While I picked Florida St to win the national title this season in my magazine, if I were an AP voter, I would clearly have the Tide at #1 on my ballot until they lose a football game which I think they will much later in the year. At the end of 2011 my power ratings had these two #1 and #120. This year Bama had the SBC’s WKU in a Michigan/Ark sandwich and won 35-0 but struggled. However, the Tide looked dominant again last week handing a Wilson-less Arkansas team its worst loss s/’05 and pitching B2B shutouts for the 1st time s/’80. McCarron is #3 FBS pass eff (202 ypg, 64%, 7-0) while the D has already forced an FBS best 12 TO’s. Pelini’s team is coming off B2B SEC road games and health will be priority here, having their SBC home opener on deck. FAU lost 56-20 to UGA last week but were tied with the Bulldogs at 14 in the 2Q. The Owls wore down and were outgained 713-318 with their final score a 42 IR td in the 4Q. Bama has its conf home opener vs Ole Miss on deck and is looking to make it 3 straight goose eggs.

UGA was on the road last year but allowed a fake P to set up a td and kept settling for FG’s leaving VU in the game as they also allowed a 96 yd KR td. The Dogs were up 23-7 before hanging on for a 33-28 win. There was a heated exchange on the field after the game between UGA DC Grantham and Vandy HC Franklin and it has been mentioned by both sides so far this week as a possible motivating factor. Both are off wins vs overmatched foes but VU has a bye on deck while UGA has Tenn/SC. Last week VU beat Presbyterian 58-0. QB Carta-Samuels got the surprise start and went 13-20-195-1-0. GA was tied 14-14 mid-2Q vs FAU last week but then scored 42 straight points as QB Murray threw for a career-high 342 yards (outgained Owls 713-318). They were playing without 3 D starters including AA LB Jones who was given a breather with a nagging groin injury. The Dogs have the edges on off (#10-60) and def (#11-29) and Carta-Samuels has just a 3-6 career ratio on the road and hasn’t seen this type of speed on D in 2 years. Since VU put a scare into the UGA late LY, they will take them more seriously here.

USC is now 8-0 (avg win by 19 ppg) in this series. LY these two met on a Thursday Night and USC won comfortably 30-9 the week before playing ND. USC had allowed 84 points and 946 yards the previous 2 games but held Cal to 329. Maynard hit 25-43-294 yards but accounted for 4 TO’s (USC +3 TO, Cal 329-313 yd edge). The last time here the Trojans rolled to a 48-14 win with a commanding 602-245 yd edge (372-65 half). The Trojans were playing without their All-P12 C Holmes last week and it showed as Stanford outgained them 417-280 and USC was held to just 26 rush yards while Barkley was sacked 4x in the 21-14 loss HC Kiffin made news this week calling out his QB on some poor throws but Barkley agreed. Cal is off an impressive effort at OSU. After trailing 20-7 at halftime, the Bears tied it up at 28 in the 4Q before a busted coverage allowed OSU to hit a 72 yd td pass in the 35-28 loss (Cal did miss 3 FG’s). With their national champ hopes taking a severe hit last week, it will be interesting to see how the Trojans respond but I think they’ll bounce back in a big way.

TCU won the last meeting vs UVA in ‘09. TCU led 30-0 w/4:39 left in the 4Q as UVA gained 61% (108) of its yards after (14 points). Under Patterson, TCU is 19-2 at home vs non-conference opponents (1st BCS foe to visit s/’08). The Frogs are off their first ever Big 12 road game (beat KU 20-6) and has a revenge game vs SMU on deck (TCU 25-1 at home s/’05, only loss LY to SMU). UVA is in a tough spot coming off Penn St with their ACC opener vs the option of GT on deck (lost 56-20) and is on a 2nd straight road trip flying all the way to TX. UVA did play very well LY knocking off Miami, FL (28-21) and Florida St (14-13) and I would be surprised if they didn’t put forth a maximum effort here as I do think the TCU defense is a bit overrated this year. I'll call for the Frogs to pull out a tougher than expected win.

The situation does clearly favor BSU as they are off a bye and a home game vs Miami, OH (won 39-12) while BYU just played rival Utah and lost a heartbreaker 24-21. In the most unique finish of the wk BYU lost to their Holy War rivals in their last scheduled meeting, 24-21. Trailing 24-7 BYU was driving to tie the gm up when it appeared their last pass fell incomplete. After officials put :01 back on the clock and cleared the field of fans, BYU had a 51 yd FG blocked but the Utes were penalized 15 yards when the crowd rushed the field too early. On an un-timed down BYU’s 36 yd FG attempt clanked off the left upright finally giving the Utes the win. The Broncos are 83-3 at home S/'98 incl a win over BYU 28-27 in 2004. While BYU has the experience edge, I have to wonder how much they have left in the tank following that upset loss last week.