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Sweating at the top

Clemson, Va. Tech among those to survive scares

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Jerel Meyers (left), Reggie Robinson and the LSU Tigers are in the hunt in the SEC West after beating the Bulldogs. AP

By Stewart Mandel, CNNSI.com

With the exception of top-ranked Nebraska, which quite literally took the second half off, there was a lot of breath-holding Saturday by fans of the nation's top teams.

Until Michael Vick's late touchdown run broke open a 15-14 game, Syracuse gave No. 2 Virginia Tech all it could handle. Same with No. 5 Clemson, which trailed North Carolina 17-0 and even lost QB Woodrow Dantzler to injury before rallying. And No. 17 Purdue didn't finish Wisconsin till a blocked field goal-turned-touchdown in overtime.

Which is not to say everyone made it out of the weekend unscathed. There's a four-way tie for first in the SEC West after LSU upset No. 13 Mississippi State and Tennessee got its first conference win, over Alabama. Indiana knocked No. 22 Minnesota out of first in the Big Ten. And No. 7 Oregon and No. 19 Oregon State rule the Pac-10 after their respective wins over Arizona and UCLA.

Week 9 Recaps
(1) Nebraska 59, Baylor 0
Recap	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	1: Baylor's yards of offense in the first quarter, to 189 for Nebraska.
Player of the Game
Dan Alexander, RB, Nebraska. Could've picked about anyone, but the I-back had 14 carries for 104 yards and two TDs.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
The game was over when Baylor got off the bus. The Huskers, behind a punishing running game, were up 38-0 by the end of the first quarter, and the Bears were shut out for the third time in Big 12 play this season. Oklahoma, look out.
(2) Virginia Tech 22, Syracuse 14
Matchup	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	9: Rushing yards for Hokies QB Michael Vick.
Player of the Game
Lee Suggs, RB, Virginia Tech. Until the very end, he was the only Hokie who could run the ball, gaining 91 yards and scoring twice.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
Don't be surprised if the Hokies drop in the polls this week. Don't be surprised if Vick's Heisman standing slips along with that of his team. All Syracuse had to do was hang onto the ball and the Orangemen would have had all the revenge they could ask for after last year's 62-0 embarrassment. But a pair of second-half turnovers gave the Hokies the ball in gimme TD range, and Virginia Tech converted. Vick's long TD run at the end was gravy, for the most part. He spent most of the rest of the game on the ground, as Syracuse registered eight sacks.
(4) Miami 45, Temple 17
Preview	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	37: Rushing yards for Temple's Tanardo Sharps, who came in averaging 113.
Player of the Game
Santana Moss, WR, Miami. Set the tone with a 71-yard punt return for the Hurricanes' first score, and finished with 241 all-purpose.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
No signs of rust for the Hurricanes, who were playing their first game since knocking off Florida State and are just biding time till their showdown with Virginia Tech. Miami shut down the Owls' running game, which they'd pretty much ridden to their 4-3 start, and Ken Dorsey and the offense coasted from there. The only thing that kept Miami from putting up more points was three lost fumbles.
(5) Clemson 38, North Carolina 24
Matchup	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	3: Turnovers for the Tar Heels, to zero for Clemson.
Player of the Game
Willie Simmons, QB, Clemson. Summoned in the second quarter to replace Woodrow Dantzler, he merely threw for 4 TDs to lead the comeback.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
For a while, it looked like Clemson's long-awaited showdown with Florida State in a couple of weeks wouldn't matter as much. But that was before Simmons did his best Dantzler impression. The Tigers showed their stuff in rallying from a 17-0 deficit against a North Carolina team that gave all it had. Ronald Curry had one of the better games of his injury-plagued career to put the Tar Heels on top, but his interception with just over three minutes left killed any hopes of a UNC victory.
(6) Florida State 37, Virginia 3
Recap	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	554: Seminoles' total offense, their third straight game of at least 496.
Player of the Game
Marvin "Snoop" Minnis, WR, Florida State. Had four catches -- two for touchdowns -- and 131 yards.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
It didn't seem like Florida State's offense was rolling like in past weeks, until you saw the final stats. Chris Weinke played three quarters, going 16-of-28 for 274 yards. Marcus Outzen tacked on 152. Meanwhile, Virginia RB Antwoine Womack was limited to 63 yards on 24 carries, and QB Byron Spinner, subbing for the injured Dan Ellis, was only 9-of-21, sacked four times.
(7) Oregon 14, (21) Arizona 10
Matchup	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	17: Rushing yards for Arizona, on 32 carries.
Player of the Game
Joey Harrington, QB, Oregon. Threw two TD passes in the first half, the only points the Ducks would need.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
You don't mess with the Ducks at Autzen. Or anywhere else in the Pac-10, so far. Arizona had its chances in this one, despite seeing its rushing attack eaten alive by the Oregon defense, but Ortege Jenkins' series of bombs at the end of the game didn't connect. It might have been nice to try a shorter route on one of those downs, but that was the Wildcats' choice, and Oregon's defense deserved a 'W' after its performance. Don't see many Pac-10 games with 24 total points.
(9) Washington 36, California 24
Matchup	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	23: Fourth-quarter points for the Huskies.
Player of the Game
Marques Tuiasosopo, QB, Washington. In truth, he didn't look very good most of the day, but his two late TDs put the Huskies back on top.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
Cal lost its 18th straight game to Washington, but that streak was in serious jeopardy most of the day. The Bears were all over the Huskies, but simply broke down in crunch time. Mistake after mistake doomed Cal, allowing Tuiasosopo to bring his team back in the fourth quarter, with the Bears unable to answer.
(10) Kansas State 28, Texas Tech 23
Matchup	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	15: Rushing TDs this year for K-State's Jonathan Beasley, setting a school record.
Player of the Game
Jonathan Beasley, QB, Kansas State. Yes, his late interceptions gave the Red Raiders a chance, but he had two TDs in the first half.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
Make no mistake, Texas Tech was in this one until the bitter end. Kliff Kingsbury threw for 302 yards for the Red Raiders, but Tech's defense couldn't keep Kansas State in check. The Wildcats were sloppy throughout, and didn't put Tech away until they recovered an onside kick with less than a minute left. K-State will have to do better than this if it wants to salvage its season.
(11) TCU 17, Tulsa 3
Matchup	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	62: Years since TCU last started a season 6-0. The Horned Frogs won the national title in 1938.
Player of the Game
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, TCU. Wasn't his usual self, but still managed 119 yards and a touchdown.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
Yes, the weather was horrible, with rain coming down throughout the game. But that's no excuse for the Horned Frogs' anemic offensive showing in this one. A 3-3 halftime score was inexcusable. Tomlinson should have had a couple hundred against the Hurricane, who allowed 450 yards on the ground last week. TCU rolls on toward the inevitable undefeated season, but this one was a lot tighter than it should have been.
(12) Georgia 34, Kentucky 30
Recap	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	928: Combined passing yards by the two teams.
Player of the Game
Cory Phillips, QB, Georgia. Started slow, then something clicked, and by the time it was over the walk-on had 400 yards and four TDs.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
So much for Jared Lorenzen being hurt. Or Georgia suffering without Quincy Carter. Lorenzen torched the Dogs for a school-record 528 yards, helping the Wildcats produce 620 against a defense that had been allowing only 268. But fortunately for Georgia, Lorenzen slipped up occasionally, overthrowing receivers and hurling two interceptions, while Phillips was magnificent throughout and overcame a 13-0 deficit. QB controversy at Georgia?
LSU 45, (13) Mississippi State 38, OT
Matchup	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	11-16: LSU's third-down conversions.
Player of the Game
LaBrandon Toefield, RB, LSU. Scored the Tigers' first and last touchdowns and ran effectively against one of the best defenses around.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
What's gotten into the Tigers lately? Suddenly, Nick Saban's team, which lost to UAB not too far back, is tied for the lead in the SEC West. The Tigers did it this time by rolling up yards and points against what is universally considered the best defense in the conference. Toefield made big plays, and Josh Booty didn't get the Tigers beat, which is all they ask of him.
(14) Ohio State 38, Iowa 10
Recap	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	9: Ohio State sacks of Iowa QBs Jon Beutjer and Kyle McCann.
Players of the Game
Ken-Yon Rambo and Reggie Germany, WR, Ohio State. Rambo finished with 142 yards, Germany 123, and each caught his first touchdown this season.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
Obviously stung by their home loss to Minnesota the previous week, the Buckeyes came out firing, going up 24-3 early in the second quarter. In a reversal of much of its season, OSU never really got the running game going, but QB Steve Bellisari was absolutely dominant through the air. He completed 16 of 28 passes for 301 yards (265 to Germany and Rambo), three touchdowns and no interceptions.
(16) Michigan 14, Michigan State 0
Recap	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	1.4: Average yards per carry, on 44 attempts, for the Spartans.
Player to Watch
Anthony Thomas, RB, Michigan. Made the difference in a defensive struggle, gaining 175 yards and scoring both touchdowns.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
Neither team looked very good. The Spartans ruined their best chance to take the game when T.J. Duckett fumbled to cap a 15-play, 80-yard drive that could have tied it 7-7. Michigan's last touchdown came immediately afterward. One would think the Wolverines would score more points, considering Thomas' big day, but he was basically their only weapon. Meanwhile, Michigan shut down Duckett, who eventually left with an injury.
(17) Purdue 30, Wisconsin 24 (OT)
Recap	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	3: Wisconsin games to go into overtime this year, two of them losses.
Player of the Game
Akin Ayodele, LB, Purdue. One of his three sacks came in overtime and set up the winning play.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
In their quest for their first Rose Bowl trip in 34 years, this was a crucial win for the Boilers, who host Ohio State next. While the Purdue defense struggled to contain Wisconsin's Michael Bennett (28 carries, 188 yards), Brees was busy having one of his best days yet, torching the Badgers on several big plays. But last-minute Wisconsin starter Jim Sorgi (21-of-29, 243 yards) wasn't too shabby himself, connecting with Chris Chambers on 173 yards and a touchdown.
(18) South Carolina 30, Vanderbilt 14
Preview	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	339: South Carolina rushing yards, with dual 100-yard rushers.
Player of the Game
Thomas Pinnock, RB, South Carolina. Notched a career-high 135 yards on 24 carries.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
Now, South Carolina does it with both defense and offense. The Gamecocks held possession for over 37 minutes while outrushing Vanderbilt 339 to 148, as Pinnock and a flu-laden Derek Watson (19 carries, 128 yards) became S.C.'s first 100-yard tandem since Duce Staley and Troy Hambrick in 1996.
(19) Oregon State 44, (23) UCLA 38
Matchup	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	604: Yards of total offense for Oregon State.
Player of the Game
Jonathan Smith, QB, Oregon State. Brilliant all day, throwing for 351 yards and four TDs.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
This was a textbook Pac-10 showdown, and Oregon State had just enough offense to come back, then hold on. There wasn't much 'D' played by either team, and Oregon State took advantage in the fourth quarter, coming from 10 down to take a lead, then watching as UCLA recovered an onside kick late. But a big sack by the Beavers sealed a rough day for Cory Paus and his teammates. Oregon State continues to impress, and those Rose Bowl dreams are still alive.
(20) Notre Dame 42, West Virginia 28
Recap	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	227: Notre Dame rushing yards, its best effort this season.
Player of the Game
Terrance Howard, RB, Notre Dame. Third-stringer turned the tide of the game with an 80-yard touchdown run to tie things at 14-14.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
The Irish appeared to be in trouble early, falling behind 14-7, before freshman QB Matt LoVecchio seemed to come to life in front of everyone's eyes, leading four consecutive touchdown drives spanning the second and third quarters. Notre Dame's running game was absolutely dominating, with four different players gaining at least 28 yards. The Mountaineers were hurt when QB Brad Lewis left the game with a knee sprain in the early going. Two late touchdowns cut the lead from 42-14 to 42-28.
Indiana 51, (22) Minnesota 43
Recap	Key Stat
Game Recap Game Summary	1,086: Teams' combined yards of offense.
Player of the Game
Antwaan Randle El, QB, Indiana. Perhaps the finest game yet of his stellar career, with 210 rushing yards and 263 passing.
CNNSI.com's Analysis
Indiana was already known for having no defense, but the Gophers ran into an unexpected snag of their own. Either they were the first team this season to not key on Randle El, or he exploded on them anyway. The junior was simply sensational, and got help from RB Levron Williams, who gained 134 yards and three TDs. Travis Cole had a decent day at QB for the Gophers, but seemed to be always a score behind.

 

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