After a week off, the computer still can't get it right. Of course, "right" is such an ambiguous phrase, and not even all that popular based on the midterm elections. Still, how can anyone argue with Ohio State / Michigan as 1/2? Well, my computer can, but we'll get to that soon enough. The Buckeyes and Wolverines make such a nice pair, we don't even have to decide who's #1 because they'll play Saturday and decide it.

The arguments start after the game, when we need a #2. Is it "fair" that Florida got jumped by Southern Cal? How high should Rutgers be? One discussion on TV Sunday was concluded with the disgusted comment that it doesn't matter anyway because a machine is deciding it. Well, actually, 2/3 of the BCS is the human voters, and it's the experts that refuse to give Rutgers a chance. The computers have the Knights #2! Here's my guess: if (a big if) Southern Cal beats Cal on Saturday, the winner of the Notre Dame / SC game gets the second slot. Not that I'm a Gatah Hatah. Southern Cal does have by far the toughest schedule in the country, and it's common knowledge that Notre Dame's schedule is always strong (for instance, they have Army this week).

By now, you've probably scrolled down and seen Southern Cal #1. So, just by the record, that's one reason for SC to jump Florida. I'd love to have Michigan #3, just like I'd love to have Rutgers above Louisville and I'd love to drop LSU a few slots. So, why does my computer have Rutgers #7 when the BCS computers have them #2? The main reason is that my system takes into account wins, losses and points for and against, but points are outlawed on BCS computer systems. If you modify my system to only use wins and losses, you get Rutgers #4. You also get Southern Cal #1, Florida #2, then Michigan, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Louisville and finally Ohio State at #7. Just for comparison, if you only use points in my system you get a top 5 of LSU (!), Ohio State, Southern Cal, Louisville and Texas, with Rutgers #11 and Michigan #12. (And Clemson #14; I knew you'd want to know. Actually, it is interesting that, just like the BCS, my computer has the ACC ranked between #20 and #25.) After a weekend of upsets and near upsets, maybe it's fitting that my system is confused.

This is Rivalry Week, Part 1, and no rivalry is hotter than Ohio State / Michigan. It will be hard for the losers; not only is their season ruined, but they failed to ruin the other team's season! But let's not forget the Old Oaken Bucket (Indiana/Purdue), the Land Grant Trophy (Penn State/Michigan State), the Floyd of Rosedale (Iowa/Minnesota), the Iron Bowl (Auburn/Alabama), the Sunflower Showdown (Kansas/KState) and the Apple Cup (Washington/WState). Other games have conference titles at stake and bowl implications. The following picks are straight from the ratings with 4 points added for home field.

Ohio State over Michigan by 6 (Championship game, Big 10 title, Heisman all on the line)
Southern Cal over California by 9 (the Bears stumbled last week; can anybody win at the Coliseum?)
Wake Forest over Virginia Tech by 2 (the Deacs seem to get better every game, but this is a tough one)
Miami over Virginia by 2 (the Canes need this to be bowl eligible, how odd is that?)
Boston College over Maryland by 7 (the first of an ACC round-robin for the Atlantic title)
Minnesota over Iowa by 4 (the Hawkeyes are tough when the pig is on the line)
Rutgers over Cincinnati by 12 (classic sucker game for Cinderella, can they keep chopping wood?)
Auburn over Alabama by 6 (maybe Steely Dan should reverse the lyrics to "Deacon Blues")
Arkansas over Mississippi State by 16 (a win puts the Hogs in the SEC title game)
East Carolina and Rice even (a win puts the Pirates in the C-USA championship game; who knew?)
South Carolina over Middle Tennessee by 9 (not the cupcake that the Ol Ball Coach wanted)
Kansas State over Kansas by 3 (not many sunflowers growing near the Kansas coach)