6. Upset, schmupset
Look, I'm not saying Kentucky will beat Alabama. But the Wildcats are beefy up the middle on defense, and can slow down the Tide's running game. And if Alabama can't run the ball, quarterback John Parker Wilson suddenly becomes less efficient.

UK's starters on the front four will all play in the NFL: Myron Pryor and Corey Peters are run-stuffing tackles, and Jeremy Jarmon and Ventrell Jenkins are physical players on the ends.

UK hasn't given up a rushing touchdown all season, and coach Rich Brooks compares this unit to his Gang Green defenses at Oregon in the early 1990s.

Now, on the other hand, the Kentucky offense couldn't score 14 points on the Alabama defense if it was spotted two touchdowns and one of the conversions. But that's another story for another time.

7. Firebrand Bo
Bo Pelini has a temper. Apparently, that's the criticism in Lincoln of the new Nebraska coach — if you can believe that.

He got an unsportsmanlike conduct call against him last week in a loss to Virginia Tech, and there are some in Lincoln who feel this kind of behavior is A.) not becoming of their fine university, and B.) will eventually come back to bite the team in a big game.

To this I say: Have you seen the Nebraska roster? It'll be a few years before Pelini is coaching in a big game. Cut him some slack and let him blow steam for having to clean up Billy C's mess.

And be thankful if his patchwork defense holds Missouri under 50 points. Mr. Heisman, meet Mr. Daniel.

8. The long climb back
So USC has had nine days to sit and stew on a 5-6, 160-pound freshman ruining its season. Nine days to think about Joe McKnight, the team's best player, getting all of 12 touches in the game.

Nine days to choke down the possibility that, despite being the most talented team in the country, the Trojans have no control of their national championship hopes. All they can do is go out every week — including this weekend against Oregon — and put up big numbers against an overmatched conference and hope for a string of upsets that includes Utah.

Because, really, if USC is 11-1 and Utah is 12-0 and there's one spot remaining in the national title game, you better believe Utah has the better resume. The Mountain West is 6-1 vs. the Pac-10, and the teams will have one common opponent: Oregon State.

9. A trap in Boulder
I know Will Muschamp is a brilliant guy. Dude knows defense, and already has whipped into shape a Texas defense that, by the end of last season, was embarrassing.

However, I humbly offer this bit of advice for the Texas defensive coordinator: double Colorado WR Josh Smith in the first quarter.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

In the last three games, Colorado's first touchdown has come on passes to Smith. And if CU gets rolling early, this becomes the classic look-ahead game for Texas, which has You Know Who waiting at the Cotton Bowl, where everything — and I mean everything — tastes better fried.

10. Take out the trash
So Stanford offensive tackle Chris Marinelli doesn't like Notre Dame. Says he hates anything remotely related to the Blue and Gold.

Then he got animated, telling Cardinalreport.com, "We are going to mash them up and that's all there is to it."

Bulletin board material is nothing new, but this was so good, I have to share more:

"We've seen a lot of tape and it is a good challenge for us," Marinelli said. "But on the same token it's going to go bad for them at one point and we are going to gash the (expletive) out of them, I promise you that. So keep bringing it, keep bringing it. They have one sack all year on 200 blitzes. They can keep bringing all the stuff they want. We can pick up blitzes."

If Marinelli trash-talks a team Stanford couldn't beat last season, what in the world will he say when USC week rolls around?

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