Here are some of the key stories that we'll be monitoring this week at CBR headquarters.
What did "The Media" do to draw Nick Saban’s scorn this week?
First, the hacks weren’t giving Alabama’s opponents the credit that they deserve. Last week, Slick Nick took all those parasites to task for their poor “predictability.” I guess they were going off-script with their questions?
With his team set to take on a Tennessee team with some firepower, what kind of controversy will the coach manufacture this week to pin on his fanboys? My money is on a scolding for speculating about Derek Dooley’s job security.
Ol’ Ball Coach’s mind games
You know that Steve Spurrier absolutely loves returning to his old stomping grounds. Even better, his Gamecocks could put themselves in the drivers seat in the SEC East with a win Saturday over Florida.
Seems high time for Mr. Fun ‘n Gun to rev up his typical mind games before heading down to the Swamp. Would Will Muschamp take the bait?
Texas circles the wagons
The Longhorns got their lunch money taken by Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl over the weekend and received a serious pounding in the process. Potential All-American defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat ruptured a pectoral muscle and will be gone for the rest of the year. Starting quarterback David Ash injured his wrist, putting his availability this week versus Baylor at risk. The same goes for starters Donald Hawkins at offensive tackle and Brandon Moore at defensive tackle, who are dealing with a hurt ankle and scary neck injury, respectively.
Coming off two straight losses, Mack Brown needs to right the ship quickly. Doesn’t help that he’ll be working short-handed.
Quarterback questions at Notre Dame
A concussion to starting signal caller Everett Golson late in Notre Dame’s overtime victory against Stanford opened the door for veteran Tommy Rees to once again play a key role in prolonging a whimsical run by the Fighting Irish.
Know what’s not so whimsical? A quarterback controversy. Brian Kelly has to manage this delicate situation carefully going forward. For now, it's one of those good problems.
Big 12 Game of the Year?
The top five of the first BCS standings, released Sunday, included Alabama, Florida, Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame. The only people who predicted before the season that K-State would be at this point in the year are liars.
Having already beaten Oklahoma, the Wildcats have cleared a major hurdle en route to the Big 12 title. This week Purple Kansas draws possibly it’s toughest remaining test, an angry West Virginia still steaming from a bad loss in Lubbock.
Don’t look now, but this could be the game of the year in the Big 12.
