Ohio State is B A C K.

The Bucks finally played up to the hype from the beginning of the season. They put heat on Penn State QB Clark and stopped RB Royster cold. The Buckeye O actually looked decent with QB Pryor hitting some nice passes down field against the PS zone. The passing game also opened up the running game.

Now they get Iowa coming off a loss not only on the scoreboard but of their QB. The BIG question is now that the pressure is back on the Bucks, will they wilt again or will they step up and win the next big game to take another step toward the Rose Bowl.

Iowa has been on the bubble all year long and it finally burst.

Iowa was 4^th in the BcS standings which is the highest they have ever been. Unlike the Oklahoma Boise game, the loss of QB Stanzi did cost them the game against Northwestern. The result knocked them out of the race for the BcS big game. The latest word is that Stanzi will be out for at least 2 weeks which would put him back in time for a bowl game. If the game after the injury is any indication, Iowa won’t be able to beat OSU. To win, OSU will have to beat itself. As any Buckeye fan that watched the game against Purdue can attest, the Buckeyes are perfectly capable of doing exactly that.

Alabama looks very strong in a win over LSU.

The Tide rolled slowly but was able to win a key game over #9 LSU. The 24-15 win was impressive and as predicted here last week was enough to push Bama back into 2^nd in the BcS.

#1 Florida and then #2 Texas win against over matched competition.

Neither game was impressive but they each did enough to win and keep themselves in the race.

Headaches at BcSville.

What is the worst case for the BcS? 6 undefeated teams this far into the season. This is the largest number of teams with perfect records ever after 9 weeks of the college season. Even with the game between Alabama and Florida taking one team out, there is a very good likelihood that we will end up with at least 3 and probably 4 or 5 perfect teams. Even so, don’t even think that will lead to any change. The ONLY way we are going to get a change is to have major donors to universities tell the pinhead presidents “no playoff no money.”

Who among the “others” is the most deserving for a BcS bowl?

From least to most deserving:

Boise State is the least deserving because they have just one quality win against Oregon in week 1. That win lost a lot of luster with Oregon getting blown out last weekend. If you want to be considered a major power, you have to schedule major powers. The complaint is “they won’t come to our house and play. Too bad. Go play them in their house and prove your worth by beating them. BS will finish undefeated but will go to a good but less than BcS bowl.

Cincinnati is more worthy than BS. They have nice wins at Oregon St., and then #21 South Florida (after SF lost their senior QB Grothe) and solid wins at home against both Louisville and Fresno St. But in a home game last week against Connecticut, they showed nerves and were just able to win the game 47-45. Cincy has a tough game on the 13^th against #25 West Virginia. Even if Cincy wins they shouldn’t push past our most deserving undefeated outsider.

TCU has impressive road wins against Clemson and then #16 BYU and has this week’s game against #16 Utah. TCU has an oppressive D to go with an outstanding O to challenge any BcS team. Even if they win out, they will not get an invitation to the BcS big game but will get a BcS bowl. Any team that plays TCU had better be ready or it will get blown out.

That’s what I think. Tell me what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for http://NFLDraftDog.com and edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library/Contemporary/Author.cfm?AuthorID=1003 and edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com.

By Bill Smith

Best comment of the week:

From ReverseCellPhones on AFC Draft winners and losers:

Great material Bill. I am a little worried about the Bengals picks. They have had character issues with players in the past but still continue to draft those players on the fringe of being trouble.

Everything I read about the Bengals 1^st pick Andre Smith (OT Alabama) isn’t a bad kid but just VERY immature. A couple of “expert’s” final projections showed Michael Johnson (DE Georgia Tech) taken in the first round. He has never matched the hype he had coming into college let alone at the beginning of this season. But in the 3^rd round, he was a great pick. I loved the picks of Rey Maualuga (ILB USC 2^nd round) Chase Coffman (TE Missouri 3^th round) Jonathan Luigs (OC Arkansas 4^th round). All are outstanding values where they were picked. MAYBE, just maybe, the Bengals are turning things around.

Updates on previous columns:

A few names in the draft you won’t recognize but should know.

QB Stephen McGee Texas A&M—Dallas 4^th round pick 101

RB Gartrell Johnson Colorado State—San Diego 4^th round pick 134

RB Ian Johnson Boise State—URFA signed by Jacksonville

FB Jorvorskie Lane Texas A&M

WR Mike Thomas Arizona—Jacksonville 4^th round pick 107

WR Jarett Dillard Rice—Jacksonville 5^th round pick 144

TE Bear Pascoe Fresno State—SF 6^th round pick 146

OL Seth Olsen Iowa—Denver 4^th round pick 132

OL Sebastion Vollmer Houston—New England 2^nd round pick 58

Defensive sleepers in the 2009 NFL draft

DL Ty Steinkuhler Nebraska—URFA Jets

DL Stryker Sulak Missouri—Oakland 6^th round pick 199

DL Matt Shaughnessy Wisconsin–Oakland 3^rd round pick 71

DL Nick Reed Oregon—Seattle 7^th round pick 247

DL Myron Pryor Kentucky—New England 6^th round pick 207

LB Lawrence Sidbury Richmond—Atlanta 4^th round pick 125

LB Scott McKillop Pittsburgh—SF 5^th round pick 146

LB Marcus Freeman Ohio State—Chicago 5^th round pick 154

S Tony Clark Georgia Tech

CB Morgan Trent Michigan—Cincinnati 6^th round pick 179

Boston Vs. Chicago—Tackle basketball is back!

As predicted, the NBA chose not to suspend Celtic Rajon Rondo. There is nothing wrong with a hard foul attempting to block a shot. However, when a player acts only to attempt to injure an opponent, that must be punished.

Niblets fresh off the cob:

The Yankees have cut the price of their premium seats in half. That would be a class move if the price wasn’t $500 up AFTER the reduction. The Yanks have their heads …

Cleveland was not able to get a 1^st and 3^rd round pick for WR Braylon Edwards prior to the draft.

Given his near terminal case of dropsy and his contract demands for an extension, that is not a surprise. According to reports, the best offer the Browns got was a 2^nd this year and a 3^rd to 5^th next year depending on catches (and probably drops as well).

Arizona Cardinals released RB Edgerrin James

James was scheduled to earn 5 million dollars this year. Much of that money will be used to try to rework the contract of WR Anquan Boldin. The team was not able to get enough prior to the draft to tempt them to trade their outstanding WR.

As I predicted:

The Bulls have pushed the Celtics to a 7^th game.

Despite nearly every “expert” talking about a sure first round pick, both James Laurinaitis (ILB Ohio State) and Rey Maualuga (ILB USC) went early in the second round. They will both be very solid starters in the league for a long time. But ILBs just don’t go in the first round normally.

Columbus Ohio is still without a NHL playoff ready hockey team. We would like to thank the Blue Jackets for participating. Be sure to pick up your parting gift—a home version of our game—on your way out.

That’s what I think. Tell me what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for http://NFLDraftDog.com and edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library/Contemporary/Author.cfm?AuthorID=1003 and edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com.

My email is wesmith2001@hotmail.com.