Conference Call: NC State and Pitt have pulses

Posted 11 8 2007 5:25AM

ACC

Rising: NC State. All of you Tom O'Brien haters (you know who you are, Chowder Boy) take note: The Wolfpack have won three in a row. And season-ending games vs. North Carolina, at Wake and vs. Maryland mean O.B. may have N.C. State in a bowl. And that may be more incredible than what Jeff Jagodzinski is doing on the Heights.

Falling: Georgia Tech. Here is the storyline: The coach apparently is in trouble coming off a home beat-down by Virginia Tech. Yeah, the Jackets may win their next two (at Duke; vs. North Carolina), but it all may not matter in the end if Georgia whips Tech (again) in Atlanta.

Game of the week: Florida State at Virginia Tech. Two teams, different goals. The Seminoles want to build on the Boston College win and build for the future. The Hokies look to stay on course toward the ACC title game, where another shot at the Eagles may await. Yeah, times have changed.

Big East

Rising: Pitt. Believe it or not, the Panthers have won two of their last three. They are off this week before finishing at Rutgers, vs. USF and at West Virginia. But one more win, and Pitt is bowl eligible. Not bad for a program playing so many promising young players. Fear the 'Stache.

Falling: Rutgers. After consecutive losses (and four of its last six), is it time to panic? No. Greg Schiano is too good of a coach. Don't be shocked if the Scarlet Knights close the year with three wins: at Army, vs. Pitt, at Louisville.

Game of the week: UConn at Cincinnati. Two of college football's best stories square off. Keep an eye on the matchup pitting the Husky defense vs. the Bearcat offense. Oh, and the winning coach will be the front-runner for Big East coach of the year honors.

Big Ten

Rising: Ohio State. Love them. Hate them. But get used to them. The Buckeyes are poised to finish unbeaten. Will they get smoked again in the BCS title game? Who knows? Until then, just sit back and marvel at the wondrous work of Jim Tressel. Is he the national coach of the year? Hmmm.

Falling: Michigan State. God love 'em, the Spartans are trying and are oh-so close to breaking through. Has anyone suffered more excruciating losses? Wisconsin ... Northwestern ... Iowa ... Michigan. Now, we wonder: Will Michigan State's bowl-less drought reach four seasons with games at Purdue and vs. Penn State remaining? Remember, this team started 4-0. Quickie memo to Mark Dantonio: Let the Michigan loss go.

Game of the week: Michigan at Wisconsin. Before the season began, this looked like a de facto Big Ten title game. Yeah, those were the days. The Wolverines' hopes remain alive. The Badgers? They are looking to earn a modicum of respect -- and avoid the ... Champs Sports Bowl?

Big 12

Rising: Oklahoma. This team is one bad second half from being ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the BCS standings. The Sooners will cruise until the Big 12 title game, when a dynamite matchup looms with likely unbeaten Kansas. I can't wait.

Falling: Kansas State. It has been win, loss, win, loss, win, loss since the Wildcats came back from an off week on September 22. What's it mean? This isn't a very good team. At least not yet.

Game of the week: Kansas at Oklahoma State. Danger! That warning is for the Jayhawks, who will face an explosive offense. But has any team gashed the KU defense during a meaningful moment in a game? Exactly. Still, Kansas can't afford to get in a track meet.

PAC-10

Rising: Oregon. Despite key injuries across the board, the Ducks are flying. Heck, this may be the hottest team in the nation. Does any school have more quality wins? Of course not. Oregon is off this Saturday before finishing the year at Arizona, at UCLA and vs. Oregon State. Those games are more dangerous than you think.

Falling: UCLA. Another week, another inexplicable loss. This time to Arizona. You have to like the Bruins' chances of closing the season with four consecutive losses, with Arizona State visiting this week followed by at visit by Oregon and a trip to USC.

Game of the week: USC at Cal. Pfffftttt. Yeah, the air has been let out of this game that looked oh-so-good back in August. This is all about showing pride in your program. The loser may be headed for the Las Vegas Bowl. Quite a drop from the lofty preseason hopes for each.

SEC

Rising: LSU. Go ahead. Call Les Miles lucky. Call the defense spotty. Call quarterback Matt Flynn inconsistent. Call the team sloppy and penalty-prone. But also make sure you call the Bayou Bengals "BCS title game bound." Who is gonna beat this team before January 7th? No one.

Falling: South Carolina. It's true. The Gamecocks have lost three games in a row. And, don't look now, but visits from Florida and Clemson loom. Do you think Steve Spurrier is getting the feeling he's not gonna get this program over the hump?

Game of the week: Auburn at Georgia. This Southern Fried classic always gets forgotten when talk of great rivalries starts up. The Tigers remember how they were embarrassed last year by the Bulldogs. Georgia must win to keep alive its SEC East title hopes. Someone get me some boiled peanuts.