Jackie Sherrill's Bulldogs were passed over by the Outback Bowl.

Now that Thursday's game is behind us -- with the Bulldogs pulling out a 23-22 win over Kentucky -- it's time to consider what Saturday might hold.

On paper, not too much of interest. Next week features a lot more attractive matchups (Michigan- Penn State, Kansas State-Nebraska, Miami-Virginia Tech).

But, not (quite) so fast, folks. There are upset possibilities among the top five. Here's how my AP ballot looks:

1). Florida State. An off week, which gives coaches more time to hold their breath and hope another off the field incident doesn't pop up.
2). Virginia Tech. The Hokies' next-to-last road trip takes them to Morgantown, where we'll see how the (3-4) 'Neers react to blowing a big lead at Miami. If they can muster any emotion from revenge, they only have to check the film: Tech blocked a couple punts and picked off WVU on four straight possessions last year! Tech seems so focused that an upset is unlikely. They weren't happy with their second half at Pittsburgh.
3). Penn State. This could be a classic look-ahead to a much-anticipated crack at paying back Michigan, and Paterno knows it. Minnesota has enough playmakers on offense to be trouble. The leading rusher, in fact, when you count only Big Ten games is not Ron Dayne, but the Gophers' Thomas Hamner, a future pro star, I think. Penn State is surviving penalties, sacks, and turnovers because of pure play-making talent on defense. Do you realize that the last 13 Lions' turnovers have led to just one scoring drive by the opposition? Amazing clutch defense. But how long can it last. Even in Happy Valley, State has to be on Upset Alert in this one.
4). Florida. Homecoming in the Swamp brings (5-3) Vandy, off a scintillating 11-10 win over South Carolina.After beating Georgia, the next two SEEM like formalities, wrapping up the SEC East before the humongous game with FSU. With even a half-decent defensive effort this one should be pretty easy. But if Alex ("Big Game") Brown and Gerard "Big Money" Warren and the guys want to take the next two Saturdays off to rest up for Chris Weinke, well, they'll still be able to outscore Vandy and poor South Carolina. Brown terrorized Tee Martin and Quincy Carter, in on eight sacks in the Gators' two biggest wins. In the four games in between, he had one sack and about a dozen tackles. OK, he is a sophomore. But scouts take notice of that.
5) Tennessee. It seems everybody is expecting a prime-time paddling of Notre Dame Saturday night on Rocky Top. Which scares you a little bit. The Vols' combo of perimeter speed and inside strength should be too much for the Irish, who have been surviving on far fewer than 60 minutes of good football per game. That trick won't work here. On Rocky Top, the Irish will get no favorable fourth-quarter wind shifts ... no friendly spots a chain link or two beyond the sticks. It'll take Notre Dame's best game to hang around. Unless Cedric Wilson can't go.
6). Kansas State. The Cats' season gets serious now. Before the trip to payback-minded Nebraska, Colorado visits. The Buffs players are astounded that they are such a huge underdog. There is talent in Boulder, and if the feast-or-famine west coast attack can handle the K-State pressure, big plays will happen and this one could be interesting. The Jonathan Beasley "run-around-and-make-a-play" offense of KSU is capable of creating enough defensive chaos to score big, but will encounter some very quick folks in CU's secondary. All I'm saying is, if Mike Moschetti stays healthy Saturday, this one may not be the Woodshed job expected. Colorado is capable, if KSU isn't careful. By the way, the Buffs are aware that they control their destiny for the Big Twelve north, with Nebraska coming to Boulder later. Despite some embarrassing losses to underdogs this season, that strong motivation is there.

Also on alert -- Georgia Tech
I don't know why, but I think this is a potential trap for the Hamilton-for-Heisman campaign, which would be severely bruised by a loss to the 'Hoos. Joe H. is having an astounding year -- leading an offense that's without its top two running backs and is using flankers there and all sorts of gimmicks to cover for the lack of a proven tailback. But something says this one isn't easy.

By the way, a little trivia: Thomas Jones leads the nation in rushing. Can you name the last (and the only) ACC runner to win a season rushing crown? The answer is below.

BCS numbers-crunching
OK, so the game with the Gamecocks dropped Tennessee's strength of schedule, while Florida's jumped way up to sixth in the nation after factoring in Georgia. The Gators jumped from No. 6 to No. 4. But, in coming weeks, they may get leapfrogged back, when Vandy and South Carolina are factored in. The only critical BCS standings are the ones Dec. 5. The (educated) guess here is that a Florida win vs. FSU, then in the SEC title game would put the Gators in position if two of the top three stumble.

Kansas State need not despair, yet. You might recall that FSU was ranked right where KSU is, a year ago at this time, also behind two teams that had lost.

There's potentially a really interesting scenario for the Rose Bowl if Penn State keeps winning. If the Lions are Sugar Bowl bound, the Rose would look for another Big Ten team. But wait, under BCS guidelines, that at-large team would need a minimum nine wins. If you pin an additional loss on Michigan and Michigan State at Penn State's hands (remember, this only applies if the Lions are 12-0), then that only leaves Wisconsin and Ohio State eligible. The Badgers face a giant hurdle at Purdue and Ohio State has a grudge match with the Spartans. If both should lose, the white-belt, white-shoe Pasadena brass may want to start searching hard for an opponent. How do you feel about a Tennessee- Stanford Rose Bowl?

Sick Vick
Michael Vick simply cannot be a freshman. He's gotta be like one of those Taiwanese Little Leaguers with a fake birth certificate who turns out to be 17. He just can't be this poised, this self-assured, and this plain good in his first season as a starter.

In the last three ganes, get this: Vick has seven TDs, no interceptions, an average gain of 14 yards per ATTEMPT, all good for a QB rating of around 230! Every opposing defensive coach wants to know: when will he finally remotely resemble a rookie? Maybe in New Orleans.

Maybe never.

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