Trick or Treat
Posted October 24, 2010, 8:39 PM ET

The college football landscape changes every week.....at least it seems that way, at the top.

For the third consecutive week, the top-ranked team got thumped by a fellow conference member on the road.

First it was Bama, then the Buckeyes, and now the Sooners felt the pain in a loss to Missouri.

Nothing should really surprise us anymore, in college football....the upsets take place on a consistent basis. The teams like Boise State, TCU and Utah should be loving it. They need all the help they can get, and watching the powers in the elite BCS leagues get knocked off plays right into their hands.

I'm not concerned with the BCS standings until we get into November.....which begins next week.

Isn't it amazing, how fast the college football season flies by? Every year we wait in anticipation, only to witness it take place in a flash. I love it, but I wish we had a better way to determine the champ.....one of these days.

Based on the games and teams that I've watched....Oregon and Auburn would be my #1 and #2 teams. I have no doubt that a team like Boise State can play against either one of them, if they had a month to prepare. I'd also tell you that both of them could lose in an instant, in this crazy world of college football.

The one thing that's really missing this year in college football is a dominant defensive team, and for that reason, you have to give Oregon a legitimate chance to run the table and win the title....same goes for Auburn. Usually the SEC plays great D, but I just don't see it this season. It's one of the reasons why I think the conference is down, compared to their normal lofty expectations and accomplishments.

Closer to home, we had a great time on the Southern Fried Football™ Tour, when we visited East Carolina on Saturday. As usual, Pirate Nation was a great host with BBQ, Babes, good times and a football team that is playing well. I think East Carolina is the best tailgating destination in the state of North Carolina for a college football game. N.C. State is a close second, followed up by Appalachian State in Boone.

I also had the chance to meet Coach Ruffin during and after the game....great guy.....and I can understand why ECU is excited to have him. This week is a monster game for the Pirates, as they play at Central Florida in a huge CUSA showdown.

N.C. State has a big one this week, too. The Pack hosts Florida State on Thursday night in Raleigh, and if somebody is going to catch the Noles in the ACC's Atlantic Division, it has to start this week.

I'm sure Tom O'Brien and the Wolfpack are still ticked-off at the loss to ECU, but the game this week is even bigger since it involves the race for the conference title.

I was surprised State loss to ECU, and if the season is going to be special in Raleigh, then winning on Thursday night is almost a "must". A loss to Jimbo Fisher's guys would make it nearly impossible for the Pack to represent the Atlantic division during the ACC title game.

The Tar Heels entered the Miami game on a solid four-game winning streak, but all of that went up in flames when they were bounced by the Hurricanes. I didn't expect a blowout loss, given how well the team has been performing during the last month. Plus, the Canes seemingly took a major step in the wrong direction when they were trounced at home by FSU.

It's hard to figure anybody out these days, but what isn't tough to decipher is that North Carolina will not be playing for an ACC title in Charlotte this December. The second conference loss puts Butch Davis in a tough spot....especially when you consider that a trip to FSU and home dates with Va. Tech and NC State remain.

So much for the breakthrough football season in Chapel Hill.

The good news is that Roy Williams' hoopsters are in the pre-season Top 10.

Clemson's win over Georgia Tech put the Jackets in a similar spot, as they try to defend their title. The Tigers' win also came a year late...since GT beat Clemson twice in '09, including the ACC Championship game.

Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks finally won a SEC road game, even though it was Vandy. Somehow, the Commodores give USC fits....I still think South Carolina is the best team in the SEC East.

I'm looking forward to heading down to Columbia on the Southern Fried Football™ Tour this weekend. We'll be setting up right beside the Budweiser Distribution Center, which is located across the street from Williams-Brice Stadium.

Unfortunately, the "TV Suits" have moved the kick-off to the dreaded "noon" slot. That sucks, but there's nothing we can do about it.....other than get down there early and have a great time.