By Mark Walters

So this week features some good ones, but first let’s recap last Saturday. The top-ranked Texas Longhorns fell to Texas Tech in one of the greatest college football games of all time. Instant classic, anyone? Graham Harrell was 36-for-53, with 474 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 28-yard strike to Michael Crabtree in the final second. Heisman Trophy statement game anyone?

Texas only fell to fourth, while the Red Raiders moved up to second. Alabama claimed the top spot, while Penn State went nowhere as it was idle. Florida, Oklahoma, and Southern Cal-all one-loss teams-round out the top seven, then ya got undefeated Utah at eighth, Oklahoma State (8-1) at ninth, and Boise State (8-0) at tenth.

You have to be thrilled about not one, but two mid-major teams in the top 10, I know I am. Utah gets a test this week though, facing No. 12 TCU Thursday night. TCU beat BYU but received its only loss at the hands of Oklahoma. Don’t sleep on the Horned Frogs as they try to bust the BCS-busters.

There’s lots of talk about one-loss teams getting back into the picture, and there should be. Texas, Florida, Southern Cal, Oklahoma, can they sneak into the title game? They are definitely going to need some help. Some say they are playing the best football at the time, which may be true, but as long as there are unbeaten teams ahead of them, there isn’t much of an argument to lobby for them playing for the championship.

Penn State may feel shafted in getting passed by Texas Tech, but you can’t expect to move up if you don’t play, especially when the number one team loses. Assuming Penn State takes care of business, which means beating Iowa on the road this Saturday, then winning against Indiana and Michigan State, both at home, they should be in the BCS title game. For whatever reason, I don’t see Texas Tech running the table. They have Oklahoma State at home this week, followed by a week off, then Oklahoma in Norman the following week.

Taking a glance around the conferences, the Big Ten’s game of the week has got to be Penn State at Iowa. Assuming he plays, Darryl Clark needs to keep the Nittany Lions roaring, and roaring loudly. While wins are wins, quality wins are sexier for the voters. I’ll take the Lions, one week at a time.

In the Big East, there’s Louisville at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati at West Virginia. The Mountaineers are looking to stay unbeaten in the conference, while everyone else is trying to keep pace. Pitt tail back LeSean McCoy has run for more than 100 yards the past five games, and he’s got over 1000 already on the season. He’s going to have to keep steam-rolling defenses if Pittsburgh is to remain in the Big East title hunt. I like Pitt and West Virginia both winning, creating more anticipation for their meeting the day after Thanksgiving.

Pac 10 fans have got to be excited about USC and Cal this week in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Pete Carroll’s No. 7 Trojans have allowed only seven touchdowns this year, four of which were to Oregon State. Two of the touchdowns came on drives of 2 and 15 yards. USC is certainly stout, but I’m putting them on the upset alert this week.

In the SEC, No. 2 Alabama is going into Baton Rouge to take on No. 16 LSU-perhaps the most lethal two-loss team, if there is such a thing. An LSU win would make things oh so interesting, but they have been unimpressive in getting trounced by Florida 51-21, and Georgia 52-38. The Tide rolls in this one.

No. 23 Maryland is at Virginia Tech Thursday night, a solid ACC matchup. You never know what you’re going to get with a grab-bag like the Terrapins, so I think the Hokies, who have also been off-and-on this year, will take them in Blacksburg.

The Big XII gets the game of the week with Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, and this one is tough to predict. Anyone who has no ties to either teams has to want the Cowboys to stir the BCS pot, but whether or not they can do so is what is important. I’m gonna go with Okie State, only because Texas Tech’s win last week was so unbelievable. I realize that may be contradictory, but they have to be emotionally drained, and it just goes to show you anything can happen.

This week, I’m not gonna do the basketball thing, as I am coming to appreciate the madness of college football and BCS, as ridiculous as that system may be. Regardless, it’s collegiate sport and its truly wonderful, wonderfully beautiful. As autumn thickens and the drama unfolds in packed stadiums across this great nation, take it in. March Madness is its own thing, and should be respected as such, but I suppose Georgia Tech and North Carolina would be better to watch on the hardwood. (Couldn’t resist).