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As college football's foggy landscape clears up it's time to take this blog into mid-season mode.
Since the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl, it became obvious BYU would be a formidable threat to nab a BCS bid, but I never imagined they'd win so effortlessly. Last weekend's 59 point shutout of UCLA was an eye opener. By halftime BYU had already leapt out to a 42 point lead, Max Hall had thrown for 6 touchdowns and his draft stock had risen like the price of gas in California.

BYU took their foot off the pedal after halftime as UCLA's bus drivers revved up the engine for the trip home. BYU's win over L.A.'s other team was the narrative of the weekend for the Pac-10's which was publicly ridiculed by the Mountain West Conference. Cal faced the most embarrassment losing to Maryland, a team from the ACC.

If Middle Tennessee St. > Maryland > California, could Middle Tennesse St. be better than the 2nd best team in the Pac-10? The USC Trojans meanwhile, have remained above the fray during the Pac-10's demasculinization and asserted themselves as the national frontrunners.  If Carson Palmer were mobile enough to buy time and avoid the rush he'd resemble Mark Sanchez.  USC's backfield is more impressive than their 2004 BCS championship team in terms of depth and the dominant defense which brings up the obvious question.  If the 2008 USC Trojans are Pete Carroll's most talented team from top to bottom?  Recruiting hordes of High School All-Americans has made them immune from even the most devestating injuries, should they happen.   Meanwhile,  the SEC has morphed into the antithesis of the quick strike, Big 12 with it's ugly offense and single digit scoring outputs.   

Robert Griffin
Boasting such prolific passers as Chase Daniel, Graham Harrell, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Josh Freeman, Todd Reesing, Zac Robinson, Cody Hawkins and Stephen McGee, the Big 12 has established itself as the Quarterbacks Conference. Baylor entered the season as the North Pole of the Midwest arms race-- it's barren and devoid of talent. But weekly, they gave opponents the gift of an easy "W". by halftime The Bears have years of futility in their rear view mirror and the starting quarterback, Kirby Freeman, was a Miami Hurricanes reject with no dazzle or substance attached.

However, Baylor's backup Robert Griffin is a speed freak with exciting potential. Griffin is also the Big 12's 400 meter hurdles champion. As a 6'3, 200 pound, 18 year old true freshman, Griffin is on the fast track to becoming a college football icon. Watching Griffin play I've begun to rank Griffin as a better college quarterback and NFL prospect than fellow rookie dual threat signal caller, Terrelle Pryor.

He's got the speed and quickness of Michael Vick, the size of Vince Young and the accuracy of Troy Smith.  A few weeks ago, the idea of a Baylor athlete in a team sport garnering national attention was about as likely as the National Enquirer becoming a trustworthy news source. Griffin's play this season has catapulted a morbid football program into relevancy and given disillusioned Waco fans a hike in self esteem.  Griffin is Baylor's answer to Vanderbilt alum, Jay Cutler and the freshman's runs don't come on gimmicky designed options.  He also can move around in a fashion similiar to Michael Vick to make time in the pocket.

At home against Washington State Wednesday, Robert Griffin eclipsed a school rushing record by running to the tune of 217 total yards and threw for another 129 and has the makings of a program changing quarterback.

Last week (9-1), This season: (24-4)                                                         
Buffalo Bulls @ #6 Missouri Tigers Missouri's no-huddle spread offense is firing on all cylinders and this week, the Tigers get Buffalo served up on a platter. Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin have played pitch and catch against their first 3 opponents.   It took a hail mary for Buffalo to dodge a bullet against Temple, a team constantly ranked in the bottom 10.  They'll need a series of miracles for Buffalo to beat Missouri.                                                                                                                           Missouri wins 62-10.                               

#20 Utah Utes @ Air Force Falcons With the most one-dimensional offense in recent college football history, the Air Force Falcons might have the most deceptive nickname in college football because their passing offense has lost it's wings. In 3 games this season, all victories, Air Force quarterback Shea Smith, connected on 11 completions and only 90 yards passing. As Hurrican Ike's wind and rain wrought havoc in Texas the Academy escaped with a 31-28 victory on the road against Houston. Houston quarterback, Case Keenum's had 34 completions out of 57 attempts while the Force failed to complete a pass, without an interception.

Utah's spread offense is too balanced and talented to be lulled to sleep by Air Force's 3 yards and a cloud of dust offensive scheme.  Utah is trying to do more than just win the MWAC, they've got a BCS bowl game on their minds.                                                                                              Utah rushes to a 41-10 win.

Indiana Hoosiers@ Ball State Cardinals

Usually the jockeying for best collegiate quarterback in the Hoosier State isn’t very competitive  or a favorable comparison but the Indiana Hoosiers’ Kellen Lewis and Ball State’s Nate Davis have ramped up the volume on the debate.  Except they've been blips on the mainstream media's radar. As they both embark their junior seasons, both are popping up on the radar of NFL scouts. 

As a redshirt sophomore Lewis is a dual threat who totaled nearly 800 yards rushing, 3,000 yards through the air and 37 total touchdowns including 9 with his legs in 2007. Nate Davis doesn’t have the same quickness as Lewis but is just as effective with his arm and is considered less of a risk as a pure drop back passer to NFL cognoscenti. As a true sophomore, Davis threw for 3,600 yards, 30 touchdowns, rushed for 5 and only committed 6 interceptions.

His defining performance came as a sophomore where he played monkey in the middle with Nebraska defenders in a game that epitomized Bill Callahan's coaching stint.  By game's end Davis had passed for 422 yards, danced to 57 yards on the ground reached pay dirt once and in the process came a dropped touchdown pass, as wells as a missed chip shot from beating the famed Cornhuskers.

Outsiders have a tendency to label Lewis as a scrambling quarterback, however, Lewis is a pocket quarterback first and becomes an effective runner only when the play breaks down. In fact, the Hoosiers rarely call designed runs for Lewis.
On Saturday the pair will be on the same field against each others defense in what is expected to be an offensive back and forth.

This season Davis is on pace to improve in nearly every statistical category and has surrendered just one sack but will have to spend his afternoon keeping Indiana defensive end Greg Middleton off his back all day.  Indiana head coach has an interesting insight to Ball State's football program after coaching the Cardinals for 7 seasons. 
Ball State wins 34-41.

Baylor Bears @ Connecticut Huskies 
Robert Griffin(see above) introduces himself to the nation on ESPN Friday night.  Baylor has taken the prestigious Friday Night Lights mantle from South Florida in 2007, and Rutgers in 2006.  UConn has a stealth weapon of their own on offense in junior running back Donald Brown III.  Baylor is planning on opening up it's playbook in Robert Griffin's third start with rumors of a play called "Warp Dive" in which Griffin finds open space running upfield and tries to gain enough speed to create a wormhole that sucks him into the endzone.
Baylor wins 28-21.

Though, Stafford has completed over 60% of his passes, and averted turnovers, he was mostly inept in their conference opener against the Gamecocks. Arizona State fell asleep at the wheel in their loss to UNLV last weekend which took some of the luster off the matchup. The X-factor for Georgia will be Knowshon Moreno, Caleb King and how well UGA's lackluster pressure defense can pressure Rudy Carpenter, the most sacked signal caller in 2007.
Bulldogs win 30-21.

#4 Florida Gators @ Tennessee Vols                                                                                   Urban Meyers overinflated ego, meets Phil Fulmer's ballooning waist size. Since 2005 Urban Meyer has used his influence in Gainesville to reign in top 5 recruiting classes.

Florida has numerous weapons on both sides of the ball but Tennessee's roster lacks individual playmakers.
Gators take a bite out the Vols: 35-14

#6 LSU Tigers@ #10 Auburn Tigers

Auburn has one of the most pathetic offenses for a top 10 team, I've ever seen and LSU's passing game doesn't inspire much confidence either.  The majority of this game will take place outside of field goal range and the offenses will be stagnant because of instablility under center.   Neither team has settled on a single starter, therefore 4 quarterbacks could be featured prominently in this game.
LSU lost several key cogs on defense but reloaded on the defensive line with Al Woods, Ricky Jean Francois and Tyson Jackson to keep Auburn's offensive line busy all day. 

Iowa @ Pittsburgh                                                                                                             Iowa's cupcake schedule has held them the distinction of being the only defense that has yet to surrender a touchdown.  While Pittsburgh is a different beast than the punching bags Iowa has crushed, the offense is struggling.                                                                                                  Iowa wins 24-10.

#15 ECU @ NC State                                                                                                            Anytime team that can dispatch West Virginia and Virginia Tech, with such ease shouldn't even blink against the irrelevant Wolfpack.                                                                                               ECU wins 24-7.

Central Michigan @ Purdue                                                                                                
Dan Lefevour should have a field day against the defense the Boilermakers defense he carved up in the Motor City Bowl.                                                                                                           Central Michigan wins 38-30.

Miami(Fl) @ Texas A&M
a) If Stephen McGee starts and takes most of the snaps Miami beats Texas A&M 27-14.  McGee is a one dimensional, version of Tim Tebow coming off a shoulder injury.                                            b) If Jerrod Johnson starts ... Texas A&M wins 30-27.  He's a better fit for Mike Sherman's offense, while McGee is a holdover from the failed Franchione regime. 

Wake Forest @ Florida State
Wake Forest rise up the ranks of the ACC wasn't by accident.  They've specifically targeted Florida athletes to play for the Demon Deacons.  For them, it will be a homecoming.  For Joe Paterno, this is day Paterno finally reclaims his all-time coaching wins crown from Bobby Bowden.
Wake Forest wins 30-17.