(3:01 PM)

Greetings from Scottsdale, where our weather is way better than yours! Fire away.

Ted Miller

  (3:01 PM)

perhaps I should have clicked my identity

Sweatervested1 (Mobile, Al)

Ted, why did you stop covering Auburn? Who do you see playing in the National Championship game? Do you think they will share Ohio St. with us all again?

Ted Miller

  (3:04 PM)

Did we cross paths back in my Mobile days... are you responsible for burning down Judge Roy Beans! You certainly inspire love on the Pac-10 blog... I moved to Seattle to cover Washington... which means I covered the Rise and Fall of Terry Bowden and the Rise and Fall of Rick Neuheisel... maybe I should come down and cover Coach Saban? National championship? Penn State vs. USC. Or Texas vs. Florida. Or maybe the first is the Rose Bowl and the second is the BCS game and we split the title again.

Will (Alexandria, VA)

What do you think the odds are that Washington goes after Jim L Mora?

Ted Miller

  (3:05 PM)

Remote... he's the Seahawks guy... but I've learned nothing is ever off the table until the contract is signed.

Brandon (UT)

Who ya got tonight and why? BYU or TCU?

Ted Miller

  (3:05 PM)

BYU... love 'em...

Jimmy (Santa Monica, CA)

Why has the UW defense been habitually terrible the last few seasons? The Huskies used to be known for their defense. While their offense isn't great, their defense is just flat out bad. What's the reason?

Ted Miller

  (3:08 PM)

A lack of talent and coaching that didn't connect with the available talent... the area that sticks out is the lack of marquee d-linemen.... who's the last dominant UW d-lineman... Larry Tripplett... Tank Johnson? I like Te'o-Nesheim but he's an effort guy.

Josh (Georgia)

I know this will anger USC fans, but, why is USC still ranked so high after a loss to an unranked team? I know they're good, but they were dominated in the first half, in a similar fashion as UGA against Bama. The difference is Alabama was #8.

Ted Miller

  (3:12 PM)

First -- and I'm serious -- most folks believe USC is really good, whatever happened vs. Oregon State. Second, it was a road game. Always an issue. But, again, UGA fans need not worry... just win and your Dawgs are in... promise. The Ohio State win was incredibly impressive. So was the win over Oregon. UGA's first half vs. Alabama is hard to forget. Oregon State is a quality program that has won 19 games over the previous two seasons and won four consecutive bowl games. So if Florida is forgiven a loss at home to a bad Ole Miss team, then USC can be forgiven a loss on the road to a solid Oregon State team.

Gordon (Alabama)

Ted, I'm an Auburn fan. Can you say or tell me anything that will stifle all my frustration, negativity, cynicism and mental anguish?

Ted Miller

  (3:12 PM)

Does the number six mean anything to you?

Justin (Los Angeles, CA)

Will this season once again demonstrate the need for a playoff system?

Ted Miller

  (3:14 PM)

What season hasn't? Of course, as a college football writer the BCS system keeps me busy. And if we did have a playoff, know that the excitement of the regular season, which is why I love the game, would diminish significantly.

Jeff (THE OC)

The Mountain West has received a lot of pub this year. Is it warranted? I mean can BYU, TCU, Utah play with the PAC10?

Ted Miller

  (3:17 PM)

I think those four would fall into the muddled middle of the Pac-10, finishing as high as second or third some years and falling to fifth, sixth or seventh other years. Good programs that would be consistently competitive, but I'd still rate them on an annual basis as behind USC and probably California, Oregon and Arizona State (and yes I remember BYU whipping the Ducks in the Holiday Bowl)

Perry (NY)

There's a lot of talk about Penn State being the most likely of the top 3 teams to make it through the season undefeated and still not making the national championship game. Do you think a 1-loss Texas and/or Oklahoma and a 1-loss SEC champ would skip over an undefeated Penn State to go to Miami?

Ted Miller

  (3:22 PM)

I don't know all the math... but keep in mind that you'd need a one-loss Texas AND a one-loss SEC champ to knock out Penn State in your scenario AND... we don't know if that will happen -- too much remaining math -- though the Nittany Lions probably should root for some Big Ten teams to climb in the rankings... But two one-loss teams in the title game over an undefeated team from another BCS conference... that would inspire a lot of hand wringing.

John (Los Angeles, CA)

Ted - What team would be favored over USC on a neutral field in the BCS natl champ game? None is my guess.

Ted Miller

  (3:22 PM)

The Patriots... with Tom Brady. Or maybe my new and improved Atlanta Falcons.

Steve (CA)

Ted, you the man, looking ahead, Cal and OSU looks pivotal. Do you think Jacquizz can gash them they way he did SC?

Ted Miller

  (3:25 PM)

Not like vs. USC, because he's now a known quantity... and Cal's good against the run with its new 3-4 look that features four very good LBs. Big game, though, and Corvallis can be kind of dicey in mid-November

Beaver Bobe (Corvallis OR)

How come OSU always embarasses the Pac-10 OOC early in the year and then ends up winning 10 games?

Ted Miller

  (3:27 PM)

If I could answer that, Mike Riley would hire me... My guess is that the Beavers -- and I hate saying this -- might want to consider no longer scheduling rugged nonconference road games... it just seems like the Beavers schemes need some sort of preseason before the sink in.

Rob (Baltimore)

Ted, really with the whole "USC is as good as 15 NFL teams" angle? Really? They were unimpressive beating Arizona St., and lost to a an Oregon St. team that previously got blown out in State College. Can we please stop basing things on talent alone and realize that much, much more goes into making a football team great?

Ted Miller

  (3:31 PM)

Rob... I completely agree... And I kick USC when it flops against inferior foes... But I -- and many Pac10 fans who don't particularly like USC -- get tired of the unreality of what we here from man so-called pundits and fans about USC being "overrated." Absurd. USC would dominate any conference it played in. It would dominate the SEC. It would dominated the Big 12. USC is the best program in college football. Period. And, trust me, the rest of the Pac-10 would love to, say, trade USC for maybe Georgia or LSU or Oklahoma or Texas for a few years and see what happens.

Pete Carol

Rumor has it that I have been in discussion with Tennesee the last two weeks. I think I'm ready to head to the SEC for some real football. Is this true?

Ted Miller

  (3:34 PM)

Wow.. would that be a college football thunderclap or what... My instinct: No way. Carroll perhaps leaves USC for the NFL one day, but I'd be shocked if he left USC for another college program...

Donnell (Trojan LAnd Ca)

Hey Ted, Why is OU ahead of USC in the AP poll when their only good win came from #25 TCU team. when USC has two top 25 teams under their belt.

Ted Miller

  (3:36 PM)

I didn't vote it that way but I don't have a huge problem with it for two reasons; 1) OU looks like a really good team to me; 2) And the Sooners deserve a gift for giving the college football nation one of the best regular season games I've seen in years. Thing of beauty.

Steve (SLC)

bummer Ted....I use to be a big fan of yours. This chat has kind of turned me off.

Ted Miller

  (3:36 PM)

sorry... if I send you a pizza can I win you back?

Chris (Chicago)

Did someone just say that Oregon State always wins 10 games? One time in the BCS era allows you to say always?

Ted Miller

  (3:38 PM)

11 in 2000... 10 in 2006.

Kevin (Tempe, AZ)

Ted, just moved down here from Seattle. We think alike, now hopefully we think alike on the answer to this question ... Do you think Notre Dame has a legitimate shot at making a run at the NC game next year? Keep in mind, they are returning most starters, have a weaker schedule, and get USC at home

Ted Miller

  (3:40 PM)

It's not an indefensible position but I wouldn't take it to Vegas... but it's clear the Irish are trending up. USC -- sorry everybody -- is going to be pretty good next year, with the entire offense coming back. I miss the Seattle seafood... need some oysters and salmon... now

Paul (Charlottesville, VA)

Send me a pizza and I'll forgive you for passing over my two questions related to BYU/MWC (whether the media focuses too much on BYU's offense and whether BYU/TCU/Utah would fare better than middle of the PAC-10 pack with improved BCS recruiting)... :-)

Ted Miller

  (3:43 PM)

1) BYU's defense is solid, but when they played at Washington, the secondary seemed to lack elite athleticism. 2) The recruiting would improve, but I think those teams would fall into the scramble behind USC... some years winning 8, 9 or 10 games and some years winning 5, 6 or 7. They'd compete at a high level but they'd fall into the mad scramble...

Will Muschamp (Austin, Tx)

How much longer will I be in town?

Ted Miller

  (3:45 PM)

Not long... you're going somewhere... wonder if you'll hurt Texas' national title hopes by being the servant of two masters ...see, Florida State, Mark Richt.

Nestor (Washington DC)

Ted, what do I need to do in order for you to answer my question? Did Neuheisel, Chow, Walker live up to expectations? 59-0 was BRUUUUTAL!

Ted Miller

  (3:47 PM)

yes it was... it's a little early to judge... I watched the Bruins practice during the preseason and it was clear they lacked talent... They looked like the eighth-place team in the Pac-10 in the preseason and that's probably where they will finish.

Alex (Houston, TX)

Ted, as an Eastern Washington native I'm curious about WSU. Do you think Mr. Wulff is the right guy for the job?

Ted Miller

  (3:51 PM)

Again, too early to tell...Even if WSU didn't have a bunch of injuries, they were the least talented team in the Pac-10 entering the season.... things have been worse than projected because injuries have been ridiculous... My initial impression of Wulff was positive. He's recruiting well. He deserves a few years to rebuild the program the way he wants ti.

Brian (Dallas)

Florida is faster than SC and would beat them. Taylor Mays would need quite the angle to catch Harvin, Demps, and Rainey...

Ted Miller

  (3:52 PM)

Ah... this is good... I'd take Mays in a sprint vs. those guys... though I'd take Cal's Jahvid Best over all of them... I will say Florida looked pretty darn fast vs. LSU... but you might want to check out Mays' numbers...

Steve (SLC)

I don't want a pizza Ted....I just want you to explain to me how the regular season would diminish with a playoff. I've never bought into that argument.

Ted Miller

  (3:56 PM)

Every game counts without a playoff... that's why the Ole Miss-Florida, USC-Oregon State upsets and the Texas-Oklahoma game take on such national meaning... Imagine a 10-1 Alabama team headed to a 6-5 Auburn team with a QB slowed by a sprained ankle. If the Tide knew it would be in a playoff, the smart money is on resting the QB for the playoffs. that would never happen in the present format. Maybe that's a bad example... Alabama fans probably would rather finally beat Auburn than win a playoff.

Common Sense (apparenlty, nowhere)

PROOF THAT MID-SEASON POLLS ACTUALLY MATTER: 1). Auburn goes 13-0 and ends up #2 by default 2). Alabama goes 6-0 and is #2 before the halfway point Auburn gets left out of the BCS conversation b/c they didn't start the season high enough in the polls. USC and Oklahoma get in b/c they were ranked higher than AU in the PRESEASON(before the season even started!!!). If the media had their choice, they'd pick the "old-timers" (USC, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio State) over teams who actually may be better than them to play for the championship every year. TOO MUCH EMPHASIS IS GIVEN TO "WHO HAS THE MOST TALENT" INSTEAD OF "WHO HAS THE BEST TEAM". This BCS is garbage. The Media still affects the outcome too much!!!

Ted Miller

  (4:00 PM)

Wrong wrong wrong.... Auburn played a terrible nonconference schedule that year. They were ignored because they DESERVED to be ignored. And that wasn't a great year for the SEC, in any event. Alabama took on No. 9 Clemson and beat them senseless -- just an brutal performance. If Auburn had, say, scheduled USC and Georgia Tech like it did in 2003, it would have played for the national title in 2004. Of course, the Tigers would have to win those tough nonconference games, which they didn't in 2003. Hmmm... wonder if that means something?

Nick (FL)

Ted - are you aware that Florida's Jeff Demps is the FASTEST AMERICAN TEENAGER EVER? He ran a 10.01 second 100 meter at an Olympic qualifier. I highly doubt Mays could keep up.

Ted Miller

  (4:02 PM)

i was not... and if he is indeed the FASTEST AMERICAN TEENAGER EVER.. then I stand corrected... I do know that mays ran a 4.25 40.

Ted Miller

  (4:03 PM)

folks... my time is at an end... good questions! see you next week...