BCS Alert
Posted October 17, 2010, 6:14 PM ET

So, the first BCS Poll has been released.....who cares?

It's too early to worry about Boise State and TCU as a potential national championship game match-up. If the last two weeks haven't taught you a lesson, then you haven't been paying attention.

First it was Bama that got thumped by the Gamecocks, and now the Buckeyes' turn at the top lasted all of one week after being manhandled by Wisconsin.

That's why I don't get too carried away with the BCS-stuff in mid-October.

We've got a long ways to go, and there are upsets all over the college football landscape. And if it turns out that Boise State and TCU can basically bypass any decent, consistent competition and backdoor their way to the title game, then perhaps it will put even more pressure on the BCS suits and college power-brokers to address the problem.

I've mentioned this a few times already, but just how bad is the SEC East?

Something tells me that the SEC East has become an extension of ACC football.....and that's not a good thing.

This week, there is not a single team in the division that is over .500 in conference play.

After watching South Carolina somehow find a way to lose to lowly Kentucky, I watched the Florida Gators lose to Mississippi State in the Swamp. It was ugly football....and not up to the standard of SEC football that we've been accustomed to over the past decade.

It appears that the power and glamour reside in the West with Bama, Auburn, LSU and Arkansas.....but as I mention that, how does a SEC power team give up 65 points like Arkansas did to Auburn on Saturday?

These are indeed weird times in the SEC....and despite the craziness, the Gamecocks still are in good shape in the East. But eventually, they'll have to be able to win on the road and this week it should happen when they visit Vandy.

I'm looking forward to getting to ECU this weekend, on the Southern Fried Football™ Tour.

The stadium has been expanded, and it's a good thing because the Pirates have played some crazy games already this season. I'm not ready to put them up there with LSU for bizarre endings, but the Pirates are holding their own.

Think about it.....the Hail Mary season opener to beat Tulsa....the win at Southern Miss after falling behind on the road 20-0.....and Saturday's thriller against in-state rival N.C. State in overtime.

What can the Pirates do for an encore performance? How about win another CUSA title in Coach Ruff's first season? If that happens, it would be a major accomplishment, especially considering how many defensive starters had to be replaced.

I'm excited to see the Pirates and enjoy the sights and BBQ on Saturday.

Georgia has a new "UGa" roaming the sidelines....and apparently, the new bulldog mascot has some special powers based on the Dawgs' 43-0 thumping of Vandy. It's the most complete performance of the season for Mark Richt's squad.

I can't say the same thing for Ole Miss. The school unveiled a new mascot which has something to do with a black bear.....I have no idea what's happened to the folks in Oxford. At least they have the Grove, which is still the finest collection of "talent" in the South. Unfortunately, their football is so bad that it gives you the incentive to stay at your tent in the Grove for the whole game.

One of the weirdest streaks in college football finally came to an end over the weekend, as UNC plastered UVa in Charlottesville.

It was the Heels' first win at C-ville since 1981....and that includes a lot of talented UNC teams that made the journey north only to come away with another loss. Butch Davis has his guys rolling on a four-game winning streak, as they head down to take on his old club, the Miami Hurricanes.

Ironically, Butch is 3-0 against the Canes since taking over in Chapel Hill. Both teams must win to stay in the discussion of the Coastal division race....you get the sense that the loser of this game is in deep trouble, while the winner stays within striking distance of the unbeaten Virginia Tech Hokies.

Both UNC and Miami host the Hokies in November, which are starting to take shape as true showdown match-ups.

On a side note, Virginia's neon orange attire against UNC comes close to matching Virginia Tech's all-black uniform as the ugliest I have seen this season.