The Week 9 CFCC Wrap Up:

By The Player To Be Named Later

It may have been one of the easier weeks we will have left in this year's DD, but it was not without drama. Could TCU muster the strength to break 80 in a game for no real reason but to impress the playoff committee? (They did.) Is there any real proof Ball State and Akron even have football teams much less played one another? (Yes, There is.) Is Texas really this bad? (Yes, they are.).

With most of the games being fairly well in hand, I had a chance to reflect on what to write today about college football. Just kidding, I came up with this minutes before the prison-like shock collar the Dirty-Dawg staff attached to my neck started going off to signal I was late with the story. Anyway, of all the things that drive college sports - the will to win, the thrill of competition, the booster money - I believe the most powerful force is delusion. Delusion that your team actually has a shot this year to have a special winning season. Delusion that Nick Saban didn't sale his soul a few years back. And so we throw all kinds of money for tickets, merchandise, under the table payments to the star running back for a few thousand autographs, all so that we can buy in and support our team. For most of us, the reality of life and the mediocrity of our teams have awakened us in time to purchase advanced tickets to the Quick Lane Bowl (it is a real bowl, I checked), but for a select few our teams remain alive for a chance to crush an undeserving 2 loss Notre Dame team in the national semifinal game. Mississippi State, Florida State, Alabama, and Oregon probably have the inside tracks to make it in if they win out. TCU, Auburn, Michigan State, and Ole Miss (great last play decision Bo Wallace) probably needs a little help in addition to winning. But who knows, things can change in a moment and there are still others that can get back in the picture with a little luck. Except you Texas A&M, you are virtually assured a trip to the Houston/Texas/Bluebonnet/WhateverTheNameIsThisYear bowl.

Kyle Newman of Portland, Oregon is now in the drivers seat in the Dirty Dawg standings this year after an impressive 106 point week. He is 8 points ahead of Pete Fickenscher of Sacramento with Michael Boyer of West Hills, CA just another 2 points behind. West coast bias indeed. Steve Burrus of Simpsonville SC won the week with 112 points, which vaulted him into a tie for 111th place overall.

Group standings are led by The Spectacular Stupendous Florida Dummies and followed closely by HookemHorns. In their honor, we are going to provide this clip of a good offense team in Texas six-man football, since neither the Gators nor the Horns seem capable of offensive production this year.

Good luck on the picks for the upcoming week.