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Coach Talk:  Week #9

by Coach Jon Cacchione

Week #8 proved to be the first big surprise week for this college football season.  Some marquis games that were both exciting, and which had unexpected outcomes included Notre Dame getting handled by USC, Oklahoma’s upset loss to unranked Texas Tech, West Virginia going down at Syracuse, and the unbelievable finish in East Lansing where Michigan State upset Wisconsin.  A couple of other ranked teams struggled in contests that most believed would be easy-going.  #12 Arkansas barely got bye lowly Mississippi, and #4 Boise St. struggled the entire game against Air Force.  This week’s games are highlighted by a few big contests.  #3 Stanford travels to the Coliseum in L.A. to take on a solid USC team.  The Trojans took Notre Dame apart last week in South Bend.  #7 Clemson travels to Georgia Tech this week.  The Yellowjackets have lost two weeks in a row.  That’s not good news for Clemson.  #10 Michigan St. travels to #14 Nebraska this week.  Can the Spartans pull off two huge Big 10 wins in a row?  And the biggest game this week just may be in the Big 12 when #9 Kansas St. hosts #8 Oklahoma.  The Sooners are going into that one after getting upset by unranked Texas Tech.  It sure looks like another interesting week in college football!

Coach Talk Projected BCS Bowl Game Teams (After 9 weeks)

BCS Championship Game: Alabama vs. Stanford

Orange Bowl:   Clemson vs. West Virginia

Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Oklahoma St.

Fiesta Bowl:  Oklahoma vs. Boise St.

Rose Bowl:   Oregon vs. Wisconsin

Top 15:  Week #9

1. Alabama (8-0) Beat Tennessee (3-4) 37-6.  Off this week; next vs. #2 LSU.
2. LSU (8-0) Beat Auburn (5-3) 45-10.  Off this week; next @ #1 Alabama.
3. Stanford (7-0) Beat Washington (5-2) 65-21.  At USC (6-1) this week, a 31-17 winner over Notre Dame last week.
4. Boise St. (7-0) Beat Air Force (3-4) 37-26.  Off this week, next at UNLV.
5. Oregon (6-1) Beat Colorado (1-7) 45-2.  This week home vs. Washington St. (3-4), a 44-21 loser to Oregon St. last week.
6. Oklahoma St. (7-0) Beat Missouri (3-4) last week, 45-24.  Home this week vs. Baylor (4-2), who was off last week.
7. Clemson (8-0) Beat North Carolina 59-38.  At Georgia Tech (6-2) this week, a 24-7 loser to Miami, FL last week.
8. Oklahoma (6-1)  Lost to Texas Tech (5-2) 41-38.  At #9 Kansas St. (7-0) this week, a 59-21 winner over Kansas last week.
9. Kansas St. (7-0) Beat Kansas (2-5) 59-21.  Home vs. #8 Oklahoma (6-1), a 41-38 loser to Texas Tech last week.
10. Michigan St. (6-1) Beat #11 Wisconsin 37-31.  At #14 Nebraska (6-1) this week, a 41-14 winner over Minnesota last week.
11. Wisconsin (6-1) Lost to #10 Michigan St. 37-31.  At Ohio St. (4-3) this week, who was off last week.
12. Arkansas (6-1) Beat Mississippi (2-5) 29-24.  At Vanderbilt (4-3) this week, a 44-21 winner vs. Army last week.
13. South Carolina (6-1) Off last week.  This week at Tennessee (3-4), a 37-6 loser to Alabama last week.
14. Nebraska (6-1) Beat Minnesota (1-6) 41-14.  Home vs. #10 Michigan St. (6-1) this week, a 37-31 winner over #11 Wisconsin last week.
15. Penn St. (7-1) Beat Northwestern (2-5) 34-24.  Home vs. Illinois (6-2), a 21-14 loser to Purdue last week.