Steve Muench

  (2:02 PM)

I hope everyone is enjoying their Friday and looking forward to this weekend's games. Alright let's get is started with a West Virginia question.

Justin Charleston WV

Does WVU's win over Auburn put them back in the top 25?

Steve Muench

  (2:04 PM)

Well we don't know what and how many teams in the top 25 are going to lose this week. Obviously that's going to have an impact. But I don't think that last night's win is strong enough for them to leapfrog another team. Auburn just hasn't played as well as expected.

corey (north carolina)

I see that Scouts Inc has Bradford rated higher than Stafford. If the two were to come out early could it be a battle for the top QB spot reminiscent of Manning Leaf? The comparisons will be inevitable...Bradford has all the tools and amazing intangibles while Stafford possesses a huge arm with less development as a cerebral QB.

Steve Muench

  (2:06 PM)

I think one of these two could be the first quarterback taken but I wouldn't compare Stafford to Leaf, which I think you are doing here. I like Stafford's intangibles far too much to make that comparison.

mike ohio

steve who is youre team of the decade id go lsu followed by usc,osu okl and texas

Steve Muench

  (2:08 PM)

I like that order but I might swap Ohio State with Oklahoma.Tough to say because both have notable bowl losses and the Buckeyes have at least made it to the BCS game the past two years. I just think the Big 12 is a tougher conference than the Big Ten and has been for quite some time.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Steve, What is better Big 12 Offense or SEC Defense?

Steve Muench

  (2:08 PM)

Right now I would say Big 12 offense.

Mindy (Wilsonville, OR.)

Steve, why don't more people talk about Oregon's Nick Reed? He lead the Pac-10 in sacks and tackles for loss last year and he is doing the same this year.

Steve Muench

  (2:11 PM)

Reed is an excellent college football player but there are concerns about how his skill set will translate to the NFL. He's undersized and he's going to have a tougher time anchoring agaisnt the run at the NFL level. In addiiton, he probably isn't fast or athletic enough to move to outside linebacker. So I think he projects as strictly a situational pass rusher that I think will get drafted in the miuddle to later rounds.

Chris (Cambridge, MA)

That vaunted Auburn defense really slowed down WVU last night. Perhaps the SEC offenses are making the defenses appear better than they are...

Steve Muench

  (2:15 PM)

I have said that I think that the SEC is the best conference this year but it's a presidential elextion year so I get to flip flop right? In other words, Chris I think this is a great point. I mean traditional powerhouses like Tennessee and Auburn have strugged to move the ball in almost every game.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Mr. Muench: Can you see Evan Royster playing in the NFL or is he simply just a very solid college running back?

Steve Muench

  (2:17 PM)

I see Royster making it in the NFL barring an injury or some other kind of a setback. He's got good size, he reads his blocks fairly well and he runs hards.

john (cincinnati)

hey steve, all this hype for osu vs penn st. i think that penn st is over rated. they look like osu from last year...rolling thru a weak non-conference and soft big10 schedule. i think if penn st wins, it will get beaten easily by a team from a stronger conference like the big12 or sec. your thoughts??

Steve Muench

  (2:21 PM)

Let me say this first. It's going to be tough to win at Ohio State on Saturday night. The Buckeye offense is picking up steam and the defense is defending the run well. But I think Penn State can do it.; I think they have enough balance on offense and talent along the defensive line to get the win. As far as the Nittany Lion schedule goes, there are two games that stand out to me. Illinois and Wisconsin. Most thought those teams would test the LIons including myself and they rolled in both games. Now I don't think they are as strong as say Oklahoma or Texas at this point but a win at Ohio State woould do a lot to change that, which is why I can't wait for that game.

jason (nebraska)

do you think alabama is over rated i do

Steve Muench

  (2:23 PM)

Tough to call a team that rolled over a hyped Clemson team in the opener and Georgia at Georgia.

jason (nebraska)

who wins oklahoma or alabama

Steve Muench

  (2:24 PM)

oklahoma but Alabama certainly deserves to be in the conversation.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Mr. Muench: I really love all of the Big 12 and SEC elitists who think teams from other conferences play soft schedules. They don't play any defense in the Big 12 and the SEC looks a heck of a lot like the Big Ten from what I've seen. I love that Penn State is being underappreciated. That seems to be when Joe Pa and his teams usually prosper.

Steve Muench

  (2:28 PM)

Well, the truth is some conferences are stronger than others. That's life and there's no getting around it. In addition, I know I'm not underappreciating Penn State. I like them to beat Ohio State at Ohio State.

Nate (Madison)

I personally think USC and Penn St are the two best teams in the nation.

Steve Muench

  (2:28 PM)

They are up there but why no Oklahoma or Texas?

Luke (Wisconsin)

Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum quite possibly could have been a first round pick had he declared for the NFL Draft last season, but he's had a mediocre season. How much has Beckum's draft stock dropped this season?

Steve Muench

  (2:29 PM)

I think he's going to be fine. Scouts know that the quaterback situation has affected the numbers in a big way. I also think that Beckum is going to have the kinds of workouts you read about. So he's fine in my opinion.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

I'd also like to point out that in the not so recent past, PSU has fared pretty well in bowl games against teams from both the Big 12 and SEC. Oh, and there was that Florida-Michigan game last year as well. Any good team can beat any other good team on any given day. Something to keep in mind for the elitists.

Steve Muench

  (2:33 PM)

I'm not sure what the not so recent past has to do with the 2008 season. I think fans and pundits alike put a little too much stock in teams' histories. But yes any good team can beat any other good team.

Nate (Madison)

Oklahoma and Texas are up there, but I just like USC and Penn St's defenses better. Just my personal opinion. But with Texas beating Oklahoma, I'd have to say Texas is closer then the Sooners.

Steve Muench

  (2:33 PM)

Fair enough Nate

Jim (Cleveland)

two games that stand out to me. Illinois and Wisconsin. Most thought those teams would test the LIons including myself and they rolled in both games Come everyone has roled through these two teams?

Steve Muench

  (2:36 PM)

The wheels have certianly come off of Wisconsin's season but I still think it's tough to beat that team in their place. As far as Illinois goes, they have lost three times. They lost to Missouri at Missouri, Penn State at Penn State and at home against an underrated Minnesota team. So they are a little better than you seem to give them credit for.

Steve Muench

  (2:37 PM)

All of that aside, all I am saying is that these two games have been their toughest yet and they rolled.

Gosder (East Sussex, UK)

Steve, let's look at OSU's BCS wins vs. Oklahoma. I believe those stats are a little more relevant than their "conferences"

Steve Muench

  (2:40 PM)

hey if that's how you feel than that's hbow you feel. In my defense, I'll say that I think it's been easier to win games in the Big Ten than it has been in the SEC.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Steve, why is it that when USC loses a conference game, they get blasted by everyone. I know they should win those games, however conference opponents have the best chance of beating them, because they see each other every year. Shouldn't that be taken into account?

Steve Muench

  (2:44 PM)

Sure but we are talking about USC. The Trojans are expected to compete for the championship each year and the best way to do that is not to lose. So the expectations are diffrent for this team than they are for other teams. In addition, USC routed Ohio State two weeks before losing to a tough but weaker Oregon State team.

rk (MO)

Assuming that Texas can finish out their regular season unblemished, who would match up best against the 'horns to make it a tough BCS championship? From what I've seen of them this year there isn't much stopping that offense. If the D can continue to bend and not break, who stands a shot at beating them?

Steve Muench

  (2:46 PM)

How about Oklahoma? These two teams know each other very well and the Sooners had the Longhorns on the ropes. Fans may not want to see a repeat but this year's Red Rivalry was one of the most exciting college football games I've ever seen so I wouldn't mind seeing it happen.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Again there are still a month's worth of games to go but is it possible that Penn State's wins seem easier because they are even better than perceived?

Steve Muench

  (2:48 PM)

only time will tell but they have handled their business so far. While Alabama struggled agaisnt Kentucky, Penn State has handled each opopnent as they've come. The closest margin of victory in any of their games this year has been 14 points.

Will J (Portland, OR)

So basically USC should never lose a single game ever again within conference. How does that seem fair, when no other team in any other conference is expected to do that?

Steve Muench

  (2:53 PM)

Will J the system has its flaws and as long as the Pac 10 is considered "weaker" than the SEC and Big 12 a Pac 10 loss is going to hurt the Trojans more. In addition, EVERY other team in the conference is in a simialr situation. Obvioulsy losing to USC isn't going to hurt a a team as much as losing to Oregon. However, if Oregon State's only loss is to UCLA next year and LSU's only loss it to FLorida than it LSU is most likely going to be ranked higher. I hope that makes sense.

Kyle (KC)

I'm just not sold on the Big 10 and Penn State. I agree they've looked impressive, but on a neutral field would you really favor them over any of the top 6 Big 12 teams?

Steve Muench

  (2:56 PM)

Like I said before I think Texas and Oklahoma are my 1-2 but I would defintily take Penn State over Oklahoma State, Missouri, Texas Tech and Kansas wihout question. I think they can slow down the Cowboy ground game, pressure QB Chase Daniel into making some mistakes, exploit a weak Texas Tech pass defense and their defensive end would have a field day working agaisnt the Jayhawks' young offensive tackles.

jason (nebraska)

i believe we have an early bcs schampionship game next week if both teams win this week that being texas tech vs texas

Steve Muench

  (3:00 PM)

Jason I really think Texas Tech is a paper Tiger. Here are their seven wins: Eastern Washington, Nevada, Southern Methodist, Massachusetts, Kansas State, Nebraska and Texas A&M. None of these teams recieved a vote for the AP TOp 25 and the Red Raider pass defense ranks 103rd in the nation despite that fact. To be blunt, I thik they lose three of thier next four games.

Colin (Nc)

Michigan st defeats michigan true or false

Steve Muench

  (3:02 PM)

true and on that note I am outta here. Enjoy the weekend and let's do it again next week.