Random Thoughts From Around the Country: Week Five

WAA-OOOOH! (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)

Georgia 44 LSU 41

After four games, it is pretty clear what kind of team #6 UGA (3-1) is. Since the defense stinks (#69 in the nation with 403.8 yards given up per game), they are determined to score as many points as possible. Their average final score is 41.3 to 32.5. I don't want to put the horse before the cart but if a certain college football team from Tuscaloosa County were to win the SEC West, I'd say they have stared down this football philosophy and won.

Unless the Dawgs blow it somewhere, their season is basically a cakewalk to Atlanta:
@ Tennessee
vs Missouri
@ Vanderbilt
vs Florida (Jacksonville) - ya never know in this game...
vs Appalachian St
@ Auburn
vs Kentucky
@ Georgia Tech - IT'S A TRAP!

UGA fans will tell you (and believe me, they WILL tell you) that after 4 games, the Dawgs are the most "tested" team after facing three ranked teams in Clemson, South Carolina, and LSU. Feel free to remind them that UGA failed one of those tests and that the other games were all home games.

After the game, Mark Richt was getting all choked up (yes, I know he is a "nice guy") and the players were celebrating like they just won the SEC (yes, I know "let the kids enjoy it"). My point is that they better get their heads right or someone will trip them up. If you want to know the difference between Nick Saban and Richt and why one wins championships and the other doesn't, then watch below.

Richt:

Saban:

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Are ya gonna cry, Laney? (Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports)

Kiffin Fall Down, Go Boom

The coaching hot seat in South Central L.A. engulfed in flames late Saturday night as Southern Cal AD Pat Haden finally fired train wreck Lane Kiffin. Against Arizona State, the Trojans committed four turnovers, allowed 611 yards and dropped to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Pac-12. To add injury to insult, 2012 All-American wide receiver Marqise Lee was helped off the field by his teammates after injuring his left knee in the Trojans 62-41 loss to the Sun Devils.

In an odd move, Haden named Kiffin's head henchman Ed Orgeron as interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Many of the talking heads seem to think Jack Del Rio, currently defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos and former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is the leading candidate to replace Kitten. Del Rio, who is father of current Alabama QB Luke Del Rio, was an All-American linebacker at Southern Cal as well as a standout on the Trojans baseball team. The names of Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin, Boise's Chris Petersen and Vandy's James Franklin are also being batted around as well.

Also: UConn (0-4) fired third year coach Paul Pasqualoni on Monday after a 41-12 loss at Buffalo. The Huskies moved up to Division I-A in 2000 and then to the Big East in 2004. This early move could be perceived as a desperation move to make the program more attractive and get into position to join one of the Big 5 conferences, most likely the ACC. This should be an interesting hire. Look for a flashy, big salary hire. I hear Kiffin is available.

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(Insert steam whistle audio here)

Oklahoma 35 Notre Dame 21

Is it surprising that the Irish join the list of teams that lose to Alabama and go into a downward spiral? Notre Dame is now 3-2 and out of the top 25 rankings.

This one was over early as the Sooners intercepted two passes, one a pick six, inside 2 minutes 45 seconds and led 14-0. Depsite Tommy Rees throwing 2 TD passes, he was 9/24 for 104 yards and 3 INTs. The ND defense gave up 450 total yards for the game.

Grab Bag:

West Virginia 30 Oklahoma State 21 - The Cowpokes were supposed to win the Big XII conference but now they are looking rather pedestrian. The Mountaineers lost to Maryland the previous week 37-0. Oklahoma is looking like the only good team in that league. Baylor is 3-0 but against Wofford, Buffalo, and ULM. Texas Tech too is undefeated but it give it time.

Oregon 55 Cal 16 - The Ducks continue to smother their opponents by an average score of 60-11. However, we'll have to wait until October 12 at #15 Washington to see how good they really are.

SOS:

Virginia Tech 17 Georgia Tech 10 - The Hokies prove their defense is no fluke as they hold the Yellow Jackets' triple option to 129 yards rushing in addition to only 7 pass completions. They also won the turnover battle 3-0. Logan Thomas actually looked good accounting for 221 yards through the air and 58 on the ground.

Colorado State 59 UTEP 42 -I guess you could call CSU's loss to Alabama the week before a "good loss". Whatever they learned from that loss they took back to Fort Collins with them and turned it into their second win of the young season.

* Useless Stat of the Day: If you take away the Bama loss from the records of VaTech, TAMU, CSU, and OM, their collective record is 13-2 both belonging to the CSU Rams.

Coming Up:
No. 25 Maryland at No. 8 Florida State 11am CT / 12pm ET - a good chance for FSU to slip up but probably not.
No. 3 Clemson at Syracuse 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET - See above.
No. 6 Georgia at Tennessee 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET - Will UGA have a letdown? Yeah, but it's Tennessee.
Georgia Tech at No. 14 Miami (FL) 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET - Can Tech slow down the U?
No. 10 LSU at Mississippi State 6pm CT / 7pm ET - The Tigers looking to get back on track.
TCU at No. 11 Oklahoma 6pm CT / 7pm ET - someone need to bring Okie back to Earth.
Arkansas at No. 18 Florida 6pm CT / 7pm ET - Fla just lost Dominique Easley to a season-ending knee injury (ACL).
No. 24 Ole Miss at Auburn 6pm CT / 7pm ET - Will the Rebs bounce back?
Kentucky at No. 13 South Carolina 6:30pm CT / 7:30pm ET - Football!
No. 22 Arizona State vs. Notre Dame (Arlington, TX) 6:30pm CT / 7:30pm ET - Another chance for the Irish to lose. YAY!
Missouri at Vanderbilt 6:30pm CT / 7:30pm ET CSS - SEC! SEC. SE...C... Hey. Why aren't ya'll joining in?
No. 4 Ohio State at No. 16 Northwestern 7pm CT / 8pm ET Can the Wildcats upset the 'Eyes at home?
No. 15 Washington at No. 5 Stanford 9:30pm CT / 10:30 PM - A late game out west worth staying up for.

* Alabama and Georgia State will kickoff at 11:20am CT / 12:20pm ET, October 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium and televised by the SEC TV (click here for a pdf of your local affiliate).

* Alabama at Kentucky on October 12 is at 6pm CT / 7pm ET

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ELIMINATED FROM BCS CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION:

Notre Dame
Wisconsin
UCF
Minnesota
Colorado
NC State
Arkansas
West Virginia
Army
Boston College
Duke
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Penn State
TCU
Tennessee
Texas
SoCal
Virginia
Wake Forest
Boise State
Brigham Young
California
Iowa
Iowa State
Kansas State
Kentucky
Mississippi State
North Carolina
Oregon State
Pittsburgh
Purdue
Syracuse
Vanderbilt
Washington State