In the Trenches: Best Big 12 QB, must see, BCS busters, real No. 1
CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd and J. Darin Darst provide analysis on weekly college football topics.
| Dennis Dodd | J. Darin Darst |
| Who is the best quarterback in the Big 12? | |
 I'm a little biased. After sitting in on a film session with Oklahoma quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel earlier this season, I can appreciate Sam Bradford more than most. He's smart, tall, sees the field and hardly ever makes a mistake. The dude leads the country in touchdown passes (34) and is on pace to throw 53. In this age, that's amazing. He has thrown five touchdowns in a game four times this season. Sammy B leads the Big 12's most lethal offense (49.8 points. Surprise, it's not Texas Tech!). Finally, Bradford is the league's best pro prospect whether he comes out after this season or not. | At the beginning of the season I thought it was Chase Daniel, but now I'm leaning toward Colt McCoy. With no disrespect to Sam Bradford, who will probably have the best NFL career and might win the Heisman, I'm amazed at what McCoy has done. Last year, he threw 18 interceptions and completed 65 percent of his passes. This year he has only five picks and is completing 79 percent of his passes. McCoy also leads the team in rushing because the Longhorns don't have a strong ground game. Defenses know Texas won't pound the ball on the ground, but this guy still goes out and completes close to eight of every 10 passes. McCoy might not have the best stats, but has less to work with. Graham Harrell has better receivers, Bradford has a stronger running game and even Zac Robinson has a more balanced offense. |
| Which game in November would you pay to see? | |
 No question, Auburn at Alabama on Nov. 29. Even if the Tide are out of the national championship loop this game promises to have more shouting matches than The View, more wild emotion swings than a Sweet 16 party. Tommy Tuberville might be coaching his last game for Auburn, unless, of course, he beats the Tide again. In that case, Tubs might be on The Plains for 10 more years. I mean, really, beating Alabama seven times in a row? If 'Bama hasn't clinched the SEC West at this point, it only adds to the drama. If it has, then it is playing to keep its No. 1 ranking and a trip to South Florida. Try to wrap your mind around Auburn crushing those dreams. Sure, Aubie is in disarray. Sure, it couldn't score on an amoral cheerleader. Sure, Tuberville is on his last legs. Just get me ticket. Anywhere. Price doesn't matter. |  So many big rivalry games at the end of the month -- Florida-Florida State, Auburn-Alabama, West Virginia-Pittsburgh -- but I would pay to see Texas Tech at Oklahoma on Nov. 22. No matter what happens this weekend with the Red Raiders vs. Oklahoma State, that game in Norman is going to be insane. I'm waiting to see Bradford and Harrell combine for 10 passing touchdowns. The last three meetings between these two squads have been exciting, including the Red Raiders' 34-27 win last year. But this year the stakes could be the highest in Texas Tech history. Norman isn't an easy place to go in and get a victory, especially the way the Sooners are rolling up points. The Sooners have lost only two games at home in the 2000s -- TCU in 2005 and Oklahoma State in 2002. If Tech gets past the Cowboys, it has to win in Norman for any chance at the national title. And I would love to be there in the stands. |
| You control the BCS and there is one non-BCS slot open. Who are you taking, an undefeated Boise State or the winner of the Utah-TCU game on Thursday night? | |
 Boise and Utah are old stories. We've seen them. Unless Chris Petersen gets the Tennessee or Washington jobs right before the Orange Bowl, I don't need to see Boise again. TCU is fun with the nation's best defense in the nation's best non-BCS conference. But there is only one such team that gets me excited -- Ball State. If the Cardinals made it, that would make Wake Forest, which went to the Orange Bowl two seasons ago, look like a super power. Can you imagine if David Letterman would do the coin flip? The offensive coordinator (Stan Parrish) has won a Super Bowl and national championship. The quarterback (Nate Davis) plays with gloves on both hands. The Cardinal's best player, Dante Love, will never play again because a spine injury. This is Americana, this is football, this is Muncie. | If I'm really in charge, then I'm taking two non-BCS schools and kicking out some two-loss team. But since I have to stick to the question, I'm looking at whichever team is undefeated at the end of the year. I love what TCU has done, but if you are comparing a one-loss Horned Frogs squad to an undefeated Boise State team, give me the Broncos. If Utah and Boise State are both undefeated, I have to go with the Utes based on strength of schedule. Utah plays in a tougher conference and would have beaten BYU, TCU and Air Force, who right now are a combined 24-4. Add in the fact that it beat Oregon State, which beat USC, and it's the Utes hands down. Boise State plays in a conference that just isn't as strong as the Mountain West. Fresno State and Nevada are not as good as they were supposed to be and, even though the victory over Oregon of the Pac-10 is nice, the Ducks don't have any impressive victories. |
| Bonus: Who is the best team in the country right now? | |
 Florida. No question. You've got to love a team that has the guts to call itself the fastest team in America. Those weapons we've been talking about for three years? They've matured. Tim Tebow is merely one of the weapons. He accounted for five touchdowns on Saturday while throwing for less than 200 yards. Urban Meyer is Spurrier with a mean streak. Ask Matt Stafford if Florida's defense is any good. Mark Richt just suffered his worst loss as a head coach. The best thing is the Gators somewhat control their destiny. If they beat an undefeated Alabama in the SEC title game they might leap into the BCS championship game. There are still questions about the defenses of Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Penn State plays in the Mountain West on steroids. USC is out of it. It would be a BCS crime if Florida doesn't play for the national championship. | I have to agree with Dodd. Florida might not end up in the title game, but right now no team is playing more complete football. The Gators are one of only three teams ranked in the top 10 in scoring offense and scoring defense; USC and Penn State are the others. Since that Ole Miss loss, the Gators have been on a roll, blasting Georgia, Kentucky and LSU. The biggest question mark coming into the season was the secondary. Those questions have been answered. Tim Tebow looks a lot better than he did earlier in the year, and the talent they have on offense is sick. The speed at running back and wide receiver is probably the best in the nation. Looking at the rest of the schedule -- at Vandy, South Carolina, The Citadel, at Florida State -- I see 11-1 heading into the SEC title game vs. Alabama. If Penn State is the only team undefeated team at the end of the year, there will be quite a debate between who plays the Nittany Lions. A one-loss Big 12 team or one-loss Florida? Too bad we can't have a playoff to figure it out. |
| Previous In the Trenches: Oct. 1 |
