NCAA Week 9: Good Snark, Bad Snark

What was Rich Rodriguez thinking?

Dude had just guided his Arizona Wildcats to a 3-9 record-- 1-8 in the Pac-12 -- in 2016, bulging so many neck veins in the process that medical experts are probably mystified how he's still among the living.

Now, those who follow the 'Cats must be mystified how human blur Khalil Tate wasn't 'Zona's starting QB this season.

Dude entered Arizona's game at Colorado a month ago after junior starter Brandon Dawkins got dinged up.

All of a sudden, the team's lackluster 2-2 record to that point seemed like a terrible waste. Since their 45-42 shootout win over the Buffs, Tate & Co have been on a tear, scoring 47, 45, and 58 points over their next three games.

Rodriguez hinted that Tate -- only 17 last season -- had trouble with the playbook in 2016, had ouchies in pre-season, yada yada yada.

Surrrre.

Know your roster, dude.

Next up is USC in the Coliseum. The victor gets inside track to the Pac-12 South title.

With those defenses, odds are the victor is first one to 100.

Still, if the victor runs the table -- hardly a given -- two total losses this year means they've got only an infinitessimal shot at the CFP bracket.

If that victor is 'Zona, RichRod may be off the hot seat by then, but ...

Good Snark: Dialing long distance ... Speaking of that Wazzu-'Zona clash, Tate wasn't the only dude standing front-&-center. 'Cat kicker Lucas Havrisik drilled a 57-yard FG and Coug kicker Eric Powell nailed a 56-yarder.

This was the first game in 20 years that two FGs of 56 yards and longer split the uprights.

Bad Snark: Draining the other swamp ... Bummer that things weren't all Colorado State down in Gainseville for Jim McElwain.

Or were they?

How in the name of Sherlock Holmes do dudes miss this stuff?

McElwain got a death threat from the same ghost who recorded James Comey at the White House, and that's gonna wind up costing him a cool $9million of his buyout.

What's more, he still owes Colorado State $1million.

Don't know what McElwain's gonna do next, but odds are it won't be anything in the field of financial planning.

Good Snark: Catch of the Day ... North Carolina State's Kelvin Harmon might just have made the season't first inner-elbow catch:

Bad Snark: Outta powder ... First, the West Virginia mountaineer gets himself suspended for too much moonshine, and then his team with the weird 5's only has enough ammo for 10 first-half points against Oklahoma State.

Basically, that was opting for a two-point conversion away from being the difference in this one.

OK, it was rainy for a while, but both sides got wet:

The Cowboys have only held one opponent under 21 points all season -- they beat Texas in OT, 13-10 -- so if defense ever does win a Big XII championship, dudes could be on the outside looking in.

Good Snark: On the inside looking out ... Here's where the defenders are in that conference. TCU's no surprise, of course, but Iowa State's got the goods, too.

It could well be the Cyclones' best stop of the year is yet to come:

Keeping coach Matt Campbell in Ames.

Bad Snark: Ole Miss misses again ... Doesn't matter about the vote. They're Landsharks no more in Oxford.

The original edition of Mississippi Landsharks wouldn't have blown a 24-point lead:

The Razorbacks believe it's the first time they've ever come back from a deficit like that. It was good enough for their first SEC win of the season. With Mississippi State and Missouri coming to Fayetteville, they've got a shot at two more.

Toss in their glorified scrimmage with Coastal Carolina, and Arkansas might actually become bowl eligible.

Good Snark: And the Floyd of Rosedale goes to ... Iowa, again. That's the actual rivalry trophy on the line whenever the Hawkeyes and Minnesota strap it on.

The Golden Gophers lead the series, 62-47-2, but Iowa's on a five-game bacon streak after last weekend's 17-10 triumph.

And that's how they've warmed up for Ohio State's visit in Week 10.

Dudes better raise their game a bunch, or they're gonna wind up getting the Floyd of Mayweather in that one.

Bad Snark: Trick or treat ... The CFP. They're back in action after cushing it up at the spa where they always meet. That's gotta be the best scam in college football.

Never fear.

The Daily Player 12 will be back to fight the forces of evil and will do so until they expand the playoffs and give automatic berths to conference champions.

Snarkalicious: Score one for drug testing ... Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle! The Maryland Terrapins donned uniforms that didn't require sunglasses or hallucinogenics to gaze in their direction.

The Terps can even win in them! Please let that be a sign.

Those unis might've caused a blip in Fanorama sales, but for this one time, it was worth it.