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Buzzmaster

  (1:59 PM)

Ivan will be here any minute now!

Ivan Maisel

  (2:03 PM)

Hey everyone. I will admit, it took me until Wednesday to get really pumped for SC-Ohio State. I am really pumped now, but we will talk about whatever you like!

Brad (Madison)

How do you think the Wisconsin-Fresno State game will go this Saturday?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:04 PM)

I think it is going to be a much tougher test for the Badgers than I first believed. I did not realize until I spoke with Graham Watson how big a deal this game is in Fresno. I think Wisconsin is in for a tough battle.

Jeff (Baton Rouge, LA)

Any chance Spurrier and the Gamecocks can knock off Georgia again this year?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:06 PM)

Historically Georgia has a tough time in Columbia and to be honest they had a tough times in Athens last year. But South Carolina's struggles on offense are going to be too much for them to overcome. I hate to break it to you Tigers fans, but I just do not think this is the week Gerogia goes down.

Jake (VA Beach)

Any chance ND can do better than 6-6 after seeing that awful game?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:07 PM)

Yeah, absolutely. I came away from that game thinking that it would be nothing but good for the Irish. I know they struggled to beat a bad team, but they did someback in the 4th and made the plays they had to make and that is something that any team can build on, especially a team that struggled to do that very thing all last season.

Andy (Wisconsin)

Who is worn down quicker: Lauranitis dealing with USC's plethora of RBs, or Maualuaga going against Chris Wells.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:08 PM)

Wow, interesting question. In that context I would say Lauranitis, but let me say that I have not seen him wear down in three seasons and I do not think that is going to happen on Saturday. I do not think anyone is going wear down.

Joe: (St. Louis, MO)

Hey Ivan I keep hearing how Mizzou has a cupcake schedule this year? Is it honestly that bad?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:10 PM)

Mizzou handled Illinois without ever being in much danger and they do play Texas, so I am not too worried about their schedule.

Jake (Seattle, WA)

What is your take on the call at the end of last week's Washington game?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:12 PM)

I thought that making that call because that is what the rule says is a cop out. Officials make hundreds of judgement calls every game. I cannot beleive any officials would have called that. That said, teams make 35 yard FG and 35 yard PATs on Saturday, so it does not get Washington off the hook for not executing a pretty simple play.

Jojo

Oregon vs. Purdue, who ya got? Another Duck route over the Big11 or does the Big 10 save face finally?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:14 PM)

I am believer in Oregon. I think that they are going to pull into their game at USC on Oct. 4 undefeated. I think that should answer your question.

Eric (Venice, CA)

Hey Ivan, What do you feel will be the biggest deciding factor in th OSU vs USC game? Thanks.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:15 PM)

I think Ohio State has got to get the running game going Saturday night in order for the entire offense to get going. We saw what happened against Ohio when they did not have a running game. Like everyone else, I will be watching Beanie Wells the first few times he gets the ball and going from there.

Jordan (Kansas)

How come the KU vs. USF game isn't getting any hype?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:19 PM)

I dont know. It has my attention. It is a huge game at South Florida. I was there last year on a Friday when they filled up Raymoind James and really took it to WVU. This is not a conference game, but I do think the Bulls and their fans see it is an opportunity to show the nation what they are all about. Tim Griffin pointed out KU has had trouble running the ball and I am not sure USF is where you go to fix that.

ray GORDON REID JACKSONVILLE FLA 32217

QUESTION TO IVAN maisel AT 2.15 P.m HI IVAN CAN UCLA BEAT BYU SATURDAY

Ivan Maisel

  (2:21 PM)

Two weeks ago I would have said no way. But after UCLA beat Tennessee I would have said maybe. And after BYU struggled in Seattle, I think absolutely there is a way. But how do you measure UCLA after that game? They got outplayed for three quarters, hung in there and then unvelied a completely new package of plays in the fourth and beat the Vols. It would not susprise me if UCLA won, but I am mat a loss at how to predict this game.

Josh (Wernersville, PA)

Does Penn State have a chance to finally beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:23 PM)

Not this week Josh. I think Penn State is a lot better than I expected them to be. They have surprised me. But I do not know how to gage Ohio State at this point. Saturday night will give us a much clearer picture of who the Buckeyes are and we will go from there.

Juergen (Rohr, Germany)

Are you impressed with California so far this 2008 season?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:25 PM)

Yes I am. I am really impressed with California. I was skeptical that this would not be a rebuilding year and it turns out that Cal is as explosive as their proponents said they would be. Lets give credit to the Bears for that big win the tree sitters this week. But as a Stanford alumn, I should point out that last year they could not beat a tree.

Andy (NYC)

Ivan, what are your thoughts on the progression of the Michigan offense so far this year?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:26 PM)

My thoughts have not changed based on the first two weeks. They have been confirmed. It will be a slow and methodical transition to this offense. Just as it was when Rich Rodriguez installed in at WVU, at Clemson and at Tulane.

Clay (Oakland, CA)

Is it too early to put Josh Freeman in the top 3-4 in the stable of Big 12 QBs?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:28 PM)

I think you could justify it, based on two games, putting him in fourth that is. I am not sure I would have him there or Colt McCoy. But Freem, is starting to look like the QB people projected him to be coming out of high school, which is pretty excting.

Joe (Dallas, TX)

Ivan, what do you think Colt McCoy has to do to play his way into the Heisman race?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:30 PM)

I'd say he has started off more like the McCoy of '06 than '07 which is a big plus. The entire nation will be watching against Sam Bradford on Oct. 11th. So you will have the stage, and people's attention. We will see what happens there. And he will have the stage again the follwing week against Mizzou.

Kevin (Fayetteville, NC)

How do you like the ECU Pirates? BCS buster in the making?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:32 PM)

Sure. I think what really helps ECU is that if Virginia Tech and WVU win their leagues, which is still very possible, and ECU standing there hoping for a BCS bid, they are going to be looking pretty good. They need to be big WVU and Virginia Tech fans now.

Raphael (Seattle, WA)

Can OSU's Pryor step up to the plate if called upon @ the USC game?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:35 PM)

Well Raphael, I am sure that Tressel has a package of plays for Pryor. The question is finding the right time to put him in. I assume that going into the Ohio game that the coaches intended to put him in before the fourth quarter mop-up time but the game did not flow that way. I would say if you see Pryor earlier than the end of the game then it is a good sign for Ohio State. Now that I think about it, if you see him in mop up time, that would be a good sign too because they would probably be ahead.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Ivan, who are your top 5 Heisman players right now (no particular order)?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:37 PM)

I would say, in no order: Tebow, Moreno, Chase Daniel, Mark Sanchez, and Sam Bradford.

Trey (El Dorado, Arkansas)

Any thoughts on the Ark-Tex game this weekend?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:37 PM)

I am sure there is a way Arkansas will keep it close but I do not know what it is. I am just basing that on what has happened in the first two weeks of the season.

Clay (Birmingham, AL.)

Although Alabama's defense looked great against Tulane, their offense was lack luster at best. This could be blamed on two starting linemen being injured and others having to rotate position to replace them. Do you see Alabama's slack offense this past weekend becoming a trend this season?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:41 PM)

You have to think that is Andre Smith were healthy and had played then the Alabama offense would have been much more like what we saw in Atlanta. He is not healthy and the offense struggled. It is reminiscent of what happened to the offense last year after Coldwell was suspended. It took the heart out of the O-line and the offense was never the same. I assume that Alabama will correct the problems which it did not really do last year. I am still believe in the Tide, but I can understand why that game would unsettle anyone.

Brian (NY)

How do you see the Mich-ND game playing out?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:43 PM)

I don't know. The Michigan defense has been spectacular for three out of four halves. I think Michigan is better, but given the home crowd and the fourth quarter boost, that Notre Dame got from its comeback, I can easily see Notre Dame winning. In the end I will stick with the Michigan D, but nothing would surprise me.

Benny, East Lansing

How do you believe MSU will finish this season. I believe that they will 6-1 and fish 9-3 at worst. They will also beat Michigan. Any thoughts?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:46 PM)

I came into the season thinking MSU could easily emerge as a dark horse. I was a little put off by the loss to Cal, but after seeing Cal dominate Washington State I thought maybe I was right about MSU after all. I think a 9-3 record is absolutely attainable. And I would expect MSU to go into the Michigan game as the favorite.

Matt (Oxford, MS)

Ivan, Who are your SEC sleepers and how do you feel about Jevan Snead and Ole Miss making any noise?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:49 PM)

I think Ole Miss in the West and Kentucky in the East are my sleepers. Ole Miss for two reasons 1) Snead, as you pointed out and 2) I keep thinking of the way Arkansas started off 8-0 in Houston Nutt's first season in 1998. And any team that plays defense as well as Kentucky is going to finish on the plus side of the standings. They are going to beat someone in the SEC that will surprise some people, and maybe do it more than once.

Bobby (FL):

What do you think of Randy Shannon's comments about Urban Meyer?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:52 PM)

Anytime a coach calls out another coach, even as cryptically as Shannon called out Meyer, I am surprised. I am sure from his sideline what he saw he did not like. At the time I did noit really think that what the Gators were doing was a facial. But it sure has been taken that way and as what it does is pick up the intensity in the south Florida recruiting wars, which will be fun to watch.

Shaun (Clovis, CA)

What do you think the outcome of the Fresno State VS. Wisconsin game will be ?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:55 PM)

I have not made up my mind yet and do not have to until I make out my ESPN Pick 'Em pool sheet, in my extended family league. I am fighting for first place with my niece, who is evidently ignoring her 8-month old in order to watch film of last week's games.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:56 PM)

Thanks for the chat. Be sure to tune into all thing SC-OSU because all of us will be on TV, Radio and Internet on Saturday.