ESPN

Pat Forde

  (2:13 PM)

Yo! Sorry for the delay. Too much drama out there -- Tony Franklin talking, Lute Olson reportedly retiring -- but back to the task at hand. Fire away!

Brian (Morgantown)

Pat, who do you got in tonight's Auburn-WVU tilt?

Pat Forde

  (2:14 PM)

Brian: I have the Morgantowners by a sliver. Home field has been a good thing on weeknights -- CU over WVU, TCU big over BYU, Louisville over Kansas State, USF over KU -- so I'll ride that trend.

Brian (Baltimore, MD)

It seems like the defensive strategy against Terelle Pryor is to just stack 8 men in the box and make him beat you with his arm. Agree/Disagree?

Pat Forde

  (2:16 PM)

Brian: I'd say that's largely correct, based on what I've seen. The thing is, you have to account for him out of any passing look as well since he's a very dangerous scrambler. So even passing downs can turn into running downs, and if you don't rush him with discipline he's going to break containment and make something big happen. But Penn State is normally a super-solid defense when it comes to things like that.

Andrew (Baton Rouge,LA)

After talking to Tony Franklin, whats your take on if Tuberville can keep his job.

Pat Forde

  (2:18 PM)

Andrew: It was a really interesting interview -- I've known Franklin a long time. He told me a lot, but I also think he was careful to keep it civil because he's still got to make a living and feed his family. We honestly didn't talk about Tubs' job security, but I've been told by other people that the heat is legitimate. I think that's pretty crazy, but apparently the case. I'd say it would be impossible to fire him if he beats Bama for a seventh straight season.

Tim: (Tucson, AZ):

Pat - What does Arizona have to do to upset USC this weekend?

Pat Forde

  (2:20 PM)

Tim: It has to run the football with some effectiveness to keep the USC pass rush off Tuitama. I cannot imagine the USC D line playing as horribly as it did against Oregon State ever again, so it won't be easy to run the ball between the tackles. But I'd say that's the first thing that has to happen for Zona to have a shot.

Jacob (New Mexico)

What are your thoughts on the Mountain West this year? Do you think they are really stronger than other BCS conferences? Who do you see winning the conference title?

Pat Forde

  (2:22 PM)

Jacob: The Mountain West is legit, I believe. Utah and TCU are very good. BYU is good, but was overrated -- as we saw last week. Air Force is solid. New Mexico ain't bad, at least on a given Saturday. I'd say the MWC is at least on a par with the Big East right now. As for who wins the league: that's what TCU at Utah will be all about Nov. 6, with Utah-BYU Nov. 22 as the potential deal breaker. I'll take the Utes right now.

Greg (Champaign, IL)

What do you think of Lute Olson retiring?

Pat Forde

  (2:23 PM)

Greg: If it's legit, I'd say it's the passing of a giant in the game. I'd also say he should have done it years ago. Hanging around too long and holding the program hostage into the start of the season two years in a row is no way to go out.

phil (baton rouge)

pat, what game will you be at this weekend

Pat Forde

  (2:24 PM)

Phil: I will be at OK State-Texas. Love me some Austin, so this will be a fun trip.

Sonja (Mullen, NE)

Hey Dash, the Huskers took TX Tech to OT then convincingly won against Iowa St on the road. Does Pelini have the ship headed in the right direction?

Pat Forde

  (2:26 PM)

Sonja: Those were two good performances in a row. But the final four games will tell the tale -- Nebraska needs at least a split of those four to sell me on this season as a success.

Dana (Norman)

Penn State fan stuck in Big 12 country. Who do you have in The Game this weekend?

Pat Forde

  (2:27 PM)

Dana: I like the Nits by a little bit. Balanced offense will be able to score just enough to win a slugfest. I am preparing for a lot of punts and a long field-position battle.

Adam (Montegut, LA)

Mr. Forde, what do you think will be the outcome of the LSU/UGA game this weekend? Thanks!

Pat Forde

  (2:28 PM)

Adam: Call me stubborn, but I'm going to stick by my belief that Georgia will eventually start playing like the team I thought it would be. So I'll take the Bulldogs -- if that young and patchwork OL can handle the LSU DL without getting Stafford killed.

chris (gainesville, FL)

who do you think will end up playing in the SEC championship? do you think the winner of the SEC championship will play for the national championship over one loss USC?

Pat Forde

  (2:31 PM)

Chris: A one-loss SEC team would and probably should get the nod over USC. As for who that would be: I'll say Bama over Georgia. For now. We'll know a lot more by midnight Nov. 1.

Brady (Bowling Green, OH)

"I like the Nits by a little bit. Balanced offense will be able to score just enough to win a slugfest. I am preparing for a lot of punts and a long field-position battle." I guess we as a state can keep hating you then.

Pat Forde

  (2:31 PM)

Brady: Go for it.

Dave (Austin)

Oklahoma State has played Texas extremely tough the last few years but somehow collapsed... does Texas avoid an early deficit this year?

Pat Forde

  (2:33 PM)

Dave: Texas is facing a mentally taxing task, trying to get up for a third straight huge game. (With a fourth on deck next week.) One of these days you expect them to come out sluggish -- but playing at home should help offset any potential letdown. We'll see.

Trey (Atlanta)

Pat, you are both handsome and wise.Do you think Texas can play up for a third week in a row? If so, can anyone stop them the rest of the way?

Pat Forde

  (2:34 PM)

Trey: Quit sucking up. Ah, go ahead. Suck up.

Justin (Ohio)

Who ya got in the Breeders Cup this weekend?

Pat Forde

  (2:34 PM)

Curlin in the Classic, despite the surface. Zenyatta is the single if you're playing a Pick Six on Filly Friday.

Darryl (Oakland, CA):

Pat,Is Alabama in trouble this weekend? There are so many things going for the Vols this weekend: Fulmer is amped to get a big win, Alabama hasn't played that good as of late, the Vol players are not that bad, home field adv for Tenn, everybody and their mom think that Alabama will cruise....Don't you sense the upset? Is it not in the air?

Pat Forde

  (2:36 PM)

Darryl: I agree, there are a lot of reasons to think this sets up as a trap for the Tide. Fulmer has a history of pulling out a big win when the wolves start howling, and this is a HUGE rivalry for those who live it. But I've seen the Vols and just don't think they're that good. I'll take the Tide.

Nick (FL)

Are you really picking Georgia to win the SEC East? Florida owns Georgia (except when Florida is starting an all freshman/sophomore defense). Are you letting a 1 year abberation cloud your judgment?

Pat Forde

  (2:37 PM)

Nick: I'd say last year's result is more relevent than anything that happened when Steve Spurrier was coaching against Ray Goff. So, yeah, I'm picking Georgia.

Paul (Michigan)

Pat, how much heat is RichRod under right now?

Pat Forde

  (2:38 PM)

Paul: None. He needs to understand that, relax, and just coach.

Mike (Atlanta)

Va Tech at FSU...who do you think comes out on top? Are you drinking the kool-aid that everyone else is in regards to FSU finally starting to turn the corner? I am as diehard a fan as they come, but until they show they can win a big game I will remain skeptical.

Pat Forde

  (2:40 PM)

Mike: This is a very hard game to predict. I started out thinking New FSU was going to come through this year -- then came the three-point effort at home vs. Wake. I started to believe in Va Tech -- then came the loss at BC. So I don't trust either of them. Which means I should just take the home team, which is FSU.

thomas (los angeles)

i've noticed that gameday, college football final, etc. use the ap poll when discussing teams' rankings. do you know why this is? is it a type of protest against the stupid bcs system? or will there be a change now that the bcs rankings are out?

Pat Forde

  (2:41 PM)

Thomas: Astute question. There will be a change now that the BCS Standings are out. They will be our poll of record the rest of the way.

Michael (Notre Dame, IN)

Alright... so if we kill a sorry washington team this week are we ranked? (that would make us 5-2)

Pat Forde

  (2:42 PM)

Michael: No. You need to beat a good team, not a succession of sorry teams, to be ranked.

Dave (Austin)

True or false: a weak Michigan team this year is prohibitive for a Big 10 team (OSU, PSU) to make the big game?

Pat Forde

  (2:43 PM)

Dave: Michigan being bad -- no, awful -- really hurts the Big Ten. There just is no bang to be gained (especially from the computers) by beating Michigan, which is never the case. The Big Ten really needs a third quality team, and right now it's hard to see one.

Blake (Abilene, TX)

Is reasonable to put Mack Brown on the Coach of the year list?

Pat Forde

  (2:46 PM)

Blake: Absolutely. I thought Texas was in danger of slipping down to roughly 8-4 or 9-3 before the season. I'd say Mack, Saban, Gundy, JoeGrandPa, Kyle Whittingham and Brady Hoke are all on my COY radar right now.

Shane (scranton,pa)

Pat, couldn't Illinois be the Big Ten's 3rd quality team? A fluke loss to Minnesota and then losses to PSU and Mizzou. I still think they are the 3rd best team in the Big Ten hands down.

Pat Forde

  (2:48 PM)

Shane: You cannot write the Minnesota game off as a "fluke loss." Illinois never led. At home. Minnesota belongs ahead of Illinois right now in the Big Ten pecking order.

Brandon (Boise, ID)

Pat, what are you feelings about a playoff system? Would it take away from the regular season?

Pat Forde

  (2:48 PM)

Brandon: I'm wholeheartedly in favor of a playoff. Eight teams. The regular season will be fine. End the charade.

Josh (Knoxville, TN)

Please stop saying FBS and Football Bowl Subdivision. I don't care about any NCAA directives; it just sounds stupid. I mean, it's not like they're going to fire you for saying I-A. Please pass this along to Schlabach, Maisel, et al. Thank you.

Pat Forde

  (2:49 PM)

Josh: They might fire us. ESPN policy is FBS and FCS as of this year. Live with it. We have to.

Luis (Dallas, Tx)

Pat, love your stuff...tell me: If Texas Tech wins the next 2 games (OSU and Texas) how would you vote? Would they be #1?

Pat Forde

  (2:50 PM)

Luis: Good question. If it comes to that, I'd have to seriously consider putting them #1. Until then, though, not in the Top Ten. No quality wins. Beat Kansas first and then we'll talk.

KG(the berkshires)

who ya go tonight..id guess ud take auburn by a touchdown in a low scoring game and air force by a touchdown in a high scoring game, correct?

Pat Forde

  (2:51 PM)

kG: WVU by a field goal in a low-scoring game and, yeah, AFA by a TD in a 38-31 kind of game.

Jalter (College Park)

Would the Dash ever drink Natty Light?

Pat Forde

  (2:52 PM)

Hell no.

Jeff (Lafayette, La)

Pat, be a man, answer a Sun Belt question. Who you got winning the conference, the Cajuns or Troy? Fenroy is a beast!

Pat Forde

  (2:53 PM)

Jeff: Back when I was free-lancing for ESPN.com about eight years ago, I was in charge of writing the weekly notes on the Sun Belt -- so I have some leftover fondness for the mighty Belt. Anyway, give me Troy, because they play UL-L at home.

John (El Dorado Hills, CA)

Pat, what is your take on the direction of Mike Stoops' program at Arizona. Is Stoops on the right track or is he destined for coaching mediocrity?

Pat Forde

  (2:56 PM)

John: This year has been a needed step forward -- but man, losing to New Mexico and Stanford show how easy it is to slip back. I don't foresee Arizona overtaking USC anytime soon in terms of annual prestige, but this program is a lot better off than when John Mackovic was running it into the ground.

Mike(Boise)

Pat, do you think a Boise State win puts the Broncos past Utah this week while the Utes have a bye?

Pat Forde

  (2:58 PM)

Mike: It could, but I'm not a computer expert. Beating San Jose State on the road probably won't register with the voters as much as it should, though. It would be a good win.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Pat, how do you chose the Dashette's?

Pat Forde

  (3:00 PM)

Will: It's a top-secret procedure. We'd need to do a full background check on you and your relatives, dating back five generations, before cutting you in on that information. And a microchip would be inserted in your brain. Would you mind?

Jade (Dallas)

Dasher- How hard are the Big Ten higher-ups praying for a Penn St win this weekend? Should they be on suicide watch if Ohio St wins?

Pat Forde

  (3:00 PM)

Jade: Hard. And yes. I don't see a one-loss Big Ten team getting into the BCS championship game as long as there are one-loss teams from the SEC and Big 12.

steve (SoCal)

Pat...Why NO LOVE for USC in pac -10....Do you really think there is a single team that could beat SC in the BS/BCS title game??

Pat Forde

  (3:01 PM)

Steve: Uh, yeah, I do. If Oregon State can beat USC, so can several other teams.

Pat Forde

  (3:02 PM)

OK folks, I gotta fly. Sorry for the late entry. Enjoy the games this week. Hope your favorite team wins.