Tue Sep 2 14:29:24 2008

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ACC Still Mired in Mediocrity

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It's usually not the best of signs when the supposed top two teams in your conference go down to defeat the first week of the season. That's what happened to the ACC as Clemson looked completely lifeless vs. Alabama, and Virginia Tech not only fell to East Carolina but was also outgained by over 100 yards.

Clemson was looked upon as a top 10 team heading into the 2008 campaign with an offense loaded at the skill positions and a defense that ranked 10th in the country last year, allowing just 19.7 ppg. However, the Crimson Tide dominated the contest, holding James Davis and C.J. Spiller to 20 combined rushing yards en route to an easy 34-10 victory.

Tommy Bowden's club has now lost three of its last four games going back to the 2007 season, with the only win being a two-point decision at South Carolina last November 24.

Virginia Tech was on its way to a 1-0 start with a 22-13 lead midway in the fourth quarter, but East Carolina was not to be denied, scoring a pair of touchdowns in a two-minute span late in the game to walk off with the upset.

Both teams should be able to bounce back in week two as Clemson hosts The Citadel while Furman comes to Blacksburg. On the other hand, there is a good chance that neither club will be roaming the sidelines in the ACC Championship game in early December.

Clemson and Tech were not the only conference teams to play poorly this past week. North Carolina struggled with McNeese State, allowing 391 total yards in its eight-point victory. Maryland barely squeaked past Delaware, 14-7, and two other teams, NC State and Virginia, were blown out by South Carolina and USC, respectively.

SPREAD WOES IN ST. LOUIS

Missouri and Illinois hooked up in the opener for the second straight season and the Tigers came out on top by 10 points after enjoying a 25-point third quarter lead.

The final score of 52-42 gave most Missouri backers the cover. However, the line did drift up to 10 at one point during the week and the final play of the game left those who had Missouri minus the 10 scratching their heads.

Illinois scored the final touchdown with zero time on the clock and was still able to attempt the extra point. Back in 2006, the NCAA enacted a rule stating, "if a touchdown is scored during a down in which time in the fourth period expires, then try shall not be attempted unless the point (s) would affect the outcome of the game."

Obviously, the extra point in this contest was not going to influence the final score. It's a wonder why the Illini were able to line up for the kick even though that rule is still in the NCAA rulebook.

This is reminiscent of last year's Kentucky-Florida game in which the Wildcats were getting seven points but lost by eight after scoring a touchdown with zero time left. Most gamblers thought the game would become a push after a made extra point. Nonetheless, Kentucky was unable to line up for the final kick since players and coaches from both sides were all over the field. Florida ended up winning by eight, 45-37. The rule was enforced in that game. Why not in the Missouri-Illinois contest?

AROUND THE COUNTRY

There were a few upsets and near-misses in week one outside of the ACC. Pittsburgh fell to Bowling Green, 27-17, after leading 14-0 at home. If the Panthers fail to defeat Buffalo this Saturday, Dave Wannstedt might not be with the team come December.

Texas A&M changed coaches prior to the '08 campaign, but the Aggies might have been better off keeping Dennis Franchione. Not only did they lose to Arkansas State, they were limited to just 103 yards and four first downs in the second half.

Michigan losing to Utah should not really be called an upset, as the Wolverines were primed for a fall from grace this season. Still, the Utes tried their very best to give the Maize and Blue the game by committing 15 penalties for 137 yards. Michigan managed only 203 total yards on its own.

It's going to be a long season for the Wolverines, especially on offense, but one has to be impressed with a defense that held Utah to only six yards the entire second half.

Another major upset came out of Ruston, Louisiana where Louisiana Tech got the best of Mississippi State, 22-14. One would assume the Bulldogs lucked out in this one, being outgained by 79 yards and benefiting from a +2 turnover differential. However, no one can deny how effective Derek Dooley's team was, outscoring MSU 19-14 over the final 31 minutes.

Following its overtime loss to UCLA on Monday, Tennessee is 0-1 for a second straight season. The Volunteers won the yardage battle (366-288) and the turnover war (4-2), but couldn't stop Kevin Craft and the Bruins offense in the second half.

On a side note, why do teams consistently try to pooch-kick the kickoff late in games when the other team needs just a field goal to tie the score? The Bruins were very fortunate to win this one in overtime, since they should have wrapped it up in the fourth quarter. The Volunteers were able to start their final regulation drive on their own 43-yard line due to UCLA's inane decision to pooch the kick.

Most experts felt Arkansas would have a rough go of it this season, but who would have ever thought the Hogs would have needed a late score to nail down the win vs. Western Illinois? The Leathernecks actually led 24-14 with 10 minutes to go, but couldn't hold on for the victory. This week's game vs. UL- Monroe will not be an easy one. In fact, the Warhawks have an excellent shot at pulling off the upset.

Finally, it's very easy sometimes to look at final scores and assume the winning team dominated if the margin of victory is four touchdowns or more. Such was not the case in West Point, NY where Temple blew out Army, 35-7.

The Owls' first touchdown came on an eight-yard drive after an Army fumble. Their third TD was a defensive score, while the following seven points came via a kickoff return. Temple did not have a drive that lasted more than 10 plays the entire game, and the offense accounted for just 250 total yards.

The defense allowed only seven points but that's not saying much considering it was Army's first game after switching from a passing offense to an option attack. Even with the change, the Black Knights racked up 34 more yards than Temple.

THE NEW TOP 10 AND LAST WEEKS RESULTS

Florida did nothing wrong in its 56-10 stomping of Hawaii, and the Gators remain the number one team in the new Jeff Frank Top 10. USC moves from three to two after its scintillating performance vs. an outclassed Virginia club.

1) Florida, 103; 2) USC, 102; 3-T) Ohio State, 99.5; 3-T) Texas, 99.5; 5) Missouri, 98.5; 6) Georgia, 97.5; 7-T) Auburn, 97; 7-T) Oklahoma, 97; 9) LSU, 95.5; 10) Texas Tech, 95.

The overall record stands at 6-2, with 3-1 records in key plays (W - Utah, Louisiana Tech and Rice. L - Western Michigan) and secondary selections (W - Kansas State, Northwestern and Fresno State. L - UAB).

TOP PLAY FOR WEEK TWO

After "struggling" vs. Army, Temple comes home to take on Connecticut in the highly anticipated rematch after last year's blown call by the officials. An apparent Owls touchdown inside the final minute was erroneously ruled out-of- bounds, and the Huskies ended up holding on for the 22-17 victory. Temple has not forgotten that play, given the fact it was shown on the team's website all summer long.

One has to wonder if the Owls will be trying too hard in this one in order to prove how they were ripped off a year ago. In addition, Al Golden's club will certainly not sneak up on Connecticut as might have been the case a year ago. Regardless of emotions, one simple fact remains: the Owls will not be able to run the ball on the Huskies and that will put tremendous pressure on quarterback Adam DiMichele to play error-free ball.

Speaking of turnovers, Connecticut committed five miscues in its 35-3 win over Hofstra. It's always a good sign when a team can be that careless and still outgain its opponent by 281 yards and win by over 30 points. True, it came against the Pride, but after such a sloppy performance, look for the coaching staff to be all over the players in practice this week in preparation for this game on Saturday.

Take Connecticut minus the points.

Other top rated plays include Toledo and UL-Monroe plus the points vs. Arizona and Arkansas, respectively, and USF minus the points at UCF.

Three underdogs highlight the secondary selections: Tulane, Southern Miss and Oregon State.