Week 11 Precap

It was a busy week last week and things are starting to pick up even more this week. There are some good games coming up this weekend, and the bowl situation will be cleared up even more by this week's results. I think. Or at least one result will definitely clear up the bowl situation.

I rather expect at least one of the undefeateds to go down this week, but I can't figure out which one or more it might be. The season always gets particularly interesting come November, and I expect this year to be no different. So here we go in the second week of the month that matters most.

Cincinnati vs. West Virginia

Cincinnati's magical season started off its toughest portion last weekend against Connecticut, and it only gets harder from here on. This week against West Virginia, a game against a suddenly resurgent Illinois team two weeks later, and finishing with a battle against Pittsburgh for what may be a one-game Big East playoff, if all goes according to plan. The Bearcats have their work cut out for them with this closing schedule and, if they can survive it, they may yet find themselves in Pasadena. But they first have to get through a Mountaineer team that has a lot of offensive firepower in one Mr. Noel Devine. This after a week in which they gave up mondo yards and an obscene amount of points to Connecticut. But I think the Bearcats will be up to the task for at least one more week. I'll take Cincinnati to win this one.

Boise State vs. Idaho

The Idaho bandwagon has been getting lighter in the last few weeks, as people have been skedaddling to other, shinier, newer bandwagons (Temple, baby!). Which is exactly the sort of thing that bandwagon jumpers do. Now the Vandals have their big, bad, in-state rival lined up on their schedule, which is exactly the sort of team you do not want to face when your season is losing steam. But you know what? I said that at least one of the undefeated teams is going to get knocked off this week, so I'll go with Idaho in this game for absolutely no sensible reason other than the fact that I should make a pick like that.

TCU vs. Utah

Hard to believe—or at least it used to be hard to believe—but the biggest game of the weekend is coming out of the Mountain West. Heck, this is one of the biggest games of the year, when you get down to it. In a year that started off with a bang, then faded into a long string of unremarkable games pitting high-ranked teams against unranked teams, it seems that it is up to a middling to pretty-good conference to, hopefully, make things interesting again in this sport.

With that said, Utah has posed matchup problems for TCU in the past, as they 3-1 in their last four games against the Horned Frogs. But TCU is finding out this year that offense can be as much fun as defense. TCU wins. And I'm kind of hoping they will get a berth in the title game, but that would be asking a lot.

Ohio State vs. Iowa

The battle for the Rose Bowl is happening a bit early this year, as the team that wins this game will have clinched the Rose Bowl berth, no matter what happens next weekend. I would have picked Iowa in this game had Rick Stanzi not been lost for the rest of the regular season. But he was. Ohio State's defensive line has made things very difficult for opposing quarterbacks this season, so this is not the ideal situation for a backup starting his first game.

Iowa can win this game, but they would have to do it by forcing Terrelle Pryor into mistakes, getting getting some lucky breaks when their own quarterback makes some bad decisions, and by taking advantage of Ohio State's tendency to start slow. Ohio State has been pretty effective in minimizing other teams' luck as of late, Pryor has reduced his mistakes significantly since the debacle at Purdue, and Iowa has not made a habit of jumping out to early leads. So I look for Ohio State to wrap up the Roses this weekend. However, if Iowa can force turnovers at their usual rate, then the Hawkeyes will be getting some California sun on New Year's Day.

On a side note, I would like to mention that I'm not a big fan of some of the uniform ideas that Nike comes out with for their teams, so I'm dreading what Ohio State's 1954 throwback uniforms are going to look like in the Michigan game. Especially when the A.D. felt the need to reassure everybody beforehand that they will used for only one game. Eek.

Florida vs. South Carolina

South Carolina poses a problem for Florida because Florida might stub their toes while they kick the crap out of them.

Oregon vs. Arizona State

Oregon had better start showing me that they are the real deal again. Arizona State, in my estimation, is a good place to start doing that. I expect Oregon to win, but will they look good doing it?

USC vs. Stanford

Stanford returns to the stadium where they won as 41-point underdogs. Unfortunately, they are not 41-point underdogs this time around. USC may have their problems, but I think they can handle the Cardinal's physical style of play.

Alabama vs. Mississippi State

Alabama wins. But by how much? That's been an issue as of late. Alabama's offensive production has been slipping, and they have their work cut out for them through the rest of the season, as they have two tough games after this. I want to keep an eye on them to see if they manage to slap MSU around, or if the Bulldog defense can keep the Tide within biting distance for the first three, or even four quarters.

Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh

I predict that Pittsburgh will win. But there are some other things I want to say regarding the tubby boy on one of the sidelines.

Like it or not, Notre Dame has cast its lot with Charlie Weis and they are going to have to let this play out just a little bit longer. I agree that things have been below Notre Dame standards for the last couple of years and it may be time to prepare some paperwork. But I think Notre Dame needs to give him one more year. If there is no BCS bowl game next season, then I think it will be time to say Auf Wiedersehen. But as rough as this season has been, the Irish have improved greatly this year and Weis should get one more year to show what he can do.

I know that Notre Dame fans are getting antsy to see a turnaround, and it is hard to watch your team mire itself in mediocrity like the Irish have been doing as of late. And everyone keeps talking about Brian Kelly from Cincinnati, the latest hot commodity to be had on the coaching market. But if you will allow me some conjecture here, I would not be surprised if Notre Dame fired Tyrone Willingham just so they could hire Urban Meyer away from Utah... which did not quite turn out as Notre Dame and its fans might have hoped. And star pupils are often risky propositions, even if you do get them: see Colorado and Dan Hawkins. Yes, something needs to be done. But I think Notre Dame should give Weis just one more chance to show if he is the one who can do it...

...supposing, of course, that the rest of the season doesn't fall down the tubes. If he loses this game and one more after it, then Notre Dame officially has my blessing to swing the axe. Sorry Charlie, even I've got my limits.