By Eddie Mayrose

NCAA Football at Mercy of Illogical BCS: Iowa Is Latest Fraud

It only took two weeks of BCS rankings before the first absurdity reared its ugly head. Iowa football, based on its incredible offensive output that produced a thrilling, last-minute, 15-13 victory over the super charged, 4-4 Michigan State Spartans, leap frogs Boise State in this week’s poll and lands in the Number Four spot, ahead of TCU, and the Cincinnati Bearcats as well. So much for computers in sports.

Iowa has slogged its way through the mind-numbingly, mediocre Big Ten Conference; benefiting immensely from the BCS’ inability to recognize the conference as the weakest of its six leagues. The Hawkeyes have but one signature win; a 21-10 yawnfest over Penn State in Happy Valley. Even that victory can’t be accurately valued, as the Nittany Lions have played more cupcakes than anyone in the Top 25. Who knows if they’re any good?

Boise, on the other hand, walloped an Oregon team facing off with USC this weekend for the inside track to the Rose Bowl. That the Ducks have been manhandling opponents without their best offensive player, LeGarrette Blount, makes Boise’s season-opening thrashing of Oregon, with Blount, even more impressive. TCU has traveled to Clemson and BYU to register dominating wins while Cincinnati has knocked off South Florida and Oregon State in their own buildings. All of these teams are better than any that Iowa has faced to this point.

Am I bashing the Big Ten, Here? Absolutely and with good reason. Based on past reputation, the conference perennially reaps the benefits of being severely overrated. Ask yourself this. Which of the other teams in the Top Ten wouldn’t be favored in a matchup with Iowa? Hell, Ohio State is at seventeen and will absolutely be favored when they meet in two weeks.  Here’s hoping this mess works itself out, if only to spare us what has become the annual slaughter of the Big Ten in the BCS title game.

College Football Games of the Week

USC Trojans vs the Oregon Ducks- In the de facto Pac Ten championship game, Oregon poses the last true hurdle on the Trojans’ path to the Rose Bowl. Pete Carroll’s boys have already suffered their one upset and are not out of the BCS Championship picture just yet. They’ll be too much for Oregon to handle, especially with a rapidly maturing Matt Barkley under center. USC 27 Oregon 13

Texas Longhorns v Oklahoma State Sooners

- The Longhorns road to the Big 12 Championship game is clear once they get past Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have done well to rebound from two significant, early season losses. The first, to Houston and the second, All American WR Dez Bryant; declared ineligible by the NCAA. Texas 31 Oklahoma State 10

Curry at Nichols- The Bison host their long time rival, Curry, in a matchup that’s gone against Nichols for longer than they’d care to admit. Head Coach Bill Carven has had enough, emotionally declaring to his charges, “I will not lose to Curry College!” The Bison have done a great job regrouping from the loss of four senior standouts and have fashioned a solid season. Look for DE Bill Hassett to wreak havoc in the Curry backfield and lead the Bison to a hard fought win. Nichols 16 Curry 14

Heisman Watch

Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame- The junior signal caller has the Irish at 5-2 and just a few plays from 7-0 solely on the strength of his right arm. With Notre Dame’s defense employing a “bend and almost break” scheme every week, Clausen’s Montana-like, last minute heroics are the biggest reason the Irish are still in contention for a BCS bowl bid. If the award was given out today, it’d go to Clausen.

Tim Tebow, QB Florida

- The pre-season favorite and former Heisman winner muddled through another mediocre performance at Mississippi State. Have to really start wondering if he’s all the way back from that concussion. He’ll have the advantage of an almost weekly national stage but needs to pick up his game if he wants bookends.

Mark Ingram, RB Alabama

- His fumble dealt a big blow to the Tide as it narrowly escaped Tennessee’s upset bid last week in Tuscaloosa. Ingram committed the deadliest sin of Heisman hopefuls in failing to take advantage of a national television audience.

Anthony Pillari, WR Nichols

- The senior wideout could be in for a big weekend. Two weeks after establishing the Nichols’ record for receptions in a game (13), he needs just three catches this week to set a new Bison mark for receptions in a career(125). Should he grab seven, he’ll also own the school’s single season record (49) . As a Div. III player, the New Jersey native knows he’s a longshot for the Heisman but figures he’ll go out and have a great season, nonetheless. “This team graduated some legendary seniors last year”, said Pillari, “and I’m just trying to live up to the things I learned in their house; do your best and don’t be a shem.”

CollegeSportsView Top 25 in College Football

1) Florida 7-0
2) Texas 7-0
3) Alabama 8-0
4) Boise State 7-0
5) Cincinnati 7-0
6) TCU 7-0
7) USC 6-1
8 )LSU 6-1
9) Oregon 6-1
10)Iowa 8-0
11)Georgia Tech 7-1
12)Oklahoma State 6-1
13)South Carolina 6-2
14)Houston 6-1
15)Penn State 7-1
16)Virginia Tech 5-2
17)Oklahoma State 6-1
18)Notre Dame 5-2
19)Pittsburgh 7-1
20)Utah 6-1
21)West Virginia 6-1
22)Mississippi 5-2
23)Miami 5-2
24)California 5-2
25)Oklahoma 4-3

Five to Watch
Wisconsin 5-2
Navy 6-2
BYU 6-2
South Florida 5-2
Nichols 4-4