Steve Muench

  (2:00 PM)

I don't know about everyone else but last night's game stunned me. And USC losing makes the Alabama Georgia game that much more important. Obvioulsy there is a lot to talk about so let's get to it.

Brett (Atlanta)

Steve, after last night are plans on hold for ESPN's proposed 2008 USC team against the all-time greatest college football teams.

Steve Muench

  (2:01 PM)

Yikes. Haymaker right out of the gate. Yeah I think those plans are on hold for now.

TJ (Lakeland, FL)

Ohio States get ripped in the media and throughout the country for losing the big games, but shouldn't USC get the same kind of treatment for losing to teams they should beat by 50 pts? Ohio State beats the teams they're supposed too.

Steve Muench

  (2:03 PM)

Ohio State ususally beats the teams they are supposed to do but they have struggled mightily in the last two BCS games. It's their inability to win the big games that draws so much attention. And just so you know I think that the USC prestige took a big hit last night.

Ryan (Pittsburgh)

Does this huge upset have any effect on the position of Penn State, since they totally dominated Oregon State a few weeks ago?

Steve Muench

  (2:04 PM)

You have to take it into account.

Michael Green Bay, Wisconsin

Do you think BAMA will be able to contain Moreno enough to force Stafford to make plays for Georgia to win and in the end will the "blackout" really matter? ROLL TIDE!!!

Steve Muench

  (2:06 PM)

First off all I think the blackout will play a role in this game. A young Alabama team is going to have to deal with a very hostile environment and it will be interesting to see how that plays out. However, I do think that the Tide will slow Moreno down. Terrance Cody is impossible to move in the middle and I think he's going to have his way with Georgia's interior offensive line.

Ryon (Kenosha, WI)

The Wisconsin Badgers are ranked #9 in the country with little respect. Why is that?

Steve Muench

  (2:09 PM)

They just squeeked by a toough Fresno State team and haven't played anyone else of note. And the truth is they aren't a flashy offense that's going to dominate the highlight reel at the end of the day. So there's not a lot of buzz with Wisconsin. That said, the Badgers are ranked 9 for a reason.

Brett (Atlanta)

I just can't wrap myself around that game last night. Obviously USC losing was, in itself, hard to fathom. But Oregon State really looked like the better team. At the end of the game I didn't feel like I do so many times when a top-ranked team loses, that is it was a fluky situation. I really felt like the better team won. That's even more shocking to me.

Steve Muench

  (2:10 PM)

Couldn't agree with you more. IF you had toled me that Oregon state won 6-3 and shut down the Trojan offense I would have bought it. But the Beavers ran all over USC. They were clearly the better team last night.

Tony (Chicago)

What are your thoughts on the Spartans entering Big Ten play? Do you see them contending for a New Years Day bowl?

Steve Muench

  (2:14 PM)

I love the way RB Javon Ringer is ushing blockers. Defenses may know he's coming but he forces them to fight though blockers to get to him. So he generally picks up postive yards abnd occassionally pops a long one. That said. I want see a little more out of Hoyer and the passing game in the three games leading up to the Ohio State game. The Spartans will have to show better balance to beat the Buckeyes, Penn State and Wisconsin.

ray gordon REID panama city florida 32041

QUESTION TO STEVE MUENCH AT 2.15 PM HI STEVE SOUTH FLORIDA AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE TOMORROW

Steve Muench

  (2:15 PM)

I like SOuth Florida.

Chad (Savannah, GA)

LSU is the only top 10 team that has faced a real test. Shouldn't they be #1 until/if UGA beats Bama?

Steve Muench

  (2:18 PM)

You could make that argument but I think LSU's questions at quarterback are reason enough to rank Georgia higher. And if Georgia loses this weekend, then I think that LSU could leapfrog Florida and move into the 2 spot behind Oklahoma.

BRUCE (the dirty aka Jacksonville, FL)

Hey, I just watched Corso on SC say that USC is still in the national title chase (with a loss to an unranked opponent and a weak schedule to not really prove how good they are) while he believes if GA looses one game (against a top 10 oponent, with the toughest schedule in the nation) they will be out of the title. Why do the analysts fall in love with USC then ignore the obvious... while they have great players... given Ohio State barely won its other two games and isn't that good... USC hasn't proved itself to be a top 10 team and won't have a chance to for the rest of the season.

Steve Muench

  (2:20 PM)

I love Corso but I'm not with him on this one. I mean it could happen but I think it's really really unlikley. A lot of great teams would have to lose one and in some cases two games for the Trojans to have a chance in my opinion.

joe (new orleans)

Steve, if LSU goes into the Swamp in a couple of weeks and beats the Gators, they will have TWO road wins over top 10 teams this season. That should put them at #1. Nobody else would have that on their resume to this point.

Steve Muench

  (2:21 PM)

I agree

Cole (Norman, OK)

Everyone was on the USC bandwagon before the upset last night, now everone is buzzing over Georgia. What will it take for Oklahoma to get the media coverage that the SEC teams do? OU has been establishing themselves as a major powerhouse thus far and putting up tons of points. We are number 2 in the Nation! Will Oklahoma or the Big 12 ever get the media respect that the SEC does?

Steve Muench

  (2:26 PM)

Really? Oklahoma is the No 2 team in the country and they get no respect? Missouri is 6, Texas is 7 and Texas tech is 10 and the Big 12 gets no respect? People were buzzing about USC becayse they were playing on Thursday night after whipping Ohio State in their last game. This weekend Alabama at Georgia is the marquis matchup so there is going to be a lot of buzz. Trust me when the Red RIver Shootout rolls around in October and if bpth teams are still undefeated there will be plenty of buzz about Oklahoma.

Thomas (Baton Rouge)

Steve, What did you think about what Pete Carroll said last night about the Pac-10 being so "ridiculously difficult" and yet they only have one team ranked in the top 25. How does that translate in the difficulty level of some other conferences, such as the SEC?

Steve Muench

  (2:29 PM)

I didn't see or hear the comment. I've also never coached in a BCS conference. But from where I sit, I think there are no easy games at that level. That said. the SEC and Big 12 are far tougher conferences. And there's no Pac 10 championship game.

Steve Muench

  (2:31 PM)

I mean Missouri lost just two games last year and both were to Oklahoma. That's tough in my opinion

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Mr. Muench: You can't please the SEC or Big 12 fans. They will always cry that their conference gets no respect without actually reading the polls or reading the papers. If you win your games against quality opponents, you get your respect.

Steve Muench

  (2:31 PM)

Exactly what I expect to hear from someone from the great state of Pennsylvania.

Cole (Norman, OK)

I know that right now in this moment the Georgia-Bama game is the most important game up, I'm watching it with a lot of interest as well. But I watch all the sport shows regularly and the SEC definitely gets more coverage, not talking about rankings. I would just like to see Oklahoma and the Big 12 get talked about in the big picture as much as the SEC, that doesn't happen. Until last night I feel that most of the talk was about how good USC was and which SEC team would make it to face them in the title. That is what I am bothered by, the Big 12 has so many teams in the mix as well but they do not get mentioned as much as those SEC teams.

Steve Muench

  (2:33 PM)

You know what Cole? I don't completely agree but you do have the right to vent.

Cosmo (Anytown, USA)

The "Orange Out" (whatever that means) was cute last night, but the "White Out" scene in Happy Valley will be quite impressive. Is there any way that Illinois gets out of there with a "W"?

Steve Muench

  (2:34 PM)

I really like Penn State in that one because they are so balanced on offense right now.

Chad (Savannah, GA)

Tell Cole (Norman, OK) that maybe if OU would have beaten Boise St or WVU when they were favored they might get some respect.

Steve Muench

  (2:37 PM)

Not fair. Two different teams. I'm guesing you don't like it when people talk about Georgia losing to South Carolina and Tennessee last year.

B (Wake Forest University)

While admittedly the ACC appears to be PAC10-ish in talent... if a school like WAKE runs the table, what chances do you think they have of making it to the national title?

Steve Muench

  (2:39 PM)

It's tough to say exactly but their chances aren't all that good. While some top ten teams are obviously goping to lose over the course of the next few weeks, I doubt that enough of them will lose to open the door for Wake to make a run.

Justin (Chicago)

black outs, white outs, organge outs, red outs, great. A gimmick, is a gimmick, is a gimmick. Showing comradery amongst your fans? great, but its no big deal at all like people make it out to be.

Steve Muench

  (2:41 PM)

Honestly I disgaree. It may be a little overrated but it's important to remember that these are college aged kids under those pads. Not seasoned NFL verterans. Playing in a hostile environment and looking up to see a sea of color screamiong down at them can be very difficult for them to handle.

Jason (Memphis)

Has anything this year been more impressive than the LSU OL's performance against a very good Auburn defense that was playing the run.

Steve Muench

  (2:43 PM)

Yes. Alabama dismantling Clemson in the season opener. Say what you want about the Tigers being overrated but the Tide made a statement in that game, which was Alabama has got some of its swagger back and is ready to compete in the SEC this year.

David Fairborn, OH

You just proved your dislike for the OSU buckeyes. I'm by no means a buckeye fan, but you just said it's not fair to judge Oklahoma based on their past two bowl experiences, and yet the whole nation judges Ohio State on their past two bowl experiences.

Steve Muench

  (2:48 PM)

Ahh semantics. The qestion about Ohio State was the overall state of the program not the team's ranking this year. So to be clear I said that their losses in those games have hurt their loft status in college football. I also said that USC's loss last night coupled with its loss thier in 2006 and the loss to UCLA is going to hurt them in a similar way. as far as Oklahoma goes, head caoch Bob Stoops has been criticized for not being able to win the big game in recent years and that;s fair. However, the 2008 Sooners have lost a game this year. So while you can be crtcial of Oklahoma losing their last two bolws you can't hold it against this year's team. If Ohio State had beaten USC then we would all have to say that the Buckeyes turned a corner this year but they didn't. I hope that makes my points clearer.

Steve Muench

  (2:48 PM)

The Sooners have not lost. Typo. Sorry

Chad (Savannah, GA)

Don't worry David (Fairborn, OH) Steve assumes I am a UGA fan because I live in Savannah. I am a LSU fan. And OU being 1-4 in its past 5 bowl games is a trend not an unfair statement.

Steve Muench

  (2:50 PM)

Again, I agree with being critical of Oklahoma's recent Bowl history but it cannot affect this year's rankings. There is too much turnover at the collegiate level to give that argument any weight in current rankings.

Cody (New Albany, IN)

Purdue @ N.D. Who do ya have?

Steve Muench

  (2:51 PM)

Purdue

Ken (Tarzana, CA)

Do you think if Georgia were to lose at Vanderbilt, the boys at ESPN would be saying that the Bulldogs laid an egg? Why is it a war every week in the SEC but Oregon State's win is a bad thing for the Pac Ten?

Steve Muench

  (2:52 PM)

Absolutly because Georgia should win that game. But if Georgia five of Georgia's next seven games come against ranked opponents. That's a grueling schedule.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

I'm going to be a good little PSU fan here and sit back and watch the Big 12 and SEC fans duke it out. One week at a time, one win at a time. Hopefully in the end the Lions are unbeaten and playing for the title. Let the Big 12 and SEC fans flap their gums while PSU is playing the last game of the college football season.

Steve Muench

  (2:53 PM)

I like it

John, DC

Not every team, like LSU, gets to play its national championship games in its back yard. Let's see them go on the road and get it done at the end of the year. They've had some luck there.

Steve Muench

  (2:54 PM)

I don't think enough people talk about this John. I get that's impossible to say what would have happened in those games at a more neutral site but it's hard enough to win the big game let alone on someone else's home turf.

Dorian (Union,NJ)

I don't see why people think that the ACC is a lock for Wake Forest. I mean if Miami plays to their potential I don't think that Wake could beat them and I think that the U won't lose again. Again I say, if they play to their potential

Steve Muench

  (2:57 PM)

Wake has a great defense, a gritty team leader at quarterback and one of the most reliable kickers in the nation. Could Miami beat the Demon Deacons? I do. I think Clemson could too. But those teams have more to prove at this point in the season.

joe (new orleans)

john in DC...LSU's 2 NC wins have nothing to do with "back yard". They didn't choose where the games were played. That was set years in advance. Everybody knows the rotation. Also don't forget that they beat UGA in the GEORGIA DOME in 2003 for the SEC title before whipping OU. Last I checked, the GEORGIA DOME is in UGA's back yard. Bogus excuse.

Steve Muench

  (3:00 PM)

Good point about the Georgia dome and I don't think you can blame LSU's staff ro players for effectively getting the home game. They had no say it but I don't think you can just dismiss the fact that they effectievly had homefield advantage in those games. Personally, I think if a team has worked hard enough to make it to the BCS game they should play at a neutral site. Planning, ads and everything else that goes into choosing the sites may make that impossible but in a perfect world...

Mike (Atlanta)

I love how during the SEC schedule home field is considered a huge deal. Yet in bowl games played down south against other conferences those same SEC fans say that it is overrated.

Steve Muench

  (3:02 PM)

Alright that's all for this week. As always I had a good time and I look forward to doing it again next week. Take care.