Q: In the event Texas is upset by Nebraska, which undefeated team would give the Alabama-Florida winner the best game? Boise State, Cincinnati or TCU?
— Kevin Goodson from Ontario, Calif.
A: Given that scenario, I believe TCU would stage the best game against the Alabama-Florida winner, Kevin.

The Horned Frogs have a good enough defense to make it a tight, low-scoring game and who knows what might happen from there?

Cincinnati might make it entertaining for a while, but I can’t see the Bearcats shutting down the Gators or Crimson Tide.

Boise State? I don’t see the Broncos being in the Alabama-Florida league at all.

Q: Nebraska got any chance against Texas?
— Jerry from Michigan City, Ind.
A: Maybe a puncher’s chance, Jerry, but I still don’t see it. Texas is clearly the class of the Big 12 and I’m expecting Colt McCoy to shine again as he continues his Heisman Trophy mission. Nebraska is on the way back under coach Bo Pelini, but the Cornhuskers aren’t championship material just yet.

Q: What do you make of Lane Kiffin’s first season at Tennessee?
— Mike from St. Louis
A: It’s a mixed bag, Mike, but it’s a start. The Vols could move up to 8-5 with a victory in their bowl game — not bad after a sub-.500, non-bowl finish last season — and that’s something to build upon.

Kiffin definitely got noticed with his occasionally outrageous statements (by design, of course), and Tennessee is a relentless presence on the recruiting trail.

When you look back, the Vols were actually close to something pretty special, if you consider narrow losses against UCLA (19-15), Auburn (26-22) and Alabama (12-10). The Vols also played nose-to-nose at Florida (losing 23-13), a tribute to Kiffin’s dad Monte, the defensive coordinator who coached ‘em up perfectly to throttle the Tim Tebow-led Gators. And, of course, there were solid victories against Georgia (45-19, always an opponent on Tennessee’s radar) and South Carolina (31-13, Vols fans will never tire of beating Steve Spurrier).

Kiffin was brought in to change the culture and revitalize recruiting. He has done that. Look for the Vols to become SEC East contenders in 2010.

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