Week 12 Thoughts

This was the last full week of college football, as Illinois is the only Big 10 team that still has a game on their schedule. Iowa and Penn State are now in a beauty pageant to see who deserves a BCS bid, while other conference's are still trying to sort out their champion. Ohio State sealed the deal this weekend as sole winners of the conference, but while the SEC, Big 12, and ACC have their two championship teams, we still have 2 weeks before winners are crowned. The Pac-10 comes down to a Oregon-Oregon State that no one predicted at the beginning of the season would have those kind of implicatioins. Rivalry week is over for the Big Ten, but it is just starting for the rest of the country and it should be interesting to see if any mammoth upsets are seen, notably one in a game like Alabama - Auburn. With conference championship games decided this week is mainly about jocking for bowl position.

Players of the Week
1. Mike Mohamed, Cal
The Cal linebacker was everywhere for the defense Saturday. Mohamed totaled 10 tackles, including 0.5 TFL for a loss, but it was his game preserving interception inside the 5 yard line at the end of the game that clinched the player of the week honors for the linebacker. Cal upset a surging Stanford team and officially ended their hopes to go to the Rose Bowl. Oregon and Oregon State now have a Rose Bowl determining game next week, which will showcase the matchup of running backs LaMichael James and Jacquizz Rodgers. Cal gets back on track as they try to finish the season strong after having a couple more setbacks this season than they would have liked. One positive from this season was Vereen's performance in place of an injured Best.

2. Daryll Clark, Penn State
Clark preserved Penn State's BCS hopes as Penn State came back from a lack luster first half to dominate a Michigan State team up and down the field in the second half. Clark finished the game with 310 yards, but more importantly he didn't throw any picks to go with his 4 touchdown passes. Add in Curtis Drake had a touchdown pass, the Nittany Lions had 5 touchdowns through the air. Clark has had an up and down year, but with the other competition he'll be named my first team All-Big Ten quarterback, but he won't be named Big Ten offensive player of the year. [A hint - he's a running back] Penn State and Iowa play the waiting game now with one most likely going to a BCS game.

3. Sam Maxwell, Kentucky
Maxwell and the Kentucky Wildcats made a forgettable season for Bulldog fans even worse as Kentucky hung on to beat Georgia. Maxwell had 11 tackles, a career high, but it was his big plays that earned him player of the week honors. Maxwell added an interception to his totals and had a crucial tackle against Caleb King at the end of the game. Kentucky's performance will only add speculation to Mark Richt and his job security. Kentucky themselves have done a good job this season in taking advantage of a weak SEC East. Behind Florida, there is no one in the SEC East this season and Kentucky quietly had a solid season.

4. Larry Asante, Nebraska
Nebraska and Kansas State played for the right to play Texas in the Big 12 Championship game and the game quickly became a defensive grudge match. Nebraska held Kansas State to three points and safety Larry Asante was a big reason why. Asante totaled 10 tackles, but like Maxwell it wasn't the tackles that were pivotal. Asante had a pick for the Cornhuskers, but he also forced a fumble at the Nebraska 1 yard line that held Kansas State out of the endzone. Nebraska now gets to play Texas in the Championship game and while it is unlikely they'll win, the opportunity presents itself for them to qualify for the Fiesta Bowl if they can pull the improbable.

5. Danario Alexander, Missouri
Alexander had another great game for Mizzou. At the beginning of the year, I fully expected Jared Perry to try to replace Jeremy Maclin, but it has been Alexander that has been providing the spark for the Mizzou offense and his quarterback Blaine Gabbert has had a quietly solid first season. Alexander had 11 catches this week for 173 yards and a touchdown. Alexander is on pace to finish the season with over 100 catches, 1500 yards, and about 15 touchdowns. If he played on a better team, Alexander would be being hailed as the top receiver in the country and it's a shame he isn't. If you haven't seen Alexander yet, you need to.

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