College Football: Week 10 Wrap-Up

#3 Alabama def. #9 LSU
I have to say, I'm not in love with this year's LSU team. They're really gimmicky and they tend to be without the talent and execution to back it up. Still, they had a pretty good chance for a win and might have had it had Jordan Jefferson been able to continue. I admit that I had completely forgotten about Jarret 'Pick-Six' Lee from last year. He seems to have tried to correct his 'touchdowns for the wrong team' problem by becoming an exceptionally slow decision maker. This didn't serve LSU particuarly well and ensured a giant problem once battering ram Charles Scott was hurt. Alabama seemed like the same old Alabama to me - inaccurate McElroy, good defense, a big Julio Jones play, MARK INGRAM - and has clinched the SEC West title and a probable date with Florida in the championship game.

#16 Ohio State def. #11 Penn State 24-7
Conservative as a Republican debate, this one. As usual, Ohio State relied heavily on the scrambling ability of Terrelle Pryor and apparently Penn State hadn't watched the USC tape, because they were unable to keep him in the pocket. Add that to the fact that the Buckeyes absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and Tressel and Pryor both can breathe a little easier this week. You have to like Joe Paterno for what he's done for Penn State and for college football in general, but there were a few times in this game where the Nittany Lions looked a little old...and sad. Big Ten Championship is now the Buckeyes' for the taking.

#5 Cincinnati def. Connecticut 47-45
I think Tony Pike just got Wally Pipp-ed! Cincy coach Brian Kelly continues to insist that a 100% healthy Pike would be his starter, but it would be pretty hard to take the job away from Zach Collaros, who played one of the most perfect games I've ever seen. UConn, led by QB Zach Frazer (apparently a Notre Dame transfer) and RB Jordan Todman, put up a pretty good showing in a game essentially without defense, but it's pretty darn hard to win when you give up nearly 500 passing yards and over 700 total yards.

This Week's 'Yell at the TV' Moment: LSU scored a touchdown with 3:19 left in the 3rd quarter to go up 15-10 and Les Miles inexplicably decided to go for the two point conversion. Sure enough, Alabama kicked a FG at the beginning of the 4th quarter - wouldn't 16-13 be better than 15-13. The Tide added a touchdown and a field goal later in the quarter and LSU was left with a 24-15 deficit. Again, wouldn't 24-16 be better? What was he thinking?

In other news: Not only did I call the games wrong this weekend, I *chose* them wrong. I taped LSU/Alabama and Ohio State/Penn State, but I REALLY wish I'd taped Oregon/Stanford and Navy/Notre Dame - go Midshipmen!.....Got some bonus coverage of the end of the Wake Forest/Georgia Tech game and it was exciting. Wake kicked a field goal in its overtime possession and then the Yellow Jackets went for a 4th and 1 en route to scoring a winning touchdown. Kudos to Paul Johnson for having faith in his run game.....Likewise, I loved how Cincinnati went for it on 4th and 1 in field goal range up 40-38 late in the game.....Not much solace, I suppose, but Penn State punter Jeremy Boone made a spectacular tackle on Ohio State punt returner Ray Small