I will be avoiding College Gameday this week like the plague.  I don't want to get caught in another (what I'm now calling) "Herbie Goes Bananas" situation.  In last week's Wrap, I noted that Herbstreit had said that "the only thing that can beat USC, is USC", and for the first time in four years I actually agreed with Herbie.

No more.  No sooner than I agree with Herbstreit does USC goes out and get beat by Oregon State.  Or by themselves, should I say.  That wasn't the only surprise last Saturday either, as we got the first major shakeup in the Power Rankings.

1. Oklahoma:  I have noted several times in this column that I am a proud Texas graduate.  Since Week 1, I have said how much it has pained me to say that the Sooners were the legitimate No. 2 team in the nation.  So you can imagine how placing them at No. 1 in the nation is especially painful.

2. Missouri:  DNP.  We're about to find out how good these guys are.  Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas all in a row, starting this weekend.

3. Alabama:  I said two weeks ago that the SEC needed to watch out for the Crimson Tide because Saban's boys were coming, and coming hard.  I should have said coming fast.  That beat-down of the 'Dawgs was very, very impressive.

4. LSU: The Tigers playing Florida and Georgia in two of the next three weeks looked a lot more impressive before last Saturday.  Now November the 8th needs to be circled on your calendars.  The Tigers and the Crimson Tide should be a barnburner.

5. Texas:  My beloved Longhorns are quietly lurking in the shadows.  If the 'Horns get by Colorado this Saturday, then you have a Top 5 Red River Rivalry with Boomer Sooner in two weeks.  Texas, Texas, Yeee-haw!

6. Penn State: Call me officially intrigued.  Another nice game against a ranked Illinois team.  Then take into account that the Nittany Lions rolled up 45pts. on an Oregon State team that just beat USC, and I'm starting to believe that Penn State might have enough to get the Big Ten crown this year.

7. BYU:  DNP.  Let's be honest here.  You need to start paying attention to the Cougars.  They will be your BCS Buster for 2008.  So  you may now start asking yourselves which major conference team will get the shaft.

8. USC:  The 'Men of Troy' looked more like the Trojan Women, especially when it came to stopping Oregon State RB Jacques Reeves.  But I still think that USC will be rearing it's mohawked helmet near the top of the rankings again by year's end.

9. Georgia:  Most have the 'Dawgs right at No. 10 or lower.  But I believe this butt-whupping was a huge wake-up call.  They just have too much talent to go into the tank now.

10. South Florida:  Talk about a team that went under the radar for the first month of the season.  An unblemished record, a quality win against Kansas and three of the first five on the road.  Nice work.

DORM NOTES

--You might notice that all major rankings have Texas Tech in the Top 10, yet the Wrap does not.  Sorry, but I can't take any Mike Leach coached team seriously when the first four games on the schedule are Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU and UMass.  Seriously?  This is college football, not college basketball Mike.

--What a disappointing turn-of-events for ECU.  Another unexpected loss this past weekend, and now, after a promising start, they're out of the Top 25.

--Anybody seen the conference formerly known as the Pac 10?

--It's good to see that Bobby Petrino didn't let that brief stint in the NFL change him.  His teams still can't play any defense.  In their only two games against quality opponents (Alabama and Texas), they allowed 49pts and 52pts respectively.

--Lastly, a special salute to Oregon State RB Jacques Reeves for his performance against the Trojans.  For those who aren't in the know, Reeves is a supremely talented kid out of Houston, Texas (my hometown).  Although he put up mind-boggling stats in high school, he was never recruited by any of the big boys.  That was an especially hard pill to swallow when he  was told by all the in-state schools that his services weren't needed.  Why, you might ask, wasn't he recruited?  Hidden medical condition?  Off field shenanigans?  Nope.  He committed the incredibly horrendous offense of being short.  No one wanted him because Jacques Reeves is only 5'6" tall.  Or small, I should say.  I'm guessing that after his 189-yard, 2 TD performance against USC, some of those coaches are now kicking themselves (preferably in the groin). As NBA superstar, LeBron James, said when asked recently about Davidson guard Stephen Curry's stature, "if you can play, you can play."  Jacques Reeves can play.

College Football oklahoma, missouri, alabama, lsu, texas, penn state, usc, georgia, south florida, texas tech, east carolina, bobby petrino, oregon state, jacques reeves

Green Light, Yellow Light, Red Light – STOP!!! There are some appealing names each week on the waiver wire, I supply my weekly take on whether these players should be considered or not.

QUARTERBACKS
Marc Bulger (STL) - The first thing the Rams' new head coach Jim Haslett did upon taking the job on Monday was announce that Bulger would return to his role as the team's starting quarterback. After watching Trent Green give it a try, it appears as if Bulger's job security is on the rise. He's not the best option, but can still help add depth and is a decent backup in larger leagues.

Kyle Orton (CHI) - His numbers have been surpsingly solid so far this year and many owners are hurting with bye week right now. If you need a filler Orton does have a couple of matchups over the next two weeks that are appealing - the Lions and Chiefs. Don't get too exctied though, I wouldn't want to count on him on a weekly basis in my lineup. Make the move if needed.

RUNNING BACKS
Mewelde Moore (MIN) - This guy was actually a fantasy commodity a couple of years back in Minnesota, but got buried on the depth chart. The same thing happened upon his arrival to Pittsburgh. That changed on Monday night when not one, but two Steelers' running backs went down. With starting RB Willie Parker already out with a sprained knee the team did opt to bring back Najeh Davenport, but it is Moore that will start for now.

Le'Ron McClain (BAL) - I only gave the yellow light to the Ravens' big bruiser last week, but after watching him continue to be a factor and seeing how out of shape Willis McGahee is, I have assigned the green light to McClain. He's still not starter material (outside of desperation), but certainly has shown enough to put the "worth stashing" tag to. Expect for to continue to be involved in the Ravens' offense, particularly at the goalline.

Cedric Benson (CIN) - The Bengals desperately turned to Cedric Benson on Tuesday to fill a void in the backfield. The fact that the guy is still a free agent in Week 4 of the NFL season should tell you all that you need to know. There's no doubt that Chris Perry is injury prone, but Benson should not be considered until he proves he can contribute. Longterm I am still expecting Kenny Watson to be the better handcuff.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Bobby Engram (SEA) - It looks like Engram and teammate Deion Branch are going to return to action for the Seahawks. They both should be looked at as waiver wire options, but I am bigger on Engram, who should immediately emerge as Matt Hasselbeck's target. If he's still available in your league pick him up now and look at him as legitimate No. 3 fantasy wideout.

Arnaz Battle (SF) - Playing in Mike Martz' offense has done wonders for many receivers and there is no doubt Arnaz Battle is starting to show some of this. Still, Battle has never really impressed me and there are still other names out there that have more appeal to me. J.T. O'Sullivan has breathed some life in the offense and its worth keeping an eye on Battle's progress, but he needs another week or two of solid production before I go clearing a roster spot.

Donnie Avery (STL) - The Rams' speedster showed up on the fantasy radar this week with a 37-yard rushing touchdown on an end-around run and caught 3 balls for the second straight week. It appears as if he start opposite of Torry Holt moving forward. That speaks more to how bad the Rams are rather than Avery's ability. He's going to make a few highlight reels this season, but he's not going to provide much help to your fantasy team.

TIGHT ENDS
Zach Miller (OAK) - There's no denying Miller's upside and talent and after watching him catch 5 balls for 95 yards and a score in Week 4, fantasy owners are going to be rushing to grab him this week. However, you may want to consider other options for now. Oakland has a bye this week and just fired their head coach, so it may be best to wait and see how things to develop.

Fantasy Football marc bulger, kyle orton, mewelde moore, leron mcclain, cedric benson, bobby engram, arnaz battle, donnie avery, zach miller

Desperate to find a running back, the Bengals added free agent Cedric Benson to the roster on Tuesday.  The former Bear was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in 2005, but inconsistent play on the field and constant problems off it made him expendable by the Bears as they cut him earlier this summer.

The Bengals are despearte. They are 0-4 and backup running back Kenny Watson appears unable to play Sunday and DeDe Dorsey was placed on injured reserve for the second straight season. It is still amazing that the team once again ignored professionalism for potential and once again welcome baggage into the locker room.

Think about a huddle with Chad Ocho Cinco, Chris Henry, and Cedric Benson in it. You'll have some real loose cannons. The Bengals don't need a GM nearly as bad as they need a team therapist.

There weren't many options out there (and please don't tell me Shaun Alexander), so it is what it is.  They're staring at 0-5 and on their way to 3-13, and that is if Carson's elbow makes it. Why in the world do you sacrifice changing your bad image? Because your the Bengals and Mike Brown is your owner.

He played in 35 games with 12 starts for the Bears from 2005-07 while rushing for 1,593 yards on 420 carries for a 3.8 yards-per-carry average with 10 touchdowns. He also had 26 catches for 180 yards.  Expect Benson to backup starter Chris Perry on Sunday.

NFL bengals, cedric benson, chris perry, kenny watson, chad ocho cinco, dede dorsey

The Steelers came back to win Monday night's game versus Baltimore and kept the Ravens from opening up a nice lead in the AFC North, but it came at a high cost.  Already playing without starting running back Willie Parker (knee), the Steelers lost first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall to a season-ending shoulder injury and saw reserve running back Carey Scott leave the game with a foot injury.

In addition, starting right guard Kendell Simmons was lost for the season after suffering a foot injury. Head coah Mike Tomlin said the injuries the Steelers sustained -- linebacker Andre Frazier and Keyaron Fox also left the contest -- did not put a damper on the victory. He said the Steelers would look at options outside the organization at running back.

It was originally expected that Parker would likely miss Week 5's game vs. Jacksonville too, but now you may see him try to make it back. Currently, Mewelde Moore is the team's only healhty running back.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting that Najeh Davenport is at the Steelers' South Side practice facility and it appears as if he will re-sign with the team that is perilously thin at running back.

NFL steelers, rashard mendenhall, willie parker, najeh davenport, kendell simmons, andre frazier, mewelde moore, mike tomlin, carey scott

The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox will meet in a one-game tiebreaker this evening at U.S. Cellular Field to determine the American League Central title.

Chicago, which was swept in a three-game set by the Twins last week, caught a break when it won the coin toss, allowing the game to be played in the Windy City, where Minnesota lost seven of its nine games played this season. I am still trying to figure why the Twins, who had a 10-8 edge head-to-head against the White Sox, had to play on the road after a coin flip. It's just another thing baseball doesn't get right.

This is the AL's fourth tiebreaker contest and the first since Seattle beat the California Angels for the AL West title 1995. Last season, Colorado beat San Diego 9-8 in 13 innings in an NL wild-card tiebreaker game.

Of course, the winner of tonight's contest will play the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS starting on Thursday at Tropicana Field. 

TWINS WRITER NOT OPTIMISTIC
LaVelle E. Neal of the Star-Tribune gives 6 reasons the Twins will lose:

1.The game was sold out within a hour. It will be the most hostile environment many Twins players will have experienced to this point in their careers. I have NOT forgotten the 2003 All-Star Game in Chicago, when fans booed Eddie Guardado mercilessly during introductions.

2. The Sox have called it a black out game. They have urged all fans to dress in black and will hand out black, `Sox Pride’ towels. The place will rock.

3. The Sox hate playing in the Dome to the point where they feel they the Twins can’t beat them at The Cell. I’m not kidding. Sox officials told me last week that they can’t wait until the Twins move out the Dome because the Twins get away with bloops and chop hits and luck - I guess they’ve forgotten the 90-something horseshoes they had up their rears in 2005. But they are convinced that the Twins are a different team out of the Dome. I agree. The home-road splits back that up. But it’s not because of bloop hits, it’s because their pitchers - especially the relievers - have been awful at times on the road.

4. The Sox hate losing to the Twins. Read this…and this. The Sox talk more stuff about the Twins than any team I know. They will be fired up. Expect A. J. Pierzynski to be at his best tonight.

5. Weather. It’s expected to be in the 60’s with wind gusts up to 30 mph blowing toward center-right center. Not good for a fly ball pitcher like Blackburn.

6. Nick Blackburn. Is he ready for what he’s about to experience? Sox fans will be all over him. Ozzie Guiilen talks like his team is about to make mincemeat out of him. Blackburn was 0-2 with 7.20 ERA in The Cell this season. The wind is blowing the WRONG way. He’s got to keep the ball down and mix his pitches - and the batting champion catcher needs to make sure he does that!

MLB mlb playoffs, white sox, twins, al central

Fantasy Football fantasy sports girl

Carson Palmer missed Sunday's start against the Browns due to an elbow injury, breaking his streak of 52 straight starts. Now comes concern that the injury is much more serious than orginally indicated.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wrote on Monday that "amid various uncorroborated and unconfirmed rumors and rumblings emanating from Cincinnati that Bengals' quarterback Carson Palmer might need Tommy John surgery, Palmer himself has hinted that the supposedly sore elbow that knocked him out of Sunday’s game against the Browns might not be something that mere rest heals.

The MRI reportedly showed no structural damage.  But when Palmer was asked on Sunday whether the images revealed anything he’d deem “scary”, Palmer said:  “I’m not going to comment on everything.”

Ryan Fitzpatrick will start in Palmer's absence. More information is going to eventually come out, but it does not appear that Palmer will be available for this week's game in Dallas. The Bengals have gotten off to a disappointing 0-4 start. If Palmer is lost for an extended period of time we could be looking at a full-blown disaster.

NFL bengals, carson palmer, ryan fitzpatrick

It's hard to ignore, the Brett Favre vs. Aaron Rodgers talk outlasted the summer as many speculate which quarterback was the right choice for Green Bay. The talks intensified on Sunday as Brett Favre led the Jets to 56 points while throwing a career-best 6 TD's. Meanwhile, Rodgers struggled in Tampa Bay and suffered a seperated shoulder. Now aside from the stats and wins, Rodgers must deal with playing hurt. Favre always played hurt, evident by his 252 consecutive games started record. 

Regardless of what the Packers' grade in the move turns out to be, its a bit easier to declare a fantasy winner. Rodgers has over exceeded my expectations early on this season, but we are slowly seeing him fall back to where I anticipated. Even if he plays through the injury it will be tough for him to get back to 100% anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Favre is just getting heated up. He missed nearly all the preseason and little time to learn the offense and get accustomed with his wideouts. You started to see chemistry develop between Jerricho Cotchery and Favre right off the bat, but it has been over the past two weeks  that the Favre-to-Laveranues Coles' connection is starting to heat up. Coles had 6 catches for 75 yards and a TD last Monday night in San Diego and busted out 8 catches for 105 yards and three scores in Sunday's shootout vs. Arizona.

I indicated early on that Favre was my choice from a fantasy prospective and that sentiment has only been strengthened in the season's opening month. Both can prove to be valuable, but Favre is going to be worth starting on a much more consistent basis. Let's take a look at the numbers so far.

FAVRE (2-2) Completions - 87/124 (70.2%) Passing Yards - 935 Passing TD's - 12 Interceptions - 4 QB Rating - 110.8 (1st in NFL)

RODGERS (2-2) Completions - 78/126 (61.9%) Passing Yards - 961 Passing TD's - 6 Interceptions - 3 QB Rating - 91.4 (11th)

 

Fantasy Football jets, packers, brett favre, aaron rodgers, laveranues coles, jerricho cotchery

After starting 0-4 for the second straight year the St. Louis Rams have parted ways with head coach Scott Linehan. In his 36 games as the team's head coach Linehan managed to win only 11 games.  He will be replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, formerly a head coach with the New Orleans Saints.

An argument was made to keep Linehan in place, in part because Rosenbloom and Rodriguez wondered if their late mother, former Rams owner Georgia Frontiere, would have approved of firing Linehan. Before her death, Frontiere asked that Linehan be given a third season as head coach, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

But in the end, the team's stunning lack of competitiveness -- eight straight losses, and 17 losses in the last 20 games by an average of 18 points -- dictated a coaching change heading into the Rams' bye week.

It amazes me that in two weeks we've seen the winless Lions can team president Matt Millen and the Rams say c-ya to Linehan, yet Bengals' head coach Marvin Lewis is safely entrenched in mediocrity. The Bengals are a joke right now and there is no way Lewis is going to turn that around. 

NFL rams, lions, bengals, scott linehan, jim haslett, matt millen, marvin lewis

Neither the Twins or the White Sox could take care of business this weekend to lock up the AL Central. Minnesota dropped two of three to the Royals over the weekend and Chicago couldn't take advantage, dropping two of three to Cleveland.

Both teams were able to get a win on Sunday. That leaves the White Sox 1/2 game behind the Twins and forces them to take on the Detroit Tigers today in a game that was originally postponed due to rain.  The Tigers were hoping for their season to end yesterday so it remains to be seen how much they will show up for the game this afternoon, but they are throwing White Sox-reject Freddy Garcia and that should keep it interesting. Knocking out the White Sox would be a perfect way for the Tigers, a team that was supposed to be a World Series contender, to finish the season.

Should the White Sox win today they will host the Twins on Tuesday night in an 1-game playoff to decide the division crown.

The playoffs start on Wednesday and the White Sox are just hoping to get there.

"We get paid to play 162 games, so we're going to get all of our money's worth," catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Hopefully if we win, we'll get to play 163."

Not that No. 162 is going to be a cakewalk. Besides Garcia, don't think for a second that Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez wants to do his former team any favors.

"I'm sure the last thing [the Tigers] want to do is get on that plane,'' White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. "If I was them and I had to get on that plane, I would want to make it hurt."

MLB white sox, twins, royals, indians, al central, mlb playoffs, aj pierzynski, freddy garcia, maggilo ordonez, paul konerko