Blaine Train's College Express Week 4

By Blaine Fentress
Senior Writer for lancewilkerson.com

Hello there.
 
And talk about a roller coaster ride for one team.  From a high to a low.  From a fake field goal to win a game to a heart attack.  Coach Mark Dantonio of Michigan St. is out of the hospital now after suffering the mild heart attack following the game.  I would think that calling a play like that might, and I say might, had help lead to the sad conclusion.  Now, of course, there have been many who have pointed out that the play clock did reach zero before the play took place.  But, talk about something that Notre Dame didn't expect. 

Maybe they should have.  Young kicker, long distance to tie the game at the final seconds...maybe they are going to run something else here.  Brian Kelly's look on his face afterwards said it all.  And, there wasn't much to it...the right end just slips behind the Irish defense, place kicker gets up with the ball, and floats a small pass to the lineman for the TD and the win.  Hopefully Coach Dantonio will recover enough to make it back on the sidelines before the end of the season for the Spartans, who have a real good chance to finish up top the Big Ten this year.
 
All right, onto the lists....
 
TOP 5 ITEMS TO TAKE FROM LAST WEEK.
 
1.  Mark Ingram, RB for Alabama, came back in a big way against a weak Duke team.  151 yards and 2 touchdowns off of only 9 CARRIES.  Wow.
2.  Watch out Oregon and Oregon St....Arizona might just be a dark-horse this season.  Good win over Iowa.
3.  Clemson and Auburn was just too hard hitting.  Both teams had players leave on carts because it was that physical of a game.
4.  Michigan came back to Earth after struggling to put away 1-AA UMass.  Good reality check to have before Big Ten schedule.
5.  Houston had the worst loss of the night because, not only did they lose the game against UCLA....they lost their Heisman Candidate Case Keenum and his backup.  Ouch.
 
TOP 5 QUARTERBACKS NOT GETTING TOO MUCH LOVE FROM THE NATIONAL MEDIA...YET.
 
1.  Andrew Luck, Stanford ---  Has already passed for 10 touchdowns early this season, great passer rating at 192.  Has already one big win over UCLA in the conference schedule. He will be the only hope the Cardinals have at winning the Pac 10.
2.  Cameron Newton, Auburn --- He helped led the Tigers over Clemson, even with the two interceptions.  Not saying they will get passed Alabama or LSU but, Auburn might be a dark horse in the SEC.
3.  Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma St. --- Did you know about Weeden?  Probably not.  He leads the nation in passing touchdowns at 11.  Already has passed for 975 yards in three games. 
4.  Dan Persa, Northwestern --- He has already completed over 80 percent of his passes.  Great passer rating of 192.
5.  Ryan Mallet, Arkansas --- Had to throw this name in here.  He needs to be a Heisman candidate and will have a big spotlight on him this Saturday.
 
TOP 5 STADIUMS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT SOMEDAY
 
1.  Michigan Stadium, Michigan --- I would love the chance to be on the field with a 100-thousand plus looking down at me.  On TV, it just looks massive from overhead.
2.  Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame --- Think about the history of that field.  Not the biggest fan of Rudy but, if I ever would get there, I bet I would understand how important it was for him.
3.  Death Valley, LSU --- Lance and many others say this is one of the LOUDEST stadiums in the country.  Plus, being it is in my birthplace of Baton Rouge, I feel like a trip should be in order.
4.  Beaver Stadium, Penn St. --- I would only want to be there when they do the White Out, when everybody in the stands wears white.  Looks like fun on television.
5.  Kyle Field, Texas A&M --- This is another family-related one but, even just driving by, you would be AMAZED with how big it is.
 
TOP 5 BLOWOUTS COMING UP THIS WEEK
 
1.  E. Michigan @ Ohio St. ---  After killing Ohio last week, the Buckeyes take on the Eagles.  Outside of Miami, they have had a very weak non-conference schedule
2.  S. Dakota St. @ Nebraska --- Can you name the nickname for S. Dakota St.   Jackrabbits.  Yes, that is something that strikes fear into my heart.
3.  Austin Peay @ Wisconsin ---  John Clay will probably run for 200 yards in this one from Camp Randall Stadium, another place I would like to visit.
4.  San Jose St. @ Utah ---  So, how does San Jose St. get those big money checks this season...by having games at Alabama, Wisconsin, and now Utah.
5.  Ball St. @ Iowa --- Hawkeyes are happy to be home after the Arizona loss, they will be looking to get back at winning by beating up on Ball St.
 
TOP 5 GAMES OF THE WEEK
 
First, games for consideration... all times in Eastern
 
Miami @ Pittsburgh, Thurs.  7:30 --- A pair of 1-1 teams meet.  Dion Lewis doesn't lead the Panthers in rushing, which is a bit surprising.
TCU @ SMU, Fri. 8 ---  A rivalry game that didn't really matter up until the last couple of years, when June Jones took over the Mustangs program and has made things better for SMU.  TCU won't have a problem here but, it could be interesting.
Oklahoma @ Cincinnati, Sat. 6 --- Weird road game as the Sooners travel up and destroy Cincinnati.
Kentucky @ Florida, Sat. 7 --- Wait a second, it is true:  Mike Hartline has a better Passer Rating than John Brantley. Both teams are undefeated and should be a good game in Gainsville.
Stanford @ Notre Dame, Sat. 3:30 --- I wonder if Notre Dame can rebound off the loss last week.  They will have a tough challenge against Andrew Luck.
Temple @ Penn St., Sat. 3:30 --- Temple is 3-0 going into the game...wonder if there will be a first loss here.
USC @ Washington St., Sat. 3 --- Trojans are looking pretty good so far into this throwaway season.  Another big win here.
North Carolina St. @ Georgia Tech, Sat. 12 --- Big ACC matchup as both teams have looked good so far and already have an undefeated record in ACC play.
Wake Forest @ Florida St., Sat. 3:30 --- Christian Ponder was sent back down to Earth last season after a huge loss against Oklahoma, will they rebound this week?
Fresno St. @ Ole Miss, Sat. 7:30 --- Rebels have gotten off to a rotten start and now they are going to take on a WAC team that might surprise this season after getting off to a 3-0 start.
 
NOW, THE TOP 5...
 
5.  Oregon @ Arizona St., Sat. 10:30 --- 72-0, 48-13, 69-0...those aren't Madden scores, those are the first three victories for the Ducks.  But, I doubt the score will be that high Saturday as they take on a Devils team that almost pulled off the upset against Wisconsin last season.  Quarterback Steven Threet and the passing attack seems to be the thing that will keep Arizona St. in the game.  But, Oregon has the 2nd best rushing offense in the nation.  LaMichael James and Remene Alston, along with quarterback Darron Thomas, like to keep the ball on the ground and will try to control the game from there.  Should be a good night game at Sun Devil Stadium
 
4.  West Virginia @ LSU, 9 --- Death Valley sees two undefeated team face each other, that crowd will be loud.  Noel Devine has already rushed for 354 yards this season, so the Tigers know that will be where the Mountaineers will like the ball to go.  On the other side, the Tiger's Stevan Ridley will be taking on a WVU Rush defense that is eighth-best in the nation.  Last week, LSU looked shaky at times against Miss. St. 
 
3.  South Carolina @ Auburn, 8 --- Yeah, you can talk about Alabama, Florida, and LSU as much as you want, but these two teams could upset the order of the SEC this season.  Florida hasn't looked great so far and the team that will be on their heels in the SEC East this year is...South Carolina.  Gamecocks and Stephen Garcia already off to a 3-0 start and they travel to Jordan-Haire Stadium to face Auburn.  In a hard hitting game last week against Clemson, they held on in overtime to win by 3.  Cameron Newton, quarterback for Auburn, is a true duel-threat leading the team in passing and rushing.  Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier knows that he needs to contain Newton if he wants to win.

2.  Oregon St. @ Boise St., 8 --- Big time game.  For the first time, the national broadcast primetime game of the week will be coming from Boise, Idaho and its Blue field.  Big test for both teams.  For Boise St, a win here and they keep the National Championship hopes alive.  This is the last big test they will have this season, unless Fresno St. turns out to be a good team.  Kellen Moore has looked good with games against Virginia Tech and Wyoming.  And now, in their home opener, they host the Rodgers brothers of Oregon St.  They lead the team in rushing and passing.  They played a tough game against TCU, but stumbled a bit against Louisville last week.  But, there is a lot riding on this game for Boise St.

1.  Alabama @ Arkansas, 3:30 --- Speaking of huge games, how about this one.  Alabama has killed everyone they have played this season but, the one thing they haven't faced yet is a good passing offense.  After Bama lost big names in the secondary to the draft, they will have to put pressure down the field on the receivers.  Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallet might have the opportunity to put his name in the Heisman race with a big game here.  Meanwhile, Mark Ingram is back and the two-headed beast of a running game for Bama is back in order.  Trent Richardson and Ingram will be very very very very tough to stop, but they are on the road and this will be the toughest test Crimson Tide has faced this season.
 
And with that, hope everyone has a good weekend and the Express rolls on...