The Iowa Hawkeyes looked to be cruising to a Big Ten title and a possible date in the BCS Championship game until they ran into the pesky Northwestern Wildcats.

Those high hopes were ended by a Northwestern team that they were favored by 14 points over at home on Saturday. Northwestern racked up 17 points, including two touchdowns in the second quarter, in defeating the Hawkeyes 17 to 10.

Now, Iowa’s biggest hurdle is winning their next two games to secure at least the Big Ten Championship and into the Rose Bowl.

The Hawkeyes had an excuse for the lackluster offensive performance against Northwestern. Starting QB Richard Stanzi was injured and his replacement, QB James Vandenberg, went 9 for 27 for 82 yards and an interception.

The excuse wasn’t enough to sway the BCS rankings, however. The BCS dropped Iowa from 4th to 10th. The Hawkeyes are still the highest ranked Big Ten team in the BCS Standings but Ohio State, whom they play this Saturday, is only one spot below them at 11th.

That’s college football for you. Once week, you’re on your way to the championship. The next week you’re struggling to play in a BCS Bowl.

Alabama Stops LSU and Stays Undefeated

The Alabama Crimson Tide took it to heart that the BCS Rankings dropped them from #2 to #3 two Saturdays ago, but instead of complaining, they simply showed up and beat the LSU Tigers by 9 points, 24 to 15, this past Saturday.

As 7 point favorites, the Tide came through for bettors by covering the spread. They did it against a very good LSU team and showed the rest of the NCAAF that jumping Texas above them in the BCS Rankings before Saturday’s victory just wasn’t the right call. The Crimson Tide outscored the Tigers 14 to 0 in the 4th quarter in order to secure the victory. A 73 yard TD pass to Julio Jones in the 4th was the highlight play of the game and showed that yes, the Tide could come back from a deficit.

‘Bama is on its way to an SEC Championship game matchup with the #1 BCS ranked Florida Gators. The two hooked up in the 2008 SEC Championship game with Florida winning and moving on to the BCS Championship. ‘Bama will look for a different outcome in 2009, but Florida is going to be very tough.

The Gators kept their number one ranking in both the A.P. poll and the BCS Rankings by thumping the Vanderbilt Commodores. Florida was a 34 ½ point favorite and only won 27 to 3, but they still won.

Not covering football betting spreads has been the norm for the Gators this year as they are only 4 and 4 ATS, but, again, the Gators keep winning. That’s enough for the BCS to keep them atop the rankings.

Oregon’s Loss Means that the Pac 10 is Up for Grabs

Oregon’s 9 point loss to the Stanford Cardinal, as 6 ½ point road favorites, might have been shocking to some. To others, it made perfect sense.

The Cardinal is a very good team at home and Oregon had been on an amazing streak. The Oregon Ducks had won 7 in a row straight-up and 6 out of 7 ATS. One of the victories was an emotional one against the USC Trojans.

With only one conference loss, the Ducks are still the team to beat in the Pac 10 but Arizona, a serious underdog for the Pac title before the season started, are only a game off with a 4 and 1 record. The Wildcats and Ducks play on Nov. 21st. The winner of their game could be marching into Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.
TCU Makes a Big Move
The undefeated TCU Horned Frogs are all the way up to 4th in the BCS Rankings. Cincinnati and Boise State, who are also undefeated, are ranked 5th and 6th respectively, but the Horned Frogs look to be the real team to watch in the next few weeks.
TCU has quality victories over Virginia, Clemson and Brigham Young and face 16th ranked Utah this coming Saturday. The Horned Frogs should go undefeated.
Their 55 to 12 demolition of San Diego State, a team they were favored to beat by 24 ½ points, this past Saturday was another day at the office for the Horned Frogs. The Frogs have gone 6 and 3 ATS this season.
Boise State doesn’t face another ranked team during the regular season. Cincinnati does finish out the season against West Virginia, Illinois and Pittsburgh, three quality opponents. The Bearcats could leapfrog TCU in the BCS Rankings, but the fact that they play three quality opponents might be a disadvantage.
Cincinnati barely beat Connecticut 47 to 45 as 15 ½ point favorites this past Saturday. West Virginia won’t be easy. Illinois is a Big Ten team and the Pitt Panthers are hot.
It won’t be easy for Cincinnati to go 3 and 0 in their next 3 games.



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