The Real Spurrier returns, bad uniforms and dumb arrests

The old trash-talking Steve Spurrier is back -- just ask UGA fans. AP

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By Phil Guidry

Perhaps the most newsworthy development last week was the return of the man who calls himself the head ball coach, Steve Spurrier. After his Gamecocks knocked off then-11th ranked Georgia 16-12 in Athens, he said of the Dawgs: "It wasn't like they were some big, powerful team." Yes, Spurrier has been back in the college coaching ranks for two years since his failed NFL stint, but until Saturday, Spurrier Version 2.0 had been understated, complimentary and even humble. But insulting Georgia as he takes them down? That's the Visor we know and love (or loathe, in some cases). Let's hope he's here to stay.

Game of the Century (of the Week)

USC at Nebraska. Big Red will be out in full force as the Cornhuskers host the nation's top-ranked team. And it's just in time for USC; a few more bye weeks, and LSU might have stolen all their first place votes. This game is a contrast of styles: the high-flying air-it-out West Coast offense (Nebraska) against the conservative, never-throw-deep, power running game (USC, apparently). Which brings us to...

Jim Harbaugh Prediction Watch

USC's march to fulfill Jim Harbaugh's prophecy as the greatest college football team ever continues in Lincoln. Want to know just how great the Trojans are? Pete Carroll's traditionally ball-hawking squad set a trap for Nebraska by appearing to lose the turnover battle to Idaho 3-1.

Les Miles Juggernaut Schedule Award

As the SEC continues to back up Les Miles' claim that USC has an easier title-game road than if they played in Dixie, Georgia licks their wounds by hosting Western Carolina between the hedges. This is WCU's second appearance in this category (along with a Gainesville road trip last season), giving them honorary SEC membership. Meanwhile, LSU's opponent this week, Middle Tennessee, was primed for this honor until they blitzed Louisville for 42 points last Thursday.

Game of the Weak

Traditionally a game like Temple-Connecticut would occupy this territory, but this week we have a rare treat: 0-2 Notre Dame at 0-2 Michigan. Mike Hart has guaranteed a victory, Ty Willingham continues to envy Charlie Weis' South Bend job security, two freshman quarterbacks are going head-to-head and Lou Holtz is feverishly calculating the mathematical possibilities of the Irish still making a BCS bowl game. Are you ready for the most marquee matchup of bad teams in the history of the sport? So aren't we.

GE/NBC Investment Tracker

Tracking the fortunes of college football's greatest corporation, Notre Dame, we find the stock to be ... holding steady. Sure, they suffered another punchless blowout defeat last week, and Weis' genius label is taking a beating, but on the bright side, their schedule finally serves up a cupcake. And you know Weis likes his cupcakes.

Uniformly Awful

Fresno State's all red uniforms will look like a Picasso next to the ugliness that is the uniform of the Oregon Ducks. Phil Hawkins/Icon SMI

It seems only fitting that this week's selection for the ugly uniform game involves Oregon. And to put it into perspective, the unis of the Ducks' opponent, Fresno State, aren't bad at all. The most unfortunate part for Oregon is that they otherwise looked great running past Michigan defenders all day last Saturday.

Cops: Collegetown

This week's NCAA law enforcement roundup takes us to West Lafayette, Ind., where Central Michigan visits Purdue. Charges were filed this week against three Boilermaker players following a nightclub stabbing. The challenge here is to not use any bad puns to describe how Purdue will carve up the Chippewas ... dang, see how hard that is?

The Colt Brennan Heisman Contendin' Stat Extendin' Showdown

Hawaii's Colt Brennan continued his onslaught on the record books, throwing for 548 yards and four touchdowns against Louisiana Tech last weekend. Of course, it took a clutch play by the vaunted Rainbow Warrior defense to seal the victory. This week Brennan and Co. head to a place not known for flashy pyrotechnics and big numbers: Las Vegas, where UNLV awaits.

Did You Know?

Did you know ... that Duke and Northwestern, which play each other on Saturday, are better known for their high academic standards than their football prowess?

Odds and Ends

Oklahoma certainly looks as legit as anyone so far. Then again, it doesn't matter how many points they pile on unranked teams (even if one of them used to be Miami), it still won't erase the memory of that Statue of Liberty play ... Hey, Wake Forest, you don't exactly quiet those critics calling you a one-season wonder by dropping your first two games ... The good news for Florida is that Tim Tebow can throw more than silly jump passes and looks every bit like a real quarterback. The bad news is that they will need him to be against Tennessee, after Troy rolled up 31 in the Swamp ... Upcoming opponents McNeese State and Southwestern Louisiana used to be Pelican State rivals before USL changed its name to Louisiana-Lafayette and moved up to I-A. The Ragin' Cajuns have since gone on to glory as annual sacrificial lambs for the likes of LSU, Texas A&M and Texas ... Florida State-Colorado would have been a much juicier matchup back when Bill McCartney was still in charge. Or Bobby Bowden, for that matter.

Weekend Primer will leave you with ...

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
- Woody Hayes, Ohio State