Perhaps Texas Tech Really Is For Real

Graham Harrell tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to fellow Heisman Trophy contender Michael Crabtree with one second remaining, and Texas Tech recorded its biggest victory in school history with a 39-33 win over top-ranked Texas on Saturday night. Harrell, who may have positioned himself as the Heisman contender to beat, finished with 474 yards passing and two touchdowns on 36-of-53 passing. The Red Raiders finally notched a signature win for a program that has been labeled a "wannabe", most recently by myself. After this victory, I wholeheartedly believe that Texas Tech is a legitimate Big 12 and national contender. Well, the Red Raiders' ranking validates that for me. But, keep in mind that they now must continue a brutally similar schedule to the one Texas just finished up. Tech plays host to Oklahoma State next week before having a week off to prepare for a visit to Norman to play Oklahoma. Then, if they get by the 'Homa schools, they still have the Big 12 championship game. So...there is still hope for my skepticism to run its course and validate my concerns about the Red Raiders.

West Virginia continued its turnaround on Saturday, winning for the fifth consecutive game to remain unbeaten in Big East play. The Mountaineers took care of Connecticut 35-13, snapping the Huskies' 11-game home winning streak and setting up a huge matchup this Saturday in Morgantown against Cincinnati.

What a job Houston Nutt is doing in his first season with Ole Miss. The Rebels picked up their third SEC win of the season--Ed Orgeron's total SEC wins in three seasons--by beating reeling Auburn on Saturday in Oxford to snap a four-game skid against the Tigers, who dropped to 4-5. At 5-4, the Rebels sit one win away from bowl eligibility.

West Virginia Extends Misery for Auburn

Pat White threw three touchdowns, Noel Devine ran for a career-high 207 yards and West Virginia rallied from a 17-3 deficit to score 31 straight points and beat Auburn 34-17 last night in Morgantown. The Tigers, who fell to 4-4, managed just 33 second-half yards, were shut out over the final 40 minutes and now have a three-game losing streak for the first time since 1999, coach Tommy Tuberville's first season. The heat will certainly turn up on Tuberville, as the team still must navigate its way through a brutal SEC and is in danger of finishing below .500. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers may have just saved their season with an inspired second-half performance, displaying the kind of explosive offense we have been accustomed to seeing in recent years.

On Saturday night in Tempe, Dennis Erickson's disappointing Arizona State Sun Devils look to avoid a five-game losing streak against the high-powered Oregon Ducks. At 2-4, ASU is in must-win mode. The Sun Devils rank third-to-last nationally in rushing and will look to senior tailback Keegan Herring to provide a boost, as he will start for the first time this season.

If you haven't had a chance to see Boise State in action yet, tonight is a great opportunity to do so, as the BCS-busting Broncos will visit San Jose State in a matchup of the top two teams in the WAC. Kellen Moore has played exceptionally well for the Broncos, quarterback has become a position of stability for the Broncos no matter who steps in for a graduating senior...and they of course still have tailback Ian Johnson.

The last two times Boise visited San Jose State, the Broncos nearly lost their quests for undefeated seasons. In 2004, they needed two overtimes before escaping with a seven-point victory. Two seasons ago--the year they beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl--they scored 10 points in the final six minutes to win 23-20.

On the baseball beat, James Shields pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in outdueling Brett Myers and the Tampa Bay Rays salvaged a split of the first two games of the World Series in Tampa. Games Three and Four are scheduled for this weekend in Philadelphia.

SEC West Title on the Line?

One of the best annual matchups of the college football season will take place on Saturday night as the battle of the Tigers takes place at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Defending national champion LSU, ranked sixth in the nation, takes on #10 Auburn in a game that always has major title implications. LSU has claimed the SEC West in each odd-numbered year this decade; not coincidentally, those were the years in which they have hosted Auburn in Baton Rouge. Also not coincidentally, LSU has failed to win the West division in even-numbered years when it has lost to Auburn at Jordan-Hare. Records and rankings truly mean nothing in this bitter rivalry.

The most interesting aspect of this season's contest has to be the quarterback play for both teams, as both Les Miles and Tommy Tuberville are expected to play a two-headed monster throughout the game, with Andrew Hatch and Chris Todd starting the games for LSU and Auburn, respectively. We will also get to see Auburn's new spread offense play against a legitimate SEC defense for the first time.

Paul Rhoads' Auburn defense has not allowed a first-half point all season and is giving up just 214 yards per game. LSU has allowed three. Final score: LSU 13, Auburn 9.


What in the world has happened at West Virginia? A team that returned quarterback Pat White and dynamo Noel Devine suddenly can't score. The Mountaineers are unable to run inside, convert third- and fourth and shorts, and are generally getting out-toughed. Coach Bill Stewart, praised for leading the program to a win in the Fiesta Bowl during the Rich Rodriguez mess, will now surely be under fire, especially after recently signing a contract extension.