The Hangover Cure: Week 9

I think we know what these teams are now.Oregon can thresh on the ground, with Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James combining for 350 of the Ducks’ 391 yards in their 47-20 evisceration of USC. Florida, with all hands on deck, is fearsome as a well-rounded attack: Two touchdowns via air and ground from Tim Tebow and four picks from a healthy defense keyed the 41-17 romp over Georgia. Texas is efficient on offense and larcenous on defense, which leads to 27-point wins on only 275 total yards. Cincinnati is capable of outclassing teams good and bad. Iowa’s Heart Attack Hawkeyes save all the game-breaking plays for when things look bleak. TCU and Boise State are the impressive interlopers who appear hell-bent on breaking the BCS.

These are identities. And they are finally coming into sharp relief as the college football season enters its stretch run.

The numbers would suggest the bigger blown chances belonged to Indiana and Kansas -- both led entering the fourth quarter -- but the worst quarter has to belong to Western Kentucky. That collapse followed three quarters in which they had rolled up 49 points and more than 400 yards against North Texas, and the 49-49 tie entering the quarter was the closest the 0-8 Hilltoppers had been in a fourth quarter all season. When the bottom falls out like that, it’s especially painful.

Tremendous. Case Keenum keeps on keepin’ on. Houston fell behind early, gave up 608 total yards, let Southern Miss score to tie the game at 43-43 with 57 seconds remaining, and still won, thanks to another carving by Keenum: 43-of-54 for 559 yards and five touchdowns. It’s his fourth game of more than 400 yards passing this year, and his second of more than 500 yards. Heisman may be too much to ask, but his stats pop more than any other quarterback’s this season and may earn him a ticket to New York.

Blacked Out. Georgia and Tennessee both came out with black on, the Bulldogs pairing black helmets pants while the Vols donned black jerseys for the first time. Only Tennessee backed up their sartorial statement: Their defense clamped down once more, allowing its first TD in ten quarters in the third frame and giving Steve Spurrier’s moribund offense a proper burial by forcing four turnovers. Georgia’s attire seemed as macabre as its blackout backfire of Alabama did last year, with Joe Cox and Logan Grey combining for four picks.

Impaired Judgment. Other sources will have more spleen to spare for Indiana’s wretched fate than I do: The Hoosiers did manage to rip holes in their own sails late in their game. But in watching that game, it seemed as if Indiana should have had more than a ten-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, with two touchdowns ruled incomplete passes. It will be forgotten this week, thanks to Iowa’s overwhelming finish, but, sadly, the officiating plague that has haunted the SEC spread to Iowa City on Saturday.

Also, Brandon Spikes, everybody!

Come on, Brandon: You’re only supposed to get into it in piles if the cameras can’t see you. Don’t be surprised if a suspension is on the way, or if it takes the SEC leaning on Urban Meyer to get that suspension.

Potent Quotables. Spikes, on the postgame feeling for Florida last week: “Things weren’t getting done the way we expected. We may have stepped on a few toes.”

T.J. Ward, Oregon safety: “The polls are still probably going to be Florida and Alabama. We feel like we’re right there with anybody.”

Proof. The fatalism around USC’s fall is strong. Want proof? Check this picture an LA Times photog snagged.

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