Some thoughts...Week 2.

[armchairqb]

This is a week that's looked far more like most "week ones" than "week twos".

Bowling Green is getting close to be real enough for Top 25 contention. The Falcons looked like they had a swagger at Maryland today. A swagger that I don't believe I've seen on Northern Illinois in their peak years. Matt Johnson threw for 6 TDs and 400+ yards on the road against a P5 (albeit a middle-low one). Maryland gave it a good fight until early in the 4th quarter. BG hosts Memphis next week; a team IMO is almost Top 25.

Houston winning at Louisville?! I can live with that. The Cougars have made quite the hire with Mark Hermann as their head coach. Greg Ward, Jr kept the Cards guessing with his ability to run in addition to passing.

Several P5's looked out of kilter this week. Arkansas, Georgia, Auburn, Georgia Tech until midway into the 2nd Q, Maryland...

The Maize and Blue impressed me, despite their low-grade P5 opposition today. Because U of M played with heart. Particularly Ian Bunting's reception where he fought for several yards after the catch and Harbaugh's fire on the sidelines. The Wolverines have a ways to go, but this game should make any U of M fan hopeful about the future.

[Eric]

I was starting to get depressed after a quarter and a half in the Michigan game. Michigan looked like they were succumbing to Hoke-itis (general ineptitude). A busted coverage and then a failed blitz pickup that got Rudock rocked which then put Oregon State in scoring position already up 7-0. It looked terrible. But then they got it turned around by scoring 35 unanswered. It was a good day overall but I still saw some things I wasn't really too keen on. It's hard to complain about a 35-7 win at the end of the day though.

Bowling Green's offense is rounding into form here. Dino Babers' vertical attack has the athletes at receiver who can burn people and a healthy Matt Johnson is a big deal. He got knocked out for the season in week 1 last year and he's got a better deep ball than Knapke does. I like BG to win the MAC East here, although Ohio looks sneaky good. That game against Memphis will be great. BG's defense got shredded last week, but I think they are getting better at the fundamentals, at least compared to last year. The tackling has gotten better and the pressure is starting to become a factor. I watched quite a bit of this game.

I took Houston over Louisville because I didn't like the Cards' QB situation. Greg Ward has the potential to turn into a stud. I trust Petrino and still think of him as one of the better offensive coaches in the game which is why I'm surprised that he can't make more happen at Louisville right now. They have some talent at the skill positions. I've thought of Bolin as being the best QB on the roster since he took over against Kentucky last year, so he'd get my vote right now to lead the offense.

I'm happy to see Bill Cubit get it going at Illinois. Granted they've drubbed Kent State and Western Illinois thus far, but they have looked absolutely dominant. They look like a bowl team and Cubit could shed the interim tag pretty soon.

[Spence]

The Maize and Blue impressed me, despite their low-grade P5 opposition today. Because U of M played with heart. Particularly Ian Bunting's reception where he fought for several yards after the catch and Harbaugh's fire on the sidelines. The Wolverines have a ways to go, but this game should make any U of M fan hopeful about the future.

Agreed. Harbaugh will right the ship at Michigan. You can see it in the effort.

[Cane from the Bend]

The Oklahoma/Tennessee game was certainly a spectacular.

Every year, I have been up on Tennessee, waiting for them to show me that they have fight, enthusiasm and skill, only to be let down time & again, as they prove only that they simply do not have the horses nor will to finish a game.

Oklahoma has been that team, whom has the ability to hit with Shock & Awe in their house. However, when on the road, they tend to get a slow start, which, if they find themselves behind late in the game, lose the Big Ones.

This is almost exactly the scenario that occurred for both teams tonight. Yet, this time, both teams prove their valor by fighting back when the adversity was high.

Tennessee, took it to the Sooners, had the lead until there was under 30 seconds left. Usually in this circumstance the Vols gas out, and lose right there. And for the Sooners, they get buried under the pressure.

Neither happened, as Oklahoma tied the game, and, not 1, but 2 overtimes would ensue.

Both teams fought well, trading touchdowns. Looking strong. But eventually, one team had to win, and Oklahoma's defense would end this game, by interception.

Maybe the Sooners can leave that stigma behind, not being able to play major out of conference competition on the road. Maybe this will lift their hopes before entering into Big 12 play.

For the Vols ... tough loss. Maybe they can take to heart that they did give their all, and did not quit, even when Oklahoma tied the game, then took the lead.

These programs look as though they have their feet underneath them. Each should have solid seasons this year.

A nice win for Oklahoma.
A valiant effort by them both.

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[Eric]

I'm ashamed of myself for picking Butch Jones to beat Bob Stoops. Normally I wouldn't do that, but I doubted Jones down the stretch last year and they finished pretty strongly.

[Cane from the Bend]

Meanwhile, I chose Boise to beat BYU --- I can't win with these teams, because I took Boise & BYU to lose last week.

What a fantastic finish it was though.

And, Cal Poly is hangin' strong vs Arizona St right now. The Sun Devils just scored a touchdown, inside of 8 minutes left in the 4th to take the lead, 28-21

It was Az State's first points in the second half.

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[Vileborg]

I'm ashamed of myself for picking Butch Jones to beat Bob Stoops. Normally I wouldn't do that, but I doubted Jones down the stretch last year and they finished pretty strongly.

You were a hair away from being right and I don't think that's anything to be ashamed about. I was hoping Tennessee would win but not shocked when Oklahoma managed to tie it and then win in overtime. Tennessee has played pretty well this year including this loss to Oklahoma.