This week’s column: Boise State or TCU?

Boise State or Texas Christian?
That seems to be the question every week in the Bowl Championship Series.
In one corner, you have TCU, which has won its first 11 games, 22 of its past 23 and is ranked No. 4 in all three human polls and No. 3 in this week’s BCS rankings.
Then there’s the Smurfs, who are 9-0, ranked No. 3 in all three human polls and No. 4 in the BCS.
So which is better? Which is the king of the BCS busters?
I think you just have to go blue and go with Boise State, which at this point of the season appears to have the better resume and is in better position to break the stranglehold of the power conferences.
The Smurfs have arguably been college football’s most consistent program the past three seasons, winning 23 consecutive games and 33 of their past 34. They also showed what they can do against some of the best teams in the country. Remember their victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl?

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UCLA defense steps up in 17-14 win over Oregon State


Above: UCLA’s Jordan Zumwalt sacks Oregon State’s Ryan Katz during Saturday’s Pac-10 game at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins won, 17-14.

Here’s my sidebar from UCLA’s 17-14 victory over Oregon State Saturday at the Rose Bowl:

PASADENA – A week ago, UCLA’s defense was maligned, embarrassed and just mad at itself.
Saturday, the Bruins did something about it.
UCLA, a mere seven days after giving up nearly 600 yards to Arizona, responded with one its better efforts of the season to end a three-game losing streak with a 17-14 victory over Oregon State in front of 64,330 at the Rose Bowl.
“I take my hat off to our defense,” UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said. “After that first drive of the second half, they were exceptional. It was as good as we played since the Texas game.
“We’re growing up. We were finishing plays (Saturday). Last week we didn’t. But I know there’s going to be a bunch of things we have to fix. It’s just imperative that we all have that urgency to do it, like we did for this game.”
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This weeks column

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Is the meek ready to inherit the college football world?
At first glance, it appears so.
There they are, like three peas in a pod sitting near the top of the latest Bowl Championship Series rankings, which were released Sunday night.
Yes, as expected Oregon, fresh off a victory at USC, moved to the top of the mountain, with previous No. 1 Auburn dropping to No. 2, followed by BCS busters Texas Christian, Boise State and Utah.
All are a combined 24-0 and, at least on paper, in perfect position to play for the national title if either the Ducks or Tigers stub their toes.
But it’s a paper ranking, and most know it.
Because sitting behind them, lurking like a cat ready to leap at its prey, is once-beaten Alabama, which about a month ago was given up for dead after losing to South Carolina.
But the dominoes have fallen in perfect order for the defending champion. Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri and Michigan State, all once undefeated, now are among the beaten. And this sets up the Crimson
Time for a run to the championship.
What about TCU, Boise State and Utah, who are ranked nos. 3, 4 and 5, respectively, in the BCS?
That’s the argument in college football this week. Does the undefeated trio have a better case than once-beaten Alabama?
Most say no and I can agree, especially when you examine the formula.
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