the Tennessee Volunteers took a trip to Death Valley and played LSU.  We all remember the events surrounding this game.
 
Only a few weeks before, Hurricane Katrina had pounded the state of Louisiana and caused this game to be pushed back to Monday night.  LSU was coming off of a dramatic come from behind win at Arizona State (which was supposed to be an LSU home game) and the bayou state was rocking. Tennessee was a 6 point underdog that night and was down 21-0 at halftime.  LSU had completely dominated and embarrassed the Vols in the first half. Like many others, I had given up on this game at switched over the Kansas City v.s. Denver Monday night game on ABC.  Something unexpected happened over the course of the next two hours.  Coach Fulmer handed the game over to quarterback Rick Clausen, which fueled by a 17 point 4th quarter comeback and sent this game into overtime.  Gerald Riggs Jr. scored on a 1 yard run to win the game, and complete this unbelievable turn of events.  Tennessee has proved that they are capable of playing on the road in the craziest of environments, and they have the ability to catch fire at any point in the game.  I think, with that experience behind them, Tennessee is the play in this game.
    
The experts that throw chaos into our lives every week have made Alabama a 3point favorite in this big home game.  Believing in the theory that they're giving the home 'Tide the standard 3 point advantage, this game would be a pick'em on a neutral site.  This is going to be an old school, behind the woodshed, country battle.  Both defenses will line up and tell the other team to take their best shot.  I believe Tennessee will be able to run the ball better and that will give them the advantage.  Senior running back Gerald Riggs Jr. will be an NFL player next year and the game will ride on his shoulders. He'll make it happen down the stretch.  If you're not a believer yet, listen to these numbers.  In the last 13 meetings between these two schools, the visiting team is 12-1 against the spread.  Tennessee is also 8-2 against the spread,
when on the road, coming off of a straight up loss as a favorite.  Two weeks ago, the Vols lost to Georgia 27-14.  They were a 3 point favorite in that game.  Need I say more?  Folks, in this crazy game we play, you can't look the other way when numbers like this are staring you in the face.  There's one more factor to consider.  Two weeks ago, after Alabama's upset of Florida, they were on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  Anyone reading this column knows when all else fails, bet the S.I. cover jinx!
    
They way I see it, on Saturday you have two calls to make.  The first is to Dominos' for a large, extra stuffed Pepperoni supreme.  The second should be to your local book man, making sure he knows you want Tennessee +3.  Put your slippers on and enjoy this one, you'll be on the right side.  And hey, tell the guy next door.  He needs a winner; his phone bill is past due.