So remember back on Friday when I called the Week 5 slate an excuse for the “College Football Gods to laugh at us?”

Yeah, about that. Because for whatever this weekend lacked on paper, it made up for in execution Saturday. After Week 4 was far and away the best weekend of the season, Week 5 provided a number of other high-level exciting games as well. In every possible way, it exceeded our expectations.

And with it, is now time for the Week 5 college football video recap. As always, I broke down the biggest games of the weekend and shared my own thoughts and insights.

Included this week are opinions on the following:

- Why Georgia and Tennessee each showed good and bad characteristics in their game on Saturday. For Georgia, their running backs are as good as anyone’s in college football, and they may be BCS title contenders because of it. But can their defense hold up over the next few weeks? As for the Vols, well, it was another disappointing loss for Derek Dooley, yes. But if they can run the ball like they did Saturday, Tennessee should have success against just about everyone on their schedule going forward.

- Moving to the Big XII, how about Texas’ epic win over Oklahoma State? In it we saw just how much Texas quarterback David Ash has developed and the Longhorns offense has developed because of it. Also, why don’t more people give Mike Gundy credit as an “elite” coach?

- Next up we head out to the Big Ten, where conversation turns to big wins by Nebraska and Ohio State. Are the Cornhuskers now the favorites in the Big Ten? And how about Urban Meyer, who is now 5-0 with the Buckeyes, despite inheriting a thin and inexperienced team?

Finally, we conclude by talking about all the other storylines from the day, including a Heisman-worthy performance from Geno Smith against Baylor, a sloppy road win for Florida State and of course, Alabama and Oregon handling business as usual.

Speaking of “as usual,” like in previous weeks, I encourage you to let me know what you think of the video, whether you liked or disliked it, and what I might do different going forward. And remember, if you did enjoy the video, subscribe to the YouTube channel, so you get updates every time a new video goes up.

And if you’re not following me on Twitter @Aaron_Torres, well, shame on you!

Kidding, but as always, thanks for the support.

Until next time…

If such a thing as “College Football Gods” really do exist, well, it’s safe to say they’re all collected at some dive bar this early afternoon, watching re-runs of Sportscenter, drinking Bloody Mary’s and laughing at us as fans, for the crappy slate of games we’re about to be subjected to this weekend.

I mean seriously, have you seen tomorrow’s schedule? I’ve seen episodes of “Dr. Oz” that get me more fired up than what we’ve got coming our way this Saturday. Sure, Nebraska-Wisconsin, Michigan State-Ohio State and Oregon State-Arizona are cute and all, just as long as they’re my third or fourth option on a standard Saturday. But as headline games? Please excuse me while I attempt to go drown myself in my toilet. Of course it doesn’t help that we’re also one weekend away from a monster Saturday that’ll include LSU-Florida, South Carolina-Georgia, West Virginia-Texas and a few other headliners, a weekend that’ll hopefully make us forget about everything we’re going to see tomorrow.

As a matter of fact, just to give you one final idea of how truly crappy this week’s slate of games is (before I finally stop complaining), just know this: In Week 5, there are only two games featuring a pair of undefeated teams. One, Baylor-West Virginia is at least semi-interesting (especially if you like overhyped, offensive football).

But the other? Well, I’ll give you one guess as to which game it is…

…

Got it?

How about Texas Tech-Iowa State?

Yes, Texas Tech-Iowa State, to which I say, wait, Texas Tech still has a football team? I just assumed they disassembled it after Mike Leach left or something.

Unfortunately, much like your wife’s boring work stories, it appears as though we’re going to have to grit our teeth and get through this week, and because of it, it’s time to make some Week 5 picks.

As always I’m picking against the spread (not necessarily straight up) with home teams indicated in CAPS.

Folks, we are now a third of the way done with the 2012 college football season, which is why on this last Monday of September I decided to share 33 thoughts on everything that’s happened so far (a third of the season. Thirty-three thoughts… see what I did there?).

From title contenders, to duds, Heisman contenders, and yes, even replacement refs, here are 33 thoughts on the college football season so far…

1. Right now Florida State is the No. 1 contender to play Alabama for the National Championship

If I had one take away from all the great college football Saturday (and one takeaway from the entire month of September really) it’s that Florida State is the team best equipped to take on Alabama for a BCS title right now. Sorry fans of LSU, Oregon, USC and Arkan--- err, never mind. But as of right now, on September 24, 2012 give me Alabama and Florida State for all the oranges in Miami (hmm, that one didn’t quite have the same ring as “All the Tostitos,” huh?).

And to me, what was most impressive about Florida State’s win over Clemson on Saturday (which I would argue was the best game between two truly elite teams this season) was the ‘Noles ability to get things done on both sides of the ball. Coming into the season we knew Florida State’s defense was nasty, but what no one (myself included) knew, was whether they would put up enough good points to beat really good teams.

Yeah, about that.

After three weeks of relatively mundane football action, it’s safe to say that Saturday proved to be the first epic college football Saturday we’ve had in the 2012 season. From an epic E.J. Manuel performance in Tallahassee, to another fine Notre Dame defensive effort and a near upset on the Plains, we as fans were treated to some truly spectacular football.

And you better believe I break it all down in this edition of the college football video weekend recap.

It starts at Florida State, where the Seminoles proved to be a lot of things on Saturday, including an elite team on both sides of the ball and a true National Championship contender. I then discuss another epic Notre Dame defensive effort and why I’m concerned about LSU’s National Title hopes after a narrow win on the Plains.

From there the discussion turns to upsets by Kansas State and Oregon State, is Ohio State any good, and is the SEC East race the most exciting in college football? Finally, like I always do, we wrap up by discussing the biggest games on next weekend’s slate.

Speaking of “as always,” like in previous weeks, I encourage you to let me know what you think of the video, whether you liked or disliked it, and what I might do different going forward. And remember, if you did enjoy the video, subscribe to the YouTube channel, so you get updates every time a new video goes up.

And if you’re not following me on Twitter @Aaron_Torres, well, shame on you!

Kidding, but as always, thanks for the support.

Until next time…

Want to hear something sad? After Saturday’s games, most every team in college football will be done with a third of their schedule. On a sadness sale of “seeing a puppy walk around with a broken leg” to “Watching Charlie Weis sweat in 28 degree Kansas weather” it’s safe to say that knowing a third of the college football season is over, is somewhere smack dab in the middle of that.

Of course if there is one silver-lining, it’s that we are just not starting to get a good feel for how the college football season will play out. There have been plenty of surprises so far, some good (Florida, Arizona), others bad (the entire Big Ten, John L. Smith’s wardrobe and finances) and some that actually aren’t surprising at all (cough…Alabama…cough). But thankfully, we are learning about these teams none the less.

And it’s with all that accrued knowledge, that it’s time to get to the Week 4 picks. As usual all games are picked against the spread, with the home team in caps.

Enjoy. And remember, whatever you do, don’t make direct eye contact with your TV screen when Charlie Weis is pacing the sidelines.

For those of you who regularly visit this site, you know that one theme that has remained constant here the last couple years, is that at times I’ve been pretty tough on Florida head football coach Will Muschamp.

Ok, ok, so “tough” might not be the appropriate word. Truth be told, the better one might be “ruthless.”

Read my work and you know that at times I’ve picked on the man. At times I’ve crossed the line. And at times I’ve entered “Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls” territory. Simply put, from Day 1, I just never saw Muschamp as a great fit at Florida, and in my defense, up until about two weeks ago Muschamp himself never gave me a reason to think otherwise.

Of course I’m also never too proud to admit when I’m wrong, and if the last two weeks have proven anything, it’s that I was in fact wrong on Muschamp. Florida’s road wins at Texas A&M and Tennessee are as impressive as anything anyone has done in college football this season, and because of them, Muschamp deserves a ton of praise. To be blunt, he also deserves an apology from me.

Which is exactly what I’m here to do today: Give Will Muschamp a public apology in the form of an open letter.

Now, will Coach Boom read it? Honestly, I’m guessing there’s a better chance John L. Smith is named SEC Coach of the Year than that happening, but hey, it’s worth a shot. Not to mention that after all the mean things I’ve said about the man, it’s the least I can do.

So here goes nothing.

Well, well, well, three weeks of college football are officially in the books, meaning it’s time to bring you the Week 3 college football video weekend recap!

And oh, what a weekend it was.

In this video recap I discuss all the wackiness that was Week 3, starting with USC’s upset loss to Stanford. However, if you’re looking for me to place the blame solely on USC’s offensive line, you’ve come to the wrong place. Nope, as you’ll see in the video, as much blame needs to go to Matt Barkley as it did the line, while at the same time, an equal amount of credit needs to go to David Shaw for his brilliant play-calling Saturday night.

In addition I also break down the Alabama-Arkansas game and explain why for the Hogs, it might be time to cut bait with ole’ John L. Smith… right now. I also discuss Tennessee’s Rocky Top meltdown and why I continue to be amazed by the resilience of Will Muschamp and his team. Moving up North, there is also Notre Dame’s impressive road win at Michigan State to discuss, not to mention how impressed I was with both the evolution of Everett Golson, as well as Brian Kelly’s play-calling.

And finally, there is chatter on Florida State’s Saturday beat down of Wake Forest, Ohio State’s struggles against Cal and what to look for in Week 4.

As always, I encourage you to let me know what you think of the video, whether you liked or disliked it, and what I might do different going forward. And remember, if you did enjoy the video, subscribe to the YouTube channel, so you get updates every time a new video goes up.

And if you’re not following me on Twitter @Aaron_Torres, well, shame on you!

Kidding, but as always, thanks for the support.

Until next time…

Gather around small children. I’ve got a story to tell.

You see, back when I was your age (you know, when a gallon of milk cost a nickel, and a trip to school was a long, uphill walk both ways) there was once this great college football rivalry.

This rivalry had it all.

It annually featured two Top 10 teams and packed stadiums, not to mention a pair of programs that genuinely hated each other’s guts. There were great players, greater games and a once-in-a-generation ball coach, the likes of which we’ve never quite seen before or since. And oh by the way, this game almost always came with big-time pressure; even though it was played in September, this rivalry almost always helped determine the eventual SEC champion. It usually shaped the national title picture too.

So what was this great rivalry, maybe my personal favorite of the era?

That rivalry was Tennessee-Florida, children.

….

Yes kids, I’m being serious.

No, no, come back. Story time isn’t over…

Ok, I’ll quit it with the terribly cheesy intro, but I won’t quit the hyperbole, or the belief that Tennessee-Florida was one of the great forgotten rivalries of my childhood. From a personal standpoint, none shaped me into the sports fan or writer I am today either.

With the success of my very first college football video weekend recap last Sunday, it only made sense to bring back a second edition, following Week 2 of the season yesterday. There were a lot of fun games, and as there is every Sunday, plenty to talk about.

So what’s in store for the second edition of the video recap? Well today, I talk about impressive wins for Florida, Georgia and Mississippi State, and why LSU’s physicality against Washington made me a believe that they’re still the National Championship favorites. I continued by discussing a signature win for Jim Mora at UCLA, and why the Bruins cross-town rivals USC shouldn’t be concerned about a sloppy performance in the Meadowlands. In addition, why, even in defeat, Texas A&M fans should be excited about what’s ahead for their team.

Switching gears, there is also plenty on Arkansas’ epic loss to Louisana-Monroe, and why if you’re an Arkansas fan, there seems to be little hope going forward. Also, what’s wrong with Wisconsin, will Auburn figure things out in time to make a bowl game, and is Ohio State good, or have the Buckeyes just taken advantage of a soft early schedule?

Finally I wrap up by quickly discussing the big Week 3 games, including Tennessee-Florida, Alabama-Arkansas and why Michigan State-Notre Dame could be a turning point for both program’s seasons.

As always, I encourage you to let me know what you think of the video, whether you liked or disliked it, and what I might do different going forward. And remember, if you did enjoy the video, subscribe to the YouTube channel, so you get updates every time a new video goes up.

Thanks again, and until next time…

no comments

If I were going to try and give Week 2 of the college football season a nickname, I’m thinking it’d either be “Overreaction Week” or “Revisionist History Saturday.” Frankly, either seems to fit, and I’m having trouble deciding between the two.

On the hand, there’s no doubt that people are getting way too excited, anxious and over reactionary to what happened in Week 1 of the season. Teams like Wisconsin, Georgia, and even LSU struggled, and now they’re all being pegged as trendy upset picks this weekend. Ok, whatever. Meanwhile everyone else seems to have been stricken with amnesia when it comes to other teams like Missouri, who weren’t all that good last year, weren’t great in their openers, yet are somehow trendy this weekend as well. Again, that whole “revisionist history” thing.

The point is, folks, let’s all just relax, take a deep breath, and remember that the college football season is a marathon and not a sprint. We spent all off-season breaking down these teams, analyzing them, thinking about them, following the police blotters, whatever. So let’s not let one good or game skew all that hard work, ok?  As Tom Hanks once said in the movie, A League of Their Own:

“Use your head. It’s that lump three feet above your ass.”

Let’s use that head folks.

And let’s get to the Week 2 picks.

As always, home teams are in CAPS and point spreads are provided by BetUS.com. Most importantly remember that I’m picking these games against the spread, and just because I like a team to cover, doesn’t mean they’ll win outright.

Enjoy.