Saturday in Review: Week 9

Despite a 10-7 loss late in October, the Rebels are almost
assured a spot in the playoffs if they manage to run the table.
Easier said than done. Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Now that is why you set low expectations for a weekend of college football. You'll get blown away just about every time.

I was right about the Pac-12 – it had as many hard-fought games as I expected even though each match was won by the higher-ranked team. The action out west began when UCLA came to Boulder to face Colorado. A frantic fourth-quarter-comeback by the Buffaloes sent the game into overtime, but the Bruins, who have a penchant for winning close ones, were ultimately able to hold off the home team. Of the eight games UCLA has played, six have been decided by a margin no greater than one score. Of those six, only one was a loss (Utah). A touchdown late in the fourth spoiled Washington's upset bid of Arizona State in Seattle. An even later touchdown (with only eight seconds left!) sealed the victory for Utah over USC.

Some ranked teams, like Clemson and East Carolina, had a harder time than most expected. Up 17-0 at the half, most would have expected an easy victory for Ohio State in Happy Valley. Despite the deficit, the Nittany Lions didn't give up. They shut out the Buckeyes in the second half while scoring 17 of their own points. In overtime, Ohio State's ground attack proved more reliable than Penn State's air raid, as the Buckeyes came out with the win. West Virginia was not one of those teams that struggled, as they rolled Oklahoma State in Stillwater.

The SEC was a most pleasant surprises last weekend. Kentucky and Vanderbilt gave Mississippi State and Missouri a fight before the superior teams pulled away in the second halves. An inspired South Carolina team almost shocked the nation in Auburn, though the Tiger defense stepped up when their team needed them most. And what of the rivalry game between Ole Miss and LSU that was so hyped coming into Saturday? Turned out as yet another classic this season has provided us. LSU overcame four turnovers to down the #3 Rebels in Baton Rouge. Still, the Rebels, along with Mississippi State, control their destiny in the West. Unlike Auburn and Alabama, the Mississippi schools will win the division championship if they run they table (and of course that's a big if). Expect the West divisional race to be very exciting over the coming month.

State of Florida:

• Virginia Tech (4-4) over Miami (5-3), 30-27 30-6
• Cincinnati (4-3) over South Florida (3-5), 34-31 34-17
• #23 Marshall (8-0) over Florida Atlantic (3-5), 49-10 35-16
• UCF (5-2) over Temple (4-3), 23-17 34-10
• FIU (3-5), BYE
• Florida (3-3), BYE
• #2 Florida State (7-0), BYE

Southeastern Conference:

• Arkansas (4-4) over UAB (4-4), 38-17 45-17
• #1 Mississippi State (7-0) over Kentucky (5-3), 45-10 45-31
• Missouri (6-2) over Vanderbilt (2-6), 34-17 24-14
• #3 Mississippi (7-1) over #24 LSU (7-2), 27-17 10-7
• #5 Auburn (6-1) over South Carolina (4-4), 48-21 42-35
• #4 Alabama (7-1) over Tennessee (3-5), 42-10 34-20
• #9 Georgia (6-1), BYE
• Texas A&M (5-3), BYE

Top 25:

• #6 Oregon (7-1) over California (4-4), 38-14 59-41
• #8 Michigan State (7-1) over Michigan (3-5), 45-20 35-11
• #10 TCU (6-1) over Texas Tech (3-5), 45-10 82-27
• #11 Kansas State (6-1) over Texas (3-5), 38-16 23-0
• #13 Ohio State (6-1) over Penn State (4-3), 45-10 31-24 (OT)
• Washington (5-3) over #14 Arizona State (6-1), 27-24 24-10
• Washington State (2-6) over #15 Arizona (6-1), 52-49 59-37
• #16 Nebraska (7-1) over Rutgers (5-3), 41-24 42-24
• #18 East Carolina (6-1) over Connecticut (1-6), 38-10 31-21
• #19 Utah (6-1) over #20 USC (5-3), 31-28 24-21
• #21 Clemson (6-2) over Syracuse (3-5), 42-20 16-6
• #22 West Virginia (6-2) over Oklahoma State (5-3), 38-37 34-10
• #25 UCLA (6-2) over Colorado (2-6), 45-21 40-37 (OT)
• #7 Notre Dame (6-1), BYE
• #12 Baylor (6-1), BYE
• #17 Oklahoma (5-2), BYE

Week 9 Record: 19-4 (83%)

Season Record: 117-40 (75%)