Sportz NCAA Top 12 - Week 3

   

1-USC.  Having a bye during a tough week for ranked teams
2-TEXAS.  I really didn't think they could do it.  But Mack Brown took his team into Ohio State and played composed.  Who woulda thunk?
3-VIRGINIA TECH.  Va Tech hung a 45-0 pasting on Duke.  Ho-hum.
4-LSU.  Much respect due to a emotional victory under such difficult circumstances.  A "home game" played several states away, the Tigers showed the heart of a champion. 
5-FLORIDA.  Gotta big one against Tennessee coming up. 
6-TENNESSEE.  Gotta big one against Florida coming up. 
7-OHIO STATE.  Losing at home sucks, but it really isn't that humiliating losing to the Horns.  They do need to figure out this QB situation though.
8-MICHIGAN.  The team is still very young, as evidenced by their meldown against the Irish.
9-MIAMI-FL.  I wonder if the offense got some work in on the Canes off week??
10-GEORGIA.  Still not sold on the Dawgs yet...but they did beat Spurrier's team. 
11-NOTRE DAME.  The Pitt win doesn't look as good anymore...but that win at Michigan sure does!
12-LOUISVILLE.  The Cards chill as everyone around them fights for their lives.

FELL OUT:  Florida State and Iowa.

*BAD DAY FOR BIG TEN:  Three of the top teams in the Big Ten...Ohio State, Michigan and Iowa...all lost during Tripleheader Saturday on ABC.  All three teams lost in their home state [Iowa lost at Iowa State, while the other two lost at home].  Mistakes were at the center of each game.  For Michigan...a interception and a fumble at [literally] the one-inch line kept the Wolves out of the endzone until a late desperation flurry.  For Ohio State, failures to score TDs in the red zone and a key fumble late in the game sealed the Buckeye's fate.  All 23 of Iowa State's points came off of Iowa Hawkeye turnovers.  None of these games were in the conference...so it will still be a battle for the Big Ten crown...but several National title hopes took a hit. 

*NOTRE DAME:  What is it about a new coach that gets things going??  When Ty Willingham stepped on the Irish sideline...they had a renassance season.  Now Charlie Weis has gone into Pitt and into Michigan and left with impressive victories.  The most impressive thing in the victory over the Wolverines was how well their defense played.  Last year, this D was horrible.  It still isn't great...but it is very, very much improved. 

*LSU'S EMOTIONAL VICTORY:  After a sad-looking first 3 quarters...the Tigers opened up for 28 points in the 4th period to eek out a win in Tempe.  The lead changed FIVE times during that final quarter.  Remember, this game was moved from Baton Rouge to Tempe since LSU is home to a chunk of the evacuation effort. 

*SMU BEATS RANKED TEAM:  SMU beat TCU [ya know, the same team that won at Oklahoma last week].  This was the first time SMU beat a ranked team since 1986...nearly 20 years.  After that 1986 season, the program was put on the "death penalty" and didn't field a team in 1987 or 1988.  Since then, it has been a tough ride for the Mustangs...going from the Southwest Conference to the WAC to Conference USA.