| Week two of the college football season | | | | experience paid dividends in Austin against |
| proved to be a much tougher test for the Big | | | | defending champion Texas. I felt Ohio State |
| Ten Conference. The teams combined for a 2-7 | | | | dominated both games with Texas, but this |
| ATS record and the two teams that played Div. | | | | year they were able to finish drives and |
| I-AA opponents did not look impressive | | | | Texas could not produce any big plays against |
| either. That being said, the conference does | | | | them. The Horns hung tough for a while, but |
| possess the top team in the country in the | | | | with a big play threat, the Buckeyes |
| Ohio State Buckeyes. They appear to be the | | | | gradually pulled away to win this game |
| clear-cut favorite and should be able to run | | | | comfortably.The most critical player in this |
| the table providing they can get by a trip to | | | | game was not Troy Smith or Ted Ginn Jr. - it |
| Iowa City on Sept. 30. The following will | | | | was linebacker James Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis |
| recap a few of the highlights from week two | | | | intercepted a pass to start the second half |
| and preview the last week of non-conference | | | | and had the game-changing play when he forced |
| play:- We felt going into the weekend, the | | | | a Billy Pittman fumble at the two-yard line. |
| Hawkeyes were over-hyped and we figured they | | | | That fumble led to OSU's first touchdown, and |
| would struggle to cover the 19-point spread | | | | was a 14-point swing. Had Texas punched that |
| in east New York. We then received a big edge | | | | in for a 7-0 lead, this may have given young |
| just before kickoff when QB Drew Tate was | | | | Colt McCoy the confidence needed to make |
| scratched with a strained abdominal muscle. | | | | plays down the field.Texas did tie the game |
| Syracuse has a solid defense and played well | | | | just before the second quarter concluded, but |
| enough to win the game. However, they | | | | then the defense was victimized by Ginn Jr. |
| currently have a bonehead coach in Greg | | | | for a couple of big plays, including a |
| Robinson who used no creativity in overtime | | | | 29-yard touchdown pass with just 16 seconds |
| and thus deserved his fate.Iowa was a | | | | remaining in the half. That was all she wrote |
| completely different team without Tate and I | | | | in this game, as State never looked back and |
| was surprised the line did not move much at | | | | -- unlike the game last season the Horseshoe |
| all. The game was dominated by the defenses | | | | -- they were able to get up two scores on |
| as Iowa amassed just 178 yards through the | | | | Texas. The Buckeyes truly are the clear-cut |
| air. The Hawkeyes were very lucky to get out | | | | No. 1 team in the land and Troy Smith is the |
| of the dome with a win and thus cannot be | | | | frontrunner for the Heisman trophy, although |
| disappointed in their performance. A 7-point | | | | I have not given up on Brady Quinn just |
| win without your franchise quarterback on the | | | | yet.Next up for the Buckeyes is a game at The |
| road, regardless of the opponent, is all that | | | | Shoe against in-state rival Cincinnati. State |
| you can ask for.Next up for the Hawkeyes is a | | | | easily won this game in 2004 and comes in as |
| game against in-state rival Iowa State. State | | | | a 30-point favorite. The only thing that |
| did a number on them last year and you can | | | | could allow the Cats to stay close is that |
| bet the Hawkeyes will be up for this game. | | | | their Coach Mark Dantonio was the defensive |
| This game is currently off the board because | | | | coordinator in Columbus from 2001-2003. As |
| of QB Drew Tate's status, but I would expect | | | | for Texas, they will make a trip south to |
| Iowa to open up double-digit favorites. As | | | | Houston to take on Rice. The Horns enter as a |
| for Syracuse, the season is only two games | | | | 31-point favorite and I would stay away from |
| old and they look dreadful. This | | | | this game. I don't think Texas is as bad as |
| administration must be regretting firing | | | | everyone is saying and they still have a |
| longtime coach Paul Pasqualoni, who would | | | | solid chance to win the Big XII South. |
| consistently get the Orange in a bowl game. | | | | However, they will not run the table and I |
| Now, they are just hoping to win a game.- | | | | expect back-to-back road trips to Lincoln and |
| After hearing a week of criticism for how bad | | | | Lubbock to doom them in for at least one more |
| they looked on offense against Georgia Tech, | | | | loss.In other action, Northwestern followed |
| Notre Dame was determined to make a statement | | | | the lead of Colorado by suffering an |
| in South Bend against a nationally ranked | | | | embarrassing loss to Div. I-AA New Hampshire. |
| Penn State squad. The Irish came out firing, | | | | This game was not close and Pat Fitzgerald |
| scoring the first 27 points of the game and | | | | has to wonder what happened to the offense |
| put the Lions on their heels from the start. | | | | that was always so explosive under Randy |
| I felt this was an overrated Lions team that | | | | Walker. I feel that loss will keep them out |
| just lost too much to graduation to be a top | | | | of a bowl game and thus they lose the |
| team in the nation. They returned just nine | | | | all-important extra month of practice.Three |
| starters and very little experience in the | | | | Thoughts From Around College Football1) What |
| trenches.Brady Quinn, my Heisman-hyped Irish | | | | is happening to the Ol' Ball Coach? Through |
| quarterback, was 12-of-16 passing for 150 | | | | two games his South Carolina offensive has |
| yards and two touchdowns in the second | | | | looked terrible and produced only one |
| quarter alone. He has the talent and he will | | | | touchdown (on a trick play). They had a |
| not put up many performances like in did in | | | | perfect opportunity to knock out Georgia, yet |
| Atlanta one week ago. State did gain nearly | | | | failed to put a single point on the board.2) |
| 400 yards of offense, but it was the three | | | | The Oregon Ducks are for real. Anytime you go |
| turnovers that led to their demise.I expect | | | | into a hostile environment like Fresno and |
| Penn State to be just a .500 team this year | | | | come away with a win, you must be satisfied. |
| and it will be interesting to see how long | | | | They were my surprise team for this season |
| Joe Pa would like to prolong the agony. He | | | | but have three brutal games ahead (Oklahoma, |
| had a perfect opportunity to ride out into | | | | @ ASU, @ California). They will be lucky to |
| the sunset after his Orange Bowl victory last | | | | only suffer one loss from this trifecta.3) It |
| season, but declined that offer and instead | | | | will be interesting to see what happens to |
| would like to go off in his coffin. | | | | Direct TV and Dish Network if this gambling |
| All-American Paul Posluszny will need to be | | | | ban passes through the Senate. These |
| the difference for this team to be | | | | companies thrive on pay-per-view sports, and |
| successful, but I expect offensive lineman to | | | | without gambling who would subscribe to them? |
| gang up on him and force someone else on that | | | | And please don't tell me fantasy players |
| defense to make plays. Next up for the Lions | | | | will. Why would an individual pay for a $300 |
| is a game with Youngstown State. The Penguins | | | | program to join a $50 league. These sports |
| went 8-3 last year and should not be taken | | | | packages cater to gamblers who like to watch |
| lightly, just ask Northwestern. There is no | | | | their bets live. Maybe we should take a look |
| line on the game because the Penguins are a | | | | at the job impact before we pass a law.Out of |
| Div. I-AA opponent.The Irish are in the | | | | the three Free Picks I posted on this site |
| Middle of a Big 10 superfecta and will | | | | last week, the only one I put with my article |
| welcome in Michigan next week. The early line | | | | ended up being the only loser. Take |
| has ND favored by 7, but I feel the revenge | | | | Jacksonville (Pk) over Pittsburgh on MNF next |
| of the Wolverines will give them all they can | | | | weekend. That's it for this week and best of |
| handle. I do expect the Irish to lose one of | | | | luck.Doc Moseman of Doc's Sports is a |
| the four games against Big Ten opponents, | | | | documented member of the Professional |
| just not this one.- Finally, the Game of the | | | | Handicappers League. |
| Year turned out to be a dud, as Ohio State's | | | | |