Cardinals win their 2nd at home and may be well on their way to winning a 2nd straight division title. At 6-3, and on track for a 10-6/11-5 season, the Cardinals are what we thought they were at seasons beginning; Or maybe where we thought they would be. Of course, many thought their 3 losses would be to Indy, at NY Giants, and at Chicago, but 6-3 nonetheless. Anything less than 8-3 would be disappointing, and if the Cards take care of business at St. Louis and at Tennessee, they will face the Vikings in a big game, at home, on December 6th. There's a lot to be excited about, in other words. At least for now…

Speaking of exciting, how about Sunday's incredible Colts-Pats finish. Burnsy's pretty sure most coaches would be finished if they gambled in the way that Bill Belichick did. Did Belichick overstep his boundaries and help the Colts take a step closer to an undefeated season. Why would Belichick take such a risk in such a big game? Kind of like:

Why would you hit on 17 at a blackjack table when the dealer is showing a face card? Better yet - why does Belichick impose himself in such a big way on the outcome of the game? Has the ego now interfered with the on-field product? Did "the genius" outsmart himself? Why did "the genius" not trust his defensive ingenuity at the end of the game? Has Bill Belichick become self-aware? Does he now think his decisions are infallible?

This is dangerous thinking. The same type of thinking that has inspired New Coke, ESPN cell phones, the 1986 George Lucas vehicle Howard the Duck (he executive produced), Sylvester Stallone's "Oscar" (don't do comedy Sly) or Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign (America's favorite mayor thought name value and big states would be enough to carry his campaign)…

One thing is for sure: Nothing in college football this season has come close to the level of excitement generated this Sunday night. Whatta disappointing season in college. It was supposed to be on best ever, with some of the best college players battling for the Heisman and BCS title. Well, it hasn't gone according to script. Florida is about as unimpressive a powerhouse as one can find. Oklahoma found themselves playing without reigning Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford. Texas has been playing well enough to win, but not well enough to generate any buzz - personified by the play of their star QB, Colt McCoy. TCU and Boise (last year's Poinsettia Bowl) are the BCS busters and could play the SEC buster (Alabama) if Texas somehow falls. Some may argue the most memorable moment of the college season happened on opening night: LeGarrette Blount's tirade in Idaho. If not that, then Sam Bradford compromising his draft value and Oklahoma's BCS chances after a shoulder injury on Opening Saturday. But what does all of this mean to us? Well, on the local front, the Fiesta Bowl may be in line to land the best BCS buster, and possibly the 2nd best:

Scenarios if Texas wins out and TCU is preferred at large choice:

1. Texas wins out; play Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St wins out and gets the selection over Boise/Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt)- TCU vs. Oklahoma St. in the Fiesta Bowl

2. Texas wins out; face Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Boise gets the selection over Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - TCU vs. Boise St in the Fiesta Bowl

3. Texas wins out; face Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Stanford closes with wins over Notre Dame and Cal, they get the selection over Boise/Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - TCU vs. Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl

4. Texas wins out; play Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Iowa gets the selection over Boise St./Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - TCU vs. Iowa in the Fiesta Bowl

5. Texas wins out; play Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Penn State gets the selection over Boise St./Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)Iowa/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - TCU vs. Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl

6. Texas wins out; play Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Oregon slips against Oregon St or Arizona, but still get the selection over Boise St./Stanford(if no Rose Bowl)/Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - TCU vs. Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl

Most likely if Texas wins out and Boise St. is preferred at large choice:

1. Texas wins out; play Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St wins out and gets the selection over TCU/Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt)- Boise St. vs. Oklahoma St. in the Fiesta Bowl

2. Texas wins out; face Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Stanford closes with wins over Notre Dame and Cal, they get the selection over Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Boise St. vs. Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl

3. Texas wins out; play Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Iowa gets the selection over Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Boise St. vs. Iowa in the Fiesta Bowl

4. Texas wins out; play Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Penn State gets the selection over Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)Iowa/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Boise St. vs. Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl

5. Texas wins out; play Alabama/Florida in the BCS Title, Oklahoma St loses at Oklahoma and Oregon slips against Oregon St or Arizona, but still get the selection over Stanford(if no Rose Bowl)/Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Boise St. vs. Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl

Best of the rest:

1. Texas loses to Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship; TCU gets the BCS championship shot vs. Alabama/Florida, or are stepped over, Boise gets the selection over Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Boise St. vs. Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl

2. Texas loses to Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship; TCU gets the BCS championship shot vs. Alabama/Florida, Penn State gets the selection over Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)Iowa /Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Nebraska vs. Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl

3. Texas loses to Kansas this week, but beat Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship; TCU gets the BCS championship shot vs. Alabama/Florida, Boise gets the selection over Stanford/ Oregon (if no Rose Bowl)Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Texas vs. Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl

4. Texas loses to Kansas this week, but beat Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship; TCU gets the BCS championship shot vs. Alabama/Florida, Stanford closes with wins over Notre Dame and Cal, they get the selection over Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Texas vs. Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl

5. Texas loses to Kansas this week, but beat Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship; TCU gets the BCS championship shot vs. Alabama/Florida; Oregon slips against Oregon St or Arizona, but still get the selection over Stanford/Iowa/Penn State/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati (if they lose to Pitt) - Texas vs. Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl

So, U of A is not going to the Fiesta Bowl, and they're probably not going to the Rose Bowl either. Bad news for Wildcat fans, but good news for Dennis Erickson. Follow us here: ASU's bad season means Dennis Erickson is very much on the hot seat next season. What could make that seat even hotter? Watching their rivals play in Pasadena might qualify and might increase the prospect of a coaching change at ASU. So, in a way, U of A's loss at Cal might be the best bit of news that Erickson has received lately or, maybe, even this year.

This may not be the year for the elusive Arizona Rose Bowl trip - one of the few things we have not witnessed. Other notables:

1. Suns championship

2. ASU basketball Final Four appearance

3. D-Backs never had MVP

4. Stanley Cup Finals (I know, we're reaching)