Buckeyes, Burnt Oranges and Sour Grapes

So in case you have been spending the past 3 weeks deep in the jungles of the Congo and just happened to stumble on my blog when you first got online, Ohio State plays Texas this week in Austin. That's #1 & 2, in case you missed it. Whoop-tee-doo! Apparently, the media has a one track mind and all they can talk about is THAT game. I'm sure we will get to see stories about the fact that Troy Smith eat cold chicken for breakfast every morning or that Ginn Jr, ties his left shoe before his right shoe or that Mack Brown was an Eagle Scout or that another Longhorn has been arrested or... I digress. Anyways, it is a big game. It should be a good game. The winner has the inside track on playing West Virginia for the national championship (note: not because WVU is one of the 2 best teams).
BUT...
There are other games of interest, which is something that the sports media doesn't want you to know. Previous media darlings, Notre Dame square off against Joe Pa's Nittney Lions. That matches #4 & #19 and pairs 2 teams with as much tradition as any other teams in the nation. We'll get to see if ND is really up to the hype. I have a feeling that the dreaded Irish will win this one, but PSU's LBs could (hopefully) prove me wrong.
Down South, #12 UGA takes on South Carolina. The loser gets kicked to the curb on the race for the SEC East title. Both teams' offenses weren't that impressive last week. Both teams' defenses and special teams were. Of course, there is always the Spurrier vs. Georgia hype and these games have been pretty close over the past several years. Look for the team with fewer turnovers to win.
Two other matchups that have dropped off the radar are Arizona vs. #8 LSU. The Tigers are making a run at the SEC Title and want to get in the National Title mix. Mike Stoops boys play some good defense (in a league that severely lacks any signs of defense) and he has got a young gun QB. I think LSU will win (another SEC victory over the Pac10), but it could be closer than you think.
Finally, Cal will try to wipe the egg off its face against Minnesota. Honestly, I don't know enough about them to call it. I just know that the Gophers will be running the ball and Cal's pride is on the line.
So remember there are other options beside Brutus and Bevo. Enjoy.