Arkansas and Colorado are underdogs Saturday, not expected by most to claim the SEC or Big 12 titles. But I wouldn't count out either team. Both have been left for dead numerous times this season and have found ways to keep it together. I really admire the resolve of the Hogs and Buffs. They have represented all that a coach can hope for from teams hit with misfortune and adversity.

If you had told me three months ago that Colorado would go to 7-1 in the conference, dominate Nebraska in Lincoln with Robert Hodge and Brian Calhoun fueling the offense. . .well, I would have said you were touched. Sure, I knew who Hodge and Calhoun were, but only because it's my job to know. You are more than excused for having no clue who these Husker-beaters are.

Credit a bunch of things: the Buffs' strength up front, a tough no-name defense, and the game planning of the two coordinators: Sean Watson (offense) and Vince Okruch (say O-crew) on defense. Watson, who is fast becoming a hot, young head coach candidate, has been very creative within a conservative framework. Huh, you say? What I mean is, he has to continually find ways to call running plays into eight-man fronts and make them work. CU can't win without running for at least 200 yards and that's not easy when the whole football planet knows it. There's much more subtlety to CU's attack than just blowing folks off the line and running through it. It's not flashy playcalling, the kind that gets coordinators kudos, but Watson is good.

	Robert Hodge and CU battle Oklahoma for the Big 12 title on Saturday.

Then Watson has to find ways to use Hodge's strengths (good mobility and a nice deep ball) and minimize his significant limitations (size, arm strength, inexperience). But then, last year Watson's offense won a league title with Bobby Pesavento at QB.

Hodge is a QB very few coaches in Division I-A would covet. They'd check out one practice and pass on him. But he's become a good and popular leader since his nightmarish debut against USC.

There's really no way to know how Colorado would have fared had starter Craig Ochs not gotten hurt or not jumped ship to Montana midseason. They might have still been in the conference title game. They might not have. But I know this: they would not be any BETTER than 7-1 in this rugged league.

How many teams could have survived the defection of a captain and veteran starting QB a month into the season, an injury to the nation's leading rusher, and his backup, Bobby Purify, and have a fourth-string freshman (Calhoun) run for 137 yards to get back to the title game? Very, very few, to answer my own rhetorical question.

A quick sidetrack on Calhoun, whom I watched dart around the practice field in August, embarrassing first team defenders. His quickness and shiftiness are obvious the second you see him, but he's had to learn to find creases without automatically bouncing every run outside. That's something that takes time with most young runners. Calhoun is a real talent, a recruiting catch from Wisconsin with a big future. He gives Mike Stoops' troops something else to consider when watching film.

The kid will be counted on Saturday night, with Brown out (sternum) and Purify doubtful with a tender ankle. Marcus Houston is still there, too, with all that raw ability, still awaiting a breakout performance.

The CU defense is again the key to beating Oklahoma. Okruch's guys have been solid defending Kliff Kingsbury, Seneca Wallace, and Jammal Lord in recent weeks. The defense really played well enough to win in Norman had the offense and special teams not played give away.

That's not the kind of excuse-making that got Bob and Mike Stoops fired up after beating CU. It's just a fact: none of OU's scoring drives had to be long marches. But the Sooners receivers did a great job of making plays in horrible conditions and Quentin Griffin squirted through enough holes to move the chains. Nate Hybl was much better making plays than Hodge. The OU defense was stout enough to stifle Brown, who still gained 103 yards.

In the fairly brief history of the Big 12, no team has repeated as champion. From day one, that's been the goal of the Buffs. Overall, Oklahoma was fairly dominant the first time around and ought to come in mad and motivated. But CU's toughness will keep things interesting.

Gary Barnett should have been named Big 12 coach of the year. Les Miles and his staff did a great job again upsetting the Sooners, but the Pokes were still 7-5, third in the south division. Barnett's teams are 15-2 in conference play the last two years, better than OU or Texas. Given all they had to overcome, wearing the target of defending champs, Barnett deserves coach of the year honors.

I don't often brag on the old alma mater, but anyone who has ever been associated with CU ought to be very proud of this season.

Ditto for the Razorback nation. The Razorbacks have flopped, stumbled, and nearly imploded several times, but hung tough. There's a lot to admire, even though they managed to drop three conference games, despite not playing Georgia or Florida, and still survive the wacky west.

After spanking good Boise State and South Florida teams, Arkansas was destroyed in the program's most hyped home game in years: a 30-12 woodshed whipping from Alabama. The next week, they blew numerous chances to beat Tennessee and lost in six excruciating overtimes. Opening conference play with two losses: season over, right?

The next week, the Hogs stormed into Auburn and flat ran over the Tigers' defense. Season back on track, right?

Nope. The next week, Kentucky comes calling and leaves with a 12-point win. Then, 1-3 in the league, the team is also rocked by the arrest of star defensive lineman and co-captain Jermaine Brooks, who was allegedly found with more than ten pounds of pot, weapons, and $17,000 in cash in his house! All his teammates claimed to be shocked.

Another chance to fold, with Ole Miss in town? Nope, another rallying cry. Arkansas pounded Eli and Co., slugged past Troy State, pitched another shutout at South Carolina, survived a sleepwalk against Louisiana-Lafayette, and slipped out of Starkville with a narrow win.

Thanks to Alabama's sanctions and the collective mediocrity of the rest of the west, the Hogs were given a great chance to claim the division: a collision with staggering LSU in comfy Little Rock, where they had never lost under Houston Nutt. Instead of coming out strong, though, the Hogs' offense slopped around and they fell behind. Chances were dim, until Matt Jones (who had completed two passes the whole miserable day) fashioned a miracle touchdown march in the final seconds.

The Razorbacks are more gritty than talented, although Mark Richt claims they have the best team speed in the SEC. Actually, I thought that distinction belonged to Richt's Dawgs. Georgia has also been remarkably tough and resilient. They are by far the more solid, balanced team. Remember, UGa's just a touchdown away from a perfect season.

Instead, they can sneak a peak at the Virginia Tech-Miami game and hope for a Hokie upset. Richt has basically forbidden that, aware that Tennessee lost focus last year under similar circumstances and was stunned by LSU. But players are players. You know they'll be aware of what's going on in Miami.

It shouldn't matter. I don't see Georgia losing this game in the Georgia Dome, despite carrying the burden of a big favorite. But I still salute Arkansas for never caving in this season. Now, their reward for losing Saturday would be a trip to the Music City Bowl, while two teams they beat could be headed for New Years' day games (Auburn and LSU). Let's see. . .Sugar Bowl versus Music City. . .there's just a bit at stake for Nutt's crew.

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