Upsets can be expected on the field this weekend
After six consecutive exhausting days and nights packed withcollege football, the first week is finally over. Did we reallylearn anything? The three most heated quarterback controversies inthe nation (Florida, Virginia Tech and Texas) only got morecomplicated.
Chance Mock performed well for the Longhorns, but Vince Youngseemed to have a special quality similar to Mike Vick and DonovanMcNabb. The same holds true for the Hokies and the Gators. Boththeir starters played well enough not to lose the job, but ChrisLeak for Florida and Marcus Vick for Virginia Tech both appear tobe outstanding Freshman who could be great players.
There were also some teams that performed far below preseasonexpectations and some teams that were surprisingly better thanpeople initially prognosticated.
Biggest Disappointment: Auburn
After getting trounced 23-0 in their opener with Southern Cal,Auburn appears to be in trouble. While they are strong at runningback and linebacker, USC exposed their weakness at quarterback andin the secondary.
If Auburn quarterack Jason Campbell would have thrown anotherpoor pass, Ducks Unlimited would have named him man of the year. Ifhe continues to struggle, Cadillac Williams and Ron Brown can getused to running the ball with eight, maybe nine, people stacked inthe box. USC used this is strategy effectively as Cadillac lookedmore like a used Yugo running the ball 12 times for a mere 40yards.
The inexperienced secondary, which was overlooked in thepreseason because of the great linebacking core, couldn’tstop super sophomore Trojan wide receiver Mike Williams fromgetting the ball. Williams stared his Heisman campaign by torchingthe Tigers to the tune of eight catches for 104 yards and atouchdown.
Honorable mention: Clemson, Maryland, Oklahoma State andWashington
Biggest Surprise: Florida State
Two years ago last weekend, the Florida State program went froman unbeatable force in the ACC, to a whipping boy when they gottrounced by North Carolina in Chapel Hill by 40 points. Theyreturned to the scene of the crime for the first time; this was astatement game. The ‘Noles wanted everyone to know that theywere back. What a statement they made.
A 37-0 thrashing of the Heels that was spearheaded by Chris Rix,who was 17-26 for 232 yards and three touchdowns (two rushing), washeard loud and clear throughout college football. The ‘Nolesracked up 553 yards of offense, few of which came in the fourthquarter as they had the second and third units in the game, andwere perfect in every aspect of the game.
Honorable mention: Michigan, USC, Ohio State andNebraska
Game of the Week: #18 Florida vs. #3 Miami
This game has more subplots than a Tom Clancy novel. The Gatorsare looking to solidify their program under second year head coachRon Zook. They are also trying to get their foot in the door ofMiami high school recruiting, a plentiful source that produced 51division 1A football players last year that has previously beenuntouched by the Gators. A win could change that. However, thebiggest plot of all is current Miami starting quarterback BrockBerlin going against his former team, the Florida Gators.
Berlin, who was recruited by former Florida coach SteveSpurrier, rode the bench for two seasons as he sat and watched RexGrossman light up the scoreboard. Now Berlin looks to get the lastlaugh. The highly favored Hurricanes will host the Gators thisSaturday night.
The Gators will try and make Berlin beat them. Last season the‘Canes smoked the Gators 41-16 and Willis McGahee lit up thesieve-like Florida defense for 204 yards rushing. Look for theGators to stack the box with eight men and try and shut down Miamirunning back Frank Gore.
Both teams won their opening game, but this Saturday when theyface off, it will be college football’s first big rivalrygame of the season. (You can’t count Colorado vs. ColoradoSt. or Louisville vs. Kentucky.) Look for the Gators to keep itclose, but Miami is too talented. Miami 31 Florida 20.
